The White LotusCredit: HBOThe White Lotus does something few other shows are able to achieve. It can take a beautiful place and otherwise mundane stories, and somehow fill us with a rising sense of dread and unease. The really curious thing about tonights episode is that while everything felt ominous, while it really felt like something terrible was about to happen, nothing really did. Nothing particularly bad or scandalous went down in the end, though it felt like we were inching toward the precipice of some horror or another the entire time. Spoilers ahead.While nothing horrible or scandalous went down, each of the various storylines ended with something startling or unexpected. What I thought was going to happen (though I didnt always have a solid prediction) didnt end up happening. But each little subplot gave us a peculiar little twist.The Full Moon PartyLast weeks episode ended with Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and his brother Lachlan (Sam Nivola) embarking on a voyage to a nearby island where a Full Moon Party was set to take place. The only thing on Saxons mind is sex. He not only wants to get laid, he wants his little brother to get laid. And they have their eyes set on Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon).On the island, they pop pills (I assume its ecstasy, but this isnt clarified) and drink like fish. Saxon doesnt want to take drugs (Saxon is the drug, he proclaims annoyingly) but when the other three do and then peer pressure him, he obliges. Soon, theyre all spun out and high, watching the festivities go down around them, sitting on the beach as fireworks burst in the sky.This entire story is dangling infidelity in front of us. Chloe is determined to cheat on Greg/Gary (John Gries) with the little magician because shes starved for attention. She thinks he might kill her if he found out (not at all ominous!) but its worth the risk. She encourages Chelsea to cheat on Rick (Walton Goggins) though Chelsea seems horrified at the thought. Still, we watch thinking that surely one thing will lead to another. Scenes of the partygoers are spliced together with the Gossip Girls on their own adventure (which Ill get to momentarily) and it all has the effect of a building sense that something is going to go terribly wrong.And then nothing really does. At least by the time the episode ends, nobody has hooked up with anybody else. Nobody cheats. The girls kiss as part of some kind of dare or game, much to Saxons delight, and then Lachlan leans over and kisses his brother right on the lips, at first a quick peck, but then back in for a longer, lingering kiss. This seems to be all part of the game theyre playing, and Lachlan laughs it off, as does Chloe, but Chelsea looks genuinely weirded out (I think I was making a very similar expression!) and Saxon looks confused. This is a genuinely strange moment, especially after all the little incestuous hints weve been getting all season.The Gossip Girls Go ClubbingThe White LotusCredit: HBOLast week, the Gossip Girls met up with Valentin (Arnas Fedaraviius) to go have a good time. The plan is to go clubbing, and right away things start to feel dodgy. Im pretty sure that Valentin was in on the jewelry theft, along with both these other men, Bikovi (Julian Kostov) and Vlad (Yuri Kolokolnikov). But my feeling of unease grew beyond just the threat of these women being around thieves.At one point, Valentins friends return to the table with shots after they all spend some sexy time on the dance floor, where Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) seems to get off less on the dancing itself, and more on the fact that people are watching her. Shes addicted to attention, and willing to do just about anything to get it, especially since her husband isnt returning her calls and texts. In any case, when they show up with the shots, Kate (Leslie Bib) doesnt want hers. Shes not interested in getting wasted, so she says someone else can do hers.Valentin looks weirded out by this, like he doesnt want to take the shot. When Laurie (Carrie Coon) takes it instead, he seems worried. At this point, I started to wonder if the drinks were drugged. Once again, this sense of something terrible happening started to infiltrate my thoughts. At one point, Laurie even says that something bad is going to happen.Date rape seems a little bit outside the normal tone for this show, but all signs pointed to the drinks being drugged . . . but they werent. Pretty soon that was very obvious. Jaclyn and Laurie were drunk, but clearly not anything more than that. When some Russian women approach and begin yelling at the men, clearly jealous and accusatory, Kate suggests they all leave. But Jaclyn and Laurie invite the men back to their suite, and the party continues in the pool, where more than a little nudity suggests that yes, some sort of sex party is about to go down.Only it doesnt. Nobody is drugged and no crazy orgy takes place. Kate manages to get rid of the Russians and everyone goes to bed. Only, Jaclyn has a little trick up her sleeve. As soon as everyone is down for the count (Laurie snoring on her stomach in her room) Valentin returns. Jaclyn takes him to her bed. Jaclyn, who has been urging Laurie to hook up with Valentin from the start, who has been talking up her amazing relationship with her husband.Its pretty clear what kind of person Jaclyn is at this point. She wants Valentin because Laurie wants him. She even helps create that in Laurie just so that she can take him for herself, because this makes her feel desired and more desirable than her friends. It fills some gaping emotional hole in her heart, if only briefly, to take what isnt hers away from someone she proclaims to care about. And sure, its not like Valentin is Lauries boyfriend or she has any real claim to him, but clearly Jaclyn is being horribly manipulative and backstabby here.Timothys Got A GunThe White LotusCredit: HBOThe gun was introduced last week, and I still believe that its the same gun that will be shot at the end of the season, though a second gun is introduced this week in Bangkok. Well get to that in a minute.Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) discovers the missing firearm and has a near mental breakdown until he remembers that theres video footage. He goes through the footage and sees Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) go into the office while Gaitok was off walking Mook (Lalisa Manobal). He knows who took the gun, but he goes about getting it back in the worst way possible.Rather than turning to his supervisors and telling them the truth, he tries to confront Mr. Ratliff on his own. Naturally, this doesnt go well. Gaitok says that he cant find something and thinks Ratliff has it, but Ratliff just looks up and tells him I have no idea what youre talking about and walks away. When Fabian (Christian Friedel) asks Gaitok if everything is okay, Gaitok denies that anything is wrong. He ends his shift without telling anybody about the pistols theft. Hes hoping to protect his job, obviously, but this will almost certainly lead to very bad things.It very nearly leads to Timothys suicide. Its been a long day listening to his wife, Victoria (Parker Posey) tear into their daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) over her decision to move to Thailand (Victorias line, So youre just going to move to Taiwan for a year? is too hilarious; even off the benzos she has no idea what country it is theyre currently visiting).The White LotusCredit: HBOHe still cant admit whats eating at him to his wife or children. Hes keeping that secret as long as possible, even though its eating him alive. The pills he stole from his wife are clearly not helping. He writes a brief suicide note, apologizing to his family and telling them he loves them, then presses the gun to his temple. He cant pull the trigger, and when Victoria appears he quickly hides the gun.Just when it seems like he might finally come clean and tell his wife the truth about his shady business dealings, he veers back into his lies. His reputation as a standup guy and a successful businessman are clearly important to him, but even more important to Victoria. The truth will crush her, and almost certainly end their marriage. Hed rather die than face that or prison time.Posey is hilarious throughout this storyline. Victoria cant understand her daughters choices and worries over every detail. What if Piper emerges from the meditation center with entirely different values. Different than what? Piper asks. The ones we gave you! her mother replies. Thats kind of the point, Piper fires back. What if its a sex cult? Victoria wants to know. It goes on and on like this. In the end, when she turns to her dad for some kind of advice, hes too distracted and high to be of much help. Pipers expressions speaks volumes. Her parents are out of their damn minds.The Belinda BluesThe White LotusCredit: HBOWe dont see Greg this episode, but we hear about him when Fabian tells Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) that a guest has been asking a lot of questions about her. Shes deeply unsettled by this revelation and returns to Fabian where she hilariously whispers to him that she suspects Greg murdered his wife and may be dangerous. Fabian, who clearly isnt the brightest crayon in the box, doesnt seem to follow. When he finally catches what shes throwing, he tells her that nobody will be contacting the police. Shell be fine, he says, as long as Belinda focuses on herself, and on doing her job.But shes not happy and she turns to Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) for comfort and advice. He agrees to stay the night with her and when he asks if its okay if he sleeps in one of the beds, she tells him that its fine though he can also sleep in her bed. This is me giving consent, she blurts out, If thats something you guys do. She babbles on nervously and its really quite endearing. He sits on the bed next to her and nods.Its ironic, I think, that outside of Jaclyn, Belinda is the only other character who gets lucky this episode. Nothing for Saxon or Chloe or Lachlan or Laurie.Pornchai also discovers whats been making the noises Belinda keeps hearing: A very large lizard had taken up residence in her room. He gets rid of it much to Belindas relief. What a gentleman. I wonder if theres more to him than meets the eye, however.Rick Goes To BangkokThe White LotusCredit: HBOAnother bit of irony: Rick, on his revenge quest to Bangkok, has perhaps the mildest night of anyone. He meets an old friend (Sam Rockwell) and they go for a drink, though Rick discovers that his old drinking buddy is now ten months sober, drinking chamomile tea instead of whiskey. He learns an awful lot more than that about his old pal (whose name I didnt catch).Specifically, and hilariously, Rick learns that his friend is a sex addict, but a rather philosophical sex addict. He regales him with details. He came to Thailand both because he couldnt go back to the US and because he was attracted to Asian girls. But after a thousand nights of sex with every Asian girl he could pick up, he realized that he still wasnt satisfied. His epiphany, however, is not what we or Rick were expecting. He realized that he actually wanted to be an Asian girl and, um, have sex with himself. So he started picking up men, dressing in drag, and sometimes hed even pay an Asian girl to watch, so that he could imagine he was her having sex with him. Or something.This has to be the most unexpected and hilarious moment in the season so far. Rockwells delivery is so matter-of-fact as he admits to this enormous debauchery, and the look on Ricks face is priceless. Again, I suspect my own expression was much the same. Rockwells confession is also his explanation for sobriety. He found Buddhism and cleaned up his act. Not drinking is easy, he tells Rick; being celibate is the real challenge.The White LotusCredit: HBORick has ignored Chelseas calls up to this point (she leaves him a very adorable voice message) but when he calls back shes busy partying. You get the sense that something bad is going to happen, but nothing does.Not yet, anyways.This was yet another tremendous episode of The White Lotus, and probably the most stressful one of the season so far. I spent the whole time on the edge of my seat waiting for something bad to go down and then (mostly) nothing did, outside of some bad friend behavior from Jaclyn and a weird incestuous kiss between brothers. But I suspect that bad things will happen, and quite soon. Timothy still has his gun. Rick is on his vendetta, and despite a nice evening with an old friend, his plans for vengeance havent changed. The Gossip Girls are headed for a massive falling out, Im sure, and we still dont know who shoots the gun and who eats the bullet.Check out my weekend streaming guide right here:What did you think of this episode? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.Previous White Lotus Season 3 recap/review:

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsIt features a star-making performance from Saoirse RonanIts an elegy to 1950s New YorkIts the best version of a love triangleIf youre looking for stuff to watch on Peacock, youre probably going to have to sort through a lot of stuff. Thats not to say that there arent things worth watching on Peacock, just that finding them can feel more difficult than it should.Weve done the hard work for you and found a perfect movie for your March watchlist. BrooklynRecommended VideosNeed more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, best shows on Hulu, best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and best shows on Disney+.RelatedBrooklyn Official International Trailer #1 (2015) - Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson Movie HDSaoirse Ronan is now considered one of the best actresses of her generation, but that wasnt the case back in 2015. At that point, she was a young woman transitioning into movie stardom, and Brooklynwas the movie that proved just how talented she is.As Eilis, Ronan plays a young woman who immigrates to America with nothing and slowly learns to love her new home. Ronan makes Eilis into a lovable person who nonetheless feels deeply real. Shes funny, shy, and ultimately hopeful about her new life.20th Century StudiosTheres an unqualified romanticism to director John Crowleys depiction of New York in the 1950s. The film is named after Brooklyn, and it depicts the 1950s version of the city as a place that can be both alienating and the best version of home.Although it was made on a relatively modest budget,Brooklyn pays attention to all of the right details. Most of us probably dont know exactly what New York City is really like, but we all hope that its like the New York of Brooklyn.Saoirse Ronan as Eilis and Emory Cohen as Tony inBrooklyn 20th Century StudiosBrooklynis a movie about a love triangle, but its the kind of love triangle movie that uses its characters as proxies for bigger ideas. After arriving in America, Eilis falls for Tony, a Brooklyn-born Italian American who helps her adjust to life in the city, and ultimately proposes to her. When she returns home, she meets Jim, a man who reminds her of the joys of Ireland and gives her a home there that she never had before.Brooklyndoesnt offer a ton of suspense about who Eilis will ultimately be with, but the choice between Jim and Tony isnt just the choice between two men, but between two homes and two ways of existing. Eiliss ultimate choice reflects everything we know about who shes become, which is why it feels so inevitable.Stream Brooklynon Peacock.Editors Recommendations

tj-actions/changed-files Supply-chain attack exposing credentials affects 23K users of tj-actions tj-actions/changed-files, corrupted to run credential-stealing memory scraper. Dan Goodin Mar 16, 2025 10:24 pm | 0 Credit: Getty Images Credit: Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOpen-source software used by more than 23,000 organizations, some of them in large enterprises, was compromised with credential-stealing code after attackers gained unauthorized access to a maintainer account, in the latest open-source supply-chain attack to roil the Internet.The corrupted package, tj-actions/changed-files, is part of tj-actions, a collection of files that's used by more than 23,000 organizations. Tj-actions is one of many Github Actions, a form of platform for streamlining software available on the open-source developer platform. Actions are a core means of implementing what's known as CI/CD, short for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (or Continuous Delivery).Scraping server memory at scaleOn Friday or earlier, the source code for all versions of tj-actions/changed-files received unauthorized updates that changed the "tags" developers use to reference specific code versions. The tags pointed to a publicly available file that copies the internal memory of severs running it, searches for credentials, and writes them to a log. In the aftermath, many publicly accessible repositories running tj-actions ended up displaying their most sensitive credentials in logs anyone could view."The scary part of actions is that they can often modify the source code of the repository that is using them and access any secret variables associated with a workflow," HD Moore, founder and CEO of runZero and an expert in open-source security, said in an interview. "The most paranoid use of actions is to audit all of the source code, then pin the specific commit hash instead of the tag into the ... the workflow, but this is a hassle." An overview of the malicious functioning of tj-actions/changed-files. As the supply-chain attack demonstrates, many Github users weren't following these best practices. Repositories using tj-actions that trusted tags rather than hashes of vetted versions ended up running the memory scraper/logger. The attack poses a possible threat to any such repository, because credentials should never appear in human-readable form. The risk is most acute for repositories that are publicly viewable, since the credentials are then viewable to anyone.A tj-actions maintainer said Saturday that the attacker somehow compromised a credential a @tj-actions-bot uses to obtain privileged access to the compromised repository. The maintainer said it remained unclear how the credential was compromised. The password used by the bot has since been changed and for added security, the account is now protected by a passkey, a form of credential that, as specified by the FIDO Alliance, requires two-factor authentication by default.Github officials said in a statement that they have no evidence the company or its platform has been compromised."Out of an abundance of caution, we suspended user accounts and removed the content in accordance with GitHub's Acceptable Use Policies," the officials wrote. "We reinstated the account and restored the content after confirming that all malicious changes have been reverted and the source of compromise has been secured." They went on to remind users they should "always review GitHub Actions or any other package that they are using in their code before they update to new versions."The supply-chain attack was first spotted by security firm StepSecurity, which said it came to notice through an "anomaly detection when an unexpected endpoint appeared in the network traffic." The incident appeared to start around 9 AM Saturday Pacific time.In a separate writeup, researchers at security firm Wiz said preliminary analysis of the attack has already established that dozens of tj-actions users have faced real harm in the supply-chain attack. The researchers wrote:While conducting threat hunting related to this malicious activity, in several instances Wiz Threat Research has observed the deployment of a script designed to dump secrets as part of the malicious payload's execution. Additionally, Wiz Threat Research has so far identified dozens of repositories affected by the malicious GitHub action, including repos operated by large enterprise organizations. In these repositories, the malicious payload successfully executed and caused secrets to leak in workflow logs. Some of the leaked secrets we've identified so far include valid AWS access keys, GitHub Personal Access Tokens (PATs), npm pokens, private RSA Keys and more.The tj-actions incident is the latest example of a supply-chain attack on a widely used open-source package. Last year, a lone developer working for Microsoft discovered the presence of a backdoor that had been intentionally planted in xz Utils, an open source data compression utility used by millions of organizations, many of them Fortune 500 companies. In a stroke of luck, the backdoor, which gave the attackers the ability to log into any server with privileged access, was discovered just weeks before it was scheduled to go into production versions of Linux. Other recent supply-chain attacks have been covered here and here, Anyone responsible for a system that uses tj-actions should carefully inspect their systems to check for signs of compromise. The supply-chain attack should also serve as impetus for admins to review any GitHub Actions they use to ensure they use cryptographic hashes, instead of tags, that point to code that has been vetted previously. The above-linked posts from StepSecurity and Wiz provide useful guidance, as does this one from Semgrep.Dan GoodinSenior Security EditorDan GoodinSenior Security Editor Dan Goodin is Senior Security Editor at Ars Technica, where he oversees coverage of malware, computer espionage, botnets, hardware hacking, encryption, and passwords. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, cooking, and following the independent music scene. Dan is based in San Francisco. Follow him at here on Mastodon and here on Bluesky. Contact him on Signal at DanArs.82. 0 Comments

The main title theme song has been modified to fit the season three setting."The White Lotus" season three opening credits pay homage to Eastern spirituality. HBO Each season's main title theme is composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer and takes inspiration from the location.Season one's "Aloha!" paid homage to Hawaiian sounds and rhythms. Meanwhile, season two's viral "Renaissance" ditched the tropics for a tune that transformed from an operatic build to a club banger with 25 million streams on Spotify.Season three's "Enlightenment" draws from Thai sounds and harkens back to the season's overall theme of Eastern spirituality."The song changes every season, and it reflects the tone, mood, and the themes of the season," Gabe Hilfer, the show's music supervisor, told Rolling Stone. "The theme songs for the first two seasons were a little bit more related creatively, but they're totally different songs. Season three is about spirituality, and it's meant to be reflective of that."The opening credits imagery hints at each character's storyline.Imagery of a man stuck in a tree in the opening credits for season three of "The White Lotus." HBO Sarah Catherine Hook's name is accompanied by artwork of a woman meditating, which is appropriate since her character, Piper Ratliff, is a religious studies major who is writing a thesis on Buddhism.Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays the eldest and horniest Ratliff sibling named Saxon, is credited alongside an image of two men ogling at a topless woman.Ratliff patriarch Timothy (Jason Isaacs), who's in some kind of financial peril, is depicted by a man stuck in a tree.Mook (Lalisa Manobal) and Gaitok's (Tayme Thapthimthong) sweet flirtation is mirrored by a woman and a man smiling under an umbrella. But the imagery for Thapthimthong's title card a man trying to tame a vicious tiger alludes to Gaitok's work struggles this season.On their way to the resort, the Ratliff siblings mimic the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" imagery.Patrick Schwarzenegger as Saxon, Sarah Catherine Hook as Piper, and Sam Nivola as Lochlan in season three, episode one of "The White Lotus." HBO As the Ratliff family travels via boat to the White Lotus resort with fellow guests, siblings Saxon, Piper, and Lochlan (Sam Nivola) sit on a bench and unintentionally reference the old proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," which is usually symbolized by three monkeys in different poses.Saxon's sunglasses cover his eyes (see no evil), Piper wears headphones over her ears (hear no evil), and Lochlan's mouth is covered as he drinks from a bottle (speak no evil).Season three certainly hasn't been subtle with the monkey symbolism. Time reported that there are more than 140 monkey statues sprinkled throughout Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, one of the filming locations. These statues and the monkeys that the cameras linger on between scenes reflect the mischief and hijinks taking place at the resort.Patrick Schwarzenegger's character, Saxon Ratliff, wears a $23,000 watch throughout the season.Patrick Schwarzenegger as Saxon in season three, episode two of "The White Lotus." HBO Saxon is from a wealthy family and his attire and accessories reflect that. In the show, he's seen wearing the Hublot Big Bang Unico Black Magic 44mm watch, which retails for $23,000."Survivor" cast members Natalie Cole and Carl Boudreaux have cameos as resort guests in the season premiere.Carl Boudreaux and Natalie Cole in season three, episode one of "The White Lotus." HBO Belinda sees them while dining and waves, happy to encounter other Black people at the resort who aren't staff.The husband-and-wife duo is played by Carl Boudreaux and Natalie Cole, both of whom competed against "The White Lotus" creator, writer, and director Mike White in the reality TV show "Survivor: David vs. Goliath.""Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Ke Huy Quan has a voice cameo in episode two.Ke Huy Quan at the world premiere of Netflix's "The Electric State" in February 2024. Kevin Winter/Getty Images Ke Huy Quan told Entertainment Tonight that he's a big fan of the show and said yes right away when he was asked to be part of season three.The Oscar-winning actor's character Kenneth Nguyen, aka Kenny, is first referenced during the season three premiere when Timothy Ratliff takes a call from a journalist at The Wall Street Journal who's running a story about a shady business deal Kenny made. Timothy is connected because he did Kenny a favor and helped him set up a fund called Sho-Kel as part of some plan involving money laundering and bribery.Timothy finally gets a hold of Kenny near the end of episode two. Quan doesn't appear in the episode, but his voice is clearly heard panicking on the other end of the line as they discuss why the Journal is investigating them."Fuck me, I'm done," Kenny tells Timothy, after explaining that 20 agents just raided his office and have his accounts, emails, and documents.Kenny continues ranting and says that a whistleblower in his office snitched on him to the media. Details about the business deal are sparse, but Kenny says that he never should have taken a position in Brunei, but the money was too good to pass up.Kenny also confirms that Timothy is "for sure" implicated.Chelsea getting bitten by a snake is foreshadowed by a moment in episode two.Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea in season three, episode two of "The White Lotus." Fabio Lovino/HBO In episode two, right before a masked man robs the hotel's store, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) asks an employee if she can look at a snake choker. Although Chelsea is unharmed, the near-death experience with the robber leaves her shaken.Then in episode three, she and her boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins) attend a snake show. But Rick, who feels sympathetic toward the snakes, goes rogue and releases a bunch of them from their cages. As soon as Chelsea sees what Rick has done, she's bit in the leg by a venomous snake and rushed to a hospital.Sam Rockwell, the real-life partner of season three star Leslie Bibb, has a surprise appearance in episode five.Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell in October. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Rockwell and Bibb, who plays Kate, have been dating in real life for nearly 18 years. They met at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood in 2007 and they went on their first date shortly after."I think three weeks later, I was, like, 'I love you so much,'" she told Rosie O'Donnell during an appearance on "The Rosie Show."Bibb and Rockwell's characters don't overlap in "The White Lotus," though.Rockwell makes his first appearance during episode five, as Rick's old friend Frank, who meets up with him in Bangkok to do him a favor.

2025-03-16T23:11:37Z Read in app Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic are partnering to bring electric air taxis to the United Kingdom. John Keeble/Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Joby Aviation is partnering with Virgin Atlantic to launch flying taxis in the United Kingdom.The company said the air taxi can carry up to four passengers.Joby also plans to launch air taxis in the US this year in New York and Los Angeles.UK residents can soon skip the Tube, Uber, and hours of traffic by gliding through the skies in long-imagined flying taxis.Electric air taxi companyJobyand British airline Virgin Atlantic announced a new partnership on Sunday to bring flying taxis to the UK.Joby said its air cabs use "six tilting propellers" that allow them to take off and land vertically with a fraction of the noise of a helicopter.The aircraft is designed for back-to-back flights and can carry up to four passengers at a time. They can fly at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour and be used for trips of up to 100 miles. A more than hourlong car ride from Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf would become an 8-minute flight by air taxi.The company plans to build a network of landing locations, known as vertiports, across the UK. At launch, it expects pricing to be in line with "premium" ride-sharing options.Joby and Delta Air Lines which has a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic announced a partnership in 2022 to use air taxis for transporting customers to the airport across the US and UK. Joby is also backed by Toyota and Uber."Virgin Atlantic's commitment to delighting its customers reflects our experience with Delta and we couldn't imagine a better partner to work with in the UK," Joby's founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt, said in the company's press release. Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said, "As a leader in sustainability and with innovation firmly in our DNA, we are delighted to be partnering with Joby to bring short-haul, zero-emission flight to airports and cities throughout the UK."Electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, or eVTOLs, the technical name for air taxis, still need to clear a few regulatory hurdles before they're ready to take flight. But the UK has a roadmap called the Future of Flight Action Plan that aims to have the first eVTOL in the air by 2026.In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration cleared Joby's air taxis for flight in a "final rule" published in October that provides guidelines for training pilots and operations. Joby has plans to launch its first air taxis in New York City and Los Angeles by the end of this year.United Airlines, which has a partnership with eVTOL company Archer Aviation, is also planning to launch its first air taxis this year.

Is CeX your retailer of choice? (2009 Getty Images)The Monday letters page has a go at predicting Nintendo Switch 2 reveal games, as one reader explores the difficulty of making new Silent Hill sequels.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukLimited optionsNo offence to CeX but the idea that they are now the UKs biggest games retailer is beyond depressing. In terms of high street stores though, I dont even know who the competition is. Argos, I guess? I dont think any of the toy shops sell them anymore. Im not sure about HMV but I dont have one near me, so I cant check.I realise the battle between digital and physical was lost a long time ago but the idea that there are so few places to buy new video games in person is just awful. Its still easy enough to get them from Amazon and other online website but its not the same and takes longer.Argos is usually quite cheap, and I do use them sometimes, but if anyone can suggest somewhere better than Im all ears. Clearly Im old fashioned but I just like to go into a shop and buy a game on the spot, end of story. But its obvious publishers just arent interested in me doing that anymore.MaddleMilestone newsIm going to go along with everyone else and say Im really looking forward to the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, not for the ordinary reasons of being excited about a new console launch but the hope that it will be a milestone for the current depression in video games.If things go right then itll be the kick up the backside that gaming has been needing all generation and hopefully lead to lots of exciting new games and ideas.If its a failure, and we know from the Wii U that it could be, then Im really not sure what else theres going to be on the horizon to lift things. GTA 6 is going to be huge, of course, but thats just one game thats not going to do anything to help anyone but Rockstar.GandalfMoving onStarfield on PlayStation 5 is a given at this point, and I can absolutely see that it would make Microsoft more money to release it on another format, but after that Bethesda really need to give up on the series. It hasnt worked out, the DLC only made things worse, and its close to a laughing stock.It will sell on PlayStation 5 based on Bethesdas name but its not going to enhance their reputation, quite the opposite. Bethesda need to accept its an experiment that didnt work and put all focus on The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5.I wouldnt normally be the sort to be demanding sequels, but these are big, important franchises that have been away for too long. Theyre also need to repair Bethesdas reputation, which after Starfield is not looking good. Skyrim feels like it was 100 years ago now and if it doesnt get a sequel soon it may be too late to make sense.LanceyEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukSome of the peopleThe next game by some of the people who made Disco Elysium is launching a Kickstarter campaign sometime today and stars the narrator of Disco Elysium, Lenval Brown. I was going to back it to get a digital copy on PC or PlayStation and get my name in the credits!Its being made by a new developer Longdue, based in London. I didnt realise until GameCentral and Eurogamer said that there is at least three or four games being made from the developers who left the ZA/UM game developer. I am excited to see the final game, after how highly rated Disco Elysium is.Andrew J.Just completed: Deadlight (PS4)Currently playing: The Mummy Demastered (PS4)Once a generationJust a little anniversary nod, because I know people like that sort of thing, but Tekken 5 is 20 years old this month. Tekken 8 was only out last year but Tekken 5 was all the way back on the PlayStation 2, which seems wild to me.Surprisingly though the series is in pretty great shape right now as 8 was one of the best entries ever and I believe it sold well too (and I suspect it will turn up on Switch 2).It is a little crazy just how long sequels are beginning to take now though. If this continues then Tekken 10 might not come out until the PlayStation 7. Which is pretty wild to think about.BortLynchian horrorI dont know whos got compromising photos of Konami execs, that they keep forcing them to make Silent Hill games, but it truly is bizarre that they keep announcing more, even though none of them ever sell that much.That might seem a strange thing to say for someone, like me, that is a fan of the series but it is all very bizarre and I feel ultimately will end up killing the series completely, when Konami eventually give up.Silent Hill f does look more promising than many of the other recent games and at first sight the Japanese origins seem promising, since the originals were all made by purely Japanese teams.But the problem is that Silent Hill, especially Silent Hill 2, is actually a very Western style game. The story and style is a mixture of David Lynch and Jacobs Ladder and very little about it has anything to do with being made by Japanese developers. Its like the opposite of Ghost Of Tsushima.This is why Bloober team were able to do such a good job with the remake, since they understood the original and werent at a disadvantage in not fully understanding Japanese sensibilities.Silent Hill 2 is a game with a lot of depth and hidden meaning in its story and its that which Bloober understood for the remake and is missing from most of the other games.FocusProduct appealNever mind about EA not understanding Battlefield, Im not sure they even understand why people like football. Its all money to them and games are just a way to addict people enough to keep giving them money, theres nothing more to it from their point of view.The idea that they would make a game for artistic reasons, or because a developer had an idea they wanted to do, would not even cross the mind of an EA exec for even a minute, Im sure. Its not that their games are bad, theyre just clinical products produced to appeal to some very basic desires. Beyond that I dont think they care in the slightest.GarpOff-TV is back onSome Switch 2 predictions The Switch 2s secret button is for a pairing mode (Switch Link) similar to the tech the Wii U used to link the console with its GamePad screen. This will allow for two-player (or more) off-TV play, using the power of each console for multiplayer experiences without split-screen performance compromises. Up to four players can link wirelessly for local multi-player each with their own console.Mario X Splatoon: Ink Vs. Water. Mario Sunshine style FLUDD packs for the Mario characters, which use water to wash away the Inklings ink. They cant swim through the ink but have other moves (such as surf boards) that the inklings dont. With an extensive story mode that sees the Inklings as Marios adversaries at first and then coming together as a team to battle the real threat.Pilotwings: Sports Resort. Mario and friends complete flight challenges for their pilots wings and other sports all over a revamped (and huge) Wuhu island. Packed with characters and vehicles, secrets and fun things to do.Nintendo Land 2 (or Nintendo World), a video game version of their new theme parks with new versions of the asymetric multiplayer games possible with Switch Link.SiFiJediInbox also-ransHideo Kojima has been resting on his laurels for most of his career, as far as Im concerned. Thats why I hate that Konami cancelled Silent Hills, because he was finally doing something different and it seemed like it was really working out too.DodoI didnt realise Rainbow Six Siege wasnt free-to-play already, although I guess maybe it came out before that was commonplace. Despite all the Ubisoft negativity Ill give it a go now, if it wont cost me anything.ExcelsiorMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: Do you want an Xbox handheld?GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Horizon Forbidden West voice actor says new AI tech usage scares meGameCentralPublished March 17, 2025 1:00am Aloy is currently voiced only by Ashly Burch (Sony Interactive Entertainment)Ashly Burch has reacted to the leaked footage of an AI generated Aloy and shes not angry, shes worried about the future of video game performances.Its very clear that Sony did not want the AI video of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West to leak out. They went to a lot of effort to scrub it from the internet and in doing so confirmed that the footage of Aloy speaking with a computer-generated voice was real.The choice of Aloy as a guinea pig does seem a very poor one though, as not only does the Horizon backstory revolve around hubristic tech bros. destroying the entire world but Ashly Burch, the human actor for Aloy, is one of the most vocal opponents of using AI to replace human performances.Or to put it more accurately, shes against actors not being properly compensated for their work, if it forms the basis of an AI performance. Thats why she and most other unionised actors have been on strike for the last several months something which is easy to forget at the moment but will become very obvious in a year or two, when the games they were meant to be working on are released.The Sony tech demo did not sound anything like Burch and in a new TiKTok video she reveals that developer Guerilla Games has been in contact, since the leak, and promised her that they did not use her previous performances to create the AI voiceover.In the four and a half minute video, Burch goes out of her way not to criticise Guerilla specifically, but speaks about concerns about the technology in general and why artists are currently on strike.I feel worried and not worried about Guerrilla specifically or Horizon or my performance or my career specifically, even. I feel worried about this art form game performance as an art form, she says.I feel worried not because the technology exists, not even because game companies want to use it because of course they do, they always want to use technological advancements I just imagine a video like this coming out, that does have someones performance attached to it, that does have someones voice or face or movement, and the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse.They wouldnt have any protection, any way to fight back. And that possibility it makes me so sad. It hurts my heart. It scares me. @ashly.burch let us speak on AI aloy original sound Ashly Burch The SAG-AFTRA video game strike started in July 2024 and there is currently no end in sight. If publishers do not give way than performance artists would find it very difficult to get any meaningful compensation for their work.More TrendingThis would not only put their livelihoods at risk but leave games relying more and more on AI-created voices which in many cases would be based on actors performances, but without paying them any royalties.Were asking for protections, Burch said. So, currently what were fighting for is, you have to get our consent before you make an AI version of us, in any form. You have to compensate us fairly and you have to tell us how youre using this AI double.AI technology is suspected to be at the root of the next gen Xbox in particular, and possibly the PlayStation 6 as well. Microsoft has already been promoting ways in which it could use AI to generate games content but the leaked footage of AIoy shows that Sony is also experimenting with its own technology.However, Nintendo has insisted that it does not want to use AI in any substantial way and that it will go in a different direction in the next generation. Some indie developers want this label to be used for games without AI (Polygon Treehouse)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Pali Farmhouse / Metis PracticeSave this picture! Vrinda Seksaria, Santosh Thorat, Nikita MendoncaArchitects: Metis PracticeAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:2810 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs:Vrinda Seksaria, Santosh Thorat, Nikita MendoncaMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. A farmhouse situated amidst the rural landscapes on the edges of the Deccan Region in Maharashtra was designed as a unified structure comprising versatile multipurpose spaces complemented by a single attached bedroom. Its spacious layout facilitated the utilization of the house for communal activities such as yoga, dance, theater, and farming within the local community.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Nestled amidst a grove of chickoo trees, the farmhouse featured a roof soaring above the treetops, oriented towards the farm and benefiting from the gentle north light in a region characterized by extreme heat and rainfall. The central bay is flanked by a deep veranda to the north and a narrower one, enclosing a courtyard and water feature, to the south, enabling effective climate control and promoting natural air circulation.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Constructed using indigenous materials by teams of skilled craftsmen from diverse regions of India, the project was a collaborative effort. The building was structurally arranged with a sturdy basalt foundation and plinth, transitioning into robust basalt walls and layered rammed earth walls. These substantial masses resembled ancient ruins, onto which a wooden framework was affixed to transform it into a habitable space, adorned with wooden decking, copper roof tiles and accents, and wooden shingles. Its design ensures that it leaves behind only the faintest imprint on the surrounding environment, embodying a philosophy of sustainable living and harmonious coexistence with nature.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMetis PracticeOfficePublished on March 17, 2025Cite: "Pali Farmhouse / Metis Practice" 16 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027735/pali-farmhouse-metis-practice&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?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

Koyoharu Gotouge's Demon Slayerfeatures many great and unforgettable characters, each with a unique backstory. While quite a few of them leave a lasting impression, very few can come close to the progenitor of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji.

An intrepid fitness enthusiast and Red Dead Redemption 2 player has completed a major journey across the game's map using a treadmill to control Arthur as he walks across the whole in-game world. Red Dead Redemption 2 won praise upon its release in 2018 for having a massive open-world map filled with naturalistic detail.