In a rare audio interview at Japanese games site, Biglobe Games, Persona 4 director, Katsura Hashino, along with character designer Shigenori Soejima, chatted at length about the creation of Atlus’s PlayStation 2 swan song. The questions the two were asked were by fans on Twitter.

Asked what he thought was the biggest change between Persona 3 and 4, Hashino replied that it was that 4 took place in the rural Inaba, which was significantly different from the grand urban setting of Iwatodai. Part of the reason behind this decision was to create a different atmosphere. Hashino felt that a murder mystery in a rural setting would feel creepier because, as he put it, it would be kind like “those local legends” that towns sometimes have.

This move to the fields of Japan also factored into the decision to use a Japanese theme for the main cast’s Personae. For example, Yukiko’s Persona is based off Amaterasu, the sun goddess. Initially, this theme originated because the team was more familiar with Japanese lore, but as they continued work, they predicted that it would compliment the setting of Inaba, away from an entirely urban lifestyle and modernization, as well.

As for the Personae’s appearances, they were mostly based off of the character’s personalities. This was especially possible because, while most people in Japan were familiar with mythical figures (Izanagi, Susanoo, etc.), they had only a vague idea as to their appearances. In Hashino’s words, the team concentrated on achieving a “Hmm, so Tomoe had this kind of a vibe to her…” feel while matching her to Chie’s personality.

The Shadow-personae, on the other hand, were created by Hashino singlehandedly without much outside discussion. They were specifically created with the feeling of “reality” in mind, and Hashino decided on their appearance and names on his own. However, in the case of the girls (Yukiko and Chie for the most part), he had to enlist the help of some of the female staff. Most of the personal problems that lay behind the Shadows’ creation were based off of the team’s personal experiences that they had felt during high school, or experiences that they had witnessed friends go through.

One of the most difficult problems while creating Persona 4, to the director, was trying to recall his high school experiences while making sure they worked in a modern high school setting. After all, a long time had passed since Hashino’s time in school.

The point that Hashino felt that he had to focus on the most in Persona 4 was fitting everything into the game as one whole, cohesive product. The game was huge, with many different aspects, including but not limited to the setup of the calendar, the school, and exploring the dungeons. The calendar was designed such that it would coincide with the pressure the protagonists were feeling. For example, towards the end of the game, after a certain event, the calendar is shown a month at a time instead of just a few days ahead of time.

This was done to convey the sense that the characters need to look ahead and plan their days far in advance because these would be the last days during which they could freely enjoy their time. The locations of the game as well as the game system were all designed with the story in mind.

With all of this data, plus the extensive dialogue from the Social Links and an increase in the number of events since Persona 3, it meant that the game barely fit onto a DVD. Ultimately, the team had to shave off bits of text, word by word, just to try to get the game to fit.

Conversely, the more random aspects of the game required the least effort to complete, such as choosing the food and drink types. When asked why he had chosen to use “meat gum” of all things, Hashino replied that he couldn’t remember. “I was probably eating meat with the staff at the time.”

Most such names were all decided in less than a week. The glasses, too, were a last-minute decision because he had wanted the characters to appear stronger.

The Persona team, according to Hashino, was a very relaxed group of people. While he had only been a part of it since Persona 3, he had worked with most of the main players before while they were still working on the Dreamcast.

The team were an easy-going lot, Hashino revealed. For example, when they usually created a game, the team would compile a document with all the information about the game contained within. However, in the case of P4, they chose not to. When they idea was considered, the team figured that they had a vague sense of what was going into the game already, so they didn’t require one.

Not that it was smooth sailing all along, however. Hashino also jokingly revealed that they would never make that mistake again, considering how much trouble the lack of such a document had caused them.

The last questions Hashino was asked dealt with the future of Persona 4. Currently, he has no intention to create a sequel, although he did mention that there was much material he wanted to explore. He reiterated that there still weren’t any plans for a FES version either, since Persona 4 was created based off Persona 3 FES. Plus, there weren’t too many fans saying they wanted more material, since the game was already jam-packed with events.

In response to the inevitable, “Will there be a PSP version of Persona 4? […] I’m really interested in seeing the female main character!” Hashino responded that there weren’t any plans, but if enough fans asked for it, it was a possibility, and followed up with, “Doesn’t the female version of the protagonist already appear in the game?”

Yes, he was just joking.

In the wake of Ukraine destroying one of Russia’s few submarines in the Black Sea, Moscow’s choices about how to move its remaining vessels are limited—and at the mercy of NATO member Turkey.

Unless Russia keeps its handful of submarines in the Black Sea constantly moving, “they will essentially just be sitting ducks” for future Ukrainian drone and missile strikes, Davis Ellison, an analyst with the Netherlands-based Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, told Newsweek.

Ukraine said on Saturday that it had destroyed Russia’s Rostov-on-Don submarine in the southern Crimean port city of Sevastopol in a missile strike, the latest reported casualty among Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Ukraine previously zeroed in on the Kilo-class submarine in a dramatic attack attributed to British-provided air-launched Storm Shadow missiles in September 2023. There was “significant damage” to the submarine before it was repaired and tested in Sevastopol, Kyiv said in a statement on Saturday.

Ukraine likely used U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, missiles in the strike, the U.K. government said on Wednesday.

The British Defense Ministry said late last month that at least 26 Russian Navy vessels had been damaged or destroyed in the Black Sea region between February 2022 and June 2024.

Ukraine’s navy does not have any large warships, but has worked alongside the other branches of Kyiv’s military and security agencies to menace Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Ukraine has wielded homegrown naval drones, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and long-range missile strikes to target vessels and key facilities, partly on the annexed Crimean peninsula that Moscow has controlled for a decade, and at the Novorossiysk base in mainland Russia.

Kyiv has succeeded in forcing the Black Sea Fleet to largely shift away from Sevastopol, further east in the Black Sea. Moscow has moved many of its vessels toward its Novorossiysk base, and satellite imagery indicates Russia is establishing another Black Sea base in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.

Russia is thought to have three submarines remaining in the Black Sea. But access to the sea is controlled by NATO member Turkey, and has been since the early days of the full-scale war in Ukraine from February 2022. The Bosporus and Dardanelles straits are the only water ways offering up access to the Black Sea.

Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Ankara can limit vessels passing through the straits during times of war. Turkey has categorized all Ukrainian and Russian military vessels as “vessels of war” since the start of March 2022, noted Rebecca Lucas, senior defense and security analyst at the European branch of the RAND think tank.

“Russia’s submarines would undoubtedly fall under this categorization, so without explicit Turkish permission, the three remaining boats will not be able to enter the Straits,” Lucas told Newsweek. “Given the geography of the region, that permission would be the only way in or out of the Black Sea.”

“Barring Ankara’s agreement, I don’t think anything’s going to come in or out,” Ellison added.

However, a clause does prevent those warships returning to their registered bases from being stopped, Turkey has said.

The Sea of Azov, connected to the northeast edge of the Black Sea and the other option for the submarines to travel to, is thought to be too shallow for Russia’s submarines to comfortably stay put in the area.

But Moscow has another “serious problem,” said Emma Salisbury, an associate fellow at the U.K.-based Council on Geostrategy.

Moscow can no longer protect these submarines while they undergo maintenance or are being repaired, Salisbury told Newsweek.

Unable to leave the Black Sea and head to Russia’s second city, St. Petersburg, for repair through the Ankara-controlled water ways—and with the Novorossiysk and Kerch bases in the Black Sea ill-equipped to handle submarines—”remaining submarines will either have to risk being hit while in dock or operate without maintenance or repair,” Salisbury said.

“Given how active these submarines are, their operational tempo will be placing huge stress on their systems, so cutting back on maintenance could well mean that the Ukrainians will not even have to hit the remaining submarines for them to be out of action,” Salisbury added. Any submarine sustaining even partial damage would struggle to return to active service, according to Salisbury.

Even if Russia could get its submarines away from the Black Sea, it may not serve its interests to move missile-armed vessels away from targets in Ukraine, Andriy Ryzhenko, a retired captain in Ukraine’s navy, told Newsweek.

Russia has one of the largest submarine fleets in the world, considered superior to its surface vessels. These are spread across Moscow’s fleets, deployed across the world.

Around 200,000 US troops are stationed in 177 countries throughout the world. Those forces utilize several hundred military installations. Africa is no exemption. On August 2, Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier took command of US Army Africa, promising to “hit the ground running.”

The US is not waging any wars in Africa but it has a significant presence on the continent. Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and other special ops are currently conducting nearly 100 missions across 20 African countries at any given time, waging secret, limited-scale operations. According to the magazine Vice, US troops are now conducting 3,500 exercises and military engagements throughout Africa per year, an average of 10 per day — an astounding 1,900% increase since the command rolled out 10 years ago. Many activities described as “advise and assist” are actually indistinguishable from combat by any basic definition.

There are currently roughly 7,500 US military personnel, including 1,000 contractors, deployed in Africa. For comparison, that figure was only 6,000 just a year ago. The troops are strung throughout the continent spread across 53 countries. There are 54 countries on the “Dark Continent.” More than 4,000 service members have converged on East Africa. The US troop count in Somalia doubled last year.

When AFRICOM was created there were no plans to establish bases or put boots on the ground. Today, a network of small staging bases or stations have cropped up. According to investigative journalist Nick Turse, “US military bases (including forward operating sites, cooperative security locations, and contingency locations) in Africa number around fifty, at least.” US troops in harm’s way in Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan Tunisia, and Uganda qualify for extra pay.

The US African Command (AFRICOM) runs drone surveillance programs, cross-border raids, and intelligence. AFRICOM has claimed responsibility for development, public health, professional and security training, and other humanitarian tasks. Officials from the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Energy, Commerce, and Justice, among other agencies, are involved in AFRICOM activities. Military attachés outnumber diplomats at many embassies across Africa.

Last October, four US soldiers lost their lives in Niger. The vast majority of Americans probably had no idea that the US even had troops participating in combat missions in Africa before the incident took place. One serviceman was reported dead in Somalia in June. The Defense Department is mulling plans to “right-size” special operations missions in Africa and reassign troops to other regions, aligning the efforts with the security priorities defined by the 2018 National Defense Strategy. That document prioritizes great power competition over defeating terrorist groups in remote corners of the globe. Roughly 1,200 special ops troops on missions in Africa are looking at a drawdown. But it has nothing to do with leaving or significantly cutting back. And the right to unilaterally return will be reserved. The infrastructure is being expanded enough to make it capable of accommodating substantial reinforcements. The construction work is in progress. The bases will remain operational and their numbers keep on rising.

A large drone base in Agadez, the largest city in central Niger, is reported to be under construction. The facility will host armed MQ-9 Reaper drones which will finally take flight in 2019. The MQ-9 Reaper has a range of 1,150 miles, allowing it to provide strike support and intelligence-gathering capabilities across West and North Africa from this new base outside of Agadez. It can carry GBU-12 Paveway II bombs. The aircraft features synthetic aperture radar for integrating GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The armament suite can include four Hellfire air-to-ground anti-armor and anti-personnel missiles. There are an estimated 800 US troops on the ground in Niger, along with one drone base and the base in Agadez that is being built. The Hill called it “the largest US Air Force-led construction project of all time.”

According to Business Insider, “The US military presence here is the second largest in Africa behind the sole permanent US base on the continent, in the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti.” Four thousand American servicemen are stationed at Camp Lemonnier (the US base located near Djibouti City) — a critical strategic base for the American military because of its port and its proximity to the Middle East.

Officially, the camp is the only US base on the continent or, as AFRICOM calls it, “a forward operating site,” — the others are “cooperative security locations” or “non-enduring contingency locations.” Camp Lemonnier is the hub of a network of American drone bases in Africa that are used for aerial attacks against insurgents in Yemen, Nigeria, and Somalia, as well as for exercising control over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. In 2014, the US signed a new 20-year lease on the base with the Djiboutian government, and committed over $1.4 billion to modernize and expand the facility in the years to come.

In March, the US and Ghana signed a military agreement outlining the conditions of the US military presence in that nation, including its construction activities. The news was met with protests inside the country.

It should be noted that the drone attacks that are regularly launched in Africa are in violation of US law. The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), adopted after Sept. 11, 2001, states that the president is authorized to use force against the planners of those attacks and those who harbor them. But that act does not apply to the rebel groups operating in Africa.

It’s hard to believe that the US presence will be really diminished, and there is no way to know, as too many aspects of it are shrouded in secrecy with nothing but “leaks” emerging from time to time. It should be noted that the documents obtained by TomDispatch under the United States Freedom of Information Act contradict AFRICOM’s official statements about the scale of US military bases around the world, including 36 AFRICOM bases in 24 African countries that have not been previously disclosed in official reports.

The US foothold in Africa is strong. It’s almost ubiquitous. Some large sites under construction will provide the US with the ability to host large aircraft and accommodate substantial forces and their hardware. This all prompts the still-unanswered question — “Where does the US have troops in Africa, and why?” One thing is certain — while waging an intensive drone war, the US is building a vast military infrastructure for a large-scale ground war on the continent.

The robots in disguise are headed back in the big screen in Bumblebee, a spinoff of the blockbuster Transformers franchise. A nd now a new trailer for the movie has arrived — and it teases a host of classic, fan-favorite characters making their debut in the film.

Directed by Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings), the film is a prequel to the Transformers film franchise and focuses on the early adventures of the yellow Autobot, Bumblebee, after his arrival on Earth. Set in the late 1980s, Bumblebee not only brings the franchise back in time, but also appears to feature many of original Transformers characters that were introduced in the first generation of the toy line and animated series.

Glimpsed in the latest trailer for the film (see above) is popular Decepticon character Soundwave, who transformed into a cassette-playing “boom box” in his original, ’80s-era incarnation, and was accompanied by a variety of smaller robots who transformed into cassette tapes. One of those cassette characters, Ravage (who transformed into a panther-type robot), can also be seen in the trailer.

Along with a host of new and returning voice actors as the robot characters — including veteran Transformers voice actor Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime — Bumblebee also stars Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), Pamela Adlon (Better Things), and John Cena (Blockers).

The first trailer for the film (see below) was released June 5, and offered audiences a sneak peek at where the film will take Bumblebee and some of the other Transformers that will appear in the movie. Maybe most importantly for longtime fans, the preview delivered the first look at the Volkswagen Bug vehicle mode Bumblebee famously adopted before becoming a Camaro in director Michael Bay’s films.

The first footage from the film debuted at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 2018, with several of the film’s cast members in attendance to introduce the clip. The first look was a “quiet, emotive clip,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, and it reportedly showed Steinfeld’s character Charlie watching as her VW transforms into Bumblebee. The transformation in the clip left both him and Charlie frightened before they started to form a bond.

Steinfeld highlighted the emotional aspect, telling the audience that “the relationship with Bee had heart.” After debuting the first look, Steinfeld tweeted a photo from CinemaCon and shared “the perfect shot” of her with one of the movie’s posters.

In August 2017, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro confirmed that filming had begun and offered up the first indication of the movie’s storyline, which will serve as a prequel of sorts to Bay’s Transformers movies.

“On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town,” reads the film’s official synopsis. “Charlie (Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.”

The studios also revealed the first, full cast listing for the film at the time, and it contained a few surprises. Previously announced Academy Award nominee Steinfeld leads a group that also includes professional wrestler and actor Cena (Trainwreck) in a featured role. Primetime Emmy Award winner Adlon (Louie, Better Things) is part of the cast as well, along with Stephen Schneider (Broad City), Jason Drucker (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul), Kenneth Choi (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Ricardo Hoyos (Degrassi: Next Class), Abby Quinn (Landline), Grace Dzienny (Zoo), Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Rachel Crow (Deidra & Laney Rob a Train).

The studios confirmed in August 2017 that Bumblebee: The Movie will hit theaters December 21, 2018, a full six months later than its original premiere date. That puts the film up against Warner Bros. Pictures’ Aquaman movie, which stars Jason Momoa as the aquatic superhero.

The film will likely face some intense competition at the box office, and not just from Aquaman. The holiday season tends to be a popular premiere period for big-budget blockbusters, and Bumblebee will also see competition for younger audiences from Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, which opens just a few days earlier.

Cordova Street is a major east-west arterial road in downtown Vancouver, stretching from Coal Harbour in the west to the Strathcona neighborhood in the east. It’s named after Don Antonio Maria de Bucareli y Ursua, the Viceroy of New Spain (including Mexico) during the late 18th century, though the naming reflects a historical nod facilitated by L.A. Hamilton, a key figure in Vancouver’s early development. The street is divided into East Cordova and West Cordova, with its path encompassing diverse neighborhoods like Gastown, one of Vancouver’s oldest commercial districts.

Originally part of the Granville Townsite (pre-1886), Cordova Street was initially called Willow Street, as noted in a historical map from August 1885. It was renamed during the city’s incorporation in 1886, influenced by Lauchlan Alexander Hamilton, a CPR land commissioner and surveyor who played a pivotal role in laying out Vancouver’s streets. The street’s naming ties to Hamilton’s proposal to honor Spanish colonial figures, reflecting the era’s fascination with global history. It evolved from a short block-long path to a key route as Vancouver grew after the 1886 Great Fire, which reshaped the city’s layout.

In 1886, a photograph from the Vancouver Archives shows Cordova Street (then Oppenheimer) looking west from Westminster Avenue (now Main Street), capturing the early wooden structures and the city’s nascent form. The street borders Oppenheimer Park, a historic site established in 1902, which has served as a community hub and, at times, a focal point for social issues like homelessness.

West Cordova begins in Coal Harbour near Canada Place, a major cruise and convention hub, and runs eastward past the Vancouver Convention Centre. It’s closed to general traffic from June 30 to July 5 for events like Canada Together, as per vancouver.ca, with sections like the 800 and 900 blocks also closed on July 1. East Cordova extends through Gastown, past landmarks like the Woodward’s building and Army & Navy, and continues into Strathcona, ending near Powell Street. It splits past Water Street, a nod to its historical waterfront proximity.

Canada Place (600-1000 W Cordova) is an iconic waterfront complex hosting cruises and events, with traffic adjustments during summer (e.g., two-way Howe Street operation). Gastown (100-500 E Cordova) is known for its cobblestone streets, steam clock, and heritage buildings, including the Koret Lofts at 55 East Cordova, a 1909 warehouse converted into lofts in 2004. Oppenheimer Park is located south of East Cordova, it’s a green space with historical ties to the city’s working-class roots.

Cordova Street was a commercial artery from the start, with businesses like the McLennan and McFeely Building (55 East Cordova) serving as a hardware distribution hub. Its evolution into Gastown’s trendy lofts and shops reflects Vancouver’s shift to a creative economy. The street’s proximity to the Canadian Pacific Railway (historically northwest of 55 East Cordova) underscores its role in early trade and transportation.

Vancouver’s diverse economy and livability enhance Cordova Street’s appeal, with neighborhoods offering unique local businesses. Events like CelticFest (February 17, 2025) and Canada Together celebrations draw crowds, boosting its cultural profile.

West Cordova sees heavy congestion during cruise season and events, with ride-hailing drop-offs at Canada Place’s P2 level. The one-way pilot between Howe and Burrard streets aims to manage this. East Cordova, especially in Gastown, balances tourism with residential needs, though areas near Oppenheimer Park face social issues like encampments. The Koret Lofts’ success (property values rising since 2004) mirrors Gastown’s gentrification, attracting investors and residents.

Cordova Street encapsulates Vancouver’s past and present, from its frontier days to its current status as a cultural and economic corridor. It’s one of the most photographed streets due to its historical density and architectural charm.