html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of Contents Table of Contents The Conjuring 2 (2016) Eddie the Eagle (2016) Aquaman (2018) When one hit show ends, another one begins. That’s HBO’s superpower — the network releases nearly every water-cooler TV show. With The White Lotus complete, the focus shifts to The Last of Us season 2, which will now air in the coveted Sunday night slot. Once “that scene” every video gamer knows is coming, the internet will break. Enough about television. Let’s discuss some movies to watch this weekend before The Last of Us. HBO’s homepage is dominated by its most popular movies, including Y2K, Logan, and 2073. Let’s look further into the library and find something more underrated. Our three suggestions include a horror sequel, a sports story, and a DCEU entry. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Related Warner Bros. Pictures Did you know The Conjuring Universe is the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time? Let’s take things back to the second film in the franchise, The Conjuring 2. Set about six years after the events of the first film, The Conjuring 2 revisits paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they tackle a new case in London. The Hodgson family believes their youngest daughter has been possessed by a demon. Though initially hesitant to help, the Warrens eventually step in once they encounter the true demon, a sadistic nun. The Conjuring 2 recaptures the haunted house vibe of the first movie but doubles down on the ghost story. A sequence involving the nun in the hallway legitimately might be one of the scariest scenes of the last 10 years. Stream The Conjuring 2 on Max. 20th Century Fox Eddie the Eagle is a formulaic sports movie about an obscure British athlete, Michael “Eddie” Edwards (Taron Egerton). All Eddie wants to do is compete in the Olympics. When the Summer Games are ruled out, Eddie tries his luck with skiing in hopes of competing at the 1988 Winter Games. Eventually, Eddie pivots to ski jumping, a sport the United Kingdom has not participated in at the Olympics in 60 years. Eddie is far from graceful on the snow, but his determination is admirable. This positive attitude gets the attention of Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), a former American ski jumper, who agrees to train Eddie. Again, Eddie the Eagle doesn’t reinvent the underdog story. However, Egerton displays an undeniable charm as Eddie, and the movie’s never-give-up message still plays in this often-cynical world. Stream Eddie the Eagle on Max. Warner Bros. Pictures When discussing the DCEU, the failures are mentioned more than the hits. Considering Warner Bros. had to bring in James Gunn and Peter Safran to reboot DC, it’s understandable why fans bring up the negatives before the positives. While Batman v. Superman and Justice League dominate the conversation, Aquaman is one of the few hits of the DCEU. What’s also rarely mentioned: this film made over $1 billion worldwide. After fighting beside the Justice League, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), aka Aquaman, returns to his fishing town, where he occasionally intervenes as a vigilante. Mera (Amber Heard) convinces Arthur to help save Atlantis from his half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), who plans to become Ocean Master and wage war on the surface world. To save both worlds, Arthur must embrace his destiny and become the true King of Atlantis. It’s not perfect, but Aquaman is a fun, CGI-infused adventure with a confident Momoa as its lead. Stream Aquaman on Max. Editors’ Recommendations

Apple lost its top spot in China’s smartphone market, dethroned by local rival Xiaomi as Beijing’s consumption-boosting subsidies help buoy demand for cheaper products.

"The magic of friends has fallen away" At monopoly trial, Zuckerberg redefined social media as texting with friends Mark Zuckerberg played up TikTok rivalry at monopoly trial, but judge may not buy it. Ashley Belanger – Apr 17, 2025 5:56 pm | 15 Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., departs federal court in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2025. Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., departs federal court in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2025. Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more The Meta monopoly trial has raised a question that Meta hopes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can't effectively answer: How important is it to use social media to connect with friends and family today? Connecting with friends was, of course, Facebook's primary use case as it became the rare social network to hit 1 billion users—not by being acquired by a Big Tech company but based on the strength of its clean interface and the network effects that kept users locked in simply because all the important people in their life chose to be there. According to the FTC, Meta took advantage of Facebook's early popularity, and it has since bought out rivals and otherwise cornered the market on personal social networks. Only Snapchat and MeWe (a privacy-focused Facebook alternative) are competitors to Meta platforms, the FTC argues, and social networks like TikTok or YouTube aren't interchangeable, because those aren't destinations focused on connecting friends and family. For Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, however, those early days of Facebook bringing old friends back together are apparently over. He took the stand this week to testify that the FTC's market definition ignores the reality that Meta contends with today, where "the amount that people are sharing with friends on Facebook, especially, has been declining," CNN reported. "Even the amount of new friends that people add … I think has been declining," Zuckerberg said, although he did not indicate how steep the decline is. "I don’t know the exact numbers," Zuckerberg admitted. Meta's former chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, also took the stand and reportedly testified that while she was at Meta, "friends and family sharing went way down over time . . . If you have a strategy of targeting friends and family, you'd have serious revenue issues." In particular, TikTok's explosive popularity has shifted the dynamics of social media today, Zuckerberg suggested. For many users, "apps now serve primarily as discovery engines," Zuckerberg testified, and social interactions increasingly come from sharing fun creator content in private messages, rather than through engaging with a friend or family member's posts. That's why Meta added Reels, Zuckerberg testified, and, more recently, TikTok Shop-like functionality. To stay relevant, Meta had to make its platforms more like TikTok, investing heavily in its discovery algorithm, and even willing to irk loyal Instagram users by turning their perfectly curated square grids into rectangles, Wired noted in a piece probing Meta's efforts to lure TikTok users to Instagram. There was seemingly no bridge too far, because Zuckerberg said, "TikTok is still bigger than either Facebook or Instagram, and I don’t like it when our competitors do better than us." And since Meta has no interest in buying TikTok, due to fears of basing business in China, Big Tech on Trial reported, Meta's only choice was to TikTok-ify its apps to avoid a mass exodus after Facebook users started declining for the first time in 2022. Committing to this future, the next year, Meta doubled the amount of force-fed filler in Instagram feeds. Right now, Meta is positioning TikTok as one of Meta's biggest competitors, with Meta supposedly flagging it a "top priority" and "highly urgent" competitive threat as early as 2018, Zuckerberg said. Further, Zuckerberg testified that while TikTok's popularity grew, Meta's "growth slowed down dramatically," TechCrunch reported. And perhaps most persuasively, when TikTok briefly went dark earlier this year, some TikTokers moved to Instagram, Meta argued, suggesting that some users consider the platforms interchangeable. If Meta can convince the court that the FTC's market definition is wrong and that TikTok is Meta's biggest rival, then Meta's market share drops below monopolist standards, "undercutting" the FTC's case, Big Tech on Trial reported. But are Facebook and Instagram substitutes for TikTok? Although Meta paints the picture that TikTok users naturally gravitated to Instagram during the TikTok outage, it's clear that Meta advertised heavily to move them in that direction. There was even a conspiracy theory that Meta had bought TikTok in the hours before TikTok went down, Wired reported, as users noticed Meta banners encouraging them to link their TikTok accounts to Meta platforms. However, even the reported Meta ad blitz seemingly didn't sway that many TikTok users, as Sensor Tower data at the time apparently indicated that "Instagram and Facebook appeared to receive only a modest increase in daily active users and downloads" during the TikTok outage, Wired reported. Perhaps a more interesting question that the court may entertain is not where TikTok users go when TikTok is down, but where Instagram or Facebook users turn if they no longer want to use those platforms. If the FTC can argue that people seeking a destination to connect with friends or family wouldn't substitute TikTok for that purpose, their market definition might fly. Kenneth Dintzer, a partner at Crowell & Moring and the former lead attorney in the DOJ's winning Google search monopoly case, told Ars that the chief judge in the case, James Boasberg, made clear at summary judgment that acknowledging Meta's rivalry with TikTok "doesn't really answer the question about friends and family." So even though Zuckerberg was "pretty persuasive," his testimony on TikTok may not move the judge much. However, there was one exchange at the trial where Boasberg asked, "How much does it matter if friends are on a particular platform, if friends can share outside of it?" Zuckerberg praised this as a "good question" and "explained that it doesn’t matter much because people can fluidly share across platforms, using each one for its value as a 'discovery engine,'" Big Tech on Trial reported. Dintzer noted that Zuckerberg seemed to attempt to float a different theory explaining why TikTok was a valid rival—curiously attempting to redefine "social media" to overcome the judge's skepticism in considering TikTok a true Meta rival. Zuckerberg's theory, Dintzer said, suggests that "if I open up something on TikTok or on YouTube, and I send it to a friend, that is social media." But that broad definition could be problematic, since it would suggest that all texting and messaging are social media, Dintzer said. "That didn't seem particularly persuasive," Dintzer said. Although that kind of social sharing is "certainly something that people enjoy," it still "doesn't seem to be quite the same thing as posting something on Facebook for your friends and family." Another wrinkle that may scramble Meta's defense is that Meta has publicly declared that its priority is to bring back "OG Facebook" and refresh how friends and family connect on its platforms. Just today, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced a new Instagram feature called "blend" that strives to connect friends and family through sharing access to their unique discovery algorithms. Those initiatives seem like a strategy that fully relies on Meta's core use case of connecting friends and family (and network effects that Zuckerberg downplayed) to propel engagement that could spike revenue. However, that goal could invite scrutiny, perhaps signaling to the court that Meta still benefits from the alleged monopoly in personal social networking and will only continue locking in users seeking to connect with friends and family. "The magic of friends has fallen away," Meta's blog said, which, despite seeming at odds, could serve as both a tagline for its new "Friends" tab on Facebook and the headline of its defense so far in the monopoly trial. Ashley Belanger Senior Policy Reporter Ashley Belanger Senior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 15 Comments

Trump said he doesn't want to retaliate with higher tariffs on China because it could deter buying. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images 2025-04-18T06:29:24Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Trump said he is reluctant to push China tariffs higher because it may hurt consumption. "I may not want to even go up to that level, I may want to go to less," Trump said of tariffs. He also made remarks on TikTok saying a deal is in place but is subject to China. President Donald Trump said there may be a point where he doesn't want to put higher tariffs on China because the move could deter buying.Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office onraise tariffs if China goes beyond the 125% duty it has on American goods."At a certain point, I don't want them to go higher because at a certain point, you make it where people don't buy," Trump said when a reporter asked what happens if China raises tariffs on the US."I may not want to go higher, or I may not want to even go up to that level — I may want to go to less, because you want people to buy, and at a certain point, people aren't going to buy," he added.Earlier on Thursday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs saidsaid Chinese exports face a levy of up to 245%. Last week, Beijing called escalating US tariffs a "joke" and said they no longer hold "any economic significance."China is the third-largest buyer of US goods, behind Canada and Mexico.In addition to tariffs, China and the US have imposed various punitive measures on each other in the escalating trade war.reported that Beijing asked its airlines to stop taking deliveries from Boeing. The US said that companies selling H20 chips to China will need a license, a move analysts said is essentially a banOn Thursday, Trump added that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have a "very good relationship" and said Xi has reached out to him "a number of times."The president on ThursdayTikTok, whose fate in the US remains unclear."We have a deal for TikTok, but it'll be subject to China, so we'll just delay the deal till this thing works out one way or the other," Trump said, responding to a question about whether he would consider reducing tariffs to complete a TikTok deal.TikTok's parent company faces a summer deadline to divest its US operations or face removal from US app stores. Trump has twice pushed back the deadline.Among the parties who have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok's US operations are Amazon, Oracle, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, and the YouTuber MrBeast."If we're making a deal, I guess we'll spend five minutes to talk about TikTok, it wouldn't take very long," Trump said. Recommended video

Ca na Baldu i en Diego / Atzur arquitecturaSave this picture!© Del Rio BaniHouses, Renovation•Barcelona, Spain Architects: Atzur Arquitectura Area Area of this architecture project Area:  180 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2025 Photographs Photographs:Del Rio Bani Lead Architects: Milagros Machado Ferrari, Claudia Ferrer Riera More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. The project involves the renovation of a single-family home located at the foot of Tibidabo, in the Sarrià - Sant Gervasi district.Save this picture!Save this picture!The original construction is essentially an addition of volumes of various natures with unequal heights. The proposal aims to unify the volumes, making the most of the richness and diversity presented by the current state through a precise and detailed structural exercise.Save this picture!Save this picture!In terms of distribution, the original state features very compartmentalized spaces with dimensions that are not suitable for their intended use. Furthermore, this excessive compartmentalization means that these rooms do not have adequate lighting and ventilation.Save this picture!The project seeks to create spaces that take advantage of natural light and ventilation, allowing for diverse and flexible uses. All of this while preserving the traces of what existed before the intervention.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less About this officeAtzur ArquitecturaOffice••• Published on April 18, 2025Cite: "Ca na Baldu i en Diego / Atzur arquitectura" [Ca na Baldu i en Diego / Atzur arquitectura] 18 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1029139/ca-na-baldu-i-en-diego-atzur-arquitectura&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Full Video - 🌿 Welcome to my latest creation! In this video, I showcase a stunning effect of entangled roots created using Unreal Engine's powerful Niagara system. Watch as I bring this intricate design to life, demonstrating the capabilities of Niagara for creating realistic and immersive environments. ✨ Whether you're a fellow developer, a fan of game design, or just curious about visual effects, I hope you enjoy this visual journey! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more creative content! 🔔 Stay Connected: - Follow me on [Your Social Media Links] - Check out my other projects: [Link to Playlist or Channel] #UnrealEngine #Niagara #GameDev #VisualEffects #EntangledRoots #3DArt #GameDesign #IndieDev #CGI #VFX FAB - https://www.fab.com/sellers/CGHOW Whatsapp - https://bit.ly/3LYvxjK Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/Ashif Twitter - https://twitter.com/cghow_ 👉👉 If you Liked it - http://bit.ly/2UZmiZ4 Channel Ashif - http://bit.ly/3aYaniw Visit - https://cghow.com/ Gumroad - https://cghow.gumroad.com/ #cghow #UE5 #UE4Niagara #gamefx #ue5niagara #ue4vfx #niagara #unrealengine #realtimevfx

Nature, Published online: 17 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01265-yFreshwater insects used ‘microplastic’ as a building material long before scientists coined the term.

TroublingLaura Loomer: EXCLUSIVE:‼️ WHITE HOUSE VETTING CRISIS CONTINUES AS TRUMP APPOINTED US TREASURY SECRETARY INVITES PRO- IMPEACHMENT TRUMP HATER TO COLLABORATE WITH HIM AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT ‼️ Scott Bessent invites pro-impeachment and pro-censorship Trump hater to collaborate with him

WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature which makes it easier to sort out stickers. Meta Platforms' instant messaging client now allows users to create custom sticker packs without leaving the app. They can organise saved stickers in multiple folders to speed up the process of finding the relevant sticker and sending it to their loved ones. WhatsApp has also introduced the ability of sending an entire sticker pack, instead of sharing each sticker individually.Custom Sticker Packs on WhatsAppWhatsApp was first reported to be testing the ability to create custom sticker packs in October 2024. Earlier this year, the feature was rolled out to WhatsApp beta for Android users but only those registered via the Google Play Beta Programme had access to it, but no more.With the latest update, the custom sticker pack feature is available on both WhatsApp for Android and iOS platforms. It eliminates the need of using third-party apps to create custom sticker packs.Announcing the rollout of the feature, the instant messaging platform said, “You can now create your own sticker packs and share them directly in your chats, so your friends and family can all use your custom stickers to express themselves.” On WhatsApp, a new pencil icon now appears in the sticker sheet alongside the GIF, avatar, and sticker options.To create a custom sticker pack: Open stickers Tap on the pencil icon Select stickers you wish to add Select the three-dot option in the bottom-left corner of the screen Choose the Add to sticker pack optionUsers can set the folder name and the custom pack will appear alongside other saved stickers on WhatsApp. While they can send an individual sticker to others, there's another option which sends the entire sticker pack as bulk. Gadgets 360 staff members were able to confirm that the feature is live for both Android and iOS platforms. However, it appears that only stickers created by users can be saved in custom sticker packs. It does not work for those created by the instant messaging platform itself. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: WhatsApp, WhatsApp Stickers, WhatsApp for Android, WhatsApp for iOS, Meta Shaurya Tomer Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), he often likes to explore the industry's intricacies and innovations – whether dissecting the latest smartphone release or exploring the ethical implications of AI advancements. In his free time, he often embarks on impromptu road trips to unwind, recharge, and ...More Related Stories