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stocks, news, earnings and data stocks, news, earnings and data European stocks are heading for a higher open on Wednesday amid optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% duties on Canada and Mexico could be relaxed. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 56 points higher at 8,806, Germany’s DAX up 416 points at 22,733, France’s CAC 146 points higher at 8,176 and Italy’s FTSE MIB 403 points higher at 38,282, according to data from IG. The introduction of fresh U.S. tariffs has rattled global market sentiment amid concerns they will reignite inflation and escalate a global trade war. Wall Street has seen two days of declines as 25% duties on Canada and Mexico went into effect on Tuesday, as well as an additional 10% tariff on ******** goods. All three countries have announced retaliatory measures. U.S. stock futures rose overnight, however, after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump “probably” will announce tariff compromise deals with Canada and Mexico on Wednesday. Earnings are set to come from Sandoz on Wednesday, and data releases will include finalized European services and manufacturing activity and Italian quarterly growth data. Source link #stocks #news #earnings #data Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fortnite’s Leonardo DiCaprio Meme Is Secretly Tied to a Vault Feature Which Is Pure Genius Fortnite’s Leonardo DiCaprio Meme Is Secretly Tied to a Vault Feature Which Is Pure Genius Fortnite has always had a knack for throwing in the most bizarre and entertaining Easter eggs. One moment, you’re building a fortress in the middle of a battle; the next, you’re suddenly caught in a pop culture reference so perfectly placed that you almost forget to shoot back. The game has crossed paths with Marvel, Star Wars, anime, and even real-world celebrities, but its latest trick might just be its most brilliantly devious one yet. Fletcher Kane in Fortnite | Credits: Epic Games Imagine cracking open a vault, excitement coursing through your veins, expecting a glorious pile of loot just waiting for you. Now, imagine that the game itself is actively toying with your emotions, setting you up for either sheer joy or total heartbreak. That’s exactly what’s happening, thanks to an ingenious little detail that makes use of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. And if you haven’t encountered this yet, buckle up because this is pure meme magic at work. A vault surprise starring Leonardo DiCaprio in Fortnite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby | Credits: Warner Bros. Players have discovered a hilarious and cruel new Easter egg. Depending on your luck, you’ll come across one of two versions of a painting featuring Fletcher Kane, a character who may or may not be Fortnite’s resident master troll. One version of the painting is a nod to the famous The Great Gatsby meme, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character raises a glass in an elegant toast. If you see this, congratulations! Fletcher is feeling generous today, and your vault is stacked with loot. He’s practically welcoming you to enjoy the riches, offering them up with a smirk and a raised glass. It’s like winning the lottery, but instead of money, you’re swimming in legendary weapons and shields. But then, there’s the other version, the Django Unchained Leonardo meme, where Leo’s character is laughing maniacally. And if you see this? Well, you’ve been bamboozled. The vault is empty. That’s right. Nothing. Zilch. Fletcher Kane is mocking you for even daring to believe that you were about to score some high-tier loot. It’s Fortnite’s way of saying, “Better luck next time, champ.” That laugh stings more than getting eliminated with a pickaxe. How do these paintings work, and where to find them Lonewolf Lair Vault in Fortnite | Credits: Epic Games Now, the big question is, how do these paintings actually work? Well, it’s all about chance. While it might feel like you’re getting pranked 70% of the time, in reality, the game likely runs on a 50/50 probability. Either you get The Great Gatsby loot blessing, or you get the Django Unchained disappointment. To experience this beautifully cruel game mechanic yourself, you’ll need to track down the vault in the Lonewolf Lair. Once you manage to crack it open, take a deep breath before you look at the walls. If you see Fletcher Kane holding up a drink, get ready to scoop up some serious loot. If you see him laughing? Well, consider this a life lesson in managing expectations. Players have started sharing their vault experiences online, and the reactions are priceless. Some are celebrating their Gatsby moments with triumphant victory dances, while others are cursing their luck as they stare at an empty room with nothing but Fletcher’s mocking face to keep them company. Comment byu/Powerful-Rule9378 from discussion inFortNiteBR Comment byu/Powerful-Rule9378 from discussion inFortNiteBR Comment byu/Powerful-Rule9378 from discussion inFortNiteBR Comment byu/Powerful-Rule9378 from discussion inFortNiteBR Comment byu/Powerful-Rule9378 from discussion inFortNiteBR Either way, this feature is an absolute genius and one of the best troll mechanics Fortnite has ever introduced. So, next time you break into a vault, don’t just rush to the loot, check the wall right in front of the gate first. And maybe, just maybe, prepare yourself for the possibility that the game is about to laugh right in your face. Source link #Fortnites #Leonardo #DiCaprio #Meme #Secretly #Tied #Vault #Feature #Pure #Genius Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump may meet Canada and Mexico 'in the middle', says US commerce chief – BBC.com Trump may meet Canada and Mexico 'in the middle', says US commerce chief – BBC.com Trump may meet Canada and Mexico ‘in the middle’, says US commerce chief BBC.comLutnick: US could announce trade deal Wednesday with Mexico and Canada after imposing tariffs CNNTrump’s Latest Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China Could Be His Biggest Gamble The New York TimesStock futures rise after Commerce Secretary Lutnick suggests possible compromise on Trump tariffs: Live updates CNBCSome Chicago companies say they have to brace for hits from President Trump’s tariffs CBS News Source link #Trump #meet #Canada #Mexico #039in #middle039 #commerce #chief #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

With Diablo 4 Not Including Loot Filters Now, Blizzard Should Make Pets More Useful By Letting Them Salvage Gear With Diablo 4 Not Including Loot Filters Now, Blizzard Should Make Pets More Useful By Letting Them Salvage Gear Like with any action RPG title, the looting system remains an important part of the Diablo 4 gameplay experience. It is essentially one of the small quality of life mechanics in the game that, if executed right, can be what makes the player stay for the long term. Diablo 4 does not have a loot filter system yet | Blizzard While Blizzard has been making improvements to various quality-of-life features, the absence of loot filters highlights another missed opportunity, making pets more useful by allowing them to automatically salvage gear. Diablo 4 can finally make pets useful in the game Pets can technically become loot filters in Diablo 4 | Blizzard In many action RPGs, loot filters help players streamline the player’s inventory by sorting it out through a threshold, which can be anything from rarity to usefulness. Diablo 4’s decision not to include this feature means that players must manually inspect and sort through every piece of loot they find. This is where our lovely pets step in, potentially changing the game forever if Blizzard pulls this one move correctly. Talking about how pets can potentially be made more useful in Diablo 4, players discussed the following on the game’s official subreddit. Comment byu/Competitive_Ear_3741 from discussion indiablo4 Comment byu/Competitive_Ear_3741 from discussion indiablo4 Comment byu/Competitive_Ear_3741 from discussion indiablo4 In previous Diablo games, particularly Diablo 3, pets had functionality beyond aesthetics, picking up gold and helping manage minor tasks. Diablo 4 could take this idea to another level by allowing pets to automatically gather and filter unwanted gear on behalf of the player, providing a solution to inventory clutter, bringing a huge quality of life upgrade. A **** inventory filter is possibly the best Diablo 4 upgrade The studio can add this one much-wanted feature in Diablo 4 | Activision-Blizzard A ****-based salvage system could work by allowing players to set simple rules for what gear their pets should collect and break down into different groups. For example, players could designate specific rarities or item types to be automatically salvaged. Additionally, giving pets this functionality would create a new layer of customization. Blizzard could potentially start adding more types of pets over time, with different types of rarity and filter options that help players. It is something we are sure Elon Musk would definitely love as well, given that he is one of the top players in the game in America. At the end of the day, it is ultimately one of the best ways to implement this one mechanic that players have been asking for forever. Source link #Diablo #Including #Loot #Filters #Blizzard #Pets #Letting #Salvage #Gear Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Poll of Trump’s 2025 joint address to Congress finds large majority of viewers approve Poll of Trump’s 2025 joint address to Congress finds large majority of viewers approve A large majority of speech watchers approved of what they heard from President Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday night. The viewership was heavily Republican — historically a president’s party draws more of their own partisans. This was no exception, and they liked what they heard. This CBS News/YouGov survey interviewed a nationally representative sample of speech watchers immediately following the president’s address to Congress. Most speech viewers described the president as “presidential, “inspiring” and more “unifying” than “divisive.” A big majority also called it “entertaining.” Most said Mr. Trump talked a lot about issues they care about. Most viewers who tuned in say the speech made them feel “hopeful” and “proud.” The Democrats who did watch mostly described it making them feel “worried,” and for 4 in 10, “angry.” Coming in, viewers said they wanted to hear about plans for lowering prices, and about two-thirds of those who watched tonight think the president has a clear plan for dealing with that. Big majorities of viewers liked the plans they heard on immigration, wasteful government spending and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. A relatively smaller majority liked what they heard on tariffs. Most viewers thought the president described the crime problem in the U.S. accurately. Most viewers approved of the speaker of the House having a member of Congress removed from the chamber for interrupting Mr. Trump’s speech. This CBS News survey is based on 1,207 interviews of adults who watched the President’s address to Congress on Tuesday night. An initial survey was conducted by YouGov between February 28- March 3, 2025 using a nationally representative sample of 11,406 U.S. adults, including 4,131 respondents who planned to watch the address. Respondents who planned to watch the speech were asked if they were willing to be reinterviewed. Only those who watched the speech were included in the analysis. The initial sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, and education based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey, and the U.S. Census Current Population Survey, and 2024 Presidential vote. The final sample of post-speech re-interviews was weighted to be representative of those who said they would watch the President’s address according to gender, age, race, education, geographic region, 2024 Presidential vote, and pre-speech partisan identification. The margin of error is ±3.4 pts. Toplines Anthony Salvanto Anthony Salvanto, Ph.D., is CBS News’ executive director of elections and surveys. He oversees the CBS News Poll and all surveys across topics and heads the CBS News Decision Desk that estimates outcomes on election nights Source link #Poll #Trumps #joint #address #Congress #finds #large #majority #viewers #approve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Windy Harbour: Bushfire emergency warning for residents as blaze breaches containment lines Windy Harbour: Bushfire emergency warning for residents as blaze breaches containment lines A bushfire emergency warning has been issued for the South West town of Windy Harbour after a blaze — which has razed more than 28,000ha — escaped containment lines. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has urged residents bounded by the emergency alert to shelter inside homes, with lives and property at risk. The fire is moving fast in a south-westerly direction towards Windy Harbour. It remains uncontained and uncontrolled. “The alert level for this fire has been upgraded as the bushfire has escaped containment lines on Windy Harbour Road,” the warning said. “It is too late to leave — fire has impacted evacuation routes and leaving now will put your life in danger. “You need to identify a room in your home where you can shelter from the approaching fire. It should have running water, such as a kitchen or laundry, and have a clear exit so you can easily escape.” The alert impacts people at the Windy Harbour Camping Ground, D’Enctrecasteaux National Park and Point D’Entrecasteaux. The town is also home to a number of holiday and fishing cottages. Parts of Shannon National Park and both the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trial have been shut. Windy Harbour Road is closed south of Chesapeake Road, while several roads between the Southwest Highway and Windy Harbour Road — and south of Middleton Road. “Crews and machinery will be operating along roads in the area during the day,” DFES said. Water bombers are working with firefighters to douse the blaze. Camera IconThe busfire warning for Windy Harbour. Credit: DFES Residents are urged to monitor both the inside and outside of their homes “for fires and embers and turn on sprinklers if you have them.” “If your home catches fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, go to an area that has already been burnt. “Protect yourself by wearing strong leather boots in case you need to leave your home.” A separate watch and act alert is in place for areas north of Doggerup Road, west of Windy Harbour and south of the Summertime 4WD track. A DFES spokesman said the Department of Biodiversity of Conservation and Attractions was managing the blaze. The fire has razed more than 28,000ha. Source link #Windy #Harbour #Bushfire #emergency #warning #residents #blaze #breaches #containment #lines Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nubia Neo 3 5G, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G With 6,000mAh Battery, Bypass Charging Launched Nubia Neo 3 5G, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G With 6,000mAh Battery, Bypass Charging Launched Nubia Neo 3 5G was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 alongside the Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G on Tuesday. Both handsets sport a “gamer-centric” cyber-mecha design with RGB lighting at the back. They are equipped with dual shoulder triggers to improve the users’ experience and come with an AI Game Space 3.0 feature. The new Nubia Neo 3 phones support bypass charging and have 50-megapixel dual rear camera setups. The GT variant has a 4083mm² VC cooling system with multi-layer heat dissipation. Nubia Neo 3 5G, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G Price, Availability Nubia Neo 3 5G price is set at EUR 249 (roughly Rs. 23,000), while the Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G (roughly Rs. 27,700) is priced at EUR 299. The phones will go on ***** in select markets starting in late March, the company confirmed in a press release. The standard 5G version comes in Cyber Silver, Shadow ******, and Titanium Gold colour options, while the GT variant is offered in Electro Yellow and Interstellar Grey shades. Nubia Neo 3 5G, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G Features, Specifications The Nubia Neo 3 5G sports a 6.8-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness level. The Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G carries a 6.8-inch full-HD+ (1080×2392 pixels) AMOLED screen, with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 1,200Hz instant touch sampling rate, and up to 1,300nits of peak brightness level. Nubia Neo 3 5G is powered by a Unisoc T8300 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM, while the Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G comes with a Unisoc T9100 chipset paired with 12GB of RAM. They support up to 12GB of additional virtual RAM. They are equipped with AI Game Space 3.0 features and dual gaming shoulder triggers. The GT variant has a 4083mm² VC cooling system. In the camera department, the Nubia Neo 3 5G series has a 50-megapixel primary sensor alongside a 2-megapixel depth sensor at the back. The phones get a 16-megapixel selfie shooter at the front. The Nubia Neo 3 5G and Neo 3 GT 5G pack a 6,000mAh battery. The base model supports 33W, while the GT version supports 80W wired fast charging. They support bypass charging as well. For security, the phones get an in-display fingerprint sensor. For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub. Further reading: Nubia Neo 3 series, Nubia Neo 3 5G, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G, Nubia Neo 3 5G price, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G price, Nubia Neo 3 5G launch, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G launch, Nubia Neo 3 5G features, Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G features, Nubia Neo 3, Nubia, MWC 2025, MWC GlocalMe Showcases PetPhone, a Smartphone for Pets With Action Recognition at MWC 2025 Source link #Nubia #Neo #Nubia #Neo #6000mAh #Battery #Bypass #Charging #Launched Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Despite Being the World’s Most Popular Battle Royale, Fortnite Originally Started Out as a PvE Title Despite Being the World’s Most Popular Battle Royale, Fortnite Originally Started Out as a PvE Title The success of Fortnite in the video game industry is quite a story. Released back on July 17, 2017 for PCs, the game has seen a ton of evolution since its admittedly barebones launch. Its popularity remains uncontested, and the game routinely features content updates and collabs with other IPs, which boosts its overall appeal amongst the masses. However, things were a lot different during the first few months of the game, and Epic Games initially planned to release it as a PvE focused title. Fortnite was a PvE title before transitioning into a battle royale spectacle Fortnite: Save the World in all its glory | Image Credit: Epic Games Fortnite, or as it was known before, Fortnite: Save the World, was a looter shooter, free-to-play title focused on PvE gameplay. It incorporated elements from previously established titles such as Left 4 Dead and Minecraft, combining the co-op aspect of the former with the on-the-go building aspect of Minecraft. This was the first Fortnite game mode, and prior to the launch of the ever-popular Battle Royale mode, it was simply known as Fortnite. The game initially required paying upfront to access it, but gradually became free to play over time in a bid to capture more players (and shift toward microtransactions as its primary source of revenue). Epic Games eventually shifted away from the microtransaction model, allowing players to buy cosmetics and other in-game items with V-Bucks, which can be purchased with real-world money. Save the World was unfortunately canned after a few short patches, as the team shifted focus onto its Creative and Battle Royale modes instead. The game mode never made it to the free-to-play version, and its campaign was massively undercut in its scope as a result. Fans have been asking for a dedicated PvE mode for ages | Image Credit: Epic Games It’s kind of unfortunate, and a dedicated single-player mode would have been quite an interesting addition and a great way to play the game once you are frustrated with randoms. Epic likely saw the success in another game mode, and cashed out. That’s not to say that there hasn’t been any demand for PvE modes in Fortnite – on the contrary, Fortnite players often regularly ask for such a game mode, mentioning how advantageous it could be at times. For example, having to play in a PvE environment is a lot less stressful, and controlling who joins in during the cooperative battles would be quite the treat. The transition to co-op multiplayer and battle royale paid off big time Battle royale remains the most popular Fortnite mode | Image Credit: Epic Games There is no doubt that Fortnite’s transition toward a free-to-play, battle-royale-focused model paid off in the long run for Epic Games. Fortnite is undoubtedly one of the biggest free-to-play titles in the market currently, boasting an impressive player base of over a million. The game also managed to generate a staggering amount of revenue, largely thanks to its ample use of collabs from other popular IPs (sometimes of the unusual kind). Fortnite shows no signs of slowing down, even in 2025, and remains as strong as it did on launch. Taking all this into consideration, it is safe to assume that Epic Games made the right move here, at least financially. Source link #Worlds #Popular #Battle #Royale #Fortnite #Originally #Started #PvE #Title Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Honors a Child ******* Patient With a Secret Service Badge Trump Honors a Child ******* Patient With a Secret Service Badge new video loaded: Trump Honors a Child ******* Patient With a Secret Service Badge transcript Back transcript Trump Honors a Child ******* Patient With a Secret Service Badge During President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, D.J. Daniel, a 13-year-old who was diagnosed with brain ******* in 2018, was made an honorary agent with the Secret Service. Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. His name is D.J. Daniel. He is 13 years old and he has always dreamed of becoming a police officer. [crowd cheering] But in 2018, D.J. was diagnosed with brain *******. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Tonight, D.J., we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all. I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service. [crowd cheering] Recent episodes in U.S. & Politics Show more videos from U.S. & Politics Source link #Trump #Honors #Child #******* #Patient #Secret #Service #Badge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. will control it ‘one way or the other’ U.S. will control it ‘one way or the other’ President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States would take control of Greenland “one way or the other,” escalating months of increasingly aggressive rhetoric towards the self-governing Danish territory. Addressing a joint session of Congress in Washington, Trump said he had “a message tonight for the incredible people of Greenland.” “We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America,” he said about halfway through his 90-minute speech. Trump also pledged to Greenlanders that America would “keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.” But in between the warm wishes Trump’s tone shifted, as he again made the case to Americans that U.S. control of the ice covered Arctic landmass was crucial to their national security. “We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we’re working with everybody involved to try and get it,” Trump said “But we need it really for international, for world security, and I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it,” he said. An aircraft alledgedly carrying US businessman Donald Trump Jr. arrives in Nuuk, Greenland on January 7, 2025. Emil Stach | Afp | Getty Images “It’s a very small population, but a very, very large piece of land. And very, very important for military security,” the president concluded, before moving on to a separate topic. The slightly menacing appeal to Greenlanders was unexpected. But it was hardly without precedent. Trump has been fixated on the strategic importance of the glacier covered island for years, and he has repeatedly suggested that the United States should buy the autonomous territory. In January, his eldest son Donald Trump, Jr. made a highly publicized visit to Greenland’s capital, where he filmed video for a podcast. The trip was billed as a personal visit, but the president’s social media posts about it had strong political overtones. “Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,,” Trump wrote of his son’s visit to Nuuk. “The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!” he added. Denmark has bitterly rejected Trump’s overtures about acquiring the island, which date back at least to 2019. Trump’s interest in the island is not merely personal: It’s also part of a broader national security strategy focused on countering Russian and ******** power in the Arctic Circle. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #U.S #control Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Auburn falls in Aggies' first win over No. 1 team – ESPN Auburn falls in Aggies' first win over No. 1 team – ESPN Auburn falls in Aggies’ first win over No. 1 team ESPNTexas A&M vs Auburn game recap, highlights: Aggies swarm on defense, upset No. 1 Tigers Austin American-StatesmanTexas A&M knocks off top-ranked, SEC champion Auburn for Tigers’ third loss of season USA TODAYTigers still have plenty to play for Rivals.com – AuburnNo. 22 Texas A&M stuns No. 1 Auburn in historic upset ahead of SEC tournament Yahoo Sports Source link #Auburn #falls #Aggies039 #win #team #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Delaying Warzone and ****** Ops 6 Season 3 Is the Only Shot Call of Duty Has, to Get Things Correct Delaying Warzone and ****** Ops 6 Season 3 Is the Only Shot Call of Duty Has, to Get Things Correct Activision’s Call of Duty franchise is one of the most popular first-person shooter video game series of all time, but over the past few years, it has started to lose its charm. In terms of campaign, Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 was an exceptional game, providing players with an immersive action-packed multi-protagonist experience, but online is where it lacks. The PvP experience in ****** Ops 6 and even Warzone can get annoying due to hackers, and it seems like Activision finally plans to do something about it. Developers need more time to improve the third season of ****** Ops 6 and Warzone (Image via Activision) With ****** Ops 6‘s active player count dropping constantly, developers have announced that season 3 of Warzone and ****** Ops 6 will be delayed for further polishing. Players point out that the franchise is struggling primarily because Activision decided to integrate Warzone with ****** Ops 6. Many players have suggested that the two must be separated and that developers must focus on them individually. Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 and Warzone season 3 is getting delayed There was a lot of anticipation for Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 and Warzone season 3, as players were excited to play on the classic Verdansk map once again, but it seems like players will have to wait a little longer. The official Call of Duty account on X has announced that season 3 will be delayed as developers need “time to deliver a great experience.“ Season 03 is a big moment for Call of Duty: Warzone and ****** Ops 6, and we’re taking the time to deliver a great experience starting on April 3. More to come following Call of Duty: Warzone’s 5th anniversary next week… pic.twitter.com/TmPJnoYBZS — Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) March 3, 2025 Players strongly believe that the delay is due to Warzone. Each year, Activision integrating Warzone with the latest Call of Duty title just doesn’t sit well with the fans because it ends up ruining both experiences. ****** Ops 6 players have pointed out that it’s frustrating that they also have to wait just because Warzone is not ready yet. Both the games are filled with hackers, so players hope that Activision will address these issues in the next season. On the bright side, some players are happy because they will get enough time to complete the battle pass since season 2 might get extended. The new release date for season 3 has been set as 3rd April, plus the X post confirms that something exciting is coming next week on Call of Duty: Warzone‘s 5th anniversary. There are speculations that the delay is due to the previous generation of consoles Verdansk is making a comeback in Warzone Season 3 (Image via Activision) Many fans believe that the developers are struggling to optimize the new Verdansk map for the previous generation of consoles. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are currently at their limit, so this could be the reason behind the delay. Many players on social media have pointed out that Call of Duty: ****** Ops Cold War should’ve been the last Call of Duty game to be dropped on previous-generation consoles. It’s fair that many last-generation players refuse to upgrade because games are still releasing on those consoles, but that’s just a poor decision. Most games that are released nowadays for old consoles look horrible visually and are full of bugs. Developers promise a great gaming experience, but that can only be delivered on systems that are capable of handling it. As for ****** Ops 6 and Warzone, these games are failing to provide the bare minimum even on modern consoles, which is one of the main reasons behind its downfall. Source link #Delaying #Warzone #****** #Ops #Season #Shot #Call #Duty #Correct Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Number of job ads offering WFH arrangements still high amid return-to-office mandates: Seek data Number of job ads offering WFH arrangements still high amid return-to-office mandates: Seek data *********** employers still see flexible work-from-home arrangements as key to attracting top talents, fresh figures suggest. The share of job advertisements offering WFH declined half a percentage point month-on-month to 9.5 per cent in December. But it is still well above pre-COVID levels, according to new data from online employment marketplace Seek on Wednesday. Seek said this small decline in ads offering the flexible arrangement was unsurprising given more than half of workers still prefer to work from home two or more days a week. “Since the onset of COVID, job seekers have had an increased focus on work-life balance with many considering WFH as an important contributor to achieving it,” Seek said. “Offering hybrid and flexible working has become one that businesses can compete for talent.” The data comes amid increasing return-to-office mandates from local and international companies like Bendigo Bank, financial services group AMP, Flight Centre, e-commerce giant Amazon and tech firm Dell. Woolworths last month also ordered its 10,000 office staff to commit to spending at least three days a week in the office by October. Last November, rival Coles announced a similar three-day mandate for its 5000 office staff. The supermarket went one step further than Woolworths by requiring employees to ensure at least one of the days falls on a Monday or Friday, effectively ruling out staff taking extra-long weekends away and working remotely. Seek says the ACT now leads the nation in offering WFH in job ads, with declines recorded in the previously leading NSW and Victoria. Tasmania and WA were the lowest at 6.7 per cent. “The differences in WFH share across regions appear to reflect the relative industry mix across the States and Territories,” it said. “Higher WFH industries like information and communication technology . . . account for a much greater share of ads in the ACT than in any other region.” Since last April, the share of job ads offering WFH declined in most industries. Source link #Number #job #ads #offering #WFH #arrangements #high #returntooffice #mandates #Seek #data Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kitty’s Kitchen Diary is a cosy simulation game, releasing on Android and iOS soon Kitty’s Kitchen Diary is a cosy simulation game, releasing on Android and iOS soon Play as Pippi and Poppo who arrive in Butterfly Village with a special mission Run food stalls and prepare delicious food Expected release date is March 21st SuperPlanet has just announced its latest project, Kitty’s Kitchen Diary, a cosy slice of village life, where cooking, decorating, and spending time with animal friends go hand in hand. This relaxing simulation is now open for pre-registration on Android and iOS, and it offers a charming escape if you’re on the lookout for heartwarming stories and laidback gameplay. In Kitty’s Kitchen Diary, you’ll step into the paws of Pippi and Poppo, two young adventurers who arrive in Butterfly Village with a special mission. Their grandmother has entrusted them with her cherished recipe book and a magic seal, leaving them to take care of the village and its inhabitants. Your goal is to bring the village back to life, one delicious dish at a time. Running food stalls is at the heart of Kitty’s Kitchen Diary, where you’ll grill fish, prepare noodles, and master new recipes to serve the best dishes around. As more visitors come to enjoy your food, the village will start to flourish, becoming a warm and bustling home for all. Beyond the kitchen, you’ll have the freedom to design your village with seasonal decorations and personalised touches. Indoors or outdoors, every space is yours to shape, and you can even share your beautifully arranged village with friends. Looking for similar adventures? Here’s a list of the best simulation games to play on iOS! The village isn’t just about food and décor, though – it’s also home to friendly animals eager to get to know you. Spend time with them, offer gifts, and build lasting connections. Who knows? They might drop by again just to say hello. There’s no rush in Kitty’s Kitchen Diary – just peaceful moments, delicious food, and a charming world waiting to be explored. The game is set to launch on March 21st, so you can pre-register by clicking on your preferred link below. Source link #Kittys #Kitchen #Diary #cosy #simulation #game #releasing #Android #iOS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Multi-vehicle wreck shuts down major highway near Massachusetts-Rhode Island line Multi-vehicle wreck shuts down major highway near Massachusetts-Rhode Island line A multi-vehicle wreck shut down a major highway near the Massachusetts-Rhode Island line on Tuesday morning. The ****** happened on the westbound side of Interstate 195 in Seekonk at Exit 1, according to MassDOT. “All lanes of 195 West near the RI/ MA line are closed due to a serious accident. Please seek alternate routes,” Rhode Island State Police said in a post on X. A Rhode Island Department of Transportation traffic camera showed vehicles backed up for miles near the scene of the ******. Traffic is being detoured around the ******. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Source link #Multivehicle #wreck #shuts #major #highway #MassachusettsRhode #Island #line Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds Hype Is So Real, It’s Boosting Cheese Naan Sales Monster Hunter Wilds Hype Is So Real, It’s Boosting Cheese Naan Sales There have been only a select few games in the industry that have generated as much hype as Monster Hunter Wilds. Back during its open beta sessions, thousands of gamers jumped into this monster adventure. Monster Hunter Wilds is making waves in the gaming industry. (Image via Capcom) However, it broke more records after its full-fledged release on February 28th, 2025, and achieved critical acclaim. This clear Game of the Year contender has raised the bar for Capcom and is helping the company reach new heights. However, what’s shocking is that it’s also boosting the demand for an Indian dish called cheese naan. Cheese naan sales peak all thanks to Monster Hunter Wilds Monster Hunter Wilds allows you to prepare meals that can be taken before battling it out against a powerful beast to help boost your stamina, health, and so on. There are a number of delicious-looking foods in the game, but everyone’s favorite is cheese naan. One of the cutscenes in Monster Hunter Wilds is based on cooking and consuming cheese naan. The Indian dish is shown in incredible detail, with steaming hot melted cheese. Fascinated by its looks, fans in Japan are rushing to restaurants to experience the dish themselves. Cheese naans are selling out in Japan due to Monster Hunter Wilds, which features a highly realistic in-game version pic.twitter.com/FMKslBmaa4 — Dexerto (@Dexerto) March 4, 2025 While chatting with Automaton, Monster Hunter Wilds‘ art director, Kaname Fujioka, stated that the cheese naan cut scene was one of the first things Capcom made. According to him, it took a lot of effort to nail the depiction of the food. So it’s not a surprise that we are witnessing this cheese naan hype around the world. Cheese naans are selling out in Japan thanks to Monster Hunter Wilds! — Lily-Rose (@LilyRose_Sol) March 4, 2025 Wow the new monster hunter wilds is a true hit food from the game selling out irl is next level ngl — All Typa Shii (@AllTypaShii) March 4, 2025 When I got to that scene I had drool coming out of my mouth — Yukiko (@xxYuukiChan) March 4, 2025 Gaming is becoming reality! — Prashant Design (@Prashant14007) March 4, 2025 Let’s hope that with upcoming updates, Capcom can feature some more real-life dishes in Monster Hunter Wilds and help them reach new audiences around the globe. Monster Hunter Wilds‘ troubled launch on Steam The title is plagued with game-breaking issues. (Image via Capcom) Capcom has already confirmed that Monster Hunter Wilds sits as the fastest title to cross eight million in sales for the company. This is quite shocking as it’s just been a few days since the release of the game. It’s clear that it’s a fun game that gamers simply can’t get enough of. However, it hasn’t proven to be a smooth ride for Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam. Currently, the title’s rating sits at “Mixed” on Valve’s platform. Why is this the case? Well, thousands of gamers are running into a number of technical issues and other problems in the game. Gamers are reporting issues of shaders not loading with the latest generation of GPUs, game crashes, and even critical system crashes that lead to blue screen errors. The community believes that Capcom hasn’t bothered to optimize the game well enough to ensure a smooth experience for everyone. So far, Capcom hasn’t said anything about the issues Steam gamers are facing in Monster Hunter Wilds. However, the company has made an official Monster Hunter Status account on Twitter/X. With this, Capcom intends to give gamers updates on server issues and other problems in the game. With that said, have you tried the cheese naan from Monster Hunter Wilds? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Hype #Real #Boosting #Cheese #Naan #Sales Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Netizens Share Candid Reactions After Learning Luigi Mangione Allegedly Filmed 20 Sex Tapes Prior To Arrest Netizens Share Candid Reactions After Learning Luigi Mangione Allegedly Filmed 20 Sex Tapes Prior To Arrest Luigi Mangione has been in the headlines since December 2024 after he was arrested and charged with first-degree *******, stalking, and several other offenses following the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. After Thompson’s death, there was a national manhunt for Mangione before he was located at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9. Since the shooting, Luigi Mangione has gained widespread attention, partly due to public resentment toward insurance companies and partly because of his strikingly good looks. Today, after reports surfaced that the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate may have filmed “at least 20” videos of him having sex prior to his arrest, the fascination with him has only intensified. Source Says Luigi Mangione Enjoyed Being ‘Watched’ By Others PA State Police/MEGA According to a source, Mangione allegedly enjoyed filming himself having sex. During a conversation with RadarOnline, a source close to Mangione revealed they’d seen some of the footage before, revealing it was more than amateur-style recordings. “It wasn’t just some grainy, late-night mistake,” they shared. “It was perfect lighting, everything.” They continued, “He wanted to be watched. He got off on it.” The source claimed Mangione made “at least 20 videos of him having sex.” However, the other parties “are too afraid to come forward or tell anyone” because they fear they could be dragged into his ongoing legal case. Luigi Mangione Suffered Back Pain That Stopped Him From Being ‘Physically Intimate’ MEGA Following Mangione’s arrest, another source shared about a back injury he suffered that stopped him from being “physically intimate” with different romantic suitors. Mangione’s friend, R.J. Martin, discussed the injury in depth during an interview and revealed that the suspected killer knew “dating … wasn’t possible.” Martin explained that Mangione had a condition called “spondylolisthesis” that worsened after a surfing accident. “His spine was kind of misaligned,” Martin said before revealing the thought of not being intimate again “weighed on” Mangione. Fans Share Bold Reactions To Mangione’s Supposed Sex Tapes MEGA On social media, netizens have been sharing their candid reactions to the claims that Mangione enjoyed “being watched” and that he may have filmed 20 videos of him having sex before his arrest. “Streets are saying [that] Luigi Mangione filmed 20+ sex tapes,” one user wrote. “Send it to me, Rachel,” they finished, referencing a viral TikTok in which a lady begs her family member named “Rachel” to send her something on her cellphone. “Luigi s*x tapes and [Lady Gaga’s seventh studio album] Mayhem about to drop,” another user commented. “What a week to be Italian American.” A third user clearly agreed and told their followers they’d go “insane” if they didn’t see the footage. Donald Trump Slams Those Praising Mangione ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Following Mangione’s arrest in December 2024, the 26-year-old received a lot of love and praise from supporters online; however, not everybody is welcoming that response. President Donald Trump slammed those who were glorifying Mangione during a press conference on December 16, 2024. During his statement, the twice-impeached leader of the United States explained how “terrible” he found the news to be before saying people showering Mangione with praise had a “sickness.” “I think it’s really terrible that some people seem to admire him, like him,” Trump said. “I was happy to see that it wasn’t specific to this gentleman that was killed. It’s just an overall sickness as opposed to a specific sickness … That was a terrible thing. It was cold-blooded. Just a cold-blooded, horrible killing.” “And how people can like this guy is a … that’s a sickness, actually,” he added. He continued, “Maybe it’s fake news … It seems that there’s a certain appetite for him. I don’t get it.” NYC Police Commissioner Appalled At Love For Mangione MEGA President Trump isn’t the only person denouncing those who have sung and continue to sing Mangione’s praises. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch discussed the public reception and admitted she found the reaction to be “shocking.” “We have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded *******,” she said. “Social media has erupted with praise for this cowardly attack. People ghoulishly plastered posters threatening the CEOs, other CEOs, with an ‘x’ over Mr. Thompson’s picture as though he was some sort of a sick trophy.” “This was a senseless act of violence. It was a cold and calculated crime that stole a life and put New Yorkers at risk. We don’t celebrate murders, and we don’t lionize the killing of anyone,” she concluded. Source link #Netizens #Share #Candid #Reactions #Learning #Luigi #Mangione #Allegedly #Filmed #Sex #Tapes #Prior #Arrest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

100 minutes of the world according to Trump – Axios 100 minutes of the world according to Trump – Axios 100 minutes of the world according to Trump AxiosFact-checking Trump’s address to Congress CNNRead the Full Transcript of President Trump’s Speech to Congress The New York Times Source link #minutes #world #Trump #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Call of Duty 2026 Will Likely Be Trading the Xbox One for Microsoft’s Next Big Thing After the Series X Call of Duty 2026 Will Likely Be Trading the Xbox One for Microsoft’s Next Big Thing After the Series X The Call of Duty franchise and its release over different platforms over the past couple of decades have been a staple of the gaming industry, slowly becoming one of the most anticipated releases annually. This is especially true for users on Xbox, who have been enjoying more attention than ever since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. Call of Duty 2026 is making big changes with their Xbox release | Microsoft The Cod games over time have also helped push the technical limitations of all the different consoles it has been on. Unfortunately, it might be time to abandon the long-running Xbox One and put it to rest, as the latest leaks suggest the developers have now started focusing on the next best thing. Call of Duty 2026 is being developed on Xbox’s next generation Latest leaks reveal a lot about next year’s Call of Duty | Activision-Blizzard A recent leak suggests that Call of Duty 2026 is already in development on dev kits for Microsoft’s upcoming console, meaning that its target hardware will be beyond what the Series X and Series S currently offer and way beyond the Xbox One, which has been holding on for its dear life since 2013. EXCLUSIVE Details for Modern Warfare IV (2026): – No Old Gen support – Traditional UI like the older games (More traditional than BO6) – Engine being overhauled to address MWII problems like “visual clutter” etc. – Being developed on Dev Kits for the Next Xbox – No “Warzone 3″… pic.twitter.com/xzmdjiDARd — Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) March 3, 2025 The alleged leak also reveals more unexpected information about the next year’s Call of Duty. This includes how the game is possibly going to have a more ‘traditional’ UI taken after the earlier installments of the franchise. Furthermore, the leaks dictate that the game’s engine might be getting reworked around as well to deal with problems the studio faced before. However, the biggest piece of meat in this long list of alleged Call of Duty leaks is how the next game is being crafted on the next generation of Xbox consoles. Lastly, the leaks reveal a final nail in the coffin for a fan-favorite title, unveiling that there will be no Warzone 3 if Verdansk isn’t able to gather more players soon. Why dropping Xbox One makes a lot of sense The Xbox one has been around from 2013 | Microsoft Seeing it from the eyes of a developer, developing a game across different generations of consoles is toll-taking, especially the optimization part. Supporting older hardware often means making compromises, including worse graphics and sacrificing the overall quality to make the game barely playable. Skipping Xbox One entirely allows developers to push the next iteration of Call of Duty to its full potential. For a fast-paced FPS like this one, being on older consoles that are barely able to deliver 60FPS on a good day is not a great experience. If Call of Duty 2026 does indeed bypass the Xbox One, it would mark the end of an era for one of the most successful consoles in history. While the Xbox One has had an impressive run since its 2013 debut, the demands of modern gaming are unfortunately more than what it could provide. Source link #Call #Duty #Trading #Xbox #Microsofts #Big #Series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Virgin Australia taps Bain veteran Dave Emerson for Jayne Hrdlicka gig as float, Qatar Airways deal loom Virgin Australia taps Bain veteran Dave Emerson for Jayne Hrdlicka gig as float, Qatar Airways deal loom Bain Capital has picked one of its veterans to be the next head of Virgin Australia as the private equity giant tries to spruce up the airline for a return to the stock exchange. Former Bain senior partner and its one-time global aviation chief Dave Emerson is to take over from Virgin chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka on March 14, ending a year of speculation about who will run Australia’s second-biggest airline. Bain moved the American executive from Dallas to Brisbane in mid-2021 to help with the post-administration restructure of Virgin. Mr Emerson was given the title chief commercial officer and seen by industry players as a potential CEO. Virgin chair Ryan Cotton, a senior Bain partner, said it was clear after a “global search” that Mr Emerson was the “right leader to continue the implementation of Virgin Australia’s strategy”. Virgin unveiled his appointment as chief executive on Wednesday, shortly after the leaking of an internal email from Ms Hrdlicka providing an upbeat assessment of the airline’s recent performance. Ms Hrdlicka told staff that Virgin enjoyed its best December half results in its 24-year history, with its underling earnings before interest and tax rising 2.3 per cent to $439 million. She reported “strong performance” across its domestic, regional, short-haul international, cargo and Velocity frequent flyer operations. “Our transformation program is a key driver behind these results,” the outgoing boss said. “This outcome demonstrates how well the program is being delivered at a time in our business and our industry where inflation is at unprecedented levels.” The private group does not publish its half-yearly accounts, but its audited accounts for 2023-24 show it enjoyed a quadrupled statutory net profit of $545m for the year to June 30.. Ms Hrdlicka was recruited to join Virgin in November 2020 as Bain was buying the airline out of administration, which had crashed during the COVID-19 pandemic because of big debts. Bain has since made two unsuccessful attempts to float the restructured airline on the *********** Securities Exchange. But it is reportedly testing the waters for another crack at floating Virgin as the Brisbane-based carrier generates solid profits from its domestic duopoly with Qantas and touts the potential of new long-haul operation using jets and crews provided by Qatar Airways. Virgin cleared the second last barrier to its equity and operational tie-up with Qatar Airways on Wednesday with the International Air Services Commission approving the planned 28 weekly return flights between Doha and Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The *********** Competition and Consumer Commission is expected to shortly give the final nod to Virgin’s proposed wet lease deal with Qatar, having given draft approval last month. Treasurer Jim Chalmer last week cleared the way for the Doha-based giant to buy a 25 per cent stake in Virgin. Mr Emerson said Virgin’s return to long-haul flying and innovations in its domestic services were “creating new opportunities for our team”. “The strategy we set as we emerged from administration several years ago is now paying off,” Mr Emerson said. “I will continue the transformation journey begun under Jayne’s outstanding leadership.” Virgin has slashed debt under the leadership of Ms Hrdlicka and the control of Bain, which has enjoyed around $1 billion of dividends and capital returns. Source link #Virgin #Australia #taps #Bain #veteran #Dave #Emerson #Jayne #Hrdlicka #gig #float #Qatar #Airways #deal #loom Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Sheriff Taken Down By Arkansas State Troopers, FBI Joins In Sheriff Taken Down By Arkansas State Troopers, FBI Joins In Read the full story on The Auto Wire Sheriff Taken Down By Arkansas State Troopers, FBI Joins In Usually when we see Arkansas troopers take down a suspect for speeding, then find evidence of other crimes in their car, they’re chasing some young kid or a career criminal. But this time around troopers pull over a sheriff in an unmarked Dodge Charger before things spin out of control. Watch a guy ****** his Dodge ****** 170 most gloriously. When troopers initially pull over the sheriff, they say he was going 50 in a 45 mph zone. While you might not think that’s a big deal, it is technically speeding and they can pull over and cite him for it. You might think a cop would let a fellow cop go for such a small infraction, but once troopers learn he’s a sheriff they keep going through the regular traffic stop routine. Troopers don’t treat him roughly, but they question what he’s doing in another county. The sheriff tells them he’s been visiting a CI (confidential informant) and offers to show what he took to the asset, popping his trunk. With any suspect, walking around to the back of their vehicle and opening the trunk is risky. One of the troopers asks the sheriff to remove his sidearm since he’s off duty and leave it on the passenger seat. That tells you just how they regard the man. It came out later that the FBI was already surveilling the sheriff on suspicion of corruption and use of narcotics. We don’t know if that was communicated to Arkansas State Police and that’s why the troopers are so careful, or if they’re just being smart during the traffic stop. As the one trooper is running the sheriff’s info, suddenly some guy in plain clothes walks up, introduces himself as being with the FBI, and starts questioning the sheriff, who gets nervous when they ask if he has anything ******** in his cruiser. Sure enough, searching the vehicle they find hydrocodone and the sheriff gets arrested. He eventually surrendered his law enforcement certificate and pled guilty to felony possession, getting a suspended six-year prison sentence. Image via Arkansas Police Activity/YouTube Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. Source link #Sheriff #Arkansas #State #Troopers #FBI #Joins Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

America the Evil Mastermind? Not So Fast, Russians Are Told America the Evil Mastermind? Not So Fast, Russians Are Told Five weeks ago, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, delivered a routine speech blasting the “hegemonic, egoistic” United States at the helm of the “collective West.” The worldview of the 74-year-old veteran diplomat has since undergone some head-spinning changes. In an interview on Russian state television on Sunday, Mr. Lavrov listed the ills that Europe — not America — had brought upon the world. The United States, in his telling, had gone from evil mastermind to innocent bystander. “Colonization, wars, crusaders, the Crimean War, Napoleon, World War I, Hitler,” Mr. Lavrov said. “If we look at history in retrospect, the Americans did not play any instigating, let alone incendiary, role.” As President Trump turns decades of U.S. foreign policy upside down, another dizzying swing is taking place in Russia, both in the Kremlin and on state-controlled television: The United States, the new message goes, is not that bad after all. Almost overnight, it’s Europe — not the United States — that has become the source of instability in the Russian narrative. On his marquee weekly show on the Rossiya-1 channel Sunday night, the anchor Dmitri Kiselyov described the “party of war” in Europe as outmatched by the “great troika” of the United States, Russia and China that will form “the new structure of the world.” For more than a decade, the United States was the Kremlin propaganda machine’s main boogeyman — the “hegemon,” the “puppeteer” and the “master across the ocean.” It was seeking Russia’s destruction by pushing Europeans, Ukrainians and terrorists into conflict with Moscow. After Mr. Trump’s return to the White House, Russian officials first said not much would change. “The difference, other than terminology, is small,” Mr. Lavrov said in that Jan. 30 speech, comparing the Trump and Biden administrations. But then came the phone call on Feb. 12 between Mr. Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, the talks between the White House and the Kremlin in Saudi Arabia, the vote at the United Nations in which America sided with Russia, and the berating of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at the Oval Office last week. In a matter of weeks, it became clear that the second Trump presidency had the potential to deliver far more of a pro-Russian foreign policy than the first one did. Mr. Putin has led the shift in tone. The leader who used to castigate the American-led West for seeking to “dismember and plunder Russia” last week proposed that the United States mine Russian rare earth metals and help develop aluminum production in Siberia. It was part of Mr. Putin’s outreach to Mr. Trump as he dangled the potential for vast wealth from Russian resources. On Friday, hours before Mr. Trump harangued Mr. Zelensky at the White House, Mr. Putin sounded his new, pro-American message in the unlikeliest of places: the annual meeting of Russia’s domestic intelligence agency, the F.S.B., which has been at the vanguard of Russia’s shadow war against the West. Mr. Putin said talks with the Trump administration “inspire certain hopes,” praised it for its “pragmatism” and called on the spies in attendance to resist attempts “to disrupt or compromise the dialogue that has begun.” The whiplash in ties with Washington was so stark that Russian state television on Sunday showed a reporter asking the Kremlin’s spokesman how it was possible that “a couple of months ago we were publicly saying that we were almost enemies.” “This, indeed, couldn’t have been imagined,” the spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, replied, marveling at the shift. American foreign policy, he added, now “coincides with our vision in many ways.” The Kremlin’s message makers are struggling to help Russians make sense of it all. Some commentators are dredging up historical precedent, going as far back as Catherine the Great’s refusal to help Britain put down the American Revolution. Others say it’s the American voter who changed. “The American people got tired of global empire,” a state TV talk-show stalwart, the filmmaker Karen Shakhnazarov, explained last week. In an interview with The New York Times, Yevgeny Popov — whose show, “60 Minutes,” is the most popular daily political program on Russian state TV — insisted that talk of cooperating with the United States was not extraordinary because American companies had done business in the Soviet Union even in the depths of the Cold War. “These are quite natural processes happening here,” Mr. Popov said. “We want peaceful, constructive and pragmatic and, most importantly, equal relations with the U.S.” Still, Mr. Popov pointed out that American weapons were killing Russian soldiers on Ukraine’s battlefields, and that he did not believe there could soon be a friendly relationship with a country whose “tanks were firing on our people.” Some guests on his show have gone further. Aleksei Zhuravlyov, a firebrand lawmaker known for threatening the United States with nuclear annihilation, said on “60 Minutes” last week that Russia could “make friends with America and rule the world.” “Trump needs us,” Mr. Zhuravlyov said. “Do we need Trump? We do. Do our interests coincide? They do. Against whom? Against the European Union.” Underlying Russia’s interest in rapprochement with the United States are a grudging respect for the country and extensive personal ties, especially among the cultural and commercial elite. Ivan I. Kurilla, a scholar of U.S.-Russia relations at Wellesley College, said Russian and Soviet rulers long saw the United States as a nation worth emulating — whether in its economic prowess or its swagger on the world stage. “This duality of the view of America — it’s been like this for a long time,” said Mr. Kurilla, who was a professor at the European University at St. Petersburg until last year. Mr. Popov, who used to be a Russian state television correspondent in New York, ticked off some of the things he believed Russia and the United States have in common: a strong executive, protectionist policies, large armies, market economies “plus or minus” and powerful law enforcement agencies. “We both have a police state in the good sense of the word,” Mr. Popov said in a video call last week as he made his way through Moscow traffic. He concluded, addressing Americans, “If you want to understand what the Russians think, look in the mirror.” The sudden prospect of improved ties with the United States cheered the Russian public, which pollsters say is increasingly eager for an end to the war in Ukraine and sees negotiations with Washington as a prerequisite. The Levada Center, an independent pollster based in Moscow, found in February that 75 percent of Russians would support an immediate end to the war, the highest reading since 2023, and that 85 percent approved of talks with the United States. Hopes of sanctions relief and the return of American investment helped drive up the Russian stock market by as much as 10 percent after the Trump-Putin call on Feb. 12. To some of the most fervent supporters of Russia’s war, the embrace of Washington has smacked of betrayal, given that Mr. Putin has long described the invasion as a proxy war against American aggression. On the Telegram social messaging app, Russia’s pro-war bloggers expressed surprise over Mr. Putin’s proposal last week for cooperating with American companies to extract the country’s natural resources. A nationalist Telegram blog with more than a million followers, Two Majors, wondered how talk of “the evil desire of the damned Yankees to steal Russia’s natural resources” had morphed into discussion of “mutually beneficial cooperation with American partners.” But for Mr. Putin himself, there may be a wisp of internal consistency in the swing toward Washington. He has generally avoided labeling the United States as a whole as Russia’s enemy. Rather, Mr. Putin has said it is the Western “neoliberal elite” that tries to impose its “strange” values on the world and seeks Russia’s destruction, while depicting American conservatives as Russia’s friends. It’s a mirror image of the propaganda tropes of the Soviet Union, when American progressives were cast as Moscow’s allies. “In the United States,” Mr. Putin said in 2022, “there’s a very strong part of the public who maintain traditional values, and they’re with us. We know about this.” Milana Mazaeva and Alina Lobzina contributed reporting. Source link #America #Evil #Mastermind #Fast #Russians #Told Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unlike Call of Duty, Valorant Staying Away From a Particular Type of Monetisation Keeps it Away From Controversy Unlike Call of Duty, Valorant Staying Away From a Particular Type of Monetisation Keeps it Away From Controversy One of the most disappointing trends we’ve been witnessing in the gaming industry is the push towards live service mode. While the games do tend to receive continual updates after release, they’re accompanied by predatory monetization practices that leave gamers horrified. Valorant doesn’t make the same mistakes as its rivals. (Image via Riot Games) Call of Duty has been under fire for years now, all thanks to the incessant monetization tactics. If there’s something in the FPS franchise that can earn money, Activision will make sure to monetize it. Players are particularly frustrated with this issue when it comes to Operator skins. Luckily, Valorant has a clear way out of this. Why Valorant‘s approach to monetization works unlike Call of Duty Operator skins in Call of Duty have been criticized left and right. (Image via Activision) Let’s be honest, one of the most unique customizations in Call of Duty comes from Operator skins. These allow you to give your character a number of looks that can range from military personnel to rockstars. Activision has worked a lot to expand Operator skins in recent years and even did crossovers with celebrities and other franchises. Sure, Operator skins are cool in Call of Duty games. However, the way Activision prices them is quite predatory. Most of the decent-looking ones will set you back by $20, and that price will go higher if you purchase higher tier Operator skins. What’s worse is that Activision promises that these skins don’t affect gameplay, but that’s not the case. Over the years, we’ve seen a number of skins in the FPS franchise that have somehow given gamers a competitive edge. Valorant could have chased the industry trends just like Call of Duty and brought character skins. However, Riot Games knows that this can open a can of worms that might cause doom. The development team has strictly stuck to monetizing weapon skins in Valorant instead of giving players different appearances for agents. One might believe that a lack of agent skins in Valorant makes the game boring, but it’s what has made them so recognizable in the first place. Not only is Riot Games not forcing us to break our banks, but it’s also maintaining the competitive side of the shooter, which Activision has failed to do. Riot Games’ unique monetization model proves that games can be successful without ruining the experience. Let’s hope Activision and other developers can take a look at this approach and learn a bit or two. Valorant is making the jump to Unreal Engine 5 Unreal Engine 5 will help the shooter in a number of ways. (Image via Riot Games) If you’re unware, Valorant is developed using Unreal Engine 4. Thanks to the capabilities of this powerful platform, Riot Games was able to craft a shooter that has completely revolutionized the genre. However, gamers want to see more features and a better experience. Riot has heard the community and is planning its next move. Back at Unreal Fest Seattle 2024, the developer revealed that Valorant will soon be making a jump to Unreal Engine 5. Riot believes that it has “squeezed every ounce of everything” that it could have from Unreal Engine 4. The developer knows that the transition to Unreal Engine 5 won’t be easy, but it’s ready to tackle the challenge as it will completely alter how the shooter is played. Seriously, Unreal Engine 5 is packed with several features that can completely shake up any game. It’s going to be interesting to see how Riot manages to use the new capabilities of the latest Unreal Engine and elevate the Valorant experience to the next level. With that said, do you think Riot Games has nailed the monetization in Valorant? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Call #Duty #Valorant #Staying #Type #Monetisation #Controversy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Al Green Removed From House Chamber for Heckling Trump During Speech – The New York Times Al Green Removed From House Chamber for Heckling Trump During Speech – The New York Times Al Green Removed From House Chamber for Heckling Trump During Speech The New York TimesRep. Al Green is removed from chamber during President Trump’s address CNNDemocrat removed from House chamber after disrupting Trump’s speech to Congress: ‘Take your seat’ Fox News Source link #Green #Removed #House #Chamber #Heckling #Trump #Speech #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With 8 Million Copies Sold in Three Days, Monster Hunter Wilds Is Setting the Standard GTA 6 Has to Match With 8 Million Copies Sold in Three Days, Monster Hunter Wilds Is Setting the Standard GTA 6 Has to Match Monster Hunter Wilds is shaping up to be quite an exciting release – for both fans and Capcom themselves. After all, the title has managed to surpass expectations in almost every way conceivable, shattering both sales records and its general reception. With such a high bar to cross over, how will the most anticipated video game of the decade, Grand Theft Auto VI, fare? While there is no doubt that GTA 6 will sell a tremendous amount of copies, it still has to match the awe-inspiring 8 million sold by Wilds thus far. Monster Hunter Wilds sells over 8 million copies in just 3 days of its launch Wilds has sold over 8 million copies | Image Credit: Capcom As per multiple reports online, Capcom’s newest entry, Monster Hunter Wilds, has managed to sell over a staggering 8 million copies worldwide. Of course, this number takes into consideration all 3 platforms (PC, PlayStation 5, and the Xbox Series X/S) and all potential pre-orders (no refunds or incomplete playthroughs included) made for the game. Regardless, it’s still an incredibly impressive number, especially when you take into account the fact that Monster Hunter Wilds managed to do this within 3 days of its launch – and generated over half a billion dollars in the process! This is most certainly an impressive number and represents the best-selling Capcom title to date. eclipsing its competition by a fair margin. Assuming that GTA 6 does release later this year, it will have to top off this impressive number and be well-received enough in the process as well. GTA 6 has to match the expectations set by Wilds | Image Credit: Rockstar Games One would, however, expect GTA 6 to surpass the number, given how hyped up it is (which is despite its semi-conservative launch – it doesn’t come out for PCs this year after all), but how long it might take to do the same remains in question. 8 million in 3 days is an impressively absurd number, and GTA 6 has a lot of catching up to do. And it would be truly disappointing if it didn’t manage to keep up. Capcom still has a long way to go Capcom still has a lot to address | Image Credit: Capcom Despite its massive success, Monster Hunter Wilds is not without its faults. These faults are mostly of the technical kind, which extend across both PC and consoles. Wilds is horribly optimized and demands quite a powerful PC to run it – at half-decent frame rates. This is in sharp contrast to its deceptively low PC system requirements. Capcom needs to address this optimization issue and release patches for the game ASAP. While Capcom has addressed the bugs present in the game overall, there has yet to be word on how it will handle the performance woes. The game is currently sitting on version 1.000.040, which brought with it bug fixes and a general improvement toward game stability and crashing – which do not appear to be doing anything, if at all – at least on PCs. While the console versions are playable, the PC version mandates the use of Frame Generation to boost frames (artificially), which is, sadly the norm for modern video game releases. It is hoped that Capcom sorts their things out soon, and finds a way to make the PC (and console) ports a lot more playable. Source link #Million #Copies #Sold #Days #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Setting #Standard #GTA #Match Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]