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Can Europe deter Russia without US military? Can Europe deter Russia without US military? Donald Trump appears to have more confidence in the capabilities of Britain’s armed forces than some of his own generals – or, for that matter, many of Britain’s retired military top brass. When asked at his news conference with the *** prime minister about US security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump said: “The British have incredible soldiers, incredible military and they can take care of themselves.” However, the US president did leave the question hanging in the air as to whether the *** military could take on Russia. In public, senior US military officers are quick to praise the professionalism of Britain’s armed forces. But in private, they’re often highly critical of recent cuts to their size, especially to the British Army, which now has just over 70,000 regular troops. “Too small” is what one very senior US general said in a private briefing on a visit to the ***. According to the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Russia’s military expenditure is now higher than Europe’s total defence spending, in terms of purchasing parity power. It’s increased by 41% and is now the equivalent of 6.7% of GDP. In contrast, the *** will be spending just 2.5% by 2027. President Trump’s comments underscore the reality that he’s not contemplating putting American troops on the ground in Ukraine to police any ceasefire. Any US presence will be economic, to exploit mining interests. He suggests that that in itself might be a deterrent to Russia attacking again. But even his administration thinks there must be some hard power too – provided by others. It’ll be up to European nations to do that. The question is not just whether Europe has the will: does it have the numbers too? The short answer is no. That is why Sir Keir Starmer has been pressing for additional US security guarantees from the world’s most powerful military. Britain is not alone in cutting its armed forces in response to the end of the Cold War. That trend in Europe is slowly being reversed, with more nations increasing defence spending. But Europe, on its own, would not be able to provide a force of 100-200,000 international troops, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggests would be needed to deter Russia from attacking again. Instead, Western officials have said they’re thinking of a force of up to 30,000 troops. European jets and warships would help monitor Ukraine’s airspace and shipping lanes. That force would be focused on providing “reassurance” at key sites – Ukraine’s cities, ports and nuclear power stations. They would not be placed anywhere near the current front lines in Eastern Ukraine. European fighter jets and warships would also monitor Ukraine’s air space and shipping lanes. But these same Western officials acknowledge that this would not be enough, hence the calls for a US “backstop” – “to have the confidence that whatever forces are deployed will not be challenged by Russia” and to “give the prime minister confidence that he can deploy British forces safely”. Officials believe that, at the very least, the US could provide oversight to any European forces with a “command and control element” and US fighter jets ready to respond from its airbases in Poland and Romania. Europe cannot match American space-based surveillance or intelligence-gathering capabilities. It could also agree to continuing to supply Ukraine with weapons. While Europe has recently overtaken the US in terms of the proportion of Western weapons supplied to Ukraine, one Western source said the US had provided “the cream” – such as long range missiles and air defence systems. European nations also do not have the necessary enablers to conduct large-scale military operations on their own. The supply of Western weapons to Ukraine has been dependent on US logistics. Nato’s bombing campaign over Libya in 2011 also highlighted deficiencies – with European nations supposedly taking the lead, but still dependent on US support. Allies relied on US refuelling tankers and US targeting. But Sir Keir Starmer appears to have left Washington without any guarantees of US military support. Speaking to the BBC this morning, *** Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggested that Donald Trump’s re-commitment to Nato’s Article 5 – whereby an attack on one ally would be interpreted as an attack on all – might be enough. But the US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has previously stated that any international troops sent to Ukraine will be neither a Nato force nor covered by its treaty. At present, there is no such Nato-style security guarantee. Europe’s strength of will is being tested. The prime minister, who’s convening a meeting of leaders this weekend, will soon find out whether warm words from Donald Trump are enough to convince others to join the *** in putting boots on the ground. France is the only other major European power that so far appears to be willing to do the same. Some Northern European nations – Denmark, Sweden and the Baltic states – are willing to consider a commitment, but again would like US security guarantees. Spain, Italy and Germany are so far opposed. Sir Keir may still believe there’s room for negotiation, that the US might still be willing to back a European force. But as for Donald Trump’s question – would Britain be able to take on Russia’s military? Even though Russian forces have been weakened, the answer is no. Source link #Europe #deter #Russia #military Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Czech Republic train fire seen in drone footage Czech Republic train fire seen in drone footage Drone footage shows firefighters tackling a huge fire in the eastern Olomouc region of the Czech Republic after a train derailed. The regional fire service said tanks containing the flammable chemical benzene were damaged in the derailment. It added on Friday afternoon that aerial support was at the scene, while serviceman will still extinguishing 15 rail tankers in an operation expected to last “several hours”. Source link #Czech #Republic #train #fire #drone #footage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

La Quimera Is a New Co-Op Sci-Fi FPS from Reburn (formerly 4A Games Ukraine) La Quimera Is a New Co-Op Sci-Fi FPS from Reburn (formerly 4A Games Ukraine) 4A Games Ukraine is rebranding as Reburn. The studio has also announced a new co-op Sci-Fi first-person shooter game called La Quimera. Source link #Quimera #CoOp #SciFi #FPS #Reburn #Games #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Americans are suffering from ‘sticker shock’ — here’s how to adjust Americans are suffering from ‘sticker shock’ — here’s how to adjust A worker stocks eggs at a grocery store in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 2025. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images Whether it’s a dozen eggs or a new car, Americans are having a hard time adjusting to current prices. Nearly all Americans report experiencing some form of “sticker shock,” regardless of income, according to a recent report by Wells Fargo. In fact, 90% of adults said they are still surprised by the cost of some goods, such as a bottle of water, a tank of gas, dinner out or concert tickets, and said that the actual costs are between 55% and 200% higher than what they expected depending on the item. More from Personal Finance: How the U.S. has used tariffs throughout history What the ‘mother of all trade wars’ can teach us about tariffs As tariffs ramp up, this investment can protect against inflation Many Americans are still cutting back on spending, making financial choices and delaying some life plans, the Wells Fargo report also found. The firm polled more than 3,600 consumers in the fall. “The value of the dollar and what it is providing may not be as predictable anymore,” said Michael Liersch, head of advice and planning at Wells Fargo. As a result, “consumer behaviors are shifting.” Still, adjusting to a new normal takes time, he added: “Habit formation does take a while. Next year what you can imagine seeing is consumers being a little less surprised or shocked by prices and adapting to the current situation to create that goals-based plan.” Some change is already apparent. Although credit card debt recently notched a fresh high, the rate of growth slowed, which indicates that shoppers are starting to lean less on credit cards to make ends meet in a typical month, according to Charlie Wise, TransUnion’s senior vice president of global research and consulting. “After years of very high inflation, they are kind of figuring it out,” Wise said. “They’ve adjusted their baseline for what things cost right now.” But with President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico set to take effect in March, there is also the possibility that prices will rise even further in the months ahead. Consumers fear inflation will pick up Mexico and Canada tariffs could put pressure on some consumer staples, experts say. That includes already high grocery prices, which are up 28% over the last five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The prospect of tariffs and renewed inflation is weighing heavily on many consumers. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index sank in February, notching the largest monthly drop since August 2021. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index similarly found that Americans largely fear that inflation will flare up again. A recent CreditCards.com survey found that 23% of Americans expect to worsen or go into credit card debt this year, in part because they are making more purchases ahead of higher tariffs. How to battle sticker shock Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch recommends setting a spending plan and tracking expenses. That helps you pinpoint wasteful purchases and those where prices are accelerating and take steps to save. “Write out all your expenses currently from those essentials and the wants, figuring out an average monthly spend for fluctuating categories,” she said. “Once you have it all listed out, you can begin hacking away at unnecessary purchases or at least set goals for reducing in those nonessential categories.” Identify triggers that lead to impulse purchases to help dodge them in the future, Woroch also said. “If you can’t resist a *****, then unsubscribe from store newsletters and turn off push notifications in deal apps.” Ultimately, being more in control of your spending will “reduce the stress that comes with worry about how you’re going to afford higher prices,” Woroch said. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Source link #Americans #suffering #sticker #shock #heres #adjust Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

TV auctioneer cleared of assaulting wife TV auctioneer cleared of assaulting wife BBC TV auctioneer Charles Hanson has been cleared of assaulting his wife and using controlling or coercive behaviour against her following a trial at Derby Crown Court. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts. Source link #auctioneer #cleared #assaulting #wife Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2: What Could a Gas Giant Planet Look Like? Helldivers 2: What Could a Gas Giant Planet Look Like? The world of Helldivers 2 is full of many planets that players can explore and liberate, but there has yet to be one full of nothing but gas. Source link #Helldivers #Gas #Giant #Planet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here are the other stocks forming the ‘death cross’ following Microsoft this week Here are the other stocks forming the ‘death cross’ following Microsoft this week Microsoft this week formed an ominous chart pattern, and other stocks could follow it. The tech giant’s 50-day moving average declined below its 200-day counterpart. This is known as a ” death cross ,” a phenomenon technical analysts often see a sign of further declines to come. This comes during a rough patch for the broader market. The major averages are tracking for a losing week and month as thanks to mounting headwinds, such as geopolitical uncertainty, rising global trade tensions and high valuations — particularly after the artificial intelligence-fueled bull market of last year. Recent economic reports have also sparked questions about slowing economic growth and weakening consumer sentiment. Amid this volatility, CNBC Pro screened for stocks that were on the verge of forming the dreaded death cross chart pattern. Specifically, we searched for stocks in which: The gap between the 50- and 200-day moving averages is decreasing The 50-day hasn’t traded below the 200-day in the past few months The two averages are within 3% of each other These stocks made the cut: Caterpillar Caterpillar made the cut, with its $365 50-day average approaching its 200-day of around $361. Shares have struggled this month, losing 7% in part due to rising trade tensions. The company also reported in late January mixed fourth-quarter results, putting pressure on the stock. UBS upgraded Caterpillar to neutral from sell earlier this month after its latest financial print, however, saying it sees a balanced risk/reward for the stock given its “reasonable initial 2025 outlook.” Las Vegas Sands The 50-day average of Las Vegas Sands also was just a few cents above its 200-day counterpart, putting the stock at risk. Las Vegas Sands are already down 13% year to date and have lost 2.8% in February. Vulcan Materials Vulcan Materials made the list with its 50-day average of around $264 quickly approaching its 200-day counterpart of $258. The stock has fallen about 4% in 2025, while the S & P 500 materials sector is up nearly 5% in that time. Eaton Eaton has already formed a death cross chart pattern, with the power management company losing than 13% this year as the artificial intelligence trade has begun to falter. The stock is coming off of a strong 2024 that was fueled by enthusiasm over the company’s business in providing electrical infrastructure and industrial products for AI data centers, such as transformers. Shares are still up more than 46% over the past year. Ross Stores Ross Stores’ 50-day and 200-day moving averages were virtually at the same level above $146 through Thursday’s close. The last time Ross Stores formed a death cross was in 2023. Shares have lost 7.2% this year even as the company was considered a favorable play in a high inflation environment. J.B. Hunt Transport Services J.B. Hunt ‘s 50-day moving average has been oscillating above and below its 200-day moving average, breaking above the latter in late 2024 after holding below it for most of last year. Through Thursday’s close, the 50-day was just above the 200-day at around $171. The stock have fallen 5.4% this year. Trane Technologies Trane Technologies has not seen a death cross chart pattern since mid-2022. Now, the stock’s 50-day average is within reach of its 200-day counterpart of $366. Shares are down about more than 6% year to date. The company, which makes energy-efficient products for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, has lost momentum amid President Donald Trump’s antagonistic stance on climate solutions and green investments. Hubbell Electrical products manufacturer Hubbell’s 50-day moving average is about $3 above its 200-day counterpart, putting the stock in danger of a death cross. The last time the stock formed the ominous pattern was in mid-2022, in the throes of a bear market on Wall Street. PTC PTC ‘s stock has already formed a death cross chart pattern, with the 200-day moving average of $181.15 scaling above a 50-day of nearly $180. — CNBC’s Nick Wells contributed to this report. Source link #stocks #forming #death #cross #Microsoft #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Witcher 4 Director Clears Up Confusion About Ciri’s Look In Latest Trailer Witcher 4 Director Clears Up Confusion About Ciri’s Look In Latest Trailer A recent behind-the-scenes video about how The Witcher 4’s impressive announcement trailer came together featured footage of the character Ciri sporting a different look–or at least that’s what some fans thought they saw in the footage. The game’s director has now responded, saying the studio has not modified Ciri’s look and attempted to explain why her character model in the behind-the-scenes video may appear to look different from the trailer itself. “The behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer. We have not modified it,” Sebastian Kalemba said. “What you’re seeing is raw footage–without facial animation, lighting, or virtual camera lenses.” Kalemba also assured fans that the newly released footage in the behind-the-scenes video represents a “work-in-progress snapshot” of Ciri’s look. “This variation is a natural part of the game development process. At this point, any character’s appearance may vary depending on the medium–whether it’s in a trailer, a 3D model, or in-game,” he said. After the original Witcher trilogy focused on Geralt, The Witcher 4 tells its story from the perspective of Ciri. Kalemba previously talked about how Ciri was a “natural choice” for The Witcher 4. “There’s plenty of room for her and for us, also, to build on top of [her]. There’s so much room for exploration, and because she’s such a nuanced character, the beginning of her journey gives us freedom and so many opportunities to be able to dig in and use [that] for good,” he said. The Witcher 4 kicks off a new trilogy of Witcher games, which are in development alongside CD Projekt’s other games, including a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel and a Witcher remake. The Witcher 4, like CD Projekt’s other games, is being made using Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 following CD Projekt and Epic striking a major development deal. Source link #Witcher #Director #Clears #Confusion #Ciris #Latest #Trailer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Built vs Bought: why prebuilt systems are always superior to custom gaming PCs Built vs Bought: why prebuilt systems are always superior to custom gaming PCs Oh boy, inflammatory headline up there, you bet – but it’s kinda true. Let me preface this with the fact that I am a professional system builder, at least in the world of tech journalism. At last count, I had completed something like 90 published build logs. Everywhere from online, for Techradar, Tom’s Hardware, PC Gamer, and in print at Maximum PC magazine. I’ve done a lot with it. It’s my bread and butter, encouraging good folk to forsake the shackles of corporate gaming PC system integrators and instead take the reigns in the pursuit of building their own bespoke rig perfect for them. It’s a big part of what I do. It’s literally the entire reason I have a career to begin with, and I’m very aware of that. I still love system building, I do – and I’d encourage everyone to keep building their own rigs. That said, I’d be a liar if I didn’t recognize the significant advantages that come from just buying one of the best gaming PCs you can get off the shelf, from the likes of iBuyPower, Origin, Corsair, CyberPower, or whoever your favorite system builder is. The Corsair One is a phenomenal pre-built system – and far more compact than anything the average builder could assemble themselves. The honest truth is that, unless you’re an IT god who’s spent years pruning over every little detail of system building with intimate knowledge of all of the latest and greatest hardware and its caveats, you’re just not going to be able to compete with a consummate professional who’s day job it is is to build gaming PCs for these companies. It’s like comparing your dad’s “famous” chili **** carne recipe (because, let’s face it, everyone’s dad has a chili recipe that takes a full 12 hours of stewing in a crockpot for some unknown reason) to Gordon Ramsay’s. Like yeah, it’s good, but it’s not going to blow up your palette and scream profanities at you while it does so. The Cost Enough fluff; why am I so enamored with system builders? Is it because I worked at Corsair years ago and secretly hate the job I’ve created for myself? No. It’s not. That’s sarcasm, by the way. Nope, the biggest reason, by far, is cost and access. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched as the entire tech industry imploded on itself as the working-from-home ***** erupted to the forefront of our little industry. Good people scrambled for hardware and components. Combine that with the global chip shortage and supply chain issues, plus the crypto craze and unscrupulous scalpers sucking up every graphics card they could get their grubby little mitts on, and the outcome was obvious. Building a custom rig was damn near impossible, at a reasonable price anyway. Even getting access to the hardware via traditional avenues was an insurmountable task. At the time, the only people who could get a healthy supply of Nvidia and AMD graphics cards were the system builders and integrators. They had a direct line of access to Nvidia, AMD, Intel, and their AIB partners. That’s a good enough reason to start with, particularly with the ongoing RTX 50 series shortages we’re currently seeing, mimicking that same drama from 2020. Finding a new GPU during the chip shortage was a nightmare – and it’s still not easy. (Image credit: Aleksandr Grechanyuk / Shutterstock) Then there’s the cost. The thing is, most system builders aren’t building three or four gaming PCs a week; they’re building several hundred. That requires ungodly amounts of graphics cards, processors, RAM, motherboards, you name it. What that means is they buy them in by the pallet. We’re talking 1,000 GPUs at a time, or more. Bought at a reduced price, sometimes several hundred bucks off what you’ll see at Scan, Amazon, or Newegg, and of course usually tax-free. It’s a similar reason as to why consoles are still so cost-effective by comparison (ever tried building a similarly priced PC to a PS5 Pro? It’s nigh-impossible). So straight out of the gate, doing it yourself, you have to compete with a company that has access to combined savings across pretty much every component you can imagine, and can then write that tax off too. Build costs are fairly minimal as well. Once you’re experienced enough and have a template, any reputable PC builder can finish a fairly slick rig in under 60 minutes, ready for an OS install and more, so there’s little cost on the labor front too – per unit, anyway. Quality Control And then there’s the overall quality of the rig. Not only can you be sure that your pre-bought system is going to be built to spec and to a high standard (as long as you’re buying from a trustworthy company that isn’t cutting corners), but all of the compatibility issues, software problems, and things of that ilk will be sorted for you before it even lands on your doorstep. You don’t have to worry about BIOS updates, or accidentally buying the wrong PCIe SSD for your motherboard, or getting too small a power supply, or cooler installation, or memory frequency motherboard incompatibility, or anything along those lines. Cable management, cooling, overclocking—all of it is going to be finely dialed from the jump. It’ll just work straight out of the gate. Yes, you might have to go in and uninstall whatever aftermarket antivirus they’ve chucked on there once it arrives, but aside from that, it’s almost immediately plug and play, and when time is a luxury, that’s a big advantage. CyberPower’s pre-built PCs are good quality and promise a nice, tidy interior – no need for expert cable management skills on your part. (Image credit: CyberPower PC) Just Buy It? So, chuck everything away then, close that PCPartPicker tab, and just buy a prebuilt, then? Well, yes and no. It’s like your car, right? You’re always going to get the folk who go around and build their own, tweak the ones they’ve got, and get ridiculous horsepower out of an engine in ways that shouldn’t be possible. Usually for some ridiculous investment of time or sum of money along the way. Or, alternatively, you could save the drama and just buy a 400-horsepower EV, or whatever your engine of choice is, straight off the shop floor, with few issues if any, and do 100 MPH in less than 5 seconds. More than enough for the average Joe. And you don’t have to deal with any of the building, or the worrying, or the waiting. But – and here’s the caveat that keeps me in custom PC territory – you’ll be driving down the road with your brand new car, ripping up the tarmac, and within ten minutes, you’ll see the exact same model drive by, and they’ll flash their lights at you, give you a wave, and you’ll be like, “Damn, I could’ve had something special instead”. I love building PCs; I do. I love tinkering, choosing the parts, the theme, the colors, and even the RGB, but if I didn’t do what I do as a day job and I needed something that just worked, without a doubt I’d just grab one off the shelf instead. You might also like… Source link #Built #Bought #prebuilt #systems #superior #custom #gaming #PCs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Even after Trump deal, Ukraine faces long uncertain road to mining ***** Even after Trump deal, Ukraine faces long uncertain road to mining ***** By Pratima Desai and Olena Harmash LONDON/KOPANKY, Ukraine (Reuters) – On snow-covered fields in central Ukraine, where some of the country’s biggest proven lithium deposits are located, a small team of ecological consultants drop sensors into holes in the earth to measure water levels. The environmental survey, contracted by the small Ukrainian mining company that holds the license, UkrLithiumMining, comes years ahead of any mining operations at the undeveloped site. It underlines how much work is still to be done before a much-vaunted minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States generates significant revenue for either side. President Donald Trump sees the minerals deal – which he is due to clinch on Friday with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington – as America’s way of earning back some of the money it has given to Ukraine in the form of financial aid and weaponry to help fight Russia, which invaded three years ago. For Denys Alyoshin, chief strategy officer of UkrLithiumMining, the Washington agreement is a step in the right direction because U.S. engagement makes Ukraine less vulnerable to Russian aggression in the longer term, he said. But without some form of Western security guarantee developing the Polokhivske lithium deposit would be tough, he said. The deposit – one of the largest in Europe – is located just 240 km (149 miles) northwest of the frontline with Russia. “Before the war broke out, I had a lot of commercial negotiations with … investors who were interested in the project,” Alyoshin told Reuters. “But when the war started … a rational CEO would not go to a country where there is a war, they would go to Zimbabwe, Canada or Africa. There are many places to go where there is no war.” Despite repeated requests from Zelenskiy, the Trump administration has offered Kyiv no security guarantee. That has raised doubts over the commercial feasibility of developing deposits of rare mineral resources, used in high-tech devices and batteries, given the risks of a return to war even if a ceasefire is agreed with Russia this year. A draft of the minerals deal, reviewed by Reuters, contained reassuring language but no guarantees of security. It focused instead on the creation of a joint U.S.-Ukraine managed “Reconstruction Investment Fund” to which Kyiv will contribute 50% of revenues of future monetization of state-owned natural resources. Furthermore, the terms of the deal are broad and further negotiations will be needed to pin down details, four experts told Reuters. Story Continues Even if a lasting peace returns to Ukraine, UkrLithiumMining needs to raise $350 million and requires at least 1.5 years to conduct a feasibility study before it can start building a mine and enrichment plant, Alyoshin said. “It means we will be able to reach steady stage production … it can be 2029.” The next U.S. presidential elections are due to take place in 2028, and Trump, the champion of minerals cooperation as a means of securing peace, would be constitutionally barred from running again, having served one term already. However, seven mining executives and industry analysts told Reuters that Alyoshin’s timeline is optimistic. Exploration periods are typically four years; a feasibility study would take another year before the construction of a processing plant can even begin. “The reality is that most lithium deposits in Ukraine were identified in the Soviet era and we haven’t had any real updates or exploration for many years,” said Federico Gay, analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), a London-based specialist information provider for the supply chain of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. “Even if everything stacks up, it would take a minimum of eight years for the Polokhivske deposit to be developed to the stage where it is producing usable lithium,” he said. Moreover, the deposit is deep and may require up to $800 million just to construct the mine and concentrator, said Gay, who added that another $1 billion investment would likely be needed to produce the lithium compounds needed for batteries. Despite the challenges, Alyoshin said his company eventually planned to produce about 1.5 million tonnes of raw ore a year and process that into 300,000 tonnes of petalite concentrate – a more lithium-rich substance. With additional investment, Alyoshin added the concentrate could be further refined to produce 22,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate. The specifics of planned production and processing timelines at the Polokhivske deposit have not been reported previously. CLASSIFIED RESERVES Demand for the minerals is high. Lithium is used in electric vehicle batteries, while rare earths are used in everything from auto motors to wind turbines to advanced military weapons systems. But turning Ukraine’s reserves of lithium and rare earths into operating mines and constructing processing facilities is a mammoth undertaking, according to more than 10 analysts and mining industry experts. Ukraine does not produce any rare earths but, according to Ukraine’s Institute of Geology, possesses large deposits of such minerals, including lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and yttrium. Detailed data about those reserves is classified. Private investors might be wary of a deal in which the U.S. received mined minerals in return for security guarantees, protection from future Russian attacks and aid. The mining industry would normally use royalty deals as a way to get financing from investors in return for a percentage of revenues from sales once production begins. Any deal by Trump to access Ukraine’s critical minerals won’t get the United States anywhere close to challenging China’s sizeable advantage in those key minerals, while he is in power. “Yes, it’s a counter to China, but you’ve still got the problem of where the minerals are going to be processed and how long it’s going to take,” said Julian Kettle, Vice Chair Metals and Mining at natural resources consultancy Wood Mackenzie. “Ukraine produces titanium and it has extensive graphite and lithium deposits. You can expand production at existing mines. But when it comes new frontier development, discovery to delivery of material could take up to 10 years.” China is already the world’s third-largest lithium producer, after Australia and Chile. It is also the world’s top producer of rare earth elements, which include neodymium used to make strong, light, powerful permanent magnets used in defense equipment. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a government agency, does not provide details of lithium production in the United States. It estimated 45,000 metric tons of rare earth oxides in mineral concentrates were produced last year – which would make the U.S. the second-largest concentrate producer after China. But the gap is large. According to USGS, China mined 270,000 metric tons of rare earth elements last year or 69% of the global total. And it has an even tighter stranglehold over the processing of rare earths – a complex and polluting process. Many companies that mine rare earth minerals still have to send their concentrate to China to be processed, meaning Beijing produces more than 90% of the world’s rare earth elements. MORE NEGOTIATION TO BE DONE Dominic Raab, head of global affairs at Appian Capital Advisory, a private equity firm that invests in mining companies, said he viewed the deal between the U.S. and Ukraine as a positive step forward in helping fund Ukraine’s redevelopment. “There’s plenty more due diligence and negotiation to be done,”said Raab, who previously served as former deputy prime minister and foreign secretary for the United Kingdom. Appian would be interested in investing in Ukraine’s minerals projects were there more information on the country’s geological potential, Raab said. Ukraine has deposits of 22 of the 50 minerals classified as critical by the U.S. government and has significant deposits of lithium, graphite, titanium, uranium used to generate nuclear power, alongside rare earth elements, according to BMI. “Ukraine hasn’t been mapped in 30 years. There’s so much more to be done before we get to a phase of advanced exploration in Ukraine,” said Gracelin Baskaran, director of the critical minerals security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, an American think tank. But she said that mining – which consumes around one-fifth of energy globally – required robust electricity infrastructure: “Ukraine has been bombed out. It’s not really a competitor given the state of infrastructure and a huge security risk.” (Reporting by Pratima Desai in London and Olena Harmash in Kyiv; additional reporting by Thomas Peter in Kopanky and Ernest Scheyder in Houston; editing by Veronica Brown, Mike Collett-White and Daniel Flynn) Source link #Trump #deal #Ukraine #faces #long #uncertain #road #mining #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How to Farm Gold Crowns in Monster Hunter Wilds How to Farm Gold Crowns in Monster Hunter Wilds · · February 28, 2025 Crowns are (or were) the biggest obstacle in the road to platinum in the Monster Hunter franchise. However, with the arrival of Monster Hunter Wilds, several changes have been applied to the saga’s “quality of life”. And, fortunately, some of the systems have made obtaining golden crowns easier. If you’re a first-time navigator, the vast majority of Monster Hunter Wilds monsters have varying sizes. When you encounter one in the smallest version, it gets a miniature gold crown icon, and when it appears in the largest version, it gets the large gold crown icon. To platinum Monster Hunter Wilds, you’ll need to collect 52 crowns, 26 of each type. 3 monsters in the cast have a fixed size. In this guide, I’ll teach you how to farm crowns in Monster Hunter Wilds by playing alone and with friends. Farming Crowns in Monster Hunter Wilds Solo! To farm solo, the technique we’ll use is called “save *****,” meaning you’ll keep reverting your save. The step-by-step is as follows: Turn off your PS5’s internet in Settings and open the game. Go to the region where the monster you want appears. Enter the tent and set the conditions for Abundance and any time of day. Check which monsters have spawned. If any/some you want have appeared, go to them and use the binoculars to check for the presence of a crown. If no crown has appeared, CLOSE THE GAME WITHOUT SAVING and repeat the process until one appears. When the crown appears, slay or capture the monster and SAVE THE GAME! How to Farm Crowns in Monster Hunter Wilds with Friends! Turn off your PS5’s internet in Settings and open the game. Go to the region where the monster you want appears. Enter the camp tent and set the conditions for Abundance and any time of day. Check which monsters have spawned. If any/some you want have appeared, go to them and use the binoculars to check for the presence of a crown. If no crown has appeared, CLOSE THE GAME WITHOUT SAVING and repeat the process until one appears. When the crown appears, slay or capture the monster and SAVE THE GAME! After slaying or capturing the monster, go to Alma and open the Fieldwork History menu. All your latest hunts are saved here. Just save it as an investigation and you can “trade” crowns with your friends. Each saved “Crown Investigation” can be repeated up to 3 times. If several of your friends are playing, the grind will be considerably smaller! You can save up to 50 Investigations, almost the entirety of the crowns. Remember to delete hunts that aren’t for monster with crowns so your tab doesn’t get messy. If you are planning to obtain the platinum trophy for the game, check our other guides related to Monster Hunter Wilds. You can easily capture the giant squid, learn how to catch whoppers, learn how to capture the shooting star and also the crab holding the ancient coin. Let us know in the comments how is your progress for the crowns and remember to join the discussion in our forum! SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Farm #Gold #Crowns #Monster #Hunter #Wilds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What parents need to know about protecting their kids from measles – The Dallas Morning News What parents need to know about protecting their kids from measles – The Dallas Morning News What parents need to know about protecting their kids from measles The Dallas Morning NewsMeasles cases approach 150 in ongoing West Texas outbreak CNNTexas leaders quiet amid the biggest measles outbreak in decades The Texas Tribune Source link #parents #protecting #kids #measles #Dallas #Morning #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds locks character editing behind microtransactions Monster Hunter Wilds locks character editing behind microtransactions Monster Hunter Wilds hides the ability to change the physical features of your character and your Palico behind microtransactions. Monster Hunter Wilds was released today on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Now, Capcom has also released a way to edit the physical features of your Monster Hunter character, however, this option is locked behind a microtransaction. The Monster Hutner Wilds – Character Edit Voucher: Three-Voucher Pack is available now on digital storefronts for around $6. This gives players the option to change the physical appearance of characters, essentially re-doing the character creation process. Without this item, you can still edit the hair, eyebrow color, facial color, makeup, and clothing of your character, but if you want larger changes, you have to purchase this item. The same is true for your companion, the Palico. You can purchase three vouchers to edit your Palico for around $6 or a voucher that will allow you to edit both your character and your Palico three times for around $10. Currently, Capcom is offering one free token to re-do both your character and your Palico, but after this, players will have to pay every time they want to change the physical appearance of their hunter. These options, along with the other microtransaction offerings made available for Monster Hunter Wilds were not available during the review *******. Monster Hunter has gotten off to a huge start since its release. The game, which has received praise from fans outside of the performance issues, smashed through 1 million concurrent Steam players on launch night. However, performance issues have plagued the game’s debut, leading Capcom to respond. VGC’s five-star Monster Hunter Wilds review, which was played on PS5 Pro, calls it “a victory lap for Capcom’s golden age”, concluding: “Monster Hunter Wilds is confident, bold, and one of the best Monster Hunter games ever, thanks to its ability to stand on the giant shoulders of Worlds and improve it in virtually every way.” Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #locks #character #editing #microtransactions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amber Whiteley: Interim boss wants Liverpool job permanently Amber Whiteley: Interim boss wants Liverpool job permanently Liverpool interim boss Amber Whiteley said she will “put my name in the hat” for the permanent role after Matt Beard’s departure. The 47-year-old was sacked on Thursday, bringing to an end his second spell at the club. It is Whiteley’s second spell as interim boss, after previously taking charge of the club from January until the end of the season in 2021 following Vicky Jepson’s departure. Whiteley expects to lead the team until at least the end of the season, but is keen to land the job on a full-time basis. “I will put my name in the hat,” she said. “The recruitment process has already started. “When these opportunities come about, you have to stand up and show exactly what you are capable of. It’s really important to do that and to do that as a female coach too. “There are always mixed emotions when a manager leaves a club. It’s never an easy thing to go through.” Whiteley, who recently took up an additional role as Carla Ward’s assistant with the Republic of Ireland women’s team, believes she is better prepared this time around. Last time, Liverpool were in the Championship and Whiteley helped the team to a third-place finish, winning five of her nine league games in charge. “From the interim ******* previously the biggest thing I took away was that I was capable of doing the job,” she said. “I am in a far better position having had the time with Matt and working under him. I am in a better spot now in terms of being able to take the team forward. “I’m so grateful to Matt for everything that he has given to me personally over the last three and a bit years. I’m going to miss him.” Liverpool are seventh in the Women’s Super League with eight league games remaining and face Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals next weekend. Source link #Amber #Whiteley #Interim #boss #Liverpool #job #permanently Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fable Could Be The Biggest PS5 Game Of 2026 Fable Could Be The Biggest PS5 Game Of 2026 Chocoburger2d ago I’m not upset over this, since I’m not even a Fable fan, but MS has been doing this for over a decade now. Which is announcing games that just started development (so only concept art exists and a rough script outline), in order to get people to buy their plastic box. Then it dissappears for a few years, only to resurface, in order to remind people to buy their plastic box, then they build up hype for it, only to delay or cancel game outright. Perfect Dark was used to sell Xbox One consoles, then used to sell Xbox Series consoles. Is that game even going to be released for the Series S|X? Will it be promised all over again for their next plastic box(es)? My issue with this is that it doesn’t feel accidental, but rather intentional. Make big promises, get people buy into your ecosystem, then delay and cancel year after year. And if by some miracle an actual game does release, its usually unpolished, or highly disappointing. Source link #Fable #Biggest #PS5 #Game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is Apple Intelligence: everything you need to know about the AI toolkit What is Apple Intelligence: everything you need to know about the AI toolkit Apple Intelligence is the Cupertino company’s take on artificial intelligence. It’s a suite of tools deeply integrated into compatible iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. The idea behind Apple Intelligence is to make life easier for Apple users, using AI to add value through suggestions, automations and personalization. That includes everything from Writing Tools to message summaries. New AI-powered features are being released in stages. With more set to come in 2025, here’s what you need to know about Apple Intelligence. This article was correct as of February 2025. AI tools are updated regularly and it is possible that some features have changed since this article was written. Some features may also only be available in certain countries. Apple Intelligence works across a range of Apple devices. (Image credit: Apple) What is Apple Intelligence? Announced in 2024, Apple Intelligence is designed to enhance the everyday user experience with iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. It’s a suite of AI-powered features integrated into Apple’s core apps and services, including generative tools for editing writing, summarizing conversations and organizing photos. It also promises a context-aware Siri. Rollout has been piecemeal, with Apple drip-feeding features through a series of software updates. Privacy is a key component of Apple Intelligence. The toolkit’s contextual awareness depends on unprecedented access to your data, which is why Apple is ensuring that as little as possible actually leaves your device. It runs all the tasks it can on device. When they’re not, Apple uses Private Cloud Compute, a security protocol designed to set a new privacy standard for AI tools. What can you use Apple Intelligence for? Apple Intelligence enhances the user experience in several ways. Here are some of the features which have already rolled out to Apple devices: Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Writing Tools is an editing assistant which can proofread text, summarize passages and rewrite your words using a different tone of voice. Summaries work across everything from group chats and emails to web pages and notifications, condensing information into digestible overviews. Siri gets smarter, allowing you type commands and ask follow-up queries, making it closer to an AI chatbot. It also gains ChatGPT support. Photos are easier to search for with natural language prompts; Clean Up works like Google’s Magic Eraser; and you can create Memories from prompts. Mail gains support for smart replies based on the contents of emails. Apple Intelligence also automatically categorizes, prioritizes and summarizes emails. Transcription is enhanced by Apple Intelligence, allowing you to record phone calls or voice notes and have them automatically transcribed. Visual Intelligence works with the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16, allowing you to get search results based on what you point the camera at. Genmoji is a generative emoji tool, which allows you to type in a description of the emoji that you want to send to generate it. Image Playground is a place to generate AI images, which can be based on your real friends and family. We’ve put together a full run-down of all the Apple Intelligence intelligence features here, including when you can use them. Image Playground on iPhone. (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) What can’t you use Apple Intelligence for? As above, several Apple Intelligence features haven’t arrived yet. Chief among them is a more intelligent Siri. This is expected in the near future, introducing awareness of what you’re looking at on screen, as well as deep personalization based on information from your device. Because it prioritizes privacy, there are also ways in which Apple Intelligence can’t offer the same real-time, cloud-based performance as other AI tools. It’s not a fully fledged chatbot like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, for example, and it can’t do photorealistic image generation. In fact, if you ask Siri a question that’s too complex it will hand you over to ChatGPT for an answer. Unlike Google Gemini, you can’t use Apple Intelligence on non-Apple devices. You need to own one of the following compatible Apple devices to use at least some of the AI features: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPad with M-series chip, Mac with M-series chip. How much does Apple Intelligence cost? At present, Apple Intelligence is completely free for users of compatible Apple devices. The AI features are being rolled out in a series of iOS 18 software updates at no additional cost. This could change in future. Some analysts have claimed that Apple may start charging for some Apple Intelligence features. Luckily, other industry insiders have suggested that paid AI tools are several years away, with the first wave unlikely to be introduced before 2027. Where can you use Apple Intelligence? Apple Intelligence initially rolled out with language support for US English only. In December 2024, this expanded to include localized English for the ***, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Support for more languages is coming in April 2025. For now, your device needs to be set to one of the supported languages to use Apple Intelligence. Access is limited for users in the European Union and China. Apple Intelligence is available with macOS Sequoia 15.1 in these regions, but users will need to wait until April to use the AI features on iPhone or iPad. If you are able to access Apple Intelligence, you’ll find its features deeply integrated into your device at a system level. Siri might be the voice of Apple Intelligence, but there’s no single ‘hub’ to access the full suite of apps. Instead, you’ll find that the tools become available in different apps when relevant to the context, whether that’s in Photos, Mail or Notifications. The toolkit is cross-platform, designed to work seamlessly across apps on iPhone, iPad and macOS. Writings Tools from Apple Intelligence (Image credit: Future / Apple) Is Apple Intelligence any good? Based on our experience, Apple Intelligence meaningfully improves the user experience across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Several members of our team have been using the toolkit on their devices, with positive feedback. Writing Tools work like a supercharged autocorrect, significantly improving the Notes app experience. We also rate the usefulness of Reduce Interruptions, which only allows key alerts through. Other Apple Intelligence features we keep coming back to include article summaries in Safari and the Clean Up tool in Photos. While typing to Siri is also a useful addition, we can’t help but feel that the best is yet to come, including situational awareness. Although on-device processing enhances privacy, it could also be one of the reasons behind the slow rollout of Apple Intelligence features. The result is that users can get more advanced AI support from other chatbot apps, such as Gemini, or by accessing ChatGPT through Siri. Use Apple Intelligence if… You want native AI on your Apple device Designed for Apple devices and integrated deeply with their operating systems, Apple Intelligence builds AI assistance right into core apps and services, offering contextual assistance within Mail, Photos and more. You want secure, on-device AI Built into OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT search allows you to find detailed answers from the web through conversational dialogue. That includes the ability to submit follow-up queries within the same thread, written in natural language. Don’t use Apple Intelligence if… You don’t have an Apple device Unlike Google’s Gemini chatbot, Apple Intelligence can only be used on compatible iPhone, iPad and Mac devices, which means you’ll need to find a different solution if you’re using an Android device or Windows PC. You need an full AI chatbot Updates mean you can type and respond to Siri, but Apple’s smart assistant is a long way off the cloud-powered capabilities of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini. Advancements are coming soon, though. Also consider Gemini is Google’s AI multimodal chatbot. Available as an app for iOS users, it’s also increasingly integrated into the Android operating system. Hundreds of devices are supported, as are more than 40 languages. Features include spoken search and image generation. Galaxy AI is a suite of AI-powered features baked in to Samsung Galaxy mobile devices. Like Apple Intelligence, it’s designed to streamline the user experience through automation and personalization. Tools include real-time translation, automatic transcription and note organisation. You might also like… Source link #Apple #Intelligence #toolkit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wall St mixed after consumer spending falls in January Wall St mixed after consumer spending falls in January Wall Street’s main indexes are mixed in choppy trading as investors avoid large bets after data showed consumer spending fell in January, exacerbating worries that the world’s largest economy might be stalling. A Commerce Department report showed that inflation rose in line with expectations in the previous month. However consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the economy, dropped 0.2 per cent after an upwardly revised 0.8 per cent increase in December. “Spending came in lower than we were looking for… most of it I would attribute to a cooling economy, which presents a dilemma for the Fed in the sense that you still have inflation and you have an economy that is moving lower. If you add them together, that equals stagflation,” Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities. Friday’s report is important for investors trying to gauge the US central bank’s next policy move, after policy makers reiterated a hawkish stance on interest rates. The fear has been that President Donald Trump’s administration policies, especially trade restrictions, could lead to a rise in domestic inflation. Traders expect the Fed to lower borrowing costs twice by December, little changed from before the report, according to data compiled by LSEG. Investors will assess comments from Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee later in the day. In early trading on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 204.26 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 43,443.76, the S&P 500 gained 6.10 points, or 0.10 per cent, to 5,867.67 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 47.51 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 18,490.55. Sectors that fare better in times of economic uncertainties such as consumer staples and utilities rose about 1.0 per cent each. On the flip side, technology stocks limited gains. The CBOE Volatility Index, also known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, touched a one-month high and was last up at 21.26 points. Multiple recent reports suggesting a stalling economy and concerns that tech companies such as Nvidia and Microsoft might be overspending on artificial-intelligence infrastructure have put Wall Street’s main indexes on track for monthly declines. The benchmark S&P 500 logged declines in five of the past six sessions and is set for its biggest one-month drop since April 2024. The tech-heavy Nasdaq is down about 9.0 per cent from its all-time high and is headed for its steepest one-month fall since September 2023. Nvidia fell 1.9 per cent after an 8.5 per cent slide in the previous session, after the chip giant’s weaker-than-expected quarterly gross margin forecast overshadowed an upbeat revenue outlook. Dell lost 5.7 per cent as the PC maker forecast a decline in its adjusted gross margin rate for fiscal 2026. Peer HP Inc fell 6.6 per cent after its quarterly profit forecasts missed expectations. Trump’s latest threat to slap an extra 10 per cent duty on imports from China hit US-listed China stocks such as Alibaba and Xpeng, which fell 3.2 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively. NetApp plunged 11.3 per cent after the data storage firm lowered its annual results forecast. Walgreens fell 4.8 per cent after a report said private equity firm Sycamore Partners is closing in to buy out the pharmacy chain. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.46-to-1 ratio on the NYSE while declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.24-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted 27 new 52-week highs and 10 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 21 new highs and 228 new lows. Source link #Wall #mixed #consumer #spending #falls #January Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gold toilet was used by theft-accused before heist, court hears Gold toilet was used by theft-accused before heist, court hears A man accused of stealing a £4.8m golden toilet used it on a visit to Blenheim Palace the day before the heist, describing it as “splendid”, a court has heard. The artwork, called America, was taken from the stately home in Oxfordshire in the early hours of 14 September 2019, two days after it went on display. Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, denies one count of burglary. Frederick Doe, 36, from Windsor and 41-year-old Bora Guccuk, from west London, both deny conspiring to transfer criminal property. Giving evidence, Mr Jones said he had visited the exhibition the day before and been “at home in bed” when the toilet was stolen. The 18-carat gold, fully-functional toilet was part of an exhibition by the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. Members of the public booked slots to use the toilet in its cubicle. Mr Jones told the court that, during his booked slot with the golden toilet, he did make use of it. Crispin Aylett KC, defence counsel for Mr Doe, asked Mr Jones “What was it like?”. Mr Jones replied “Splendid.” A fourth man, James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, has previously pleaded guilty to burglary. Mr Jones told the court he was friends with Sheen and that he worked as a roofer and general builder for Sheen’s building firm. During his evidence he said that messages and voice notes between the two of them around the time of the heist were work-related or about a large dog kennel he was planning to help Sheen collect from Milton Keynes immediately after his visit to the exhibition. He denied that his two visits to the palace in the days before the raid were as reconnaissance for the robbery. He told the jury he went to the palace on 7 September to see a car show and again on the 13 September to see the exhibition. The toilet weighed 98kg and was insured for $6m (£4.8m). Gold prices at the time would have seen the gold alone worth £2.8m, the court heard. The palace is a Unesco World Heritage Site and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The trial continues. Source link #Gold #toilet #theftaccused #heist #court #hears Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beyond Good & Evil 2 Is Still Nowhere To Be Found, But Now There’s An Astro Bot Cameo Beyond Good & Evil 2 Is Still Nowhere To Be Found, But Now There’s An Astro Bot Cameo While Ubisoft hasn’t talked much about Beyond Good & Evil 2 in a long time, the series has a cameo in Astro Bot’s newest level. In *****-A-Doodle-Doom, ***** from Beyond Good & Evil is the VIP Bot that players can find. *****-A-Doodle-Doom is one of five new levels that will be coming to Astro Bot weekly between February and March. Team Asobi has added several levels to the game since its release, and each new level has its own VIP Bot that serves as a cameo for a franchise important to the history of PlayStation. Rayman was a VIP bot in a post-launch level a couple of months ago, and now Ubisoft let Team Asobi add ***** as another Ubisoft representative. Her VIP Bot is called Rebel Photographer, and the game says this bot “Fights the good fight against evil.” ***** is the protagonist of Beyond Good & Evil, a Ubisoft franchise that’s quite infamous. Beyond Good & Evil is a sci-fi action-adventure game from 2003 that became a cult classic. Ubisoft announced a follow-up a few years later, but it has notably been in development hell ever since. A new version of Beyond Good & Evil 2, now a narrative prequel starring a younger *****, was shown off by Ubisoft in 2017. Almost eight years later, though, and the game still hasn’t come out. While Skull and Bones’ long path from announcement to release is well-known, Beyond Good & Evil 2 somehow makes that development timeline look short. While Ubisoft has not publicly shown much of Beyond Good & Evil 2 in years, it is not canceled as Ubisoft tries to keep the series relevant. A remaster of the first game came out last year, and now ***** is appearing in Astro Bot alongside iconic characters like Solid Snake, Rayman, and Kazuma Kiryu. Astro Bot is available now exclusively on PS5. As for when Beyond Good & Evil 2 will be available, who knows? Source link #Good #Evil #Astro #Bot #Cameo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Get TP-Link’s superfast 2.5Gb 8-port switch for only $109 — Upgrade your LAN Get TP-Link’s superfast 2.5Gb 8-port switch for only $109 — Upgrade your LAN If you’ve ever tried watching a nice 4K movie and the stream keeps stuttering or playing an online game and your wireless connection drops out, there can be a lot of reasons why your WiFi network is getting interference. Anything from the thickness of your home walls to magnetic and radio frequencies can impact your signal strength. The absolute best way to combat this is with a cabled network setup. Yes, it might not look as neat, but you can’t beat the network stability. If your wireless network is flaky and you prefer a cabled network over mesh setups, this network switch from TP-Link could be the answer. The TP-Link TL-SG108-M2 is on ***** at Amazon for just $109, reduced by $90 from the list price of $199. Checking the Camelizer (Amazon’s price checker), we can see that this is just $10 above the all-time low price of $99 from last year’s ****** Friday sales event. You can pick up 1Gb switches for much less. They will do an adequate job, but if you want higher data transfer speeds, the 2Gb port speeds allow you to use faster 2.5 GbE network devices, like some NAS storage setups, and also enjoy the faster speeds some internet providers deliver if you’re lucky enough to live in the right area. This is ideal for gaming and high-resolution TV streams of 4K and above. The TP-Link TL-SG108-M2 is an unmanaged plug-and-play switch that you need to connect to power and your service provider’s router, and you’re good to go. This switch is passively cooled and doesn’t have a fan, so it runs silently. Connect everything from your PC to a NAS, console, or smart TV, and experience a fast, low-lag network. Don’t forget to look at our Amazon coupon codes for February 2025 and see if you can save on today’s deal or other products at Amazon. Source link #TPLinks #superfast #2.5Gb #8port #switch #Upgrade #LAN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

North Melbourne’s Riley Hardeman looking to bed down spot in senior side in second season at AFL level North Melbourne’s Riley Hardeman looking to bed down spot in senior side in second season at AFL level North Melbourne’s Riley Hardeman has a clear goal in mind for his second season at AFL level — establishing himself in the Kangaroos’ senior side. Drafted by the club with the 23rd pick of 2023’s draft after earning under-18 All *********** honours, the rebounding defender made his AFL debut in round seven and went on to play three senior games in his first season. The Swan Districts product will be looking to continue an impressive preseason and press his claims for a round one berth when the Kangaroos take on West Coast in a preseason game at Bunbury’s Hands Oval tomorrow. The 20-year-old said he was now fully settled at the club after an “absolute whirlwind” first year. “I’ve got a bit of consistency and a bit of routine established now,” Hardeman said. “Being able to come into the club in my second year and really know what to expect has been really nice for me. “Last year I was more focused on building my body, adapting to AFL level, and then also working on the defensive aspects of my game, but now I’m really honing in on the craft of run and rebound and really generating some drive off half-back. “I’m not so focused on round one, but (I’m) really trying to establish myself in the side, use my strengths to really crack in and hold a position.” Camera IconNorth Melbourne in Bunbury. Credit: Amber Lilley/South Western Times Much of the attention on North Melbourne’s off-season recruiting has focused on premiership Eagle Jack Darling and former Sydney captain Luke Parker but Western Bulldogs defender Caleb Daniel also joined the club on deadline day of the trade *******. Hardeman said the 192-game Bulldog would add a new dimension to the club’s back half. “He’s been a huge asset to us, not only as a team but to me personally as well,” he said. “Obviously he’s had 10-plus years experience, won a flag in 2016 and nearly did it again in 2021, so there’s definitely a lot to learn off him. “He’s been really good for me personally, especially in the kicking side, he’s such an elite kick. It’s really good to have him and tap into his mind.” One of eight WA products currently at the Kangaroos, Hardeman said he was delighted when he learned the club would be playing two home games in his home State, including one in Bunbury, for each of the next three years. “I just love being back in WA, but to be here in Bunbury, it’s a great part of the world,” he said. “It’s good that we get to go down here into a more local space and really give back to a community I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of. “(Hands Oval’s) in very good nick, from what I’m looking at. The boys aren’t used to a ground as wide as this one, but that’s how they come in Western Australia. It’ll be good to run around out there on the wings.” Source link #North #Melbournes #Riley #Hardeman #bed #spot #senior #side #season #AFL #level Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds Is Having Some Problems On PC, But Capcom Is Here To Help Monster Hunter Wilds Is Having Some Problems On PC, But Capcom Is Here To Help Monster Hunter Wilds launches today, February 28, and some players have run into issues with the Steam version. Thankfully, Capcom has provided steps on how to fix problems such as the game not loading or the cutscenes aren’t playing. You can read the detailed steps below. Capcom recommended to make sure that your PC meets the minimum PC requirements for Monster Hunter Wilds and that your graphics drivers are updated. Additionally, update DirectX to the latest version and make sure that the game is added to your anti-virus program’s exceptions list. Players should also give administrator privileges to Steam and verify the game’s file on Steam. If one or more files fail to verify, those files should not be replaced as part of the verification process. Disabling Compatibility Mode for the “MonsterHunterWilds.exe” program may help too. Monster Hunter Wilds is now available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game is currently dominating Steam charts as it has over 1.2 million concurrent players on its first day of release. It has already far surpassed the records set by Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise, which sit at 330K and 230K concurrent players, respectively. In GameSpot’s Monster Hunter Wilds review, we said, “It has issues, but Monster Hunter Wilds iterates on a winning formula with another captivating collection of monsters to slay.” Monster Hunter Wilds Steam Troubleshooting Steps Make sure you meet the minimum system requirements for the game. Update your Video/Graphics Drivers. Check for Windows Updates and ensure all of the latest programs are installed to your OS. If you still experience issues, try performing a clean installation of the video driver set. Update DirectX to the latest version. For details on how to update DirectX, please visit the Microsoft support page or Microsoft Download Center. Add the game’s folder and files to your anti-virus program’s exception / exclusion list. Default Paths: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds\MonsterHunterWilds.exe Add folder and files for Steam.exe to your anti-virus program’s exception / exclusion list. Default Paths: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe Give administrator privileges to Steam. To run Steam.exe in administrator mode, right-click on the .exe file and select “Run as administrator.” If you still experience issues, try logging into your PC in administrator mode and then run the game’s execution file (MonsterHunterWilds.exe). Verify the game’s files on Steam. To verify your game’s files, follow these steps: Restart your computer and launch Steam. From the “Library” section, right-click on the game, and select “Properties” from the menu. Select the “Installed Files” tab and click the “Verify integrity of game files” button. Steam will verify the game’s files – this process may take several minutes. Important: One or more files may fail to verify. The files that fail to verify are local configuration files that should not be replaced as part of this process. You can safely ignore this message. If problematic files were detected during this process, Steam will automatically download and / or replace those files. 11. Disable Compatibility Mode for “MonsterHunterWilds.exe” if enabled. Right click on “MonsterHunterWilds.exe” located in the following folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds The above is the default location. Go to Properties Open Compatibility tab Untick “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” 12. If the above does not resolve the issue, please disable the Compatibility Mode for “Steam.exe” located in the folder below: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam 13. If you still experience issues, please also try the troubleshooting steps on the Official Monster Hunter Wilds Troubleshooting & Issue Reporting Thread posted on the Steam community page as they contain more detailed and additional steps that may help resolve your issue. Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Problems #Capcom Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ice contractor plans for surveillance ***** under Trump migrant crackdown | Technology Ice contractor plans for surveillance ***** under Trump migrant crackdown | Technology The Geo Group, the largest single private contractor to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), said it was building out its surveillance business to be able to monitor hundreds of thousands or millions more immigrants than it already does. The Geo Group, a private prison corporation and parent company of *** Inc, has contracted with Ice for nearly 20 years to manage the agency’s electronic monitoring program. It currently tracks approximately 186,000 immigrants using devices such as ankle monitors, smart watches and a facial recognition app, according to public Ice data. Due to increasing demand from Donald Trump’s administration, which has promised mass deportations, company executives said that they expect that number to grow past its previous peak of 370,000 to 450,000 immigrants within the next year. The remarks were made during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday morning. “A little over two years ago, the ISAP contract utilization peaked at approximately 370,000,” George Zoley, the executive chair of the Geo Group, said on an earnings call on Thursday, referring to the agreement between Ice and Geo. “Returning to that utilization level would generate incremental revenues of $250m and even more if the contract exceeds the prior peak of utilization.” While the company is still ramping up its production of additional GPS units in anticipation of an expanded Ice contract, executives said they are able to monitor “several hundreds of thousands” of people and are trying to position themselves to be able to monitor millions of people. Zoley said that the Geo Group, and its competitor in running private prisons and detention centers, Core Civic, are in expedited discussions with Ice to expand current contracts for detention facilities as well as electronic monitoring. “It’s a fluid situation, but it’s picking up pace, if I may say,” he said. “We’ve gone from conceptual proposals … to substantive pricing and operational discussions. But the procurement process is moving at a speed that is unprecedented. We’ve never seen anything like this before.” The company’s vast electronic monitoring program was instituted as an alternative to detention in 2004 and has been entrusted to Geo group subsidiary *** Inc since then. Many of those forced to wear the ankle monitors, designed and produced by ***, have complained the devices can overheat, shock them or have been put on too tightly. The company has pitched its smart watch location tracker and smart phone app, called SmartLink, as a lower-level of surveillance than the monitor. Executives said on Thursday’s earnings call, however, that they expect a return to a reliance on the physical ankle monitors. “I think there is going to be a preference in the beginning for the ankle monitors which represents the high-security level of monitoring,” Zoley said. Though the company has yet to receive an indication from Ice on when the agency expects to reissue a new contract for the electronic monitoring program, called the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, executives say they believe the agency is focused on expanding the number of people being tracked through the existing program. The Geo Group is investing $16m into building out its inventory of ankle monitors in order to “be in a position to scale up the federal government’s utilization of ISAP by several hundreds of thousands to upwards of several millions of participants as required”, according to Zoley. skip past newsletter promotion A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Company executives also said they believed that under the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes or theft, those detained will be required to be monitored under the ISAP program “indefinitely” if there is not enough capacity in detention facilities. The executives signaled their intent to expand the company’s surveillance program so that it could monitor an estimated 7 to 8 million people on the non-detained docket who entered the US through non-authorized pathways and then are released into the US. They are also building up capabilities to monitor the estimated 9.5 to 10 million people in the US who are otherwise undocumented in anticipation of Ice’s requests. “Given the size of the population our view is in addition to increased detention capacity … the Laken Riley Act will require significant ramp-up of electronic monitoring services to ensure proper trafficking of persons on non-detained docket and their compliance of the requirements of their immigration court proceedings,” Zoley said. Source link #Ice #contractor #plans #surveillance #***** #Trump #migrant #crackdown #Technology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Archaeologists Discovered a 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Gold Mine—and Another World Around It Archaeologists Discovered a 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Gold Mine—and Another World Around It Recently, archaeologists unearthed a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mining camp in the Sukari Mountains. Crews found evidence of ancient gold mining, processing, and purification. The archaeological discovery has been moved and used to recreate the camp nearly two miles away. The gold buried in the hills of Egypt’s Sukari Mountains was, apparently, enticing enough to create an entire gold-mining camp 3,000 years ago. According to a translated statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities, a multi-year archaeological projected named “Reviving the Ancient City of Gold” has revealed the ancient gold mining operation. And the project didn’t stop at just finding the site. This ancient operation was so robust that an entire mining camp surfaced around it—one that, when it was found, needed to be moved nearly two miles away so as to not interfere with the modern Sukari Mine. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the remains of a 3,000-year-old gold processing complex—which included a fully equipped facility for extracting gold from quartz veins and featured grinding and crushing stations, filtration and sediment basins, and ancient clay furnaces designed for smelting gold to create a pure product—showed off the highly orchestrated nature of the mining operation. To make it all possible, gold miners eventually developed had an entire residential district on site. This space featured houses, workshops, temples, administrative buildings, and Ptolemaic ******* bathhouses. Khaled said that the team identified architectural remains from both the Roman and Islamic periods. The evidence of the use of this space well after the creation of the initial encampment shows that it remained a popular option for multiple people groups. Khaled said that the find furthers our understanding of ancient Egyptians mining techniques used to extract gold from rock, while adding insight into the social, religious, and economic lives of gold miners. Some of the pieces that give a better understanding of the social component of the mine include 628 pieces of broken pottery—many inscribed with hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek script that shows off a true linguistic diversity in the region. Crews uncovered plenty more, including Ptolemaic bronze coins, terracotta figurines depicting human and animal forms from the Greco-Roman *******, small stone statues of deities such as Bastet and Harpocrates (some finished and some unfinished), a mix of pottery vessels that held such personal items like medicines and incense, an assortment of beads made of semi-precious stones, decorative items crafted from seashells, and five Ptolemaic offering tables. As part of the project, crews built a full-scale replica of the mining complex on a 6.3-acre-plot located nearly two miles from the active mining area. This visitor center includes exhibits and plenty of information on both the find and the life of ancient Egyptian gold miners. You Might Also Like Source link #Archaeologists #Discovered #3000YearOld #Egyptian #Gold #Mineand #World Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Palworld Devs Are Taking The Day Off To Play Monster Hunter Wilds Palworld Devs Are Taking The Day Off To Play Monster Hunter Wilds Today is the release date for Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds, and fans aren’t the only ones who want to get their hands on it. Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, is declaring today a special day off just to let its employees dive into Monster Hunter Wilds. Via Automaton, Pocketpair wrote on social media that it had received word from several of its employees that they might be feeling sick on the last day of the month, which just so happened to be the day of Monster Hunter Wilds’ release. Instead of insisting that employees show up as scheduled, Pocketpair gave them a holiday. なぜか多くの社員から、明日体調不良になるかもしれないという報告を受けたので、明日は特別休暇になりました pic.twitter.com/KhuxHJjUDo — ポケットペア公式 – Craftopia/クラフトピア (@PocketpairJapan) February 27, 2025 Palworld’s community manager, Bucky, subsequently confirmed that this is what happened. It’s a very nice gesture, and probably well-deserved. Pocketpair’s dev team has a lot of work ahead of then, as laid out in the roadmap of updates coming to Palworld in its second year. Some of the game’s upcoming features include co-op cross-play, new pals, and new endgame content. Thanks to the team’s ongoing efforts, Palworld recently crossed a milestone with 32 million players from across the globe in the game’s first year. Outside of the game itself, Pocketworld still has to deal with the lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company in Japan over a small handful of patent infringement claims. Although that case has yet to be resolved, Pocketworld recently released Overdungeon on Switch. As for Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom has already shared details about the first big post-launch update. Even the previous game in the series, Monster Hunter World, has been enjoying sustained success years after its release. Monster Hunter Wilds is out now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Source link #Palworld #Devs #Day #Play #Monster #Hunter #Wilds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]