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Chat Control 2.0? Experts urge the EU not to undermine encryption with new ProtectEU plan Chat Control 2.0? Experts urge the EU not to undermine encryption with new ProtectEU plan Around 40 organizations and 40+ individuals are urging the EU not to undermine encryption with the new ProtectEU plan Experts are asking to have a key role in defining the block’s technology roadmap on encryption ProtectEU comes as yet another attempt to create a ********* into encrypted messages Around 40 organizations and 40+ individuals are urging EU lawmakers not to undermine encryption. In an open letter published on May 5, 2025, the experts are asking to have a key role in defining the block’s technology roadmap on encryption included in the ProtectEU strategy unveiled last April. ProtectEU is the first step in the EU Commission’s strategy to lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement. Yet, according to the experts, it comes as another iteration of the divisive Chat Control proposal that has been seeking to introduce backdoors in encrypted messaging apps since 2022. You may like “No technical silver bullet” Encryption refers to the scrambling of data into an unreadable form to prevent unwanted access. The likes of Signal, WhatsApp, and secure email providers use end-to-end encryption to ensure your messages remain private between the sender and receiver. According to law enforcement, though, this level of security prevents police officers from successfully carrying on criminal investigations. The ProtectEU plan then wants to give more tools to law enforcement to lawfully access people’s online data. Yet, experts have long argued that encryption cannot be weakened safely. “Strong encryption is essential to protecting human rights and Europe’s digital infrastructure. Any attempt to grant law enforcement exceptional access would introduce dangerous vulnerabilities. There is no technical ‘silver bullet,’ access for the ‘good guys only’ is not possible,” said one of the signatories, Matthias Pfau, CEO of Tuta Mail. As mentioned earlier, Tuta also pointed out how ProtectEU may come as simply a rebrand of the controversial Chat Control proposal. The bill, which comes as a way to halt the spread of CSAM content online by scanning all people’s communications, has so far failed to attract the needed majority to turn into law. Together with 39 orgs & 42 experts, our founder @matthiaspfau calls on the EU for a scientific evidence-based approach to #encryption No government can change the laws of math.Read the open letter pic.twitter.com/VPz3s4XVJlMay 5, 2025 The group, which includes both civil society organizations and individuals specializing in technology and digital rights, is now urging the EU to let them be an active part of the ProtectEU strategy. They wrote: “Rather than investing more resources and time in systems that are demonstrably causing harm, we firmly believe that all stakeholders need to work together to find long-term solutions (both technical and non-technical) to complex societal issues. “We further believe that we would be well-positioned to provide expert technical briefings to you, your cabinet, and services, and would be delighted to make ourselves available for this purpose.” It is worth noting that, while messaging apps and email providers are set to be the main target of lawmakers, the best VPN services could also become the next target. For the very first time, in fact, a EU expert group explicitly referred to VPN services as “key challenges” to the investigative work of law enforcement agencies, alongside encrypted devices, apps, and new communications operators. You might also like Source link #Chat #Control #Experts #urge #undermine #encryption #ProtectEU #plan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Europe to launch dispute against U.S. tariffs with WTO Europe to launch dispute against U.S. tariffs with WTO This photograph shows a European flag flying outside the EU headquarters in Brussels on May 6, 2025. Nicolas Tucat | Afp | Getty Images The European Union’s executive arm on Thursday said it would launch a dispute with the World Trade Organization over the U.S.’s “reciprocal” tariff policy. The European Commission also said it had launched a public consultation on a list of U.S. imports potentially subject to countermeasures. “It is the unequivocal view of the EU that these [U.S.] tariffs blatantly violate fundamental WTO rules,” the European Commission said in a statement. “The EU’s objective is thus to reaffirm that internationally agreed rules matter, and these cannot be unilaterally disregarded by any WTO member, including the US.” In a press conference on Wednesday, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the EU’s main focus was negotiating a deal to avoid President Donald Trump’s 20% reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. imports from the bloc. However, Sefcovic added that EU continued to “prepare for any scenario.” The EU has paused an initial set of retaliatory measures — a response to U.S. duties of 25% on steel and aluminum — to enable negotiations. The countermeasures, if implemented, will target around 21 billion euros ($24.1 billion) worth of U.S. goods ranging from agricultural products to clothing, chiefly with a tariff rate of 25%. Trump has also slapped a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles, hitting many European automakers. This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly. Source link #Europe #launch #dispute #U.S #tariffs #WTO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Europe to launch dispute against U.S. tariffs with WTO Europe to launch dispute against U.S. tariffs with WTO This photograph shows a European flag flying outside the EU headquarters in Brussels on May 6, 2025. Nicolas Tucat | Afp | Getty Images The European Union’s executive arm on Thursday said it would launch a dispute with the World Trade Organization over the U.S.’s “reciprocal” tariff policy. The European Commission also said it had launched a public consultation on a list of U.S. imports potentially subject to countermeasures. “It is the unequivocal view of the EU that these [U.S.] tariffs blatantly violate fundamental WTO rules,” the European Commission said in a statement. “The EU’s objective is thus to reaffirm that internationally agreed rules matter, and these cannot be unilaterally disregarded by any WTO member, including the US.” In a press conference on Wednesday, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the EU’s main focus was negotiating a deal to avoid President Donald Trump’s 20% reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. imports from the bloc. However, Sefcovic added that EU continued to “prepare for any scenario.” The EU has paused an initial set of retaliatory measures — a response to U.S. duties of 25% on steel and aluminum — to enable negotiations. The countermeasures, if implemented, will target around 21 billion euros ($24.1 billion) worth of U.S. goods ranging from agricultural products to clothing, chiefly with a tariff rate of 25%. Trump has also slapped a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles, hitting many European automakers. This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly. Source link #Europe #launch #dispute #U.S #tariffs #WTO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Quantum Witch, a ‘plot-former’ inspired by its creator’s life in a cult, is out next month Quantum Witch, a ‘plot-former’ inspired by its creator’s life in a cult, is out next month A game inspired by its creator’s real-life experiences living in a religious cult is set to be released next month. Quantum Witch is set to be released on Steam on June 24, and is described by its creator NikkiJay as a ‘plot-former’, where “choose your own adventure meets point and click meets platformer”. The game tells the story of Ren, a “twenty-something shepardess who gets thrown into a multiversal conflict while on a fetch quest to find her lost flock”. Through the choices the players makes in the game, Ren will ultimately decide the fate of her homeland while dethroning a god in the process. Although the game’s story – which was created with the help of BAFTA-nominated writer Paul ‘Mr Biffo’ Rose and journalist Stephanie Sterling – is fantastical, it draws inspiration from NikkiJay’s real past. “I was raised in a religious cult that was obsessed with the end of the world, refused certain medical treatment, deferred all authority to their god (and mostly, the eight men who led the group and told them what god actually meant when he said certain things), and blamed many mental and developmental disabilities on ‘the demons’,” she explains. “I found computers and games were one of the few forms of escapism I was allowed to have.” She added: “I saw friends die because they refused medical treatment, I saw lives wasted and families torn apart because of the rules the men in charge set. Any form of personal talent was put down as prideful, all glory should go to god. Women were denigrated and blamed for the world’s wrongs, painted as weak, and any form of ambition in a woman was considered as bad as – gasp – homosexuality, because a woman’s brain could not deal with being in authority. “Babies were described as ‘little enemies of god’ because they were born sinful. And god could return at any time and destroy the world, killing anyone who did not follow the group in the most horrific ways possible. Every single day was served from a menu of fear, intimidation, physical abuse, and thanking god for it all. “So I made silly little computer games. Text adventures mostly, It was all I wanted to do. It was my escape. Eventually I came out – I’m a massive lesbian – and lost my family, and at one point was homeless. I still only have one blood relative who speaks to me, because they’re all still mentally tied up, indoctrinated by the cult. “But there are happy things too! I fought back and have a loving family, a daughter, a cat and a parrot, and video games. And I turned my trauma into comedic stories as a form of therapy! Of course, they ended up as a video game. That video game is Quantum Witch.” Nikki’s story started off as a novel but eventually evolved into a game, with “multiple plotlines, multiple endings [and] different endings for side quests that tie into the main quest and affect the ultimate ending you get.” Quantum Witch can currently be wishlisted on Steam ahead of its release on June 24. Source link #Quantum #Witch #plotformer #inspired #creators #life #cult #month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Inexcusable’: Boston Celtics squander another 20-point lead as New York Knicks take commanding 2-0 series lead – CNN ‘Inexcusable’: Boston Celtics squander another 20-point lead as New York Knicks take commanding 2-0 series lead – CNN ‘Inexcusable’: Boston Celtics squander another 20-point lead as New York Knicks take commanding 2-0 series lead CNNKnicks 91-90 Celtics (May 7, 2025) Final Score ESPNThe Knicks are not just beating the Celtics, they’re in their heads New York PostNBA playoffs: Knicks rally from 20 points down again to stun Celtics in Game 2, take a 2-0 series lead Yahoo SportsThis Celtics-Knicks series is beginning to look like a Giant upset The Boston Globe Source link #Inexcusable #Boston #Celtics #squander #20point #lead #York #Knicks #commanding #series #lead #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bargain Hunt art dealer Ochuko Ojiri charged with terror offences Bargain Hunt art dealer Ochuko Ojiri charged with terror offences An art dealer who appeared as an expert on the BBC’s Bargain Hunt has been charged with terror offences, the Metropolitan Police has said. Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, of west London, has been charged with eight counts of “failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector”, following an investigation into “terrorist financing”. The Met added the alleged offences are said to have occurred between October 2020 and December 2021. Mr Ojiri, who is also known as Ochuko Ojiri, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. The force said it is the first charge of its kind under section 21A of the Terrorism Act of 2000. It added the probe was carried out by its specialist arts and antiques unit, alongside the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC. In a statement the BBC said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.” Mr Ojiri is listed on Bargain Hunt’s website as one of the show’s experts. He is not a member of BBC staff, works as a freelance presenter and has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip and Channel 5’s Storage: Flog the Lot! He has not worked on BBC programmes since 2023. Mr Ojiri also founded the Ramp Gallery, a contemporary art showroom now known as the Ojiri Gallery, based in Stoke Newington in north-east London. Source link #Bargain #Hunt #art #dealer #Ochuko #Ojiri #charged #terror #offences Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Farnworth fires Dolphins to NRL win over battling Eels Farnworth fires Dolphins to NRL win over battling Eels Herbie Farnworth has continued his dazzling form to help the Dolphins seal a rare away win in a 20-16 triumph over bottom-placed Parramatta. The centre proved the difference when he surged downfield for a 60m breakaway try at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night to hand Kristian Woolf’s side their fourth win of the NRL season. The English international got through a mountain of work for the Dolphins, clocking up 162m from 12 carries, registering seven tackle busts and pulling off a late try-saving tackle on Will Penisini. But his crowning moment came when the scores were locked at 12-12 in the 65th minute and the rangy centre burst through a Mitchell Moses tackle and rounded Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi to score. Farnworth’s try – his fourth in four consecutive games – set his side on the course to a victory which snapped the Dolphins’ run of eight-straight losses outside of Queensland. The loss leaves Jason Ryles’ Eels rooted to the bottom of the ladder with a 2-7 record. Moses struggled to put his stamp on the game and the halfback was involved in a tense debate with referee Wyatt Raymond when J’maine Hopgood was penalised for a second-half crusher tackle. The Eels will have been left feeling this was a game that got away from them after taking the lead soon after halftime. Matt Doorey crashed in off a Dylan Walker short ball after Dolphins winger Jack Bostock and Eels counterpart Bailey Simonsson had traded tries in a first half that ended 6-6. But some smart play from Kodi Nikorima allowed the Dolphins to hit back through Connelly Lemuelu. Nikorima was once again the provider to set up Farnworth, who eased through a Moses tackle and then took on Iongi and won. The Dolphins then added a penalty goal through Jamayne Isaako when Hopgood was penalised for a crusher tackle on Farnworth. An unconverted try from five-eighth Brown cut the deficit with five minutes left to give the Eels hope, but the Dolphins hung on to claim a hard-fought win. Source link #Farnworth #fires #Dolphins #NRL #win #battling #Eels Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Corsair’s newest case, the modular mid-tower Frame 4000D is on ***** at its lowest-ever price of just £67 Corsair’s newest case, the modular mid-tower Frame 4000D is on ***** at its lowest-ever price of just £67 Not to be confused with Corsair’s long-running 4000D cases, the Frame 4000D is a new design that caters to the modern needs of the latest PC builds. It’s only been out for just over a month, so I’m shocked to see it on ***** for such a low price already, so much so that I may have already added one to my own basket for a little build I have planned. The Frame 4000D offers modularity in how you place your fans, choices on using rear-connecting motherboards, and when they release, options for swapping out parts of the case. This case deal is available at Amazon, where you can pick up the Corsair Frame 4000D for just £67, down from the original list price of £79. Finding a case like this for just £67 is amazing, and it is well-constructed with plenty of features. But, one of the reasons it is so cheap is that it does not come with any pre-installed fans, or a PSU. This could easily be on our list of the best PC cases at this price, and with room for large 360mm radiator installations at either the top, side, or front of the case, it can provide cooling for the hottest CPUs. There is space for up to 12 fans in the Frame 4000D, with a unique-ish sliding rail that you can position to fit fans between 120 – 200mm, providing plenty of airflow for your build. Speaking of airflow, the case uses Corsair’s funky 3D Y-pattern mesh design for its front panel. This design allows for more rigidity while not obstructing airflow, and it helps that it looks pretty cool. There will also be modular parts such as an aluminium billet motherboard tray, and front I/O panels with different configurations, such as more USB-C ports, etc. However, these modular parts are currently unavailable, but are expected to be released in the coming months. There is so much to cover with this case that there just isn’t room in this deal’s article, but luckily for you, we have a full review of the Corsair Frame 4000D that you can peruse and come to your own conclusions about this great case deal. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Source link #Corsairs #newest #case #modular #midtower #Frame #4000D #***** #lowestever #price Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Man intentionally mowed down a mom and her dog while on family walk as revenge for ‘sensitive’ crime between children, prosecutors say Man intentionally mowed down a mom and her dog while on family walk as revenge for ‘sensitive’ crime between children, prosecutors say A Wisconsin man has been accused of killing a mother and injuring her family after he allegedly ran them over with a car in an act of alleged “vigilante justice.” Jeffrey Endres, 49, allegedly accelerated in a vehicle toward the family of Dr Kami Hansen, a well-known local chiropractor, and her family in an alleged act of revenge, according to a criminal complaint released on Monday, The incident happened in Cottage Grove, which is a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, on April 28, around 6.30pm. Hansen, her husband, one of their sons, and the family dog were out walking when Endres allegedly crashed into the group, according to WMTV. Hansen was reportedly thrown approximately 25 to 30 feet from where she was hit. She and the family’s dog, a ****** pit bull, were both killed during the incident. The husband escaped with only a few cuts, but their son required surgery and suffered a concussion. He told police at the scene that he could hear a vehicle “flooring it” toward them. Hansen’s husband said the vehicle jumped the curb and hit him and his family. Multiple eyewitnesses also reportedly told police that they saw the vehicle accelerate toward the family. Enders reportedly stayed at the scene after the ******, and allegedly told police that he was “having a bad day” and offered “no comment” about the ******. He said he lost control of his vehicle while driving to the gas station, but an Uber driver who had been driving near Enders just before the ****** allegedly told police that claim was bogus. “If he’s telling you he veered off the roadway, then he’s lying to you,” the witness told police. “I saw that vehicle jerk.” According to Deputy District Attorney William Brown, the deadly ****** was no accident, but rather an act of revenge for a “sensitive crime” that allegedly occurred between Hansen’s child and Endres’ child. Police did not give further information about what happened. “It has come to light that this was not an accident. This was an intentional act by Mr Endres,” Brown told a judge. “This was, as the complaint shows, essentially an act of vigilante justice.” Endres and Hansen were neighbors until recently, according to police. Hansen’s husband acknowledged that allegations about the “sensitive crime” had been brought forward in late March. Endres reportedly went digging for more information and opened a records request on April 23 for any police reports relating to the alleged incident. He received a redacted police report detailing the incident on April 28, just three hours before the fatal ******. Endres is being charged with first-degree intentional *********, two counts of attempted first-degree intentional *********, and mistreatment of animals causing death. His bond was set at $1 million on Monday in the Dane County courts. If he posts bond, he will not be allowed to have any contact with any member of the Hansen family and will be restricted from being anywhere inside Cottage Grove. He would also not be allowed to drink alcohol. Police made Enders take a mugshot shortly after the incident while his face was still bruised and his eyes were bloodshot. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 14. If convicted of intentional *********, Endres could face up to life in prison without the possibility of extended supervision. Source link #Man #intentionally #mowed #mom #dog #family #walk #revenge #sensitive #crime #children #prosecutors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wells Fargo says this ad-tech stock can surge more than 30% after strong earnings report Wells Fargo says this ad-tech stock can surge more than 30% after strong earnings report Wells Fargo is increasing its estimates for AppLovin after the company’s better-than-expected first-quarter report. AppLovin posted a earnings and revenue on Wednesday that beat analyst expectations . The company also said it would sell its mobile gaming business in a deal worth $400 This led analyst Alec Brondolo to raise his price target on the stock to $405 from $386. That suggests shares can around 33.5% from where they closed on Wednesday. Brondolo reiterated his overweight rating on shares. “We believe APP has a strong strategic position in the mobile game advertising market, with leading products in user acquisition and ad monetization. As a result, we believe APP will continue to gain share of the $34B market, leaving our 2025 / 2026 revenue estimates meaningfully above consensus,” A Brondolo wrote in a Thursday note. “Outperformance comes before the global launch of self-service, which is likely to cause yet another inflection.” APP YTD mountain APP year to date AppLovin soared more than 700% last year, making the stock the top performer in the tech sector. However, shares sold off 12% in February on reports from short sellers questioning AppLovin’s artificial intelligence-powered Axon advertising software. “Overall, 1Q results / 2Q guidance suggests short reports haven’t impacted partner propensity to spend & macro remains steady. We didn’t find short allegations credible but saw risk they could impact partner relationships / industry sentiment,” according to Brondolo. The stock last traded 15% higher in the premarket. Year to date, shares have slipped more than 6%, but remain up by more than 300% over the last 12 months. Most analysts covering the stock are bullish. LSEG data shows that 22 of 27 analysts covering AppLovin have a buy or strong buy rating. The average price target also signals upside of 54%. Source link #Wells #Fargo #adtech #stock #surge #strong #earnings #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A First-Person View of a Deadly Gaza Strike, and a Severe U.S. Flu Season – The New York Times A First-Person View of a Deadly Gaza Strike, and a Severe U.S. Flu Season – The New York Times A First-Person View of a Deadly Gaza Strike, and a Severe U.S. Flu Season The New York TimesIsraeli attacks kill 16 in Gaza as aid kitchens shut after supplies run out Al JazeeraIsraeli strikes kill 48 at Gaza shelters for displaced Palestinians, hospitals say, as military operation intensifies CNNHamas-run authorities say at least 48 killed in series of IDF strikes in Gaza The Times of IsraelIsraeli strikes on Gaza restaurant and market kill 33, health ministry says BBC Source link #FirstPerson #View #Deadly #Gaza #Strike #Severe #U.S #Flu #Season #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Xbox Game Pass Profitable? 6 Out of 10 Steam Top Sellers Are on Game Pass Right Now Is Xbox Game Pass Profitable? 6 Out of 10 Steam Top Sellers Are on Game Pass Right Now Remember when Xbox Game Pass was supposed to be the next big failure? Like the gaming equivalent of Google Glass, something ambitious but doomed? Fast forward a few years, and it’s safe to say that the script has been flipped. As things stand now, Game Pass is one of the most influential forces in the gaming industry. And if you need proof, just take a glance at the Steam charts right now: 6 out of the current top 10 best-selling games on Steam are also available on Game Pass. The numbers don’t lie: Xbox Game Pass is big business When Xbox Game Pass was first announced and launched, it was met with a mix of curiosity and heavy skepticism. Players, analysts, and developers questioned how a “Netflix for games” model could possibly be profitable in an industry where AAA titles cost hundreds of millions of dollars to make. Many questions arise: Would Microsoft eat the losses forever? Would developers get paid fairly? Would it discourage people from buying games outright? To some, it looked like another bold, but likely unprofitable, experiment from Microsoft, akin to the ill-fated Kinect or the early days of Mixer. The concern was valid: recurring revenue models in gaming hadn’t exactly set the world on fire before. But Microsoft stuck with it, and the results speak for themselves. According to recent earnings reports (via XboxEra), Xbox gaming revenue rose 5% year-over-year for the quarter ending March 31, totaling a hefty $5.72 billion. That figure alone would be impressive, but the breakdown is even more telling. The growth came almost entirely from content and services, which include Game Pass, a segment that jumped 8%. In plain terms, the company is making more money from selling access to games than from selling the consoles. Comment byu/Bronze_Bomber from discussion inXboxGamePass Comment byu/Bronze_Bomber from discussion inXboxGamePass And now, in May 2025, we’re looking at a Steam bestseller list where more than half of the top 10 are Game Pass titles. This isn’t just a fluke, it’s a sign of real market influence. Titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the Oblivion Remastered were expected to make waves; they’ve been the talk of the gaming community. Alongside them, sleeper hits like Dead by Daylight and MechWarrior 5: Clans have maintained their popularity, proving the depth of Game Pass’s appeal. And that’s not even counting the first-party blockbusters like the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages. Why Game Pass is beneficial for everyone involved Where even small studios can get big-time love. | Image Credit: Xbox The Game Pass model appears to be benefiting everyone involved. Players get access to a huge, ever-changing library of games for a relatively low monthly fee. Developers, especially smaller teams, gain visibility and funding security (Microsoft often pays upfront fees or milestone-based bonuses for Game Pass deals). And Microsoft continues to build a service ecosystem that keeps users tied to its platforms, even if they don’t own an Xbox console. Instead of banking everything on individual game sales, Game Pass builds a world where success is measured by playtime, engagement, and retention. That opens doors for different kinds of games: more experimental, creative, or niche projects that might not have been greenlit under the old rules. So, is Xbox Game Pass profitable? Judging by the current momentum, the dominance of Game Pass titles across platforms, and the clear revenue trends from Microsoft’s own reports, the answer is a resounding yes. What was once seen as a risky venture is now a cornerstone of Microsoft’s gaming empire, and perhaps a glimpse into the future of the entire industry. As Xbox continues to grow its content library, partner with more developers, and expand Game Pass onto new devices (including TVs and handhelds), it’s safe to say that this experiment is no longer experimental. It’s foundational. And it’s only getting stronger. Source link #Xbox #Game #Pass #Profitable #Steam #Top #Sellers #Game #Pass Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ukraine labels Russian ceasefire a farce after reports of hundreds of violations Ukraine labels Russian ceasefire a farce after reports of hundreds of violations DSNS Ukraine Emergency services in the town of Bilopillia in Sumy said one civilian died in an early morning Russian attack Russia’s unilateral, three-day ceasefire has proved to be a farce because of continued attacks across the front line, says Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha. He accused Russia of 734 violations since its truce came into effect overnight into Thursday, adding that Ukraine was responding “appropriately” to every attack. Russia’s defence ministry insisted the ceasefire, called by Vladimir Putin to mark World War Two Victory Day, was being observed and accused Ukraine of 488 violations. At least one person was killed in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, according to emergency services. Ukraine’s air force said there had been no drone or missile strikes in its airspace overnight as of 08:00 (05:00 GMT) on Thursday, although Russia had intensified air strikes using glide bombs in the Sumy area. Buildings were hit in a residential area of Bilopillia, a town in Sumy just south of the Russian border. Rescuers freed a woman trapped under the rubble, emergency services said. Ukrainian military spokesman Viktor Trehubov said there had also been Russian military assaults in several eastern areas after the Russian ceasefire officially came into force at midnight Moscow time (21:00 GMT on Wednesday). Kyiv has rejected Russia’s truce, with Volodymyr Zelensky calling it a “theatrical show” designed to protect the Moscow Victory Day parade on Friday. The Ukrainian president has reiterated calls for a longer truce of at least 30 days. An earlier 30-hour ceasefire was announced by the Kremlin over Easter which saw a decrease in fighting as well as claims of hundreds of breaches from both sides. The Kremlin has described its pause as a “test of Ukraine’s readiness for peace”, although Putin earlier rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. Russia’s defence ministry said all groups of Russian forces in Ukraine had “completely ceased combat operations and remained on the previously occupied lines and positions”. However, they were reacting in a “mirror-like manner” to violations by Ukrainian forces. Reacting to the bombardment of Sumy region, Sviatoslav Yurash, a Ukrainian MP and serving soldier, accused Moscow of lying. “We don’t want a peace that breaks apart in no time, and Russia takes another attempt to try and kill us and destroy us,” he told the BBC. Sergey Sanovich of Stanford University told the BBC the Russian truce was not meant as a gesture of goodwill to Ukrainians but rather to maintain interest in talks with the US. Since his inauguration in January, President Donald Trump has sought to end the war in Ukraine by mediating with both parties – but he has been accused of trying to pressure Ukraine into making painful concessions to secure a peace deal. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and currently controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. For three consecutive days ahead of Russia’s proposed truce, Kyiv and Moscow exchanged a barrage of strikes. The Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday that 524 Ukrainian drones had been destroyed over the past 24 hours – a record number if confirmed. No casualties were reported but flights at Russian airports were suspended, causing disruption to some 60,000 passengers. Sergey Sanovich told the BBC the Ukrainian drone strikes were an indication that Kyiv was not interested in “peace out of desperation”. On the eve of Victory Day in Moscow, China’s Xi Jinping met Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin to sign an updated investment deal. Xi said the two countries’ ties had injected “positive energy” into a world in turmoil. The ******** president is one of a reported 27 leaders due to attend Russia’s commemorations in Red Square. Ahead of the event Ukraine warned it could not guarantee the safety of anyone attending the parade in Moscow. Andrei Fedorov, a former Russian deputy foreign minister, told the BBC that “Russia is seriously concerned about the possibility of attack by Ukrainian drones”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian military and special services were taking “all necessary measures” to ensure the celebration takes place “in a calm, stable and peaceful atmosphere,” including jamming mobile internet connections ahead of the parade. Unlike Russia, the rest of Europe celebrates Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8 May. Commemorations this year mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. Zelensky released a video address on Thursday, where he was seen walking through central Kyiv and paying his respects to Ukrainian soldiers at a large display of Ukrainian flags. He said Ukraine was marking Victory Day along with all those who had fought to ensure evil would lose and it would be “never again”. “Unfortunately, three years ago, it happened again and just like before the air raid siren roared over Kyiv,” he said. Deriding Russia’s celebration as a “parade of cynicism” he warned that evil had to be appeased “resolutely, with force”. Source link #Ukraine #labels #Russian #ceasefire #farce #reports #hundreds #violations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Champions League: How Paris St-Germain & Inter Milan reached final Champions League: How Paris St-Germain & Inter Milan reached final Only Luis Enrique will know if he truly believed his own words when he said PSG would be better off without Kylian Mbappe. The France captain, the club’s record scorer, had just made public his decision to leave in May 2024 when Luis Enrique said his side would be better – both in attack and defence. “PSG will continue to be a great team and we’ll get even better. We will bring in players with a strong mentality and players who identify with the club – that’s how life works,” said Luis Enrique. Fast-forward 12 months and few would argue against Luis Enrique’s prediction after his side won Ligue 1 with six games to spare and without losing a game. The ease with which they won the domestic title – and a shortage of tough opposition – could have been seen as a negative in building for success in Europe. Marseille, in 1993, remain France’s only winners of the Champions League. Having finished runners-up in the 2020 Champions League, PSG reached the semi-finals twice and quarter-finals twice in the following four years. But there was an acceptance following Luis Enrique’s appointment in 2023 that something had to change if they were to get over the line. That summer forward Lionel Messi left to join Inter Miami and Neymar was sold to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. It marked the start of the end for the ‘Galactico’ era, with Mbappe’s departure 12 months later bringing it to a close. In their absence, Luis Enrique built an all-action, high-pressing side in his image, based on the collective rather than the individual. In Europe this season PSG started poorly and finished the group stage in 15th place. But, inspired by January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG have beaten four English clubs – Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal – in the knockout stages. Source link #Champions #League #Paris #StGermain #Inter #Milan #reached #final Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sam Kerr and partner American soccer player Kristie Mewis welcome baby boy Sam Kerr and partner American soccer player Kristie Mewis welcome baby boy Matildas captain Sam Kerr has announced the birth of her first child with partner Kristie Mewis Source link #Sam #Kerr #partner #American #soccer #player #Kristie #Mewis #baby #boy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

European Parliament endorses new screening rules for foreign investment in EU | News European Parliament endorses new screening rules for foreign investment in EU | News Under the new rules, sectors such as media services, critical raw materials and transport infrastructure will be subject to mandatory screening by member states, in order to identify and address foreign investment-related security or public order risks. The procedures applicable to national screening mechanisms will be harmonised and the Commission will have the power to intervene on its own initiative or where there are disagreements between member states about potential security or public order risks emanating from a specific foreign investment. The new law will also cover transactions within the EU where the direct investor is ultimately owned by individuals or entities from a non-EU country. If the screening authority finds that the planned foreign investment project is likely to have a negative effect on security or public order, it will either have to authorise the project subject to mitigating measures, or prohibit it. The proposal was adopted by 378 votes in favour, 173 against and with 24 abstentions. Quote Parliament’s rapporteur Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D, FR) said: “Right now, the EU’s foreign investment screening system is fragmented, costly for investors, and insufficiently effective at mitigating risks. Leaving large industrial plants, energy grids, and media giants open to foreign takeovers — whether from China, the US, or elsewhere — ultimately puts our security and economic sovereignty on shaky ground. Screening procedures will now be streamlined across member states, keeping the single market open and attractive, while also protecting our industries, safeguarding key sectors, and allowing our strategic industries to become more competitive. The Commission will have the authority to take final decisions in instances of disagreement, ensuring a more unified approach across the EU.” Background The current foreign direct investment screening framework entered into force on 11 October 2020. It addressed growing concerns about certain foreign investors seeking to acquire control of EU firms that supply critical technologies, infrastructure or inputs, or hold sensitive information, and whose activities are critical for security or public order at EU level. The rules are designed to help identify and address security or public order risks relating to foreign direct investment involving at least two member states or the EU as a whole. The Commission submitted its new proposal on the screening of foreign investment projects in the EU in January 2024. Next steps Now that the report has been adopted in plenary, negotiations with member states on the final shape of the law can begin. Parliament and Council must adopt the final legislative act before it can enter into force. Source link #European #Parliament #endorses #screening #rules #foreign #investment #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump announces ‘full and comprehensive’ trade deal with *** Trump announces ‘full and comprehensive’ trade deal with *** President Donald Trump said the U.S. has reached a trade deal with the United Kingdom, the first trade pact since he paused reciprocal tariffs and began negotiating with countries to lower trade barriers. “The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come,” Trump posted on social media May 8 after teasing the announcement the night before without details. “Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement.” Trump has a press conference scheduled at the White House at 10 am EDT on May 8 to discuss the deal. More: Empty shelves and high prices? What will happen if Trump doesn’t pivot on tariffs The president imposed reciprocal tariffs on a slew of countries April 2 but later paused most of them for 90 days, saying those nations’ leaders were eager to negotiate trade deals. Since then administration officials repeatedly have said they are close to making deals. Trump commented about the intense interest in the trade deals during a May 6 meeting with the prime minister of Canada. “Everyone says: ‘When, when, when are you going to sign deals?” Trump said. “We don’t have to sign deals. We could sign 25 deals right now . . . if we wanted. We don’t have to sign deals. They have to sign deals with us. They want a piece of our market.” US President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. More: How will Trump’s tariffs affect grocery store prices? We explain. The president also expressed frustration with the constant questions. “I wish they’d stop asking how many deals are you signing this week,” he said. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers during a May 6 committee hearing that deals could be signed soon. “I would think that perhaps as early as this week we will be announcing trade deals with some of our largest trading partners,” Bessent said. There are 18 countries that Bessent described as “major trading partners.” He said negotiations have begun with all of them except China, but talks between U.S. and ******** officials are now scheduled. Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are traveling to Switzerland on May 8, where they will meet with China’s “lead representative on economic matters.” Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US-*** trade deal: Donald Trump announces agreement with Britain Source link #Trump #announces #full #comprehensive #trade #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Parliament backs extension of trade liberalisation measure for Ukrainian imports | News Parliament backs extension of trade liberalisation measure for Ukrainian imports | News With the adoption of the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) Regulation, the EU liberalised trade with Ukraine by suspending trade defence measures on 4 June 2022. This exemption has since been renewed, with the most recent extension due to expire on 5 June. MEPs have now approved the proposed prolongation of these trade liberalisation measures, which focus steel, to provide Ukraine with vital export revenues. Quote Parliament’s rapporteur Karin Karlsbro (Renew, SE) said: ”Ukraine’s steel industry is the backbone of the Ukrainian economy. It continues to deliver, despite many workers having left the steel plants to fight on the front lines and factories being subjected to severe attacks by Russia. The deepening of trade relations between the EU and Ukraine is not a matter of charity, but a mutually beneficial exchange that strengthens both parties.” The proposal was adopted by 354 votes in favour and 147 against, with 53 abstentions. The new regulation will enter into force for three years, until June 2028, once an agreement has been reached with the Council. The Commission is currently working on a longer-term solution to offer economic certainty for EU-Ukraine trade. Source link #Parliament #backs #extension #trade #liberalisation #measure #Ukrainian #imports #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Deutsche Bank steps to the sidelines on this beauty supplier amid tariff concerns Deutsche Bank steps to the sidelines on this beauty supplier amid tariff concerns The outlook isn’t looking very bright for Coty , Deutsche Bank warned. Analyst Steve Powers downgraded shares to hold from buy following the beauty company’s weaker-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings report. The company also lowered its full-year earnings guidance and guided for a mid-single digit decline in reported sales, citing foreign exchange headwinds. Powers trimmed his price target to $6 from $8, which still implies 31.3% upside potential from Wednesday’s close. Slower growth trends — particularly in the U.S. market —and challenges presented by tariffs are dimming the outlook for Coty, according to Powers. He estimates the tariff headwind coming in at around $100 million or more for Coty, with the largest impact to its prestige fragrances segment. “While we believe that COTY is generally prioritizing the right initiatives in a difficult operating environment, we downgrade the stock to Hold following FY3Q25 results,” said Powers. “Clearly, should macro conditions improve (i.e., category demand reaccelerate, tariff uncertainty fade) or the company be able to monetize its Wella stake (theoretically valued at ~$1B), COTY could be an outsized beneficiary. However, such catalysts are outside (or not fully within) the company’s control, and we otherwise see an increasingly untenable path to long-term targets —at a time when the company has ~$1.1B of debt maturities coming due in CY26,” the analyst continued. Shares were last trading down nearly 12% Thursday before the bell. Year to date, the stock has fallen more than 33%. COTY YTD mountain COTY year to date Analysts covering the stock are split. Coty has buy or strong buy ratings from 10 of 20 analysts, LSEG data shows. Another eight rate it as a hold, while two others assigned an underperform rating. Source link #Deutsche #Bank #steps #sidelines #beauty #supplier #tariff #concerns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD Stock Jumps Despite Anticipated $1.5 Billion Tariff Hit AMD Stock Jumps Despite Anticipated $1.5 Billion Tariff Hit Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:) turned in a strong first quarter and expects a solid Q2, despite a challenging economic and regulatory environment. Overall, investors were pleased with the results, as AMD stock opened more than 4% higher on Wednesday. The chipmaker and NVIDIA (NASDAQ:) rival generated revenue of $7.4 billion in the quarter, up 36% year-over-year. That beat revenue estimates of $7.1 billion. Net income skyrocketed 476% to $709 million, while earnings jumped 529% to 44 cents per share. On an adjusted basis, net income increased 55% to $1.6 billion, or 96 cents per share. That topped estimates of 94 cents per share. Data Center Revenue Rises 57% AMD is one of NVIDIA’s chief rivals, as it competes for market share with its graphics processing unit (GPU) chips mainly for PCs and gaming. However, AMD fell way behind NVIDIA in creating AI chips for high-performance computing applications and data centers. So, this is an area where it’s trying to play catch-up. In the first quarter, AMD hauled in $3.7 billion in data center revenue, up 57% year-over-year. It outpaced client and gaming revenue of $2.9 billion, up 28% year-over-year. Breaking it out, client revenue was up 68% to $2.3 billion, driven by strong demand for the latest “Zen 5” AMD Ryzen processors in PCs. Gaming revenue fell 30% to $647 million. “We delivered an outstanding start to 2025 as year-over-year growth accelerated for the fourth consecutive quarter driven by strength in our core businesses and expanding data center and AI momentum,” AMD Chair and CEO Lisa Su said. Tariffs Pose $1.5 Billion Impact on Outlook In its outlook for the second quarter, AMD officials expect revenue of approximately $7.4 billion, plus or minus $300 million. That would be on par with Q1 and up about 28% from Q2 of 2024. However, it excludes about $700 million in revenue from a restriction by the U.S. government placed on chip exports into China. This is not exclusive to AMD as other chip makers, including NVIDIA, are also subject to the restriction. For AMD, this will impact revenue of its MI308 chips. The adjusted gross margin is estimated to be 43% including approximately $800 million in charges for inventory and related reserves due to the new export controls, or tariffs. Excluding this charge, the adjusted gross margin would be approximately 54%. A year ago, the adjusted gross margin was 53%. The combined impact of the $700 million revenue hit and $800 million in tariff-related expenses adds up to a $1.5 billion earnings impact for AMD. AMD stock earned a slew of price target downgrades after earnings, except for Wedbush, which raised its target to $120 from $115. Also, BofA upgraded AMD to a buy based on its strong outlook in the face of tariff impacts. However, others like Jefferies reduced its target, concerned about the longer term effects of the China restrictions. Overall, AMD has a median price target of $130, which would be about a 30% return from its current price. I’m slightly less bullish, given the tariff uncertainty and its high P/E ratio of 98. Original Post Source link #AMD #Stock #Jumps #Anticipated #Billion #Tariff #Hit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Exclusive-US sanctions on China refiners over Iran oil disrupt operations, sources say Exclusive-US sanctions on China refiners over Iran oil disrupt operations, sources say By Siyi Liu, Trixie Yap and Chen Aizhu SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Recent U.S. sanctions on two small ******** refiners for buying Iranian oil have created difficulties receiving crude and led them to sell product under other names, sources familiar with the matter said, evidence of the disruption that Washington’s stepped-up pressure is inflicting on Tehran’s biggest oil buyer. The targeting of independent refiners, known as teapots, marked an escalation in Washington’s efforts to cut off Tehran’s export revenue as President Donald Trump seeks to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear programme. Washington’s sanctions against Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical in March and Shandong Shengxing Chemical in April have also begun to deter other, larger independent ******** refiners from buying Iranian crude, three of the sources said. About five plants in the refining hub of Shandong province have halted purchases of Iranian oil since last month, worried about being hit by sanctions, two trading executives said. That wariness is the main reason discounts for Iranian Light have widened to $2.30-$2.40 a barrel against ICE Brent from about $2 a month ago, the executives and another source said. Among the inconveniences faced by the two sanctioned teapots, state-run Shandong Port Group, the main port operator in the province, has denied entry to vessels loaded with crude they have purchased, five trade sources said. That follows the port group’s January ban on port calls by U.S.-sanctioned tankers. Shandong Port Group and Shengxing did not respond to requests for comment. A Luqing executive declined to comment. Large state banks have also stopped providing Luqing with operational capital for purchasing crude, forcing it to work with smaller banks, four of the sources said. The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. Beijing says it opposes unilateral sanctions and defends as legitimate its trade with Iran, which ships about 90% of its oil exports to China. However, ******** customs data has not shown any oil shipped from Iran since July 2022, with Iranian crude imports instead labelled as originating from Malaysia or other countries. SHIPPING, SALES HEADACHES The Shandong Port Group’s banning of cargoes for the two refineries has forced them to discharge at other ports, according to three sources. In one case, the tanker Bei Hai Ming Wang carrying oil for the Shengxing refinery was rejected when it sought to land at the Laizhou port, controlled by Shandong Port Group, around April 21, according to a source familiar with the matter. Story Continues It eventually unloaded on May 2 at the privately owned Wantong Crude Oil Terminal in neighbouring Dongying, data from analytics firm Vortexa showed. In another sign of trading disruption from the sanctions, two Asia-based oil product traders who had previously dealt with Luqing said they stopped doing so after it was sanctioned. In addition, no shipments of gasoline blendstock have been recorded since the end of March out of Laizhou port, used by Luqing for most of its blendstock exports, Kpler and LSEG shiptracking data showed. That contrasts with the first three months of this year when 83,000 metric tons (701,000 barrels) of methyl tertiary butyl ether, a key gasoline blendstock export, were shipped from Laizhou, accounting for 15% of China’s total outflow of the blendstock. State giant CNOOC stopped supplying crude to Shandong Haihua Group’s 40,000 barrel-per-day refinery, operated by Luqing, shortly after the U.S. sanctions were announced, three trade sources and a Shandong-based ******** oil market consultant said. CNOOC did not respond to a request for comment. Calls to Haihua went unanswered. The two teapots have also begun selling product through new entities, according to seven trade sources, with Luqing using Shouguang Jiaqing Petroleum Sales and Shengxing selling via Shandong Xuxing Petrochemical. Calls to the two entities seeking comment went unanswered. (Reporting by Siyi Liu, Trixie Yap and Chen Aizhu in Singapore; Additional reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Florence Tan, Tony Munroe and Edmund Klamann) Source link #ExclusiveUS #sanctions #China #refiners #Iran #oil #disrupt #operations #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Intel Arrow Lake processors bottleneck PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs by 16%, limiting peak speeds to 12Gb/s instead of 14Gb/s Intel Arrow Lake processors bottleneck PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs by 16%, limiting peak speeds to 12Gb/s instead of 14Gb/s Latency issues surrounding Intel’s Core 200S series CPUs affect M.2 storage ports on LGA 1851 motherboards, leading to reduced performance. The SSD review reports that Arrow Lake CPUs have a bottleneck on the PCIe lanes dedicated to motherboard M.2 slots, causing a (roughly) 2GB/s bandwidth reduction compared to previous-gen motherboards when using the fastest and Best SSDs available. The storage-focused review outlet initially discovered the flaw during testing when a 14GB/s-capable PCIe 5.0 SSD only achieved 12GB/s in an Arrow-Lake-based test rig. After reaching out to board makers and Intel, it was found that the issue is Arrow Lake-specific. The review outlet has been unable to confirm any Z890 motherboards operating PCIe 5.0 SSDs at speeds beyond 14GB/s, whereas previous-gen Z790 boards have no problem hitting the maximum speeds. The review outlet demonstrated the aforementioned issues with a Samsung 9100 Pro and Micron 4600 SSD paired to two systems running a Z890 (Arrow Lake) and a Z790 (Raptor Lake) motherboard. With the Z890 motherboard, the Samsung and Micron SSDs peaked at 12.3GB/s in the board’s primary and secondary M.2 slots. Both SSDs reached speeds of up to 14.3GB/s on the Z790 motherboard. Furthermore, the review outlet tested both SSDs on an Asus Hyper M.2 add-in PCIe card and found both drives could achieve 14.3GB/s as well, confirming the issue only affects bandwidth on the physical M.2 slots on Z890 motherboards. Although sequential read/write performance improved, random performance remained behind the levels observed on older Z790 motherboards, indicating the latency issue persists even when bypassing the M.2 slot. Further analysis confirmed that such performance limitations were not isolated to any specific motherboard maker. Asus and ASRock replicated the results independently and explained that the issue originates from the latency introduced by the I/O Extender component in Intel’s new multi-chip processor layout. This bizarre performance issue is allegedly a problem with Intel’s interconnect on its latest Arrow Lake-based processors, resulting in unusual latency behavior among the chip’s PCIe lanes. Intel’s Core Ultra 200S-series processors for desktops feature 24 PCIe lanes: 16 PCIe 5.0 lanes for add-in graphics cards, four PCIe 5.0 lanes for SSD, and four PCIe 4.0 lanes for SSD. The first 16 PCIe lanes are controlled directly by the SoC tile of Intel’s Arrow Lake-S CPUs. However, PCIe lanes 21 through 24 are routed through the I/O Extender tile, which adds latency and lowers peak bandwidth. “Intel can confirm that the PCIe lanes 21 to 24 PCI Gen5 root port on Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors may exhibit increased latencies compared to the PCIe lanes 1 to 16 Gen5 root ports, owing to a longer die-to-die data path,” a statement by Intel published by SSDReview reads. “However, any variations are contingent upon the specific workload and the capabilities of the PCIe endpoint device.” Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. This is now the second major performance-related issue affecting Arrow Lake processors. Intel’s transition from a monolithic die design to a chiplet-style architecture with Arrow Lake has been widely known to affect gaming performance compared to previous generations of Intel processors. For instance, we’ve found that Intel’s previous generation Core i9-13900K and i9-14900K flagships are significantly faster than the Core Ultra 9 285K gaming workload on average (based on our review of the Core Ultra 9 chip). Intel has provided a firmware update(s) since our review to help alleviate gaming performance, but even with these updates, the chips still struggle to compete against previous-gen Raptor Lake predecessors in gaming scenarios. Now that NVMe-based storage drives are having similar issues, it appears Intel’s firmware development team has more work to do to rectify Arrow Lake’s performance regressions, primarily caused by the architecture’s switch to a chiplet-style design. It doesn’t appear that Intel can fix these issues with firmware, so we’ll likely have to wait for Intel’s next-generation parts before these issues get fixed. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Source link #Intel #Arrow #Lake #processors #bottleneck #PCIe #NVMe #SSDs #limiting #peak #speeds #12Gbs #14Gbs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How You Can Beat Buffett’s 19.9% Yearly Returns and Get Paid Monthly How You Can Beat Buffett’s 19.9% Yearly Returns and Get Paid Monthly Can you and I beat the legendary returns of Warren Buffett? Absolutely. What’s more, we can do it while “translating” a slice of our gains into a big income stream (with special dividends on the table, too). I’ll show you how in a moment. First, we need to talk about how the 94-year-old Oracle of Omaha, who is now stepping back from the position of president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:) , has changed the course of investing over the years. Every year, as you likely know, Buffett releases a simple letter to investors showing what’s happened with Berkshire’s portfolio. While there have been a few lean years, his outperformance is astounding: a 5,502,284% return on every dollar invested at the start of his 60-year career. That amounts to a 19.9% annualized gain, nearly double the ’s 10.4% in that time. That gap is impressive enough, but compounding makes it a difference of millions of percent. This just proves one of Buffett’s main arguments: One needs to stay in the market, patiently outlasting all the short-term panics (like the recent tariff hysteria) and patiently buying when assets are oversold. Second, it’s worth noting that stocks themselves did well in that time, with double-digit profits. That means retirement is more attainable than most people expect. If you could turn, say, half of that 19.9% yearly return into income, you could score a healthy six-figure income stream by investing a little over a million dollars. That’s what that fund I mentioned off the top can do for us. We’ll talk about this off-the-radar ticker in just a few more seconds. First, I do need to rain on Buffett’s parade a bit here: The truth is, most of his outperformance stems from the early years of Berkshire Hathaway’s operations. Berkshire’s Strong—But Waning—Returns Some quick numbers: Berkshire Hathway (shown in purple above) has had a 19.1% total annualized return over the last 45 years, as we just discussed. But over the last 20 years, its return has slipped to 11.9% annualized, just ahead of 10.2% from the S&P 500 (in orange above). It’s also less than the , in blue, at 14.8%. In fact, since the 2000s the tech- (and growth-) focused NASDAQ 100 has beaten both the S&P 500 and the value-investing strategies of Mr. Buffett. We can clearly see that in the performance of the NASDAQ 100, shown through its main index fund in purple below. The NASDAQ has easily outrun the value-focused iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSE:), in orange below. The most “Buffett-like” closed-end fund (CEF), the SRH Total Return Fund (NYSE:), in blue, has also been dusted by the tech-heavy NASDAQ. STEW invests half its assets in Berkshire and the rest in Buffett favorites like JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:). NASDAQ 100 Outruns “Buffett-Like” Funds A key thing to note about this chart is that the NASDAQ 100’s outperformance has been accelerating. That’s because it’s tilted toward tech, and our economy is becoming more tech-focused. So tech stocks will likely rise more than those favored by value investors over the long haul. A CEF That “Translates” Buffett-Beating Gains Into Income That’s the perfect segue into the CEF I want to spotlight today, the Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (NYSE:). As you can see below, STK (in orange) outperformed Berkshire (in purple) over the last decade. STK Tops the Oracle (NYSE:) In fact, not only has STK outperformed, but it’s delivered a large slice of those gains as income. The fund yields 6.6% as I write this, and its normal payouts have stayed rock steady over the last decade. Plus, STK has paid out a lot of special dividends (the spikes below) that make its total yield to investors even *******. Source: Income Calendar Even ignoring those special payouts, investors who stuck with STK over the last decade would now be enjoying a 9.8% yield on their original buy, since STK’s unit price has nearly doubled in that time. So they’d be getting a bit less $100,000 per year for every million dollars invested, again before we consider those special dividend payments over the years. Will this continue? It depends whether tech will stop being a major part of our lives and whether Wall Street will forget the value-investing strategies Buffett espoused. I think you’ll agree that neither scenario is very likely. Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Beat #Buffetts #Yearly #Returns #Paid #Monthly Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Here’s what it means for your money Here’s what it means for your money The morning after US President Trump’s announcement of European and worldwide trade tariffs, which included a 10% levy for imported goods from the ***, shoppers spend on Oxford Street beneath union jack flags in London’s West End, on 3rd April 2025, in London, England. Richard Baker | In Pictures | Getty Images The Bank of England cut interest rates on Thursday in a move likely to bring relief to borrowers, businesses and hard-pressed consumers across the country. The central bank reduced its key interest rate from 4.5% to 4.25% at its latest monetary policy meeting amid a backdrop of lackluster economic growth and uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs. The cut had been widely expected. Five of the central bank’s nine policymakers voted for the cut, with two members wanting a larger 50 basis-point reduction, and two wanting to keep rates on hold. A slowdown in price rises, with inflation cooling to 2.6% in the twelve months to March (from 2.8% the previous month), also gave the bank room for maneuver. Many British households and firms will be thankful for the rate cut as it will make borrowing money a little less expensive. Savers, who reap the benefits of higher rates of interest on their savings accounts, stand to lose out. “Just as the response to rate hikes was textbook — slower growth, soft housing market activity and higher saving, the response to rate cuts should also be textbook,” Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt told CNBC Thursday. “Business and consumers hold significant cash balances while debt-to-income ratios are at multi-decade lows. By easing the brakes on an economy full of pent-up potential, expect a positive response in investment, spending and housing activity,” he said. Here’s a quick look at the winners and losers from the Bank of England’s latest rate cut: Homeowners A 25-basis-point reduction in the Bank of England’s base rate will be a boon for anyone looking to buy a new home and get a cheaper “fixed-rate” mortgage deal from a bank or lender, or for those re-mortgaging and looking for new deals after their fixed-rate term expires. Residential mortgages with a fixed rate make up the bulk (85%) of existing mortgages, according to data from *** Finance released Thursday. Of the total number of fixed-rate deals, *** Finance analysis shows that around 1.6 million will end in total in 2025, meaning the latest drop in the Bank of England’s key rate will be good news for those looking to find a new offer. Of course, households that already have a fixed monthly mortgage won’t feel the benefit of an interest rate cut. As of Thursday, the average 2-year fixed mortgage rate was 4.66% while the average 5-year fixed rate was 4.61%, according to data from Rightmove. A cut is good news for the 591,000 homeowners in the U.K. on a “tracker” mortgage rate, however, that rises or falls with the Bank of England’s base rate. A 25-basis-point cut translates to a £29 reduction in monthly payments for the average customer on a tracker, *** Finance states. The morning light illuminates terraced streets of residential houses, on October 18, 2023 in Bristol, England. Matt Cardy | Getty Images A 25 basis point cut “brings some relief, particularly for those on tracker and variable-rate products, who should see an immediate reduction in monthly repayments,” U.K. mortgage expert Nicholas Mendes from John Charcol in London said in emailed comments. “While fixed rates have already priced in much of this decision, the cut will support sentiment in the housing market at a time when affordability has been stretched and buyer activity has slowed. It also gives lenders a bit more breathing room to remain competitive, which could help stimulate demand, especially among first-time buyers” he added. Consumers and businesses Lower interest rates will also be welcomed by consumers looking to borrow money for other things, with a potential reduction in interest on credit cards and personal loans, although this is dependent on your personal circumstances including credit history. British firms and consumers will also get some respite from the central bank’s decision, as lower interest rates can also translate into cheaper borrowing and cheaper repayments on business loans, freeing up cash for investment and growth. Businesses will hope that lower rates will boost consumer confidence and spending, too. This will be a particular bonus for the U.K.’s 5.5 million small and medium-sized enterprises recently hit with a rise in the national minimum wage and higher National Insurance contributions, announced in the Labour government’s budget. Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty Images At the same time, however, any wider economic downturn on the back of U.S.-led trade tariffs and export costs and a predicted bump in inflation as energy price rises spike (albeit temporarily) could dent consumer confidence and business sentiment. “The U.K. economy’s cyclical pulse has been strengthening a little in the last few months. Household incomes have continued to grow faster than inflation and that has been showing up in consumption,” Will Hobbs from Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management noted Thursday, although he added that “the uncertainty created by the U.S. tariffs will certainly have some dampening effect.” It means many Brits could be reluctant to splurge the cash, mindful of the still-elevated cost of living after the price of basic goods and energy spiked following the war in Ukraine. A shopper browses fruit and vegetables for ***** at an indoor market in Sheffield, ***. The OECD recently predicted that the *** will experience the highest inflation among all advanced economies this year. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images While the pace of price rises has slowed in recent months, the Bank of England warned in March of a short-term spike in inflation this year, mainly due to rising energy costs. That led the central bank to warn that any interest rate cuts would be “gradual and careful” as it looks to bring the rate of inflation down to its target of 2%. The pace of rate cuts could be subject to change, however, if U.S. trade tariffs dampen global demand and hit U.K. growth more than expected. “Back in February, the medium-term economic and inflation outlook as well as the balance of risks argued for the BOE to keep the pace at one per quarter for 2025,” Peel Hunt’s Kallum Pickering noted Thursday. “A lot has changed since then — and if there was ever an opportunity to shift the policy narrative, this would be it.” “A likely diversion of cheap ******** goods into Europe, plus lower energy prices due to softer global demand, and lower import prices from a rising sterling will all help to keep a lid on *** prices,” Pickering noted. “Moreover, an additional fear factor coming from increased uncertainty will likely dampen wage and price setting. In our view, we believe that markets and the broader economy would respond positively to the BOE cutting rates this week and signaling a succession of rate cuts to come.” Source link #Heres #means #money Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Amazon’s best-selling Blink outdoor security camera just dropped to its lowest price of the year Amazon’s best-selling Blink outdoor security camera just dropped to its lowest price of the year Both homeowners and apartment dwellers sometimes want to keep an eye on their outdoor spaces, whether it’s to protect against possible theft or see what’s messing up the window plants. Thankfully, there’s an affordable solution right now: you can get the Blink Outdoor 4 at Amazon for $49.99 (was $99.99). The Blink Outdoor 4 is one of our best home security cameras – one that we rated four out of five stars. It was $10 cheaper in the past, but this huge 50% price cut is low enough that it’s worth getting now. You can also trade in an old device for up to an additional 20% off. Amazon also offers the same discount on Blink Outdoor 4 bundles of two or more cameras. You might want to consider getting more than one if there are multiple spaces you want to watch outside your home. After all, one camera can only see so much. Today’s best Blink security camera deal In our Blink Outdoor 4 review, we highlight its affordability and convenience. Its wire-free design, two-year battery life, and an easy-to-use app make it an ideal starter security camera for homeowners looking to monitor their surroundings. It works with the Blink app, where you can view footage in real-time. It supports up to 1080p HD live video and infrared night vision, so you can see at all times of day. You can use two-way audio from the app, too, so you can also communicate from the camera like a video doorbell. The Blink Outdoor 4 comes with one Sync Module 2, two AA lithium metal batteries, one mounting kit, one USB cable, and one power adapter. The Sync Module 2 is for locally saving footage and images with a USB drive, which works with or without a Blink Subscription. For more, bookmark our best cheap home security camera sales and deals. I’d also suggest looking into the best home video surveillance and best video doorbells. Source link #Amazons #bestselling #Blink #outdoor #security #camera #dropped #lowest #price #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]