logo
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-sale goes live: Find out how to get yours ahead of June 6

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-sale goes live: Find out how to get yours ahead of June 6

Express Tribune5 days ago

Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 have opened across the US and UK, with demand surging as the June 5 launch date approaches.
US-based buyers have reported rapid sellouts at launch, although restocks are expected at Best Buy, GameStop, and Target in the days leading up to release.
In the UK, restocks have been more frequent, though many retailers are offering only bundle deals that include Mario Kart World, priced at £429.
The standalone console retails for £395 in the UK and $449 in the US. The bundle edition is priced at $499 in the US.
Retailers currently listing the Nintendo Switch 2 include:
Nintendo : Pre-order by invite only
Walmart : Launch day delivery if ordered before June 4
Amazon : No pre-order page yet
Target : Standard and bundle versions available
GameStop : In-store and online pre-orders open; midnight launch events planned
Best Buy : Launch day pickup on June 5, midnight openings confirmed
Newegg : Listings live, pre-order time pending
Antonline : Listing live, no pre-orders yet
Sam's Club: Mario Kart bundle listed, pre-order details unconfirmed
In both regions, Nintendo's online store has offered limited pre-order windows, often requiring an active Nintendo Online account.
Gamers seeking a unit on launch day are advised to monitor restock trackers closely. Based on previous launches, additional stock may appear in the final 48 hours before release.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Moscow accepts Taliban ambassador
Moscow accepts Taliban ambassador

Express Tribune

time3 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Moscow accepts Taliban ambassador

Russia has officially accepted the Taliban's nomination of an ambassador to Moscow, the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday, as economic and political ties grow between the two sanctions-hit nations. Russia in April suspended its ban on the Taliban in a move that paved the way for Moscow to normalise ties with the leadership of Afghanistan. No country has formally recognised the Taliban's government, which took over the country in 2021 as US-led forces withdrew. "We hope this new phase will allow both countries to expand cooperation in various fields," said Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting foreign minister, in a statement. China in 2023 became the first country to accept a diplomat at ambassador level from the Taliban and several countries have since followed, including Pakistan which announced it would upgrade the position this week. Diplomats say formally presenting ambassadorial credentials to a foreign head of state signals a step towards recognition.

Global universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown
Global universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown

Business Recorder

time5 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

Global universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown

TOKYO/BEIJING/LONDON: Universities around the world are seeking to offer refuge for students impacted by US President Donald Trump's crackdown on academic institutions, targeting top talent and a slice of the billions of dollars in academic revenue in the United States. Osaka University, one of the top ranked in Japan, is offering tuition fee waivers, research grants and help with travel arrangements for students and researchers at US institutions who want to transfer. Japan's Kyoto University and Tokyo University are also considering similar schemes, while Hong Kong has instructed its universities to attract top talent from the United States. China's Xi'an Jiaotong University has appealed for students at Harvard, singled out in Trump's crackdown, promising 'streamlined' admissions and 'comprehensive' support. Trump's administration has enacted massive funding cuts for academic research, curbed visas for foreign students - especially those from China - and plans to hike taxes on elite schools. Trump alleges top US universities are cradles of anti-American movements. In a dramatic escalation, his administration last week revoked Harvard's ability to enrol foreign students, a move later blocked by a federal judge. Masaru Ishii, dean of the graduate school of medicine at Osaka University, described the impact on US universities as 'a loss for all of humanity'. Japan aims to ramp up its number of foreign students to 400,000 over the next decade, from around 337,000 currently. Jessica Turner, CEO of Quacquarelli Symonds, a London-based analytics firm that ranks universities globally, said other leading universities around the world were trying to attract students unsure of going to the United States. Germany, France and Ireland are emerging as particularly attractive alternatives in Europe, she said, while in the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and mainland China are rising in profile. SWITCHING SCHOOLS Chinese students have been particularly targeted in Trump's crackdown, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday pledging to 'aggressively' crack down on their visas. More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in hundreds of US colleges, providing a major source of revenue for the schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for US technology companies. International students - 54% of them from India and China - contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023, according to the US Department of Commerce. Trump's crackdown comes at a critical period in the international student application process, as many young people prepare to travel to the US in August to find accommodation and settle in before term starts. Dai, 25, a Chinese student based in Chengdu, had planned to head to the US to complete her master's but is now seriously considering taking up an offer in Britain instead. 'The various policies (by the US government) were a slap in my face,' she said, requesting to be identified only by her surname for privacy reasons. 'I'm thinking about my mental health and it's possible that I indeed change schools.' Students from Britain and the European Union are also now more hesitant to apply to US universities, said Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, which helps students in their university applications. He said many international students currently enrolled at US universities were now contacting the consultancy to discuss transfer options to Canada, the UK and Europe. According to a survey the consultancy ran earlier this week, 54% of its clients said they were now 'less likely' to enrol at an American university than they were at the start of the year. There has been an uptick in applications to British universities from prospective students in the US, said Universities UK, an organisation that promotes British institutions. It cautioned, however, that it was too early to say whether that translates into more students enrolling.

Railways privatisation hits low-income commuters
Railways privatisation hits low-income commuters

Express Tribune

time6 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Railways privatisation hits low-income commuters

In a latest development, Pakistan Railways has initiated the process of outsourcing 11 more trains, which will now operate under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Critics, however, have argued that the move overtly aimed at improving railway services might actually be a ticket to exclusion for the low-income passengers relying heavily on cheap modes of inter-city transportation. While railway officials claim that outsourcing will improve the quality of services, civil society representatives have expressed deep concerns over the move, which may lead to increased fares, creating difficulties for the underprivileged masses. It is worth noting that railway travel in Pakistan is still considered a popular mode of cheap transportation for the poor and middle-class groups. According to estimates, around 100,000 people travel daily by trains, mostly on major railway routes between Karachi and various cities in Punjab. A passenger, Muhabbat Ali, who frequently travelled from Larkana to Karachi on the Mohenjo-Daro Express, revealed that although various bus operators were operating on this route, he preferred traveling by train due to the reasonable fare and comparatively comfortable journey. Malik Tanveer Awan, a Karachi-based employee, revealed that he frequently travelled to Punjab by train. "While a slight fare increase may not affect salaried individuals, even a minor fare hike could seriously impact labourers who travel from Punjab to Karachi for work. Pakistan Railways should reserve some economy coaches on PPP trains with no fare hike, ensuring affordability for low-income passengers," requested Awan. According to sources of The Express Tribune, Pakistan Railways currently operates a total of 47 trains, of which 11 have already been outsourced, while 11 more are being offered for public-private operation. According to Pakistan Railways administration, the trains being outsourced include Bolan Mail (Karachi to Quetta), Hazara Express (Karachi to Havelian), Khushhal Khan Khattak Express (Karachi to Peshawar), Bahawal Din Zakariya Express (Karachi to Multan), Shalimar Express (Karachi to Lahore), Musa Pak Express (Dera Ghazi Khan to Lahore), Thal Express (Multan to Rawalpindi), Mehran Express (Karachi to Mirpurkhas), Mohenjo Daro Passenger (Kotri to Rohri) and Rawalpindi Express (Havelian to Rawalpindi). According to Zahid Farooq, an urban planning expert at the Urban Resource Centre (URC), trains are still a preferred mode of transportation for the labour class therefore, any increase in fares will disproportionately affect this segment. "Pakistan Railways' decision to hand over more trains to private operators will gradually reduce government control over railways. As a result, the government will not be able to provide relief to the public in the future by running special trains on holidays or reducing fares on special occasions. Therefore, handing over trains to private operators is not the correct way of improving the railways' services," said Farooq, while suggesting that the government may increase its railway revenue by reviving cargo services. Hamid Qureshi, Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) of Pakistan Railways in Karachi, told The Express Tribune that under the PPP model, fare increases of more than 10 per cent were not permitted. "Therefore, only a minor fare increase may be expected, but in return, passenger services will be improved. PPP trains are equipped with water dispensers and Wi-Fi; amenities not commonly available in regular trains," claimed Qureshi.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store