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Hopes rise for Australia’s economic growth prospects Hopes rise for Australia’s economic growth prospects A string of surprisingly strong economic figures have prompted forecasters to increase their expectations for growth in Australia’s gross domestic product. The nation’s economy is still expected to record one of the weakest calendar years for economic growth in decades when the national accounts are released by the *********** Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday. But a better-than-expected trade balance for the December quarter, alongside stronger business inventories and increased government spending, spurred economists at NAB and Westpac to lift their GDP growth predictions for the last three months of 2024 to 0.7 per cent. If realised, that would translate to a 1.4 per cent expansion in the economy over the year, NAB head of market economics Tapas Strickland said. In its February Statement on Monetary Policy, the Reserve Bank predicted year-end growth to come in at just 1.1 per cent. “While growth looks to have surprised in Q4, the more important aspect is the trajectory and the implications for inflation,” Mr Strickland said. In its February meeting minutes, released on Tuesday, the Reserve Bank board noted activity in the ******** economy was expected to slow and uncertainty around US tariff policy threatened global GDP forecasts. Later on Tuesday, China announced it would slap retaliatory 15 per cent tariffs on a range of US agricultural imports. An all-out trade war heightens the risk of a slowdown in China’s economy and the flow-on reduction to Australia’s economic output. Much will depend on how much stimulus China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, announces at its opening session beginning on Wednesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said there were good reasons to believe the *********** economy was turning a corner. “Interest rates coming down means something like an extra $5 billion pumped into our economy over 12 months,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “It will have a positive impact on growth and living standards, combined with what we’ve been able to do to get real wages growing again to make sure that people are earning more and keeping more of what they earn in an economy where unemployment is remarkably low. “All of these things augur well for our economy in 2025.” Source link #Hopes #rise #Australias #economic #growth #prospects Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Still Wakes the Deep publisher, Secret Mode, goes indie Still Wakes the Deep publisher, Secret Mode, goes indie Still Wakes the Deep publisher Secret Mode has purchased itself out of Tencent’s grasp. It was previously a subsidiary of Sumo Group. Reported by VGC, studio leadership James Schall and Ed Blincoe teamed up with Emona Capital to buy the studio from Sumo. The two continue to operate the company as it continues to team with Emona. The driving forces behind this seems to fall on wanting to focus on more “indie gems.” “By becoming independent, we can now put all our efforts into uncovering the indie gems that gamers never knew they needed in their lives. We are committed to bringing our players the very best indie titles; not just of the future, but also by helping them discover existing indie masterpieces that have undeservedly flown under the radar in years gone by. We are working hard to empower independent developers across the globe, and hope to make some exciting announcements on this front in the coming months.” This also feels like a way out for Secret Mode as Sumo has decided to no longer make original IPs. Among the studio’s ******* games, Still Wakes the Deep was award-winning, even nabbing Best Horror Game at The Smash Jump Awards. Gabriel Stanford-Reisinger Editor-in-Chief Gabe has been a gamer since he was young, playing games like Pajama Sam, Freddi Fish, Guitar Hero, and whatever looked cool on GameFly. Ever since 2018, he’s been infatuated with the inner workings of the gaming and entertainment industries, covering a wide range of topics from video games to TV and film. Starting as a contributor for PSX Extreme, he’s worked his way up to its Managing Editor. Using what’s he learned over the years, he founded Smash Jump to remind everyone to smash jump. Source link #Wakes #Deep #publisher #Secret #Mode #indie Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

France divided over Ukraine as parliamentary debate sparks tensions France divided over Ukraine as parliamentary debate sparks tensions While French politicians across the spectrum are united in their support for Ukraine, a debate in parliament has highlighted the divide between pro-Europeans and nationalists when it comes to the best approach, reigniting tensions in the country’s fractured political landscape. During Monday’s debate in the National Assembly on how best to back Ukraine and protect European security, French MPs from all sides expressed their support for Kyiv and saluted the country’s ambassador to France, Omelchenko Vadym, who was in attendance. However, MPs from the far right refrained from applauding Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s denunciation of US President Donald Trump’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House last week. The debate, which did not lead to a vote, was symbolic and allowed parties to position themselves on European and French security, but also to reiterate support – or opposition – to Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic efforts towards European solutions. Ukraine in the EU Bayrou addressed the Assembly to lay out the government’s “vision” on a need for European countries to come together, as the US pulls away from its traditional alliance, declaring: “It is up to us, Europeans, to guarantee the security and defence of Europe.” The disagreement on spending came from the political extremes – on the left and right. Read more on RFI English Read also:French PM Bayrou slams Trump’s ‘brutal’ humiliation of Zelensky in Oval OfficeFront line ‘getting closer’, warns French FM as MPs prepare to debate UkraineFrance and EU move to secure Ukraine minerals as US pushes for deal Source link #France #divided #Ukraine #parliamentary #debate #sparks #tensions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How to cook a Well-Done Steak in Monster Hunter Wilds How to cook a Well-Done Steak in Monster Hunter Wilds Table of Contents Table of Contents How to grill a Well-Done Steak in Monster Hunter Wilds Where to find Raw Meat While cooking up meals in Monster Hunter Wilds can be done automatically without a sweat, grilling meat to become a Well-Done Steak requires some effort and timing from you. If you go hungry during a hunt and need to fill your stomach, the best thing to cook is a Well-Done Steak. Unfortunately, you may have trouble finding the sweet spot to cook the perfect steak after pulling out your Portable Grill and attempting to roast some meat. Once you get the hang of it once you should be a natural chef, so here’s how to properly cook a Well-Done Steak in Monster Hunter Wilds. How to grill a Well-Done Steak in Monster Hunter Wilds Sometimes the best meals to eat on the hunt are the simplest ones. All you need to have is Raw Meat in your pack as well as your Portable BBQ Grill. Step 1: Scroll through your item pouch until you reach your Portable BBQ Grill. Take it out by pressing Square/X on controller (E key on keyboard). Capcom Step 2: If you have Raw Meat with you, your character will pull it out and start the cooking minigame. To cook it perfectly, wait for about one second after your hunter flips over the meat and press the interact button to finish the grilling part. Capcom Step 3: The second part has you chop your meat into five chunks, but you must time it right. Follow the beat of the music, and hit the interact button on the music beat as soon as your hunter starts to cut. Capcom Step 4: If you grilled and cut your meat perfectly, you should get 12 Well-Done Steak just from that one piece of Raw Meat. But if you failed to cut it correctly, you’ll only receive six pieces. On the other hand, cooking it wrong can result in Rare Steak or Burnt Meat. The difference between the three types of meat is important for the buffs you’re looking for: Rare Steak: Raises maximum health bar for a limited time and restores some health/stamina. Well-Done Steak: Raises maximum health bar for a limited time and fully restores health/stamina. Burnt Meat: Only restores some stamina. Capcom Where to find Raw Meat You’ll need to get your hands on some Raw Meat before you can start grilling steak, which isn’t too hard to come across. Hunt down Small Monsters roaming the open world. Taking them down is a lot easier than Large Monsters, and harvesting them will earn you some Raw Meat. Otherwise, you can also occasionally get Raw Meat from quest or rank rewards. Capcom Source link #cook #WellDone #Steak #Monster #Hunter #Wilds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jay-Z Sues ***** Accuser for Defamation After Diddy Lawsuit – Vulture Jay-Z Sues ***** Accuser for Defamation After Diddy Lawsuit – Vulture Jay-Z Sues ***** Accuser for Defamation After Diddy Lawsuit VultureJay-Z Sues Former Accuser and Her Lawyer Over ******* Assault Allegations PEOPLEJay-Z files defamation lawsuit against former accuser, her attorneys ABC NewsJay-Z sues ***** accuser for defamation The A.V. Club Source link #JayZ #Sues #***** #Accuser #Defamation #Diddy #Lawsuit #Vulture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google’s Pixel Studio can now generate images and stickers of people Google’s Pixel Studio can now generate images and stickers of people The latest Pixel feature drop is here with Google rolling updates across its family of smartphones and wearables. If you’re a Pixel 9 owner in the US, you’ll soon have access to a new version of Pixel Studio capable of creating stickers and images of people. As a refresher, Pixel Studio is an AI image app that is exclusive to Pixel devices. “Just type a description of a person or scene you’d like to see, or choose the style you want, like ‘video game’ or ‘3D cartoon,'” Google says of the new feature. The approach Google taking here is similar to the one Apple currently employs with Image Playground. Photorealistic images are off the table so that you can’t use Pixel Studio to confuse your friends and family. Beyond Pixel Studio, Google is bringing other AI features to the Pixel family in the US and beyond. Most notably, the company’s live scam protection, which Google brought to testers last fall, is expanding to more devices, with additional functionality for those with Pixel 9 handsets in the US. If you own a Pixel 9, it will start screening English calls to protect you from scams. On the Pixel 6 and newer, Google is expanding the availability of scam text detection, with the feature rolling out to phones in the US, Canada and United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 Pro users in Japan can look forward to a large portion of the brand’s AI suite, including Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio, rolling out to their devices. Similarly, Google is making many of those same features available to Pixel 9 users in Germany. Google If AI features aren’t your thing, this month’s Pixel drop won’t leave you disappointed. To start, Google is updating its Find My Device app to allow users to send and receive the location of friends and family, “so you can rest easy knowing where they are, or that they got where they were going safely.” This is rolling out to recent Pixel devices, and more broadly the wider Android ecosystem. One other nifty new feature allows Pixel 9 owners to connect their phone to a recent GoPro camera or another Pixel phone to stream video from multiple angles. Google hasn’t forgotten about Pixel Watch users. If you’re running the latest model, the company has obtained clearance from the FDA to offer its Loss of Pulse Detection feature. “This first-of-its-kind feature can detect when you’ve experienced a loss of pulse,” Google explains. A loss of pulse can occur due to a cardiac arrest, a respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose or poisoning. Whatever the case, the Pixel Watch 3 will automatically call emergency services if the user is unresponsive. Google is also rolling out on-device menstrual tracking to the Pixel Watch 3, and the entire Watch family will start tracking steps with greater precision and accuracy. This is due to the fact Google has made the underlying algorithm better at recognizing when you deviate from your usual walking pattern to go do something like push a shopping cart or wheelchair. “The improved algorithm ensures that not only are your steps accurately counted toward your daily goal, but that you’ll get reliable insights into your daily activities.” The March Pixel drop is starting to roll out today. As usual, it may take a few days before the update is available to download on your device. Source link #Googles #Pixel #Studio #generate #images #stickers #people Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s treatment of Zelensky ‘wrong’, says Rishi Sunak Trump’s treatment of Zelensky ‘wrong’, says Rishi Sunak Sam Francis Political reporter Watch: Rishi Sunak says treatment of President Zelensky was “wrong” Donald Trump’s treatment of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was “wrong”, former prime minister Rishi Sunak has said. The US president’s criticism of Zelensky, culminating in an explosive Oval Office meeting last week that collapsed talks on American support for Ukraine, was “very hard to watch,” Sunak said. And Britain must boost defence spending to adjust to the “new world” where it must defend itself with less help from the US, Sunak added. The former PM was speaking to the BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson before the US announced it was pausing military aid to Ukraine, in his first major interview since his 2024 election defeat. Since coming to office, Trump has repeatedly criticised Zelensky. Trump has called him a “dictator without elections”, claimed he was doing a “terrible job” and falsely suggested he was the one who started the war with Russia. Trump – who has long called for European members of the Nato military alliance to spend more on defence – is also attempting to cut a rapid deal to bring the Ukraine war to an end after speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, a White House meeting on a mineral deal – seen as key to continuing US support of Ukraine – erupted into argument. Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, accused Zelensky of not being grateful enough. The angry exchange meant the deal, that would give the US access to Ukraine’s deposits of rare earth minerals, was left unsigned. Sunak said it was “very hard to watch”. “For him to have been treated that way was wrong,” he added. Speaking to the BBC, Sunak emphasised his close relationship with Zelensky – having visited Kyiv during his time as prime minister. Sunak stressed he agreed with Trump that Europe needed to take more responsibility for its own defence and not rely solely on the US. “We can’t expect America to bear any burden for our security if we are not prepared to make those sacrifices ourselves,” he said. “What has happened over the last few weeks has been clarifying, and we have just had to be open and honest about that now.” Pressed on whether the *** needs to prepare for the US to pull out of military support for Europe, Sunak said: “Of course we need to prepare to protect ourselves. “That is the first job of any British prime minister. “We are living in a new world that all of us are going to have to adjust to – and that was the case even before the US election.” As prime minster, Sunak committed the government to increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2030. The plans were accelerated by Labour, who last week set out plans to hit the target by 2027 – funded through a cut to Overseas Development Aid. Trump announced he was pausing US military aid to Ukraine on Monday night. Weapons and military equipment not already in Ukraine will be stopped from reaching its armed forces. The fate of $3.9bn (£3bn) in remaining funding committed by the Biden administration remains unclear. The freeze emerged after Trump had launched a fresh attack on Zelensky, claiming that he “doesn’t want there to be peace as long as he has America’s backing”, adding that the US “will not put up with it for much longer”. Then in a statement on Tuesday, Zelensky said he was willing to work under Trump’s “strong” leadership, saying: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer.” A summit of mostly European leaders in London on Sunday agreed a four-point plan to guarantee Ukraine’s defence in the event of a peace deal with Russia. The summit – hosted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – was intended as a show of support for Ukraine and an attempt to reduce differences between Western countries over Ukraine. The *** and France said they were working on a European-led solution to the conflict. Political Thinking: The Rishi Sunak Lessons From Downing Street One will be available on BBC Sounds from Wednesday morning. Source link #Trumps #treatment #Zelensky #wrong #Rishi #Sunak Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Aviation industry pushes for air traffic improvements, more hiring Aviation industry pushes for air traffic improvements, more hiring File photo shows the air traffic control tower at Chicago’s Midway International Airport. M. Spencer Green | AP Aviation industry members on Tuesday again urged lawmakers for newer air traffic control technology and more hiring of air traffic controllers as airlines continue to complain about longtime shortfalls, while air travel demand has boomed. Their testimony was delivered to a House committee hearing about a month after an American Airlines regional jet and an Army ****** Hawk helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing all 67 people on board the two aircraft in the deadliest U.S. airline ****** since 2001. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said last week that the Trump administration is taking steps to increase air traffic controller staffing, raising starting salaries by 30% for staff who go through the Federal Aviation Administration’s academy. Air traffic controller staffing is down about 9% from 2012, while air travel demand has hit new records, according to testimony from Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Duffy’s comments come as President Donald Trump has tasked his billionaire advisor Elon Musk with cost-cutting throughout the federal government. But Musk’s involvement has raised concerns about conflicts of interest from Democratic lawmakers, especially since the FAA is one of the regulators of Musk’s company SpaceX. The cost cuts have layoffs of included about 300 FAA employees. The DOT said it didn’t include air traffic controllers. Read more CNBC airline news “This demoralizes the entire workforce and distracts from the agency’s efforts to modernize and improve the aviation system — as well as taking away from the primary mission of the FAA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the U.S. aviation system and ultimately, the safety of the American flying public,” David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, said in written testimony. He said “blanket changes, indiscriminate dismissals or other arbitrary edicts will not help this country maintain the safest air traffic control system.” For his part, Nick Calio, head of Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. airlines including United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others, recommended relying on Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency or “procurement experts from the private sector to revise the procurement standards, policies, practices and procedures of the FAA to reduce any impediments to the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services, or other sources, as required.” Source link #Aviation #industry #pushes #air #traffic #improvements #hiring Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The latest Android update includes live scam message detection The latest Android update includes live scam message detection Google has just announced the four latest features of its Android 15 operating system. First up, Google Messages now uses AI to detect scam messages in real time. Scam Detection will notify you if it detects suspicious writing patterns from the messages you’re receiving and will give you the option to report and/or block the conversation. For the privacy-minded, Scam Detection runs locally on your device, keeping your messages safe from prying eyes. Find My Device can now let you share your location live with your friends, and you can see each other on a map while trying to meet up. It’s a handy feature for those who want to watch their loved ones, ensuring they end up where they should be. This feature was already part of Google Maps (and Apple’s own Find My app) but is now rolled into Find My Device. New games are coming to Android Auto, including Candy Crush Soda Saga, Angry Birds 2, and Beach Buggy Racing. After downloading them to your phone, you can play them in your car while parked. The Chrome app for Android will also now track price comparisons for products and potentially send you alerts when an item is on *****. You can click here to learn more about the latest Android updates. Pixel smartphone owners can also check out the newest features exclusive to these devices. Source link #latest #Android #update #includes #live #scam #message #detection Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jay-Z sues ***** accuser for defamation – The A.V. Club Jay-Z sues ***** accuser for defamation – The A.V. Club Jay-Z sues ***** accuser for defamation The A.V. ClubJay-Z files defamation lawsuit against former accuser, her attorneys ABC NewsJay-Z accuser stands by ***** claims after rapper sues for defamation Page Six Source link #JayZ #sues #***** #accuser #defamation #A.V #Club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Detective Pikachu Gets New Budget-Priced 4K Steelbook Edition Detective Pikachu Gets New Budget-Priced 4K Steelbook Edition Pokemon fans can now preorder a new Limited Edition Steelbook of Detective Pikachu on 4K UHD Blu-ray. The charming live-action Pokemon movie received a 4K steelbook edition alongside its initial Blu-ray release in 2019, but that Best Buy-exclusive version is long gone. If you missed out and want to add Detective Pikachu to your collection, you can preorder Detective Pikachu’s Limited Edition Steelbook at Gruv for $28 ahead of its April 29 release. $28 | Releases April 29 This version of the film includes 4K, Blu-ray, and digital copies of Detective Pikachu. The big selling point is the steelbook–adorned with Pikachu’s lovable face (complete with his detective’s hat), it’s a fun way to show off your limited edition set. Inside are two discs (4K and Blu-ray), and a digital code lets you download a copy of the film. Note that this must be redeemed before June 30, 2027. Detective Pikachu earned solid reviews when it hit theaters in 2019, as the live-action spinoff featured a cast of lovable characters, unexpected plot twists, and a roster that moves beyond the original 151 Pokemon. Here’s a look at the bonus features included with the 4K Blu-ray: Alternate opening MY Pokemon Adventure Creating the World of Detective Pikachu featurettes Mr. Mime’s Audio Commentary Ryan Reynolds: Outside the Actor’s Studio Music Video Detective Pikachu helped turn the tides for video game adaptations and provided a blueprint for live-action adaptations of other storied franchises. Until The Super Mario Bros. Movie came around, Detective Pikachu was the highest grossing video game adaptation of all time. It currently sits in the third slot, as the recently released Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also passed it up. Detective Pikachu Limited Edition Steelbook If you don’t need the cool steelbook, Detective Pikachu 4K is already available. It’s also quite cheap at just $15. The standard Blu-ray version is even more affordable at $5.56. These even come with the same bonus features as the limited edition launching in April–so unless you need the cool collector’s steelbook, you can save a lot of money by opting for these currently available alternatives. Detective Pikachu played a huge part in changing the perception and expectations for video game adaptations. It also provided a blueprint for live-action adaptations of other storied game franchises with similar cartoonish graphical styles. Until The Super Mario Bros. Movie shattered records in 2023, Detective Pikachu was the highest grossing video game adaptation of all time. It currently sits in the third slot, as the recently released Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also passed it up. If you like steelbooks, it’s worth noting that Walmart just released a new Limited Edition Steelbook version of the Mario Movie on 4K Blu-ray. Meanwhile, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 arrives on 4K Blu-ray with two steelbooks in April, one with Sonic cover art and an Amazon-exclusive edition with Shadow the Hedgehog. Looking for more Pikachu gear to round out your collection? Here’s a quick look at some of our favorite Pokemon merchandise, ranging from digital watches and plushies to winter hats and Funko Pops. More Pokemon Merch Source link #Detective #Pikachu #BudgetPriced #Steelbook #Edition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD RX 9060 XT might not be the Nvidia-beating GPU we first thought AMD RX 9060 XT might not be the Nvidia-beating GPU we first thought A new leak tells me that AMD’s RX 9060 XT may repeat the same mistake as the RX 7600 XT, all the while missing out on a chance to win against rival Nvidia. While AMD’s RX 9060 XT may not compete against some of the best graphics cards, it’s going to be a mainstream card, which is great news for gamers. The downside, as is often the case, might lie in VRAM. As shown in this listing filed with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), Acer has just registered several new trademarks for its upcoming GPUs. This includes the Acer Predator Bifrost RX 9060 XT OC in two variants: One with 8GB VRAM and one with 16GB. Variety is good, but as we’ve seen in the last-gen RX 7600 XT, AMD walked in Nvidia’s footsteps and equipped both cards with a narrow 128-bit memory bus. This stifled their bandwidth, making the 16GB version pricier, but very similar in terms of performance. The reason I mention Nvidia here is simple: Nvidia did it first with the RTX 4060 Ti, achieving a similar end result. In fact, the RTX 4060 Ti barely managed to beat the RTX 3060 Ti in some benchmarks. The extra cost and extra VRAM didn’t amount to much, what with the limited bandwidth. Jacob ****** / Digital Trends Repeating the same memory configuration as in the previous gen may not do AMD any favors. Seeing as the RX 7600 XT ended up underwhelming in benchmarks, the RX 9060 XT might end up in the same position. Nvidia’s RTX 5060 will also have the upper hand due to having inherently more bandwidth, regardless of the bus width, and that’s because it’ll use GDDR7 memory clocked at 28Gbps instead of GDDR6. Meanwhile, AMD is sticking to GDDR6 in this generation, capped at 20Gbps. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming There have been rumors of an RX 9060 XT with 12GB VRAM. Even that would be an improvement, with two versions at 12GB and 16GB, respectively, and with a 192-bit bus. A lot of it will come down to total bandwidth, and it’s too early to say where that’ll end up. Leakers claim that the RX 9060 XT will rival Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti, which would place it behind the curve — stacking more VRAM would certainly help here. Keep in mind that EEC listings don’t mean that these GPUs are certainly coming out. We’ve seen some wild listings in the past, such as an RTX 5090 Titan, and many never made it to market. However, it wouldn’t be crazy to assume that we will get the RX 9060 XT in two configurations, and if AMD indeed keeps them at 16GB and 8GB with a 128-bit memory interface, we might see history repeat itself when the benchmarks come out. Meanwhile, the RX 9070 XT is almost here. Source link #AMD #Nvidiabeating #GPU #thought Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aviation industry pushes for air traffic improvements, more hiring Aviation industry pushes for air traffic improvements, more hiring File photo shows the air traffic control tower at Chicago’s Midway International Airport. M. Spencer Green | AP Aviation industry members on Tuesday again urged lawmakers for newer air traffic control technology and more hiring of air traffic controllers as airlines continue to complain about longtime shortfalls, while air travel demand has boomed. Their testimony was delivered to a House committee hearing about a month after an American Airlines regional jet and an Army ****** Hawk helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing all 67 people on board the two aircraft in the deadliest U.S. airline ****** since 2001. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said last week that the Trump administration is taking steps to increase air traffic controller staffing, raising starting salaries by 30% for staff who go through the Federal Aviation Administration’s academy. Air traffic controller staffing is down about 9% from 2012, while air travel demand has hit new records, according to testimony from Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Duffy’s comments come as President Donald Trump has tasked his billionaire advisor Elon Musk with cost-cutting throughout the federal government. But Musk’s involvement has raised concerns about conflicts of interest from Democratic lawmakers, especially since the FAA is one of the regulators of Musk’s company SpaceX. The cost cuts have layoffs of included about 300 FAA employees. The DOT said it didn’t include air traffic controllers. Read more CNBC airline news “This demoralizes the entire workforce and distracts from the agency’s efforts to modernize and improve the aviation system — as well as taking away from the primary mission of the FAA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the U.S. aviation system and ultimately, the safety of the American flying public,” David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, said in written testimony. He said “blanket changes, indiscriminate dismissals or other arbitrary edicts will not help this country maintain the safest air traffic control system.” For his part, Nick Calio, head of Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. airlines including United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others, recommended relying on Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency or “procurement experts from the private sector to revise the procurement standards, policies, practices and procedures of the FAA to reduce any impediments to the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services, or other sources, as required.” Source link #Aviation #industry #pushes #air #traffic #improvements #hiring Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

India beat Australia to reach Champions Trophy final India beat Australia to reach Champions Trophy final India hold their nerve to reach the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy final with a four-wicket victory over Australia in Dubai. Source link #India #beat #Australia #reach #Champions #Trophy #final Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fortnite has new secret quest, but there is catch Fortnite has new secret quest, but there is catch Fortnite has another secret quest, and you have to follow precise instructions on how to complete it. Source link #Fortnite #secret #quest #catch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qualcomm CEO welcomes TSMC $100 billion investment in U.S. chipmaking Qualcomm CEO welcomes TSMC $100 billion investment in U.S. chipmaking Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.‘s $100 billion commitment to expand manufacturing in the U.S. is “great news,” Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told CNBC on Tuesday, adding it helps with diversification of chipmaking locations. Amon also addressed U.S President Donald Trump’s tariff policy, suggesting longer term technology trends would outweigh any short term uncertainty. Trump announced on Monday that TSMC would invest $100 billion in the U.S. which would go toward building more chip fabrication plants in Arizona. TSMC is the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer and supplies chips to the likes of Qualcomm, Apple and Nvidia. The U.S., under leadership of both Trump and former President Joe Biden, has sought to bring more cutting-edge chip manufacturing to American soil on the grounds that it is a matter of national and economic security to have these advanced technologies made closer to home. Many in the technology industry have backed these plans, including Qualcomm. “Look, this is great news,” Amon said. “It shows that semiconductors are important. It’s going to be important for … the economy. Economic security means access to semiconductors. More manufacturing is music to our ears.” Amon said that some of Qualcomm’s chips are already manufactured in TSMC’s existing plants in Arizona and in the future, the company will get more semiconductors made in the U.S. “TSMC is a great supplier of manufacturing for Qualcomm. They have a facility in Arizona. We already have chips built in Arizona. The more capacity that they put we’re going to use it, same way we’ve been using in Taiwan, we’re going to use it in other locations,” Amon said. Global companies are also digesting the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. on Mexico and Canada as well as additional duties on China. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon speaks at the Computex forum in Taipei, Taiwan, June 3, 2024. Ann Wang | Reuters Amon said it’s currently difficult to predict the impact on Qualcomm from the tariffs. “It’s hard to tell because you don’t know exactly how this is going to go. The interesting thing is we’re big exporters of chips. We’re not an importer of chips … Chips are going to devices. They’re made all over the world, and it’s hard to really know what is happening,” Amon said. “We’re just is going to navigate based on whatever the outcome is.” The Qualcomm CEO said there are a number of key technology trends that are likely to support the U.S. giant’s business in the long term, over the short term tariff uncertainty. We are right at the “beginning of a significant upgrade for AI smartphones. We’re seeing PCs changing to AI PCs. Cars are becoming computers. That’s what’s driving our business, not necessarily what we’re going to see in the short term,” Amon said. Source link #Qualcomm #CEO #welcomes #TSMC #billion #investment #U.S #chipmaking Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fears of reduction in promised koala park coming ‘soon’ Fears of reduction in promised koala park coming ‘soon’ Conservation groups are running out of patience for the declaration of a national park to protect koalas amid investigations into how big it will be, and whether it can produce new funds. The proposed Great Koala National Park aims to link dozens of koala hubs near Coffs Harbour in northern NSW to protect 100 native species, including up to one in every eight koalas living in NSW, Queensland and the ACT. It was a major election promise for the NSW Labor government, but its eventual size is still being considered. Several conservation organisation heads have voiced their concerns over the promised park in an open letter published on Wednesday. World Wildlife Fund for Nature Australia chief executive Dermot O’Gorman said the promised park needed to be declared across 176,000 hectares of koala habitat. “Not one hectare less will be enough,” he said. Greenpeace chief executive David Ritter said Australia was a global deforestation and extinction hot spot. “The declaration of a Great Koala National Park that addresses our deforestation and extinction crises is long overdue,” he said. NSW Nature Conservation Council chief executive Jacqui Mumford said the park was the government’s centrepiece environmental commitment during the 2023 election campaign. “However it has been over 700 days and we are still waiting for them to deliver,” she said. “If they are serious about a legacy that doesn’t involve koalas continuing their trajectory towards extinction, they will deliver the park in full without any further delays.” The group said ending forestry logging and declaring the park was essential to protecting an estimated 12,000 koalas. The timber industry has preferred a proposed 37,000ha park, costing less and saving more jobs, than an otherwise acceptable 58,000ha alternative. The government remains committed to delivering the park but has not yet decided how big it will be, Premier Chris Minns told a budget estimates hearing in February. “We’ll make a decision soon enough, but we’ve restricted the amount that can be land-cleared,” he said. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told a separate hearing on Monday the government also needed to manage the impact on communities and could not provide a time frame for an announcement. The government is also looking at whether it can generate *********** Carbon Credit Units through the park’s creation which could be used to fund landscape restoration, Ms Sharpe told the hearing. Source link #Fears #reduction #promised #koala #park #coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Linda McMahon gives Education staffers their ‘final mission’ – The Hill Linda McMahon gives Education staffers their ‘final mission’ – The Hill Linda McMahon gives Education staffers their ‘final mission’ The HillHow Each Senator Voted to Confirm Linda McMahon as Education Secretary The New York TimesU.S. Senate C-SPAN Source link #Linda #McMahon #Education #staffers #final #mission #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Just 4 months after its release, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard has joined PlayStation Plus Just 4 months after its release, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard has joined PlayStation Plus March’s PlayStation Plus Essential games are now available. This month’s first wave of PlayStation Plus games are Dragon Age: The Veilguard (PS5), Sonic Colors Ultimate (PS4) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection (PS4, PS5). All three titles are available for members to claim until March 31. The inclusion of Dragon Age: The Veilguard in March’s PlayStation Plus line-up is notable, given that BioWare’s high-profile game was released only four months ago on October 31, 2024. It’s perhaps reflective of the game’s underwhelming commercial performance. Publisher EA has said that the fantasy RPG “engaged” around 1.5 million players during its first two months of availability, which was nearly half of its expectations. In January, BioWare general manager Gary McKay confirmed that the studio was downsizing, stating that the next Mass Effect game didn’t require “support from the full studio” at this stage of its development. VGC’s 3/5 star Dragon Age: The Veilguard review said the title “has great characters, but gameplay stuck in the past”. Our 4/5 star Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection review said “Digital Eclipse‘s latest retro compilation celebrates Konami‘s Turtles games in style.” We also awarded Sonic Colors Ultimate 4/5 stars. “Both fans of the Wii original and newcomers will enjoy *****‘s top-notch remaster,” our review said. Sony recently started issuing compensation for last month’s PlayStation Network downtime. In early February, a PSN outage left PlayStation Plus users unable to play games online for almost 24 hours. Sony announced at the time that it planned to offer subscribers an additional five days of service to compensate for the outage. Source link #months #release #BioWares #Dragon #Age #Veilguard #joined #PlayStation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arne Slot: Liverpool boss told referee Michael Oliver he would ‘blame him’ if Reds don’t win title Arne Slot: Liverpool boss told referee Michael Oliver he would ‘blame him’ if Reds don’t win title Liverpool manager Arne Slot told referee Michael Oliver he would blame him if the club failed to win this season’s Premier League. The Dutchman was shown a straight red card after he confronted Oliver and one of his assistant referees on the pitch following his side’s 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton last month. Slot was given a two-match ban and fined £70,000 by an independent Football Association commission after accepting a charge of acting in an improper manner and using insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee. Oliver alleged Slot, while shaking the official’s hand, said: “If we don’t win the league, I’ll [expletive] blame you.” Slot disputed the alleged language used, claiming he instead said “if we don’t win the league, I will have you to thank for that”. But the commission decided it was “more likely than not that Arne Slot used the language alleged by the referee and the FA”. The FA argued the discrepancy didn’t make a material difference to the sanction because the words used still constituted Slot acting in an improper manner. Slot accepted that, and did not dispute stating “[expletive] disgrace” to the assistant referee as part of his angry outburst. The FA also alleged the Reds boss said Oliver “[expletive] give them everything”, and hoped the referee “was proud of that performance”. Slot acknowledged his actions were unacceptable and he let his frustrations get the better of him, because he felt certain decisions during the game went against his side. The commission acknowledged he had since made a sincere apology both privately and in public. Slot’s fine was reduced from £100,000 due to mitigating factors, including his apology, admitting the charge at the earliest opportunity and because he had no previous record of misconduct. Slot’s assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff was also given a two-match touchline ban and fined £7,000 after the FA alleged he approached Oliver in an “extremely aggressive manner”, and said he was a “[expletive] disgrace”. Liverpool and Everton were both charged with failing to ensure their players did not behave in a way which was improper or provocative. The late chaos at Goodison Park began after James Tarkowski scored a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser for Everton, which was awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) check. Liverpool were adamant the goal should have been disallowed because of a shove by Toffees striker Beto on Reds defender Ibrahima Konate in the build-up. Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure then celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans at the final whistle, before being confronted by visiting midfielder Curtis Jones, with both players sent off for second yellow-card offences. Slot and Hulshoff were both shown the red card after approaching Oliver on the pitch. After serving the touchline ban, Slot’s first domestic game back in the dugout will come after the international break when his side face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final on 16 March. Liverpool, who are 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, host Everton at Anfield on 2 April. Source link #Arne #Slot #Liverpool #boss #told #referee #Michael #Oliver #blame #Reds #dont #win #title Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch Version Release Date and Details Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch Version Release Date and Details The official release date for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is Thursday, March 20, 2025. Source link #Xenoblade #Chronicles #Switch #Version #Release #Date #Details Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lopes gives Yokohama edge in Asian CL Elite last 16 Lopes gives Yokohama edge in Asian CL Elite last 16 Anderson Lopes’ first half header has earned Yokohama F Marinos a 1-0 first leg lead over Shanghai Port in the Asian Champions League Elite while Buriram United shared a 0-0 draw with visitors Johor Darul Ta’zim in Thailand. Steve Holland’s Marinos side will take a slender advantage into the second leg in Yokohama next Tuesday despite dominating for large portions of the game. Shanghai Port goalkeeper Yan Junling kept his team in the encounter, denying Lopes as early as the 10th minute. But the Brazilian, now the tournament’s joint-leading scorer with seven goals, made no mistake in the 30th minute when he nodded in from close range after Daiya Tono clipped the ball towards his unmarked teammate. Home striker Suphanat Mueanta went closest to breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute in Buriram, the Thailand international seeing his header palmed over the bar by JDT goalkeeper Andoni Zubiaurre. The teams are battling for a place in the quarter-final draw, which will feature four teams each from west and east Asia. The remaining rounds will be played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between April 25-May 3. Source link #Lopes #Yokohama #edge #Asian #Elite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ragnarok V: Returns brings the next stage of the Ragnarok Online franchise to mobile Ragnarok V: Returns brings the next stage of the Ragnarok Online franchise to mobile Ragnarok V: Returns, bringing the next stage of the franchise to mobile Find it soon on iOS and Android with an expected March 19th release date Choose from 6 classes, command a variety of allies and play with others While it’s had many mobile spinoffs to its name, one of the few things that we haven’t seen from the hit MMORPG franchise Ragnarok Online is anything approaching a proper mobile adaptation. Sure, there were rumblings about Ragnarok Mobile a while back, but now the most promising successor could be here with Ragnarok V: Returns. Ragnarok V: Returns has been floating in and out of soft launch in some regions, however, we’ve now spotted some proper app store listings for both iOS and Android that could indicate an upcoming wide-scale release. If so, it’d be one of the closest adaptations of the original MMORPG we’ve had for the series, if not an exact port. Ragnarok V: Returns offers many of the same mechanics as the original Ragnarok Online. Albeit you’ll be exploring a fully 3D world, with six classes (Swordman, Mage, Thief etc.) to pick from as you customise your character. You’ll also be able to command a variety of mercenaries and pets to bolster your ranks. To Ragnarok It seems as if Ragnarok V: Returns will drop on March 19th, which is only a few weeks away. Feedback seems to have been fairly positive and I’ve no doubt there are those of you who got the chance to try Ragnarok Mobile who are chomping at the bit for more! But in the meantime, you can always tide yourself over with some of the other mobile adaptations the series has had. Although Poring Rush may be a little more casual than you hardcore MMORPG folks out there are used to! And if you do want to see what other options are out there to sink your teeth into, if you’re an MMORPG lover you should check out our list of the top 7 mobile games like World of Warcraft! Source link #Ragnarok #Returns #brings #stage #Ragnarok #Online #franchise #mobile Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq wipe out Trump-led gains as tariff sell-off continues Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq wipe out Trump-led gains as tariff sell-off continues US markets have eliminated all their post-election gains as stocks deepen their sell-off with fresh tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China now officially in effect. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) index is now down 1% since Election Day. Notably, it has erased about $3.3 trillion in market cap since Feb. 19. The Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) has fallen over 4% over that same time *******, while the broader tech index (^IXIC) is down about 1.5%. The blue-chip Dow (^DJI) has dropped nearly 1% since Nov. 5. DJI – Free Realtime Quote • USD As of 11:56:20 AM EST. Market Open. ^DJI ^GSPC ^IXIC Only a few months ago, stocks traded at consistent records as Donald Trump’s presidential win fueled bullish Wall Street euphoria on hopes of pro-business policies and lower taxes. Flash forward to today, and that euphoria has all but evaporated as Trump’s tariffs spark growth fears while inflation remains stubbornly elevated. “Many of the key trends in financial markets in the run-up to and immediate aftermath of the US election last November have stalled or partly reversed since President Trump took office last month,” Jonas Goltermann, deputy chief markets economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a note last week. “Since then, US Treasury yields have dropped back, the 2-10s curve has flattened, US equities have struggled both in absolute terms and relative to those elsewhere, and the dollar has dropped back,” he said. “In other words, the ‘Trump trade’ narrative that dominated many markets in Q4 is floundering.” Source link #Dow #Nasdaq #wipe #Trumpled #gains #tariff #selloff #continues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Acclaim is back from the ashes to support indie games and revive its own classic franchises Acclaim is back from the ashes to support indie games and revive its own classic franchises Acclaim was one of the biggest gaming brands in the ’80s and ’90s, but the company ran into trouble in the the early 2000s. It and it was . Now, more than twenty years later, a group of industry veterans has revived the publisher with the aim of supporting indie developers and revitalizing its own gaming franchises. The company will help indie studios on the funding, marketing and PR fronts. That’s very welcome news, especially at a time when funding is tougher to come by. Acclaim’s plan to revive its own catalog of gaming IP is pretty exciting too. The company, which was founded in 1987, published the console and PC versions of the NBA Jam and Mortal Kombat series, as well as a string of licensed games, including WWF titles, The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare, Spider-Man games, Alien 3, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Space Jam and many more. Acclaim also published the first games in the Burnout and Turok franchises. CEO Alex Josef said in a press release that Acclaim has already signed some indie games and it plans to reveal those soon. But here’s hoping the publisher gives the people what they really want: a modern take on . Source link #Acclaim #ashes #support #indie #games #revive #classic #franchises Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]