Pelican Press

Jaguars release Gabe Davis – NBC Sports Jaguars release Gabe Davis – NBC Sports Jaguars release Gabe Davis NBC SportsNFL news roundup: Jaguars release WR Gabe Davis after one season NFL.comJaguars release wide receiver Gabe Davis one year after signing him to $39 million contract Yahoo SportsNFL star gets brutally released by his team after just one season Daily MailJags release WR Davis, absorb $20.3M cap hit ESPN Source link #Jaguars #release #Gabe #Davis #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

“We thought we could do better than” Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Other Games Like Dark Souls “We thought we could do better than” Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Other Games Like Dark Souls We bet that when Hidetaka Miyazaki was working on ******’s Souls, even he didn’t know what was about to happen. The brilliant man was busy crafting something out of passion that would go on to change gaming forever, pioneering the Souls genre. Once the formula proved to be successful, FromSoftware then used it again to their advantage, delivering to fans other masterpieces such as the Dark Souls trilogy, Sekiro, Elden Ring, and more. But what happens when you mix in a bit of Sony magic with the Souls formula? Well, you get Bloodborne, the one game the publishing studio believed was made to be better than other Miyazaki creations. Bloodborne, the cursed yet successful child of Hidetaka Miyazaki and Sony It is no secret that, despite being locked behind a particular platform, Bloodborne is still one of the best Souls games to have ever graced the gaming world. It surprised even Sony, the publishing studio, that Hidetaka Miyazaki worked with in order to manifest his project into reality. In an interview with MCV, Feral Gara, the then-boss of Sony Computer Entertainment’s branch in the ***, revealed how Bloodborne exceeded everyone’s expectations when it came to sales numbers: It did surprise us, we had expectations to do well. We looked at the Souls series as a frame of reference, and we thought we could do better than that. We did – and then some. Relative to some of our sister territories, we were being quite ambitious, but even that proved to be conservative. Gara revealed how the studio took other Souls games as a reference to determine Bloodborne’s success and that Sony believed it could do ‘better.’ Well, it did, as the PlayStation exclusive went on to become the biggest hit on PlayStation at the time and still remains as one of the best first-party games on the platform even a decade later, despite still being locked at 30 FPS. Why Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Bloodborne became ******* than it was supposed to be Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Bloodborne has forever been locked behind exclusivity | Credit: Nintendo While many might blame Sony for keeping the iconic game behind the bars of exclusivity, at the time, it was a mutual deal between FromSoftware and the studio to bring Bloodborne to PlayStation, a major reason being that only the PS4 at the time was able to support the graphical fidelity demands of the game that came with stunning visuals of Yharnam. Ultimately, thanks to Sony’s support, Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Bloodborne did become a ******* franchise than any other Souls title that came before. It happened partially thanks to PlayStation’s popularity and strong marketing done by the publishing studio. Bloodborne getting locked forever on the platform was an unfortunate outcome of the deal between the renowned director and Sony. Luckily for fans, this time around with the upcoming exclusive for Nintendo Switch 2, The Duskbloods, FromSoftware has made sure to keep the trademark with itself, leaving the multi-platform door open for future use, if Hidetaka Miyazaki ever wishes to walk through it. Source link #thought #Hidetaka #Miyazakis #Games #Dark #Souls Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Man whose remains found in suitcase in Bristol ‘****** and blackmailed teen’ Man whose remains found in suitcase in Bristol ‘****** and blackmailed teen’ Sarah Jones BBC News, West of England Albert Alfonso/Flickr (left to right) Yostin Mosquera, 34, Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, pictured on a boat in Colombia WARNING: This article contains material that some people may find distressing. A man whose dismembered body was found in a suitcase had ****** and blackmailed a teenager, a court has heard. The remains of Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, were found in a suitcase and trunk left near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol in July 2024, having been taken there from London. At the trial of Yostin Mosquera, who is accused of murdering and dismembering the two men, a witness told the court he had been blackmailed by Mr Alfonso in exchange for ******* “favours”. Colombian national, Mr Mosquera, 35, denies both murders but has admitted the manslaughter of Mr Alfonso. Using the pseudonym James Smith, the witness told the jury at the Old Bailey he was about 17 or 18 years old when he first met Mr Alfonso, nearly 20 years ago. Giving evidence via video link, he said he had gone to Mr Alfonso’s flat for drinks after a rugby match and waking up with a “******** headache”. When Mr Smith asked ‘what’s happened?’, Mr Alfonso showed him a video of himself performing sex acts on Mr Smith. “I didn’t know what to do. I was mortified. At this point I didn’t know my sexuality – I was confused and scared,” he told the court. “[Being a] ****** boy in London, gay, whether you were drunk or not – it didn’t matter.” He said Mr Alfonso told him he was “not going to show anyone” and if he did “favours” for him, the video would never be shared. Reuters The remains of Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, were found near the Clifton Suspension Bridge Under cross-examination, defence barrister Tom Little KC asked Mr Smith: “Does it cross your mind, looking back, that you were ******?” “Now, yes,” he replied. “And does it cross your mind that your drink may have been spiked?” the barrister asked. “Now, yes.” “Does it cross your mind that you were groomed by Albert Alfonso?” “Now, yes,” Mr Smith said. He said that Mr Alfonso had told him that he was interested in “****** dominatrix” fantasies and described fetishes involving “master-slave” dynamics. Mr Alfonso would pay him about £150 for each ******* encounter, the court heard, and over time, the meetings became routine and involved consensual acts. Mr Smith said that he would sometimes initiate contact when he needed money. Julia Quenzler Yostin Mosquera is being supported by an interpreter at the Old Bailey During the Covid pandemic, Mr Smith said he became closer with Mr Alfonso and started spending time with Mr Longworth – going on bike rides with them and occasionally being supported financially. He told the court that when he was later introduced to Mr Mosquera, Mr Alfonso described him as a young man from Colombia who was staying with them while attending Ealing College. He said Mr Alfonso claimed he was paying Mr Mosquera’s travel and college fees, and that Mr Mosquera told him he had a wife and child back home. “I asked if he was gay or straight – he said he was just doing it for the money,” Mr Smith said. “I said, ‘Great – so was I’.” He said the three had taken part in a sex session together the week before the killings. Describing the relationship between Mr Mosquera and Mr Alfonso, the witness said it seemed “good – very good”. “He was going to London with him, sightseeing, he seemed fun,” he said. “I didn’t see anything that seemed like they disliked each other.” Speaking about Mr Longworth, he added: “He wouldn’t hurt a fly. After the sessions he would come and sit with us and talk with us.” The trial continues. Source link #Man #remains #suitcase #Bristol #****** #blackmailed #teen Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PS5’s three best-selling digital games in April 2025 were Microsoft titles PS5’s three best-selling digital games in April 2025 were Microsoft titles The top three best-selling digital games on PS5 last month were Microsoft titles, Sony has confirmed. The latest monthly download chart posted on the official PlayStation Blog shows that in both the US / Canada and Europe regions, the three best-selling paid games on PS5 for April 2025 were from Microsoft-owned studios. In the US and Canada, the top three games for April were The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft and Forza Horizon 5. Meanwhile, in Europe the top three games were Forza Horizon 5, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft. The news will doubtless provide further validation for Microsoft and its decision to start releasing Xbox titles on other platforms, most notably its ‘rival’ platform PS5. Last week during an earnings call, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted that the company’s games had the most pre-orders and pre-installs on both the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Store during the first quarter of 2025. The company also reported that gaming revenue grew 5% compared to the same ******* the previous year, while Xbox content and services revenue grew 8% “driven by growth in Xbox Game Pass, Call of Duty and Minecraft“. However, it also noted that Xbox hardware revenue declined 6% year-on-year, further highlighting the company’s shift in strategy to remain in the hardware business but also make its games available on multiple non-Xbox platforms. Last month sales data estimates also suggested that the recently-released PS5 version of Xbox and Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the fastest selling version on any platform, selling at a greater rate than the Xbox and Steam versions released months earlier (though it should be noted that Xbox and PC owners could also both play the game via Game Pass). The full PS5 charts for April 2025 are as follows: PS5 download charts for April 2025: US & Canada The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Minecraft Forza Horizon 5 MLB The Show 25 NBA 2K25 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Grand Theft Auto V Assassin’s Creed Shadows ****** May Cry 5 Special Edition PS5 download charts for April 2025: Europe Forza Horizon 5 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Minecraft Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 EA Sports FC 25 Grand Theft Auto V Assassin’s Creed Shadows Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Split Fiction Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Source link #PS5s #bestselling #digital #games #April #Microsoft #titles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albany swimmers dive in to raise $34,000 for MSWA in 13th annual eight-hour ALAC pool fundraising challenge Albany swimmers dive in to raise $34,000 for MSWA in 13th annual eight-hour ALAC pool fundraising challenge More than 100 swimmers took the plunge at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre on May 3 to raise $34,000 for MSWA. The 13th MSWA annual Swim for a Cause fundraising challenge was an eight-hour marathon in aid of the charity which helps people affected by neurological conditions and disabilities. The Albany swim has now raised more than $300,000 for MSWA, formerly known as the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA. Participants swam a combined total of 9900 laps of the 25m pool and MSWA community fundraising events officer Trish Watson said the event was always a highlight. Camera IconMarina Pietropaolo and Trish Watson. Credit: Krysta Guille “Out of all the ones we do, this one really hits home,” she said. Nine teams took part with Great Southern Grammar swimming the most laps, working a roster that included students and staff. They managed an impressive 1489 laps. Team Marines, who support Marina Pietropaolo who has MS, were the biggest money raisers with a total of $11,400. Team Marines member Rechelle Wright was the individual who raised the most cash with her total of $3640. Ms Watson said Team Marines were long-time supporters of the event. “Marina has been taking part since 2010 and a lot of her team have been supporting her since then,” she said. “It’s great that she jumps in with them. “The event’s success is testament to the ongoing generosity and dedication of the local community, and we look forward to seeing it grow in the future.” Camera IconAngela Gorman and Renae Darmody ticking off their laps. Credit: Krysta GuilleCamera IconPriscilla Tollec and Orlando Tollec, 13. Credit: Krysta GuilleCamera IconSilke Andrea Fischer Malpass. Credit: Krysta GuilleCamera IconEvent MC Remo Pietropaolo. Credit: Krysta Guille Source link #Albany #swimmers #dive #raise #MSWA #13th #annual #eighthour #ALAC #pool #fundraising #challenge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo Passes $100 Billion Market Valuation Ahead Of Switch 2 Launch Nintendo Passes $100 Billion Market Valuation Ahead Of Switch 2 Launch Wario must be proud, because Nintendo is now worth more than $100 billion based on share prices. Nintendo Wire spotted that the house of Mario hit the market-cap milestone (again) and now sits as the seventh-largest Japanese company from the same criteria. It would seem that the upcoming launch of Switch 2–alongside Mario Kart World–has propelled Nintendo’s market cap for this year so far. For instance, FinanceCharts.com shows that the company had roughly a $76 billion market cap (outstanding shares multiplied by stock price) to start 2025. While we knew Nintendo had a Switch successor in the works, it wasn’t until January 16 that Switch 2 was revealed. 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: Nintendo Switch 2 – Official System Overview Trailer In February, Nintendo surpassed a $100 billion market valuation for the first time ever, hitting an all-time high of roughly $107 billion on February 19, per FinanceCharts. There have been some notable fluctuations since then. As an example, Nintendo’s market cap was $83 billion mere weeks ago on April 23. That date stands out for being Switch 2 preorder eve in the US. The system sold out immediately on April 24. While $100 billion is nothing to sneeze at, Apple actually became the first company to be worth $3 trillion in 2022. Keep in mind, though, that numbers don’t just continue going up like a RPG character’s level. CNBC shows that Apple’s market cap is currently below that threshold at roughly $2.96 trillion, while Xbox parent Microsoft has a $3.2 trillion market valuation. Switch 2 is set to launch June 5 for $450. Mario Kart World will come out alongside the system for $80, sparking spirited debates about the increase in game prices. Microsoft has since announced that select first-party games for Xbox will cost $80 beginning this holiday season. Source link #Nintendo #Passes #Billion #Market #Valuation #Ahead #Switch #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, May 8 (game #1200) Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, May 8 (game #1200) Looking for a different day? A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Wednesday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, May 7 (game #1199). Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. You may like Quordle today (game #1200) – hint #1 – Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1200) – hint #2 – repeated letters Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters? • The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 4. Quordle today (game #1200) – hint #3 – uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today? • No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers. Quordle today (game #1200) – hint #4 – starting letters (1) Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter? • The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2. If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier: Quordle today (game #1200) – hint #5 – starting letters (2) What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with? • E • G • P • E Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Today’s best Get Better At Wordle deals Quordle today (game #1200) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1200, are… Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. A double-letter day, with every word containing repeats. Not that it made life much easier. I’m not going to lie, it took me a good 10 minutes to see POPPY – ahead of this I had PONZO and POWOW, both of which were rejected. I got there in the end, though. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Daily Sequence today (game #1200) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1200, are… Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, ****** Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO Source link #Quordle #hints #answers #Thursday #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Here’s Why Greystone Capital Sold Franklin Covey (FC) in Q1 Here’s Why Greystone Capital Sold Franklin Covey (FC) in Q1 Greystone Capital Management, an investment management company, released its first-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the first quarter, the median account return for separate accounts managed by the firm was -7.9%, net of fees. The fund unfavorably and favorably compared to the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 returns of -4.2% and -9.5% during the quarter. Client portfolios are concentrated in small companies mostly outside major indices, leading to returns that typically differ from those indices. In addition, you can check the fund’s top 5 holdings to find out its best picks for 2025. In its first-quarter 2025 investor letter, Greystone Capital Management highlighted stocks such as Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC). Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) offers training and consultation services in organizational performance improvement areas. The one-month return of Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) was -2.56%, and its shares lost 47.32% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On May 6, 2025, Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) stock closed at $20.53 per share with a market capitalization of $266.637 million. Greystone Capital Management stated the following regarding Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: “During the quarter, we sold our position in Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC). Although we are long-term investors, the uncertainty of the near-term environment may prove to be a large headwind for the business, and my prior estimates of cash flows have been very wrong up to this point. I was also blindsided by the company’s recently reduced guidance (for the second time) for FY25, which along with some other management blunders that has caused me to lose some faith. My loss of confidence combined with better current opportunities were the primary reasons behind the decision to part ways.” Franklin Covey (FC) Introduces AI Coach to Elevate Leadership Training An executive delivering a keynote presentation on improving sales performance at a corporate event. Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 17 hedge fund portfolios held Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) at the end of the fourth quarter, compared to 16 in the third quarter. In Q2 2025, Franklin Covey Co.’s (NYSE:FC) revenue was $59.6 million ($60.1 million in constant currency), slightly down from $61.3 million in Q2 last year, primarily due to recent government contract cancellations. While we acknowledge the potential of Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Story Continues Source link #Heres #Greystone #Capital #Sold #Franklin #Covey Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EVE Vanguard,Eve Online,Dust 514 Preview – EVE Vanguard: An Ambitious Second Chance At MMO FPS Innovation EVE Vanguard,Eve Online,Dust 514 Preview – EVE Vanguard: An Ambitious Second Chance At MMO FPS Innovation EVE Online is arguably the most obtuse MMO ever made. Famous for its headline-making space battles, it continues to entertain its audience 22 years after its release. Icelandic developer CCP Games aims to transform how players can approach its persistent sci-fi world, New Eden, with the development of its upcoming extraction shooter, EVE Vanguard. The studio wants players to inhabit the same world through the two games and seeks to answer the question: “What if the events in one game affected the other?” “Imagine a friend of yours on Twitter says, ‘Hey, there’s this massive war happening in EVE Online. Download the client and join our squad. Jump in and be part of this massive EVE war.’ And no other game can really do that. They can pretend war is happening, but there’s actually going to be a war happening in EVE,” producer Jamie Stanton says. EVE Fanfest 2025 – EVE Vanguard Keynote: However, despite its ambitiousness, this isn’t the studio’s first attempt at such an idea—it’s the second. Dust 514, a 2013 free-to-play PS3 exclusive that went offline in 2016, marked the company’s first venture connecting a first-person shooter to EVE Online’s universe. “Dust 514 is also fully integrated with the notorious sci-fi setting of EVE Online,” a 2013 press release states. “Together, Dust 514 and EVE Online offer a combined sandbox of unprecedented intergalactic scale, with the outcome of ground battles impacting the persistent universe of EVE and shifting the tide of war for legions of participants. Mercenaries can gain an advantage by coordinating with starship pilots in EVE Online, calling in devastating orbital strikes against opposing squads.” The old press release effectively summarizes the pitch for EVE Vanguard, which enters Steam Early Access in Summer 2026. However, CCP hopes to avoid the perils that befell Dust—the press criticized it for subpar FPS mechanics and having the depth of a puddle—by approaching its early development years with a narrow but deeper scope. “Forget everything else. This has to be a good shooter first,” game director Scott Davis says. “When we’ve built some confidence around it, we ask, ‘How do we grow out of the perception that [Vanguard] is just an extraction shooter?’” After laying down the foundation, Davis hopes to add deeper layers of player agency and cause-and-effect across the two games, even if it’s only single threads here and there. In a previous Vanguard technical test, players fought for control of artillery cannons on the surface to fire into the Raihbaka system’s contested airspace in EVE Online. While the limited event showcased the Carbon engine’s potential, the battle failed to have a meaningful, long-lasting effect on the star system, according to a popular EVE analytics tool. “We have a vision in mind, and we’ve created some preliminary connections, but we have to [expand] very slowly. If we jumped straight to trying to figure out [the full integration] now, we would end up with a half-baked shooter,” Stanton says. While the studio has yet to establish Vanguard’s full scope, the early build I recently played at EVE Fanfest is promising. The project’s intimate scale transforms minor ship parts into massive wreckages, which serve as points of interest across its dark-but-colorful biomes. While still premature, weapons emit brilliant lasers reminiscent of golden-era sci-fi shooters like Unreal Tournament and Quake, supported by ample screenshake and over-the-top sound design. While even earlier in development, graybox objects like mobile item extractors shake up genre trappings by allowing players to secure their loot without exiting the match. “I’ve been disappointed by games not trying to innovate past having just to take everything away from you,” Davis remarks, voicing his disdain for progression resets, a familiar tactic extraction shooter developers use to prevent seasoned players from griefing newbies with more limited resources. “I don’t like that. And I don’t think a more casual audience, which some of these games are trying to [attract] now, will like having their stuff taken away from them every season.” To solve the genre’s progression problem, the team is looking to MMOs for inspiration. Starting players in low-level zones with safeguards to dissuade PvP allows them to learn the basics in the paddling pool before swimming to the deep end. Despite featuring traditional matchmaking, CCP envisions its levels as physical locations in a star system, each with static difficulty ranges enabling players to quest in an appropriate zone before graduating to the next level. The studio’s ultimate goal is to allow corporations, the player-led organizations vying for sovereignty in EVE Online, to commission Vanguard players to extract valuable resources from planetary surfaces in exchange for valuables from the stars. As someone who loves MMOs, I’ve always wanted to play the long-running space sim, but its complicated systems have prevented me from fully diving into it. If successful, EVE Vanguard has the potential to innovate in the multiplayer space and also open a gateway for players like me to participate in the series’ legendary stories from a fresh perspective. Source link #EVE #VanguardEve #OnlineDust #Preview #EVE #Vanguard #Ambitious #Chance #MMO #FPS #Innovation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best phone straps: 15 stylish and practical picks to keep your device close and your hands free | Accessories The best phone straps: 15 stylish and practical picks to keep your device close and your hands free | Accessories You’re probably familiar with the concept of adding a finishing touch to your outfit: a belt that smartens up trousers, a great pair of sunglasses, statement jewellery that livens up a plain T-shirt. Well, now, there’s a new accessory in town: the phone strap. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For many of us, it’s a must-have. On a practical level, it means you don’t have to root around in your bag every time you need to check Google Maps for directions. With phone theft also an issue, it could keep your mobile safer. You can choose a striking option that ensures it will be the first thing someone notices, or you can opt for something subtler. From designer fashion straps to jingly jangly TikTok favourites, as well as upcycled and recycled options, here are 15 to get you started. The best phone strap cases, lanyards and wristlets in 2025 Chain reaction Accessorize braid chain phone strap £12 at Accessorize This chunky gold and white braided strap can be worn around your neck, cross-body style. Just enough gold for it to elevate your everyday, and it will go with everything. Nautical but nice Native Union City Sling strap £24.99 at John Lewis From £17.99 at Amazon A minimalist, urban strap by Native Union, with nautical knots and an adjustable length to turn it from necklace to cross-body. One for the purists. Pearls of wisdom Ateljé recycled phone case with pearl strap £48.44 at Ateljé Ateljé’s pearly straps went viral when one was spotted in the hands of Mindy in season one of Emily in Paris. They made another cameo appearance in season three. This one features a longer strap so you can wear it cross-body, and it comes with a recycled plastic case. The pearls are made from recycled plastic, too. Handmade braids Nots phone lanyard £40 at Nots Using paracord (a type of nylon rope), Nots founder Emilia Jones hand-braids each lanyard using macrame and knotting techniques in her studio in Bristol. This design integrates hand-blown glass beads, too. The standard length is 120cm, but if you want it longer, you can add a note to request it. Utility style Bandolier Billie strap £135 at Bandolier This utility-style strap could easily eliminate the need for carrying a separate handbag. It comes with three different compartments – one could fit a pair of glasses or a charger, the other bank cards, and the third is useful for makeup and keys. Of course, there are also two clips to attach to a suitable phone case. You can also buy add-ons, such as an AirPods pouch (£39). Recycled charm CharKnots macrame lanyard £15 at CharKnots The founder of CharKnots, textile artist Charlotte Hanson, hand-makes her macrame lanyards in Sheffield. Hanson uses recycled cotton, and they come in various colours, including sage green and dusty pink. She also offers a wristlet version. Star-struck Bandolier Millie strap £56 at Bandolier With a delicate chain and tiny cut-out stars, this cross-body-style strap is perfect for those who love to layer up gold jewellery. Wear against ****** or dark brown to let the gold stand out. Blooming marvellous SkinnyDip London sage flower beaded strap £12 at SkinnyDip London Anyone in touch with their inner flower child will love this nostalgic strap from SkinnyDip London. MagSafe friendly XouXou phone case and necklace £68.34 at XouXou This phone necklace from XouXou comes with in-built eyelets, from which hangs a matching iPhone case. There are four colour options: burgundy, ******, moss and taupe. You can still clip the lanyard on and off, and the case is MagSafe compatible. Lucky stars Not Another Billcharm phone strap £22 by Not Another Bill Reach for your phone the stars with this celestial-body-inspired phone strap. Raise a smile Studio Bowe Happy Strappy phone charm £45 at Studio Bowe Studio Bowe uses vintage and preloved glass and resin beads to create colourful, sustainable designs. Stylist Bertie Bowen hand-beads each design from her studio in London. The strap includes a custom smiley face bead handmade by a local artisan. Neutral number Casetify pebbled cross-body strap From £33 at Casetify For those who have built their wardrobe around more neutral shades of brown and cream, Casetify’s synthetic leather strap with gold metal hardware will slot right in. It comes in three shades: latte, oatmilk and greige, and the strap card included means it will work with most phone cases. Rise and shine String Ting Breakfast wristlet £44 at String Ting String Ting’s creations, handmade in London, are designed to spark joy – and this wristlet, featuring everything from smiley motifs to toast, is guaranteed to do just that. Prepare for a lot of “I love your phone strap, where did you get it?” moments. Social climber Topologie bungee strap €45 at Topologie £38 at Farfetch Founded by a rock-climbing enthusiast, Topologie’s straps riff on climbing paraphernalia. The bungee style can be easily lengthened and shortened, so it will work for a variety of body shapes. It’s available in 12 colours and will add a point of interest to any look. Designer icon Vivienne Westwood phone bag £600 at Vivienne Westwood Yes, we know, it’s £600. But if you have the funds for a splurge, this phone bag, with its jaunty check motif and leather edging inspired by heirloom quilts, is pretty special. It will certainly keep your phone snug, and you’ll be able to squeeze in your favourite lip gloss and a bank card as well. Source link #phone #straps #stylish #practical #picks #device #close #hands #free #Accessories Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What we learned investigating dozens of lawsuits against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – The Washington Post What we learned investigating dozens of lawsuits against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – The Washington Post What we learned investigating dozens of lawsuits against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs The Washington PostSean ‘Diddy’ Combs Makes Unexpected 9-Word Statement in Court YahooDiddy’s lawyer slammed by judge for calling prosecutors a ‘six-pack of white women’ New York PostJames Comey’s daughter is key to Diddy prosecution after taking down Epstein accomplice Fox NewsProsecutors accuse Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ defense team of consulting with celebrity attorney Mark Geragos CNN Source link #learned #investigating #dozens #lawsuits #Sean #Diddy #Combs #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony announces new studio TeamLFG including Bungie, Fortnite and Roblox veterans Sony announces new studio TeamLFG including Bungie, Fortnite and Roblox veterans Sony has announced a new studio, which is working on an “ambitious incubation project”. TeamLFG is the latest developer to join PlayStation Studios. According to Sony Interactive Entertainment‘s Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst, the studio “originated at Bungie, but has also rallied developers from across the industry to bring to life an ambitious incubation project that I’m very excited about”. Hulst says the new studio “is now fully formed and ready to be introduced to the world”. Based in Bellevue, WA, the team is comprised of a mix of staff working on-site and remotely throughout the US and Canada. It consists of a mix of veterans – staff previously worked on such titles as Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite, Roblox and Rec Room – and “industry newcomers”. In a group statement, the studio – which says its name means Team Looking For Group, and not the more commonly accepted acronym it’s usually associated with – said it’s “passionate about exceptional action-based gameplay, moment-to-moment game feel, and richly social virtual worlds”. “We are driven by a mission to create games where players can find friendship, community, and belonging,” the studio said. “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. As we say on the team – dat’s da good stuff.” Welcome teamLFG to the PlayStation Studios family: pic.twitter.com/OrXoFSKLI5 — PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 7, 2025 The studio’s first game is described as a “team-based action game that draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog-type games”. It intends to hold early access playtests and build each of its games alongside its communities, saying: “It’s critical that we stay nimble enough to react to player feedback, not just in our lead-up to launch, but throughout live service as we continue to grow the game and community for years to come.” Source link #Sony #announces #studio #TeamLFG #including #Bungie #Fortnite #Roblox #veterans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Bungie Devs Create TeamLFG Under PlayStation Studios Former Bungie Devs Create TeamLFG Under PlayStation Studios Sony has revealed a new first-party studio called TeamLFG. This studio is composed of former Bungie developers who were spun off to form their own studio during Bungie’s mass layoffs last year. The unveiling of TeamLFG happened on PlayStation Blog, where the new Bellevue, Washington-based studio teased what it is working on. “Our first game is a team-based action game that draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog-type games,” a statement from TeamLFG explains. “Players will inhabit a lighthearted, comedic world set in brand-new, mythic, science-fantasy universe.” TeamLFG’s logo That description, as well as SIE Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst’s admission that this studio “originated at Bungie,” seems to affirm that TeamLFG is working on a game first teased by Bungie in 2023. It was one of several incubation projects spun off at the Destiny 2 maker in the early 2020s, but unlike Marathon it will not be officially released by Bungie. Last summer, Bungie cut around 17% of its workforce. As part of that process, many developers were laid off. Some were integrated into Sony Interactive Entertainment, while others were spun off to form what would become TeamLFG. As a studio, TeamLFG says it is “passionate about exceptional action-based gameplay, moment-to-moment game feel, and richly social virtual worlds.” That emphasis on social gaming can be seen in the fact that the LFG in the studio’s name is supposed to stand for “Looking For Group.” TeamLFG also says it wants to deeply incorporate player feedback into the development process and will be holding early access playtests for its new game. The first game from TeamLFG does not currently have a title or release window. Bungie recently revealed Destiny 2’s The Edge of Fate expansion will launch on July 15. Source link #Bungie #Devs #Create #TeamLFG #PlayStation #Studios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, May 8 (game #431) NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, May 8 (game #431) Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Wednesday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 7 (game #430). Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. You may like NYT Strands today (game #431) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Well, fancy that! NYT Strands today (game #431) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. SAINT LOON HINTS ***** SHAVE DUES NYT Strands today (game #431) – hint #3 – spangram letters How many letters are in today’s spangram? • Spangram has 8 letters NYT Strands today (game #431) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First side: top, 4th column Last side: bottom, 4th column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Today’s best Get Better At Wordle deals NYT Strands today (game #431) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #431, are… GAUDY SNAZZY EXTRAVAGANT DELUXE ORNATE LAVISH SPANGRAM: OOH SHINY My rating: Moderate My score: 1 hint I struggled to get going with today’s search for fancy stuff and used a hint. GAUDY set me on my way and the double Z unlocked SNAZZY. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. What this puzzle really needed was a spangram that twinkled at us for added distraction. OOH SHINY is one of those universal meme phrases, the origins of which have been lost in the mists of time – it could be Pokemon or The Simpsons, it could be The Tick or Minecraft, the cast of Firefly or Gustav Kilimt. Who knows? Gemini AI certainly doesn’t, explaining that: “the phrase ‘ooh shiny’ has likely gained traction through its repeated use by various characters who embody a childlike or animalistic attraction to bright and glittering things.” As an easily distracted person, I fall prey to “ooh shiny” quite a lot, although it’s often a packet of something I can eat. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, May 7, game #430) ENGINE BOXCAR HOPPER CABOOSE FLATBED GONDOLA SPANGRAM: ALL ABOARD What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Source link #NYT #Strands #hints #answers #Thursday #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘The veil of plausible deniability doesn’t exist anymore’ ‘The veil of plausible deniability doesn’t exist anymore’ Heat-trapping pollution from dirty fuel companies caused an estimated $28 trillion in global economic damages from extreme heat alone between 1991 and 2020, and scientists say there’s no longer room for denial. What’s happening? In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers at Dartmouth College used peer-reviewed methods to link pollution from 111 major fossil fuel companies to rising global temperatures and climate-related damages over a ******* of three decades. As CBS News detailed, the study found that about a third of the total $28 trillion in damages could be traced to just five companies: Saudi Aramco ($2.05 trillion); Gazprom ($2 trillion); Chevron ($1.98 trillion); ExxonMobil ($1.91 trillion); and BP ($1.45 trillion). Researchers used computer simulations to model how the planet’s temperature would have changed without pollution from each company, using emissions figures from the Carbon Majors database. They then connected each company’s contribution to global temperature changes to economic losses caused by extreme heat — such as impacts on crops, public health, and infrastructure. “The veil of plausible deniability doesn’t exist anymore scientifically,” said Justin Mankin, co-author of the study. “We can actually trace harms back to major emitters.” Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality? While lawsuits against dirty fuel companies over climate damages have struggled in court, scientists say this research makes the connection between corporate pollution and climate harm clearer than ever before. Why are these findings important? Assigning dollar amounts to corporate pollution helps make the impact more tangible — and harder for companies to dismiss. It also means big polluters could be held liable for the damages caused by their contribution to the planet’s overheating. Extreme heat is only one of the many consequences of rising global temperatures, meaning the true cost is probably even higher than the study’s estimate. Human-driven changes in climate have been linked by many studies to more intense extreme weather events such as hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires — all of which cause costly destruction. For homeowners and businesses, it’s becoming more difficult to get insurance, especially in high-risk areas, and some insurance companies are canceling coverage or pulling out of markets altogether. With public support growing for stronger climate action, connecting polluters directly to the damages they cause could help strengthen legal cases and support people and businesses who have been affected. It could also encourage companies to do more to reduce their carbon pollution. What’s being done about holding polluters accountable? Around the world, individuals and governments are filing lawsuits against major companies to recover costs associated with the overheating planet. Out of 68 cases so far, 70% have been filed since the Paris Agreement in 2015, according to Zero Carbon Analytics. Governments are taking steps like taxing companies based on the pollution they generate, proposing reparations to countries disproportionately affected, and requiring more corporate transparency on environmental impacts. At the same time, consumers can drive change by supporting clean energy options, such as solar and wind power, voting for pro-climate candidates, and supporting eco-friendly initiatives by mainstream brands. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #veil #plausible #deniability #doesnt #exist #anymore Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

HP Omen Max 16 review: Hefty, premium HP Omen Max 16 review: Hefty, premium Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. One of the first laptops with Nvidia’s new top-of-the-line mobile GPU, the HP Omen Max 16 is designed to take on the best gaming laptops and beat them into submission with high performance and stunning visuals. We tested a fully decked out version of this 16-inch laptop, which came packed with an RTX 5090 GPU, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB SSD and a 2560 x 1600, 240 Hz OLED display. That adds up to a pricey $4,329 price tag. As you might expect from a decked out mobile gaming rig, our review config of the HP Omen Max 16 offered strong frame rates in both real-world play and in benchmark tests, though some competitors with the slightly-lesser RTX 5080 GPU often kept pace with or exceeded it. Its OLED panel offered vibrant colors and wide viewing angles while the speakers provided rich tin-free audio. But its keyboard felt mushy and lifeless. At 6.1 pounds this mostly-aluminum laptop feels really heavy in the hand and, when you add in its 2-pound power brick, a huge weight in your laptop bag. You might expect that kind of weight out of a rig this powerful, but some competitors are slimmer and lighter while offering similar or better frame rates. HP Omen Max 16 (512GB 16GB RAM) at Macy’s for $1,636.95 Design of the HP Omen Max 16 The HP Omen Max 16 is an attractive — but heavy — laptop. Its ****** chassis, with an aluminum base and lid, give it a premium look and feel. The number “016” is emblazoned on the deck and above the lid, just in case you ever forget that it’s a 16-inch laptop. It also happens to be in a style very reminiscent of Alienware. The overall aesthetic is ok, neither exciting nor innovative, but certainly premium. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) At 6.1, this is a hefty machine At 0.98-inches thick, it’s chunky too. It weighed so much that adding it and its chunky charger to my laptop bag made the whole contraption a real burden. By comparison, the Razer Blade 16, equipped with the same RTX 5090 GPU as our Omen (albeit with a weaker processor), weighs 4.7 pounds and is just 0.69 inches thick. The Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 with RTX 5080 is 5.5 pounds and a thicker, 1.18 inches. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16, also with an RTX 5080, is actually heavier at 6.3 pounds, but not as thick at 0.90 inches. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Omen Max 16 has plenty of ports, including two USB Type-A 10 Gbps ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 out port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. There’s also a round barrel connector for the 2-pound, 330-watt power supply. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) There’s plenty of RGB lighting for those who like that kind of look. The full-size keyboard with a numeric keypad, has pudding-style keycaps where the light can shine through the legends. There’s also a lightbar on the front lip of the laptop, where it can reflect off of a glossy tabletop. HP Omen Max 16 Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Graphics Nvidia RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24GB GDDR7, 175W TGP 1597 MHz boost clock) Memory 32GB DDR5-5600 (2 x 16GB) Storage 2TB SSD Display 16-inch, 2560 x 1660, OLED, 240 Hz Networking Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200, Bluetooth 5.4, 1 Gbe LAN Ports 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB Type-A 10 Gbps, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm Camera 1080p, IR Battery 83 WHr Power Adapter 330W Operating System Windows 11 Home Dimensions (WxDxH) 14.04 x 10.59 x 0.98 inches (356.62 x 268.99 x 24.89 mm) Weight 6.1 pounds Price (as configured) $4,329 Today’s best HP Omen 16 deals Gaming and Graphics on the HP Omen Max 16 With its RTX 5090 graphics and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, our configuration of the Omen Max 16 provided powerful gaming performance in both synthetic and real-world play. This is definitely a top-of-the-line configuration that’s about on par with other RTX 5090-powered laptops we’ve tested. I spent some time playing Cyberpunk 2077 on it at both Ultra Ray Tracing and Ultra (non-Ray Tracing) settings. With ray tracing on, running at the screen’s native 2560 x 1600 resolution, my frame rate hovered between 65 and 70 frames per second. But with it off, I saw a smoother, 95 to 105 FPS range. The numbers were not quite as good on a synthetic Cyberpunk 2077 test we ran where the Omen output 72 FPS at 1920 x 1080 and 47 FPS at 2560 x 1600, with Ray Tracing Ultra settings. These numbers were better than competitors like the Razer Blade 16 (66 / 43 FPS) and Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 (62 / 38 FPS). Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) On Shadow of the Tomb Raider at the highest settings, the Omen Max 16 produced a smooth 175 FPS at its native resolution and 116 FPS at 1080p. Surprisingly, the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 and its RTX 5080 card performed a little bit better at 1080p and about the same at 2560 x 1600. Again, in Far Cry 6 at Ultra settings, the HP Omen Max 16 hung with its competitors but was not at the top of the pack. At 1080p, the Aorus Master 16 beat it by 11 FPS and the RTX 5080-powered Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 was also a few FPS ahead. In Borderlands 3, the Omen trailed the Aorus Master 16 by a few FPS. It was still strong at 156 FPS at 1080p and 109 FPS at 2560 x 1600, however. The Razer Blade 16 crashed during the test. On Red Dead Redemption 2, at medium settings, the Omen 16 managed a strong 128 FPS at 1080p and 77 FPS at 2560 x 1600. The 1080p number led the field while the Razer Blade 16 (121 / 94 FPS) won at 2560 x 1600. On this test, the Aorus Master 16 trailed the field. To see how the system performs over time, we run the Metro Exodus benchmark 15 times with RTX enabled. During this test, the HP Omen Max 16 averaged 121.24 FPS, a little bit less than the Razer Blade 16 which got 125.77 FPS. The FPS ranged from 135.59 FPS on the first run to 114.35 FPS on the last run, showing that performance dropped slightly as the system heated up. During that time, the GPU clock speed averaged 1,582.37 MHz and its temperature averaged 83.15 degrees Celsius. The CPU’s P-cores ran at an average clock speed of 4.03 GHz and its E-cores ran at an average clock speed of 2,397 MHz. The CPU temperature averaged 99.68 degrees Celsius. Productivity Performance on the HP Omen Max 16 WIth its Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, RTX 5090 graphics, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe 4 SSD, our configuration of the HP Omen Max 16 handled every productivity task we threw at it admirably. Whether we were surfing the web, copying a large group of files or transcoding a video, the results were speedy. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Omen pulled ahead of its competitors on Geekbench 6, scoring 3,097 in single-core testing and 19,822 in multi-core. That barely beat the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 and Gigabyte Aorus Master 16, both of which have the same Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and handily pounded the Razer Blade 16 and its AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. It took 2 minutes and 54 seconds for the Omen to transcode a 4K video into 1080p. That time is ahead of the Razer Blade 14 but still more than 30 seconds behind the RTX 5080-powered Strix Scar 16 and Aorus Master 16. The HP Omen Max 16’s PCIe 4 SSD copied 25GB of files at a rate of 1,395.4 MBps. That’s a little behind the Razer Blade 16 and Strix Scar 16. However, it’s comfortably ahead of the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16. Display on the HP Omen Max 16 The HP Omen Max 16 is available with both IPS and OLED display options. Our review unit came with the more-expensive OLED option, which was extremely sharp and colorful. The 2560 x 1600, 240 Hz panel looked great whether I was playing Cyberpunk 2077 or watching videos on YouTube. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) When I watched a video of scenes from a Costa Rican jungle, fine details like the scales in a snake’s skin were sharp and easy to make out. Colors like the green of a frog or the red of a parrot were especially vibrant. The colors didn’t fade even at 90 degrees to the left or right. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Omen’s screen hit an impressive 141.4% of the DCI-P3 color gamut by volume on our light meter. That beats the Razer Blade 16 (114.6%), Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 and Gigabyte Aorus Master 16. The panel was also really bright at 362.8 nits in SDR mode. That’s about on par with competitors except for the Strix Scar which hit 457.2 nits. Keyboard and Touchpad on the HP Omen Max 16 The Omen Max 16’s keyboard is definitely not my favorite for typing, but it’s not terrible for gaming. The pudding-style keys feel mushy, lacking the kind of tactile feedback I like to get when writing and editing. The keyboard has a full numeric keypad, along with a column for – / + and second Enter keys. This makes things feel a little cramped but you do get a lot of keys for a 16-inch laptop. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Another thing I really don’t like: the arrow keys are not in an inverted T shape like they are on so many other laptops. Instead, the up and down arrows are smaller than the right and left keys and are shoved in-between the right and left. This makes moving the cursor around unpleasant. However, despite the shortcomings of the keyboard, I was able to hit a strong 106 wpm in 10fastfingers.com test, with just a 3.5 percent error rate. Both of those numbers are on the high end of my typical score. While I was playing Cyberpunk 2077, the feel of the keys was less distracting for moving around than it was for typing. I had no problem turning quickly with WASD keys. The 4.95 x 3.1-inch clickpad offers smooth, accurate navigation. The pad responded well to multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scroll. Audio on the HP Omen Max 16 The Omen Max 16’s speakers provide audio that’s rich and layered if not overly loud. When I listened to “AC/DC’s Back in ******,” the guitar and drums appeared to come from different sides of the machine. Better still, there was not a hint of tininess, even at maximum volume. However, it wasn’t the loudest laptop I’ve heard with volume that was enough to fill a medium-sized but not a large room. The output during gaming was also excellent. When I played Cyberpunk 2077, the spatial audio was really noticeable with gunshots that sounded like they were coming from a different direction than the voice of Jackie, a helpful NPC, who was behind me. Upgradeability of the HP Omen Max 16 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The HP Omen Max 16 is relatively easy to upgrade. The bottom surface of the laptop has six Philip’s head screws, only one of which is captive. Once you pry the cover off, there are markings showing where each major component – the GPU, CPU, DDR5 RAM and SSDs are located. If you want to upgrade the RAM, you can remove the panel above the two DIMM slots. There are also two M.2 2280 SSD slots, one of which is filled with the boot drive. The second SSD slot is readily accessible, but the first one, which is used for the boot drive, is partly covered by the heat pipe from one of the two fans. That’s a notable issue. To replace the boot drive, you’d probably have to remove the fan or you’d have to slide the SSD out from under it. We didn’t want to risk removing the fan to find out so we’d suggest only adding a second drive rather than attempting to upgrade the boot drive. Battery Life on the HP Omen Max 16 Despite its 83 Whr battery, the HP Omen Max 16 doesn’t offer strong battery life, which is sadly still somewhat common in gaming laptops. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) In our tests, it lasted a mere 3 hours and 20 minutes on our endurance test. It’s important to note that this is not a gaming test; it’s a web surfing test that visits a variety of web pages, including some that stream video or show 3D animations. The Razer Blade 16, which was similarly equipped, lasted 7 hours and 21 minutes, which is more than twice as long. We also ran HP’s computer through PCMark 10’s Gaming battery test, during which it lasted a mere one hour and 25 minutes. The RTX 5090-powered Razer Blade 16 lasted an hour longer on the same test. Heat on the HP Omen Max 16 The HP Omen Max 16 stays pretty cool when you’re not gaming but it gets warm during intense play. During web surfing, the keyboard hit just 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit, the bottom was a modest 93.3 F and the touchpad was just 85.3 F. However, when we ran Metro Exodus, the keyboard was a toasty 113.8 F, the bottom measured 105.2 Fand the area above the Del key on the keyboard hit a full 125.8 degrees. That being said, these types of temperatures are consistent with what we see on most high-powered gaming laptops. In general, you should use them on a desk or table. Webcam on the HP Omen Max 16 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The 1080p webcam captured high-quality images in my testing. Colors like the blue in my shirt or the brown wood on a door behind me were accurate and vibrant. Fine details like the stubble on my face were clearly visible, even when I took a photo with the sun shining through a window behind me. There’s also a physical shutter to protect your privacy. Software and Warranty on the HP Omen Max 16 Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The HP Omen Max 16 has just one major first-party utility: Omen Gaming Hub. Omen Gaming Hub has all the features you need for controlling a high-end gaming laptop, including overlays and charts for your CPU, GPU and RAM, performance tuning and overclocking controls, and settings for the RGB keyboard and front light bar. Using Omen Gaming Hub, you can exert fine control over the fan speed, boost performance and clean out unnecessary files. You can also remap the keys on the keyboard so they perform macros or serve as different keys, A beta feature called Omen AI uses artificial intelligence to adjust your settings to get the best performance for certain games; however, it currently works with only three games – Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends and Apex Legends. HP backs the Omen Max 16 with a standard one-year warranty. You can pay up to $385 to extend that to three years and include accidental damage and theft protection. HP Omen Max 16 Configurations The HP Omen Max 16 is available in four main configurations, available either via HP.com or Best Buy depending on which you choose. There’s also the option to custom configure your Omen Max 16 on the HP website. The base model goes for $2,499 and comes equipped with a Core Ultra 7 255HX CPU, RTX 5070 Ti graphics, 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, a 512GB SSD, a 2K IPS screen and WiFI 6E. Our decked out $4,339 configuration ups the specs to a Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, an RTX 5090 GPU, 32GB of RAM, an OLED 2K screen and a Wi-Fi 7 card. When you configure your laptop to order you can choose among Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, 5080 and 5090 GPUs, Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 CPUs, up to 64GB of RAM, 1080p or 2K displays with an OLED option and up to 2TB of storage. Bottom Line (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) There’s a lot to like about the HP Omen Max 16, particularly in the expensive, high-end configuration we reviewed. You get graphics performance that’s good enough to play your favorite games at high frame rates, even with the settings turned up and ray tracing turned on. You get one of the most vibrant displays on the market and speakerss that are great for listening to music or hearing footsteps creeping up behind you in a first-person shooter, even without a headset. However, at more than 8 pounds of heft in your bag if you include the charger, this is a heavy laptop and one that can’t be used unplugged for very long, even if you’re doing productivity work. The Razer Blade 16, which we tested with an RTX 5090, offered similar or better performance and weighs just 4.72 pounds for the laptop with a 1.75 pound power brick while enduring more than 7 hours on a charge. If you’re looking to save money, going for a competitor with an RTX 5080 chip inside might be a better choice. The Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 with RTX 5080 goes for about $1,200 less than the HP Omen Max 16 we tested and yet it sometimes bested HP’s laptop by registering slightly higher frame rates. Gigabyte’s keyboard, though lacking a numpad, had a better tactile feel than HP’s, though the unit we tested did not come with an OLED panel. However, if you want top of the line performance, you can afford to pay a premium and you don’t plan to carry your laptop around much (or you don’t mind the weight), the HP Omen Max 16 has a lot to offer. HP Omen Max 16: Price Comparison Source link #Omen #Max #review #Hefty #premium Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Disney to open its first theme park in the Middle East – BBC Disney to open its first theme park in the Middle East – BBC Disney to open its first theme park in the Middle East BBCDisney announces an Abu Dhabi theme park and resort CNBCDisney to open its seventh theme park — and it’s not where you expect New York PostDisney CEO Bob Iger Explains Why Disney Chose Abu Dhabi for Its Next Theme Park Resort WDWMagicDisney announces a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, its first new resort in a generation CNN Source link #Disney #open #theme #park #Middle #East #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cloud storage for AI: Options, pros and cons Cloud storage for AI: Options, pros and cons IT architects tasked with the design of storage systems for artificial intelligence (AI) need to balance capacity, performance and cost. AI systems, especially those based on large language models (LLMs), consume vast amounts of data. In fact, LLMs or generative AI (GenAI) models often work better the more data they have. The training phase of AI in particular is very data hungry. The inference phase of AI, however, needs high performance to avoid AI systems that feel unresponsive or fail to work at all. They need throughput and low latency. So, a key question is, to what extent can we use a mix of on-premise and cloud storage? On-premise storage brings higher performance and greater security. Cloud storage offers the ability to scale, lower costs and potentially, better integration with cloud-based AI models and cloud data sources. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of each and how best to optimise them for storage for AI. AI storage: On-premise vs cloud? Enterprises typically look to on-premise storage for the best speed, performance and security – and AI workloads are no exception. Local storage can also be easier to fine tune to the needs of AI models, and will likely suffer less from network bottlenecks. Then there are the advantages of keeping AI models close to source data. For enterprise applications, this is often a relational database that runs on block storage. As a result, systems designers need to consider the impact of AI on the performance of a system of record. The business will not want key packages such as ERP or CRM slowed down because they also feed data into an AI system. There are also strong security, privacy and compliance reasons for keeping core data records on site rather than moving them to the cloud. Even so, cloud storage also offers advantages for AI projects. Cloud storage is easy to scale, and customers only pay for what they use. For some AI use cases, source data will already be in the cloud, in a data lake or a cloud-based, SaaS application, for example. Cloud storage is largely based around object storage, which is well-suited to the unstructured data which makes up the bulk of information consumed by large language models. At the same time, the growth of storage systems that can run object storage on-premise makes it easier for enterprises to have a single storage layer – even a single global namespace – to serve on-premise and cloud infrastructure, including AI. This is especially relevant for firms that expect to move workloads between local and cloud infrastructure, or operate “hybrid” systems. AI storage, and cloud options Cloud storage is often the first choice for enterprises that want to run AI proofs-of-concept (PoCs). It removes the need for up-front capital investment and can be spun down at the end of the project. In other cases, firms have designed AI systems to “burst” from the datacentre to the cloud. This makes use of public cloud resources for compute and storage to cover peaks in demand. Bursting is most effective for AI projects with relatively short peak workloads, such as those that run on a seasonal business cycle. But the arrival of generative AI based on large language models has tipped the balance more towards cloud storage simply because of the data volumes involved. At the same time, cloud providers now offer a wider range dedicated data storage options focused on AI workloads. This includes storage provision tailored to different stages of an AI workload, namely: prepare, train, serve and archive. As Google’s engineers put it: “Each stage in the ML [machine learning] lifecycle has different storage requirements. For example, when you upload the training dataset, you might prioritise storage capacity for training and high throughput for large datasets. Similarly, the training, tuning, serving and archiving stages have different requirements” Although this is written for Google Cloud Platform, the same principles apply to Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. All three hyperscalers, plus vendors such as IBM and Oracle, offer cloud-based storage suitable for the bulk storage requirements of AI. For the most part, unstructured data used by AI, including source material and training data, will likely be held in object storage. This could be AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, or Google Cloud’s Cloud Storage. In addition, third-party software platforms, such as NetApp’s ONTAP are also available from the hyperscalers, and can improve data portability between cloud and on-premise operations. For the production, or inference stage, of AI operations, the choices are often even more complex. IT architects can specify NVMe and SSD storage with different performance tiers for critical parts of the AI workflow. Older “spinning disk” storage remains on offer for tasks such as initial data ingest and preparation, or for archiving AI system outputs. This type of storage is also application neutral: IT architects can specify their performance parameters and budget for AI as they can for any other workload. But a new generation of cloud storage is designed from the ground up for AI. Advanced cloud storage for AI The specific demands of AI has prompted storage vendors to design dedicated infrastructure to avoid bottlenecks in AI workflows, some of which are found in on-prem systems but also in the cloud. Key among them are two approaches: parallelism and direct GPU memory access. Parallelism allows storage systems to handle what storage supplier Cloudian describes as “the concurrent data requests characteristic of AI and ML workloads”. This makes model training and inference faster. In this way, AI storage systems are enabled to handle multiple data streams in parallel. An example here is Google’s Parallelstore, which launched last year to provide a managed parallel file storage service aimed at intensive input/output for artificial intelligence applications. GPU access to memory, meanwhile, sets out to remove bottlenecks between storage cache and GPUs – GPUs are expensive and can be scarce. According to John Woolley, chief commercial officer at vendor Insurgo Media, storage must deliver at least 10GBps of sustained throughput to prevent “GPU starvation”. Protocols such as GPUDirect – developed by Nvidia – allow GPUs to access NVMe drive memory directly, similarly to the way RDMA allows direct access between systems without involving CPU or the OS. It also goes by the name DGS or Direct GPU Support (DGS). Local cache layers between the GPU and shared storage can use block storage on NVMe SSDs to provide “bandwidth saturation” to each GPU, at 60GBps or more. As a result, cloud suppliers plan a new generation of SSD, optimised for DGS and likely to be based on SLC NAND. “Inference workloads require a combination of traditional enterprise bulk storage and AI-optimised DGS storage,” says Sebastien Jean, CTO at Phison US, a NAND manufacturer. “The new GPU-centric workload requires small I/O access and very low latency.” As a result, the market is likely to see more AI-optimised storage systems, including those with Nvidia DGX BasePod and SuperPod certification, and AI integration. Options include Nutanix Enterprise AI, Pure’s Evergreen One for AI, Dell PowerScale, Vast’s Vast Data Platform, Weka, a cloud hybrid NAS provider, and offerings from HPE, Hitachi Vantara, IBM and NetApp. Source link #Cloud #storage #Options #pros #cons Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inter Milan v Barcelona: Inigo Martinez denies spitting at Francesco Acerbi Inter Milan v Barcelona: Inigo Martinez denies spitting at Francesco Acerbi Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has denied spitting at Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi during the Champions League semi-final defeat. The alleged incident occurred when defender Acerbi ran past Martinez while celebrating Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty to put Inter 2-0 ahead shortly before half-time in the second leg at the San Siro on Tuesday. “He celebrated in my ear. My reaction was unnecessary but I never spat at him,” Martinez told El Chiringuito TV. “If I had, I would have been sent off, no doubt about that.” Source link #Inter #Milan #Barcelona #Inigo #Martinez #denies #spitting #Francesco #Acerbi Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asus ROG Ally 2 Spotted via US FCC Listing Alongside ‘Project Kennan’ Xbox Handheld Asus ROG Ally 2 Spotted via US FCC Listing Alongside ‘Project Kennan’ Xbox Handheld Asus is expected to launch its second generation handheld gaming console, the ROG Ally 2, in the coming weeks, and the design and specifications of the upcoming device have now surfaced online. A leaked listing on a US regulator’s website has revealed that the Asus ROG Ally 2 and the company’s Xbox-branded handheld (codenamed ‘Project Kennan’) will be equipped with 7-inch 120Hz displays, and AMD processors. Images of these handheld gaming consoles also suggest that they will feature a revamped outer design that resembles a gaming controller. Asus ROG Ally 2 Could Arrive in Two Variants A listing (via 91Mobiles) on Indonesia’s SDPPI certification website indicates that Asus is working on two models for the ROG Ally 2 and that the handheld gaming console will be available in a ****** (RC73X1) and white (RC73YA) models. These model numbers are also mentioned in listings on the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website. Images of the ROG Ally 2 were discovered in US FCC reports Photo Credit: US FCC via VideoCardz VideoCardz was able to source images of the Asus ROG Ally 2 from reports on Asus and MediaTek on the US FCC website. The ****** model bears a similar appearance to its white counterpart, but it has a dedicated Xbox button. The white variant also has a button in the same location, but it doesn’t have the same logo. The role of the dedicated Xbox button on the ****** variant is currently unclear, but a recent report suggested that Microsoft was working on improving Windows handheld consoles with the ‘Xbox experience’. Most handheld gaming consoles run on Windows, which doesn’t offer an experience optimised for smaller displays, unlike Valve’s SteamOS. The ****** variant of the ROG Ally 2 will reportedly be equipped with an octa-core AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (36W) processor along with 64GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM. Meanwhile, the white variant is said to be equipped with a less powerful AMD Aeirth Plus (20W) processor, and there’s no word on the amount of RAM on this model. Both models are equipped with a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The leaked images give us a good look at screens on the ****** and white models but they’re turned off, so we have no idea about the software running on both consoles. Previous reports indicate that the Project Kennan device would “combine” the Windows and Xbox experiences. Last month, Asus teased the arrival of a next-gen ROG Ally console with several hardware upgrades, but stopped short of revealing whether it was the Xbox branded device. At the time, the official Xbox account responded to the company’s post on X (formerly Twitter) with a meme, sparking speculation that the upcoming device would be an Xbox branded handheld. It’s worth noting that Asus is expected to unveil new devices at Computex 2025 in Taipei, and the ROG Ally 2 (and the Project Kennan console) could make their debut alongside other upcoming devices. Microsoft could also make an announcement around the same time, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for news coming out of Computex, which begins on May 20. Source link #Asus #ROG #Ally #Spotted #FCC #Listing #Project #Kennan #Xbox #Handheld Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China Quietly Backs Away from Trade War, Agrees to Trump Tariff Talks China Quietly Backs Away from Trade War, Agrees to Trump Tariff Talks WASHINGTON, D.C. – China’s leaders in Beijing are now agreeing to trade negotiations with the U.S., quietly backing away from a tariff war. Late on Tuesday evening, China and the U.S. announced plans for talks between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and ******** Vice Premier He Lifeng later this week in Geneva, Switzerland. “Look, they’re suffering greatly. Their economy is suffering greatly because they’re not doing trade with the U.S. and they made most of their money off the U.S. Don’t kid yourself,” said President Trump during his Oval Office meeting with ********* Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday. Trump told reporters the ******** are not doing business and ships full of goods from China are turning around in the Pacific Ocean. “It has to retreat, China is now increasingly in chaos,” said Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute. On CBN’s Faith Nation, Mosher said China has been quietly relaxing its tariffs on more than 130 types of American goods. Recent reports show huge piles of containers that missed the tariff deadline still sitting in ******** ports. Cargo bookings are down by almost half, and thousands of ******** factory workers are laid off. At this rate, Mosher believes it will only get worse. “You’re going to have in the next couple of weeks ten million (********) workers who have lost their jobs, who don’t get severance pay. Some of them haven’t been paid for months,” Mosher said. He predicts rising job losses will leave employees with no choice but to take to the streets in protest of Xi Jinping’s government. “There’s increasing unrest in China’s cities and it’s not just the factories that produce goods that sell to Americans that are shutting down,” said Mosher. This week Beijing announced its latest offer to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. in exchange for lowering tariffs. Mosher, however, strongly supports tariffs against China remaining in place. “Let’s buy goods made in India or Mexico or the United States and, you know, restore our supply lines here to our own country,” he said. During that Oval Office meeting with Canada’s prime minister, President Trump said he’s not ready to drop tariffs on the U.S.’s neighbor to the north. Meanwhile, Carney, in response to months of Trump’s rhetoric calling his country “the 51st state,” told the president that Canada “is not for *****.” Source link #China #Quietly #Backs #Trade #War #Agrees #Trump #Tariff #Talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As Nuclear War in Asia Looms, Todd Howard’s Fallout 5 Practically Writes Itself As Nuclear War in Asia Looms, Todd Howard’s Fallout 5 Practically Writes Itself Reality has a funny way of catching up to fiction. With nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan locked in their most dangerous standoff in years, gamers can’t help but notice the uncanny resemblance to Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic wasteland. The headlines read like Fallout terminal entries: nationwide defense drills, port closures, and troop movements along contested borders. It’s the kind of scenario that once seemed confined to video game dystopias. Meanwhile, Todd Howard has confirmed Fallout 5 is indeed coming—eventually—after The Elder Scrolls 6. But with current events serving up such potent inspiration, one wonders if his team is quietly taking notes on our increasingly Fallout-esque reality. When life imitates art (or is it the other way around?) The beauty of Fallout has always been its darkly comic take on Cold War paranoia world where resource wars and nationalist fervor culminated in nuclear devastation. Fast forward to today, and we’re watching similar tensions unfold across Asia in real-time. India and Pakistan’s military posturing has reached fever pitch, with blackout drills across hundreds of districts and bunker preparations that mirror Vault-Tec’s pre-war activities. China’s expanding nuclear arsenal and territorial ambitions add another layer to this powder keg situation. What makes this particularly fascinating for Fallout enthusiasts is how these developments echo the franchise’s established lore. In the game’s alternate universe, the Resource Wars and deteriorating international relations led to the Great War of 2077—a nuclear exchange that took just two hours to reshape civilization forever. Todd Howard now faces an intriguing creative dilemma. Does Bethesda acknowledge these real-world parallels in Fallout 5, or stick to their established formula? Either approach comes with challenges, but the current climate offers a goldmine of narrative possibilities that would be criminal to ignore. The irony isn’t lost on fans that while we anxiously await news about a fictional post-apocalyptic world, real-world leaders seem determined to create one every few months. It’s the kind of dark humor that would feel right at home in a Fallout game. Beyond America: could Fallout 5 go international? Radiation knows no borders. | Image Credit: Team FOLON/Bethesda While Howard has stated the Fallout franchise will never leave America, the current global tensions raise an intriguing possibility: what if Fallout 5 finally showed us how the rest of the world fared after the bombs fell? Bethesda has teased multiple unannounced Fallout projects in development. While one is likely the rumored Fallout 3 remaster (potentially using techniques similar to the Oblivion remaster), the other remains mysterious. Could it be a spinoff set outside America’s borders? Imagine exploring the irradiated remnants of the Kashmir region, where territorial disputes once triggered humanity’s final war. Or navigating the ruins of Beijing, where decisions made in the Resource Wars led to the launching of those first fateful missiles. These settings would maintain the games’ signature blend of dark humor and sociopolitical commentary while offering fresh perspectives. After all, the franchise has always excelled at using its post-apocalyptic setting to comment on real-world issues. And with Asia’s nuclear powers currently locked in what experts describe (via Reuters) as “a higher risk appetite for conflict initiation and escalation than prior to 2019,” the real world is providing all the narrative fuel Bethesda could need. What do you think? Should Fallout 5 stick to exploring America’s wasteland, or is it time for the series to show us how the rest of the world survived the apocalypse? Comment below! Source link #Nuclear #War #Asia #Looms #Todd #Howards #Fallout #Practically #Writes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Disney to expand into Middle East with new theme park in Abu Dhabi Disney to expand into Middle East with new theme park in Abu Dhabi Disney (DIS) just revealed plans for a new theme park in the Middle East. The media and entertainment giant said Wednesday that the new theme park and resort would be located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking its first major expansion into the Middle East and its seventh global resort. This announcement comes 15 years after Disney’s last park project, Disneyland Shanghai, was unveiled in 2010. The project supports Disney’s broader strategy to invest $60 billion into its theme parks and cruise lines by 2033, including approximately $30 billion already earmarked for expansions in Florida and California. The Abu Dhabi resort will be developed in partnership with Miral, the state-backed tourism and real estate firm behind many of the UAE’S landmark attractions. “We are celebrating another great moment in our storied history,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said during the company’s Q2 earnings call Wednesday morning, describing the project as “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.” The announcement comes after the company reported strong second-quarter earnings results, driven by a rebound in its domestic parks business and solid performance in its streaming unit. The company also boosted its full-year earnings outlook, sending shares about 10% higher in early trade. Iger said Disney conducted a thorough evaluation of the Middle East and identified a large, underserved population of “income-qualified” consumers who live far from its existing parks. He noted Abu Dhabi stood out not only for its strategic location — within a four-hour flight for 500 million people across the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe — but also for its strong tourism growth and significant cultural investments. “It was very, very clear to us that of all of the places that we could choose from, there didn’t seem to be any place that was better than this,” Iger said. While specific attraction details have yet to be revealed, Miral will fully fund, operate, and build the resort, with Disney leading creative design and providing operational oversight. In an interview with CNBC, Iger declined to provide a specific opening date but suggested the resort may take more than five years to complete. The project is structured as a licensing agreement, with Disney granting rights to its intellectual property in exchange for royalties. Iger said that while Disney will have “considerable involvement” it will not contribute capital or retain ownership. Disney aims to invest $60 billion into its theme parks and cruise lines by 2033 (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) · ASSOCIATED PRESS Alexandra Canal is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @allie_canal, LinkedIn, and email her at *****@*****.tld. Source link #Disney #expand #Middle #East #theme #park #Abu #Dhabi Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PS5) Review – Jump Dash Roll Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PS5) Review – Jump Dash Roll Indiana Jones is back, and this time on PlayStation 5. Is The Great Circle akin to the Holy Grail, or more like a Crystal Skull? JDR grabs its whip and find’s out in today’s review. Source link #Indiana #Jones #Great #Circle #PS5 #Review #Jump #Dash #Roll Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Disney Announces Plans for New Theme Park and Resort with Miral in Abu Dhabi – The Walt Disney Company Disney Announces Plans for New Theme Park and Resort with Miral in Abu Dhabi – The Walt Disney Company Disney Announces Plans for New Theme Park and Resort with Miral in Abu Dhabi The Walt Disney CompanyDisney announces a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, its first new resort in a generation CNNDisney announces an Abu Dhabi theme park and resort CNBCDisney CEO Bob Iger Explains Why Disney Chose Abu Dhabi for Its Next Theme Park Resort WDWMagicDisney announces new theme park coming to the United Arab Emirates USA Today Source link #Disney #Announces #Plans #Theme #Park #Resort #Miral #Abu #Dhabi #Walt #Disney #Company Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]