Pelican Press

Big tech companies turn to hydrogen to power AI data centers Big tech companies turn to hydrogen to power AI data centers Yuval Bachar knows data centers. He’s worked on them for Meta, Microsoft and Cisco, but now, his startup is looking to help Silicon Valley run data centers with lower carbon dioxide emissions. ECL, Bachar’s startup, builds hydrogen-powered data centers. Hydrogen is a novel energy source for data centers that is more eco-friendly, and more importantly for tech companies that need to quickly expand their infrastructure, they can be placed into service in half the time that it takes to construct data centers that connect to the grid, Bachar said. There’s one of these hydrogen-powered data centers, with a measly 1-megawatt capacity, next to ECL’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Twice a month, a diesel truck hauls in hydrogen in a tank from Southern California or northern Nevada. The hydrogen mainly derives from natural gas, which is the top energy source for electricity in the U.S. Bachar and others developing technologies that can fuel data centers with minimal emissions discuss their work in a new CNBC documentary, which you can watch above. Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in 2022, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and other companies have been racing to open data centers that can handle generative artificial intelligence. These buildings are typically filled with power-hungry Nvidia graphics processing units. GPUs are the standard for training and running large language models that produce impressive chunks of text with a few words of human input. Executives across industries have seen what ChatGPT can do, and now they want to infuse generative AI into their products and internal operations, sometimes with hopes of boosting productivity. If your data center doesn’t have enough power for GPUs today, then executives will look elsewhere. Bachar knows that. It’s a big part of his pitch. He likes to say that utilities in some places, such as California and Virginia, can’t help you right now if you want a lot of power for a data center. OpenAI’s Sam Altman has invested hundreds of millions in nuclear startups, but they won’t be ready to deliver energy for years, Bachar said. After establishing ECL in 2021, Bachar has signed up two paying customers, with several other organizations that have placed orders for future delivery. “It’s the Microsofts, Facebooks, Amazons and Googles of the world … which require all of this technology to be placed somewhere, and right now, somewhere is nowhere,” said Bachar, explaining that traditional data centers in the U.S. can’t be easily repurposed to work with AI. ECL has plans to operate its sites efficiently, but as of now, it’s tiny, with 10 employees and 18 contractors. That’s much smaller than Altman’s nuclear fusion investment, Helion, and the fission startup he backed, Oklo. Together the two employ nearly 600 people, representatives said. Microsoft has committed to working with Helion, and the software company also signed a power purchase agreement in September to restart a nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island that shut down in 2019. Nuclear installations inherently prompt questions about safety and the handling of waste, but their carbon-free status makes them attractive. Amazon, Google and Oracle have all explored small modular reactors with lower capacity than the ones at Three Mile Island. Last Energy Founder and CEO Bret Kugelmass shows CNBC a full-scale prototype of the start-up’s small modular reactor in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2025. Magdalena Petrova The big tech companies are carefully watching their emissions in the AI age. By 2030, Google wants to have net-zero emissions while Microsoft’s goal is to be carbon negative by that year. Amazon has pledged to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. “We’re working with major tech companies, as well as various industrial players, to help them integrate our plug and play solution for on-site power generation into data centers,” said Bret Kugelmass, founder and CEO of Last Energy, a Washington startup working on small modular reactors. Bachar is fascinated with nuclear energy, but he said getting more of those facilities online will take time. “We have a problem that we have to solve right now,” he said. In addition to his nuclear investments, OpenAI’s Altman has bet on solar startup Exowatt. It has partners developing data centers that are consuming more than half of the energy available in their states in some locations, co-founder and CEO Hannan Happi said. Geothermal energy has also garnered fresh interest in the modern AI era, with Google collaborating with startup Fervo Energy in Nevada. Tim Latimer, the startup’s CEO, said Fervo has found a way to generate gigawatts of electricity in a single place by drilling horizontal holes underground, rather than the traditional vertical way. Gigawatts are a serious quantity, but drilling holes for geothermal plants can be expensive, said Adrian Cockcroft, a former Amazon sustainability executive. ECL intends to build a large-scale, 1-gigawatt data center in Texas over the next four years, with the help of hydrogen pipelines. It will probably take that long to move to zero-carbon green hydrogen using electrolyzers that convert water into hydrogen and oxygen, Bachar said. But generating green hydrogen through electrolysis isn’t cheap, said Kittu Kolluri, managing director of Neotribe Ventures. The price of green hydrogen is to be determined, especially now that Donald Trump is U.S. president again, Bachar said. Still, every gigawatt matters. In 2028, U.S. data center demand could come in between 74 gigawatts and 132 gigawatts, according to a December report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Data centers might account for 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. energy consumption in 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023, the report said. “The concern we have is can we grow fast enough to address the unprecedented demand for AI data centers,” Bachar said. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Big #tech #companies #turn #hydrogen #power #data #centers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Sheer terror’ as van loaded with fireworks set alight in Clydebank ‘Sheer terror’ as van loaded with fireworks set alight in Clydebank Van loaded with fireworks set on fire near Glasgow Families in Clydebank faced “sheer terror” when a van containing fireworks was set alight in the middle of the night. Homes were evacuated and roads closed when the vehicle, which was parked on a driveway, exploded with a shower of fireworks on Braes Avenue at about 01:00 on Sunday. There were no reported injuries. Police have appealed for information about a man seen leaving the scene of the “wilful vehicle fire”. Yvonne O’Neill, Clydebank East Community Council secretary, described it as “absolutely awful” and “disgusting behaviour”. Writing on social media, she said the culprit had “absolutely no regard for the kids living in these houses.” “I’ve never witnessed anything like it – kids screaming in sheer terror,” she added. “Thankfully everyone is safe.” The community council has asked for senior officers from Police Scotland to attend its meeting on 3 March to address concerns about anti-social behaviour. Clydebank East Community Council Police have appealed for information about a man seen making off in the direction of the canal path Police said the man – described as white, in his 30s, with slim build and a shaved head and wearing a dark hooded jacket and dark bottoms – was seen making off in the direction of the canal path. Det **** Andrew Baldacci appealed for anyone who has information about the man, or the man himself, to come forward. “I’d also ask anyone who saw what happened or has any information about the incident, and has not already spoken to police, to contact us,” he added. Police have also asked to see private CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage from the area at the time. Source link #Sheer #terror #van #loaded #fireworks #set #alight #Clydebank Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD’s RX 9070 XT to potentially match the performance of RTX 4080 AMD’s RX 9070 XT to potentially match the performance of RTX 4080 With only a few days remaining until the official launch of AMD’s new Radeon 9000 graphics cards, early performance benchmarks for the Radeon RX 9070 XT have reportedly leaked. According to VideoCardz, AMD hosted a closed-door media briefing where it shared architectural details and performance numbers for the RX 9070 XT, suggesting it could offer a significant boost over previous models and pose formidable competition to Nvidia’s offerings. The allegedly leaked benchmarks indicate that the Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers a substantial performance uplift over the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, achieving speeds that are 42% to 168% faster at 4K resolution with ‘ultra’ settings across more than 30 games. On average, the RX 9070 XT outperforms the RX 7900 GRE by 38% at 1440p and 42% at 2160p. However, in games that heavily utilize ray tracing—such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman 3—performance gains reach between 164% and 168%. The Radeon RX 9070 XT is also said to outperform the non-XT RX 9070 by 16.1% at 1440p and 18.3% at 2160p on average. However, the non-XT model still delivers a solid performance boost over the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, with gains of 20% at 1440p and 21% at 2160p. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Notably, AMD did not compare the RX 9070 XT to Nvidia’s recently launched RTX 5070 Ti, citing a lack of access to the card. It also avoided comparisons with its own Radeon RX 7900 XTX flagship, instead using the cut-down RX 7900 GRE. While AMD did not provide a reason for this approach, the company stated that the RX 9070 series would offer competitive performance against the RTX 4070, RTX 4080, and the new RTX 50-series. Leaked internal benchmarks can provide an early glimpse of performance, but they should be taken with caution, as final optimizations, driver updates, and third-party testing may yield different results. AMD announced the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT last month at CES 2025, but the presentation lacked concrete details on specifications, pricing, and real-world performance. Instead, AMD focused on broader topics such as AI-powered gaming enhancements and the introduction of FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4). This omission left many enthusiasts searching for more information, increasing the significance of these leaks. AMD’s latest RDNA 4 architecture is expected to introduce major improvements in ray tracing capabilities, with the RX 9070 XT delivering substantial gains in ray-traced game performance compared to its predecessors. Additionally, AMD’s upcoming AI-powered FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) upscaling technology is set to debut with the RX 9070 series, promising enhanced image quality and performance in supported games. If these leaked benchmarks prove accurate, the RX 9070 XT could emerge as a strong alternative to Nvidia’s high-end GPUs, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape. AMD has confirmed that it will host an event on February 28 to share more details about its new RDNA 4 graphics cards. The Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are expected to go on ***** starting March 6, though AMD has yet to confirm this officially. Source link #AMDs #potentially #match #performance #RTX Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis spends 10th day in hospital with ‘kidney insufficiency’ – National Pope Francis spends 10th day in hospital with ‘kidney insufficiency’ – National Pope Francis woke up and was continuing his therapies Monday after a quiet night, on the 10th day of his hospitalization for a complex lung infection that has provoked the early stages of kidney insufficiency, the ******** said. “The night passed well, the pope slept and is resting,” it said. The 88-year-old pope is continuing to feed himself and is not receiving artificial or liquid nutrition, the ******** said, adding that he was in good spirits. A medical bulletin was expected later in the day. Also later Monday, the ******** No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was to lead a nighttime prayer of the Rosary in St. Peter’s Square. Late Sunday, doctors reported that blood tests showed “early, slight kidney insufficiency” that was nevertheless under control. They said Francis remained in critical condition but that he hadn’t experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday. Story continues below advertisement 2:07 Catholics in B.C. praying for the Pope’s recovery Francis, who has pneumonia in both lungs, was receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen and, on Sunday, was alert, responsive and attended Mass. They said his prognosis was guarded. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Doctors have said Francis’ condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease. They have warned that the main threat facing Francis is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. Trending Now Cartel activity in Canada ‘very prevalent now,’ former Trudeau advisor says Tax season 2025: What Canadians need to know before filing To date there has been no reference to any onset of sepsis in the medical updates provided by the ********. This hospitalization now stands as Francis’ longest as pope. He spent 10 days at Rome’s Gemelli hospital in 2021 after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed. In New York on Sunday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan acknowledged what church leaders in Rome weren’t saying publicly: that the Catholic faithful were united “at the bedside of a dying father.” Story continues below advertisement “As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death,” Dolan said in his homily from the pulpit of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, though he later told reporters he hoped and prayed that Francis would “bounce back.” Francis’ condition has revived speculation about what might happen if he becomes unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, and whether he might resign. More on World More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Pope #Francis #spends #10th #day #hospital #kidney #insufficiency #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis spends 10th day in hospital with ‘kidney insufficiency’ – National Pope Francis spends 10th day in hospital with ‘kidney insufficiency’ – National Pope Francis woke up and was continuing his therapies Monday after a quiet night, on the 10th day of his hospitalization for a complex lung infection that has provoked the early stages of kidney insufficiency, the ******** said. “The night passed well, the pope slept and is resting,” it said. The 88-year-old pope is continuing to feed himself and is not receiving artificial or liquid nutrition, the ******** said, adding that he was in good spirits. A medical bulletin was expected later in the day. Also later Monday, the ******** No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was to lead a nighttime prayer of the Rosary in St. Peter’s Square. Late Sunday, doctors reported that blood tests showed “early, slight kidney insufficiency” that was nevertheless under control. They said Francis remained in critical condition but that he hadn’t experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday. Story continues below advertisement 2:07 Catholics in B.C. praying for the Pope’s recovery Francis, who has pneumonia in both lungs, was receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen and, on Sunday, was alert, responsive and attended Mass. They said his prognosis was guarded. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Doctors have said Francis’ condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease. They have warned that the main threat facing Francis is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. Trending Now Cartel activity in Canada ‘very prevalent now,’ former Trudeau advisor says Tax season 2025: What Canadians need to know before filing To date there has been no reference to any onset of sepsis in the medical updates provided by the ********. This hospitalization now stands as Francis’ longest as pope. He spent 10 days at Rome’s Gemelli hospital in 2021 after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed. In New York on Sunday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan acknowledged what church leaders in Rome weren’t saying publicly: that the Catholic faithful were united “at the bedside of a dying father.” Story continues below advertisement “As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death,” Dolan said in his homily from the pulpit of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, though he later told reporters he hoped and prayed that Francis would “bounce back.” Francis’ condition has revived speculation about what might happen if he becomes unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, and whether he might resign. More on World More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Pope #Francis #spends #10th #day #hospital #kidney #insufficiency #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel ‘Value Pack’ CPUs roll out in South Korea — PC DIYers can save $7 with no-frills packaging Intel ‘Value Pack’ CPUs roll out in South Korea — PC DIYers can save $7 with no-frills packaging Three South Korean authorized distributors of Intel chips just launched a new ‘Value Pack’ option called the Intel Core i5-14600K/KF Value Pack (genuine). According to the South Korean online shopping and price comparison site Danawa (machine translated) (h/t harukaze5719), these products are currently available only in this East Asian country, and the packaging change is designed to make the processors more affordable to consumers. The retail website explains that “…this value pack (genuine) product provides the same quality and warranty service as the existing genuine box product, but it is supplied at a more competitive price. This will give not only give individual users, but also gamers, creators, design and video editing companies, and a wide range of customers the opportunity to purchase Intel processors at a more affordable price.” An authorized distributor also told Danawa, “This is a very meaningful moment in that it is the first time in Korea that an official Intel Value Pack has been released. We are happy to maintain the same warranty ******* and standard as our original products, but at a more reasonable price.” The only difference between the boxed processor and the Value Pack (genuine) option is its packaging. Instead of coming in a specially printed box, the latter uses a generic blue box, and its contents are only differentiated by a sticker. This is somewhat reminiscent of the new EU packaging regulations which aim to simplify packaging and avoid excess — something that both AMD and Intel have already been doing in recent years. The Intel Core i5-14600KF Value Pack (genuine) is currently listed on Danawa for KRW 284,540, which translates to around $200 at the current exchange rate; by comparison, the boxed version of this chip costs KRW 295,700 or $207. Although $7 might not seem like a lot of money, it’s still quite a substantial amount if you’re penny-pinching or if you’re buying in bulk. On the other hand, the most affordable 14600KF chips go for about KRW 261,200 or about $183 — this might be more affordable, but you would have to go through the retailer where you bought your processor if you ever run into trouble with it. We checked the Batch # and Serial # on the sample image of the Danawa listing for the Intel Core i5-14600KF Value Pack (genuine) on Intel’s warranty information page, and the page said that the ATPO (Batch #) we listed indicated that it was a tray processor. However, Danawa says that it would have the “Same genuine warranty ******* and warranty standards apply.” So, we’d like to believe the numbers on the image were just placeholders that belong to a tray processor, or that Intel RMAs in South Korea are all handled by its distributors. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Intel #Pack #CPUs #roll #South #Korea #DIYers #save #nofrills #packaging Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monday’s top Wall Street analyst calls Monday’s top Wall Street analyst calls Here are Monday’s biggest calls on Wall Street: UBS upgrades Janus Henderson to buy from neutral UBS said the asset manager is well positioned for growth. ” JHG screens reasonably priced given its potential for double-digit EPS growth and, therefore, presents a compelling entry point as the firm executes on its growth strategy, in our view.” Bank of America initiates Smithfield Foods as buy The firm said the food products company is the “beneficiary of best pork cycle in more than five years.” “We initiate coverage of Smithfield Foods (SFD) with a Buy rating and $28 price objective…” Morgan Stanley upgrades Alibaba to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said in its upgrade of Alibaba that the China e-commerce is now its preferred pick. “As the market shifts focus from weak consumption to technological breakthrough in China, we believe China Internet offers superior exposure to AI enablers / adopters.” Guggenheim upgrades Wingstop to buy from neutral The firm said the wings company has “competitive strength.” “We are upgrading Wingstop to a Buy rating (from Neutral) and reinstituting a price target at $280.” Morgan Stanley reiterates Nvidia as overweight The firm said it’s standing by Nvidia heading into earnings later this week. “We continue to think that near-term fundamentals are strong – more so than 60 days ago as we have seen improvements on multiple levels.” UBS upgrades RTX to buy from neutral UBS said it sees “idiosyncratic drivers” for the aerospace and defense company. “We believe RTX is well positioned at the intersection of strength in commercial OE and aftermarket, Defense has international growth drivers, and we see a number of company-specific drivers.” Barclays initiates Blue Owl as overweight The firm said the alternative asset manager is well positioned for growth. “We believe OWL is well positioned in many of the spaces (credit, wealth), with recent M & A putting them in the right places for continued future growth..” Jefferies upgrades Nike to buy from hold Jefferies said the stock is its new top pick and that the brand remains robust. “CEO Hill is tackling product and distribution issues head-on, positioning the brand to again outgrow the market and take back lost share. Survey work illustrates NKE’s brand remains very strong, proving that issues were self inflicted and competitive threats less severe.” Morgan Stanley upgrades Twilio to overweight from equal weight The firm said shares of the cloud communication company are compelling at current levels. “We are increasingly confident in crediting TWLO’s execution toward double-digit growth and operating margin outperformance on back of increased cross-sell, supported by our recent checks.” Wolfe upgrades Carrier to outperform from peer perform Wolfe upgraded the air conditioning and heating company after a meeting with company management. “We recently had the opportunity to deep-dive with Carrier management during our CO meetings, and so this is an opportune time to refresh our view now that FY25 guidance is in the books and ahead of the upcoming May 19 investor event.” BMO upgrades Block to outperform from market perform BMO said it sees a compelling entry point for Block. “We see an attractive entry point following the 4Q sell-off, and believe Street estimates now have less downside risk, while sentiment/positioning is more balanced.” Jefferies upgrades Freshpet to buy from hold Jefferies said share of the **** food company are attractive at current levels. “That said, valuation is at a five-year low, We think FRPT shares are worth 50% above where it is trading.” Stifel upgrades Old Dominion to buy from hold Stifel upgraded the freight shipping company and said it sees a buying opportunity. “…we see an opportunity for investors to get involved in LTL [less-than truckload] again—a great fundamental story. … .We are upgrading ODFL , XPO, and SAIA from Hold to Buy.” Goldman Sachs downgrades Conagra to neutral from buy Goldman downgraded the food products company due to a lack of visibility. “After a second operational issue in six months, the path of improvement for CAG has been elongated with less visibility. Moreover, we recently started seeing an increased focus on frozen by a key peer, which will likely make CAG’s recovery from these issues more challenging.” Bank of America reiterates Dell and Apple as buy The firm said Apple and Dell may need to raise prices if tariffs are imposed. “If tariffs of 10–25% are imposed, PC makers like Dell , HP, and Apple will likely pass the added costs onto buyers, raising prices by at least 10% in the US or raise prices across more geos by a lower magnitude.” UBS reiterates Berkshire Hathaway as buy UBS raised its price target on the stock to $557 per share from $536 following earnings on Saturday. “We continue to believe BRK’s shares are an attractive stock in an uncertain macro environment, while insurance fundamentals remain strong and with good margin visibility.” Bank of America downgrades Rivian to underperform from neutral The firm said Rivian has a “complicated” earnings forecast. “We downgrade RIVN from Neutral to Underperform. RIVN remains one of the most viable among the startup EV OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] and is making progress towards sustainably positive gross margins.” Wedbush reiterates Tesla as outperform Wedbush said it’s standing by the stock. “Tesla is gearing up for a new mass market vehicle launch in 1H25, making major product developments around autonomous/Optimus across its global production ecosystem, Austin unsupervised FSD launch set for June, and a host of other growth EV/battery catalysts on the horizon.” Source link #Mondays #top #Wall #Street #analyst #calls Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Western Australia will fare in the Albanese Government’s Medicare pledge How Western Australia will fare in the Albanese Government’s Medicare pledge More than 400 GP clinics across WA will be better off if they shift to bulk billing all patients with the new incentive payments the Albanese Government has promised will be on offer from November. Source link #Western #Australia #fare #Albanese #Governments #Medicare #pledge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Chipset With 45 TOPS AI Performance Launched in India, to Power Affordable Copilot+ PCs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Chipset With 45 TOPS AI Performance Launched in India, to Power Affordable Copilot+ PCs Snapdragon X platform was launched in India on Monday. The latest chipset by Qualcomm arrives as the fourth model in the Snapdragon X series, joining the Snapdragon X Elite, X Plus (10-core), and X Plus (octa-core) processors. The chipset is aimed at affordable Copilot+ PCs priced under $600 (roughly Rs. 52,000), and was first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025. Similar to the other platforms in the series, it also comes with artificial intelligence (AI) performance with 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS). Snapdragon X CPUs Launched in India In a press release, Qualcomm India announced the launch of the affordable AI chipset for PCs and laptops. The X1-26-100 model chip features eight Oryon CPU cores with a max clock speed of up to 3GHz. The 4nm Snapdragon X CPU is paired with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU with 1.7 tera floating-point operations per second (TFLOPS) that supports up to three external displays at 4K/ 60Hz. It also comes with a dedicated Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) with up to 45 TOPS of AI performance. The Snapdragon X platform supports up to 64GB of LPDDR5x RAM, with 135GB/s memory bandwidth. The processor supports Windows 11 with the on-device AI features that are added on most Copilot+ PCs. It also offers support for UFS 4.0 storage. For connectivity, it supports 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, including High-Band Simultaneous (HBS) Multi-Link support. The company claimed that the chipset will offer up to 10Gbps download speed. Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite has been added to the platform to support lossless audio for high-fidelity music with wireless headphones. Further, the Snapdragon X chipset supports the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) camera along with features such as auto-framing, background blur, and facial authentication. The company also claimed that the chipset has optimised performance to offer battery backup of multiple days. Notably, the newly launched Snapdragon X processor will first be available with the Asus Zenbook A14 and Vivobook 16 Copilot+ PCs, with a starting price of Rs. 65,990. Qualcomm India highlighted that other OEMs will soon introduce more laptops featuring this chipset. Source link #Qualcomms #Snapdragon #Chipset #TOPS #Performance #Launched #India #Power #Affordable #Copilot #PCs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ETFs that allow investors to make big bets on market moves are gaining in popularity ETFs that allow investors to make big bets on market moves are gaining in popularity Spend some time looking at trading volumes, and you’ll notice something interesting: A lot of investors recently are making outsized bets on the stock market. Most of them are long bets, but some are short. It’s easy to see this because there is a growing segment of the ETF business that caters to investors who want to make short-term outsized bets on the stock market. These are leveraged and inverse ETFs. Leveraged ETFs amplify the daily returns of an index or stock using financial derivatives. For example, if an index rose by 1% in a day, a 2x leveraged ETF would deliver a 2% return, a 3x would deliver a 3% return. An inverse ETF delivers the opposite daily performance. So a 2x inverse ETF would be down 2% on a day when the index rose 1%, and vice-versa. These leveraged/inverse ETFs are not just growing in assets. They are becoming a greater part of the daily trading volume of the ETF universe, which is becoming a larger part of overall trading. Who is using these products? It has a lot to do with the general rise in speculative behavior in the market. Trading in options, bitcoin, and other more speculative products has been rising. “We’re continuing to see more investors lean into leveraged as a way to express short-term views on the market, and given all the volatility and daily market-moving headlines, it’s not surprising we are seeing higher volume and more assets entering the space,” Doug Yones, CEO of Direxion, one of the largest providers of leveraged/inverse ETFs, told CNBC. Growing as a share of assets The first leveraged/inverse ETFs in the U.S. started in 2006 and allowed long or short bets on indexes like the S & P 500 or the Nasdaq 100. Leverage and inverse single-stock ETFs came into existence in 2022, and they too have grown fast. The largest, ProSharesUltraPro QQQ (TQQQ), which provides 3x leveraged exposure to the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), has nearly $26 billion in assets. Single-stock ETFs that leverage Nvidia and Tesla also now have substantial assets. Largest leveraged/inverse ETFs (assets under management) ProSharesUltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) $25.7 billion Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x (SOXL) $8.5 billion ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) $7.9 billion ProShares Ultra S & P 500 (SSO) $5.5 billion Direxion Daily S & P Bull 3x (SPXL) $5.0 billion Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2x (TSLL) $3.5 billion GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA (NVDL) $4.2 billion Part of this is a bull market effect: Stocks are up meaningfully in the last few years, so overall assets are higher. However, these leveraged/inverse ETFs are not just growing assets, they are becoming a larger part of the ETF universe. In 2016, when ETFs had about $2 trillion in assets under management (AUM), leveraged/inverse ETFs were about 2% of that AUM, according to Strategas. Today, ETFs have about $11 trillion in assets under management, but leveraged/inverse ETFs make up about $81 billion of that, or almost 8% of total AUM. Why are these products growing? “I do believe there is a generational effect at play, I think there is major appetite among younger traders wanting to play with leverage due to the gains it can provide,” Todd Sohn, head of ETFs at Strategas, told CNBC. “The barriers to entry are extremely low, you can buy these products on your phone.” Yones estimated that 75% of the ownership of these products were retail traders, and 25% institutional, which included hedge funds, trade desks, large brokerage firms, and “anyone who has a book of positions that wants to be neutral the market.” He estimated that a small but significant percentage of the retail traders (12%-15% of the total) were from outside the U.S., which aligns with previous reports about growing demand for 24-hour trading coming in part from retail traders in South Korea, Japan, and Europe. Growing part of daily trading volume Leverage and inverse ETFs, including leveraged and inverse single-stock ETFs, now routinely show up among the most heavily traded ETFs on a daily basis. A simple way to look at this is by average daily dollar volume, the total amount of money traded in the ETF on a daily basis. The top ETFs by daily dollar volume are still ETFs tied to the biggest indexes, mainly the S & P 500, Russell 2000, and Nasdaq 100. Top ETFs by average 3-month daily dollar volume SPDR S & P 500 (SPY) $27.7 billion Invesco QQQ (QQQ) $15.3 billion iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) $5.7 billion iShares Core S & P 500 (IVV) $3.9 billion Source: Strategas However, the fifth-largest ETF by average daily dollar volume in the last three months is the ProSharesUltraPro QQQ, which provides three times leveraged exposure to the Nasdaq 100. Altogether, five of the top 20 ETFs by average daily dollar volume are leveraged/inverse. Leveraged/inverse ETFs: largest avg. 3-month daily dollar volume ProSharesUltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) $3.8 billion Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bull 3X (SOXL)$2.1 billion Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2x (TSLL) $1.5 billion ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) $1.4 billion GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA (NVDL) $1.3 billion Source: Strategas The daily reset These products are bets on short-term momentum, but they have one additional feature that has proven difficult for investors to wrap their head around: they reset on a daily basis. Because of compounding effects, it can be fiendishly difficult to figure out what actual returns will be on anything more than a daily basis. This means that holding a 2x leveraged product for anything more than a day may result in making substantially less than a 2x return, depending on the direction of the market. Here’s an example: Suppose the S & P 500 was up 10% one day, then down 10% the next day. A $100 investment would look like this: S & P 500: hypothetical $100 investment Day 0 $100 Day 1 (up 10%): $110 Day 2 (down 10%). $99 After two days of this, you have $99, so you are down 1%. If you had a leveraged product over those two days, it would seem like you would be down 2%, or that you would have $98. But because of the daily reset, that’s not what happens. S & P 500: hypothetical $100 investment in 2x leveraged Day 0 $100 Day 1 (up 10%, leveraged up 20%): $120 Day 2 (down 10%, leveraged down 20%) $96 You actually have $96, instead of $98, and bear in mind this excludes fees. As time goes on, these calculations get progressively more complex. As a result, those offering these products routinely state that they are not meant for buy-and-hold investors. These funds have very large daily turnovers, so most investors seem to understand the risk of holding these products on anything more than a daily basis. But Sohn told CNBC that all investors in leveraged products needed to be very careful. “At some point though, it helps to take stock of the risks involved whenever the market takes a turn south,” Sohn told CNBC. Doug Yones, CEO of Direxion, will be on the ETF Edge portion of Halftime at 12:35 PM ET on Monday, and will also livestream on ETF Edge from 1:30 PM ET. He will be joined by Todd Rosenbluth, Head of Research at Vettafi . Source link #ETFs #investors #big #bets #market #moves #gaining #popularity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Doom of Icewind dale is the start of a “love letter to Neverwinter Nights” The Doom of Icewind dale is the start of a “love letter to Neverwinter Nights” Neverwinter Nights launched in 2002, but despite its now 23 years of age, its developer just released an official, new DLC with around 15 hours of gameplay. The Doom of Icewind Dale is written by Luke Scull, an award-winning fantasy author and one of the lead designers of another Neverwinter Nights expansion, the Tyrants of Moonsea. You can finish the main story of this new expansion in 10 to 15 hours, but there’s a lot more content to play through. It introduces 14 new monsters, multiple new locations to explore, and a whole lot more. Scull says the purchase of this DLC will help support the Blades of Netheril campaign, a continuation of the story of the Hero of Neverwinter. The start of the campaign is set to be the Doom of Neverwinter DLC, and it’s just the beginning of what he says is a 60+ hour adventure — and Scull plans to make it available for free at launch. Neverwinter Nights: The Blades of Netheril – Doom of Icewind Dale Trailer Neverwinter Nights just received an unofficial quality-of-life update last month from the community that boosted performance and addressed a few graphical bugs. Please enable Javascript to view this content Dungeons and Dragons games have seen a resurgence in popularity recently, and no doubt Baldur’s Gate 3 takes the credit for much of it. That said, Dungeons and Dragons was already creeping into the mainstream before Larian kicked the door down. There have been whispers of a Neverwinter Nights 2 remaster, but developer Beamdog says it isn’t involved. Whether another studio — like Aspyr, perhaps — will conjure it into existence isn’t clear yet, but there are more than a dozen paid modules for Neverwinter Nights and hundreds of free ones the community has published. A remaster of the sequel would be a welcome surprise, but until then, a new campaign for the original game will keep you busy for a while. Scull says the Blades of Netheril campaign is his final project, and he intends for it to be a “love letter to NWN.” The Doom of Icewind Dale is available now on both Steam and GOG for $10, but you can get a 10% discount if you purchase it before February 28. Source link #Doom #Icewind #dale #start #love #letter #Neverwinter #Nights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Robinhood says SEC dismissed crypto unit investigation in latest sign of easier regulation for industry Robinhood says SEC dismissed crypto unit investigation in latest sign of easier regulation for industry The Robinhood logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen against a computer screen displaying stock market graphs on Oct. 10, 2024. Dominika Zarzycka | Nurphoto | Getty Images The Securities and Exchange Commission is dropping its investigation into Robinhood’s crypto arm, the company revealed Monday. Robinhood said it received a letter from the SEC’s Enforcement Division Friday, detailing in a blog post that the agency has closed its investigation into the crypto business with no intention of moving forward with an enforcement action. The news comes three days after Coinbase similarly announced that the SEC has agreed to end its enforcement case against it. Shares rose more than 3% in premarket trading. In May 2024, Robinhood received a notice warning that it could be charged for potential violation of securities law within its crypto unit after previously being subpoenaed for its cryptocurrency listings, custody and platform operations – despite “years of good faith attempts to work with the SEC for regulatory clarity including our well-known attempt to ‘come in and register,'” Dan Gallagher, the company’s chief legal, compliance and corporate affairs officer, said at the time. “Robinhood Crypto always has and will always respect federal securities laws and never allowed transactions in securities,” he said in a statement Monday. “We appreciate the formal closing of this investigation, and we are happy to see a return to the rule of law and commitment to fairness at the SEC.” The SEC did not respond to a request for comment. The SEC’s dismissal of the Robinhood and Coinbase cases is an early sign of the regulatory sea change for the crypto industry promised by President Donald Trump during his election campaign. Despite the meteoric rise of the price of bitcoin under the previous administration, many crypto businesses saw it as low point due to the SEC’s notorious regulation-by-enforcement approach to crypto – as opposed to the creation of clear rules by which to operate – under the leadership of then chair Gary Gensler. Nearly half of Robinhood’s $672 million transaction-based revenue in the fourth quarter came from a 700% rise in revenue tied to crypto trading, as bitcoin rallied toward $100,000 for the first time ever on hopes of more favorable policies under Trump. Shares have gained 38% so far in 2025. Don’t miss these cryptocurrency insights from CNBC Pro: Source link #Robinhood #SEC #dismissed #crypto #unit #investigation #latest #sign #easier #regulation #industry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s why Trump tariffs may raise your car insurance premiums Here’s why Trump tariffs may raise your car insurance premiums Nitat Termmee | Moment | Getty Images The Trump administration’s tariff policies may raise auto insurance premiums for motorists, according to a new Insurify analysis. This at a time when drivers continue to see costs soar amid pandemic-era inflation. A 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico — which may take effect as soon as March — would increase annual full-coverage car insurance premiums by 8% to $2,502, on average, by the end of 2025, according to Insurify. It estimates average annual premiums would rise 5% by year-end, to $2,435, without tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Tariffs are expected to make cars and auto parts imported from Canada and Mexico — which are major suppliers for the U.S. market — more expensive. As a result, insurers pay out more money in claims when policyholders get into car accidents, and they pass on that financial risk to consumers via higher premiums. More from Personal Finance: How the U.S. has used tariffs throughout history What the ‘mother of all trade wars’ can teach us about U.S. tariffs As tariffs ramp up, this investment can protect against inflation “When people think about tariffs, they typically think about goods they might get from somewhere else,” said Matt Brannon, a data journalist at Insurify who authored the analysis. “Many times, we don’t think about services like car insurance.” He called the estimates of tariff impact “conservative.” Trump tariffs proposed so far The Trump administration has proposed tariffs on several fronts during its first month in power. Trump imposed a 10% additional tariff on all imports from China, starting on Feb. 4. Across-the-board tariffs on Canada and Mexico were also set to take effect that day, before the White House delayed them by a month. About six out of every 10 auto replacement parts used in U.S. auto shop repairs are imported from Mexico, Canada and China, according to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Some car components cross the border multiple times before final assembly. Trump also signed a sweeping plan for retaliatory tariffs on global trading partners, after a review set to be completed by early April. He signed an order to raise duties on aluminum and steel to 25%, up from 10%, and called for a 25% tariff on automobiles, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Economists don’t necessarily expect all tariffs to take effect. Trump may be wielding them as a tool to extract concessions from trading partners, they said. “However, using tariffs as a negotiation tool doesn’t mean no imposition of tariffs,” Bank of America Securities economists wrote Friday in a research note. Those experts don’t anticipate Canada or Mexico tariffs will come to pass. However, if they do, they’d likely exacerbate already soaring premiums for cars, parts and insurance premiums, experts said. “Threats of 25% tariffs on the North American borders — proposed, now delayed — would disrupt more than three decades of free trade across North America and rattle every corner of the automobile business, while proposed ‘reciprocal’ tariffs would add further price pressure to an auto industry already facing affordability issues,” Cox Automotive wrote in a recent commentary. Motor vehicle insurance premiums are up by 12% in the past year, according to the consumer price index. Insurance costs began to rise quickly in 2022 and 2023 as Americans worked from home less often and commuted to work more frequently, Brannon said. “A lot more people hit the road at the same time, which led to more accidents,” he said. Source link #Heres #Trump #tariffs #raise #car #insurance #premiums Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Medicaid Cuts, If Enacted, Will Affect You – Forbes Trump’s Medicaid Cuts, If Enacted, Will Affect You – Forbes Trump’s Medicaid Cuts, If Enacted, Will Affect You ForbesMedicaid Cuts Pose Budget Conundrum for Valadao and Republicans Nationwide The New York Times Source link #Trumps #Medicaid #Cuts #Enacted #Affect #Forbes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds review: What do you want to know? Monster Hunter Wilds review: What do you want to know? VGC’s Monster Hunter Wilds review will be going live very soon, and our reviewer is ready to answer your burning questions about Capcom’s big sequel. Monster Hunter Wilds is the spiritual follow-up to Monster Hunter Worlds, Capcom’s most successful game of all time. It will be released on February 28, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game builds on its predecessor with *******, more freeform open worlds, a full day and night cycle, and a dynamic weather system. Combat is similar to Worlds, but expanded in virtually every way, with new weapons, new traps, and new environmental hazards that you can use against your prey. “We couldn’t help but chuckle at the realization that Capcom had done it again,” VGC said of the game after a recent preview. “It’s stupid to bet against it now, but even the best developers have a blip. Monster Hunter Wilds certainly isn’t that. We asked about the feeling within Capcom as the company enjoys this unprecedented success. “It’s difficult to argue. There is arguably no developer today that has so many of its franchises at their absolute apex. Resident Evil is firing on all cylinders, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a Game of the Year contender, and from what we’ve seen, Monster Hunter Wilds will be no exception.” Despite still not being officially released, Wilds has already beaten its predecessor’s all-time peak player count on Steam during a recent three-day beta. Submit your questions in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to answer them in a Monster Hunter Wilds review Q&A. Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s why Apple’s C1 modem is good news for future MacBook battery life Here’s why Apple’s C1 modem is good news for future MacBook battery life Table of Contents Table of Contents Bring on the benefits Worth the wait Back in 2008, Steve Jobs said that Apple had thought about adding a 3G modem to its laptops to give them wireless capabilities without needing a Wi-Fi connection. Yet the company eventually gave up on the idea because the chips would take up too much space inside Apple’s famously tightly packed laptops. For years, the idea seemed dead in the water. Now, it could finally come to fruition 20 years after Jobs’ candid claim. It’s a remarkable turn of events and could bring numerous benefits to MacBook users. This idea has been put forward by Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter. There, Gurman explains that Apple is planning to bring its in-house modem chip — first demonstrated in the recent iPhone 16e — to other Apple devices over the next few years. That would almost certainly include some of the best MacBooks, and if it does, it could bring a host of benefits. As someone who uses a MacBook every day, I’m excited about what this might mean for Apple’s laptops over the next few years. If you’re someone like me, it might even be a reason to upgrade. Bring on the benefits Apple The most obvious advantage of adding a modem chip to the MacBook is that it would allow you to get wireless internet connectivity wherever you are, even without a Wi-Fi connection. That’s perfect for working on the go and is also ideal for helping you avoid the security risks of using unsecured public Wi-Fi in places like cafes and bars. And there’s another key benefit that we can ascertain by looking at the iPhone 16e. There, Apple touted the battery boost its C1 chip brought to the phone, describing it as “the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone.” This has helped the iPhone 16e get better battery life than the iPhone 16, and there’s no reason not to expect similar battery life increases in the MacBook. The MacBook is already one of the best laptops for battery life, so this move could further cement its excellence. I also wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see MacBook performance improvements as a result of the introduction of Apple’s wireless chip. After all, better efficiency might mean better chip output thanks to the reduced energy being required for cooling. I’m not expecting the modem’s performance contributions to be huge — most of the uptick will come from changes to the Apple silicon CPU and GPU — but even a slight gain here would be welcome. Worth the wait Apple Despite all that, Apple’s modem chips are not a panacea for the MacBook. For one thing, Gurman believes that the wireless performance of the C1 might not be on par with the Qualcomm chip it replaced. We’ll have to wait for in-depth testing to confirm or deny that, but if true, it might explain why Apple didn’t make a huge fuss over the C1 when it announced the iPhone 16e. That said, the MacBook isn’t actually expected to get the C1. Instead, we’ll have to wait a few years before we see the first Apple-made MacBook modem make its first appearance. If you don’t plan on upgrading for a while, that might not be much of a problem, but it means a delay for everyone else. When will we see it? Well, Gurman thinks the Mac will get Apple’s in-house modem “in 2028 at the earliest.” Evidently there are a few things for the company to iron out before that happens, and really, I’m not too surprised — after all, Apple has reportedly been working on the iPhone’s 5G chip for at least six years after buying Intel’s modem business in 2019. Romancev768 If Apple sticks with its annual product upgrades, I’d expect the first MacBook modem chip to be the C4. By then, Apple might have overtaken the capabilities of Qualcomm’s modems. That certainly seems to be Gurman’s opinion, as the reporter believes Apple will surpass Qualcomm when the C3 chip debuts. That suggests that the C4 could be even better than anything Qualcomm can serve up, making 2028 the perfect time to bring a modem chip to MacBooks. The only frustrating part of this whole situation is the wait that MacBook fans will have on their hands for 5G connectivity. I know that these things take time to get right, especially if you’re a company with strong perfectionist tendencies like Apple. But given all the benefits, I’d love to see a 5G MacBook drop this year. Still, it’s good to know that it’s in the pipeline. The wait might be a test of my patience, but I’m confident that it’ll be worth it. Source link #Heres #Apples #modem #good #news #future #MacBook #battery #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kenyan police officer killed on duty Kenyan police officer killed on duty A Kenyan police officer who was on patrol with the international security force in Haiti has been killed in a confrontation with gang members. The officer is the first casualty suffered by the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission (MSS). The force was sent to Haiti in June last year to help restore order to the country, where gangs have seized control of almost the entire capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as large swathes of rural areas. More than 5,500 people were killed in gang-related violence in Haiti in 2024 and more than a million people have fled their homes. The commander of the multinational force, Gen Godfrey Otunge, said the Kenyan police officer had been injured in Artibonite, a region north of the capital. Gen Otunge said the officer, who has not been named, had been immediately airlifted to hospital, where he died a short while later. Jack Ombaka, the spokesman for the MSS, said in a statement sent to Reuters news agency that the officer was a “fallen hero” who “was killed while fighting for the people of Haiti”, while Kenya’s foreign ministry said it was “heartbroken by the loss” of the officer. Mr Ombaka said the officer had been shot by a gang member during a security operation in the town of Pont-Sondé. He added that the multinational force would “pursue these gangs to the last man standing”. The MSS was boosted earlier this month by the arrival of an additional 200 Kenyan police officers, but the force is outgunned and outmanned by the gangs, which continue to arm themselves with powerful weapons illegally smuggled from the US. The future of the multinational force – which also has officers from Bahamas, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Jamaica among its ranks – was thrown into doubt some weeks ago when the Trump administration ordered a freeze on foreign aid programmes. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later approved a waiver for US funds destined for the MSS and Haiti’s National Police, but it is not yet clear whether the US government supports turning the MSS into a UN peacekeeping operation, which would make its funding more secure. Source link #Kenyan #police #officer #killed #duty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best simulation games on Switch The best simulation games on Switch Thanks to a massive catalog of current and upcoming video games, the best Switch games offer something for fans of all genres. Whether you want a game with amazing graphics, a split-screen game to play with a friend, or puzzle games, there’s something for you. Even fans of simulation games are spoiled for choice. These games are hyper-focused on recreating one very specific experience in as much detail as possible. For those who click with them, they can be the most addicting games ever made. Even if you never gave a simulator a shot, there’s enough variety and types of experiences here that you will find something interesting at the very least on our list of the best simulation games for Switch. Source link #simulation #games #Switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump has changed Ukraine conversation Donald Trump has changed Ukraine conversation Joshua Nevett Political reporter James Waterhouse Ukraine correspondent PA Media US President Donald Trump has “changed the global conversation” on Ukraine, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said, three years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion. Sir Keir suggested Trump had “created an opportunity” to end the war, in a speech to an international summit on supporting Ukraine in Kyiv. The prime minister also appeared to contradict President Trump by saying “Russia does not hold all the cards in this war”. Sir Keir said the West “must increase the pressure even further” on Russia and announced the *** would impose a new round of sanctions on the country. The prime minister said more sanctions could push President Vladimir Putin “to a point where he is ready not just to talk, but to make concessions”. On Monday the *** government said it had imposed more than 100 new sanctions on those who continued to aid the invasion, including companies in China, which is the largest supplier of critical goods for Russia’s military. Meanwhile, the Home Office has announced a move to widen travel sanctions for Kremlin-linked elites. Sir Keir said the G7 “should be ready to take on more risk” and a larger role in sanctioning Russian’s oil giants, ahead of a call with leaders of the group of wealthy countries. The speech comes ahead of Sir Keir’s meeting with President Trump at the White House on Thursday. He is expected to discuss the importance of Ukraine’s independence, US security guarantees and European involvement in peace talks when he speaks to Trump. It is a high-stakes visits as European leaders scramble to put forward their own proposals for ending the war and keeping Russia at bay. President Trump has been pushing for a quick deal to end the war in Ukraine, and US and Russia have held initial talks, which excluded Ukraine and European countries. Trump has said he believes Russia has “the cards” in any peace talks to end the war because its military has “taken a lot of territory”. There have been diplomatic tensions since President Trump called Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator without elections” last week. Ukraine’s elections are suspended under martial law, which has been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022. The prime minister talked about extra sanctions as one way to “deliver an enduring peace” in Ukraine. He said the other two ways were stepping *** military support to Ukraine and bringing “our collective strength to the peace effort”. “President Trump has changed the global conversation over the last few weeks,” Sir Keir said. “And it has created an opportunity. Now, we must get the fundamentals right.” He said Ukraine “must have a seat at the table” of peace talks and “a US backstop will be vital to deter Russia from another invasion”. Sir Keir finished his speech by repeating what a patient at burns unit told him during a visit to Kyiv. “If Ukraine fails, Europe will be next. That is what’s at stake here.” Sir Keir has spoken on the phone to French President Emmanuel Macron, who is meeting Trump in Washington on Monday. In the phone call on Sunday, Sir Keir and Macron “compared notes” on how best to approach President Trump, government sources told the BBC. British officials said the prime minister is keen for European military powers to present a co-ordinated pitch to the US president, and also discuss economic issues, including tariffs. Earlier, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged President Zelensky to secure Ukraine’s future by signing a minerals deal with the US. Johnson said he believed Ukraine would sign a “promising” agreement to give the US access to valuable minerals, in return for security guarantees. Zelensky had rejected a £400bn ($500bn) demand for mineral wealth, but over the weekend, US officials said they expected to sign a deal this week. On Sunday, President Zelensky suggested talks had progressed, but rejected any agreement that would have to be “repaid by generations and generations of Ukrainians”. In a post on X on Monday, Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, said the Ukrainian and US teams were “in the final stages of negotiations regarding the minerals agreement”. Ukraine holds huge deposits of critical elements and minerals thought to be worth billions of dollars, including lithium and titanium, as well as sizeable quantities of coal, gas, oil and uranium. Speaking to the BBC, Johnson – a Zelensky ally who was prime minister when the invasion started – said claims by some Americans that Ukraine had provoked the war were “a complete inversion of the truth”. He described Trump’s comments as “Orwellian”, and said he might as well have blamed the US for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War Two. But Johnson said it was important to focus on a minerals deal, which he called “the great prize”. He rejected suggestions the deal was a “rip-off” and said “what the Ukrainians get from this is a United States commitment under Donald Trump to a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine”. “I hope and believe that today, this week, that agreement is going to be signed,” Johnson said. Additional reporting by Joe Pike, political correspondent Source link #Donald #Trump #changed #Ukraine #conversation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Retro publisher accused of re-releasing 16-bit games with plagiarised fan translations Retro publisher accused of re-releasing 16-bit games with plagiarised fan translations Classic game publisher Retro-Bit has been accused of publishing numerous games containing plagiarised fan translations. Retro-Bit Publishing specialises in re-releasing 8-bit and 16-bit games, mostly consisting of NES, SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis titles. Many of the games were previously only released in Japan, but Retro-Bit Publishing sells them fully translated into English for the first time. The publisher claims in the FAQ pages for a number of its games that they have a “talented programmer” who it credits “for his work on the translation”, but claims are now emerging that this may not be the case. Game translator Krokodyl has posted a lengthy article on their blog (as spotted by Time Extension) in which they accuse Retro-Bit Publishing of using existing fan translations for at least four games. According to Krokodyl’s ‘evidence’, Retro-Bit’s releases of Shockman Zero, Assault Suits Valken, Gley Lancer and Majyuo: King of Demons have English translations that are either identical to or appear to lift largely from fan-made translations already available online for free. Specifically, Krokodyl claims that the games use the work from translators Svambo, MIJET, and Aeon Genesis, and states that after discussing the situation with them, all three say they never worked with Retro-Bit on its releases. For their translation of Shockman Zero, translator Svambo had to create their own custom Latin alphabet font for the game because the original version only used Japanese text. According to Krokodyl, Retro-Bit’s release of the game uses the same font. They also accuse Retro-Bit’s programmer of mainly lifting the translation from Svambo’s version and changing the odd word here or there. Giving an example, one line in the game translates to English as, “I’ll remember your name”, but Svambo decided to change this to “I’ll put you on my list”. Retro-Bit’s release, using Svambo’s font, reads “I’ve put you on my list”. Krokodyl claims Retro-Bit’s programmer used Svambo’s custom English font and translation. Krokodyl claims they contacted Svambo to ask about this. According to their account, Retro-Bit approached Svambo and asked to pay for the translation, but because they only did the programming and couldn’t reach the translator they used, they declined the offer. Krokodyl, therefore, suggests Retro-Bit was already aware of Svambo’s translation. Among their other accusations, Krokodyl claims Retro-Bit’s programmer also copied the Latin alphabet font created by translator Aeon Genesis for their fan translation of Majyuo: King of Demons. Perhaps most damning of Krokodyl’s accusations surrounds Gley Lancer, which they claim plagiarises a fan translation by translator MIJET. The game’s ‘good ending’ credits are left in Japanese, and MIJET decided to leave these in Japanese out of respect for the developers, but they did add an extra credit (in Japanese) saying “English translation: MIJET”. Krokodyl says this credit is still in Retro-Bit’s version of Gley Lancer, and suggests it wasn’t spotted because the programmer wasn’t able to spot it due to it being written in Japanese. Retro-Bit has not yet responded to the accusations. Source link #Retro #publisher #accused #rereleasing #16bit #games #plagiarised #fan #translations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Liberal leadership candidates set to face off in first debate – National Liberal leadership candidates set to face off in first debate – National The candidates in the race to be the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada will square off tonight in the first of two live debates. With just two weeks left until the winner is announced and two days until voting begins, the two events are the only chance Liberal supporters will have to see the candidates together. Former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould and former MP Frank Baylis are the only candidates still in the contest. The party disqualified former Ontario MP Ruby Dhalla on Friday afternoon alleging she broke the rules, though she announced yesterday she had filed an appeal for reinstatement. Former TVA-Québec anchor Pierre Jobin is expected to moderate the French language debate tonight. The winner of the race will replace Justin Trudeau not only as Liberal leader but as prime minister, though an election is expected widely soon after. Story continues below advertisement 3:49 Carney pitches ‘spend less, invest more’ approach, would look to ‘reigning in government spending’ as PM Carney posted a video on social media yesterday pushing his promise to balance the government’s operational budget within three years. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Carney however has said he would increase the government’s spending on investments that grow the economy and create good jobs including on housing, clean energy and new trade routes to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States. In her own video yesterday, Freeland visited the farm shew grew up on in Peace River, Alta., touting her connection and understanding of people who “work with their hands” and contribute greatly to Canada’s economy. 1:30 Freeland Liberal leadership campaign targeted by foreign interference: task force Trending Now Trudeau expected to travel to Ukraine as envoy calls on Canada to ‘step up’ Key U.S. agencies refuse to comply with Musk’s latest demand on workers Gould posted a series of policies aimed at bringing the party back to its grassroots for the next generation. That includes more frequent policy conventions. Story continues below advertisement Baylis also shared a video yesterday, giving a brief tour of his medical technology company and touting his experience growing businesses. Based on polls and fundraising to date Carney is the clear front-runner, and he has injected new life into the party as polls have the Liberals closing the gap to the Conservatives. The former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor has been the target of Conservative attack ads in recent weeks, with the opposition party issuing a statement ahead of tonight’s debate, exclusively aimed at Carney. “Canadians will be watching to see what Mark Carney is actually proposing,” said Conservative house leader Andrew Scheer. “One thing will be clear: Carney is not offering real change from the last 10 years of Liberal Government.” The party’s English-language debate is scheduled for Tuesday, also in Montreal. Former CBC host Hannah Thibedeau is expected to be the moderator. On Wednesday, immediately following the debates, advance voting opens for party members. The winner will be named March 9. More on Canada More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Liberal #leadership #candidates #set #face #debate #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Canada pledges $5B in seized Russian assets for Ukraine on war anniversary – National Canada pledges $5B in seized Russian assets for Ukraine on war anniversary – National Canada will send $5 billion in aid to Ukraine using funds from seized Russian assets, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday at a peace and security summit in Kyiv. Trudeau and a dozen other world leaders are in the Ukrainian capital to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, where support for Ukraine to end the war on its terms and with its territory intact remained strong. “This is not a conflict Ukraine wanted, provoked or asked for in any way,” Trudeau said at the summit table. “This is a war started for one reason and one reason only: Russia‘s desire to erase Ukrainian history and expand their empire.” Trudeau also pledged 25 additional light armoured vehicles for Ukraine and a grant to help with energy security as Russia attacks the country’s power grid. Story continues below advertisement Trudeau’s remarks did not touch on Ukraine’s possible membership in the NATO military alliance, which other leaders have been calling for at the ongoing summit. But he repeated his calls for Kyiv to have a direct role in negotiations for a possible end to the war, as European leaders express dismay at Washington holding talks with Moscow. “We cannot return to an era where might makes right,” Trudeau said. “We must do everything in our power to enable Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, a peace that cannot be achieved without Ukrainians at the table.” 3:13 Zelenskyy says he’s ‘ready’ to give up presidency if it means peace in Ukraine U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed Ukraine for starting the war, which started when Russian invaded Crimea following pro-democracy protests in 2014, followed by Moscow’s full-scale invasion, which started on this day three years ago. Story continues below advertisement In addition to the 25 new LAV III vehicles, Trudeau is pledging two armoured combat-support vehicles for Ukrainian troops, who will be trained in Germany “shortly” to use the machines. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. He says Canada will provide four F-16 flight simulators in addition to systems for the fighter jet that were recently delivered to Ukraine. The new $5 billion in funds is the first instalment of revenues from frozen Russian assets, after years of Ottawa promising to forfeit holdings associated with Russia’s government and its oligarchs. Canada has been pushing Europeans to forfeit Russian funds held in frozen European accounts, or at least the interest accrued since the full-scale invasion. Trudeau says Canada will continue training Ukrainian troops, so that Russia will not be allowed to end the world order that upheld sovereignty for many countries for decades. Trending Now Trump’s 51st state talk ‘almost never’ comes up in D.C.: Canada’s envoy Cartel activity in Canada ‘very prevalent now,’ former Trudeau advisor says “Once a just peace is secured, Canada stands at the ready to work with our partners around the world to provide Ukraine the security it needs for the peace to last, allowing it to recover, rebuild, and prosper,” he said. “We can’t wait. The moment to stop this war of aggression, the moment to defend democracy, the moment to stand for our shared values — is now. So let us seize it.” 2:02 Ukraine approaching grim anniversary of Russia’s invasion Leaders are giving statements at the opening of the summit, which proceeded despite an audible air-defence siren ringing out in the background. Story continues below advertisement There was a heavy police presence in the streets near the venue where the leaders were meeting. Officers were stationed on every corner. Some streets were blocked off with security only allowing people through after scanning their identification. Trudeau received a quick hug and a handshake from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just prior to the conference beginning. This is Trudeau’s fourth visit to Ukraine since 2022 and almost certainly his last, as he is to be replaced as prime minister when his Liberal party picks a new leader early next month. Zelenskyy told a news conference on Sunday that he will be looking for an update from Trudeau on the G7’s relationship with the U.S. under Trump. Canada is chairing the group of countries this year. More on Canada More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Canada #pledges #seized #Russian #assets #Ukraine #war #anniversary #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Huge thunderstorm on Jupiter captured in best detail ever seen Huge thunderstorm on Jupiter captured in best detail ever seen A 3400-kilometre-wide thunderstorm on Jupiter Shawn R. Brueshaber et al. 2025 A thunderstorm that raged in Jupiter’s atmosphere for weeks was fortuitously captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, giving astronomers the most detailed look ever at a storm on the gas giant. On 29 November 2021, Juno passed directly over a 3400-kilometre-wide thunderstorm that had been tracked by astronomers on Earth since it started nearly two weeks earlier. Juno’s close approach, about 5700 kilometres above the storm, meant that Shawn Brueshaber at Michigan Technological University and his colleagues could analyse data from three of Juno’s on-board instruments,… Source link #Huge #thunderstorm #Jupiter #captured #detail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA election 2025: Cook and Mettam genial to a fault before tough talk at Leaders Debate WA election 2025: Cook and Mettam genial to a fault before tough talk at Leaders Debate Roger Cook and Libby Mettam were all smiles and genial chat … until the TV cameras turned on and the gloves came off. Source link #election #Cook #Mettam #genial #fault #tough #talk #Leaders #Debate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

5 things to know before the stock market opens Monday 5 things to know before the stock market opens Monday Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day: 1. Rocky run Investors hope U.S. stocks will rally after a dismal end to the last trading week. Equities tumbled Thursday and Friday, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell 1.7% and 2.5% for the week, respectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also dropped 2.5% in its worst week since October. Earnings from Nvidia, among others, will help to drive the market this week. The personal consumption expenditures index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, is also due on Friday. Follow live market updates. 2. Getting chippy Nvidia and its $3.3 trillion market cap will have the biggest effect on the market this week among the companies reporting earnings. It will be the first time the chipmaker has posted results since the emergence of ******** startup DeepSeek – which claims to make competitive AI models at a small fraction of the cost of U.S. companies – roiled the stock market in January. Results from Home Depot and Lowe’s will also give reads on consumer spending and the health of the housing market. Here are the key reports to watch this week: Tuesday: Home Depot, before the bell Wednesday: Lowe’s, TJX (before the bell); Nvidia, Salesforce.com (after the bell) 3. Buffett banks bucks Warren Buffett walks the floor ahead of the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024. David A. Grogen | CNBC Berkshire Hathaway‘s business is still booming. Warren Buffett’s conglomerate posted operating profit of $14.53 billion in the fourth quarter, up 71% from the prior-year *******. Berkshire ended 2024 with $334.2 billion in cash. Buffett did not offer much explanation of why he has amassed such a staggering cash pile or why he sold $134 billion in stock during 2024. “Despite what some commentators currently view as an extraordinary cash position at Berkshire, the great majority of your money remains in equities,” he wrote in his annual letter. “That preference won’t change.” 4. Don’t divulge to DOGE Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency took another unprecedented step over the weekend. In a post on his social media platform X, the tech entrepreneur overseeing a dismantling of the federal government said federal employees would receive an email asking them to summarize the work they completed last week, and that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” Federal workers started to receive emails that asked them to list about five bullet points detailing what they accomplished last week, and gave them a deadline to respond by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday – without threatening their employment, according to NBC News. Employees at the FBI, State Department and Defense Department, among other departments and agencies, were told not to respond to the email. Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said Musk and the Trump administration have again “shown their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people.” 5. Creating change Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty dribbles the ball against Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter during Game Three of the WNBA Finals at Target Center on October 16, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. David Berding | Getty Images CNBC’s second annual Changemakers list showcases 50 women who are innovating in business and philanthropy, in areas from health care to AI, sports and media. Women face significant hurdles in the top ranks of the business world: only 11% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women – and that’s a record high. See the full list and read the stories of the women on it here. – CNBC’s Jesse Pound, Fred Imbert, Yun Li and CNBC.com staff, along with NBC News, contributed to this report. Source link #stock #market #opens #Monday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]