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Music title: Twenty One Pilots - The Line (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Audio] Signer: twenty one pilots Release date: Nov 22, 2024 Official YouTube link:

Throwing missiles and attacking hotels was "not the way we do politics" in this country, the Deputy Prime Minister has said. Angela Rayner's comments came as she visited the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, near Rotherham, where clean-up efforts were taking place after Sunday's riot. "Coming on the streets throwing missiles at the police, attacking police, attacking hotels like this one here today is not a legitimate grievance," she said. "It's not the way we do politics in this country and nobody should be condoning that." Ms Rayner confirmed more than 140 people had been charged so far in connection with the riots across the UK. "It's right that our courts deal with that and we've said that we will support the courts and will support the police in carrying out their duties," she added. "But people need to understand that if you throw missiles, if you attack people, if you incite hatred and violence, whether that's online, or whether you're offline, you will be met with the law because it is unlawful." Ms Rayner said the public in South Yorkshire had been "afraid and scared" by people "shouting racist abuse, shouting abuse and hurling missiles at police" during the weekend's violence. She condemned the "criminality and thuggish behaviour" that had put "lives at risk". Moving forward, the Deputy Prime Minister explained the number one priority was to keep people and streets safe. "The prime minister has set out how we're de ploying police and how we're making sure that we're working with social media companies on the online situation as well," she said. Ms Rayner asked people to "move away" from and not get involved in online material designed to stir up disorder. "I hope that the public and anyone who sees what is happening online, that they will know that online and offline criminality will be faced with the courts and with the law," she added. "We have seen what has happened on the streets, like here in Rotherham, that is not our British values." Several arrests have been made in connection with the violent disorder in Rotherham, with nine people appearing in court. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9v8pgl4d4lo

A wildlife rescue charity has announced its temporary closure after reaching "maximum capacity" and dealing with what it called daily misuse of its public hotline. Blyth Wildlife Rescue has worked across Newcastle and Northumberland since 2006 to help and rehabilitate a variety of animals, but has recently faced an unprecedented level of demand. In July alone, the charity received 2,896 calls from across Tyneside and admitted almost 300 new casualties while dealing with "critically low" funds. The rescue service will continue to care for its current animals and hopes to keep its emergency hotline for larger animals open, such as deer, foxes and badgers, but will cease to assist with small mammals and birds. In a post on social media, the Blyth Wildlife Rescue cited its already stretched workload was being "greatly burdened by the misuse of our charity’s helpline". Sara Perry, a volunteer medic at the charity, said it faced "daily" calls on the emergency line that were not serious in anyway. On Thursday, someone called to say there was a seagull in their garden. "There was nothing wrong with it," said Ms Perry. "No specialist rescue was needed." The charity has said it will look at how it will work in the future and if any permanent cut backs need to be made after it addresses its funding and resource issues. Ms Perry said it normally cost £80,000 to run the charity each year but, by January, it had spent £10,000 alone on herring fish for its two seal pups. "It's going to be an expensive year for us," she said. "It's always in the back of our minds that we have to get the funds, or we can't take the animals in." Alongside the announcement of the closure of its services, Blyth Wildlife Rescue launched a £20,000 appeal to address its current shortfall. "I get to see the good work the charity does when we finally release animals back into the wild," Ms Perry added. "It's at the forefront of every decision we make." Link:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw5y5vz0qdgo

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone broke the record for the fastest woman to 100 ODI wickets as England clinched a series win over Pakistan in the third ODI in Chelmsford. Ecclestone reached the milestone in 64 matches to level Australian great Cathryn Fitzpatrick, but beats the record in terms of number of innings bowled (63).Ecclestone removed Pakistan's Umm-e-Hani (4) and Nashra Sandhu (0) with consecutive deliveries in the 28th over to reach the 100 mark and find herself on a hat-trick - which Diana Baig denied her by blocking out the third delivery.England clinched an emphatic 178-run victory shortly after, as Ecclestone (3-15) claimed her third, the hosts triumphing 2-0 in the three-match ODI series to go with their 3-0 whitewash win in the preceding T20s.Heather's Knight side earlier posted 302-5 with the bat, Nat Sciver-Brunt (124no) smashing her ninth ODI ton before Pakistan were dismissed for 124 in reply.Lauren Bell (2-26) prized out openers Sadaf Shamas (2) and Sidra Ameen (10) as Pakistan slipped to 35-3 inside seven overs, before Muneeba Ali (47) provided some resistance with an enterprising cameo, the left-hander taking a particular liking to off-spinner Charlie Dean. Link: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/13145156/england-vs-pakistan-sophie-ecclestone-breaks-record-for-fastest-woman-to-100-odi-wickets-as-hosts-clinch-series-win

More than 130,000 people in England will be offered free workplace health checks in the next six months under a new initiative to try and prevent heart disease. From September, employees in several sectors including building and hospitality will be able to access quick assessments that will determine their risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), which can cause heart attacks and strokes. Those aged between 40 and 74 who do not have certain pre-existing conditions linked to heart disease will be eligible. According to the government, these checks will save thousands of hours of NHS time and will help to cut waiting lists. The scheme is an effort to increase the number of NHS Health Checks, first introduced in 2009, that are carried out. As well as targting heart disease, the programme aims to prevent diabetes and kidney disease, as well as some cases of dementia among adults. Health minister Andrew Gwynne said that while over 16 million people were eligible for the check, current data showed only 40% went on to complete one. "This is especially true for men, who are less likely to get early help but who are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women," he said. "This new programme aims to reach more people through their place of work and make it more convenient for people to understand and improve their cardiovascular health." People taking part will be required to answer a short lifestyle questionnaire; have their height, weight, and waist measured; undergo a blood pressure test; and have a simple blood test to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The checks will also record key information including smoking status; family history of coronary heart disease; and cholesterol level. They are part of government efforts to boost economic growth in the UK by improving healthcare. “Health checks can save lives. They can prevent people from developing largely preventable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes and liver disease," said Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association. Plans for a digital version of the NHS Health Check have also been announced, with testing for this due to take place next year. Councils in Norfolk, Medway and the London borough of Lambeth have signed up for the trial. It is estimated the initiative will deliver one million checks in its first four years and there are plans to then roll it out nationally alongside face-to-face assessments. CVD is a leading cause of death and disability in England. It accounts for 1 in 4 deaths in England, according to NHS figures, despite being largely preventable if people lead a healthy lifestyle. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clywg73vzxdo

Donald Trump is facing blowback both from anti-abortion activists and from within his own party after he implied he might support easing restrictions on the procedure in his home state of Florida. The Republican presidential nominee was asked in an interview with NBC News on Thursday how he would vote this November on the state’s ballot measure to protect abortion. Florida banned the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy after the US Supreme Court struck down the right to abortion nationwide – a law reproductive rights activists are now campaigning to end. “I think the six week is too short,” Trump said. “It has to be more time. I told them that I want more weeks.” “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks,” he said when pressed. Trump has criticised Florida's six-week abortion ban before. Last September he said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a "terrible mistake" signing the ban into law. Mr DeSantis was challenging the former president in the Republican primary at the time. Thursday's comments further open a rift between Trump and the anti-abortion movement, which plays a critical role in shaping conservative politics in the US. “If Donald Trump loses, today is the day he lost,” conservative pundit Erick Erickson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The committed pro-life community could turn a blind eye, in part, to national abortion issues. But for Trump to weigh in on Florida as he did will be a bridge too far for too many.” Albert Mohler Jr, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote on X that Trump's comments on reproductive rights, including on the six-week ban, "seem almost calculated to alienate prolife voters". “Pro-life Christian voters are going to have to think clearly, honestly, and soberly about our challenge in this election - starting at the top of the ticket," he said. The November ballot initiative would amend the Florida constitution to protect abortion access in the state until the point of foetal viability, which is about 23-25 weeks of pregnancy. As it stands, the state has a near-total ban on abortion, as many women do not know they are pregnant at six weeks. The proposed amendment states: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” Voters cannot choose a number of weeks into a pregnancy that abortion should be permitted. They can only choose “Yes” to support the amendment or “No” to reject it. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request to clarify his stance and whether he would vote yes or no to the measure. Campaign spokeswoman Karoline Levitt told the New York Times that Trump “has not yet said how he will vote on the ballot initiative in Florida”. “He simply reiterated that he believes six weeks is too short,” she said. Trump's running mate, Senator JD Vance, tried to clarify the campaign's position on CNN on Friday. Mr Vance said the former president will "make his own announcement on how he's going to vote" on the Florida measure that will be based on "his own judgement". Opinion polling indicates that a majority of Americans support abortion access. A July poll from the University of North Florida suggested that 69% of likely voters supported the ballot measure, and 23% opposed it. The political backlash after the Supreme Court brought an end to Roe v Wade - the landmark precedent that protected abortion access nationwide - in 2022 has presented Trump with a political conundrum he has yet to fully solve. Trump rose to power with the help of the religious right, which broadly supports restrictions on the procedure. In his first run for president, he pledged to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn the constitutional right to abortion in the US. He kept the promise by appointing three conservative jurists who ultimately voted to overturn Roe v Wade. Abortion has now become a central issue in the 2024 presidential campaign - one that Democrats have used to rally voters. His opponent, Vice-President Kamala Harris, has made reproductive rights central to her campaign. Trump has taken the position that abortion policy should be left to individual states. At the Republican National Convention in July, rank-and-file party members fell in line behind the former president, even though his position can seem at odds with their personal opposition to abortion. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy547v72nd4o

2024 is the year Google finally introduced its entire range of Pixel devices in India, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. In short, this year, consumers have plenty of Pixel devices to choose from, depending on the budget. Starting at Rs. 79,999 for the base Pixel 9 and going all the way to Rs. 172,999 for the book-style Pixel 9 Pro Fold. 2024 is the year Google finally introduced its entire range of Pixel devices in India, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. In short, this year, consumers have plenty of Pixel devices to choose from, depending on the budget. Starting at Rs. 79,999 for the base Pixel 9 and going all the way to Rs. 172,999 for the book-style Pixel 9 Pro Fold. On paper, the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL might only differ in terms of display size and battery, but the real difference lies in everyday use. One is compact to fit in the smallest pockets and convenient to use with one hand, while the other is huge at 6.8 inches. This year, Google added one phone to its Pixel lineup, which is the Pixel 9 Pro, which we will review here. Much like how Apple brought all the bells and whistles from its Pro Max model to Pro this year, Google also tries to fit all the firepower in the compact body of the Pixel 9 Pro. So, who should exactly buy this one or consider an alternate flagship? I try to answer this in my review. Google Pixel 9 Pro Design: Compact form wins Dimensions - 152.8mm x 72mm x 8.5mm Weight - 199 grams Durability - IP68 dust and water resistance The Pixel 9 series finally ditches the bar-style rear back that housed the camera in a way that was loved and hated by some. The good news is that there's a new island placement on the rear for cameras, and it looks mature. It is easy on the eyes and makes the new Pixels shine in a crowded market with no distinct design except the iPhones. I like the matte back panel and glossy frame finish on the Pixel 9 Pro. Thanks to the matte treatment, the back isn't a fingerprint magnet; however, it is a slippery phone. I accidentally dropped it twice during this review, but thankfully, the 9 Pro survived both drops without scratches. Unlike the iPhone 16 Plus (Review), the Google Pixel 9 Pro doesn't wobble on a flat surface mainly because the centre-aligned island at the back keeps it even. Link: https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/reviews/google-pixel-9-pro-review-7090497#pfrom=indepth

It’ll be no surprise to regular readers that I love my Meta Quest 3. Whether it’s diving into the excellent Batman: Arkham Shadow or streaming a Netflix show onto a giant virtual screen I love using the VR headset – and thanks to a capture card I might have a new favorite use for it. A few months ago Meta launched HDMI Link, a tool which allows you to use it as a display for your PC or a console like a PS5. The only catch is you need a capture card, as the Quest 3 lacks the hardware to translate the HDMI signal through its USB-C port. I’ve finally picked one up – the Elgato 4K X – and have been spending my evenings playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in my own private cinema. Folks, it’s superb and as I write this all I can think about is my next gaming session. HDMI Link is fantastic, and easy to set up After tweaking the HDR settings to suit the Meta Quest 3’s displays the picture looks excellent even on the vision-filling immersive screen. If anything the screen is a little too big, as there have been times I’ve had to physically turn to see action on the fringes of the virtual monitor. The latency and refresh rate seems manageable, though. Black Ops 6 comfortably runs at 60Hz and I haven’t noticed any obvious issues with lag – if there is any, it didn’t stop me earning a free-for-all victory (even if an in-game bug counts 1st-place finishes as a defeat right now). Plus, HDMI Link was super-easy to set up. After downloading the latest firmware to the Elgato 4K X and turning off HDCP in my PS5’s HDMI settings I simply had to connect my console to the capture card via the HDMI-in port, and my headset to the card via the included USB-C to USB-C cable and I was off to the races. It’s not just a PS5 that should work. Any gadget that outputs video via HDMI should be able to work with the capture card and the Quest’s HDMI Link, provided it doesn’t have any HDCP restrictions. Given that I mentioned it above, here's a quick explainer on HDCP: High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection is used by some apps and devices to try to prevent you from recording content from the best streaming services, such as Netflix, or in some games it stops you being able to stream key cutscenes that contain major spoilers. On PS5, if HDCP is turned off, you won’t be able to use some media apps – but you can always switch it back on when you’re finished using the HDMI Link app. If you’re wanting to try Meta’s HDMI link for yourself you’ll need a capture card. They can be a little pricey – especially the Elgato card I used – but thanks to this year’s Black Friday deals you can score one at a great price. Below I’m highlighting four for the US and UK respectively: two from Elgato and two from other brands. I can only vouch for the Elgato cards from my own experience, as that’s what I used, but other HDMI Link guides have relied on the two cheaper alternatives that you might want to try if you plan to use the capture card as solely a Quest 3 add-on, rather than for creating gaming content for YouTube or Twitch as well. Link: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/playing-black-ops-6-on-my-meta-quest-3-is-fantastic-all-you-need-is-a-ps5-a-free-app-and-one-of-these-capture-cards

Forget the fact that Black Friday is officially known as November 29 in 2024, because "Black Friday," the deal-a-palooza is already underway right now. And this is one of the best times of the year to find significant savings on SSDs and external storage drives. The Black Friday 2024 SSD deals are here and they could change your computing life. The nice thing about storage devices -- whether it's a new boot drive for your laptop, a second internal SSD for your desktop or a small USB Flash drive you can use to keep files in your pocket -- is that you always need more of them. If you have a 1TB drive, going to 2TB helps and, if you have a 2TB, moving up to 4TB is a major improvement. And there's also the opportunity to get faster internal drives that speed up your application open times or external ones that connect via 10, 20 or 40 Gbps ports. On this Black Friday SSD deals live blog, we're tracking all the best and latest deals of all kinds, throughout the holiday shopping season. If it's cheap, it holds your data and it's actually worth your money, we'll be highlighting it here, with updates many times per day. Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/live/best-black-friday-ssd-deals-2024

Assassin's Creed Valhalla studio Ubisoft Montreal is reportedly working on a new Animal Crossing-inspired social sim featuring Minecraft-like building elements, with former Gotham Knights creative director Patrick Redding said to be at the reins. That's according to Insider Gaming, which claims the title - currently codenamed Alterra - has been in the works for around 18 months. Alterra is said to have risen from the ashes of an earlier Ubisoft Montreal project, canceled after four years of development, with the two games supposedly sharing a focus on voxel creation. Insider Gaming's source describes Alterra as an "Animal Crossing-inspired social sim" in which players inhabit a home island po[CENSORED]ted by NPCs known as Matterlings. These Matterlings are "somewhat like Funko Pop figures", sporting large heads and designs blending fictional and real-world creatures, from polar bears to dragons. Alterra's social aspect is reportedly combined with that aforementioned voxel creation element, featuring building mechanics "somewhat similar" to those seen in Minecraft, with players able to fashion items using resources found out in the world beyond their home. Here, it's claimed they'll encounter different biomes containing specific resources and different Matterling types, as well as unique enemies, materials, and more - with one example given being an ice biome, inhabited by snow-ice Matterlings, where players can create objects from snow and ice. It'll apparently be possible to encounter other players out in the world too. Insider Gaming adds Ubisoft veteran Fabien Lhéraud is serving as lead producer on Alterra, and that the project's launch is "likely still a few years away". Ubisoft's release slate is, of course, a bit fuzzy beyond next year's delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows and Anno 117: Pax Romana, although the publisher has confirmed a new Rayman project is currently in the "exploration phase". That's alongside the very long in the works Beyond Good & Evil 2 and Ubisoft's troubled Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, with the latter now targeting a 2026 release. In more recent news, Ubisoft has now launched its first-ever blockchain game, featuring NFT figurines costing up to £50k. Link: https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-reportedly-developing-animal-crossing-style-social-sim-with-minecraft-like-building

PlayStation is set to announce black versions of its DualSense Edge controller, Pulse Elite wireless headphones and Pulse Explore wireless headphones. That's according to reliable leaker billbil-kun of Dealabs, who suggested the lineup will be announced "within the month", so we are looking at some time before Christmas (yes, Christmas really is that soon). Outside of the recently released anniversary controller, these accessories have previously only been available in white. billbil-kun said these alleged black PlayStation accessories will retail for the same price as their white equivalents. As per the source, the black versions will be priced as such: Stay tuned for more information as and when it is available. Perhaps we will hear something on 3rd December, as part of PlayStation's 30th anniversary celebations? At least there isn't too much longer until we find out. In the meantime, if you are looking for some PlayStation savings in the here and now, be sure to check out Digital Foundry's best PS5 Deals for Black Friday 2024. In other news, it was recently reported that Sony is developing a portable version of the PlayStation 5, however the device is said to be in the "early stages" of development, and may not make the market at all. Link: https://www.eurogamer.net/ps5-dualsense-edge-and-pulse-headphones-reportedly-getting-black-colour-version

Microsoft's ambition to become the "Netflix of video games" faces a huge test this week with the release of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" on Friday. The US software giant bought the game's publisher Activision-Blizzard a year ago for $69 billion in the sector's biggest takeover. Activision's prized asset was the "Call of Duty" franchise, one of the world's best-selling games, and Friday's release will be the first in the series to be available from day one on Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service. The game will also be available to PlayStation users—as well as on PC. Mat Piscatella from analyst firm Circana told AFP it was "the biggest push" anyone had made to bolster a subscription platform. Video game companies once made their money from selling hard copies of their games to players who were plugged into consoles. But the industry now gets its profits from in-game sales and subscriptions on a model like Netflix or Disney+. "How consumers react may result in a dramatic industry shift to—or away—from the subscription model," said Piscatella of the "Call of Duty" release. 'Something for everyone' Microsoft is not messing about with its ambitions for Game Pass. It has a target of 100 million customers by 2030. But the industry has slowed since the boom-time of the pandemic when much of the world spent time confined to their homes. As of February this year, Game Pass had around 34 million subscribers. For Friday's release, Microsoft has rejigged its pricing and only subscribers to the most expensive "Ultimate" tier will get the game as it launches. Despite the vital importance of the game to Microsoft's business, the makers were keen to promote the strengths of the game itself. "There's really something for everyone with Black Ops 6," Stephanie Snowden, communications head at Call of Duty Studios, told AFP on the sidelines of a promotional event in London. Players are plunged into an alternate reality of conspiracy and paranoia during the 1991 Gulf War. But she insisted the game was not saying anything about contemporary divisions in the United States, or the forthcoming presidential election. "We consider it like a giant blockbuster moment and entertainment moment of the year," she said. "But we're not sending any kind of political message." 'Cherry on top' The saga has generated more than $30 billion in revenue worldwide in a little over 20 years. But Brian Comiskey of the Consumer Technology Association, an industry group, said Microsoft got more than just a straightforward gaming title when it bought Activision. "It's not just a game, it's a community," he told AFP. The first "Call of Duty" games were pioneers by allowing many players to join the same game online. Many of those players have grown up together, playing the game with each other no matter where they are in the world. "Video gaming is a social media platform and Call of Duty has been doing that for a very long time," said Comiskey. So these older players may well get involved even if the game itself is not so impressive. "The interest isn't necessarily always the content," he said. "That's just a cherry on top." Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2024-10-microsoft-gaming-supremacy-duty.html

The latest Windows 11 24H2 update has deployed globally, and users have noticed one peculiar problem: It creates an 8.63GB update cache file that cannot be deleted using any conventional method. The issue is widespread, as it seems to have affected those who have upgraded to the latest version. Many users who upgraded to the new Windows 11 version noticed an update cleanup file that couldn't be deleted manually in its software distribution folder or using Desk Cleanup or storage settings. Attempting to delete the cache after deleting the 'Windows.old' folder yielded no progress. Many users have complained about this issue, which likely affects all Windows 11 users who upgrade to the 24H2 version. Running 'SFC Scannow' made no difference to the cache. Irrespective of users, the Disk Cleanup shows the file size as 8.63GB. As one would expect, the influx of this specific complaint caught Microsoft's attention, and it announced that it would be releasing a fix in an upcoming update. It is also contrary to what the Disk Cleanup is detecting; it's likely due to the bug and not occupying 8.63GB of storage space. It's unclear which update file creates this issue, but It is best not to attempt to alter any files as it might affect the entire update file and possibly the operating system itself. Generally, Microsoft is prompt with such peculiar or severe issues. Microsoft explained that the cache was created by the 'checkpoint update,' which is Microsoft's method of downloading missing and smaller patches and updates every month, unlike service packs. Windows 11 24H2 is packed with that feature, but as a result, it created this undeletable file size on every upgraded PC. Usually, this cache is temporary and eventually gets purged by the Windows Cleanup process. Since Microsoft is now aware of the problem, an update to fix it should be inevitable, and therefore, the non-deletion issue would likely be resolved soon. Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/undeletable-8-63gb-cache-emerges-in-latest-windows-11-24h2-update-checkpoint-updates-were-the-culprit-and-microsoft-is-working-on-a-fix

Humanoid Origin, the studio founded by former Mass Effect director Casey Hudson in 2021, is ending development of its untitled sci-fi game and shutting its doors, after an "an unexpected shortfall of funding left [it] unable to sustain operations." Hudson, who also served as BioWare general manager before departing the studio in 2020, announced the establishment of Humanoid Origin (initially Humanoid Studios) in June 2021, teasing it was working on an "all-new IP". A year later, Hudson shared a little more information on the "multi-platform AAA game", as well as early concept art, calling it a "character-driven narrative in an all-new science-fiction universe". Today, however, Hudson released a statement announcing the project's termination and the closure of the studio. "Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down," he wrote. "Despite efforts to shield the studio from broader challenges in the industry, an unexpected shortfall of funding left us unable to sustain operations." "We're heartbroken that we will not be able to bring our new science-fiction universe to completion," Hudson continued. "Our main concern at this time however is for our team, and we are committed to supporting them in their transition to new employment. "In our time together, the team achieved incredible progress, and demonstrated that it's possible to do amazing work while fostering a culture of fun and creativity. We thank them for their talent, courage, and friendship. "Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout our journey." Humanoid Origin is the latest studio to be impacted in what continues to be a devastating year for games industry employees, with over 14,000 people estimated to have lost their jobs so far. That's compared to the 10,500 games industry workers who were laid off across the entirety of 2023. Back in March, GamesIndustry.biz's Chris Tring, writing for Eurogamer, took a closer look at the circumstances leading to such massive numbers of job cuts over the last few years. Link: https://www.eurogamer.net/mass-effect-director-casey-hudsons-aaa-sci-fi-game-cancelled-studio-closing

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has blamed her political opponents for the deadly unrest in the country, adding she was "forced" to impose a curfew for public safety. "We will lift the curfew whenever the situation gets better," she said on Monday in a meeting with business leaders in the capital Dhaka. Security forces are accused of excessive force against student protesters, in which more than 150 people have been killed in the past week. Police have arrested over 1,000 people, including several senior opposition leaders. Ms Hasina's comments came a day after Bangladesh's top court scrapped most of the quotas on government jobs, meeting a key demand of protesters. The rallies have sparked one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence in the country for years and escalated into calls for Ms Hasina to quit. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c72056rg2zpo

The RSPCA has said it is braced for an animal welfare crisis this summer after reporting a jump in cruelty in the first half of 2024. The charity said it got 44,800 reports of cruelty across England and Wales between January and the end of June - up by nearly 1,000 compared to the same period last year. In January, two Hampshire brothers who filmed themselves as they tortured animals in “sickening” attacks were jailed. In footage not seen publicly before, Kristen Cooper, then 24, was seen laughing about inflicting pain on a deer during a police interview. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8803gj12d3o

This would cap monthly imports at 8,000 cars, a significant reduction from the 90,000 cars imported last year The Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib has called on automotive dealers and agents to limit their import requests for 2025 to 5% of the total cars imported in 2023, unnamed sources familiar with the matter told Asharq Business. This would cap monthly imports at 8,000 cars, a significant reduction from the 90,000 cars imported last year. The move follows earlier reports which suggested that Egypt plans to reduce the car import quota by 20%, lowering the monthly limit from 10,000 to 8,000 cars, in a bid to conserve foreign currency and reduce import dependence. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). Link: https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/north-africa/egypt-seeks-to-curb-2025-car-imports-amid-economic-pressures-wxsokt3q

Even before his injury-curtailed role in France’s opening 1-0 win over Austria at Euro 2024, Kylian Mbappe had hit the headlines for speaking out about the forthcoming French elections. “Extremes are at the gates of power,” the France captain warned during his pre-match press conference, adding: “I don’t want to represent a country that doesn’t correspond to my values or our values.” French President Emmanuel Macron called a snap parliamentary election after Marine le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) claimed victory in France’s European elections earlier this month. There will be a first round of voting on 30 June, with a second round to follow on 7 July. Mbappe’s comments have prompted lively debate in France about the extent to which professional footballers should get involved in politics. He is not alone in the France squad in having broached the subject in recent days. Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud and Benjamin Pavard had all encouraged their compatriots to vote in the elections, before Marcus Thuram went a step further by explicitly urging the people of France to prevent RN from gaining power. “The situation is very, very serious,” the Inter Milan striker said. “It’s the sad reality of our society today. “As a citizen, whether that’s you or me, we all need to fight every day so that this doesn’t happen and RN doesn’t succeed.” The French Football Federation subsequently released a statement clarifying that, although players were permitted to express themselves freely, as an organisation it was politically neutral. Mbappe carefully avoided mentioning any political parties by name, but said he agreed with what Thuram had said. “I share the same values as Marcus,” Mbappe said when he addressed journalists on Sunday. “I’m talking about the values of tolerance, diversity and respect. Of course I’m with him.” Thuram’s intervention was unusual, for a French footballer, but not unexpected. His father, former France right-back Lilian Thuram, is a renowned anti-racism advocate and named him after the Jamaican civil rights activist Marcus Garvey. Thuram Jnr has spoken out to denounce discrimination in the past. Mbappe’s comments were more out of character. Although he has links to the socialist former mayor of his hometown of Bondy, Sylvine Thomassin - who is close friends with his mother, Fayza Lamari - he had never previously given an indication of his political leanings. The 25-year-old superstar, who signed for Real Madrid shortly before the European Championship began, has long been courted by the French political establishment because of his huge national po[CENSORED]rity and confident communication style. Macron first invited him to a diplomatic lunch at the Elysee Palace in February 2018, when Mbappe was only 19. More recently, Macron helped persuade Mbappe to stay in France when he was considering leaving Paris St-Germain in 2022. Macron has also put pressure on Real Madrid to reverse their decision to ban their players – and therefore Mbappe – from competing in the football tournament at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. Mbappe attended another dinner at the Elysee Palace in February this year, which was staged in honour of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim. Macron has reportedly been trying to encourage Qatar, which has owned PSG since 2011, to use its broadcasting company BeIn Sports to break a deadlock in negotiations over the rights to televise matches in France’s Ligue 1 championship from next season. National Rally criticised Mbappe for his comments about the elections. “I don’t expect people who are quite disconnected from reality to be lecturing the people of France,” said the party’s vice-president Sebastien Chenu. Historically, French footballers have been reluctant to speak out about politics. But Zinedine Zidane, Mbappe’s predecessor as figurehead of Les Bleus, made a similar intervention in April 2002 when he urged people not to vote for Jean-Marie le Pen – Marine’s father and founder of RN – in the presidential election. Young voters, who Mbappe specifically addressed in his message, are a key target for the parties contesting the French elections. RN’s 28-year-old president Jordan Bardella is a prolific TikTok user and his anti-immigration party garnered 25% of the votes of 18-24 year olds in the recent European polls. So could Mbappe and Thuram’s interventions shift the political dial? “The discussion around this could possibly impact the election in the sense that it could mobilise younger voters, who maybe weren’t thinking of voting or who didn’t even know there was an election,” says Philippe Marliere, who is a professor of French and European politics at University College London. “There’s always high abstention among young voters in France, particularly those from the banlieues [urban suburbs] and from ethnic minority backgrounds. Mbappe and Thuram both come from the suburbs and they are both from ethnic minorities. Their warning will probably fail to impact the white, working-class, unemployed [voters] who support Marine le Pen. But for young people from the suburbs who weren’t thinking about voting, it could be a wake-up call.” Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cw44m9pgmpro

People can reverse their type 2 diabetes by going on a strict 900-calorie-a-day liquid diet offered by the NHS. Sticking to it may be challenging though, results suggest. Dieters must endure a few months of consuming only shakes, soups and meal-replacement bars, before healthy solid foods can be gradually reintroduced. Of many thousands invited, hundreds completed the year-long programme, findings published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journalreveal. A third shed lots of weight - nearly two-and-a-half stone (16kg) - and put their diabetes into remission. The programme is being offered to people around England. It is separate from the weight loss jab Wegovy that will be provided by some specialist NHS weight-loss management services. Diabetes UK said people should be supported to find the approach that is most appropriate for them – whether that involves medication, dietary changes or bariatric surgery. The shake and soup diet programme is fully funded by the NHS, so there is no cost for the individual. They get bespoke diet and exercise advice sessions in person or online, as well as support from their GP. Experts say the opportunity can be truly life-changing for people - if they can stick at it. Unmanaged, diabetes can increase the risk of getting other serious health problems and damage the eyes and nerves. Dr Clare Hambling, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity, said: "Obesity is one of the biggest threats to health in the UK and will be one of the biggest and most costly challenges for health systems globally, so seeing such encouraging outcomes from our programme shows that obesity can be tackled head-on." People are eligible if they are: between 18 and 65 have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last six years have a body mass index (BMI) over 27 kg/m2 (if from white ethnic groups) or over 25 kg/m2 (if from black, Asian and other ethnic groups) Only follow a very low-calorie diet if your doctor has recommended it to you. Marie Laing, from Frome in Somerset, told BBC News that she was able to lose more than three stone on the NHS soup and shake diet. Mrs Laing told BBC Radio Somerset: "The GP suggested I try this after I'd tried other things myself and hadn't succeeded, and I'm really grateful. "This remission programme isn't a diet - it's a lifestyle change. Learning about your body, how food impacts you, why you crave food, how you should exercise... and it isn't stopping you having anything. "It's improved my exercise and being able to be with my children and family, and being out and about and doing things that I love." She added: "It's not easy, but it is well worth it to be able to have your life back." Another user, Juliet, told the BBC: "During the total diet replacement phase, I expected to feel hungry but I didn’t and the products actually kept me going. I enjoyed most of them too – although my particular favourites were the red Thai soup and shepherd’s pie." Dr Nerys Astbury, associate professor of diet & obesity at the University of Oxford, said: "We don’t know how long the remission will last, or how achieving remission can affect the risk of developing diabetes in the future. But we do know that losing weight has huge health benefits in all groups, particularly people living with type 2 diabetes." Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czjyy7280lzo

Rabat - Morocco ranked 79th out of 131 countries in the Portulans Institute’s Network Readiness Index, which measures the application and impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) in global economies. The ranking put Morocco in 8th place among the group of lower-middle income countries, according to the report, and 9th in the Arab World. The index said Morocco performs particularly well in e-commerce legislation, ICT service exports, and high-tech and medium-high-tech manufacturing. The weakest indicators for the North African country were education quality, adult literacy rate, and online access to financial accounts, among others. The US, Singapore, and Sweden topped the ranking, as well as their group of high-income countries. Ukraine, Indonesia, and India made the top 3 the group of lower-middle income states, in which Morocco was also placed. In the Arab region, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar were the top 3. Meanwhile, South Africa, Mauritius, and Kenya ranked the best in Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Chad were in the bottom three of the ranking. With expert opinions and reports citing digitalization and improvement of internet access as key to future social and economic advancement in Morocco, the country has made improving its digital infrastructure a priority. Despite this, several reports have pointed out that Morocco lags behind, particularly in the financial sector. A report released earlier this year uncovered that 98% of transactions in Morocco are still conducted in cash. Your support allows us to continue delivering quality journalism that is accessible to audiences across the globe. Every contribution, however big or small, is valuable for our mission and readers. Link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/11/352641/morocco-ranks-79th-in-network-readiness-index

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