Pelican Press

Candy Crush teams up with Pat McGrath to bring lipstick, glosses, and nail polish to shelves Candy Crush teams up with Pat McGrath to bring lipstick, glosses, and nail polish to shelves Candy Crush Saga has teamed up with makeup firm Pat McGrath A new line of Candy Crush-themed cosmetics will be hitting shelves soon Additionally, three random online orders will feature a $10k diamond ring When it comes to world-beating mobile franchises we’ve got a few top contenders. But I think even the likes of Clash of Clans or Angry Birds are at least somewhat overshadowed by Candy Crush Saga. That’s partly helped by the enormous corporate cash behind it, and its massive imprint on the collective conscience which is only set to increase as the franchise collaborates with makeup firm Pat McGrath. It’s almost surprising that this is the first time I can remember Candy Crush has hit store shelves in the form of cosmetics. But it’s true! Pretty soon you’ll be able to grab Candy Crush-themed lipsticks, glosses, nail polishes and more. That’s not the real kicker though because the headlining news is a real diamond-encrusted stunner. That’s because it seems that part of the launch of this new product line (available from February 27th in case you were curious) is the random assignment of three diamond-encrusted Candy Crush-themed diamond rings worth $10k each. Diamonds are foreeever As far as major branding exercises go it’s nice to see a bit of a throwback. None of this partnering up with a major influence nonsense. Instead, you just chuck a diamond-encrusted ring into three random online orders, announce as much and watch the carnage unravel. It also shows just how far gaming merch seems to be developing from back in ye olde days where you were lucky to get a t-shirt emblazoned with your favourite series. All the way to full-on diamond jewellery. Still, if you’re not a Candy Crush Saga fan, don’t go anywhere! If this makes you yearn for a simpler time why not try the retro, throwback, super-hard platformer Jump King? Will Quick gave it a glowing gold-star review, so maybe that’s worth a try to test your mettle and platforming skills. Source link #Candy #Crush #teams #Pat #McGrath #bring #lipstick #glosses #nail #polish #shelves Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sicily says Hawks must improve on last year's gains Sicily says Hawks must improve on last year's gains Hawthorn captain James Sicily says a repeat of what they did last season won’t be enough as they try to improve on their barnstorming run back into the finals. Source link #Sicily #Hawks #improve #year039s #gains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An enhanced version of Sayonara Wild Hearts for PS5 is out now An enhanced version of Sayonara Wild Hearts for PS5 is out now My dream of a Sayonara Wild Hearts sequel might never be fulfilled, but the sudden arrival of an enhanced version for PS5 just filled my heart on a dreary Monday. Publisher Annapurna Interactive announced the upgrade for the 2019 rhythm action game during its latest showcase. The PS5 edition includes support for 4K visuals, 120 fps gameplay and haptic feedback via the DualSense controller. There’s also a new unlockable mode called Remix Arcade that’s only available on this PS5 version. Here, you’ll try to nail high scores across random chunks of levels with no loading time between each. Developer Simogo notes that the mode will get progressively faster to add to the challenge. 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. Simogo had some downtime while figuring out its next big project after Lorelai and the Laser Eyes and the opportunity came up to bring Sayonara Wild Hearts to PS5. The PS4 version already works on the console and the team wasn’t really interested in only upgrading the fidelity. However, the studio “thought about the hardware and what type of experience that would only be possible on it and remembered that PlayStation 5 has a very fast SSD, which would allow for the type of quick loading we needed for our long lost Infinite Shuffle mode.” Along with adding some new art and sound assets, the renamed Remix Arcade has “a random element that [will] sometimes mirror the level visually to keep players on their toes,” the studio said. Best of all, the enhanced edition for PS5 is a free upgrade from the PS4 version. Sayonara Wild Hearts is also available in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Otherwise, it costs $13. Sayonara Wild Hearts is one of my of all time, so I’m more than happy to have an excuse to play through its riotously fun, heart-mending story yet again. I’m tempted to plug my back in to let the stylized art and signature neon purple wash over my eyes as the dreamy pop soundtrack fills my ears. Here’s hoping Annapurna brings the game back to iOS as well — it left Apple Arcade a few months ago. I need to have Sayonara Wild Hearts available at all times. It’s not enough to have it on PS5, Steam Deck, Switch and PC (can you tell I like this game a whole lot?). Source link #enhanced #version #Sayonara #Wild #Hearts #PS5 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Couchbase integrates with Nvidia NIM to aid AI development Couchbase integrates with Nvidia NIM to aid AI development Couchbase on Monday unveiled an integration with the Nvidia NIM microservices suite to enable customers to more easily develop, deploy and manage AI applications. The Nvidia NIM set of capabilities is a microservices-based AI development toolkit. Included are integrations with popular large language models, blueprints for developing AI agents and other AI applications, and Nvidia NeMo Guardrails, an open source framework for setting controls on LLM outputs to enforce safety and ensure they match business needs. Couchbase, meanwhile, is a NoSQL database vendor based in Santa Clara, Calif. In December 2024, the vendor introduced Capella AI Model Services, a set of services that simplify and speed development of generative AI applications, including agents. Capella AI Model Services and the integration with Nvidia NIM are in private preview. Pricing for the integration, meanwhile, will be based on consumption of Capella AI Model Services. Once both are generally available, given that the integration adds capabilities that complement Capella AI Model Services, it will be a significant addition for Couchbase customers, according to Matt Aslett, an analyst at ISG’s Ventana Research. “The addition of Nvidia NIM will better enable Couchbase customers to accelerate the deployment of AI-powered applications by delivering … accelerated performance for operational applications and support for a variety of LLMs and other GenAI models,” he said. Data integration specialist Nexla, which like Couchbase is among the many data management vendors is adding AI development capabilities, also recently integrated with Nvidia NIM. Meanwhile, Couchbase competitors that are adding AI development suites include database specialists such as Aerospike and MongoDB as well as tech giants including AWS, Google, Microsoft and Oracle that offer database platforms. The integration OpenAI’s November 2022 launch of ChatGPT represented significant improvement in generative AI capabilities that can make businesses better informed and more efficient. Enterprises have responded by significantly increasing investments in developing AI applications such as assistants that enable users to analyze data using natural language rather than code and tools such as agents that take on repetitive tasks previously performed by humans. At the core of those applications is proprietary data that, when combined with generative AI models, enables applications to understand an enterprise’s operations. Given the vital role data plays in AI development, many data management vendors have responded by developing environments that simplify data discovery, integration, pipeline development and other development tasks. For example, archrivals Databricks and Snowflake have both made AI development their major focus, including developing their own LLMs. Couchbase joined the fray in 2023 and continues to add new capabilities aimed at helping developers create AI applications. The introduction of Capella AI Model Services and its integration with Nvidia NIM further that effort. The integration aims to improve workload performance and security by enabling Couchbase users to deploy applications on Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs). It also adds new agentic AI and retrieval-augmented generation capabilities that enhance those that Couchbase already provides. Perhaps its most significant benefit will be the trusted outputs enabled by Nvidia NeMo Guardrails, according to Aslett. Studies such as a recent survey commissioned by data management vendor Ataccama show that a lack of trust in the data used to train AI models and the ensuing AI outputs is one of the main hindrances to more widespread use of AI applications. “In addition to accelerating the development and deployment of AI applications, Capella AI Model Services with Nvidia NIM also provides users with access to features that are designed to improve trust in the output of GenAI models,” Aslett said. Like Aslett, Stephen Catanzano, an analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, now part of Omdia, said Couchbase’s integration with Nvidia NIM is significant. Without the integration, Couchbase customers would have faced challenges efficiently deploying AI models, according to Catanzano. But with it, such challenges, including AI governance and scalability, are addressed. “This integration is significant for Couchbase customers,” Catanzano said. “Customers can now run AI models securely within their own data environments without worrying about data privacy risks, improve real-time AI response accuracy … as well as scale and optimize AI models without significant operational overhead.” The biggest benefits of the integration include improved model performance, including lower latency, and the governance enabled by Nvidia NeMo Guardrails, he continued. “By leveraging Nvidia NeMo Guardrails, the integration helps prevent AI hallucinations, ensuring model reliability and compliance, which is especially critical for enterprises managing sensitive or regulatory-bound data,” Catanzano said. Regarding the motivation for adding the integration with Nvidia NIM after the introduction of Capella AI Model Services, customer feedback played a prominent part, according to Matt McDonough, Couchbase’s SVP of product and partners. In particular, Couchbase received requests for improved model inferences and more AI governance. “We’ve received lots of feedback from our customers around a desire for optimized inference and enhanced guardrails as they are building out agentic applications,” McDonough said. Looking ahead As evidenced by the recent introduction of Capella AI Model Services and now the unveiling of an integration with Nvidia NIM, AI development is now a significant focus for Couchbase. Toward that end, the vendor’s roadmap includes expanding its AI development ecosystem through more partnerships, according to McDonough. In addition, continuing to add new features to both its traditional Couchbase Enterprise platform for on-premises users and its Capella platform for cloud-based customers is part of Couchbase’s roadmap. Catanzano suggested Couchbase add AI-driven observability and workload optimization capabilities. Aslett, meanwhile, noted that as Couchbase expands to provide AI development capabilities, it will be important for the vendor to show that customers are truly using the tools and having success with them. With Capella AI Model Services and the integration with Nvidia NIM in private preview, AI development using Couchbase’s capabilities is still largely theoretical. “As [Capella AI Model Services] evolves through public preview to general availability, we will be looking for details from the company related to practical examples of customer success and use cases that provide evidence of the theoretical benefits,” Aslett said. Eric Avidon is a senior news writer for Informa TechTarget and a journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He covers analytics and data management. Source link #Couchbase #integrates #Nvidia #NIM #aid #development Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia Set for ‘Clear Beat and Raise’ in Q4, Says Wedbush Nvidia Set for ‘Clear Beat and Raise’ in Q4, Says Wedbush On February 26, Nvidia (NVDA, Financial) is set to announce its fiscal Q4 numbers as AI investment in the market continues to soar and its Nvidia Data Science VM collection attracts strong interest from the enterprise. Wedbush Securities says it sees a solid beat and raise because it views the ‘clear beat and raise’ as being tied to faster AI adoption by businesses and government agencies. Analysts further said that the major tech players are planning a whopping $325 billion capital expenditure in 2025, a jump from last year’s $100 billion, which supports their firm commitment to innovation. Every dollar spent on Nvidia’s AI accelerators translates into an eight-to-tenfold boost in AI project returns, according to consensus estimates forecasting $0.85 earnings per share on roughly $38.15 billion in revenue. Despite ongoing supply chain challenges, steady deployments bolster Nvidia’s competitive stance. With evolving macro trends and deeper tech integration, the company stands well-positioned to benefit from the rising momentum in AI-driven transformation. Investors remain watchful amid the shifting economy. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Source link #Nvidia #Set #Clear #Beat #Raise #Wedbush Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street slips amid focus on Nvidia results Wall Street slips amid focus on Nvidia results US stocks have opened mostly lower as investors awaited results from several companies. Source link #Wall #Street #slips #focus #Nvidia #results Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jihadi George was my first kiss, says Miquita Oliver Jihadi George was my first kiss, says Miquita Oliver Miquita Oliver, the television presenter, has revealed her first kiss was with the Islamic State militant “Jihadi George”. The former Popworld co-host, 40, said she kissed Alexanda Kotey, a British-born member of the IS execution squad known as “the Beatles”, while they were schoolmates at Fox Primary School in Kensington, London. She said on her Miss Me? podcast: “Do you remember who my first kiss is? It’s Alexy – mixed-race Alexy from Fox. And do you remember what happened to Alexy? He became Jihadi George!” Kotey was part of a four-man IS group nicknamed ‘the Beatles’ – Syrian Democratic Forces/Reuters The singer Lily Allen, who co-hosts the podcast and also attended the school, replied: “She does pick ’em. It is kind of crazy that your first kiss ended up there. That’s pretty mental.” Kotey, 40, originally from Paddington, is thought to have worked as a drug dealer before converting to Islam in his early 20s and moving to Syria in 2012. The so-called Beatles group he joined was behind the kidnap of at least 27 people, including aid workers and journalists who were later executed in IS propaganda videos. This included the beheadings of the British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, and the Americans James Foley, Steven Sotloff and Peter Kassig. Kotey was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces in Jan 2018 while trying to escape to Turkey following the collapse of IS’s “caliphate”. Kotey was handed eight life sentences in the United States in 2022 – Bill Hennessy/Reuters He was handed eight life sentences in the United States in 2022 for his part in the torture and ******* of American hostages. He and his co-defendant El Shafee Elsheikh were prosecuted in the US following lengthy legal wrangling between the American and British governments after the *** said it could not prosecute them. Both have been stripped of their British citizenship, preventing their return to the ***. Oliver gave no more details about her interaction with Kotey, saying: “It’s not my story to tell so let’s move on.” After leaving the Kensington school, which also counts Hayley Atwell and Darcey Bussell as former students, she went on to co-host Channel 4’s pop show Popworld with Simon Amstell from 2001 to 2006. Oliver, whose mother is the television chef Andi Oliver, has also presented on T4 and hosted shows on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #Jihadi #George #kiss #Miquita #Oliver Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Balatro, Luck Be A Landlord Win PEGI Ratings Appeals Balatro, Luck Be A Landlord Win PEGI Ratings Appeals · · February 24, 2025 Balatro and Luck Be A Landlord have won their respective appeals against their PEGI ratings. Both will now be rated PEGI 12 as opposed to the PEGI 18 rating they have had since launch. In a post on the PEGI website, explanations were given for the move down for each game. For Balatro, the PEGI Complaints Board says that “although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements”. In regards to Luck Be A Landlord, the board had the same arguments as it did for Balatro. It added that “although the game features a slot machine mechanic, there were no specific transferable gambling skills”. “PEGI acknowledges the finding of the Complaints Board appeals panel in regards to amending the classifications of these games,” the organization wrote. “The PEGI system continuously evolves in line with cultural expectations and the guidance of independent experts who support our assessment process. PEGI strives to apply ratings criteria fairly, consistently, and transparently to ensure that audiences understand the type of content that is present in games.” The announcement concluded saying that “on the basis of these appeals” the PEGI Experts Group will “develop a more granular set of classification criteria to handle gambling themes”. What do you think of Balatro and Luck Be A Landlord winning their appeals and seeing their PEGI ratings adjusted to PEGI 12? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming Forums. For more Insider Gaming, read about what Steam players would like Valve to add to the client moving forward. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Balatro #Luck #Landlord #Win #PEGI #Ratings #Appeals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft reiterates plan to invest $80 billion in AI Microsoft reiterates plan to invest $80 billion in AI Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box outside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 22nd, 2025. Gerry Miller | CNBC Microsoft said on Monday that it’s sticking to its plan to allocate more than $80 billion of its cash to capital expenditures, following an analyst’s note on Friday claiming the company has canceled data center leases. However, Microsoft acknowledged that it “may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas.” Microsoft shares fell 1.9% on Friday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its sharpest sell-off of the year. Analysts at TD Cowen circulated a report, citing “channel checks,” indicating that Microsoft had canceled leases with “at least two private data center operators.” In early January, Microsoft announced that it was aiming to spend over $80 billion this fiscal year on data centers that were capable of handling artificial intelligence workloads. Microsoft’s fiscal year ends in June. “Our plans to spend over $80B on infrastructure this FY remains on track as we continue to grow at a record pace to meet customer demand,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Monday. The TD Cowen analysts did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Microsoft’s stock fell 1% on Monday. Shares of data center company Digital Realty Trust were down 2.7%, while Vistra, which supplies power to data centers, slid almost 5%. In addition to building data centers for its own use and for clients to tap through the Azure public cloud, Microsoft leases data center capacity through CoreWeave and other providers. The company is also a major backer of OpenAI, which is part of the $500 billion Stargate data center initiative, along with Oracle and SoftBank, announced last month. “Thanks to the significant investments we have made up to this point, we are well positioned to meet our current and increasing customer demand,” Microsoft’s spokesperson wrote. “Last year alone, we added more capacity than any prior year in history. While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions. This allows us to invest and allocate resources to growth areas for our future.” — CNBC’s Teddy Farkas and John Melloy contributed to this report. WATCH: Data centers REITs hit a bit of volatility following Big Tech headlines Source link #Microsoft #reiterates #plan #invest #billion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Starbucks lays off 1,100 corporate employees as coffee chain streamlines – The Associated Press Starbucks lays off 1,100 corporate employees as coffee chain streamlines – The Associated Press Starbucks lays off 1,100 corporate employees as coffee chain streamlines The Associated PressStarbucks to lay off over 1,000 corporate workers Fox BusinessStarbucks to lay off 1,100 employees this week as CEO aims to deliver on turnaround Yahoo FinanceStarbucks axes some drinks and staff in bid for US turnaround BBC.comStarbucks cuts 2025: Company announces layoffs and what it’s cutting from menu Axios Source link #Starbucks #lays #corporate #employees #coffee #chain #streamlines #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Taliban says it will try to release British couple as soon as possible Taliban says it will try to release British couple as soon as possible The Taliban has told the BBC it will endeavour to release two British nationals who have been arrested and held in Afghanistan “as soon as possible”. Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, were arrested on 1 February while returning to their home in the country’s Bamiyan province. An American national and an Afghan were also arrested alongside the couple, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior Affairs said. The *** Foreign Office said on Monday it was supporting their family. In a statement, Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani said: “A series of considerations is being taken into account, and after evaluation, we will endeavour to release them as soon as possible.” All three foreign nationals had Afghan passports and national ID cards, he added. The reason for Mr and Mrs Reynolds’s arrest has not been confirmed. The couple had been running training projects in Afghanistan for 18 years, including one that involved training mothers and children. Their work had apparently been approved by the local authorities, despite the Taliban banning education for girls over the age of 12 and not allowing women to work. The pair married in Kabul in 1970. They remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, which saw most westerners leave the country. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, told the BBC she had not heard from her parents in more than two weeks. Source link #Taliban #release #British #couple Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elder Scrolls Only Added Fast Travel and Horses in Oblivion Because Of an Insane Amount of Community Feedback Elder Scrolls Only Added Fast Travel and Horses in Oblivion Because Of an Insane Amount of Community Feedback You’ll be shocked to know, but it’s been two decades since the release of the Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Despite the game’s age, it still continues to fascinate fans and gamers with its incredible world design, compelling quests, and, best of all, meme-worthy NPCs. The RPG is considered to be one of the best ones in the franchise. (Image via Bethesda) One of the best parts about Oblivion was its inclusion of fast travel and horses. Seriously, we can’t imagine playing the title without these crucial features. However, they weren’t always a part of the game. That’s right, Bethesda had to add fast travel and horses due to the community feedback. Bethesda developer explains origin of fast travel in Oblivion Oblivion wouldn’t have been a hit without the inclusion of fast travel. (Image via Bethesda) Right before the release of Oblivion, in an interview with Games Planet, ex-Bethesda PR and marketing head Pete Hines talked about the development of the title. Hines explained Bethesda’s approach to the brand-new entry in the Elder Scrolls franchise and how it was setting new highs for the franchise. While chatting, Hines also talked about the feedback Bethesda received after the launch of Morrowind. He explains how it helped Howard and his team to solve one of the biggest gripes that players had in the game: slow travel. So we added horses, to make walking faster, and we added a fast-travel map, that let’s you click on the map and instantly travel to any location you’ve already been to, or know about. That way, if you’re bored, you have an option. It’s lets you skip the “down time” and get to the fun faster. In Morrowind, Bethesda brought tons of traveling methods, such as boats, silt striders, and teleportation. However, gamers always felt that a lack of a direct fast-travel system was frustrating and hindered their ability to enjoy the game. Bethesda’s developers carefully analyzed the player feedback and recognized the core issue: gamers getting bored of walking excessively. To fix this in Oblivion, the studio brought two unique solutions: horses for faster movement and a fast-travel map that allowed gamers to instantly reach known locations. With these new features, Oblivion allowed players to explore the in-game world at their own pace and skip all the traveling if they found it too tiring. Bethesda should remake the entire Elder Scrolls from the start Bethesda must think about remaking other titles. (Image via Bethesda) In the last couple of months, we’ve heard many in the gaming sphere claiming that Bethesda is working on an Oblivion remake. Many even believed that Microsoft would unveil the game during the Xbox’s Developer Direct in January. However, there’s still hope that the game could show up in the upcoming summer showcase. Sure, an Oblivion remake sounds like a great idea, but there’s even more that Bethesda could do with the franchise. Debuting back in the 90s, respectively, the Elder Scrolls: Arena and the Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall are known as the largest titles in the series. What was really incredible about Arena is that it allows players to adventure through the entirety of Tamriel. While Daggerfall features two provinces, it still brings more than 10,00 cities, towns, and dungeons. To make these games possible in that era, Bethesda had to use top-of-the-line technology. However, it would be quite amazing to see Howard and his team remaking these titles with the help of modern technology. Not only will this fix the issues of the original game, but it will also allow the newer generation of fans to explore the roots of the series. With that said, do you think fast travel was a necessary addition to Oblivion? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Elder #Scrolls #Added #Fast #Travel #Horses #Oblivion #Insane #Amount #Community #Feedback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

AMD breathes life into Ryzen 5000G family with six new chips — Cezanne with up to eight Zen 3 cores and 4.6 GHz boost clocks AMD breathes life into Ryzen 5000G family with six new chips — Cezanne with up to eight Zen 3 cores and 4.6 GHz boost clocks Despite launching the Ryzen 9000 CPUs in 2024, some two generations after the Ryzen 5000G processors (which launched in 2021), AMD quietly released six new Zen 3 Cezanne chips recently. As X user Everest shared, these chips will come in the flavors of Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, and Ryzen 7. Cezanne wields Zen 3 cores with integrated Radeon Vega graphics and slots into the AM4 socket. The chips are limited to PCIe 3.0 speeds and DDR4. AMD hasn’t announced the prices for these CPUs yet, nor has it announced if they’ll be available to the retail market. Given the specifications, they’re likely priced lower to focus on the budget segment of the market. For example, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is currently listed for $155 on Amazon, whereas the most affordable Ryzen 9000 chip available right now, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, costs $279. This isn’t the first time AMD has launched new CPUs based on older generations of Ryzen chips. The company silently launched the Ryzen 5 7400F in January 2025, two months after the launch of AMD’s celebrated Ryzen 7 9800X3D gaming CPU. Team Red has even released AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT and 5600T chips between the launch of the vanilla Ryzen 9000-series and 9800X3D, which can confuse the average consumer. Swipe to scroll horizontally Name Cores / Threads Base Clock (GHz) Boost Clock (GHz) L2 Cache (MB) L3 Cache (MB) TDP Integrated Graphics Graphics Core Count Graphics Frequency (MHz) AMD Ryzen 7 5705GE 8 / 16 3.2 4.6 4 16 35 Radeon Graphics 8 2,000 AMD Ryzen 7 5705G 8 / 16 3.8 4.6 4 16 65 Radeon Graphics 8 2,000 AMD Ryzen 5 5605GE 6 / 12 3.4 4.4 3 16 35 Radeon Graphics 7 1,900 AMD Ryzen 5 5605G 6 / 12 3.9 4.4 3 16 65 Radeon Graphics 7 1,900 AMD Ryzen 3 5305GE 4 / 8 3.6 4.2 2 8 35 Radeon Graphics 6 1,700 AMD Ryzen 3 5305G 4 / 8 4.0 4.2 2 8 65 Radeon Graphics 6 1,700 The Ryzen 3 5305G, Ryzen 5 5605G, and Ryzen 7 5705G appear to share identical specifications to the vanilla Ryzen 4 5300G, Ryzen 5 5600G, and Ryzen 7 5700G. AMD will also offer the new chips in the GE (35W) variants as usual. AMD’s continued support for the AM4 socket means that users still have the first-generation Ryzen processors (launched in 2017) and can get a modern CPU eight years later without replacing their motherboard. However, it might also create challenges for users who want to purchase a new budget PC but don’t understand these processor generations. After all, if you’re buying anything “released this year,” you’re bound to expect it will have the latest and greatest tech, even if it’s not the fastest. So, even if you’re not spending much, it’s natural for you to expect that you can easily upgrade the PC several years down the road. Given that we already have Zen 5 chips today, we don’t know how long AMD will milk the Zen 3 architecture. Because of this, Intel called out AMD on this practice — putting out new chips based on much older technologies — even though they’re guilty of doing the same thing. That’s why anyone buying a new CPU must investigate the chip specifications, as you cannot trust the naming scheme and even the release dates of new processors today. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #AMD #breathes #life #Ryzen #5000G #family #chips #Cezanne #Zen #cores #GHz #boost #clocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal judge blocks Musk’s DOGE access to student loan borrowers’ data Federal judge blocks Musk’s DOGE access to student loan borrowers’ data Elon Musk speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., Feb. 20, 2025. Nathan Howard | Reuters A federal judge in Maryland on Monday granted a temporary restraining order barring staffers from Elon Musk’s secretive government-slashing effort, the Department of Government Efficiency, from accessing the personal information of millions of student loan borrowers. The order, issued by Judge Deborah Boardman, ruled that the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management — the government’s HR department — must stop sharing federal employees’ and student borrowers’ personal data with DOGE officials. It marks a significant limitation on DOGE’s access to Americans’ personal data. Boardman’s order bars DOGE from the personal information at the Education Department until March 10 at 8 a.m. More from Personal Finance: Converting your home to a rental could trigger a ‘tax bomb’ when you sell What the privatization of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac may mean for homebuyers, investors U.S. appeals court blocks Biden SAVE plan for student loans Workers for DOGE have entered government offices in recent weeks, looking to make deep cuts to federal spending. Boardman’s order came in response to a lawsuit led by The American Federation of Teachers, a union representing 1.8 million members. The AFT sued several federal agencies, including the Education Department, for permitting DOGE access to individuals’ private data. AFT president Randi Weingarten applauded Boardman’s decision. “When people give their financial and other personal information to the federal government — namely to secure financial aid for their kids to go to college, or to get a student loan — they expect that data to be protected and used for the reasons it was intended,” Weingarten said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request from CNBC for comment. There are currently six DOGE “affiliates” working at the Education Department, according to the court order. DOGE has claimed that it needed access to student loan programs to investigate waste, fraud and abuse, Boardman said. However, the judge said the order that the government didn’t explain why DOGE affiliates at the Education Department “need such comprehensive, sweeping access to the plaintiffs’ records to audit student loan programs.” Boardman expressed concern that DOGE had access to people’s income information and Social Security numbers. And she wrote that the plaintiffs would likely be successful in their claim that the Education Department’s disclosure of their records to DOGE staffers violates The Privacy Act, a federal law that applies to federal agencies and is meant to protect individuals’ personal information. “The data in question includes really sensitive information on a population of people who had to give that information for one clear purpose: borrow money to get an education,” said Ben Winters, the director of artificial intelligence and privacy at the Consumer Federation of America. “It’s crucial that institutions like governments only allow your data to be used for strictly the purpose you gave it for,” Winters said. Source link #Federal #judge #blocks #Musks #DOGE #access #student #loan #borrowers #data Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ravindra, Bracewell put Kiwis in Champions Trophy semis Ravindra, Bracewell put Kiwis in Champions Trophy semis New Zealand have reached the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy taking India along with them after a five-wicket win over Group A opponents Bangladesh. Chasing 237 for victory, New Zealand shrugged off the loss of two early wickets and rode Rachin Ravindra’s classy 112 and Tom Latham’s 55 to get home with 23 ****** to spare. Bangladesh earlier finished on 9-236 in 50 overs after squandering a good start. Najmul Hossain Shanto made 77 and Jaker Ali’s 45 while ****** Caps spinner Michael Bracewell picked up 4-26. The result meant that defending champions Pakistan joined Bangladesh in being knocked out of the tournament after losing their opening two matches against New Zealand and India. Source link #Ravindra #Bracewell #put #Kiwis #Champions #Trophy #semis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PayPal brings many brands under single umbrella, Venmo remains stand-alone PayPal brings many brands under single umbrella, Venmo remains stand-alone A PayPal sign is seen at its headquarters in San Jose, California, on Jan. 30, 2024. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images For Frank Keller, it’s a pivotal moment at PayPal. After two years, two CEOs and endless brand strategy meetings, the company is, in his view, ready to redefine the world of business payments. With the launch this week of PayPal Open, Keller, who is executive vice president for the enterprise merchant group, and his team are consolidating many of the company’s offerings — Braintree, Zettle, Hyperwallet, Chargehound — into a single brand. Speaking from Germany, Keller told CNBC that the strategy was set in motion after a customer mentioned, “You have all this amazing stuff, but we don’t know about it.” “I’ve been working, actually for two years now, on this launch, in terms of how do we establish a PayPal as a B2B business,” Keller said. PayPal, founded in 1998, was synonymous with its consumer-facing checkout button, but its business-to-business solutions have amounted to an assortment of homegrown technologies and acquired companies with little cohesion. With PayPal Open, those names will fade into the background, and PayPal can focus its centralized effort to become more important to businesses. Keller likens the effort to other consumer brands that successfully expanded into B2B, pointing to Amazon Web Services as a prime example. Meanwhile, much of CEO Alex Chriss’ early success has stemmed from boosting transaction margins and better monetizing key acquisitions like Braintree, which handles credit card processing for Meta and processed nearly $600 billion in total payment volume last year. Landing on the name Open took months of market research, internal deliberations and some last-minute strategic pivots. There was even a debate over whether to focus more on Braintree. “PayPal is one of the most trusted brands” in the world, Keller said, explaining the logic to the decision. The pressure is on Chriss, who took over as CEO in September 2023 to orchestrate a turnaround after a brutal few years for PayPal. The company’s branded checkout business — historically its most profitable segment — faces mounting competition. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shopify’s Shop Pay have all eaten into PayPal’s dominance, particularly among younger consumers who prefer mobile-first payment solutions. Branded checkout accounts for 30% of PayPal’s total payment volume. PayPal Open is designed to do much more than handle B2B payments. Businesses, developers and partners will also be able to integrate financial services and AI-powered business insights – all through a single connection. For merchants, that means easier access to fraud protection, buy now, pay later options, global transactions in 140 currencies, and lending solutions. There’s one notable brand that’s not joining the consolidation: Venmo. The popular peer-to-peer payment app has more than 90 million active users, all in the U.S., and is practically ubiquitous among younger audiences. “People say, ‘Venmo me,'” Keller said. “It’s such a distinct consumer brand.” The rollout of PayPal Open begins this week, with a phased transition of brands starting in April, meaning Braintree and Hyperwallet won’t disappear overnight. Keller said businesses “don’t have to rip and replace their Braintree” or other integrations, but instead gain seamless access to all of PayPal’s offerings. Keller says it’s all about showing that PayPal can be a true enterprise powerhouse. “We want to be an open platform where businesses, developers and partners can build upon our solutions,” Keller said. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #PayPal #brings #brands #single #umbrella #Venmo #remains #standalone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What to know about selecting health plans What to know about selecting health plans Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Although a broader window for Medicare enrollment has closed, some retirees have another opportunity to make changes to their coverage. Medicare Advantage open enrollment is available from Jan. 1 through March 31. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers as an alternative to original Medicare. Generally, Medicare Advantage may cover Medicare Parts A and B, as well as Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and other potential extra benefits. During this open enrollment *******, individuals who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan may switch to another Medicare Advantage plan. Alternatively, they may drop their current Medicare Advantage plan and opt for Medicare original coverage. More from Personal Finance: How IRS layoffs could impact your tax filing, refund As tariffs ramp up, here’s an investment option DOGE’s FDIC firings put banking system at risk To be sure, there will be more options later in the year during a broader open enrollment ******* that lasts from October to December, when Medicare original enrollees may also opt to change plans. For beneficiaries who are eligible to make changes during this time, it’s important not to ignore this window, according to Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the program on Medicare policy at KFF, a provider of health policy research. “Plans can change considerably from one year to the next,” Cubanski said. “If people don’t compare their coverage to other options, they may not know that they’re going to be faced with higher costs.” Check for significant changes In order to be confident that you’re getting the best deal, it helps to evaluate how your current Advantage plan may have changed since last year. You may be faced with higher costs if your personal prescriptions have gone up, for example, or your preferred medical provider is no longer in network. Digging into those plan changes now can help avoid “bad surprises” later, according to Cubanski. “Make sure the coverage that you have is going to continue to be the coverage that works best for you,” Cubanski said. Consider extra benefits To be sure, Medicare Advantage plans have received negative attention because in some cases coverage was denied for necessary care. Medicare Advantage plans are more likely than traditional Medicare to use prior authorization, approval needed before a patient can receive certain services or medications. However, because prior authorizations that have been denied are frequently overturned when they are appealed, that has prompted questions as to whether the plans are avoiding coverage obligations. Medicare Advantage plans are more likely than original Medicare to offer extra benefits — such as dental, vision and hearing — that elderly beneficiaries need. Most Medicare beneficiaries — 83% — consider supplemental benefits to be important to their coverage, according to a recent survey from The Commonwealth Fund, a provider of independent research on health care issues. Notably, a larger share of Medicare Advantage enrollees — 89% — said supplemental benefits are important to them, versus 74% of traditional Medicare enrollees, The Commonwealth Fund found. “People on Medicare, both older adults and those with disabilities, generally really need dental, hearing and vision services, as well as other benefits that are typically offered by Medicare Advantage plans,” said Gretchen Jacobson, vice president of Medicare at The Commonwealth Fund. Beneficiaries who are in traditional Medicare may not have coverage for those same services unless they are able to purchase a supplemental plan or they qualify for Medicaid, Jacobson said. Seek outside help When it comes to comparing Advantage plans, beneficiaries do not have to go it alone, Cubanski noted. State-based organizations — the State Health Insurance Program, or SHIP — provide assistance to Medicare beneficiaries to help sort through their plan options. Unlike insurance brokers or other professionals, these organizations do not have a financial interest to sign people up for certain plans, Cubanski said. Source link #selecting #health #plans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Germany’s Merz reiterates demands for turning away migrants at border Germany’s Merz reiterates demands for turning away migrants at border The winner of Germany’s election, conservative Friedrich Merz, on Monday reiterated his calls for strict border controls that would turn away asylum seekers trying to enter the country. Merz, the leader of the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, stressed the controversial policy demand ahead of expected coalition talks with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Merz is now widely expected to become Germany’s next chancellor. He contended that the policy would be legal under European Union law if done as a temporary measure, a stance that is hotly debated by legal experts. All of Germany’s neighbours are part of the Schengen visa-free bloc. “None of us want to close the borders,” Merz said, but he argued that control must be regained over who enters the country. Merz said he hopes that EU leaders can strike a deal on changes to the common asylum policy which could bring common-sense solutions from 2026, but action is needed immediately. “We can’t wait until then,” Merz said. “We urgently need to do something.” Merz said he’s certain that the SPD can be convinced “to take a common path.” Among other things, the SPD had expressed concerns under EU law about a de facto entry ban for irregular entries to Germany, including those seeking asylum, when Merz raised the demand during the election campaign. Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) federal chairman and CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, speaks at a press conference after the CDU executive committee meeting. Christoph Soeder/dpa Source link #Germanys #Merz #reiterates #demands #turning #migrants #border Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Next VALORANT Duelist Will Be an Even More Annoying Jett Next VALORANT Duelist Will Be an Even More Annoying Jett Fans of VALORANT are eagerly awaiting the debut of the next duelist agent, which is set to take place before grand final of VCT Masters Bangkok. But the pros in attendance have already gotten to see the new agent themselves. Based on their early impressions, the duelist will be disruptive force that will relentlessly annoying sentinel players and site defenders. Who is the Next VALORANT Duelist? While Riot hasn’t shown any official gameplay of the new agent yet, they did show the instant reactions from some of the top VALORANT pro players in the world. The emotions range from bewilderment to, in the case of Sentinels’ duelist star Zachary “zekken” Patrone, uncontainable giddiness. “I think it’s going to be really annoying to play against,” zekken said with a huge grin. “Which is why they’re going to be so fun for me to play.” DRX’s rising duelist star Song “HYUNMIN” Hyun-min said the agent is like “Jett, Yoru, and Reyna combined,” and added that the agent is so broken that “no one will pick Jett” once the agent drops. “I think the playstyle is fully disruptive,” G2’s Nathan “leaf” Orf said, “you’re just making people annoyed.” Vitality’s Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel noted that players that play sentinel or defend sites will be especially annoyed, and given the comparisons to Jett, this could very well be an agent with movement abilities that can get past Killjoy or Cypher setups. VALORANT agent releases have seen a noticeable shift towards agents that can clearly impact the meta. After agents like Harbor and Deadlock debuted and made very little impact, Riot released more useful agents like Iso and Clove, though those two are still considered niche picks. But the most recent new agents, Vyse and Tejo, have made a much more profound impact in competitive play. Both were used regularly in each region’s VCT Kickoff tournaments, and Tejo in particular is the most picked agent at Masters Bangkok so far. What abilities do you think the next VALORANT duelist will have? Let us know down below, and be sure to join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out our coverage of the latest Assassin’s Creed Shadows leaks. And 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 #VALORANT #Duelist #Annoying #Jett Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I can’t say I’m surprised, but Nvidia’s RTX 5070 leaked benchmark reveals up to 20% performance boost over RTX 4070 I can’t say I’m surprised, but Nvidia’s RTX 5070 leaked benchmark reveals up to 20% performance boost over RTX 4070 New benchmarks suggest the RTX 5070 is up to 20% faster than the RTX 4070 It’s set for launch on March 5, amid AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 series launch preparation Reports suggest the RTX 5070 won’t face the same stock issues as its Blackwell counterparts Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series GPU lineup launch is seemingly nearing completion – since the desktop RTX 5060 hasn’t been officially announced – with the RTX 5070 slated for release on March 5. However, we may already have a bit of insight into what this midrange GPU could bring to the table. As reported by Wccftech, benchmark leaks reveal that the RTX 5070 will have up to 20% better performance than its predecessor, the RTX 4070. This conflicts with Nvidia’s claims at CES 2025 that the RTX 5070 would be equivalent to the RTX 4090 in performance – notably, the RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti’s uplifts over previous-gen GPUs were not significant enough to fully corroborate Team Green’s other claims. The RTX 4070 is a significantly weaker GPU compared to the RTX 4090, so the claims of the RTX 5070’s performance were far-fetched, to say the least (even considering DLSS 4’s impressive Multi Frame Generation feature). In terms of the direct comparison to its predecessor though, the uplift (if legitimate) could be a reasonable one – Wccftech highlighted the RTX 5070 scoring 187,414 in a Vulkan (a graphics API used in most AAA games) benchmark versus the RTX 4070’s 156,601 points. Fortunately, reports suggest the RTX 5070 likely won’t face the same stock and supply issues seen with the already-launched Blackwell GPUs. If prices aren’t inflated and end up far above MSRP (as they did with the flagship RTX 5090), this could be a solid GPU upgrade – just don’t expect RTX 4090 performance. (Image credit: Nvidia) Is MFG a good reason for an upgrade? The suggested generational performance uplift in Vulkan for the RTX 5070 sounds decent, but Team Green’s Multi Frame Generation (MFG) has the potential to take this up a notch. I’m well aware of the criticism surrounding frame-generation software (“fake frames”, I know) but since ghosting is significantly reduced with the new model, it’s an addition that shouldn’t be ignored. DLSS 4’s improvements for all RTX GPU users are enough for me to suggest sticking with your current GPU (if compatible) – DLSS 4’s super-resolution performance mode in particular looks better if not equivalent to DLSS 3’s quality mode in games, and you can still enjoy a steady frame rate. If you already have an RTX 4000 series GPU (which has DLSS 3’s regular Frame Generation, not MFG), you’re likely better off sticking with it – it’s also been revealed that some Blackwell GPUs are shipping with missing ROPs, an inconvenience I’d certainly want to avoid. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. However, if you’re still on an RTX 3000 series GPU, an upgrade to an RTX 5070 seems sensible enough based on these benchmark leaks. Its launch is right around the corner, and I’m hoping there aren’t any major issues this time. You may also like… Source link #surprised #Nvidias #RTX #leaked #benchmark #reveals #performance #boost #RTX Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning singer of ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song,’ dies at 88 Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning singer of ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song,’ dies at 88 American musician Roberta Flack performs onstage at the Park West Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois, March 30, 1981. Paul Natkin | Archive Photos | Getty Images Grammy award-winning singer Roberta Flack, who crooned hits like “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” has died, a representative confirmed to NBC News. She was 88. In November 2022, a representative announced that Flack had ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and could no longer sing. The progressive disease “has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak,” Flack’s manager Suzanne Koga said in a news release. Flack was born February 10, 1937, in North Carolina. The daughter of a church organist, Flack began playing classical piano at a young age. At the age of 15, her talents earned her a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C. Jazz musician Les McCann claims he discovered Flack’s talents while she was singing at Mr. Henry’s, a Washington nightclub. “Her voice touched, tapped, trapped and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known,” McCann said. “I laughed, cried and screamed for more.” Eventually, McCann helped the young singer sign with Atlantic Records Group where Flack recorded “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” which was written by Ewan MacColl. The song became a breakout for Flack after it appeared on her first album, “First Take,” in 1969. After being used in Clint Eastwood’s 1971 directorial debut “Play Misty for Me,” however, Atlantic Records released a radio version, which became a huge hit, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. In 1973, the song won the Grammy for “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year.” THE FIRST TIME EVER – TV Special – Airdate: June 19, 1973. ABC Photo Archives | Disney General Entertainment Content | Getty Images Dozens of hits followed, including “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and “Feel like Makin’ Love” — Flack’s second and third No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 — both of which Flack recorded with Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway. The pair recorded several songs together until Hathaway died in 1979 from a fall from a New York hotel room that was ruled a suicide. “He was very sensitive, reacting to the things around him, and whatever was inside of him. He was a genius, so he wasn’t satisfied with his own performances, his own output,” Flack told The Washington Post shortly after the tragedy. “Like many creative people, his good periods were very exuberant and his lows were extremely low.” The loss hurt personally and professionally, but Flack would find a new partner, teaming up and touring with Peabo Bryson in 1980. The duo scored a hit in 1983 with “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love.” She spent the remainder of the 1980s touring and performing, and returned to the Top Ten once more in 1991 with “Set the Night to Music,” a duet with Maxi Priest. In 1997, Flack released an anthology of Christmas standards simply titled, “Christmas Album.” Flack’s music was introduced to a new generation in the ’90s thanks to the Fugees. With Lauryn Hill on lead vocals, their version of “Killing Me Softly with his Song” topped the charts around the world in 1996. In 1999, Flack received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later that year, Flack toured in South Africa, performing for then-South African President Nelson Mandela. Flack toured well into her 70s and 80s, performing for audiences around the world. American singer Roberta Flack, 1971. Anthony Barboza | Archive Photos | Getty Images In the late 2000s, Flack founded the Roberta Flack School of Music at the Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx, “providing an innovative and inspiring music education program to underprivileged students free of charge.” In recent years, however, Flack struggled through some health issues. She had a stroke in 2016, and was hospitalized two years later when she felt dizziness at a Jazz Foundation of America event in which she was due to receive an award. But she returned to the stage to sing as recently as October 2018 at a party for that same charity. To the end, Flack performed the classics that had made her a star. “(It’s hard to) be moved, to be moved constantly by your own songs,” Flack told The Associated Press in 2018. “You need it to be in tune with them, and I don’t mean in tune musically, but I mean in tune with the lyrics of the songs, with the words of the songs, and with the meaning. You need to be in tune with all of that, and that takes a little bit of doing.” Source link #Roberta #Flack #Grammywinning #singer #Killing #Softly #Song #dies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mortal Kombat 1 reveals T-1000 gameplay ahead of March DLC release Mortal Kombat 1 reveals T-1000 gameplay ahead of March DLC release NetherRealm has published the first gameplay for Mortal Kombat 1 DLC guest fighter the T-1000. The T-1000 teaser trailer, which is viewable below, includes a look at one of the character’s fatalities, which is inspired by one of the chase scenes in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It also confirms that Madam Bo will join the game as a DLC Kameo fighter. Both characters will be available starting on March 18 for owners of Mortal Kombat 1’s Khaos Reigns expansion. Released last September and priced at $49.99 / £39.99, Khaos Reigns includes new Story mode chapters and six additional playable characters as part of Kombat Pack 2. Cyrax, Sektor and Noob Saibot were made available at launch, followed by guest fighters Ghostface (Scream) and Conan the Barbarian. Mortal Kombat 1’s first Kombat Pack added Omni-Man from Image Comics, Quan Chi, Peacemaker from The Suicide Squad, Ermac, Homelander from The Boys, and Takeda Takahashi as playable fighters. It was claimed in November that a third Kombat pack of DLC characters and a second story expansion were planned for the game, but that they were canceled following a poor reception to Khaos Reigns. VGC’s 5-star Mortal Kombat 1 review called the game an “outstanding” fighter when it was released back in September 2023. “Mortal Kombat 1 is the best Mortal Kombat game to date,” we concluded. “It looks stunning, has a brilliant Story mode, its new Invasions mode will keep solo players busy and, above all else, it’s an absolute joy to play. Thoroughly essential for die-hards, lapsed fans and newkomers.” Source link #Mortal #Kombat #reveals #T1000 #gameplay #ahead #March #DLC #release Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lester Holt to Step Down as Anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’ – The New York Times Lester Holt to Step Down as Anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’ – The New York Times Lester Holt to Step Down as Anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’ The New York TimesLester Holt is stepping down as ‘NBC Nightly News’ anchor USA TODAYLester Holt Stepping Down As ‘NBC Nightly News’ Anchor DeadlineLester Holt is stepping down as anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’ CNN Source link #Lester #Holt #Step #Anchor #NBC #Nightly #News #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Boss Couldn’t Believe It When a Diver Used the Power of Democracy To Solo the Game in Max Difficulty Helldivers 2 Boss Couldn’t Believe It When a Diver Used the Power of Democracy To Solo the Game in Max Difficulty Helldivers 2 has quickly become one of the biggest live service games ever made. The game won multiple awards last year and continues to grow even better. Arrowhead Game Studios has made tremendous efforts in developing the game, but a lot of credit also goes to the players. The Helldivers community is unlike anything we’ve seen in a long time and that says something. Even the community’s bestie Johan Pilestedt acknowledged how crazy it is. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Arrowhead Game Studios COO Johan Pilestedt has emphasized that Helldivers 2 was designed to encourage teamwork. But we all know that simple design choices don’t stop the gamers in the world who will take on any challenge. His reaction summed it up perfectly: “It’s crazy what the community does.” Helldivers 2 wasn’t made to be played alone, Arrowhead made sure of it The devs decided that after the first game, we’d get little chance to try again. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios From its very foundation, Helldivers 2 has been designed to be played by multiple people. Helldivers are encouraged to rely on one another be it in their weapons, stratagems, and tactics to survive the alien forces. Arrowhead COO Johan Pilestedt himself has talked about how the difficulty levels of the game were made with squads in mind, not solo players. In an interview with Comics Gaming Magazine last year, Pilestedt revealed that some players are just too determined to go against the odds. He recalled how one player managed to clear the hardest difficulty in the first game using only melee attacks. We have added up to difficulty level 50 in Helldivers [original], so we thought this one needs to be difficult as well, one guy in the community that soloed it with melee only no strats [stratagems in Helldivers 2]! When discussing Helldivers 2’s difficulty scaling, Pilestedt admitted that the game was designed to make players lean toward cooperative play. He still acknowledged the kind of feats and challenges that some players go through to go against the game’s difficulty design. It’s crazy what the community does, which is always inspiring to us. How can people be so good at this game? So, in Helldivers 2, there’s a little bit more of ‘stealth mechanics’ in place. So, it means that Helldivers can play in a sneakier way when you’re soloing, which should, in theory, allow you to go pretty far during solo play. If you think back on it now, it’s pretty crazy that whoever did that even managed. Because Helldivers 2 has been a step up in terms of difficulty. The game has been up and down in terms of balancing but even still playing the game on the hardest difficulty alone would be nigh impossible. We know that doesn’t stop some of the more challenge-hungry players Let’s hope the devs don’t make it harder than it already is though. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios There have been reports of players completing Helldivers 2 missions on Super Helldive, the game’s hardest difficulty. But in this game, it’s mostly just a reward for staying out of battle and focusing on objectives. As one Redditor commented on a post, “Solo is not about fighting. In fact avoid as much fighting as you can.” Pilestedt has frequently praised the Helldivers 2 community for their creativity and dedication. The game’s mechanics are so open for exploration that players find ways to push the limits of what’s possible. We’ve seen ridiculous stunts, crazy clips of teamwork, and so much more in the year that the game has been out. Helldivers 2 was one of the biggest games of 2024. And this success will continue even in 2025. Johan Pilestedt recently announced his hiatus from working on the game but we have faith that he will no doubt return after taking a much-needed break. Source link #Helldivers #Boss #Couldnt #Diver #Power #Democracy #Solo #Game #Max #Difficulty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Champions Trophy 2025 results: Rachin Ravindra guides New Zealand to victory over Bangladesh Champions Trophy 2025 results: Rachin Ravindra guides New Zealand to victory over Bangladesh Neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh have particularly challenged this well-rounded New Zealand side but it was another comprehensive victory that sees them take momentum and confidence into the semi-finals. After a decent start, Bangladesh’s innings fell apart with a whimper as their batters could not adapt against the nagging accuracy of New Zealand’s bowling attack, particularly Bracewell’s off-spin. The 34-year-old made the opening breakthrough with Tanzid Hasan caught by Williamson for 24, and from there bowled 10 overs consecutively while rarely having to change his approach as Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were all out slogging after failing to rotate the strike consistently. Shanto and Ali played sensibly to save their side from a complete collapse but they lacked support from elsewhere to post a competitive total on a good surface, while their bowling attack lacked threat after the new ball swing was blunted. Ravindra made his way back into the XI because of illness to Daryl Mitchell, and having come to the crease at 15-2, has given the New Zealand selectors a headache regarding to how to keep him in the side after a classy innings which included 12 fours and a six. He made the most of a vital missed run out opportunity when he only had 25, followed by drops on 93 and 105 which were less likely to have influenced the result. The partnership with Latham, who is also in fine form after his century against Pakistan, was a masterclass in strike rotation and taking calculated risks throughout the middle overs as none of the bowlers were able to settle into a spell in the manner of Bracewell. New Zealand’s final group-stage match against India will decide who finishes top of the group but will also provide an interesting assessment of how both unbeaten teams will fare under real pressure for the first time. Source link #Champions #Trophy #results #Rachin #Ravindra #guides #Zealand #victory #Bangladesh Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]