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    Thompson scores 38 to lead Warriors over Bucks

    WASHINGTON (AFP) – Klay Thompson scored a season-high 38 points to spark the Golden State Warriors over defending NBA champion Milwaukee 122-109 on Saturday, snapping the Bucks’ six-game win streak.

    In his best game since returning in January after missing two and a half years with injuries, the 32-year-old guard hit 15-of-24 from the floor, including eight-of-14 from three-point range, with six rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes.

    “It’s not losing confidence. Never losing confidence,” Thompson said. “I’ve been through a lot. Just to be able to be out here and compete, it’s a blessing.”

    Jordan Poole added 30 points for the Warriors, who got only eight points and eight assists from Stephen Curry, content to watch “Splash Brothers” partner Thompson unleash a superb display.

    “I’m a perfectionist at times,” said Thompson. “(I had to) just be patient. Steve (Kerr, the Warriors’ coach) was telling me just to get great shots.”

    Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson shoots against Milwaukee Bucks centre Bobby Portis Jr. PHOTO: AP

    Thompson missed the entire 2019-20 season with a torn left knee ligament and the entire 2020-21 campaign with an Achilles tendon injury, but came back in January and had his prior season-high of 33 points last month in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

    “It was a challenge but after being on so many great teams and knowing what it takes to get to that final stage, I knew how hard I had to work,” Thompson said. “I don’t want to peak yet. There’s still a long way to go.”

    Golden State matched Memphis for second place in the Western Conference at 46-22 while the Bucks, led by 31 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo, fell to 42-26, second in the Eastern Conference, two and a half games behind Miami.

    At Denver, Pascal Siakam scored 33 points and Scottie Barnes added 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds to ignite the Toronto Raptors to a 127-115 triumph.

    Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

    Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 45 points off the bench on 15-of-21 shooting, including seven-of-13 from three-point range, to lead the Utah Jazz over visiting Sacramento 134-125 despite 41 for the Kings from De’Aaron Fox.

    French centre Rudy Gobert, averaging 15.4 points and 14.7 assists for Utah, did not play due to a left foot sprain. Mike Conley was also out for the Jazz.

    Portland’s Josh Hart scored 44 points, hitting 15-of-21 from the floor and six-of-nine from three-point range, to lead the Trail Blazers over visiting Washington 127-118.

    DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points and Montenegrin centre Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls over visiting Cleveland 101-91.

    Focus on fashion’s impacts on the environment

    A more ethical approach in consumer habit and of shopping and consuming fashion would benefit the environment in the long run by making use of the power of recycling and reusing instead of just disposing, said Dawn Lee of La Vida Sdn Bhd. She made these comments at the Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Eco-Chat Series.

    BIBD through SME 360 Series of the Sustainable Nation Campaign, recently brought the curtain down on its Eco Chat Series with a final dialogue session that discussed the fast fashion and its negative impacts on the environment.

    The forum featured prominent speakers such as Susannah Jaffer, Founder of Zerrin (Singapore); Farhanna Pura, President of Fashion Designers Alliance (FDA) and founder of Naforrer; Jasmine Tuan, Creative Brand Consultant and Sustainable Fashion Advocate of Smiles Like Green Spirit and Cloop (Singapore), Dawn Lee, La Vida Sdn Bhd; Aisyah Azlan, Designer of Etah Studio; and Wan Wia’am of Thryffy Brunei.

    The panel highlighted the negative impact of fast fashion which focusses on mass production of cheap, poor quality and disposable clothing – devastating and damaging the environment and planet in the long run.

    Farhanna of Naforrer emphasised that the fashion industry represents an important part of the economy and that it can play a big role in advancing the local and global sustainability agenda through ethical design and production practices.

    Lee from La Vida also pointed out that while the fashion sector is booming, increasing attention has been brought to the wide range of negative environmental impacts that the industry is responsible for.

    The Eco Chat speakers discussing fast fashion. PHOTO: BIBD

    Aisyah of Etah Studio said it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure the creation of a circular fashion industry and its economy by utilising well existing resources to avoid waste.

    Renowned Singapore-based sustainable fashion advocate Jasmine Tuan said the future of fashion should not be manipulated by trend but rather inspired by genuine and responsible designs and production methods.

    Wan of Thryffy Brunei seconded the notion and said that consumers have grown to realise the importance of sustainability and tend to support pure, genuine and mindful business ideas.

    Another speaker from Singapore, Susannah Jaffer also expressed her belief that the fashion industry should remain circular and independent.

    Towards the end of the forum, the speakers noted that conscious fashion is still a relatively young concept in Brunei and that raising awareness about the issue is the first step in tackling the overall problem in fast fashion.

    A holistic approach and intervention from all stakeholders needs to be implemented in the supply chain to ensure that the issue of sustainability is effectively addressed, and that the environment is protected by the fashion industry.

    The Eco Chat Series was a five-series dialogue sessions which was run in partnership between Community for Brunei and ASEAN Youth Advocates Network (AYAN) Brunei and was intended to be a cataylst for change and education by starting a conversation and educating the public with industry experts and stakeholders.

    Among the topics covered in the Eco Chat Series were climate crisis, sustainable development goals, plastic pollution and fast fashion. The series, which was opened to the public and live-streamed to the wider community, featured speakers from BIBD, the Brunei Climate Change Secretariat, Green Brunei, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Shell LiveWIRE Brunei, and sustainability and environmental advocates from neighbouring countries.

    Within one of BIBD’s Sustainability Framework pillar – Responsible Entrepreneurship, BIBD SME360 hopes to provide this platform for businesses to learn and understand their business model and how they can partake towards building a business that helps create a sustainable nation, and support His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adatul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Government aim of Net Zero by 2050.

    S’pore bus operators, logistics companies and cabbies impacted by oil price spike

    THE STRAITS TIMES – As pump prices rise, service providers in the transport and logistics sector are feeling the heat.

    Bus operators, delivery companies and cabbies The Sunday Times spoke to said they are now at their wits’ end.

    About 30 per cent of their costs are transport-related, and now, with the surge in fuel prices precipitated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they are among the first to be put through the wringer.

    Some have resorted to cutting costs – be they in salaries or completely halting part of their operations. Others are assessing how much of the extra cost they need to pass on to customers to ride out the pinch.

    “There is no point in asking if we are suffering – of course we are,” said Edmund Koh, owner of Koh Bus Transport Service, which does hired trips, including for construction workers.

    “I have had to cancel bus trips because why should I run trips that cost me as much as I make? The drivers draw the same salary, the customers don’t want to pay more. It’s the bus owners who are affected,” he said.

    The company has 11 buses, and its fuel costs have risen by SGD1,500 a month per vehicle – enough to hire one extra driver.

    It now spends double what it did previously on fuel, said Koh.

    Pump prices have gone up by as much as 11 cents a litre since end-January, their biggest jump since the pandemic started. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES

    For companies that have to ply the roads every day, this is but the latest in a string of woes that have befallen them in recent years.

    First came Covid-19, upending all industry norms. Then, as economies elsewhere recovered, demand for fuel outstripped supply and fuel prices have been on the up since last year, devastating for an industry that typically already posts narrow profits for each trip.

    Last Thursday, petrol prices, even the 92-octane fuel which can be used by the majority of cars here, were SGD3 or more a litre here – unheard of in recent years.

    Philip Peh, president of Singapore School and Private Hire Bus Owners’ Association and owner of Tong Tar Transport Service, said “everyone in all industries has been bleeding money”.

    “The sense is that if we are lucky enough, we can break even, but sometimes we can’t and end up in the red. My company and other bus companies are all looking at how we can manage the situation. We are still unsure of how to go about this.”

    He said bus companies will most likely have to ask customers to pay “a bit more” by raising fees, until oil prices stabilise.

    “We cannot hold for much longer at these costs.”

    Amurdalingam Durairajoo, managing director of The National Forwarder, a company that transfers goods that enter the country by air to ships or warehouses here, said the logistics industry is being squeezed at both ends – by airlines on the one hand, and customers on the other.

    Many airlines will soon be implementing fuel surcharges, he said. While some of these can be passed on to consumers, things like local transport costs cannot.

    Many freight forwarders are bound by contracts with their customers and already absorb forklifting fees, which are also increasing as the equipment uses petrol and diesel.

    Storage fees are also on the up, spurred on by disrupted global processes due to Covid-19 and rising demand for goods everywhere.

    “We don’t profiteer from rising fuel prices and will be very transparent. We don’t know if we will pass on the higher costs yet, but we will have to replan everything,” Amurdalingam said.

    “Obviously, we cannot just drive our trucks out whenever we need them, and will have to optimise routes. There needs to be multiple pick-ups and drop-offs to be worth our while,” he said.

    An employee at school bus company RS Transport said drivers, due to company policy, have been absorbing the 30 per cent to 40 per cent increase in petrol and diesel costs since the start of the year.

    “There is no way to cut school bus trips, so we are biting the bullet for now. Drivers are unhappy,” she said, declining to be named.

    She hopes the government can offer some help. “Are there reserves? These could be released to help bring down pump prices.”

    Another group of drivers that have been paying out of pocket for higher petrol costs are the 80,000 cabbies and private-hire drivers here, whose numbers have been steadily falling since 2020 due to the tough driving conditions.

    The latest setback comes just as the number of trips finally returned to about 80 per cent of what it was pre-Covid-19 early this year.

    Some are thinking of calling it quits.

    “It’s sad to say, but what is the point of driving taxis any more. I’ll be leaving the company soon,” said Strides Taxi driver Patrick Lam, 55. “In January, I could make SGD60 to SGD80 after driving about 10 hours. Now I barely break even. There are also fewer people taking taxis nowadays.”

    He used to pay SGD100 a week for petrol in January, but this has now doubled to SGD200. “Sometimes, it seems like we don’t get any help.”

    Thailand celebrates Elephant Day

    CHONBURI, THAILAND (CNA) – Nearly 60 elephants enjoyed a huge fruit banquet at a Thai botanical park yesterday as the Southeast Asian country marked its annual Elephant Day.

    Elephants are a source of national pride and cultural identity for Thailand and are used for labour, transport, and battlefield triumphs by warriors and kings.

    The event is commonly observed in various other parts of the country, but due to the pandemic and economic woes, some have scaled down celebrations this year.

    At Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in eastern Chonburi province, elephants were treated to two tonnes of fruits and vegetables laid out on an eight-metre wide table.

    With the absence of foreign tourists for a long time, the buffet and some visitors brought some joy to the heavyweights.

    “Of course, they get bored because they get used to being with people. That’s why you see our elephants are very friendly to everyone,” said President of Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Kampon Tansacha.

    Elephants enjoy a buffet of fruits and vegetables at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. PHOTO: CNA

    TAIB holds Israk Mikraj celebration

    The Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (Perbadanan TAIB) Group of Companies held a special talk in conjunction with the Israk Mikraj celebration for 1443 Hijrah via Microsoft Teams.

    In attendance was Deputy Managing Director of TAIB, Haji Osman bin Haji Md Jair. Also present were the Managing Director of Insurans Islam TAIB Holding Sdn Bhd and the Managing Director of Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd.

    The Israk Mikraj special talk entitled Hakikat Peristiwa Israk dan Mikraj was delivered by Ustaz Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ajak, from the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB).

    The talk highlighted the importance of the Islamic month of Sya’aban and the significance of Israk Mikraj.

    Muslims use the time to remember the miraculous journey of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on the schedule and value of daily prayers, the relationship among all of Allah the Almighty’s prophets and how to be patient in the midst of adversity.

    The talk in progress. PHOTO: TAIB
    The talk highlights the importance of Sya’aban, Israk Mikraj

    A long-delayed nuclear reactor goes online in Finland

    HELSINKI (AP) – Finland’s long-delayed and costly new nuclear reactor went online on Saturday amid expectations that it will boost the Nordic country’s electricity self-sufficiency and help to achieve its carbon neutrality targets.

    Finnish operator Teollisuuden Voima said the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor in the country’s west started supplying electricity to the national power grid.

    It will go through a trial period of about four months during which it will generate electricity only at a fraction of its 1,600 megawatt capacity.

    The reactor will reach peak capacity in July when it will cover an estimated 14 per cent of Finland’s total electricity demand, reducing the country’s need to import electricity from Norway, Russia and Sweden, Teollisuuden Voima said.

    The last time a new nuclear reactor was commissioned in Finland was over 40 years ago.

    The Olkiluoto 3 is among western Europe’s first new reactors in over a decade.

    The Olkiluoto 3 is a third generation European-type pressurised water reactor developed and built by a joint venture between France’s Areva and Germany’s Siemens.

    Construction began in 2005 and was to be completed four years later. However, the project was plagued by several technological problems that lead to lawsuits. Finnish public broadcaster YLE said late last year that the reactor’s final price tag was put at around EUR11 billion – almost three times more than what was initially estimated.

    Finland now has five nuclear reactors in two power plants located on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Combined, they cover more than 40 per cent of Finland’s electricity demand.

    Ronaldo hat-trick sets all-time scoring record as Man Utd beat Spurs

    MANCHESTER (AFP) – Ralf Rangnick admitted managing Cristiano Ronaldo is “challenging” after the 37-year-old rolled back the years with a hat-trick to beat Tottenham 3-2 and keep Manchester United’s chances of playing in the Champions League next season alive.

    The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had scored just once in his previous 10 games, but three fantastic finishes took him clear as the highest scorer in professional men’s football history according to FIFA’s records with 807 goals for club and country.

    Ronaldo’s second spell at Old Trafford has so far proven to be an anti-climax with his poor form sparking debate over whether his powers are waning.

    He missed United’s thrashing in the Manchester derby last weekend and was criticised for a perceived lack of commitment as he jetted off to Portugal to rehab a hip injury rather than watch his teammates lose 4-1 at the Etihad after reports he would have been dropped by Rangnick even if fit.

    “It is challenging with players like him but he showed today he still has the quality to play for Manchester United,” said Rangnick. “He’s part of the team and if we want to be successful we have to do it together.”

    “Today it was his best performance, at least since I arrived. Not only because he scored three goals, but he was also energetically good today and part of the whole team when we had to defend. A top performance by him, but also the rest of the team.”

    Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo controls the ball. PHOTO: AP

    Victory lifts United back into fourth, although they are just two points ahead of Arsenal who have four games in hand.

    A fifth defeat in eight league games is another blow to Tottenham’s hopes of a top-four finish as they remain seventh, now five points behind United.

    “It’s difficult to explain this loss,” said Spurs manager Antonio Conte. “I think we didn’t deserve to lose, but at the same time we need to understand how we can improve.”

    In front of seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, Ronaldo was keen to show his own greatness as he was restored to Rangnick’s starting line-up as one of five changes with Bruno Fernandes the notable absentee due to illness.

    It took just 12 minutes for him to make his mark with a stunning strike into the top corner from outside the box.

    However, United failed to build on the early goal and were instead forced back in a familiar pattern to previous home games this season against stronger opposition.

    A Tottenham equaliser seemed only a matter of time and was gifted to them when Alex Telles handled Dejan Kulusevski’s cross for a clear penalty.

    Harry Kane smashed home the resulting spot-kick to continue his fine form for his sixth goal in as many games.

    Within three minutes, though, United were back in front thanks to a landmark goal for Ronaldo.

    He turned home Jadon Sancho’s inviting cross to surpass Austria-Czech striker Josef Bican as football’s all-time record goalscorer according to FIFA’s records.

    United’s defensive deficiencies meant Ronaldo’s work was not done to win the game as Spurs enjoyed the better of the second half.

    When a second equaliser arrived for Conte’s men it was thanks to more misery for United captain Harry Maguire.

    Consistent errors from the England international have played a huge part in his side’s struggles this season and he turned into his own net from Sergio Reguilon’s cross.

    Conte screamed for focus from his side on the sideline, but they succumbed again to Ronaldo’s predatory instincts.

    “You have to know when you play against this type of player they are decisive,” added Conte. “Without Cristiano Ronaldo tonight for United, it wasn’t a good night.”

    Ronaldo rose highest to meet Telles’ corner nine minutes from time to power a header into the top corner for just his 59th career hat-trick but just his second in United colours.

    A basement is a safe place

    THE WASHINGTON POST – As Russia’s attack on Ukraine was mounting, Kyiv residents were strongly urged to take shelter. Manish Dave – who owns an Indian restaurant in the country’s embattled capital – swiftly opened his doors.

    For the past several days, Dave’s basement eatery has doubled as a makeshift bunker, where dozens of children, pregnant women, students, homeless people and older locals have congregated, seeking safety from the deadly clashes. Since Russia waged war on Thursday, Dave has housed and fed more than 130 people.

    “I will continue to offer shelter and food for as long as I can,” Dave, 52, said in a phone interview with The Washington Post.

    Dave moved from Vadodara, a city in the Indian state of Gujarat, to Kyiv in October 2021, with plans to open an Indian restaurant. He wanted to provide Indian students, of which there are thousands in the region, with a taste of home. “I opened the restaurant to bring Indian culture to the country,” Dave said.

    He found a vacant underground space about a three-minute walk from a hostel for international students who attend Bogomelets National Medical University, and opened Saathiya Restaurant in January. Before the business had a chance to become profitable, Dave said, disaster struck.

    ABOVE & BELOW: Natali Antontseva stays for one night at Saathiya Restaurant; and Manish Dave (C) with several of his staff at Saathiya Restaurant in Kyiv, Ukraine. PHOTOS: THE WASHINGTON POST

    “Everything was going nice,” Dave recalled. “Suddenly, all these things happened here.”
    “There was fire, blasts, bombs,” he continued. “It has been very scary. People are scared.”

    As a barrage of explosions erupted, and civilians desperately sought shelter, Dave had a realisation: “A basement is a safe place,” he said. “The place is so big, and I should help.”

    First, he told his regular customers – who are mainly students – that they could stay in his basement restaurant. Then, he posted on the messaging app Telegram, inviting anyone who needed shelter and food to stop by.

    “If you don’t have any proper safe place to stay during this time, please go here,” he posted, and included the address of his restaurant. “We will try our best to arrange free food and stay according to our capacity. Stand united with Ukraine.”

    All are welcome, he emphasised in a phone interview: “Any nationality, any person can come here and take shelter.”

    Soon, strangers started pouring in, including Natali Antontseva, 32, who was born in eastern Ukraine and moved to Kyiv in 2012. On Thursday, Antontseva received an urgent call from her husband, who is working abroad. “Get up,” he shouted through the phone.

    “Russia is bombing Kyiv. The war has begun.”

    In a panic, Antontseva drove to meet her mother and brother, and they began searching for the nearest shelter. They ended up at Dave’s restaurant, Antontseva told The Post via email.

    “I can’t express how happy we were when we entered a clean, warm room, with a pleasant smell of Indian spices,” Antontseva said. She stayed at Dave’s shelter for one night, before she and her family headed toward the Western part of the country.

    Dave has been feeding shelter-seekers for free. He and his staff prepare traditional Indian dishes, such as dal served with rice. In order to accommodate everyone’s palates, though, “we are trying to make less spicy Indian food”, said Dave.

    He has refused to accept funds from those who have eaten or taken shelter at his restaurant, explaining that “we are like one family. We all contribute things, not money”.

    They have also cooked simple pastas and other European dishes that are inexpensive to prepare and easy to make in big batches. Given the influx of people, they’ve had to ration their resources. Instead of financial offerings, Dave has asked people to purchase groceries, so that he can continue taking care of those in need for long as possible.

    “People are donating rice, food and vegetables,” Dave said. “We are all contributing and sharing.” In addition to ensuring those at the restaurant remain well-fed, he and his staff have also been delivering free food to another nearby bunker.

    While Dave hopes his shelter and meals serve as a small source of comfort amid the chaos, “we are very much panicked”, he said.

    “We are all safe at present in my restaurant basement, but outside, when we walk, we are feeling very insecure,” he said.

    Dave, who is a widower, explained that his family in India are “quite worried”. Still, he hopes to stay in Ukraine for now. If the situation escalates further, he said, “I need to go.”

    In that case, he intends to hand over his keys to let people continue sheltering in his restaurant for as long as is needed. In the meantime, as the crisis continues to unfold, he will welcome anyone who comes to his door seeking help.

    “I’m trying my best,” Dave said.

    What’s new for PS4, PS5

    Danial Norjidi

    With its latest State of Play digital presentation on March 9 (March 10 in Brunei Darussalam), Sony showcased some new reveals and updates for PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Playstation 4 (PS4) titles.

    With a special focus on games coming from Japanese publishers, the 20-minute presentation also had a few updates from other developers from around the world.

    The presentation kicked off with a debut trailer for Capcom’s brand new title, Exoprimal, which is coming in 2023.

    According to its website, “Exoprimal is an online, team-based action game that pits humanity’s cutting-edge exosuit technology against history’s most ferocious beasts – dinosaurs”.

    “Exosuits are grouped into different roles, and players will pilot these exosuits to hold firm against overwhelming dinosaur swarms in online-only, team-based action game modes.”

    Next up was an update for Ghostwire: Tokyo by Tango Gameworks and Bethesda Softworks which releases March 25, 2022. Ghostwire: Tokyo is an action adventure game in which “Tokyo is overrun by deadly supernatural forces, perpetrated by a dangerous occultist known as Hannya, causing Tokyo’s population to vanish in an instant”.

    Exoprimal. PHOTO: CAPCOM

    A trailer was then shown for Square Enix’s upcoming March 18 release Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, which announced that a new playable demo for the game is now available.

    Described as a hardcore action role-playing game, Stranger of Paradise centres on protagonist Jack “who must face numerous challenges to bring the light of the crystals back to Cornelia, a kingdom conquered by darkness”.

    The game “features action gameplay where you use a wide variety of action moves to survive furious battles and scatter your foes before you, as well as RPG elements collecting numerous different jobs and weapons to customise and develop your characters”.

    The presentation continued with a new look at gameplay features for another upcoming Square Enix title, Forspoken, which has had its release date delayed to October 11, 2022.

    Forspoken is an action role-playing game that follows the story of Frey Holland, who finds herself mysteriously transported from New York City and trapped in the beautiful and cruel land of Athia.

    Bandai Namco’s fast-paced 6v6 multiplayer shooter Gundam Evolution will be making its way to PS5 and PS4 later this year, with a network test for US and Japan coming in Spring 2022.

    The game sees players select from a wide range of Mobile Suits from across the Gundam multiverse, each with their own unique attack and support skills, as they engage in objective based combat.

    Those looking for a nostalgia trip will find it with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, an upcoming compilation from Konami.

    Announced with a 2022 release, this collection compiles 13 classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) games by Konami along with a set of new quality of life features including: added online play for certain games and local couch play; save anytime and rewind; 11 Japanese regional version releases; button mapping; unique development art and sketches; as well as historic TMNT media content.

    Also releasing later this year is Gigabash by Passion Republic Games. In this four-player arena brawler featuring giant monsters, kaijus and heroes, players will get to unleash mayhem in fully destructible maps and battle with their friends to “rise as the true apex among the titans”.

    Fighting game fans can look forward to the launch of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R by Bandai Namco in early fall this year. Described as “the biggest game ever in the franchise”, All Star Battle R brings together 50 characters from every story arc of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series.

    Devolver Digital’s sidescrolling action-adventure title Trek to Yomi was shown with a spring 2022 release.

    The game follows young swordsman Hiroki who, as a vow to his dying master, is sworn to protect his town and the people he loves against all threats.

    “Faced with tragedy and bound to duty, the lone samurai must voyage beyond life and death to confront himself and decide his path forward.”

    A free new update for Housemarque’s third-person rogue-like shooter Returnal was then revealed. In Returnal, which first released in April last year, players take on the role of an explorer named Selene who crash-lands on a shape-shifting alien planet where she has to fight to survive, while being forced to restart her journey each time she is defeated. This new update, titled Returnal: Ascension, releases on March 22 and brings with it campaign co-op and a mysterious new survival mode.

    Two brand new games from Square Enix were then shown to close out the presentation.
    First up was The DioField Chronicle, which will release this year and is described as “a new strategy role-playing game that will take you on a journey of honour and political intrigue.

    “In this fresh and gritty story, you will discover a unique blend of fantasy, medieval and modern-day influences, and an innovative combat system: Real-Time Tactical Battle. Surrounded by richly detailed environments in diorama-style visuals, you must think quickly and act strategically to lead your team to victory”.

    Finally, the presentation concluded with a first look at Valkyrie Elysium, which arrives on PS4 and PS5 this year.

    “Valkyrie Elysium is an action RPG with an epic story, beautiful environments, and new, fast-paced combat that incorporates the Valkyrie series’ classic special attack and combo systems.”

    Afghan group rejects murdering polio vaccinators

    KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN (AFP) – An Afghan group opposed to Taleban rule rejected yesterday the police’s accusation that its members had killed polio vaccinators on a campaign to eradicate the crippling virus.

    Police had said two members of the National Resistance Front (NRF) had been arrested in connection with killing seven vaccinators on February 24 in the northern province of Kunduz.

    The NRF were the last group to hold out against the Taleban takeover last year, retreating to the Panjshir Valley, which eventually fell in September, weeks after the former government forces capitulated.

    The health workers were killed in separate attacks while on a house-to-house vaccine campaign.

    “The arrested men have confessed to their crime and said they shot the polio vaccinators after receiving orders from their leaders from the Resistance Front in the province,” Kunduz police spokesman Qari Obaidullah Abedi had told AFP.

    The spokesman said the arrested men also confessed that “they were paid” for the murders.

    NRF rejected the accusations as “Taleban propaganda”.

    “The NRF condemns the perpetrators of this attack and we strongly believe it was conducted by the Taleban or one of their terrorist partners,” NRF spokesman Ali Nazary told AFP.

    The NRF is led by the son of legendary late anti-Taleban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assassinated by Al-Qaeda in 2001.

    In total, eight polio vaccinators were killed on February 24 – seven in Kunduz and one in the neighbouring province of Takhar.

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