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With Its Sequel Canned, a Helldivers 2 Crossover Will Be the Perfect Redemption Arc for Titanfall 2 With Its Sequel Canned, a Helldivers 2 Crossover Will Be the Perfect Redemption Arc for Titanfall 2 Titanfall 2. Remember that game? It’s been a beloved yet underappreciated gem in the FPS genre with a sequel that never arrived. And with EA’s cancellation of the unannounced Titanfall Legends project, there’s really no hope that we can hold onto. However, a Helldivers 2 crossover might be what we need. Maybe this could give it the attention it deserves. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Arrowhead Game Studios’ co-op shooter was one of 2024’s biggest games and has continued its success in 2025. And after the recent Killzone crossover, fans want Titanfall to be next, and it makes sense. It’d be super cool to see the Titans in a Helldivers setting, and with the existence of Exosuits, it makes sense too. So while we aren’t getting a new Titanfall game anytime soon, at least this seems possible. Helldivers 2 could be the way Titanfall makes a comeback We sure hope Respawn and Arrowhead listen. | Image Credit: Respawn If you think about it initially, Titanfall and Helldivers might seem like very different games. Titanfall is known for its highly innovative, fast-paced movement system and massive, high-tech Titans, while Helldivers 2 is more about tactical cooperative gameplay with friends. So why are we and the community asking Arrowhead to listen to this crossover request? The titanfall mechs would rock — Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) February 23, 2025 Okay, so let’s start by saying that a crossover between Helldivers 2 and Titanfall 2 makes sense on multiple levels. In terms of theme, both games are about soldiers fighting a war against a great enemy. While Helldivers 2 leans into a satirical, dystopian future where democracy is spread by force, Titanfall 2 is a bit more serious in its tone and setting. But we think it makes perfect sense. Both games have mechs, and that’s where it could truly shine. They’re known as Exosuits in Helldivers 2 and Titans in Titanfall 2 and if we could see Titanfall-style mechs in HD2, there’s no doubt about whether it’d be a hit. Even beyond the mechs and Titans, we could see some iconic weapons like the C.A.R. SMG or the Smart Pistol make it over to HD2. We know this is going to happen because the Titanfall devs love to have Titanfall exist in all ways but in its own game. — Firecrakcer (@firecrakcer001) February 23, 2025 We wouldn’t be talking about this if we were the only ones who wanted this. And we aren’t. The Helldivers 2 community is very much in support of this crossover and many fans have previously brought up ideas and theories of their own about exactly how it would be done. The part that gives us the most hope is that it wouldn’t be the first time Arrowhead does something like this. We’ve seen what these kinds of crossovers can look like If Killzone could do it, so can Titanfall. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Helldivers 2 has already shown that collaborations with older franchises can work. The recent crossover with Killzone was largely successful but was met with backlash due to its pricing model. The devs acknowledged the feedback and apologized so we hopefully won’t have to spend over $40 to acquire all exclusive items next time. Despite being widely considered one of the best FPS games of its generation, Titanfall 2 has been slowly fading into irrelevance. And it really sucks, because if you’ve played the game, you know how good it is and that it deserves so much more. EA’s focus on Apex Legends left the franchise in limbo, and the recent cancellation of Titanfall Legends has only made that harder. Titanfall 2 was truly a game ahead of its time. And while a collab won’t really do much at this point, we’ll at least get some recognition, and of course, a great crossover in general. Arrowhead has been known to listen to its community and we hope they at least attempt to give us this crossover. Source link #Sequel #Canned #Helldivers #Crossover #Perfect #Redemption #Arc #Titanfall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Six Nations: Watch the best moments from round three Six Nations: Watch the best moments from round three Watch the best moments from week three of the Six Nations, including a rousing choir in Cardiff, Fin Smith’s “monster” kick for England and France’s multiple tries against Italy. READ MORE: Five talking points from Six Nations round three WATCH MORE: Singing Adele & cracking jokes – Marler’s BBC Sport debut Watch highlights on Six Nations Rugby Special on BBC iPlayer. Available to *** users only. Source link #Nations #Watch #moments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Closed Network Test First Impressions Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Closed Network Test First Impressions Race across land, sea, air, space, and time in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds! Warp through Travel Rings into new dimensions where something new awaits around every twist and turn. Speed to victory solo or as a team in a variety of offline and online modes and compete against players from around the world. Build the ultimate machine to match your racing style, unlock special skills to gain the upper hand, and unleash power-up items for the win! Source link #Sonic #Racing #CrossWorlds #Closed #Network #Test #Impressions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Book Review: ‘Show Don’t Tell: Stories,’ by Curtis Sittenfeld Book Review: ‘Show Don’t Tell: Stories,’ by Curtis Sittenfeld In “The Richest Babysitter in the World,” Kit reflects upon her time spent caring for the child of a Jeff-Bezos-like character before he became a famous billionaire. In “White Women LOL,” Jill, a white woman, tries to redeem herself after she’s canceled online for telling a group of ****** people who she believes are gate-crashers to leave a friend’s birthday party. And in “Lost but Not Forgotten,” Sittenfeld brings back the character of Lee Fiora from her debut novel, “Prep” — now at her 30-year school reunion, reflecting on her past while grappling with her future and a potential new love. “Show, don’t tell” is a supposedly golden rule in creative writing, another largely held belief that comes down to quite a few assumptions about how things should be. In using the edict as her collection’s title but then willfully disobeying it — and making it all so much darn fun — Sittenfeld is saying a lot about the constraints we, and particularly middle-aged women, have come to accept. Showcasing the glory of her characters’ complicated lives and allowing them to speak with voices all their own is a kind of rebellion, and it’s exhilarating. In the title story, we meet Ruthie Flaherty, a 25-year-old nearing the end of her first year of a graduate writing program, waiting for the letter that will notify her of her second-year funding, which will define her next steps as a person in the world. The many distractions she faces swirl through the story: Among them, she wants to win back the affections of her classmate Doug; get her 50-year-old grad student neighbor to stop smoking in her apartment; and figure out how to respond to Bhadveer, a male classmate who insists beautiful women can’t write great literature. Of course, what Ruthie is really trying to figure out is who she will be. And, by the completion of the story, has she succeeded? Twenty years later, she’s a best-selling author — “as it happens, my novels are considered ‘women’s fiction,’” she explains — and meeting Bhadveer, “who has attained the status we all believed ourselves to be aspiring to back then,” for a drink. Once there, Bhadveer insists on naming the classmates who aren’t “writers,” and it’s not until months later that Ruthie figures out how she wishes she’d responded: “Yes, you can say whether people have published books,” she thinks. “But you don’t get to say whether they’re writers. … The way they inhabit the world, the way they observe it — of course they’re writers.” You may wonder, particularly after this story, how much of Sittenfeld’s own life is in the book, but don’t be distracted; “Show Don’t Tell” raises ******* and more important questions. Like, what if life was never about figuring it all out, but instead about simply living it, the best we can? As Lee Fiora says, “If I’m right that all this is ordinary, I’m enormously grateful for it; our ordinary life, our closeness, is thrilling to me.” Source link #Book #Review #Show #Dont #Stories #Curtis #Sittenfeld Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jessica Page: Roger Cook and Libby Mettam are shadow boxing, but they’re in different fights Jessica Page: Roger Cook and Libby Mettam are shadow boxing, but they’re in different fights Roger Cook and Libby Mettam, the two leaders in the race for the State’s top job, are both fighting shadows. But they’re engaged in vastly different battles. Source link #Jessica #Page #Roger #Cook #Libby #Mettam #shadow #boxing #theyre #fights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II Review – LadiesGamers The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II Review – LadiesGamers Paste Magazine, Marc Normandin: “Maybe Daybreak II will be seen in a similar light a decade from now. But whether that’s true or not, what’s here—what we do know about—is damn good, and more than enough to merit playing. Even if you do have to start all the way back at the beginning to understand some of it.” Source link #Legend #Heroes #Trails #Daybreak #Review #LadiesGamers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Book Review: “The Last Manager,” by John W. Miller Book Review: “The Last Manager,” by John W. Miller THE LAST MANAGER: How Earl Weaver Tricked, Tormented, and Reinvented Baseball, by John W. Miller The greatest sight in Major League Baseball during the 1970s was almost certainly this one: the Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver storming out of the dugout to remonstrate over some perceived injustice to his players. He would be so incensed at the officiating — or he pretended to be — that it was if he’d been eating chilies and was excreting flames. If you were holding a hot dog, this was dinner and a show. Weaver was short and a bit tubby; he resembled Archie Bunker’s better looking, harder-drinking younger brother. He would kick dirt on a base, or yank it out of the ground, or lie down on it, or sit on it like a Buddha. Like Redd Foxx, he faked heart attacks. He performatively tore up rule books. He mimed throwing umpires out of the game. Officials got so upset when Weaver “beaked” them in the chest with the bill of his cap that he was forced to flip it around when arguing. He was ejected repeatedly, and fans ate it up. In Baltimore’s old Memorial Stadium, one sportswriter commented, he was like Elvis playing Vegas. Weaver, who died in 2013, is the subject of a vivid new biography, “The Last Manager,” by the writer and former Orioles scout John W. Miller. Most sports books are pop flies to the infield. Miller’s is a screaming triple into the left field corner. He takes Weaver seriously; he understands why his tenure mattered to baseball; he is alert to the details of the unruly pageant that was his life; he explains, a bit ruefully, why he was probably the last of his kind, an unkempt dinosaur who ruled before the data geckos came into power. Weaver’s antics wouldn’t matter if weren’t a superlative manager. He led the Orioles for 17 seasons, from 1968 to 1982 plus an ill-advised return in 1985-86. During this time the Orioles had five 100-win seasons, and won six American League East titles and four pennants, including three in a row from 1969 to 1971. The team took the World Series in 1970. They were a treat to watch, and rarely out of contention, in the other years. It’s one of Miller’s central arguments that Weaver’s instincts as a manager made him a walking precursor to the stathead era. He prized throwing strikes, getting on base and playing impervious defense. He matched players to situations. “Once computers came along, you didn’t even need a manager anymore,” Miller writes. “You could just program them to think like Earl Weaver.” Free agency, as well as computer analysis, has sapped the power of managers. If a slugger doesn’t cotton to his manager these days, he goes elsewhere. Miller takes us back to the time when baseball managers were almost mythical characters, cornfield philosophers who were “plucked from the America of train travel, circuses and vaudeville, springing from the 19th-century clubs in New York and other cities that turned an informal folk game into modern baseball, America’s first mass entertainment.” This biography is good from the start because Weaver’s story is. He grew up with baseball. He was born in 1930 in St. Louis, where his father had a dry-cleaning business that took care of the uniforms for the Cardinals and the football Browns before they moved to Cleveland. Young Earl had a backstage pass, of a sort. He also had a mobbed-up uncle who taught him to gamble sagaciously. The gambler’s eye is the stathead’s eye. Earl honed his analytical skills. He didn’t attend college. Weaver played minor league ball for too many years. He was famous for his hustle. He was a scrapper who would fight guys twice his size. He never made the big leagues, but he came devastatingly, traumatically close. Klonopin did not exist then, but beer did. Weaver drifted into coaching. Miller doesn’t try to clean Weaver up. “You would not have wanted him to date your daughter,” he writes. He was a bit seedy. He harbored “streaks of pain and anger he could never master.” He gambled on everything except, apparently, baseball, and he smoked three packs of Raleighs a day. (He had a special pocket sewn in his uniform to hide these.) He swore like a man who had dropped an anvil on his toe. Weaver drank, almost nightly, until he was half-comatose. After his second D.U.I., he commented: “If you’re a teetotaler, I guess this looks pretty bad.” For baseball, he thought he was doing OK. Bill James, baseball’s philosopher-analyst, once estimated that 18 of the 25 greatest mangers were alcoholics. It’s a tribute to “The Last Manager” that the tangents are good. There’s one about a fastidious man known as the Sodfather, who cared for the grass at Memorial Stadium. Weaver was pals with him from the minor leagues. The Sodfather tailored his mowing job for each game — maybe letting the grass stay a little long, for example, to keep down bunts. Weaver was a flawed man, but Miller’s book is largely a paean to his ebullience. He had deep reserves of underdog charm. He loved his players, and, with a few exceptions, they loved him back. He loved Baltimore, and he remains a folk hero there. Baseball managers today, in interviews, dispense clichés until you want to double Van Gogh yourself. Weaver liked to hold court after games while nude, drinking beer, smoking and eating fried chicken; sometimes he’d keep talking while at the urinal. He’d say things like, “We’ve crawled out of more coffins than Bela Lugosi.” Miller catalogs a lot of Weaver’s best lines. He liked to comically hassle players he considered overly religious, for example. When one told him to walk with the Lord, he replied: “I’d rather you walk with the bases loaded.” When the same player hit a home run and commented that the Lord had been watching out for him, Weaver replied: “We better not be counting on God. I ain’t got no stats on God.” The publisher Robert Giroux once said that publishing should be done by failed writers, people who “recognize the real thing when they see it.” Maybe something similar is true about scouting and coaching. It certainly was in Weaver’s case. Robot umpires are being tested in spring training this year. I’d kill to see Earl kick dirt into their sprockets. He was a major national asset. He wanted his epitaph to read: “The sorest loser who ever lived.” THE LAST MANAGER: How Earl Weaver Tricked, Tormented, and Reinvented Baseball | By John W. Miller | Avid Reader Press | 331 pp. | $30 Source link #Book #Review #Manager #John #Miller Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

5 Photos Show How the Ukraine War Changed 5 Photos Show How the Ukraine War Changed On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tyler Hicks, a war photographer for The New York Times, looks back at five photos he took during the conflict and reflects on how the rules of engagement have changed, affecting what he can document and what the world can witness. Source link #Photos #Show #Ukraine #War #Changed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elden Ring: Nightreign Network Test Impressions – Feeling Hollow | MP1st Elden Ring: Nightreign Network Test Impressions – Feeling Hollow | MP1st Console Creatures writes, Our anticipation for Elden Ring Nightreign has skyrocketed in just a few hours. FromSoftware has found a way to keep players invested with this unique spin on the Souls formula and delivers an exceptional sampler of what’s to come.” Source link #Elden #Ring #Nightreign #Network #Test #Impressions #Feeling #Hollow #MP1st Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Classic Resort Beach is Being Rethought The Classic Resort Beach is Being Rethought Let’s buck the trend, a local marine biologist suggested. In 2018, as the Maldives, a nation of nearly 1,200 islands in the Arabian Sea, continued its transformation into a luxury tourist destination, the country’s handbook for resort developers called sea grass meadows in the country’s shallow lagoons “aesthetically unappealing,” suggesting that it was “very important from the tourist perspective that the growth of sea grasses is eliminated.” Resorts on the islands were known to smother their meadows with sprawling sheets of plastic laid across the ocean floor in order to offer visitors aquamarine waters with endless sandy bottoms. Never mind that sea grass meadows are vital ecosystems for marine life and nearby coral reefs, or that they capture carbon in significant amounts from the atmosphere. But at the 94-villa Six Senses Laamu resort, one Maldivian biologist wanted to “make a statement,” as Philippa Roe, the brand’s manager for regenerative impact, recalled. Instead of killing off sea grass, the resort encouraged it to thrive, Ms. Roe said, and now has a lagoon with “different hues of green and dark blue, rather just a plain monotone crystal.” The sea grass has become a draw that gives the resort a leg up over others in the area, she said, as it attracts marine wildlife to the waters surrounding the resort’s over-water bungalows, where guests can see stingrays, sharks and turtles from the sun loungers on their decks. The “perfect” tropical beach hardly needs to be described; it’s on the Instagram post, in the pages of a travel magazine: Fine white sand, coconut palm trees overhead, a gently sloping beach and unobstructed views out to sea. But in many cases — and especially at tourist destinations — that beach is entirely manufactured. Now, a number of beach resorts around the world are embracing beachscapes in their more natural states. Planting or preserving native vegetation, especially between the shoreline and buildings, and focusing on a healthy overall ecosystem, strengthens natural defenses against the changing climate and provides habitat to native species, all while transforming travelers’ assumptions about what kind of tropical beach is worthy of a week’s vacation. At the 20-bungalow Playa Viva resort on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, a native beachscape has been part of the property’s ethos since it opened in 2008. The resort has de-emphasized ocean views from the bungalows, instead framing sightlines to the sea with some of the 10 or so native plants that Playa Viva uses as a foundation for its grounds. Among them is the versatile sea grape with its robust root system, twisting branches and large round leaves that can be pruned as bushes, shrubs or trees. The dose of vegetation between each bungalow and the sand provides privacy and serves as a first line of defense for Playa Viva’s buildings on a coast that sees its share of big storms. “The conscious design was something I thought added to the experience,” said Alexandra Avila, a 37-year-old marketing executive from Miami who booked a three-night trip specifically because of how Playa Viva had been designed and built. Two other resorts in development in the region have since hired Amanda Harris, the permaculture specialist responsible for designing much of Playa Viva’s landscaping, to consult on their own native beachscapes. “The thing each of these projects have in common is immersing guests in the luxury of nature while creating resilient ecosystems,” Ms. Harris said. In the sea In tropical and subtropical climates, seaside developers have been replicating the artificial beach since the European seaside-resort model gave way to a tropical one in the middle of the last century. Out with the intricate ecosystems — mangroves, sea grass and shade-giving trees, especially — and in with the version guests expected: an image brought on by a newfound fascination with Polynesian scenery in the wake of World War II, namely those coconut palms and often, the white sand beach itself. Across the globe, the result has often been devastating for shorelines’ defenses against the sea. “If you have a beach that was once, let’s say, mangroves and you clear it out, turn it into sand and plant some coconut palms, you’ve lost tons of structure, really complex, interwoven structure,” said Scott F. Jones, a coastal ecologist at the University of North Florida. “Your storm surge protection essentially vanishes, and your resilience to sea level rise goes down a whole lot, too.” The Six Senses Laamu resort in the Maldives has started a campaign with the Blue Marine Foundation to get other resorts in the country to allow their sea grass to flourish. A quarter of them have since committed to preserving at least 80 percent of their sea grass. In the most recent version of the country’s handbook for resort developers, released in 2023, the language calling sea grass “aesthetically unappealing” has been removed. On the land Onshore, the coconut palm is almost ubiquitous, and it does offer some benefits. Coconuts are exquisite natural containers of water and food, with fibers that can be used for rope and woven goods. But on modern shorelines, these trees do little to prevent sand erosion or block wind and they provide scant shade, an increasingly valuable commodity in a warming world. They are also nonnative to many of the world’s most popular beach destinations. When Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in the Americas, on an island today that is part of the Bahamas, there were no coconut palms in the Caribbean. Europeans would bring them later. At the Song Saa Private Island resort in Cambodia, the few palm trees blend into diverse vegetation that has been regenerated from the ground up, after the small island on which it sits was previously cleared for a fishing operation. The resort replanted and regrew everything, including mangroves, using samples from nearby islands. The 24 rooms were then constructed around the regenerated landscape instead of the other way around. Song Saa’s owner, Melita Koulmandas, is particularly passionate about the area’s mangrove forests. “These forests are vital to the surrounding ecosystems, as they are one of the most effective carbon-capture ecosystems on earth, plus they stop erosion of the coastlines,” she said. Such efforts can sometimes become part of a larger preservation project. Iberostar, the Spanish hotel brand that runs more than 85 coastal resorts around the world, has since 2017 turned native vegetation into policy. It has planted more than 16,000 mangroves across its properties as part of a larger sustainability project. In one example of many, its Iberostar Selection Albufera Resort on the Spanish island of Mallorca, which opened in 2023, prioritized native vegetation that requires little water, reducing the property’s overall water use. Other efforts are less voluntary, with some resorts restoring native vegetation not by choice but by law. In early 2024, the Sandpiper Bay Resort in Port St Lucie, Fla., was ordered to plant 2,800 mangrove trees on its property after cutting down nearly 1,000 of them without a permit. Wyndham, which owns the resort, did not return requests for comment. Amanda Harris, the permaculture specialist at Playa Viva, notes that diverse vegetation can serve multiple purposes in addition to shoreline protection. It creates privacy between the rooms, shade for guests in a hot climate, and a more interesting overall aesthetic, which, as she put it, invites visitors “to step into nature, to flow between the natural and built world.” The ocean is just part of the equation. “It doesn’t have to be this panoramic view,” she said, adding that it can be “what we call windows of sight onto the beach.” Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Source link #Classic #Resort #Beach #Rethought Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Asus Zenbook A14, Vivobook 16 India Launch Date Revealed; Pre-Orders Now Open Asus Zenbook A14, Vivobook 16 India Launch Date Revealed; Pre-Orders Now Open Asus Zenbook A14 and Vivobook 16 are confirmed to go on ***** in India next month. Ahead of the official launch, the Taiwanese brand has started taking pre-booking for the upcoming laptops. Asus is offering numerous discounts for customers pre-ordering the laptops through the company website and e-commerce outlets. The Asus Zenbook A14 and the Vivobook 16 are Copilot+ PCs and run on Snapdragon X series processors. Through a press release on Monday, Asus announced that the Zenbook A14 and Vivobook 16 will be available for pre-reservations between February 24 to March 9 in the country. Interested customers can pre-book the devices through Asus Exclusive Stores, Asus eShop, Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital and Vijay Sales. The banner on the company website reveals that the India launch of Asus ZenBook A14 and Vivobook 16 will take place on March 10. Asus Zenbook A14 and Vivobook 16 Pre-Booking Offers Customers pre-booking the Asus Zenbook A14 can avail of branded earbuds, a two-year additional warranty, and three years of local accidental damage protection worth Rs. 15,998 for just Rs. 1. The Vivobook 16’s pre-order benefits include an Asus Marshmallow keyboard and mouse set, three years of accidental damage protection and two-year warranty extension. They can avail benefits valued at Rs. 11,197 for Rs. 1. Buyers pre-ordering the devices can generate coupons by visiting the Asus website to get the exclusive coupon code at their registered email ID. They can redeem the offer at asuspromo.in within 20 days post-final purchase of the laptop. Both Asus Zenbook A14 and Vivobook 16 are Copilot+ PCs and they will ship with Asus’s AI applications. The Asus Zenbook A14 is teased to come with a Ceraluminum chassis. The Zenbook A14 (UX3407QA) is powered by a Snapdragon X chipset while the Zenbook A14 (UX3407RA) has a Snapdragon X Elite processor under the hood. Meanwhile, the Asus Vivobook 16 X1607QA runs on the Snapdragon X processor. It is claimed to deliver more than 20 hours of battery life. Source link #Asus #Zenbook #A14 #Vivobook #India #Launch #Date #Revealed #PreOrders #Open Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mike Johnson’s moment of truth Mike Johnson’s moment of truth The Senate’s Plan B is in place. Now it’s up to Speaker Mike Johnson to deliver on Plan A — the “one big, beautiful bill” he’s been promising for weeks. It amounts to a key inflection point for President Donald Trump’s domestic policy agenda, and GOP senators — who muscled through their own two-bill legislative blueprint early Friday morning — are eagerly watching to see if Johnson can finally unify his fractious conference and move forward with his own plan. “I’m pulling for the House to pull together and get one big, beautiful bill,” said Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). If Johnson can do so, he added, “I will be his biggest fan.” But Johnson is facing major skepticism as he plows forward this week. The Rules Committee will meet Monday to ready the House GOP budget plan for the floor as a group of holdouts concerned about deep cuts to Medicaid and other safety-net programs raise increasingly sharp concerns. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, normally an ally of GOP leadership, led a group of GOP lawmakers to warn against steep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance and Pell Grants. Several Republicans who held town hall meetings during their recess last week faced boos and criticism from constituents concerned about potential cuts. The public dissent came even after Trump publicly called on both chambers to quickly pass the House GOP budget plan, which tees up $2 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years. Republican leaders at this point think they can muscle the effort through with Trump’s support. But just a few Republicans could block those plans, depending on attendance. One hard-liner, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has already told fellow Republicans he won’t support Johnson’s blueprint. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), who fellow Republicans have been watching as a likely source of opposition, posted on X Sunday night that she was indeed a “NO.” And New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, one of several remaining swing-district holdouts, said she was “still undecided.” Malliotakis has been talking through her Medicaid concerns with House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.). And her final decision, along with other holdouts, is likely to come down to the wire: She said she plans to talk again with Guthrie Monday and also with GOP leaders as part of a larger group of concerned Republicans. Johnson is planning a Tuesday floor vote. “We may need to get the president involved,” one House GOP aide said. The cross-cutting political pressures have some Republican lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol looking across the Rotunda curiously. As the Senate moved forward on its two-bill plan last week, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri openly wondered why, given Trump’s stated preference, the chamber wasn’t simply moving forward with the House budget. Meanwhile, there are House members who still prefer the Senate’s two-bill approach, with some arguing it delivers more quickly on Trump’s border security promises — and others happy that it sidesteps the messy fight over Medicaid. Some House Republicans are pushing for the two chambers to resolve their differences over the competing budget plans now, rather than forcing vulnerable Republicans to take a hard vote this week that could cost them in next year’s midterm elections. But any compromise could inflame conservative hard-liners who are demanding steep spending cuts — and whose votes are crucial to winning approval for any House budget. Another option some holdouts are discussing is to try to amend the budget plan before the final floor vote this week, including by adding cuts undertaken by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency and additional energy measures as a way to decrease the Medicaid cuts. Opening the bill up on the floor, however, could quickly spiral out of control for Johnson. Party leaders are opposed to offering any concessions to the holdouts, and senior GOP aides don’t expect any changes to the plans, according to three Republicans familiar with the private talks who were granted anonymity to describe them. On the flip side, Johnson is still facing skepticism on the right flank — even after agreeing to increase the level of spending cuts in the plans to $2 trillion. The GOP whip team has been making calls about the $4 trillion debt limit increase provided for in the House budget, a deeply controversial vote among conservative lawmakers. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who has never voted to lift the debt ceiling, is among those still undecided, according to two Republicans familiar with the matter. It’s all making Senate Republicans openly skeptical that the House will be able to get its budget across the finish line after weeks of infighting. And it emboldened GOP leaders in that chamber to move forward despite Trump’s endorsement of the “one big, beautiful bill” plan. “If that [House budget] had already passed this would be a different discussion,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who noted that Johnson sent his members home for a recess rather than stay in town to finish up. Complicating the GOP agenda further: Even if the House can advance a budget this week, Senate Republicans are expected to change some key components of the plan, teeing up a grueling fight between the chambers. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and seven other GOP senators sent a letter to Trump — conspicuously sending a copy to Johnson — insisting that they won’t support a final bill that only extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts temporarily. That group alone would be enough to prevent any party-line bill from passing. “The president has called for making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent. And I am committed to ensuring that any tax bill we consider does exactly that,” Thune said on the Senate floor Thursday. The Senate GOP budget resolution also doesn’t touch Medicaid — and there are already signs of unease there with the kinds of cuts Johnson is staking out. During the Senate’s overnight voting slog last week, Republicans rejected a budget amendment from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to mirror the House GOP’s $1.5 trillion floor for spending cuts — suggesting a potential fight to come. And though no final decision has been made, Senate Republican leaders continue to signal that a debt ceiling increase should be handled on a bipartisan basis — not as part of GOP’s party-line agenda. “My assumption has always been that the debt ceiling will have to be handled the way it traditionally is,” Thune told reporters last week. Trump, as always, has been an unpredictable player in the process. After he publicly called on both chambers to approve the House’s budget resolution last week, he and members of his administration continued to raise other options — which the Senate took as a green light to move forward with their competing plan. Trump even thanked Thune in a Truth Social post just before the Senate started voting on its budget — a tacit sign that he was OK with the “optionality” the South Dakota Republican has vowed to provide for Republicans. How the two sides ultimately work out their disagreements remains to be seen: Leadership and key factions in both chambers could informally work out an agreement, with the Senate adopting those changes when they take up a House-passed budget resolution. Though, some Budget Committee members are floating a formal conference committee to work out the differences. “What I see happening is the Senate is working toward an objective. The House is working toward the same objective,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). “We’ll go to a conference committee, and we’ll all have a cup of hot cocoa and hug each other.” Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report. Source link #Mike #Johnsons #moment #truth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marseille Russian consulate explosion branded ‘terrorist attack’ by Moscow Marseille Russian consulate explosion branded ‘terrorist attack’ by Moscow Russia has said that its consulate in Marseille has been hit by an explosion ‘with all the hallmarks of a terror attack’. Dozens of firefighters were called out to the site in the southern French city on Monday morning. A security source told Reuters that plastic bottles were thrown at the wall of the consulate and one exploded. The French interior ministry has said there were no casualties from the blast and all staff and the Russian consul were unharmed. Russia’s consul general Stanislav Oranskiy said there was a blast inside the building and Moscow has demanded a full French investigation. Click here for the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war “The explosions on the territory of the Russian Consulate General in Marseille have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack,” TASS quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying. “We demand (from France) exhaustive and prompt measures to investigate, as well as steps to strengthen the security of Russian foreign missions.” The incident in the southern French city took place on the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. More follows on this breaking news story…. Source link #Marseille #Russian #consulate #explosion #branded #terrorist #attack #Moscow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Pulls Advanced Data Protection Feature in *** Amid Government Demands Apple Pulls Advanced Data Protection Feature in *** Amid Government Demands Apple is scrapping its most advanced security encryption feature for cloud data in Britain, the company said on Friday, an unprecedented response to government demands for access to user data. The change affects a feature called Advanced Data Protection (ADP), which extends end-to-end encryption across a wide range of cloud data. Apple said it is no longer available in Britain for new users, with those who try to turn it on receiving an error message starting Friday, and that current users will eventually need to disable this security feature. The move means iCloud backups in Britain will no longer have that level of encryption, allowing Apple to access in certain cases user data that it otherwise could not, such as copies of iMessages, and hand it over to authorities if legally compelled. With end-to-end encryption enabled, even Apple cannot access the data. “Apple’s decision to disable the feature for *** users could well be the only reasonable response at this point, but it leaves those people at the mercy of bad actors and deprives them of a key privacy-preserving technology,” said Andrew Crocker, surveillance litigation director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Governments and tech giants have long been locked in a battle over strong encryption to protect consumers’ communications, which the authorities view as a mettlesome obstacle to mass surveillance and crime fighting programs. But such a demand from Britain would be particularly sweeping. Early plans to let Apple users fully encrypt backups of their devices to the company’s iCloud service were dropped in or around 2018 after the FBI privately complained, Reuters has previously reported, but the company eventually went forward with the plan in 2022. “Lawful access to digital evidence and threat information is rapidly eroding,” the US Federal Bureau of Investigation says on its website, citing “warrant-proof encryption”. Apple has long said that it would never build a so-called ********* into its encrypted services or devices, because once one is created, it could be exploited by hackers in addition to governments, a sentiment echoed by security experts. “Ultimately, once a door exists, it’s only a matter of time before it’s found and used maliciously. Removing ADP is not just a symbolic concession but a practical weakening of iCloud security for *** users,” said Professor Oli Buckley, a professor in cybersecurity at Loughborough University in Britain. Data that was encrypted before Apple launched its protection service in late 2022, such as passwords and iMessage and FaceTime messaging services, will remain encrypted. “We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the *** given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy,” Apple said in a statement. The change does not affect encryption of data stored directly on its devices, but in the era of large photo collections, huge messaging histories and regular phone upgrades, many users find it impractical to store all their data on their device alone. Device-only storage also means that if the device is lost or damaged, all of a user’s data could disappear, which drives many if not most consumers to opt for some form of cloud backup that now will be easier for British authorities to access. Security Concerns Law enforcement agencies have frequently targeted Apple services including iMessage through iCloud backups, which were not end-to-end encrypted before Apple offered Advanced Data Protection. Those backups – which can contain photos and other sensitive information and are widely used – can no longer be end-to-end encrypted for *** users, Apple said. While Apple cannot disable ADP for existing users as it does not hold encryption keys, it will prompt users to turn off the feature themselves. A spokesperson for Britain’s Home Office declined to comment on whether such an order had been issued. “We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices,” the spokesperson said. The Washington Post reported this month that Britain issued Apple a Technical Capability Notice, requiring access under the broad Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which allows law enforcement to compel firms to assist in evidence collection. Technical Capability Notices (TCNs) do not grant blanket access to users’ personal data, according to the government’s website. Even with a TCN in place, separate authorizations are still required to allow access to data. Australia has a similar law, and could follow Britain’s lead, said Joseph Lorenzo Hall, a distinguished technologist with nonprofit group Internet Society. “The one thing we see with Commonwealth countries is the second one does something, the others tend to do that. And so I would expect Australia to issue a Technical Capability Notice that probably mirrors this, given their own laws.” Hall also noted that Alphabet’s Android operating system also offers encrypted backups. Apple shares ended largely unchanged on Friday. The company has long resisted government efforts to weaken encryption, including in 2016 when US authorities tried to compel it to unlock the iPhone of a San Bernardino shooter. Efforts to subvert it date back to the 1990s, when former US President Bill Clinton’s administration first proposed adding a physical chip to computer hardware that would give cops and spies a way of eavesdropping on encrypted communications. The effort foundered, and strong encryption has since made its way into an increasing number of consumer services, including Apple’s iMessage, Zoom meetings, Meta’s WhatsApp and the privacy-focused app Signal. Some US officials have encouraged the use of encrypted services in the wake of December’s widespread Salt Typhoon hack on US telecommunications firms. Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, which has previously threatened to leave Britain over similar concerns, called Britain’s move “technically illiterate” and said that it would hurt the country’s efforts to cultivate its tech sector. “You can’t be tech-friendly while eroding the foundation of cybersecurity on which robust tech depends. Encryption is not a luxury – it is a fundamental human right essential to a free society that also happens to underpin the global economy,” Whittaker said. © Thomson Reuters 2025 (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source link #Apple #Pulls #Advanced #Data #Protection #Feature #Government #Demands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk said all federal workers must explain last week’s work. Key federal agencies are refusing to comply – WHYY Elon Musk said all federal workers must explain last week’s work. Key federal agencies are refusing to comply – WHYY Elon Musk said all federal workers must explain last week’s work. Key federal agencies are refusing to comply WHYYTrump appointees appear to contradict Musk for first time in pushback to OPM email CNNSome Agencies Urge Staff Not to Comply With Elon Musk’s Performance Email The New York TimesDOD tells civilian workforce to ignore Elon Musk’s request to report productivity Fox News Source link #Elon #Musk #federal #workers #explain #weeks #work #Key #federal #agencies #refusing #comply #WHYY Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airtel and Apple Partner to Bring Apple TV+, Apple Music Services to Postpaid and Wi-Fi Users Airtel and Apple Partner to Bring Apple TV+, Apple Music Services to Postpaid and Wi-Fi Users Bharti Airtel announced a strategic partnership with Apple on Monday to offer Apple TV+ access to its home Wi-Fi and postpaid users. The telecom service provider said that all Airtel Xstream Fiber users and postpaid mobile users can now access the entire content library of the Apple TV+ on opting for plans starting at Rs. 999. With this collaboration, Airtel has become the only Internet service provider to give access to the Cupertino-based tech giant’s streaming platform. Additionally, postpaid users will also get a limited ******* of free access to Apple Music. Airtel to Offer Apple TV+ and Apple Music to Xstream Fiber, Postpaid Users In a press release, the telecom operator officially announced the partnership highlighting that the company now has exclusive rights to offer Apple TV+ content to its users. All of its home Wi-Fi (Xstream Fiber) users can watch content from the streaming platform on plans starting at Rs. 999 and above. Airtel’s postpaid mobile users, on the other hand, will also get six months of free access to Apple Music alongside Apple TV+. These subscriptions will be available on the Rs. 999 plans and above. Here is a detailed breakdown of Airtel’s home Wi-Fi and postpaid plans that will offer access to Apple’s streaming platform: Home Wi-Fi Plans Plans Speed Linear TV Benefits OTT Benefits Rs. 999 Up to 200 Mbps – Apple TV+, ZEE5, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, 23+ OTTs and more Rs. 1,099 Up to 200 Mbps 350+ TV channels (HD included) Apple TV+, ZEE5, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, 23+ OTTs and more Rs. 1,599 Up to 300 Mbps 350+ TV channels (HD included) Apple TV+, ZEE5, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, 23+ OTTs and more Rs. 3,999 Up to 1 Gbps 350+ TV channels (HD included) Apple TV+, ZEE5, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, 23+ OTTs and more Postpaid Plans Plans Data Benefit Add-on SIMs OTT Benefits Rs. 999 150 GB 2 Apple TV+, Apple Music, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, Xstream Play Unlimited (20+ OTTs) and more Rs. 1,199 190 GB 3 Apple TV+, Apple Music, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, Xstream Play Unlimited (20+ OTTs) and more Rs. 1,399 240 GB 3 Apple TV+, Apple Music, Netflix Basic Unlimited, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, Xstream Play Unlimited (20+ OTTs) and more Rs. 1,749 320 GB 4 Apple TV+, Apple Music, Netflix Standard Unlimited, Amazon Prime, Jio Hotstar, Xstream Play Unlimited (20+ OTTs) and more Making the announcement, Siddharth Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer and CEO, Connected Homes, Bharti Airtel said, “This collaboration offers an extraordinary opportunity to millions of our Home Wi-Fi and Postpaid customers, giving them access to Apple’s premium content catalogue.” “The partnership aligns with our strategic goal of making award-winning content, stories and entertainment readily accessible, with something for everyone,” said Shalini Poddar, Director, Content and Services at Apple India. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Realme Neo 7x Key Specifications Revealed Ahead of February 25 Launch; to Get Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC Bybit Hit by Crypto’s Worst Hack With Almost $1.5 Billion Stolen Source link #Airtel #Apple #Partner #Bring #Apple #Apple #Music #Services #Postpaid #WiFi #Users Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Moise Kean: Fiorentina striker out of hospital after collapsing Moise Kean: Fiorentina striker out of hospital after collapsing Fiorentina striker Moise Kean has been discharged from hospital following tests after he collapsed on the pitch on Sunday. The Italy forward suffered a head injury during his side’s 1-0 defeat at Hellas Verona. Kean played on for six minutes after colliding with the knee of defender Pawel Dawidowicz. The former Everton and Juventus forward then lost his balance and fell to the floor in the 64th minute and was taken to hospital after being treated on the pitch. Fiorentina say the striker was released from a hospital in Verona “during the night” following the return of diagnostic test results. Sixth-placed Fiorentina are next in action against Lecce on 28 February but have not confirmed whether Kean will be available. The Italian is the club’s top scorer this season with 15 league goals. Source link #Moise #Kean #Fiorentina #striker #hospital #collapsing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Gamers Lounge Podcast Episode 278: “Muse Marvel” The Gamers Lounge Podcast Episode 278: “Muse Marvel” jcmeadows|5m ago|Podcast|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source On this episode the gang talks Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Eternal Strands, Doors: Paradox, Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH, Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy, BrokenLore: LOW, Xbox AI, State of Play and more! Nintendo Switch PC PS5 Xbox Series X the-gamers-lounge.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] the-gamers-lounge.com Source link #Gamers #Lounge #Podcast #Episode #Muse #Marvel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Review: A Versatile 2-in-1 Laptop Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Review: A Versatile 2-in-1 Laptop Asus is one of the few brands in the market that always thrives to deliver something unique to its customers. The company has been consistently launching laptops in different segments, whether be it productivity or gaming. This time, the brand has developed a new 2-in-1 laptop, Asus Vivobook 14 Flip. The newest laptop from the brand offers an interesting set of features and specifications that can bring a good level of productivity, a decent binge-watching experience, and the capability to run some casual games. So, with a price tag of Rs. 96,990, does it make sense to go with this 2-in-1 laptop? Let’s find out in this review. Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Design: Sleek and Lightweight Dimension – 312.6 x 221 x16.9mm Weight – 1.5kg Colours – Matte Gray Asus Vivobook 14 Flip is easily one of the most premium and compact laptops out there in this price segment. The laptop offers a sleek profile with just 16.9mm thinness, though the weight is around 1.5kg, which does not feel that heavy, to be honest. The laptop is available in a single Matte Gray colour option, which looks premium, to be honest. The Asus Vivobook 14 Flip comes with a 360-degree hinge that feels sturdy. The laptop has an aluminium body coupled with US MIL-STD 810H certification, making it a reliable and durable machine. Talking about the design aesthetics, the top lid offers a matte finish with the Asus Vivobook logo, which looks elegant. The lid looks sturdy, though there is a slight flex when you press it from the middle. Once you open the lid, you will find the Asus ErgoSense keyboard along with a large touchpad. The laptop also comes with a sturdy 360-degree hinge that offers on-point resistance. This makes it easier for you to even open the laptop with one finger. The hinge does not feel too tight or loose for the entire 360-degree motion. This also means that you can use the laptop in four different modes: Laptop mode, Stand Mode, Tent Mode, and tablet mode. The laptop can be used in four different modes: laptop mode, tent mode, stand mode, and tablet mode. These modes are quite fun to use. I usually use the Stand Mode to watch a quick episode and turn it back to laptop mode to start working. I also liked the fact that the Windows just seamlessly shift to tablet mode once you move the hinge post-180 degrees. However, there is also a downside to this hinge. Although it feels secure, the issue of screen wobble is there, which makes it sometimes a bit uneasy to use the touchscreen while using the laptop. As for the ports, the laptop offers a decent amount of ports for everyday usage. You get a USB Type-A port on the right side. On the left, there are multiple ports, including an HDMI 2.1 port, one Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, one microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. That said, the Asus Vivobook 14 Flip offers a sleek design language, which is a plus point in this price segment. Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Display: Vibrant Display – 14-inch OLED touchscreen Resolution – Full HD+ (1200×1920 pixels) Refresh Rate – 60Hz Coming to the display, the Asus Vivobook 14 Flip packs a decent display in a compact form factor. The device is loaded with Asus’ Luminous OLED panel that delivers good level saturations and colours. The text appears to be crisp, and the dynamic range also looks good. The colours appear to be vibrant while watching ‘The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse’ on Netflix. The display also has a 100 percent DCI-p3 colour gamut, DisplayHDR 500 True ******, and TUV Rheinland certification. The Asus Vivobook 14 Flip comes with a 14-inch Full HD+ OLED touchscreen display. The laptop comes loaded with up to 500 nits of peak brightness, which is good enough for the indoor work environment. You also work at a cafe with such brightness if you fully crank it up. That said, the screen is a bit reflective, which makes it difficult to use when the light source is directly behind you. On the other side, the screen only comes with a 60Hz refresh rate, which could be a bit higher to provide a much better and seamless scrolling and viewing experience. Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Keyboard, Touchpad, Speakers, and Webcam Keyboard – Backlit keyboard Webcam -Full HD+ IR camera Speakers – Dual Speakers The Asus Vivobook 14 Flip offers a backlit keyboard, which the brand calls ErgoSense. The keyboard performance is up to the mark. There is a decent amount of key travel, and the spacing between the keys is decent as well. The keyboard is also backlit, meaning that you can even work in dim lighting conditions. The latest laptop comes with backlit keyboard and a large touchpad The laptop also comes with a large touchpad slab, which comes with smart gestures to control brightness, volume, and other features. The overall performance of the touchpad is good as it is responsive and provides a good tactile experience when you press it. In terms of security, you get an IR-based camera for Windows Hello support. The IR-based Windows Hello feature works effortlessly, even when the lights are dim in the room. The FUll HD camera is also decent for video calls, and the dual microphone captures the sound nicely. The audio output on this machine is decent. The volume is good, though if you play music or watch a movie at full volume, you will feel some crankling sound, which somewhat spoils the mood. Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Software: Less Bloatware Operating System – Windows 11 Other Features – AI Cube In terms of software, the Asus Vivobook 14 Flip runs on Windows 11 operating system. The latest laptop from Asus is also a Co-Pilot Plus certified PC with a dedicated AI chip that offers up to 47 TOPS performance. So, yes, you can use the Co-pilot to find files, get answers to queries or adjust or manage some applications. AI usage is also present while using video calls. The laptop also comes with Asus StoryCube, an AI tool to manage your photos on the laptop. Moving on, we have the MyAsus application, which is a one-stop portal to monitor the performance of your laptop. You can run diagnoses, update drivers, keep a tab on different apps, and more. Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Performance: Top Notch Chipset – Intel Core Ultra 7 – 258V RAM – 16GB LPDDR5X ROM – 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD GPU – Intel Arc Graphics 140V Coming to the performance, the Asus Vivobook 14 Flip is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 – 258V processor that offers up to 4.8GHz of boost speed, 128MB cache, and more. The laptop also features 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. Benchmark Asus Vivobook 14 Flip HP Elitebook Ultra G1q Asus Zenbook S 16 (2024) Cinebench R23 Single Core 1427 1096 1917 Cinebench R23 Multi Core 9667 7457 15,776 Geekbench 6 Single Core 2690 2417 2,712 Geekbench 6 Multi Core 10625 14226 12732 PC Mark 10 6737 NA 4451 3DMark Night Raid 17848 26844 27,358 3DMark CPU Profile 5915 8779 7,446 3DMark Steel Nomad Light 1363 2096 3,287 CrystalDiskMark 6345.60 MB/s (Read)/ 4246.06 MB/s (Write) 6673.20 MB/s (Read)/ 4920.12 MB/s (Write) 5066.63 MB/s (Read)/ 3609.52 MB/s (Write) The laptop glides effortlessly during day-to-day tasks. So, whether it be scrolling on the web, watching movies, editing documents or photos, the laptop performance is stable in most cases. Even with heavy multitasking, like opening multiple Chrome tabs, playing YouTube, and writing an article on Microsoft Word, the laptop didn’t stutter. Moreover, with Intel Arc Graphics, you can also do some casual gaming with the laptop. I played Valorant with default medium settings and was able to get a stable 200fps during the gameplay. Interestingly, heat management is also good, and the laptop didn’t get too hot during intensive usage, which is nice. Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Battery: Impressive Battery Capacity – 70 Whr Lithium Polymer (Typical) Fast Charging – 65W USB Type-C Adapter The battery is another strong suit of the Asus Vivobook 14 Flip laptop. The device comes loaded with a 70Wh battery that is quite reliable and long-lasting. During my testing *******, I easily got 10 to 12 hours of screen time during my usage, which is a good thing. More importantly, the laptop also comes with a 65W fast charger that can easily charge the laptop in under two hours. Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (2025) Verdict The Asus Vivobook 14 Flip comes with a price tag of Rs 96,990. To conclude, the Asus Vivobook 14 Flip is a good attempt by the company to provide a practical 2-in-1 to the customers. The laptop offers a premium design that is also durable. The display is vibrant and offers rich colours. The performance is top-notch, and the dedicated NPU makes it future proof. So, if you are looking for a 2-in-1 laptop for productivity and some light gaming and your budget is under Rs. 1 lakh, then consider this model. Source link #Asus #Vivobook #Flip #Review #Versatile #2in1 #Laptop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ben O’Shea: Which candidate was camera-shy when polling booths opened today? Ben O’Shea: Which candidate was camera-shy when polling booths opened today? And they’re off! Early voting kicked off today in the 2025 State Election, and Ben O’Shea took his BYO democracy sausage to the seat of Churchlands, where Labor incumbent Christine Tonkin is fighting off Liberal Basil Zempilas and independent Lisa Thornton. All three candidates were at the polling place, so which one was camouflaged and refused to talk on camera? WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE Source link #Ben #OShea #candidate #camerashy #polling #booths #opened #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk doubles down on email ultimatum after agencies push back Musk doubles down on email ultimatum after agencies push back (NewsNation) — Elon Musk has reiterated the need for federal government employees to explain their weekly tasks as he and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) look to scale back operations. Musk, who was hand-picked by President Donald Trump to examine and cut federal spending, explained why he believes it is necessary on X on Sunday. “The reason this matters is that a significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all!” he said. What is DOGE, and what’s it doing? “In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks. In other words, there is outright fraud.” Musk announced on Saturday that civil servants will be asked to send an email explaining what they accomplished last week. Those who don’t comply will be fired, he said. The message told federal employees to “please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullet points of what you accomplished last week,” copying their manager, by 11:59 p.m. EST Monday. A growing list of agencies, including the Pentagon, FBI, State Department and Intelligence Community, on Sunday had told their employees to hold off. A source told NewsNation that nonpolitical appointees at one agency are being told by White House liaisons not to respond. Patel tells FBI employees to pause any responses to DOGE email Newly-appointed FBI Director Kash Patel sent a message to the FBI workforce on Saturday night telling them not to reply to the emails. In a memo obtained by NewsNation, Patel said the bureau would handle future responses to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) inquiries. “FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information,” Patel wrote in his message. “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures.” Hegseth defends Trump’s firings of Pentagon leaders and says there may be more dismissals “When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses,” Patel continued. “For now, please pause any responses.” Department of Defense tells employees to pause responses The Department of Defense shared a message to its employees on X, noting that it is responsible for reviewing employee performance. “When and if required, the Department will coordinate responses to the email you have received from OPM. For now, please pause any response to the OPM email titled ‘What did you do last week,’” Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Darin Selnick said in a statement. State Department says employees aren’t obligated to respond NBC News reported that the State Department also instructed its employees not to respond. “The State Department will respond on behalf of the Department. No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command,” read a notice from Tibor Nagy, acting under secretary for management at the State Department. Tulsi Gabbard says National Intelligence employees shouldn’t respond And the New York Times reported that National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard sent similar guidance to employees of agencies she oversees in the Intelligence Community (I.C.). Surviving ******: The story of Keith Siegel, an Israeli American hostage “Given the inherently sensitive and classified nature of our work, I.C. employees should not respond to the OPM email,” Gabbard reportedly wrote. National Treasury Employees Union employees advised not to respond A screenshot posted online shows an email the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) sent to its members saying employees were “strongly” advised to not respond to OPM’s request. “We are concerned about the implications of this request and are actively working to protect your rights and interests,” the NTEU said in a statement. DHS says it will handle responding to OPM The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has informed its employees that it will respond directly to the request, requiring no action from individual offices or staff. An internal email sent Sunday stated that DHS management would handle the response on behalf of the entire department and its component agencies. “No reporting action from you is needed at this time,” wrote Deputy Under Secretary for Management R.D. Alles, instructing employees to refrain from responding outside their DHS chain of command. The directive was also sent to federal air marshals, according to a member of the national council. Department of Health and Human Services backtracks, tells employees to ‘pause’ The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two conflicting emails to employees Sunday, according to a source who shared the messages with NewsNation. The first email, sent in the morning, confirmed that employees should respond to the “What did you do last week?” email. However, a second email sent in the evening reversed course, instructing employees to “pause” answering the OPM request, with further guidance expected around noon Tuesday. Another message to National Institutes of Health employees urged employees to hold off. NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Source link #Musk #doubles #email #ultimatum #agencies #push Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Infinix Note 50 Series to Reportedly Integrate the DeepSeek-R1 AI Model Infinix Note 50 Series to Reportedly Integrate the DeepSeek-R1 AI Model Infinix Note 50 series, which is confirmed to launch in Indonesia on March 3, will reportedly integrate the DeepSeek-R1 artificial intelligence (AI) model in the lineup. As per the report, the AI model will be integrated within the company’s native voice assistant, Folax, adding new capabilities to it. The consumer tech brand had revealed that the upcoming series will arrive with AI features but has not shared any details so far. Notably, the smartphone series will succeed the Infinix Note 40 lineup which was unveiled in April 2024. Infinix Note 50 Series Said to Get DeepSeek-R1 Capabilities A GSMArena report has claimed that the upcoming Infinix Note 50 series will feature capabilities of the DeepSeek-R1, which is a reasoning-focused AI model. Citing unnamed sources, the publication claimed that the reasoning model will be integrated into Infinix’s Folax voice assistant. Notably, it is said that AI capabilities will be available in all the smartphones in the series. Infinix is reportedly using the AI model to improve the capabilities of the voice assistant and during internal testing, it is said to have performed “impressively”. The publication claimed that the AI-enhanced Folax was able to better understand contextual user requests and voice commands, as well as was “noticeably faster” at handling searches. Further, Infinix will reportedly make an official announcement about the integration on Wednesday, February 26. The announcement could also include more information about the upcoming smartphone series. Notably, the Folax voice assistant was first introduced in September 2021, with the Infinix Zero X series. It functions like a typical voice assistant and can be activated by either long pressing the power button or by summoning it by using the activation phrase. Last week, the consumer tech brand announced that the Note 50 series will be launched in Indonesia on March 3. The company also teased the design of one of the models, showcasing a rectangular rear camera module with curved edges. The series was also teased to bring AI features, which could include the DeepSeek-R1 integration. The Infinix Note 50 Pro was reportedly spotted on Indonesia’s SDPPI certification site earlier this month, with the model number X6855. The certification did not reveal any other information about the specifications of the phone. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Infinix #Note #Series #Reportedly #Integrate #DeepSeekR1 #Model Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With Tariffs on the Horizon, Sony Moves Fast to Prevent Another PlayStation Supply Nightmare With Tariffs on the Horizon, Sony Moves Fast to Prevent Another PlayStation Supply Nightmare Ever since the PlayStation 5 (PS5) launched, Sony has been working tirelessly to make sure that it never faces another supply chain disaster, like the one that occurred with its release. The shortage left many gamers empty-handed for months and created a frenzy that saw high demand but very limited supply. The newly imposed tariffs might be a cause of concern for gamers. | Image Credit: Sony The company finally overcame that situation in 2023 with great efforts. Now, it looks like another potential disruption is on the horizon with President Trump’s proposed tariffs. However, this time, the company is acting early to prepare for any negative impact these tariffs have on its operations. The tariffs and how they will affect Sony’s PlayStation Companies need to prepare for the changes in import to the U.S. | Image Credit: Sony Under President Trump’s latest trade policy, a 10% tariff will be imposed on all imports from China, and a 25% tariff will apply to goods from Mexico and Canada. These tariffs are part of a broader effort to address trade imbalances and certain political concerns. These tariffs will have a significant impact on global industries, including gaming. While the digital sales of video games are not directly impacted by these tariffs, the price increase for physical consoles and their accessories could be substantial. Since the majority of PlayStation consoles are made in China, this new policy will have a significant impact on the price of the console in the U.S. The PS5 is already considered a premium-priced item, with the base model priced at $499, the digital version at $399, and the Pro version at $699. With the additional tariff, these prices would increase even further, making it more difficult for consumers to purchase the console at a reasonable price. The same goes for the accessories as well, which are also manufactured in China. Sony is already taking preemptive measures to counter the tariffs The company is preparing in advance for the upcoming tariffs. | Image Credit: Sony Having been burned by supply chain issues more than once, Sony is taking no chances this time. The company has already begun taking proactive steps to address any potential disruptions caused by the tariffs. In its recent earnings call, the company revealed various measures to mitigate the impact of the tariffs. These include implementing duplicate supply chains and stockpiling strategic inventory in the U.S. to weather the potential storm caused by newly imposed tariffs. Sony say they are creating duplicate supply chains and stockpiling inventory in the US to respond to potential US import tariffs on their hardware – Duplicate supply chains and increase supply chain flexibility – Stockpiling a certain level of strategic inventory in the US pic.twitter.com/X9XG5wS8Bu — Genki (@Genki_JPN) February 24, 2025 Whoever ain’t got a PS5 now in the US get one before the tariffs are active cuz even the old console already in the US we’ll see a price increase cuz they will try to recoup their future loss on the tariffs like every other company — Larry (@Alucardwar) February 24, 2025 Probably smart. Especially if anything is coming from China. — Slick (@KilzSlick) February 24, 2025 By increasing its stockpile in the U.S. the company is trying to prevent any global bottleneck that previously cripple the supply chain. This move not only secures availability in the short term but also acts as a buffer against the price increase caused by the added import taxes. This stockpiling will also give the company extra time to potentially increase its production capacity in other countries, like Japan, especially for the U.S. market. This way, the company will be able to ensure a proper flow of stock for the global (through China) and U.S. markets (through Japan). Sony’s quick response to the looming threat of tariffs is a smart move that shows it is learning from its past mistakes. All the affected companies should also look to prevent any impact by taking precautions early. In the end, as the gaming industry braces itself for the impact of the new trade tariffs, it is clear that Sony is not taking risks and wants to maintain its place at the top. Source link #Tariffs #Horizon #Sony #Moves #Fast #Prevent #PlayStation #Supply #Nightmare Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Measles, once eliminated in the U.S., sickens 99 in Texas and New Mexico – The Washington Post Measles, once eliminated in the U.S., sickens 99 in Texas and New Mexico – The Washington Post Measles, once eliminated in the U.S., sickens 99 in Texas and New Mexico The Washington PostUS measles outbreak leaves nearly 100 ill in Texas and New Mexico BBC.comTranscript: Dr. Scott Gottlieb on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Feb. 23, 2025 CBS NewsWhat to know about the measles outbreak in West Texas as cases rise to 90 PBS NewsHourMeasles warnings issued in San Antonio and San Marcos as Texas outbreak spreads | TPR Texas Public Radio Source link #Measles #eliminated #U.S #sickens #Texas #Mexico #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rangers sack Philippe Clement: Another new Ibrox manager needed Rangers sack Philippe Clement: Another new Ibrox manager needed And so it begins again – a new manager hunt leading to a new broom in the dressing room. Coaches moved out, coaches moved in, players exiting, others arriving, compensation, a new style of football, a fresh start. Another one. Clement bites the dust after Saturday’s pitiful home loss to St Mirren following on from the mortifying Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park, which came uncomfortably soon after dropped points against Dundee, Hibernian and Motherwell, which was just three days after, well, a defeat by St Mirren. Even those who presented boardroom insecurity, downsizing, poor recruitment and a mentally weak dressing room as a nuanced defence of Clement ran out of road. There is no comeback to some of the performances of late. No manager was likely to survive all those domestic losses and draws, even if there is a lot more to Clement’s failure than just Clement. The new manager will have to pick up the debris. He has a dressing room of doubtful character, players who can deliver against better opposition in Europe – when there’s no pressure and the game is open – while lacking the steel to see off weaker teams at home, when they have to win in a dogfight. Put simply, they can’t be trusted. Clement had big issues in plotting against domestic opponents who sat in all day, but to lay the blame solely at his door would be to give his fragile players – many on chunky salaries – a pass they do not deserve. Good players can problem-solve on the hoof. Frail ones look to the manager to do it for them. The Rangers dressing room has too many followers and nowhere near enough leaders. You would not want many of them in the trenches with you. It remains to be seen how many of them the new manager actually wants. No regime change comes cheap. As the lawyers go through the process of the club potentially changing hands, Rangers are locked in a vicious cycle. Managers come and go, but everything else stays the same. Source link #Rangers #sack #Philippe #Clement #Ibrox #manager #needed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]