Pelican Press

Yarden Bibas in emotional eulogy to wife and sons killed in Gaza captivity – Yahoo Yarden Bibas in emotional eulogy to wife and sons killed in Gaza captivity – Yahoo Yarden Bibas in emotional eulogy to wife and sons killed in Gaza captivity YahooBreakthrough in Gaza hostage deal as Israel mourns Bibas family ReutersHamas to Hand Over Bodies of Four Slain Hostages on Wednesday, Israel to Free ************ Prisoners Haaretz Source link #Yarden #Bibas #emotional #eulogy #wife #sons #killed #Gaza #captivity #Yahoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alibaba offers free access to its AI model that can generate realistic video and images Alibaba offers free access to its AI model that can generate realistic video and images Alibaba is giving people free access to its generative artificial intelligence models that can produce highly realistic videos and images from both text and image input. The company has announced that four variants of its Wan 2.1 series, the latest version of its generative AI technology, are now open source and can be downloaded and modified by users. Researchers, academics and commercial entities can all get them from Alibaba Cloud’s ModelScope and Hugging Face platforms, both of which give people access to open-source AI models. As Reuters said, the models Alibaba has open sourced are called T2V-1.3B, T2V-14B, I2V-14B-720P and I2V-14B-480P, with the 14B indicating that the model can accept 14 billion parameters. Last month, ******** company DeepSeek made its R1 reasoning model free to download and use, creating a clamor for more open-source AI technologies. DeepSeek even expanded its commitment to the open-source community and is in the process of releasing five code repositories behind its service. Alibaba was one of the companies that joined the fray to develop generative AI tech following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT two years ago. Just recently, Alibaba Group’s Chairman, Joe Tsai, said that the company’s generative AI technology will power artificial intelligence features for iPhones meant for ***** in the ******** market. Apple couldn’t use the same AI tech for phones released in China due to strict regulations surrounding AI products, so it has to look for local partners, Alibaba being one of them. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #Alibaba #offers #free #access #model #generate #realistic #video #images Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia’s RTX 5090 can’t run older games, but this user found an expensive fix Nvidia’s RTX 5090 can’t run older games, but this user found an expensive fix Fans of PhysX on 32-bit CUDA are not ready to let go of the capability for the RTX 5090 GPU. Gamers have become inventive by rigging the already expensive graphics card with additional, compatible GPUs to regain PhysX function on their gaming setups. Nvidia recently announced that it is halting support for the legacy GPU-accelerated physics simulation technology, PhysX on newer graphics cards. This indicated that many popular older games would not be compatible with the RTX 5090 GPU and beyond in terms of detailed simulation and rendering. Without PhysX support, legacy games perform at significantly lower frame rates and aren’t able to properly execute many particle effects, including moving smoke, cloth, liquids, and shattering glass. jerubedo/Reddit Tom’s Hardware previously noted it was possible to keep PhysX support going on a PC running an RTX 50 series GPU and beyond by pairing it with an RTX 40 series or older graphics card, only tapping the latter component in to work on the Nvidia control panel when necessary. This is exactly what Reddit user, jerubedo did– purchasing an RTX 3050 graphics card to pair with an RTX 5090 GPU. The enthusiast shared their results on the Nvidia forum. RTX 3050 pairing results The gamer tested the two GPUs on several legacy games, including ****** II Classic, Batman Arkham, Borderlands 2, Assassin’s Creed IV: ****** Flag, and Mirror’s Edge to varied results. Overall, the test yielded that the PhysX performance on the RTX 5090 GPU suffered without the help of the RTX 3050. jerubedo/Reddit The RTX 5090 ran on its own with significantly low frame rates. With Borderlands 2, the user reported that PhysX would not run at all. Meanwhile, the RTX 5090 run with support from the RTX 3050, experienced much-elevated frame rates and improved support for effects. With Assassin’s Creed IV: ****** Flag, the gamer indicated the frame rates were relatively the same between the two setups, at approximately 62fps. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming However, other games saw extreme differences. The Redditor reported that Mirror’s Edge saw a frame rate of 12fps without the RTX 3050, with the game pausing for 49 seconds during a scene of glass shattering. In comparison, the RTX 5090 and RTX 3050 pair had a frame rate of 171fps. No PhysX replacement Notably, the RTX 5090 retails for approximately $2,000, which is quite costly for a computing component. The GPU is already in limited quantity and high demand, making it even more unfortunate that Nvidia is stripping away long-appreciated functionalities from the graphics system. While purchasing an additional GPU to regain PhysX function is an interesting feat, it’s not a move every enthusiast wants to make when they expect their already expensive components to just work. The commentators at Digital Foundry podcast noted that without PhysX or a dedicated GPU, the RTX 5090 has essentially lost backward compatibility when running older games. They added that without legacy support, the rendering that used to be run by PhysX is now taken up by aspects of the CPU, which does not function as well. While they would have expected CPU support to have caught up to the decades-old PhysX they don’t find this to be the case– making the retiring for this technology all the more disappointing for many. Additionally, the team noted there doesn’t seem to be any PhysX replacement in the pipeline, suggesting hardware rigging such as jerubedo’s experiment may be fans’ only option to retain the high-end rendering they desire. Source link #Nvidias #RTX #run #older #games #user #expensive #fix Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

One Controversial Legendary Weapon in Skyrim Everyone Agrees Is Just “Racism manifested into a physical object” One Controversial Legendary Weapon in Skyrim Everyone Agrees Is Just “Racism manifested into a physical object” Skyrim is in no way a stranger to formidable and oftentimes legendary weapons. However, even among them, the Wuuthrad stands out, not only for the might it possesses but also for the acts committed with it. Ysgramor, the “First Man” | Image credit: Bethesda Softworks Once the axe was in the hands of a mighty hero, and it played a pivotal role in establishing human domination in the lands of Tamriel. However, times have changed now, and it’s the Dragonborn who ends up getting it from the Companions. How the Wuuthard is a controversial weapon The fabled great axe Wuuthrad, was wielded by Ysgramor the “First man.” With this weapon, he led the Companions to drive the Elves from Skyrim and Solstheim reclaiming lands for the humans. It is said that Ysgamor’s axe fell on the Elves with a great wrath, and led to what can only be considered as genocide of the Elven race. Wuuthard, the bane of Elves | Image credit: Bethesda Softworks The lore behind Wuuthrad adds an uncomfortable layer to Skyrim’s rich history. It carries the weight of racial animosity between the humans and the elves. A weapon that is built specifically to kill elves inevitably brings racism within the game world into question. In Skyrim, the Wuuthrad is visually striking, with the intricate carvings reflecting the grim history it has carried out. In the hands of the Dragonborn, this weapon serves the purpose of being particularly deadly to all Elven enemies dealing 1.2x or 20% damage. Perfect for helping players roleplay as a “True Nord”, or even Ysgramor himself. Pelinal Whitestrake, the Divine Crusader | Image credit: Bethesda Softworks Themes of racial problems in the world Tamriel is not something that was new when Skyrim was released. There have been other great heroes of mankind in Tamriel like Pelinal Whitestrake who also grapple with similar themes. Known as the “Divine Crusader”, Pelinal was an immortal hero infamous for his deep hatred of the Elves. His legacy in The Elder Scrolls is complex being regarded both as a savior and a killer. There is complex morality in the Elder Scrolls Lore One thing that the Elder Scrolls Series is its richly woven lore that defies simplistic ******-and-white morality. Even the Elves that are often being racially targeted have their own morally ambiguous history. Ysgramor’s campaign against the Elves, for instance, was preceded by the “Night of Tears”. Saarthal, the first human settlement in Skyrim | Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks To eliminate all humans from Skyrim, the Elves had massacred the human settlement of Saarthal leaving only Ysgramor and his two sons as survivors. Similarly, Pelinal Whitestrake began his crusade to help the Alessian Slave Rebellion fight against their Elven oppressors. The lore of Tamriel is filled with many other complex topics such as slavery or the concept of living gods in Morrowind . In the present day, any of these topics would have sparked controversy. The Elder Scrolls lore is handled with a sense of maturity making the lore complex and more unique. The slave market of Morrowind | Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks Due to this, weapons like the Wuuthrad become larger than life, making them more than just weapons- they become a message about race, morality, and the impact of prejudice in both fictional and real-world contexts. Source link #Controversial #Legendary #Weapon #Skyrim #Agrees #Racism #manifested #physical #object Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This M3 MacBook Air is on ***** for $1,000 at B&H Photo-Video This M3 MacBook Air is on ***** for $1,000 at B&H Photo-Video We all need a steadfast and reliable computer to get us through work, school, and our creative pursuits. And when it comes to top-shelf laptops, it doesn’t get much better than Apple’s MacBook lineup. We’ve been writing about these portable powerhouses for years, but we still get super-excited whenever we come across any MacBook Air *****, including this one: Today, when you purchase the 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple M3 (16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage), you’ll only pay $1,000. The full MSRP on this model is $1,100. We tested this model last December and reviewer Luke Larsen said, “The MacBook Air M3 remains an absolute go-to laptop, especially at its new starting configuration. Why you should buy the MacBook Air with Apple M3 It’s hard to deny the rockstar performance and smooth-as-butter UI of an Apple machine, and the MacBook Air with Apple M3 continues the legacy. The Air M3 has a sleek and modern design, intuitive controls, and a decent selection of ports. Apple’s M3 processor is also an absolute beast when it comes to running multiple programs at the same time. You’ll be able to rely on your Air M3 for everything from demanding video editing software to buffer-free playback of HD content. Speaking of HD content, you’re going to love the brightness, colors, and contrast the Air M3 is capable of. Thanks to 2560 x 1664 resolution, the M3 has plenty of pixels to work with, too. Lightweight and portable, the Air M3 is easy to take just about anywhere and Apple claims you’ll get up to 18 hours of battery life on a full charge. Other noteworthy features include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support. We’re not sure how long this ***** is going to stick around, so if you’ve been in the market for a new Apple laptop, there’s no better time than now! Take $100 off the 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple M3 (16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage) when you order today. We also suggest taking a look at our roundups of the best MacBook deals, the best laptop deals, and the best Apple deals. Source link #MacBook #Air #***** #PhotoVideo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

TV presenter and journalist Henry Kelly dies TV presenter and journalist Henry Kelly dies Journalist and TV presenter Henry Kelly has died aged 78, his family has announced. Kelly was a journalist who later pivoted to light entertainment, hosting TV gameshow Game For A Laugh and Going For Gold in the 1980s and 90s. He also presented programmes on BBC Radio 4, LBC and Classic FM. In a statement, Kelly’s family said he “died peacefully” on Tuesday “after a ******* of ill health”. “Henry will be sorely missed by his friends and family,” it continued, “including his partner Karolyn Shindler, their son Alexander, Henry’s daughter Siobhan and her mother Marjorie.” Born in Dublin on April 17 1946, Kelly started his journalistic career in newspapers. He worked for The Irish Times in the 1970s during civil unrest and The Troubles in Northern Ireland. He left the newspaper and joined the BBC in 1976, working as a reporter and presenter for Radio 4’s The World Tonight. But in 1980, aged 34, he left journalism to become a light entertainment presenter. He went on to front ITV’s Game for a Laugh, breakfast show TV-AM and the first iteration of Good Morning Britain. Kelly also fronted lunchtime quiz show Going For Gold for 10 seasons from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. Kelly later became one of the launch presenters of Classic FM and also hosted shows on speech station LBC, BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Berkshire. Source link #presenter #journalist #Henry #Kelly #dies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Xbox) review – Bundle of Love | TechStomper Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Xbox) review – Bundle of Love | TechStomper VGChartz’s Evan Norris: “Video game compilations are like those “buy one, get one” offers that pop up in supermarkets and online retailers every now and then. Only they’re better. More often it’s “buy one, get three” or “buy one, get eight”. In 2024, there were plenty of good deals, including Castlevanina Dominus Collection, which assembled three must-play handheld Castlevania titles and revivified one of the rare franchise duds; Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered, which commemorated 25 years of Soul Reaver with a fresh coat of paint and quality-of-life updates; Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, a well-researched, well-curated celebration of the crossover fighting series; and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, the definitive way to play three classics of the genre.” Source link #Marvel #Capcom #Fighting #Collection #Arcade #Classics #Xbox #review #Bundle #Love #TechStomper Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

I tried the free version of Microsoft Office. All I got was ads and anxiety I tried the free version of Microsoft Office. All I got was ads and anxiety Table of Contents Table of Contents What is this thing? What is it good for? Help me, dear Lord! Microsoft is testing a new version of its Office app bundle that is free to use, but you’ll have to watch ads. Usability is rather subjective here, because even the most basic features are locked and greyed out. These free office apps, of which there are only three, will be available only for a limited span. And that too, in a select few markets. Moreover, Microsoft warns that it can discontinue these free Word, Excel, and PowerPoint desktops at nay day of its choosing. The test pool is also fairly limited, as only accounts that are NOT tied to a recurring Microsoft 365 subscription, or paid tiers such as Home and Student packages, are eligible for testing the ad-supported version. The side panel ad is persistent, though easy to ignore. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends This won’t be the first time Microsoft is hawking ads in its product. The company won’t even be the only big name to do so, either. Samsung is still notorious for this, and its partnership with Microsoft is deep enough that a $1,300 Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a bundle of Microsoft apps pre-installed. I’ll spare it the hurt of being labeled as bloatware, but that’s essentially what it is. With the free desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Microsoft is doing the reverse. You’re not being stuffed with ads, but the sheer lack of features will make you wish you never installed these apps in the first place. What is this thing? Microsoft really wants to send home the message that you are using a software that should ideally be paid for, and to that end, you will see a persistent ad in a side panel on the right edge of the screen. Moreover, your progress will come to a halt intermittently for ads that are roughly 15-seconds in duration. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Details of this new version of Office apps was first reported by Beebom. Digital Trends was able to test this version, and also spotted a previously unreported Microsoft support document that reveals some crucial details about this new ad-free version. “The free desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available in a select number of countries and limited to a small audience that is randomly selected at Microsoft’s discretion,” says the company. Since we are talking about ads, there is always some privacy concern. Microsoft says it doesn’t share — or use for targeted advertising — details such as user information, contents of their documents, or file metadata. Based on the language preference, ads are pulled from a localized pool. What is it good for? The free desktop clients of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are tied to the OneDrive cloud system. So deep is the cloud dependence that there is no offline save functionality. All your documents are saved to a OneDrive container, instead of local storage on your computer. You will run into this wall. A lot. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends You can work offline in these apps, but the changes are only saved to the cloud. The progress you make while disconnected from the internet is only saved when you return online and OneDrive sync kicks into action. Notably, you will see ads whether you are connected to the internet, or not. Now, Microsoft’s approach to delivering a watered-down experience with an ad-supported product is rather aggressive. In my experience, it’s the most wolfish execution that I’ve seen in a long time. It feels more like an interactive ad Not that the expectations were too high from the get-go, but the cuts run too deep. Microsoft says the free versions are only good enough for “basic features that enable light editing and access to existing documents.” And while we’re at it, any of the accessible features can be nixed without any prior notice, warns the company. A closer look at some glorious side panel ad. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Of course, a Microsoft account sign-in is compulsory to access these free desktop apps, since it is all tied to OneDrive cloud storage. Also, these desktop apps are not ideal for serious productivity work, since you only get 5GB of free cloud storage with each Microsoft account, so it’s going to fill up fast. Help me, dear Lord! This ad-propped package of free Office apps is a test of patience, in quite the literal sense. An achingly drab product tease, if you will. Let’s start at the very basics of text editing and formatting in Word. Line and paragraph spacing, shading, translation, and border controls are not available. Voice dictation and add-ins for enabling custom commands and new features are also disabled. If it’s gray, you don’t play. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The most baffling of them all? Even the screenshot tool is inactive. Microsoft has disabled the in-built thesaurus feature across all three products, so there goes the appeal for logophiles. If you are working with different documents across multiple windows, an ad break in one of them will also bring others to a halt. As you engage in deep work, or whatever little you are able to accomplish with barely a few core tools available, you need to keep a vigilant eye right above the page. Specifically, look for the message that says, “In the next minute, a video message will play,” or you might run into an unexpected and unskippable ad surprise. The situation in Excel is not too different. Data analysis, pivot tables, icons, smart art, sparklines, filters, object embedding, signature, mathematical equations, and symbols are all disabled. Even tools that are as basic as Header & Footer are off the table. Similar is the fate of tools such as page breaks, background, duplicate removal, and data transformation tricks. Even page zoom controls are missing. One can excuse the absentees in Word, but the omissions in Excel are truly astonishing, and not in a good way. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends In PowerPoint, fundamental options such as photo album, illustration tools (icon, chart, etc.), slide numbers, background formatting, animations, custom slide shows, reading view, and macros are absent. An ad-supported demo of absent tools The only consolation here is that Microsoft has not launched this ad-supported, free bundle of Office apps widely. I hope it never does. For enterprises, it makes sense to side with the security of Microsoft’s products, and in those scenarios, paying a **** premium is justified. But for regular users of such productivity apps, yanking off basics such as column controls, line spacing, and thesaurus is a poor spectacle. Google’s alternatives such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides are great options, but open-source alternatives such as the Libre Office suite are still fairly popular with loads of functional controls to get work done. Source link #free #version #Microsoft #Office #ads #anxiety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wednesday analyst calls & stocks to watch like Nvidia Wednesday analyst calls & stocks to watch like Nvidia Here are Wednesday’s biggest calls on Wall Street: Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy In a note to clients, the firm laid out several scenarios for Nvidia ahead of earnings on Wednesday after the bell. “Baseline view: FQ4 beat, inlinish FQ1 outlook on slower Blackwell ramp/looming China restrictions, stock recovers (modestly) as investors look ahead to GPU Tech Conference (GTC) on Mar-17.” Goldman Sachs reiterates Apple as buy The firm said it’s “encouraged” by lead times for Apple’s iPhone 16 E. “We’re encouraged by the role that iPhone 16e plays as an entry-level phone in the iPhone portfolio and believe that the price increase (relative to iPhone SE3) and internalized modem should be supportive of margins. There are no lead times on iPhone 16e.” Morgan Stanley reiterates Tesla as overweight The firm said it’s sticking with the stock as the leader in autonomous driving. “When will TSLA supply FSD/autonomy to a traditional OEM? We’re not holding our breath here. While we see scope for some announcements on select platforms, our latest read following 4Q results is that Tesla has plenty of data, is focused on its own path and want to avoid distraction.” Redburn Atlantic Equities upgrades American Airlines to buy from neutral Redburn said it sees margin expansion opportunity for American Airlines. “At the margin, we see 2025 as a ******* where EBIT margins should expand and, given the tight supply environment we see in the medium term coupled with growth in credit card fees from the new deal signed with Citi (which provide long term, high margin, high recurrence and robust revenue growth) we expect continued margin expansion thereafter.” Citi upgrades Lumen to buy from neutral Citi said in it sees a “favorable risk-reward” for the telecommunications and networking company. “We also believe Lumen retains an opportunity to improve share in the business category over time. We believe the recent pull-back in the shares and the opportunity to deliver forward progress on the catalysts create a favorable risk-reward.” Bernstein upgrades Alibaba to outperform from market perform Bernstein said it has “AI optimism and beyond” for the China e-commerce company. “While last week felt like a local maximum for AI sentiment, the combination of more gainful capital allocation, a better industry structure for AI than legacy cloud, and possible spill-over effects of an AI capex ***** in China makes us feel Alibaba’s earnings could now be on a more upwardly-pointing trajectory.” RBC upgrades Fair Isaac to outperform from sector perform RBC said the credit scoring company has pricing power. “Lastly, we believe FICO’s very high incremental margins and management’s shareholder-friendly capital allocation strategy protect against downside risks to EPS. We upgrade FICO shares to Outperform.” UBS upgrades Confluent to buy from neutral UBS said the data streaming tech company is well positioned. ” Confluent’s competitive landscape with the hyperscalers appears stable to modestly improving.” Morgan Stanley upgrades Intuit to overweight from sector weight The firm upgraded the tax company following earnings on Tuesday. “Building momentum in Small Business, solid yields on efficiency initiatives and a conservative 2H25 outlook well sets up INTU for positive revisions near term.” Morgan Stanley downgrades Krispy Kreme to underweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley downgraded Krispy Kreme following earnings on Tuesday. “Quite simply, many elements of the story continue to shift too much for our comfort, so we are making this a relative UW in our coverage, until we develop greater conviction that sustainable demand growth drivers exist in the US.” Barclays upgrades Lennox to overweight from equal weight Barclays said that the heating and cooling company is undervalued. “We think consensus remains too negative; the margin guide for ’25 looks quite conservative.” JPMorgan upgrades Check Point Software to overweight from neutral The firm said it’s seeing “positive change” for the software company. ‘ CPX offered signs the company’s focus on platform development and innovation are beginning to pay off, positioning the company for acceleration ahead as it leverages a best in class technology platform.” HSBC initiates Miniso as buy HSBC said the China variety store retailer is well positioned for share gains. ” Miniso is the largest lifestyle retailer in China and it is making fast inroads into the overseas markets by leveraging on its supply chain strength.” JPMorgan upgrades DLocal to overweight from neutral The firm said it’s finally seeing international momentum for the Uruguayan financial technology company. “We upgrade dLocal to Overweight for the first time since IPO after carrying a Neutral rating for the last ~4 years.” Deutsche Bank upgrades Coupang to buy from hold Deutsche said in its upgrade of the Korean e-commerce company has more room to run. “With the company expanding its lead, we are lifting our target price from USD26.50 to USD28.50, and our recommendation from HOLD to BUY, as: 1) We have lifted estimates, as noted inside, 2) We roll forward our DCF, and 3) We cut our risk free rate assumption from 3% to 2.75%.” HSBC upgrades Home Depot to neutral from reduce The firm upgraded the stock following earnings on Tuesday. ” HD turns first positive SSS [same-store sales] in eight quarters.” Barclays reiterates Instacart as overweight Barclays said the delivery company is seeing “solid trends” following earnings on Tuesday. “Everything seems on track for Maplebear as we move through 2025.” Guggenheim initiates Sportrader as buy The firm said the gaming company has a differentiated offering. “We are initiating coverage of Sportradar Group (SRAD) with a BUY rating and $27 price target.” Loop upgrades Porch Group to buy from hold Loop upgraded the home professional software company following Porch’s earnings. “We are upgrading our rating from “Hold” to “Buy” and reaffirming our price target of $6 following Porch’s 4Q24 earnings release.” Loop reiterates Super Micro Computer as buy Loop raised its price target on the stock to $70 per share from $50. “We’re raising our PT for the third time in five weeks (to $70 from $50 from $40) and reiterating our Buy rating as SMCI remains an important company in an important space with both special situation catalysts and fundamental as GB200 & GB300 (Blackwell) ramp heading into summer and key customers get into full swing.” Source link #Wednesday #analyst #calls #stocks #watch #Nvidia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ukraine discloses details of draft minerals deal with the U.S. – National Ukraine discloses details of draft minerals deal with the U.S. – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size Ukraine’s prime minister disclosed the details of a draft minerals deal with the United States on Wednesday, saying its wording showed Washington backed Kyiv’s effort to get security guarantees, but touting nothing more concrete for now. The deal is at the heart of Kyiv’s push to win over Donald Trump’s robust support as the U.S. president strives to reach a rapid end to the war with Russia that Ukraine’s supporters fear could come at the expense of its national interests. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s prime minister, said the government would authorize the draft agreement later on Wednesday so it could be signed, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expected to visit Washington on Friday to meet Trump. He said: “After the Ukrainian president and the U.S. president agree on security guarantees, agree on how we tie this preliminary agreement to security guarantees from the United States for our country, in the presence of (both) presidents, a representative of the Ukrainian government will sign this preliminary agreement.” Trending Now A woman died midway through a flight. A couple had to sit next to the body Liberals top Tories for 1st time in years, new Ipsos polling says Story continues below advertisement The prime minister, outlining the draft in televised comments, said Kyiv would contribute 50% of “all proceeds received from the future monetisation of all relevant state-owned natural resource assets and relevant infrastructure.” Those proceeds would go into a fund under the joint control of the United States and Ukraine, he said. “Already existing deposits, facilities, licenses and rents are not subject to discussion when creating this fund,” he added. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa and Max Hunder; writing by Tom Balmforth;Editing by Louise Heavens) More on World More videos Source link #Ukraine #discloses #details #draft #minerals #deal #U.S #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The best roguelikes on PC The best roguelikes on PC We all know and love that “one more run” feeling we get when we find a roguelike that clicks with us. The thrill of never knowing exactly what your next attempt will look like make these some of the best PC games out there alongside the best FPS games on PC. Just like Metroidvanias, though, just calling something a roguelike doesn’t tell you a lot about it. They all have some level of randomized elements to them, but exactly what changes, what you keep, and even what you are doing in the game can vary. This means there is more than likely a roguelike that is perfect for your tastes. The only trouble is finding it. Don’t worry, our list won’t change if you come back tomorrow and will still have the best roguelikes you can play on PC. While you’re at it, check out all the upcoming PC games we’re excited about to see if any future roguelikes seem interesting. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Source link #roguelikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Entire trading ecosystem built around Nvidia poised to be tested again Entire trading ecosystem built around Nvidia poised to be tested again Nvidia reports earnings after the market closes Wednesday. With the possible exception of Tesla , no other stock generates the kind of short-term trading interest Nvidia does. There’s an entire trading ecosystem built around Nvidia now. It is, for example, one of the most actively traded single-stock options in the market. Aside from significant options activity, a large trading ecosystem has also developed around Nvidia in the world of exchange-trade funds. ETFs own more than four billion shares of Nvidia, about 17% of the 24.49 billion total shares outstanding, according to Factset. Not surprisingly, broad market ETFs are the largest holders of Nvidia. Largest ETF holders of Nvidia (shares held, as of 1/31/25) Vanguard Total Stock Market ( VTI ) 731 million Vanguard S & P 500 ( VOO ) 675 m SPDR S & P 500 ( SPY ) 300 m iShares Core S & P 500 ( IVV ) 287 m Vanguard Growth Index ( VUG ) 235 m Source: ETF Action However, holders of these funds are mostly passive investors. Tech ETFs are massive holders of Nvidia Beyond these broad funds, there are very large holdings of Nvidia in technology ETFs and especially semiconductor ETFs. Other large ETF holders of Nvidia (shares held, as of 1/31/25) Vanguard Information Technology ( VGT ) 116 million Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLK ) 73.5 m VanEck Semicondutor ( SMH ) 33 m Shares U.S. Technology ETF ( IYW ) 21.6 m iShares Semiconductor ETF ( SOXX ) 7.7 m Source: ETF Action While the dollar value of the holdings are smaller than in the broader ETFs above, the concentration is much higher. For example, the VanEck Semicondutor ETF has roughly 19% of its $23 billion market capitalization in Nvidia. More importantly, these tech ETFs, and particularly thematic tech ETFs like the semiconductor ETFs, are only partially held as passive investments. A very large part of these are now employed on a tactical level: these are traded on a daily basis. As a result, ETFs like the Van Eck Semiconductor often see heavier volume and volatility on days around Nvidia’s earnings. A leader in single-stock leveraged/inverse ETFs Finally, in the last year there is enormous daily trading in leveraged and inverse Nvidia ETFs. Aside from a few Tesla and Microstrategy leveraged/long ETFs, Nvidia leveraged/long ETFs dominate this end of the market. Nvidia leveraged/inverse ETFs (by market capitalization) Graniteshares 2x Long NVDA Daily ( NVDL ) $3.7 billion Direxion Daily NVDA Bull 2x Shares ( NVDU ) $482 million GraniteShares 2x Short NVDA Daily ETF ( NVD ) $106 m Direxion Daily NVDA Bear 1x ( NVDD ) $39 m Two things to note: 1) While the total amount of money is relatively small, these are routinely among the most actively-traded ETFs by dollar volume (in other words, there is massive turnover in the funds every day), and 2) The amount of money in the bullish (long) ETFs is far greater than the amount of money in the bear bets. That’s because Nvidia has generally been on an upswing: in the two years from 2023 to 2024, it was up about 800%, so huge numbers of traders are sitting on enormous potential profits, and active traders like these are momentum traders. This raises the possibility that these leveraged/inverse ETFs are a decent gauge of investor sentiment. This year, there has been outflows from the long ETF ( NVDL ), and inflows into both short ETFs (NVD and NVDS). What’s it mean? It’s a sign that, after years of bullish sentiment, there are some skeptics emerging in the Nvidia camp. Source link #Entire #trading #ecosystem #built #Nvidia #poised #tested Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dr Lisa Su broadens AMD’s developer credit program — Hot Aisle to serve as pilot provider Dr Lisa Su broadens AMD’s developer credit program — Hot Aisle to serve as pilot provider Hot Aisle Inc., a high-performance computing provider, has been pushing hard on Dell and AMD since July 2024 to provide developer credits on its AMD MI300X and Dell hardware so that customers can try out them out for free. However, it seems that the company’s request had fallen on deaf ears until its founders, Jon Stevens and Clint Armstrong, were able to talk directly to AMD CEO Dr Lisa Su. According to the company’s post on X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Su responded immediately to each of its emails over the weekend. Update on Our Conversation with Dr. @LisaSu:Over the weekend, several lengthy emails were sent to provide her with a detailed history of the developer credits issue. She responded almost immediately to each one.A key point is that we first requested developer credits from…February 24, 2025 The lack of progress is not attributed to anyone, but it seems that the AMD CEO has lit a fire under the issue. According to the social media post, Dr Su held a Sunday staff meeting to address the issue. Responding the following day to Hot Aisle Inc. saying, “We will be starting a broader developer credit program, but we can pilot the program with you first.” Developer credit is important as it enables AI developers access AMD’s AI chips through Hot Aisle without needing to spend significantly on upfront costs. Aside from getting free access to AI hardware, it will also let more developers become familiar with AMD’s offering. Hot Aisle even said, “Over the last decade or so, some of the most successful businesses out there focused on developers first. Firvase, GIthub, NextJs, heck, even Nvidia.” Over the last decade or so, some of the most successful businesses out there focused on developers first. Firebase, Github, NextJs, heck, even Nvidia.Everything points to this being the right focus for our business too. We are looking forward to collaborating with you and @AMD…February 26, 2025 This is great news, not just for Hot Aisle and AMD, but for the AI industry in general, as it would allow more users to try AMD’s AI chips and hopefully give us more options in the future. Nvidia currently has a practical global monopoly on AI hardware, with the company estimated to hold 70% to 95% of the market, that’s why it can push its pricing as high as it wants. In the AI GPU space AMD is also competing with its MI300X chips, with benchmark testing showing that it outperformed Nvidia H100 GPUs. However, it’s held back by its firmware, with another high-performance computing system manufacturer going on social media to complain about driver issues. Huge companies like Microsoft and Amazon could write their own software to make the most out of AMD’s accelerators, but smaller institutions cannot easily do that. But if more developers start using AMD hardware, the company could hopefully start prioritizing fixing these issues or maybe even work with their customers to find and squash software bugs. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Lisa #broadens #AMDs #developer #credit #program #Hot #Aisle #serve #pilot #provider Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WB Games Has Monolith’s Nemesis System Under Lock Until 2036 WB Games Has Monolith’s Nemesis System Under Lock Until 2036 Monolith Studios has shut down, and now fans wonder what will happen to its famed Nemesis System, which is locked under a Warner Bros. Games patent until 2036. The Nemesis System was all set to make its grand return with the now cancelled Wonder Woman game. The game’s cancellation came along with the shutdown of the following studios: Monolith Studios, Player First Games, and WB San Diego. Due to the sudden closure, future of the Nemesis System has become uncertain, too, as the studio responsible for creating it no longer exists, and no other game developer will be able to utilise the system as Warner Bros Games holds its patent till 2036. Spotted by VentureBeat (via The Gamer), the Nemesis System was patented by Warner Bros. Games in 2021, which barred other game developers from using the system in their games. The patent will remain locked under Warner Bros. Games until 2036 if the company continues paying the associated fees for it, even after Monolith Studios has been shut down. This means that the Nemesis system may not see the light of day again unless Warner Bros. Games decides to do something about it. What is the Nemesis System? For those wondering, Monolith’s Nemesis System debuted with Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and was also used in Shadow of War. The system allows NPC characters, who are usually unforgettable, to have more personality. With the Nemesis system, the player’s actions would be fed into the NPCs, and their reaction towards the player character would change according to the decision made in battles, providing a personalised story and fresh encounters to players according to their choices. Thanks to the system, each enemy feels like an evolving rival to the player. What are your thoughts on the Nemesis System being locked under Warner Bros. Games till 2036? Let us know in the comments or on our community forum! For more information from Insider Gaming, read about Dr Disrespect erupting on stream during a bizarre breakdown segment. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Games #Monoliths #Nemesis #System #Lock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Framework Desktop debuted as portable and powerful DIY PC for all enthusiasts Framework Desktop debuted as portable and powerful DIY PC for all enthusiasts The modular computing company, Framework, deviated from its usual hardware lineup, showcasing its first desktop PC at a launch event in San Francisco, California on Tuesday. The new product, called Framework Desktop was developed around the AMD Ryzen AI Max- a new processor with impressive specifications, including CPU support up to 16 cores, graphics support up to Radeon 8060, and memory up to 128GB. Framework founder, Nirav Patel said at the launch that the brand shifted its entire pipeline to create a product around this component. Inspired by the legacy DIY culture of desktop building, Patel added that Framework Desktop is intended to be highly accessible and was “designed to be the easiest PC you’ll ever build.” Describing the PC as “portable, small, quiet, and powerful.” The AMD Ryzen AI Max as a laptop processor being used in a desktop, the PC benefits from this set up. Patel also noted you can use it to “play games, write CAD, as a network server, and as a workstation.” In typical Framework fashion, the Desktop maintains open PC standards, with the AMD Ryzen AI Max having a mini ITX form factor. The device also includes x4 PCle 4.0 slots, 2x M.2 SSD, and a standard ATX power supply. Output and connectivity include two USB-A ports, two Display Ports, one HDMI port, two USB-C ports, one 3.5 audio jack, Wi-Fi 7, and 5G ethernet. The Framework Desktop was designed to stay as quiet as possible, with a giant 120mm fan and heatsink developed by Cooler Master, which can run at 120 watts continuously while still keeping quiet. The only aspect of the desktop that isn’t readily customizable is the memory, which had to be soldered to the main frame. The AMD Ryzen AI Max chip provides many of the common gaming experiences known for the brand’s chips, including Zen 5, RDNA 3.5, AMD software, and AMD FSR, with hundreds of games supported out of the box. Framework also detailed that the desktop can run state-of-the-art models like Llama 3.370B in real time on device. Comparing prices of other high-compute desktops, such as Apple’s Mac Studio, which sells for $4,800 and Nvidia’s Digits desktop, which remains unpriced, the Framework Desktop will sell for $1,999 in its high-end 128GB configuration. As for software, the laptop supports Windows 11 and Linux, with Framework especially supporting gaming on Linux in 2025. Aesthetics aspects include ****** and translucent side panel options, and a color customizable front panel with seven panels that can be swapped for different tiles and logos. Framework notes that in open-source style, developers have experimented with 3D printing unique designs. The desktop also comes with a carrying panel for increased portability. The Framework Desktop is available in a mainboard version and DIY edition. The latter allows you to bring your own fan, board, and operating system. The device takes less than five minutes to put together with the included screwdriver. In addition to the high-end model, the desktop is available in a 64GB configuration starting at $1,599, and a 32GB configuration starting at $1099. Preorders begin today and the Framework Desktop will ship in the early third quarter. Source link #Framework #Desktop #debuted #portable #powerful #DIY #enthusiasts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Talks on Syria’s Future Fall Short of Promises, Participants Say – The New York Times Talks on Syria’s Future Fall Short of Promises, Participants Say – The New York Times Talks on Syria’s Future Fall Short of Promises, Participants Say The New York TimesSyria dialogue conference a ‘historic opportunity’, Sharaa says BBC.comSyrians back freedoms, constitutional process at landmark dialogue ReutersSyria’s interim leader launches national dialogue on political transition Al Jazeera EnglishSyria calls for Israel’s withdrawal from its lands, in closing statement of national dialogue summit The Times of Israel Source link #Talks #Syrias #Future #Fall #Short #Promises #Participants #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Everything, everywhere, all at once: automated decision-making in public services Everything, everywhere, all at once: automated decision-making in public services Last month, the *** government announced plans to “mainlineAI into the veins” of the nation and “revolutionise how AI is used in the public sector.” Despite this very public commitment, government departments have been laying the groundwork of this adoption for years, experimenting with algorithmic tools behind closed doors. This spectre of AI pulling the strings on decisions about our health, ********, education and justice without our knowledge or scrutiny is a Kafkaesque nightmare. Only now are we starting to get a picture of how they are being used. Since February 2024, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has required all central government departments to publish clear information about their use of algorithmic tools on the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) Hub. However, so far only 47 records have been made public by various government departments – over half of which were published since the start of this year. This insouciance towards transparency is particularly alarming, given reports that AI pilots intended for the ******** system are being quietly shelved due to “frustrations and false starts.” The recent additions to ATRS reveal that the government is using algorithmic tools to influence critical decisions, including which benefits claimants qualify for employment and support allowance (ESA), which schoolchildren are at risk of becoming ‘NEET’ (not in education, employment, or training), and the sentences and licence conditions that should be given to offenders. With so little information available it is worth asking: how many government departments are secretly using algorithms to make decisions about our lives? At the same time as it is pushing the mass adoption of AI in the public sector, the government is pushing through legislation that would weaken existing protections against automated decision-making (ADM). The *** General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) currently prohibits any solely automated process making significant decisions. This protects us from “computer says no” scenarios where we face adverse outcomes without any real understanding of the reasoning behind them. The Data Use and Access Bill (DUAB) currently progressing through the House of Commons would remove this protection from a vast swathe of decision-making processes, leaving us exposed to discrimination, bias and error without any recourse to challenge it. The Bill would allow solely automated decision-making, provided it does not process ‘special category data.’ This particularly sensitive sub-category of personal data includes biometric and genetic data; data concerning a person’s health, sex life or ******* orientation and data which reveals racial or ethnic origin; political religious or philosophical beliefs; and trade union membership. Whilst stringent protections for these special categories of data are sensible, automated decisions using non-special category data can still produce harmful and discriminatory outcomes. For example, the Dutch childcare benefits scandal involved the use of a self-learning algorithm which disproportionately flagged low-income and ethnic minorities families as fraud risks despite not processing special category data. The scandal pushed thousands of people into poverty after they were wrongfully investigated and forced to pay back debts they did not owe; the anxiety of the situation caused relationships to break down and even led people to take their own lives. Closer to home, the A-level grading scandal during the COVID pandemic produced unequal outcomes between privately educated and state-school students and provoked public outrage despite the grading system not relying on the processing of special category data. Non-special category data can also act as a proxy for special category data or protected characteristics. For instance, the Durham Constabulary’s now-defunct Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART) assessed the recidivism risk of offenders by processing 34 categories of data, including two types of residential postcode. The use of postcode data in predictive software risked embedding existing biases of over-policing in areas of socio-economic deprivation. Stripping away the few safeguards we currently have makes the risk of another Horizon-style catastrophe even greater. Importantly, a decision is not considered to be automated where there is meaningful human involvement. In practice, this might look like a HR department reviewing the decisions of an AI hiring tool before deciding who to interview or a bank using an automated credit searching tool as one factor when deciding whether to grant a loan to an applicant. These decisions do not attract the protections which apply to solely ADM. The public sector currently circumvents some of the prohibitions on ADM by pointing to human input in the decision-making process. However, the mere existence of a human-in-the-loop does not necessarily equate to ‘meaningful’ involvement. For instance, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) states that after its ESA Online Medical Matching Tool offers a matching profile an “agent performs a case review” to ultimately decide whether a claim should be awarded. However, the department’s risk assessment also acknowledges that the tool could reduce the meaningfulness of a human agent’s decision if they simply accept the algorithmic suggestion. This ‘automation bias’ means that many automated decisions which have superficial human involvement that amounts to no more than the rubber-stamping of a machine’s logic are likely to proliferate in the public sector – without attracting any of the protections against solely ADM. The question of what is meaningful human involvement is necessarily context dependent. Amsterdam’s Court of Appeal found that Uber’s decision to “robo-fire” drivers did not involve meaningful human input, as the drivers were not allowed to appeal and the Uber employees who took the decision did not necessarily have the level of knowledge to meaningfully shape the outcome beyond the machine’s suggestion. Evidently, one man’s definition of meaningful is different from another’s. The DUAB gives the secretary of state for Science, Innovation and Technology expansive powers to redefine what this might look like in practice. This puts us all at risk of being subjected to automated decisions which are superficially approved by humans without the time, training, qualifications or understanding to be able to meaningfully provide input. The jubilant embrace of AI by the *** government may be a sign of the times, but the unchecked proliferation of automated decision-making through the public sector and weakening of related protections is a danger to us all. Source link #automated #decisionmaking #public #services Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The anime-like adventure RPG “Maliki : Poison Of The Past” just dropped its demo via Steam Next Fest The anime-like adventure RPG “Maliki : Poison Of The Past” just dropped its demo via Steam Next Fest “The Paris-based (France) indie games publisher Ankama Games and indie games developer Ankama Games, are today very proud and thrilled to announce that their anime-like adventure RPG “Maliki : Poison Of The Past” just dropped its demo via Steam Next Fest (the full game will be released for PC via Steam on April 20th, 2025).” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #animelike #adventure #RPG #Maliki #Poison #dropped #demo #Steam #Fest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BP’s job is to make money, not set climate policy BP’s job is to make money, not set climate policy It was more than 20 years ago that the then boss of BP reframed those famous initials as “Beyond Petroleum”. It was the first tentative step in transforming the company from an oil and gas producer to an energy provider investing an increasing amount of its fossil fuel profits into greener technology. Five years ago, chief executive Bernard Looney, who was in charge at the time, accelerated that process with ambitious targets to cut oil and gas production 40% by 2030, while massively ramping up investment in wind and solar. Today, BP could stand for “Back to Petroleum” following its announcement to shift back to oil and gas production and slash investment in renewables. Why? Profit and share price. There is simply less money in renewables than in oil and gas and some BP shareholders have become angry and impatient as they watch Shell produce double the returns they have seen while Exxon investors have received four times as much. For most – but not all – shareholders, the number one job of a company’s board and management is to maximise the value of the company. BP’s failure to do this has led to active speculation that BP should be taken over by a company that understands this. Or one that list its shares in the US where investors are less interested in a green transition. Not all shareholders agree with BP’s radical strategy shift back to petroleum. Dozens of them signed a letter expressing concern about increasing fossil fuel production and want to have a say in the company’s direction of travel. Many groups say that long term BP and others are pursuing a no-win strategy. Climate concerns will become so acute that much of the oil and gas they’re searching for will have to remain in the ground and become unusable “stranded assets” of no commercial value. However, the least patient shareholders tend to have the loudest voices. As such, the cries of dismay from those concerned about the climate are being drowned out by those demanding that BP does what it knows best: drilling for oil and gas and returning those profits to shareholders, who include millions of pension savers. They would say it is not BP’s job to question how much oil and gas the world wants or needs – that is the job for the societies it serves and their policy makers. And, while the *** government has decided it wants no new oil and exploration in *** waters, over 90% of BP’s activities are outside the *** and the current US government thinks very differently. Source link #BPs #job #money #set #climate #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fragpunk is prepared to take on the hero shooter competition Fragpunk is prepared to take on the hero shooter competition Table of Contents Table of Contents From concept to reality Cards and clashes Competition breeds innovation The hero shooter genre remains as competitive as ever. Certain titles, such as Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2, continue to evolve. Others like Concord haven’t been nearly as successful. Even with some occasional flops, any new offering aims to make its mark in a highly crowded field. The next contender up is Fragpunk, an upcoming 5v5 hero shooter from Bad Guitar Studio and Netease. Fragpunk blends sci-fi and cyberpunk themes, along with fast-paced gunplay, to keep players on their toes every round. Most notably, it features a Shard Card system where teams select from a randomized pool of over 100 cards, some of which alter mechanics and environments, to make matches as unpredictable as possible. I spoke with Xin Chang, creative director and producer of Fragpunk, to learn more about the project. He gave me some backstory on Hangzhou-based Bad Guitar Studio, which Chang helms, and how it went from a team of 10 to 100. A lot is riding on Fragpunk’s success, given that it’s also the debut title for most members of the development team. From concept to reality Fragpunk merges the adrenaline of first-person shooter combat with the unpredictability of a roguelike. Two opposing teams select characters, known as Lancers, with special perks and abilities. From there, a match turns into a frantic race to eliminate foes and plant/defuse bombs at specific sites. In between rounds, teams can also spend points to use Shard Cards, with various effects ranging from regenerative healing and increased movement speed to completely removing all doors in a level or turning a player upside down. “Our team took inspiration from the successes of other FPS games such as Counter-Strike and Valorant,” Chang tells Digital Trends. “We knew we wanted to make a fast-paced game because it’s central in making our unique feature shine through. Fragpunk is, I hope, a great combination of what makes competitive FPS fun while also bringing a novel feature and strategic depth to the mix with Shard Cards.” Netease Fragpunk is expected to have 13 Lancers at launch, all with unique skills and ultimate moves. For instance, Broker’s Cherry Bomb creates energy blasts, while his Smokestack Lightning skill (i.e. smoke grenade) is more defensive in nature. He also has an ultimate ability, Goddard’s Vengeance, where he blows up foes with a rocket launcher. Some characters are similar to Broker in that their ultimates also grant them special weapons for a limited time. Examples include Hollowpoint’s Meteora rail gun that fires single-shot high-powered rounds and Axon’s Electric Guitar that allows him to blast enemies explosives. “Our Lancers were born from gameplay-first brainstorming: ‘What element feels missing in a match?’” Chang says. “Abilities evolved through playtests — some ideas were scrapped for being too disruptive, while others [were retained] because they enabled unexpected synergies with cards. The process is long and sometimes difficult, but as long as the Lancers bring a refreshing experience for our players, then it’s all worth it.” Chang even listed their top three characters from other sci-fi media that would fit well in Fragpunk’s setting: “David Martinez (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners) is definitely up there because he’s a rebellious soul with high-tech combat styles. I’d also include Jinx (League of Legends and Arcane) due to her anarchic energy and explosive gadgets. And, of course, Neo (The Matrix films), since his bullet-dodging and reality-bending powers are perfect for our card chaos concept.” Cards and clashes The most fascinating aspect of Fragpunk is the Shard Card system. The large pool of cards allows players to strategize in between rounds, determining which options to allocate points into. As Chang tells me, “Fragpunk’s Shard Cards have special ‘rule-breaking’ powers, including changing the weather, landscape, weapon and even characters in the game.” Most importantly, teams can select up to three cards each round to come up with unique and surprising combinations. “One of my favorite card combos involves the use of Blade Master and Turtleback,” Chang says. “The former lets you block attacks from the front and the latter blocks shots from behind. When these two cards come into effect together, you’re able to block bullets from the front and back, and enemies can only damage you by shooting at your legs and feet!” Netease Since cards are randomized each round, it creates an element of uncertainty and even excitement. Of course, it can also lead to frustrations since luck plays a huge role. “Randomness is inherent to our Shard Card system,” Chang says. “However, we did notice that some less interesting cards appeared too frequently during testing. That’s why we included a mechanic called ‘Relic’ that allows players to retain a card between rounds if they find something that they like.” Given all the above — 13 characters, 17 weapon types, and over 100 Shard Cards at launch — Fragpunk is filled to the brim with potential combinations and synergies. That said, it can be a nightmare to balance or track potential exploits. Chang agrees and shares one particular issue that the team encountered. “When designing the ‘World Flip’ card at the beginning, we wanted to really turn the whole level upside down. But when we started to integrate the card with the levels, we experienced tons of bugs. After [brainstorming] for a whole week, we had to change our way of thinking and turn the character upside down instead (as seen in our trailer for The Game Awards). So you can see how wild our thoughts can be sometimes!” Competition breeds innovation The success of hero shooters depends on how studios keep their player base engaged for many months. “Fragpunk has competitive and strategic elements, but we also want to bridge casual and competitive crowds,” Chang says. The card system lowers the barrier for entry since anyone [might be lucky enough to get] a game-changing combo, but mastery comes from leveraging RNG strategically. For example in ranked Shard Clash matches, thinking carefully when picking your team’s cards and banning your enemy’s cards can [create opportunities] to flip a losing match into a comeback.” To that end, Bad Guitar Studio focused on faster time-to-kill (TTK) ratio, as opposed to a slower pace. “Faster TTK rewards sharp reflexes and positioning, while slower TTK emphasizes sustained accuracy and teamwork,” Chang says. “Fragpunk leans more toward faster TTK to complement its high-octane card combos.” It’s clear that the team wants to stand out among the competition, but that competition includes games within its own publisher. Fragpunk is being published by Netease, which is also behind Marvel Rivals. I was curious if there was a healthy rivalry brewing among Netease’s development teams. “We do try out each other’s games sometimes, but most of the time the teams work separately,” Chang says. “Healthy competition drives the genre forward, and we’re all players at heart — so we’re excited to see how different studios interpret the hero shooter space!” Netease Chang is also a realist who recognizes that the hero shooter genre is a bit overcrowded right now and Fragpunk has to do something special to entice players. “We recognize that the hero shooter market is highly competitive, but we’re highly motivated by our passion for this genre,” Chang says. “Other than the Shard Card system, we designed a Duel feature [as a tiebreaker] to highlight each player’s individual skill. Also, apart from the standard Shard Clash mode, we will be introducing a number of different concepts to enrich player experience such as a ‘one-shot-one-kill’ mode. There’s much more to discover once we officially launch, and we are confident that we will stand out from our competitors.” Fragpunk has all the tools needed to keep matches refreshing and its player base engaged. Now it’s up to the luck of the draw as players decide its ultimate fate. Fragpunk launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 6. Source link #Fragpunk #prepared #hero #shooter #competition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save $400 on the top-rated Dell XPS 13 – one of the best laptops money can buy Save $400 on the top-rated Dell XPS 13 – one of the best laptops money can buy The Dell XPS 13 is still one of our best laptops, even with its frequent refreshes over the years and right now you can get the latest model on the official Dell website for $1,399.99 (was $1,799.99). With an OLED display, a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 512GB SSD, and 32GB of RAM, this particular configuration features superb high-end specs that can take on anything save intensive gaming sessions. Our Dell XPS 13 (2024) review highlighted the performance, battery life, OLED display, and more in its pros list. The Snapdragon processor easily handled a variety of tasks and lasted over 17 hours in our battery test, which is even more impressive considering its support for Copilot AI. It keeps the sleek, svelte build that the XPS is known for along with the smaller screen size that makes it one of the most portable Dell laptops. Today’s best Dell laptop deal The Snapdragon-equipped XPS 13 is just one of many variations. While the 2025 Intel Core model replaced the Snapdragon X Elite model in our best laptops list, anything with a processor as powerful as the Snapdragon X Elite is still worth the money. It’s still as strong as ever; especially when you’re getting a massive $400 price cut. The Dell XPS 13 is the best Windows 11 laptop in our best laptops list. The Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen model replaced the Snapdragon X Elite one this year. You can compare the two in our Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350) article. Source link #Save #toprated #Dell #XPS #laptops #money #buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Seven organisations to be investigated over Grenfell Tower fire Seven organisations to be investigated over Grenfell Tower fire Tom Symonds News correspondent PA Media Seven organisations will be investigated over the Grenfell Tower disaster and all 58 recommendations of a public inquiry will be met, the government says. Those organisations could be prevented from bidding for public contracts, while two existing bodies will be merged to form a single building safety regulator as part of the changes. The government has also backed a new “Hillsborough Law”, which would create a legal duty for public authorities to tell the truth and be transparent. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said it will only begin implementing the changes from 2028. It is already working on a list of reforms to building safety, which came from the cladding crisis following Grenfell. The fire in the west London tower block killed 72 people in 2017, the inquiry found all their deaths were avoidable. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the Grenfell Inquiry had “exposed in stark and devastating detail the shocking industry behaviour and wider failures that led to the fire, and the deep injustices endured by the bereaved, survivors, and residents”. “We are acting on all of the Inquiry’s findings, and today set out our full response, detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again. “That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making. We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country, and to the memory of those who lost their lives,” she added. The inquiry report found the fire was the result of a chain of failures by governments, “dishonest” companies and the fire service, which lacked a strategy for dealing with high rise cladding fires. The government’s role in failing to regulate safety in the construction industry became apparent early in the Grenfell inquiry and during the hearings it apologised for its “past failures in relation to the oversight of the system that regulated safety in the construction and refurbishment of high rise buildings.” Wednesday’s announcement is part of a continuing effort to strengthen the regulations and oversight of construction. PA Media Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the Grenfell Inquiry had “exposed…the shocking industry behaviour and wider failures that led to the fire” The seven organisations will be investigated for professional misconduct using powers under the Procurement Act passed in 2023. On Wednesday, the government published a new Construction Products Reform Green Paper setting out possible penalties for companies found to have breached safety obligations. These include fines based on the company’s revenue and powers to limit individuals being involved in the industry. However, officials will not currently say if these penalties will be applied retrospectively. The failures which led to the Grenfell fire happened in the years before its refurbishment in 2016. Ministers are also promising a new single construction regulator will improve standards in the industry. In a rapid series of reforms since the fire, the Conservatives set up both a Building Safety Regulator and a National Regulator for Construction Products. Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the chairman of the Grenfell Inquiry, recommended there should be just one body. The government will effectively merge the existing ones into a single regulator in what the housing ministry described as further “sweeping construction, building and fire safety reforms”. These are likely to introduce new rules on the testing of specific construction products. PA Media Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the Grenfell Inquiry, recommended there should be just one regulatory body The Grenfell disaster was caused by the use of highly flammable cladding backed by insulation which also contributed to the spread of the fire. Manufacturers either concealed evidence of the risks their products posed or made false and misleading claims, the inquiry found. The housing ministry wants to create stronger enforcement of safety standards but also force the construction industry to be more transparent and take responsibility to ensure a fire like Grenfell does not happen again. The London Fire Brigade failed to respond to the rapid spread of the fire at Grenfell due to poor training and a lack of guidance about how to deal with flammable cladding. The government is setting up a new College of Fire and Rescue later this year to “improve the training and professionalism of firefighters”. Another finding of the inquiry was that Grenfell was inspected by a fire risk assessor who lacked the necessary training and experience. The government will bring in certification for assessors. The government will provide an update on its work to meet the Grenfell recommendations every three months as part of an attempt to beef up the impact of public inquiry findings. The MHCLG has now taken over responsibility for fire safety from the Home Office and says it will support both the continuing police investigation and plans for a memorial which will replace the tower once it is dismantled in two years’ time. Source link #organisations #investigated #Grenfell #Tower #fire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Apple is keeping its DEI program Apple is keeping its DEI program Apple is far from saintly, but, compared to its fellow tech giants, it did something right. The company’s shareholders have voted to keep its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, following a push by conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), to remove them, Reuters reports. The Center’s proposal, Request to Cease DEI Efforts, failed 8.84 billion votes to 210.45 million votes — or about 2.3 percent of the vote. Many of these programs emerged or expanded when the ****** Lives Matter movement exploded onto the global stage in 2020. However, President Trump’s criticisms and threats that DEIs could violate the law — along with spineless greed from executives — has seen companies like Meta and Google reduce or even fully remove these programs. Those in favor of the proposal at Apple argued that the company could face an uptick in discrimination cases if current policies remain. At the meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that “strength has always come from hiring the very best people and then providing a culture of collaboration, one where people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to innovate.” Now, none of this is to say that Apple has incredible DEI efforts. Previously, its shareholders rejected greater transparency about its racial and gender gaps. They also voted down a measure that would require Apple to further investigate the risks of its AI efforts. Cook is also doing plenty of appeasing when it comes to Trump. The pair reportedly met last week and Apple has announced $500 billion in US-based spending over the next four years. He also donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and attended it alongside Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and other tech executives. Source link #Apple #keeping #DEI #program Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Newell Brands Inc. (NWL) Soared on Tuesday Why Newell Brands Inc. (NWL) Soared on Tuesday We recently compiled a list of the 10 Stocks Firm Up Amid Cautious Trading. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) stands against the other stocks. Wall Street extended its lackluster performance on Tuesday, with two major indices finishing with only slight changes amid a series of key factors keeping investor sentiment neutral. Only the Dow Jones finished in the green territory, posting a 0.37 percent gain. In contrast, the S&P decreased by 0.47 percent while the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell by 1.37 percent. During the last trading session, ten companies defied a generally cautious market, albeit posting only modest gains. In this article, we have detailed the reasons behind their stronger performance. To come up with Tuesday’s top gainers, we considered only the stocks with $2 billion in market capitalization and $5 million in daily trading volume. A technician inspecting a commercial kitchen appliance in a factory line. Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) saw its share prices rise by 4.96 percent on Tuesday to end at $6.77 apiece as investors bought up shares ahead of the record date for its dividend payout. Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) is set to pay its shareholders with a $0.07 dividend for every share as of the record date, February 28, or this coming Friday. The dividends are payable on March 14, 2025. In recent news, Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) reported dismal earnings performance last year, with net sales for the last quarter dropping by 8.4 percent to $1.9 billion from $2.076 billion in the same ******* last year, while net sales for the full year 2024 declined to $7.5 billion from the $8.13 billion in 2023. NWL was able to narrow its net loss by 37 percent to $54 million from $86 million during the quarter as well as for the full year—by 44.3 percent at $216 million from $388 million. Furthermore, Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) expected even lower net sales for the full year 2025, declining between 2 to 4 percent. Overall NWL ranks 8th on our list of Tuesday’s top gainers. While we acknowledge the potential of NWL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NWL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock Story Continues Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Source link #Newell #Brands #NWL #Soared #Tuesday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

For a System Obsessed With Loyalty, Helldivers 2 Barely Punishing Traitors Goes Against the Essence of Super Earth For a System Obsessed With Loyalty, Helldivers 2 Barely Punishing Traitors Goes Against the Essence of Super Earth In Helldivers 2, loyalty to Super Earth is non-negotiable. As Helldivers, we are expected to lay down our lives without question and uphold democracy even when it offers us nothing in return. That is well and good, but why is the punishment for treason so lenient right now? Treason should mean a punishment worse than death. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios If a player leaves the mission area for more than ten seconds, they are labeled a “traitor” and subjected to an orbital barrage. But we’ve seen that multiple players have managed to escape this fate just by dodging. This is a loophole that feels out of place in a system that otherwise demands absolute obedience. Let’s fix that Arrowhead. Super Earth treats traitors too kindly in Helldivers 2, let’s change that The stakes should be even higher. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios In the world of Super Earth, betrayal should be met with more than a simple orbital strike that can be dodged. The current system allows traitors to exploit their own execution. We’ve seen players talk about how they used the incoming bombs against the enemy forces or against their fellow Helldivers. Treason against the cause of democracy deserves more than that. On this day, we want to remind you that there’s nothing scarier than treason, Helldivers. Loyalty is not a choice; it’s a duty. pic.twitter.com/YJnWOM2rM6 — HELLDIVERS 2 (@helldivers2) October 31, 2024 Instead of eliminating the traitor immediately, the system unintentionally enables them to cause even more chaos. If Super Earth truly despised traitors, wouldn’t it ensure their absolute demise? Well let’s think of a better punishment then shall we? We are, after all, capable of crazy things. A more fitting punishment would be complete and utter humiliation before their loyal comrades. Imagine if a traitor is suddenly teleported into a Terminid hive, left weaponless, and forced to fight for survival as the bugs tear them apart. Or imagine if they get stripped of all their gear and are forced to deploy in their next mission with nothing but a stun baton. There is no room for traitors in Helldivers 2 And that is why we need harsher punishments. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios And why judge treason so lightly? There are more acts of treason than simply abandoning fellow Helldivers. If a player fails to salute the Super Earth flag, attempts to be in cohorts with the enemy, or displays complacency in following proper patriotic protocols, they are traitors. There can be no tolerance for such acts. Only the loyal have a place in Super Earth’s forces. Games been good (Gets into character) ATTENTION HELLDIVERS. A SYSTEM WIDE WARNING: THERE IS A TRAITOR AMONGST US. KEEP EYES OUT FOR GANTZTHEDEMON. THEY ARE TO BE ELIMINATED ON SITE AND KICKED OUT OF THE SHIP. pic.twitter.com/ENXjTo8mNL — SkyeEatsAirplane (@skyedoestweet) February 24, 2024 The current system also fails to account for true team betrayals. Veteran divers will remember the case of GantzTheDemon, the infamous Helldivers 2 traitor who killed his squadmates at the end of a mission to ensure only they got the rewards. Shouldn’t treacherous actions like these be met with a response from Super Earth itself? Additionally, a “Re-education Program” could be implemented for those who dare betray the cause. Players who go traitor could be locked into a mandatory training simulation filled with absurdly difficult objectives. They wouldn’t be able to rejoin regular missions until they’ve proved their loyalty. If Super Earth demands unwavering obedience, then redemption should be painful and punishing. The community has stepped in to enforce justice in its own way at times, but don’t you think there should be more measures in place? The game should do more to reflect the ruthlessness of the world it has built. After all, democracy must be protected at all costs. Source link #System #Obsessed #Loyalty #Helldivers #Barely #Punishing #Traitors #Essence #Super #Earth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]