News from November 20, 2025

Technology

Missing ‘at-risk’ girl Melodee Buzzard’s mom appears in court after alleged box-cutter standoff

Ashlee Buzzard appeared in court in a false imprisonment case unrelated to her missing daughter Melodee Buzzard's disappearance from California.

foxnews.com 5 hours ago

Technology

HIV cases declining, SSM warns risks persist

The AIDS Prevention and Control Commission held its annual work meeting earlier this week to present the results of its activities and the current status of HIV in Macau. At the meeting, Health Bureau (SSM) director Alvis Lo said the city has maintained a low HIV infection rate thanks to nearly two decades of coordinated prevention efforts. He said the progress achieved since the body was established in 2005, crediting interdepartmental cooperation and community engagement. Between January and September this year, Macau reported 28 new HIV cases, evenly divided between residents and non-residents. All 14 resident cases involved men; half were aged 18 to 39, and the other half were 40 or older. According to data disclosed by the SSM, thirteen of the cases resulted from homosexual or bisexual contact, with only one linked to heterosexual contact.Officials stated that HIV infections among drug users, once a major concern, have declined significantly due to ongoing programs led by the Social Welfare Bureau aimed at preventing needle sharing. No new HIV cases related to shared needles have been reported since 2015. Officials report that more than 90% of residents are receiving treatment and achieving viral suppression. Despite these positive results, the SSM still urges residents to get tested, recommending that all adults be tested at least once and undergo annual testing if they engage in ongoing high-risk behaviors. Free rapid tests, self-testing programs, and community and university outreach efforts have been expanded to increase public awareness and participation in testing. Under the “Healthy Macau Action Plan,” authorities continue to work toward the goal of eliminating AIDS, emphasizing early screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The SSM stressed that sex education remains a crucial part of prevention efforts, stating that the Education and Youth Development Bureau will continue enhancing sex education programs in schools, families, and communities by introducing age-appropriate content, increasing teacher training, and organizing exhibitions, workshops, and theater events. Online platforms have also been established to provide resources for parents.

MDT,Renato Marques 5 hours ago

Technology

Macau-Hengqin University Town set for postgraduate launch next September

Postgraduate education programs are planned to launch in September next year for the development of the Macao-Hengqin International Education University Town, with a target of 1,200 students in its first year. During the announcement of this year’s Policy Address, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai revealed that the government is actively promoting the construction of four major engineering projects for the University Town. The projects will be carried out in three phases. Phase one involves the school establishment period, utilizing existing facilities in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and will accommodate the University of Macau (UM), Macau Polytechnic University (MPU), and Macau University of Tourism (UTM) as they begin operations. Phase two will involve the construction of UM’s Cooperation Zone Campus, and phase three will cover the construction of the Cooperation Zone campuses for MPU and UTM. In addition, the CE stated that the development of the Macau Pearl River West Bank International Air Transport Hub will focus on advancing the main structural work of the Hengqin Front Cargo Terminal, establishing an efficient transport system connecting Macau International Airport with the Hengqin cargo facility. Ricaela Diputado

Unknown 5 hours ago

Politics

Nicolle Wallace Slams Pam Bondi’s ‘Maximum Transparency’ Promise for Epstein Files: ‘The Public Isn’t Buying It’ | Video

Nicolle Wallace slammed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for promising “maximum transparency” when it came to the Epstein files following Congress’ nearly unanimous vote in favor of their release. On Wednesday’s episode of “Deadline: White House,” the MS NOW host took the U.S. Attorney General and President Donald Trump to task for claiming transparency while also refusing to release the records themselves and force it through a laborious House and Senate vote. “Following the law and maximum transparency when it comes to the Epstein files,” Wallace said. “Public isn’t buying it. Those are two things this Department of Justice is not known for, even among Republicans. “Again, if Pam Bondi wanted transparency when it comes to the Epstein material, she could have released the files instead of publishing an unsigned memo that said she wasn’t going to, that sought to sweep the whole thing under the rug,” Wallace continued. “Comments like her comments today, though, are part of a pattern by Team Trump that suggests anything but maximum transparency.” Watch the full “Deadline: White House” segment below: Bondi renewed her promise of maximum transparency after the effort to release the files passed in both the House and Senate on Tuesday. Trump has yet to sign the Epstein Bill and has not announced a timeline on when it will happen, though the vote mandates he has 30 days. “We have released 33,000, over 33,000 Epstein documents to the Hill and we’ll continue to follow the law and to have maximum transparency,” Bondi said in a press conference. “Also, we will always encourage all victims to come forward.” On Tuesday, Congress passed the bill ordering the U.S. Justice Department to release its files on Epstein within 30 days. The measure was sent to Trump to sign into law after it was approved in a 427-1 House vote. The bill will require the DOJ to publicize all classified documents and communications related to Epstein, as well as investigate all materials on his probe and prosecution.

Jacob Bryant,Team Trump 5 hours ago

World

Diesel trucks are shifting to electric, possibly changing global LNG and diesel demand

China is replacing its diesel trucks with electric models faster than expected, potentially reshaping global fuel demand and the future of heavy transport. In 2020, nearly all new trucks in China ran on diesel. By the first half of 2025, battery-powered trucks accounted for 22% of new heavy truck sales, up from 9.2% in the same period in 2024, according to Commercial Vehicle World, a Beijing-based trucking data provider. The British research firm BMI forecasts electric trucks will reach nearly 46% of new sales this year and 60% next year. Heavy trucks carry the lifeblood of modern economies. They also contribute significantly to global emissions of carbon-dioxide: In 2019, road freight generated a third of all transport-related carbon emissions. Trucking has been considered hard to decarbonize since electric trucks with heavy batteries can carry less cargo than those using energy-dense diesel. Proponents of liquefied natural gas have viewed it as a less polluting option while technology for electric heavy vehicles matures. Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas cooled to a liquid fuel for easy storage and transport. China’s trucking fleet, the world’s second-largest after the U.S., still mainly runs on diesel, but the landscape is shifting. Transport fuel demand is plateauing, according to the International Energy Agency and diesel use in China could decline faster than many expect, said Christopher Doleman, an analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Electric trucks now outsell LNG models in China, so its demand for fossil fuels could fall, and “in other countries, it might never take off,” he said. Costs fall in China’s electric truck pivot The share of electrics in new truck sales, from 8% in 2024 to 28% by August 2025, has more than tripled as prices have fallen. Electric trucks outsold LNG-powered vehicles in China for five consecutive months this year, according to Commercial Vehicle World. While electric trucks are twice to three times more expensive than diesel ones and cost roughly 18% more than LNG trucks, their higher energy efficiency and lower costs can save owners an estimated 10% to 26% over the vehicle’s lifetime, according to research by Chinese scientists. “When it comes to heavy trucks, the fleet owners in China are very bottom-line driven,” Doleman said. Early sales were buoyed by generous government incentives like a 2024 scheme for truck owners to trade in old vehicles. Owners can get up to about $19,000 to replace older trucks with newer or electric models. Investments in charging infrastructure are also boosting demand for electric trucks. Major logistics hubs, including in the Yangtze River Delta, have added dedicated charging stations along key freight routes. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai have built heavy-duty charging hubs along highways that can charge trucks in minutes. CATL, the world’s largest maker of electric vehicle batteries, launched a time-saving battery-swapping system for heavy trucks in May and said it plans a nationwide network of swap stations covering 150,000 kilometers (about 93,000 miles) out of China’s 184,000 kms (about 114,000 miles) of expressways. Global energy markets will feel the impact The surge in sales of electric trucks is cutting diesel use and could reshape future LNG demand, analysts say. Diesel consumption in China, the second-largest consumer of the fuel after the U.S., fell to 3.9 million barrels per day in June 2024, down 11% year-on-year and the largest drop since mid-2021, partly reflecting the shift to LNG and electric trucks, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “The rise of China’s electric truck sector is one of the more under-reported stories in the global energy transition, especially given its potential impact on regional diesel trade flows,” said Tim Daiss of APAC Energy Consultancy. LNG truck sales peaked in Sept 2023 and March 2024 after China eased transport restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Liuhanzi Yang of ICCT Beijing. By June 2025, sales had slipped 6% as electric trucks gained ground. Shell’s 2025 LNG Outlook projects that demand for imported LNG in China, the world’s largest LNG importer, will continue to rise partly due to LNG trucks. It also suggests LNG trucking might expand to other markets, such as India. China’s electric trucks are already cutting oil demand by the equivalent of more than a million barrels a day, estimates the New York-based research provider Rhodium Group. But Doleman views LNG as a “transitional step” unlikely to be seen apart from in China, where a vast pipeline infrastructure, abundant domestic gas production and byproducts like coke oven gas created conditions conducive to LNG-fueled trucking not seen elsewhere. China’s is planning new emission standards for vehicles that will limit multiple pollutants and set average greenhouse gas targets across a manufacturer’s fleet. This will make it “almost impossible” for companies relying solely on fossil-fuel vehicles to comply, Yang said. A 2020 ICCT study found LNG-fueled trucks cut emissions by 2%-9% over 100 years but can be more polluting in the short run due to leaks of methane, a potent planet-warming gas that can trap more than 80 times more heat in the atmosphere in the short term than carbon dioxide. Modern diesel now nearly matches LNG in air-quality performance. China is eyeing the global e-truck market Already the world’s largest exporter of passenger cars, China is turning its sights to the global electric truck market. Chinese automakers have kept costs down and sped up truck manufacturing while ensuring different parts work seamlessly together with in-house production of most key components, from batteries to motors and electronics, said Bill Russo, founder and CEO of the Shanghai-based consultancy Automobility Limited. China’s hyperactive delivery industry, particularly urban freight trucks, has been an early proving ground for these vehicles, he noted. In 2021-2023, exports of Chinese heavy-duty trucks including EVS to the Middle East and North Africa grew about 73% annually while shipments to Latin America rose 46%, according to a McKinsey & Company report. The share of electrics is expected to grow, though limited charging infrastructure could pose a challenge. China’s Sany Heavy Industry says it will start exporting its electric trucks to Europe in 2026. It is has already exported some electric trucks to the U.S., Asian countries like Thailand and India, and the the United Arab Emirates, among others. In June, Chinese EV maker BYD broke ground in Hungary for an electric truck and bus factory, with an eye toward a mandatory European target of cutting carbon emissions from new trucks by 90% by 2040 compared to 2019 levels. Prices of zero-emission trucks in Europe must roughly halve to become affordable alternatives to diesel, according to another study in 2024 by McKinsey. Volvo told The Associated Press that it didn’t comment on competitors but welcomed “competition on fair terms,” while Scania did not respond. “Things are shaking up,” Daiss said. ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL, HANOI, MDT/AP

Unknown 5 hours ago

Technology

Ex-FBI employee says gay pride flag led to firing | ABS-CBN News

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Agence France-Presse 5 hours ago

Entertainment

Richard Dreyfuss' Son Ben Details Years-Long Estrangement

Richard Dreyfuss's son, Ben Dreyfuss, details his alleged years-long estrangement from the Oscar-winning actor

usmagazine.com 5 hours ago

Technology

Mocha Grand Dragon Hotel to cease operations Monday

The Mocha Grand Dragon Hotel will close at 11:59 p.m. on November 24. Melco Resorts, the gaming concessionaire, will reallocate “all electronic gaming machines at the Mocha Grand Dragon Hotel” to Melco’s “other casinos in the SAR, as approved by the DICJ.” The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Directorate (DICJ) will supervise the closure process to ensure legal compliance and orderly handling of cash, prizes, and gaming slips. The 44 Melco-employed staff will be reassigned within Melco’s Macau operations, with protections for their remuneration and benefits. Customers can also continue using gaming slips at select Melco venues (Altira Casino, Mocha Inner Harbor, Mocha Golden Dragon, and Mocha Sintra Hotel).

Unknown 5 hours ago

Sports

NBL superstar Bryce Cotton opens up after coach’s caring act amid distressing scenes in 36ers’ loss to Hawks

NBL superstar Bryce Cotton has thanked Adelaide 36ers assistant coach Kerry Williams for his support during highly emotional scenes on Wednesday night. Cotton was scoreless early and then appeared proppy later in the Sixers’ 97-85 loss to Illawarra, with club staff reporting he was experiencing nausea. But he was also seen wiping away tears before hinting much more personal troubles were affecting him. “I was dealing with a lot. I was able to channel my energy and focus on staying in the games and giving it all I got,” Cotton told SEN. “Last thing I wanted to do, despite what I was going through is come out (of the game) and we end up losing. That would have really bothered me. “If we were going to strike out, I wanted to strike out swinging at least. “(I believe) no matter the things that you face or what you’re dealing with, you don’t run from it. “I’ve always played this game from my heart, and I wanted to be sure, even through everything I was feeling, that I didn’t let my teammates down and still be effective.” Emotions spilled over for the five-time MVP after Williams stepped in to embrace and talk through things with the star guard during a break in play between free throws. “I’m one of those guys when I’m struggling, and then you show me some support, that makes me almost more emotional,” Cotton said. “One of the coaches pulled me aside, and he said a quick prayer with me, and it just made me lose it all over again. “It meant the world to me for him to pray for me in that moment.” Cotton had started the game scoreless but hit two three-pointers inside two minutes in the second quarter. In the third term, Cotton feasted on inexperienced opposite man Johny Narkle with his footwork, shooting yet another three through Narkle’s foul on a four-point play then stepping around him for a deep two. The American-born combo guard finished with six made threes from 10 attempts. “He just was a little nauseated. He must’ve been really sick, guys, you know what I mean? 36 minutes, zero turnovers, 13 assists, 31 points. He was really feeling sick,” Adelaide coach Mike Wells joked. “It’s not a big issue. He was just a little upset, his stomach or whatever not feeling great.” Cotton’s combination with Isaac Humphries was particularly valuable and helped the big man to outshine his opposite centre - three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee (12 points, 10 rebounds). Cotton dished up three assists to Humphries (22 points, nine rebounds) in the third quarter alone, notably popping the ball up for the big man to land a two-handed dunk through the lane. With Cotton in fine touch, the Sixers finished the third term on a 10-2 run that handed the hosts a lead they never surrendered. A particular highlight came in the final two minutes of the game as Cotton sent a long pass into the key for a flying Zylan Cheatham (12 points, seven assists) to throw down an alley-oop. The Hawks have now lost seven consecutive games in Adelaide and have a 4-8 record begin their championship defence. “We’ve had a tough go this whole year and wins are so valuable,” said Hawks guard Tyler Harvey. “We’re going to do everything we can to play consistently for four quarters. If things don’t go right, we can’t sulk, we’ve just got to get right back to it. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a chance against anybody.” Quentin Peterson’s five three-pointers from seven attempts were a bright spot for a Hawks side that came up short of answers once the league’s biggest star began rolling. In a moment of late drama, referees ejected Sixers import Nick Rakocevic for leaving the bench and entering the court during a fracas between McGee and Cheatham. But by that point, the result was beyond doubt.

Glenn Valencich 5 hours ago

Technology

Scientist shares 'what NASA should have told us' about 'alien mothership' 3I/ATLAS in press conference

A Harvard professor has weighed in on the 3I/ATLAS debate, sharing 'what NASA should have emphasized' about the suspected alien mothership . NASA boffins held a press conference on Wednesday, quashing speculation that the interstellar object hurtling through our solar system is a spacecraft and confirming that it is a comet. However, physicist Avi Loeb is convinced 3I/ATLAS could still be a spacecraft and says NASA haven't told us the full story. The Harvard professor has vowed to analyse pictures over the coming days to determiner whether it could be a threat to Earth. He said: "NASA’s representatives should have emphasized what we do not understand about 3I/ATLAS rather than insist that it is a familiar comet from a new birth environment. "They stated that 3I/ATLAS does what comets do, namely shed gas and dust and responds to gravity. But a spacecraft that collected dust and CO2, CO & H2O ices on its surface by traveling through the cold interstellar medium could have also developed an outer layer of dust mixed with ices that sublimate when illuminated by sunlight. "We should not 'judge a book by its cover', because we all know about the Trojan Horse which appeared unthreatening to the guardians of the City of Troy. When monitoring an interstellar visitor, we should not fall prey to traditional thinking but scrutinize new interpretations." Professor Loeb, the Baird Professor of Science and Institute director at Harvard University, pointed again to anomalies which suggest 3I/ATLAS, including its mass compared to other interstellar objects, and the behaviour of jets which project from it, which "could reveal fragments from an iceberg that broke up or mini-probes released by a technological mothership". He suggested that, if it is an alien mothership, 3I/ATLAS could be sending probes to Mars and Earth as it visits our solar system. He said we could know by Christmas whether it is a spaceship, and advised alien watchers to note December 19 in their calendars, as that is the date when 3I/ATLAS will pass closest to Earth. "We should know the answer by the time 3I/ATLAS is closest to Earth on December 19, 2025, a gift of new interstellar knowledge for the holidays," he posted on his website . "Life is worth living if we allow for the unexpected to surprise us. Bureaucrats or unimaginative scientists want us to believe in the expected. But the rest of us know that the best is yet to come." Earlier on Wednesday, Dr. Tom Statler, the lead scientist for solar system small bodies with NASA, said 3I/ATLAS may have come from "a very old solar system", while Elon Musk also joined the debate . Dr Statler said: "Quite possibly, we can’t say this for sure, but the likelihood is that it came from a solar system older than our own solar system itself, which gives me goosebumps to think about frankly, because that means that 3I/ATLAS is not just a window into another solar system, it’s a window into the deep past – and so deep into the past that it predates even the formation of our earth and the sun," he said. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .

Gareth Bicknell 5 hours ago

Politics

Victoria to force agents to publish property reserve prices in crackdown on underquoting

Under the nation-first laws, real estate agents in Victoria will be required to disclose owner’s reserve price within seven days of sale or face penalties

Adeshola Ore 5 hours ago

Technology

Lalaki nanungkit muna ng sinampay bago magnakaw ng motorsiklo sa Marikina | ABS-CBN News

Matapos nito ay tuluyang tinulak papalayo ng lalaki ang motorsiklo. “Yung exact na 2:54 a.m. galing siya rito, tinitingnan niya ‘yung motor, then lumipat po siya sa likod. Doon po siya nanunungkit ng mga nakasampay na damit, ‘yun po talaga ‘yung una niyang kinuha,” sabi ng biktima. Pasado alas-6 na ng umaga nang mapag-alaman ng may-ari na nawawala na ang kanyang motorsiklo. Agad siyang nagtungo sa barangay para mag-blotter at nagreport na rin sa pulis. "Palagay ko ito hindi taga-Tumana. Dumayo lang dito para magnakaw ng motor. Kung ito’y taga-Tumana dampot agad kasi may profile kami,” sabi ni Jamin Pahayahay, desk officer ng Barangay Tumana.

Christopher Sitson 5 hours ago

Technology

Labor and birthrate issues dominate Q&A session with Sam Hou Fai

Labor-related matters, as well as the low birthrate in Macau and its consequences, were highlighted during the Q&A session with lawmakers and the Chief Executive (CE), Sam Hou Fai. The CE attended the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly to answer lawmakers’ questions on the Policy Address for fiscal year 2026. On matters related to labor, lawmakers Ma Chi Seng and Leong Sun Iok, first, and José Pereira Coutinho, later, questioned the CE on the announced reforms in public administration and their potential impacts on the work and employment of civil servants. The government had earlier announced the merging of several departments and bureaus, as well as the mobility of civil servants across different services. Admin reform does not involve layoffs Questioned on the topic, Sam stated, “Public administration reform will not involve layoffs, salary reductions, or demotions,” and urged civil servants to rest assured that this is not among the government’s goals in implementing the reform. “This [reform] will be done over three years, and the program has already been presented. The goal is clear. Through a strong mechanism, [we aim] to increase efficiency and optimize services, reinforcing quality,” the CE said, adding, “To improve efficiency and optimize services, we need everyone’s efforts.” On the topic, the CE reaffirmed that civil servants are “valuable resources” for the government’s administrative machine. Leong stated that he had received complaints from civil servants about increased workload and staff shortages, which were affecting their physical and mental health, to which Sam replied with calls for resilience and an increased “sense of responsibility.” In response to Pereira Coutinho’s call for a salary update, the CE reaffirmed that such matters are handled by a mechanism that is enforced and evaluates livelihood conditions, namely the inflation rate, to propose salary updates. He reaffirmed that if this did not happen this year, it was because “the conditions were not met.” Still on labor matters, lawmaker Ella Lei addressed the difficulties of workers in a challenging job market and salaries that have not been growing at the same rate as expenses. She also called for a clear plan for the announced regime improvements in the importation of non-resident workers (TNRs). In response, the CE said that the government has done a lot to help residents and address their employment difficulties, blaming some who are “unwilling to make an effort” for the current unemployment rate. “We already did a lot to promote and solve the unemployment issue. Unemployed people need the will to work; if they do not, the government cannot help them. This is a problem not restricted to Macau, but we also have it. We need to support those who want to work and have the will to do so,” he said. Companies must prioritize hiring of young locals As for the TNRs, Sam remarked that the import of labor had always been and will continue to be intended to address the lack of local resources. Claiming that the government and public entities are doing their best and sharing the best practices on the matter, the CE stated that the government needs to be pragmatic and understand that there are cases of exception in which companies cannot resort to local manpower for specific jobs due to a lack of experienced and qualified people. “We need to take this rule [primacy of locals over imported labor] as a mission and not just look at the potential benefits in terms of lower salaries [or hiring TNRs],” the CE said, warning local employers that the policy is very clear and even applies to specific industries or sectors that have been named. “If we have fresh graduates who can do the job, the TNRs should be replaced. Even if they [the locals] need training, they should be preferred and trained to do the job rather than resort to imported labor.” The CE said that at the moment, 89.7% of the high managerial posts in the six major leisure and entertainment companies are already occupied by locals, hinting that similar rules could be extended to other sectors or specific industries. Leong Pou U also insisted on learning more about the planned revision of the Labor Law next year. The newly elected lawmaker wanted to know if, among the amendments, there would be the extension of maternity leave days as well as an increase in the number of days for annual leave and public holidays. Without unveiling many of the amendments, Sam said that all those aspects need to be considered and weighed, claiming that what is essential is to have a permanent mechanism to address several of these matters. Addressing the topic of the increase in the minimum wage, Sam refuted the idea of extending it to other professional categories, claiming that “most of them already have salaries that exceed the minimum wage level.” Birthrate decline causes concern Lawmakers Loi I Weng and Wong Kit Cheng have brought to the Q&A session topics related to the decline of the birthrate and some of its immediate consequences. Loi noted that the decline in the number of babies over the past few years is already affecting schools and other educational institutions, as they lose the opportunity to receive government subsidies due to fewer students per class. The lawmaker was calling for solutions to the issue, proposing an adjustment to the rules for the subsidy, which is only awarded to classes with 25 to 35 students. In response, the CE refuted the idea of adjusting the rules and insisted that what needs to change is the current trend of declining birth rates. For Sam, the key is to incentivize youngsters to have more kids, noting that the school subsidy formula is similar to that used in other regions, particularly the mainland. “We need to advance studies to analyze this problem and see what is happening in other countries that suffer from the same issue, like Japan,” the CE said, admitting that the number of K1 students has decreased by 38%. Teacher reconversion is a solution proposed “This is a reality, and what we need to [do in the short term is to] improve the distribution of resources,” he said, proposing that schools diversify their offers and teachers requalify their skills and reconvert into other areas such as continuous education. “We will refine the subsidy and also help schools that possess conditions to do so, for reconversion and advance with continuous education courses. We need to do this because of the legal rules; for now, these state that it’s for 25-35 students. Maybe we can create a platform to improve communication between schools and consider teacher transfers between different school levels,” he remarked. Citing government statistics, Sam said that research has been conducted and that the government knows about 200 teachers may soon be without a class. “Maybe we can transfer them to other duties like continuous education courses. I think they have a strong capacity for adaptability. We can also train them in other fields, such as technology. We will organize programs for the medium- and long-term for this. Teachers and schools need to adjust to the new reality. The government, together with schools and teachers, will do this,” he concluded.

MDT,Renato Marques 6 hours ago

Health

I became a full-time paramedic for strangers in Arc Raiders, and ended up showered with more rare loot than I could carry

OK, I'll admit it: Arc Raiders can get a little boring when you're a pacifist. Casually waving hello to solo raiders as they loot the locker you were hoping to have to yourself is not as novel or fun the hundredth time it happens, especially after you've gotten so good enough at eluding Arc patrols that even they're only rarely a threat. Last week, I went on three raids in a row without firing a shot. It's at this point that solo players looking to zest up their routine might turn to the dark side: picking fights out in the open, setting traps at extraction points, or the least forgivable 2012-ass DayZ behavior of all, shooting randos in the back after establishing a "Don't shoot!" truce. Banditry did cross my mind. PvP is pretty fun in Arc Raiders, after all, and after 43 hours I still haven't gotten to do very much of it. But I've come to value Arc Raiders' gentle culture so much (and judge every hostile player so harshly) that I can't become the hypocrite now. I'd sooner uninstall. To treat my boredom without blackening my soul, I decided to try something else: Inspired by a Reddit clip of a self-proclaimed "rescue raider," I began deploying on solo raids with a full stack of defibrillators. The goal? Run toward downed raider flares, find the patient, and revive them. Park Ambulance Dispatch (PAD) is here to help. The first hurdle to becoming an effective Arc Raiders paramedic was cardio. I'd run and run and run straight toward every flare, but most players I responded to had died by the time I got there. Not too surprising: Solo players tend to give up as soon as they're downed, assuming that even if a friendly face passes by, they won't be holding a defib that's only good for reviving others. After that first night, I'd saved a whopping two people. Good, but not good enough. So I switched up the gameplan: Hang around the center of the map so I'm as close as possible to flaresPlay mostly on Buried City and Stella Montis, the two smallest mapsInvest in the Mobility skill tree to improve my stamina, climb speed, and therefore my response timeAnnounce myself as a friendly medic as soon as the patient is within earshot Above: The only time I've gotten the coveted "My hero!" chant from a grateful patient. I raced across the rooftops, landed risky jumps, and deployed ziplines to fly across maps like Spider-Man with a backpack full of drugs. That's when I started finding some real success. I'd revive at least one raider per run, sometimes two or three, and sometimes I'd have to save the same person twice. At the risk of sounding like I'm fishing for good samaritan praise, what I'm actually saying is that this is way more thrilling than peacefully looting the Rust Belt or turning every match into a warzone. Honestly, I've never had as much fun in Arc Raiders. The pressure of reaching people in time to save them completely recontextualized the game. Routes I'd taken hundreds of times became race courses, and the Arc were a scarier presence because I didn't have time to just hide in a bush until they passed. I could still complete quests and loot stuff for my base upgrades, but I also had a main quest that superseded everything. What I didn't expect were all the gifts. Most patients just said thank you, often in a confused "Is he really just gonna let me go?" sorta way, but occasionally they'd just start dropping valuables. I'm sitting on a pile of rare parts from Arc I've never even fought—Bastion Cores, Leaper Pulse Units, Bombardier Cells—plus loads of random trinkets. Most of which I plan to sell because, um, it turns out being a paramedic is an expensive hobby. Defibrillators are not a standard recipe of the medicine bench, and I've yet to find the blueprint to craft them myself, so I've just been buying loads of them from the Clinic at 3,000 coins a pop. In fact, I just ran the numbers for the first time and, at 9,000 coins for a full stack of three, I've been going through approximately 50k worth of defibs per night. That's by way of sometimes using all defibs in one run, other times having leftovers, and sometimes getting murdered myself. Yea so, I've danced around it so far, but there are also plenty of reasons why the paramedic playstyle is a terrible idea. For one, I'm dying way more than I used to, and you can probably imagine how. A good half of raider flares I've responded to were folks downed by another player. I've lost full packs of medical supplies because I sprinted straight at a flare yelling "I'm a medic, don't give up!" and immediately got shot in the face by my patient's killer. Eventually, this too called for an updated plan: Get good at detecting dangerInvestigate crime scenesFight, if necessaryPrioritize the revive This really comes down to mitigating risk, but accepting a regular state of peril. The one big tip I can give here is to not just take note of distant gunshots, but listen to them. Before the flare popped, what did I hear? Were there rockets, bombs, or machineguns typical of Arc, or did it sound like two Ferros trading shots from opposite rooftops? I'd take my best guess and let that calibrate how much caution I should use, which has worked well enough so far. Now I mosey up to some flares quietly, assessing the crime scene before I initiate voice chat. If I'm quick enough, I can catch the killer before they finish the job. If I'm too late, well, I can at least dispense justice with some PvP that won't weigh on my conscience. The most interesting cases unfold when I arrive late enough that I can't quite tell what just happened: One player is dead, another is looting them, but were they the aggressor? The only way to find out without risking my hide, I decided, is to light 'em up until they're down and then question them. If I believe their story, they get a defib. If my lie detector goes off, their raid is over. I know that I've probably revived a few murders by accident along the way, but letting some folks live eases the conscience and produces its own unique social interactions. Just the other day, I downed a guy who'd just killed someone in the Buried City hospital. I asked if he killed the guy upstairs, he insisted it was self defense. I asked why he didn't respond to my "Don't shoot" calls, he said he didn't hear me. He had basic guns, the default outfit, and could've just been a brand new player, so I decided to take the chance and used my last defib. He seemed legitimately shocked, thanked me a bunch, and slowly backed away. Later that night, I got a friend request. Perhaps it's time for the Park Ambulance Dispatch to grow?

Morgan Park 6 hours ago

Technology

Technology research industrial park set to progress gradually

Macau will progress in an orderly manner with the construction of the technology research industrial park, with authorities confirming yesterday that extensive public consultations will be conducted from next Thursday through December 26 regarding site selection, planning, and funding arrangements. The 2026 Policy Address outlines four major construction projects for Macau: the Macau-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, the Macau International Integrated Tourism and Cultural Zone, the Macau Pearl River West Bank International Air Transport Hub (Port), and the Macau Science and Technology Research and Development Industrial Park. Notably, the education town and the integrated tourism and cultural zone are set to begin graduate-level teaching next year, while the latter is currently gathering public feedback. Investment in the cultural area will depend on future circumstances, with annual public investment expected to remain around MOP20 billion, consistent with recent years. Presenting his second Policy Address on Tuesday, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai provided further details on the progress of the technology research industrial park, stating, “We will finalize the development plan for the park, including conducting preliminary consultations and research on its requirements, industrial positioning, functional layout, and development model.” He emphasized the need to expedite subsequent budget preparation and project tendering, initiate the hiring of a project management company, and actively attract investment. Sam also mentioned that support from central government ministries and commissions would be sought for the park’s development. He noted that prior to the park’s completion, the technology research industrial park will be established to attract technology enterprises and projects in fields such as integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and digital technology. “These four initiatives aim to diversify the economy,” he added. Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai will conduct extensive consultations regarding the technology research industrial park by month-end, with plans to leverage decades of mainland China’s technological development experience. “We will adapt to Macau’s actual conditions and fully leverage the benefits of ‘One Country, Two Systems,’” Sam stated. The primary focus of the technology park will be on research and development, centered around Macau’s technology research industry. Leveraging Macau’s four national key laboratories in biotechnology, traditional Chinese medicine, and integrated circuits, the park will also advance space technology through initiatives like Macau Science 1 and Macau Science 2. “I look forward to hearing everyone’s input, particularly from the technology sector,” he said. Sam referenced his previous visits to Changsha, the Pearl River Delta, and Beijing to observe their technological advancements, highlighting that Macau can draw from their successful experiences, especially in biomedicine and digital technology. He revealed plans for a phased development of the technology industry, stating, “This will be a gradual process.” Meanwhile, the establishment of the government’s industrial fund and guiding fund is anticipated by the end of this year or early next year.

MDT,Yuki Lei 6 hours ago

Politics

Trump administration makes major changes to a report it commissioned on FEMA reforms, AP sources say

A draft of a much-anticipated report on reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been whittled down in size, with recommendations compiled by a council appointed by the president slashed and amended by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s office, according to three people familiar with the developments. The report “got nuked,” said one former FEMA official. The three people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue with the media, said the report shrunk from over 160 pages to roughly 20. They said it left council members and other emergency management leaders concerned that some of the recommendations about the country’s disaster preparedness won’t make it into the final copy, which is expected around Dec. 12. The draft report’s downsizing reflects the Trump administration’s push to disengage the federal government from disaster management and the agency overseeing it, FEMA, pushing more responsibility for preparing, responding to and recovering from climate on states, tribes and territories. The former officials said that cutting some of the original recommendations and adding others that further diminish FEMA will not only show that the administration is intervening politically in a professional undertaking. They said the changed recommendations could ultimately leave states and other governments unequipped to prepare for or recover from disasters. Those who oppose shrinking FEMA say most state and local governments can’t take on more of the enormous financial and logistical strains of rebuilding, especially as the frequency and severity of extreme weather wrought by climate change grows, and that FEMA plays a key coordinating role, shepherding help from across the federal government. DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Asked about the status of the report, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the review council will recommend to President Donald Trump how FEMA may be reformed “such that the Federal role remains supplemental and appropriate to the scale of disaster,” and that “Secretary Noem is working hard to implement the President’s vision that will best serve the American public.” The initial draft sought reforms to FEMA The council, appointed by Trump and made up almost exclusively by members from Republican-led states who support significant FEMA reforms, finished a draft report in early November of over 160 pages, according to the three people. A table of contents obtained by the AP showed the initial draft included nine “key principles,” including reforming public assistance, flood insurance, direct assistance to survivors, and improving rural resilience. It also included sections on potential reforms to the Stafford Act, which dictates most of FEMA’s authorities, and proposes a phased approach to the changes, to prepare state and local governments. Two former officials familiar with the matter told the AP the initial recommendations included several of the reforms Trump and Noem have repeatedly touted, including giving states upfront direct grants for disaster recovery instead of reimbursing for the work after it’s done, a process that is often criticized for being too slow and bureaucratic. Other initial recommendations would reduce how much FEMA pays for disasters by reducing the federal cost share below its current minimum of 75%, and raising the threshold of how much a disaster must be estimated to cost before FEMA recommends to the president that it receive a major disaster declaration. Declarations are ultimately up to the president regardless of that formula. The new draft cuts proposed reforms and makes others After submitting the draft in early November to DHS for comment and approval, council members learned Noem’s office cut the report to around 20 pages, the former officials said. Two people who had not seen the DHS version but are close to members of the council who did said the new draft removes any mention of mitigation programs and slashes preparedness dollars for local emergency management agencies. The AP could not independently confirm other changes made to the draft. Noem called a last-minute meeting of the FEMA Review Council on Wednesday afternoon. DHS did not respond to questions about the meeting. The AP could not reach council members for comment. At a disaster resilience conference in Florida Wednesday, council member and Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said federal funds would “continue to come down” to states, but that, with legislative changes, the money could potentially arrive in “days and weeks,” hinting at the transition to using direct grants. He did not address the draft report in his remarks. Many of the expected recommendations would require action by Congress because the 1988 Stafford Act lays out most of FEMA’s responsibilities. Other changes could be implemented by Trump or the FEMA administrator. A Republican-dominated council For nearly a year, the council has been meeting around the country, holding listening sessions in disaster-impacted places and surveying emergency management professionals and others on how to reform FEMA, and streamline federal support after disasters. Trump created the review council by executive order on Jan. 24, the same day he proposed “ getting rid of ” FEMA after touring Hurricane Helene damage in North Carolina. It is co-chaired by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though Hegseth did not attend the last of three public meetings, and Noem attended two meetings virtually. The members are almost exclusively from Republican-led states and include the emergency management directors of Texas and Florida, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is vice chair. Members held three public meetings between May and August in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Oklahoma City, along with multiple closed-door listening sessions with Native tribes and in disaster-impacted states and territories including North Carolina and Puerto Rico. They also surveyed emergency management directors and others involved with disaster recovery. Experts hoped that what they believed was a thorough approach would mean that the final recommendations would be reflective of the broad input.

Gabriela Aoun Angueira 6 hours ago

Technology

Escaping the press gallery lows to revel in the high life

The Snowy River sits cold and trapped against a dam wall below us, the last wild run of it spent. Each year for the past 17 years we have come bringing food and wine and benevolence, leaving the familiar world and all its parts in the lowlands. Most years we came in winter, stamping on skis, wearing ourselves out on the slopes before vespers at the pub. Whoever coined the name Snowy Mountains knew what they were talking about. Some years we trudged to our lodgings towing luggage-heavy sleds through blizzards, and spent hours digging cars out of snow drifts before we could leave.

Tony Wright 6 hours ago

Technology

Rachael Wilson leaving Ottawa Food Bank to go to United Way

Wilson served as food bank director of communications and development from 2016 to 2021, then became CEO, making her the first and only woman to lead the organization in that capacity. In the food bank’s post, chair Trevor Whike said the board of directors had appointed Natalie Spooner, currently director of programs and planning, as interim CEO while it conducted a formal search for a permanent candidate. Dennise Taylor-Gilhen has served as United Way East Ontario’s interim president and CEO since June 2024, when the organization parted ways with longtime chief executive Michael Allen. The online post said Taylor-Gilhen would move into “an advisory role, supporting several strategic initiatives.” In early 2025, the United Way’s board engaged an executive recruitment firm for a cross-Canada search for a new president and CEO.

Staff Reporter 6 hours ago

Politics

Türkiye set to host COP31 climate summit, Australia to lead government talks

BELEM, Brazil: Türkiye will host next year's UN climate summit while Australia will lead the conference's negotiations among governments, under a compromise deal taking shape in talks in Brazil, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday (Nov 20). The annual COP conferences are the world's main forum for driving climate action. The compromise would resolve a stand-off between Australia and Türkiye over who would stage COP31. Both bid in 2022 to host it and refused to stand down. The two sides were now close to a deal that would see Türkiye hosting COP31 as summit president, with a pre-COP event staged in the Pacific and Australia as president of negotiations, Albanese said. "What we've come up with is a big win for both Australia and Türkiye," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp Radio. The two nations now have just a year to prepare for an event that attracts tens of thousands of people and requires months of diplomatic legwork to reach consensus around climate goals. "There's a little way to go in these discussions," Australia's Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen told reporters at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, adding that the compromise would achieve Australia's aims. "It would be great if Australia could have it all. But we can't have it all," he said. "It was important to strike an agreement." The Turkish government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Unknown 6 hours ago

Technology

Truck sumalpok sa TESDA sa Taguig City | ABS-CBN News

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Allison Co 6 hours ago