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Pentagon removes senior planner as Trump weighs post-midterm Iran strikes
- Hegseth removed the Joint Chiefs’ top military planner.
- No successor has been named.
- Trump is weighing possible strikes on Iran after the midterms.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed Army Lt Gen Brett Sylvia from his role leading strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, leaving the Pentagon’s top military planning post without a named successor. The departure comes as President Donald Trump considers renewed strikes on Iran…
Phantom Blade Zero Outpost key unlocks a cell with a blackstone fragment
- The Outpost cell key is beside two corpses near a house.
- Opening the cell rewards one blackstone fragment.
- Four fragments make a blackstone, boosting attack and guard break by 10%.
The new coverage adds the key’s exact location and confirms the reward for opening the Outpost Courtyard cell: one blackstone fragment. The optional detour matters because collecting four fragments lets players obtain a blackstone that increases Soul’s attack and guard break by 10%. After unlocking the Outpost, players…
Guide locates four wounded thieves in Phantom Blade Zero’s Crimson Forest quest
- Find four wounded thieves in the Crimson Forest.
- Use the crank and dungeon key to reach hidden locations.
- Return to Yu’er for the Calming Gourd accessory.
The walkthrough maps out all four wounded thieves in Phantom Blade Zero’s Crimson Forest quest, “A Healer’s Mercy”, and explains how to reach them. It helps players complete Yu’er’s request and claim the quest reward. Meet Yu’er at the Thieves’ Camp, about halfway through the region, after defeating…
Find the Primal Stone to fulfil the Shadow Warden’s request in Phantom Blade Zero
- The new coverage repeats the Primal Stone quest instructions.
- Defeat the cloaked enemy to get the furnace crank.
- Use it on the first-floor furnace, then return to the Warden.
No new quest developments or changed details are included in the added coverage; it reiterates how to find the Primal Stone in *Phantom Blade Zero*. The optional quest matters to players seeking to complete the Friendly Shadow Warden’s request, which begins at the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit. First,…
5 Classic Books That Are a Masterclass in Prose
- Five classics show how prose can shape a story.
- Each author uses a distinct style to explore complex themes.
- The article links language to memory, identity and the fantastical.
The article presents five classic books as examples of how prose can shape a story, not simply tell it. It argues that each writer uses language in a distinctive way to make themes such as memory, identity and the fantastical feel immediate. The books are Toni Morrison’s *Beloved*,…
Cate Blanchett Warns Against “Unthinking Certainty” as She Accepts Japan’s Praemium Imperiale
- Blanchett received Japan’s Praemium Imperiale in Tokyo.
- She described doubt as a starting point for creative work.
- The award includes 15 million yen, just under US$100,000.
Cate Blanchett accepted Japan’s Praemium Imperiale for theatre and film at a ceremony in Tokyo, using her remarks to defend doubt as an essential part of creativity. She said uncertainty enables questioning, connection and change, and argued that her own doubts help her listen and find meaning in…
In 2006, Josh Hartnett made a movie he was proud of. Nearly 20 years later, he wishes people actually watched it
- Hartnett remains proud of 2006’s The Black Dahlia.
- The film underperformed despite its prominent cast.
- He later returned to major roles in television and film.
Josh Hartnett has said he is proud of The Black Dahlia, the 2006 crime thriller he hoped audiences would receive more warmly. Directed by Brian De Palma after David Fincher was attached, the film underperformed despite its high-profile cast, and its reception marked a disappointment for Hartnett and…
How A Former Senior Netflix Staffer Launched One Of Japan’s Buzziest Indie Cinemas
- Former Netflix staffer Matt Kelson opened Cineyama in rural Yamanashi.
- The 43-seat cinema has welcomed more than 3,000 visitors.
- Its programme centres on international and independent films.
Former Netflix executive Matt Kelson has opened Cineyama, a 43-seat independent cinema in a former kindergarten in Yamanashi Prefecture, about an hour west of Tokyo. The venue gives local audiences access to international and independent films, and offers a new cultural space in a town attracting families seeking…
Anduril says BlueChip will meet US domestic-content threshold in 2027
- Anduril now promises 65 per cent US-made components at launch.
- The BlueChip laptop is due in 2027.
- The Buy American threshold rises to 75 per cent in 2029.
Anduril now says its BlueChip laptop is expected to meet the US Buy American Act’s domestic-content threshold when it launches in 2027, a more specific commitment than the company gave earlier this week. The pledge matters because major computer brands do not currently make laptops entirely in the…
Florida beach manager dies trying to rescue seagull caught in fishing line
- William Romberg drowned while trying to free a seagull caught in his fishing line.
- Strong currents carried him away from shore.
- His family’s fundraiser had raised more than $112,000.
William Romberg, 31, drowned off Laguna Beach in Florida on Sunday after swimming out to free a seagull caught in his fishing line. The currents prevented him from reaching shore, and his death has prompted tributes and community support for his family. Romberg, known as Stone, was fishing…
Garrett Wilson doesn’t want to be traded – but he admitted he’s sick of losing with Jets
- Wilson says he wants to stay with the Jets.
- He is frustrated by repeated losses and low target counts.
- New York is 2-5, with Wilson contracted through 2030.
Garrett Wilson says he wants to remain with the New York Jets, despite growing frustration with the team’s losing record and his limited involvement in some games. His comments come amid trade speculation before the NFL deadline, as the Jets sit at 2-5 and could consider moving veteran…
How Singapore’s F1 Grand Prix Became The ‘Coachella of Asia’
- Singapore GP blends Formula 1 with a major music festival.
- The 2026 event booked 43 acts across 11 stages.
- Attendance reached 301,294, the event’s second-highest total.
Singapore’s Formula 1 Grand Prix is being described by music industry figures as Asia’s leading annual music festival, with one WME executive calling it the “Coachella of Asia”. The event combines racing with a large live music programme, drawing international visitors and giving Singapore a prominent place in…
‘Slow Horses’ Season 7 Confirmed? Release Date, Plot, and Everything You Need to Know
- Apple has renewed *Slow Horses* for seasons 7 and 8.
- Season 7 adapts *Bad Actors* and centres on Diana Taverner.
- River and Sid survived the poisoning, but no release date is set.
Apple has renewed *Slow Horses* for seasons 7 and 8, with a teaser for season 7 released after the season 6 finale on 21 October. The renewal means the series will continue after a finale that left River Cartwright apparently poisoned, setting up a major question for viewers.…
Australia seeks base missile defences as expert warns public remains exposed
- Australia is considering missile defences for military sites and troops.
- A defence expert says cities and residents are left out.
- The tender includes systems he describes as old.
Australia’s Defence Department is seeking bids for missile defence systems to protect military bases and deployed troops, with deployment proposed from the mid-2030s. Defence expert Michael Shoebridge says the plan leaves the public exposed and argues that protecting Australian people should be part of the military’s mission. The…
All medicine locations for ‘Apprentice Healer’ in Phantom Blade Zero
- Collect three herbs for Yu’er’s quest.
- Defeat The Hunt before reaching two herbs.
- Return the herbs to earn the Medicine Case.
Yu’er asks players to collect three medicinal herbs for the “Apprentice Healer” quest in *Phantom Blade Zero*, which is set in Weeping Creek Valley. The quest rewards a Medicine Case accessory, but reaching two of the herbs requires completing the valley’s main story first. Yu’er appears at the…
Where to find the Flesh Lily in Phantom Blade Zero
- Ask Yu’er about saving her father to start the quest.
- Find Hua beyond the Valley Sha-Chi Tower furnace.
- Defeating her gives you the lilies and Scarlet Wraithblade.
The Flesh Lily is a key item in an early side quest in Phantom Blade Zero, but finding it requires progressing through the story and defeating an optional boss. Completing the first step also rewards the Scarlet Wraithblade, a powerful early-game weapon. Start the quest by asking Yu’er…
All ribbon locations in Phantom Blade Zero
- Find five ribbons to complete “Young Mistress”.
- The quest adds a phase to the area’s final boss.
- The modified boss rewards the Fiend Saws swords.
Finding all five ribbons in the Village of Lu completes the “Young Mistress” side quest in Phantom Blade Zero. The quest reveals more about the bond between Soul and Mu Xiaokui, and changes the area’s final boss fight by adding an extra phase. The ribbons are scattered along…
10 Games That Are Way Too Long for Their Own Good
- More playtime can make a game feel like a chore.
- Repetition and sprawling stories are the main complaints.
- Three examples are discussed in the available article text.
The article argues that some ambitious games overstay their welcome, turning potentially engaging stories into chores through repetitive missions, busy work or sprawling narratives. It says that plentiful content does not necessarily justify a long playtime, especially when the added hours weaken pacing or wear down players. The…
A Classic Bond Girl Is Officially Returning for a New Release
- Tiffany Case returns in a new James Bond novella.
- *All In* is set in Ceylon in 1954.
- Dan Jones’s novella arrives on 3 December.
Dan Jones is writing a new James Bond novella, *All In*, featuring the return of Tiffany Case, the diamond smuggler first introduced in Ian Fleming’s *Diamonds Are Forever*. The release gives Bond readers a new story while commemorating the 70th anniversary of Fleming’s novel. Set in Ceylon, now…
In 1958, Johnny Cash didn’t just sing about outsiders. He sang to them
- Cash’s 1958 San Quentin concert inspired Merle Haggard.
- His performances made prisoners feel understood and respected.
- He returned in 1969 to record a live album.
Johnny Cash’s 1958 concert at San Quentin State Prison helped establish his bond with people behind bars. His songs and manner gave inmates a sense of dignity and understanding, and the performance inspired a young Merle Haggard to pursue a career in country music. Haggard, then 21 and…