NASA Telescopes Reveal Hidden Properties of X-Ray Pulsar RX J0032.9-7348
NASA Telescopes Reveal Hidden Properties of X-Ray Pulsar RX J0032.9-7348
Pulsars are neutron stars rotating rapidly, emitting electromagnetic radiation in various wavelengths, including radio waves, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray. Identified as a X ray transient source in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) about 30 years ago, RX J0032.9-7348 has been classified as an X-ray Pulsar after detecting X-ray pulsations with a ******* of approximately 7.02 seconds after experiencing an X-ray brightening in October 2024.To take a closer look at it, astronomers have incorporated two NASA X-ray telescope, NICER and NuSTAR.
Discovery and Observational Campaign
According to Handbook of X-ray and Gamma ray Astrophysics, Accretion-powered X-ray pulsars (XRPs) are neutron stars within binary systems that emit X-rays in regular pulses, powered by the accretion of matter from a companion star. However, although RX J0032.9-7348 has been known for decades, very little is known regarding its properties and its optical counterpart has not been identified. Therefore, a team of astronomers led by Birendra Chhotaray of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, India, decided to take a closer look at this pulsar with NuSTAR and NICER. Dr Chhotaray and his team were able to verify the X-ray pulsation ******* of RX J0032.9-7348 through their observations and they also discovered that this pulsar has a double-peak pulse profile throughout a wide energy range, with small changes in the form of energy dependence.
Findings
Results of the observational campaign, published on the arXiv preprint server, gives insight of the spin dynamics and luminosity of this pulsar. The accretion processes during the X-ray brightening phase increases its angular momentum. It results into a spin-up of approximately -0.00033 seconds per day. The luminosity of the pulsar varied from 8.2 undecillion to 37 undecillion erg/s during the monitoring campaign. The researchers report that no evidence of iron emission line or cyclotron resonance scattering features was found in the energy spectrum of this source.
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Can Shopify Stock Make a Comeback After an Earnings Sell-Off?
Can Shopify Stock Make a Comeback After an Earnings Sell-Off?
Trading around or near the time of a company’s quarterly earnings can be daunting, since volatility is usually near the top of the range during the days leading up to and right after the announcements are made. However, some swings take place during this short *******, giving investors the rare opportunity to get behind a significant move, one that carries a favorable risk-to-reward setup to be taken advantage of.
Shopify Today
That being said, there is one such opportunity in shares of Shopify Inc (NASDAQ:)., especially now that the company is subject to scrutiny and uncertainty driven by President Trump’s recent rollout of trade tariffs. These tariffs severely affected the business and its ability to continue dealing with ******** items and their shipment in and out of the United States.
With all things considered, there is a real risk in this technology stock’s future. However, one that pales in comparison to the increasing market share and earning potential it also carries as the global economy turns to e-commerce and more online businesses, especially in a world where consumer budgets are getting tighter. Governments and businesses keep inflation pressures at the top of their minds. Here are some reasons this sell-off might be short-lived.
What Is Really Behind This Sell-Off
Shopify’s shares declined by just over 5.5% during the week of its quarterly earnings announcement, shaking out many confident traders and investors who had found optimism in the company’s future. Before digging deeper into where the opportunity is born, investors should understand what drove the stock lower in the first place.
The answer is that it wasn’t much more than just the future guidance, which was actually not too bad, as it did point to continued growth ahead for the company. However, markets may be calling for a pullback on guidance or an outright miss by the next quarter when the actual effect of tariffs hits the marketplace and Shopify’s consumer base.
However, the quarter’s actual numbers were stellar, starting with what drives the first step of success at Shopify. On a gross merchandise value (GMV) basis, Shopify reported up to $74.7 billion, which was a net growth rate of up to 23% compared to the $60.8 billion reported for the same quarter last year.
All of this translated to a net revenue of up to $2.3 billion, also a significant growth rate of 27% over the past 12 months. Some might say that the bearish thesis, and the reason for the selloff, is that these growth rates do not yet reflect the tariff effects on the company’s business model and cost basis.
Nonetheless, investors can lean on Shopify’s earning power to adequately respond to these added costs, which can be quantified through the reported free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures) of up to $363 million, a significant jump compared to the $232 million generated last year.
With this in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see the market smile and celebrate as the stock allows everyone to get in at a seeming discount.
The Market’s Bullish Outlook on Shopify Stock
Even though shares of Shopify had a negative initial reaction to the earnings release, the broader market understands where the real value of the company lies after a stellar growth rate was reported across the board, which is higher. To understand this trend, investors need to dig deeper into the fabric of the market and how it expresses these views.
One way is through valuation multiples, where Shopify rightfully commands a premium over its peer group, starting with its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 59.2x. This valuation is significantly above the computer sector’s average multiple of 43.4x today, but this premium doesn’t end there.
On a price-to-book (P/B) basis, Shopify’s valuation of 10.3x is also above the sector average of 6.4x. While some value investors might see this as overextended and expensive, seasoned professionals will remind them that the market is always willing to pay a premium for stocks that it believes can outperform in the near future.
Knowing that trade talks between the United States and China are moving in the right direction, with both parties willing to sit down for further talks on how to come out on amicable terms, the tailwinds that these bearish traders see in Shopify might not end up playing out at all, clearing the way for the stock to move higher.
But how much higher? Well, Wall Street analysts have an answer to that, too. As of May 2025, the consensus price target is set at $116 per share. This gives investors the sort of upside that is much needed in this uncertain environment.
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New Study eries Reveal Ancient Egyptian Fortress Once Lined with 500 Trees
New Study eries Reveal Ancient Egyptian Fortress Once Lined with 500 Trees
Archaeologists from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have found new details about the design and functions of a fortress in Sinai desert. Residing at the site of Tell Abu Saifi, this fortress was rebuilt and modified over centuries. These new findings suggest that it had an elaborate landscape of 500 trees leading to its entrance about 2000 years ago. These trees were likely planted in clay-lined circles on both sides of a road. the fortress was in use when Ptolemy I — a general of Alexander the Great — and his descendants ruled Egypt.
Trees, Moats, and Defense
According to the new findings reported by Sky News Arabia, the fortress was surrounded by a trench (a moat) that was more than 6.6 feet (2 meters) deep. This trench would have helped soldiers defend the fortress. The Ptolemies faced a number of adversaries at different times, including the Seleucid Empire, the Roman Republic and rebel groups operating in Egypt.
Clay planting circles may have been used to plant trees in Ptolemaic Egypt, Elizabeth Macaulay, a classics professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center stated in an email to Live Science. Evidence from papyri and archaeology supports large-scale plant cultivation. If roots are found, it could confirm these circles were used for planting and help identify tree species.
Other Findings
Several other finds like living quarters of soldiers and perhaps their families. In addition, they unearthed a stretch of road that was 328 feet (100 m) long, 36 feet (11 m) wide, and paved with limestone slabs. It would have been used for military units traveling to the fortress. Archaeologists unearthed four corners of a structure that may be from an even earlier *******. It’s possible that this structure is also a fortress, but the team has not been able to date it or verify its purpose.
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Google Messages is getting another wave of updates – here are 7 you can expect to see soon
Google Messages is getting another wave of updates – here are 7 you can expect to see soon
Google Messages has already improved a lot since it landed over 11 years ago – and over the past couple of weeks we’ve seen Google test more new features that could roll out widely very soon.
Though Google has been dropping new features in Messages since the beginning of the year, these past few weeks have been a particularly busy time, especially for group chats in Google Messages.
But in addition to its new chat icons and group chat links, there’s a number of other new design features and overdue functions that could help enhance the Google Messages user experience.
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Despite not all of these features being widely available, Google has hinted that they will be rolled out very soon, and we have a lot of APK teardowns from the likes of 9to5Google to thank for an early peek at them. Here’s a look at what’s likely coming to Google Messages very soon…
1. ‘Delete for everyone’ function
Google Messages’ ‘Delete for everyone’ function is the latest of the new features that have emerged. First spotted back in February, more users are starting to see it crop up in their Google Messages app but it’s not yet available for everyone – suggesting that it will be rolled out gradually.
There’s already a ‘Delete for me’ option but this new update will allow you to remove messages from the view of everyone in a chat. Users who have access have noticed that ‘Delete for everyone’ only works in larger group chats, and have yet to find a 1:1 chat where they can use it.
There’s also a 15-minute time window, meaning that if you want to remove a text from a conversation, you’ll have to be quick.
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RCS message delete is also rolling out to beta people. from r/GoogleMessages
2. Group chat links
(Image credit: Android Authority)
Just like other messaging platforms, group chat links make it easier to gather your contacts into one big conversation hassle-free, and Google Messages is following suit.
It was first uncovered in an APK teardown by Android Authority and will allow you to create invite links that you can share in standard link form or through a QR code that others can scan.
In the image taken from the teardown, there’s a toggle you can enable that will give you two options; to create a single-use link, or one that can be reused and distributed. Links will expire after 30 days.
3. New group chat icons
(Image credit: Future)
On the topic of group chats, Google Messages is paying a lot of attention to this aspect of its messaging platform and is introducing new group chat icons.
A number of users noticed this in the Google Messages app by opening a group conversation, navigating the top bar to reveal the group details. If a pencil icon appears at the right of your group chat’s existing image, it means you have the freedom to set your own icon.
After experimenting with the feature users have noted that you won’t be able to set gifs as icons, and you won’t be able to return to a previous icon once a new one has been set.
At the moment, group chat icons in Google Messages only show up to four circle profile images, which doesn’t make it easy to distinguish between chats, so a smaller feature like this will not only be a great design upgrade but a practical one, too.
4. Expanded text message field
(Image credit: 9to5Google)
For a while, Google Messages hasn’t been a user’s best friend when it comes to composing longer texts, but that’s all about to change as Google Messages is expanding its 4-line view limit.
The new text field limit will allow up to 14 lines per message making it easier for you to view longer messages before you send them.
5. New function for snoozing messages
At the same time as group chat links were spotted in Google Messages, there was also speculation of a new group chat muting feature – and it looks as though it’s ready to roll out.
This will see a new button added to the toolbar at the top of the screen when you long-press on a chat, which will then show a second menu where you can choose to mute a group chat for one hour, eight hours, 24 hours.
There’s even an ‘always’ option, and the menu reassures you that other members won’t see that you have muted the chat.
6. Live location sharing and content warnings
(Image credit: Google)
Live location sharing is a God-send, especially when it comes to finding your friends in larger crowds, and this new feature has been teased by an in-app code.
Users can currently share their location with another person through Google Maps, but it only shows up as a static Google Maps pin. If you move around, this means you’ll have to send your location again – but Google could be working to combat this. Last time we checked the feature wasn’t live for us, however there’s a chance Google could be experimenting with it behind the scenes.
Additionally, Sensitive Content Warnings went live in a Google Messages’ beta a few weeks ago for some users. Accounts owned by users under 18 will automatically have this setting enabled, and users over 18 will have the option to turn it off.
In addition to a redesigned gallery, you’ll be able to send photos and videos on Google Messages in their original quality which was first spotted in beta in February.
The new layout includes a “HD” icon which you can find in the top-right of the final screen before sending an image. When you tap the icon, a new menu appears allowing you to select from two options; “Optimized for chat”, which trades some quality for a lower file size, or “Original quality”, which sends the original image as found on your phone’s built-in storage.
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Live Updates: Lawyers for Sean Combs Acknowledge Violence but Deny Sex-Trafficking Charge
Live Updates: Lawyers for Sean Combs Acknowledge Violence but Deny Sex-Trafficking Charge
At trial, Sean Combs will be represented by a large and varied defense team — one that has grown even larger and more varied in recent days.
Since early in the government’s investigation, Mr. Combs has retained Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos of the firm Agnifilo Intrater.
Mr. Agnifilo is a longtime criminal defense attorney who has represented high-profile figures like the former pharma executive Martin Shkreli; Keith Raniere, the leader of the Nxivm sex cult; and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who in 2011 was accused of ********* assaulting a hotel maid in New York. (The case against Mr. Strauss-Kahn was dismissed before a trial.) Along with Karen Friedman Agnifilo, his wife, Mr. Agnifilo is also part of the defense team for Luigi Mangione, who has been charged with ******* in the killing of a health care executive.
In and out of the courtroom, Mr. Agnifilo has been perhaps the strongest voice in Mr. Combs’s defense. At a hearing last month, he reiterated the defense’s argument that Mr. Combs’s “freak-offs” — ******* encounters that the government contends were coerced — were consensual, with Mr. Combs’s ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura a willing participant. “Call it ‘swingers,’ call it whatever you will,” Mr. Agnifilo said.
In media interviews, he has called the case an “unjust prosecution” and said that Mr. Combs is “an imperfect person but is not a criminal.”
Mr. Agnifilo was a longtime lawyer at the firm Brafman & Associates but left last year to help start Agnifilo Intrater. With him, he brought Ms. Geragos, whose father is Mark Geragos, the celebrity lawyer who has represented Mr. Combs in the past. Ms. Geragos has also spoken publicly about the case, including in a series of TikTok videos that she posted before Mr. Combs was arrested in September.
The team also includes Alexandra Shapiro, a prominent appellate court lawyer at the firm Shapiro Arato Bach who was once a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting the Combs case. She graduated from Columbia Law School and was one of the first clerks for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court. She also wrote a novel, “Presumed Guilty.”
Ms. Shapiro is widely recognized for her success rate at trial and on appeals. “If you want to maximize your chances of either prevailing at trial or on appeal against the S.D.N.Y., then you should call Alexandra Shapiro (if you can afford her),” the legal newsletter Original Jurisdiction wrote last year.
Given her specialty, Ms. Shapiro may be keeping a close eye during the trial on any issues that might be useful if the defense appeals a verdict.
Mr. Combs’s defense also includes Jason Driscoll of Shapiro Arato Bach and Anna Estevao of Harris Trzaskoma.
In the last few weeks, Mr. Combs has added several other lawyers.
Most prominent is Brian Steel, who defended the rapper Young Thug in a long-running racketeering trial in Georgia. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, pleaded guilty to participating in criminal street gang activity, and was released with time served. But Mr. Steel — who was recently profiled in The New Yorker — drew wide notice, in legal circles and beyond, for a courtroom showdown where he accused a judge of improperly meeting with a witness. He was held in contempt but later vindicated when the judge was ordered to recuse himself from the case.
Mr. Combs’s team has also recently added Xavier Donaldson, a New York lawyer whose LinkedIn profile describes him as “litigator, professor, speaker, crisis manager,” and Nicole Westmoreland, who represented one of Young Thug’s co-defendants in his trial.
In April, Mr. Combs’s legal team asked for a two-month delay of the trial to consider what it said was newly produced evidence by the government. The judge denied the request, noting that Mr. Combs had four law firms working for him, giving him ample resources to prepare.
Since then, Mr. Combs has added two more.
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Newsom pushes California cities to ban homeless encampments – Politico
Newsom pushes California cities to ban homeless encampments – Politico
Newsom pushes California cities to ban homeless encampments PoliticoNewsom Asks Cities to Ban Homeless Encampments, Escalating Crackdown The New York TimesNewsom calls on California cities to ban homeless encampments ‘without delay’ The GuardianNewsom again urges cities to ban homeless camps Los Angeles TimesCalif. Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils homelessness plan to clear street camps USA Today
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Battlefield 6 Feature Sparks Furious Rollback Demands
Battlefield 6 Feature Sparks Furious Rollback Demands
If you’re the type of player who dislikes clutter on their screen, especially those pesky damage numbers, then the latest news about Battlefield 6 might not sit well with you. As closed tests continue behind the scenes, a steady stream of information has been making its way to the public (official or leaks).
Most recently, a new detail surfaced that has sparked a firestorm among players. This seemingly small UI change has led many to call for it to be rolled back or removed entirely, fearing it could disrupt gameplay flow and break immersion.
The problem with damage numbers in Battlefield 6
The Battlefield franchise has built its name on massive battles, chaotic moments, and smooth tactical gameplay, not cluttered screens full of flashing numbers.
Sure, older games had damage indicators here and there (like those little point pop-ups when you landed a shot), but throwing bold damage numbers right into the middle of your sights in Battlefield 6? For many players, that’s a hard pass.
Having numbers dance around in your scope doesn’t just block your view; it messes with the whole experience. It undercuts what makes Battlefield special: clean, open combat where awareness and positioning matter more than flashy feedback.
Players argue these numbers aren’t just annoying background noise; they actually get in the way. Trying to track a moving target while digits are bouncing around your crosshairs? No thanks.
Comment byu/someoneyouhate_ from discussion inBattlefield
Comment byu/someoneyouhate_ from discussion inBattlefield
Comment byu/someoneyouhate_ from discussion inBattlefield
Comment byu/someoneyouhate_ from discussion inBattlefield
For a lot of fans, this feature feels like something ripped straight out of Call of Duty or Apex Legends, not the grounded Battlefield they signed up for. The message from the community is clear: keep it clean, keep it simple, and let us fight without all the clutter.
Why there’s still hope for a toggle
Damage numbers popped up, and so did the community’s temper. | Image Credit: DICE
Before everyone grabs their pitchforks and parachutes into the forums, it’s worth remembering one thing: Battlefield 6 is still deep in its closed testing phase. Nothing here is final.
The developers at DICE have been upfront about this; these tests are designed to experiment with ideas and gather feedback, not showcase the finished product. So, while seeing those damage numbers in the sights sparked a lot of frustration, there’s no guarantee they’ll stick around in the final release.
On top of that, there’s a decent reason to stay optimistic. In past Battlefield titles, similar features came with a simple solution: a toggle in the settings menu. If history repeats itself, players will likely get the option to turn damage numbers off entirely, or even tweak how and where they appear.
And if, by some chance, a toggle isn’t already planned, the sheer volume of community feedback might just convince the developers to add one before launch. After all, Battlefield Labs exists to make sure the game reflects what players want.
For now, all we can do is wait, keep the feedback flowing, and hope for the best. Because when the dust settles, everyone just wants the same thing: a Battlefield game that plays and feels like Battlefield.
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Live Updates: Lawyers for Sean Combs Acknowledge Violence but Deny Sex-Trafficking Charge
Live Updates: Lawyers for Sean Combs Acknowledge Violence but Deny Sex-Trafficking Charge
At trial, Sean Combs will be represented by a large and varied defense team — one that has grown even larger and more varied in recent days.
Since early in the government’s investigation, Mr. Combs has retained Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos of the firm Agnifilo Intrater.
Mr. Agnifilo is a longtime criminal defense attorney who has represented high-profile figures like the former pharma executive Martin Shkreli; Keith Raniere, the leader of the Nxivm sex cult; and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who in 2011 was accused of ********* assaulting a hotel maid in New York. (The case against Mr. Strauss-Kahn was dismissed before a trial.) Along with Karen Friedman Agnifilo, his wife, Mr. Agnifilo is also part of the defense team for Luigi Mangione, who has been charged with ******* in the killing of a health care executive.
In and out of the courtroom, Mr. Agnifilo has been perhaps the strongest voice in Mr. Combs’s defense. At a hearing last month, he reiterated the defense’s argument that Mr. Combs’s “freak-offs” — ******* encounters that the government contends were coerced — were consensual, with Mr. Combs’s ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura a willing participant. “Call it ‘swingers,’ call it whatever you will,” Mr. Agnifilo said.
In media interviews, he has called the case an “unjust prosecution” and said that Mr. Combs is “an imperfect person but is not a criminal.”
Mr. Agnifilo was a longtime lawyer at the firm Brafman & Associates but left last year to help start Agnifilo Intrater. With him, he brought Ms. Geragos, whose father is Mark Geragos, the celebrity lawyer who has represented Mr. Combs in the past. Ms. Geragos has also spoken publicly about the case, including in a series of TikTok videos that she posted before Mr. Combs was arrested in September.
The team also includes Alexandra Shapiro, a prominent appellate court lawyer at the firm Shapiro Arato Bach who was once a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting the Combs case. She graduated from Columbia Law School and was one of the first clerks for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court. She also wrote a novel, “Presumed Guilty.”
Ms. Shapiro is widely recognized for her success rate at trial and on appeals. “If you want to maximize your chances of either prevailing at trial or on appeal against the S.D.N.Y., then you should call Alexandra Shapiro (if you can afford her),” the legal newsletter Original Jurisdiction wrote last year.
Given her specialty, Ms. Shapiro may be keeping a close eye during the trial on any issues that might be useful if the defense appeals a verdict.
Mr. Combs’s defense also includes Jason Driscoll of Shapiro Arato Bach and Anna Estevao of Harris Trzaskoma.
In the last few weeks, Mr. Combs has added several other lawyers.
Most prominent is Brian Steel, who defended the rapper Young Thug in a long-running racketeering trial in Georgia. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, pleaded guilty to participating in criminal street gang activity, and was released with time served. But Mr. Steel — who was recently profiled in The New Yorker — drew wide notice, in legal circles and beyond, for a courtroom showdown where he accused a judge of improperly meeting with a witness. He was held in contempt but later vindicated when the judge was ordered to recuse himself from the case.
Mr. Combs’s team has also recently added Xavier Donaldson, a New York lawyer whose LinkedIn profile describes him as “litigator, professor, speaker, crisis manager,” and Nicole Westmoreland, who represented one of Young Thug’s co-defendants in his trial.
In April, Mr. Combs’s legal team asked for a two-month delay of the trial to consider what it said was newly produced evidence by the government. The judge denied the request, noting that Mr. Combs had four law firms working for him, giving him ample resources to prepare.
Since then, Mr. Combs has added two more.
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Caelan Doris: Ireland captain ruled out for four to six months after surgery on shoulder
Caelan Doris: Ireland captain ruled out for four to six months after surgery on shoulder
Ireland captain Caelan Doris has been ruled out for a ******* of four to six months through injury, Leinster Rugby confirmed on Monday.
The 27-year-old sustained the injury in the Irish province’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton on 3 May.
Last week, Doris was left out of the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer’s tour of Australia by head coach Andy Farrell.
The back row could now also be a doubt for Ireland’s series of autumn matches against New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa in November.
An update from Leinster read: “Caelan Doris had a procedure on Friday last week for a shoulder injury which will keep him out of action for between four to six months.”
Doris had been a frontrunner to be named captain for the Lions tour, a role which was given to England second row Maro Itoje.
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Spirit of The North 2 Review | TheXboxHub
Spirit of The North 2 Review | TheXboxHub
WTMG’s Heidi Hawes: “I cannot stress enough just how much I enjoy Spirit of the North 2. It takes the all the strongest elements of the first game and builds upon them, while simultaneously eliminating the aspects that didn’t work as well before. It’s not without its share of flaws, but those are easily overlooked in favor the remarkable, wondrous adventure that lies before you. You don’t need to have played the first to enjoy Spirit of the North 2, so I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for their next mellow, exploration-based, puzzle game. Spirit of the North 2 is truly a diamond in the rough.”
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Putin ‘serious’ on talks, Ukraine says he ignores truce
Putin ‘serious’ on talks, Ukraine says he ignores truce
Russia is “completely ignoring” a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine and European powers that was to have begun on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says.
Writing on X, Sybiha said he had spoken to European ministers meeting in London, and they had discussed steps that could be taken against Russia including new sanctions against the Russian banking and energy sectors and the Russian central bank.
He said they had also discussed new military assistance packages for Ukraine.
Sybiha also said he had a joint phone call with European foreign ministers and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to talk about the next steps in peace talks.
He cited positive reactions from Trump, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan as well as from countries in the BRICS group and from countries in the former Soviet Union.
Before reporters could ask any more questions about the proposed talks, Peskov said: “That’s all. I’ve said everything I could about this story.”
Putin and Zelenskiy have not met since December 2019 and make no secret of their contempt for each other.
Putin’s proposal for direct talks with Ukraine came hours after major European powers demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that Putin agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face “massive” new sanctions.
Germany’s government said on Monday that European countries will start preparing new sanctions on Russia unless the Kremlin by the end of Monday starts abiding by a 30-day ceasefire.
“The language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not suitable. You can’t use such language with Russia,” Peskov said when asked about the ******* and other European warnings.
US President Donald Trump on Monday welcomed the news of a meeting between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday.
“I think good things can come out of that meeting,” he said at a White House event.
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Republicans plan work requirement for Medicaid – but hold off on slashing federal contributions
Republicans plan work requirement for Medicaid – but hold off on slashing federal contributions
House Republicans released the legislative text for the Medicaid aspect of their massive domestic policy bill, which will put in place strict work requirements and risks millions of Americans losing their health care.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee released the text for their aspect of the legislation President Donald Trump has taken to calling the “one big, beautiful bill.”
The proposed legislation would delay multiple rules put in place for Medicaid – which provides health insurance for people on low incomes – during the Biden administration. In addition, it would require states to add extra steps to verify the addresses of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients. States would also be required to increase their determinations for whether someone is eligible for Medicaid to every six months.
The legislation would also delay the implementation of the Biden administration’s rule increasing staffing standards for long-term care facilities and prohibit the use of Medicaid dollars to pay for gender-affirming care for transgender people under the age of 18.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie will hold a markup of its part of the reconciliation bill on Tuesday. (Getty Images)
But the biggest part of the Medicaid aspect of the legislation are the work requirements. Specifically, able-bodied adults without children or dependents would need to work at least 80 hours a month, engage in 80 hours of community service or engage in 80 hours for an educational program. They could also engage in a combination of these three options.
People younger than 19 and older than 64 years would be exempt from the work requirements, as well as pregnant women, foster youth, former foster youth up to the age of 26, people with disabilities, members of Native American tribes or people already in compliance with work requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, formerly known as ********, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Earlier this year, the House passed a budget resolution that stipulated that for Republicans to pass $4.5 trillion worth of tax cuts, they would need to find $1.5 trillion worth of spending cuts. If they fail to find $2 trillion worth of spending cuts, the amount of money for tax cuts is reduced by the difference between $2 trillion and the final number of spending cuts.
The budget resolution required that the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which governs Medicaid, find $880 billion worth of spending cuts.
Last month, the House passed the Senate’s version of the budget resolution, which does not have as many hard commitments on spending cuts.
Still, hardline conservatives want to see long-term changes to Medicaid. On Monday, Representative Chip Roy of Texas, a member of the staunchly right-wing House Freedom Caucus, blasted the legislation.
“I sure hope House & Senate leadership are coming up with a backup plan,” Roy said on X. “because I’m not here to rack up an additional $20 trillion in debt over 10 years or to subsidize healthy, able-bodied adults, corrupt blue states, and monopoly hospital ceos.”
But many Republicans in the Senate and the House do not want to push for across-the-board cuts to Medicaid, specifically in states that expanded Medicaid under the 2010 health care law signed by Barack Obama, also known as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.
Republicans have said that they would be open to work requirements. Last month, House Speaker Mike Johnson specifically said “29-year-old males sitting on their couches playing video games” would be sent to work instead of being allowed to collect Medicaid.
At the same time, the legislation chose not to cut federal contributions to Medicaid, which worried many Republicans who expanded Medicaid. Under the 2010 health care law, the federal government covers up to 90 percent of the cost for people up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Numerous states have “trigger laws” wherein state governments would roll back spending for Medicaid, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
But the legislation also poses potential political risks. The Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan office within Congress that determines how much legislation costs and how much it would add to the deficit, determined that the changes to Medicaid, along with the expiration of additional tax credits for Obamacare and other provisions, would increase the number of people without health insurance by 13.7 million.
The Energy & Commerce Committee will hold its markup of the bill on Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to changes to Medicaid, spending cuts and tax cuts, Republicans hope to ramp up spending for immigration enforcement along the US-Mexico border and oil drilling.
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Six Bulgarians jailed for spying for Russia
Six Bulgarians jailed for spying for Russia
Six Bulgarians have been jailed for spying on the enemies of Russia’s Vladimir Putin in the *** and beyond.
During a lengthy trial, the Old Bailey heard the ring was paid handsomely for their services, including spying on two journalists who had exposed nerve agent attacks on the Russian dissidents Alexei Navalny and Sergei Skripal.
On Monday, the ringleader Orlin Roussev was jailed for 10 years and eight months for the charge of conspiracy to spy. His second-in-command, Biser Dzhambazov, was sentenced to 10 years and two months.
Katrin Ivanova, Dzhambazov’s partner, was jailed for nine years and eight months by Judge Justice Hilliard. Three others were jailed for between eight and six years.
Their names are Tihomir Ivanchev, Ivan Stoyanov and Vanya Gaberova.
The trial heard that the gang had conducted operations in the ***, Austria, Spain, Germany and Montenegro.
They targeted investigative journalists Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov, as well as Russian dissidents and political figures.
The case against them, which has been described as “one of the largest” foreign intelligence operations in the ***, focused on six of their assignments.
For the first time in a *** criminal court, the inner workings of a Russian operational spy cell were exposed in thousands of messages organising surveillance, photos and videos of their targets, and talk of plans to kidnap and kill.
Evidence placed before the court this week revealed new details about Jan Marsalek, the ring’s controller for Russian intelligence services.
Marsalek, an Austrian, is currently on the run and is wanted in Germany for alleged fraud linked to the financial services company Wirecard.
The spy ring referred to themselves as the “minions”, inspired by the yellow sidekicks of the villain Gru in the Despicable Me children’s film franchise.
The group also frequently referred to the Russian GRU agency – its military intelligence service – in Telegram messages.
Police raided the Norfolk guesthouse housing the operation in 2023 and found a “treasure trove” of gadgets, including a Minion cuddly toy containing a camera.
Ivanova, Gaberova and Ivanchev were convicted of conspiracy to spy for Russia on 7 March. Roussev, Dzhambazov and Stoyanov had previously pleaded guilty.
In sentencing, Mr Justice Hilliard singled out Dzhambazov as the boss but said all were “motivated by money” – “substantial” sums of up to €1m (£840,000) were discussed by the gang, demonstrating the “value” of their covert activities to Russia.
Mr Justice Hilliard said using the *** as a base to plan spy operations was a “very serious offence” which “undermines this country’s standing with allies”.
“Targeting journalists… undermines freedom of the press, one of our core democratic values,” he added.
Roussev was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £180,768 in ill-gotten gains by August 2025.
Gaberova’s sentenced was reduced to six years, eight months and three weeks following mitigation.
Her defence barrister Anthony Metzer KC said Gaberova, 30, was “controlled, coerced into this conspiracy by Mr Dzhambazov,” who was her lover while also being involved with Ivanova.
The court was told Gaberova had been diagnosed with depression, panic disorder, claustrophobia and anxiety.
Conspiracy to spy carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, but Roussev, Dzhambazov and Stoyanov were afforded some credit for their guilty pleas.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said the case was “a clear example” of the increasing threat of state espionage.
He added that it also “highlights a relatively new phenomenon whereby espionage is being ‘outsourced’ by certain states”.
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Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. goes multiplatform with crossplay and more
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. goes multiplatform with crossplay and more
Sunday’s Virtua Fighter Spring Direct revealed a load of new information about upcoming games, including the as-yet-untitled Virtua Fighter 6 and Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. The biggest news? R.E.V.O. is coming to Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, with full cross-play support and rollback netcode, although the team stayed quiet on exactly when it will release.
According to Siji Aoki, the lead for legacy Virtua Fighter projects, “I know we’ve kept you waiting, but our Steam release, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O., is finally coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2!” This is something fans have requested since the game first launched. “To make your gameplay experience even smoother, the rollback functionality used in the Steam version will be supported on all platforms.”
In addition to the announcement that Virtua Fighter 5 is coming to more platforms, the team also teased more information about Virtua Fighter 6 and revealed the return of beloved character Wolf Hawkfield, redesigned with a bushy, Ganondorf-like beard and covered in tats. As Hawkfield strolled onto the stage, the in-game announcer referred to his return from a “controversial retirement.”
“In previous Virtua Fighter games, the backstories and motivations of the characters weren’t well known,” says new Virtua Fighter Project Producer Riichiro Yamada. “This is one of the major differences between the previous games and our new game. Playing the new game will give you a much better sense of who the characters are, including their backstories and personalities.”
A behind-the-scenes look says the new Virtua Fighter project will borrow Ryu Ga Gatoku Studio’s narrative prowess to flesh out the characters you know and love, including their origin stories. The studio is known for the Yakuza series, and the character designs for both new and returning characters will reflect elements of their backgrounds.
The Direct gave no clear release date for either game, but it demonstrated that both are well into development. It’s a tease, but all fans can do for now is be patient until more information (and hopefully a release date) is revealed.
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Postecoglou urges Spurs to ‘make impact’ by Europa win
Postecoglou urges Spurs to ‘make impact’ by Europa win
Tottenham Hotspur are a club haunted by failure. The stadium may be new but it sits on the old White Hart Lane site and the ghosts remain.
In the quieter moments the club’s *********** manager Ange Postecoglou has walked the corridors and studied the photos of past glories: Bill Nicholson’s 1961 double-winners, Keith Burkinshaw’s 1984 Uefa Cup winners, Terry Venables’ 1991 FA Cup winners.
The most recent winners’ photos date back to 2008, and that was the unheralded Football League Cup, a minor trinket for a club of Tottenham’s resources and ambition.
Ever since Spurs have blown it whenever they get close to silverware, “Spursy” has become shorthand for throwing away winning positions.
Postecoglou wants to change that perception, and he has urged his players to “make an impact” by winning the Europa League next week. Beat Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21 (0500 May 22 AEST) and there will be new photographs on the wall.
With Tottenham 17th after losing 20 of their 36 Premier League games, on course for their worst finish since being relegated in 1977, Postecoglou knows success may not save his job. But it will mean he made an impact. It will be the club’s biggest cup win since that 1991 FA Cup triumph under Venables, like Postecoglou a former Socceroos boss.
Referencing the recent Papal conclave Postecoglou said: “I could have been sitting here fifth last year, fifth this year – maybe people wouldn’t be waiting for the white smoke to see if it’s my last one – but they’d still be saying, ‘you know Ange, that’s great but it’s all been done before. Until this club wins something, you haven’t made an impact’.
“I knew throughout my tenure last year, that’s what I was going to be judged on. so now we have an opportunity to do that.
“For me personally, great, it’s another trophy I can reminisce in my old age about, but more importantly it’s what it means for the club.
“When you look at the historical backdrop of this club, and what it’s been through in the last 20-odd years, I feel it could be a turning point in terms of the way the club is perceived, but also more how it perceives itself, which I think is the biggest thing.
“That’s the hurdle this club has to overcome because it’ll always be there. Until you actually do it, then you are fair game for people to say ‘you’ve always fluffed it on the big stage.’
“Irrespective of what the opposition say, or what anyone else says, what you’ve got to try and do is break that cycle. Whatever motivation you need to do that, you tap into.
“I often say to the players that at the end of your careers, what you want to be able to do is go back to the clubs you served and know you’ve made an impact.
“The photos I see up on the walls at the stadium are all of Bill Nicholson, the 1984 winning team. A lot of them are in ******-and-white. Can we get this group up on that wall?”
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Asus reveals AMD B850 motherboard with custom 600W GPU slot and concealed connectors
Asus reveals AMD B850 motherboard with custom 600W GPU slot and concealed connectors
Asus has revealed the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W on social media. The ATX motherboard, powered by the AMD B850 chipset, can house some of the best CPUs. Part of the “Back To (the) Future” (BTF) product lineup, the B850-BTF WiFi W features hidden connectors while also carrying Asus’ proprietary graphics card high-power slot.
Equipped with the AM5 slot, the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W supports all recent AMD Ryzen processors, including Ryzen 7000 (Raphael), Ryzen 8000 (Phoenix), and Ryzen 9000 (Granite Ridge) parts. Flaunting a robust 14+2+1-phase power subsystem with 80A power stages and an eight-layered PCB, the motherboard can handle your entry-level 35W chips to the 170W flagships.
The TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W’s appeal is the hidden connectors at the opposite end of the PCB. That means all your cables go to the back where they’re concealed for a much cleaner look and easier cable management. Of course, that means you’ll also have to pick up a special BTF-certified case for the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W. However, that shouldn’t be an issue since the BTF ecosystem has grown substantially since its inception, and nowadays, you can find excellent case options from major manufacturers, such as Corsair, Silverstone, Cooler Master, or Thermaltake.
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Armed with four DDR5 memory slots, the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W can support up to 256GB of memory thanks to the recent introduction of 64GB memory modules. The motherboard is built to handle memory speeds over DDR5-8000, although with the lack of full CUDIMM support, your mileage will depend on your processor. Meanwhile, there’s the standard AMD EXPO (AMD Extended Profiles for Overclocking) support as well as AEMP (Asus Enhanced Memory Profile) for memory kits that lack EXPO profiles.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
(Image credit: Asus)
Expansion comes in the form of one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and one PCIe 4.0 x1 slot. Being a BTF-branded motherboard, the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W’s primary expansion slot features Asus’ custom graphics card high-power slot. Don’t let the design fool you; you still need to connect a 12V-2×6 power cable, but instead of going straight to the graphics card, it connects to the back of the motherboard.
The graphics card high-power slot is a double-edged sword. It reduces cable clutter and, to a point, minimizes the possibility of a 16-pin meltdown. On the negative side, you’re trapped inside the BTF ecosystem since only Asus BTF graphics cards are compatible with the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W, limiting your options.
For storage, you receive three M.2 slots, one of which is PCIe 5.0 and the remaining PCIe 4.0. If you’re still a SATA person, the motherboard also comes with four SATA III connectors. There is RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support, but it varies depending on your processor.
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The TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W offers 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet networking, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. Some other features include a quick-release PCIe slot removal mechanism, a latch, and a switch to install M.2 SSDs without tools or screws, and pluggable Wi-Fi antennas.
Asus didn’t share the pricing or the availability date for the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WiFi W. The company only invites consumers to check the motherboard out at Computex 2025.
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What’s hotter than a fire-breathing ******? This Doom-themed pizza
What’s hotter than a fire-breathing ******? This Doom-themed pizza
Xbox has partnered with Prince St. Pizza to offer a limited-time Doom-inspired pie baked “in brimstone and fury,” and in addition to being delicious, it provides a free skin and one month of Xbox Game Pass for hungry gamers. Anyone who purchases the Hellfire Pepperoni (yes, that’s the actual name of the pizza) will receive the timed-exclusive Doom Slayer Skin.
As for the pizza itself, make sure you have a drink handy. It’ll make your mouth as hot as if you were breathing in hellfire yourself, with smoked mozzarella, pepperoni, fresh habaneros, a drizzle of hot honey, and Prince St. Pizza’s special spicy marinara. Fans of spicy food will find themselves right at home with this dish, but it’s only available between May 12 and June 15 at any Prince St. Pizza location.
Unfortunately, the chain isn’t as widespread as we’d like — you can only find locations in New York, Miami, California, and Toronto.
ID Software
“We were fired up to collaborate with DOOM: The Dark Ages,” says CEO of Prince St. Pizza Lawrence Longo. “It’s one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time — intense, over-the-top, and totally unapologetic — with a fanbase that continues to show up. That energy inspired us to bring the heat with bold flavor, big attitude, and a little chaos — in the best way possible. We had a blast dreaming up a pizza worthy of the DOOM universe and we think fans are going to love what we cooked up.”
In addition to the in-game bonuses, the pie comes in a limited-edition box and fans can go on the Prince St. Pizza website to get limited-edition Doom: The Dark Ages x Prince St. Pizza t-shirts.
Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal that maintains the same frenetic energy as the previous titles. It releases on May 15 on Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Game Pass.
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What are stock buybacks? Everything you need to know.
What are stock buybacks? Everything you need to know.
00:00 Jared Blikre
Lots of bullishness in the market today with the latest tariff détente, but here’s another bid on stocks that has reasserted in recent weeks, as we climbed out of earnings season, and that is stock buybacks. I’m Jared Blikre, host of Stocks to Stocks in Translation, and today we’re going to take a closer look at companies buying back their own stock. Now, let’s talk cash. What do companies do when they’ve got extra dough sitting around? A big slice of that goes to buybacks. That’s right. Companies shopping for their own stock makes up about 40% of their spending. And another chunk, about 30%, goods goes to good old fashioned CapEx. That’s capital expenditures, building factories, upgrading tech, basically growing the business. Then shareholders, they get a nice 25% slice directly through dividends, and the leftover 5%, that goes to debt paydowns, M&A deals, stashing cash for rainy days. Now, here is the headline. 2024 was an absolute blowout year for buybacks. Companies in the S&P 500 executed a record $943 billion in repurchases. That’s up almost 20% from the year prior. Total shareholder returns, and that is buybacks plus dividends, it hit a juicy record of over $1.5 trillion. So, who is leading the spending spree? Big tech, of course. Tech giants shelled out over a quarter, about 27% of all buybacks, spending a cool $253 billion. Big banks and finance, they weren’t shy either, coming in next with nearly $175 billion. Even sleepy consumer staples companies practically doubled their buybacks in a single year. Now, zooming in, some of these buybacks are very concentrated at the top. The top 20 largest companies alone made up nearly half of all repurchases. King of the Hill, King Apple, spending over $104 billion last year. And for context, Apple has spent $700, $716 billion on buybacks over the last decade. Meta and Nvidia, they also dialed up their programs with Nvidia more than tripling spending. So, it seems that going big might be the new normal. But why buybacks? Two words: Earnings Engineering. Companies love buybacks because they shrink share counts and fewer shares outstanding, that boosts earnings per share, EPS, making the numbers look great. It’s also handy if you’re paying your team in stock, because buybacks offset that dilution. Last year, about 12% of the S&P 500 companies reduced their share counts meaningfully. Now, here’s a twist. Companies cannot always buy back their own stock. Most have to pause around buybacks around earnings season. And this creates what’s called the buyback blackout window. Typically, 75% of S&P 500 companies sit on the sidelines during peak earnings week, removing a critical market support support right when volatility tends to spike. Now, the chart shows the increasing number of companies emerging out of that window right now. But keep an eye on the VIX when the next season is approaching. Oh, and speaking of policy twists, remember that 1% buyback tax that was thrown into the inflation Reduction Act of 2023. Congress is debating bumping it up to 4%. So that could also shake up next year’s buyback schedule as well.
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TLOU Episode 6 Takes Us Back To What Broke Joel And Ellie’s Relationship
TLOU Episode 6 Takes Us Back To What Broke Joel And Ellie’s Relationship
It’s hard to believe that Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us is almost over, but we’re over the halfway mark with only two episodes left. Season 3 has already been greenlit, but fans have been theorizing on where the story will cut off. As teased in a preview video for Episode 6, next week’s episode takes a step back to two years earlier as viewers will learn what caused the rift between Joel and Ellie.
This story contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2.
At the end of last night’s episode, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) confronts Nora (Tati Gabrielle)–one of the WLF members who was there when Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) killed Joel (Pedro Pascal)–and tries to get information out of her about Abby’s whereabouts. The scene slightly recreates the moment from the game where Ellie gives Nora the choice of making it quick or “making it so much worse.”
That’s when Nora realizes that Ellie is the one who couldn’t be infected from Abby’s father’s notes. She tries to tell Ellie that Joel ruined everything by saving her. Ellie replies with a simple, “I know.” The episode ends with Ellie back in her bedroom, living with Joel as he walks through the door, greeting his adoptive daughter.
The trailer for next week’s episode adapts Ellie’s birthday scene, but also with her learning the truth about what truly happened in that hospital.
The complete playthrough of the birthday scene takes about 30 minutes and is one of the more heartwarming scenes of the game, giving both Joel and Ellie a bonding moment that doesn’t involve trying to survive. With Episode 6 also dealing with Ellie learning the truth, it’s unclear how both scenes will be spliced into the episode while still moving the story forward.
Fans of the game will also notice that at the end of the trailer, both Ellie and Joel are carrying what appear to be sniper rifles, which could be hinting at another scene in the game as well.
New episodes of The Last of Us air Sundays at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET on HBO and Max.
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Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: serious analog performance for the price – but its software isn’t the easiest to use
Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: serious analog performance for the price – but its software isn’t the easiest to use
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Gamakay TK75HE V2: two-minute review
The Gamakay TK75HE V2 is a wired keyboard with Hall effect analog switches that provide snappy and precise inputs, and feature multiple actuation adjustments to tailor key response to your exact preferences.
It sports a minimal aesthetic, which, combined with its compact form, makes it conducive to use in any setting. This aspect is somewhat hampered, however, by the short USB cable, which might fail to reach your PC depending on your setup.
Still, the overall build quality of the TK75HE V2 is impressive, on a level-pegging with some of the best gaming keyboards. The plastic chassis is light yet reassuringly solid, and, although it’s thick at the rear, this tapers off towards the front. The PBT keycaps feel as premium as you could wish for, too.
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The two-stage folding feet provide plenty of tilt for getting an ergonomic typing position, although I still found the TK75HE V2 uncomfortable to type with for extended periods, owing to the lack of wrist support needed to offset its elevated height.
A screen is integrated in the bottom right corner of the TK75HE V2, although this is very limited in scope, with actuation adjustments, for instance, missing from its menu. For settings such as these, you’ll need to use the Gamakay Driver.
This PC app allows you make all the usual keyboard customizations, with various rebind options available, alongside macro creation and RGB adjustments. Tweaks for the analog switches are plentiful and accompanied by a handy visualizer to see key response in real time.
However, this visualizer lacks some useful feedback indicators, and has a tendency to lag significantly when making multiple inputs rapidly. What’s more, the app window can’t be resized, and a few explanations lack clarity, while others were cut off from the GUI, which was frustrating.
Thankfully, the tool is usable enough, and the analog adjustments it can make provide a meaningful difference to performance. To game with, the TK75HE V2 is certainly responsive, although I can’t say its 8K polling rate makes much difference in this regard, relative to lower-polling keyboards.
Key presses with the linear Mercury switches installed on my TK75HE V2 were less damped than I was expecting – certainly less so than the ultra-soft tactile Pegasus switches I tried in the mechanical TK75 V2, for instance – but I still found them satisfying to use, whether I was gaming or typing.
The latter was also helped by the shallow, short-traveling Cherry profile keycaps, which makes the TK75HE V2 suited to productivity tasks. However, it really needs a wrist rest to make long sessions comfortable.
The TK75HE V2 has a low price for an analog keyboard, undercutting many of its big name rivals by a huge margin, such as the SteelSeries Apex Pro. However, that keyboard has some of the best analog switches I’ve tried, and offers exceptional gaming performance overall.
But the TK75HE V2 isn’t that far behind in this regard, which makes it a great entry point for those looking to get their fingers on some analog switches. The mechanical TK75 V2 is slightly cheaper but not by much, although this would be a better alternative for those who prefer soft and silent key presses.
(Image credit: Future)
Gamakay TK75HE V2 8K Polling Rate RT Accuracy Hall Effect keyboard (******) at Amazon for $89.99
Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: price and availability
$109.99 / £85 / AU$176
Available now in two colorways
Cheaper than many analog boards
The TK75HE V2 costs $109.99 / £85 / AU$176 and is available now in two colorways: ****** and white. It can be configured with two stock switch types: Phoenix, which is silent; or Mercury, which is linear. Additionally, it comes with a USB cable and a keycap puller for hot-swapping purposes.
The TK75HE V2 is more expensive than its mechanical counterpart, the TK75 V2, which has an exquisite typing feel with much more dampening, although this could be due to the tactile Pegasus switches I experienced in that board. However, since it doesn’t use analog switches, there aren’t any actuation adjustments.
If you’re looking for pure analog performance, the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is hard to beat. It’s one of the best keyboards with analog switches in my view, offering incredible precision and responsiveness, but it’s considerably more expensive than the TK75HE V2.
Value score: 5 / 5
Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Layout
75%
Switch
Analog (Hall-effect magnetic)
Programmable keys
Yes
Dimensions
12.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches / 325 x 136 x 28mm
RGB or backlighting
Yes (customizable)
(Image credit: Future)
Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: design and features
Minimal looks
Premium feel
Versatile but unrefined software
The TK75HE V2 has a rather understated appearance, although this is buoyed somewhat by the bright RGB lighting, which is even more pronounced in the white variant. But overall its minimal aesthetic should fit in well with most setups.
Build quality is also admirable, with the plastic chassis feeling durable yet pleasingly light at the same time. It has a thick depth at the back, but this narrows out at the front, which helps to keep things compact.
This narrowing also improves usability, since the TK75HE V2 doesn’t come with a wrist rest. It does come with a USB cable, but this is disappointingly short and may prove unfeasible for certain setups.
The PBT keycaps feel premium to the touch, with a very subtle texture that doesn’t encroach on their smoothness. It’s slightly inconvenient, however, that the FN shortcuts aren’t labelled on the keys themselves, so you’ll have to refer to the included manual to see what they are.
The volume wheel is well notched to allow for smooth yet controlled jogging, although its click function is a little too stiff for my liking – but this is a minor grievance.
A small screen is also nestled in the bottom right corner, controllable via the volume knob, although I found little use for it since its functionality is quite limited. You can view the runtime and date, as well as CPU usage and temperature – although these latter two failed to take readings, and there’s nothing in the manual to explain how to set this up.
(Image credit: Future)
Rounding out the interface’s capabilities are RGB lighting adjustments and Mac and Windows modes. You can also display your own drawings, but for this you’ll need to download the Gamakay Driver PC app.
This app also contains many other typical gaming keyboard customizations. There are various rebinding options with multiple layers available, although sadly system shortcuts and commands seem to be absent: you can only remap keys to other keys, key combinations with modifiers, or macros you’ve created.
There are also numerous adjustments for the analog switches, though, including independent actuation point sliders for presses and releases. There are also various modes to toggle and configure, such as multi-input, continuous trigger, and others.
Overall, the Gamakay Driver provides an impressive selection of customizations, although some analog-based functions are missing, such as controller emulation. What’s more, the software isn’t without its faults.
Firstly, the app window can’t be resized, which, in my experience at least, can result in cut-offs. There were also certain sections where text explanations weren’t fully rendered.
What’s more, certain explanations were hard to understand, and some occasional odd word choices didn’t help matters either: for example, a button used to select multiple keys for customizing simultaneously is labelled “drag”.
Design & features score: 3.5 / 5
Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: performance
Satisfying feedback
Not as damped as other keyboards
Controlled analog switches
The TK75HE V2 is very capable when it comes to gaming. Its keys are very responsive, although I can’t say the 8K polling rate provided a noticeable improvement in this regard over other boards.
The unit I had came preinstalled with Gamakay’s Mercury switches, which are said to have a linear profile. Their impact might deter some gamers, as they lack the dampening of some of the best mechanical keyboards: they’re more clicky and louder, but there’s still enough cushioning to make them satisfying to use.
What’s more, they feel a little heavier than other analog switches I’ve tried, which works in their favor as their resistance is progressive, feeling lighter at the top but getting heavier as they near the end of their travel.
This makes for controlled presses, and is especially useful when trying to hit certain actuation points. It also means that quickfire presses are easy to execute, which is especially useful when using the Rapid Tap feature – one of the key selling points of analog switches.
The mild indentation of the Cherry profile keys was something I welcomed too, as they allow for a secure positioning while still being amenable to gliding over the board.
(Image credit: Future)
This aspect also makes the bottom row readily accessible, as does the subtle concaving of the layout in general. The space bar is pleasingly low too, as it meant I could hit it with the tip of my thumb rather than the edge.
However, one small gripe I have is with the feet, which aren’t stable enough to handle even small shuffles back and forth. This may prove frustrating to those who frequently adjust the position of their keyboard.
Typing performance is also good, with those Mercury switches providing plenty of feedback and bounce, while being controlled at the same time. This allowed for fast and accurate typing – although the drawback is the relatively loud noise they generate.
I found the layout a little cramped at first, but I got used to it quickly. The angle provided by the feet does improve the ergonomics, but I still experienced some discomfort after only a short *******; the TK75HE V2 is another keyboard that requires additional wrist support and yet sadly doesn’t come with any.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Should I buy the Gamakay TK75HE V2?
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Gamakay TK75HE V2 Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
You’ll struggle to find many analog keyboards cheaper than this, and its performance and build are impressive for price.
5 / 5
Design and features
The TK75HE V2 is minimal and inoffensive. It’s also well built, although the software, while versatile, isn’t as refined as others.
3.5 / 5
Performance
The analog switches are certainly responsive, and it’s great for both gaming and typing – although wrist support is sorely needed.
4 / 5
Overall
The TK75HE V2 is an impressive keyboard considering its relatively low price tag. The software provides useful customizations, although it’s not the best engineered. If you’re looking for a budget analog keyboard, this should certainly be a contender.
4 / 5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: also consider
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Header Cell – Column 0
Gamakay TK75HE V2
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Gamakay TK75 V2
Layout
75%
TKL
75%
Switch
Analog (Hall-effect magnetic)
Analog (Hall-effect magnetic)
Mechanical
Programmable keys
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dimensions
12.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches / 325 x 136 x 28mm
14.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches (approx.) / 368.3 x 139.7 x 38.1mm
12.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches / 325 x 136 x 28mm
RGB or backlighting
Yes (customizable)
Yes (customizable)
Yes (customizable)
How I tested the Gamakay TK75HE V2
Tested for a few days
Used for gaming and working
Plentiful keyboard experience
I tested the TK75HE V2 for a few days, during which time I used it for gaming and working on both Windows 10 and 11 machines.
I played Counter-Strike 2, which is a great test for any peripheral due the premium it places on fast and accurate inputs. It’s especially useful when testing analog switches, since counter-strafing can put Rapid Trigger features through their paces.
I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have used a great deal of keyboards. I have also reviewed numerous examples, including those with analog switches and other Gamakay models.
Gamakay TK75HE V2 8K Polling Rate RT Accuracy Hall Effect keyboard: Price Comparison
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stocks, news, data and earnings
stocks, news, data and earnings
European stocks close higher
European stocks closed higher Monday following news that the U.S. and China had reached an agreement to cut tariffs.
The Stoxx 600 climbed 1.1% with mining stocks rallying nearly 5% to lead the gains.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was 0.6% higher as France’s CAC 40 moved up 1.4% and Germany’s DAX climbed 0.2%.
— Ryan Browne
U.S. stocks open higher
Stocks opened higher on Monday, with investor appetite for risk assets growing following a cooling of trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 975 points, or 2.3%. The Nasdaq Composite popped 3.7%, while the S&P 500 added 2.7%.
— Brian Evans
Pharma stocks drop after Trump announces drug pricing plans
Packages of weight loss drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Picture Alliance | Getty Images
The Stoxx Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology index had dropped 2.75% by 1:54 p.m. in London, making it one of the worst-performing sectors in Europe on Monday.
The moves came in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump announcing he would sign an executive order on Monday morning to immediately slash prescription drug prices in America.
“Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%. They will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA!” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
European pharma stocks fell with giants Novo Nordisk down 3%, GSK down 1.9%, AstraZeneca down 3.8% and Roche down 3.6%.
Novo’s stock also edged lower after a trial found that Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro was a more effective weight loss drug than Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster treatment Wegovy. The results of the trial, which were funded by Eli Lilly, were presented at a conference in Malaga, Spain, the BBC reported on Monday.
— Chloe Taylor
Bessent says he expects to meet with China again in ‘next few weeks’
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and ******** officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025.
Valentin Flauraud | Afp | Getty Images
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said he expects to continue talks with China in the near-term to iron out a more concrete trade agreement.
“I would imagine in the next few weeks we will be meeting again to get rolling on a more fulsome agreement,” Bessent told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday.
— Brian Evans
UniCredit CEO says bank will not be pressured into M&A as questions hang over BPM, Commerzbank bids
The CEO of UniCredit told CNBC on Monday that the bank was still weighing its options regarding takeover bids for fellow Italian lender Banco BPM and Germany’s Commerzbank, but would not be swayed by expectations.
“We have a base case, standalone base case, that I think is unbeatable in the next three years from a distribution standpoint and from an EPS growth standpoint. So we’re not going to affect that negatively for anything, and much less on M&A pushed by the pressure that always builds up when you get [to] this point,” Andrea Orcel told CNBC’s “Europe Early Edition.”
“At this point, I think we are in control. On BPM we are reviewing the situation, post the value-destructive deal on Anima and the demands of the golden power, and we haven’t made up our mind yet,” he said.
UniCredit first made an all-share takeover offer for Banco BPM last November, a move formally rejected by its smaller rival last month. Orcel has previously said the deal could be withdrawn if BPM shareholders agreed to pay a higher price in their own takeover bid for fund manager Anima, action they approved in February. UniCredit has also criticized the prescriptions placed on the deal by Italian authorities.
Discussing UniCredit’s concurrent takeover interest in Commerzbank, Orcel told CNBC: “We’re exactly where we thought we would be.”
“We’ve always kept Commerzbank informed from the beginning… We asked for all the authorization. We almost got them all, and we said that at that point we would pause and with patience, wait to engage with a new government and with Commerzbank in a constructive discussion.”
“If a deal is possible, we will pursue, if it’s not possible, we will reassess where we are.”
— Jenni Reid
UniCredit shares jump to 2011 high after first-quarter profit beat
Shares of UniCredit were up 3.5% at 10:00 a.m. in London, trading at their highest level since May 2011 after the Italian lender posted higher-than-expected first quarter net profit.
JPMorgan analysts led by Delphine Lee highlighted the bank’s stronger revenues, particularly in fees and trading, and said they expected low single-digit earnings per share (EPS) consensus upgrades as a result.
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UniCredit share price.
Shipping giant Maersk rises 13% on U.S.-China deal to cut tariffs
AP Moller Maersk shares shot up 13% on Monday after the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily suspend most tariffs on each other’s goods.
The share price of the shipping giant had declined by about 4.6% this year, ahead of the news that suggested a major thawing of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Other stocks in the Stoxx Europe 600 rising more than 5% include Danish electronics manufacturer GN Store Nord, footwear maker Puma, building materials firm Arkema and mining giant Glencore.
— Ganesh Rao
U.S. and China suspend most tariffs in dramatic thawing of tensions
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer address the media after trade talks with China in Geneva, Switzerland, May 11, 2025.
Martial Trezzini | Via Reuters
The U.S. and China on Monday agreed to suspend most tariffs on each other’s goods in a move that shows a major thawing of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The trade agreement means that “reciprocal” tariffs between both countries will be cut from 125% to 10%. The U.S.’ 20% duties on ******** imports relating to fentanyl will remain in place, meaning total tariffs on China stand at 30%.
“We had very productive talks and I believe that the venue, here in Lake Geneva, added great equanimity to what was a very positive process,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a news conference.
Read more here.
— Sam Meredith
UniCredit beats estimates for the 12th consecutive quarter
UniCredit beat profit expectations in the first quarter of 2025, marking the 12th consecutive time the bank has topped estimates.
The Italian lender reported net profit of 2.77 billion euros ($3.11 billion), against the median analyst forecast of 2.34 billion euros, according to LSEG data.
The bank also raised its full-year net profit guidance to 9.3 billion euros, which could take its return on tangible equity to more than 17%. UniCredit had previously expected net profit and RoTE to be “broadly in line” with the previous financial year.
— Ganesh Rao
Bitcoin falls, but remains above $100,000 threshold
Bitcoin slid on Monday, but continued to hold steady above the $100,000 threshold.
The cryptocurrency was down 0.42% to $103,859.94 as of 11.39 a.m. Singapore time.
The latest move is a reversal from its fast gains in the last week, which pushed investors to forecast that it will soon hit its which happened at the end of January.
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Bitcoin prices
Spot gold sinks as investors cheer progress in U.S.-China trade talks
Spot gold plunged Monday as investors cheered early signs of progress in trade talks between the U.S. and China.
As at 9.20 a.m. Singapore time, the bullion was trading 1.85% lower at $3,262.29 per ounce.
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon
Spot gold
The latest moves in the precious metal — which is a traditional hedge against political and financial instability — is a reversal from the 2.6% gain it notched the week before as investors sought refuge in it.
— Amala Balakrishner
European markets: Here are the opening calls
European markets are expected to start the new trading week on a positive note.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 35 points higher at 8,586, Germany’s DAX up 192 points at 23,688, France’s CAC 70 points higher at 7,785 and Italy’s FTSE MIB 366 points higher at 39,139, according to data from IG.
Earnings come from Unicredit on Monday.
— Holly Ellyatt
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Perplexity wrapping talks to raise $500 million at $14 billion valuation
Perplexity wrapping talks to raise $500 million at $14 billion valuation
Perplexity AI is in late-stage talks to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to CNBC.
Accel, the Palo Alto-based venture capital firm, will lead the round, according to the source, who spoke anonymously because the round is not yet finalized. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the late-stage numbers.
The funding is on the lower end of Perplexity’s planned raise, which CNBC reported in March. During those early-stage talks, Perplexity was looking to raise between $500 million and $1 billion in funding at an $18 billion post-money valuation, per a source familiar.
The artificial intelligence search engine company competes against the likes of Google and Microsoft-backed OpenAI. Its valuation in December was $9 billion, triple its $3 billion valuation in June 2024. Perplexity has just under $100 million in annual recurring revenue, or ARR, the source told CNBC in March.
Perplexity has been in the middle of the generative AI ***** that began in late 2022 with the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and it’s betting big on its upcoming AI agent web browser, called Comet. But Perplexity faces increasing competition in the AI search market.
In March, Anthropic launched its web search product, allowing its chatbot Claude to display real-time search results to a subset of users. Last fall, OpenAI launched a search feature within ChatGPT, its viral chatbot, that positioned it to better compete with Perplexity, as well as leading search engines such as Google and Microsoft’s Bing. Google has released AI Overviews within its search product as well, though it sparked controversy over high-profile errors soon after its release.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
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New free-to-play Steam games: Here’s how to play them
New free-to-play Steam games: Here’s how to play them
If you do a quick search for free-to-play games on Steam, you get over 6,700 matches — but that’s not enough free games for Valve. The company adds more and more free titles all the time, and this month we’ve got yet another fresh batch.
Covering genres such as multiplayer, horror, first-person combat, open-world adventure, and 3D platformers, Steam has added well over 20 games since the start of May. Here are some of the best-looking ones:
Hamster Hustle: a multiplayer tag game where you play as ridiculously colored hamsters running around an elaborate cage. The hamsters also dance.
Steam
Tankazooka: a 2D platformer about a broken tank that has to use its barrel gun to propel itself up and forward over obstacles.
Steam
FALARMA – Open World: a pixel art open-world exploration game with missions, side quests, and regular content updates.
Steam
Triage: a point-and-click adventure/narrative game where you play as a doctor in a small town suffering from a strange outbreak of illness.
Steam
Sirocco: an early access MOBA that focuses on battleship warfare with 5v5 gameplay.
Steam
Banshee: a first-person horror game about escaping from a house where all the doors are locked and a murderous banshee is chasing after you.
Steam
Nanika Game Online: an item-matching, tetris-style game with online multiplayer gameplay. It has a simple style, cute pixel art, and a Japanese name that sort of translates to “Something Game Online.”
Steam
If you want to try out any of these games, simply head to the links or throw the name into Steam’s search bar. Not every free game is available across all platforms, so make sure to check the icons above the “Play Game” button. Many titles are Windows-only, but some will also play on macOS and/or SteamOS and Linux.
You can also check the system requirements toward the bottom of the page, though you should be able to play these simple games on just about any setup.
If none of these titles interest you, use the filters and top-seller/top-rated tabs available on Steam’s search page to check out thousands of other free-to-play games. There’s also an “Under $5” section where you can view the games with the tiniest price tags.
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#freetoplay #Steam #games #Heres #play
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