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Fatal ****** closes southwest Las Vegas intersection Fatal ****** closes southwest Las Vegas intersection LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Police are investigating a deadly ****** involving a motorcycle and SUV at the intersection of Sunset and Fort Apache roads in the southwest valley. The ****** was reported shortly after 3:30 a.m. Las Vegas Metropolitan police said the motorcyclist, a 36-year-old man, died at the scene. 8 News Now Traffic Anchor Nate Tannenbaum advises drivers to use the alternate routes shown on the map. (KLAS) According to a release, a Chevrolet SUV was driving north on Fort Apache Road approaching Sunset on a green traffic signal. A Harley Davidson Nighster was driving west on Sunset toward Fort Apache on a red light. Police said the motorcyclist failed to obey the red light and entered the intersection at a high speed. The motorcycle hit the right side of the SUV and was ejected from the motorcycle. Medical personnel arrived and pronounced the man dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. He did not show signs of impairment, police said. Police have closed the intersection to traffic. Drivers looking for alternate routes can use Russell Road or Warm Springs Road for east and west travel. Drivers can use Hualapi Way or Durango Drive for north and south travel. The motorcyclist’s death marked the 30th traffic-related fatality in the LVMPD’s jurisdiction in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Source link #Fatal #****** #closes #southwest #Las #Vegas #intersection Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

MediaTek Dimensity 7400, Dimensity 7400x SoC With Integrated NPU Launched: Specifications MediaTek Dimensity 7400, Dimensity 7400x SoC With Integrated NPU Launched: Specifications MediaTek on Tuesday launched two new chipsets for mobile devices. The chips, dubbed Dimensity 7400 and Dimensity 7400X, target smartphones with different form factors. The Taiwan-based chipmaker says its new processors are developed for mainstream devices to complement its flagship and premium offerings, such as the Dimensity 9400. As per the company, the Dimensity 7400 is a successor to last year’s Dimensity 7300 while the Dimensity 7400X is built for powering foldable mobile experiences. MediaTek’s new chips have an octa-core architecture and feature an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) which powers the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on mobile devices. The new Dimensity 7400 series chips build upon the launch of the Dimensity 6400 processor for mid-range devices launched by the company last week. MediaTek says Android devices powered by its latest Dimensity 740 and Dimensity 7400X SoCs are expected to be available in the market by Q1 2025. According to MediaTek, the Dimensity 7400 series chipsets have similar specifications, with the only differentiating factor being their target devices. The Dimensity 7400 is built for normal devices while the Dimensity 7400X is expected to power those with foldable form factors. The chips have an octa-core architecture built on TSMC’s 4nm process node. They feature four Arm Cortex-A78 cores with a peak clock speed of 2.6GHz and four Arm Cortex-A55 cores operating at 2.0GHz, complemented by an Arm Mali-G615 MC2 graphics processing unit (GPU). Courtesy of its architecture, MediaTek claims its new chips consume 14 to 36 percent less power when gaming compared to other competing processors. They also come with MediaTek Advanced Gaming Technology (MAGT) 3.0 support which delivers improved graphics performance, AI optimisations for adjusting gaming performance, reduced input lag, and advanced power savings. Building upon the AI capabilities offered by its predecessor, the Dimensity 7400 and Dimensity 7400X chips also integrate MediaTek’s NPU 6.0 which is said to bring a 15 percent performance boost in AI applications. The company says devices running these chipsets will support up to LPDDR5 RAM and up to UFS 3.1 storage. Smartphones equipped with the Dimensity 7400 series chips will be able to support up to 200-megapixel camera sensors, leveraging the built-in MediaTek Imagiq 950 12-bit HDR ISP. It features an advanced hardware engine which is claimed to enhance the image quality with motion compensated noise reduction (MCNR), hardware face detection (HWFD), and video HDR. It supports video capture and playback in up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (fps). The chip supports on-device displays with either a full HD+ resolution at 144Hz or a wide full HD+ resolution at 120Hz. For connectivity, the Dimensity 7400 SoCs bring MediaTek’s 5G R16 modem with up to 3.27Gbps downlink speeds and support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4. As per the company, the modem has 3CC carrier aggregation (3CC-CA) that leverages MediaTek’s UltraSave 3.0+ technologies to provide a 20 percent lower power consumption compared to the competing chipsets. The MediaTek Dimensity 7400 series chips also support satellite systems such as QZSS, Galileo, Beidou, GLONASS, NavIC, and GPS. Source link #MediaTek #Dimensity #Dimensity #7400x #SoC #Integrated #NPU #Launched #Specifications Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Advanced ******* Patients Not Getting Palliative Care – Newsmax Advanced ******* Patients Not Getting Palliative Care – Newsmax Advanced ******* Patients Not Getting Palliative Care NewsmaxMedicare patients with ******* often receive aggressive treatment over supportive care News-Medical.NetNew ACS research finds low uptake of supportive care at the end-of-life for patients with advanced ******* EurekAlertHospice, Palliative Care Underused Among Advanced ******* Patients Big Country NewsAcute EOL Care Increased in Patients With Advanced ******* Medscape Source link #Advanced #******* #Patients #Palliative #Care #Newsmax Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unusual X-ray Flash in Large Magellanic Cloud Puzzles Astronomers Unusual X-ray Flash in Large Magellanic Cloud Puzzles Astronomers detected, leaving astronomers searching for answers. The sudden burst of energy was identified while analysing archival data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, revealing a cosmic event that occurred more than 20 years ago. The flash, designated XRT 200515, originated from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, situated approximately 160,000 light-years away. The findings raise questions about the nature of this isolated phenomenon, which exhibited unusual characteristics compared to previous X-ray bursts recorded beyond our galaxy. Discovery Based on Archival Data According to a study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, researchers led by Steven Dillmann of Stanford University identified the X-ray flash while examining historical observations captured by Chandra. The explosion, which lasted around ten seconds, was recorded in May 2000 but had remained unnoticed until recently. NASA’s space telescope had been observing the remnants of a dead star in the LMC when the flash was inadvertently documented. Potential Causes Being Considered As per the study, the unusual nature of XRT 200515 has led to multiple theories regarding its origin. One hypothesis suggests it resulted from a neutron star pulling in material from a companion star, triggering a thermonuclear explosion. The immense gravitational pull of the neutron star could have drawn in surrounding gas, leading to a sudden release of high-energy X-rays. Another possibility being examined is that the flash originated from a magnetar—a highly magnetised neutron star known for emitting extreme bursts of energy. If this scenario is accurate, the source of XRT 200515 could be located even farther away, beyond the LMC. A New Phenomenon? A more intriguing perspective proposed by researchers is that the detected event might represent a previously unknown type of cosmic explosion. The uniqueness of XRT 200515, combined with its brief yet intense emission, has raised speculation that it could signify a distinct astrophysical process yet to be classified. Future observations using advanced telescopes are expected to provide additional insights and confirm whether this event belongs to an existing category of X-ray bursts or represents an entirely new phenomenon. The Ever-Changing Universe In a statement to Royal Astronomical Society, Dillmann highlighted the dynamic nature of space, noting that new discoveries continue to reshape scientific understanding. Ongoing studies aim to determine whether similar occurrences have been overlooked in past observations, potentially leading to a broader understanding of high-energy cosmic events. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. SpaceX Falcon 9 Completes 450th Mission, Deploys 23 Starlink Satellites Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ Review: Solid Foundation, Supercharged with AI Source link #Unusual #Xray #Flash #Large #Magellanic #Cloud #Puzzles #Astronomers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US court upholds Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes’s conviction | Theranos US court upholds Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes’s conviction | Theranos A US court upheld the conviction of the Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes for defrauding investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars while operating her failed blood-testing startup, once valued at $9bn, rejecting her multi-year appeal. The court also upheld the conviction of Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, once Holmes’s romantic partner and president of Theranos. A three-judge panel for the 9th US circuit court of appeals in San Francisco rejected claims of legal errors at their separate trials held in 2022. Holmes, 41, who started Theranos as a college student and became its public face, was indicted alongside Balwani in 2018. The two were tried separately and sentenced in 2022 to 11 years and three months, and 12 years and 11 months, respectively. Holmes was ordered to pay $452m in restitution to investors, but a judge placed the penalty on hold due to her limited financial resources. Holmes’s sentence has been reduced by more than two years for good behavior while incarcerated, and she is expected to be released in 2032, having served a nine-year sentence. skip past newsletter promotion A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Holmes’s lawyers, who filed the appeal in April 2023, alleged that her trial had featured improper procedures and evidence. A US attorney disagreed and in an initial hearing on the appeal in 2024, said that “it was not really contested that the device did not work,” referring to Theranos’s error-prone Edison blood-testing machine. Holmes claimed that the Edison could perform a wide swath of medical tests with a single drop of a patient’s blood, which would have represented a significant advance in biotechnology. Her invention never lived up to her promises. In advance of the ruling on her appeal, Holmes appeared on the cover of People magazine earlier this month for her first interview since being locked up. She described federal prison as “hell and torture” and said she was “not the same person I was back then”. “The people I love the most have to walk away as I stand here, a prisoner, and my reality sinks in,” she said of her two young children and her husband. Source link #court #upholds #Theranos #founder #Elizabeth #Holmess #conviction #Theranos Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three teenagers charged with stealing Liberal MP Merome Beard’s car and using it in bottle shop ram raid Three teenagers charged with stealing Liberal MP Merome Beard’s car and using it in bottle shop ram raid A 12-year-old boy is the youngest of three juveniles charged with stealing Merome Beard’s car and using it in a ram raid on a liquor store. Source link #teenagers #charged #stealing #Liberal #Merome #Beards #car #bottle #shop #ram #raid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kate Bush and Damon Albarn among 1,000 artists on silent AI protest album | Artificial intelligence (AI) Kate Bush and Damon Albarn among 1,000 artists on silent AI protest album | Artificial intelligence (AI) More than 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn and Annie Lennox, have released a silent album in protest against *** government plans to let artificial intelligence companies use copyright-protected work without permission, as a celebrity backlash builds against the proposals. The recordings of dormant music studios and performance spaces, called Is This What We Want?, are being released as leading cultural figures warn livelihoods are under threat from proposed changes to copyright law. Paul McCartney, Elton John, Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus, the actor Julianne Moore and the authors Val McDermid and Richard Osman are among the celebrities who have called for protection of their work from unlicensed use by tech companies in recent months. The music-free album represents the impact on artists’ livelihoods if the government pushes ahead with its plans, according to Ed Newton-Rex, the British composer and former AI executive behind the idea. “The government’s proposal would hand the life’s work of the country’s musicians to AI companies, for free, letting those companies exploit musicians’ work to outcompete them,” he said. “It is a plan that would not only be disastrous for musicians, but that is totally unnecessary: the *** can be leaders in AI without throwing our world-leading creative industries under the bus.” The project is a protest against a government proposal to let AI firms train their algorithms on the work of creative professionals under a new copyright exemption. The plan includes “an opt-out” option – where creatives and companies can block their work from being used – that has been dismissed by critics as unfair and unworkable. The album contains 12 recordings with more than 1,000 artists credited as co-writers, with the individual artist behind each of the dozen “silent” tracks uncredited. However, it is understood that Kate Bush has recorded one of the dozen tracks in her studio. Bush said: “In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?” The musicians credited as co-writers include Tori Amos, Billy Ocean, the Clash and the Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer as well as the Kanneh-Mason family of classical musicians. The track listing spells out the message: “The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.” Profits from the album, which is available on streaming services such as Spotify, will be donated to the musicians’ charity Help Musicians. The dispute over AI firms’ use of copyrighted work stems from how they create the technology underpinning their products. The AI models powering systems such as the ChatGPT chatbot, the image creator Stable Diffusion and the music tool Suno are fed vast amounts of data taken from the internet and learn to spot patterns in that information. This allows them to predict the next word in a sentence, create realistic images or produce convincing audio. However, the use of novels, music tracks, newspaper articles, photographs, art and other copyright-protected work without permission has led to a wave of lawsuits from authors, news publishers, music companies and artists. Some companies have signed licensing agreements with AI firms, including the Guardian, which has struck a deal with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. skip past newsletter promotion Get music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras. Every genre, every era, every week Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion The album is being released on Tuesday to coincide with the closing of a government consultation on changes to copyright law, in which a waiver for AI firms is the preferred option. Other protests to mark the end of the consultation include British daily newspapers, including the Guardian, featuring the slogan “Make It Fair” on their front pages. The protest also accuses the government of trying to change the law to “favour big tech platforms”. A letter in the Times from 34 leading creatives published on Tuesday also criticises the government’s stance, with signatories including Barbara Broccoli, Helen Fielding, Stephen Fry, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ed Sheeran and Tom Stoppard. The letter warns that the proposals “represent a wholesale giveaway of rights and income from the ***’s creative sectors to Big Tech”. Warning the government against crushing the creative industries in its drive for growth, Fry said: “You don’t promote growth in a garden by allowing all the pests to feast on the fruit and flowers, and you don’t promote growth in an economy by allowing all the AIs to feast on the fruits of our creators.” A *** government spokesperson said: “As it stands, the ***’s current regime for copyright and AI is holding back the creative industries, media and AI sector from realising their full potential – and that cannot continue. “That’s why we have been consulting on a new approach that protects the interests of both AI developers and rights holders and delivers a solution which allows both to thrive.” Source link #Kate #Bush #Damon #Albarn #among #artists #silent #protest #album #Artificial #intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Beyond the Magnificent 7: Check Out These Tech Rising Stars Beyond the Magnificent 7: Check Out These Tech Rising Stars The often sees investment narratives dominated by the Magnificent Seven tech stocks. While these giants have earned their status, focusing solely on them can mean missing significant opportunities. A diversified portfolio and the potential for outsized returns often lie in identifying companies with strong fundamentals who lay beyond this well-trodden ground. Appian Corporation: Low-Code, High Potential Appian (NASDAQ:) empowers businesses to quickly build and deploy custom applications through its low-code platform. This platform integrates artificial intelligence (AI), process automation, and data management, streamlining operations across industries like financial services and healthcare. Appian’s recent financial performance signals a company on the rise. Fourth-quarter 2024 cloud subscription revenue jumped 19% year-over-year to $98.9 million, contributing to a total Q4 revenue of $166.7 million (a 15% increase). Crucially, Appian reported a GAAP operating income of $5.0 million for Q4, a significant improvement from a $16.8 million loss in the prior-year quarter. For the full year 2024, cloud subscription revenue grew 21% to $368.0 million, while total revenue increased 13% to $617.0 million. The company is guiding for further growth in 2025, projecting cloud subscription revenue to increase by 14% year-over-year. Trading around $34.69, Appian’s stock experienced a healthy jump after its Q4 earnings release, reflecting investor optimism. However, analyst sentiment remains mixed, with a consensus Hold rating and an average price target of $40.17. This suggests a potential upside but also acknowledges some inherent risks. The increasing demand for rapid application development fuels Appian’s growth. The rise of cloud-based solutions and the integration of AI into business processes further enhance its prospects. While the Hold rating suggests caution, Appian’s improving financials and positive 2025 outlook present a compelling, albeit moderately risky, opportunity for investors interested in the low-code automation market. Monday.com: Building the Backbone of Modern Workflow Monday.Com (NASDAQ:) provides a cloud-based Work OS platform, a central hub for managing projects, workflows, and team collaboration. This platform allows businesses to create customized applications, fostering efficiency and transparency across various organizational functions. Monday.com’s Q4 and full-year 2024 results reveal impressive growth. Q4 revenue reached $268.0 million, a 32% year-over-year increase. The company achieved a GAAP operating income of $9.6 million in Q4, a notable shift from a loss in the prior-year *******. For the full year, revenue soared 33% to $972.0 million. The company also boasts a strong net dollar retention rate of 112%. Looking ahead, Monday.com projects 2025 revenue between $1.208 billion and $1.221 billion, representing 24% to 26% year-over-year growth. The stock, currently trading near $306.50, has gained over 30% in 2025, reflecting strong investor confidence. The analyst consensus is a Moderate Buy, with an average price target of $353.32, indicating further potential gains. Notably, several analysts, including those at Goldman Sachs and Scotiabank, have recently raised their price targets, some exceeding $400. Monday.com’s growth is driven by the global shift towards digital transformation and the increasing need for robust workflow management solutions, particularly in remote and hybrid work environments. The company’s ongoing focus on AI integration, including the introduction of AI agents, positions it to capitalize further on this trend. While the stock’s high price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) reflects a premium valuation, the consistent revenue growth, expanding profitability, and positive analyst sentiment suggest a company with a strong future. Analog Devices: Building Blocks for a Connected World Analog Devices (NASDAQ:) is a long-established semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal-processing integrated circuits (ICs). These components are essential building blocks in a wide range of electronic devices, spanning the automotive, industrial, communications, and consumer sectors. Analog Devices’ fiscal first quarter 2025 results showcased resilience in a challenging market. While Q1 revenue of $2.42 billion represented a 4% year-over-year decline, it exceeded analyst expectations. The company reported sequential growth in its Industrial and Automotive segments and double-digit growth in the Consumer sector. Adjusted operating income for the quarter remained strong at $981 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 40.5%. Demonstrating confidence in its financial strength, Analog Devices’ dividend was increased by 8% to $0.99 per share, and the company authorized a substantial $10 billion share repurchase program. Currently trading around $243.29, Analog Device’s stock is near its all-time high, reflecting a positive market response to its earnings and shareholder-focused initiatives. The analyst consensus rating is a Moderate Buy, with an average price target of $255.19, providing some investor upside. However, recent rating upgrades have set a target price of around $270.00, suggesting an even greater potential upside for investors. The stock’s recent performance is positive, with a 5-day increase exceeding 12% and a year-to-date gain of over 13%. Analog Devices’ consistent dividend payments and recent dividend increase further enhance its appeal to income-seeking investors. Analog Devices is positioned to benefit from several key trends: increasing electronic content in vehicles (driven by electrification and ADAS), the growth of industrial automation, and the expansion of 5G communication networks. While ADI’s growth rate might be perceived as more measured compared to some tech sector companies, it offers stability and profitability within the critical semiconductor market. The combination of dividend growth, a share repurchase program, and a strong market position make it an attractive option for investors seeking a balance of growth and income. Beyond the Giants: A Tech Portfolio Diversification Strategy Appian, Monday.com, and Analog Devices represent compelling investment alternatives to the Magnificent Seven, and each offers a unique value proposition. Appian is making strides in the low-code automation market, showing improved profitability. Monday.com is rapidly expanding in the work management software space, fueled by digital transformation. Analog Devices, a semiconductor leader, provides stability and dividends driven by long-term trends in key industrial sectors. These companies present varying levels of risk and potential reward. Appian and Monday.com offer higher growth but with corresponding volatility. Analog Devices provides a more established, potentially less volatile investment. Incorporating emerging technologies like these three companies into a diversified technology portfolio can be a strategic approach to improve returns and mitigate risk. Original Post Source link #Magnificent #Check #Tech #Rising #Stars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Maps show the territories key to any Ukraine-Russia deal Maps show the territories key to any Ukraine-Russia deal Three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US and Russia have started peace talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Despite Ukrainian President Zelensky’s exclusion, these talks could lead to a deal that would hand key concessions to Russia. The control of occupied territory is certain to be key to any deal, but what do both sides want? Orysia Lutsevych from the independent policy institute Chatham House explains the significance of the key areas Source link #Maps #show #territories #key #UkraineRussia #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Showcased in Three Colourways; Camera Details Teased Xiaomi 15 Ultra Showcased in Three Colourways; Camera Details Teased Xiaomi 15 Ultra is all set to be announced in China this month as a follow-up to last year’s Xiaomi 14 Ultra. It will be launched for global markets at the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona next month. As we wait for the official reveal, Xiaomi has released new posters and videos confirming the design and colourways of the flagship. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra will arrive as the third entrant in the Xiaomi 15 series. Xiaomi Offers Closer Look at Its New Flagship Smartphone Xiaomi has posted new teasers on Weibo giving us a closer look at the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. As past leaks have suggested, the smartphone will be available in three different colourways — ******, white, and a dual-tone shade. The dual-tone colour option has a design inspired by the classic cameras. Xiaomi has used Silver Chrome and PU leather to create this design. It boasts a micro curved screen with Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 2.0 protection. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is confirmed to feature a 1-inch main camera and a 200-megapixel Leica telephoto camera. The telephoto sensor is claimed to have Xiaomi’s largest aperture to date equivalent to 9.4mm diameter. It is teased to support 200mm and 400mm lossless zoom. Xiaomi has shared a teaser video on Weibo showing the handset in detail. The brand has also posted some camera samples to show off the capabilities of the flagship. The China launch of Xiaomi 15 Ultra is scheduled for February 27 alongside the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV, RedmiBook 16 Pro 2025, and Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro earbuds. Meanwhile, the international launch of Xiaomi 15 Ultra will take place in Barcelona on March 2. The unannounced phone had earlier popped up on the Geekbench AI database with the Android 15 operating system, 16GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be the third model in the Xiaomi 15 series. The brand had unveiled the base Xiaomi 15 and the Xiaomi 15 Pro for the ******** market last year. Source link #Xiaomi #Ultra #Showcased #Colourways #Camera #Details #Teased Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump Dragged After Being ‘Fully Humiliated On The World Stage’ Donald Trump Dragged After Being ‘Fully Humiliated On The World Stage’ MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell on Monday highlighted the moment earlier in the day that he believed Donald Trump was “fully humiliated on the world stage” after the president was fact-checked — to his face — by French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Macron made Trump “the first president in history who had to be interrupted and corrected by an ally when the president of the United States was lying and lying about that ally,” claimed O’Donnell. O’Donnell noted how Macron had interrupted “blustering” Trump who was parroting his “standard line about Europe’s aid to Ukraine, the lie that Europe has loaned money to Ukraine, and it’s a loan, and Ukraine has to pay it back.” “Trump became the first American president in history fully humiliated on the world stage by instantly getting caught and corrected in his lie,” he continued. Macron “actually reached out, grabbed the arm of the American president, to stop him from telling a lie about France and the rest of the countries of Europe,” he noted. Trump has ramped up his anti-Ukraine rhetoric in recent days as he seeks to broker a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched the invasion in 2022, and without the input of Ukraine. The U.S. president was “humiliated and exposed in a way that no previous president ever could be because no previous president would be pathological enough to try to tell a lie like that right in front of the person he’s lying about. and no previous president could possibly be stupid enough to try to tell a lie like that,” said O’Donnell. Watch here: Related… Source link #Donald #Trump #Dragged #Fully #Humiliated #World #Stage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades and Highlights Before Elimination Chamber 2025 – Bleacher Report WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades and Highlights Before Elimination Chamber 2025 – Bleacher Report WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades and Highlights Before Elimination Chamber 2025 Bleacher ReportRaw: Feb. 24, 2025 WWEWWE Raw results, recap, grades: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez win the women’s tag team titles CBS SportsWWE Raw Results 2/24 – Women’s Tag Team & Women’s Intercontinental Titles On The Line, New Day Faces LWO Wrestling Inc.Monday Night Raw results: Highlights, analysis of Feb. 24 show USA TODAY Source link #WWE #Raw #Results #Winners #Live #Grades #Highlights #Elimination #Chamber #Bleacher #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Delta Force – ****** Hawk Down Launches to ‘Mostly Negative’ Reviews Because It’s Too Difficult Delta Force – ****** Hawk Down Launches to ‘Mostly Negative’ Reviews Because It’s Too Difficult Delta Force – ****** Hawk Down was released by Team ***** and the TiMi Studio Group on February 21, but it has quickly spiralled out of control where reviews are concerned. ****** Hawk Down is the story-driven branch of Delta Force, the Battlefield-like shooter that was released in December 2024. ****** Hawk Down is a free expansion that offers players – either solo or with friends – to explore a campaign mode that replicates the events that occurred in Somalia in 1993 as part of the ‘Battle of Mogadishu’. However, critics have surfaced online stressing that the mode is ‘unnecessarily difficult’ and the overall ratings are crashing down. Not a Good Start ****** Hawk Down looks great on the surface but is perhaps a little too challenging. That’s the consensus amongst players diving into the free Delta Force expansion, which was released on February 21. Out of 3,406 reviews (at the time of writing) on Steam, only 35% are positive. Here are some of the most critical comments from Steam users: ‘So many stupid design choices that hold back what could be a really cool, if not short, single player shooter experience.’ – Basil ‘Unnecessarily difficult. Played it with a 2 man crew, and the last level is basically impossible.’ – Robby301 ‘Poorly optimized, enemies spawning right on top of you and plainly unfun to play. Feels like a chore.’ – Kurtye Delta Force is a great shooter with untold potential, even if it feels like a reskin (and a thinly veiled one at that) of Battlefield 2042. It boasts a similar UI, class system, map pool, and game feel to EA’s latest first-person shooter in the iconic series. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though – Battlefield 2042 was a shambles, so Delta Force makes for a nice alternative. Most players are complaining that the difficulty rating in ****** Hawk Down doesn’t scale appropriately to consider the number of people playing the game. If you’re playing solo, the claims are that you’ll face the same challenges as if you were in a team, and that enemies are just thrown at you for the sake of it. On top of that, the mode is designed to be brutal and realistic, so players have no (or painfully few) checkpoints, a one-life mechanic is being used, and resources such as ammo and healing items are scarce. That’s in stark comparison to a multiplayer shooter that has quite a strong ‘arcade’ feel to it. Are you unimpressed with ****** Hawk Down? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Balatro is getting a Fallout crossover SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Delta #Force #****** #Hawk #Launches #Negative #Reviews #Difficult Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coalition irked as report brands nuclear a non-starter Coalition irked as report brands nuclear a non-starter Establishing nuclear power generation in Australia would face major challenges and fall prone to delays, says a report critics brand as politically motivated. Source link #Coalition #irked #report #brands #nuclear #nonstarter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine, US in ‘final stages’ of agreeing minerals deal, Kyiv says Ukraine, US in ‘final stages’ of agreeing minerals deal, Kyiv says (Reuters) – Ukraine and the United States are in the final stages of negotiating a minerals deal considered central to ending Russia’s three-year-old war in Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian official said on Monday. Kyiv and Washington are both interested in U.S. access to Ukraine’s undersoil riches, but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said any such deal must involve concrete security guarantees. “Ukrainian and U.S. teams are in the final stages of negotiations regarding the minerals agreement. The negotiations have been very constructive, with nearly all key details finalized,” deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna wrote on X. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “We hope both US and UA leaders might sign and endorse it in Washington (at) the soonest to showcase our commitment for decades to come.” Trump has said Ukraine should give the U.S. $500 billion in critical raw materials as payback for aid which Kyiv has already received from the previous Joe Biden administration. Zelenskiy said this week Washington had supplied his country with $67 billion in weapons and $31.5 billion in direct budget support, and that he will not acknowledge Biden-supplied aid as loan. Zelenskiy refused to sign an initial draft deal earlier this month, sparking frustration in the White House. Senior Trump administration officials said on Sunday they expected an agreement would be signed this week. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Christina Fincher) Source link #Ukraine #final #stages #agreeing #minerals #deal #Kyiv Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Starbucks axes 1,100 jobs in bid for US turnaround – BBC.com Starbucks axes 1,100 jobs in bid for US turnaround – BBC.com Starbucks axes 1,100 jobs in bid for US turnaround BBC.comStarbucks is laying off workers and paring back the menu as it tries to turn the business around CNNStarbucks to lay off 1,100 employees this week as CEO aims to deliver on turnaround Yahoo FinanceStarbucks cuts 2025: Company announces layoffs and what it’s cutting from menu AxiosStarbucks to lay off over 1,000 corporate workers Fox Business Source link #Starbucks #axes #jobs #bid #turnaround #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ross Cameron Males: Kings Park arsonist gets jailtime after pleading guilty to spate of Perth fires in 2023 Ross Cameron Males: Kings Park arsonist gets jailtime after pleading guilty to spate of Perth fires in 2023 A repeat arsonist found guilty of lighting a spate of fires across Perth and Kings Park that caused a veteran West Coast Eagles wedding to be evacuated has been sentenced to prison for nearly eight years. Source link #Ross #Cameron #Males #Kings #Park #arsonist #jailtime #pleading #guilty #spate #Perth #fires Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Not Clickbait: These U.S. ETFs are Free to Invest In Not Clickbait: These U.S. ETFs are Free to Invest In One of the easiest risks to minimize in investing is excessive fund fees. That’s why, when looking for ETFs, you should always try to minimize the expense ratio. The expense ratio is the annual cost of owning an ETF, expressed as a percentage of your investment. Just like dividends compound positively over time, fees compound negatively, eating away at your returns year after year. For mutual funds, expense ratios have already hit 0% thanks to Fidelity’s ZERO lineup, which uses proprietary indices to keep licensing costs minimal and offsets expenses by lending out securities. For ETFs, only two funds currently meet the 0% expense ratio mark, and both come from BNY Mellon (NYSE:). Here’s a closer look at these truly free-to-own ETFs. BNY Mellon US Large Cap Core Equity ETF (BKLC) Consider the BNY Mellon US Large Cap Core Equity ETF (NYSE:) as a 0% expense ratio alternative to traditional ETFs, which—despite being cheap—aren’t free because it costs money to license the index. Instead of tracking the S&P 500, BKLC follows the Solactive GBS United States 500 Index TR. This is actually a more passive approach than the S&P 500, since there’s no selection committee and no earnings screen—it just holds the 500 largest U.S. companies based purely on market cap. That means you’re still getting roughly the same basket of 500 U.S. large caps, diversified across all 11 sectors, with a market-cap-weighted structure that makes it very liquid and gives it similar historical exposure. In fact, over the past four years, it has an annualized return of 12.56%, slightly outperforming the index (11.97%) due to a rare case of positive tracking error. BKLC falls squarely into the large blend style category and is well-capitalized, with just over $1 billion in AUM, meaning it’s not at risk of shutting down anytime soon. BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF (BKAG) A very popular broad bond market benchmark for investors is the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, or simply “the Agg.” This index covers a diverse mix of U.S. Treasuries, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and investment-grade corporate bonds across various maturities, making it a widely used measure of the total U.S. bond market. ETFs tracking the Agg have historically been very cheap, with some as low as 0.03% in fees. But now, thanks to BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF (NYSE:), that cost has officially hit 0%. There’s nothing particularly notable or unique about BKAG, aside from the lack of fees. It’s a plain vanilla Agg-tracking ETF, offering broad fixed-income exposure with a 4.88% weighted average yield to maturity and a 5.89-year duration. With $1.98 billion in AUM, it’s not at risk of closure, though it’s not the most tax-efficient choice due to its corporate bond holdings. As far as dirt-cheap broad bond market exposure goes, BKAG pairs well with BKLC, making for a completely free, well-diversified stock-and-bond portfolio. Source link #Clickbait #U.S #ETFs #Free #Invest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

People Are Mass-Emailing Elon Musk In Response To His “What Did You Do Last Week?” Message To Federal Workers People Are Mass-Emailing Elon Musk In Response To His “What Did You Do Last Week?” Message To Federal Workers Editor’s Note: While we can’t endorse what X has become, we can bring you the worthwhile moments that still exist there, curated and free of the surrounding chaos. On Saturday, federal workers received an email from the Office of Personnel Management demanding that they reply with five things they accomplished in the last week or else face losing their jobs as part of President Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. So far, DOGE has laid off 20,000 government employees — including workers tasked with important functions like nuclear safety and preventing the spread of bird flu that the government is already scrambling to rehire. Tweet by Elon Musk stating that federal employees will receive an email asking about their work, and failure to respond will be considered resignation According to posts in the FedNews subreddit, this email was sent from the same email address as the “fork in the road” email offering government workers a buyout in exchange for resigning from their jobs. Additionally, workers at some federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Internal Revenue Service, and the National Institutes of Health, have since been told by their department leaders not to respond to the email. Well, over the weekend, people outside the federal government realized that seemingly anyone can send an email that will presumably reach Musk at this Office of Personnel Management address. On Facebook, Alt National Park Service, a “resistance” page dedicated to protecting the parks, posted this: Facebook post by Alt National Park Service: “Are you bored tonight? Send your five accomplishments, maybe your shopping list, or your five thoughts on Elon from the past week to OPM at *****@*****.tld” 16.6 thousand comments and 24 thousand shares In the comments, people shared their own lists of weekly accomplishments to share in an email: Comment lists days not voting for Elon Musk, with reactions shown below And some of them remind me of someone, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Screenshot of a social media comment listing things not done: “didn’t do ketamine, didn’t ignore my children’s mother, didn’t golf, didn’t wield a chainsaw.” Even Canadians got into the mix: Commenter jokingly mentions emailing a list of foods tried while sick, stating they’re ********* and not a federal worker And others plan to take advantage of this as a teachable moment: Text in the image reads: “I’m going to send a PDF of the constitution.” The text has 2k likes People on Twitter are also sharing their emails to Elon: A tweet suggests emailing Elon Musk at *****@*****.tld. Screenshotted email reads: got blitzed on ketamine, ignored my children, tweeted 1782 times, wore weird sunglasses inside, got humiliated by astronauts Some people are getting very creative with the assignment: Screenshot of an email joke listing humorous, exaggerated activities as a reply to a work-related question And others are getting very detailed: Screenshot of an email listing weekly tasks, including work hours, meetings, depositions, and jail visits for job duties It’s also happening over on Bluesky: Screenshot of a post with humorous list: budgeting groceries, uninstalling apps, choosing lipstick, organizing, and naming the Gulf of Mexico And once again, some of these accomplishments seem weirdly familiar: Email draft listing five accomplishments: did not you give up, let you down, run around and desert you, make you cry, say goodbye; plus bonus: did not tell a lie and hurt you We’ll keep you posted as the situation unfolds. Person wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, with a backdrop of golden curtains \\ Source link #People #MassEmailing #Elon #Musk #Response #Week #Message #Federal #Workers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Salesforce’s AI Play: A Timely, Low-Risk Entry After Sell-Off Salesforce’s AI Play: A Timely, Low-Risk Entry After Sell-Off As today is Technical Monday, I want to feature a stock that the recent sell-off now offers a good low-risk entry point. Plus, it is a top pick in my Outlook 2025. And you get to see how our proprietary plugins work. Furthermore, there is news. Google (NASDAQ:) Cloud secured a $2.5B, seven-year deal with Salesforce (NYSE:), allowing Salesforce customers to run key software like Agentforce AI and Data Cloud on Google Cloud. The partnership aims to counter Microsoft’s dominance in enterprise AI and cloud, with clients like Wayfair (NYSE:) and Accenture (NYSE:) set to move Salesforce apps to Google Cloud. Salesforce will also integrate Google’s Gemini AI into its services. I included Salesforce as top 10 pick in the Outlook 2025 (page 31) because they helped fund the Olympics and the NFL on Netflix (NASDAQ:). Technically, there are 4 extremely interesting setups to note. Monday’s low price is a new 60+ day low, making a reversal pattern a real possibility. In November CRM gapped higher and made a low of 303.07 while today’s low is 303.61. More importantly, that gap has not been filled, making 293 a logical risk point. Monday’s high sits right under the January 6-month calendar range, which now needs to clear with a closing price above it. Real Motion while indicating weaker momentum (red dots) that what the price is telling us, sits right on the 200-DMA (green) This being technical Monday, I also want to stress that when market conditions change, we look for confirmation on these reversal patterns, even in the best stocks. ETF Summary  (Pivotal means short-term bullish above that level and bearish below)  S&P 500 (SPY) 599 held and needs to continue to do so Russell 2000 (IWM) 2025 low 213.97 Dow (DIA) 432 support must hold Nasdaq (QQQ) 520 support and now waiting for NVDA earnings Regional banks (KRE) 60 area support Semiconductors (SMH) 245 support 260 resistance Transportation (IYT) 69-70 support Biotechnology (IBB) 140 resistance Retail (XRT) 74 major support and until it clears 77 still looks weak iShares 20+ Treasury Bonds (TLT) Needs to clear 90 to get interesting Source link #Salesforces #Play #Timely #LowRisk #Entry #SellOff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Not Clickbait: These ********* ETFs are Free to Invest In Not Clickbait: These ********* ETFs are Free to Invest In One of the easiest risks to minimize in investing is excessive fund fees. That’s why, when looking for ETFs, you should always try to minimize the management fee, which is the portion of the total cost that goes to the fund provider. However, in Canada, what you actually pay isn’t just the management fee—it’s the Management Expense Ratio (MER), which includes trading costs, taxes, and other expenses. For new ETFs, the MER isn’t calculated until after a full year, since expenses take time to accumulate. That means an ETF can have a 0% management fee at launch but still have a small MER later on once all costs are factored in. Recently, Hamilton ETFs launched several new funds and, as a promotional offer, they’re waiving the management fee to 0% for the first year. That means, for a while, these ETFs will be virtually free to own. Here’s a look at the two I like that focus on ********* equities. HAMILTON CHAMPIONS ********* Dividend Index ETF (CMVP) The newly launched Hamilton CHAMPIONS ********* Dividend Index ETF (CMVP) tracks the newly designed Solactive Canada Dividend Elite Champions Index, a bespoke benchmark built to focus on quality dividend growth stocks in Canada. To qualify, companies must have increased their dividends for at least six consecutive years. On average, the stocks in the index have posted 10% annualized dividend growth, with an average market cap of $73 billion—a sign that it leans toward large, stable dividend payers. The index’s performance stats are very favorable so far. It has beaten the in total returns and dividend yield while maintaining lower volatility, smaller drawdowns, and faster recoveries during market downturns. It also totally outclasses its main competitor, the iShares S&P/TSX ********* Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF (CDZ). CDZ charges an absurd 0.60% management fee, making it one of the most expensive dividend ETFs in Canada. Meanwhile, CMVP is free to own, with a 0% management fee through January 31, 2026. After that, the fee reverts to 0.19%—still one-third the cost of CDZ. Hamilton ********* Financials Index ETF (HFN) For pure-play exposure to ********* financial stocks, the longstanding option has been the iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index ETF (XFN). I’m not a fan. Partially because of the 0.55% management fee, but also because market cap weighting in a narrow sector leads to overweights—20% in Royal Bank of Canada (RY) and 12.5% in Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:). That’s not broad TSX financials exposure—that’s mostly just owning two banks. A cheaper and more balanced alternative is the newly launched Hamilton ********* Financials Index ETF (HFN), which tracks the Solactive ********* Financials Equal-Weight Index TR. This benchmark does exactly what the name suggests—it takes the 12 largest ********* financial stocks and equally weights them, rebalancing semi-annually. That means less concentration in banks and more exposure to asset managers and insurance companies. The income is also tax-efficient, with eligible dividends paid monthly. Historically, this equal-weight approach has also outperformed the S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index. As with CMVP, HFN is charging a 0% management fee through January 31, 2026. After that, it reverts to 0.19%—not free, but still markedly cheaper than XFN’s 0.55%. Source link #Clickbait #********* #ETFs #Free #Invest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hegseth says he fired the top military lawyers because they weren’t well suited for the jobs Hegseth says he fired the top military lawyers because they weren’t well suited for the jobs WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that he was replacing the top lawyers for the military services because he didn’t think they were “well-suited” to provide recommendations when lawful orders are given. Speaking at the start of a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Hegseth refused to answer a question about why the Trump administration has selected a retired general to be the next Joint Chiefs chairman, when he doesn’t meet the legal qualifications for the job. President Donald Trump on Friday abruptly fired the chairman, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., and Hegseth followed that by firing Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations, and Air Force Gen. James Slife, the vice chief of the Air Force. He also said he was “requesting nominations” for the jobs of judge advocate general, or JAG, for the Army, Navy and Air Force. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. He did not identify the lawyers by name. The Navy JAG, Vice Adm. Christopher French, retired about two months ago, and there was already an ongoing effort to seek a replacement. The Army JAG, Lt. Gen. Joseph B. Berger III, and Air Force JAG, Lt. Gen. Charles Plummer, were fired. The removals — which came without any specified reasons in terms of their conduct — sent a new wave of apprehension through the Pentagon. And they added to the broader confusion over the changing parameters of Elon Musk’s demand that federal employees provide recent job accomplishments by the end of Monday or risk getting fired, even though government officials later said the edict is voluntary. Throughout the Pentagon on Monday, military and civilian workers juggled their routine national security duties with a growing unease that anyone could be next on the firing block. Hegseth has defended Trump’s firing of Brown, saying it was not unusual and the president deserves to pick his own team. The defense chief argued that other presidents made changes in military personnel. Trump’s choice of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine is unusual. Caine would have to come back onto active duty, but he does not meet the legal requirements for the top post. According to law, a chairman must have served as a combatant commander or service chief. Those requirements can be waived by the president. Historically, Pentagon leaders have deliberately shifted top admirals and generals into a job as service chief for even a brief ******* of time in order to qualify them for the chairman’s post. In recent decades, a number of three-star and four-star officers have been fired, but Pentagon leaders have routinely made clear why they were ousted. Those reasons included disagreements over the conduct of the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, problems with the oversight of America’s nuclear arsenal and public statements critical of the president and other leaders. Brown, a history-making fighter pilot and only the second ****** general to serve as chairman, is the first in that post to be fired in recent history. Hegseth made it clear before he took the secretary’s job that he thought Brown should be fired, and he questioned whether Brown got the job because he was ******. Hegseth has also repeatedly argued that military officers would be reviewed “based on meritocracy.” It’s unclear, however, how Franchetti, Slife and the lawyers were evaluated and what meritocracy they were found to lack. As a result, Pentagon workers are left to decipher whether the officers were fired due to political reasons or because of their race or gender. Hegseth has laid out a campaign to rid the military of leaders who support diversity and equity in the ranks. And there have been persistent threats from the Trump administration that military officers advocating diversity and equity — or so-called “wokeism” — could be targeted. Hegseth has said that efforts to expand diversity and equity have eroded the military’s readiness. Source link #Hegseth #fired #top #military #lawyers #werent #suited #jobs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vivek Ramaswamy announces 2026 bid for Ohio governor – CNN Vivek Ramaswamy announces 2026 bid for Ohio governor – CNN Vivek Ramaswamy announces 2026 bid for Ohio governor CNNTrump, Musk endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor Fox NewsVivek Ramaswamy launches campaign for Ohio governor The Washington PostWatch live: Ramaswamy expected to announce campaign for Ohio governor The Hill Source link #Vivek #Ramaswamy #announces #bid #Ohio #governor #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Logitech PowerPlay 2 Review: An impressive downgrade Logitech PowerPlay 2 Review: An impressive downgrade Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. Logitech’s wireless charging mouse pad, the PowerPlay, has managed to stand the test of time. It first debuted in 2017 and is still going strong. In fact, just last July the company launched the G309 Lightspeed mouse, which features a supercapacitor that holds just enough charge to power it when it’s not directly touching the PowerPlay mat, and can therefore be used, with PowerPlay, sans battery. While PowerPlay was never wildly popular, it is the only wireless charging gaming mouse pad that you can still buy today (RIP, Razer Hyperflux). But it has been eight years since the PowerPlay launched, and most of Logitech’s current gaming mice support it, so an update makes sense. Enter the Logitech PowerPlay 2 — a revamped PowerPlay that has a (slightly) larger charging area, is (slightly) thinner, comes with fewer features, and is cheaper… if you ignore the fact that the original PowerPlay launched at $100 and then got a price increase at some point a few years later. The Logitech PowerPlay 2 has a charging area that’s 15% larger and up to 38.5% thinner than the original’s. And while the original came with two surface options (hard and soft) and doubled as a wireless mouse receiver, the PowerPlay 2 comes with just one surface (soft), and its wireless capabilities are strictly limited to charging only. But it will be cheaper — sort of — when it launches on March 11, 2025 for $99. Design of the PowerPlay 2 Logitech’s PowerPlay system consists of three parts — four if you include the mouse, which is not included: the wireless charging mat, which sits on your desk and plugs into your PC; the mouse pad / surface, which sits on top of the charging mat; and a “PowerPlay module,” or a magnetic puck that attaches to the bottom of a PowerPlay-compatible Logitech gaming mouse. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) In a world where the average gaming mouse pad is very, very large, the PowerPlay 2 is… pretty small. It’s close in size to most medium-sized gaming mouse pads (remember that “medium-sized” is usually the smallest option when it comes to gaming mouse pads), not including the charging module. The surface area measures 13.54 inches (344mm) wide by 11.14 inches (238mm) deep. Logitech reports the charging mat as measuring 0.09 inches (2.2mm) thick, and the charging mat plus the mouse pad at 0.14 inches (3.5mm) thick. Using calipers, I measured the charging pad plus the mouse pad at 0.126 inches (3.2mm) thick — so, close enough. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) By contrast, the original PowerPlay’s surface has the exact same width and depth measurements, but is thicker — by my measurements, 0.165 inches (4.2mm) thick with the charging mat plus the soft mouse pad, and 0.204 inches (5.2mm) thick with the charging mat plus the hard mouse pad. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) But, according to Logitech, the PowerPlay 2 has a 15% larger charging area, so this must mean that not all of the original PowerPlay’s surface is part of its charging area. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The original PowerPlay came with both a soft mouse pad and a hard mouse pad, so gamers could swap between surfaces. The PowerPlay 2 comes with just a soft mouse pad — a very, very thin soft mouse pad with a shiny, rubbery non-skid backing. The mouse mat also has a rubber, non-skid finish, and these work very well together — the surface isn’t going anywhere, though it is a little tricky to put on perfectly. (It’s sort of like putting a screen protector on your phone, only the stakes are much lower.) Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The mouse pad’s surface is a shiny polyester weave with raw, unfinished edges — Logitech will be offering replacement pads (but couldn’t confirm details on pricing or whether they’ll be offering additional surface types), which is good because I don’t see this flimsy sheet of mouse pad surface lasting for more than a year — if that. I’m not sure why the company decided to go with just the soft mouse pad, but it feels like a replacement soft mouse pad could have been easily (and cheaply) included. That said, I have no complaints about the surface insofar as performance or comfort — it is shinier and smoother than the original’s soft surface, so my mouse did glide (ever so slightly) better. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Like its predecessor, the PowerPlay 2 has a ****** plastic “control module” attached to its upper left corner. The control module measures 5.09 inches (129.2mm) wide by 1.36 inches (34.6mm) deep, and is 0.41 inches (10.5mm) thick. The control module on the original PowerPlay has — you guessed it — almost the exact same measurements. But while the control module on the original PowerPlay features an RGB-backlit Logitech G logo, the control module on the PowerPlay 2 is RGB-free. The Logitech G logo is still there, it’s just plain, light-free plastic. This isn’t too much of a drawback, however, as the RGB lighting on the original PowerPlay seemed like more of an afterthought than anything. There is still a small white indicator LED on the side of the control panel that lights up to indicate when your mouse is charging. The PowerPlay 2 connects to your PC via a non-detachable 6-foot (1.8m) rubber USB-C cable; I suppose I might as well go ahead and point out that the original PowerPlay’s charging cable wasn’t USB-C (it launched in 2017, guys, come on — it was micro-USB), but it was detachable. A detachable USB cable is always nice to see on a desktop accessory like a mouse pad, since it’s the kind of thing you don’t move too often (or ever) and therefore cable management makes sense, but I guess Logitech needed to cut that extra $20 somewhere. Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Cable 6ft / 1.8m, non-detachable, USB-C Row 0 – Cell 2 Size (W x L x D) 13.54 x 11.14 x 0.14 inches / 344 x 283 x 3.5 mm Row 1 – Cell 2 Price $99 Row 2 – Cell 2 Release Date March 11, 2025 (announced Feb. 25, 2025) Row 3 – Cell 2 Performance of the PowerPlay 2 The goal of the PowerPlay 2 is to eliminate the primary problem with wireless mice: the inconvenience of charging. While it’s true that most of today’s best wireless gaming mice have decent battery life — 100 – 150 hours will get you at least a week of gaming, even if you game like it’s your job — you still have to charge them once every week or two. I have a wireless charging dock sitting right next to my mouse pad that I could pop my mouse onto whenever I’m not using it (for example, right now, while I’m writing this review), and yet… I don’t. And I inevitably end up needing to switch over to my backup mouse once a week while my primary mouse charges. Anyway, the point of the PowerPlay system is to eliminate this problem entirely, and it accomplishes this… flawlessly. If you have a compatible wireless Logitech gaming mouse and the PowerPlay 2 (or the PowerPlay), you will never have to plug it in, ever again. It really is that simple. I used the Logitech G309, which has no internal battery (just a supercapacitor), to test this, and, well, yeah — not once did the mouse stop working while it was on the PowerPlay 2. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The PowerPlay 2 uses Logitech’s proprietary wireless charging technology, of course, so it’s only compatible with Logitech gaming mice (and only certain Logitech gaming mice, though the list is pretty respectable). You will need to pop Logitech’s “PowerPlay module” into the mouse for it to charge, so you can only charge one mouse at a time (you can purchase a spare module for the original PowerPlay from Logitech directly for $25, and I assume you’ll also be able to do this for the PowerPlay 2 — the charging module from the original is not compatible with the PowerPlay 2, by the way). Features and Software of the PowerPlay 2 Unlike the original PowerPlay, the PowerPlay 2 does not connect to Logitech’s G Hub peripheral software, because it has no customization options (and no other features). The control module on the original PowerPlay doubled as a Lightspeed wireless receiver — meaning you could connect your mouse to the PowerPlay and not have to worry about plugging in a separate dongle — the control module on the PowerPlay 2 is for charging only. This is pretty frustrating, as being able to connect your mouse to the mat was definitely the other big feature of PowerPlay, and the PowerPlay 2 doesn’t even have a pass-through USB port (like the Razer Firefly V2 Pro) to make plugging the dongle in easier. I suppose this could be a blessing in disguise, however, as I’ve definitely had problems connecting the original PowerPlay to G Hub, and when I look online the first line of advice is usually “try a different USB cable.” But of course, you can’t do that with the PowerPlay 2, because the cable is non-detachable. Compatible Mice When the original PowerPlay launched, only a couple of Logitech gaming mice could take advantage of its wireless charging capabilities. Luckily, eight years has given Logitech enough time to bring its mouse lineup up to speed, and the PowerPlay 2 is compatible with the following Logitech gaming mice: Bottom Line Logitech’s PowerPlay system is excellent if you’re a fan of Logitech gaming mice — it works exactly as advertised, and you’ll never have to plug your mouse in again. And, well, what more could you ask for? Absolutely nothing more, apparently, because the PowerPlay 2 cuts all of the original’s features aside from the wireless charging, and still costs $99. Even if we accept that the original PowerPlay’s sneakily increased price of $120 was in line with inflation, or whatever, the PowerPlay 2 is still only $20 cheaper. It’s worth pointing out that the PowerPlay 2 is replacing the PowerPlay in Logitech’s lineup, so… go out and grab one of the oirignals while you still can, I guess. Source link #Logitech #PowerPlay #Review #impressive #downgrade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UGSCA 2024-25: Matt Trevenen’s unbeaten ton powers Lake Grace to first win & Towns skittled by ladder leaders UGSCA 2024-25: Matt Trevenen’s unbeaten ton powers Lake Grace to first win & Towns skittled by ladder leaders Lake Grace’s Matt Trevenen has blasted a superb century to lead his side to their first win of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade season. Playing at home on Saturday, Lake Grace snapped a 10-game losing streak as they cruised to a 10-wicket win over Williams in round 12. Williams were without key trio Rodney Ford, Julian Crudeli and Michael Forman and they struggled with the bat after winning the toss, bowled out for 154. Kim Rintoul top scored with 49 at the top of the order and Michael Cowcher made 20 but the middle order failed to fire. Brayden Reynolds snared 3-30 to lead the home side with the ball while Dylan Brooks was very hard to get away, his 10 overs returning 2-17. In pursuit of their first win of the 2024-25 season, Lake Grace lost opener Jack Carruthers early on after he copped a ****** blow to the head from a short ball. Carruthers retired hurt but his partner Trevenen was in no mood to mess around, as he blasted the visitors to all parts. Sharing in a century stand with No.3 Reynolds, the pair chased down the victory target inside 25 overs. Trevenen finished unbeaten on 102, a fine innings to give his team a deserved victory in the latter part of the season. Reynolds chipped in with 48 not out as Lake Grace won by 10 wickets. The loss leaves Williams holding on to second spot by two points heading into the final round of the regular season. Third-placed Towns missed an opportunity to jump to second, after getting skittled by ladder leaders Wandering at Clayton Road Oval. Wandering were chasing an 11th straight win and they set Towns just 160 to win after a disciplined performance with the ball from the home side. Kade Maley (3-32) Nuwan Darshika Samarakoon Singappuli Arachchige (3-20) were the key wicket takers, while Mitchell Ackland (1-15 from seven overs) and Sam Ellis (1-34 from 10) were difficult to score against. Wandering reached 150 mainly thanks to Jacob Schorer (31) and Ben McMillan (43). Perrin Quartermaine (18) and Maley (16) made a solid start but Towns lost 8-31 to be all out for just 79 in reply. McMillan (4-10) and Lewis Parsons (4-8) ripped through the Towns line-up with four wickets each while Ben Sherry claimed the early scalps of Perrin Quartermaine and Scott Langford. Cuballing notched their fifth win of the season, proving too strong for Wickepin-Harrismith at Cuballing. Wickepin-Harrismith finished on 7-155 batting first with Arron Quartermaine making 49 not out and Rohan Bilney retiring on 22. Cuballing’s top order all got runs, as they coasted to a seven-wicket win inside 24 overs. Byron Blevin made 56 from 59 ****** while Johannes De bruyn made a run-a-ball 26. Kendal Ballard made a quickfire 45 from 33 ****** before Joe Dowling (13 not out) and Rhett Ballard (12no) steered their side home. In the B-grade competition, Towns will finish on top of the ladder after losing just one game. There two games left in the regular season this weekend, Pingelly-Noonebin and Boddington facing off while Towns are up against Kukerin-Dumbleyung but the top four is already decided. Pingelly-Noonebin are clear in second spot while Wagin and Cuballing will meet in the elimination final next weekend. Source link #UGSCA #Matt #Trevenens #unbeaten #ton #powers #Lake #Grace #win #Towns #skittled #ladder #leaders Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]