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Rishi Sunak has met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in his first visit to the Kyiv since he became prime minister. The Brtish premier is set to confirm a new £50m package of air defence for the war-torn country, including 125 anti-aircraft guns and technology to counter deadly Iranian-supplied drones, such as dozens of radars and anti-drone electronic warfare capability, No 10 said. It follows more than 1,000 new anti-air missiles announced by the defence secretary earlier this month. Elsewhere, the head of Ukraine’s biggest private energy firm has said those who are able to should leave the country to help reduce demand on the nation’s crippled energy system. Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK, said those who have an “alternative place” to stay should go there for “three of four months.” His comments to the BBC came after Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, said that half of the country’s energy system had been destroyed by recent missile attacks by Russia. Russian forces are digging new trenches some 60km back from the current front line in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), suggesting the Kremlin is bracing for further Ukrainian advances. After retreating from Kherson – the only regional capital captured during the war so far – Russia continues to lose ground and its forces are focussing on reorganising, preparing and refitting defences across Ukraine, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update. Rishi Sunak has travelled to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and confirm the UK’s continued support for the war-torn country. The visit is Mr Sunak’s first to the region since he became prime minister last month. https://sports.yahoo.com/ukraine-news-live-putin-missile-161946942.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADDPXLerDMHjBMqw8NvAkbMepCeg-sPHeKuhALGNMixczvEAfemklLtIY9qLvOr7TY-mIch_oVKu-YfhVo8m5UBSeDZWSCa3uYV7DzNsg4j6RwfEULR8rC3HhwPfesV-7EMbMPKlDxNexRCgsIuqYFeCOlTu7Xx_dU1XhYltrcUZ

The new God of War, a PlayStation exclusive, is a much-needed breath of life for the struggling console gaming market during a rough content drought. God of War Ragnarök is defending an embattled console gaming market The new God of War, a PlayStation exclusive, is a much-needed breath of life for the struggling console gaming market during a rough content drought. Nick Statt and Janko RoettgersNovember 15, 2022 Hello, and welcome to Protocol Entertainment, your guide to the business of the gaming and media industries. This Tuesday, we’re discussing the early success of Sony’s God of War Ragnarök amid a year of decline for the video game industry. Also: How Twitter turmoil and the FTX implosion are affecting the games industry and a major new update for Epic’s Unreal Engine 5. God of War answers Sony’s prayers The game market has had a rough 2022: A surprising mobile slump, lower consumer spending, continued hardware supply constraints, and game delays littering the release calendar with unfilled absences. But what is proving to be a resounding success for Sony — and proof of the resilience of the PlayStation maker’s console-first business model — is the new God of War Ragnarök. Released last week to rave reviews and a powerful first week of sales, Ragnarök is helping buoy a struggling console market and underscores Sony’s shrewd and exacting strategy for maximizing the value of its first-party studios. The new God of War is fantastic. I’ve played only the first handful of hours of Ragnarök’s sprawling story, but it is an improvement in virtually every way over its 2018 predecessor while still maintaining a familiar approach. The original game has sold more than 23 million copies. Sony opted not to make Ragnarök a PS5-only game and chose instead to target its existing PS4 base of nearly 120 million units. (The game features some graphical and performance upgrades for PS5 players.) While that means the game doesn’t look and feel radically different, it is available to the widest swath of buyers. Early sales data in the U.K. indicates Ragnarök enjoyed the biggest launch in the history of the God of War franchise, Gamesindustry.biz reported. The new entry sold more on its first day in that market than the 2018 installment did in its first week. Ragnarök also dominated The Game Awards nominations yesterday, earning the most of any title this year with 10. Ragnarök arrived at a particularly troubling time for the industry. Starting this summer, analysts and market research firms began warning of a game industry downturn. By the end of the second quarter, it became clear the market was in decline after two years of explosive pandemic-fueled growth. New data out today from market researcher Newzoo has the industry contracting by more than 4%. The firm, founded in 2007, has never before forecast a decline for the global games market. The primary culprit is mobile gaming, which has grown consistently every year since the launch of the iPhone and has helped offset declines in PC and console gaming. Another factor: Several game delays have pushed many big releases to 2023. Analytics firm Sensor Tower’s gaming lead Dennis Yeh said “barring a major holiday season, annual mobile gaming spend in the U.S. will see a decline for the first time ever,” while Newzoo forecasts a mobile decline of 6.4% this year. Some good news: The latest Call of Duty game was the fastest-selling in the franchise’s history, moving $800 billion in sales in its first three days. U.S. market tracker NPD said yesterday that just two days of COD: Modern Warfare 2 sales were enough to make the newest entry the second-best-selling game of the year behind Elden Ring and help keep October consumer spending flat year over year despite the decline in mobile. Single-player gaming is alive and well — for Sony, at least. The game industry continues to shift investments and priorities toward mobile, live service, and free-to-play gaming. But Ragnarök, as well as February’s smash hit Elden Ring, are offering a refreshing counterbalance to that line of thinking. While far fewer studios these days enjoy the resources of God of War developer Santa Monica Studio to develop single-player games, there is strong demand for big-budget experiences using cutting-edge graphics and Hollywood voice talent. Sony has outlined an ambitious plan to develop numerous live service games in the coming years, and it acquired Destiny developer Bungie this year for close to $4 billion to help those efforts. Sony has also invested in mobile development, revamped its PlayStation Plus subscription, and sped up its pace in porting PlayStation games to PC so it isn’t so reliant on console gaming. But at the same time, Ragnarök is evidence that narrative-driven console exclusives are still the company’s bread and butter, and Sony has no reason to ignore its core audience of PlayStation single-player fans while it invests in the growth areas it’s neglected until fairly recently. Ragnarök may end up on PC in a couple of years, and perhaps even on Sony’s subscription service some time after that. But for now, the game is best enjoyed — and only enjoyed — on PlayStation for $60 to $70. So far, it seems likely many millions of players are still just fine with that arrangement. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.protocol.com/amp/god-of-war-ragnarok-sales-2658610067

Down and to the left It was a busy week for the big publicly listed gaming companies and not exactly a pretty one. Roblox Corp., Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., Unity Software Inc., and others reported their quarterly financial results and showed that they aren’t growing at the rate analysts had expected. After a surge in sales over the pandemic, when lots of people were stuck inside, the new reality—people are back to school and work but the economy is slowing and inflation is through the roof—has analysts questioning what’s next for an industry many had considered recession-proof. Aside from a lot of gripes about the strong dollar, one common theme this quarter was mobile gaming. This came up a lot on the earnings calls with analysts. In the first half of 2022, mobile gaming revenue fell nearly 9.6% from a year earlier to $11.4 billion, according to data from analytics firm Sensor Tower. Downloads decreased 2.5%, too. In its fiscal second-quarter results, Take-Two cut its annual forecast for bookings, citing “a more cautious view of the current macroeconomic backdrop, particularly in mobile.” For years, gaming executives were shouting about the mobile revolution from the rooftops of their skyscraper-high share prices. We’ve seen several big acquisitions aimed at capturing a bigger share of the fast-growing mobile market this year, including Take-Two’s $11 billion purchase of Zynga and Unity Software Inc.’s $4.4 billion merger with mobile ad company IronSource. And yet, as financial results came in, analysts were scratching their heads. “Mobile performance was all over the place,” says Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, noting the mixed results were “hard to reconcile.” Electronic Arts Inc., Take-Two, and Playtika Holding Corp., all showed disappointing results from mobile. But Activision Blizzard Inc.’s studio King — maker of Candy Crush — saw net in-game bookings rise 8%. Activision as a whole reported net mobile bookings up $20 billion year-over-year thanks, in part to its China release of Diablo Immortal. There are choppy seas ahead for what’s broadly considered gaming’s surest growth sector. John Riccitiello, chief executive officer of game technology company Unity, said advertisers are paying publishers less for ads on both Apple Inc.’s iOS and Alphabet Inc.’s Android. Riccitiello didn’t blame Apple’s data privacy changes that have gutted mobile-dependent platforms like Facebook. Instead, he put it squarely on the economy. “The timing here is clear: The declines take place as the world’s banks increased interest rates and the specter of recession was everywhere in the press,” he said on the company’s earnings call. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-11-11/candy-crush-bucks-mobile-game-industry-slump-amid-ad-slowdown

Sci-fi narrative adventure game Somerville launches for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC today, and also drops straight into Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Here are our thoughts on Jumpship's debut title. Somerville piles on the intrigue from the off. In an early scene reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s sci-fi flick Signs, we, as a young child whose parents have nodded off on the sofa, toddle around a dark living room while an ominous banging and shuffling emanates from outside the farmhouse. Captivated by the noise, we go in search of answers, clumsily making our way through the house before clambering up to the kitchen window, where the shuffling and chirping from an otherworldly creature continues. Somerville wants you to open this window and risk inviting whatever is skulking around outside into your home. The sound, visuals, and atmosphere here make for a tense and unnerving opening experience that tugs at your curiosity to keep you moving forward. This level of intrigue is continuous throughout the game, but ultimately, outside of some excellent visuals and wonderful sound design, Somerville falls short in several areas. Developed by Jumpship, Somerville is a narrative adventure that boasts a producer credit from ex-Playdead CEO and co-founder Dino Patti. Comparisons were made early doors to Patti’s previous puzzle platformers, Inside and Limbo, but Somerville is a narrative adventure first and foremost. While there might be some shared DNA in terms of the lack of dialogue and combat, Jumpship’s debut game mainly focuses on narrative, which, for me, didn’t quite land. Somerville follows the story of a family who has been caught up in the middle of an alien invasion. Aside from your brief time as the toddler, you play as the father who, after an accident that transfers a supernatural power into his right arm, is presumed dead, leaving the wife and toddler to flee. Sometime after that night, the father is awoken by the strange energy now coursing through his body, and along with his trusty canine companion, he sets out to find his wife and son. While it’s not the most novel opening to a game, it certainly had me asking questions: Where is my family? Who are these alien invaders? What are these vast other-worldly obelisks poking down from the sky like stalactites? Stepping out into Somerville’s world, it quickly became clear just how much effort and painstaking detail Jumpship have put into crafting a convincing post-apocalyptic UK. The visuals and art style here are excellent, and it really feels as if an alien invasion has occurred in some rural part of the UK. The world is seemingly devoid of life aside from curious orb-like creatures who zip around hoovering up strange alien matter and the dangling obelisks that suddenly open up to cast a striking pink beam of light that tracks across the land to find and destroy anything left alive. In terms of atmosphere and world-building, Jumpship has done an excellent job here. A standout area is the abandoned Glastonbury-like festival, where the flapping of hundreds of empty tents and empty main stage create an eerie feeling. The excellent sound design also plays a huge part in making this world believable, and again, Jumpship has nailed it. Playing with headphones, the noise can get so immense and daunting that it’s really quite thrilling. From a gameplay perspective, Somerville is simple. It’s mainly a case of following the route through each environment and completing the odd puzzle to get you into the next area. It’s a slow ride, with the character, at times, moving painfully slow to the point of annoyance. This is exaggerated when you come to certain areas that aren’t clear in where you’re supposed to go. Walking a long way off slowly into the distance only to find it’s the wrong direction and then slowly having to walk back because the area isn’t well signposted is a pain. The journey through each environment is broken up with some light puzzle solving, which revolves around the supernatural power you pick up. When combined with a light source, it allows you to form a beam that melts and dissolves (and later solidifies) alien debris and substances blocking your path. Things start off simple with a light attached to a cord that only stretches so far, but as the game progresses, the puzzles get a little more complex, if only slightly. One puzzle that I did particularly enjoy involved physics and solidifying some of the alien substance in a minecart to open a door, and while it did get the cogs whirring in the noggin for a bit, this and possibly one other were the only puzzles that challenged. Although these puzzles aren’t the toughest to figure out, they do at least break up the traversal, offering something a little different. https://www.trueachievements.com/n51851/somerville-review

The prime minister said his predecessor made mistakes with her mini-budget but would not apologise for the financial pain it caused many people in the UK. He admitted he has a difficult task now to fill the large economic black hole. The prime minister, who is in Bali for the G20 summit, refused six times today to say sorry for the decisions his predecessor made, which caused severe and continuing financial turbulence. He acknowledged that "mistakes were made" by Ms Truss and her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, whose unfunded £45bn tax cuts sent mortgage rates soaring, and created a run on sterling and a gilt market freefall. However, every time he was asked by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby to apologise, he repeated that errors were made and said: "What I want to do now is fix them." He admitted there are "difficult decisions" to be made to get the economy back on track, but he is "prepared to do difficult things". Mr Sunak added: "I spent the summer talking about the challenges that our country faces, talking about what I thought was required to grapple with those and fix them to build a foundation which we could provide jobs and growth and prosperity for people over time. "So I think that people know where I stand on all of these issues. And now that I'm prime minister, I'm going to make sure that we deliver on that." Although Mr Sunak spoke out against Ms Truss's plans for the economy during the summer's leadership campaign, he said he would not vote against her mini-budget.He said since he took over the reins, there is now "much more stability in the UK's financial position in terms of what the UK is paying to borrow money and what's happened to the pound". Mini-budget cost UK £30bn Analysis released on Monday by the independent Resolution Foundation think tank found Ms Truss's mini-budget cost the UK £30bn, doubling the sum the Treasury says will have to be raised by Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor. Mr Hunt will seek to tackle that £60m "black hole" in the autumn statement on Thursday. The chancellor told Sky News over the weekend there will be tax rises for everybody, although the most wealthy will have to contribute more, and he will announce a rise in the national living wage. https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/rishi-sunak-refuses-to-apologise-six-times-for-trusss-economic-turmoil-12748038

On a rainy morning in September 2013, Lazaro Alvarez Andrade greeted the cows at the small dairy where he worked in rural New York. He was preparing to lead them six at a time into the milking parlor when he heard the thunder of hooves behind him. Before he could run, a young bull which had been brought to the farm without his knowledge rammed into him from behind, slamming him to the ground. As he fell, his face struck a metal rail separating two cow stalls. He felt intense pain, and he could not see out of his right eye. Blood gushed from his face, soaking his short-sleeved shirt and denim pants and running over his oilcloth boots. The owner of the farm, an older white man, pulled the bull off. He led Andrade to a chair outside the milking parlor and told him to sit; he’d take him to the hospital once he had milked the cows around 80 total he said. For at least two hours, Andrade sat bleeding outside the milking parlor while the farmer finished the morning’s chores. Even more present than the intense pain, Andrade said later in Spanish, was his worry that he would lose his eye. “It’s not like losing a foot or a hand—vision is the most important thing,” he said. “I would have been totally useless.” Originally from Mexico City, Andrade had been in the United States for only five months. Prior to his arrival, he had worked in transportation logistics for the pharmaceutical industry for 40 years before his employer automated operations and laid him off. In search of work to put his son and daughter through college and support his wife and elderly parents, he emigrated to the U.S. at 55 years old. In his new country, he did not have family, he did not speak English, and he had no oneexcept his employer to turn to for support. https://www.google.com/amp/s/civileats.com/2022/11/14/injured-and-invisible-1-few-protections-animal-agriculture-workers-cafos-dairy-migrants-injuries/amp/

Poland said early Wednesday that a Russian-made missile fell in the country’s east, killing two people, though U.S. President Joe Biden said it was “unlikely” it was fired from Russia. The blast, which Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy decried as “a very significant escalation,” prompted Biden to call an emergency meeting of G-7 and NATO leaders. A deliberate, hostile attack on NATO member Poland could trigger a collective military response by the alliance. But key questions around the circumstances of the missile launch remained amid the confusion caused by a blistering series of Russian airstrikes across the nearby border in Ukraine, none larger than who fired it. Russia denied any involvement in the Poland blast. Three U.S. officials said preliminary assessments suggested the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian one amid the crushing salvo against Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure Tuesday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. That assessment and Biden’s comments at the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia contradict information earlier Tuesday from a senior U.S. intelligence official who told the AP that Russian missiles crossed into Poland. The Polish government said it was investigating and raising its level of military preparedness. Biden pledged support for Poland’s investigation. A statement from the Polish Foreign Ministry identified the weapon as being made in Russia. President Andrzej Duda was more cautious, saying that it was “most probably” Russian-made but that its origins were still being verified. “We are acting with calm,” Duda said. “This is a difficult situation.” Biden’s decision to convene the emergency meeting upended schedules for the final day of the Group of 20 meeting in Indonesia. Biden, who was awakened overnight by staff with the news of the missile while attending the summit, called Polish President Andrzej Duda to express his condolences. On Twitter, Biden promised “full U.S support for and assistance with Poland’s investigation,” and “reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to NATO.” Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the meeting of the alliance’s envoys in Brussels. The U.N. Security Council also planned to meet Wednesday for a previously scheduled briefing on the situation in Ukraine. The strike in Poland was certain to be raised. Poland’s statement did not address whether the strike could have been a targeting error or if the missile could have been knocked off course by Ukrainian defenses. In their statements, Poland and NATO used language that suggested they were not treating the missile blast as an intentional Russian attack, at least for now. A NATO statement called it a “tragic incident.” If Russia had deliberately targeted Poland, it would risk drawing the 30-nation alliance into the conflict at a time when it is already struggling to fend off Ukrainian forces. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-kherson-9202c032cf3a5c22761ee71b52ff9d52

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Some unfortunate God of War Ragnarok players are having major plot details spoiled for them thanks to their PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles. God of War Ragnarok is finally available after years of waiting, and naturally, spoilers for the game all over the Internet. Unfortunately for the developers, God of War Ragnarok spoilers actually leaked online ahead of the game's launch date, so it's been an ongoing issue. God of War Ragnarok reviews have praised the game's story as one of the best things about it, so it can be devastating for fans to have that story spoiled for them. A common strategy to avoid spoilers whenever a big new release comes out is to stay off social media for a while, but unfortunately, some PlayStation gamers are getting spoiled by their own video game consoles.As reported by Push Square, PlayStation consoles sometimes display random YouTube videos for specific games in places like the PS5's Explore tab. YouTube videos are notorious for having spoilers in their titles and thumbnails, and as a result, some God of War fans have gotten God of War Ragnarok spoilers by simply using their consoles. This would be frustrating, to say the least, especially for players who have managed to avoid God of War Ragnarok spoilers so far. It's unclear if Sony will be making changes to how content is curated for big games in the wake of this. It's also unclear how many players have been impacted by the problem. Many may make a beeline straight to whatever game they want to play and completely ignore things like the PS5's Explore tab, and so it hasn't impacted them. However, it's safe to say there are those who have had some of God of War Ragnarok's biggest story developments ruined for them because of this. Fans who are worried about getting God of War Ragnarok spoilers and want to get through the game as fast as possible to avoid them should note that it takes an average of 20 to 25 hours or so to beat the main story while ignoring side content. However, God of War Ragnarok's side quests have been highly praised, so it would be a shame to miss out on it. Over the last few years, Sony has especially been the victim of spoilers ruining the plots of its games. Prior to the God of War Ragnarok leaks, The Last of Us 2 story leaked online, revealing that game's biggest plot twists and causing a massive backlash from fans who were upset about how things went down. It's hard to say how fans would have reacted to The Last of Us 2 story had it not been spoiled for them, but we'll never know. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/technology/god-of-war-ragnarok-players-are-getting-spoiled-by-their-own-consoles/ar-AA142Avz

Monster Hunter is getting a mobile spin off through a partnership between Capcom and Timi Studio, which is owned by Tencent. As of right now, there are no concrete details on what the game will be called, when it will be released, or what the gameplay will be like. All we know for certain is that it is coming to mobile, and that it could potentially scaled up for other platforms in the future. The announcement is below. TiMi Studio Group (TiMi) and Capcom Co., Ltd. (Capcom) are joining forces on a new mobile game for the iconic Monster Hunter series. The in-development game will reproduce the hunting actions that define the Monster Hunter series, and offers players a new game experience unique for mobile devices and phones. This first-time partnership between TiMi and Capcom will combine the experience and strengths of both sides, allowing Monster Hunter to scale to more platforms with an aim to give global hunters – experienced or new – the freedom to hunt as they desire, anytime and anywhere.” TiMi Studio has worked on some of the biggest mobile games around right now. Those games include Call of Duty Mobile, Pokémon Unite, Arena of Valor, and Honor of Kings. TiMi Studio is also working on a Metal Slug title as well.The last Monster Hunter game released was Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak. In our Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak review, Dom wrote, “Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is a nigh on perfect expansion, bringing meaningful gameplay change, charming new cast members, and most importantly, more monsters to hunt. It is, for those in the know, absolutely unmissable.” https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2022/11/08/monster-hunter-mobile-game-in-development-by-timi-studio/

As the European Union investigates Microsoft's historic $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard(opens in new tab), Ricardo Cardoso, Deputy Head of Unit Interinstitutional & Outreach at the EU Department of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, & SMEs (now that's a mouthful!) accidentally stepped in it: he made himself a participant in the oldest conflict in human history, the console wars. Although he made a public comment on the process, Ricardo Cardoso himself is not involved with the process of approving the merger. On November 8, the EU's Directorate-General on Competition (we gotta figure out these names, guys) tweeted(opens in new tab) the announcement of its in-depth investigation of Microsoft's merger with ActiBlizz, a corporate consolidation unprecedented for its size in the gaming industry. That already seemed to get some Xbox Sardaukar on Twitter hot under the collar, but then Cardoso, an EU official who is not part of the DG on Competition, made a playful tweet(opens in new tab) commenting on the announcement. "The Commission is working to ensure that you will still be able to play Call of Duty on other consoles (including my PlayStation)." Cardoso tweeted. "Also on our to do list: update stock pictures. These gamers have wired controllers whereas Xbox and Playstation have wireless ones since about 2006!"Now, I parsed this as intentionally humorous commentary on the mechanisms of state intervening in videogames, while also genuinely highlighting a normal and necessary regulatory process to vet a massive power play in the rapidly-consolidating games industry. Rowdy Xbox gamers in Cardoso's comments aren't buying it, instead reading his statement as a provocative taking-of-sides in that most deadly serious of clashes, the console wars. "Don't worry PlayStation fans, I'm one of you, I'll protect us!" One commenter wrote. Another claims that "It's pretty obvious for anyone who genuinely follows the games industry that the only reason to not approve this deal, which brings more competition to gaming as a whole, is to protect Sony's ability to keep using its market power to unfairly devalue others." It's not pretty obvious to me, honestly, and this is my job. The insistence that the biggest corporate consolidation in videogame history "brings more competition to gaming as a whole" is a psychic blow that I may never recover from. One notable participant in Cardoso's replies is IGN executive editor Ryan McCaffrey(opens in new tab), who pointed to Phil Spencer's prior statement that Microsoft will "continue to ship Call of Duty on PlayStation." McCaffrey's citing of Spencer's public statements is a fair response, though I'd caution that a company's substantive policies can clash with its stated goals and values. Additionally Xbox has, especially in recent years, adopted some great customer-first initiatives like Game Pass, Xbox back-compat, and simultaneously launching games on Xbox and PC. Still, I just feel like we're missing the forest for the trees here⁠ the Call of Duty mention scans as a playful joke, while regulatory scrutiny of corporate mergers, especially one this impactful, remains a vital function of government. Corporate strategies, like Xbox's more consumer-friendly stance and looser grip on its IPs, are malleable⁠ just a few years ago we had Games for Windows Live, and in the '90s, Microsoft faced massive antitrust lawsuits in the United States over some of its business practices. A shift like the ActiBlizz merger can only be reversed by a similarly mind-boggling exchange of capital in line with its $68.7 billion purchase, while Xbox's relationship with customers could be altered with high-level personnel shifts. Also, I must reiterate, Cardoso is not part of the process of approving Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, he simply expressed an opinion on Twitter. "To clarify: I am not involved in the assessment of the merger and don't even work in the department dealing with mergers." Cardoso wrote(opens in new tab) on November 12, several days after the initial blow-up. "As is clear from my profile, my comments are personal and not a Commission position, whose decision will be taken on the basis of the facts and the law." That has not mollified the Xbox Praetorians of Twitter⁠ one commenter felt the need to reply with a blurry jpeg of the character Ross from the show Friends with text reading "Get a load of this [CENSORED] idiot." Other comments share a similar character. "Damage is done," one individual wrote. "The process in Europe is shady, no way Microsoft is getting a fair review." I am not sure how Cardoso quipping that he'd like to play Call of Duty on PlayStation indicates a "shady process," but we entered a new and terrifying realm of psychic combat a long time ago. PC Gamer has always maintained a longstanding neutrality in the console wars, but I will say that I'm one bad day away from bothering public officials online myself if Sony doesn't bring Bloodborne to PC. Bloodborne, on the Steam Deck, running at 40 fps thanks to that power-saving adaptive resolution feature⁠ I'm a simple man with simple desires. https://www.pcgamer.com/european-union-official-swamped-by-console-warriors-after-joking-about-call-of-duty-exclusivity/

Keith Livingston is a retired municipal management professional, lifelong artist and Federal Way resident. What happens when we as residents of this community and great nation fail to realize that we are being managed in ways to make false choices that jeopardize the future of our community and nation? Each election cycle generates tons of nasty false claims, propaganda and record distortions designed to stoke fear. I am glad the current election cycle is over. But at the same time, I feel less informed and more worried about this country’s general direction. Collectively, our behavior as adults would fail the basic expectations of a preschool teacher trying to wrangle a bunch of three-year-olds. If you want toddlers to behave badly, give them a daily or hourly dose of fear-stoking spiders and goblin stories or the equivalent of right-wing talk radio, Fox News, or the recent mangle of political ads designed to malign and fear-monger the opposing candidate. Watching or listening to misleading opinion-news, campaign ads and social media 24-7 does not mean you have done any research it means you are being programmed to do someone’s bidding. The creators of misinformation campaigns know their political rhetoric may get their candidate elected. The end result is that we are all becoming less safe, less knowledgeable about issues and no longer have any acceptable ideas or path for discussing best solutions. We need to grow up and quit being turned into lemmings by master mani[CENSORED]tors. Elected officials and candidates for office, locally and nationally, have been personally threatened based on their ideas, policy proposals, legislative achievements, gender, sexual orientation, as well as the color of their skin. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi’s husband was recently attacked in their San Francisco home by a deranged MAGA supporter. The political climate has become toxic for volunteers, staff, elected officials as well as their families. Unacceptable! Plenty of cries of condemnation from mainstream media outlets but verbal dithering from right-wing media. Maybe we all need to go back to preschool to learn manners, good behavior, truth telling skills, how to share, and kindness. Politics is sadly a blood sport about control, money, who gets to be included or excluded. Our nation has always had elements of being in a culture war controlled by the outcome of each election cycle. Our political contestants align around the idea of either wanting to improve lives for the greater good of all, or those who strive for power by mani[CENSORED]ting the idea that they are the ones working for the greater good while disguising that their efforts generally accrue to those who work to manage our lives as a political capitalist Ponzi scheme. The Jan. 6 hearings showed how cunning these master mani[CENSORED]tors can be when they are operating with their entitled “end justifies the means” philosophy. Democracy is under threat. Our current state of politics is making us more dystopian as a nation, dysfunctional locally, and each of us are becoming more ignorant about policies, laws, what the facts are, and losing the ability to work together to solve anything. As a municipality, state and nation we are failing to navigate the choppiest of waters due to a Republican party willing to pursue power at all cost to appease the big lie propagated by our twice impeached former president. Courage on the national stage is hard to find. Courage locally is equally hard to find. Maybe the pandemic rewired our notions of fairness, honesty, and respect for one another. We’d rather wait on the entertainment value of what Trump and his conspiratorial minions did today. Being the head of an angry mob does not make you a worthy leader of the free world. Getting mad at MAGA republicans will not solve any of our nation’s ills they believe the other half is the problem. They believe in the cult of personality, that truth and facts don’t matter, and the notion that somehow they will benefit directly from a more fascist style government as they impose their beliefs on the rest of us. We have become a nation that is a collective cabal of ignorance arguing over misconceptions and half-truths. Adding to our information demise is the reality that 8 in 10 of us are getting our news from social media. We are as dumb as the current tweet or Russian trojan horse Facebook post and think we are now journalists or thought influencers because we added a comment or shared the feed. Where does this stop? It stops when each and every one of us starts asking for the truth – substantiated by facts from each and every one of our politicians, news media providers, as well as holding ourselves to a standard of ethical accountability. We are the problem when we no longer have an open, caring and cautiously skeptical mind. Our politicians get away with cheating us every day because we choose to abdicate our responsibility for learning history, not understanding how policy changes affect us and not questioning who really benefits. Case-in-point, we all know Trump lost the election so why do many of our politicians pander to the lie? Why do we let them? Why didn’t our city council and mayor take a stand for election results integrity and pass a resolution against the “Big Lie” and the Jan. 6 assault on our democracy? Not one of them chose to be leaders and none of us asked them to, so like many municipalities across our nation it was easy to be silent. It would not have been a meaningless gesture – it would have been a gesture for assuring our democracy will survive with accountability and live up to its ideals as well as continue being a nation of laws. https://www.federalwaymirror.com/opinion/how-to-find-leadership-and-courage-in-todays-political-world-livingston/

Animal rescue groups are sending out urgent pleas for potential adopters for unwanted animals at the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority, where more than 50 animals are in danger of euthanasia due to overcrowding. SEAACA was formed in 1975 to serve Downey, Norwalk and Pico Rivera, but has since expanded to encompass 14 cities that are not served by Los Angeles County Animal Care. Its shelter at 9777 Seaaca St. in Downey is frequently overcrowded with the burden of serving communities with a combined po[CENSORED]tion of approximately 900,000 people. On Wednesday, the shelter sent a notice to its rescue partners with a long list of animals on its "All Alert Report" who are "in need of a rapid exit strategy from SEAACA's Care Center." Those who have not secured a commitment by their mandatory pick-up deadlines are subject to euthanasia, with the various deadlines occurring this weekend and next week. The list of endangered animals included 27 dogs, 14 cats and 15 rabbits. The SEAACA shelter is open to the public from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday for browsing, but also takes adoption holds and appointments by phone. Animals currently at the shelter can be viewed at www.seaaca.org/adoptions/view-our-animals. More information can be found at www.seaaca.org, or by calling 562-803-3301. SEAACA is running a "Fall in Love" promotion through Nov. 30 offering a $15 adoption fee for cats and $30 for dogs who weigh 30 pounds or more. With most of the attention generally paid to dogs and cats, rabbits are often overlooked, but they are also a sad and persistent presence at shelters. Lejla Hadzimuratovic, founder and president of Bunny World Foundation, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that's rescued thousands of unwanted rabbits from shelters and owner surrenders since 2008, was frantically trying to arrange for fosters or adopters for the 16 rabbits, but her group is already stretched thin caring for bunnies they normally rescue from the six shelters in the city of Los Angeles. BWF was able to pull three of the 15 alerted rabbits from SEAACA, and Hadzimuratovic is asking interested parties to adopt directly from SEAACA or contact her to foster at info@bunnyworldfoundation.org. "Bunny World Foundation is deeply saddened at witnessing the dire situation at SEAACA and struggling to assist with pulling each and every discarded rabbit on death row," Hadzimuratovic said. "The shelter claims that they do not have space to house so many animals and are reaching out to partners on daily basis to clear the shelter of dogs, cats, and rabbits. They do not have the resources to find out the gender of rabbits scheduled for euthanasia, let alone to spay/neuter them prior to sending them to partners." She blames people who breed bunnies and those who fail to spay and neuter their pet rabbits for much of the overpo[CENSORED]tion problem. "When you buy a bunny, no matter where you buy that bunny from, you are supporting the breeders and the bunny mill owners. Please, never ever buy, always adopt; we promise you that whatever bunny you want, there is one waiting for you in a shelter or rescue today," she said. "If you have never adopted a bunny, then you have missed out on the most fantastic feeling, it's that feeling of saving a life. Ask anyone who has done it, and they will tell you the same, that bunny will repay you with a lifetime of love and affection." Anyone considering adopting a domestic rabbit should do their homework first and know what to expect, for although they're undeniably adorable, rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. They require a specific diet of hay, pellets and green vegetables, humane indoor housing in a bunny-proofed room, veterinary care when necessary and understanding of their emotional needs, which are different from cats and dogs. They're not ideal pets for small children, as they respond best to quiet energy and can be easily spooked by the hyperactivity of a child. Most bunnies do not like to be picked up or held, may scratch or bite in an effort to get free, and can be seriously injured or even killed if they're dropped. Advocates for the animals do want them to be adopted into loving homes, but they stress that adoption is a serious commitment that requires a willingness to learn the ropes. Retail sales of rabbits, dogs and cats is prohibited in California, but direct sales are still permitted, including online, and illegal street sales occur in urban areas where baby bunnies are sometimes deceptively marketed as adult "dwarfs." Bunny World Foundation offers a support group with free mentoring for new bunny owners. The group's Facebook page has a wealth of tips, but here are a few basics: Domestic rabbits should be kept indoors at all times. They should be fed a diet of unlimited timothy hay and a daily portion of leafy greens, plus pellets and alfalfa hay for rabbits under 6 months. They should never be kept in cages, as they need room to hop around and exercise their legs. They need to be thoroughly groomed every two to three months to remove excess fur and have their nails trimmed. They're aggressive chewers, and need to be kept away from electrical cords and anything that can be dangerous if ingested, such as taped or glued boxes. Bunnies who stop eating or appear to be in pain need immediate care from a veterinarian trained in the care of rabbits. Bunnies who stop eating can die within 36 hours. Not every vet has expertise with rabbits, so owners should find the one nearest them that they can rely on in an emergency. https://www.foxla.com/news/adopters-wanted-as-50-animals-face-euthanasia

Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy has vowed a Coalition government would freeze household’s electricity supply charges for six months next year, in an effort to reduce the burden of rising costs of power bills. Guy addressed party faithfuls, candidates and MPs at the Coalition’s election rally on Sunday morning where he made the pre-election promise. Guy said the charge freeze on electricity bills would be implemented for the first six months next year, if the Coalition was elected at this month’s state election: It will save the average household up to $235 on their electricity bill within next year alone I would have liked to provide this for longer, more than 12 months, but the state of Victoria’s finances after eight years under Daniel Andrews means we simply can’t afford to do it. Good morning bloggers. I’m on the Labor bus this morning heading out to the party’s election campaign launch in Cranbourne, in Melbourne’s south-east. We’re expecting the premier, Daniel Andrews, will make a big policy announcement before early voting opens tomorrow. The event is expected to kick off about midday. Yesterday, Andrews announced if re-elected, the Labor government will spend $23m to provide free pads and tampons in public places. The seat of Cranbourne, where the launch is being held, is safe Labor territory – held by MP Pauline Richards on a 9.3% margin. Victorian Coalition holds election campaign rally in Melbourne The Victorian Coalition is holding its election campaign rally in Melbourne, ahead of the state heading to the polls this month. Party faithfuls, MPs and candidates have gathered at the event in Port Melbourne. Opposition leader Matthew Guy will address the crowd later this morning. The opposition has handed gatherers “frequent liar” cards feature an image of the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews. The event has also been targeted by protesters dressed as lobsters – a nod to opposition leader Guy dining with the alleged head of Melbourne’s mafia prior to the 2018 Victorian election. Early voting for the election begins on Monday and more than half of voters are expected to cast their ballot paper before polling day on 26 November. Government to deliver on the Murray Darling Basin plan Plibersek has hit back at criticism by the National party over concerns about plans for water buy-backs along the Murray Darling Basin. I always think it’s extraordinary that the National party think it’s fine for farmers to sell their water to big state owned enterprises from overseas to the Canadian teachers, pension farmer to you know, anybody overseas but their own. Farmers aren’t allowed to sell their water back to the Australian government to be used for the environment to benefit all Australians. Plibersek said previous environmental water flows “literally saved towns”. There were towns that saw dry river beds for two years and then there’d be a flush of water flowing through that town. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to the mood of the town. The economy of the town, people’s ability to cope during the worst of the droughts. If we are going to be able to do that in the future. She also said the government would “keep all options on the table” in order to fulfil the aims of the Murray Darling Basin plan saying: “I will deliver on the Murray Darling Basin plan because we have to.” https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/australia-news-live-albanese-meets-chinese-premier-at-summit-dinner-o-neil-says-government-considering-ransom-payment-ban/ar-AA142PKW

Razer has announced its Wolverine V2 Pro PS5 controller, which features a host of advanced customization features. It’s the company’s first-ever officially licensed gamepad made for the latest Sony console and features asymmetrical thumbsticks from the iconic in-line ones of the last 28 years. According to the official site listing, the controller is scheduled to ship on December 31 in the US. No other territories have yet been announced. However, the price has been revealed; it will retail for $250 USD / €299.99 / £249.99/ $475.95 AU, making it one of the pricier options to hit the shelves. With a price tag like that, the Wolverine V2 Pro is directly competing with Sony’s DualSense Edge, which is slated for a January 2023 release and will be priced at $199.99 USD / €239.99 / £209.99. Razer’s upcoming pro controller differs from your standard DualSense gamepad because of the focus on the quality of life improvements for those in the competitive gaming scene. As with the brand’s Wolverine Ultimate and Wolverine V2 Chroma, this new model features mechanical, tactile microswitches for the face buttons and the D-pad. What separates those earlier Xbox controllers from the Wolverine V2 Pro is that the PS5 version features 2.4 GHz Hyperspeed wireless, whereas all previous models were wired-only. The company’s Hyperspeed wireless has been present in everything from Razer’s best wireless gaming headsets to the best wireless gaming keyboards. The new Razer PS5 controller ships out on December 31 according to the official site listing. It's currently unknown when other territories will go live, but it's likely to be sooner rather than later. View Deal Given that the PS5’s standard controller utilizes adaptive triggers, Razer has implemented its ‘Hypertrigger’ technology. This is essentially the same trigger stops we’ve seen with earlier versions of the gamepad; a dedicated toggle switch restricts movement, with shorter pulls ideal for shooters and fighting games, and longer pulls more fitting for racing titles. To aid different play styles, there are also exchangeable concave and convex thumbsticks. As it’s a Razer product, there’s also the Chroma RGB lighting which adorns the edges of the faceplate of the Wolverine V2 Pro as well. We first saw this with the V2 Chroma from last year. If you’re a flashing light fan, this cosmetic feature will undoubtedly help it stand out from the competition. Who is the Wolverine V2 Pro PS5 controller for? There’s no getting around the fact that $250 USD / €299.99 / £249.99/ $475.95 AU is a steep price. That’s a whole $50 more than the DualSense Edge, a controller that we believe to be demonstrably overpriced even by premium standards. At a time when many people are asking if expensive premium controllers are even worth it, there’s certainly a lot to live up to with the features set offered. In short, the Wolverine V2 Pro is an enthusiast-grade gamepad that will likely only appeal to those in the competitive gaming scene, where milliseconds matter as far as inputs go. For the average gamer, though, these quality-of-life improvements are unlikely to make much of a difference in your day-to-day. Should you want to knock a second or two off your lap time in Grand Turismo 7 or slightly improve your K/D ratio in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, this PS5 pro controller could help you achieve those goals. How does the Wolverine V2 Pro compare to the Dualsense Edge? The Wolverine V2 Pro and the DualSense Edge are both high-end controllers which have a focus on customizability. This means that you’ve got replacement thumbsticks and rear back paddles. Both controllers utilize remappable buttons, too, which is fairly standard as pro controllers go. There are also the same trigger stops and dead zones with each model. As for the major differences, the Wolverine V2 Pro uses an asymmetrical thumbstick layout which has more in common with an Xbox wireless controller. If you want a more traditional PlayStation layout, then the DualSense Edge is the better option. The ergonomics are much different, too. You can think of the Edge variant as a slightly larger DualSense. In contrast, the V2 Pro actually has more in common build-wise with the Razer Raiju Ultimate than other Wolverine models. One crucial feature that the in-house Sony-made gamepad takes advantage of is the replaceable stick modules, which only Scuf PS5 controllers, such as the Reflex Pro, have touched on to date. As the console is approaching two years of market availability, peripheral manufacturers can finally figure out what works for the platform based on player demand. As for which controller out of the Razer and Sony options is best, we won’t definitively know until we get our hands on each one. However, as it stands, the DualSense Edge being a whole $50 cheaper does help in its favor. The fact that it’s an official PlayStation product with similar functionality doesn’t harm things either. A major plus is that they can both be natively used as PC controllers, so if you’re someone who games on a console and a computer, there’s a strength of these two, too. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/shopping/razers-ps5-pro-controller-is-built-for-the-demands-of-competitive-gaming/ar-AA13XBYn

There’sThere’s no doubting the historical importance of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. It’s a keystone game perhaps the keystone game in a particular and demanding genre, the tactical role-playing game. It’s also the cornerstone of a remarkable, yet sadly not fully realized, career: that of its writer-director, Yasumi Matsuno, who went on to make cult classics Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story before flaming out midway through the tortured development of Final Fantasy 12, a personal and professional setback he seems never to have fully recovered from. In Tactics Ogre: Reborn, this 1995 game which often ranks highly in polls of the best games of all time in Japan receives its second major overhaul. Reborn is, nominally, an updated port of 2010’s PlayStation Portable remake (this time for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch). But it also makes thorough and careful revisions to that one, tweaking essential design elements, adding features, overhauling the interface, and restoring the artwork. It says a lot about the game’s revered status that it has received more loving care from Square Enix which bought Tactics Ogre’s publisher Quest in 2002, after hiring Matsuno away from them in ’95 than Final Fantasy Tactics, a game in Square’s flagship franchise, whose PSP and mobile versions aren’t nearly as well made. New players should approach Tactics Ogre with caution, though. (I’m one; I knew the game well by reputation, but had never played it before I started this review.) Despite the many thoughtful revisions and quality-of-life improvements, this is still a daunting game that’s slow to reveal itself. As an early masterwork in a highly specialized genre that has seen a lot of innovation since, it can feel dated and inflexible. And it is often just a chore to play. There’s both a simple reason for this, and a less straightforward one. The simple one has to do with party size. This is a turn-based tactics game in which you move characters around a gridded map, playing fantasy combat chess with an enemy force controlled by the AI. The standard party size for an encounter is somewhere between eight and 12 units. Turns take a long time to execute; the opening movement round, when engaging the enemy is usually impossible and you’re simply moving each unit into striking distance, feels interminable. Complete battles often take upward of half an hour, and foregone conclusions (which, to be fair, aren’t too common this is a well-balanced game) are excruciating. Furthermore, the number of units makes it hard to keep the status of your forces, and overall shape of the battlefield, in your mind’s eye. Though it’s hardly grand strategy, it’s not an easy game to parse, and fights can feel scrappy and piecemeal. It’s notable that Final Fantasy Tactics, which paired Matsuno with veteran Square designer Hiroyuki Ito, pared the number of units down to the four-to-six range, and gained a lot of focus as a result. To be fair, Reborn makes quite a few tweaks to speed things up and ease the mental load. You can assign AI to take over party members’ actions; there’s a turn-speed button; the skill and spell systems have been redesigned to provide access to better skills earlier in the game; random encounters have been removed from the world map (and replaced with optional training battles if you feel the need to grind), and so on. Yet despite all this and despite the 3D map design, which uses verticality to create some interesting spatial challenges the game struggles to stage the sort of clean, intricate logic puzzles that represent the tactics genre at its best. Tactics Ogre very obviously traces its design back to the days before Advance Wars a game in a parallel but very closely related genre had done so much to clarify the rock-paper-scissors balance and problem-solving joy of tactical combat. These days, indie games like Into the Breach or Invisible, Inc. find ways to present you with intricate strategic challenges far more quickly than Tactics Ogre can manage, while paradoxically overwhelming you far less. But perhaps this isn’t just about age. Perhaps Tactics Ogre is also, by its nature, less of a tactics game and more of an RPG and what I like to call a backroom RPG at that. A backroom RPG is a game where the real action happens outside of combat, deep within the party menus. (Final Fantasy 12, with its Gambit programming system and game-like License Board, is one of the best examples.) In this regard, Tactics Ogre is a theorycrafter’s dream, with enormous customizability and depth, which Reborn intentionally does little to streamline. In fact, it even scraps the class-wide leveling of the PSP version to return to individual unit leveling. Party members can be recruited from far and wide, and their classes can be reassigned, as can their elemental alignment, which is important in battle. Skills, spells, equipment, and items are assigned and developed per character, and there are ways to craft and combine more powerful equipment to boost stats. There’s a vast amount of inventory and unit management to be done here as you develop and refine your favored squad as well as satisfaction to be had when that squad works effectively in battle. For a particular kind of player, this will be heaven. I’ve been known to love that kind of thing myself. But in Tactics Ogre, it feels like all the menu busywork is draining attention away from a battle system that is already struggling for strategic focus. The combat is inevitably the centerpiece of a game like this, and if it doesn’t sing, all that work in support of it can feel like wasted effort. https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23450057/tactics-ogre-reborn-review-remake-release-date-switch-steam

Well, Lords and Villeins is an adventure, I can say that. I am a lover of sim games, a lover of city-building games, but have never mastered the strategy genre, and this game is nothing without strategy. Whether its gaining gold, materials or just making sure everyone has a roof over there head, there is no time to relax, and balance is key. Diving into Lords and Villeins I thought I was in for a fun little city-building simulation, building a medieval town that I was in full control of. In the game you will be responsible for peasants, servants, noblemen, clergy, and a number of different kinds of businesses. Forest, fishing and farming are the big three, but in just the tutorial (which you could spend an entire day in and not complete), you’re introduced to carpenters, innkeepers, miners, hunters and more. It is your mission to make sure all your villagers have what they need, produce what they should and work together to create a booming economy. Easier said than done. If you don’t have MMO-amounts of time to play Lords and Villeins, don’t even try. I usually play simulation games because they are easy to put down and come back to as I please. While this may be true somewhere very far down the road, just getting the basics down pat is a major undertaking. Just when you think you have a system in place in Lords and Villeins everyone runs out of straw and no one is impressed with you.All that being said, I don’t want to put Lords and Villeins down. I want to run the tutorial over and over, so I truly master the basics and can build a thriving community. I want to fill the map with buildings, have dozens of farm animals and hoard straw to my hearts content (the straw shortage really got to me). I want to make it to a point where everyone can have floors, and walls that are made of solid materials. I’d like to see my peasants happy and comfortable, or maybe hang out with a noble or two. Right now, I feel like a slum lord.If I’m playing this poorly and still want to play, it really speaks to how interesting and in-depth Lords and Villeins is. There are definitely some issues with the beginning hours of the game. The tutorial wants to bring you through every step of a very detailed game, yet somehow misses so many steps along the way. It teaches you about some items used in the homes or farmland, but not all of them, so you never knew you needed a flailing spot to create straw (seriously, still mad about it). Most importantly, it never explains the type of renting systems available in the game. Socage, Fee-Farm, Stewardry or Frankalmoigne is one of the first decisions you have to make, and this far into the game, I’m still sort of guessing what each means. This isn’t plain and obvious, though it may be to some, and it can really start your game off on the wrong foot if you aren’t sure what’s going on. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/lords-and-villeins-pc-review/ar-AA13XtUF

ROME: Italy will approve a package of measures worth more than €9 billion (US$8.96 billion) today to lower energy prices, increase gas output, and preserve stocks ahead of the winter, two government officials told Reuters. The spending will drive up this year’s budget deficit to 5.6% of gross domestic output from 5.1% previously forecast, according to the Treasury’s annual Economic and Financial Document (DEF) published last week. More than half the money will be used to extend to the end of the year tax breaks and subsidies for energy-intensive firms and poor households, which were introduced by the previous government and funded until November. A cut in excise duties on petrol due to expire on Nov 18 will also be extended to the end of December, the officials said. On energy security, the package will commit €4 billion to boost gas storage ahead of the winter by allowing state-owned Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE) to keep some strategic stockpiles acquired in the second half of this year. Under a previous plan, Rome had given the GSE the €4 billion euros to buy gas and then sell it to firms before the end of this year, repaying the Treasury with the proceeds. Due to the fall in gas prices, the government is now saying the GSE can keep the gas for its stockpiles and repay the loan next year. The government will also expand concessions to drill between nine and 12 miles off Italy’s Adriatic coast, extracting up to 15 billion cubic metres of gas over a 10-year period. Rome plans to continue its expansionary policies in 2023, targeting a budget deficit of 4.5% of gross domestic product from a previous 3.4% estimate made in September. The fiscal gap is targeted to fall to 3% in 2025, the ceiling set by the EU’s Stability Pact before it was suspended. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2022/11/10/italy-to-present-new-package-to-support-economy-energy-security/

Animal rights campaigners in Spain held demonstrations across multiple cities on October 16 to shine a light on hunting dogs being exempt from new animal welfare laws. The Spanish government recently lodged a further amendment to its Animal Protection Law, which sought to keep hunting dog breeds exempt from abuse protection. Barcelona-based animal rights group Paw Portal called the move “a shame,” considering this is the same government that made so many positive steps to help animals previously. “Do dogs feel less if they are in the hands of hunters than in the hands of people who do not have killing animals as a hobby?” the group asked in a Facebook post. “Indeed: they feel less affection, less attention and less respect.” Protests were organized in Almeria, Cadiz, and Valencia, amongst others, to encourage people to sign a petition launched by Spanish political party the Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals. Paw Portal supported efforts and informed its followers about the underlying issues of speciesism and cruelty. “[This is] a reminder that the Spanish government wants to exclude hunting dog breeds from the new animal rights laws,” it wrote. “This will allow the biggest perpetrators of the worst animal abuse to continue without facing any consequences!” Abuse faced by working dogs Paw Portal claims that dogs used to hunt are kept in abhorrent conditions. Many are reported to be kept on short chains for the majority of their lives, while housed in unsanitary feces-filled kennels, and denied access to clean drinking water. At the end of hunting season, due to the undomesticated nature of the animals, thousands face abandonment or death at the hands of their owners. Hanging, burning, and being discarded into wells to drown are listed as some common “disposal” techniques. Under the Animal Protection Law, all of these activities would be deemed illegal and punishable by a prison sentence. However, the government is looking to remove all protection from hunting breeds, apparently on the grounds of “cultural interest.” In its petition, the Animalist Party states that: “This was [also] denounced by the Intergroup of the European Parliament on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals in a letter sent to the Government, in which it indicated that the treatment given in our country to animals used as hunting tools is in contradiction with European values.” The party demands that no species is exempt from protection by the law. It also asks that none be used as “tools” for human profit, as it equates to exploitation, a term it also connects to another Spanish tradition, bull fighting. Spain cracks down on animal abuse On August 1, the Spanish government updated its Animal Protection Law to reduce cruelty, abandonment, and the unnecessary killing of animals. The amendment was brought in by the minister of social rights, Ione Belarra. “Animal abuse going unpunished and aberrant practices such as cockfighting or shooting pigeons are over,” she said at the time. “Gone are the days when hundreds of thousands of animals were abandoned every year in our country.” Murcia Today reported that key changes included a zero sacrifice policy, with no animal being euthanized except for in extreme medical circumstances, and a tougher stance on perpetrators of animal abuse. The Penal Code was changed to increase custodial sentences from a minimum of 24 to 36 months for first offenses. Zoos and marine parks are also required to transform into wildlife rehabilitation centers. Following on from the amendments, more animal rights progress was made in December when animals became classified as sentient beings in Spain. Only the far-right political party Vox opposed the move, which saw domestic companions and wild species alike no longer considered as “objects” by law. https://plantbasednews.org/news/activism/protestors-hunting-dogs-excluded-spains-animal-welfare-laws/

‘Well over’ 100,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded, US says Kherson retreat is an opportunity for Russia and Ukraine to negotiate peace, US Joint Chiefs of Staff says Russia’s Kherson retreat shows its military has ‘some real problems’, Joe Biden says Putin to miss G20 summit in Bali next week Ukraine responds with caution to Russia’s retreat from Kherson, ‘enemy does not bring us gifts’ Putin ‘fears assassination’ after bitter Kherson defeat Vladimir Putin is worried about assassination attempts, a senior political analyst has said, after the Russian president decided not to travel to Bali for the G20 summit. Pro-Kremlin Sergey Markov said: “The reasons as to why Putin is not going to G20 are serious,’ he said. “There is a big possibility of an assassination attempt on Putin from the special services of the US, Britain and Ukraine.” It comes as Russian troops have been ordered to withdraw from the west bank of the Dnipro river near the strategic southern Ukrainian city in what could be a turning point in the war. The humiliating defeat for Russia coincides with an announcement from a top US army general stating that more than 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the Ukraine war. He said as many as 40,000 Ukrainian civilians have also been killed or injured since Russia launched its invasion nine months ago. “There has been a tremendous amount of suffering, human suffering,” he said. Ukrainian troops have recaptured their first village in Kherson after Moscow was forced to withdraw their soldiers. A small group of Ukrainian soldiers was shown on state television in the centre of the village of Snihurovka around 55 km (35 miles) north of Kherson city, greeting dozens of residents in a square with a Ukrainian flag fluttering from a pole behind them. “Today, on Nov. 10, 2022, Snihurivka was liberated by the forces of the 131st Separate Intelligence Battalion. Glory to Ukraine!” a commander declared as the locals applauded, cheered and filmed the soldiers on their phones. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ukraine-russia-news-e2-80-93-live-putin-e2-80-98fears-assassination-e2-80-99-after-bitter-kherson-defeat/ar-AA13WxA2

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Mobile gaming division includes Diablo Immortal, Candy Crush Latest Call of Duty:Modern Warfare II sets franchise record Activision Blizzard Inc. beat analysts’ estimates for bookings and profit in the third quarter, boosted by its mobile gaming division. The video game publisher reported net bookings, which excludes deferred sales from online purchases, fell 2.6% to $1.83 billion. That was still ahead of the $1.7 billion average analyst forecast, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Adjusted earnings per share were 68 cents, ahead of analysts’ estimates for 50 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Activision Blizzard Beats Estimates, Boosted by Mobile Games Mobile gaming division includes Diablo Immortal, Candy Crush Latest Call of Duty:Modern Warfare II sets franchise record A person plays 'Call of Duty' on a mobile phone at the Gamescom video game fair in Cologne, Germany.  A person plays 'Call of Duty' on a mobile phone at the Gamescom video game fair in Cologne, Germany. Photographer: Ina Fassbender/AFP/Getty Images ByCecilia D'Anastasio+Follow 7 novembre 2022 à 22:10 UTC+1 Updated on8 novembre 2022 à 00:27 UTC+1 Activision Blizzard Inc. beat analysts’ estimates for bookings and profit in the third quarter, boosted by its mobile gaming division. The video game publisher reported net bookings, which excludes deferred sales from online purchases, fell 2.6% to $1.83 billion. That was still ahead of the $1.7 billion average analyst forecast, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Adjusted earnings per share were 68 cents, ahead of analysts’ estimates for 50 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Activision said its mobile platform net bookings grew 20% in the period from a year earlier to about $1 billion, reflecting the enduring po[CENSORED]rity of games like Candy Crush and Diablo Immortal, which launched in the US in June and in China-- the world’s largest gaming market -- in July. Diablo Immortal was Activision’s big release for the first half of the year and ranked among China’s top 10 highest-grossing mobile games, according to the company. Made in partnership with Chinese technology company Ne Tease Inc., the mobile iteration of Blizzard’s po[CENSORED]r horror role-playing game franchise earned the top spot on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store, receiving more than 20 million downloads across smartphones. However, the game has an average 4.1 review score on Android and 4.5 on Apple’s App Store, indicating that some fans have begun to cool on it. Concerns about a licensing deal covering several Blizzard titles in China that expires in January could weigh on the company’s success in the country going forward. “We are in discussions regarding the renewal of these agreements, but a mutually-satisfactory deal may not be reached,” Activision said, noting that the agreements contributed about 3% of net revenue in 2021. Diablo Immortal is covered by a “separate long-term agreement,” Activision said. Microsoft Corp. is in the process of acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, although regulators are heavily scrutinizing the deal for signs it could limit Call of Duty to Microsoft’s Xbox console, cutting out Sony Group Corp.’s PlayStation. Microsoft has disputed that it will limit the game to Xbox. Activision’s current quarter is stacked with new releases, including the recent Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. The latest title has been an overwhelming success, topping more than $1 billion in sales in the first 10 days of its release, the fastest pace of any game in the highly successful franchise. A separate mode of the game, the free-to-play Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, will be released Nov. 16. Another hit, the po[CENSORED]r hero-shooter Overwatch 2, also released in October, attracted 35 million players within its first month. Also coming this month, the next World of Warcraft expansion, Dragonflight. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-07/activision-blizzard-beats-estimates-boosted-by-mobile-games

For the second year running, Football Manager has arrived on Xbox Game Pass at launch in the form of both Football Manager 2023 (the PC version) and the newly renamed Football Manager 2023 Console, with the latter serving as a toned-down version of the PC experience for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The good news? If you enjoyed the last couple of Xbox editions, you're going to like this one as well, and there have been some nice quality-of-life improvements that players will appreciate over the next 12 months. The first thing you'll notice is that Football Manager 2023 Console has changed up certain aspects of its UI to try and better cater to the console crowd. The main menu is easier to navigate, the mid-match statistics menu is cleaner and takes up more space on the screen, and there's even a new "Radial Menu" to help you manage your tactics and lineups more efficiently. These are all nice improvements for sure, and ultimately the game just feels more polished on Xbox as a result.As for the controls? Well, the improved UI does help with the standard control scheme, but we have to admit we still prefer the virtual mouse pointer (accessible by clicking in the left stick). Fortunately, at this point, we've become very used to using a combination of the buttons and the virtual mouse, and it becomes surprisingly easy to navigate between the various menus once you get used to it. Sure, LMA Manager still takes the crown for the best implementation of its controls on console, but Football Manager 2023 isn't far behind. In terms of new features in Football Manager 2023 Console, Team Talks have finally made their debut in the Xbox version this year, and while they're fairly basic in nature (pick from one of a few options at half-time and full-time), it's great to finally have them integrated into the Xbox experience. There's also a new Dynamic Manager Timeline that keeps a visual track of all your accomplishments which is cool, and our favourite new feature is the addition of UEFA Champions League and Europa League branding, which even extends to hearing the Champions League theme song when the draw is made and during walkouts. Love it! The match engine is pretty much what we've come to expect at this point, with some subtle changes. When things are going well, you'll notice all the great animations, stunning saves and beautiful passages of play in the midfield. When things aren't going well, you'll notice your players occasionally making silly passes and struggling to deal with simple loose balls. There are definitely some aspects that'll leave you frustrated, but the engine also continues to deliver plenty of realistic and memorable moments that'll have you literally jumping out of your seat. https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/xbox-series-x/football-manager-2023-console