Pelican Press

Biden Criticizes Trump in BBC Interview Biden Criticizes Trump in BBC Interview Six months after his party lost the presidential election, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is stepping back into the public spotlight with a scathing condemnation of his successor and his handling of international affairs. In his first broadcast interview since leaving the White House, Mr. Biden attacked President Trump’s management of the war in Ukraine and his dealings with global allies. Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Biden also defended the timing of his own withdrawal from the 2024 presidential campaign. The former president singled out some of Mr. Trump’s actions on foreign policy — including his combative meeting in the Oval Office in February with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. “I found it sort of beneath America in the way that it took place,” Mr. Biden said of the meeting. He also pointed to calls by Mr. Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico, take back the Panama Canal and acquire Greenland. “What the hell’s going on here? What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are,” Mr. Biden said. “We’re about freedom, democracy, opportunity — not about confiscation.” While he did not mention Mr. Trump by name, his comments were a striking departure from a long tradition in which former presidents decline to criticize the leaders who follow. The attack suggested that Mr. Biden, 82, sees himself as continuing to have a public role in his party, even as many Democrats blame him for their 2024 defeat and want to focus on a new generation of leaders. While many Democrats consider it politically damaging to focus too much on their last president, Mr. Biden appears inclined to defend his record and to try to shape his legacy. In his halting speaking style, Mr. Biden boasted of being “so successful on our agenda.” He again defended his decision to seek re-election last year despite polling that, even before he began his campaign, showed that many Democrats did not want him to run for a second term. “I don’t think it would have mattered,” he said when asked whether he thought he should have quit before his disastrous debate performance in June. “I don’t think that would have made much difference.” The interview is part of a public re-emergence by Mr. Biden, who has kept a relatively low profile since leaving the White House in January. In recent weeks, he has been spotted at the opening of “Othello,” a popular Broadway show, and at the ******** for the ******** of Pope Francis. On Thursday, Mr. Biden is scheduled to appear on ABC’s “The View” for another interview, where he is again expected to be asked about Mr. Trump and to defend his own record as president. Mr. Biden routinely avoided engaging with the news media as both candidate and president, with his staff members going to great lengths to keep him away from reporters. He chose a British outlet to make his post-presidential news media debut followed by a daytime talk show, continuing his tradition of eschewing the traditional American press. Three weeks ago, he gave a speech to disability advocates in Chicago in which he accused the current administration of “taking a hatchet” to the Social Security Administration and slammed Mr. Trump as doing “damage and destruction” to the benefits program. In addition to expressing his displeasure at Mr. Trump’s leadership, Mr. Biden may also be raising his profile for financial gain. His speech in Chicago was paid and, according to two people familiar with the matter, he is expected to participate in more speaking engagements in the future. He is also working on a memoir about his time in office and has re-signed with Creative Artists Agency, which represented him from 2017 to 2020. His family’s post-presidential costs have increased since Mr. Trump took office. While Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, have Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives, Mr. Trump moved in March to revoke protection for their adult children, including Hunter Biden. As Democrats search for a path forward, they are unlikely to welcome Mr. Biden’s reminders about the past. David Axelrod, an early critic of Mr. Biden’s running for a second term, said Mr. Biden’s raised public profile could have the opposite effect of what the former president may intend. “It’s understandable that President Biden wants to speak, given all that has transpired since January 20th,” said Mr. Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama. “But it’s likely the only person more eager for him to re-emerge is Donald Trump, who brings Biden up seven days a week and twice on Sunday.” For years, Mr. Biden and his aides argued that he was the only Democrat who could defeat Mr. Trump — despite the party’s deep bench of governors, senators and other younger officials. By insisting on seeking re-election, then abruptly bowing out under pressure from his own party, Mr. Biden left Democrats scrambling to remake a billion-dollar presidential campaign for a different candidate over 107 days. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him on the ticket, has told friends that she would have beaten Mr. Trump if she had been given more time to campaign — the implication being that Mr. Biden should have quit the race earlier. Other Democrats argue that if Mr. Biden had acknowledged the signs of his aging earlier and declined to run for re-election, their party could have hosted a robust primary race and emerged with a stronger contender to challenge Mr. Trump. Mr. Biden, who hinted during his 2020 campaign that he would serve only one term, said in the BBC interview that he had been prepared to hand over leadership to the next generation instead of running again. “But things moved so quickly that it made it difficult to walk away,” he said, adding, “it was just a difficult decision.” Some of his most loyal aides have insisted that Democrats have only themselves to blame for their loss. Mike Donilon, a longtime adviser, has continued to argue that Mr. Biden was the party’s best chance for keeping the White House. “Lots of people have terrible debates,” Mr. Donilon told an audience at Harvard University in February. “Usually, the party doesn’t lose its mind. But that’s what happened — it just melted down.” In the BBC interview, Mr. Biden said he was worried about the future of global democracy if allies no longer saw the United States as a reliable leader. He noted that Sweden and Finland had both joined NATO during his presidency, bolstering the alliance. “And in four years we’ve got a guy who wants to walk away from it all,” Mr. Biden said. “I’m worried that Europe is going to lose confidence in the certainty of America, and the leadership of America in the world,” he said. The possibility that the NATO alliance might be dying is a “grave concern,” he said. “We’re the only nation in position to have the capacity to bring people together to lead the world,” he said “Otherwise you’re going to have China and the former Soviet Union, Russia, stepping up.” If NATO did not exist, Mr. Biden asked at one point, “do you think Putin would have stopped at Ukraine?” He added, apparently referring to Trump administration officials, “I don’t understand how they fail to understand that there is strength in alliances.” In his second term, Mr. Trump has often singled out his predecessor for blame — a New York Times analysis found that he publicly mentioned Mr. Biden’s name more than six times a day on average in his first 50 days in office. Asked whether Mr. Trump was behaving more like a monarch than a president, Mr. Biden put it carefully: “He’s not behaving like a Republican president.” Source link #Biden #Criticizes #Trump #BBC #Interview Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump to Rescind Chip Curbs After Debate Over AI Rules – Bloomberg.com Trump to Rescind Chip Curbs After Debate Over AI Rules – Bloomberg.com Trump to Rescind Chip Curbs After Debate Over AI Rules Bloomberg.comNvidia shares climb on report Trump will end chip export restrictions CNBCTrump to scrap Biden’s “AI diffusion rule” in win for chipmakers AxiosNvidia, Other Tech Companies Are Poised to Get an Exports Break WSJTrump signals US might ease chip export curbs on some Gulf countries Reuters Source link #Trump #Rescind #Chip #Curbs #Debate #Rules #Bloomberg.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PSG down Gunners to reach Champions League final PSG down Gunners to reach Champions League final Paris Saint-Germain will have a second chance to win the Champions League at long last as they reached the final 3-1 on aggregate over Arsenal with a 2-1 home victory. Fabian Ruiz fired the opener in the 27th minute at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night. Achraf Hakimi curled home the second in the 72nd for the French champions, who three minutes earlier had failed to convert a penalty from Vitinha. Arsenal got a lifeline from Bukayo Saka in the 76th but it was too little to late for the Gunners who had wasted a trio of top chances in the opening minutes. In the Munich final on May 31, PSG will face three-time champions Inter Milan, who won a semi-final tie for the ages 7-6 on aggregate against Barcelona the previous day. Qatari-owned PSG have long thirsted to win the European elite event for the first time. They reached the final in 2020, losing to Bayern Munich, while also being stopped in several semi-finals. A treble is possible for PSG who have already clinched the Ligue 1 title and are in the Coupe de France final under coach Luis Enrique, who already has a treble from 2015 while in charge of Barcelona. The successful run, which saw Arsenal as their third English scalp after Liverpool and Aston Villa, comes amid a new strategic approach a year after the departure of talisman Kylian Mbappe, and previous exits of superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar. Arsenal meanwhile failed to make the final for the second time 19 years after their debut there in 2006, when they lost against Barca. They impressively beat title holders and record winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, but now see their season unravel late, having also lost the Premier League title race against Liverpool. Source link #PSG #Gunners #reach #Champions #League #final Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fanatical Bundlefest Kicks Off With Five Roguelike Games For $5 Fanatical Bundlefest Kicks Off With Five Roguelike Games For $5 Fanatical just kicked off Bundlefest Spring 2025, and this iteration of the popular PC game promotion looks to be the biggest yet. Past Bundlefests started on Mondays and ran for five days. Typically, Fanatical introduced one new bundle each day, but occasionally there were days with two bundle offers. This time around, Bundlefest started on a Wednesday (May 7) and runs through Friday, May 16. New bundles will go live each weekday, meaning there will be at least eight new game bundles total during Bundlefest Spring 2025. Kicking things off is a new Killer Bundle with five roguelike action games $5. The next new bundle is scheduled to go live on Thursday, May 8, at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET. You can check out what’s included in the new Killer Bundle below, and be sure to check back tomorrow for the latest deal. Fanatical’s Bundlefest Spring 2025 at a glance Wednesday, May 7: Killer Bundle (Bundlefest Spring 2025) Thursday, May 8: TBA Friday, May 9: TBA Monday, May 12: TBA Tuesday, May 13: TBA Wednesday, May 14: TBA Thursday, May 15: TBA Friday, May 16: TBA It’s worth noting that while Bundlefest Spring 2025 only lasts through Friday, May 16, the new bundles launched during the event will be available for several more weeks after. We’ve made sure to list when each bundle deal expires below. Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. Fanatical’s Bundlefest Spring 2025 Killer Bundle (Bundlefest Spring 2025) – 5 Games for $5 Kill Bundle (Bundlefest Spring 2025) This new edition of Fanatical’s recurring Killer Bundle gets you five roguelike action games for just $5. The titles included are the wave-based FPS brawler Paint the Town Red, top-down survival shooter Empty Shell, medieval survivors-like Army of Ruin, the Hades-inspired deck-building dungeon crawler Dandy Ace, and the sci-fi tower defense game DG2: Defense Grid. That tallies up to a $75 value for all five games, meaning you’re saving $70 thanks to this $5 bundle deal. All five games in the bundle are delivered as official Steam keys, and each is Steam Deck verified. The Killer Bundle (Bundlefest Spring 2025) will be available until June 11. Army of Ruin Dandy Ace DG2: Defense Grid 2 Empty Shell Paint the Town Red Source link #Fanatical #Bundlefest #Kicks #Roguelike #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘I’ve never asked for a meeting with any president, and I never will’ ‘I’ve never asked for a meeting with any president, and I never will’ Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday pushed back on political pressure from the White House, telling reporters that President Trump “doesn’t affect our doing our job at all” and that “I’ve never asked for a meeting with any president, and I never will.” The central bank chair and his colleagues also made it clear with their words and actions on Wednesday that they are not yet aligned with Trump’s calls for lower rates ahead of any economic slowdown. Fed policymakers on Wednesday voted unanimously to maintain the Fed’s benchmark interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.5%, a mark reached at the end of 2024 after cutting rates by a full percentage point last fall. Read more: How the Fed rate decision affects your bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and investments The Fed, Powell said, does not “need to be in a hurry” as it evaluates how Trump’s tariffs will affect employment and inflation and whether talks with America’s largest trading partners change the economic outlook. “I don’t think we can say which way this will shake out,” he told reporters during a press conference that followed the Fed’s rate decision. Nevertheless, Powell made it clear he is concerned about the effect Trump’s tariffs could have: “My gut tells me that uncertainty for the path of the economy is extremely elevated.” President Trump and Jerome Powell in 2017 when Powell was announced as Trump’s nominee to chair the Fed. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) · AFP Contributor via Getty Images Wednesday’s decision to hold rates steady came after Trump’s public campaign in recent weeks to urge the Fed and Powell to cut rates as his administration rolls out a series of aggressive tariffs on goods imported from major trading partners. In doing so, the president also lobbed a series of insults at Powell, calling him a “total stiff” and a “major loser” while accusing him of being late to act. “There can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW,” the president posted on his social media website, Truth Social, on April 21, saying that “‘Preemptive Cuts’ in Interest Rates are being called for by many.” He also said that Powell’s “termination can’t come fast enough” before later clarifying that he had no intention of removing Powell before his term is up in May 2026. Read more: How much control does the president have over the Fed and interest rates? Powell was asked about his reaction to Trump saying that he would keep Powell in place, and he replied that he had nothing more to say. Powell has previously said he intends to serve out his term and that his removal is not permitted by law. Story Continues Source link #Ive #asked #meeting #president Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Is Working On Technology For Emulation Of Legacy Xbox Games On Modern Platforms Microsoft Is Working On Technology For Emulation Of Legacy Xbox Games On Modern Platforms Microsoft is working on technology for emulation of legacy Xbox games on modern platforms, according to a job listing. Source link #Microsoft #Working #Technology #Emulation #Legacy #Xbox #Games #Modern #Platforms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

No Pope Selected on First Day of Conclave No Pope Selected on First Day of Conclave ****** smoke puffed from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel to indicate the cardinals had not reached a decision in a first round of voting for the next pope. Source link #Pope #Selected #Day #Conclave Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rockstar reiterates that the latest GTA 6 trailer was captured on PS5 Rockstar reiterates that the latest GTA 6 trailer was captured on PS5 Rockstar Games has re-confirmed that its latest trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 was captured on PS5 hardware. The trailer, which was released on Tuesday, was predictably extremely popular, and at the time of writing has nearly 80 million views after one day. At the end of the trailer, when the game’s recently announced May 26, 2026 release date is shown, a message appears at the bottom of the screen stating: “Captured on PS5.” Despite this, some have been wondering just how much of the trailer is actual PS5 footage, and how much of it consists of cutscenes – where lighting and detail can be more easily controlled – and how much is gameplay. In a new post by the official Rockstar Games account on X, the studio clarified: “Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 was captured entirely in-game from a PlayStation 5, comprised of equal parts gameplay and cutscenes.” It’s still not clear whether this means the base PS5 console or the PS5 Pro, but until Rockstar clarifies otherwise it can be assumed to be the former. The jump in graphical detail can be partly explained by the fact that this is the first brand new Grand Theft Auto game for two generations, because GTA 5 was originally released on Xbox 360 and PS3 before being remastered for Xbox One and PS4, then again for Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 was captured entirely in-game from a PlayStation 5, comprised of equal parts gameplay and cutscenes. pic.twitter.com/JWFfVYm3on — Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) May 7, 2025 The new trailer introduces the game’s protagonists, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, and was followed by a large update on the game’s official website giving biographies of the two playable characters, among others. “Meeting Lucia could be the best or worst thing to ever happen to him. Jason knows how he’d like it to turn out but right now, it’s hard to tell,” reads a profile of Jason’s character released by Rockstar. “Jason wants an easy life, but things just keep getting harder. Jason grew up around the grifters and crooks. After a stint in the Army trying to shake off his troubled teens, he found himself in the Keys doing what he knows best, working for local drug runners. It might be time to try something new.” Lucia’s profile reads: “Lucia’s father taught her to fight as soon as she could walk. Life has been coming at her swinging ever since. Fighting for her family landed her in the Leonida Penitentiary. Sheer luck got her out. Lucia’s learned her lesson — only smart moves from here. More than anything, Lucia wants the good life her mom has dreamed of since her days in Liberty City — but instead of half-baked fantasies, Lucia is prepared to take matters into her own hands.” Source link #Rockstar #reiterates #latest #GTA #trailer #captured #PS5 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD Relieves Market Despite Ongoing Share Price Outlook Caution AMD Relieves Market Despite Ongoing Share Price Outlook Caution Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:) Q1 results and 2025 guidance update sent a wave of relief through the market.The results were better than expected, and guidance was solid despite the impact of tariffs and restrictions on China, yet analysts remain cautious. The revision trend following the release included numerous share price reductions despite citing the very strong result, strength in core businesses, and outlook for market share gains. The takeaway is that Advanced Micro Devices faces headwinds in 2025. Still, its business is solid, arguably better-positioned than NVIDIA (NASDAQ:) for the long term, and cheap relative to the long-term forecasts and price targets for 2025. Advanced Micro Devices Positioned for Long-Term Growth Advanced Micro Devices is better positioned than NVIDIA in the long term because of its diversification. NVIDIA is the leader in GPU, AI, and, to an extent, the cloud, but AMD is better-positioned as the #2 GPU provider and an increasingly important CPU provider with exposure to cloud, edge, and endpoint semiconductor markets. NVIDIA can catch up, but it will take time. Meanwhile, AMD has already taken strides to improve its competitiveness in the GPU and AI markets, including advancing its software infrastructure and acquiring ZT Systems. ZT Systems designs, manufactures, and deploys rack-scale server solutions for hyperscalers and telecoms. Its acquisition is part of AMD’s go-to-market strategy, enabling clients to harness and deploy AMD GPUs at scale. Likewise, collaboration with Rapt.ai aims to do the same. Rapt.ai provides an AI-enabled software platform that optimizes and maximizes GPU operations at scale. It is optimizing its software for AMD’s MI300 and future lines to reduce compute bottlenecks, maximize compute space, automate repetitive tasks, and improve developer efficiency for AMD clients. Advanced Micro Devices to Rise by 20% in 2025 The analysts are lowering their price targets following the guidance update, but there are a few things for investors to consider. First, the price target reductions are offset by several reiterated targets and an upgrade to Buy from Bank of America. Another is that the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy and is firming after the release. Additionally, the consensus of fresh targets is near $120, offering a 20% upside for the market, and dampened sentiment in Q2 sets the market up for happy surprises later in the year. Until then, the Q1 results and guidance are solid. There is an impact related to China, but even so, the quarterly results and guidance outpaced the analysts’ consensus, and guidance is likely cautious. It is usually from this company. As it is, the Q1 revenue of $7.74 billion is up 36% year-over-year, setting a record, and 430 basis points above the consensus. Revenue strength is driven by gains in the Data Center and Client segments, with DC up 57% and Client up 28%. There is some weakness within the Client segment, with Embedded down by 2.7% and Gaming down by 30%, but Embedded markets have been relatively stable over the last year, and both are expected to return to growth by the year’s end. Details from the Data Center segment are also encouraging. Not only is growth accelerating, but strength is seen in both the GPU and CPU subsegments. Looking forward, the guidance is also better-than-expected, with revenue expected to grow at a robust 26% pace, including China’s impact, and maintain a solid double-digit pace through year’s end. Advanced Micro Devices Stock Rebound Underway, Hurdles Remain Advanced Micro Devices’ stock price hit its bottom in early April, and the rebound is underway. The market shows support at the 30-day EMA following the release and could move higher despite the downdraft in analysts’ price targets. The critical resistance point in early May is near the $103.50 level and will likely be tested by the market. A move to the consensus of $120 is likely if this market gets above that level. A move to $120 would be a significant signal as it puts the market above the 150-day EMA, a trigger for long-term investors.Original Post Source link #AMD #Relieves #Market #Ongoing #Share #Price #Outlook #Caution Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump pulls surgeon general nominee after questions about medical education Trump pulls surgeon general nominee after questions about medical education US Vice President JD Vance, from left, Pam Bondi, US attorney general, Chris Wright, US energy secretary, Janette Nesheiwat, US surgeon general nominee for US President Donald Trump, and Lee Zeldin, administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was withdrawing his nomination of former Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as U.S. surgeon general, a move that followed questions about her medical education history. Trump in a social media post said he would nominate Dr. Casey Means for surgeon general. The president said Nesheiwat will work at the Department of Health and Human Services “in another capacity.” Nesheiwat’s nomination is the second high-ranking health official pick of Trump’s to be withdrawn this year. The nomination of former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was yanked in March. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Trump #pulls #surgeon #general #nominee #questions #medical #education Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. deporting group of migrants to Libya on military plane, officials say U.S. deporting group of migrants to Libya on military plane, officials say People gather in Tripoli’s Martyrs square on May 22, 2024. Mahmud Turkia | Afp | Getty Images The U.S. is planning to send a group of undocumented immigrants to Libya as early as this week, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the flight said. A U.S. military aircraft is expected to transport the migrants. A State Department spokesperson said that the agency does not discuss the “details of our diplomatic communications with other governments.” The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on anything related to Libyan deportations. Libya’s Government of National Unity, the country’s provisional government, said in a post on social media that it is not coordinating deportations with the U.S. and that it rejects the use of the country as a destination for deported immigrants without its knowledge or consent. “The Government categorically denies the existence of any agreement or coordination with it regarding the reception of any migrants deported from the United States,” Libya’s Government of National Unity said in a post. It also suggested that “some parallel parties that are not subject to legitimacy” could be involved with the developments. Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army, which controls eastern Libya, said in a statement that it also rejects the idea of the country taking in deported migrants, as that would violate “the sovereignty of the homeland.” The news comes after the Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month during a Cabinet meeting that the U.S. is “actively searching for other countries to take people.” “We are working with other countries to say, ‘We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries,'” Rubio said. “‘Will you do that as a favor to us?’ And the further away the better, so they can’t come back across the border.” The U.S. has agreements in place with several Central American countries to take in its deportees. Earlier this year, the Trump administration struck a $6 million deal with El Salvador to imprison deportees it says are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the street gang MS-13. The administration has labeled both gangs as foreign terrorist organizations. Other countries, like Costa Rica have also agreed to serve as a bridge between the U.S. and the migrants, many of whom have no criminal records. Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves said at a news conference in February that the country is helping its “economically powerful brother from the north.” “If they impose a tax in our free zones, it’ll ****** us,” Chaves said. “Two-hundred will come, we treat them well and they will leave.” Source link #U.S #deporting #group #migrants #Libya #military #plane #officials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The FTC has lost its appeal against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard The FTC has lost its appeal against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially lost its appeal against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft officially acquired Activision Blizzard in October 2023, completing the game industry’s (and Microsoft’s) biggest ever deal. This followed the US District Court for the Northern District of California’s decision in July 2023 to deny the FTC’s motion for a preliminary injunction. Had it been granted at the time, the injunction would have blocked the $69 billion deal from being completed until the US regulator’s in-house court had a chance to rule on whether the merger hurt competition in the games industry. Instead, with the injunction denied, the acquisition was able to be completed. Unwilling to let the matter lie, however, the FTC proceeded with an appeal in December 2023 attempting to overturn the court’s decision. This appeal has now been rejected, as reported by Bloomberg, with the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals saying the judge was correct to reject the FTC’s motion for an injunction. According to the appeals court, the FTC failed to show that Microsoft would have prevented rival companies from gaining access to Call of Duty after acquiring Activision Blizzard, now was it able to prove that the deal would have lessened competition in the gaming subscription market. It also said the FTC’s claim that the deal would have hurt competition in cloud streaming couldn’t be proved either, because it “failed to show” that Activision Blizzard games would have been made available for streaming if the deal hadn’t gone through. As for the FTC’s main argument that the acquisition would potentially mean that Microsoft would make Activision games exclusive to Xbox, the appeals court pointed out that even if this was the case, it’s standard in the industry. “All major manufacturers have engaged in this practice,” the court found, stressing that Nintendo and Sony “both have significantly higher number of exclusive games on their platform than [Microsoft] does”. Since the acquisition was completed, Microsoft has not only continued to make Call of Duty games available on PlayStation platforms, but has also released numerous former Xbox exclusives on Sony’s console, including such titles as Forza Horizon 5, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Sea of Thieves. On Monday it was also announced that Gears of War: Reloaded is coming this summer to Xbox Series X/S, PC and PS5, marking the Xbox series’ debut on PlayStation. Source link #FTC #lost #appeal #Microsofts #acquisition #Activision #Blizzard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump offers help with India and Pakistan conflict Trump offers help with India and Pakistan conflict U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for the new U.S. ambassador to China, former U.S. Senator David Perdue, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 7, 2025. Leah Millis | Reuters President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to help dial back tension between India and Pakistan, which has escalated as a result of a recent Islamist terror attack in Kashmir. Trump commented on the situation hours after India said its armed forces conducted strikes against Pakistan early Wednesday morning. “It’s terrible,” Trump said of the conflict. “My position is I get along with both,” Trump said in the Oval Office after swearing in former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia as U.S. ambassador to China. “I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out,” the president said. “I want to see them stop, and hopefully they can stop now,” Trump said. He added that the U.S. has good relations with both countries and wants to see the “****-for-tat” stop. “If I can do anything to help, I will be there,” Trump said. Read more CNBC politics coverage Trump on Tuesday night told reporters at the White House that Indian and Pakistan have been fighting for “a long time” and implied the rising tensions may have been foreseen “based on a little bit of the past.” India has blamed Pakistan for the April 22 massacre of 26 civilians in the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir, a Himalayan region. Both India and Pakistan claim that all of Kashmir is rightfully part of their countries. Source link #Trump #offers #India #Pakistan #conflict Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thursday Briefing: What’s Next for India and Pakistan? Thursday Briefing: What’s Next for India and Pakistan? Will the India-Pakistan conflict escalate further? After India had conducted airstrikes on Pakistan and the Pakistani-held area of Kashmir, the Pakistani military yesterday shot down at least two Indian aircraft, according to Indian officials and Western diplomats, as well as local media reports and witness accounts. The question now is whether Pakistan will decide that it must answer India’s strikes with an attack of its own on Indian soil. For now, Pakistan says it is keeping all its options open. But diplomats and analysts expressed some hope that an all-out war could be averted. Pakistan’s defense minister said he would welcome further U.S. efforts to help defuse his country’s crisis with India. The Pakistani military said more than 20 people had been killed and dozens injured after India hit six places in Pakistani-held Kashmir and in Punjab Province. Residents of the Indian side of Kashmir said at least 10 people were killed by shelling from the Pakistani side. Even as India hailed its “Operation Sindoor” attack on Pakistan as a victory in response to the terrorist attack in Kashmir last month that killed 26 people, evidence grew that their forces may have taken heavy losses. Perspective: My colleague Mujib Mashal, our South Asia bureau chief, explained what led to the strikes in this Times video. “The history of these two countries has really been a history of managed hostilities,” Mujib said. On the ground: These photos and videos capture scenes from India’s strikes on Pakistan and Kashmir. Arms flow: When it comes to weapons, India vs. Pakistan is also China vs. the U.S., illustrating the new alignments in this corner of Asia. No pope was elected on the first day of the conclave ****** smoke puffed from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel as the first round of voting for a new pope ended yesterday without a decision. The conclave of cardinals will meet today to try again. The initial vote had not been expected to yield a new leader. The 133 cardinals, the most ever to gather in a papal conclave, will remain without phone or internet access and under oaths of total secrecy until a two-thirds majority agrees on a candidate. This is how a conclave works. What’s next: There is no indication of how long the conclave will take, though decisions were reached in the last two within two days. Because the process takes place mostly in silence, one seasoned cardinal had some advice: “Bring a book.” Quiz: Think you know the conclave? Test your knowledge on the centuries-old tradition. Israeli airstrikes killed dozens in Gaza Airstrikes pounded Gaza yesterday, killing at least 59 people, health officials said, as Israel’s defense minister gave some details about a plan to capture more of the enclave and force all two million Gaza residents to live in the south. The single deadliest bombing hit near a popular cafe in Gaza City where young people had gathered to use the internet, killing 33, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Speaking to the military, Israel’s defense minister said the relocation of Gazans was part of an offensive that would begin after President Trump’s visit to the Middle East next week. Until then, he said, ****** had “a window of opportunity” to agree to new cease-fire negotiations and release Israeli hostages. MORE TOP NEWS When we think about the forces that shape us, our first thought might be of our parents. But our brothers and sisters can play just as big a role (if not *******) in who we become, from school life to sports. Read more about these rivals and allies. CONVERSATION STARTERS The year’s best books, so far We’re more than a third of the way through 2025 and our Book Review team has already written about hundreds of books. Some were good. Some were very good. And then there were the ones we couldn’t stop thinking about. One of the favorites is “We Do Not Part,” a dreamlike novel that revisits a violent chapter in South Korean history. Another is “Careless People,” a darkly funny exposé of Facebook. Here are more thrillers, chillers and a hare-raising memoir, big ears and all. Awards drama: “James,” by Percival Everett, won the Pulitzer for fiction this week. But not without complications. Source link #Thursday #Briefing #Whats #India #Pakistan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airstrikes Pound Gaza as Israel Announces Plans to Displace More Residents – The New York Times Airstrikes Pound Gaza as Israel Announces Plans to Displace More Residents – The New York Times Airstrikes Pound Gaza as Israel Announces Plans to Displace More Residents The New York TimesIsraeli strikes on Gaza restaurant and market kill 33, health ministry says BBCHamas-run authorities say at least 48 killed in series of IDF strikes in Gaza The Times of IsraelIsraeli attacks kill more than 60 as Gaza blockade accelerates starvation Al JazeeraIsraeli strikes kill 48 at Gaza shelters for displaced Palestinians, hospitals say, as military operation intensifies CNN Source link #Airstrikes #Pound #Gaza #Israel #Announces #Plans #Displace #Residents #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You can use the Google app to decode any eye-watering jargon you read on your iPhone – here’s how You can use the Google app to decode any eye-watering jargon you read on your iPhone – here’s how Google’s new Simplify tool for iOS explains dense and confusing text on the web Simplify uses Gemini AI to translate the text into plain, readable language without leaving the page Users can highlight confusing content and tap the “Simplify” button to unravel the jargon Reading an article on a technical or particularly complex subject sometimes feels like navigating a maze rather than following a narrative. Google’s iOS app has a new solution if you come across a scientific paper or an article written by someone a little too fond of being obtuse. The new Simplify feature for Google’s mobile app rewrites any jargon-filled internet text into language that doesn’t require a specialty dictionary, and without leaving the app. To use Simplify, you’ll need to browse the web from the Google app. When you hit a wall of needlessly complicated text, you can highlight it, and a little Simplify button will appear. Tapping the button will rework that highlighted paragraph into something far more comprehensible to the average person. Simplify is essentially a shortcut for Google’s Gemini AI. Google Research designed a prompt-optimization process that asks Gemini to transform the text into something easier to understand behind the scenes, activating when you tap the Simplify button. You may like The Simplify button won’t utterly change your life or redefine how you engage with content online, but it could cut down on the need for new tabs or at least remove the need to copy and paste opaque text into Gemini or ChatGPT every time you run up against a linguistic roadblock. Simple AI According to the developers of the Simplify tool, the AI translation not only made dense content easier to parse, but it also helped them remember what they read. It’s of a piece with other AI tools rolled out by Google to streamline tedious or annoying bits of people’s experiences online. It matches neatly with features like Google Gemini widgets or the anticipated Power Up button for improving your prompts. The Simplify feature also falls under the AI enhancement of the browsing experience that Google has deployed (with occasional pratfalls), like the Search Generative Experience and AI Overviews for Search. Simplify feels more directly pitched to individuals, though, since you have to choose to use it. For now, Simplify is iOS-only, and it’s not going to be perfect every time. Like any AI tool, it might make a mistake or oversimplify its response and lose some of the nuance found in the original text. That’s a tradeoff common to any translation, however. It may also be a tradeoff most users will be happy to make, especially when the alternative is drowning in multisyllabic nonsense about blockchain governance protocols. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You might also like Source link #Google #app #decode #eyewatering #jargon #read #iPhone #heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The first day of the conclave in a minute The first day of the conclave in a minute The first vote of the conclave – the secretive process to choose a new pope – has failed to reach a decision. After a lengthy wait, ****** smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at around 9pm local time – meaning the 133 cardinals inside have not been able to choose a new pontiff. Crowds were gathered in their tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square for the first vote of conclave – the results of which took more than two hours to announce. Cardinals will return tomorrow to a closed-door Sistine Chapel for more rounds of voting. The BBC’s Laura Gozzi was in ******** City all day alongside the waiting crowds. Filmed by John Johnson Source link #day #conclave #minute Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Memphis police officers not guilty of fatal beating of US motorist Tyre Nichols Memphis police officers not guilty of fatal beating of US motorist Tyre Nichols Three former officers charged with ******* in the fatal beating of a ****** man that triggered nationwide protests against police brutality have been acquitted by a state jury in Memphis, Tennessee. Tyre Nichols, who was beaten during a traffic stop in 2023, died three days after sustaining numerous blows to the head, according to a post-mortem report. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, Jr were found not guilty on all charges on Wednesday, including second-degree *******, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. All three have been convicted of separate federal charges, and still face long prison sentences. Source link #Memphis #police #officers #guilty #fatal #beating #motorist #Tyre #Nichols Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Erin Patterson trial: Leongatha Hospital doctor Veronica Foote details chef’s effort to leave Erin Patterson trial: Leongatha Hospital doctor Veronica Foote details chef’s effort to leave A doctor tasked with caring for Erin Patterson has detailed the moment the alleged mushroom killer left hospital against medical advice. Source link #Erin #Patterson #trial #Leongatha #Hospital #doctor #Veronica #Foote #details #chefs #effort #leave Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street climbs in choppy trading after Fed warns of rising risks for economy, holds rates steady Wall Street climbs in choppy trading after Fed warns of rising risks for economy, holds rates steady Wall Street climbs in choppy trading after Fed warns of rising risks for economy, holds rates steady Source link #Wall #Street #climbs #choppy #trading #Fed #warns #rising #risks #economy #holds #rates #steady Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Gaza City Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Gaza City The single deadliest bombing took place near a popular cafe in Gaza City where at least 33 people were killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Source link #Airstrikes #Kill #Dozens #Gaza #City Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arm (ARM) Q1 earnings reports 2025 Arm (ARM) Q1 earnings reports 2025 Rene Haas, CEO of chip tech provider Arm Holdings, holds a replica of a chip with his company’s logo on it, during an event in which Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officially announces a $250 million deal with the company, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 5, 2025. Hasnoor Hussain | Reuters Arm shares dropped more than 8% in extended trading on Wednesday after the chip-design company issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the current quarter. Here’s how the company did in the fiscal fourth quarter compared with LSEG consensus: Earnings per share: 55 cents, adjusted vs. 52 cents expectedRevenue: $1.24 billion vs. $1.23 billion While Arm topped estimates for the quarter ended March 31, Wall Street is looking ahead to the company’s forecast for the first quarter. Arm said revenue will be between $1 billion and $1.1 billion. The middle of the range is below the $1.1 billion average analysts estimated, according to LSEG. Earnings per share will be between 30 cents and 38 cents, while analysts were expecting 42 cents. SoftBank controls about 90% of Arm, and took the company public in 2023. It now has a market cap of over $130 billion as of Wednesday’s close. Arm designs the fundamental architecture upon which many chips are built, and sells licenses for its designs to companies such as Qualcomm and Nvidia, charging royalty fees on each ***** they make. The company claims 99% of premium smartphones are powered by Arm technology. Royalty revenue in the quarter rose 18% from a year earlier to $607 million. Net income fell 6% to $210 million, or 20 cents a share, from $224 million, or 21 cents, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue jumped 34% from $928 million a year earlier. WATCH: AI is going to be inside every software application Source link #Arm #ARM #earnings #reports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Applovin shares pop on earnings beat, mobile gaming business ***** Applovin shares pop on earnings beat, mobile gaming business ***** Thomas Fuller | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Applovin shares soared as high as 15% in extended trading after the company reported earnings and revenue that beat expectations and announced the ***** of its mobile gaming business. Here’s how the company did compared to LSEG consensus estimates: Earnings: $1.67 per share vs $1.45 per share expectedRevenue: $1.48 billion vs $1.38 billion expected Applovin also agreed on Wednesday to sell its mobile gaming business to Tripledot Studios in a deal worth $400 million in cash considerations. The advertising tech company will also obtain a roughly 20% ownership stake in Tripledot Studios, which makes mobile games like Sudoko Friends, Puzzletime and Solitaire Classic.” The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025. Applovin said second-quarter sales should come in the range of $1.2 billion to $1.22 billion, trailing analysts expectations of $1.38 billion. The company reported first-quarter net income of $576 million, or $1.67 per share, up from $234 million, or 67 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2024. Applovin’s total costs and expenses for the first quarter came in at $820.55 million, representing a 14% increase from the previous year during the same quarter. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. WATCH: Activist Robby Starbuck on why he’s suing Meta for defamation Source link #Applovin #shares #pop #earnings #beat #mobile #gaming #business #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

White House withdraws Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s surgeon general nomination after credential discrepancies surface White House withdraws Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s surgeon general nomination after credential discrepancies surface The White House has withdrawn President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for U.S. surgeon general, the office of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont confirmed Wednesday. Her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where Sanders is the ranking member, had been scheduled for Thursday. The withdrawal follows questions about how she has portrayed her education and credentials on social media and in past media appearances. In one example, Nesheiwat’s public profile on Linkedin listed an M.D. degree from the University of Arkansas, when she actually received her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten. The University of Arkansas verified that Nesheiwat completed her residency there, but was not granted a degree. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat attends the 2023 FOX Nation Patriot Awards at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Nov. 16, 2023. Terry Wyatt / Getty Images Questions about her resume were first brought to light by the independent journalist Anthony Clark on Substack. On Sunday, conservative activist Laura Loomer posted to X that she opposed Neshewiat’s confirmation because of her support for COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. The news of her withdrawal was first reported by Bloomberg News. CBS News has reached out to The White House and to Nesheiwat and has not received a response. Nesheiwat previously served as a medical contributor for Fox News. Her brother-in-law is Mike Waltz, who was recently removed as President Trump’s national security adviser and has been nominated as ambassador to the United Nations. Source link #White #House #withdraws #Janette #Nesheiwats #surgeon #general #nomination #credential #discrepancies #surface Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Welcomes U.S. Help to Ease Tensions With India Pakistan’s Defense Minister Welcomes U.S. Help to Ease Tensions With India Pakistan’s defense minister said on Wednesday that he would welcome further U.S. efforts to help defuse his country’s crisis with India and praised President Trump for calling for a quick end to the conflict. India said early Wednesday that its forces had struck nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir in response to a terrorist attack in Kashmir last month. Pakistani officials said at least 20 people were killed in the airstrikes. While Pakistani officials have said that Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the defense minister, struck a different tone, suggesting that Pakistan had already responded by shooting down Indian planes and drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or U.A.V.s. He said his country would refrain from further action if India took no additional steps to attack and agreed to an independent investigation. Mr. Asif said Pakistan’s Air Force had shot down five Indian planes and two drones. In addition, Pakistani jamming devices and electronic warfare equipment stopped some Indian missile launches and forced other planes to make emergency landings, he said. Indian officials and Western diplomats, as well as witnesses and local media, have said that two or three Indian planes went down on the Indian side of the border. “We could have taken down 10 planes yesterday,” Mr. Asif said. “We had the opportunity, but we restricted it to five planes and two U.A.V.s because we didn’t want to expand this situation.” Mr. Trump’s comments on Tuesday that he hopes the conflict “ends very quickly” were helpful, Mr. Asif said. He added that he would welcome further U.S. efforts to bring “down the temperature in the region.” Tensions between India and Pakistan have been spiraling since the terrorist attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, in which gunmen killed 26 people, almost all Hindus. American diplomats have been in contact with Pakistani and Indian officials. And Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has been in frequent contact with Indian officials to defuse the situation, American officials said. Immediately after the attack, India said the attackers had “cross-border linkages.” Pakistan disputed the charge and called for an international investigation. Indian officials said the strikes early Wednesday in Pakistan-controlled territory were aimed at destroying terrorist training camps. The Pakistani government has denied the sites had any connection with terrorist groups. Around midnight local time, India launched 78 planes to attack sites in Kashmir and Punjab, Mr. Asif said. The planes did not cross into Pakistan territory, he added. Mr. Asif said the Pakistani armed services reserved the right to strike at India if they detected the Indians were preparing for a further attack, but he also said Pakistan was ready to de-escalate. “Restraint is still being applied,” Mr. Asif said. “But if the same situation arises tonight, the situation could flare up very easily.” The defense minister reiterated his call for an international investigation and said he hoped U.S. officials would push India to accept such an inquiry. “The administration could suggest a commission of two or three other countries,” he said. “A credible body could be set up. We don’t want this to hang in limbo.” Both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons, something that has increased American officials’ concerns. But Mr. Asif said he did not “foresee any risk, at the moment” of the dispute escalating to a nuclear conflict. The nuclear capabilities of the two countries, he said, was a stabilizing factor preventing disputes from escalating too much, but, he added, “the risk is always there. You can’t deny that.” Source link #Pakistans #Defense #Minister #Welcomes #U.S #Ease #Tensions #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]