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In the Israeli border town of Shlomi, the rockets left craters in the road, and damaged vehicles and a bank By Lucy Williamson & David Gritten BBC News, in Jerusalem and London The Israeli military has accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of firing dozens of rockets from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. It said most of the 34 rockets were intercepted but that six hit Israeli territory, causing damage to buildings. One man was lightly wounded by shrapnel, according to medics. Hamas said it had no information about who fired the missiles. The attack was the biggest single barrage from Lebanon in 17 years. It comes at a time of rising tensions. There has been outrage in the region at the actions of the Israeli police, who have raided the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem - Islam's third holiest site - for the past two nights, triggering violent confrontations with Palestinians inside.Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas, have also fired 25 rockets at Israel over the same period, and the Israeli military has carried out air strikes there in response. Ramadan and Passover raise tensions at Jerusalem holy site Violence as Israeli police raid al-Aqsa mosque Air raid sirens sounded in communities across northern Israel on Thursday afternoon, after rockets were launched from Lebanon while Israelis celebrated the Jewish festival of Passover. The Israeli military did not say where the six rockets that struck Israeli territory landed. But photographs showing damage to several buildings in the border town of Shlomi, including a bank, and a car in the village of Fassuta. "We heard booms, and sirens. A rocket hit the roof of a car as it was passing my house, but the rocket didn't explode. When I went after the car, I saw someone was injured," one eyewitness said.car in the village of Fassuta was damaged by one of the rockets Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service treated a man with shrapnel injuries, a woman who was injured while running to a shelter, and another woman who had stress symptoms. Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Richard Hecht said they believed Hamas was behind the attack and that it was possible the militant group Islamic Jihad was also involved. He added that they assumed the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which fought a month-long war with Israeli in 2006, knew about the attack, and that they suspected there was Iranian involvement. Hamas has confirmed to the BBC that the attacks came during a visit to Beirut by its leader, Ismail Haniyeh. But a Hamas official told the BBC the visit was prepared in advance and had nothing to do with recent developments. It said it did not have any information about who fired the missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet on Thursday evening to discuss the situation. In a televised address, he said: "We will hit our enemies and they will pay a price for all acts of aggression." Mr Netanyahu also called for a calming of tensions, adding "we will act decisively against extremists who use violence." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned any military operations from the country's territory that "destabilise the situation". The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Unifil, said the situation was "extremely serious" and urged "restraint and to avoid further escalation". Hezbollah, which controls much of southern Lebanon, had vowed hours before the rocket launches to support "all measures" taken by the Palestinian people "to protect worshippers and the al-Aqsa mosque and to deter the enemy from continuing its attacks".Wednesday night's raid took place as worshippers attended prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque compound, which includes the Dome of the Rock The mosque is located on a hilltop complex in occupied East Jerusalem known by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) and by Jews as the Temple Mount. Jews revere it as the location of two Biblical temples and it is the holiest site in Judaism. Video footage appeared to show Israeli police entering the mosque on Wednesday night, while being pelted with objects from inside. A police statement said that "dozens of law-breaking juveniles, some of them masked, threw fireworks and stones" into the mosque "with the aim of disrupting the order" as worshippers gathered for nightly Ramadan prayers. "At some point the violent rioters tried again to close the mosque doors and prevent the worshipers from leaving the mosque in order to barricade themselves in the place," it added. "Police forces prevented the lawbreakers from closing the doors and helped the worshipers leave." The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that the officers "assaulted Palestinian worshippers, beating them with clubs and targeting them with concussion grenades, tear-gas canisters and rubber-coated steel bullets as a means to forcefully expel them". The Palestinian Red Crescent said six people were injured. The Israeli military meanwhile said that seven rockets were launched from Gaza early on Thursday morning and that all of them exploded in the air. Another two were fired on Wednesday evening, with one falling within the Strip and a second landing in an open area near the Gaza border fence. On Tuesday night, more than 350 Palestinians were arrested and 50 were hurt during a similar raid at the al-Aqsa mosque, while militants in Gaza fired 16 rockets into Israel and the Israeli military carried out air strikes on militant sites belonging to Hamas in response. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65204423

German car giant Volkswagen has said it sold a record 10.3 million vehicles worldwide last year, despite the continued impact of 2015's emissions cheating scandal. The VW group saw sales increase by 3.8% in 2016, making it likely that the firm will overtake Toyota as the world's biggest carmaker by volume. The sales figures include the Audi, Porsche and Skoda brands. Sales in China surged 12.2%, but US sales fell 2.6% over the year. VW has been facing setbacks since September 2015, when it admitted installing so-called "defeat devices" in its diesel cars as a way of cheating pollution tests.On Monday, a senior VW executive in the US, Oliver Schmidt, was charged with taking part in a conspiracy to defraud the US over the scandal, while the company was accused of hiding the issue from regulators. VW chief executive Matthias Mueller described 2016 as "a very challenging year" for the firm. He added: "We made strides in resolving and overcoming the diesel crisis and, at the same time, initiated a fundamental change process." VW's sales for 2016 were boosted by a strong performance in December, when global sales were up 11.8% from a year earlier. Japanese rival Toyota is likely to report its 2016 sales figures next month. It said at the end of last year that it expected to have sold 10.09 million vehicles, which would give VW the edge. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38574894

From Málaga to Madrid, there’s a fiesta of special exhibitions this year in the places where the artist lived and workedPablo Picasso sits on a bench in Málaga’s Plaza de la Merced. Staring ahead, notebook in hand, elderly and made of bronze, he is as much a part of the city as the sea. It’s a wistful work. Picasso spent almost all his adult life – and died – in France, but no 20th-century artist is more Spanish than Picasso, with his bull motif, machismo, defining image of the civil war and fondness for Málaga wine.Living abroad,” he said, “one becomes even more Spanish.” To mark the 50th anniversary of his death (on 8 April 1973), exhibitions are being held around the world throughout 2023. Spain is the country with the most, and a selection can be combined with a wander through the Spanish destinations that inspired him for a multiperspective, and therefore rather cubist, portrait of the maestro.Born in Málaga in 1881, Picasso spent 10 years living in one then another of the tall, green-shuttered houses flanking Plaza de la Merced, now with street-level bars and tables and umbrellas out front. The Museo Casa Natal in his first home contains books, furniture, and works by his art professor father, José Ruiz y Blasco. A stroll through the city, taking in the light, street life and doves, provides more insight into ways his birthplace shaped his vision, and it’s easy to picture him sketching outside a cafe on Plaza de la Constitución as he did on later visits.Between Plaza de la Merced and the cathedral, the Museo Picasso Málaga has a permanent collection that spans his Blue and Rose periods, surrealism and cubism – including paintings, sculptures, illustrations and ceramics – and is unbeatable for an overview. Among the temporary exhibitions, Picasso as seen by Otero (until 23 April), which has notes from conversations and fly-on-the-wall photos of the artist at work and play, is a real snoopy treat.When the family moved to the north-western tip of Spain, Picasso complained that it never stopped raining, there weren’t any bulls and he missed Málaga, but later acknowledged that La Coruña – full (until the civil war) of artists and intellectuals – “awoke his senses”. He studied at the School of Fine Arts where his father was teaching (Picasso’s school reports are displayed in the foyer), and held his first exhibition at Rúa Real, 20 – then a furniture shop, now selling shoes. A review in the local paper confidently predicted he had a bright future.About 100 pieces from – or influenced by – this Galician period have been loaned for an exhibition at Museo de Belas Artes da Coruña, until 25 June. A self-guided Picasso route (available from the tourist office) takes in Orzán beach and the Tower of Hercules for views that inspired the works (reproductions) on display alongside his father’s at the small but illuminating Picasso House Museum.Alamy Picasso arrived in Barcelona as an impressionable teenager in 1895 and moved to Paris full-time in 1904. El Raval’s shady streets, drunks, beggars and emaciated sick appeared on his Blue period canvases, while the bohemians, politics, absinthe and modernisme he found in the bars from the age of 17 had a similarly catalytic effect. It’s said he (and Dalí and Hemingway) drank at the London Bar, though it opened after he left; and at Bar Marsella, which can’t have changed too much. El Raval is neither as wretched nor as stimulating as it once was. End of the line … the 09.05 from Barcelona reaches Cádiz in southern Spain 12 hours later. Rail route of the month: Barcelona to Cádiz, the slow train right across Spain Read more Across La Rambla in the Gothic Quarter, Carrer d’Avinyó, the street of brothels that inspired Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, is full of shops: the site of his first studio is a boutique hotel (Serras), and a nerve centre for arty intellectuals; Els 4Gats is a well-restored upmarket bar and restaurant.Occasionally stops on self-guided Picasso routes produce a frisson. For those who know Picasso’s The Passeig de Colom, painted from the balcony of Hotel Ranzini while staying there with future wife, the ballet dancer Olga Khokhlova, a pause outside number 22 is haunting, even if – perhaps because – the view is mainly of the road, and the hotel is now a courier company office. The painting can be seen – along with 4,250 others – at the Picasso Museum, which occupies five gothic palaces. This is the most comprehensive collection of art from his formative years, so good shoes are advised. Horta de Sant Joan According to Picasso, he learned all he knew in this village midway between Barcelona and Valencia. A first trip spawned traditional landscapes of farmhouses and fields, and pictures of donkeys. A decade later, visiting from Paris (with a lover who caused a stir by sharing his bed and playing dominos in the bars like a man), he captured and immortalised Horta in early cubist greats. The Picasso Centre has reproductions and interesting paraphernalia from both trips. Picasso travelled by train to Tortosa, walking the last 40km with his luggage on a mule; by more conventional car, it’s two and a half hours from either city.Just an hour’s drive north from Madrid up the A-1, or a bus ride from Plaza de Castilla, this picturesque village with medieval castle and walls built by the Arabs, tucked in the crook of a river, boasts a uniquely personal Picasso collection. Villager Eugenio Arias met Picasso while living in France and, for the last 26 years of the artist’s life was his friend and barber. He bequeathed many of Picasso’s gifts of lithographs, ceramics, posters, sketches, books and photos to the town hall, which now houses the Museo Picasso-Colección Eugenio Arias. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/apr/06/picasso-pilgrimage-a-spanish-art-trail-marking-50-years-since-his-death

Chinese authorities have yet to comment on the raid on the Mintz Group's Beijing office.Chinese authorities have detained five local staff at the due diligence firm Mintz Group and shuttered its Beijing office. It is unclear why the US company was raided, but it said it has not received any official legal notice. The move comes as Beijing prepares to host an annual investor conference this weekend, involving top CEOs such as Apple's Tim Cook and HSBC's Noel Quinn. Chinese authorities have yet to comment on the incident. At a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was not aware of the case.The Mintz Group raid reportedly took place on Monday. The employees, all Chinese nationals, are said to be being held somewhere outside of the Chinese capital. In a statement, the company said it had retained legal counsel on the matter and requested the release of its staff. It stressed that it is licensed to conduct legitimate business in China, where it operates "transparently, ethically and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations". According to its website, the Mintz Group's Beijing office is its only one in mainland China. The company specialises in background checks, fact gathering and internal investigations. It has 18 offices around the world and hundreds of employees. Its clients include the National Football League, New York City and The Beatles.Randal Phillips, a partner at the firm who heads the Mintz Group's Asia operations but is based outside of China, is the former chief representative in China for the Central Intelligence Agency. While there is no indication that the raid is related to Mr Phillips, he has previously said that the United States should address structural imbalances in trade stemming from Chinese policies. In 2018, Mr Phillips also testified before Congress on China's efforts to exert international influence. Relations between Washington and Beijing have been deteriorating in recent months. Tensions first flared in February after the United States shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon, which Beijing insists was a weather monitoring device. On Thursday, US lawmakers grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew for almost five hours about the app's data security and privacy practices, and its alleged ties to Beijing. According to a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, US businesses operating in China are increasingly pessimistic about their prospects in China, with two-thirds of respondents citing rising U.S.-China tensions as the top business challenge. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-65061116

HIGHLIGHTS The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 have active noise cancellation While the design is familiar, performance is improved OnePlus has also launched the Nord CE 3 Lite 5 OnePlus has slowly but assuredly built a product portfolio that goes far beyond just smartphones as it was originally known for, with audio products forming the backbone of its expansion strategy. Impressively, the audio product range largely follows the same general approach as that of the smartphone range, and the Nord brand has become synonymous with everything that has made OnePlus so po[CENSORED]r, but at a reasonable price. The latest product in the OnePlus audio range not only sticks to this philosophy, but also pushes the value proposition even further.Priced at Rs. 2,999 in India, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 is the successor to the OnePlus Nord Buds (Review) headset which was launched in April 2022. The new earphones are priced only slightly higher, but come with significant improvements to features and specifications, as well as a promise of better performance. I've taken a close look at the new Nord Buds 2 to find out what's new; read on for my first impressions.Active noise cancellation for less than Rs. 3,000 on the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 The original Nord Buds are notable for the rather unique and adventurous design, and the Nord Buds 2 stick to this while bringing in minor improvements in the colours and textures. You still get a proper in-canal fit on the earphones, and the touch zones are a bit less susceptible to picking up visible grime from frequent handling. The charging case also looks a bit nicer, and is easier to slip into a pocket than that of the original Nord Buds.The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 takes a big step ahead with the inclusion of one key feature — active noise cancellation. While I haven't been able to fully test this yet, my initial impressions of the ANC are largely in line with what I'd expect to hear on other options in this price segment, such as the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro earphones. While there is an audible reduction in noise, it isn't effective enough to fully cancel out even simple household sounds, such as the whirring or a ceiling fan.The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 has a more aggressive approach to the sound In terms of connectivity, the headset sees some improvements with Bluetooth 5.3, while codec support includes the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. This means that sound quality should be the same across most source devices, although the tuning itself has been tweaked for what is arguably a more entertaining sonic signature. While there's plenty of bass to be heard, there is seemingly an equally forward approach to the treble as well — the sound is both punchy and bright, and seems to change depending on the genre of music.While it is possible to tweak the equaliser settings through the HeyMelody app, I personally preferred to stick to the balanced EQ preset. This punchy-bright sound did tend to affect the mids a bit, but this usually didn't affect certain tracks too much, and in fact, made tracks from genres such as house and jazz sound a bit more precise and pronounced. I will, of course, talk about the sound quality in more detail in my full review. OnePlus has also launched the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G smartphone alongside the Nord Buds 2, and the two devices will likely go well together — if you're looking to buy two new gadgets, that is. Stay tuned to Gadgets360 for our full reviews of both the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite (Review). The OnePlus 11 5G was launched at the company's Cloud 11 launch event which also saw the debut of several other devices. We discuss this new handset and all of OnePlus' new hardware on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon and wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.gadgets360.com/audio/reviews/oneplus-nord-buds-2-price-in-india-tws-anc-first-impressions-3919610

Google has launched Cross-Device Services, an application that allows users to access the functions and services of a 'smartphone' from the screen of a Chromebook, and is now available for download in the Play Store. The company announced that it was working on a multi-device ecosystem within the framework of CES 2022 , when it unveiled updates to the Chromebook Phone Hub service to be able to access all mobile chat applications while using the computer without having it nearby. Until now, thanks to Phone Hub, you could check your phone's signal or battery status, control and sync notifications, access recent photos and screenshots, and browse Chrome tabs on your Android device from your Chromebook. Google has now integrated into its official application store, Google Play , a service called Cross-Device Services, which also allows you to manage the applications that the 'smartphone' has installed from the laptop screen. This app allows users to "do things like reply to a message, check the status of a rideshare , or start/edit the shopping list," according to its description. The images that illustrate this service show the main interface of the Chromebook with a superimposed screen on the right, which corresponds to the mobile phone and its applications. ChromeOS Phone Hub will have a 'Recent Applications' section in which the recently opened ones will be displayed, as well as a container in which all the 'apps' downloaded to the device are present.While Cross-Device Services can be downloaded on Android phones , 9to5Google has pointed out that app streaming isn't available on these laptops at the moment. https://www.europapress.es/portaltic/software/noticia-google-lanza-servicio-acceder-aplicaciones-smartphone-chromebook-20230405110150.html

The PC cooling market is not something that evolves by leaps and bounds... it has been what it is for many years, but the most expert manufacturers do introduce small optimizations that, all added together, have managed to substantially improve the thermal performance of their products . This is the case of the new CORSAIR AF120 RGB ELITE that we are reviewing today, fans optimized to offer the best performance with a low noise level, and with impressive configurable RGB lighting , but will they be the best fans out there for PCs? ? Let's check it out.Many years ago, Noctua introduced a major innovation in PC fans with its NF-F12 and directed airflow. Now CORSAIR has implemented a technique similar to what it has called AirGuide , and which consists of installing conductors on the back of the fan so that the air is directed forward and not dispersed, thus improving its cooling efficiency. This and much more is what these Premium category fans offer us... let's see if they are as "Elite" as CORSAIR saw them or if, on the contrary, they are ordinary RGB fans.In the table above we have given you the technical specifications of the two models of this family of fans, since they are available in both 120 and 140 mm (and both with RGB and without it, although in this case we focus only on the models with RGB). The 120mm model that is the one we are reviewing today has a maximum speed of 2,100 RPM, generating up to 65.57 CFM of airflow and up to 2.68mm/H2O of static pressure, quite high numbers considering that it is only 120mm. .Additionally, these fans have the ability to run in Zero RPM mode, which is that they will literally shut off when the system is idle to reduce system noise. All in all, they are not particularly noisy fans, although it is true that with those 34.1 dBA of maximum noise they are not the quietest on the market either (it must also be taken into account that although other fans are quieter, it is usually because they work well below those 2,100 RPM of the AF! 20 RGB ELITE).Of course, we are dealing with fans with RGB, and in this case they incorporate 8 individually configurable RGB LEDs on each fan. To do this, CORSAIR sells them in packs of three fans that include a Lighting Node CORE, so that we can connect them together and easily configure them thanks to iCUE, the brand's unified software. Unboxing and external analysis As we just mentioned, we are going to analyze a pack of three fans that include a Lighting Node CORE for the RGB connection of all of them, so they come packaged in a box all together. As usual, on the front side the manufacturer shows us an image of the devices, accompanied by the brand, model and some of its characteristics, such as the fact that the Lighting Node CORE is includedIn this case, we find that the CORSAIR AF120 RGB ELITE stays in the middle of the table, with a performance that is not bad at all but also does not place them as the most powerful fans for PCs. It is clear that the manufacturer wanted to find a good balance between performance and noise, and we honestly believe that they have achieved it quite wellNow... are we looking at the best fans you can buy for PC? Probably not, but what is certain is that these fans are good at everything (especially in terms of static pressure, so if you intend to use them for a heatsink or radiator, you will gain a lot of performance) and that, since then, if you decide to buy them you will not regret itFor all these reasons, we believe that they deserve our Gold award, as well as our recommendation for their performance and design. https://hardzone.es/reviews/disipadores-refrigeracion/corsair-af120-rgb-elite/

In Desta, anxiety dreams take the form of a tactical dodgeball game--and it works.In Desta: The Memories Between, you play as Desta, who takes on the unenviable, but relatable task of overthinking future conversations that you don't want to have. This anxiety manifests itself as a tactical dodgeball game in your dreams where you think through the worst possible conversation scenarios with old friends and family while visiting home for the first time in years. To turn that familiar human experience into a grid-based dodgeball game sounds strange on paper, but in practice, it works and delivers alongside it a solid tactics game that uses the mobile platform well. Interpreting this rehearsal of future conversations as tactical dream dodgeball works well because it feels about as normal as the average anxiety dream. It only really makes sense while it's happening and only falls apart when you try and explain it later. In this way, Desta nails the feeling of a dream, which is difficult to do in any entertainment medium.As a video game, it also works well as a fun tactics game. Every person in your life that you're dreading a confrontation with appears to you in your dreams (alongside some nobodies to serve as cannon fodder) on a layout of squares with randomized barriers. Old friends introduce themselves by berating you for the thing you're anxious about, manifesting your worst-case scenario. You take turns moving positions, picking up dodgeballs, and tossing the ball at them to inflict damage and whittle down their health while making sure you're in a position to not receive the same punishment. The core idea is familiar to anyone who has played a comparable strategy game, but the dodgeball adds an element of action and finesse that works well on a touchscreen. Once in position, you pull back on your character to launch the dodgeball like a slingshot, making sure to release at the right moment for added speed. You can bounce the ball against enemies to hit other enemies, or bounce the ball into the hands of your teammates. You can even throw the ball against a wall to bounce it around a corner, or make sure it bounces back to you so the ball is in your hand for the next turn. Throwing the ball is a fun system that gives you lots of additional options in the arena, and when the bounces work in your favor it feels great. Unfortunately, it can also hurt you in a way that doesn't always feel fair. Sometimes the physics don't quite work and the shot I thought was lined up perfectly bounced in an unexpected, detrimental way. With the touchscreen, I also occasionally accidentally threw a ball when I was just trying to rotate the camera, which was frustrating. Most moves can be undone without any penalty, which is great, but for understandable reasons, once you throw the ball, that turn is over. Special abilities are unlocked as you play but are randomized each time you attempt a run. For example, one allows you to use all your action points to inflict more damage with a single throw, while another enables you to switch positions with an enemy to give yourself the advantage. This randomization is a good way to introduce you to abilities you may like but would not have otherwise tried, but it also locks you into some abilities that don't feel particularly useful. If you use an ability enough and level it up, you get to keep it across runs, which is great, but early in the game you're at the mercy of whatever you get and there were a few I just never found a great use for. Desta is a roguelike which means you do have to restart a run when you wake up from a dream after getting hit by a dodgeball too many times. You level up and gain more health and movement spaces per turn as you go, as do the teammates you add to your team through the course of the game. Leveling you and your friends up, even with runs that don't go well, is great, and it encouraged me to be experimental when things weren't going my way. The downside of tackling the game through a series of runs are the repeated conversations. The dialogue changes a little bit each time you encounter the character you've been dreading talking to again and again, but I can only hear my childhood friend yell at me for not reaching out to her so many times. I could even sense Desta getting annoyed as they had to go over the conversation with their high school teacher they never properly thanked for the support again for the fifth time. The dialogue is well-written, the characters are fully realized and well-performed, and I was excited to see Desta overcome her anxieties--that excitement just waned as she did it again and again with the same people.Desta: The Memories Between is an interesting follow-up to developer Ustwo's breakout hit, Monument Valley. It swaps the abstract, yet emotional storytelling for something more overt, but still dreamlike. The overall setup, visual aesthetic, and soundtrack is great and the tactical combat is fun, but repeated conversations make some of the runs feel like a chore, and sometimes the dodgeball feels more like a loose cannon. Desta's journey, however, is a relatable one and helping them complete it--even in a dream--was a cathartic experience that made me want to text that friend I had not spoken with in years. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/desta-the-memories-between-review-dodging-confrontation/1900-6417968/

Warner Bros' all-star battle proves to be a worthy contender to the platform fighter throne.MultiVersus frames itself as the ultimate crossover fighter, a sort of "dream come true" scenario where anyone can face off against anyone else. It's a bold proclamation challenging the reign of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a game that features an unmatched all-star cast of video game characters duking it out. Many pretenders to that throne have come and gone but, surprisingly, MultiVersus makes a compelling claim. The game, which is in open public beta, has strong fundamentals, charm, and attention to detail that Smash clones that came before sorely lacked, making it one of the best platform fighting games ever made. MultiVersus follows the basic Smash Bros format: up to four players meet on a single battlefield and fight it out, with the goal of increasing damage enough to knock their opponents out of bounds. The first team to score four knockouts in a match--or the first fighter to score two knockouts in a 1v1 match--wins. So far, so Smash. However, MultiVersus puts far more emphasis on the 2v2 format, quickly establishing its own identity in the process. Mechanically, every fighter on the roster has moves that negatively affect opponents, while simultaneously having positive effects on teammates. For example, whenever Shaggy charges to full power--a brilliant use of the Ultra Instinct Shaggy meme--his partner also receives a power bump for their next attack. One of Wonder Woman's special attacks gives her a layer of special armor for added defense, and if she's close enough to her partner, she'll immediately jump to them and give them the buff too. This idea of teamwork and synergy being baked into the fundamentals of MultiVersus is a fresh and welcome change to the format, with no two matches ever feeling the same. The partner dynamic also strengthens the 2v2 mode, making it feel like the core format developers intend people to play. Part of that synergy also comes through the perk system, with characters earning permanent buffs that can be equipped before a match and stacked between two teammates. The Wildcat Brawler perk, for instance, increases the damage of all grounded melee attacks for a team by five percent when equipped by one player, with that percentage doubled if both players equip it. As you level up characters, you can also borrow perks from teammates before a match begins--guaranteeing stacks if planned correctly--or even train a character to learn new perks using in-game gold. It's an ingenious system with multitudes of permutations, especially when borrowing and training come into the mix, and it achieves a level of strategic planning unlike anything a platform fighter has ever seen before. More impressively, the bulk of MultiVersus's modes also feature online play. In free for all pitting up to four human players against each other, and cross-play capabilities allowing consoles and PC to intermingle. There have been a few stutters here and there, and the occasional "now you see me, now you don't" moments when a bad connection causes an opponent to spontaneously teleport around a map instead of walking, but the bulk of the matches played have been smooth sailing. Accomplishing this when there's only two players in a match is an achievement by itself, but making the network function with four people across any number of environments--console or PC--is a herculean task, and for the majority of the time, MultiVersus holds its own. MultiVersus has strong fundamentals, charm, and attention to detail that Smash clones that came before sorely lacked, making it one of the best platform fighting games ever made The roster isn't quite as large as the more established Smash Bros. Ultimate cast, but it's off to a terrific start. Velma Dinkley joins the aforementioned Shaggy from the Scooby-Doo franchise, while Wonder Woman reps DC Comics with Batman, Superman, and Harley Quinn. Steven Universe's Steven and Garnet made the cut, as did Bugs Bunny and Taz from Looney Tunes, and Jake the Dog and Finn the Human from Adventure Time. The 17-character roster is rounded out by Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, iconic cat and mouse duo Tom and Jerry, the Iron Giant, Space Jam's version of Lebron James, and Reindog, an original creation by developer Player First Games; he's the goodest of good boys. The majority of the roster will not be available to most players when they first log on. This is a free-to-play game after all, and with that distinction also comes microtransactions complete with multiple currencies. The game does offer a rotating list of four trial characters, but the bulk of the fighters will be locked. Luckily you can earn these fighters with in-game gold along with the premium currency called Gleamium, which is purchased with real money. However, the grind to unlock every character through gold is longer than it should be. Case in point: When the trial character rotation changed after the early access period ended, I had earned enough gold through playing the game to purchase three of the four characters from the previous rotation, with the fourth coming only one day later. Around 10 hours of gameplay for four characters might sound fine to the most dedicated players, but that means it will take around 40 hours to unlock the entire roster--and by that time, at least 1-2 more fighters will be added. This also doesn't include the cosmetics that are only available for purchase with Gleamium, including costume variants for the cast, special announcer packs where the game's characters serve as the match announcer, and more. Tack on a battle pass with both free and premium tiers and the monetization is strong in MultiVersus. While the free-to-play grind here isn't a complete turn-off, more generosity with in-game gold--or the option to purchase everything with gold or Gleamium--would lessen the sting. That said, the game does prove that free-to-play can work with fighting games, positioning it as a trendsetter for the entire genre. The announcer packs do a great job of highlighting the voice acting in MultiVersus, which ranks among the best we've ever heard. Every one of the characters is brimming with personality thanks to an all-star cast of performers returning to characters they helped po[CENSORED]rize, including Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, Tara Strong as Harley Quinn, and Kevin Conroy as Batman. These aren't random one-off lines that repeat ad nauseum either; there is a level of care and detail in some of the dialogue that goes above and beyond what we'd expected. Characters will address the other combatants before, during, and after battles with witty banter that simply can't be heard anywhere else. Hearing Bugs Bunny call Arya Stark "the belle of Winterfell" will never not earn a smile, just as hearing Superman say "let's see how iron stacks up against steel" to the Iron Giant will never not sound surreal. "Surreal" is actually a perfect word to describe MultiVersus, a game that brings together iconic characters and makes them fight. These characters are as authentic as they come, feeling as if they've been ripped straight from their source material thanks to excellent voice work. The team-based mechanics are truly beyond anything else offered in a platform fighter, while the classic 1v1 format also impresses. The roster offers plenty of variety, though unlocking all of the characters without having to dip into the real-world wallet will definitely be a chore. We don't know how much of its power MultiVersus has tapped into yet--the open beta will soon give way to Season 1--but as it stands now the game has smashed any and all expectations. Even if MultiVersus doesn't unseat the king, it is more than ready to rule its own little corner of the kingdom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/multiversus-review-a-super-smash-hit/1900-6417930/

The promotion for the Resident Evil 4 remake has made fairly clear that Capcom isn’t leaving much on the cutting room floor – the original game’s action movie vibes, quirky characters, and even some less po[CENSORED]r areas, like the later Island section, are returning. That said, if you were still even remotely concerned the new RE4 wasn't embracing the mad ethos of the original, the latest trailer will set your mind at ease. The new RE4 trailer shows off a number of later-game content we haven’t seen much of yet, including battles against the monks (yes, we do see Leon German suplex one on their head) and plenty of bullet-happy action on the Island. We also get our first peek at key characters like Jack Krauser, the villainous Osmund Saddler, and more. Check it all out for yourself, below.Phew! That was a lot to take in, but I’m eager to jump back into the insanity. In addition to the new trailer, Capcom has also revealed that Resident Evil 4 will be getting a time-limited demo and Mercenaries mode will be returning as post-launch content. “To help hold fans over until March 24, the Resident Evil 4 demo has been announced. Special agents looking to tackle even more challenges in Resident Evil 4 will be excited to hear the prolific “The Mercenaries” challenge mode is also returning as free post-launch DLC. More information about the release timing of the demo and “The Mercenaries” DLC will be shared at a later date.”Haven’t been keeping up with Resident Evil 4? Here’s a quick official description… “Survival is just the beginning. Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president's kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals. And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect. Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut. Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.”Resident Evil 4 launched on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5 on March. https://wccftech.com/resident-evil-4-trailer-3-krauser-saddler-mercenaries-confirmed/

Donald Trump's day in court was dramatic and historic - but what we learned about the criminal charges he faces seems unlikely to change minds. Just over two weeks ago, the former US president predicted he was soon to be charged by prosecutors in New York City. Speculation abounded, as everyone, including Mr Trump, waited to find out what was in the indictment. It turned out, however, that the outlines of the case against him had already been widely discussed. The 34-count indictment targeted the hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. There were no charges of criminal conspiracy. There were no new crimes unearthed by the grand jury that remained hidden until the indictment was concealed. There was no expansive case. The cards were already on the table when Mr Trump woke up in Manhattan on Tuesday. The case is what we thought it was, even if some of the evidence of what prosecutors allege was a pattern of election influence was new.This suggests that the battle lines that had been forming over the past few days will only harden as the case proceeds toward trial. Republicans, who had been fairly united in their defence of Mr Trump since he posted on social media that an indictment was looming, will stay unified. Even Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who voted to convict Mr Trump in his two impeachment trials, released a statement saying that Mr Bragg "stretched to reach felony criminal charges in order to fit a political agenda". "The prosecutor's overreach sets a dangerous precedent for criminalising political opponents and damages the public's faith in our justice system," he said. Protesters gathered outside the courthouse for Donald Trump's arraignment Democrats, at this point, may follow President Joe Biden's lead and keep silent about the case. They may prefer to avoid entanglement in a prosecution that at the moment could do more to rally the Republican base than damage the former president's political standing. Mr Trump appeared stony-faced during his brief on-camera appearances at the courthouse where he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. But on his social media website, and in a slew of fundraising emails throughout the day, he seemed willing to press what he may perceive as his advantage. It follows his repeated attacks on Mr Bragg and the New York City prosecution team - actions that prompted a warning from presiding Judge Juan Merchan against further inflammatory rhetoric. Mr Trump has also questioned Mr Merchan's impartiality and called for the case to be moved out of Manhattan to Staten Island, where the jury pool could have more Trump supporters. His lawyers are also expected to file motions to get the charges dismissed before the case reaches trial. What the 34 felony charges against Trump reveal Donald Trump has been charged. What happens next? What Trump indictment means - a simple guide Inside the courtroom, an unusually quiet Trump While Mr Trump may be already be dismissing the case as terminally weak, his legal jeopardy, however, does not begin and end in New York. A federal special counsel and a Georgia district attorney are pursuing their own investigations into the former president, and they can now bring charges without the history-making burden Mr Bragg confronted. The US has had high-profile national legal dramas. It's had high-stakes political campaigns. Now the American public has both at the same time - with the prospect of more to come. The months ahead promise to be a jarring mix of legal manoeuvrings, court appearances and campaign events, as the former president navigates these most unusual waters. Perhaps, as America's first reality-show president, who has made a habit of upending political tradition and decorum for eight years and counting, such a spectacle should come as no surprise. Judge Merchan prohibited television cameras from filming Mr Trump's arraignment in order to prevent what he feared would be a circus environment. But outside the courthouse, as the former president's supporters and critics traded shouts and waved signs in front of a crush of media, the circus was in full swing. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65183242

Freshwater pearl mussels are vulnerable to pollution and poachingAt a glance Rare freshwater pearl mussels have been found in Scottish lochs for the first time, according to researchers The critically endangered species had only previously been known to live in rivers Scientists now hope to find out whether the creatures can breed in lochs Published 4 April 2023 Critically endangered freshwater pearl mussels have been discovered living in two Scottish lochs. Scientists said the protected species, which is vulnerable to pollution and poaching, had previously only been found in rivers. Researchers using remotely-operated underwater drones and snorkelling equipment made the discoveries in lochs in Sutherland and the Trossachs.Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot, said they likely entered the lochs by clinging to the gills of fish. Early in their life cycle the mussels live harmlessly on young salmon and trout, before dropping off to live on riverbeds.Scientists hope to find out whether the mussels can successfully breed in lochs NatureScot’s Iain Sime said other lochs would now be surveyed for the species. He said: “Other mussel species, including the much more widespread swan and duck mussels, are known to live and breed in Scottish lochs, but up until now we’ve had no evidence to suggest that pearl mussels routinely do this too. “This project was an exciting first step in exploring our lochs and we’re keen to do further surveys to better understand more about this critically endangered species." He added: "We don’t yet know whether they can breed in lochs and we want to learn more about a loch pearl mussel’s relationship with their host fish."Freshwater pearl mussels are similar in shape to common marine mussels, but can grow larger and live for up to 130 years in fast-flowing rivers. The Highlands and Islands are among Britain's last strongholds for the rare species. NatureScot said the creatures had suffered massive historic decline due to over-exploitation and habitat loss. Poaching continues to be a problem and there have been incidents in recent years on rivers in the Cairngorms and Sutherland. In history, Julius Caesar's admiration of pearl mussels is cited by his biographer as a motive for the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55BC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gr43dnllko

A US court has given its initial blessing to a plan for VW to pay $1.22bn (£0.98m) to fix or buy-back 80,000 cars from the emissions scandal. Volkswagen could be forced to pay more than $4bn unless it gets regulatory clearance for the plan, which covers three-litre diesel engines. The company, which has already agreed a deal covering 475,000 two-litre cars, will receive a final ruling in May. The court also gave preliminary backing to a separate deal involving Bosch. The German car parts supplier to Volkswagen had proposed a settlement of $327.5m to US diesel VW owners.This settlement marks an important milestone in Volkswagen's efforts to make things right in the United States," said Robert Giuffra, an attorney representing VW. US District Judge Charles Breyer, in San Francisco, is due to hold a hearing on 11 May on whether to grant final approval for the VW and Bosch deals. VW has now agreed to spend up to $25bn in the US to settle claims from car owners, environmental regulators, US states and dealers. The US has also charged seven current and former VW executives with wrongdoing. VW previously agreed to spend up to $10.03bn to buy back up to 475,000 polluting two-litre vehicles that are fitted with software that allowed them to evade emissions rules during testing. The Federal Trade Commission said said earlier this month that US customers who bought the three-litre diesel cars would be fully compensated "through a combination of repairs, additional monetary compensation, and buybacks for certain models". Owners of 2009 to 2012 models could get between $26,000 to $58,000 for a buyback, depending on the model, mileage, and trim of the car, the FTC said. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38977209

From the lowest-ranked KFC to the McDonald’s lauded by a Michelin-starred chef, not all fast food is created equal, apparentlyName: Britain’s worst KFC. Age: The fast food chain was founded in 1952. Appearance: From the outside, a KFC like any another, off the Chestfield roundabout in Whitstable, Kent. And from the inside? A perfect storm of rude staff, poor service and “oozy, greasy food”.That doesn’t sound ideal. This one has been deemed the UK’s worst KFC, with more than 100 “terrible” ratings on Tripadvisor, and an average of just 1.5 stars out of five. What are the punters saying? “Horrendous”, wrote one. “Will not go back,” said another. “Worst fast food restaurant I’ve ever been to.” All from the past few days. What’s the problem? Reading between the lines, it appears to be a staffing issue. The place often closes without warning, there are long waits at the drive-thru and orders are often wrong. A temporary difficulty? Apparently not. Kent Online reported on this in January, at which point a KFC spokesperson said: “This certainly isn’t up to the colonel’s standards and we’re sorry to see these reviews.” So is it really the worst KFC in the UK? It may not even be the worst KFC in Kent. One Gillingham branch has 75 terrible ratings out of 108 Tripadvisor reviews (“Probably the worst KFC on the Planet” – Tinak125), and the KFC in Sandwich got five terribles out of six. I thought the whole point of fast food was bland consistency. Why this standout awfulness? Actually a 1.5 average is not uncommon for a British KFC outlet, and they rarely get above three. The Salford Shopping City branch has a one-star average, ranking last out of all 131 restaurants in the city.There must be exceptions. There are. The KFC in the Avenue Retail Park, Bradford, has a 4.5 rating, albeit from just seven reviews. What are they doing right? “Probably the best thing about heading to Bradford,” according to one review from 2019. Are there any other fast food restaurants doing it right? Michelin-starred chef Gareth Ward, owner of Ynyshir, recently praised the McDonald’s branch in the Enterprise Park industrial estate in Welshpool, Powys. Oh yeah? He said: “Welshpool McDonald’s is on a different level. It’s just got different [elements] to everyone else. It’s just absolutely smashing it.” So, is the fast food experience getting worse, or are people just getting fussier? There is certainly more to complain about, including the prioritisation of delivery app orders over in-person customers. Yes, I’ve noticed that. One Dewsbury Dad was recently left “fuming” when his modest McDonald’s order was thus delayed. “With it just being drinks it should only take five minutes,” he said. How long did it take? Eight minutes. Disgraceful. In so many ways. Do say: “Food disgusting, portions too small – one star.” Don’t say: “Food disgusting, delivered promptly – five stars.” https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/apr/04/welshpool-mcdonalds-is-absolutely-smashing-it-the-best-and-worst-uk-fast-food-outlets

US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet Taiwan's leader on Wednesday By Nicholas Yong BBC News, Singapore US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has confirmed he will meet Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen in California this week, despite China's warning this could lead to "serious confrontation". Ms Tsai will stop over in the US on Wednesday, as she returns from a tour of Taiwan's allies in Central America. A visit to Taiwan last year by the former US speaker was seen as a major provocation by China, which reacted with military drills around the island. US-China relations are at a low point. Tensions have soared in the wake of a row over alleged spy balloons and increasing US attempts to cut off China's access to advanced tech.Mr McCarthy will meet the Taiwanese leader in a "bipartisan" meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library outside of Los Angeles. The meeting in the US, as opposed to in Taiwan, has been seen as a compromise to avoid inflaming tensions with China. But Beijing last week cautioned that any meeting between Ms Tsai and the third-highest-ranking US official could lead to the US seeing "serious repercussions". On Monday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said Beijing "strongly" opposes any form of official interaction and contact between the US and Taiwan governments. The US maintains full diplomatic relations with Beijing but is Taiwan's most important ally and arms supplier.Taiwan's leader visited Guatemala and Belize in a visit aimed at shoring up support in the region Since Ms Tsai was elected in 2016, Beijing has ramped up military, economic and diplomatic pressure on the island. It has increased investment in Latin America, a key diplomatic battleground between the two sides where Taiwan has a few of its 13 diplomatic allies. Ms Tsai's visited Guatemala and Belize where she met both nations' leaders and reaffirmed diplomatic ties. Taiwan lost an ally in the region, Honduras, last month when it switched loyalties to China. Taiwan defence officials said President Tsai's trip abroad had seen more than a dozen Chinese aircraft cross the midway mark of the Taiwan Strait on Friday and Saturday. Taiwan says there is a regular pattern of harassment from Chinese planes. Beijing views Taiwan, a self-governing island of 23 million, as a breakaway province to be taken by force if necessary. Presentational grey line China and Taiwan: The basics Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China sees the self-ruled island as a part of its territory and insists it should be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65171561

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Motor watercraft riders say they have faced a "backlash" after naturalist Iolo Williams reported seeing a group plough through sea birds off Anglesey Sea scooter riders say they have faced a "barrage" of criticism after reports some had disturbed wildlife. Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams had called for riders to require licences after seeing five riders plough through seabirds off Puffin Island, Anglesey. Scott Beeland, ambassador for the Personal Watercraft Partnership in north Wales, said sea scooter users had seen an "unchecked backlash". The British Trust of Ornithologists (BTO) have called for more enforcement. After Mr Williams' tweet, North Wales Police's rural crime team said it was "aware of reports of jet skis ploughing through rafts of seabirds on Anglesey".Various reports have been made in recent weeks in areas including Puffin Island and South Stack - home to seabirds including auks such as guillemots, razorbills, and puffins" they said on Twitter. Mr Beeland told Newyddion on S4C it was important not to blame all motor watercraft riders for the actions of a minority. "If these incidents did happen, then we, as a majority responsible group of people and an industry, are as horrified and disappointed as anyone else," he said.As in every walk of life, there are a small minority of people who let the responsible majority down. That's not unique to jet-skiers though." Mr Beeland said he would like to see the Royal Yacht Association's (RYA) personal watercraft proficiency courses made mandatory for riders. But the RYA said while it was "saddening" to hear of the reports, it did not agree with mandating personal watercraft (PWC) courses. "Just as important as understanding how to use a PWC safely is the need to work closely with the sector to ensure that the anti-social behaviour of a very small number of PWC users is called out as and when it occurs," said Richard Falk, of the RYA. 'Minority of jet skiers' The British Trust of Ornithologists said it wanted to see local councils crack down on anti-social behaviour at sea.The British Trust of Ornithologists would like to see councils crack down on anti-social behaviour at sea "It's probably a minority [of motor watercraft users] - the majority of them behave perfectly well, follow the Marine Code, and there's no problem at all," said Kelvin Jones, of the BTO in Wales. "But you do have these irresponsible individuals who seem to think they have this God-given right to do what ever they want on jet skis. "I would say it's down to the councils. They have to make sure there are proper launching places, and in launching with them you need to be registered with them, have insurance, do a basic training course."Councillor Carwyn Jones says it would be "impossible" for Anglesey council to monitor all the island's 100 slipways But one Anglesey councillor said it would be "impossible" for the council to monitor all 100 slipways on the island. "We do put things in place," said Carwyn Jones. "We encourage people to have training before they go out on the waterway and also we offer a discount for people who've had training on jet skis. "We've got a marine code in place, we educate people, but managing this whole coastline is impossible. But we do our best and we do what we can." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57973510

Police have appealed for the person who took the deer to contact them A dead deer that was taken from the side of a road, prompting police to issue a plea for people not to eat it, has been found. Officers were called to the A458 Golfa straight at 06:50 BST on Thursday after a car hit the animal one mile (1.6km) from Welshpool, Powys. The deer was badly injured and had to be put down by a vet. Some time between 08:00 and 08:50, the deer was taken from the road by a member of the public, Dyfed-Powys said. The force said the medication given to the animal could pose a health risk to anyone planning to eat it.Following an appeal, police said on Thursday evening that the deer had been found and would be disposed of correctly https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65122641

VW's top UK executive, Paul Willis, has said that of the 1.2 million cars in the UK affected by the diesel emissions scandal, 470,000 have been fixed. "At the current rate, we are applying these measures to 20,000 cars a week," he told MPs on the Transport Committee. But after he had left the hearing, Mr Willis was accused of lying to MPs over whether he had supplied the government with promised information. A VW spokesman said Mr Willis had indeed handed over what was promised. Mr Willis told the MPs there had been no redundancies in the UK because of the diesel dishonesty.Indeed, the company was trying to recruit more people to help with the technical fixes, he said. Many UK VW owners are angry that they will receive no compensation as a result of the scandal, unlike customers in the US. But Mr Willis said there was "no legal basis for compensation". He added there was no comparison between the situation in the US and Europe. The scandal broke in 2015, when it emerged that the carmaker had installed "defeat devices" in its diesel models that allowed them to falsify the results of US pollution tests. Accusation of lying Mr Willis told the MPs that VW had handed over all the information asked for by the government so it could press on with inquiries. Later on in the what became a heated committee session after Mr Willis had left - the Transport Minister John Hayes, who is looking at the diesel emissions scandal's impact in the UK, said it was "not true" that VW had given him all the information requested. Committee member Graham Stringer MP went further, saying of Mr Willis's testimony, "I have seen all sorts of evasive witnesses, but I think we have just seen somebody tell us absolute blatant lies." Responding to the exchange, a Volkswagen spokesman told the BBC that Mr Willis has supplied what he agreed to supply, but that the government may have requested more. The company will pay £1.1m for testing Volkswagen vehicles, but not the £0.9m needed to test other companies' vehicles. VW denies misleading millions of consumers as it claims it did not sell vehicles based upon low nitrogen oxide emissions. In his testimony, Mr Willis had said "I don't think we did anything wrong". For his part, Mr Hayes said this was a shift from the company's original position. "I think VW acted extremely badly," he said. "I think it is extraordinary in their evidence this afternoon they seemed to be uncertain about whether they had behaved badly or not. "Yet when this scandal first broke their tone was a very different one," he added. During the hearing Mr Hayes also asked about a report into the scandal written by lawyers Jones Day, which was commissioned by VW. The MPs said VW had promised the committee that it would be published, but the carmaker had now decided not to. Mr Hayes said one could "reasonably assume" that one reason is "that it contains information which contradicts what Volkswagen have said both publicly and to this committee". More investigation While VW has agreed to pay fines and compensation in the US amounting to more than $19bn, it insists that legally in Europe it did nothing wrong. It accepts that 8.5 million vehicles in Europe were fitted with software that could detect when they were being tested for emissions. But it denies that the software amounts to a "defeat device" under EU law. Ian Yarnold, head of international vehicle standards at the Department for Transport told the MPs that he thought the device was "prohibited," but that he would need to gather evidence to determine if fitting the devices amounted to a criminal act. Mr Hayes said he and his boss, transport minister Chris Grayling, would go to Germany next month to meet their counterparts and seek more information. He added that the government had not ruled out launching legal action against VW. VW denies misleading millions of consumers as it claims it did not sell vehicles based upon low nitrogen oxide emissions. The chairman of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman MP, said that it had heard of complaints from customers whose cars had been subjected to Volkswagen's technical fix. Mr Willis responded that there had been around 3,500 such complaints, which he said amounted to 0.75% of those whose cars had been recalled. He insisted that in 65% of cases, the complaints were "subjective" and linked to issues such as the feel of the car and noise levels. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39032167

Bleach can be scary. Experts share their advice on how to soak and spot-clean without ruining your clothes – and it involves a hefty amount of cautionBleach is an intimidating laundry product. It comes with the vague threat that it might ruin your clothes, it smells like a swimming pool and just generally feels like something that shouldn’t be poured into waterways. But it is a great tool for keeping white clothes white – a never-ending odyssey.Like me, Zoe Mellick, a fashion lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, has always approached bleach with caution. “I have heard lots of horror stories about garments turning yellow or being eaten away,” she says. “I generally speak to my trusted dry cleaner before using any bleach product at home, as they have a lot of knowledge about removing stains on different types of fabrics.” But if you are game, here’s how to bleach at home. Triangle of safety Since not all materials are safe to bleach, the first step is to check the garment care label. The symbol for bleach is a solid triangle: an item that is safe to bleach will have one, a garment that should not be bleached will have one with a cross through the triangle. The triangle is the symbol of bleach – a line through it means the item should not be bleached. Photograph: Carolyn Jenkins/Alamy The care label will also tell you whether the garment has to be machine or handwashed and the temperature at which an item can be safely washed. For best results use the highest temperature available. What not to bleach If you try to bleach animal fibres like wool, silk, cashmere or leather, you risk ruining the garment. Similarly, elastane and spandex will be damaged by bleach, says Rebecca Van Amber, a textile scientist at RMIT University. “Only natural cellulose fibres or synthetic fibres can be bleached.”Fabrics that are safe to bleach include cotton, viscose rayon, linen, hemp, polyester and nylon. Unless you are confidently chasing a tie-dye look, Van Amber suggests never using bleach to change a garment’s colour. “[It] can be quite unpredictable and may result in a patchy look.” “It’s a good idea to avoid using bleach on clothes that have decorative prints or details,” Mellick says. “Bleach can cause these to fade or become damaged.” Which bleach is best? “Generally speaking, there are two types of bleach: a chlorine bleach and non-chlorine bleach, [which is also called] oxygen bleach,” Mellick says. The latter is much gentler on garments. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Be sure to check the label on the bottle, as the wrong bleach can damage materials and not all bleach is safe to use on fabric. If you’re unsure, Mellick suggests consulting your dry cleaner.I spoke to a dry cleaner [about refreshing a white polyester and silk skirt] to see what could be done and they suggested using oxygen bleach because chlorine bleach would cause the polyester to go yellow,” she says. “I soaked the skirt multiple times in oxygen bleach and the staining slowly came out – but it was a labour of love.”Oxygen bleach can be used to clean coloured garments – but you might want to check that the fabric is colourfast before you soak. Photograph: Bowonpat Sakaew/Getty Images/EyeEm To test whether a coloured garment is colourfast, rub a wet, white cloth against the garment to see if it picks up any colour – a colourfast garment won’t stain the cloth. Brightening whites “Bleach can be used to brighten old fabrics that have yellowed or become dingy over time,” Mellick says. “Always follow the instructions on the [bleach bottle], which generally include diluting the bleach with water and soaking the fabric for a short period, then rinsing thoroughly.” Van Amber says to dilute bleach, the ratio should generally be about 15 to 20 millilitres of bleach to one litre of water, but this might vary depending on how you are using it.Bleach can also be added directly to your washing machine. Depending on the severity of the stain, add between one-third or two-thirds of a cup to the machine’s bleach dispenser. If you’re using a top-loading machine, pour the diluted bleach directly into the load about five minutes into the cycle. If you are bleaching a particularly precious garment, it might be worth doing a test on a small inconspicuous area to see what happens before proceeding. What about spot-cleaning? If a garment has been stained, bleach can help. “Depending on the type of stain, you could gently spot-clean the area with a small amount of bleach,” Van Amber says. She’s done so successfully herself: “I recently used a Q-tip soaked in a diluted bleach solution … I then rinsed the area thoroughly.”For yellow sweat stains, Mellick suggests using oxygen bleach in powder form. You can buy this at the supermarket. Make a paste out of it with a little bit of water. This can be spread over the affected areas of a garment, then scrubbed with a brush. Next, wash the garment in the washing machine with laundry detergent and repeat the process if necessarySince bleach can be harmful to bare skin or when inhaled, Van Amber suggests to always wear gloves and protective glasses, and work in a well-ventilated area when using it. “Bleach is considered harmful to the environment, particularly waterways and aquatic life, so the best advice is to minimise and reduce the use of bleach wherever possible.” If you have sensitive skin or allergies, Mellick says it’s best to avoid using bleach altogether. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/04/can-i-bleach-that-how-to-safely-whiten-clothes-at-home

The disappearance last month of technology industry dealmaker Bao Fan has rekindled interest in a recent Chinese phenomenon - vanishing billionaires. The founder of China Renaissance Holdings - with a client list that has included internet giants Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu - is seen as a titan in the country's tech sector. Mr Bao's case has followed a well-trodden path: he went missing for days before his company announced that he was "co-operating in an investigation being carried out by certain authorities in the People's Republic of China". As has also become customary, there has been no word yet on which government body is carrying out the probe, what it is about or Mr Bao's whereabouts. The mystery shrouding his disappearance comes after a number of Chinese business leaders have gone missing in recent years, including Alibaba boss Jack Ma.While vanishing billionaires tend to get much more attention, there have also been a number of less publicised cases of Chinese citizens going missing after taking part in, for example, anti-government protests or human rights campaigns. Mr Bao's disappearance has once again shone a spotlight on the view that this is one of the ways that President Xi Jinping is tightening his control of China's economy. It came in the run-up to the annual National People's Congress (NPC), a rubber-stamp parliament, at which plans for the biggest overhaul in years of China's financial regulatory system were announced this week. A new financial regulatory watchdog will be set up to oversee most financial sectors. Authorities said this would close current loopholes caused by multiple agencies monitoring different aspects of China's financial services industry, worth trillions of dollars. China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters Missing Chinese banker assisting authorities - firm In 2015 alone, at least five executives became unreachable, including Guo Guangchang, chairman of conglomerate Fosun International, which is best known in the West for owning English Premier League football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mr Guo went missing in December of that year, with his company announcing after his reappearance that he had been assisting with investigations. Two years later Chinese-Canadian businessman Xiao Jianhua was taken from a luxury hotel in Hong Kong. He had been one of China's richest people and last year was jailed for corruption. In March 2020 billionaire real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang vanished after calling Mr Xi a "clown" over his handling of the pandemic. Later that year, after a one-day trial, Mr Ren was sentenced to 18 years in prison on corruption charges. The most high-profile disappearing billionaire was Alibaba founder Jack Ma. The then-richest person in China vanished in late 2020 after criticising the country's financial regulators. The planned mega-listing of shares in financial technology giant Ant Group was shelved. And despite donating almost $10bn (£8.4bn) to the 'Common Prosperity' fund, he has not been seen in China for more than two years. He has also not been charged with any crimes.Some China watchers suggest the government risks deterring new business talent. "The danger for Beijing in making targets out of tech billionaires is putting more pressure on technology entrepreneurs hoping to become the next Jack Ma," Mr Triolo said. Mr Xi appears aware of the risk of spooking business sentiment, and in a speech to NPC delegates this week he stressed the importance of the private sector to China. But he also called on private enterprises and entrepreneurs to "be rich and responsible, rich and righteous, and rich and loving". Besides the announcement of a new financial watchdog, bankers were also warned last month to not follow the example of their "hedonistic" Western counterparts. Commentators see this as further evidence that Mr Xi has the financial system in his sights. "In recent months, we've been seeing hints of the Common Prosperity agenda bleed into financial services, particularly in regards to remuneration and bonus schemes for senior executives, as well as the pay gaps between management and junior staff," Mr Marro said. It remains to be seen whether or not Mr Xi's crackdown on billionaires will help him significantly tighten his grip on power. What is certainly at risk though is confidence in China's financial markets, businesses and ultimately the economy as a whole. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64781986

A bold new direction for Disney's classic characters sinks under the weight of predatory tactics.At first glance, Disney Mirrorverse looks and sounds like a child making up a story on the fly with action figures. Characters from all across Disney's catalog--heroes and villains alike--come together to fight off a malevolent force that threatens all of reality. These characters aren't their usual selves, trading in their children's movie personas for something with a little more edge. It's a bold and interesting choice, something never seen before from this group of characters, and this world's mere existence is an exciting prospect. Unfortunately, the boldness of Mirrorverse comes at a cost, literally, as the idea is buried beneath crystalline loot boxes, microtransactions, and convoluted progression. What could have been a whole new world for Disney is instead just the latest run-of-the-mill mobile game. Disney Mirrorverse is an action-RPG set in the titular Mirrorverse, where enemies called the Fractured are growing in power. You battle these hordes with teams of three heroes called Guardians, chosen from the 44 characters who make up the roster. Each of the 44 fills one of four archetypes, Melee, Ranged, Support, and Tank, which informs how they fight. These classes are standard fare: Melee Guardians use swords and other handheld weapons, Ranged heroes rely on magic and projectiles, Tanks stay in the enemy's face while soaking up damage, and Supports heal teammates, debuff enemies, and more. You get new Guardians through Crystals--Mirrorverse's version of loot boxes that are both earned through gameplay and purchased with in-game and real-world currencies. Crystals come in multiple forms, some highlighting specific Guardians or guaranteeing specific ranks, and are opened with typical loot box theatrics via the in-game shop.As a longtime Disney fan, I cannot stress enough how cool it is to see these characters in this new light. Belle from Beauty and the Beast steps out of the library as a powerful mage, wielding a staff powered by the magic rose itself. Her villainous counterpart, Gaston, has gone full Game of Thrones wildling with his massive bow and shoulder-spanning wolf pelt. The lovable bear Baloo dons his Disney Afternoon-era TaleSpin garb and uses a giant plane propeller as a broadsword. Not all characters receive such revolutionary designs--Elsa is an elemental who controls ice, for instance--but even those that don't stray as far from the source have their charm. There are multiple modes in which to send these heroes to battle, the main one being the gigantic Story mode. The story covers seven chapters, each with, at minimum, 10 stages of enemies to conquer. You attack by tapping the corresponding buttons on the bottom-right corner of the screen--basic attack by tapping, strong attack by pressing, and ultimate attack by tapping it once it's activated. You can also move with the joystick appearing on the bottom-left–which can be flicked for a quick dash--and can switch between each of your three Guardians on the fly by tapping their pictures on the top-left. The attack buttons worked without issue, even when switching between tapping and pressing the standard button, but I had a very hard time with the flick-to-dash functionality. Most of the time when I flicked, the Guardian I was controlling would take a small step rather than dash, often resulting in being damaged by the attack I was trying to avoid. A few times this resulted in that Guardian's death, which made the lack of response extra frustrating. Each stage contains between one and four battles, where the team fights enemies until the last one falls, then advances to the next battle automatically. Only the final battle of the stage has any sort of flair: a brief cutscene introducing a Fractured version of a Guardian that acts as the stage's "boss." Once that Fractured Guardian is conquered, you see a brief victory pose, collect rewards based on how many stars you earned, and move on to the next stage. There are other formats to explore, including Supply Runs, where you can earn one of the near-infinitecurrencies in the game, and limited-time events themed around specific Guardians, but this core stage structure remains consistent throughout. Here's where the Disney magic runs out on Mirrorverse: This is the extent of the gameplay experience. Whether you choose story, Supply Runs, or any of the other modes, each stage plays out the same way. When the final battle is over, you see the same victory poses, followed by the same rewards screen, and then it's back to the stage-select menu. It's repetitive to the point of boredom, completely burying any excitement the original concept had created. All of these currencies are used to buy resources that fuel the game's various systems, which border from lengthy to gratuitously over-complicatedThere is one mode that nearly saves the day, however: 1v1 Showdown. This pits one of your Guardians against a single AI Fractured Guardian across 30 stages, with enemies increasing in power with each stage. While the main three-person battle system can sometimes fill the screen with action, these 1v1 battles are more focused and tense. I get a "no items, Final Destination" vibe from these challenges, as the mode distills the battle system down to its purest form. The matches fly by quickly, though, meaning that before you know it, you're at the end of the 30-stage gauntlet, but it is fun while it lasts. However, the majority of your time playing Mirrorverse is spent in the menus, doing everything but battling: gathering quest rewards, purchasing and opening crystals to gain new Guardians, sifting through Mirrorverse's multiple currencies, and so on. I counted eight different types of currency that are used in the game's shop alone, and while most of these are earned through playing the game, Orbs--which are used to purchase the Crystals that unlock the Guardians--can be purchased in bulk with real money. The shop offers bundles of currencies, resources, and even Guardians as well, which it will continually remind you of as you travel through the menus. All of these currencies are used to buy resources that fuel the game's various systems, which border from lengthy to gratuitously over-complicated. Take Motes, the resources used to level up Guardians. Motes come in five colors, one for each of the four classes and a fifth that can be used for any class. They also come in three varieties: Minor, which can only be used for Guardians at levels 1-20, Major for Guardians at levels 21-50, and Superior for Guardians at levels 51-100. That's 15 different types of an item that is crucial to your progress. Also, every 10 levels, you also need to increase your Guardian's "rank," which requires extra items called Gems, which, again, come in both color-coded and generic versions. Oh, and you'll need Books to level up each Guardian's individual skills, and there are six different types of Books to collect as well. All of these convoluted systems create a situation where progress is halted until the in-game shop adds the resources I need to continue. For example: my main party is Tron, Elsa, and Maui. Tron and Elsa are both Ranged Guardians, but at levels 26 and 25, respectively, I can't power them up, as I only have Minor Ranged Motes. Maui, meanwhile, is stuck at level 30 while I search for two more Tier 1 Sapphires in order to increase his rank to four. It's maddening, even more so when I think about how awesome the core idea of Mirrorverse is, and it makes me want to play something else. Energy--a classic mobile game trope where you can play a finite number of missions until you're forced wait a certain amount of time to play again, or pay up to hasten the process--also makes an appearance, but I was able to gain more energy than the counter suggested, so the mechanic's normally restrictive nature wasn't as apparent. At one point my energy meter read that I had 84 energy out of 40 after leveling up my account; while I was happy for the overflow, eventually it dwindled and I was back to the waiting game. I could go on and on, but Mirrorverse is stuffed with predatory tactics like this. They shred any remaining desire to further explore what is truly a bold and unique take on the Disney universe, which is a real shame. I'd hoped these Guardian versions of the Disney characters I'd grown up with would get more time to shine and show off their new abilities. Instead, I got buried in resources and currencies, which relegated these amazing heroes to posing on the menu screens, and the result is a big disappointment. I'm looking into the Mirrorverse, but I don't like the reflection. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/disney-mirrorverse-review-shattered-dreams/1900-6417901/

Lightfall's new gameplay mechanics and evolved systems position it as a turning point for Destiny 2, but the expansion is let down by the poor narrative of its campaign.With Destiny 2: The Witch Queen and its assorted seasons in the rearview mirror, 2023's Lightfall expansion has some big shoes to fill. Improved storytelling, new gameplay modes, and the ensuing seasonal content made The Witch Queen expansion a standout experience, and Lightfall doesn't manage to reach the high bar it set. Destiny 2's latest add-on introduces major gameplay tweaks, an exciting new subclass to play around with, and plenty of fresh Exotic gear for your arsenal, but this is overshadowed by a disappointing campaign and a lifeless Neptunian destination that make for an underwhelming combination. Lightfall doesn't waste any time setting the stage, taking place shortly after the devastating events of Season of the Seraph. After a quick slideshow narrated by the silky-smooth voice of Lance Reddick's Commander Zavala brings everyone up to speed, it's all hands on deck as the Witness finally makes its long-awaited arrival in the Solar system to battle the Traveler. From the opening mission, the action unfolds at a breakneck pace, as a new Shadow Legion of Cabal led by a reborn Calus set a course for Neptune, and you're hitching a ride alongside them in an effort to prevent a doomsday scenario from occurring. Bungie has spoken several times about adopting an '80s action movie vibe for Lightfall, and that influence is felt everywhere on Neptune's primary location, Neomuna. From a city bathed in neon lights and a training montage as you master your new powers, to the introduction of a cast of characters that include analogs of loose cannon space-cops, maverick rookies, and grizzled veterans just one week away from retirement, Lightfall wears its not-so-subtle inspirations proudly. However, at the same time, the campaign has the depth of a direct-to-VHS action flick. The story is frustratingly vague as you chase down a paracausal MacGuffin, encounter slightly upgraded space rhinos, and grapple with emotional moments that feel hollow and unearned. Lightfall has an exhilarating start, but by the time you've experienced all eight of its campaign missions, it feels more like the unsatisfying storytelling of vanilla Destiny than a memorable '80s action picture. After nine years of being promised answers and chasing every lead imaginable, Lightfall essentially passes the buck to the rest of this year's seasonal content and 2024's The Final Shape. Much of the story is focused on The Veil, an object of immense power that you chase throughout the campaign, and is said to be the most important artifact in the universe. However, the reasons for this aren't explained. Calus, who has become the newest Disciple of the Witness, is as grandiose as ever and now resembles a Pacific Rim kaiju decked out in armored kitchen appliances. Despite all this, ultimately he's nothing more than a hedonistic bullet sponge who falls far below The Witch Queen's Savathun, the gold standard for great villains in Bungie's sci-fi sandbox. After being built up as Destiny 2’s next major threat throughout Season of the Haunted, Calus is unfortunately treated like an expendable henchman serving the Witness instead of the grandiose conqueror that fans had come to know, love, and loathe over the years. Legendary mode, which dials up the challenge considerably, is a recipe for sweaty palms and victories that feel hard-earned as you overcome seemingly impossible odds. The new gameplay tweaks and mechanics introduced in Lightfall pair well with the Legendary campaign, which have several exhilarating moments that can easily slot into a highlight reel. From a dramatic escape through Calus' flagship to taking part in a Cabal civil war that throws everything and the cosmic kitchen sink at you, Lightfall's campaign is mechanically a fun gauntlet to charge through as you master Strand--even if the narrative drops the ball frequently. Your new Darkness subclass, Strand, is introduced without much fanfare, frequently appearing in the campaign as a major source of power that's barely elaborated on. While 2020's Beyond Light expansion made unlocking the Stasis subclass aggravating, the manner in which the first Darkness subclass was introduced at least felt like a meaningful moment for Destiny 2. But in Lightfall, Strand hits the scene after you poke around a random interdimensional wormhole, is barely elaborated on, and is primarily a set of reality-unraveling training wheels that you're given control of periodically throughout the campaign until you unlock it full after afterward. At least the quests surrounding Lightfall's campaign do a better job of fleshing out the expansion and providing solid reasons for you to go pick a fight with time-traveling murder machines. Destiny veterans will be used to this grind, but between new missions to claim the latest Exotics and the weekly Season of Defiance storyline--which is technically not part of Lightfall itself--the story told here is far more gripping and cohesive. experience better for other players as well. Destiny 2's Lightfall expansion doesn't make a good first impression, but beneath a threadbare story that relies on an exasperatingly fuzzy motivation for your Guardian, it still feels mechanically satisfying to dive into. Comparing it to the standard of excellence that 2022's The Witch Queen saga established only exposes the numerous shortcomings of Lightfall, and that's a shadow that the next year of seasonal content will need to step out of if Bungie wants to develop the expansion into something more than a middle-of-road entry that stumbles toward a final showdown that has been a decade in the making. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/destiny-2-lightfall-review-deft-stranding/1900-6418042/

Resident Evil 4 is rightly considered one of the best entries in the survival-horror series by CAPCOM and the classic entry in the series that has aged the best. Despite being released in 2005, the game still plays great to this day, which made CAPCOM's decision to remake it a little baffling, considering that Resident Evil: Code Veronica is way more in need of a remake. After experiencing some sections of the Resident Evil 4 remake, however, I can confidently say that remaking the fourth entry in the series was the right call, as the number of improvements to the formula is sure to make the experience way more engaging.Unlike the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes, which modernized the formula of the original games, the Resident Evil 4 remake doesn't bring the same radical changes and feels extremely familiar. Like in the original, Leon can shoot enemy parts, such as their legs, to disorient his foes, and knock them down using a melee attack, using his knife to parry their melee and ranged attacks. When fighting Ganado, the parasite's body can become exposed, which will increase the enemy's power and speed, making knife parries even more important. With the Resident Evil 4 remake featuring a lot of different enemies, players will have to adapt to their unique characteristics, changing their strategies according to the situation. Explosive weapons, for example, can be shot to make short work of the enemies holding them. To make another example, the Garrador in the Castle is strong and quick, but its vision is impaired, so players need to move quietly to avoid alerting them. Even if discovered, however, players still have the chance to mitigate damage by parrying the Garrador's powerful claw strikes. Knife parries will be even more important in the fight against Jack Krauser, which now players have to play actively instead of completing a quick-time event. This is an excellent change over the original, as it makes the iconic fight finally feel as involved as it should have been in the original. The ability to register multiple weapons to shortcuts is also a welcome addition that greatly expands combat. With haunting locations like the Lake and the Castle, the Resident Evil 4 remake didn't need to touch up exploration that much, but it seems like CAPCOM had a very good idea on how to improve it as well, and it shows. Alongside the puzzles found in the original and environmental hazards such as catapults in the Castle, players can find request notes with requests that will reward players with Spinels. Defeating enemies and thoroughly exploring around will also reward players with Pesetas, which can be used to purchase new weapons and items from the iconic Merchant. From time to time, his stock will change, so players will have to check with him frequently to purchase important items such as different colors and charms for the Attaché Case, which grant a variety of minor effects, such as increased drop rate for ammo, improved healing and so on. Case customization is only available at typewriters, so even their role has expanded beyond simple save points. While exploring the many haunting locations featured in the Resident Evil 4 remake, Leon will be followed by Ashley, the daughter of former US President Graham he has been sent to rescue from the Los Illuminados cult. The young woman will follow Leon the best she can, and players have some degree of control over how she should follow him with the Tight or Loose commands. During combat sequences, players will need to be aware of where Ashley is and what she is doing, as enemies will be going after her as soon as possible. If she is damaged too much, she will be knocked down and become easy prey for the enemy, and if she is carried off, it will be game over, so keeping an eye on Ashley at all times and using the available commands to keep her safe from harm will be extremely important.With its incredible atmosphere kept intact and enhanced by the RE Engine and expanded gameplay, the Resident Evil 4 remake is setting out to be a great game for veterans and newcomers alike. How the many changes will hold up remains to be seen, but from what has been shown so far, it definitely looks like CAPCOM has done an amazing job remaking one of its most po[CENSORED]r games. The Resident Evil 4 remake launches on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S on March 24th, 2023, worldwide. Find out more info in our recap article. https://wccftech.com/resident-evil-4-preview/

HIGHLIGHTS The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K has both the PatchWall and Android TV UIs There is 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage The device works with Google Assistant for voice commands Xiaomi would probably want you buy its televisions first, but if you think your existing TV still has some life left in it — the screen, at least — then the company has solutions on that front as well. Xiaomi has a small but sensible range of streaming devices, which plug into the HDMI port of your television and add enhanced smart connectivity and capabilities. The latest in this range is the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K, which is the most compact and capable device of its kind from the company to date. Priced at Rs. 4,999 in India, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K comes with Ultra-HD streaming capabilities, along with support for high dynamic range (HDR) content up to the Dolby Vision format, and Dolby Atmos audio. It's also considerably smaller than the Mi Box 4K, allowing you to plug it directly into your TV's HDMI port where it will stay conveniently out of sight. Is this the best value-for-money streaming device you can buy right now? Find out in this review.Xiaomi TV Stick 4K design and specifications Like the original Mi TV Stick, and fortunately unlike the Mi Box 4K, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is small and light enough to keep itself anchored to the back of your television when plugged into the HDMI port. You do, of course, need to connect it to a power source, and in most cases connecting it to your television's USB-A port should be sufficient.If it's proving to be tricky, a power adapter is included in the box, and you can connect it directly to a power socket for a more reliable power supply. Also included in the box is an HDMI extender accessory and remote to control the streaming device. The ‘stick' itself is quite nondescript with just a single logo on the outer side of its black surface, but that's entirely fine given that you likely won't ever see it in normal operation. When it comes to specifications, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K largely matches up to what most Android TV-powered streaming devices offer. As the name suggests, the device supports streaming at up to Ultra-HD (3840x2160-pixel) resolution, with support for high dynamic range content at up to the Dolby Vision format, as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS HD audio support.The streaming device has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, and is powered by a quad-core processor, with Bluetooth 5 and dual-band Wi-Fi for connectivity. The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K runs on Android TV 11, with both the stock Android TV user interface as well as Xiaomi's PatchWall UI on top. Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Review Xiaomi TV Stick 4K remote and features Xiaomi's classic remote — po[CENSORED]r on its range of televisions — is bundled with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K as well. With the company adding the PatchWall UI to the streaming device, the remote has a button to quickly jump to PatchWall, in addition to the other buttons for basic functions such as power, navigation, volume adjustment, and invoking Google Assistant.There are also hotkeys for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and the app drawer. The remote uses Bluetooth for connectivity with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K, which also enables the sending of voice data for Google Assistant using the built-in microphone. As always, the remote is powered by two AAA batteries.Apart from what's already been mentioned, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K supports Google Chromecast with up to Ultra-HD casting, and Google Assistant can be used to search for content as well as seek answers to simple queries and control IoT devices that might be linked to your account. The feature set isn't too detailed, but the standalone functionality of the device is enough on its own.Either Android TV or PatchWall can be used on the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K depending on your preference, and you can very easily switch between them as well. The former is a bit more app-focused, while the latter works on content curation and recommendations that highlight content and direct you to the appropriate streaming platforms based on your choices. Xiaomi TV Stick 4K performance The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is, for all intents and purposes, a Xiaomi television minus the screen. What makes it particularly impressive is the size of the entire package; it's a fair bit smaller than po[CENSORED]r Ultra-HD streaming devices from the Fire TV range, and its form factor is arguably more convenient than that of the Chromecast with Google TV.These similarities reflect in the operating system and the way everything functions, with the hardware effectively able to handle Android TV 11 and PatchWall without much trouble. I didn't experience any performance issues with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K during my time with it, and the device functioned reliably as a source device by fetching content in the best possible resolution and formats according to my TV set up.The remote occasionally took a fraction of a second too long to respond, but this didn't annoy me too much. While you can install games from the Google Play store and play on the TV, it's not the ideal device for this kind of use case, and is largely geared around streaming audio and video from po[CENSORED]r services. Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support comes in handy if you have a compatible TV or audio system, and subscriptions to services which work with the formats such as Netflix and Apple TV+. It's worth noting here that there is unfortunately no support for HDR10+ on the Xiaomi TV Stick, so this streaming device is best paired with a TV that supports Dolby Vision. On an HDR10+ television, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K was only able to stream at the HDR10 format with Ultra-HD content.While most streaming devices function smoothly on stable Wi-Fi connections, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K worked reasonably well even when connected to a relatively less stable mobile hotspot. That said, 5G connectivity generally ensured speeds were fast enough to handle buffer-free Ultra-HD streaming. Nonetheless, it's a worthwhile option for those relying on mobile Internet connections at home.Verdict As with many of Xiaomi's products, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K succeeds because of its pricing. At Rs. 4,999, it's considerably more affordable than competing products such as the Chromecast with Google TV and Amazon Fire TV stick 4K Max, while offering a largely reliable and uncomplicated Ultra-HD and HDR streaming experience. Although the lack of support for HDR10+ content might be a problem for some depending on the TV you plan to use it with, there's very little else to complain about with the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K. The convenient size and form factor also helps make this an easy recommendation for anyone looking to buy a functional and reliable Ultra-HD streaming device, assuming your use case is primarily watching content.Convenient size and form factor Ultra-HD streaming, Dolby Vision and Atmos support Reliable and uncomplicated functionality Very good value for money Cons: HDR10+ format not supported Ratings: Design and specifications: 8 Features: 8 Value for money: 9 Overall: 8 The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a hefty price tag compared to the company's 2022 flagship model. How does it fare against other high-end phones launched in 2023? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.gadgets360.com/tv/reviews/xiaomi-tv-stick-4k-review-price-in-india-vs-fire-tv-max-chromecast-google-tv-3909415