Pelican Press

How iPhone Apps Are Changing After a Recent App Store Ruling How iPhone Apps Are Changing After a Recent App Store Ruling In recent days, iPhone apps have been changing. The Kindle app now lets people buy books directly from its site. Spotify is offering users free trials. And Patreon, a subscription service, is letting people pay creators more money. The changes are an early look at how a recent court ruling could transform the shopping experience on an iPhone. Last week, a federal judge ordered Apple to start allowing apps to offer promotions and collect payments directly from users. The decision makes it possible for apps to offer people new conveniences, like buying books directly from their website. The ruling also lets apps bypass a 30 percent commission that Apple collects on every app *****, which could lead to lower prices for consumers. For more than a decade, Apple required that apps use its payment system for purchases and collected commission on the sales. Now, all of that is open to change. Here’s what could be different in the future and why. What did the judge rule? Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who began working on this case after Epic Games sued Apple in 2020, ruled that Apple could no longer take commissions from sales that link out from the app. She also restricted the company from writing rules that would prevent developers from creating buttons or links allowing people to pay apps directly for their goods and services, and said it could not create messages — known as warning screens — that discourage users from leaving the App Store. Amazon asked to update its Kindle app to allow people to buy books.Credit…Kindle How will iPhone apps change? For years, Kindle has not sold books on its app to avoid Apple’s 30 percent commission. Now, it has added a “Get Book” button that directs users to its website to buy books. Similarly, Apple prevented Spotify from offering free trials to new customers, but now Spotify has a button on its app for a three-month trial. Other apps could begin offering links for buying directly from stores online, which would allow the business to avoid having to pay Apple’s 30 percent commission. Without having to pay those fees, apps could offer users lower prices, reducing a $10 monthly subscription to $7. What will this cost Apple? Apple makes $11 billion a year from app sales in the United States, according to estimates by Morgan Stanley. It won’t lose all of that, but the bank estimates that $2 billion of that is now at risk. How much Apple loses will come down to how willing people are to change their behavior. The decade-old process for buying software and services on apps is not only familiar but also quick. People trust Apple with their credit card information. And the company makes it easy for people to cancel their subscriptions — keeping them all in one place. Many people may be reluctant to leave the App Store to make their purchases, and apps may prefer to maintain the current system. What does this mean for the rest of the world? Now that Apple is required to allow apps to collect payment directly, without paying the company a commission, in the United States, other countries are going to press for similar concessions. Regulators in Europe, Japan and South Korea, which have been asking Apple to loosen its grip on the App Store, would not want their own citizens or developers to have to pay more than Americans did. Could Apple roll back the changes? Apple said it planned to appeal the ruling, but it would be challenging for the company to have the decision overturned. In 2021, the judge wrote a less prescriptive ruling. Apple skirted the rule by introducing a 27 percent commission for app sales. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sided with the judge’s initial ruling from 2021 and is unlikely to change its position, said Mark A. Lemley, a professor of antitrust and technology law at Stanford. “They should take their licks and let it be,” he said. Source link #iPhone #Apps #Changing #App #Store #Ruling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How the TV Hit ‘Fallout’ Became a Champion of Made-in-California How the TV Hit ‘Fallout’ Became a Champion of Made-in-California The show’s producer, Jonathan Nolan, has put himself at the forefront of Hollywood’s push to get California to approve $750 million in tax rebates. Source link #Hit #Fallout #Champion #MadeinCalifornia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Seeks to Strip Away Legal Tool Key to Civil Rights Enforcement Trump Seeks to Strip Away Legal Tool Key to Civil Rights Enforcement President Trump has ordered federal agencies to abandon the use of a longstanding legal tool used to root out discrimination against minorities, a move that could defang the nation’s bedrock civil rights law. In an expansive executive order, Mr. Trump directed the federal government to curtail the use of “disparate-impact liability,” a core tenet used for decades to enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by determining whether policies disproportionately disadvantage certain groups. The little-noticed order, issued last month with a spate of others targeting equity policies, was the latest effort in Mr. Trump’s aggressive push to purge the consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion, or D.E.I., from the federal government and every facet of American life. The directive underscores how Mr. Trump’s crusade to stamp out D.E.I. — a catchall term increasingly used to describe policies that benefit anyone who is not white and male — is now focused not just on targeting programs and policies that may assist historically marginalized groups, but also on the very law created to protect them. “This order aims to destroy the foundation of civil rights protections in this country, and it will have a devastating effect on equity for ****** people and other communities of color,” said Dariely Rodriguez, the acting co-chief counsel at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy group. The disparate-impact test has been crucial to enforcing key portions of the landmark Civil Rights Act, which prohibits recipients of federal funding from discriminating based on race, color or national origin. For decades, it has been relied upon by the government and attorneys to root out discrimination in areas of employment, housing, policing, education and more. Civil rights prosecutors say the disparate-impact test is one of their most important tools for uncovering discrimination because it shows how a seemingly neutral policy or law has different outcomes for different demographic groups, revealing inequities. Lawyers say the test has been crucial in showing how criminal background and credit checks affect employment of ****** people, how physical capacity tests inhibit employment opportunities for women, how zoning regulations could violate fair housing laws, and how schools have meted out overly harsh discipline to ********* students and children with disabilities. Over the last decade, major businesses and organizations have settled cases in which the disparate-impact test was applied, resulting in significant policy changes. One of the largest settlements involved Walmart, which in 2020 agreed to a $20 million settlement in a case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that claimed the company’s practice of giving physical ability tests to applicants for certain grocery warehouse jobs made it more difficult for women to get the positions. The use of the disparate-impact rule, however, has also long been a target of conservatives who say that employers and other entities should not be scrutinized and penalized for the mere implication of discrimination, based largely on statistics. Instead, they argue that such scrutiny should be directed at the explicit and intentional discrimination prohibited by the Civil Rights Act. Opponents say that that disparate-impact rule has been used to unfairly discriminate against white people. In 2009, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., who claimed reverse discrimination when the city threw out a promotional examination on which they had scored better than ****** firefighters. Mr. Trump’s order resurrects a last-ditch effort made in the final days of his first term to repeal disparate-impact regulations through a formal rule-making process, which was nixed by the Biden administration when he left office. The new order, titled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy,” echoes arguments that Mr. Trump has adopted from far-right conservatives, who say that the country has become too focused on its racist history, and that protections from the civil rights era have led to reverse racism against nonminority groups. Disparate-impact liability is part of “a pernicious movement” that seeks to “transform America’s promise of equal opportunity into a divisive pursuit of results preordained by irrelevant immutable characteristics, regardless of individual strengths, effort or achievement,” the order stated. The president ordered federal agencies to “eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible,” under the law and Constitution, and required that agencies “deprioritize enforcement of all statutes and regulations to the extent they include disparate-impact liability.” That means that no new cases are likely to rely on the theory in civil rights enforcement — and existing ones will not be enforced. His order also instructs agencies to evaluate existing consent judgments and permanent injunctions that rely on the legal theory, which means that cases and agreements in which discrimination has been proved could be abandoned. The order takes aim directly at the use of the test in enforcing the Civil Rights Act, requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin repealing and amending any regulations that apply disparate-impact liability to implement the 1964 law. One of the most glaring examples in history of how seemingly race-neutral policies could disenfranchise certain groups are Jim Crow-era literacy tests, which some states set as a condition to vote after ****** people secured rights during Reconstruction. The literacy tests did not ask about race, but were highly subjective in how they were written and administered by white proctors. They disproportionately prevented ****** people from casting ballots, including many who had received an inferior education in segregated schools, and were eventually outlawed with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1971, the Supreme Court established the disparate-impact test in a case that centered on a North Carolina power plant that required job applicants to have a high school diploma and pass an intelligence test to be hired or transferred to a higher-paying department. The court ruled unanimously that the company’s requirements violated the Civil Rights Act because they limited the promotion of minorities and did not measure job capabilities. Mr. Trump’s executive order, which is likely to face legal challenges, falsely claimed that the disparate-impact test was “unlawful” and violated the Constitution. In fact, the measure was codified by Congress in 1991, upheld by the Supreme Court as recently as 2015 as a vital tool in the work of protecting civil rights, and cited in a December 2024 dissent by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, said the disparate impact theory “wrongly equates unequal outcomes with discrimination and actually requires discrimination to rebalance outcomes.” ”The Trump administration is dedicated to advancing equality, combating discrimination and promoting merit-based decisions, upholding the rule of law as outlined in the U.S. Constitution,” Mr. Fields said. GianCarlo Canaparo, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation who has argued that eliminating disparate impact would be the final blow to D.E.I., noted that Mr. Trump would need the help of Congress to fully eradicate the rule. But he said the president’s order would still have a “salutary” impact on the American public by helping people understand that racial animus and disparate outcomes “are not the same things, and they shouldn’t be treated the same way in law.” “These claims that racial discrimination is the sole cause of racial disparities in this country is just empirically false,” Mr. Canaparo said. “The problem with disparate-impact liability is that it presumes that falsehood is true, and accordingly distorts civil rights.” Mr. Trump’s order contends that businesses and employers face an “insurmountable” task of proving they did not intend to discriminate when there are different outcomes for different groups, and that disparate impact forced them to ”engage in racial balancing to avoid potentially crippling legal liability.” Catherine E. Lhamon, who served as the head of the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights under Presidents Barack Obama and Joseph R. Biden Jr., disputed that. Her office conducted several disparate-impact investigations that found no intentional wrongdoing, she said. “It’s a rigorous test,” Ms. Lhamon said, “and sometimes it proves discrimination and sometimes it doesn’t.” The order’s impact will be particularly felt at the Education Department, where the Office for Civil Rights has heavily relied on data showing disparate outcomes when investigating complaints of discrimination in schools. In one case, the office examined large disparities in the rates of Native American students being disciplined, particularly for truancy, compared with their white peers in the Rapid City Area Schools in South Dakota. In the course of the investigation, the school superintendent attributed the tardiness of Native American students to “Indian Time,” the Education Department report stated. The superintendent later apologized and was fired. Last year, the school district agreed to make changes to its practices as part of a voluntary resolution agreement with the Education Department. The Trump administration abruptly ended that agreement in April, citing the president’s directives to eliminate race-conscious policies. The Justice Department has also long relied on the theory to identify patterns of police misconduct and other discrimination pervasive in communities of color. In 2018, the department helped secure a settlement and a consent decree with the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Fire Department after finding that ****** firefighters were blocked from promotions because of a test that did not prove necessary for the fire department’s operations. Now the Justice Department’s embattled civil rights division has halted the use of disparate-impact investigations altogether, officials said. In an interview last month, Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, praised the executive order for rolling back what she called “a very discredited” theory that “should be overruled.” “We’re not in that business anymore, pursuant to the executive order,” she told the conservative podcast host Glenn Beck. She went on to suggest that the level of discrimination that spurred civil rights laws no longer existed. “It’s 2025, today,” she said, “and the idea that some police department or some big employer can be sued because of statistics, which can be manipulated, is ludicrous and it is unfair.” Civil rights advocates say Mr. Trump is trying to effectively gut anti-discrimination laws by fiat. Ms. Rodriguez, of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said disparate impact had become a crucial guardrail for “ensuring that there are no artificial barriers that are limiting equal access to economic opportunity in every facet of our daily life.” The test helps root out discrimination that many people may not realize is constraining their opportunities, she added. “The impact of this,” Ms. Rodriguez said of Mr. Trump’s order, “cannot be overstated.” Source link #Trump #Seeks #Strip #Legal #Tool #Key #Civil #Rights #Enforcement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oh my God, it's Rob! – Pope's brother speaks of joy Oh my God, it's Rob! – Pope's brother speaks of joy Pope Leo XIV’s brother Louis says nothing will be the same again after his appointment. Source link #God #it039s #Rob #Pope039s #brother #speaks #joy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quebec junior hockey player Noah Corson’s sex assault sentence a ‘wake up call’ to young men, advocate says Quebec junior hockey player Noah Corson’s sex assault sentence a ‘wake up call’ to young men, advocate says Warning: This story contains sensitive subject matter. Discretion is advised. The recent sentencing of a Quebec junior hockey player has renewed calls for young men to better understand consent, says a ******* assault advocate. On Monday, former Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) player Noah Corson was sentenced to two years less a day in jail for ********* assaulting a 15-year-old girl during group sex involving two other players. Corson, the son of former Montreal Canadiens player Shayne Corson, received his sentence in Drummondville, Que., from Judge Paul Dunnigan. The assault happened in 2016, in Drummondville, with two other players who were both then 17-year-old minors. They both pleaded guilty in youth court and their identities are protected by a publication ban. Corson, now 27, was 18 at the time and played with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Corson had testified he believed the girl was at least 16. Story continues below advertisement Dunnigan based his ruling not on the victim’s claim that she did not consent to the group sex, but on Corson’s failure to take reasonable steps to confirm the age of the victim, whose identity is also protected. In an interview with Global News on Thursday, ******* assault and exploitation advocate Jennie-Laure Sully with CLES, said, “She was underage, she did not have the legal age of consent, so consent was not possible. It was his responsibility to check her age. Mistake number one is to presume.” Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. The Criminal Code says a person must be at least 16 years old to consent to sex, though there is an exception for 14- and 15-year-olds when their ******* partner is less than five years older than them. More on Canada More videos However, Dunnigan cited legal precedent that states the exception does not apply to cases involving more than two participants in a ******* act. Sully agreed, saying this wasn’t a simple ******* encounter between two people, but between a group of three junior hockey league players and one girl, which raises questions around power and coercion. While sex education programs should be teaching young people about consent and the law, Sully said those working with victims have seen a noticeable increase in ******* assault cases by young men and boys. “Things were starting to change after the Me Too movement and the era that followed. It had a big cultural impact. But I think it effected older men who saw the consequences unfold and feared for themselves and their careers,” Sully said. Story continues below advertisement Related News ‘I am saying my truth’: World junior complainant questioned over word choice ‘They were laughing at me’: Female complainant tells world junior sex assault jury “But today’s younger men and boys, they were too young during that time, they didn’t get that fear — the fear of repercussions. And there’s a sort of backlash to that now, an overcorrection, an online Andrew Tate culture that is influencing this younger generation.” The Crown had sought a 30-month sentence, while the defence representing Corson argued for a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community. During sentencing, the judge noted findings in a pre-sentence report that said, “The accused’s background being that of hockey, the internal culture linked to it could have influenced his thinking or that popularity and success could have given way to a relative feeling of impunity and a certain objectification of women.” Sully also spoke about what she called the “negative influence of entitlement and a sense of impunity” that young boys can feel when in groups. This comes amid an ongoing high-profile world junior ******* assault trial in Ontario this week involving five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team. When it comes to addressing ******* violence embedded in junior hockey culture, Quebec’s sports minister, Isabelle Charest, told Global News in a statement that she “would first like to reiterate that we are actively working on these issues, particularly with regard to driving cultural change in hockey.” Story continues below advertisement She added that she strongly encourages victims to continue to come forward. When asked for comment on Corson’s sentencing, the QMJHL spokesperson Raphaël Doucet said, “Our thoughts are with the victim and we wish her all the best in the future.” Corson’s lawyers say they will appeal the guilty verdict. Support is available for people who have been ********* assaulted or abused. You can access crisis lines and local support services. Visit the Department of Justice’s Victim Services Directory for a list of resources in your area. — with files from The ********* Press &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Quebec #junior #hockey #player #Noah #Corsons #sex #assault #sentence #wake #call #young #men #advocate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Era of AI PCs Begins: AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series Puts Smart Features in Your Hands New Era of AI PCs Begins: AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series Puts Smart Features in Your Hands Gone are the days when artificial intelligence (AI) was only restricted to servers and applications. With the new wave of laptops since 2024, we have seen an unprecedented growth of AI PCs, all thanks to the latest processors that come loaded with a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to handle all the AI-related tasks on the device. And riding high on this tide is AMD. As one of the biggest players in the hardware industry, AMD continues to play an important role in the new wave of AI PCs, especially with its latest Ryzen AI 300 series of processors. The AI processors from the brand come loaded with top-of-the-line features and specifications, making your laptop powerful and smarter for a wide range of laptops. That said, what truly sets the Ryzen AI 300 Series apart is its built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU), powered by AMD’s XDNA architecture. Delivering up to 50 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), the NPU handles demanding AI workloads with remarkable speed and efficiency. So, if you are wondering what makes it stand out from the rest of the competition, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will talk in-depth about how AMD is changing this space with its latest generation of AI processors. AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series is Tailor-Made for Modern AI PCs The latest lineup from AMD comes with all the features and specifications that provide state-of-the-art performance and make your PC smarter. The new chipset from the brand is built on three main pillars: a next-gen CPU based on Zen architecture, an integrated GPU with Radeon graphics, and a dedicated NPU with AMD XDNA. These ensure that customers can get a more intelligent, faster, and efficient AI experience across the board. The AMD Ryzen AI lineup consists of two different types of processors: one for high-end performance and one for mainstream. The high-end chipsets, including the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 And AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, are meant for premium notebooks that offer up to 12-core configurations, up to 55 TOPS of AI performance, 4nm Zen 5 architecture, and more. These chipsets are ideal for those who need top-tier performance and AI capabilities. Moving on, we have the mainstream chipsets from the brand. These include chipsets like AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and AMD Ryzen AI 5 340. The processors come loaded with up to 8-core configurations, up to 50 TOPS AI performance, 4nm Zen5 architecture, and more. These are designed to provide balanced performance for everyday usage. If you want to know the full lineup of the latest AMD chipsets, then do check out the table below: Model Cores / Threads Boost Clock (GHz) Base Clock (GHz) TDP (W) Total Cache Architecture Graphics Model NPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 12 / 24 5.1 2 15–54 36MB 4nm Zen 5 Radeon 890M Up to 55 TOPS AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 12 / 24 5.1 2 15–54 36MB 4nm Zen 5 Radeon 890M Up to 50 TOPS AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 10 / 20 5 2 15–54 34MB 4nm Zen 5 Radeon 880M Up to 50 TOPS AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 8 / 16 5 2 15–54 24MB 4nm Zen 5 Radeon 860M Up to 50 TOPS AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 6 / 12 4.8 2 15–54 22MB 4nm Zen 5 Radeon 840M Up to 50 TOPS AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series Enhances Everyday Computing with AI The best part about the all-new AMD Ryzen AI 300 series is the dedicated NPU that delivers 50 TOPS of performance. This is well above Microsoft’s 40 TOPS requirements for a CoPilot+ PC, meaning that these processors can run almost all the AI tasks smoothly and quickly on the device. This makes it ideal to use most of the Microsoft Copilot+ features with ease. Smarter Productivity With built-in AMD Ryzen AI, everyday tools like Microsoft Copilot work faster and more fluidly. Features like advanced background blur and eye-gaze correction while using Zoom or Teams for video calling are all processed locally by the NPU. Moreover, with real-time captions and translations, one can get subtitles in their preferred language during a Zoom call or while watching a movie. Enhanced Developer Workflows Software developers can streamline their coding process with AI models like Microsoft Phi-3. Thanks to the Ryzen NPU, AI-assisted code generation and bug fixes can run directly on the device, improving speed and privacy while cutting back on cloud dependencies. Creativity on the Go This is not it. The AI Engine is also useful for content creators to improve the quality of their work. For example, Topaz Labs’ AI tools can remove unwanted objects from images instantly, which can be a big time-saver for photographers. Moreover, one can also upscale old, low-resolution photos with tools like Topaz AI or colourise ****** and white photos using Adobe’s Photoshop with the help of the AMD XDNA AI engine. Moreover, AI-powered platforms like Amuse 2.2 turn sketches and prompts into fully realized artwork—accelerated by local AI compute power. Elevated Gaming Experience For casual gamers, the AMD processors bring a breath of fresh air. For example, the Radeon 800M integrated graphics, which AMD says are the fastest in class, offers impressive graphics performance for those who are looking for a casual gaming experience in a thin-and-light laptop. AMD’s Variable Graphics Memory (VGM), coupled with Fluid Motion Frames 2, further tunes performance under the hood. This simply means that gameplay on a AMD-powered laptop is not only smooth but visually stunning. All-Day Battery Performance Finally, power efficiency is a hallmark of the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series. Even with a powerful chipset like Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, users can get up to 26 hours of video playback or 16 hours of browsing. Now that you know the features and benefits of the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processor, check out these new laptops that make the most of their abilities. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 Gen 10 The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 Gen 10 takes advantage of the mainstream AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor that comes loaded with an integrated AMD Radeon 860M graphics. The chipset comes with a clock speed of up to 5.0GHz, delivering a good mix of performance and efficiency. It also packs a 14-inch WUXGA OLED display that provides 100 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut, 1920 x 1200 resolution, 400nits of brightness, and a low blue light filter. It also features a backlit keyboard and offers 24GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD storage. The laptop also comes loaded with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for quick wireless connectivity. All these are packed in a 1.4kg chassis, which makes it a powerful AI PC in this price segment. Buy Now HP Omnibook 5 HP Omnibook 5 is yet another popular laptop that runs on the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor. The latest processor provides a 16-thread performance and a 50 TOPS performance, all thanks to the dedicated NPU. This simply means that the laptop can handle all the AI workloads with blazing-fast speeds and smart power efficiency. Moreover, the laptop also comes loaded with integrated AMD Radeon 860M graphics that delivers great performance, which is ideal for content creation. The laptop also features a 16-inch 2K IPS display that provides 300nits of peak brightness. The device also features 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB of PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD storage. For connectivity, the laptop features a Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) module and Bluetooth 5.4 for stable wireless performance. Buy Now ASUS Zenbook S16 Lastly, we have the Asus Zenbook S16 that also packs a punch, all thanks to the AMD Ryzen AI processor. The device is loaded with a sleek design language and offers a sharp 16-inch 3K OLED display. The display comes with 2880 x 1800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and 500nits of peak brightness. The device features an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor and Radeon 860M graphics. It also packs 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Moreover, you can get Microsoft 365 Basic for one year and Office Home 2024 edition for a lifetime with this laptop. The device features a 78Wh battery and comes with an FHD camera with an IR function for Windows Hello support. Moreover, you also get Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, for fast and stable wireless connectivity. Buy Now Conclusion To conclude, the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series marks a turning point in how we use laptops. For the first time, AMD has put a dedicated neural processor into thin-and-light PCs, enabling a host of on-device intelligence without needing the cloud. The new AI PCs, powered by the AMD chipsets, are shaping a new generation of intelligent and efficient laptops designed to deliver smart experiences. Whether you’re a content creator brushing up on photos, a developer writing code, a manager on video calls, or just an everyday user binge-watching movies, the new Ryzen AI-powered machines promise to be more responsive and future-ready than ever. So, if you are planning to buy a new AMD Ryzen AI 300-powered machine, check out full range on Amazon India. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Era #PCs #Begins #AMD #Ryzen #Series #Puts #Smart #Features #Hands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Two Hungarians detained over alleged spy plot Two Hungarians detained over alleged spy plot Ukraine says it has uncovered a Hungarian-operated spy network attempting to obtain intelligence about its defences. The country’s security service said it had detained two alleged Hungarian spies who it accused of gathering intelligence on its air defence systems. “For the first time in Ukraine’s history, the Security Service has exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network that was conducting espionage activities to the detriment of our state,” the SBU said. Hungary is a member of the European Union and Nato – both firm allies of Ukraine – but President Viktor Orban has repeatedly sided with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. The Hungarian government has not responded to the claims. The alleged spy network was established by Hungary’s military intelligence with the aim of collecting data about the location of air defence systems in the western Zakarpattia region, which sits near Ukraine’s border with Hungary, the SBU said. The spies had also been looking into the public sentiment among local residents to predict their response in the event of a Hungarian incursion, according to the SBU. The SBU gave no indication that the alleged plot was in aid of Russia. The two people detained were a woman and a man who were former members of the Ukrainian military, the security service said. The alleged spies were taken into custody at their homes, Ukrainian news agency Interfax reported, and phones and other evidence which indicated they were spies were seized during a search. The detainees are suspected of treason and face up to life imprisonment. Source link #Hungarians #detained #alleged #spy #plot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is behind the name Robert Prevost has chosen? What is behind the name Robert Prevost has chosen? Maria Zaccaro BBC World Service Reuters Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope and will be known as Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old is the first American to become as pontiff and will lead members of the Catholic Church’s global community of 1.4bn people. Born in Chicago, he is seen as a reformer and worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there. He also has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges in the local Church. Why do popes choose different names? One of the first acts of a new pope is to choose a new name, changing their baptismal one. The decision is part of a longstanding tradition but it has not always been like that. For more than 500 years, popes used their own names. This then changed to symbolic names in order to simplify their given names or to refer to previous pontiffs. Over the years, popes have often chosen the names of their immediate or distant predecessors out of respect or admiration and to signal the desire to follow in their footsteps and continue the most relevant pontificates. For example, Pope Francis said his name honoured St Francis of Assisi, and that he was inspired by his Brazilian friend Cardinal Claudio Hummes. Reuters Americans showed their joy at the election of the first pope from the US Why has the new Pope chosen Leo XIV as a name? The new Pope has not yet specified why he has decided to be known as Pope Leo XIV. There could be many reasons for it, but the name Leo has been used by many popes over the years. Pope Leo I, also known as St Leo the Great, was pontiff between 440 and 461 AD. He was the 45th pope in history and became known for his commitment to peace. According to legend, the miraculous apparition of Saints Peter and Paul during the meeting between Pope Leo I and Attila the king of the Huns in 452 AD made the latter desist from invading Italy. The scene was then depicted by Raphael in a fresco. Who was Leo XIII?Getty Images King Leo XIII was known for his dedication to social justice The last pope to choose the name Leo was Pope Leo XIII, an Italian whose baptismal name was Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci. Elected in 1878, he was the 256th occupant of the throne of St Peter and led the Catholic Church until his death in 1903. He is remembered as a pope who was dedicated to social policies and social justice. He is particularly known for issuing an encyclical – a letter sent to bishops of the Church – called “Rerum Novarum”, a Latin expression which means “Of New Things”. The encyclical included topics such as workers’ rights and social justice. Reuters What are the most popular papal names? Leo is among some of the most popular papal names. The most commonly used name has been John, first chosen in 523 by Saint John I, Pope and martyr. The last pope to choose this name was Italian Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, elected Pope John XXIII in 1958, who was proclaimed Saint by Pope Francis in 2014. Reuters Source link #Robert #Prevost #chosen Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Diablo 4's Berserk Crossover DLC Costs an Insane $150 Diablo 4's Berserk Crossover DLC Costs an Insane $150 And there’s no bundle Source link #Diablo #4039s #Berserk #Crossover #DLC #Costs #Insane Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Officials Seek to Bring First White Afrikaner Refugees to U.S. Next Week – The New York Times Trump Officials Seek to Bring First White Afrikaner Refugees to U.S. Next Week – The New York Times Trump Officials Seek to Bring First White Afrikaner Refugees to U.S. Next Week The New York TimesFirst Afrikaners granted refugee status due to arrive in U.S. NPRTrump Taps Refugee Fund To Welcome White South Africans Within Days The LeverFirst set of white South African refugees set to arrive the U.S amid rising tensions Business Insider AfricaAmid Near-Total Asylum Ban, Trump Welcomes White South Africans Truthout Source link #Trump #Officials #Seek #Bring #White #Afrikaner #Refugees #U.S #Week #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA VI Early Comparison Highlights Massive Jump in Character Detail, Environments & More Over GTA V GTA VI Early Comparison Highlights Massive Jump in Character Detail, Environments & More Over GTA V CrimsonWing6923h ago I mean you can tell if you’ve played GTA games, like the walking into the home is a cutscene to gameplay transition, the weight lifting is gameplay, the first person driving view is, and the riding the motorcycle while a plane is behind you is as well. There’s probably more, but it’s impressive that it’s difficult to tell. The other thing I noticed is in previous GTA trailers they’ve shown missions but used cinematic camera angles on them for the trailer. So maybe the swamp chase is gameplay. Man, this game… my hype is through the roof. I’m just hoping what we see isn’t going to be massively downgraded. The fact that it’s shown on PS5 makes me think this is really it. Source link #GTA #Early #Comparison #Highlights #Massive #Jump #Character #Detail #Environments #GTA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s tax cuts are set to shrink after GOP flinches at deep spending cuts Trump’s tax cuts are set to shrink after GOP flinches at deep spending cuts President Donald Trump wanted a “big, beautiful bill.” Now Republicans are having to take some of the shine off of it. GOP leaders on Capitol Hill signaled Thursday they are scaling back their tax-cutting ambitions after running into difficulty making deep spending cuts and facing stern warnings from Republican deficit hawks who are threatening to vote against Trump’s sprawling megabill. On the chopping block could be a litany of Trump demands, including a permanent extension of the tax cuts passed during his first term, as well as second-term campaign promises to provide tax relief to seniors while also exempting taxes on tips and overtime earnings. Those provisions could end up getting enacted only temporarily, according to four Republican lawmakers, some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity. With key committees struggling to meet a $2 trillion spending cut target, Speaker Mike Johnson told a group of House Republicans Thursday he is now targeting $4 trillion of tax cuts. That’s a half-trillion dollars less than many in the GOP had hoped, and it’s likely below the threshold needed to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent — one of Trump’s earliest demands for the party-line megabill. “Republicans talk a big game … about reining in reckless spending,” House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) told reporters. “You won’t get the full permanency in the tax policy on all the provisions if we don’t get to the $2 trillion in savings, and that’s unfortunate.” That cake is not yet totally baked: Republican leaders are still exploring a request from Trump to increase income taxes on the highest-earning Americans — from 37 percent to 39.6 percent, the level that prevailed before the 2017 law — in order to make room for more tax cuts elsewhere. The House’s top tax writer, Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), is set to visit the White House Friday as GOP leaders grapple with the idea of a more modest package. Trump posted Wednesday on Truth Social that the bill would deliver “the biggest Tax Cut for Middle and Working Class Americans by far.” “We are going to do NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON SENIORS’ SOCIAL SECURITY, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, and much more,” he wrote. Under Johnson’s new $4 trillion tax plan, however, Smith may not be able to deliver on all of Trump’s requests. Many of the desired tax cuts might be in place for only a few years — forcing future Congresses to decide whether to keep them in place. Time is running out for Republicans to put the puzzle pieces together. Johnson is pushing to have three key committees vote on their portions of the bill next week. And with the committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Agriculture all currently slated to convene on Tuesday, the window to make changes to the overall package is closing quickly. Committee rules give the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is weighing major Medicaid changes, until 24 hours before the meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. to release final legislative language. Ways and Means is aiming to meet at the same time. Even if House GOP leaders manage to pull the megabill together, the Senate is poised to revise many of the policies. Many GOP senators have balked at making deep cuts to Medicaid and pushing food aid costs onto the states, which could trim back the cuts further, and Senate tax writers are pushing back on the higher top-earner rate. “I’m not excited about the proposal, but I have to say, there are a number of people in both the House and the Senate who are, and if the president weighs in favor of it, then that’s going to be a big factor that we have to take into consideration as well,” Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said Thursday in an interview with talk show host Hugh Hewitt. Crapo has been an outspoken advocate for essentially writing off the cost of permanently extending the 2017 tax cuts and accounting only for the cost of new tax provisions. But the politics in the House are different, where a cadre of fiscal hawks are demanding that GOP leaders hold spending cuts and tax cuts in rough balance. Smith had already indicated it would be difficult to make the 2017 bill permanent under the House’s fiscal framework, which envisioned $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts. (Fiscal hawks are counting on economic growth and other “dynamic” effects to make up the difference.) Now that Johnson is planning on $500 billion less in tax cuts, tax writers on the committee will have to make some very difficult choices on what to prioritize. One tax writer, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.), said Wednesday that he expects a number of tax provisions to be temporary, with some extended for four, six or eight years. Those include various pieces of Trump’s 2017 tax law, such as tax deductions for businesses, individual tax rates and estate taxes. House Republicans have also wanted to restore three critical business provisions, which would cost more than $600 billion to make permanent. Then, Smith has to find room for enacting Trump’s campaign priorities, such as his ideas on tips, overtime and Social Security. Even with revenue-generating proposals — such as increasing the tax on university endowments and repealing Biden-era clean energy credits — the math is not adding up for Republicans who want to fit it all in. That’s to say nothing of the push from blue-state Republicans to increase the income tax deduction for state and local taxes. The so-called SALT Republicans presented proposals to Ways and Means members Wednesday, but they left far from a resolution that would satisfy both sides. On Thursday evening, New York Republicans Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler and Elise Stefanik rejected one House GOP idea under discussion: increasing the SALT deduction from $10,000 to $30,000. They called the number “insulting.” “We were on the 25-yard line with about 75 yards to go,” LaLota told reporters Thursday. “We got sacked at that meeting. We probably lost five to ten yards.” Meanwhile, House GOP efforts to amp up spending cuts have largely faltered. On Medicaid — which had been targeted for as much as $600 billion in savings — Republicans have found consensus on only the more modest proposals, such as adding work requirements in the program, strengthening eligibility checks and booting noncitizens from the rolls. Johnson ruled out one of the most controversial Medicaid cuts GOP leaders had been pursuing, slashing the federal cost share for the joint federal-state program, after meeting with moderates Tuesday evening. And House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said a policy intended to lower drug prices in the program that the White House has pitched is likely off the table, too. Another ambitious cost-cutting proposal — capping the federal payments for at least some Medicaid enrollees — remains an option, though it’s politically explosive. Ultraconservatives are demanding those kinds of “structural” changes, but moderates are wary. In a report requested by Democrats, the Congressional Budget Office estimated Wednesday that a similar policy to what is being discussed could lead to 3.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage and 1.5 million people going uninsured. It would, however, generate $225 billion in savings. “It’s a sensitive thing,” Johnson conceded Thursday. House Republicans also still need to convince centrist holdouts to back a controversial proposal to shift some costs of food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to states for the first time ahead of the scheduled House Agriculture Committee meeting. While the pared-down tax cuts might represent a setback for the Trump agenda, some in the White House have been relieved that Congress has stepped back from the most far-reaching proposals for safety-net cuts, according to two people granted anonymity to describe the private reactions, and are privately rooting for the swing-district moderates to win out over hard-liners. Trump has promised the “largest tax cuts in history,” but he’s also repeatedly pledged not to cut Americans’ government benefits — and he’s recently grown uncomfortable with proposals for far-reaching Medicaid cuts. Brian Faler and Robert King contributed to this report. Source link #Trumps #tax #cuts #set #shrink #GOP #flinches #deep #spending #cuts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fremantle Dockers handed themselves Mission Impossible when they expected young squad to be AFL flag contender Fremantle Dockers handed themselves Mission Impossible when they expected young squad to be AFL flag contender Fremantle’s decision to declare themselves as a flag contender was bold, but it needed them to defy history. It’s now put pressure on a squad that’s not experienced enough to be ready, writes Craig O’Donoghue. Source link #Fremantle #Dockers #handed #Mission #Impossible #expected #young #squad #AFL #flag #contender Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Open-world Survival Game 'Horizon Journey' Launches June 27th Open-world Survival Game 'Horizon Journey' Launches June 27th Mars based Open-World Survival Game Horizon Journey officially launches on Steam June 27th, 2025; created using NASA imagery. Source link #Openworld #Survival #Game #039Horizon #Journey039 #Launches #June #27th Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Silicon Chips for Upcoming Mac Models, AI Servers Reportedly in Development Apple Silicon Chips for Upcoming Mac Models, AI Servers Reportedly in Development Apple Silicon was first unveiled by the company in 2020, and the company transitioned to its in-house chips from Intel over a two-year ******* that ended in mid-2023. While the company is expected to launch new Mac computers with its next-generation M5 chip later this year, details of its processors — expected to arrive in 2026 and 2027 — have surfaced online. The company is also said to be working on chips for its AI servers, to process AI requests in the cloud. Apple Silicon Chip Codenames for M5, M6 and AI Servers Leaked According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is working on its M6 chip, which is expected to power its Mac computers that will debut in 2026. This processor is codenamed Komodo, and it is likely to arrive a year after this year’s M5 chip arrives on Apple’s next generation MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models. Apple is also developing its seventh generation M7 chip, which is internally referred to as Borneo, according to the report. If the company’s previous release schedule is any indication, Apple could launch updated Mac computers equipped with M7 chips in 2027. The report also refers to another chip in development, which is codenamed ‘Sotra’. It is said to be an “advanced Mac chip” but there’s no additional information on how it will differ from the other Apple Silicon processors or when it is likely to be unveiled. Apple is also developing in-house chips for its AI servers, as per the report. While several Apple Intelligence features are designed to run on a user’s device, the company will also offload some AI requests and process them remotely on its servers. These servers are expected to switch to dedicated chips, instead of using Apple’s Mac chips. The biggest advantage of these new AI server ships will reportedly be the number of CPU and GPU cores — up to eight times the number of cores available on the top-of-the-line M3 Ultra chip. This project is referred to as ‘Baltra’ at the Cupertino company, and could be completed over the next couple of years. Source link #Apple #Silicon #Chips #Upcoming #Mac #Models #Servers #Reportedly #Development Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nissan CVT Class-Action Suit Ends with $20,000 for Drivers, $3.4 Million for Lawyers Nissan CVT Class-Action Suit Ends with $20,000 for Drivers, $3.4 Million for Lawyers Nissan and the plaintiffs of a class-action lawsuit alleging that continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) in its Murano and Maxima models were defective have reached a settlement as of Wednesday. As a result, the automaker will pay out more than $3 million and provide an extended warranty for the relevant customers. But like in any legal matter, reading the fine print is key. As first reported by CarComplaints.com, the lawsuit, which was filed in Tennessee in October 2022, alleged that Nissan sold CVTs it knew were faulty. The plaintiffs wanted Nissan to replace the transmissions in all affected vehicles, which included Muranos from model years 2015–2018 and Maximas from model years 2016–2018. In addition, they wanted Nissan to stop selling or leasing vehicles nationwide and explain to customers that the CVTs were defective. That isn’t even close to what Nissan ultimately settled for, though. NISSAN According to court documents, Nissan settled, but didn’t admit any wrongdoing. Instead, the company offered a few things to salve the minds of the plaintiffs. First and foremost, they agreed to a $3,470,000 payout. Of course, only $5000 of that is going to each of the four plaintiffs; the other $3,450,000 is going to the lawyers representing the owners in the case. Next, Nissan agreed to extend warranty coverage for vehicles in the affected pool. The kicker, though, is that the new warranty covers these cars for 84 months or 84,000 miles, whichever comes first. Seeing as the newest of these cars is from 2018, almost all of them have already hit that seven-year mark. Nissan Notably, Nissan did say it would reimburse any customer who paid for a “qualifying” gearbox repair in the past. If customers had their CVT replaced by Nissan, it would cover the full cost; if they had the work done at an independent shop, they would pay up to $5000 for that work. Importantly, the work had to have happened within the new extended warranty ******* to qualify for reimbursement. Affected customers do have one more option, though. They can get $1500 off of a new Nissan or Infiniti purchase or lease if they “had two (2) or more replacements or repairs to the transmission assembly (including the valve body and torque converter) or ATCU during their ownership experience.” Nissan isn’t being wildly generous here, though. Customers who also qualify for the reimbursement have to choose between that and this new-car voucher. A final fairness hearing is scheduled for July 18, when the settlement could become official. You Might Also Like Source link #Nissan #CVT #ClassAction #Suit #Ends #Drivers #Million #Lawyers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Vice City’s Phil Cassidy Going to be in GTA 6? Explained Is Vice City’s Phil Cassidy Going to be in GTA 6? Explained CrimsonWing6923h ago I mean you can tell if you’ve played GTA games, like the walking into the home is a cutscene to gameplay transition, the weight lifting is gameplay, the first person driving view is, and the riding the motorcycle while a plane is behind you is as well. There’s probably more, but it’s impressive that it’s difficult to tell. The other thing I noticed is in previous GTA trailers they’ve shown missions but used cinematic camera angles on them for the trailer. So maybe the swamp chase is gameplay. Man, this game… my hype is through the roof. I’m just hoping what we see isn’t going to be massively downgraded. The fact that it’s shown on PS5 makes me think this is really it. Source link #Vice #Citys #Phil #Cassidy #GTA #Explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

10% tariffs are here to stay 10% tariffs are here to stay President Donald Trump listens as Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain speaks to him on the speaker phone in the Oval Office at the White House on May 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images The U.K. and U.S. agreed to a landmark trade deal on Thursday — yet the agreement appears to be far from free of tariffs. The deal is the first made by the United States since President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world last month. The United Kingdom’s position as one of a handful of countries where the U.S. boasts a trade surplus in goods — meaning the U.S. exports more to the U.K. than it imports — put the country at the front of the ****** for officials to broker an agreement with the Trump administration. However, even Britain, with its “special relationship” with the U.S., didn’t manage to persuade Trump to drop all tariffs during trade talks. Under the deal, the U.K. can export 100,000 vehicles each year at a 10% rate, with any additional vehicles facing 25% duties. British steelmakers and the aluminum industry will be able to export tariff-free, down from the 25% rate that the U.S. imposed in February. The aluminum sector isn’t moving to the U.S. despite tariffs — due to one key reason However, all other goods imported to the U.S. from the U.K. will still be subject to a 10% baseline tariff — which Trump says is the lowest country-specific tariff that will be applied to trading partners. Trump also suggested the deal is likely to be rare due to the two countries’ balanced trading relationship and close political ties — meaning it’s unlikely any country will be tariff-free under his second administration. Asked if the 10% baseline tariff is a template for future trade deals, Trump said: “That’s a low number.” “They made a good deal,” he added. “Some will be much higher because they have massive trade surpluses.” Analysts took that to mean that tariffs of 10% at the very minimum are the best deal other countries and trading blocs could achieve. “The details of the US-*** deal suggest that the US 10% baseline tariff is likely to remain in place for other trading partners with virtually no exceptions, but signals more flexibility than expected on sectoral tariffs,” said Jan Hatzius, chief economist and head of global investment research at Goldman Sachs. JPMorgan’s U.S. Economist Abiel Reinhart also noted that “the chances that a rate of at least 10% on most goods across most countries could be maintained this year,” in a note to clients. However, Reinhart pointed out that the carve-outs the United Kingdom secured for its auto, steel and aluminum sectors indicated the U.S. may be willing to cut bespoke — yet narrower in scope — deals with other nations. “This has been a key sticking point in recent trade discussions with Japan, given the importance of its auto sector,” Reinhart added. “But it’s also possible that the US was more willing to make concessions with the *** on autos given that the *** only accounts for about 2.5% of US imports of vehicles and parts. By contrast, Japan accounts for close to 12%.” However, Rella Suskin, equity analyst and autos expert at Morningstar, pointed out that the deal to reduce tariffs on only 100,000 cars effectively capped the market share of many of Britain’s largest automakers, including ***** Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover. Instead, it would benefit automakers such as BMW that import auto parts tariff-free and assemble vehicles in the U.S., according to Suskin. “The limitation of the benefit of the *** being able to export 100 000 cars annually to the US at a 10% tariff means that Jaguar is unable to take any market share from a “preferential” tariff relative to European automakers,” Suskin said. Andrew Hood, head of international trade at European law firm Fieldfisher and former advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, said the deal did more to support “the wider ***-US relationship” than help smooth trade between the two countries. “It is notable that the deal is far more restricted than most Free Trade Agreements. It does not undo the 10% tariffs recently applied by the Trump Administration,” Hood said. “Rather, the deal focuses on supporting particular sectors, notably the automotive industry, ethanol producers and the steel and aluminium manufacturers where tariffs have been substantially reduced or eliminated.” As damaging the residual 10% tariffs could be for the U.K., others point out the deal could dent U.S. economic growth too. “While exemptions will nibble away at the effective tariff rate, with the baseline 10% not going anywhere, the average US tariff is still set to remain in double digits, which will deliver a big hit to real incomes in the US which will cause growth to slow sharply in the second half of the year, ” said Michael Pearce, deputy chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. Source link #tariffs #stay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Humble Choice Bundle May 2025 Lineup Includes Evil West Humble Choice Bundle May 2025 Lineup Includes Evil West The lineup of Humble Choice Bundle games for May, 2025 have been revealed, and a prominent titles on the list is Evil West. Source link #Humble #Choice #Bundle #Lineup #Includes #Evil #West Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Updates on restocks from Walmart, GameStop, Target, Best Buy and other retailers Updates on restocks from Walmart, GameStop, Target, Best Buy and other retailers Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders appear to have finally gone live at Nintendo’s online store — but only if you’ve received an invite. As spotted by reliable stock tracker Wario64, the My Nintendo Store looks to have sent out its first wave of Switch 2 pre-order invites on Thursday to those who previously registered their interest and meet the company’s “priority criteria.” Users on Reddit and the gaming forum ResetEra have also reported receiving invites and being able to pre-order. If you’ve been chosen, congratulations! You have 72 hours from the time your email was sent to complete your purchase. If you previously signed up but haven’t received a notice, well, we’ll have to see when exactly it’ll arrive. Nintendo has been accepting registrations since April 2, and it’s sending invites to past Switch players and Switch Online subscribers before anyone else. If you meet the priority requirements and signed up on the earlier side, you should (hopefully) get your invite before most others. If you signed up later, don’t be surprised if it takes awhile for Nintendo to grace your inbox. The company warned last month that it may not be able to send all invites — or even deliver all orders that do get placed — before the Switch 2’s June 5 release date. Beyond Nintendo, stock is still sparse. As of our latest sweep, the device remains completely unavailable at Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Target and other retailers. This has (mostly) been the case in the US since the Switch 2 first went up for ***** on April 24, and it remains unclear when it’ll change. Nevertheless, we’re keeping an eye out for any surprise restocks that pop up. If you’re still hoping to get your hands on the device early, we’ve rounded up all the Switch 2 pre-order listings we could find for easy access and broken down what to know about buying the console. How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 at the My Nintendo Store As noted above, Nintendo is only selling the Switch 2 through an invite system, which began on April 2. While it seems unlikely you’ll receive your console before launch day if you sign up with Nintendo now, we still recommend doing so in case stock remains low at other stores. Registration is free, and you’ll receive your invite eventually, even if it takes some time. On that point, Nintendo says it is prioritizing invites “on a first-come, first-served basis” to registrants who meet the following criteria: You must have purchased a Switch Online membership as of April 2, 2025. If you’ve only ever been part of a family plan and weren’t the paying account, that’s a no-go. You must have been a paid Switch Online subscriber for at least 12 months as of April 2, 2025. You must have logged at least 50 hours of total Switch gameplay time as of April 2, 2025. You must have opted into sharing gameplay data with Nintendo as of April 2, 2025. You can confirm this in your account’s privacy settings. You must be a Nintendo account holder who is at least 18 years old. If you fulfill those requirements, you’ll be ahead in Nintendo’s invite ******. If not, you’ll have to wait until after the priority registrants receive their emails. Once they do, the remaining invites will go out on a first-come, first-served basis. Whenever you get your email, you’ll have a 72-hour window to buy. As with other stores, you have two SKUs to pick from: the base Switch 2 console for $450, and a bundle with Mario Kart World for $500. If you’ve yet to receive an invite and look at your chosen system at Nintendo’s store, you should see a notice confirming that you’re on the waitlist, along with a grayed-out buy button that says “Invite requested.” When you’re able to buy, the button will say “Success.” Note that you can only purchase one console per invite. You’ll also be able to pick up certain accessories when it’s your time to shop. Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle If you’ve registered to pre-order at Nintendo’s online store but haven’t yet received an invite, you should see a notice like this on your chosen SKU confirming that you’re on the waitlist. How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 at other retailers Sadly, the Switch 2 remains sold out everywhere else as of this writing. To recap the situation: After a two-week delay, Nintendo finally kicked off Switch 2 pre-orders at third-party retailers in the US and Canada at midnight ET on April 24. A couple of (headache-inducing) hours later, stock at Walmart, Target and Best Buy had sold out. GameStop began taking pre-orders later that morning but quickly met the same fate. Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as late as April 26, but things have dried up since. Other membership-based retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club have Switch 2 listings as well, but we haven’t seen anything to suggest they will accept pre-orders. Newegg also has a Switch 2 page but hasn’t provided an option to buy just yet. As for Amazon, we assume the Switch 2 will eventually be available there, but it’s not today, and there’s been no indication as to when that might change. (Even before the Switch 2 was unveiled, stock of the original Switch and first-party Switch games had been limited at Amazon US for several months.) If you’re desperate to catch a restock, it’s a good idea to create a free account with the retailers above and ensure all of your shipping and billing info is up to date with each. Downloading each store’s mobile app and signing up for notifications may help too, though that could get annoying fairly quickly. Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle *As of 1:15pm ET on Thursday, May 8, Amazon has not listed either Switch 2 console package for *****. We will update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we’re linking to the site’s Nintendo-focused hub. How to pre-order Switch 2 accessories and games Naturally, there are numerous accessories and games up for pre-order alongside the Switch 2 itself. While Nintendo hasn’t changed the console’s price since delaying its initial pre-order date, it has hiked the cost of several accessories due to “changes in market conditions” (read: tariffs). The new Switch 2 camera, for instance, now costs $55 instead of its original $50, while the Switch 2 Pro Controller leapt from $80 to $85. An extra set of Joy-**** 2 controllers is up to $95 from $90, and the official Joy-**** Charging Grip costs $40 instead of $35. Most (but not all) of Nintendo’s official Switch 2 accessories are still up for grabs at one or two retailers at a minimum, but stock has become spottier since they first went up for *****. Upcoming Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, remain widely available. Mario Kart World for $80 Donkey Kong Bananza for $70 Additional Switch 2 games Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 for $60 Joy-**** 2 bundle for $95 Switch 2 Pro Controller for $85 Switch 2 Camera for $55 Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $60 Joy-**** 2 Charging Grip for $40 Joy-**** 2 Wheels (set of 2) for $25 Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case for $85 Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector for $40 *As of 1:15pm ET on Thursday, May 8, Amazon has not listed any first-party Switch 2 accessories or games for *****. (Some third-party devices and games are listed, however.) We’ll update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we’re linking to the site’s Nintendo-focused hub. More Switch 2 details We knew from its initial teaser trailer that the Switch 2 would be ******* than its predecessor and take a new approach to its detachable Joy-Cons. The Joy-**** 2s, as they’re called, now attach magnetically and include a C button, mouse controls and a built-in gyroscope for tilt control. The console itself is indeed larger, with a 7.9-inch LCD screen that supports a 1080p resolution, a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz and HDR10. The hardware also has a built-in mic to support a new feature called GameChat that’ll let you communicate with friends in-game. (This is what that C button is for.) Nintendo says this service will be free to all Switch 2 users until March 31, 2026, at which point it’ll require a Switch Online membership. When docked, you’ll be able to play up to 4K on your TV. Nintendo says it’s improved the consoles internal speakers as well. The updated dock has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. Though we won’t know exactly how much of a power upgrade the Switch 2 is over to the first Switch until it’s released, it looks to be fairly significant leap, given that it’ll have ports of relatively demanding games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. Elsewhere, the Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, while the internal storage amount has jumped from 32GB to 256GB. That storage is still expandable, but the device will only work with newer (and more expensive) microSD Express cards. As seen in the recent 20.0.0 update for the original Switch, the upcoming console will also utilize Nintendo’s new Virtual Game Card system for lending digital games across systems, as well as a GameShare feature that lets you share select titles locally with just one copy of a game. Tariffs and the Nintendo Switch 2 During its most recent Direct presentation at the start of April, Nintendo showed off more of the Switch 2 than it ever had before. That included the reveal of its original April 9 pre-order date, in addition to its $450 starting price. Shortly after, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on China and other countries, prompting Nintendo to delay pre-orders in the US and Canada. In a reversal, President Trump later announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs affecting 75 countries, but also announced that the tariff imposed on China will go up even further (right now, it sits at 145 percent). We now know that the original $450 price for the Switch 2 will remain the same in the US and Canada, but based on its official statement, it appears Nintendo is leaving the door open for potential future price increases. We also know that Nintendo started moving some of its Switch console manufacturing to Vietnam in 2019. The increased tariff for Vietnam was set to be 46 percent, but that’s temporarily on hold in favor of a 10 percent tariff that’s in effect for the 90-day pause *******. It has been speculated that Nintendo will boost production of Switch 2 consoles in Vietnam so it can stay on schedule, even if it sells the console at a loss in the short term. It appears the company will have to seriously ramp up production to keep up with Switch 2 demand: According to Nintendo, 2.2 million people entered the pre-order lottery in Japan alone, which is far more devices than it is expected to deliver in that region on launch day. In total, the company projects it will sell 15 million Switch 2 units through March 2026. Complete Switch 2 coverage: The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming on June 5 for $450. We’ve got our first hands-on impressions of the Switch 2, and we’ve played Mario Kart World, which is available the same day. Check out everything we know about the Switch 2 for complete details on Nintendo’s new console. Source link #Updates #restocks #Walmart #GameStop #Target #Buy #retailers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds Players Explain How to Complete the Challenge Quest Solo Monster Hunter Wilds Players Explain How to Complete the Challenge Quest Solo Have you tried to complete the Free Challenge Quest in Monster Hunter Wilds solo? There is a trick that could make it less hard. Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Players #Explain #Complete #Challenge #Quest #Solo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ACM Awards 2025: Jelly Roll Smokes a Joint Backstage, Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys Join Forces and More Highlights – People.com ACM Awards 2025: Jelly Roll Smokes a Joint Backstage, Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys Join Forces and More Highlights – People.com ACM Awards 2025: Jelly Roll Smokes a Joint Backstage, Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys Join Forces and More Highlights People.comACM Awards 2025 Live Updates: Biggest Moments From The Night TODAY.com2025 ACM Awards Livestream: How to Watch the 60th Country Music Ceremony Rolling Stone2025 ACM Awards: Complete winners list Fox NewsHere Are the 2025 ACM Awards Winners: Full List Billboard Source link #ACM #Awards #Jelly #Roll #Smokes #Joint #Backstage #Rascal #Flatts #Backstreet #Boys #Join #Forces #Highlights #People.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Most Aussies are in for a sunny weekend while East Coast cops another drenching Most Aussies are in for a sunny weekend while East Coast cops another drenching With winter just weeks away Aussies are still basking in warm and sunny conditions, unless you are on the east coast. Source link #Aussies #sunny #weekend #East #Coast #cops #drenching Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Hideo Kojima is evolving Death Stranding’s formula with a bold *********** frontier How Hideo Kojima is evolving Death Stranding’s formula with a bold *********** frontier The kangaroo is out of the pouch. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach takes place on our fine continent of Australia. Anybody who has followed the twenty minutes of trailers put out so far for the game will no doubt have suspected that Sam would be delivering somewhere that wasn’t America. You might have even had some suspicions if you’ve followed all the reveals closely. But having played the game for an enormous amount of time at Kojima Productions in Tokyo last month, it’s obvious that a lot of care has gone into creating our very own Death Stranding-ified version of the great southern land. Source link #Hideo #Kojima #evolving #Death #Strandings #formula #bold #*********** #frontier Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Financial Stock Was the Most Shorted in April This Financial Stock Was the Most Shorted in April The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:) also showed up on the list for the first time ever. Capital One Financial (NYSE:), which recently received regulatory approvals to merge with Discover Financial (NYSE:), was the most shorted stock in April, according to Hazeltree’s latest Shortside Crowdedness Report. Hazeltree, a technology and data provider for the alternative asset management industry, ranks the most shorted stocks among some 700 hedge funds and asset managers, tracking some 15,000 stocks. Capital One had the highest crowdedness score, which means it was shorted by the highest percentage of funds. The securities are graded on a scale of 1-99, and Capital One had a score of 99. The Capital One-Discover merger is slated to close on May 18, which was likely the catalyst for the surge in shorting activity, as investors are betting that the stock price will decline post-merger. It is also notable that an ETF, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF, was among the top 10 most shorted investments in April. Shorting the S&P 500? The SPDR S&P 500 ETF ranked eighth on the list of most shorted large-caps, with a score of 82. This suggests that hedge fund managers don’t see a lot of upside in the large-cap benchmark, likely due to the potential for a recession and the impact of tariffs. “April kept short-sellers on edge as new tariffs took effect, triggering volatility and prompting investors to reassess fundamentals amid sharp market swings,” Tim Smith, managing director of Data Insights at Hazeltree, said. “We also observed the unexpected appearance of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF among the top 10 most crowded large-cap shorts—a reflection of its significant outflows over the past three months, despite its status as one of the most actively traded ETFs.” Charter Communications (NASDAQ:) ranked second among large-caps in April with a score of 91, followed by MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:) at 88. IBM (NYSE:), Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:), and Chevron (NYSE:) were next with scores of 85, while Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:), ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ:), and Dell Technologies (NYSE:) round out the top 10 with scores of 79. Super Micro Computer had the highest institutional supply utilization figure at 52.84% — a distinction it has held for the fifth straight month. Institutional supply utilization represents the percentage of the institutional investors’ supply of a particular security that is being lent out. In other words, it is an indicator of how “hot” a security is in terms of the supply-demand dynamic. In the mid-cap category, Murphy USA (NYSE:), an owner of gas stations, was the most shorted stock with a score of 99. Among small-caps, JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:) was the most shorted for the second straight month. It also had a score of 99. Original Post Source link #Financial #Stock #Shorted #April Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]