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Get A Deeper Look Marvel Rivals’ Visual Style With This New Art Book Get A Deeper Look Marvel Rivals’ Visual Style With This New Art Book A celebration of the game, the bold character designs in it, and the iconic locations players battle each other in, the Marvel Rivals artbook clocks in at 208 pages in size. Published by Dark Horse–who’ll also be releasing a Starfield artbook later this year–this hardcover will explore how Marvel icons like Iron Man, Namor, Storm, and many more were redesigned for the game, alongside the many unique outfits that they wear into battle. There’ll also be a deep dive into Marvel’s most recognizable locales like the spires of Yggsgard and Hydra’s Hive World to help flesh out this tome. Source link #Deeper #Marvel #Rivals #Visual #Style #Art #Book Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Danish firm Orsted halts huge *** offshore wind farm project Danish firm Orsted halts huge *** offshore wind farm project Orsted posed lower-than-expected sales in the first quarter (Thomas Traasdahl) Danish renewables firm Orsted said Wednesday it was shelving plans to build a massive wind farm off the *** coast due to rising costs, dealing a setback to Britain’s clean energy goals. The 2,400-megawatt Hornsea 4 project would have complemented two existing Orsted wind farms and a third under construction. But Orsted said in a statement that the project “has seen several adverse developments”, including rising supply chain costs, higher interest rates and an increased risk in building it on the planned timeline. “We’ve decided to discontinue the development of the Hornsea 4 project in its current form,” Orsted chief executive Rasmus Errboe said. “The adverse macroeconomic developments, continued supply chain challenges, and increased execution, market and operational risks have eroded the value creation,” he added. The existing Hornsea 1 and 2 wind farms and the Hornsea 3 project will have a combined capacity exceeding five gigawatts. Orsted said shelving the Hornsea 4 project would cost the company between 3.5 billion and 4.5 billion kroner ($533 million and $685 million). “I’d like to emphasise that Orsted continues to firmly believe in the long-term fundamentals of and value perspectives for offshore wind in the ***,” Errboe said. “We’ll keep the project rights for the Hornsea 4 project in our development portfolio, and we’ll seek to develop the project later in a way that is more value-creating for us and our shareholders.” The British government said it would work with Orsted to revive the project. “We recognise the effect that globally high inflation and supply chain constraints are having on industry across Europe,” said a spokesperson for Britain’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. “We will work with Orsted to get Hornsea 4 back on track,” the spokesperson said. Orsted was already dealt a $4 billion blow in 2023 when it cancelled wind farm projects in the United States, a crucial market for the group. Now the entire sector faces a major challenge in the United States after President Donald Trump froze federal permitting and loans for all offshore and onshore wind projects. Orsted also reported first-quarter results on Wednesday showing sales rose eight percent to 20.7 billion kroner, lower than the 21.7 billion kroner forecast by analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet. Its net profit, however, nearly doubled to 4.8 billion kroner. cbw/lth/yad Source link #Danish #firm #Orsted #halts #huge #offshore #wind #farm #project Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Way of the Hunter: Wild America is out now, bringing the Pacific Northwest to the palm of your hand Way of the Hunter: Wild America is out now, bringing the Pacific Northwest to the palm of your hand Step into the wilderness with Way of the Hunter: Wild America Explore the Nez Perce valley and its changing weather and climate Hunt realistic simulations of real animals with equally realistic firearms The hunting genre of shooter has been a surprising constant in gaming. And now you’ll be able to experience the next epoch in hunting simulation with the hotly anticipated mobile port of Nine Rocks Games’ Way of the Hunter: Wild America and its vast open world recreation of the Pacific Northwest. Yes, forget everything you thought you knew about the shooting gallery nature of hunting sims. In Way of the Hunter, you won’t be waiting around for a doe to wander into your sights, and you’ll need to hike all across the beautifully rendered Nez Perce valley to track down your prey. You’ll have your work cut out for you, however, with realistic animal behaviour and changing weather posing an ever-changing challenge. Add onto that the realistic bullet and ballistics simulation, and you’ll either need to bring your own real-world experience or adapt quickly to learn the ahem Way of the Hunter, so to speak. Beyond the pines Way of the Hunter certainly isn’t built with a casual audience in mind, and hunting enthusiasts can look forward to a realistic trophy system to display their accomplishments, with antlers and horns generated based on factors such as fitness and age. Firearms enthusiasts, meanwhile, can marvel over realistic recreations of officially licensed firearms from famous manufacturers such as Bushnell, Leupold and Remington. It even comes with its own story, as you face the struggles of maintaining a family hunting business and all the drama that comes with it. Promising a little something for everyone in this jam-packed adaptation of the hit hunting sim. While there aren’t many shooters that have the same simulationist aspects, there’s still plenty to pick from on mobile. Check out our list of the best mobile shooting games out there on iOS and Android, for granular simulation and arcade action. Source link #Hunter #Wild #America #bringing #Pacific #Northwest #palm #hand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Uber (UBER) Q1 2025 earnings Uber (UBER) Q1 2025 earnings Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber attends the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2025. Yves Herman | Reuters Uber reported first-quarter results Wednesday that beat analysts’ expectations for earnings, but fell shy of anticipated revenue growth for the quarter. Shares fell about 5% following the report. Here’s how Uber did versus analysts’ estimates compiled by LSEG: Earnings per share: 83 cents vs. 50 cents expected.Revenue: $11.53 billion vs. $11.62 billion expected. Revenue at the ride-sharing company grew about 14% in the first three months of 2025, up from $10.13 billion during the same ******* in 2024. The company also reported net income of around $1.78 billion or 83 cents per share during the first three months of 2025, up from a net loss of $654 million, or a loss of 32-cent loss per share, during the first quarter of 2024. Uber’s largest business segments, which include its ride-hailing business and food and grocery delivery service, saw bookings increase year-over-year. Here are the key segment numbers: Mobility (gross bookings): $21.18 billion, up 13% year over yearDelivery (gross bookings): $20.38 billion, up 15% year over year The company also said its “monthly active platform consumers,” had grown to 170 million, up 14% from the first quarter of last year. Users booked around 3.04 billion “trips” during the first quarter of 2025, up 18% from the first quarter of 2024. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and CFO ‭Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah said they expect gross bookings to reach between $45.75 billion and $47.25 billion during the current quarter, with EBITDA in the range of $2.02 billion to $2.12 billion for that *******. Khosrowshahi also said the company views autonomous vehicles, or AV technology, as “the single greatest opportunity ahead for Uber.” Uber allows app users to book robotaxi rides in some U.S. markets, or order food for delivery via autonomous vehicle in others. Khosrowshahi said Uber reached an “annual run-rate” of 1.5 million autonomous vehicle trips. In March, the company began to offer users in Austin, Texas the option to hail a robotaxi from its partner, Alphabet-owned Waymo exclusively via the Uber platform. Khosrowshahi said the Waymo Austin launch “exceeded” Uber’s expectations and around 100 Waymo vehicles operating in Austin are now‬‭ “busier than over 99% of all drivers” in Austin as far as completed trips per day. Besides its Waymo partnership, Uber has also agreed to work with Volkswagen, Avride, May Mobility, and the autonomous trucking company Aurora for autonomous ride-hailing and freight services in the U.S. Uber has additional partnerships with AV companies internationally including with WeRide, Pony.AI and Momenta. Executives are scheduled to discuss Uber’s first-quarter results and plans during an earnings call Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. EDT. Source link #Uber #UBER #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EA: Battlefield 6 Launch Window “Clearer Than Before” Following GTA 6 Delay EA: Battlefield 6 Launch Window “Clearer Than Before” Following GTA 6 Delay Battlefield 6 is one of the key new releases in EA’s lineup for the next fiscal year, but Andrew Wilson isn’t concerned about it competing with GTA 6, the CEO revealed in EA’s latest earnings call–and the latter game’s recent delay to May 2026 likely has a lot to do with it. EA announced during its presentation that the next Battlefield will launch within fiscal year 2026, meaning it should be here sometime before March 2026. In the Q&A following EA’s briefing, Wilson was asked his thoughts on the change in release window for the “big major expected release,” clearly referring to GTA 6, which was recently delayed to May 2026. “Typically today, games take many years to build and develop,” Wilson began his answer, explaining why it’s not a simple task to move release dates around based on events like the GTA 6 delay. “It’s unlikely that if you weren’t already ready to launch in this window, it may be hard to get ready and take advantage of what might be otherwise a less competitive window than we may have anticipated earlier.” “Relative to Battlefield, what we have said all along is we’ve been building towards a window that we thought made the most sense for Battlefield–but we wouldn’t launch into a window that we thought truncated the value that we’ve invested into the franchise or the value that we think our players will derive from it.” Wilson continued. “I think now, without going too far, we believe that window is clearer than it was before, and we feel very good about launching Battlefield in FY2026.” Battlefield is one of EA’s major new releases for the next fiscal year, alongside the live-service-oriented Skate reboot. Other than those two new releases, EA is relying on its EA Sports portfolio and The Sims franchise to keep its business healthy for the new year. EA revealed that live service made up 73% of its business in FY25–and it’s only planning on leaning into live service more in coming years. EA CFO Stuart Canfield revealed that the company plans to “transition to a more focused slate anchored around massive online communities and select blockbuster storytelling investments,” meaning we’ll generally see fewer new games from EA, and more of them will be oriented around live service. The earnings call didn’t meaningfully address the recent wave of layoffs across EA, or the related cancellation of two incubation projects at Apex Legends developer Respawn. EA did touch on Apex Legends’ recent underperformance, with the company expecting the hero shooter to see a 40% decline over the next year. When discussing the future of the game, EA simply said, “We continue to focus on delivering for our core players and investing in the long-term evolution of the franchise.” Though neither the CEO or the CFO mentioned recent layoffs, Wilson did take a moment to discuss how AI is being further integrated into EA’s workflows across the company. “We view AI as a powerful accelerator of creativity, innovation, and player connection,” Wilson said. “Across our teams, we’re investing in new workflows and capabilities to integrate AI to enhance how we build, scale, and personalize experiences–from dynamic in-game worlds, to delivering authentic athlete and team likenesses at incredible scale.” Source link #Battlefield #Launch #Window #Clearer #GTA #Delay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fighter jet landing on USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier goes overboard, forcing pilots to eject – AP News Fighter jet landing on USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier goes overboard, forcing pilots to eject – AP News Fighter jet landing on USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier goes overboard, forcing pilots to eject AP NewsSecond US Navy jet is lost at sea from Truman aircraft carrier CNNSecond Navy fighter jet goes overboard from Truman aircraft carrier, pilots ejected Fox NewsSecond fighter jet crashes into the sea after landing failure on USS Harry S. Truman NBC NewsAnother Navy jet falls into sea, marking fourth major mishap in months The Washington Post Source link #Fighter #jet #landing #USS #Harry #Truman #aircraft #carrier #overboard #forcing #pilots #eject #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Payday 3 Just Underwent A Major Change Payday 3 Just Underwent A Major Change Payday 3 developer Starbreeze Studios has announced that it has reached an agreement with Plaion to acquire the publishing rights to the game. The company says that this deal will allow it to accelerate its content-development plans for Payday 3, and “pursue broader strategic opportunities” for the Payday franchise. To secure the deal, Starbreeze issued $3.4 million in new shares–representing 10% of its outstanding share capital–with the bulk of the sales going toward repaying Plaion under its previous Payday 3 agreement and settling “certain outstanding” claims. Interestingly, Starbreeze has hinted at new Payday projects in its announcement, as it’ll continue to work with Plaion on “future Payday franchise” projects as part of its long-term strategy. Following on the heels of the successful Payday 2, Payday 3 got off to a rocky start when it launched in 2023. The game was beset with various technical issues, low player numbers, and a mandatory online-only requirement that proved to be very unpopular with the Payday community. Starbreeze’s CEO Tobias Sjogren left the company in 2024 and the studio announced plans to improve the game through various patches as part of an effort titled Operation: Medic Bag. Beyond Payday, Starbreeze is also working on a Dungeons & Dragons game for all major platforms. Not much is known about the game, but it is expected to be released in 2026. Source link #Payday #Underwent #Major #Change Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Amazon’s Bezos leads new investment in AI data company Toloka Amazon’s Bezos leads new investment in AI data company Toloka By Alexander Marrow LONDON (Reuters) -Jeff Bezos’ personal firm Bezos Expeditions is leading a $72-million investment in artificial intelligence data solutions company Toloka, which is looking to scale up its business, Toloka told Reuters on Wednesday. Toloka, which helps train and evaluate AI models using a network of human experts and testers, is part of Nasdaq-listed AI infrastructure firm Nebius Group and has worked with Amazon, Microsoft and Anthropic. Amsterdam-based Nebius emerged from a $5.4 billion deal, finalised last year, that split the domestic and international assets of Russian internet giant Yandex in the largest corporate exit from Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Toloka founder and CEO Olga Megorskaya said the Bezos-led strategic investment was a milestone that should accelerate the company’s growth, particularly in the U.S. market, and support its development of products through human experts collaborating with AI agents. “There will always be the need for control, verification, and help from human experts to ensure that the result is actually of high quality,” Megorskaya told Reuters. Before finalising the split from Yandex, Nebius would have struggled to secure external investment from the likes of Amazon founder Bezos due to sanctions prohibiting U.S. investments in Russia. Chip giant Nvidia was among the investors in a $700 million private placement raised by Nebius late last year. In addition to Bezos Expeditions, Mikhail Parakhin, CTO of ********* e-commerce company Shopify, is participating in the investment, Nebius said, and will join Toloka’s new board of directors as executive chairman. Parakhin said he was excited to be joining Toloka at a time when the demand for world-class AI data expertise is more urgent than ever. Bezos Expeditions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nebius said it would continue to support Toloka as a shareholder, retaining a significant majority economic stake, but relinquishing majority voting control. “The important thing about this round is that we gained the needed flexibility to operate independently,” Megorskaya said. She said Toloka anticipated another investment round in the future. (Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Joe Bavier) Source link #Amazons #Bezos #leads #investment #data #company #Toloka Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Weekly mortgage demand suddenly surges, despite lingering economic uncertainty Weekly mortgage demand suddenly surges, despite lingering economic uncertainty A for ***** sign is displayed near a home on April 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images Mortgage interest rates dropped for the second straight week, although not by a lot. That was thanks to more negative news in the economy. But despite all that, weekly mortgage demand surged higher by 11%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, decreased to 6.84% from 6.89%, with points increasing to 0.68 from 0.67, including the origination fee, for loans with a 20% down payment. That rate was 34 basis points higher the same week one year ago. “The economic news last week included a negative reading for first-quarter GDP growth and further signs of contraction in the manufacturing sector, mixed with a solid employment report for April. The net impact on mortgage rates was mostly downward but just back to levels from early April,” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s SVP and chief economist in a release. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home rose 11% for the week and were 13% higher than the same week one year ago. Driving the increase was a surge in demand for conventional loans, which Fratantoni called “a surprisingly strong move given lingering economic uncertainty.” “Borrowers of conventional loans tend to have larger loan sizes and more apt to be move-up buyers,” he added. The April housing market has been decidedly slow, as some potential buyers say they are afraid to make a major financial move, given the potential impact on tariffs. Some are still smarting from the roller coaster ride on the stock market early in the month. Real estate agents still report strong demand, but fewer borrowers willing to sign a deal. Applications to refinance a home loan also rose 11% for the week and were 51% higher than the same week one year ago. That demand was driven by VA (Veterans Affairs) loans , which rose 26% for the week. Mortgage rates haven’t moved much to start this week, but that could change swiftly with Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Reserve. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is not expected to cut interest rates, but any unexpected commentary from Fed Chair Jerome Powell could move markets and, consequently, mortgage rates more decisively. Source link #Weekly #mortgage #demand #suddenly #surges #lingering #economic #uncertainty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Your GPU’s Worst Nightmare Is Here, Epic Games Reveals Unreal Engine 6 Roadmap Your GPU’s Worst Nightmare Is Here, Epic Games Reveals Unreal Engine 6 Roadmap Epic Games has finally started giving us new information about Unreal Engine 6 (UE6) and what’s next for its industry-defining technology. According to Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, UE6 will be a convergence point for every branch of Epic’s ecosystem. While we don’t know any solid details as of yet, Sweeney laid out what the plans were and what the company is aiming to do with UE6. The gaming industry has turned on Unreal Engine 5 a good bit because of all the performance issues that it has, and if there’s one thing we want from UE6, it’s fewer bugs. Do we really need Unreal Engine 6 when Unreal Engine 5 is already bad enough? During a recent appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Tim Sweeney described Unreal Engine 6 as the culmination of years of parallel development between Unreal Engine 5 and Fortnite’s Unreal Editor for Fortnite (EUFN). According to him, UE6 is being designed for easier gameplay programming, scalability for large-scale simulations, and greater ease of use. The aim for UE6 is to bring the best of both worlds together… Much easier gameplay programming for the Fortnite community and for licensees, but more scalability to large-scale simulations of all sorts, greater use of use, meaning it will be easier to hire programmers who are familiar with and experienced with the thing. But also ensure that every game developer has the full deployment capabilities. So they can build a game once and then ship it anywhere. This might be some good news for most developers, a relief, even maybe. Despite all the advanced technology, like Lumen and Nanite, that Unreal Engine 5 brings, it has had its share of issues over the last few years. We’ve seen consistent criticism over the performance of games made in Unreal Engine 5, and it seems like Unreal Engine 6 might address this head-on. One of the major new focuses for UE6 is something developers have wanted for a long time, and that is multithreaded support. Until now, Unreal has largely leaned on single-threaded game simulation, and this has made it so that the best CPUs of the last two generations have been severely underutilized. Comment byu/IcePopsicleDragon from discussion inpcgaming Tim Sweeney says that the company “didn’t want to burden either ourselves, our partners, or the community with the complications of multi-threading.” But it seems like that has changed. So UE6 won’t just be a mix of two previously existing things; it will also prioritize modern computing standards. Let’s hope it doesn’t come out anytime soon for the sake of our PCs No amount of upgrades will matter if it still stutters. | Image Credit: @lexfridman/YouTube While no exact timeline has been confirmed, Sweeney estimates that UE6 preview builds could arrive within the next two to three years. If we looked at the last version of Unreal Engine, UE5 was revealed in 2020, but games using it didn’t fully come out until way later. So it’s safe to assume that we may not see fully-fledged UE6 titles until 2029 or later. In the meantime, Epic plans to continue refining Unreal Engine 5 while testing UE6 features internally through Fortnite. The company is testing many of UE6’s experimental features exclusively within Fortnite’s ecosystem first, using it as a proving ground before rolling them out fully. We’re all waiting to see if things get better or worse with Unreal Engine 6, but one thing is clear. Unreal Engine 6 is going to be very ambitious. We don’t know when or how it will come out, but from what we’re hearing, it sounds like a project so ambitious it may finally live up to the overused phrase “next-gen.” Source link #GPUs #Worst #Nightmare #Epic #Games #Reveals #Unreal #Engine #Roadmap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ampere sneaks out a 192-core CPU with 12-channel DDR5 memory Ampere sneaks out a 192-core CPU with 12-channel DDR5 memory Ampere Computing on Tuesday quietly added several new processors to its AmpereOne family without a formal announcement or press briefings. The quiet release comes after the company was bought by Softbank. The new AmpereOne M CPUs feature a 12-channel DDR5 memory subsystem and are aimed at applications that require more memory capacity as well as bandwidth. The new CPUs feature from 96 to 192 cores and require new motherboards. The AmpereOne M CPU family uses a 7228-pin FCLGA socket and includes six processors with 96, 144, 160, and 192 single-threaded custom Armv8.6+ cores operating at up to 3.60 GHz and equipped with a 2MB L2 cache. The processors also feature 64 MB of system level cache. The key feature of the new CPUs compared to their predecessors is their 12-channel memory subsystem, which supports a maximum of one DIMM per channel and up to 3TB of addressable DDR5-5600 capacity. The memory subsystem is ECC-protected using SECDED and Symbol ECC to make it suitable for cloud datacenter workloads. Swipe to scroll horizontally CPU Model Cores Frequency (GHz) Power (W) AmpereOne A192-32M 192 3.2 348 AmpereOne A192-26M 192 2.6 278 AmpereOne A160-28M 160 2.8 262 AmpereOne A144-33M 144 3.3 334 AmpereOne A144-26M 144 2.6 239 AmpereOne A96-36M 96 3.6 331 When it comes to power consumption, AmpereOne M processors consume up to 348W, and to keep their power consumption in check, these CPUs support a combination of dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, adaptive voltage control, and fine-grained thermal sensors. On the I/O front, the processor supports 96 PCIe 5.0 lanes with bifurcation capabilities down to x4 and has 24 device controllers to connect multiple accelerators, SSDs, network cards, and other high-performance components needed in AI and cloud deployments. Ampere’s AmpereOne M processors are still made on TSMC’s N5 process technology, just like their predecessors, so the additional memory channels are indeed the key feature of the new CPUs. These processors can process up to 192 threads per socket, which is lower compared to AMD’s 192-core EPYC 9965 CPUs, which support simultaneous multi-threading and therefore can process up to 384 threads simultaneously. But perhaps, the purpose of AmpereOne M is not only to offer support for 3TB of memory for interested parties in the AI space, but rather to set the stage for the company’s next-generation AmperOne MX processors that will feature 256 cores and 12 DDR5 memory channels. This upcoming CPU will be made on TSMC’s N3 manufacturing process and therefore will add both features and performance efficiency to its list of advantages. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Ampere #sneaks #192core #CPU #12channel #DDR5 #memory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel Downs Drone as Houthis Vow to Continue ****-for-Tat Strikes Israel Downs Drone as Houthis Vow to Continue ****-for-Tat Strikes Israel said it had shot down a drone that was approaching from the east on Wednesday, as Houthi officials in Yemen vowed to continue attacking the country a day after President Trump said the United States would stop bombing the Iran-backed group. The Israeli military said in a statement that the drone was intercepted by the air force and sirens blared as it approached. It was not immediately clear who launched the drone. But the Houthi militia group reiterated that it would continue to attack Israel, both to avenge attacks in Yemen and because of the war in Gaza. “We cannot accept Yemen being targeted and violated without a response,” Mohamed Abdelsalam, a spokesman for the group, told Al Jazeera, the Qatari broadcaster, echoing comments by a senior Houthi politician on Tuesday. “We will continue to respond to the Israeli entity by all available means.” Israeli fighter jets have bombed several sites across Yemen this week, killing at least seven people, according to casualty reports, and disabling the country’s main international airport. Khaled Al-Shaif, the director of the airport in Sana, Yemen’s capital, said the attack had caused $500 million worth of damage, destroyed three planes and forced flights to be suspended indefinitely. Israel said the airport attack was in response to a Houthi ballistic missile strike near Ben-Gurion International Airport, outside Tel Aviv, on Sunday. Multiple airlines have temporarily suspended flights in response to the attack, which wounded at least six people. For more than a year, the Houthis, who rule much of northwestern Yemen, have fired rockets and drones at Israel and ships in the Red Sea in what they call a solidarity campaign with Palestinians in Gaza. The United States has lent its military support to Israel in the conflict, launching missile strikes against Yemen and deploying its aircraft carriers to protect shipping. The efforts began under the Biden administration but were stepped up in mid-March, when Mr. Trump sharply escalated attacks and vowed that the Houthis would be “annihilated.” Over the last seven weeks, the campaign has cost well over $1 billion. But Mr. Trump abruptly reversed course on Tuesday, surprising both Israel and the Pentagon, by announcing that a truce between the United States and the Houthis had been negotiated by Oman. “They just don’t want to fight,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during an unrelated meeting with Canada’s prime minister. “And we will honor that and we will stop the bombings. They have capitulated, but more importantly, we will take their word. They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore.” But Mr. Abdelsalam said the Houthis would continue attacking Israeli ships until Israel lifts a blockade against Gaza that has prevented humanitarian aid from reaching its two million residents. Mr. Abdelsalam said the “preliminary” truce with the United States would not affect Houthi support for Gaza. “We will evaluate any future U.S. support for Israel and determine our stance accordingly,” he said. Ismaeel Naar contributed reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Source link #Israel #Downs #Drone #Houthis #Vow #Continue #TitforTat #Strikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cowboys working to finalize trade for George Pickens – NBC Sports Cowboys working to finalize trade for George Pickens – NBC Sports Cowboys working to finalize trade for George Pickens NBC SportsSources: Cowboys finalizing trade for WR Pickens ESPNSteelers trading WR George Pickens to Cowboys NFL.comSteelers trading George Pickens to Cowboys in NFL blockbuster New York PostSteelers reportedly trading WR George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys CBS News Source link #Cowboys #working #finalize #trade #George #Pickens #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Realme GT 7 Colour Options Teased; Confirmed to Feature IceSense Design for Heat Management Realme GT 7 Colour Options Teased; Confirmed to Feature IceSense Design for Heat Management Realme GT 7 is set to launch in India soon. As we wait for the launch date announcement, the ******** smartphone brand has teased the colour options of the handset. The Realme GT 7 is confirmed to have the world’s first graphene-based IceSense design for enhanced thermal performance. The GT series handset was launched in the ******** market in April with a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset and a 7,200mAh battery. It has a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit and an IP69 rating for dust and water resistance. Realme GT 7 to Have IceSense Design Through a press release on Wednesday, Realme announced that the GT 7 will be available in IceSense Blue and IceSense ****** colour options. It is confirmed to debut with IceSense Graphene, the industry’s first thermal solution utilising graphene, an advanced lab-developed material with thermal conductivity up to 10 times greater than standard graphite films. Embedded in both the back panel and display, IceSense Graphene technology is claimed to deliver efficient heat dissipation, maintaining high performance during demanding tasks. Further, Realme GT 7’s “Skin-Touch Temperature Control” system is claimed to adjust to external temperatures, keeping the device cool in the heat and comfortably warm in the cold. The brand confirmed that the Realme GT 7 has an Indium Laser-Etched Frame with a metal texture. Realme has applied the Pro-Gaming Coating technology to the back cover of the phone to provide a skin-friendly and anti-slip touch experience. The Realme GT 7 was launched in China last month with a price tag of CNY 2,599 (roughly Rs. 30.400) for the 12GB + 256GB option. It is confirmed to land in Indian market soon. The GT series handset runs on MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset and has a 6.78-inch full-HD+ (1,280×2,800 pixels) OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. It gets a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit and a 16-megapixel front camera sensor. It has an IP69 rating for dust and water resistance and includesa 7,700mm sq VC cooling chamber. The handset packs a 7,200mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging support. Source link #Realme #Colour #Options #Teased #Confirmed #Feature #IceSense #Design #Heat #Management Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thessaloniki book Fair opens its gates with Italy as country of honor Thessaloniki book Fair opens its gates with Italy as country of honor The 21st Thessaloniki International Book Fair (TBF) opens its gates at the TIF-HELEXPO grounds, on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Italy has been named country of honor, for the first time. Italy is Europe’s fourth-largest publishing market with a vibrant literary scene and renowned authors. With more than 400 exhibitors, with dozens of scheduled events, tributes and festivals, the Book Fair runs until Sunday, May 11. More information at the Book Fair official website HERE. Source link #Thessaloniki #book #Fair #opens #gates #Italy #country #honor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Profile Profile The economist and key White House advisor behind President Trump’s global tariffs. Source link #Profile Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony Schedules Launch Event for May 13; Expected to Unveil Xperia 1 VII Sony Schedules Launch Event for May 13; Expected to Unveil Xperia 1 VII Sony Xperia 1 VII is expected to break cover soon. The company has confirmed that it will host a launch event next week. The purported handset, which was recently spotted on a benchmarking website, is expected to be unveiled during the event. Earlier leaks have hinted at the expected design and colourways of the anticipated smartphone. It is expected to arrive as a successor to the Sony Xperia 1 VI, which was introduced in select global markets in May 2024 alongside the Sony Xperia 10 VI. Sony Xperia Launch Event Sony confirmed in an X post that it will announce a new Xperia product on May 13 at 4am CEST (10pm IST). The launch event will be livestreamed on the official YouTube channel. The promotional poster teases the upcoming product and shows a silhouette of a handset. The company is expected to introduce the Sony Xperia 1 VII handset at the event. Notably, a Sony smartphone with the model number Sony XQ-FS54, expected to be the Sony Xperia 1 VII, had recently appeared on Geekbench. It is expected to be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC paired with 12GB of RAM, and could run on Android 15 out-of-the-box. An earlier report suggested that the Sony Xperia 1 VII was spotted on Taiwan’s NCC certification site. The listing showed the purported handset in ******, navy green and purple colour options. It is expected to get a triple rear camera unit including an Exmor-T sensor. The handset may measure 165mm in length and 74mm in width. If true, it will be slightly taller than the 162mm long Sony Xperia 1 VI. The Sony Xperia 1 VI comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The phone runs on Android 14 and sports a 6.5-inch full-HD+ Bravia-tuned OLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. It gets a 48-megapixel primary Sony Exmor T sensor alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel zoom shooter at the back and another 12-megapixel sensor at the front. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. Source link #Sony #Schedules #Launch #Event #Expected #Unveil #Xperia #VII Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Minerals, mobile phones and militias: how war unfolded in DRC | Africa Minerals, mobile phones and militias: how war unfolded in DRC | Africa Hello and welcome to The Long Wave. This week, after three months of fighting, a peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the works. I spoke to our east Africa correspondent, Carlos Mureithi, about the conflict, how quickly it escalated and the prospects for peace. The long shadow of the 90s Flag bearers … People scale a monument during an anti-government rally in Bukavu in February. Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images In late January, in a fast and shocking development, the M23 militia group seized Goma, one of the largest cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Weeks later, these rebels captured Bukavu, another large city of strategic importance, thwarting the Congolese army’s attempts to halt their march. M23’s mobilisation and rapid gains were the culmination of decades of political and economic tensions. Carlos tells me that the roots of this conflict lie in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which millions of refugees crossed from Rwanda to DRC and brought with them Hutu and Tutsi parties still litigating ethnic agendas. M23 is led by ethnic Tutsis, who took up arms more than 10 years ago and have engaged in several skirmishes since. The justification for the military action is that M23 needs to protect the ********* group from further threats and marginalisation. Hundreds of thousands of Tutsis were slaughtered in the genocide by Hutu extremists. Carlos says that although this conflict has raged for decades, M23’s progress this year seems to have a different momentum, as the group has made larger inroads and significant territorial gains in a short space of time. “This year, [the fighting is] the worst we have seen.” Conflict minerals Heavy metal … DRC is the largest producer of cobalt from mines, accounting for more than 70% of global production last year. Photograph: Junior Kannah/AFP/Getty Images M23’s advance amounts to a grave breach of DRC’s sovereignty. Carlos says this is especially the case because the Rwandan government is backing the rebel group. “Rwanda denies it but according to the UN [and the international community], it is Rwanda that funds M23.” The country claims whatever support it is extending to M23, it is not full sponsorship, only an attempt to “protect Tutsis, who were targeted in the genocide”, Carlos adds. But according to experts on the region, Rwanda is heavily invested in securing proxy control over parts of DRC, not only because of political enmeshment through overlapping ethnic demographics, but also due to DRC’s abundance of lucrative natural resources. Notoriously known as conflict minerals, these assets are of significant interest to Rwanda, Carlos says, a covetousness that is extending and entrenching military strife in eastern and southern DRC. It is striking that these areas are rarely spoken of in terms of their extraordinary beauty and almost otherworldly natural habitat of hills, lakes and soil tinged with red and orange. Buffeted between political and economic agendas, the region became the site of an ethnic and now commercial battle. While the conflict began as friction between communities, minerals also play a huge role, Carlos explains. Such minerals are exceptionally bountiful in DRC and are some of the most critical in modern technology. Cobalt, lithium and coltan are used in lithium-ion batteries in circuit-board electronics and power laptops, smartphones and electric vehicles. DRC is home to a staggering 60-70% of the world’s supply of these minerals. Carlos says vast sums of money are made from capturing and trading these natural materials, which are a source of funding for even more territorial gains. A deadly wave of violence Uprooted … People displaced by war arrive from Goma on a handmade boat near Minova, South Kivu province, DRC. Photograph: Alexis Huguet/AFP/Getty Images “Fast and violent” is how Carlos describes the events of the past three months. He stresses that this ******* is only the latest chapter in a conflict that “has created one of the largest and deadliest humanitarian crises in the world. Since 1996, it has caused more than 6 million deaths and displaced a similar number of people internally and outside the DRC.” In March, Carlos was in Cibitoke, Burundi, which neighbours DRC and has become one of the destinations to which refugees fled the fighting. Those escaping the violence revealed “really horrible ordeals”. As M23 progressed through south-east DRC, refugees saw hundreds of Congolese military personnel fleeing – some wounded. Carlos says: “To show how desperate the situation was, these soldiers were telling civilians: ‘We are running away from M23. We have been overpowered, they are coming here. If you can, the best thing for you is to leave this town.’” skip past newsletter promotion Nesrine Malik and Jason Okundaye deliver your weekly dose of ****** life and culture from around the world Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Those who could, took whatever belongings they had and walked to the Burundi border, crossing a dangerous river on the way, one in which several people drowned. It was really striking to Carlos just “how helpless the Congolese army was. It was a very desperate situation.” Eastern DRC – a remote area in a vast country Sunset in Bulambo, DRC … The shadow of war looms large in a country known for its diverse animal species and landscapes. Photograph: Pietro Olivetta/Getty Images/500px One of the peculiar features of the DRC conflict is how localised it is, which perhaps goes some way towards explaining the tepid response from the army and security forces. The capital, Kinshasa, is a world away from Goma – a 47-hour car drive and a ferry journey. The refugees Carlos spoke to shared one thing: they blamed the government, and felt that the ruling powers in Kinshasa had neglected eastern DRC. The government is also in business in the region and is among a host of parties extracting minerals and handing out contracts to foreign companies. Carlos says people believe that as long as politicians can keep making money from the region, they will let the fighting continue. Potential for peace Peace pact … The emir of Qatar speaks to the Rwandan president (left) and his DRC counterpart in Doha last month. Photograph: Mofa Qatar/AFP/Getty Images That might be changing, as M23’s advance threatens to destabilise Kinshasa. Carlos tells me that only a couple of weeks ago “the warring parties were not willing to just sit down and talk”. But sit down they did, and talks in Doha yielded a promise by both sides to provide draft peace documents. The Trump administration has also weighed in, expressing a strong interest in sponsoring a peace deal. These discussions are the most promising in recent history, Carlos says. An end to the fighting is urgent and welcome – but a permanent resolution can only come about if there is no return to the turbulent status quo. The key to an enduring peace is a commitment to extract DRC from the quagmire once and for all while loosening the grip of history and geography. To receive the complete version of The Long Wave in your inbox every Wednesday, please subscribe here. Source link #Minerals #mobile #phones #militias #war #unfolded #DRC #Africa Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

AMD delivered earnings that topped expectations, leading to a Bank of America upgrade AMD delivered earnings that topped expectations, leading to a Bank of America upgrade Advanced Micro Devices first-quarter results had enough for both bull and bears on the Street to gnaw at going forward. The semiconductor stock added 2% in after the company reported earnings and revenue that topped analyst expectations. The quarter was driven in part by data center revenue of $3.7 billion, which exceeded estimates as well. However, CEO Lisa Su said AMD sees around $700 million in lost revenue this quarter due to export controls. For the full year, it expects a $1.5 billion hit. Many analyst reiterated their hold-equivalent ratings on the stock following the release. Those include Bernstein, Citi and Deutsche Bank. Morgan Stanley also kept its equal weight rating and trimmed its price target on the stock. Others, however, were more constructive. Bank of America upgraded shares to buy, while UBS upped its price target following earnings. Take a look at what some of the biggest shops on the Street had to say. Bank of America upgrades shares to buy from neutral, lifts price target to $120 from $105 Bank of America’s new target implies upside of 21.7%. “We rate AMD Buy. It serves a multi-hundred billion addressable market opportunity in PC, server, high-end gaming, deep-learning and related markets where AMD has less than 30% value share currently,” wrote analyst Vivek Arya. “While AMD’s data center accelerator products are still 1yr behind leader’s roadmap, we see continued demand for a stable second source alternative in GPUs and potentially share gain opps as AMD narrows the product/systems gap. On the CPU front, we see continued share gains against the incumbent.” Bernstein maintains market perform rating, $95 price target Analyst Stacy Rasgon’s target implies about 4% downside from Tuesday’s close. “Overall the take appears very similar to last quarter, i.e. a big client beat fueling sustainability worries, lukewarm DC/GPU vs expectations, rising spending that limits leverage, and a need for a 2H hockey stick, and now accompanied by larger concerns on the macro front especially into the 2H.” Citi reiterates neutral rating and price target of $100 Citi’s forecast is just 1% higher than AMD’s current price. “We adjust estimates and maintain our Neutral rating on AMD given AMD’s slowing AI growth and poor margin leverage.” Deutsche Bank stands by hold rating and $105 per share price target Deutsche’s forecast corresponds to upside of around 6%. “Overall, we applaud AMD’s ability to deliver relative stability to its aggregate revenue in the face of so many macro cross currents. However, with steep ramps in DC/Embedded built into our ests and sustainability questions likely to persist in Client/Gaming, we leave our CY26 estimates largely unchanged.” Barclays keeps overweight rating, $110 price target Analyst Tom O’Malley’s target calls for 12% upside going forward. “The company is managing to only decline one quarter y/y in DC GPU despite $1.5B China export headwind. The Client business again impresses, driven by significantly higher ASPs and the initial foray into the high-end commercial market. We would argue the combination of these is a much better result than anticipated, even with the full year DC GPU number moving closer to $6B.” Wells Fargo maintains overweight rating and $120 per share forecast The bank’s $120 per share target implies a potential upside of 22%. “We are positive on AMD’s ability to continue gaining share in the server and PC CPU markets, increasing traction in datacenter GPUs, positive / accelerating incremental operating leverage, and ultimately, earnings power in excess of $6/share by 2025.” JPMorgan reiterates neutral rating, trims price target to $120 from $130 “AMD is improving its competitiveness across CPU and GPU products with Ryzen, EPYC, and Radeon Vega platforms and is on track to improve its market share and drive meaningful revenue growth in the near term. Long term, we believe share gains are less certain. AMD will have to invest heavily in operating expense (especially R & D) in order to keep pace with the market leaders, potentially limiting operating leverage. AMD is executing well toward its target financial model, but we remain Neutral as shares appear to be nearly fully valued,” wrote analyst Harlan Sur. Morgan Stanley keeps equal-weight rating, lowers price target from $137 per share to $121 The bank’s updated forecast is 23% higher than the stock’s Tuesday close. “AMD posted a strong quarter, with strength in PC client driving the upside; despite a $700 mm 2q headwind from export controls, the company remarkably still guided above. AI progress, and PC client durability, key from here,” wrote Joseph Moore. UBS stands by buy rating and lifts price target to $155 from $150 Analyst Timothy Arcuri’s updated forecast corresponds to a 57% rally ahead. “The story in our eyes still hinges on the new family of AI solutions coming next year, but customer traction among U.S. hyperscalers is gaining momentum, and AMD may be able to draft off of NVDA’s ‘growing pains’ in ramping these new system solutions this year, and we remain constructive on the overall data center capex and AI backdrop into 2026. With the noise from this ban now out of the way and some forthcoming clarity on tariffs, the bias for the stock seems to be to the upside — especially into its AI Event in mid-June where it will likely provide more detail on these new solutions (MI400) ramping next year.” Source link #AMD #delivered #earnings #topped #expectations #leading #Bank #America #upgrade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S., China trade talks set for weekend amid ongoing tensions – National U.S., China trade talks set for weekend amid ongoing tensions – National U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet China’s economic tsar He Lifeng in Switzerland this weekend for talks that could be the first step toward resolving a trade war disrupting the global economy. News of the planned Geneva meeting, first announced by Washington late Tuesday, sent U.S. equity index futures higher. Stock markets in China and Hong Kong followed suit during Asian trading on Wednesday. The talks come after weeks of escalating tensions that have seen duties on goods imports between the world’s two largest economies soar well beyond 100 per cent, amounting to what Bessent on Tuesday described as the equivalent of a trade embargo. The impasse, alongside U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision last month to slap sweeping duties on dozens of other countries, has upended supply chains, roiled financial markets and stoked fears of a sharp downturn in global growth. Story continues below advertisement The negotiating teams convening in Switzerland, known for its neutrality, are expected to discuss reductions to the broader tariffs, two sources familiar with the planning said. The talks should also cover duties on specific products, export controls and Trump’s decision to end de minimis exemptions on low-value imports, one of the sources added. China’s State Council did not immediately reply to a faxed request for comment. 2:23 Trump maintains 145% China tariffs, says potential reductions depend on Beijing’s actions “My sense is this will be about de-escalation,” Bessent told Fox News after the announcement. “We’ve got to de-escalate before we can move forward.” A ******** commerce ministry spokesperson later confirmed that China had agreed to meet the U.S. envoys. “On the basis of fully considering global expectations, China’s interests, and the appeals of U.S. industry and consumers, China has decided to re-engage the U.S.,” the spokesperson said, citing a proverb about actions speaking louder than words. Story continues below advertisement This is the first meeting between senior ******** and U.S. officials since U.S. Senator Steve Daines met Premier Li Qiang in Beijing in March. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Beijing has largely adopted a fiery rhetoric as tensions with Washington have ratcheted up, repeatedly saying it would not engage in negotiations unless the U.S. withdrew its tariffs. Signaling a change in tack, however, China’s commerce ministry on Friday said it was “evaluating” an offer from Washington to hold talks. More on World More videos Asked about the apparent U-turn on Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a daily press conference that Beijing’s “position of firmly opposing U.S. abuse of tariffs has not changed”. The stakes for China’s economy are high, with its vast factory sector already bearing the brunt of the tariffs. Many analysts have downgraded their 2025 economic growth forecast for the Asian giant, while investment bank Nomura has warned the trade war could cost China up to 16 million jobs. China’s central bank on Wednesday announced fresh monetary stimulus, flagging rate cuts and a liquidity injection into the banking system aimed at countering the economic impact of the duties.Analysts described the move as measured and tactical. “There’s almost certainly also an element of signaling to the U.S. government ahead of the upcoming meeting,” said Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics.“The message is that ******** officials are not panicked or scrambling to shore up economic growth, and they’re not going to be negotiating from a position of weakness.” Story continues below advertisement U.S. officials have held a flurry of meetings with trading partners since the president announced a 10 per cent tariff on most countries on April 2, along with higher tariff rates that will kick in on July 9, barring separate trade agreements. Trump has also imposed 25 per cent tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, 25 per cent levies on Canada and Mexico, and 145 per cent tariffs on China, with further duties expected on pharmaceuticals in coming weeks. Trending Now Female complainant sought ‘wild night’ with world junior players, defence suggests Former Quebec junior hockey player Noah Corson sentenced to 2 years of jail time in sex-assault case China retaliated by boosting its tariffs on U.S. goods to 125 per cent. The European Union is also readying countermeasures. While Saturday’s talks are aimed at easing tensions, it remains unclear how substantive they could prove, said Bo Zhengyuan, partner at Shanghai-based policy consultancy Plenum. “For more comprehensive geopolitical negotiations to be possible, tariffs would need to be lowered first – the key is whether both sides can agree on the extent and scope of tariff rollbacks, as well as on follow-up talks,” Bo said. Story continues below advertisement Bessent told Fox News the two sides would work out during their meeting on Saturday “what to talk about.” 2:28 China’s Q1 GDP tops estimates at 5.4% as growth momentum continues ahead of Trump tariffs “Look, we have a shared interest that this isn’t sustainable,” Bessent said. “And 145 per cent, 125 per cent is the equivalent of an embargo. We don’t want to decouple. What we want is fair trade.” Trump and his trade team have sent mixed signals over progress in talks with major trading partners rushing to cement agreements with Washington and avoid the imposition of hefty import taxes on their goods. Bessent told lawmakers earlier in the day that the Trump administration was negotiating with 17 major trading partners and could announce trade agreements with some of them as early as this week. Trump told reporters before a meeting with ********* Prime Minister Mark Carney that he and top administration officials will review potential trade deals over the next two weeks to decide which ones to accept. Story continues below advertisement U.S. and Britain have made progress towards a trade deal, a British official said, while Bessent has said many other countries including Indonesia have made good offers to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers, such as subsidies. Trump’s moves on tariffs, which he says are aimed in part at reducing the U.S. trade deficit, are so far having an opposite effect, with the gap hitting a record in March as businesses rushed to import goods ahead of the levies. Notably, though, the U.S. trade deficit with China narrowed sharply as the crushing levies Trump has imposed cut deeply into ******** imports. —Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Steve Holland and David Ljungren in Washington, David Lawder in Chicago, Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia, Laurie Chen, Liz Lee and Joe Cash in Beijing, and Catarina Demony in London; Writing by Andrea Shalal and John Geddie; Editing by Dan Burns, Howard Goller and Shri Navaratnam Source link #U.S #China #trade #talks #set #weekend #ongoing #tensions #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*** hands Indian IT suppliers competitive boost in trade deal *** hands Indian IT suppliers competitive boost in trade deal India’s IT services companies are set to get even more competitive as the ***’s trade deal with the country exempts Indian professionals from paying National Insurance. With IT services companies such as ***** Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro already well embedded, smaller Indian players are also growing their *** operations. Following a deal, described by the Indian government as its “most comprehensive free trade deal ever”, bilateral trade currently worth about $60bn is projected to double by 2030. The Indian government described the exemption from National Insurance contributions for Indian staff in the *** as a “huge win” and “unprecedented achievement” that will “make Indian service providers significantly more competitive in the ***”. A statement from India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said: “The exemption for Indian workers who are temporarily in the *** and their employers from paying social security contributions in the *** for a ******* of three years under the Double Contribution Convention will lead to significant financial gains for the Indian service providers and enhance their competitiveness in the *** market that would create new job opportunities, as well as benefit large number of Indians working in the ***.” This comes at a time when Indian suppliers, already embedded in the ***’s private sector with deals with the ***’s biggest corporates, are targeting the relatively untouched public sector. Speaking to Computer Weekly about TCS’s *** public sector plans last year, Amit Kapur, its *** country head, said there was “potential, paucity and action” with “good engagement”. It’s not just Indian giants that see the *** public sector as an opportunity. Mumbai-headquartered Hexaware said IT suppliers that currently dominate the public sector are in its sights, with a changing appetite for tech in *** government departments and public sector bodies. Large numbers of Indian IT professionals work in the *** on Intra Company Transfers (ICTs). These are visas used by businesses that have operations in the *** to bring staff from overseas. It was originally designed to enable large US companies to bring senior staff to the ***, but this has allegedly been abused by overseas companies to bring cheap labour in to enable them to offer cut-price services. *** workers, particularly in the IT sector, claim to be priced out of the market. Mark Lewis, a specialist IT outsourcing lawyer at Stephenson Harwood, said: “The whole intention of exempting inter-company transferees from the likes of TCS from National Insurance for three years was specifically designed to benefit the Indian IT services companies or business process services companies very specifically.” Indian IT providers have always been the biggest users of ICTs. The *** public sector IT opportunity is huge, with about £28bn spent on IT a year, but Indian heritage suppliers have to date struggled to win a significant chunk of this. Since Indian IT service providers started winning significant business at the turn of the century, there have been fears over outsourcing public sector work to IT suppliers based in India. The perception was that confidential data would not be safe, and there were also concerns that jobs in the *** would be moved to India. *** business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “By striking a new trade deal with the fastest-growing economy in the world, we are delivering billions for the *** economy and wages every year, and unlocking growth in every corner of the country, from advanced manufacturing in the North East to whisky distilleries in Scotland. “In times of global uncertainty, a pragmatic approach to global trade that provides businesses and consumers with stability is more important than ever,” he added. Source link #hands #Indian #suppliers #competitive #boost #trade #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Our air traffic control system is safe, but needs modernizing Our air traffic control system is safe, but needs modernizing ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email Billy Nolen, Archer Aviation chief safety officer and former FAA Acting Administrator, joins ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the ongoing air traffic chaos at Newark Liberty International Airport, state of the aging U.S. aviation infrastructure and staffing shortages, what’s needed to modernize the air traffic control system, and more. Source link #air #traffic #control #system #safe #modernizing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Germany finally has a leader. Now comes the hard part for Merz Germany finally has a leader. Now comes the hard part for Merz Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, takes the chancellor’s seat, after swearing an oath, at the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Krisztian Bocsi | Bloomberg | Getty Images After some dramatics, and around 10 weeks after the ******* election, Europe’s largest economy finally has a leader: Friedrich Merz. His ascension didn’t come easy though. On Tuesday, Merz failed to be elected chancellor in a shock first-round vote, an unprecedented event in the country’s modern history. Despite securing the necessary parliamentary support in a second attempt later in the day, Merz appears to be starting his new role somewhat bruised. “It’s the weakest possible start,” Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, told CNBC. Other observers like Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, appear less concerned. “I think that in a week or so from now, nobody will talk much about it anymore. Instead people will look at what the government is deciding and doing,” he told CNBC. Either way, the hard work is really only just beginning for the new chancellor and head of the coalition government that is made up of his Christian Democratic Union, with its affiliate the Christian Social Union, and the Social Democratic Party. Some of the challenges include addressing division within the country about issues like migration, geopolitical tensions around defense spending and trade, a stagnating economy and keeping the ruling coalition united and in line. Economic woes and pressure Germany’s economy will be top of mind for Merz, having made promises of reforms and new investments, and having harshly criticized the previous government’s policies during the election campaign. For over two years now, the country has seen alternating economic expansion and contraction each quarter. Annual gross domestic product growth was negative in both 2023 and 2024. And latest forecasts don’t seem to indicate much respite ahead. This is despite the major fiscal package pushed through by the CDU/CSU and SPD during their coalition negotiations, which includes changes to long-standing debt rules to allow for more defense spending and a 500 billion euro ($567 billion) infrastructure and climate investment fund. That cash at least appears to be safe, but questions have emerged about other fiscal and economic policies, ING’s Brzeski said. “I think that the 500bn euro infrastructure package will not be touched and is a done deal,” Brzeski said. “All other measures, like the faster write-offs for investments or the corporate tax cuts in 2028 have become even more uncertain than before,” he added, linking this to a now heightened risk of potential clashes over the country’s budget. Franziska Palmas, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics, also sees the fiscal package being implemented as planned. “We think that will give a significant boost to GDP growth and get Germany out of stagnation after six years,” Palmas told CNBC — but noted that due to the apparent dissatisfaction within parts of the coalition’s factions, risks of such a boost being smaller or taking more time have risen. Another key issue affected by Tuesday’s turmoil is trust within the coalition — and that could prove vital for the government’s economic policy plans, according to Otto Fricke, former member of the Bundestag for the Free Democratic Party. “The problem really here is at the end, it’s about the most important issue in politics: trust,” he said, speaking to CNBC’s “Europe Early Edition” on Wednesday. Germany’s economy needs changes, and fast, if the goal is for it to grow, Fricke said. “Therefore, you need trust within the cabinet, within the parliament, to do the legislation fast.” Political consensus despite tensions? Capital Economics’ Palmas pointed to Merz’s vows that his government would be more stable than the previous one, which ultimately fell apart over disagreements about economic and fiscal matters. After the tricky start to his term, however, “the risk that he will not be able to deliver on his promise that he will run a much more efficient and conflict-free government compared to the previous traffic-light coalition has risen,” she said. But despite the apparent tensions and increased instability, Hamburg Commercial Bank’s de La Rubia meanwhile pointed out that, as highlighted by their joint coalition agreement, the CDU/CSU and SPD are in fact not that far apart politically. For example, everyone should be able to agree on the need for investing in railways, roads, bridges and other infrastructure through the fund, and consensus on defense spending should also be found without “bitter conflicts,” he said. So, while Merz’s first round failure on Tuesday may have been an attempt from members of parliament to teach him a lesson, it should not mean that the new government shies away from big change, de la Rubia said. “It does not mean and it must not mean that they have to refrain from doing the necessary reforms with respect to modernizing the infrastructure, to reduce red tape especially when it comes to approval processes for construction work, wind farms, and electricity grids, improve digitalization processes and take the measures to reduce labor shortage,” he said. “I have few doubts about that the new government will be able to implement it’s big policy goals” Source link #Germany #finally #leader #hard #part #Merz Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

West Coast great Glen Jakovich says Eagles can’t ‘give a s—’ about draft hand ahead of winnable Tigers clash West Coast great Glen Jakovich says Eagles can’t ‘give a s—’ about draft hand ahead of winnable Tigers clash West Coast great Glen Jakovich says the Eagles can’t “give a s—” about their position in the draft and need to make the most of a rare opportunity to claim a win against fellow battlers Richmond on Sunday. Source link #West #Coast #great #Glen #Jakovich #Eagles #give #draft #hand #ahead #winnable #Tigers #clash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hidetaka Miyazaki Has Already Given His Permission for an Elden Ring Movie Hidetaka Miyazaki Has Already Given His Permission for an Elden Ring Movie Elden Ring, the game that sends players running from oversized lobsters and cursed demigods, is now making its way to the big screen. Set in the haunting and mysterious Lands Between, it has long offered players a sprawling world to explore, one where stories are discovered and every ruin hides a secret. But this time, the story won’t be pieced together through item descriptions or cryptic NPC dialogue. It’s headed to theaters. And don’t worry, this isn’t another rushed cash-grab adaptation. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki himself has given the project his nod of approval. The path forward is shrouded in mystery, but not without promise. A24 accepts the summons: Elden Ring movie confirmed Whispers of a movie adaptation have been swirling since last year, but recent reports have turned rumor into reality. According to MovieWeb, the Elden Ring movie is officially in development, and the studio taking on the challenge is none other than A24. Known for producing some of the most complex and inventive films in recent memory, like Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Lighthouse, and Midsommar, the studio has built a reputation for tackling complex narratives with artistic integrity. This isn’t a studio known for safe bets or surface-level spectacle, which bodes well for a universe as layered and hauntingly deep as Elden Ring. However, what’s even more reassuring is that behind this green light is none other than Hidetaka Miyazaki, the visionary mind of FromSoftware. While he’s admitted that film isn’t his domain, his approval of the adaptation, paired with his insistence on a capable partner, indicates that this project won’t stray far from the spirit of the game. With A24 at the helm, it seems that Miyazaki has found the strong collaborator he was waiting for. A cautious yes: Miyazaki approved the movie adaptation The only thing scarier than Radahn on a horse? A bad video game movie. | Image Credit: FromSoftware In an interview with The Guardian, Miyazaki surprised fans by expressing openness to the idea of bringing Elden Ring into other media. But he was quick to note that neither he nor FromSoftware had the “knowledge or ability” to handle such a project on their own. I don’t see any reason to deny another interpretation or adaptation of Elden Ring, a movie for example. Still, Miyazaki made it clear: this wouldn’t be an adaptation for adaptation’s sake. His condition was firm; a “very strong partner” would be essential to even consider it. Seems like A24 ticks several boxes in the man’s checklist. One of the reasons Elden Ring’s world is so rich is thanks to the groundwork laid by George R. R. Martin. Though not the lead writer, Martin helped shape the game’s sprawling mythology, from the demigod bloodlines to the cosmic powers that toy with fate in the Lands Between. Together, Miyazaki’s visionary game design and Martin’s narrative scaffolding laid the foundation for a cinematic narrative full of weight and wonder, forming a strong creative backbone, one that could translate perfectly into a fantasy film. It’s a risky quest, no doubt. Translating the existential weight of Elden Ring into a screenplay is no small feat. But just as the Tarnished rise from the ashes of exile to challenge the gods, this movie might rise to meet its enormous potential, provided it stays true to the soul of the game. Let’s all hope it does, and that we get to see it dominate the big screen the way Malenia dominates unsuspecting players. Source link #Hidetaka #Miyazaki #Permission #Elden #Ring #Movie Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]