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Quordle hints and answers for Friday, February 28 (game #1131) Quordle hints and answers for Friday, February 28 (game #1131) Looking for a different day? A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Thursday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, February 27 (game #1130). Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. Quordle today (game #1131) – hint #1 – Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1131) – hint #2 – repeated letters Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters? • The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2. Quordle today (game #1131) – hint #3 – uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today? • Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today’s Quordle answers. Quordle today (game #1131) – hint #4 – starting letters (1) Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter? • The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2. If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier: Quordle today (game #1131) – hint #5 – starting letters (2) What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with? • P • R • P • D Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Quordle today (game #1131) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1131, are… Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. I made hard work of today’s puzzle, guessing Pasty ahead of PASTA. Meanwhile, I took forever before I got to RAZOR, despite having most of the word. It’s funny how some letters, Z among them, are almost invisible when you try to work out what you’re missing. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Daily Sequence today (game #1131) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1131, are… Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR Quordle #1127, Monday 24 February: LEASH, LEVER, TOTEM, CREME Quordle #1126, Sunday 23 February: RABID, RELIC, SCRAM, BASIS Quordle #1125, Saturday 22 February: ETHER, SONIC, VAUNT, ROUSE Quordle #1124, Friday 21 February: STIFF, PRIZE, SCOWL, DONUT Quordle #1123, Thursday 20 February: HASTY, DRAPE, FICUS, CRAZE Quordle #1122, Wednesday 19 February: ABATE, TROVE, VENUE, DRAPE Quordle #1121, Tuesday 18 February: TAMER, SCRUB, BRICK, DRIFT Quordle #1120, Monday 17 February: SADLY, WAFER, LITHE, IDIOM Quordle #1119, Sunday 16 February: GHOUL, AFIRE, COVEN, FIERY Quordle #1118, Saturday 15 February: CREEP, CONDO, GRILL, FANCY Quordle #1117, Friday 14 February: MEDIA, ELUDE, THUMB, WIDOW Quordle #1116, Thursday 13 February: SCALP, DWELL, AMPLE, TRUNK Quordle #1115, Wednesday 12 February: SHOOK, GRADE, POLAR, SEEDY Quordle #1114, Tuesday 11 February: HEAVY, CIRCA, PESKY, SCION Quordle #1113, Monday 10 February: TWIXT, FRESH, GUISE, TABBY Quordle #1112, Sunday 9 February: TAPIR, SHAKE, TOKEN, SEVEN Quordle #1111, Saturday 8 February: AFOOT, ALIKE, HUMUS, TOWEL Source link #Quordle #hints #answers #Friday #February #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Adventure to Fate: Core Quest brings epic RPG action to the palm of your hand on iOS Adventure to Fate: Core Quest brings epic RPG action to the palm of your hand on iOS Adventure to fate: Core Quest is out now for iOS The latest in the adventure to fate series features a dozen classes, 20 races, 700+ skills and more Visually-impaired and blind players can also benefit from great accessibility options too Adventure to Fate: Core Quest is exactly what you need if you’re looking for hardcore retro RPG action. The latest in the Adventure to Fate series, Core Quest takes longtime players back to where it all started. The Core of the Dungeon awaits, and so does the dark entity Thanatos for you to do battle with! Adventure to Fate offers a mixture of throwback RPG fun with plenty of modern sensibilities. As you trek through the dungeon with your choice of character (from over 12 classes and 20 races!) you’ll also jump into turn-based battlers where you you take on a variety of classic fantasy monsters. Not only that, but even progression can be tailored to your preferred play style. Be that Classic RPG progression, skill trees or even roguelike approaches that you can choose on level-up. With 700+ spells and skills, 6 expansive zones and a whole lot more, Adventure to Fate comes jam-packed with all the fantasy dungeon-crawling action you’d want. Accessible to all But unlike some releases, Adventure to Fate does not base itself on being impermeable to the average player. Instead, visually impaired or even blind players can enjoy full voiceover support, with immersive audio cues, touch navigation and more meaning that you can enjoy the fun no matter what. Add onto that a full RPG-themed rock soundtrack, and three different modes with Adventure, Arena and Endless Battle to choose from, and for only $4.99 you too can enjoy Adventure to Fate and quest to the core today! But if you’re looking for more options on what to play, why not check out our latest review of ****** Salt Games’ Dredge? This eldritch fishing simulator brings horror and fun in equal measure as you explore the narrow shores and deep seas of a strange, mutated ocean. Source link #Adventure #Fate #Core #Quest #brings #epic #RPG #action #palm #hand #iOS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Traders are in ‘no man’s land’ after the latest conflicting investor sentiment data Traders are in ‘no man’s land’ after the latest conflicting investor sentiment data Yes, the latest gauge of investor vibes shows uniquely high concern. No, that doesn’t mean you should follow conventional wisdom and rush into the market. The share of American Association of Individual Investors members with bearish views for the week ended on Wednesday broke above 60% , according to the organization’s closely followed survey. That marks only the sixth week it has come in higher than that level since 1987, an analysis from Bespoke Investment Group shows. What’s more, Bespoke found that the five-week growth in bearish sentiment within the survey is the third highest on record. It falls behind periods near the end of 2000 and middle of 1990. Historically, a timeframe with such high levels of negative feelings about the market has made for a good opportunity to pick up stocks. Bespoke found the S & P 500 has jumped more than 30% in the typical year after an AAII bearish reading comes in above 60%. The problem: Today’s market is anything but ordinary. “On one hand, there’s no way I’m dismissing the extreme read today,” said Peter Boockvar, investing chief at Bleakley Financial Group, told CNBC. “On the other hand, I still think it’s important that investors look at a variety of different sentiment gauges and survey measurements before they come to one conclusion. This is not a clean read.” Specifically, Boockvar pointed to the Investors Intelligence sentiment report released Wednesday. This data set showed more bulls than bears, painting a less dire picture than what AAII presented. Elsewhere, he noted that Citi’s weekly Panic/Euphoria model shows investors in “euphoria” territory. On the other side of the spectrum, CNN’s Fear and Greed Index slid into “extreme fear” after sitting in the “neutral” zone just one week ago. Taken together, Boockvar said these contrasting data points leave investors trying to take action in “no man’s land.” Gauging sentiment is “more effective when they all lean in one direction,” he said. “This is the most conflicted … group of measures that I’ve seen,” Boockvar said. “I honestly don’t know what to make of it.” ‘Shaky ground’ AAII’s survey can be specifically tough to hedge bets on, Boockvar said, given its volatility week to week. If the market were to rally into next week, for example, he said to expect a notable turnaround in sentiment. The AAII index has been criticized as focusing on a stodgy, older retail investor, which can mean the data doesn’t represent the growing community of individual traders. Indeed, data from JPMorgan underscores that purported disconnect: The bank’s latest report indicates that small-scale traders have continued to backstop the U.S. equity market — even as AAII’s survey flashes warning signs from this group. “It’s very fickle,” Boockvar said of the AAII survey. “If you look at a chart, it looks like an EKG chart.” As for why the AAII survey portrays such a gloomy outlook, Boockvar pointed to the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite turning negative on the year. That can dampen hopes of investors who have enjoyed two years of huge gains in their megacap tech holdings, he said. .IXIC YTD mountain The Nasdaq Composite in 2025 “The Mag 7 trade is on shaky ground,” Boockvar said. “Not in terms of the companies and the quality of the companies, but in terms of the dramatic outperformance that these stocks have had.” “These stocks have literally carried the broader market on its shoulders,” the CIO added. “I think those days are coming to an end.” Source link #Traders #mans #land #latest #conflicting #investor #sentiment #data Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokémon Legends: Z-A gets a huge new trailer and a fall release window Pokémon Legends: Z-A gets a huge new trailer and a fall release window Pokémon Legends: Z-A is coming in “late 2025,” but the Japanese trailer specifically suggests a fall release — and Nintendo already confirmed a simultaneous global launch. Today’s Pokémon Presents gave us another sneak peek at the upcoming game and revealed a lot more details than we previously had, including the new starters, combat style, rivals, and more. The full game will be set inside Lumiose City, rather than a more open world like the original Pokémon: Legends. The trailers so far suggest a massive space with a lot of room to explore, but it will be interesting to see how the flow of the game adapts to a relatively more limited area. Please enable Javascript to view this content Soon after setting foot in Lumiose City, you’ll have your choice of three starters: Tepig, Chikorita, or Totodile. That’s a mix of starters from both Gen 2 and Gen 5, although we can’t help but feel Cyndaquil caught the short end of the stick. The trailer also reveals a wide range of Pokémon from across almost all generations. Arguably the biggest news is the change to the battle system. Unlike previous games, Legends: Z-A isn’t turn-based. Battles are held in a more real-time format, with the player leading their Pokémon through the arena to dodge attacks. Pokémon still have four moves, but each is mapped to a different face button. Timing and positioning matter and these battles look more engaging for the player. That said, we don’t relish the thought of being on the receiving end of a poorly-timed Hyperbeam dodge. We also saw more of a hint to the game’s story. Lumiose City is undergoing an “urban redevelopment plan” to make it livable for both people and Pokémon, with a megacorp called Quasartico Inc. managing the project. No doubt this company will likely serve as the Team Rocket equivalent. Early trailers suggested the game would come to Nintendo Switch “systems,” but this Present ended with only the standard Switch logo. Considering the existence of the Nintendo Switch 2 is already known — and has a scheduled Direct — it’s curious that Legends: Z-A isn’t explicitly said to come to both. However, Nintendo confirmed backward compatibility for the Switch 2, so this could be a non-issue. Source link #Pokémon #Legends #huge #trailer #fall #release #window Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wait, what? The Lenovo Legion Go 2’s first performance impressions are supposedly already here – it doesn’t look like a major improvement over its predecessor Wait, what? The Lenovo Legion Go 2’s first performance impressions are supposedly already here – it doesn’t look like a major improvement over its predecessor The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is still a prototype, but a new YouTube video showcases its potential performance stats There is currently no release date for the handheld gaming PC Based on the Legion Go S’ starting price, the Legion Go 2 is expected to cost between $900 and $1,000 We’re likely still months away from Lenovo’s full reveal and launch of its Legion Go successor, purported to be powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. While a prototype model was present at CES 2025, performance stats were kept under wraps considering its incomplete nature – now, (assuming the specs remain the same) we may have just seen what the Lenovo Legion Go 2 will have to offer. On this occasion, the stats come from Fps Vn (reliable for handheld gaming PC benchmarks and comparisons) on YouTube, where we can see the Lenovo Legion Go Z1 Extreme compared to what is supposedly the Lenovo Legion Go 2 Z2 Extreme. In multiple games, the Z2 Extreme handheld leads mostly by 10 or 11 frames per second (on average) while using frame generation at 30W – this is evident in Cyberpunk 2077 (video below), with a 15% performance difference. It’s important to note that this is while using frame generation, and hence doesn’t provide raw performance impressions – there also isn’t any full clarity on whether the Legion Go 2 in the video is indeed the real Legion Go 2, despite the description stating a ‘private lab’ test. Another possibility is that the performance stats here are from a device that also utilizes AMD’s Radeon RX 890M integrated GPU (which is present in the Z2 Extreme APU), so it’s best to wait until the Legion Go 2 is finalized and more benchmarks are available. But if these performance stats are accurate, they may not leave a great impression – at least when looking at the cost of the handheld. Lenovo Legion Go 1 & Lenovo Legion Go 2 | Test Game – YouTube Watch On A 10 or 11 fps difference is great don’t get me wrong, but not at a potential $1,000 price Once again, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is currently a prototype, so there is no confirmation of any price point – however, if these supposed performance results for a highly anticipated successor are accurate, I’ll be a little disappointed. Based on the Legion Go S with its $729.99 / £600 / AU$1,299.00 starting price, it would make very little sense for Lenovo to price its superior product (with an OLED screen, too) in the same region. This means we’ll likely see a price range between $900 and $1,000, neither of which is justifiable for this sort of meager performance gains, in my opinion. I hold the same sentiment towards the MSI Claw 8 AI+, despite it seemingly being the king of this generation’s handheld gaming PCs based on what I’ve seen – its $899 / £899 (around AU$1,440) price tag is a big ask, and nearing the sort of budget I’d suggest if you wanted to build a mid-range gaming PC. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. When the Legion Go 2 actually gets officially unveiled, if Lenovo can provide a strong price point that is reasonable then I’ll gladly walk back my statements on this matter – however, the addition of 32GB of RAM and an OLED screen suggests that my price estimate could be right on the money. You may also like… Source link #Wait #Lenovo #Legion #performance #impressions #supposedly #doesnt #major #improvement #predecessor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

FDA cancels meeting to pick flu vaccine strains for winter without explanation – Axios FDA cancels meeting to pick flu vaccine strains for winter without explanation – Axios FDA cancels meeting to pick flu vaccine strains for winter without explanation AxiosVaccine meeting to prepare for coming winter’s flu season canceled The Washington PostFDA meeting to choose flu vaccine composition canceled without explanation CNN Source link #FDA #cancels #meeting #pick #flu #vaccine #strains #winter #explanation #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meet The Three Starters In Pokemon Legends Z-A Meet The Three Starters In Pokemon Legends Z-A During the February 2025 Pokemon Presents show, Nintendo revealed the three starter Pokemon players can choose from in Pokemon Legends Z-A: Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. So far, that’s all the information we have on the three starters. Pokemon Legends Arceus had alternate Hisuin final evolutions for its starters, each with a different typing compared to their original forms. It hasn’t been confirmed whether the starters in Pokemon Legends Z-A will have alternate final evolutions as well. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: Extended Look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A! However, Nintendo confirmed that Mega Evolutions will be making a return, so it’s possible that the starters could receive those. There’s been a precendent set with Mega Evolutions where some get new typing, such as Mega Ampharos being Electric/Dragon instead of pure Electric type and Pinsir becoming a Bug/Flying type when it Mega Evolves instead of staying pure Bug. Let’s take a look at what we know about the three starters and what potential changes Legends Z-A could bring to them. The three starters in Pokemon Legends Z-A (from left to right): Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile Chikorita Chikorita is the Grass type starter from Generation 2, and is unfortunately the worst starter of its trio, as well as considered to be one of the worst starters historically. That’s mostly due to the shallow pool of moves its final form, Meganium, can learn and its mediocre stats. However, a Mega Evolution or alternate form could drastically improve Meganium. Nintendo could lean into Meganium’s reptilian design and give it a secondary Dragon typing. Meganium already learns some Dragon type attacks, including Dragon Tail and Outrage, but a secondary Dragon type would also power them up by 50% due to STAB, or Same Type Attack Bonus. This would make Meganium more offensively viable. Meganium is more defensively oriented, and a Dragon typing would be a bit of a mixed bag. It would bolster its already impressive resistances to Water, Grass, and Electric moves. However, it would add Dragon and Fairy weaknesses. An alternate form with the Grass/Fairy typing would give Meganium the best of both worlds, defensively and offensively. Fairy is regarded as one of the best types in Pokemon so far. A secondary Fairy type would gives Meganium an immunity to Dragon type attacks and new resistances to Dark and Fighting type attacks, while only adding one additional weakness to Steel type attacks. However, it would now take quadruple damage from Poison-type attacks instead of double. A secondary Fairy typing also cancels out Meganium’s weaknesses to bug types too, making them only do neutral damage. Offensively, Fairy is a powerful type, hitting Dark, Dragon, and Fighting types for extra damage. However, Meganium will still struggle against Fire and Poison types, as they resist Fairy type attacks. Tepig Tepig is the Fire starter from Generation 5 and its final evolution is Emboar, a Fire/Fighting type. With high offensive stats on both the physical and special sides of the spectrum, along with a versatile attacking movepool, Emboar doesn’t need as much as a drastic change like Meganium. However, if Nintendo wants to switch up Emboar’s typing in a Mega Evolution or alternate form, one possibility is Fire/Ground. Thematically, that would fit Emboar as a pig, rolling around in the mud. A secondary Ground typing might actually make Emboar worse, as it would take quadruple damage from Water type attacks and lose its Grass resistance. However, it would gain an Electric immunity. Either way, Emboar is fine as it is, and it’s possible that it could retain its Fire/Fighting typing if given an alternate form. Totodile Totodile is Generation 2’s Water type starter. Of the Johto trio, it’s the most physically offensive, making it a popular option. Its final evolution is Feraligatr, which, like Emboar, also doesn’t need a massive overhaul. Feraligatr is a pure Water type, so it’s possible that it could gain a secondary typing. The secondary typing that makes the most sense thematically for Feraligatr would be Dark, as that plays into Totodile’s mischievous and playful nature. Plus, Feraligatr already learns plenty of Dark type moves such as Bite, Crunch, Fake Tears, Snarl, and Lash Out. A secondary Dark typing would also give its Dark attacking moves the STAB bonus. Feraligatr is reptilian, just like Meganium, so a Water/Dragon typing fits too. Feraligatr already learns moves like Dragon Claw, Outrage, and Dragon Dance. As long as a Mega Evolution or alternate form of Meganium isn’t Grass/Dragon, Feraligatr can go down the route as a Dragon type, as I don’t imagine Nintendo would want to double up on the Dragon typing for two starters. Pokemon Legends Z-A is set to launch in late 2025 for Nintendo Switch. It’ll have a new take on the traditional Pokemon battle system, including real-time elements with attack moves that have a certain amount of reach. Moving Pokemon out of the way will cause attacks to miss. Source link #Meet #Starters #Pokemon #Legends Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Microsoft Surface Laptop is our best-rated model and right now it’s close to half price with this massive $700 discount The Microsoft Surface Laptop is our best-rated model and right now it’s close to half price with this massive $700 discount The best laptops are usually associated with massive price tags but we’ve just spotted an incredible discount on our number one machine today. Thanks to a surprise deal you can grab the Microsoft Surface Laptop at B&H for $899 (was $1,599). That’s a ridiculous $700 saving off the regular price and what’s likely an all-time low for a model that we rank at the very top of our best laptops buyer’s guide. As you can guess, we’re big fans of the 7th gen Surface laptop, not least because the Snapdragon X Elite chip helps Windows 11 feel fast and responsive while still maintaining seriously impressive battery life. Today’s best Microsoft Surface laptop deal In our Microsoft Surface Laptop review, we gave it five stars, stating that it’s “well-rounded and high-performing”. With “incredible performance [and] excellent battery life”, the laptop is more than worthy of its top position in the list of the best Windows laptops. The only issues here are its port selection is terrible (buy a hub) and the touchpad has some sensitivity issues, but otherwise, you’ll love your time with the Microsoft Surface Laptop. It’s ideal for working effectively on the move with no risk of running out of battery any time soon. Suitable for both students and those working on the move, this is an investment built to last. The Surface Laptop is just one of the best Windows laptops. If you want a wider range of recommendations, you can also check out the best laptops within a vast range of budgets. Source link #Microsoft #Surface #Laptop #bestrated #model #close #price #massive #discount Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Jake Knapp shoots a 59 at PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic Jake Knapp shoots a 59 at PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic Jake Knapp has joined the PGA Tour’s sub-60 club, shooting a bogey-free 59 in the opening round of the Cognizant Classic at PGA National. The 30-year-old Californian, ranked No.99 in the world, was left celebrating the 15th time that someone has broken 60 in a PGA Tour event on Thursday. Knapp finished one shot off the tour scoring record of 58, achieved by Jim Furyk in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship. He became the 14th player to shoot a sub-60 round, with Furyk having achieved the feat twice. Knapp even had a putt for eagle at the par-five 18th that would have tied Furyk’s record mark of 58 — 18 feet 8 inches was the measurement given by the PGA Tour. The eagle putt didn’t have the speed, and he tapped in for 59. The 12-birdie round on the par-71 course also broke the previous Cognizant scoring record of 61, achieved in 2012 by Brian Harman and matched in 2021 by *********** Matt Jones. There was barely any wind and PGA National was largely defenceless in the morning session. Nobody had an easier time than Knapp, who’s finished no better than a tie for 17th in any of his first seven starts of 2025. Knapp, who has one PGA Tour win at last year’s Mexico Open, started Thursday with five straight birdies, that stretch highlighted by a 60-foot putt at the par-four second hole. The birdies kept coming in bunches; three in a row on 9, 10 and 11 and three more coming on 13, 14 and 15 — the last of those a big breaking putt from 31 feet, going across the green before dropping dead centre into the cup. A 12-footer for birdie on the par-three 17th hit the outside right edge of the cup and spun off, leaving him at 11 under with only the par-five finishing hole left. A 335-yard tee shot left him 200 yards to the hole at No. 18, and a simple two-putt was all that remained to cap the history-making round. Source link #Jake #Knapp #shoots #PGA #Tours #Cognizant #Classic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘I Would Love For This To Be An Esport’: Splitgate 2 CEO On The Game’s Competitive Model ‘I Would Love For This To Be An Esport’: Splitgate 2 CEO On The Game’s Competitive Model I had the opportunity to play the Splitgate 2 alpha ahead of the release, thanks to 1047 Games. Before the session took place, I sat down with the studio’s CEO to talk about the development – and more importantly, the future – of this innovative first-person shooter. Given my passion for the industry, I was eager to learn whether esports plans sat in the pipeline for Splitgate 2. My discussion with Ian Proulx, also one of the studio’s founders, revealed exciting things about the competitive future of Splitgate 2. The Future is Competitive Splitgate 2 is a phenomenal shooter with stacks of potential. When I got hands-on with the title a month before it entered the current alpha playtest, I was instantly hooked. The fast-paced gameplay twinned with genuinely enjoyable weapon mechanics had me by the throat – in a good way. I was enthused by what I experienced. In a brief conversation with Ian Proulx, I dove into the competitive landscape for Splitgate 2, learning about the potential for this game to slot nicely into the esports landscape. I would say it’s not a priority for launch, but I definitely see this game being an esport one day. We like games that are fair, and that falls under the ‘fun category’ for me. We also like the fact that the game has a lot of skill expression, which nautrally lends itself to esports. Splitgate 2 uses genius ‘portal mechanics’ that allow players to warp around the battlefield like never before. It adds a unique element to the pacing, which is otherwise built around a typical run-and-gun operating model. Proulx continued: For us, the top priority is, ‘Let’s just go and make a fun shooter.’ If we do that and it turns into an esport, that’s great – but if it’s just a casual thing, that’s great too. That said, I would love for this to be an esport one day. It’s a post-launch thing and not something I want to force or prioritise, though. It’s typically quite tough for new games to elbow their way into the esports market. It has been dominated for so long by The Big Three: Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and Dota 2. Other titles have cut their way into the wider business, but it’s tough. In recent years, the most successful new game was VALORANT, but that’s backed by Riot Games, so the foothold was already there. For a new IP to break into the market successfully, a perfect storm of positive circumstances must unfold. Are you eager to see if Splitgate 2 generates a solid esports following? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Activision has confirmed using gen-AI to produce COD assets SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Love #Esport #Splitgate #CEO #Games #Competitive #Model Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New rules for banks to help customers in stress New rules for banks to help customers in stress Banks could find themselves named and shamed for not providing enough support to customers facing financial difficulty amid cost-of-living pressures. It comes after a number of the Big Four banks faced recent opprobrium for charging dead customers fees and suddenly closing branches. The *********** Banking Association’s updated code of practice takes effect on Friday with the aim of promoting trust and providing safeguards for customers. Updates include tweaks to the definition of small businesses – which will cover 10,000 additional enterprises – and expanded support for people experiencing financial hardship. Businesses will be permitted to carry an extra $2 million in debt before they no longer qualify as small under the updated code. The association’s chief executive Anna Bligh said the updated code sets new standards and simplifies others to make it clear what customers can expect from their bank. “There is now greater clarity on how banks will support customers facing financial difficulty, including the hardship arrangements that can be put in place to help them get back on their feet. “It strikes the right balance between creating new protections and simplifying parts to ensure it is easier to understand and apply – not only for bank staff but for customers and their representatives too,” Ms Bligh said. The code also contains new commitments on inclusivity and accessibility, such as organising external support like translators for people with limited English skills. It also recommends training for staff to help them recognise when customers may be eligible for low or no fee accounts. A public naming and shaming is the most serious sanction banks face for breaching the code, which is not legally enforced but designed to build trust and promote accountability. ANZ was named and shamed in July for deeply concerning and significant deficiencies in its compliance frameworks after charging dead customers fees and failing to refund them quickly enough. Westpac was called out for failing to provide adequate support to customers in the remote Northern Territory community Tennant Creek after closing a branch there in June. The Banking Code Compliance Committee may also report serious or systemic ongoing breaches to the *********** Securities and Investments Commission. Source link #rules #banks #customers #stress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Munitions Extender Backpack Stratagem Is the Solution Helldivers 2 Munitions Extender Backpack Stratagem Is the Solution Managing ammunition is one of the most important skills that every Helldivers 2 player must master because getting stuck on the battlefield with an empty weapon can be a stressful situation. Many players in the game love heavy weaponry, but its long reload time, especially when you are surrounded by enemies, can be annoying. To make things easier for Helldivers, a player has suggested a backpack concept called Munitions Extender Backpack. Ammo management is quite important in Helldivers 2 (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) This backpack will attach an ammo belt to certain weapons in the game, which will not only increase ammo capacity but also allow players to live their Rambo fantasies. Since machine guns are highly effective against most enemies in the game, Arrowhead Game Studios must add this backpack to the game. Helldivers 2 players suggested a backpack concept that will eliminate long reload times A Helldivers 2 player on the r/helldivers2 subreddit has shared a backpack concept called Munitions Extender Backpack. As the name suggests, this backpack Stratagem will extend ammo capacities, allowing players to shoot for longer periods of time. The ammo belt of this backpack Stratagem could be compatible with Stratagems like the MG-43 Machine Gun, M-105 Stalwart, and MG-206 Machine Gun. This would make the aforementioned weapons a mini version of the HMG Emplacement Stratagem, as players would not have to reload in between. This backpack’s limitation? A 12-second timer to set up the ammo belt. The MG-43 Machine Gun is quite popular among players as it is highly effective against most Terminid and Illuminate enemies. Its drawback is only its capacity, so this backpack would eliminate that problem. In the past, players have also suggested that Arrowhead Game Studios must give players a minigun, so the studio now has the opportunity to introduce this backpack along with the weapon. More stronger enemies will soon be added to Helldivers 2 More Illuminate enemies are on their way (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) Recently, a new Terminid strain called the Predator Strain was added to Helldivers 2. The Galactic War is slowly getting much more intense as the Illuminate faction is also planning its next invasion. Game director Mikael Eriksson has confirmed that the Illuminate enemies in the game are just a small section of the whole faction, so players should expect to see some *******, stronger enemies soon. Roughly five months after the release of Helldivers 2, the game lost 90% of its player base, primarily due to nerfs and the PSN account linking policy. In July 2024, Arrowhead came up with a 60-day plan to save the game, and it’s safe to say that this strategy has worked out. The game is once again one of the most popular co-op games in the world, with its future looking bright. The Omens of Tyranny update played a key role in boosting the game’s active player count, but the studio must continue adding fresh content to the game to keep the players hooked. Source link #Helldivers #Munitions #Extender #Backpack #Stratagem #Solution Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia confirms Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin GPUs are on track for 2025 and 2026 — post-Rubin GPUs in the works Nvidia confirms Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin GPUs are on track for 2025 and 2026 — post-Rubin GPUs in the works A design flaw delayed Nvidia’s rollout of Blackwell GPUs for data centers, prompting the company to redesign the silicon and packaging. However, this did not affect Nvidia’s work on mid-cycle refresh Blackwell 300-series (Blackwell Ultra) GPUs for AI and HPC and next-generation Vera Rubin GPUs. Nvidia can already share some details about Rubin GPUs and its post-Rubin products. “Blackwell Ultra is [due in the] second half,” Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, reaffirmed analysts and investors at the company’s earnings conference call. “The next train [is] Blackwell Ultra with new networking, new [12-Hi HBM3E] memory, and, of course, new processors. […] We have already revealed and have been working very closely with all of our partners on the click after that. The click after that is called Vera Rubin and all of our partners are getting up to speed on the transition to that. […] [With Rubin GPUs] we are going to provide a big, big, huge step up.” Later this year, Nvidia plans to release its Blackwell B300-series solutions for AI and HPC (previously known as Blackwell Ultra) that will offer higher compute performance as well as eight stacks of 12-Hi HBM4E memory, thus providing up to 288 GB of memory onboard. Unofficial information indicates that performance uplift enabled by Nvidia’s B300-series will be around 50% compared to the comparable B200-series products, though the company has yet to confirm this. To further improve performance, B300 will be offered with Nvidia’s Mellanox Spectrum Ultra X800 Ethernet switch, which has a radix of 512 and can support up to 512 ports. Nvidia is also expected to provide additional system design freedom to its partner with its B300-series data center GPUs. (Image credit: Constellation Research) Nvidia’s next-generation GPU series will be based on the company’s all-new, codenamed Rubin architecture, further improving AI compute capabilities as industry leaders march towards achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). In 2026, the first iteration of Rubin GPUs for data centers will come with eight stacks of HBM4E memory (up to 288 GB). The Rubin platform will also include a Vera CPU, NVLink 6 switches at 3600 GB/s, CX9 network cards supporting 1600 Gb/s, and X1600 switches. Jensen Huang plans to talk about Rubin at the upcoming GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in March, though it remains to be seen what he plans to discuss. Surprisingly, Nvidia also intends to talk about post-Rubin products at the GTC. From what Jensen Huang announced this week, it is unclear whether the company plans to reveal details of Rubin Ultra GPUs or its GPU architecture that will come after the Rubin family. Speaking of Rubin Ultra, this could indeed be quite a breakthrough product. It is projected to come with 12 stacks of HBM4E in 2027 once Nvidia learns how to efficiently use 5.5-reticle-size CoWoS interposers and 100mm × 100mm substrates made by TSMC. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. “Come to GTC and I will [tell you about] Blackwell Ultra,” said Huang. “There are Rubin, and then [we will] show you what is one click after that. Really, really exciting new product.” Source link #Nvidia #confirms #Blackwell #Ultra #Vera #Rubin #GPUs #track #postRubin #GPUs #works Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

C-PP Parent Teacher Association treasurer arrested for allegedly stealing over $45,000 C-PP Parent Teacher Association treasurer arrested for allegedly stealing over $45,000 The treasurer of the Calvin U. Smith Parent Teacher Association and Corning-Painted Post CSEA Union 8710 was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing more than $45,000 from August 2024 to January 2025. Kari A. Warner, 35, of Painted Post, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, a class-D felony. State Police based in Painted Post received a larceny complaint from the Calvin U. Smith Parent Teacher Association, which spurred the investigation. State Police said the investigation continues involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Corning-Painted Post Parent Teacher Association and the Civil Service Employees Association Local Union. Warner was transported to the Steuben County Jail centralized arraignment court for arraignment and released on her own recognizance. She will appear in Erwin Town Court at a later date. This is a developing story that may be updated. This article originally appeared on The Leader: C-PP Parent Teacher Association treasurer charged with stealing funds Source link #CPP #Parent #Teacher #Association #treasurer #arrested #allegedly #stealing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Game Pass Is Still The Best Place To Play Indies Xbox Game Pass Is Still The Best Place To Play Indies kewlrats|3d ago |Article|2| ▼ Info Add Alt Source All the events, parties, meetups, concerts, and more that PAX East 2025 has to offer, all in one place, for one of Gaming’s biggest expos. Commerce PAX East PAX East 2025 sidequesting.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] sidequesting.com Source link #Xbox #Game #Pass #Place #Play #Indies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BBC Weather forecast: Can you still spot the planetary parade? – BBC.com BBC Weather forecast: Can you still spot the planetary parade? – BBC.com BBC Weather forecast: Can you still spot the planetary parade? BBC.comStargazer alert for Philadelphia! Here’s how and when you can see a very rare planetary parade this week. CBS Philly7 planets to align in night sky; best viewing on Thursday and Friday in Maine WGMEAstrophotographer captures ‘rare’ planetary parade as 7 planets align in the night sky (photo) Space.com Source link #BBC #Weather #forecast #spot #planetary #parade #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

MPs grill X, TikTok and Meta about online misinformation MPs grill X, TikTok and Meta about online misinformation Social media companies have defended their content moderation practices to a Parliamentary committee investigating online misinformation, arguing that they already have effective processes and systems in place to deal with the spread of false information on their platforms. On 25 February 2025, the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee (SITC) grilled tech giants X, TikTok and Meta as part of its inquiry into online misinformation and harmful algorithms. Opening the session, committee chair Chi Onwurah said the topic has unusually “strong public interest” for a technology-related issue, and that the committee is concerned about misinformation “being disseminated at industrial scale”. She added that this particular session would primarily focus in on the spread of disinformation during the Southport Riots in 2024. In the wake of the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport on 29 July 2024, social media became awash with unsubstantiated rumours that the perpetrator was an asylum seeker of ******* faith. While this was later confirmed to be completely false, Islamophobic far-right rioting broke out in more than a dozen English towns and cities over the next few days, specifically targeting mosques, hotels housing asylum seekers, immigration centres and random people of colour. Responding to MPs’ questions about social media firms’ response to the unrest, Chris Yiu, director of public policy for Northern Europe at Meta, said the organisation’s trust and safety teams took down around 24,000 posts for breaking its policies on violence and incitement, and a further 2,700 for breaking its rules on dangerous organisations. “One thing that I think is challenging in these fast-moving incidents is that it can be difficult to establish the facts on the grounds in real time,” he said. “I think that is something which we will need to have a reflection on and understand how we could do that.” Community guidelines Alistair Law, director of public policy and government affairs for the *** and Ireland at TikTok, added that while the vast majority of content on the platform during the unrest was either documentary or bystander footage, tens of thousands of posts containing “violent comments” were removed by the company for violating its community guidelines. Echoing Yiu, Law also said it can be difficult to “establish the veracity of potential claims” in fast-moving events, adding that there needs to be collaboration throughout the “wider value chain” of information sharing, which includes broadcast media, as news coverage and social media content can create negative feedback loops around misinformation. Wilfredo Fernández, senior director for government affairs at X, said the company has “very clear protocols in place on how to deal with this content and the challenges that arise in the aftermath of an attack like this”. He added that X’s “community notes” model was able to provide useful context to users, and that prominent far-right figures like Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate received such notes in relation to their posts about the Southport attacks. “X has no power to place or remove a note,” said Fernández. “It’s completely powered by people.” In response to MPs highlighting instances of blue-tick X accounts making posts about the location of immigrants and encouraging rioters to go there (and which did not receive community notes), Fernández said the company did take various actions on tens of thousands of posts. “To sit here and say we get the right call every time, that would be wrong,” he said. Labour MP Emily Darlington also challenged Fernández over extreme messages she had personally received on the X platform in November 2024, in which she was described as “a traitor to the British people” and threatened with hanging after sharing a petition to save her local Post Office. Darlington said she reported the post as harmful and violent speech, in violation of X’s rules that state expressing desire for violence is not allowed, and listed other violent or racist comments made by the same account. Asked by Darlington whether this was acceptable, Fernández said the comments were “abhorrent”, but that while he would have content moderation teams review the account for terms of service violations, he could not make any assurances that it would be removed. Meta was also criticised for its removal of third-party fact-checking in favour of an X-style “community notes” approach, which MPs argued would allow “racist misinformation” to spread after citing numerous examples of Meta users posting racist, antisemitic or transphobic comments on the platform. “We have received feedback that … some areas of debates were being suppressed too much on our platform and that some conversations, whilst challenging, should have a space to be discussed,” said Yiu. Both Onwurah and Darlington pushed back, arguing that some things – such as statements denying the existence of trans people or deriding immigrants – should be not be characterised as up for debate. The representatives from Meta and TikTok said that while the scale of social media use presents clear content moderation problems, each firm takes down upwards of 98% of violent content. Processes and systems Responding to questions about whether the Online Safety Act (OSA) being in force at the time of the riots would have changed their approach at all, every company said they already have processes and systems in place to deal with misinformation crises. In the wake of the riots, Ofcom warned that social media firms will be obliged by the OSA to deal with disinformation and content that is hateful or provokes violence, noting that it “will put new duties on tech firms to protect their users from ******** content, which under the Act can include content involving hatred, disorder, provoking violence or certain instances of disinformation”. The online harms regulator added that when the act comes into force in late 2024, tech firms will then have three months to assess the risk of ******** content on their platforms. They will then be required to take appropriate steps to stop it appearing, and act quickly to remove it when they become aware of it. “The largest tech firms will in due course need to go even further – by consistently applying their terms of service, which often include banning things like hate speech, inciting violence and harmful disinformation,” said Ofcom, adding that it will have a broad range of enforcement powers at its disposal to deal with non-compliant firms. “These include the power to impose significant financial penalties for breaches of the safety duties,” it said. “The regime focuses on platforms’ systems and processes rather than the content itself that is on their platforms.” However, while a number of the Online Safety Act’s criminal offences were already in force at the time of the unrest – including those related to threatening communications, false communications and tech companies’ non-compliance with information notices – some said at the time it was unclear if any of these would be applicable to those using social media to organise racist riots. “Instead, the police are likely to have to rely on offences under the Public Order Act 1986, which is the main piece of legislation which penalises the use of violence and/or intimidation by individuals or groups,” said Mark Jones, a partner at Payne Hicks Beach. “Whilst the home secretary may have said ‘if it’s a crime offline, it’s a crime online’, and whilst that may be correct, the Online Safety Act provides no additional support to the pre-existing criminal law covering incidents of incitement of violence.” Source link #MPs #grill #TikTok #Meta #online #misinformation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Disney Speedstorm’s season 12 release date unveiled, with Tron making a comeback Disney Speedstorm’s season 12 release date unveiled, with Tron making a comeback Disney Speedstorm is set to release its 12th season very soon And this time the theme is around the hit sequel Tron: Legacy! Quorra, Sam Flynn, Rinzler and more debut as playable racers It’s hard to imagine that Disney, the folks behind iconic animated franchises and middling live-action films, are also well-known for debuting one of the first motion pictures to use extensive digital effects with 1982’s Tron. And for fans of the follow-up, Tron: Legacy, the newest season of Disney Speedstorm is sure to be exciting! Arriving March 6th, Disney Speedstorm’s latest season features a whole host of new additions to the hit racing release themed after the landmark film. Sam Flynn, Quorra, Rinzler (Tron) and Zuse (that bloke from the club in Tron: Legacy) all make an appearance wielding distinctive neon-soaked weaponry, including the iconic identity disks. However, if you were expecting them to take to the course on the iconic lightcycle you may be disappointed as they instead make use of stylish, but still standard karts. Even so, there are new Crew Members in the form of Kevin Flynn, ISO, Jarvis and more, as well as a whole new track to enjoy! Wot, no lightcycles? Yes, as baffling an omission as it is, the latest season of Disney Speedstorm makes up for this misstep with what it’s bringing to the table. Season 12, On the Grid, sees the aforementioned characters making their debut as racers wielding distinctive weaponry and ultimates for each of the four. Either way, watch out because this latest dive into the Grid launches on March 6th on all platforms! If you need a refresher course on the best racers to use why not check out our Disney Speedstorm tier list to give you some pointers? And if Speedstorm simply isn’t what you’re looking for you can still enjoy the weekend with some of the top releases that we’ve listed in our latest edition of the top five new mobile games to try this week! Featuring new games from virtually every genre. Source link #Disney #Speedstorms #season #release #date #unveiled #Tron #making #comeback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What would it take for Canada to hit 2% defence spending NATO target? – National What would it take for Canada to hit 2% defence spending NATO target? – National For years, Canada has been under pressure from NATO allies to hit the military alliance’s target of spending at least two per cent of GDP on defence — something experts say cannot be done with the flick of a switch. Yet that pressure has only grown under the new Trump administration in the U.S. Last week, the White House said it expects all NATO allies to be meeting the two per cent target by June, when leaders gather at the Hague for the alliance’s annual summit. Experts who study ********* defence and financial policy used words like “impossible” and “not realistic” when asked if hitting that June deadline was feasible. “You’re talking about increasing our defence spending by almost 50 per cent,” said Stephen Saideman, the Paterson Chair of International Affairs at Carleton University and director of the ********* Defence and Security Network. Story continues below advertisement “We simply cannot spend that much money that quickly.” 1:15 NATO chief backs Trump’s call for equal Ukraine aid, urges higher defence spending Even getting to two per cent within the next couple of years would be extremely difficult, those analysts say, largely due to the realities and constraints of procuring military equipment. Regardless of when Canada hits the target, the question will then become how to maintain it or raise it even further. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly raised defence spending as one of his many grievances with Canada. “They spend very little money on military, on NATO they’re just about last in terms of payment,” he said during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday. “We protect Canada, but it’s not fair. It’s not fair that they’re not paying their way. And if they had to pay their way, they couldn’t exist.” Story continues below advertisement How much would hitting 2% cost? Canada is one of just eight NATO members out of 32 not meeting the two per cent benchmark first agreed to in 2014. It spent 1.37 per cent of its GDP on defence last year, or $41 billion, according to government projections. The federal government’s defence policy update laid out plans to boost military spending to 1.76 per cent of GDP by 2030. Officials have said they can hit two per cent by 2032 or even earlier, but have not released details on how that will be achieved. Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. “We are a proud founding member of NATO, and have a clear, credible and achievable plan to reach the NATO 2% target,” Defence Minister Bill Blair’s office said in a statement. “We’ve also recently reaffirmed our intention to accelerate our defence spending timeline — making significant new investments in the ********* Armed Forces. Story continues below advertisement “We want to get this done as quickly as possible, while recognizing that there are decisions that Canada has to make with respect to the availability of the funding required to meet NATO’s 2% target.” 9:42 Could Canada’s military spending be fast-tracked? Based on Canada’s current projected GDP of $3.1 trillion this year, it would take about $20 billion to reach two per cent on defence right now. However, annual GDP figures are generally projected to grow over time. The parliamentary budget officer (PBO), in a report last year, calculated that defence spending would have to reach $81.9 billion to reach two per cent of what it projects GDP to be by 2032. The Department of National Defence has disputed the PBO report, saying the independent office calculates GDP differently than the defence policy update, which uses NATO figures “to ensure consistency amongst members.” Story continues below advertisement How can that money be raised and spent? Kevin Page, a former parliamentary budget officer currently serving as president and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa, said in an email that raising the necessary funds to hit two per cent quickly would require “some combination” of budget deficits, spending cuts and increase in revenues — in other words, a tax hike. A one per cent increase in the GST would generate about $10 billion, according to Page. He also pointed to the “substantially” higher government program spending under the Liberals — from 13.7 per cent of GDP in 2015 to 16.2 per cent today — suggesting another $10 billion in savings could be found and reallocated to defence. The question for each of those is whether the government has the political will to carry them out, Page said — and whether Canadians would accept them. Story continues below advertisement But other experts say budgets need to be spent, and Ottawa can’t simply rush money out the door on the things like new submarines and fighter jets that will help Canada reach two per cent. Trending Now Trump says tariffs on Canada, Mexico still set for next week Gene Hackman, his wife and dog found dead in their New Mexico home “A minimum of two to three years in terms of production timelines is a pretty reasonable time frame for anything not already under discussion,” said David Perry, president and CEO of the ********* Global Affairs Institute. “Generally, we don’t make final payments until we actually get stuff. So it’s not like you prepay and then you get the stuff later. That’s generally not how these things work.” 0:35 Trump wants NATO members to increase defence spend goal from 2% to 5% Perry said the war in Ukraine means most available military stocks are depleted because allies rushed to send available military resources to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, meaning much of what Canada needs to buy will need to be built new. Story continues below advertisement Manufacturers have ramped up production but are still strained from worldwide demand. He said Canada can show allies it is serious about investing more in defence quickly by spending on immediate needs military members have identified like base improvements, building more affordable housing and boosting pay for members. Last spring’s budget committed $6.9 million over five years, with “$1.4 billion in future years,” to build up to 1,400 homes for military members and renovate 2,500 existing units on bases and wings. Canada continues to face major challenges in military recruitment. The military is aiming to reach its approved strength of 71,500 regular forces members and 30,000 reserve members by April 2029, but is still short more than 13,000 personnel. Saideman said the housing and base improvement measures would also take years to deliver on after architecture plans, land assessments and building are completed. At the very least, Perry said a spending plan could be produced publicly and to allies in time for the June NATO summit. “We’ve certainly had a lot of time to work on it, and with another four months to cram for the exam, that’s more than enough time,” he said. 2:16 Canada on ‘clear path’ to reach NATO’s 2% target: Trudeau Saideman said maintaining two per cent or pushing higher could be the more difficult task. Story continues below advertisement A change in government to the Conservatives — whose leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to balance the budget and has not committed to a timeline to reach two per cent — could complicate efforts to spend more on defence at the expense of fiscal restraint. Both Perry and Saideman said maintaining two per cent of GDP would mean fundamentally changing the way the ********* military operates — from one that, as Perry put it, “buy airplanes or buy ships every 30 or 40 years” to a more modern and active national security force. That will require long-term planning and investments that go beyond what’s needed to hit two per cent today, they said. As for the short-term, Saideman and Perry said there’s one way Canada could potentially hit the NATO target faster: if Trump’s tariffs reduce Canada’s GDP, which economists have predicted. “If Trump is engaged in a trade war against Canada and causes a recession, we’ll get closer to two per cent because our economy will shrink,” Saideman said. More on Canada More videos Source link #Canada #hit #defence #spending #NATO #target #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man’s brain turned to glass by Vesuvius volcano ash cloud Man’s brain turned to glass by Vesuvius volcano ash cloud Nearly 2,000 years after a young man died in the Vesuvius volcanic eruption, scientists have discovered that his brain was preserved when it turned to glass in an extremely hot cloud of ash. Researchers found the glass in 2020 and speculated that it was a fossilised brain but did not know how it had formed. The pea-sized chunks of ****** glass were found inside the skull of the victim, aged about 20, who died when the volcano erupted in 79 AD near modern-day Naples. Scientists now believe a cloud of ash as hot as 510C enveloped the brain then very quickly cooled down, transforming the organ into glass. It is the only known case of human tissue – or any organic material – turning to glass naturally. “We believe that the very specific conditions that we have reconstructed for the vitrification [the process of something turning into glass] of the brain make it very difficult for there to be other similar remains, although it is not impossible,” Prof Guido Giordano from Università Roma Tre told BBC News. “This is a unique finding,” he said. The brain belonged to a man killed in his bed inside a building called the Collegium on the main street of the Roman city Herculaneum. The fragments of glass found by the scientists range from 1-2 cm to just few millimetres in size. The massive eruption of Vesuvius engulfed Herculaneum and nearby Pompeii where up to 20,000 people lived. The remains of about 1,500 people have been found. Scientists now think the hot ash cloud descended from Vesuvius first, probably causing most of the deaths. A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter, also called a pyroclastic flow, followed, burying the area. Experts believe the ash cloud turned the man’s brain into glass because the pyroclastic flow would not have reached high enough temperatures or cooled quickly enough. The process of glass formation requires very specific temperature conditions and rarely occurs naturally. For a substance to turn to glass, there must be a huge temperature difference between the substance and its surrounding. Its liquid form has to cool fast enough not to crystallise when it becomes solid, and it must be at a much higher temperature than its surroundings. The team used imaging with x-rays and electron microscopy to conclude that the brain must have been heated to at least 510C before cooling rapidly. No other parts of the man’s body are believed to have turned to glass. Only material containing some liquid can turn to glass, meaning that the bones could not have vitrified. Other soft tissues, like organs, were likely destroyed by the heat before they could cool down enough to turn to glass. The scientists believe the skull gave some protection to the brain. The research is published in the scientific journal – a publication where researchers report their work to other experts – Scientific Reports. Source link #Mans #brain #turned #glass #Vesuvius #volcano #ash #cloud Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office files appeal in $15 million racial discrimination lawsuit Alachua County Sheriff’s Office files appeal in $15 million racial discrimination lawsuit The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has filed an appeal in an effort to decrease a $15 million verdict for racial discrimination awarded in early February to a former employee. On Feb 7, an Alachua County jury unanimously awarded more than $15 million in damages and lost wages to Kevin Davis, a former sergeant who was found to have suffered racial discrimination under the administration of former Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. The six-person jury agreed that Davis, who is white, was passed over by Watson, who is ******, for promotions and transfers in favor of less-qualified ****** officers. “Today, the justice system worked. Justice is slow, but it works,” Davis’ attorney, Bobi Frank, told The Sun after the verdict was read. Local news: Alachua County Commission approves raises for law enforcement, detention officers Attorney Wayne Evans, who represented the sheriff’s office, said the actions of Watson, who was not present when the verdict was announced, were not racial discrimination. “This shows that this case is all about assumptions and people want to say and believe what they want to hear,” Evans said. The Feb. 24 filing by the sheriff’s office includes transcripts of Davis’ testimony, closing arguments and the verdict form. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: ACSO files appeal following $15 million racial discrimination verdict Source link #Alachua #County #Sheriffs #Office #files #appeal #million #racial #discrimination #lawsuit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to Catch a Shooting Star in Monster Hunter Wilds How to Catch a Shooting Star in Monster Hunter Wilds Monster Hunter Wilds features a silver trophy/achievement that requires the player to “capture a creature in the desert that shines like a shooting star.” The name of the creature we need to capture is the Sandstar. It resembles a mix of a rat and a rabbit with a blue color and is extremely fast. Just like the Giant Squid, it has a fixed spawn and specific conditions to appear. How to capture the “Shooting Star” The Sandstar always spawn near the Oasis (Area 13) in the Plains region. It only appears at Night. Go to the Oasis tent and sleep. Set the condition to “Plenty” to increase the spawn rate. Be aware that the spawn is random, so, if he doesn’t spawn at night, fast travel to another region and come back. The creature spawns in the following location: It is HIGHLY recommended that you equip a Screamer Pod. The Sandstar is extremely fast and it will be almost impossible to capture it without using the Screamer Pod to stun it. After you stun the creature, throw the capture net and the trophy will pop. The description of the Sandstar says the following: “Nocturnal desert creatures with pale, luminescent fur that is believed to be the result of the insects they primarily feed on. Highly vigilant, they use their excellent hearing to detect approaching threats and flee, so trying to chase one down is the wrong approach. You’ll have a far easier time catching one if you use a sonic bomb to disrupt its hearing.“ The Sandstar isn’t the only creature you can capture in Monster Hunter Wilds. The game has more than 50 endemic creatures. You can also use the fishing pole to catch whoppers, giant fishes. You can read our guide for whoppers here. Did you managed to capture the “shooting star” in Monster Hunter Wilds? Tell us in the comments and join the discussion in our forum! SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Catch #Shooting #Star #Monster #Hunter #Wilds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How to bet on Hoka taking more gains from Nike using options How to bet on Hoka taking more gains from Nike using options Pairs trading is a market-neutral strategy that involves buying one asset while shorting a related asset to profit from temporary pricing divergences. Typically, traders select two highly correlated assets — such as stocks, commodities, or currencies—that usually move together, like competing companies in the same industry (e.g., Ford and General Motors). The approach assumes that any temporary spread between the two prices will eventually converge. Many traders use this short-term strategy to exploit price fluctuations, as seen with firms like Renaissance Technologies. Alternatively, a long-term, fundamental version of pairs trading involves identifying a company better positioned to outperform its peer, going long on the anticipated winner and short on the loser for potential long(er)-term gains. Pairs trading involves speculating on both the long and short sides, aiming to be less affected by overall market movements and more resilient to volatility. Regular readers may recall that I outlined a pairs trade between Nike (short) and Lululemon (long) in October of last year using options that expired on December 20th, 2024. Over the 57 days of the trade, Lululemon outperformed Nike by 29.5%. Not bad for less than two months. That outperformance continued through February 7th this year, but at that point, something interesting happened. Citibank downgraded Nike to neutral from buy on tariff concerns. Oppenheimer raised their price target on Lululemon, and on February 9th, Super Bowl Sunday, after losing market share to competitors, Nike advertised at the Super Bowl a 60-second spot featuring the likes of WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark and triple grand-slam Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka. Did the Citi and Oppenheimer analysts get stung by the “commentator’s curse”? Was it the $16 million Superbowl commercial? As inspiring as a Superbowl commercial can be, despite featuring “Whole lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin, the ad wasn’t loved by everyone. Whatever the cause, Nike picked up the pace — big time. Since February 7th, Nike has outperformed LULU by an astonishing 26%. NKE 1M mountain Nike, 1 month So the question for us now is whether CEO Elliott Hill will reclaim the company’s top spot, returning to the roots of Nike’s success and betting on campaigns featuring the biggest names in sports. Or is the enthusiasm overblown? Should one once again “strap on a pair” and short Nike and get long one of the upstart competitors that have recently been taking market share? New pairs trade Nike is now trading 37.5x forward earnings estimates, while Lululemon is trading ~ 23.7x. However, another recently hard-hit footwear and apparel company is also starting to look more compelling in valuation — Deckers Outdoor Corp , which owns Hoka. Hoka running shoes have a tiny market share relative to Nike, but they’re growing fast. Hoka sales increased by ~35% year over year through late 2024%. That has helped propel Decker’s sales growth, which rose by 19.5% YoY for the trailing 12 months that ended December 31, 2024. Perhaps more interesting, Deckers is trading 23.7x FY2026 estimated earnings (the company’s fiscal year ends January 31st, so we’re in FY26 already). So, to summarize, Nike expects no net sales growth over the coming 12 months but is trading > 35x forward earnings estimates. Lululemon is trading 23.7x forward earnings with ~8% anticipated sales growth, and Deckers is also trading ~ 23.7x forward earnings with 11% anticipated sales growth. In pairs trading, we generally like to buy the “best” of breed and sell the “worst,” which leaves us with long DECK and short NKE. DECK 1M mountain Deckers, 1 month There is one additional wrinkle, though. In the near term, Nike has more technical strength, and Deckers has more technical weakness, and there is an unfilled gap from Q1 2024 down to $130. As a neutral to bullish bet, one could sell the 20 delta April 130 puts in DECK at $2.70, just over 2% of the current strike for an option that expires in 50 days (that’s a ~ 15% standstill rate of return annualized) with an 80% probability of profit as the first leg of the trade. I would generally favor a credit trade in Nike as well. Still, the company reports earnings on March 21st, and the company’s share price has experienced some double-digit earnings-related moves in recent years. The options market implies the stock could swing 7.5% when they report. One could use a 1×2 put spread to make a bearish bet, buying one April 80 put and selling 2 April 72.5 puts to make the bearish bet on Nike. By selling two puts one is betting the stock falls to that short strike, but not much further, because below that strike gains will be reduced and, if the stock were to fall below ~ $66, the downside breakeven, even turn to losses however that would be testing the pandemic lows, which I view as unlikely within the next couple months. The trade: Sell 1 DECK Apr. 17 $130 put Buy 1 NKE Apr. 17 $80 put Sell 2 NKE Apr. 17 $72.50 put DISCLOSURES: (None) All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL’S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer. Source link #bet #Hoka #gains #Nike #options Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S&P 500 trades flat after Trump's tariffs declaration, decline in Nvidia: Live updates – CNBC S&P 500 trades flat after Trump's tariffs declaration, decline in Nvidia: Live updates – CNBC S&P 500 trades flat after Trump’s tariffs declaration, decline in Nvidia: Live updates CNBCNvidia stock slides as CFO raises worries over ‘unknowns’ on Trump tariffs, export controls New York Post Stock Market Today: Dow up 400 points, Nasdaq slides in volatile session as investors weigh Trump tariffs, Nvidia earnings MarketWatchMorning Bid: Even Nvidia beat gets a shrug, tariff war looms ReutersTech Stocks Hit as Nvidia Fails to Ignite AI Rally: Markets Wrap Bloomberg Source link #SampP #trades #flat #Trump039s #tariffs #declaration #decline #Nvidia #Live #updates #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

11 classic Lego games have joined the GOG Preservation Program 11 classic Lego games have joined the GOG Preservation Program GOG has added 11 classic Lego games to its ever-growing Preservation Program. The GOG Preservation Program is a venture announced last November which is designed to ensure that classic games remain playable on modern PCs forever, even after their developers have stopped supporting them. Today, seven classic Lego games already on GOG have been added to the Preservation Program, along with four more Lego games which are also being added to the store today for the first time. The full list of games added to the Preservation Program is as follows: Lego Batman: The Video Game Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Lego City Undercover (new to GOG) Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues The Lego Movie Video Game (new to GOG) The Lego Movie 2 Video Game (new to GOG) The Lego Ninjago Video Game (new to GOG) Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game Lego The Lord of the Rings Lego Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the 11 games newly added to GOG’s Preservation Program. Games included in the Preservation Program are identified with a dedicated stamp on the GOG store, and players can see how GOG has worked to update each title by looking at its Preservation Log. For example, the first Lego Batman game was originally released in 2008, meaning it may not necessarily work well 17 years later on today’s PCs. Rather than simply dumping the 2008 PC version on its site and leaving it to players to get it working on their system, however, GOG’s version has been tweaked to ensure it’s compatible with Windows 10 and 11 PCs, running at a default 1080p resolution with V-Sync enabled and a locked 60Hz frame rate. Each of the Lego games is currently on ***** to celebrate their addition to the GOG Preservation Program, with discounts of 75%-85% depending on the title. The addition of the Lego titles brings the total number of games in GOG’s Preservation Program to 115. The retailer plans to hit 500 games by the end of 2025, and eventually add its entire catalogue of thousands of PC games. Source link #classic #Lego #games #joined #GOG #Preservation #Program Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]