## Paradox CEO admits it "made the wrong calls in several projects", following cancellation of Life By You

Authored by eurogamer.net

CEO of Paradox Fredrik Wester has admitted the publisher "made the wrong calls in several projects", following the cancellation of its The Sims competitor Life By You.

The game was cancelled back in June, and the internal studio behind the project, Paradox Tectonic, was closed.

Wester commented on Life By You as part of Paradox's latest financial earnings report, stating the cancellation was a "difficult decision... as the game would not be able to meet our expectations.".

He continued: "It is clear that we have made the wrong calls in several projects, especially outside of our core, and this must change.

Along with the cancellation of Life by You, Paradox previously received criticism for the launch of Cities: Skylines 2 due to its poor performance.

Paradox's future is bright, but we need to roll up our sleeves and work hard to fully realise the potential," concluded Wester.

The cancellation of Life by You has resulted in a 90 percent decrease in operating profit for its latest quarter, while revenue decreased by 22 percent year-on-year. »

### Hungary quietly takes record $1 billion loan from Chinese banks

Authored by kyivindependent.com

Budapest took a 1 billion euro ($1 billion) loan, the largest one ever taken by the state, from three Chinese banks in the spring of 2024, Politico reported on July 25, citing the data of the Hungarian Debt Management Office.

Hungary's record loan came amid a record increase in its public debt to 140 billion euros ($152 billion), 73.5% of GDP, and a budget deficit of 6.7% of GDP, while the country has no access to European Union funds due to disputes with Brussels.

Hungary, broadly seen as the most Kremlin-proximate EU member, has repeatedly obstructed aid for Ukraine on account that it "prolongs" and "escalates" the ongoing war. »

### Gov. Whitmer signs $23.4B education budget including free community college, pre-K

Authored by mlive.com

FLINT, MI – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed the $23.4 billion education spending plan for 2025 that includes free pre-K for many families and free community college education.

Free meals for students was first included in the current budget, and it’s something Whitmer has wanted to make permanent.

“This budget provides every Michigan child the guarantee of a free, high-quality education from preschool through community college – that’s a big deal,” said State Budget Director Jen Flood. »

### Texas sues Biden administration to limit teenage access to birth control

Authored by theguardian.com

Texas is among a handful of states that require parental consent before a teenager can get birth control – but Title X-funded contraception was the exception.

Texas has the highest repeat teen birth rate and one of strictest abortion bans in the US.

Texas now stands as the only state that requires Title X-funded clinics to mandate parental consent before granting teens birth control. »

### America’s Political Chaos Is Enviable When You Live in an Autocracy

Authored by theatlantic.com

So it might surprise Americans to know that observers in China’s repressive autocracy find something in all of this to envy.

The president’s decision “shows that his personal honor and disgrace are secondary to the future of the United States.”

Another wrote that “regardless of the final election results, the country’s self-correction mechanism is still there, which is good.”. »

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