Sony says it will buy video game developer Bungie for $3.6bn
Sony says Bungie, best known for the Destiny and Halo games, will help it "reach billions of players".
Halo is one of the games that contributed to the popularity of Microsoft's Xbox.
Earlier this month, Microsoft revealed plans to buy video games giant Activision Blizzard for $68.7bn, which is the industry's largest ever deal.
"This is an important step in our strategy to expand the reach of PlayStation to a much wider audience," said Jim Ryan, president and chief executive of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE).
"We understand how vital Bungie's community is to the studio and look forward to supporting them as they remain independent and continue to grow."
Sony did not provide a timeline for when it expects the deal to be finalised.
In 2000, Microsoft bought Bungie and its game Halo: Combat Evolved became a launch title for the Xbox.
Halo sold millions of copies, helping to popularise the Xbox with gamers.
In 2007, Bungie split from Microsoft to become an independent business.
Under the terms of the separation Microsoft kept the intellectual property of the Halo franchise.
Bungie, which is based in Washington state, has more than 900 employees.
Under the Sony deal, Bungie will operate independently and continue to publish its own games after the takeover is completed.
Bungie is working on expanding its Destiny 2 universe, the first-person shooter video game which was released in 2017.
"Both Bungie and SIE believe that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IP [intellectual property] will become," said Bungie's chief executive and chairman Pete Parsons.
"Our original universes have immense potential and, with SIE's support, we will propel Bungie into becoming a global multi-media entertainment company dedicated to delivering on our creative vision," he said.
Source - BBC
Global chip shortage: Jaguar Land Rover loses £9m
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) lost £9m ($12m) in the last three months of 2021 amid the global computer chip shortage. The UK car maker saw its retail sales fall 37.6% compared to a year earlier, as it sold 80,126 vehicles in the quarter to the end of December. Despite that fall in production the company saw revenue of £4.7bn, up 22% on the previous quarter.
Manufacturers around the world have been hit hard as they struggle to secure supplies of semiconductors. "Whilst semiconductor supplies have continued to constrain sales this quarter, we continue to see very strong demand for our products underlining the desirability of our vehicles," JLR's chief executive Thierry Bolloré said in a statement However, the company also warned that it expects the chip shortage to continue throughout this year but expect supplies to gradually improve.
That helped push JLR's Indian parent company Tata Motors to a 15.16bn rupees (£150m; $203.2m) loss for the period. JLR also said that its order book has hit a new record high of around 155,000 vehicles, due to strong demand for the new Range Rover. Chips are vital to modern cars, with a number of features including touchscreen controls, automatic emergency brakes, reversing cameras, fuel efficiency equipment and airbag deployment systems all relying on them.
On Friday, industry figures showed that UK car production last year fell to its lowest level since 1965. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said that just under 860,000 new cars left UK factories in 2021. Production last year was 6.7% lower than in 2020 - and a full 34% below its pre-pandemic level.
The SMMT said the figures were dismal, largely thanks to a global microchip shortage and disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Car makers around the world have also been impacted by the chip shortage, along with supply chain disruptions, Covid-19 restrictions and rising prices of raw materials.
Motor industry giants including Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Daimler, BMW and Renault, have all been forced to scale back production in recent months as they struggled to secure enough semiconductors.
Source - BBC
Cyber-attack hits German fuel supplies
A major fuel supplier in Germany is operating at a "limited capacity" after a cyber-attack disrupted IT systems at the weekend.
Oiltanking Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG stores and transports oil, vehicle fuels and other petroleum products for companies like Shell.
It says it discovered it had been hacked on Saturday.
It has declared "force majeure" for the majority of its inland supply activities in Germany.
The declaration of force majeure excuses a company from contractual agreements when an extraordinary event occurs which is beyond its control.
In May last year a ransomware attack on US oil supplier Colonial Pipeline saw supplies tighten across the US and multiple states declaring an emergency.
German news outlet Handelsblatt, which first reported the incident, said: "All of Oiltanking's loading and unloading systems are paralysed."
Oiltanking Deutshland GmbH's parent company did not give details about the type of hack they were dealing with, but said: "We are working to solve this issue according to our contingency plans, as well as to understand the full scope of the incident."
Shell said it has diverted operations to other suppliers to minimise disruption.
Oiltanking has been active in tank storage logistics since 1972, and is one of the largest independent operators of tank terminals for oils, gases and chemicals worldwide.
The company says only German operations have been affected by the cyber-attack. It added: "We are committed to resolving the issue and minimising the impact as quickly and effectively as possible."
Cyber-security researchers say that attacks on critical infrastructure like oil and food supplies are on the increase.
In June last year a ransomware attack on JBS, the largest meat processing company in the world, caused disruption to meat supply lines in several countries. In that incident the company paid the equivalent of $11m (£7.8m) in ransoms to the criminals who hacked them.
Source - BBC
Tom Brady retires at age 44
Brady retires aged 44, with seven Super Bowls across three decades and every quarterback record in the book. He's a living legend, the widely proclaimed GOAT (greatest of all time) of not just the NFL but even in the entire sporting world. But it has not come easy.
While a child prodigy like Tiger Woods hit the ground running and was winning the Masters at 21, Brady had to really fight just to get into the NFL - after having to scrap and claw just to get a game for the University of Michigan in his college days, but just like Tiger he would eventually go on to be the name synonymous with his sport.At a now legendary yet laughable physical display at the NFL Combine - when college players show off their skills in front of NFL scouts - Brady produced a 40-yard sprint barely worthy of the name, moving his awkward and lanky frame at the speed of a glacier.
In the 2000 NFL Draft that followed, when the 32 NFL teams pick the cream of the college crop to bolster their squad, Brady was a sixth-round selection and the 199th overall pick. An afterthought, a punt by the New England Patriots on a possible back-up quarterback.
It was that snub, those comments on every aspect of him by talent scouts, that directly led to Brady becoming who he is today.
Brady has been the best quarterback in history, but he's never been the best paid in the league. He's not a poor man, but the deals he's done with New England over the years have been below market rate, but enabled his long-time coach Bill Belichick to spread the salary cap and keep the team competitive.
After Brady spent a year on the bench, an injury to Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe gave him his chance in 2001 and he never looked back. He's always placed winning and the team ahead of even higher financial gain and his own stat sheet, often playing within himself to get the job done.
In a sport built to promote parity, Brady has been a dominant factor, appearing in 10 of the last 20 Super Bowls, and winning the MVP of the big game five times out of his seven wins.
You simply should not be able to do what Brady has done, but by sacrificing some money, his ego, and a large part of his life he's managed to become THE name in the NFL. You may not know your Buffalo Bills from your Baltimore Ravens, you may not know your tight ends from your nose tackles, but everyone knows who Tom Brady is.
They fed the hunger, the desire to win and prove everyone wrong - they placed the biggest chip of all time onto the shoulder of the greatest of all time, a shoulder that would go on to lift the Super Bowl more times on his own than any single team has ever managed in their history.
Source - BBC
CITIZEN INFLATION ADJUSTMENT STIMULUS POLICY
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government on 2nd February, 2022 will open its application portal to accept online submissions from eligible Turks & Caicos Islands Status Card Holders & BOTC for the Citizen Inflation Adjustment Stimulus Policy.
The overall aim of the stimulus is to provide economic assistance to Turks & Caicos Islands residents that continue to experience adverse effects as a result of the economic hardships caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic, particularly the on-going increase in inflation and to stimulate the economy of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Applications will be received online by the Turks & Caicos Islands Government as of 2nd February, 2022 until 11th February, 2022. It should be noted that the stimulus will be closed off and including the addressing of appeals by applicants on or before 31st March 2022.
To qualify for the assistance, the applicant must satisfy the following criteria:
- Submission of a completed form on the Portal;
- Proof of documentation of Turks & Caicos Islands Status Holder or British Overseas Territory Citizenship;
Proof of TCI Status may include the following:
|
Category |
Documents Required |
|
TCI Status; |
Turks & Caicos Islander Status Card; OR |
|
TCI Status |
Copy of applicant’s TCI birth certificate, along with a copy one or both parents’ TCI status Card; OR |
|
TCI Status; |
Copy of applicant’s TCI birth certificate, along with a copy of one or both parents’ birth certificate; OR |
|
TCI Status |
copy of applicant’s TCI birth certificate along with Islander Status Card/Island Status Certificate of one or both of his/her parents |
|
a BOTC; |
Copy of BOTC passport (if passport is expired the expiration date could be no later than 31st March 2020; OR |
|
a BOTC; |
Copy of BOTC certificate; |
|
|
|
- Applicants who are not incarcerated and serving a prison sentence;
- Applicant is 18 years of age and over;
- Proof of applicant is living in the Turks & Caicos Islands. (evidence would include an active NIB number, TCI voter’s registration number or copy of a utility bill displaying the applicant’s name which was issued in the TCI during the last 12 months.
Any further information/documentation that is requested from the applicant must be submitted no later than 25th February 2022. Failure to adhere to this date will result in the application being declined.
The Turks & Caicos Islands Government will also be providing assistance to citizens who are unable to submit their applications online. Applicants can bring their documentation to the Ministry of Finance in Grand Turk and Providenciales and the District Commissioners Offices in North & Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay.
Applicants are advised that incomplete applications will not be processed. Therefore, it is important that you ensure that you read the instructions on how to fill the application to understand clearly what is needed, inclusive of the evidence to be provided.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible following the submission of their applications. Successful applicants will receive an approval letter issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. A single payment will be made by the Grand Turk Government Treasury directly to the applicant via cheque. The approved applicant will be required to present photo identification showing either BOTC or Turks & Caicos Islands status.
Cheques will be valid for six (6) months post the printed date. All uncollected cheques will be voided and cancelled on 11th September 2022. (Lost cheques or stale dated cheques will not be reissued).
Questions concerning this application may be directed to the Turks & Caicos Islands Government via email: tciassitance@gov.tc
Cayman islands to allow children into the island regardless of vaccination status
The Cayman Islands (CI) says children 11 years and younger will now be permitted to enter the British Overseas Territory regardless of their vaccination status.
In a statement, the CI said that the island has officially entered Phase 5 of its strategic phased re-opening plan, allowing for “children aged 11 years and younger…to travel to the destination accompanied by vaccinated adults regardless of the child’s vaccination status.
“In addition, quarantine requirements for all travellers are shortened from 10 days to seven days, and testing protocols have been altered, now requiring travellers to submit a lateral flow test (LFT) on days two, five and seven of their stay.”
Tourism and Transport Minister, Kenneth V. Bryan, said these changes will make it much easier to travel to the destination with children and allow families to enjoy a “well-deserved, relaxing holiday in Cayman once again.
“Family travel is an important segment of our tourism industry, and these new protocols will bring a range of encouraging benefits to Caymanians and our tourism partners. We are very excited to usher in this new phase and remain optimistic for the future of Cayman tourism,” he added.
The government said under Phase 5, children between the ages of five and 11 will be required to undergo the same testing requirements as adults, while children below the age of five are not subject to pre-arrival, or on-site testing.
The authorities also announced that on -island testing requirements have also been adjusted and that while a PCR test on day 10 is no longer required, those who test positive “the PCR test confirmation and any additional testing to exit quarantine will be covered by the Cayman Islands Public Health Department.
“Children aged four years and under will not require testing. Children between the ages of five years to 11 years will be required to undergo the same testing requirements as adults.
“Phase 5 protocols require travellers to the Sister Islands to provide a negative certified LFT or PCR test prior to departure to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
“For nearly two years, families with young children have been unable to experience the magic of the Cayman Islands together. Now, they can return to our shores and create lifetime memories in a safe environment,” said Mrs. Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism for the Cayman Islands.
“We are eager to welcome families back and share all that our beautiful islands have to offer.”
The Cayman Islands has recorded 15 deaths and 13, 734 infections linked to the COVID-19 pandemic since Mach 2020.
Source-CMC
Rihanna expecting first child with A$AP Rocky
Congratulations are in order for Rihanna, who is reportedly expecting her first child with boyfriend A$AP Rocky.
In photos obtained by People, the 33-year-old singer is seen sporting a baby bump while visiting her boyfriend's hometown of Harlem over the weekend. Rihanna's growing stomach is on full display as she walks hand-in-hand with the "Praise the Lord" rapper. The beauty mogul wears low rise, baggy jeans and a long, hot pink jacket. She opted to only button the colorful coat around her chest-region and had long, dangling necklaces decorating her pregnant stomach.
The photographer who snapped the photos, Diggzy, posted a close-up shot of Rihanna's baby bump on his Instagram, captioning it "SHE IS !"
The notoriously private couple don't often speak about each other in interviews, but in May, the rapper called Rihanna the "love of my life" and "the One," when speaking to GQ. "She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones. I think when you know, you know. She's the One," he raved at the time. The two have been romantically linked since January 2020.
Rihanna previously told British Vogue in March 2020 that she sees herself having "three or four" kids within the next 10 years.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have yet to issue an official statement on the pregnancy.
Source- ABC
TCI Weather for Sunday & Monday
GENERAL SITUATION: BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP FRIGID TEMPERATURES IN PLACE, AS HIGH SEAS AND BRISK BREEZES GRADUALLY SUBSIDE ACROSS THE BAHAMAS THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AND ROUGH SURF ALONG ATLANTIC SHORELINES.
FOR ALL AREAS:
WEATHER: MOSTLY CLOUDY, COOL AND BREEZY WITH A STRAY SHOWER OR TWO POSSIBLE, MAINLY IN THE TCI TODAY, BECOMING CHILLY TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: NORTHWEST TO NORTH AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS, DECREASING 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS BY THIS EVENING.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET NEARSHORE, BUILDING UP TO 9 FEET OFFSHORE IN MODERATE TO LARGE SWELLS IN ALONG ATLANTIC COASTLINES.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 68 °F 20 °C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 50 °F 10 °C
SUNRISE: 6:53 AM SUNSET: 5:52 PM
MOONSET: 4:15 PM MOONRISE: 6:33 AM MON
LOW TIDE: 12:26 PM HIGH TIDE: 6:14 PM
LOW TIDE: 12:21 AM MON HIGH TIDE: 6:49 AM MON
EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS) HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AND INTENSIFY ACROSS THE BAHAMAS, AS TEMPERATURES SLOWLY BEGIN TO CLIMB THROUGH TUESDAY.
FORECAST FOR MONDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND COOL WITH A FEW STRAY SHOWERS.
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS BUT GUSTY AT TIMES IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS, INCREASING 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE TCI.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN MODERATE NORTHERLY SWELLS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS, BUILDING 5 TO 8 FEET IN THE TCI.
Phoenix Suns beat Minnesota Timberwolves
The Phoenix Suns made it nine wins in a row with a 134-124 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Devin Booker top-scored with 29 points for the Western Conference leaders, adding nine assists. It comes after Booker set a franchise record with the 16th 40-point game of his career in the Suns' victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
Chris Paul also recorded an 18th career triple-double, scoring 21 points, adding 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
A depleted Los Angeles Lakers suffered a second successive defeat, losing 117-114 to the Charlotte Hornets. Russell Westbrook scored 35 points but missed a game-clinching three-pointer for the Lakers, who were without stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his 16th 30-point double-double of the season in the Milwaukee Bucks' 123-108 win over the New York Knicks. Antetokounmpo also picked up 13 rebounds and five assists to help the Bucks to their fourth win in five games.
Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 119-103, with Terrence Ross coming off the bench to score 21 points. The Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 108-92 to record their sixth consecutive win and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 119-109.
The Denver Nuggets also recorded a fourth win in a row with victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Indiana Pacers edged the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-110, the Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Clippers, Anfernee Simons and CJ McCollum combined for 53 points in the Portland Trail Blazers' win over the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Chicago Bulls.
Source-
Key crops face major shifts as world warms
The parts of the world suitable for growing coffee, cashews and avocados will change dramatically as the world heats up, according to a new study. Key coffee regions in Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and Colombia will all "drastically decrease" by around 50% by 2050.
Suitable areas for cashews and avocados will increase but most will be far from current sites of production.
The authors say that greater efforts must be made to help farmers adapt. Coffee is one of the world's most important crops, not just as key beverage but as a livelihood for millions of small farmers. And thanks to growing consumer preferences in richer countries, demand for avocados and cashews has increased substantially in recent decades. While the threat to coffee from climate change has been well documented in recent years, there is little information about how rising temperatures will impact avocados and cashews.
In this study, the authors looked at how rising temperatures and changing rates of precipitation will impact the three crops over the next 30 years. The researchers have also, for the first time, incorporated information about land and soil characteristics. Coffee is the most susceptible crop to high temperatures. In those countries accounting for the majority of the world's production of Arabica - the dominant coffee variety - suitability for growing the crop will decrease by around half by 2050 - a "drastic" reduction, according to the report.
Some key areas will see a heavier impact. In the lowest temperature scenario, there would be a reduction of 76% in Brazil's most suitable areas for coffee. In Colombia it would shrink by 63%. Some regions at the northern and southern ends of today's growing areas will become more suitable, including Argentina, South Africa, China and New Zealand among others. But according to the authors, this doesn't mean that these new regions can easily replace the current sites.
"The key message for those that are in the main producing regions today is that farming systems have to adapt to the changing conditions," said lead author Roman Grüter, from Zurich University of Applied Sciences. "If there is already coffee grown in a new area where it is just about possible with some management options, it might get easier or might be possible to expand but it doesn't mean that we will get perfect coffee growing regions within 10 years or so."
For cashews, the picture is different. Overall, the areas of the world that are highly suitable for growing the crop will increase by 17%. However, in some of the countries that currently are reliant on cashews as a key cash crop the news is not good. India loses significant areas of suitability, while Benin loses half its suitable areas under the lowest modelled increase in temperature.
For avocados, the picture is also complicated - especially in the biggest producing countries. Mexico, the world's largest producer, sees a major increase in suitable lands, up over 80%. However, Peru - another major grower - loses around half its suitable areas under the same climate model. While the rise in temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns might make some areas more suitable, the authors are concerned that a major shift to develop these crops in new regions might see more forests converted to farmland or a rise of invasive species. "In regions that might get more suitable for growing those crops, it is important to make sure that there are no negative environmental impacts such as deforestation," said Roman Grüter. "In all of these changes, the local stakeholders, the local communities have to get involved in these changing processes. It should be really participatory."
Source-BBC