Pelican Press

Expedition 33 Isn’t Open World But It Still Dethrones Elden Ring in One Major Area Expedition 33 Isn’t Open World But It Still Dethrones Elden Ring in One Major Area When you think of parrying, Elden Ring likely springs to mind, after all, its combat is built around the thrill of deflecting death itself with perfect timing. But here’s the twist: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based ARPG, might just have the more satisfying parry system. Yes, you read that right, a turn-based game with a parry. Unlike Elden Ring, where parrying is a test of raw skill and repetition, Clair Obscur’s parry system is pure joy. You can negate damage, counterattack, and feel like a boss every fight. It’s not about memorizing boss attack patterns or surviving through sheer endurance; it’s about timing and skill that keep you engaged from start to finish. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘s parrying is part of the dance, not the grind At its core, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an action RPG with turn-based combat, and it combines the fluidity of dodging and parrying during enemy turns. You can negate incoming damage entirely by performing a successful parry, and can even counterattack with some serious flair. What makes it different from traditional JRPGs or action games? Well, in Clair Obscur, it’s not just about grinding for better stats, equipping the best gear, or leveling up, although those things definitely matter a lot. No, the real game-changer is a well-timed dodge or parry that can completely turn the tide of a battle when executed correctly. A skilled player can go toe-to-toe with the toughest of foes and win purely through timing and strategy. That’s something that Elden Ring’s parry system just can’t quite replicate. The reason? While Elden Ring rewards skill, it also demands intense repetition. A successful parry in the game feels like a moment of triumph, but it is part of a larger endurance test, and you often need dozens of attempts to land a few consistently. The grind is real here. In contrast, Clair Obscur lets you catch your breath between turns, making parrying feel less like a battle of endurance and more like an opportunity for tactical flair. Plus, with turn-based combat, you only need to focus on timing during the enemy’s turn, giving you a sense of control and satisfaction that’s hard to match in a high-speed, high-stakes Elden Ring boss fight. Two different beasts, one beautiful parry No open-world needed, Clair Obscur still brings the fight. | Image Credit: FromSoftware Let’s be real, Elden Ring is a masterpiece, a game that redefined open-world RPGs and combat mechanics. Here, parrying isn’t a one-and-done move per turn; it’s a process of learning patterns and executing strategies over time, where the real satisfaction comes from overcoming that grind. But here’s the twist: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t even an open-world game. It’s a turn-based ARPG, yet it steals the crown in one key area: parrying. Why? Because it focuses on pure skill and timing, not grinding. Every successful parry negates damage and sets you up for a counterattack, making each fight feel like a tactical dance. So, does this mean Clair Obscur’s parry system is better than Elden Ring’s? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you love pure skill-based, hands-on, and deeply challenging combat where every second of the fight feels like a battle for survival, then Elden Ring will likely continue to be your playground. But if you want a game where parrying is an exciting, satisfying core mechanic that never gets old, then Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 might just be your new favorite way to swat away damage with flair. And that’s where Clair Obscur has stolen the crown: parrying. Who knew a turn-based ARPG could turn parrying into the genre’s most satisfying experience? Source link #Expedition #Isnt #Open #World #Dethrones #Elden #Ring #Major #Area Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate Democrat requests probe into FBI Director Patel’s use of government plane Senate Democrat requests probe into FBI Director Patel’s use of government plane By Sarah N. ****** and Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday asked a congressional watchdog to scrutinize FBI Director Kash Patel’s use of a government airplane, amid questions about his frequent personal travel and whether he is reimbursing the government. As FBI director, Patel is required to fly on a government plane for all his travel for security reasons. If such flights are used for personal travel, the director is required by federal regulations to reimburse the government at the rate of a commercial flight. The request from Senator ***** Durbin to the Government Accountability Office came the day Patel was slated to appear in the first of two congressional appropriations hearings where he will face questions about how he has been running the bureau and press Congress to give the FBI more money. An FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Durbin’s letter or answer questions on whether Patel had reimbursed the government for any travel that has been personal in nature. Patel, unlike most of his predecessors, has embraced the limelight as FBI director. His social media account on X is flooded with photos of him attending NHL games and Ultimate Fighting Championship matches, where he has posed for pictures with celebrities including legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky and actor Mel Gibson. Public flight-tracking data shows that an FBI plane made at least three trips out to Nashville, where Patel’s girlfriend and country singer Alexis Wilkins resides. On at least one of those trips, Patel met with Governor Bill Lee and Republican Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn, according to his social media posts. Public flight records also show several FBI planes took trips to Las Vegas, where Patel maintains a residence, as well as to New York City. The timing of the New York flight coincided with an appearance by Patel at an Islanders hockey game. The New York Times previously reported on some of the flights. “Some of these flights appear to coincide with official business, but it is not clear whether all travel was mission-related or personal in nature,” Durbin wrote in his letter. Durbin added that public reporting on the flights “underscores the need for clarity on whether DOJ executives—including the FBI Director — are complying with applicable regulations and reimbursement requirements for nonmission-related travel.” Last week, Reuters reported that the White House is asking Congress to consider cutting the FBI’s budget by about $550 million, from its current spending level of $10.6 billion. In prepared testimony on Wednesday before a U.S. House appropriations subcommittee, Patel urged Congress to give the bureau the funds it needs to combat violent crime and terrorism. “Without the funds to get ahead of our adversaries, we risk making tradeoffs that will jeopardize the safety of all Americans,” he said in prepared remarks. (Reporting by Sarah N. ****** and Andrew Goudsward, editing by Deepa Babington) Source link #Senate #Democrat #requests #probe #FBI #Director #Patels #government #plane Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

State budgets land in GOP crosshairs amid struggle to fund megabill State budgets land in GOP crosshairs amid struggle to fund megabill Congressional Republicans agree that the federal government has a spending problem. Now top GOP leaders want to make it someone else’s problem — by shifting some safety-net programs onto state budgets. The plans under discussion could generate hundreds of billions of dollars in savings to finance the GOP’s domestic policy megabill. But they’re vexing Republican lawmakers — many of them former governors and state legislators — who are not interested in addressing Washington’s fiscal woes by creating them in state capitals, including those run by their own party. It’s one big reason why Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are struggling right now to build consensus for the “big, beautiful bill,” with its expensive suite of tax cuts as well as border and defense spending plus-ups. Already they are scaling back ambitious plans that would force states to either subsidize health and food aid or kick thousands of residents off benefit rolls. “Most of us are not interested in simply shifting costs,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a former governor, who warned “there most certainly would” be significant pushback from states if the GOP proceeds with cost-sharing plans. “I hope to goodness we don’t go there,” added Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), another former governor, whose constituents are heavily reliant on federal programs. The mathematical impetus for the GOP proposals is straightforward enough: The tax cuts that President Donald Trump and Republican leaders are eyeing are estimated to cost $5 trillion or more over the coming decade. Offsetting that cost requires more than shaking the couch cushions, and two safety-net programs have emerged as particularly appealing targets. Together Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, account for about $1 trillion in yearly federal spending. Republicans are mostly unified on instituting work requirements, tightening eligibility verification, excluding undocumented immigrants from benefits and cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse. But to achieve even deeper cuts, they are looking to make states pick up more of the tab. Medicaid has been a joint federal-state program since its creation in the Great Society era, but its 2010 expansion under the Affordable Care Act put the federal government on the hook for 90 percent of the costs for newly eligible beneficiaries. States, meanwhile, have never had to bear the costs of SNAP benefits, though they are responsible for a portion of administrative costs. Under some House GOP proposals now under consideration, states would have to assume a greater share of the cost for the Medicaid expansion population while also bearing a portion of SNAP benefit costs for the first time. Republicans are also exploring whether to curtail health provider taxes states frequently use to finance their Medicaid costs. Together, it could shift hundreds of billions of dollars yearly to state budgets that are already strained as federal pandemic aid runs out and other Trump administration cuts take effect. In California, for instance, lawmakers are preparing for a minimum $10 billion budget shortfall for the fiscal year starting July 1, with that number set to triple at least in 2026. The National Association of State Budget Officers has found that Medicaid makes up more than half of federal funding to states. Brian Sigritz, the group’s director of state fiscal studies, said in an interview that states will either have to raise taxes, cut benefits or slash other programs in response to the slew of changes impacting their budgets. Sigritz said the impact will be “cumulative.” “It’s clear states won’t be able to absorb the federal cuts and cost shifts in recent federal actions and congressional proposals,” Sigritz said. “States are required to balance their budget, and states won’t be able to fill in the gap.” Republicans have trained much of their criticism on Democratic-run states that, they argue, run those two programs wastefully. But millions of low-income families in red states also rely on the programs for health care and food aid, and some of the latest GOP plans would actually hurt deep-red states even more than others — including a reworked SNAP state-cost share plan. That has fueled the intra-GOP backlash, with many Republicans in the House and Senate shorthanding their opposition by insisting they will not “cut benefits” — meaning they might tolerate work requirements and other ancillary changes but not changing the federal government’s core responsibilities. Rep. David Valadao, one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection in 2026, is a former state legislator who sharply criticizes the fiscal management of his home state of California. But he’s also wary of putting a greater financial burden on states like his. “California has kind of blown it on some of these fronts,” Valadao said. “So it puts me as a Californian in a difficult position.” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) stood up during a closed-door House GOP conference meeting Tuesday morning to warn about the SNAP proposal’s impact on his home state of Wisconsin’s budget. Alongside Van Orden sat dozens of House Republicans in states that would be hit even harder. GOP leaders have pulled back from some of the farthest-reaching proposals. The House Agriculture Committee had been eyeing having states pick up a 25 percent share of SNAP costs; the latest proposal would start at 10 percent for states with the lowest rates of overpayments. “No one likes this,” said one Republican granted anonymity to describe private sentiments inside the party, “but we need to reach these cuts.” As for Medicaid, Johnson on Tuesday ruled out cutting the federal reimbursement rate and suggested that an alternative — per-capita caps on federal reimbursements — would also be excluded. But other proposals — like limiting state provider taxes — remain on the table, and so far the public pushback inside the House GOP has been relatively limited. That’s not true in the Senate, where most Republicans hate the idea of saddling states with billions of dollars in new financial burdens — though discussion continued about cutting the federal share for some Medicaid beneficiaries at a party retreat Wednesday, according to two senators who attended and were granted anonymity to describe the closed-door event. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a former state House speaker, has warned against catching states off guard on Medicaid changes and said he plans to call members of his own state legislature to discuss the percolating proposals. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), another veteran of state government, said shifting costs to states “may make [the federal] numbers look better … but it still becomes a burden.” Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) said in an interview that he has “concern” about sharing costs for food aid and that his panel is not pursuing the idea. Sen. John Hoeven — who, like Boozman, is in frequent contact with House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) — said he was skeptical the House would ultimately follow through: “I’d put that in the category of, let’s actually see if they do it.” New cost-sharing mandates could stick GOP-dominated states such as Alaska, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida with multi-billion-dollar annual bills — forcing high-stakes choices for state officials who would suddenly have to worry about their own political hides. Even White House officials have privately fretted about a potential “one-two punch” for red states, leaving many in the GOP much more comfortable with the less drastic proposals, such as work requirements. “I think the politics of work are a lot lighter burden to carry than just pushing off some of the costs to the states,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who is seeking reelection next year. Samuel Benson, Rachel Bluth and Eric He contributed to this report. Source link #State #budgets #land #GOP #crosshairs #struggle #fund #megabill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Celtics vs. Knicks prediction, odds, schedule, game times: Game 2 best bet as New York tries to go up 2-0 – CBS Sports Celtics vs. Knicks prediction, odds, schedule, game times: Game 2 best bet as New York tries to go up 2-0 – CBS Sports Celtics vs. Knicks prediction, odds, schedule, game times: Game 2 best bet as New York tries to go up 2-0 CBS SportsKnicks 108-105 Celtics (May 5, 2025) Final Score ESPNCeltics reporters blame ‘the rain’ for Game 1 loss to Knicks New York PostNothing About Celtics-Knicks Feels Sustainable The RingerJayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown React to Celtics’ Historic Shooting Woes in Loss vs. Knicks Bleacher Report Source link #Celtics #Knicks #prediction #odds #schedule #game #times #Game #bet #York #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Significant progress made on Bunbury’s waterfront transformation project with 300,000 tonnes of rock placed Significant progress made on Bunbury’s waterfront transformation project with 300,000 tonnes of rock placed Significant progress has been made on the State Government’s project to transform Bunbury’s waterfront — with nearly 300,000 tonnes of rock placed at the new 460m northern breakwater Source link #Significant #progress #Bunburys #waterfront #transformation #project #tonnes #rock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA 6’s Trailer 2 Looked Great, And It Wasn’t All Cutscenes GTA 6’s Trailer 2 Looked Great, And It Wasn’t All Cutscenes Following the debut of the newest Grand Theft Auto VI trailer, Rockstar Games has confirmed a key detail about it. In a social media post, Rockstar Games clarified that the trailer was “captured entirely in-game” on a PlayStation 5. However, the studio didn’t say if it was a PS5 or a PS5 Pro. In any event, Rockstar added that the trailer was made up of “equal parts gameplay and cutscenes.” This is what many had expected, as some sequences appeared to show gameplay. But now it’s confirmed. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: GTA 6 (Grand Theft Auto VI) – Official Release Date Reveal | Trailer 2 The new GTA 6 trailer was not only captured on PS5 but featured references to PlayStation as well by way of DualSense-like controllers and a PlayStation-like console showing up in a scene. Some are taking this to mean PlayStation might have a co-marketing deal with Rockstar for GTA 6, a claim bolstered by how the Xbox social media accounts did not post or share anything about GTA 6 for hours after the trailer debuted whereas the PlayStation account engaged right away. Sony and Rockstar do have a long history of working together, but an official partnership for GTA 6 has yet to be confirmed. GTA 6 launches on May 26, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. That’s a while to wait, so in the meantime, you can check out more than 150 new GTA 6 images. Beyond Jason and Lucia, GTA 6’s story features a big cast of supporting characters. And in terms of places you’ll visit, GTA 6 takes players to Vice City itself, along with the surrounding areas, like a park filled with wildlife. Players can also expect to engage in plenty of activities, including potentially kayaking, hunting, fishing, and scuba. Source link #GTA #Trailer #Looked #Great #Wasnt #Cutscenes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Growth Stocks and Oil Prices Are Moving Together—Here’s Why That Matters Growth Stocks and Oil Prices Are Moving Together—Here’s Why That Matters The market is one big interconnected machine. Long gone are the days (for better or for worse) of having to track and trade one market at a time and not needing to understand what exactly made that asset or individual stock move in the first place. Today’s market is a bit different, and traders and investors alike need to be aware of the global macro environment to survive and get ahead of the competition. To do this, there is a simple concept for getting a sounding board in the market’s behavior and outlooks found in correlation regimes and swings. With this in mind, investors should consider two things when embarking on understanding how changing correlations affect the market and why: the mathematical aspect and the narrative aspect. Growth and Energy Together: What It Means As correlations begin to align between value stocks and the energy sector, as seen through the iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSE:) and the The Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund (NYSE:), there are not only mathematical implications but also a narrative that tells investors where the economy and the rest of the S&P 500 might be headed next. This is where the edge is born for retail investors in today’s market. This doesn’t happen often, but growth stocks have been tracking the oil price lately (or vice versa), and that usually carries a very strong signal. The short version is that if oil prices come down due to less optimistic economic outlooks, money will naturally flow out of speculative growth stocks with more downside risk during this economic downturn. To track this relationship, investors can simply measure the price data or chart the price of oil together with the iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF and keep this tool in their back pocket when directional biases are needed. The opposite can be said when correlations aren’t as strong as they are today, but the fact is that the market is screaming a big warning sign for those who know where to look. In fact, many other technical and fundamental factors suggest this bear market is far from over. Another behavior comparison investors can look into for this relationship is the correlation between oil and value stocks measured by the value exchange-traded fund (ETF). This one has swung deep into the negative, almost forming a mirror image between oil and value stocks. The economic reasoning is along the same lines, as economic uncertainties and downturns hurt speculative growth stocks and oil, money will likely flow more into value stocks that carry much less downside risk during these down cycles. How the Market Is Taking This Over the past month, investors have seen the SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust (NYSE:) swing into bearish territory, defined as a 20% or more decline from recent highs, only to then elicit a reaction from institutional capital to come bail it out of that funk. However, as the market started moving higher in recent weeks, the same volume simply stopped participating, as if having no confidence that the market could continue moving higher. Measuring this decline in volume, along with the correlation shifts in value, growth, and oil, can give investors a clearer picture of how much risk there is. There is a very strong divergence between the index and the energy sector, and investors need to be fully aware of it today. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund has underperformed the broader S&P 500 by as much as 10% over the past month alone, which has a deeper meaning. Given that oil and energy are underperforming due to economic uncertainties and potential bearish scenarios in the United States economy, there should be no reason for the S&P 500 to outperform energy by this much, especially as there is no interest in growth stocks at the moment, with value taking over. In fact, investors can see this theme at play with the $517 million in institutional selling that took place in the energy ETF in the most recent quarter (which is only made up of April and May 2025 so far). At the same time, as much as $2.2 billion of capital flew into the value stocks ETF, solidifying this divergence in preferences driven by fundamental economic narratives. Original Post Source link #Growth #Stocks #Oil #Prices #Moving #TogetherHeres #Matters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Militant group chief says relatives killed in India strike Militant group chief says relatives killed in India strike The Pakistan-based leader of a militant group has said 10 of his relatives have been killed in a missile strike by India. Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), said his older sister and her husband, his nephew and his nephew’s wife, his niece and five children from his family were killed in a strike on a mosque in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. India launched strikes on sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday night. Islamabad called the strikes a “heinous act of aggression”. India said it acted in response to a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir two weeks ago that killed 25 Indians and one Nepali. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack. Indian police alleged that two of the attackers were Pakistani nationals, with Delhi accusing Pakistan of supporting militants – a charge Islamabad denies. India said it targeted sites on Tuesday night “from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed”. Pakistan said six locations have been hit, but denies India’s allegations of these being terrorist infrastructure. India said JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, 100km inside Pakistan, was hit. Video footage of the mosque, assessed by BBC Verify, showed one of its domes had collapsed and extensive damage occurred inside, including two holes in the roof and one in the ground. In Bahawalpur on Wednesday, crowds were mourning those killed in the strikes overnight in ******** processions through the streets. Local residents told the BBC they were angry about the attack, but also worried about Pakistan’s potential response. Azhar founded JeM in 1999 upon his release from prison in India. JeM has been linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban, the UN Security Council has said. The UN designated Azhar as a terrorist in 2019. India blamed an attack on Indian parliament in 2001 on JeM – a claim JeM denies. Pakistan banned the group soon after that. JeM said it carried out a bomb attack in February 2019 that killed 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistani authorities said India’s strikes on Tuesday night killed 31 people. Indian authorities said at least 15 civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling. The escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours has prompted urgent calls for restraint from the international community. Source link #Militant #group #chief #relatives #killed #India #strike Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Welcome teamLFG to the PlayStation Studios family Welcome teamLFG to the PlayStation Studios family teamLFG rallies developers from across the industry to bring to life an ambitious incubation project. Source link #teamLFG #PlayStation #Studios #family Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cash has been a better portfolio diversifier than bonds, Morningstar finds Cash has been a better portfolio diversifier than bonds, Morningstar finds The Federal Reserve’s decision Wednesday to hold interest rates steady means investors still get to enjoy attractive yields on their cash. Cold, hard cash has also proven to be a good diversifier for portfolios in recent years — even better than Treasurys, according to a recent Morningstar analysis . The financial services firm looked at the trailing three-year ******* through the end of December 2024 and put cash’s performance alongside bonds. “While both stock and bond prices stabilized in 2023 and 2024 after the painful drawdown in 2022, three-year correlations between stocks and high-quality bonds remain elevated. Treasury bonds, historically among the best diversifiers for U.S. equities, are now positively correlated with U.S. stocks,” Morningstar’s report said. “Cash had the lowest correlation with stocks, in part because it was a rare asset type to exhibit positive returns in 2022. Cash investors’ yields rose at the very time that stock and bond prices were falling,” the Morningstar researchers said. While down from those highs, cash yields remain around 4%, depending on the particular asset. For instance, the annualized seven-day yield on the Crane 100 list of the 100 largest taxable money funds is 4.14%, as of Tuesday. Among certificates of deposit, American Express currently offers a 3.85% annual percentage yield and Marcus by Goldman Sachs has a 4.25% APY. BlackRock also recently highlighted cash, such as shorter term bills and notes, as an alternative asset to consider in high volatile environments because it has typically been less sensitive to interest-rate changes and stock market uncertainty. “Cash-like strategies diversify portfolios away from near term ups and downs by seeking to preserve capital,” the team wrote in its spring 2025 outlook . “By parking cash in a lower risk asset, investors can later deploy it in places that may be attractive when market conditions support.” How to deploy cash Just because cash has proven to be a good way to diversify your portfolio in recent years doesn’t mean you should overdo it, warned Chrsitine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning and on e of the authors of the report. “It’s a good stabilizer. You should hold some in your portfolio, but it’s quite vulnerable to declining yield. So when yields go down, as a cash investor, you’re just a loser,” she said. “Inflation is another big risk factor for any fixed-rate investments, cash and bonds.” How much cash to hold depends on your life stage. It becomes more important as you get older. “Retirees who are in drawdown mode should consider employing cash and short-term bonds alongside their intermediate- and longer-duration core bond holdings,” Morningstar’s report said. That means having one or two years worth of spending in cash, so that if there is another stock and bond rout, as happened in 2022, you don’t have to withdraw from your depreciating assets, Benz explained. For younger investors, three- to six months of liquid reserves to cover living expenses is the general rule of thumb, Benz said. Sole earners, those with more specialized career paths and those over around 60 — who may have a more difficult time finding a job if laid off — should aim for a year’s worth of liquid reserves, she said. An exception to these guidelines would be someone who is a disciplined, opportunistic investor, who likes to put money to work when the market falls, she added. When choosing your cash-equivalent assets, shop around, Benz advised. “There’s a broad gradation of yields on offer and the diversity of yields reflects the implicit costs that are embedded in some of these products,” she said. Benz tends to like Treasury money market mutual funds because there is the implicit guarantee of U.S. Treasury backing. Therefore, investors can exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s insurance limit of $250,000 per depositor, she said. Those who have excess cash should consider deploying it according to their predetermined portfolio allocation. “[For] people under age 50, for example, the name of the game is to get that money invested as soon as possible, because we know that over time, over long periods of time, the market goes up,” Benz said. Gradual deployment Older investors can put excess cash to work more gradually to avoid the risk of sharp losses, she said. UBS has also been suggesting that investors phase cash into more “diverse and durable income sources” to protect their portfolios. “Putting excess cash to work and seeking durable income should remain a strategic priority for investors, in our view,” strategist Vincent Heaney wrote in an April 28 note. “Government and investment grade bonds look particularly appealing in tariff-induced volatility and with recession risks elevated.” At the end of the day, people should remember that the recent performance of cash is partly an outgrowth of a very specific environment, Benz said. “Yields were so low for so long that when bonds fell, they just didn’t have any yield cushion whatsoever,” she said. “So it may be a little bit of an artifact of history, not necessarily repeatable, especially now that bonds do have … yields [that] are more attractive and provide a cushion in periods like this.” Source link #Cash #portfolio #diversifier #bonds #Morningstar #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy amid pressure from weight-loss drugs – The Washington Post WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy amid pressure from weight-loss drugs – The Washington Post WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy amid pressure from weight-loss drugs The Washington PostWeightwatchers files for bankruptcy as Ozempic and Mounjaro surge in popularity BBCWeightWatchers Files Bankruptcy to Adapt to Chemically Induced Weight-Loss Future WSJWeightWatchers Files for Bankruptcy to Reduce $1 Billion in Debt The New York TimesWeightWatchers goes bankrupt, as offering GLP-1 drugs couldn’t cure its debt problems MarketWatch Source link #WeightWatchers #files #bankruptcy #pressure #weightloss #drugs #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wallaby stunned but supportive of a US Super Rugby team Wallaby stunned but supportive of a US Super Rugby team Wallabies halfback Jake Gordon has thrown his support behind the notion of expanding the Super Rugby Pacific into the Americas. But he admits to being shocked when learning powerbrokers were considering the prospect of establishing a team on the west coast to give the US a greater rugby presence ahead of their hosting of the 2031 World Cup. “I haven’t heard that. You’ve stunned me a little bit there,” Gordon told reporters when asked which Californian city might be the most logical location for a 12th Super team. “I’m not sure how a 12th team would work from America. I see there’s a lot of guys playing over there from Australia (in the Major League Rugby). “They’ve sort of taken the tier (of players) between Shute Shield and Super Rugby. “Especially at my club at Sydney Uni, there’s probably about 10 guys now playing over there and you can see the competition’s growing. “Jed Holloway, Brad Wilkin are now at San Diego, a good old housemate, Maclean Jones, and Mick Shorter at Chicago, and you can see the standard is definitely rising.” Conceding he has “no idea” if an American team will be the next to enter Super Rugby amid reported concerns from World Rugby officials after awarding the US the global showpiece in six years, Gordon thinks South Africa returning to the fold “would be nice”. A Japanese franchise in a closer time zone to Australia and New Zealand is a more obvious option, but Gordon understands why rugby’s stakeholders are considering going down the left-field US path. “It’s important we grow the game,” he said after announcing on Wednesday he’d recommitted to the NSW Waratahs and *********** rugby for another two years. “If they’re going to have a World Cup there, we need to have some presence over there. “I’m not sure on how MLR’s going. I have been watching a few games because I’ve got housemates over there and the rugby is progressing. “I’m not sure on their coverage and how many eyes they’re getting on the sport, but you’re seeing rugby league now into that market. “I think it’s important with the World Cup coming up that we strengthen the home international team and maybe it’s exciting and new. “Doesn’t sound like too bad an idea.” Source link #Wallaby #stunned #supportive #Super #Rugby #team Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PlayStation has a new studio and it’s making a ‘frog-type game,’ whatever that is PlayStation has a new studio and it’s making a ‘frog-type game,’ whatever that is Today, PlayStation announced a new member of PlayStation Studios: teamLFG, a studio that originated at Bungie but has since spun off into its own entity. That said, the PlayStation Blog post making the announcement also hinted at the studio’s first game, calling it “an ambitious incubation project.” While it might be ambitious, it’s also downright confusing. According to teamLFG, “Our first game is a team-based action game that draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog-type games. Players will inhabit a lighthearted, comedic world set in brand-new, mythic, science-fantasy universe. We can’t wait to reveal more.” That’s a wild combination of genres and only raises questions about what, exactly, a “frog-type” game is. Regardless of the final shape it takes, it sounds promising. The studio is comprised of veteran developers who worked on titles like Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite, and Roblox, as well as “industry newcomers with fresh creative perspectives and skills.” Chances are high that this project is the same one first teased by Bungie almost two years ago, when a social media post hinted at a rather intriguing project. However, Bungie won’t be the official publisher of whatever this title might be. That credit goes to teamLFG. One of our favorite incubation projects is a team-based action game inspired by several genres in a brand-new, science-fantasy universe. It draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog-type games, wrapped up in a lighthearted, comedic world. — Bungie (@Bungie) August 18, 2023 This new studio brings a starry-eyed perspective to the gaming industry, and the passion teamLFG has for gaming is evident in its message. “We are driven by a mission to create games where players can find friendship, community, and belonging. We want our players to feel excited when they log on to discover their teammates already hanging out online. We want our players to recognize familiar names and to make myths and memes out of each other. We want our players to love remembering that one time where they pulled off That Play that changed the whole story of the match.” There’s a consistent thread throughout teamLFG’s introduction: gaming is meant to be social. The studio says it wants to make “immersive multiplayer worlds” and “build games with [its] communities.” The studio believes that gaming is best enjoyed with friends, and that the best moments happen in multiplayer. There’s one more hint to the nature of the mysterious “frog-like” game. It will likely be a live-service title, based on a line near the end of the studio’s introduction. “…but throughout live service as we continue to grow the game and community for years to come.” For now, teamLFG hasn’t provided a title or a release date for its upcoming game. Source link #PlayStation #studio #making #frogtype #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shazam’s new Viral Chart wants to be your one-stop playlist for the latest hits and classics getting more spins Shazam’s new Viral Chart wants to be your one-stop playlist for the latest hits and classics getting more spins Shazam is launching a new global playlist and a version for 42 nations ‘Viral Chart’ will update daily with tracks that are on the rise from Shazam’s unique sources It’ll include the tracks that users are identifying with Shazam Shazam already offers several different charts to track popular songs and the most discovered ones for many countries across the globe. And yes, many of those tracks are likely ones that users – maybe even you – have identified with Shazam on your phone. I mean, we’ve all been there, when we’re out and a song hits, that we can’t quite remember the name of, but we really need to know what it is. That’s where Shazam still hits as an excellent music recognition app. Now, though, it wants to do a better job tracking the music of the moment and the various feeds that could mean a new number-one hit is coming. The Shazam Viral Charts are launching today and are available right now on Shazam’s site and as a playlist on Apple Music. You may like (Image credit: Future) The collection will consist of an updated daily ‘Global’ playlist with 50 tracks and 42 national charts with 25 songs each. Shazam’s twist here is that it will use unique signals, which likely include what people are recognizing with the app, to highlight and recognize popular, up-and-coming, or classic songs that are on the rise. Shazam is a bit cheeky in the Viral Chart description, noting that it’s not just what is trending on TikTok but taking a full view of the landscape. It says that it will track and identify the songs that are gaining popularity across “streaming, social, and TV placements,” but also tracks that are played in spaces like bars and restaurants. That’s a lot to track—but then again, it’s likely using data that Shazam already has. It also suggests that Shazam’s Viral Charts will feature a mixture of old and new songs across all genres. If you’re keen to listen to a wide variety of music or curious about what songs might be gaining streams in a specific location, Shazam’s Viral Charts are likely worth a try. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You can view and listen to song previews on the platform’s site under ‘charts,’ but considering Apple owns Shazam, it’s also no surprise that these are integrated as playlists you can follow on the music streaming platform. You might also like Source link #Shazams #Viral #Chart #onestop #playlist #latest #hits #classics #spins Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Johnson Rules Out an Aggressive Plan to Cut Medicaid as G.O.P. Moderates Waver – The New York Times Johnson Rules Out an Aggressive Plan to Cut Medicaid as G.O.P. Moderates Waver – The New York Times Johnson Rules Out an Aggressive Plan to Cut Medicaid as G.O.P. Moderates Waver The New York TimesRepublican megabill ‘must not add to the deficit,’ fiscal hawks demand PoliticoModerates winning the Medicaid fight so far AxiosSpeaker Johnson Searches for an ‘Equilibrium Point’ on Reconciliation notus.orgFiscal hawks to Johnson on Trump’s ‘big’ bill: ‘Must not add to the deficit’ The Hill Source link #Johnson #Rules #Aggressive #Plan #Cut #Medicaid #G.O.P #Moderates #Waver #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

8 Horror Subclasses Join Unearthed Arcana For Dungeons And Dragons 2024 8 Horror Subclasses Join Unearthed Arcana For Dungeons And Dragons 2024 Horror stories and Dungeons and Dragons are two great tastes being brought together with the latest Unearthed Arcana playtest. Wizards of the Coast has recently announced eight new horrifying and macabre subclasses as part of their latest Unearthed Arcana playtest. Two of these subclasses are brand-new to D&D in general, while the other six are updated versions of subclasses that previously existed in D&D 5e. Game designer Mackenzie de Armas, along with D&D influencer and content creator Todd Kenreck, go into depth about what each class can do in the video below. It should be noted that, like all UA releases, these are also all in the early stages of development, and players can leave feedback by May 13. Okay, so before we get into the six updated classes–all of which were first added to 5e in expansion books Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, and Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft–let’s take a look at the two new subclasses: Reanimator (Artificer) and Hollow Warden (Ranger). “[The Reanimator] takes heavy inspiration from classics like Frankenstein. This is your reanimating corpses, this is your raising things from the dead Artificier. This is you stitching together flesh golems Artificer,” de Armas explained. “The sort of crux of the subclass is this reanimated companion you raise from the dead. We wanted to play around with this idea of a companion that is sort of modular and alterable.” De Armas continued by saying you could also make it a walking and living bomb as you level up. With the Hollow Warden, these Rangers draw power from ancient and terrifying natural forces, playfully dubbed the “Spooky Ranger.” “This one is so much fun. This is an entirely new subclass that’s built around folk horror archetypes,” she continued. “I had a stint recently where I was really into old folk tales, cryptids…and so this subclass is built on drawing on cryptids, forest terrors, and ancient forest guardians. Look at the Ranger’s relationship with nature at its most bloodthirsty and violent.” All eight new subclasses are detailed below: Reanimators (Artificer, new): Reanimators defy the laws of nature in pursuit of gruesome experiments. These grim Artificers stitch together servants from disparate corpses, use foul magic to strengthen the living, and transform the art of necromancy into a terrifying science. Hollow Warden (Ranger, new): Drawing on the might of ancient forest terrors, these rangers can transform themselves into similarly merciless and monstrous guardians that stalk along any rugged or cursed terrains. College of Spirits (Bard, update): Originally appearing in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, these Bards are similar to spirit mediums, channeling spirits of the dead to aid in their attack or curse their enemies. However, not every spirit can be completely tamed. Grave Domain (Cleric, update): A new version of the subclass that originally appeared in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, these Clerics walk along the veil between life and death. They can curse enemies to become more vulnerable, bolster the healing of fallen allies, and even absorb necromantic energy, becoming a harbinger of death. Phantom (Rogue, update): First appearing in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, these Rogues have a mystical connection to death itself. When they allow negative energy to bind to them, it can infuse their strikes with deathly energy. They can even steal knowledge from souls who have passed on, making them an invaluable tool among information gatherers and spies. Shadow Sorcery (Sorcerer, update): Also taken from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Shadow Sorcerers wield magic drawn from the Plane of Shadows, and transformed by it. Able to blend invisibility and an expertise in offense with darkness and necrotic energy. They can teleport through shadows, summon undead, and take on an incorporeal form that resists most damage. Hexblade Patron (Warlock, update): Another subclass first appearing in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, these Warlocks are bound to a sentient magical weapon and the dark forces within its core. Such a weapon could be the sword sheathed at a Warlock’s side, or it could be an infamous magic weapon stored elsewhere. Should you go along with your weapon’s whims, you’ll have the power to bestow curses on foes and augment your own combat power. In the new subclass, their Hex spell is a central feature, offering a range of options for their offense. Undead Patron (Warlock, update): Lastly, also first appearing in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, these Warlocks are bound to a lich, vampire, or other unholy/undead being. Having already crossed over to the other side, these beings eagerly share their dark knowledge, along with other secrets, with those who work their will among the living. Their Form of Dread ability grants temporary hit points and a terrifying presence feature as well. Again, the options here are experimental and in draft form, usable in your D&D campaign but not refined by final game development. They are not officially part of the game. For these reasons, material in this column is not legal in D&D Adventurers League events, but with players’ feedback, it could help determine whether the company adopts it as official. Source link #Horror #Subclasses #Join #Unearthed #Arcana #Dungeons #Dragons Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jesinta Franklin visits Buddy Franklin’s hometown of Dowerin while in WA for Claremont Quarter Front Row event Jesinta Franklin visits Buddy Franklin’s hometown of Dowerin while in WA for Claremont Quarter Front Row event Jesinta Franklin visited her famous footballer husband’s hometown of Dowerin for the first time with her family this week, where she lovingly watched their two kids reliving their father’s childhood memories. “I said to (Buddy), I was, like, I could live in Dowerin,” she told The West *********** during a visit to Perth on Wednesday. “There’s just something so magical about small towns. I really love that rural, quiet, slow life. It was just really beautiful, the long dirt roads and the big gums on the side of the road, the sunsets were so beautiful there.” The family’s road trip through Toodyay and Goomalling before arriving at the place where the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn legend Buddy Franklin grew up was made extra special as it was also his first time back on home soil since leaving as a teenager. The model described their short holiday in the Wheatbelt as “amazing” and “beautiful” as Tullulah, 5, and Rocky, 4, followed in their father’s footsteps, experiencing things he did as a budding footy player in the small town. “It was so nice to see where he grew up. And a lot of things that he spoke about, we were able to go and experience and show the kid,” she said. “And we drove past his childhood home, and the kids walked the water pipes with him, which he used to do all the time. Camera IconLance ‘Buddy’ Franklin pictured with his kids in Dowerin. Credit: Unknown/Instagram “We went to the oval where he used to play junior footy. It was really, really fun. We loved it. We absolutely love Perth. So it’s nice to be back. “That’s the first time Bud has been back since he left, like, when he was maybe 15 years old. It was a really beautiful, full-circle moment. So lots of memories.” Franklin loved the rural lifestyle so much that she considered living in Dowerin, and said she would even be open to buying a local property in the future. Camera IconJesinta Franklin at Crown Towers. Credit: Andrew Ritchie/The West *********** The Gold Coast-born fashionista is also on the west coast for an evening of style, conversation, and front-row fashion at Claremont Quarter. Taking place on Thursday night, the event will feature talks from Franklin herself, Aussie stylist Elliot Garnaut, and Perth-born celebrity make-up artist Michael Brown. There will also be a live runway show, showcasing new-season collections from CQ’s retailers. In terms of fashion trends for autumn and winter, the style authority is currently loving western core so lots of double denim, fringing, prairie silhouettes, and beautiful colours. “I’m really into my horse riding and the more rural life at the moment. So I feel like that just really works with me. I’m always wearing cowboy boots and I’ve got my cowgirl hat on,” she said. After the event, Franklin will head home with her kids on Friday ahead of a Mother’s Day weekend she will be solo parenting due to Buddy off training for a marathon in Canberra. “I’ll just be at home with the kids, and my parents are away, so literally, I’ll just be me and the kids. So I’m hoping Bud’s being pre- organised, but I’m really not betting my life on it,” she said. Source link #Jesinta #Franklin #visits #Buddy #Franklins #hometown #Dowerin #Claremont #Quarter #Front #Row #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The first “Xbox handheld” photos just leaked with new “Project Kennan” details from the FCC The first “Xbox handheld” photos just leaked with new “Project Kennan” details from the FCC NVIDIA’s RTX 50 “Blackwell” architecture has been a bit of a bore for us gamers. Apart from Multi Frame Generation, which has limited use-case scenarios, there isn’t much to be excited about. It is achieved using GPU-side Flip Metering. The optical field data is generated using AI models in the Tensor cores. Source link #Xbox #handheld #photos #leaked #Project #Kennan #details #FCC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump digs in on high China tariffs ahead of trade talks Trump digs in on high China tariffs ahead of trade talks 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 said Wednesday he would not consider lowering the United States’ 145% tariffs on China in order to spur trade-war negotiations with Beijing. Trump flatly answered “no” when asked at the White House if he was open to pulling back on the steep import duties to get China to the negotiating table. Trump’s commitment to his tariffs came three days before U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was scheduled to meet with his ******** counterpart in Switzerland to discuss trade and economic issues. China said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. requested that meeting, and that Beijing remained “firmly” opposed to Trump’s tariff hikes heading into the talks. Asked what he expected to come out of the meeting in Europe, Trump said, “We’ll see … we were losing a trillion dollars a year, now we’re not losing anything, you know? It’s the way I look at it.” This is breaking news. Please check back for updates. Source link #Trump #digs #high #China #tariffs #ahead #trade #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GoFundMe removes Rodney Hinton fundraisers, offers condolences for Larry Henderson GoFundMe removes Rodney Hinton fundraisers, offers condolences for Larry Henderson GoFundMe has taken down fundraisers for a man charged with killing a Hamilton County deputy, according to the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police. Police say Rodney Hinton Jr. struck Larry Henderson with his car May 1 as the deputy was directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati commencement. The day before, a Cincinnati police officer shot and killed Hinton’s son, 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, while investigating a stolen SUV. Police said Ryan Hinton was holding a gun. The Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association and the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police called on GoFundMe to take down online fundraisers for Rodney Hinton on May 5. Jay McDonald, president of the 23,000-member Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, said it is “absolutely outrageous to fundraise off the assassination of a law enforcement officer.” Kayln Lee, a GoFundMe spokesperson, previously told The Enquirer the organization’s terms of service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes. “GoFundMe did the right thing. It’s appreciated,” the FOP said in a Facebook post. The organization posted an email from a GoFundMe representative, who expressed condolences for Henderson and said the fundraisers were an “attempted misuse of the GoFundMe platform.” Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at *****@*****.tld, @ee_glynn on X or @eringlynn on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati FOP shares GoFundMe email about removing Hinton fundraisers Source link #GoFundMe #removes #Rodney #Hinton #fundraisers #offers #condolences #Larry #Henderson Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Nintendo Switch 2 could get the full Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy The Nintendo Switch 2 could get the full Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will make its way to the Nintendo Switch 2, but it might not be alone. In a Nintendo Creator’s Voice interview, series director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that Remake Intergrade would come to Switch 2, something we already knew from an April announcement. It’s a line about four minutes into the video that has caught gamers’ attention: “And with the release of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series on Switch 2, it would make me very happy if two generations connect and share a bond over the characters.” Hamaguchi’s phrasing suggests that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the final entry in the series are not out of the realm of possibility for release on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future. He said that porting the game to Nintendo Switch 2 is possible thanks to its upgraded specs. “We’d like players to feel the same excitement and surprise they felt playing the original game when they play the remake on Switch 2. With the power of Switch 2, we can now recreate Midgar with full specs.” Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade is an upgraded version of the PS4 Final Fantasy VII Remake that scales the graphics up for modern consoles and includes the Intermission DLC and the introduction of Yuffie as a character. “The first video game system I ever played as a child was made by Nintendo, so to this day, I have a special fondness for Nintendo platforms,” Hamaguchi says. The first Final Fantasy launched on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 and remained on Nintendo consoles until 1997 with the launch of the original Final Fantasy VII. In a way, bringing the remake back to a Nintendo console brings the franchise full circle. Hamaguchi ends the interview by saying, “I have high hopes that we can build a strong partnership between Nintendo and the Final Fantasy brand.” Please enable Javascript to view this content Source link #Nintendo #Switch #full #Final #Fantasy #VII #Remake #trilogy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Reports: Stephen Curry expected to miss multiple games with strained hamstring – NBA Reports: Stephen Curry expected to miss multiple games with strained hamstring – NBA Reports: Stephen Curry expected to miss multiple games with strained hamstring NBACurry out at least week with 1st hamstring strain ESPNSteve Kerr on Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury: ‘Hard to imagine that he would play Thursday’ Yahoo SportsHow did Warriors win Game 1 after Steph Curry injury? With depth and toughness The New York TimesKawakami: Without Curry, a dynamic (and comical) duo is exactly what the Warriors need The San Francisco Standard Source link #Reports #Stephen #Curry #expected #multiple #games #strained #hamstring #NBA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Scores Key Victory In Activision Acquisition, With FTC Appeal Denied Microsoft Scores Key Victory In Activision Acquisition, With FTC Appeal Denied Although Microsoft’s blockbuster deal to buy Activision Blizzard was approved in October 2023, the United States government’s Federal Trade Commission appealed the decision. Now, a US appeals court has affirmed the deal, bringing about an apparent end to the FTC’s attempts to block the buyout. As reported by Bloomberg, the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals declared on Wednesday that the trial judge in the case, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley, was correct in denying the FTC’s attempt to prevent the $75.4 billion deal from going through. A chief concern from the FTC pertained to cloud gaming. To satisfy the FTC, Microsoft carved out deals to bring Xbox games to non-Xbox streaming platforms, but the FTC appealed. Now, that appeal has been denied. “The panel held that the district court applied the correct legal standards and did not abuse its discretion, or rely on clearly erroneous findings, in holding that the FTC failed to make a sufficient evidentiary showing to establish the requisite likelihood of success on the merits of its claim,” the appeals court said. “Thus, the FTC had not raised serious questions regarding whether the proposed merger was likely to substantially lessen competition in the relevant markets.” Additionally, the appeals panel upheld the district court’s decision that the FTC failed to sufficiently show that Microsoft would make Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox or release an “inferior” version on PlayStation. The appeals court also concluded that Activision games launching on Game Pass–an Xbox-exclusive subscription service–would not “substantially lessen competition.” As part of Microsoft’s deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the company said it would keep releasing Call of Duty games on rival platforms for at least 10 years. Microsoft’s releases on PS5 so far have proven to be quite successful. The FTC’s case against Microsoft was driven in part by FTC head Lina Khan. When President Trump took office in January 2025, he installed Andrew N. Ferguson as the new FTC chair. With Microsoft’s deal to buy Activision Blizzard already approved, it’s unclear how the two companies could have been untangled had the appeal been successful. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $75.4 billion was Microsoft’s biggest-ever acquisition by purchase price, and the biggest gaming buyout of all time. Source link #Microsoft #Scores #Key #Victory #Activision #Acquisition #FTC #Appeal #Denied Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Intel just cut the price of some of its best CPUs by $100 Intel just cut the price of some of its best CPUs by $100 Some of Intel’s best processors just got a deep discount, or rather, a (seemingly) permanent price cut — but not all chips are becoming cheaper. The company announced that it’s lowering the recommended list price (MSRP) of a couple of Arrow Lake chips. The flat $100 price reduction comes accompanied by a special game bundle promotion. Intel announced the discount in a post. The two CPUs in question are the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, which was previously priced at $399 and is now $299, and the Core Ultra 7 265KF, once $384, now $284. There have been no further adjustments to the pricing of the Arrow Lake desktop lineup. This means that Intel is only tweaking the pricing of its upper midrange chips, leaving the high-end flagship Core Ultra 9 285K untouched, as well as the more mainstream portion of the lineup. This leaves chips like the Core 5 245/245K/245KF still sitting at MSRP. Intel Although you might find some of Intel’s processors below the recommended list price, this would be as a result of retailer discounts and not Intel’s own pricing adjustments. However, the two Core Ultra 7 chips should now also become cheaper across most retailers. Intel does note that the actual pricing will vary by region, retailer, taxes, and other factors. Intel is currently running a special campaign that lets you snag two games (and more) if you buy one of its Intel Core Ultra desktop processors. This includes Dying Light: The Beast. To shop, head on over to Intel’s website and follow the steps outlined by the company. Upon launch, Intel’s Arrow Lake didn’t make much of a splash. Although the Core Ultra 9 285K is intensely powerful, AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D and similar chips have stolen the hearts of some gamers, cutting into Intel’s market share. Perhaps to encourage some sales, Intel is now lowering the MSRP of some of the Arrow Lake-S desktop lineup. Whether other chips will get the same treatment still remains to be seen. Please enable Javascript to view this content Source link #Intel #cut #price #CPUs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple exploring adding AI search to Safari. Alphabet stock drops. Apple exploring adding AI search to Safari. Alphabet stock drops. 00:00 Speaker A Some breaking news weighing on Google parent Alphabet. Shares of Alphabet falling as much as 5% this morning after news from Apple that the company is exploring adding AI search into its browser. Apple executive Eddie Q said searches in Apple’s browser fell for the first time in April, and that perplexity and Anthropic, both AI companies, could be the reason. Apple senior vice president of services made the disclosure during his testimony in the US Justice Department’s lawsuit against Alphabet. Q went on to say that the iPhone maker is exploring adding AI search to its browser. However, the executive added that Apple has no intention of making its own general search engine. Some of the AI companies Apple is looking at that include Anthropic Deep Seek, Grok and Perplexity. That is certainly one of the larger considerations here as Apple and Alphabet shares are taking a hit from the comments as Google is the default search engine with Safari on Apple devices and shares dropping as much as 5% on the day. Source link #Apple #exploring #adding #search #Safari #Alphabet #stock #drops Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]