BIOLOGY students from various tertiary institutions in Cebu City now have ideas on how to craft stories and content for their research projects that are suitable for various platforms such as print, online news sites and social media channels. The Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) extended its advocacy program, "Science Journo Ako," to 40 biology students from six colleges and universities in Cebu City. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.LOCAL government units (LGUs) are ultimately responsible for ensuring housing safety in urban areas, even with the availability of detailed geohazard maps and risk assessments, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Allan Rommel Labayog, Phivolcs regional monitoring officer, emphasized that the agency’s role is limited to prevention and mitigation, leaving the implementation of safety measures to LGUs. “We have developed a website, webpage, and app, as well as a manual on home safety. This includes a training system and mapping tools for disaster-prone areas, which we’ve shared with LGUs and other stakeholders,” Labayog said in a mix of English and Filipino during a geological hazards seminar led by the Department of Science and Technology on Friday. “However, Phivolcs’ current capabilities are limited to this extent.” He then urged local authorities, especially in vulnerable regions, to translate this information into tangible actions, such as enforcing building codes, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring housing developments are located in safe zones. “We [Phivolcs] provide information and interpretations, it’s up to them [LGUs] to implement or act on it,” he said. Under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, LGUs, with partner stakeholders, “should build the disaster resilience of communities and institutionalize arrangements and measures for reducing disaster risks.” The 2023 United Nations Habitat country report revealed that 70 percent of cities and urban centers in the Philippines are located along coastlines, with 3.7 million informal settler families, including 500,000 in high-risk areas, living in slums. As of December 2022, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development reported a housing backlog of 2.2 million units, adding the need to prioritize safe areas for new developments. Hidden risks While no fault lines exist in some regions, the Phivolcs officer said that proximity to trenches still poses significant seismic risks, citing Zamboanga’s proximity to the Sulu Trench as an example. “Earthquakes from trenches are far stronger compared to fault lines. Even without a visible fault, urban housing here remains at risk,” he explained. Based on the Phivolcs’ prediction, the West Valley Fault, which is anticipated to cause ‘The Big One,’ could trigger a magnitude 7.2 earthquake if it ruptures along Metro Manila’s eastern side. Areas near the Marikina Valley and Manila Bay’s edge are particularly vulnerable to intense shaking due to the underlying soft soil. In contrast to the rest of the earthquake-prone Philippines, Labayog noted that Palawan stands out as a relatively sheltered region, with its distance from major fault lines and trenches significantly reducing its seismic risk. “In the center of the development of the Philippines, almost everything is affected; Basically, everything is affected, except for Palawan,” he said.
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NoneLOS ANGELES – Londynn Jones scored 15 points, making all five of her 3-pointers, and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks’ overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories. The Gamecocks (5-1) lost for the first time since April 2023, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa beat them in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals. Recommended Videos Te-Hina Paopao scored 18 points and Tessa Johnson scored 14 for the Gamecocks, whose road winning streak was third-longest in Division I history. It was the first time UCLA took down a No. 1 team in school history, having been 0-20 in such games. The program's previous best wins were over a couple of No. 2s — Oregon in 2019 and Stanford in 2008. Elina Aarnisalo added 13 points as one of five Bruins in double figures. UCLA (5-0) dominated from start to finish, with the Bruins' suffocating defense preventing the Gamecocks from making any sustained scoring runs. Takeaways South Carolina: The Gamecocks trailed by double-digits at halftime for the first time since Dec. 21, 2021, against Stanford, according to ESPN. Chloe Kitts, who averages a team-leading 14 points, finished the game with 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting. UCLA: The Bruins led 43-22 at halftime. Eight different players scored and contributed to 11-0 and 7-0 runs in the first and second quarters as they shot 52% from the field. Key moment The first quarter set the tone for a game in which the Gamecocks never led. They missed their first nine shots and were 4 of 18 from the floor in the quarter. UCLA ran off 11 straight points to take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter. Key stats The Bruins dominated the boards, 41-34, and held the Gamecocks well under their scoring average of 80.2 points. Up next South Carolina travels to Florida to meet Iowa State in the Fort Myers Tipoff on Thanksgiving. UCLA travels to the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii to play UT Martin on Friday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
ATLANTA • Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Condolences poured in from across America and the globe. “Today, I join my fellow Americans to mourn the passing of Former President Jimmy Carter at age 100," said Gov. Jared Polis, adding that Carter "advanced the American ideals we cherish most — human rights, international cooperation, compassion, and treating every American equally." "I express my deep condolences to the Carter family during this difficult time and share my gratitude for Former President Carter’s leadership, service, and deep dedication to our strong and resilient nation during his time in office and beyond,” Polis said. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections, as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition, saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages, where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary, where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year, he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. In 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative Whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. 'Jimmy Who?' His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement came from a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings, huddling with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and non-White people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. 'A wonderful life' At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”How co-writing a book threatened the Carters' marriage
Ashton Agar has come to the defence of close friend and Western Australian teammate Mitch Marsh, saying the struggling all-rounder is “still in the best six batters in the country”. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer . A dire series with the bat has thrown Marsh’s future in the Test side into significant doubt leading into Friday’s fifth Test at the SCG and the two-match tour of Sri Lanka in a month’s time. Agar said Marsh, who won last year’s Allan Border Medal but only managed 283 runs at 18.86 in his nine Tests this year, could turn his fortunes if given the chance by the selectors. His dismissal to Jasprit Bumrah for a duck amid a collapse of 3-11 on Sunday was his fifth consecutive single-digit score in the Border-Gavaskar Series, prompting calls for form all-rounder Beau Webster to take his place in Sydney. “We want Mitch playing every game for Australia. He’s good enough to do that,” Agar said on Monday. “He’s still in the best six batters in the country. He’s obviously had a bit of a tough time lately, but he’s a resilient guy. He’s been through enough in his career to bounce back. “Selection just takes care of itself – I know that’s how he’ll be thinking about it.” Agar returned for two Sheffield Shield games for WA in November after he was overtaken in the state’s red-ball pecking order by offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli, and with strong Big Bash form for the Perth Scorchers remained a chance to be picked in Australia’s squad for the Champions Trophy in February. “Honestly, not at all,” he said when asked if he was focusing on his prospects of an international return. “I don’t track the selection or the squad. Obviously, there was a lot of noise about (Nathan) McSweeney and (Sam) Konstas coming in ... you can’t escape that. “In terms of my own selection, I don’t track it much, to be honest. I’ve probably made that mistake before, earlier in my career. “I know now that if I’m just focusing on playing as well as I can in the game that’s right in front of me, it all ends up taking care of itself. It’s a lot less stressful that way, to be honest.” Agar showered praise on WA and Perth Scorchers teammate Cooper Connolly, who also bowls handy left-arm finger spin and was poised to enter Test calculations as a potential replacement for injured reserve bat Josh Inglis in squad for Sydney. “Cooper’s a gun. There’s been a lot said about Cooper. I think he’s probably the best young player I’ve seen in my time,” Agar said. “He’s so talented. He’s got a very mature head on young shoulders. He reads the game really nicely. “He’s just a great young man. I’m very good friends with him. I love spending time with him. “He enjoys playing the game and he enjoys big moments, so hopefully big things to come.”How co-writing a book threatened the Carters' marriageKing Charles pays a surprise tribute to Jimmy Carter amidst former president's death
The world of Sanctuary is evolving. With the latest update to Diablo 4, Blizzard Entertainment is not only refining the gameplay but also integrating groundbreaking technology that promises to redefine player immersion. The upcoming patch leverages cutting-edge AI to create dynamically evolving game environments, a first for the series. Through procedural generation enhanced by AI, each player’s journey will be uniquely tailored, making every dungeon delve an unrepeatable adventure. Adaptive AI is the key. This innovative approach allows the game world to respond to players’ decisions in real-time, altering enemy behavior and environmental factors based on player actions and patterns. For instance, if a player is adept at long-range combat, the AI may adjust the enemy’s strategies to encourage close-quarter confrontations, keeping challenges fresh and pushing players to adapt continuously. With AR technology, immersion takes a leap. The developers are also experimenting with augmented reality (AR) for potential future updates. Imagine strategizing for your next quest while seeing the maps and characters come alive in your living room. Though still in experimental stages, this feature could blend the boundaries between gaming and reality, offering a more interactive and immersive experience. This update is more than just a patch; it’s a glimpse into the future of gaming. Diablo 4’s integration of technologies like AI and AR hints at a new horizon where games become ever more personalized and interactively rich, flagging a new era for RPG enthusiasts and setting a benchmark for the industry. Diablo 4’s Technological Revolution: A Glimpse Into Gaming’s Future In the evolving world of Sanctuary, Blizzard Entertainment is pushing the boundaries of player experience with its latest update to Diablo 4. By integrating groundbreaking technologies such as advanced AI and experimental augmented reality (AR), the franchise promises an unparalleled level of immersion and personalization. AI-Powered Worlds: A New Era in Gaming The core innovation lies in the adaptive AI system, which not only enhances procedural generation but also tailors the gaming experience to individual players. This dynamic system creates a world that responds intelligently to player decisions, offering a one-of-a-kind journey each time. As the AI modifies enemy strategies based on a player’s combat style, gamers are constantly challenged and forced to refine their gameplay strategies, making the virtual experience perpetually engaging. Pros and Cons of AI Integration in Diablo 4 Pros: – Personalized Gameplay: Each player’s journey is unique, ensuring replayability and continuous engagement. – Dynamic Challenges: Adaptive AI provides varied challenges, requiring players to continuously adapt. – Immersive Experience: Enhanced realism through responsive game environments. Cons: – Complexity: New players may find the dynamic changes overwhelming. – Learning Curve: Adaptive strategies may require a deeper understanding of game mechanics. The Promise of Augmented Reality While AR technology in Diablo 4 remains experimental, its potential to merge the digital and physical world could revolutionize interactive storytelling within role-playing games. Envisioning a realm where game maps and characters can be projected into real-world settings opens new avenues for immersive gameplay experiences. Although this feature is yet to be fully realized, its incorporation could redefine users’ interaction with game environments. Market Predictions and Future Innovations With the implementation of these advanced technologies, Diablo 4 positions itself as a pioneer among RPGs, setting new standards for interactive and personalized gaming. The industry’s focus is shifting toward experiences that are not only visually stunning but also intelligent and adaptable, marking a significant trend in the future of game design. Expectations are that other game developers will follow suit, integrating similar AI-driven and AR-enhanced features to keep pace with evolving player expectations. As technology continues to develop, the line between reality and gaming is likely to blur further, leading to an era where video games offer unparalleled immersion and engagement levels. For more information on Diablo 4’s innovations, visit the official Blizzard Entertainment website.
James Hunt used to spend his days commuting to London, where he ran a successful marketing firm. But his children Jude and Tommy were diagnosed as autistic when they were toddlers, and he later decided to care for them and his parents full-time. James, from Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, started blogging about their lives nine years ago and now has more than a million followers on social media. Here, in his own words, James speaks about his hopes for the future for his teenage sons. When my eldest son Jude was a baby, he was slow to crawl and didn't respond to his name. He used to stare out of the window, he was quite distant and almost in a different world. His mum Charlotte, my ex-wife, first raised concerns when he was eight months old but I just thought he was a bit behind because he was premature. We went back to the doctor quite a few times before we got an autism diagnosis in 2009 when he was 18 months old. At the time, the information out there was very clinical, most things we were reading were from the NHS website and medical journals. I felt like I couldn't take it in and I had so many unanswered questions. Three years later we went through the same diagnosis with Tommy at a similar age. I knew a lot more about autism than when we had Jude, but the boys have always been so different. I didn't enjoy the first year of Tommy's life as much as I could have done because I spent so much time watching him and looking for signs. He hit certain milestones much quicker than Jude but he wouldn't make eye contact and would get easily frustrated and enjoyed playing alone. Around the same time, when Jude was four, he started having huge meltdowns and was physically hurting himself. Jude is non-speaking, so it's very difficult for him to explain what's wrong. That was the hardest period of my life. He used to wake up in the night screaming and hitting himself. Thankfully as Jude has gotten older, and we've learnt more about how to meet his needs, this has got much better. Unfortunately at the time Tommy was a huge trigger for him because he was loud and unpredictable. His self-harming would scare Tommy so we used to have to keep them apart a lot. In 2016, my wife Charlotte and I sadly decided to separate. We took the incredibly difficult decision to split Jude and Tommy up and we felt guilty, like we were failing. But Jude was immediately like a different child, you could sense his anxiety going, so we knew it was the right decision. I live in an annexe at my parents' house and help care for my dad who has Parkinson's and my mum, who has dementia, though she is now in a home. It's opposite my ex-wife's home and I have one of the boys for several nights a week and then we swap over, and I have the other one. They both need one-to-one care and it's impossible for them to live together. You never imagine life like that. I don't know if they will ever be able to live together but they will always be part of each other's lives. I wish I could be with both of them at the same time, and I don't get much free time, but this is the best thing for them right now. It has probably made being a single parent easier for me because I'm never alone. Their school is helping them to do more fun things together like trampolining and eating lunch together. Jude is now 16 and loves music so we go on long car drives listening to the radio. It's one of the few places where he feels safe and can relax. There have been times he's been too anxious to do that and we were housebound but at the moment he's doing OK. Tommy is 13, and he is cheeky, mischievous, funny, and curious about everything around him. He loves looking at books and puzzles. He isn't fully verbal but he uses a communication device. I recently had one of the best days I've ever had with Jude and Tommy. In the past, when we have tried to do anything to celebrate Christmas, it has never gone well, it was too overwhelming for them. But we went to see Father Christmas and made such special memories. Nine years ago I began sharing stories from our lives online, on a weekly blog. Then I started Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok accounts. It was initially a way to show friends and family what our life was really like. Jude and Tommy struggled with social occasions, so we stopped going. I could never find the words to explain, and I wanted to show how proud I was of them, so I started writing instead. I didn't realise how much our stories would resonate with others, or how much it would help me. I learned so much more about autism, connected with people all over the world and discovered a passion for helping other families. I've been lucky that I've been able to make a living through social media. I had to give up my previous job to be there for the boys. I started a clothing line last year, with positive messaging around autism, disabilities and neurodivergence. I love getting messages from people saying they have bumped into someone wearing one of the hoodies, and it started a conversation. I opened a shop in Burnham-on-Crouch where we stock the clothes and wrap and pack and send out the orders. It's somewhere for people in the community to visit, we have a sensory room in the shop and we get lots of parents coming in who want to have a chat. Everyone working in the shop is a parent, carer or is autistic, so they can share their experiences with customers. I always try to focus on the positives and not think too far ahead but there are days when my mind runs away with me. It will be a huge challenge when the boys leave school when they are 19. That's massively scary because suddenly you have to trust a whole new bunch of people. There is a part-time college I hope they can go to but it's a huge unknown and there will be big decisions to make. You feel like you have to live forever to look after them, and that is the biggest fear for many parents. Jude and Tommy will need life-long support, and I've started to realise I might not always be able to provide that for them. I don't know what the future will look like, but I know I need to think about how to help them live as independently as they can, and prepare for the days when I'm not here. Autism has meant we've had some of the highest highs, and experienced some lows far lower than I ever knew were imaginable. It has taught me to cherish and enjoy the simple things and I just want the boys to be happy. Looking back at how I felt when they were diagnosed, I would like to tell myself it's all going to be OK. Those first few years can be a really scary and emotional time. You feel like you have no idea what you're doing. Don't bottle everything up, find people to open up to. Your friends and family want to help, they just don't know how to yet. You will go through the most challenging and difficult days of your life but you will learn so much from your boys and your love for them will get you through. As told to Charlie Jones Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds , Facebook , Instagram and X .
The Jal Shakti Ministry’s revised target to achieve full rural tap water coverage and sanitation by 2025 underscores both the scale of India’s progress and the challenges that remain. The ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin have brought transformative changes to rural India, providing access to clean water and sanitation. Currently, 15.37 crore rural households out of 19.36 crore have been equipped with tap water connections under JJM, leaving around four crore households yet to benefit. While 11 States and Union Territories boast 100% rural tap water coverage, larger and more populous states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Kerala, and West Bengal lag behind, with less than 60% coverage. Bridging this gap requires meticulous coordination, resource allocation, and robust implementation mechanisms. The sanitation story is equally commendable, with 95% of India’s villages now declared Open Defecation Free. This milestone proves the holistic approach of SBM-G, which goes beyond toilet construction to include solid and liquid waste management. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have set benchmarks in achieving these standards, with Madhya Pradesh’s 49,000 “model” villages offering a roadmap for others. Yet, the remaining 5% of villages require targeted interventions to ensure no one is left behind in this sanitation revolution. Ecological restoration under the Namami Gange Programme adds another layer to the Ministry’s 2025 vision. The wetland conservation and afforestation efforts, signal a commendable commitment to restoring India’s riverine ecosystems. These ecological initiatives have also improved water quality, reinforcing the broader goals of JJM. India’s experience demonstrates that addressing basic needs like water and sanitation can catalyze social and economic transformation. However, the challenge lies in ensuring equitable access and sustainability. The next two years must focus on addressing regional disparities, strengthening grassroots participation, and leveraging technology to monitor progress. The Jal Shakti Ministry’s 2025 goals are not just about numbers; they represent a vision of healthier, empowered rural communities. Achieving these targets will require collective action and unwavering resolve, but the benefits will resonate for the coming generations.