The practice, which was set up by former David Miller Architects project architect David Mimram in 2017, is also revamping the existing Padangle House in Kingsland Road, upon which the homes will sit.The scheme was originally submitted in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic at a time when Hackney Councils planning department faced significant delays and resourcing challenges.The consultation process was extended following the introduction of the Health and Safety Executive as a statutory consultee for planning applications involving high-rise residential buildings. The scheme has now passed through Gateway 1 under the new Building Safety Act.AdvertisementBacked by client Rowdeal Investments, the 620m scheme will create a mix of one-bedroom studios and three-bedroom penthouse apartments on top of the inter-war block overlooking London Overgrounds Windrush line.On the front of the building, a light-coloured metal cladding distinguishes the new extension from the existing structure, while the rear features a set-back top floor and a two-story Cor-ten steel-clad faade. Source:MIDA Architecture This rooftop extension is part of a comprehensive retrofit program, which includes improving the buildings thermal performance, replacing all windows with energy-efficient double-glazed steel frames and incorporating air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels.The project is directly opposite a recently approved 150-room co-living scheme developed by Morro, a subsidiary of Scape Living, and designed by the now-defunct pH+.Mimran said the airspace extension would celebrate Haggerstons innovative and creative spirit while honouring its industrial heritage.AdvertisementHe said: This project, alongside the retrofit of Padangle House, will ensure its continued legacy as one of the last remaining examples of inter-war industrial warehouse architecture within the Kingsland Conservation Area for years to come.Work is expected to start on site in early 2026. Source:MIDA Architecture Project dataLocation 270 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4DGLocal authority Hackney CouncilType of project Residential airspace developmentClient Rowdeal InvestmentsArchitect MIDA ArchitectureLandscape architect n/aFire consultant Aura FirePlanning consultant MIDA ArchitectureStructural engineer JMS GroupM&E consultant AtspaceQuantity surveyor n/aPrincipal designer MIDA ArchitectureLighting consultant TBCMain contractor TBCFunding PrivateTender date May 2025Start on siteJanuary 2026CompletionJanuary 2028Contract duration 24 monthsGross internal floor area 620mForm of contract and/or procurement TBCAnnual CO2 emissions12,013.54 kg CO2/yearTotal cost TBC

Key takeaways Today's best CDs boast up to 4.65% APY more than twice the national average for some terms.The Fed has paused rates for now, but cuts are expected later this year.Locking in a high APY now allows you to protect your earnings from upcoming rate cuts. All CDs are not created equal. While the national average rate for a six-month CD is 1.64%, for example, the top six-month CD we track at CNET offers 4.65% annual percentage yield. That can make a big difference in how fast your money grows.Today's best CDs boast competitive rates, low minimum deposit requirements and the safety of federal deposit deposit insurance. Read on to see some of the highest CD rates available now and how much you could earn by depositing $5,000.Today's best CD rates Term Highest APY*BankEstimated earnings6 months 4.65%CommunityWide Federal Credit Union$114.931 year 4.45%CommunityWide Federal Credit Union$222.503 years 4.15%America First Credit Union$648.695 years 4.25%America First Credit Union$1,156.73 Experts recommend comparing rates before opening a CD account to get the best APY possible. Enter your information below to get CNET's partners' best rate for your area.Why now is a smart time to open a CDA CD can be a great place to stash your cash at any time, but in periods of inflation like today's, they can be especially lucrative. As the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to fight inflation, banks tend to follow suit, raising APYs on consumer products like CDs and savings accounts.If you open a CD while rates remain elevated, you can continue to enjoy the same high returns, even when rates begin to fall because your APY is locked in when you open a CD.But don't wait too long to take advantage of today's APYs. While the Fed chose to pause rates at its January meeting, experts expect it to cut rates later this year, which means the clock is ticking."Short-term interest rates tend to fluctuate in anticipation of market changes, so even if the Fed doesn't lower rates immediately, we could still see CD rates begin to trend slightly downward," said Chad Olivier, Certified Financial Planner and CEO of The Olivier Group. "That said, with the Fed taking a more cautious, wait-and-see approach, CD rates and other safe-money options are likely to remain at these high levels for now."You can earn up to 5% APY on the best high-yield savings accounts. Check out top savings rates now.How CD rates have changed over the past week Term Last week's CNET average APYThis week's CNET average APYWeekly change**6 months 4.10%4.09%-0.24%1 year 4.07%4.08%$0.003 years 3.55%3.56%$0.005 years 3.56%3.56%No change Things to consider when comparing CDsA competitive APY is important, but it's not the only thing you should consider. To find the right CD for you, weigh these things, too:When you'll need your money: Early withdrawal penalties on CDs can eat into your interest earnings if you need your money before the term ends, so choose a timeline that makes sense. Alternatively, you can select a no-penalty CD, although the APY may not be as high as you'd get with a traditional CD of the same term.Minimum deposit requirement: Some CDs require a minimum deposit to open an account, typically $500 to $1,000. Knowing how much money you have to set aside can help you narrow your options.Fees: Maintenance and other fees can cut into your savings. Many online banks don't charge fees because they have lower overhead costs than banks with physical branches. Read the fine print for any account you're evaluating.Safety and security: Make sure the bank or credit union you're considering is an FDIC or NCUA member so your money is protected if the bank fails.Customer ratings and reviews: Visit sites like Trustpilot to see what customers are saying about the bank. You want a bank that's responsive, professional and easy to work with.MethodologyCNET reviews CD rates based on the latest APY information from issuer websites. We evaluated CD rates from more than 50 banks, credit unions and financial companies. We evaluate CDs based on APYs, product offerings, accessibility and customer service.The current banks included in CNET's weekly CD averages include Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, American Express National Bank, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bread Savings, Capital One, CFG Bank, CIT, Fulbright, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, MYSB Direct, Quontic, Rising Bank, Synchrony, EverBank, Popular Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, America First Federal Credit Union, CommunityWide Federal Credit Union, Discover, Bethpage, BMO Alto, Limelight Bank, First National Bank of America and Connexus Credit Union.*APYs as of Feb. 14, 2025, based on the banks we track at CNET. Earnings are based on APYs and assume interest is compounded annually.**Weekly percentage increase/decrease from Feb. 3, 2025, to Feb. 10, 2025. More on CDs

ExpressVPNs Lightway protocol is getting a major upgrade -- one the company hopes makes it the VPN protocol of the future. On Monday, the VPN company announced the release of Lightway in Rust (essentially Lightway 2.0), which is designed for faster speeds, enhanced security and better overall performance.When ExpressVPN first developed Lightway in 2020, the protocol was written in C, a programming language originally developed in the early '70s but still widely popular because of its simplicity and flexibility. Along with the original version of Lightway, other VPN protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard are also implemented in C. But ExpressVPN says that reimplementing Lightway in Rust offers several distinct advantages over the protocols previous iteration in C.First is that Rust can make Lightway even more secure than it already is because using Rust eliminates certain vulnerabilities commonly found in C due to mishandling memory (Rusts memory safety features nullify such a risk). Also, Rust can give the protocol a boost when it comes to overall performance and battery life. Finally, Rusts codebase will allow ExpressVPN engineers to be more nimble and faster with updates and improvements to Lightway going forward.Upgrading Lightway from its previous C code to Rust was a strategic and straightforward decision to enhance performance, and security while ensuring longevity, said Pete Membrey, ExpressVPNs chief research officer. With Rust widely recognized as the high-performing, secure, and reliable language, it was a natural choice for evolving Lightway.Essentially, what this all means for you is that the new implementation of Lightway should make your experience with ExpressVPN faster, more secure and more reliable. Thats saying a lot because ExpressVPN is already one of the most secure and reliable VPNs you can buy -- and further solidifies the VPN as one of my top recommendations for users with critical privacy needs like journalists, attorneys, physicians, activists and whistleblowers. Even if youre just looking for general privacy online, theres nothing wrong with giving your privacy an even greater boost with Lightway in Rust.And although it hasnt been the fastest VPN over the past few years, rolling out Lightway in Rust could give ExpressVPN a much-needed speed boost. This means that you should experience smoother streaming performance, faster downloads, uninterrupted video calls and lower ping during your gaming sessions while connected to ExpressVPN and using the new implementation of Lightway.So, in theory, Lightways re-coding should be a major improvement all around to an already stellar VPN. But while a VPNs speed and reliability can be generally pretty evident to the average user, quantifying a VPN protocols security isnt. ExpressVPN addresses this in a couple of important ways. For one, Lightway is an open-source VPN protocol, meaning that its codebase is publicly available online for anyone to scrutinize or even implement into their own VPN solutions. This makes it possible for experts to validate the security of the protocol and spot any potential vulnerabilities.Additionally, ExpressVPN commissioned two separate independent audits in late 2024 to validate the security of Lightway in Rust -- one by Cure53 and the other by Praetorian. The two cybersecurity firms worked independently of one another, and both delivered an overall positive assessment of Lightway in Rusts implementation. Cure53 identified one high-severity vulnerability and four general weaknesses with lower exploitation potential while Praetorian found two low-risk vulnerabilities -- all of which were subsequently resolved by ExpressVPN.OverallCure53's very limited number of findings, especially with only one exploitable vulnerability, can be interpreted as a positive sign for the security of the ExpressVPN Lightway protocol, Cure53 wrote in its audit report.ExpressVPN is the undisputed leader in the VPN industry when it comes to transparency through independent audits, undergoing multiple audits every year. While an audit can only validate the state of the VPN at the time of the audit itself, it serves as an important signal of trust and can give the public confidence in the VPN that its doing what it says its doing. But being open-source can help fill those gaps because it gives the entire security community the opportunity to examine the code at any time.ExpressVPN has always led the industry in third-party evaluation and verification of our software,technology and policies, Aaron Engel, ExpressVPNs chief information security ocer, said in a blog post. Having Lightway evaluated by two independent third-party auditors is our way of showing our commitment to transparency while demonstrating our confidence in the technology we have developed.Lightway in Rust is being rolled out first to ExpressVPNs Aircove routers on Monday, followed by Android at the end of March, Linux early in the second quarter, MacOS toward the end of the second quarter and finally to Windows by the end of the third quarter.

Rainbow Six Siege is getting its biggest overhaul ever, Ubisoft has announced, and looks set to be retitled as Rainbow Six Siege X. Read more

Monster Hunter Wilds producer acknowledges importance of PC platform and crossplay"There are more players than ever playing on PC."Image credit: Capcom News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Feb. 17, 2025 Monster Hunter Wilds producer Ryozo Tsujimoto has acknowledged the importance of the PC platform, and why crossplay will be included in the game."Yeah, there are more players than ever playing on PC, including in Japan," Tsujimoto told GamesRadar, "so we definitely see room for the series to capture new players who haven't tried it before if that's their chosen platform."Crossplay between PC and console players has been included in Monster Hunter Wilds so that "the choice is yours on which platform you want to play with, and then [you can just] go online and hunt with your friends".To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Monster Hunter Wilds Preview & New GameplayWatch on YouTubeThis is also likely a reason Capcom released the Monster Hunter Wilds PC benchmark tool, so players can test their system ahead of release.The huge audience for the game is apparent when looking at SteamDB. The beta for Monster Hunter Wilds reached a concurrent player peak of 463,798, while Monster Hunter World reached 334,684, and Monster Hunter Rise reached 231,360.For comparison, the beta test's peak is higher than the likes of Helldivers 2, Among Us, and Grand Theft Auto 5.Speaking of GTA, Take-Two CEO boss Strauss Zelnick recently discussed the presumed PC release of GTA 6, noting that historically "Rockstar has started with some platforms and then historically moved to other platforms"."We have seen PC become a much more important part of what used to be a console business, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that trend continue," he added.Square Enix is also working on an "aggressive" multiplatform strategy, releasing its biggest games on PC following PS5 exclusivity, further highlighting the importance of PC for Japanese companies. Both Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16 are now available on PC.In another interview, with PCGamesN, Monster Hunter Wilds director Yuya Tokuda discussed the possibility of adding a fifteenth weapon type to the game."When we start development of games such as World and, recently, Wilds, we always consider whether or not this is the time to add another weapon type, Tokuda said. "It's not off the table for any particular reason, its just that we never really decided that we wanted to for the recent titles."After all the tweaks and changes made to the existing 14 weapons in Wilds, it's tough to find "a 15th weapon that would actually have a place in that lineup and feel equally as valid as the other weapon types while also not overlapping with them too much".Monster Hunter Wilds is set for release on 28th February across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.Eurogamer's Jim Trinca went hands-on with Monster Hunter Wilds recently and while this series entry is more approachable, it still has its quirks."For the MonHun-curious consumer, I recommend caution," he wrote. "The FOMO is real here: Monster Hunter is just one of those things that inspires fandom envy. The people who love it do so vocally and passionately and with an infectious enthusiasm rarely seen elsewhere. But as much as Wilds is eager to roll over and present its tummy to you, it is still a Monster Hunter game, and therefore as marmitey as marmite games come."

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SES Number 23Helldivers 2's Illuminate should probably apologise to the bugs, as players very much seem to be taking that nice planet getting ripped apart by a black hole personallyWith a bit of help from the bugdivers' well-established ruthless Terminid bloodlust, Super Earth looks to have gone full Michael Jordan on the latest MO.Image credit: Arrowhead/2K News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Feb. 17, 2025 Last week, Helldivers 2's Meridia black hole destroyed an entire planet. Angel's Venture went kaboom. It was a true tragedy. Though, there may be silver lining, judging by the fact the main objective of the order that's followed right after it has been breezed through with over a day to spare, pending any last minute twists in the tale."Angel's Venture will live on in the terrible Vengeance we will claim henceforth against all foes of Freedom," read the fresh MO Arrowhead deployed on Saturday, "For now, it is the Terminids who volunteer to be the receivers of our wrath.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "The Center of Science Fenrir III is of vital importance to stopping the Meridian Singularity. The Ministry of Sciences top astrophysicists are gathered there, researching both the Singularity itself and the Dark Energy that somehow powers its movement. All Helldivers are ordered to defend Fenrir III."So, how's that very two-birds-with-one-stone kind of mission been going? Well, badly for the bugs, and therefore the Illuminate by extension given it'll result in key Dark Energy research. As of writing, Fenrir III is already under full Super Earth control with just over a day left to run in the order. That means it's taken about a day to go from 0% liberated to 100%, with a lot of players now having moved on to battling for another planet, Erata Prime, while waiting to see if a Terminid counter attack materialises. It's hardly the first time the divers have proven incredibly effective against the bugs - hello, maths - but it's still an impressive showing of what the community can do when it comes together. FENIR III DEFENDED. GOOD RIDDANCE. byu/__________godlol inHelldiversTo see this content please enable targeting cookies."Say what you want about bugdivers, but when it's their time for a major order they get s**t done," one player wrote in a Reddit thread that pretty aptly sums up the situation, and features a fair few poor folks lamenting the fact they didn't even get a chance to hop in and contribute because the planet fell so quickly.Here's hoping that this momentum from the crying MJs of Super Earth ruthlessly delivering flu game-worthy performances to avenge the many citizens who died when Angel's Venture went kaput can keep on going, given Meridia's big purple black hole that's is now firmly moving on a trajectory towards Super Earth.This is serious too - if it doesn't work, there won't even be a home planet left for the remaining divers to pursue a baseball career on for a bit, while they wait for the chance to fight back.

This Is An XboxPhil Spencer says he wants to "just allow more people to play" Xbox games, though the "70% that we make on games on other platforms is helpful" tooSpencer isn't interested in trying to move players "all over to Xbox anymore." News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 17, 2025 As more and more Xbox games make their way to other platforms, Xbox head Phil Spencer once again makes it clear that he's happy to let you play their games anywhere.By this point, I don't really think I need to explain to you that the future of Xbox is a multiplatform one. I don't think that necessarily means the end of the brand as a console manufacturer just yet, particularly considering Microsoft does seem to be working on a handheld of some sort. But, speaking in an interview with the XboxEra podcast, Xbox head Phil Spencer was asked about some comments he made during an FTC hearing in 2023. At the time he claimed that any game made by an Xbox-owned studio that released on PlayStation, the 30% cut Sony made was then used to secure other third-party titles, preventing them from coming to Xbox.Watch on YouTubeOf course, Xbox has steadily been releasing its games on other platforms for almost a year now, most recently Forza Horizon 5 on PS5, so Spencer was asked about if he's more focused on the 70% he gets from releasing games on PlayStation, as opposed to losing out on that 30%. "Its maybe not what I was going to say on stand at the time but yeah, I would love to make all of the money for all the games that we ship right now," Spencer explained. "Obviously we make more on our own platform, its one of the reasons that investing in our own platform is important.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "But there are people whether its their libraries are on PlayStation or Nintendo, whether its that they like the controller better, they just like the games that are there and I dont want to then look at that and say well, theres no way that we should be able to build a business there, find fans of our franchises there."Spencer also quite plainly said that he's not trying to move players "all over to Xbox anymore. Were all so invested in where our games are, lets just allow more people to play. And yes, the 70% that we make on games on other platforms is helpful to us being able to build great portfolios, like we showed at Developer Direct, and I hope this will continue to show through the rest of the year."It's a pretty frank discussion of where Xbox is at, and its strategy going forward, though again, we could kind of all tell that this is a business decision. Right now the big question is whether those rumours about flagship titles like Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to the Switch 2 have any truth to them, but considering Microsoft's no red line approach, anything's possible.

Image: Nintendo LifeXbox games going multiplatform is old news by this point, but according to Phil Spencer, the company is looking to up its transparency during Developer Direct showcases when it comes to specifying where its games are launching.Those paying attention during last month's Xbox dev direct may have noticed launch platforms cropping up at the end of each trailer not that there was all that much on the Switch front, but PS5 was specifically mentioned for Ninja Gaiden 4, for example and Xbox is going to adopt this as a common practice going forward.At least, that's what Spencer revealed on a recent episode of the XboxEra podcast, where the green machine boss pledged to be "honest and transparent about where the games are showing", be that on Xbox, PlayStation or, yes, Nintendo Switch."I just want to be transparent with people," Spencer said of other platform logos appearing in future Xbox game trailers, "for shipping on Nintendo Switch, were gonna put that. For shipping on PlayStation, on SteamPeople should know the storefronts where they can get our games". This is all part of letting people "experience our Xbox community in our games and everything we have to offer, on every screen we can", Spencer continued.Naturally, the Xbox boss was quick to clarify that "not every screen is equal" and that some versions of these games may differ based on what the platform can/can't do, but ol' Phil is still keen to put the games (and their launch platforms) front and centre.Apparently, team Xbox had planned to get the ball rolling on this logo transparency back in the June 2024 Developer Direct, but, Spencer says, "we couldnt get all of the assets done and it felt weird to have some of them in and some of them out".You can find Spencer's full answer below in the following segment from the XboxEra podcast (starting at 08:17):Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube796kIt has been a little over a year since Xbox announced its plans to move select games multiplatform, and we Switch players have since seen Grounded and Pentiment come to the Nintendo hybrid, with the now Microsoft-owned Call of Duty primed for the future. The Switch logo has been absent from Xbox's dev directs so far, but keep an eye out for the Switch 2 icon in future showcases. Phil Spencer: "We love the work that we do with Nintendo"But it's reportedly too early to make a call on HaloForza Horizon 5 was just announced for the PS5Are you pleased to see more Xbox titles heading to Switch? Is this transparency the way forward? Let us know in the comments.[source youtu.be]Share:00 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesMetroid Prime First 4 Figures 'Samus Phazon Suit' Sneak Peek, Pre-Orders Open SoonUpdate: Here's a teaser of the light-up collector's editionSonic Racing: CrossWorlds Adds Characters From "SEGA Universes"Update: IGN has an exclusive preview upLunar Remastered Collection Physical Release Will Not Be Up For Pre-Order (North America)You'll have to wait until releaseRumour: Kirby: Planet Robobot Will Indeed Come To Switch, It's ClaimedAnother stopgap?Cult N64 Platformer 'Glover' Finally Gets Switch Release DateAnd it's very soon

Can't quite topple EA Sports FC 25, though.This week in the UK, Sid Meier's Civilization VII makes its debut and starts off strong at number 2, beating the likes of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but not quite able to topple the might of EA Sports FC 25.Still, can't complain, and the Switch version in particular has done pretty well, outselling PC and Xbox to claim 27% of the overall platform split. Granted, PC is barely operational in retail spaces these days, and Xbox... well, neither is Xbox, to be honest. We'll take the win, though.Read the full article on nintendolife.com