Saturday 31 July 2021
Adopting CDC guidance, Colorado recommends everyone wear masks in school settings
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://co.chalkbeat.org/2021/7/31/22603829/cdc-school-mask-guidance-colorado&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEYE6SN4Sw2ni3thGOr3w1oK_0dng
Biden administration announces new sanctions on Cuba while eyeing further actions
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/politics/biden-new-sanctions-cuba/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHJsfQ9zQvZAjJhLtLXNSNL5WEsKg
Biden's gun man - and agenda - is on the ropes
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2021/07/30/bidens-gun-man-and-agenda-is-on-the-ropes-493796&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEQHhwuHBPvTp1OkwtO9GLWOeSTcg
Crews working to contain two fires north of Madras; total of 2000 acres burned
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2021/07/31/crews-working-to-contain-two-fires-north-of-madras-total-of-2000-acres-burned/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGpi36AzQHmSKB6A3kbq4w2JNomAA
Key Afghan City in Danger of Falling to the Taliban
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-lashkar-gah.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFPPzlJWthiQhU3QhnCOT6m8frjYA
Eviction Freeze Set to Lapse as Biden Housing Aid Effort Lags
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/us/politics/eviction-moratorium-biden-housing-aid.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFBnHAxeDSWtH7Vp5OScpVRCI6dIQ
Halo Infinite's bots aren't messing about
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-31-20-46/halo-infinites-bots-arent-messing-about-1627760809543.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2161097.jpg)
Halo Infinite launched its multiplayer technical preview this week in limited fashion: all you can do is play against bots - but these bots are no pushover.
Halo Infinite is the franchise's first foray into the world of multiplayer bots, and developer 343 is using the technical preview to gather feedback on bot behaviour and online performance. To that end, the technical preview debuted with the Bot Arena playlist, which puts four players against four bots on arena maps.
The technical preview launched with bots that felt pretty easy, and last night I won every game against them. But while I slept, 343 pushed an update that added ODST difficulty bots and a new map, Recharge. And I am here to report these ODST bots are not messing about.
Friday 30 July 2021
Given The Choice Between Prison Life And Fighting Wildfires, These Women Chose Fire
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/30/1022727889/given-the-choice-between-prison-life-and-fighting-wildfires-these-women-chose-fi&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHALoNgjP7QWqM1AM8FJo-AMYjgig
Wisconsin family reunited with dog lost for nearly 2 years after recognizing pup on TV news
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/30/lost-dog-wisconsin-family-reunited-puppy-after-nearly-two-years/5438370001/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEbJOf0LTsawJHAZF7qaZLfb6E4iQ
Protesters gather outside of Oaklawn cemetery as the city reburies the remains exhumed
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://ktul.com/news/local/protesters-gather-outside-of-oaklawn-cemetery-as-the-city-reburies-the-remains-exhumed&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEatdmAdXK3akVO6T0p4WjPIYcM7A
Boulder, Cherry Creek Schools See Record Summer School Turnout Following Pandemic Learning Loss
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/07/30/boulder-cherry-creek-schools-summer-learning-loss/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHVDe6u0PDQiwpSVxsZ1dYS6_Rxog
Biden nominates Khizr Khan, a Gold Star father and Trump critic, to religious freedom post
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/politics/biden-khizr-khan-white-house/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH93aFCBnhhk8U9nXG9a-dFufnZig
US CDC chief says there will be no federal mandate on COVID-19 vaccine
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-weighing-federal-mandate-covid-19-vaccine-cdc-director-2021-07-30/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGGqr_CiclNUSPSFse9vJlZqphNMw
Biden's Justice Department says IRS 'must' hand over Trump tax returns to Congress
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/politics/biden-justice-department-olc-trump-tax-returns-house/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGT090gyIA_PZMo_4exN4gI-pQ7gw
The eviction ban is ending, putting millions at risk of losing their homes
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/homes/end-of-the-eviction-ban/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHnFerBDOLLflm-O6jWCrEu_WIUqw
Biden says US will 'in all probability' see more guidelines and restrictions amid rising Covid cases
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/politics/biden-covid-restrictions/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFbNvvpZ5pM3Cff0tJKmoOeH0xm_w
Democratic push to extend eviction moratorium fizzles in the House
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/30/eviction-battle-house-democrats-501758&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFRWy1l1jetUqyKnVohmBAGzMUlEA
Waterspout outbreak possible on the Great Lakes this weekend
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.woodtv.com/weather/weather-news/waterspout-outbreak-possible-on-the-great-lakes-this-weekend/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNG_BKlRmrNdbYmCql8qM_YJVDtgNA
MSG Networks & NY Giants Training Camp Experience Official Rules
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.msgnetworks.com/sweeps/msg-networks-ny-giants-training-camp-experience-official-rules/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEbt2Dusqus4Ls-1yFGVNB--yXYMA
DOJ Sues Texas Governor Over Using State Troopers To Turn Back Migrants
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/30/1022791462/texas-state-troopers-greg-abbott-doj-migrants-merrick-garland&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHThlifCV4GRUlixQNi_0Yl753O7Q
The Dixie Fire reignites trauma for people who survived California's deadliest wildfire in history
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/us/dixie-camp-wildfire-california-survivors-climate/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH_4KXDo9WOj_JiJU_HWcg3xqa0lw
Greenland: enough ice melted on single day to cover Florida in two inches of water
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/30/greenland-ice-sheet-florida-water-climate-crisis&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEEN7_0Lw5TdFjI4Umccvzg2BosgQ
Biden administration sues Texas over Gov. Abbott's migrant transport order
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/politics/doj-sues-greg-abbott-texas-migrant-transport-executive-order/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHk0fJep7Zt42xV2bSIErL1z5Epcw
Stormy weather still fueling activity, posing challenges on 413000-acre Bootleg Fire
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2021/07/30/stormy-weather-still-fueling-activity-posing-challenges-on-413000-acre-bootleg-fire/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHUEtP9T-IrZZXRaFV0sPnNvpZ61g
Trump to DOJ last December: 'Just say that the election was corrupt + leave the rest to me'
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/30/politics/trump-election-justice/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHBpxnYL6O_0ZYPQuRs8qdn6-ihVg
Man hospitalized after Magnolia park shooting
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.myballard.com/2021/07/30/man-hospitalized-after-magnolia-park-shooting/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFvxzjfHv-ZR6CmnOaXjphxwZLIVA
How Georgia's redistricting process falls short on transparency
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://thecurrentga.org/2021/07/30/how-georgias-redistricting-process-falls-short-on-transparency/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGMJCuCoeG2D17VXkGzRh7YI4EpYw
Notes Show Trump Pressed The Justice Department To Declare The 2020 Election Corrupt
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/30/1022826068/notes-show-trump-pressed-the-justice-department-to-declare-the-2020-election-cor&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEdid6ktk03rZyXjHXHTWH8UfDIfg
Carl Levin, longtime Democratic US senator, dies
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/politics/carl-levin-dies/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGgbF439wHvgrmgEOE_khUmv5F6yQ
Horizon Forbidden West reportedly delayed into Q1 2022
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-30-20-34/horizon-forbidden-west-reportedly-delayed-into-q1-2022-1627673681020.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2161052.jpg)
Horizon Forbidden West, the highly anticipated follow-up to Guerrilla Games' acclaimed open-world action-adventure Horizon Zero Dawn, has reportedly been delayed into 2022.
Announced last summer, Horizon Forbidden West was originally set to launch for PlayStation 4 and PS5 toward the end of this year; however, Sony hinted a slip might be possible back it June, when it announced God of War: Ragnarok would now be a 2022 title. "We think we are on track to release [Horizon Forbidden West] this holiday season," said PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst at the time, "But that isn't quite certain yet, and we're working as hard as we can to confirm that to you as soon as we can."
Hints that Sony was now leaning toward delaying Horizon Forbidden West's release into next year first surfaced yesterday, courtesy of GameBeat journalist Jeff Grubb during his Giant Bomb show, who suggested the company was still "undecided" on the matter. However, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier has weighed in with the more definite statement that "Sony has delayed the PlayStation exclusive... to the first quarter of 2022", according to his source.
Thursday 29 July 2021
Back-to-School shopping during Tennessee tax holiday
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/back-to-school-news/back-to-school-shopping-during-tennessee-tax-holiday/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHazHDOPgDMkx0tp72R23u1UBjZpg
The Latest: US Health Officials to Release New COVID-19 Data
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-07-29/the-latest-new-division-to-manage-tunisias-virus-crisis&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGtL2X2hfci0sNlAM_dhlTph1lIaA
Third Black lawmaker arrested this month during voting rights protests in DC
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/politics/sheila-jackson-lee-arrested-voting-rights/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH0ueb4p7UHCdwyDZwxsxUlzldrMA
Los Angeles schools to require COVID-19 testing for all students and faculty, regardless of vaccination status
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/la-schools-require-covid-testing-students-faculty-regardless-vaccination-status&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFVue6Jvum2W7filDx1-z1Go9X3uw
Small plane crashes near Blue Angels Elementary; conditions of 3 onboard unknown
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2021/07/29/plane-crashes-near-blue-angel-elementary-three-taken-hospital/5421263001/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGqG842yos2wZkda7OvvvPQ3AgNrw
India Needs to Be a Better Friend
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-07-29/india-must-invest-in-military-to-be-a-true-partner-to-u-s&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEHXasRGuq7YFJ7K4wb2GlBA7K_tQ
Former Wichita County Commissioner Ray Gonzalez dies
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2021/07/29/former-wichita-county-commissioner-ray-gonzalez-dies/5423917001/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEezZhf9fGsjpjTynejGPAWVdridA
Lightfoot negotiating mandatory vaccination and testing regimen for city employees
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2021/7/29/22600494/coronavirus-mandatory-vaccine-vaccinations-chicago-city-employees-testing-unions-lightfoot&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGNVQlt7Xhpa43a9byzcdYl9p14xA
Congress Approves $2.1 Billion Emergency Funding Bill For Capitol Police
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/29/1022318269/senate-approves-2-1-billion-emergency-funding-bill-for-capitol-police&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHTitEViqYLhdcMRMrtI6rnbzszYw
First Massachusetts VaxMillions winners to be announced Thursday
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/07/first-massachusetts-vaxmillions-winners-to-be-announced-thursday.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGkCNH1XiuWqiL9wPwVqVc7XQmLLQ
NSF Makes Huge Investment In Eleven New Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes.
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/07/29/nsf-makes-huge-investment-in-eleven-new-artificial-intelligence-research-institutes/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEdlfHUAQXkilTsvDnfpzm-8yZUNQ
Adorable avian skateboarding game SkateBird delays release to September
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-29-23-02/adorable-avian-skateboarding-game-skatebird-delays-release-to-september-1627596135290.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160913.jpg)
SkateBird, the adorable avian-themed skateboarding title from developer Glass Bottom Games, has pushed back its release by just over a month, and will now come to Xbox, Switch, PC, and Amazon Luna on 16th September.
SkateBird, which was originally due to release in August, casts players as a "chill little skateboarding bird" that passes the time waiting for its owner to come home from work by constructing a glorious, homemade skatepark.
In this bird-sized skateboarding paradise, players can trick and grind their way toward completing missions and unlocking courses, hopefully attracting a loyal bird following and fixing their human friend's life along the way.
Updates: Storms sweeping through DC area, some severe; tornado warning near Fredericksburg
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/07/29/severe-thunderstorms-maryland-dc-va/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNERr3sHLF3S53X9IcnwnGE8SHybSQ
Democrats plot last-minute eviction ban extension after Biden plea
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2021/07/29/biden-administration-allows-eviction-ban-to-lapse-1389173&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGqZDLGg3k2q5tfZIxxg1zc7L0nkg
5 things DeSoto parents need to know before school starts
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2021/07/29/5-things-desoto-parents-need-to-know-before-school-starts/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNF1jbajxHdeDflS1ertv7Ue2aiALQ
McConnell cites experience with polio in ad pushing Kentuckians to get vaccinated
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/politics/mitch-mcconnell-covid-19-ads/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEPVL_MFzfueKJtFIJ8yMiKLuZmXw
UW to lead new NSF institute for using artificial intelligence to understand dynamic systems
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.washington.edu/news/2021/07/29/uw-to-lead-new-nsf-institute-for-using-artificial-intelligence-to-understand-dynamic-systems/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGUogxNdctbCbwWw7kS_OCf74Djkw
Cuba Quakes: Mass Protests Put the Regime on Notice
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2021/08/16/cuba-quakes-mass-protests-put-the-regime-on-notice/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGxhUvCFtbnn04o2t-lSUmX7dx2Hg
Hyper Light Drifter dev's acrobatic action-adventure Solar Ash gets October release date
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-29-22-06/hyper-light-drifter-devs-acrobatic-action-adventure-solar-ash-gets-october-release-date-1627592788439.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160907.jpg)
Hyper Light Drifter developer Heart Machine's gorgeous sci-fi action-adventure Solar Ash finally has a release date and will be heading to PlayStation and PC on 26th October.
Announced back in 2019 under the working title Solar Ash Kingdom, Heart Machine's latest adventure takes players to a "surreal, vivid and highly stylised world filled with mystery, wild high-speed traversal, endearing characters, and massive enemy encounters" as they, in the role of Voidrunner Rei, attempt to save their home planet from the Ultravoid - a massive black hole that swallows entire worlds.
In more practical terms, Solar Ash (which trades Hyper Light Drifter's intricate top-down pixel art for a fully 3D world) is a third-person action-platformer with a focus on "fluidity of movement". Players are able to quickly leap, slide, grind, and grapple across huge distances as they explore the likes of sunken cities, vast water shelves, and dangerous lava zones, battling ever-more fearsome enemies along the way.
Everything shown in Annapurna Interactive's showcase
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-28-14-40/everything-shown-in-annapurnas-interactive-showcase-1627479648933.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160630.jpg)
Tonight's Annapurna Interactive showcase revealed an array of new projects, updates and release dates for the many eye-catching indie games the company currently has under its wing.
The top-drawer indie publisher showcased more than a dozen upcoming titles including The Artful Escape, Stray and Outer Wilds, plus confirmed new partnerships and ports.
The showcase opened with another look at the long-awaited The Artful Escape, which you can read more about here. Its starry voice cast and a 9th September release date for Steam and Xbox were also announced.
Rock opera adventure The Artful Escape sparkles onto Steam and Xbox in September
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Rock opera adventure The Artful Escape will finally launch for Steam, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 9th September.
The long-awaited and glorious-looking platformer will also launch directly into Xbox Game Pass.
The Artful Escape stars Teen Wolf's Michael Johnston and newcomer Caroline Kinley as main characters Francis and Violetta, plus Game of Thrones' Lena Headey, Fargo's Jason Schwartzman, Kingsman's Mark Strong and The Mandalorian's Carl Weathers.
Outer Wilds' "first and only expansion" launches September
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Outer Wilds developer Mobius has officially confirmed Echoes of the Eye, the game's "first and only expansion" which will arrive on 28th September for PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
The story of this new chapter, revealed as part of tonight's Annapurna Interactive showcase, remains largely a mystery.
"It's going to weave directly into the existing world and narrative," creative director Alex Beachum teased. "Now, if you've played the game, you might be wondering how. And also why. And those are very good questions."
IN MEMORIAM: Civil Rights legend Bob Moses dies at 86
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://wschronicle.com/2021/07/in-memoriam-civil-rights-legend-bob-moses-dies-at-86/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNG1Dzt3_oHihqDG1COkUpMEpa6QEg
PlayStation 5 system beta now shows PS4 and PS5 versions of same game separately
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Sony has deployed its first PlayStation 5 system software update for beta testers - including the ability to test M.2 SSD storage expansions, even if it sounds a little fiddly.
The update also adds a number of useful software features, and try a version of 3D Audio for any built-in TV speaker. According to Sony, players can measure the acoustics of their room using the DualSense microphone and choose a setting best suited to their surroundings.
Meanwhile, changes to the PS5 software itself mean beta testers will now be able to see the PS4 and PS5 versions of the same game separately on the Home screen and Game Library, with a game's tile labelled as the appropriate platform.
Award-winning Skyrim mod The Forgotten City launches as standalone game
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It's not every day a mod wins a national writing award, but the quality of the story in Skyrim mod The Forgotten City was enough to see it pick up an Australian Writers' Guild Award back in 2016. The mod was downloaded over 3m times, and it's now taken on a new form, as the mod has been transformed into a standalone game.
The Forgotten City released yesterday on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. It's been updated with professional voice acting, new gameplay mechanics, a new orchestral score and a significant overhaul of the original script. "If you liked the mod, you're going to love the standalone game," says the Steam description. "We've taken the best elements of the mod, re-written the script, which is now more than twice the length of the original at 80k+ words, and added plenty of exciting new twists, endings, and surprises."
In terms of gameplay, The Forgotten City is a murder mystery game set in a cursed Roman city where "if one person sins, everyone dies". Players must explore, question characters and exploit a time loop in order to solve the mystery. Combat is an option, but apparently this will only get you so far. There are moral dilemmas, multiple endings and opportunities to roleplay - all in a city filled with historically authentic Roman "art, architecture, costumes and customs".
Blizzard confirms former Warcraft boss fired for "misconduct in his treatment of other employees"
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Former World of Warcraft senior creative director Alex Afrasiabi was fired last summer following an internal investigation, Activision Blizzard has now said.
Afrasiabi's departure had been known, though the details surrounding it - including new and disturbing details of a 2013 BlizzCon hotel room nicknamed the "Cosby suite" - have only now been publicly confirmed following a Kotaku report.
In a statement issued to Kotaku last night, an Activision Blizzard spokesperson revealed an internal investigation into the "Cosby Suite" had taken place in June 2020, following a separate investigation of Afrasiabi. As a result, Afrasiabi was "terminated... for his misconduct in his treatment of other employees".
Sony recommends well-lit room, screwdriver and probably a flashlight to add PS5 SSD
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It looks like support for the PlayStation 5's SSD expansion slot is finally coming.
Sony has published a new support page on how to add an M.2 SSD to a PS5.
Firmware which supports M.2 SSDs is only available to beta users right now, but will be enabled for everyone in an upcoming system update.
There's a real buzz about Amazon's New World MMO
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A queue? I haven't queued to play an MMO since World of Warcraft in 2005. But earlier this week I had to wait half-an-hour to get into Amazon's New World closed beta because more than 300 people were ahead of me at 3pm. I know it's the school summer holiday but still. And that was just one European server - there are many.
I was surprised. I didn't think an MMO could create buzz like this in 2021. I thought battle royales like Fortnite had taken over for good. But there were more than 200,000 concurrent New World players last weekend. Perhaps I was wrong.
You can feel that popularity in the game, too. Queues mean full servers, which means there are lots of people in the game, so towns bustle with life, hunting spots are busy and chat is noisy. New World seems to be teeming with life, and there's an excited feeling because of it - a feeling that this could be the next big thing.
James Bond's Aston Martin is now in Rocket League
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James Bond's iconic 1963 Aston Martin DB5 is now in Rocket League.
The car will come with the authentic engine audio and a unique set of wheels and decal that can only be equipped with this car.
You can get your hands on it for 1100 credits in the Item Shop for a limited time.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits delayed until September
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Ember Lab's action-adventure title Kena: Bridge of Spirits has been delayed once again, with the game now due to release on 21st September.
The developer cited the need to "polish the game across all platforms" as the reason for the delay.
"The team has been working extremely hard and we feel the extra time is critical to ensure the best experience possible," Ember Lab said in a statement on Twitter. "We know many of you are eager to play and we appreciate your patience as the team continues to work on delivering the best version of Kena.
Portland bars camping in forested areas during fire season
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2021/07/28/portland-bars-camping-in-forested-areas-during-fire-season/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFeLmviNFN1iH9FX9xH9DL2RE5YHA
Should you pack your Covid vaccine card for your next trip?
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.syracuse.com/business/2021/07/should-you-pack-your-covid-vaccine-card-for-your-next-trip.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFhn48o6JJnlOHW8QZeWTG_1ePtLA
Hell Let Loose is a hardcore WW2 shooter with an RTS twist, and it's carnage
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There's a lot of chatter these days about how my generation would deal with the Second World War. I can't answer that one for you (and, honestly, I don't really care), but if Hell Let Loose is anything to go by I personally would handle it by climbing into an empty tank, getting lost on the way to the front line and then driving into a tree.
Hell Let Loose is carnage, and it's brilliant. Ostensibly it's an ultra-hardcore WW2 shooter, a lot like renaissance roleplaying gem Holdfast: Nations at War, which I loved in equal measure, but with an extra twist. On top of the slower, more grounded approach to moment-to-moment combat is a simplified real-time strategy layer that can only be fully seen by your team's commander, and it's only the team that manages to balance those two sides effectively that's going to win.
So, how it works: you join a server like you would in Battlefield. Each match is two teams of 50, one commander each. Each squad - again, think Battlefield - automatically gets one Officer, or squad leader. The commander can see a full tactical map, and has the ability to use things like bombing runs and smoke cover to help their team advance, but they can only communicate, via voice, in the officer's channel. The squad leaders meanwhile can communicate in both the officer's channel and their own squad's channel, and then their squad members can just communicate there (or via proximity to anyone nearby, which is where you get a lot of "medic please!" and "thanks!" and "grenade!"). There's also text-based options for team and squad chatter but it's rarely used.
Pelosi says Biden has no authority to cancel student loans on his own
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/07/28/pelosi-student-loan-forgiveness/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHq4wZbzoy13ntHMCEbvQe1Td8-lg
Pelosi calls McCarthy 'a moron' for his mask mandate criticism
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/politics/nancy-pelosi-kevin-mccarthy-mask-mandate/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHF0l7yU1r-7GUv75RvBoFCHz2HZQ
Wednesday 28 July 2021
DoD mask mandates are coming back for certain COVID-19 hotspots
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/07/28/dod-mask-mandates-are-coming-back-for-certain-covid-19-hotspots/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHYwcYU4fT7R_PIL5KlJz4NuR7GXg
Biden Pushes Cybersecurity Upgrades For Critical Infrastructure After Recent Hacks
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1021742325/biden-pushes-cybersecurity-upgrades-for-critical-infrastructure-after-recent-hac&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNG93XwfheZPie6zEufQsG61bI8UOA
Anchorage Assembly approves new special assistant position
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2021/07/28/anchorage-assembly-approves-new-special-assistant-position/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFCGqlX8kDG8BROzlL4UeoYDPiD-A
The Pentagon Will Require Masks To Be Worn Indoors Even By Those Who Are Vaccinated
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/07/28/1021925844/the-pentagon-masks-indoors-even-vaccinated-cdc-covid&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGEs62g67QIbIOEI8qKFyKY4B7Hug
Violent thunderstorms, derecho possible in Upper Midwest on Wednesday
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/07/28/derecho-midwest-great-lakes-thunderstorms/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGt9gFa4swYd6ON8XJdYkVxz_7k-Q
Ubisoft employees sign open letter slamming management's "empty promises" following last year's toxic work culture allegations
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Nearly 500 current and former Ubisoft employees have signed an open letter in solidarity with Activision Blizzard staff following a recent lawsuit that called the World of Warcraft and Overwatch studio "a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women". The letter also slams Ubisoft leadership's "empty promises" in response to allegations of "systemic discrimination, harassment and bullying" within the company, and proposes an industry wide collaboration to agree a set of "rules and processes for handling reports of these offences".
Addressing Activision Blizzard staff, the open letter, shared by Axios reporter Stephen Totilo on Twitter, begins, "We hear you and want to loudly declare our solidarity with you. Over the past week, the games industry has once again been rocked by revelations that have long been known by too many of us. Revelations that a year ago many were hearing about Ubisoft."
"It is clear, from the frequency of these reports," the letter continues, "that there is a widespread and deeply ingrained culture of abusive behaviours within the industry. It should no longer be a surprise to anyone: employees, executives, journalists, or fans that these heinous acts are going on. It is time to stop being shocked. We must demand real steps be taken to prevent them. Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions."
Deepening scientific understanding and international collaboration to enhance climate resilience
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://blogs.edf.org/edfish/2021/07/28/deepening-scientific-understanding-and-international-collaboration-to-enhance-climate-resilience/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNF1o88ojvgBX6RSKaNdu4uTGk9IIQ
FACT SHEET: Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/28/fact-sheet-historic-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH6UYHu22QFfpU-wxe-fkUjMfNG8w
The Justice Department Puts States On Notice About Election Audits And Voting Changes
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1021792506/the-justice-department-puts-states-on-notice-about-election-audits-and-voting-ch&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHPWbjQ282omXqDdvYwAbgGmfb1rw
As CDC urges indoor mask use in all schools, Oregon stops short of requiring them
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/07/as-cdc-urges-indoor-mask-use-in-all-schools-oregon-stops-short-of-requiring-them.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEgP7UfDE8nHPq9u_wssxvawvgzUg
I-40 Hernando DeSoto Bridge Partially Reopens
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.tn.gov/tdot/news/2021/7/28/i-40-hernando-desoto-bridge-partially-reopens.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNF7kNHTLmjMaujE7OJRv7sOsb2R6g
Last night I played Microsoft Download Simulator
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I'm in Microsoft Flight Simulator for the long haul. I've followed its slow taxi up the runway to yesterday's big Xbox Series X/S take-off. I expected a few bumps. I'm sure it will still stick the landing.
But last night's launch was a little turbulent - even with all pre-flight checks complete. I had the game's base installation and additional offline pack all pre-loaded (102GB, ouch, but still about half a Call of Duty: Warzone). Then along came a surprise 27GB day one update. Well, flights do get delayed.
After sitting through all that, surely, everything was sorted. Well, no. If I want to go see London or New York or various other global attractions in detail, you need their corresponding region's additional free content packs. These are accessible from Flight Sim's already bulging in-game store (alongside dozens of paid-for planes and airports). I couldn't see a way of getting these content packs downloaded via the standard Xbox marketplace. I wish there had been a way of pre-loading these too.
"They didn't want super anime reads"
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-28-10-53/final-fantasy-7-remake-intergrade-episode-intermission-yuffie-interview-1627466036778.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160552.jpg)
Hello, my name is Aoife and I like Final Fantasy. A lot. Just ask my long-suffering colleagues at Eurogamer who were lucky(?) enough to attend Sony's E3 conference in 2015 with me and watched as I broke down and cried when the Final Fantasy 7 Remake was officially announced. It was a game I'd dreamed about for years, ever since the first time I'd saved the world with Cloud, Tifa, Red XIII and the rest of the party as a kid. And although the wait was long, the game that launched in April 2020 was worth it. Mostly. The ending is a whole other topic that I've covered (extensively) elsewhere, but Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PlayStation 4 - though beautiful - did suffer from texture issues throughout. For someone who could not wait to relive this adventure with shiny new visuals, it was heartbreaking when key story moments were undermined by a flower bed looking like it had been run over by a truckload of vaseline, or a smeary cityscape prompting me to check whether I'd forgotten to put my glasses on.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, an upgraded PlayStation 5 version of the game, goes a long way to fixing these issues, as well as shortening some of the longer load times experienced on the PS4. I'm playing through the entire game again right now, and although not every low-res texture has been banished, it is a huge improvement overall. It was even better that Intergrade's base game was offered as a free upgrade to PS5 owners, but it did also proposition one little extra that players would have to pay for. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade: Episode INTERmission, despite the kafkaesque nightmare of a title, is an incredibly fun piece of DLC that takes place alongside the earlier events of the main game. Although that means players explore a lot of the same areas and assets, the real draw of Episode INTERmission (I know, I die a little inside every time I type it too) is its star, Yuffie Kisaragi.
Yuffie was an optional secret character in the original game, and one that you could only meet after leaving Midgar for the first time, but they've expanded on her character here and in doing so enriched the larger world lore around the oft-hinted at but never really talked about war between Midgar and Wutai, her country of origin. It's a short but fun piece of standalone content, and Yuffie herself is utterly perfect, brought to life by the impressive voice talent of Suzie Yeung, who I had the good fortune of chatting to recently about her experience of joining the Final Fantasy 7 Remake cast, and her hopes for what it'll look like when Yuffie officially meets the rest of the party. Anyway, this is all a really long-winded way of saying watch the video below, not least because Suzie is wonderful and gives some fascinating insights, but also because I'm quite proud of how I edited the Zoom call to look like the OG FF7's menu screen. That's some real dedication to being a Final Fantasy 7 dork right there.
Anchorage municipal epidemiologist resigns
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2021/07/27/anchorage-health-department-epidemiologist-resigns/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGc3m2vL1TrRxnVR-MZ9nutlgUvAg
What's behind Final Fantasy 14's surge in popularity?
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As an avid fan of Final Fantasy 14, I regularly log in on the evenings and weekends to play the game. But recently I noticed a trend while logging in; queues. It's not too unusual to have a short wait that almost immediately resolves, but this time, the line sat at over 300 players. It took ten minutes to simply get into the game - and all I wanted to do was mull around in the Bojzan Southern Front to grind away for an extremely shiny weapon. Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn is coming up to eight years old. So, why are more players than ever logging in to play the smash-hit MMORPG now?
Let's take a look at some of the stats. Final Fantasy 14 keeps breaking its Steam concurrent player records. At the time of writing, it just broke another concurrent record of over 67,019 players. But, that's just a peek behind the curtain for Final Fantasy 14's current player count. Many people still play the game on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and another native PC launcher, which is much harder to track with public information.
However, what is unusual is for the developers to issue a statement about the explosion of growth, and an apology from the game's director Naoki Yoshida on the recent phenomenon. He detailed immediate actions for Final Fantasy 14 to be able to handle this unprecedented surge in popularity over on the game's official blog. Action has been taken to cull queue times immediately, and a server upgrade originally intended for use at the release of the latest expansion, Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker, has already begun to roll out. But, why is this all happening?
Anti-mask protesters forced a Florida school board to postpone a meeting about back-to-school requirements
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/us/florida-anti-mask-protesters-school-board-meeting/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNG98osm5xUDrZ8qR-ovqZbiGsYxtg
Cal State universities to require coronavirus vaccination, won't wait for full FDA approval
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/07/27/college-covid-vaccines-require/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHp5iPz4vJO0Bxxv1gtJCA_R2WNxg
Tuesday 27 July 2021
Tyrone house explosion kills 1, injures 5
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/news/local-news/2021/07/tyrone-house-explosion-kills-1-injures-5/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEAne3Y77xkm4iX0tZnqQtXg068lg
Justice Department declines to defend Rep. Mo Brooks against Jan. 6 incitement lawsuit
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/27/justice-department-declines-mo-brooks-lawsuit-501103&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFyksIA1Cmt23LcbCAKTlf8AoxtMA
CDC changes course on school guidance, advising everyone to wear masks
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/07/27/school-masks-cdc-guidelines/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHGypSbXxB_6mLrts5qV92Trc0YaA
Think Of Your COVID-19 Vaccine Like A Very Good Raincoat, Says Dr. Leana Wen
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/07/27/1020872236/coronavirus-vaccine-delta-covid-cdc-masks-leana-wen&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHnWBb1wliV30a0knM4VxCycUBfZg
At least two dead in chemical leak at facility near La Porte, Texas
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/27/us/texas-chemical-leak-lyondellbasell/index.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHlBNizB1RPorJ1S-TFSq2Olhtq1Q
Federal judge tosses lawsuit that sought to end UT-Austin's affirmative action policy
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/27/ut-austin-affirmative-action/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNFs50z2ncyi0sz7Av_5UIc91Z5GTw
As The Delta Variant Rages, Calls Grow For Vaccine Mandates
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1021051556/as-the-delta-variant-rages-calls-grow-for-vaccine-mandates&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGAZiwEpwJEgNnmiw9cax-3Ks6kvA
Republicans Refuse to Reckon With January 6
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/republicans-ignore-hearing-capitol-attack/619575/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNE5jB-IjZ6roA4DMm2rrqXF6-pX6Q
Activision Blizzard employees planning walkout following company's "abhorrent" response to discrimination lawsuit
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-28-00-29/activision-blizzard-employees-planning-walkout-following-companys-abhorrent-response-to-discrimination-lawsuit-1627428581876.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160518.jpg)
Activision Blizzard employees are planning a walkout tomorrow, 28th July, in protest against the company's response to a recent lawsuit from California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing alleging a "frat boy" work culture that created "a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women".
Activision was quick to slam the lawsuit, strongly denying its claims and dismissing it as "irresponsible behaviour from unaccountable State bureaucrats that are driving many of the State's best businesses out of California".
That was a stance repeated in an email reportedly disseminated by Activision Blizzard executive Fran Townsend, who insisted the lawsuit "presented a distorted and untrue picture of our company, including factually incorrect, old, and out of context stories". Townshead continued, "Rest assured that leadership is committed to continuing to maintain a safe, fair, and inclusive workplace. We cannot let egregious actions of others, and a truly meritless and irresponsible lawsuit, damage our culture of respect and equal opportunity for all employees."
Suspect in Atlanta-Area Spa Shootings Pleads Guilty to 4 Counts of Murder
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/27/us/spa-shooting-robert-long-charges.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEAj8kbfLRQchJx8-dzXJjQqSqwrg
Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texas National Guard to help with migrant arrests at the border
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/27/greg-abbott-texas-national-guard-migrants/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGpR5vl5F_0iLoOqdf7-BXkHRmVWA
Facebook temporarily halts Oculus Quest 2 sales, recalls foam inserts following reports of skin irritation
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-27-22-49/facebook-temporarily-halts-oculus-quest-2-sales-recalls-foam-inserts-following-reports-of-skin-irritation-1627422564043.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160516.jpg)
Facebook has temporarily halted sales of its Oculus Quest 2 headset as it takes steps to recall and replace the device's foam insert following reports it has caused facial rashes and skin irritation in some customers.
"As more people started using Quest 2," Facebook explained in its recall notice on the Oculus website, "we received reports that a very small percentage of Quest 2 customers were experiencing skin irritation after using the Quest 2 removable foam facial interface. We've been working hard to address the issue, working with experts and making adjustments to our manufacturing process, and communicating proactively with regulators."
Facebook initially announced it was investigating reports of skin irritation from Quest 2 last December, and provided an update on its findings back in April.
Tennessee's 2020-21 TCAP Participation Exceeds Expectations
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2021/7/27/tennessee-s-2020-21-tcap-participation-exceeds-expectations-.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHha-BaRBuhauBDdPRzvC29dKAv0w
Overnight stop Iowa Falls goes all out to show RAGBRAI why it's called the Scenic City
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/life/living-well/ragbrai/2021/07/26/iowa-falls-to-host-more-than-15-000-cyclists-during-ragbrai-2021-tuesday-annual-ride-covid-volunteer/8088178002/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEC37IfC55R5c_5GwVJVKgaRLHDDA
Okami's Amaterasu heading to Monster Hunter Rise this week
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-27-19-43/okamis-amaterasu-heading-to-monster-hunter-rise-this-week-1627411394526.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160505.jpg)
Monster Hunter Rise continues its schedule of crossover updates on Switch this Friday, 30th July, as Amaterasu, star of Capcom's beloved action-adventure classic Okami, joins the game.
More specifically, Monster Hunter Rise players will be able to acquire Amaterasu in the form of a unlockable layered armour set for their Palamute, and there's a little more to the outfit than a mere skin swap. With the Amaterasu armour equipped, Palamutes won't just resemble the beloved Okami character, they'll bound across the landscape leaving a trail of blooming flowers and leaves in their wake, as is befitting of a Sun Goddess.
As yet, Capcom hasn't specified what, exactly, players will need to go up against to obtain the new layered armour set, but expect a similar format to June's collaboration (which added a Palico skin themed around Monster Hunter Stories 2's Felyne Tsukino), meaning players will need to farm materials from a new event quest included as part of the update.
Officers Give Harrowing Testimony On Their Experience Defending The Capitol On Jan. 6
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1019736664/jan-6-insurrection-hearing-police-nancy-pelosi-committee&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHiTFZHhBj9JaDX4B-ydAHxm2c1TQ
A Man Accused Of Killing 8 In Atlanta Area Spa Shootings Pleads Guilty To 4 Deaths
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1021144933/georgia-man-pleading-guilty-to-4-of-8-atlanta-area-spa-killings&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH8uEE0CJ2omjGw7a0qaqBBWd35Vw
Forza Horizon 5's biomes shown off in gorgeous new screenshots
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-27-11-23/forza-horizon-5s-biomes-shown-off-in-gorgeous-new-screenshots-1627381417701.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160400.jpg)
Last month we got our first look at Forza Horizon 5's beautiful Mexico setting, and if that video left you hungry for more, just take a look at these brand new screenshots.
Shared in a blog post on Xbox Wire, the screenshots (and brief video clips) provide a nice look at Forza Horizon 5's 11 "distinct and unique biomes". Seasons will return with Forza Horizon 5, and each of these 11 biomes will transition through the seasons differently: spring will bring the rainy season to the farmland and jungles, for instance, while summer might bring tropical storms to the coast. All on a map that's about one-and-a-half times the size of Forza Horizon 4.
"We knew from the beginning that we wanted this to be the biggest Forza Horizon yet. However, if we wanted to be the biggest, then we felt we also needed to offer the most diversity and contrast as well," said creative director Mike Brown.
More Universities Offer Vaccination Incentives. Will They Work?
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/07/27/more-universities-launch-vaccination-incentives-will-they-work/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGOMuvcDg6GSW-t4qQP4k8sdmnJzA
Helen J. Camp 1932-2021
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.vindy.com/obituaries/2021/07/helen-j-camp-1932-2021/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHKZXLzpUTboJYO_8NEZUAn71GyMQ
UM poll: Parents split on COVID vaccine for young children
source https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about-ann-arbor/2021/07/26/u-m-poll-parents-split-on-covid-vaccine-for-young-children/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjJhZjcxZTMyNjk0YzRkZjQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNH9OKBGaNGPlkG7K8ChukKwSlqpiA
Makers of 14-year-old GTA San Andreas mod were so worried about a takedown, they pulled it offline themselves
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-27-11-09/-1627380574483.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160397.jpg)
The makers of a 14-year-old Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas mod have pulled it offline themselves over a fear of a takedown from Take-Two.
GTA United is a mod based on San Andreas for PC. It unites the maps of Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto Vice City in one game area within San Andreas, effectively replacing San Andreas' map.
Work on the free, non-commercial mod began in 2006. The first beta of what was then known as "Vice City 2 San Andreas" came out in early 2007. The beta for "Liberty City 2 San Andreas" came out soon after. Then, in late 2007, the beta for a combined effort called GTA United was released. Five years later, in December 2012, GTA United 1.2 was released. It remained available ever since - until now.
Pokémon Go developer battling to overturn false ban wave
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-27-11-01/-1627380083535.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160391.jpg)
Pokémon Go developer Niantic is battling to overturn a wave of false account bans.
The game's anti-cheat system appears to have incorrectly flagged numerous player accounts for using "third-party applications" - AKA cheating software.
Last night, after Eurogamer flagged the bans to Niantic, the developer acknowledged the problem and said it would now work to restore any affected player accounts.
It looks like Netflix has commissioned a live-action Pokémon series
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-27-10-59/it-looks-like-netflix-has-commissioned-a-live-action-pokemon-series-1627379973488.jpg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160393.jpg)
A live-action Pokémon series is in the works for Netflix.
That's according to Variety, which reports Joe Henderson, executive producer and co-showrunner for Lucifer, is writing and producing the show.
The show will apparently be similar to the Detective Pikachu movie that was released in 2019, with a mix of live-action performances and CGI creatures.
The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S is the cheapest it's ever been
![](https://d2skuhm0vrry40.cloudfront.net/2021/articles/2021-07-27-10-31/Seagate_Expansion_2.jpeg/EG11/resize/1200x-1/2160364.jpg)
If you're running out of storage space on your Xbox Series X/S or you're fed up of moving games on and off an external hard drive, the Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card is on sale and could make things a little less laborious for you.
Let's be honest - £179.99 is still pretty expensive, but this is the cheapest it's ever been (albeit by three quid) and you're saving £40 (18%) off the RRP of £219.99. You can grab it on sale at Amazon or Currys PC World if you don't want your money funding Bezos' future space ventures.
Regardless of the price, the Seagate 1TB SSD for Xbox Series X/S is currently the best memory expansion option for the consoles as it's the only option (outside of the internal SSD) that allows you to directly run enhanced Series X/S games while utilising features such as Quick Resume. That said, you can still play backwards compatible Xbox games using an external SSD such as the WD BLACK SSD for Xbox.
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