Jump to content
  • Sign Up
×
×
  • Create New...

Pelican Press

Diamond Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    197,144

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

  • Feedback

    0%

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Pelican Press

  1. Pelican Press
    Cut Travis Kelce? Trade for Matthew Stafford? We proposed bold offseason moves for all 32 teams – ESPN Cut Travis Kelce? Trade for Matthew Stafford? We proposed bold offseason moves for all 32 teams – ESPN Cut Travis Kelce? Trade for Matthew Stafford? We proposed bold offseason moves for all 32 teams ESPN2025 NFL free agency: Five teams that could be hit hardest this offseason, including Cowboys and Eagles CBS Sports2025 NFL free agency: Players who could be overpriced/underpriced on the open market NFL.comNFL free agency: Top 10 storylines, including the Bengals’ spending and QB carousel Yahoo SportsWho Are the Top 100 NFL Free Agents For 2025? Chargers.com Source link #Cut #Travis #Kelce #Trade #Matthew #Stafford #proposed #bold #offseason #moves #teams #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  2. Pelican Press
    *** weather: Heavy rain and 70mph winds forecast as Met Office issues warnings *** weather: Heavy rain and 70mph winds forecast as Met Office issues warnings Saturday will be a quieter weather day with some sunshine and despite temperatures coming down to 10 to 14C, it should still feel pleasant enough. However, the weather turns wilder again for Sunday. With a deep area of low pressure moving close to the ***, winds will strengthen with heavy rain spreading to all parts. Met Office yellow warnings for wind and rain have been issued. For Northern Ireland, a wind warning from 03:00 to 15:00 GMT suggests gusts of 50-60mph (80-96km/h). For a larger area across Scotland and England, a yellow warning will be valid from 06:00 to 18:00 GMT. Gusts of up to 70mph (113km/h) are possible in more exposed areas. This could lead to some disruption, especially to travel. Heavy rain will also bring the risk of some localised flooding with a separate yellow warning for rain in South Wales, south-west England and south-west Scotland. Source link #weather #Heavy #rain #70mph #winds #forecast #Met #Office #issues #warnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  3. Pelican Press
    Madrid derby, Bayern draw Leverkusen in Champions Lge Madrid derby, Bayern draw Leverkusen in Champions Lge Champions League holders Real Madrid will play local rivals Atletico Madrid in the last 16 while Bayern Munich have been drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Bayer Leverkusen. Real thrashed Premier League champions Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate in the play-offs and will now make the trip across town to play Atletico, the side they beat in the 2014 and 2016 finals. Bayern Munich, who last won the title in 2020, take on Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen who pipped them to the Bundesliga title last season. Bayern lead Leverkusen by eight points this season and the two teams played out a goalless draw in the league last weekend. Group stage table-toppers Liverpool will travel to Paris St Germain for the first leg after the French side humiliated Brest with a 10-0 aggregate win in the play-offs. Barcelona will play Benfica while Arsenal were drawn against Eredivisie title challengers PSV Eindhoven. Aston Villa, who last played in the knock-out stage in 1983, have been drawn against Club Brugge while 2023 runners-up Inter Milan play Feyenoord. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST-16 DRAW Paris St Germain v Liverpool Club Brugge v Aston Villa Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal Benfica v Barcelona Borussia Dortmund v Lille Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen Feyenoord v Inter Milan * Team mentioned second play return leg at home QUARTER-FINAL DRAW QF1: PSG/Liverpool v Brugge/Villa QF2: PSV/Arsenal v Real/Atletico QF3: Benfica/Barcelona v Dortmund/Lille QF4: Bayern/Leverkusen v Feyenoord/Inter * Team mentioned second play return leg at home SEMI-FINAL DRAW Semi-final 1: QF2 winners v QF1 winners Semi-final 2: QF3 winners v QF4 winners * Team mentioned second play return leg at home DATES Last 16: March 4-5 and March 11-12 Quarter-finals: April 8-9 and April 15-16 Semi-finals: April 29-30 and May 6-7 Final: May 31 Source link #Madrid #derby #Bayern #draw #Leverkusen #Champions #Lge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  4. Pelican Press
    New form of crystal storage stores terabytes of data per square millimeter New form of crystal storage stores terabytes of data per square millimeter Earlier this month, researchers from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering demonstrated a technique that allows ones and zeroes to be made from atom-sized crystal defects, allowing for supreme density of “terabytes of bits within a small cube of material that’s only a millimeter in size,” per an interview with EENewsEurope. This quote comes from UChicago PME Assistant Professor and lab overseer Tian Zhong, who also explained that “Within that millimeter cube [where we’ve made charged atom-defect gaps “one” and uncharged gaps “zero”], we demonstrated that there are about at least a billion of these memories— classical memories, traditional memories— based on atoms.” Explaining some finer details of how all of this works, postdoctoral researcher and first listed author of the original paper, Leonardo França, stated, “We found a way to integrate solid-state physics applied to radiation dosimetry with a research group that works strongly in quantum, although our work is not exactly quantum. There is a demand for people who are researching quantum systems, but at the same time, there is a demand for improving storage capacity of classical non-volatile memories. And it’s on this interface between quantum and optical data storage where our work is grounded.” In other words, this work is derived from two key sources. Firstly, existing radiation dosimeters, which measure how much radiation people are exposed to in hospitals and particle accelerators. Secondly, existing research on quantum storage storing qubits instead of traditional bits already sees crystal defects used to make qubits. However, the methodology there doesn’t tend to involve applying a charge to those defects. We’ve also covered some other efforts at high-density storage on unconventional mediums before. Most relevant to this story is certainly the “5D memory crystals” touting the ability to achieve 360 terabytes in a 5-inch square…but considering the count of at least 2-3 terabytes within a 1 millimeter cube and the fact that 5 inches is about 127 of those…it would seem that these storage crystals are comparable if not even better than those. Unfortunately, no exact quote was provided on how many “terabytes” fit within a single millimeter cube. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #form #crystal #storage #stores #terabytes #data #square #millimeter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  5. Pelican Press
    Rivian shares are sliding after earnings. Here’s where analysts stand Rivian shares are sliding after earnings. Here’s where analysts stand Analysts were standing to the sidelines following Rivian Automotive’s latest quarterly results , as they see a tough growth path ahead for the automaker. Rivian shed more than 4% in the premarket Friday after it forecast lower deliveries in 2025. For the year, the company anticipates deliveries between 46,000 units and 51,000 units, lower than the 51,579 vehicles it delivered in 2024. That overshadowed Rivian reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter numbers. The company posted a loss of 46 cents per share on revenue of $1.73 billion for the *******, while analysts surveyed by LSEG had penciled in a loss of 65 cents per share on $1.4 billion in revenue. Following these results, Cantor downgraded the stock to neutral from overweight but upped its price target by $2 to $15, implying 10.2% upside from Thursday’s close. While the firm’s analysts were encouraged by its fourth-quarter results, they said they were discouraged by its 2025 delivery guidance. “We are also becoming more conservative in the near term, driven by lower delivery expectations and due to macro conditions including the implementation of incremental tariffs and the likely removal of the $7,500 EV Tax Credit,” the firm’s analysts wrote in a Friday note to clients. Other analysts, however, reiterated their current ratings, many of which were neutral or underperform-equivalent. Below is what those analysts had to say. Barclays rates Rivian equal weight, keeps price target at $14 The firm’s $14 price target reflects nearly 3% upside from Thursday’s close. “We believe 4Q results reflect a key step forward for RIVN, with improvements on vehicle cost, the emergence of a new revenue/profit stream (used car sales), and a sharp beat on FCF. Yet 2025 remains a key test for RIVN on execution.” Goldman Sachs maintains its neutral rating on Rivian, reiterates $14 target Its price target implies almost 3% upside ahead. “While we see positive signs for the long-term, Rivian is operating in a difficult industry backdrop for EVs (including potential headwinds from a policy perspective for EV demand and credits) and guided for lower yoy vehicle shipments in 2025. In addition, we believe it will be important to monitor if there is a change in Rivian’s ability to capture regulatory credit revenue longer-term, which the company expects to be about flat yoy in 2025 at $300 mn. Finally, we see a long path to positive FCF.” Jefferies rates Rivian as a buy, keeps price target of $17 Along with its bullish stance, its $17 price target reflects about 25% upside potential. “Rivian provided a downbeat demand outlook (midpoint -5%) that, to some degree, takes into account unfolding risks from shifting auto policy. Against that, Q4 results and guidance for 2025 continue to show improvement in costs and emerging software revenue (c.$1bn FY 25 and +ve contribution), though it’s still too tentative to frame a valuation for software.” Baird reiterates its neutral rating on Rivian, maintains $16 price target The firm has a $16 price target on the stock, which reflects more than 17% upside from here. “We speculate that bears may pick on this as regulatory credits were a material contributor; however, we note that management discussed this throughout 2024 as a source of revenue. Both autonomy and software & services were areas of increased interest on the call which we believe may become more prominent with the R2 launch still roughly a year away. We remain cautious near term given broad EV headwinds.” Bernstein rates Rivian underperform with price target of $6.10 Its $6.10 price target implies more than 55% downside ahead for the stock. “In our view guidance for 2025 is roughly in line with expectations, but the policy uncertainty surrounding future regulatory credit sales, and disbursement of the DOE loan puts Rivian in a delicate position.” Deutsche Bank keeps its hold rating on Rivian, raises price target to $14 The firm upped its price target to $14 from $12, reflecting nearly 3% upside from Thursday’s close. “While the core business continues to cut cost, we highlight that the partnership with VW remains key to Rivian’s ability to ramp up its next-gen platform starting in 2026. At the same time, we worry about the macro and policy environment as the consumer tax incentive could be eliminated under the new administration which could dampen demand and hurt operating leverage. To us, it is unclear how much Rivian is assuming from policy and tariff impacts.” Cantor Fitzgerald downgrades Rivian to neutral from overweight but raises price target to $15 from $13 “We continue to believe that RIVN benefits from a differentiated product offering, a material commercial partnership with Amazon, and a strategic joint venture with Volkswagen. We are encouraged by the company’s first positive gross profit, albeit this was driven primarily by the ***** of regulatory credits. However, we are discouraged by the company’s FY25 delivery guidance, which is lower than FY24 deliveries, and we expect fewer EDV deliveries in FY25.” Source link #Rivian #shares #sliding #earnings #Heres #analysts #stand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  6. Pelican Press
    Al-Mujahedeen: The fringe terror group behind ******* of Bibas children – Ynetnews Al-Mujahedeen: The fringe terror group behind ******* of Bibas children – Ynetnews Al-Mujahedeen: The fringe terror group behind ******* of Bibas children YnetnewsFate of Bibas Family Recalls Trauma of Oct. 7, Renewing Fears for Gaza Truce The New York Times’We don’t harm children’: Remembering ******’s lies on the fate of the Bibas family The Jerusalem PostNetanyahu, the Cowardly Cynic, Used and Abandoned the Bibas Family Haaretz Source link #AlMujahedeen #fringe #terror #group #******* #Bibas #children #Ynetnews Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  7. Pelican Press
    AI-Powered Evo-2 Model Generates DNA, Advances Genome Research AI-Powered Evo-2 Model Generates DNA, Advances Genome Research Breakthrough in AI-Driven Genome Design A new artificial intelligence model has been introduced, marking a significant advancement in biological research. Developed using a dataset of 128,000 genomes covering various life forms, this AI can generate entire chromosomes and small genomes from scratch. Researchers claim it has the potential to interpret non-coding gene variants associated with diseases, making it a powerful tool in genetic research. This development is expected to enhance genome engineering by facilitating a deeper understanding of DNA sequences and their functions. About the AI model According to a study published by the Arc Institute, the AI model, named Evo-2, has been developed in collaboration with Stanford University and NVIDIA. The model, which has been made available through web interfaces, provides researchers with the ability to generate and analyse DNA sequences. Patrick Hsu, bioengineer at the Arc Institute and the University of California, Berkeley, stated during a press briefing that Evo-2 is intended to serve as a platform that scientists can modify to suit their research needs. Trained on a Vast Repository of Genomes Unlike previous AI models that focused primarily on protein sequences, Evo-2 has been trained on genome data, encompassing both coding and non-coding sequences. This extensive training set includes genomes from humans, animals, plants, bacteria, and archaea, covering 9.3 trillion DNA letters. The complexity of eukaryotic genomes, which contain interspersed coding and non-coding regions, has been incorporated into Evo-2’s framework to enhance its ability to predict gene activity. Performance Evaluation and Capabilities Anshul Kundaje, computational genomicist at Stanford University, stated to Nature that independent testing would be required to fully assess Evo-2’s capabilities. Preliminary results suggest that it performs at a high level when predicting the effects of mutations in genes such as BRCA1, which is linked to breast *******. The model was also used to analyse the genome of the woolly mammoth, further demonstrating its ability to interpret complex genetic structures. Generating New DNA Sequences The AI has been tested in designing new DNA sequences, including CRISPR gene editors, as well as bacterial and viral genomes. Earlier versions of the model produced incomplete genomes, but Evo-2 has shown improvements by generating more biologically plausible sequences. Brian Hie, computational biologist at Stanford University and Arc Institute, mentioned that while progress has been made, further refinements are necessary before these sequences can be fully functional in living cells. Potential Applications in Genetic Research Researchers anticipate that Evo-2 will aid in designing regulatory DNA sequences that control gene expression. Experiments are already underway to test its predictions on chromatin accessibility, which influences cell identity in multicellular organisms. Yunha Wang, computational biologist and CEO of Tatta Bio, suggested that Evo-2’s ability to learn from bacterial and archaeal genomes could assist in designing novel human proteins. Future Prospects for AI in Genome Design Scientists involved in the project aim to push beyond protein design towards comprehensive genome engineering. With ongoing refinements and laboratory validations, Evo-2 may contribute to advancements in synthetic biology and precision medicine. The model’s role in understanding genetic regulation and designing functional DNA sequences is expected to grow as more researchers adopt and refine its capabilities. Source link #AIPowered #Evo2 #Model #Generates #DNA #Advances #Genome #Research Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  8. Pelican Press
    *********** Federal Police charge West *********** man with using social media to threaten parliamentarian *********** Federal Police charge West *********** man with using social media to threaten parliamentarian Police searched the man’s house, where they forensically reviewed electronic devices. Source link #*********** #Federal #Police #charge #West #*********** #man #social #media #threaten #parliamentarian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  9. Pelican Press
    Hello $599 iPhone 16e, RIP iPhone SE Hello $599 iPhone 16e, RIP iPhone SE Well we didn’t get the iPhone SE fourth-gen this week — instead Apple debuted the iPhone 16e, a $599 model based on the iPhone 14’s design. It has a 6.1-inch OLED screen and the A18 chip for Apple Intelligence, but should we really consider it a cheap iPhone? In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into the iPhone 16e and how it compares to the rest of the iPhone 16 family. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! This embedded content is not available in your region. Subscribe! Topics Apple unveils its SE successor, the iPhone 16e for $599 – 1:22 Trump administration planning on 25 percent tariffs on auto and semiconductor imports – 32:02 Acer to raise prices by 10 percent following tariff talk – 34:26 Humane AI sells to HP, pin will go offline February 28 – 36:42 Microsoft’s new quantum computing chip runs on topological qubits – 41:14 Working on – 47:28 Pop culture picks – 50:06 Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #iPhone #16e #RIP #iPhone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  10. Pelican Press
    ‘I was very, very lucky,’ man recalls events leading up to Manoa assault ‘I was very, very lucky,’ man recalls events leading up to Manoa assault MANOA, Hawaii (KHON2) — An investigation is underway after a man suffered multiple apparent stab wounds at Manoa Marketplace. Get Hawaii’s latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Honolulu police and Emergency Medical Services were called to the incident on Thursday, Feb. 20 shortly before 10:30 a.m. Tim and Carolyn Stanton, owners of Manoa School of Music and the Arts are counting their blessings after 79-year-old Tim was attacked inside the school. MFD: First responders on scene of Kaanapali explosion He said he went in early to hang an award then stepped out to go to the market. When he returned, he was jumped by an intruder. “I was lucky. I was very, very lucky,” he said. “I’d left some tools lying around because I was doing this job, and I had my toolkit, I had a tape measure, a hammer and an all AWL, which is a carpenter’s sort of device for making holes in the wall.” He said he was attacked with the all AWL in the right and left shoulder. “[He] was going for my face so I put my hand up and he stabbed me through the hand into the cheek and it hit the tooth,” Tim added. Tim screamed and the man ran off. Paramedics administered advanced life support for minor puncture wounds from the AWL the intruder used. Now, Tim and Carolyn want Alexander and Baldwin, Manoa Marketplace landlord, to step up security. “We need A&B’s help.” A&B issued the following statement: Shortly before 11:00 am, there was a report of an alleged incident at Manoa Marketplace. HPD responded, investigated and left the center at approximately 12:45 p.m. Any questions should be referred to HPD. A&B Spokesperson In the meantime, the owners said they are being proactive, purchasing external cameras to ensure care for parents and students. Check out more news from around Hawaii KHON2 has made an additional request to A&B regarding security and are waiting for a response. 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 KHON2. Source link #lucky #man #recalls #events #leading #Manoa #assault Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  11. Pelican Press
    Striking artworks reveal the beauty of mushrooms and other soil life Striking artworks reveal the beauty of mushrooms and other soil life Fly Agaric Marshmallow Laser Feast Soils around the world are polluted, worn out, over-fertilised and exhausted. How did we get to a place where we think of soil as dirt? Soils are buzzing with life, criss-crossed with a hard-to-fathom complexity of connections, a multitude of symbiotic partnerships between plant roots, mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Up to half of the living biomass of soils is composed of these networks. Soils soak up about a third of the carbon humans put into the atmosphere each year. They hold three times more carbon than living biomass above ground, and twice the amount in the atmosphere. We have to rediscover the vital importance of soil in our lives and in the planet’s future – and that is the aim of a new exhibition at Somerset House in London, SOIL: The World at Our Feet, co-curated by Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy, running until 13 April. Unearthed – Mycelium Jo Pearl/Elsa Pearl Pictured above is a ceramic representation of fungi and their mycelial network in soil: Unearthed – Mycelium by Jo Pearl, whose stated mission is “breathing life into clay and clay into life”. Pictured below is the work A Diversity of Forms. These stunning bacterial colonies were grown by Elze Hesse and photographed by Tim Cockerill. The main picture is Fly Agaric I, by art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast. This installation depicts living, pulsing underground symbiotic networks. “We can’t cherish what we don’t know,” says Pearl. “And if we are to save our soil, we must take a closer look at what is often dismissed as ‘dirt’ and realise our lives depend on its aliveness.” A Diversity of Forms. Dr Tim Cockerill Topics: Source link #Striking #artworks #reveal #beauty #mushrooms #soil #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  12. Pelican Press
    Elden Ring Nightreign’s Co-op Surprised Me—in a Good Way Elden Ring Nightreign’s Co-op Surprised Me—in a Good Way 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 #Nightreigns #Coop #Surprised #Mein #Good Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  13. Pelican Press
    BBC pulls Gaza film as it carries out checks over ****** links BBC pulls Gaza film as it carries out checks over ****** links Ian Youngs Culture reporter BBC/Amjad Al Fayoumi/Hoyo Films The BBC has removed a documentary about Gaza from its iPlayer streaming service while it carries out “further due diligence” after discovering its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a ****** official. The broadcaster has been criticised for Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, which centred on the son of ******’s deputy minister of agriculture. The BBC said it had not been informed of the family connection in advance by the film’s production company, which “had full editorial control”. The programme had initially remained available to stream, but was removed from iPlayer on Friday morning, with the BBC saying it would investigate the matter. A statement said: “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone features important stories we think should be told – those of the experiences of children in Gaza. “There have been continuing questions raised about the programme and in the light of these, we are conducting further due diligence with the production company. “The programme will not be available on iPlayer while this is taking place.” The decision comes after Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said on Thursday she would discuss the matter with the BBC’s director general and chairman, “particularly around the way in which they sourced the people who were featured in the programme”. A number of prominent TV figures including actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, Strike producer Neil Blair, former BBC One controller Danny Cohen and producer Leo Pearlman, had also written to the BBC to call for an investigation. They said: “Given the serious nature of these concerns, the BBC should immediately postpone any broadcast repeats of the programme, remove it from iPlayer and take down any social media clips of the programme until an independent investigation is carried out and its findings published with full transparency for licence-fee payers.” They raised concerns about the “editorial standards of this programme and the BBC’s compliance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, its own Editorial Guidelines and English law”, and asked the corporation to explain what had happened. “If the BBC was aware that Abdullah Al-Yazouri was the son of a terrorist leader, why was this not disclosed to audiences during the programme?” they asked. “If the BBC was not aware that Abdullah Al-Yazouri is the son of a terrorist leader, what diligence checks were undertaken and why did they fail?” The BBC initially kept the programme on iPlayer but added a message at the start reading: “The narrator of this film is 13-year-old Abdullah. His father has worked as a deputy agriculture minister for the ******-run government in Gaza. “The production team had full editorial control of filming with Abdullah.” ****** is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the ***, Israel and others. The documentary, which aired on BBC Two on Monday, was made by Hoyo Films, which has not commented. Source link #BBC #pulls #Gaza #film #carries #checks #****** #links Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  14. Pelican Press
    Apple reveals its new cheapest iPhone. What’s missing? Apple reveals its new cheapest iPhone. What’s missing? If you couldn’t stomach $800 for a new iPhone with Apple Intelligence, don’t worry: Apple just announced the iPhone 16e. At $599, it strikes a balance on specs, which is the soft and cosy way to say it doesn’t have everything. It has a lot, though. With a 6.1-inch screen, it’s a much ******* device than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE, with a notch for FaceID (no more TouchID), USB-C (adios, Lightning) and the company’s A18 processor. There’s also an action button, which arrived with the iPhone 15 series, but no Camera Control. Apple That’s the same processor as the $800 iPhone 16, so you’ve got access to what seems to be the full gamut of Apple Intelligence. That includes generative AI writing tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence and ChatGPT integration. So yeah, a mixed bag. The notable hardware standout might be the single 48-megapixel Fusion camera, at a time when ‘pro’ iPhones have three. The last time I tested a single-camera smartphone was the Pixel 4a back in 2020. Oh, and the last iPhone SE. Apple has dropped both wireless charging and MagSafe’s magnetic ring for the iPhone 16e too, which is a surprise. I’m not a huge fan of wireless charging. It’s slow, inefficient and confusing. Having said that, I hope this isn’t the beginning of the end for Apple’s wireless charging feature. I love the mag part of MagSafe, which has introduced far more elegant tripods and phone mounts that lock iPhones in place without needing a clamp or a plug. In recent years, we’ve got unofficial MagSafe cases for other smartphones, so I can do the same with my Android phones. The iPhone 16e lands on February 28 in ****** and white, but don’t worry, there will be fizzy color cases. Even if they don’t have MagSafe. (And kudos to this hilariously timed discount on the Pixel 8a, now only $399. I love a good troll deal.) — Mat Smith Get this delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! HP has bought the company’s IP, but it doesn’t want the pins. Engadget The company behind the widely ridiculed AI assistant badge/thing has sold all its assets to HP for $116 million — not the billion-dollar buyout it hoped for. In a note to its customers, the company said AI Pins will “continue to function normally” until 12PM PT on February 28, less than a week from now. Customers still within the 90-day return window (why did you buy it?!) will get a refund. Continue reading. And a price tag to match the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Engadget Oppo’s Find N5 is thinner than a headphone jack when unfolded and weighs only 229 grams. That’s just a few more than a typical flagship phone. Despite that footprint, it packs a 6.62-inch outer display and an 8.12-inch inner screen, with a seven-core Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and a 5,600mAh battery, which supports 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. It’s technically impressive, but there’s no word on when the device will make it to the US. Typically, the devices hit the US under OnePlus branding, but that company says there will be no OnePlus Open 2 this year, so you may have to go out of your way to get your hands on one. Also, expect to pay just shy of $2,000. Continue reading. The biggest tech stories you might have missed Source link #Apple #reveals #cheapest #iPhone #Whats #missing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  15. Pelican Press
    Our Brains, Our Selves review: Riveting case studies show how neurology shapes us Our Brains, Our Selves review: Riveting case studies show how neurology shapes us What marks out individuals from each other? Is it possible to change personality overnight? Neil Massey/Millennium Images, *** Our Brains, Our Selves Masud Husain (Canongate Books) What makes us who we are? Most of us ask this question at least once in our lifetimes. Personally, I wonder about it all the time. As an extrovert, much of my identity is built around being outgoing and friendly: these traits make me, me. But where do they come from? How durable are they? Could I wake up one day as someone who is reserved, quiet and calm? It is an unnerving thought.… Source link #Brains #review #Riveting #case #studies #show #neurology #shapes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  16. Pelican Press
    Lotto: One *********** scoops division one win worth $1 million in Millionaire Medley game Lotto: One *********** scoops division one win worth $1 million in Millionaire Medley game One lucky *********** has secured a life-changing win in Friday’s Millionaire Medley draw. The Lotto player will be walking away with a cool $1 million after matching six winning numbers. Six punters — including two West Aussies — scored division two wins to the tune of $14,352.55. An additional 161 players will be celebrating a handy cash boost of more than $820 each. The winning numbers for draw #4511 are 7, 10, 14, 34, 21 and 23 The supplementary numbers 41 and 25. Lotto luck comes after a par of twin brothers from Perth became WA’s first Set for Life division one winners of 2025. It was the first set of twins Lotterywest staff had seen walk through their door to claim the prize. Source link #Lotto #*********** #scoops #division #win #worth #million #Millionaire #Medley #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  17. Pelican Press
    AI can decode digital data stored in DNA in minutes instead of days AI can decode digital data stored in DNA in minutes instead of days DNA can store digital data, such as visual and audio files Science Picture Co / Alamy Artificial intelligence can read data stored in DNA strands within 10 minutes rather than the days required for previous methods, bringing DNA storage closer to practical use in computing. “DNA can store vast amounts of data in an extremely compact form and remain intact for thousands of years,” says Daniella Bar-Lev at the University of California, San Diego. “Additionally, DNA is naturally replicable, offering a unique advantage for long-term data preservation.” But retrieving the information encoded within DNA is a monumental challenge because the strands are mixed and jumbled together when stored. During the data-encoding process, individual strands are sometimes replicated imperfectly, and some fragments may be lost entirely. As a result, reading data stored in DNA can resemble reconstructing a book from a box filled with shredded, typo-ridden pages. “Traditional methods struggle with this chaos, requiring days of processing,” says Bar-Lev. The new approach “streamlines this with AI trained to spot patterns in the noise”, she says. Bar-Lev and her colleagues developed an AI-powered method called DNAformer that can quickly and accurately decode jumbled DNA sequences. The system includes a deep learning AI model trained to reconstruct DNA sequences, a separate computer algorithm that identifies and corrects errors and a third decoding algorithm that converts everything back into digital data while fixing any remaining mistakes. In experiments, DNAformer could read 100 megabytes of DNA-stored data nearly 90 times faster than the next fastest method – which was developed with traditional, rules-based computing algorithms – while achieving better or comparable accuracy. The decoded data included a coloured image of test tubes, a 24-second audio clip of astronaut Neil Armstrong’s famous moon landing speech and written text about why DNA is a promising data storage medium. The team plans to develop versions of DNAformer tailored to newer techniques for encoding data into DNA, says Omer Sabary at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. “Crucially, because our approach does not rely on specific [DNA] synthesis or sequencing methods, it can be adapted to future, as-yet-undeveloped technologies that may be more commercially viable,” he says. Topics: Source link #decode #digital #data #stored #DNA #minutes #days Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  18. Pelican Press
    Wendy’s Is Making a Big Change to How Customers Order Meals—Here’s What You Need to Know Wendy’s Is Making a Big Change to How Customers Order Meals—Here’s What You Need to Know Wendy’s is rolling out some major changes to its drive-thru system, a push that aims to expand the use of its current AI voice assistant to hundreds more stores by the end of the year. The popular fast food chain began using a new AI assistant in 2023 to take drive-thru orders at nearly 100 of its 6,000 U.S. restaurant locations. Now, almost two years later, Wendy’s plans to expand its use of AI to upwards of 600 locations by the end of 2025. The ordering assistant used by Wendy’s was created in collaboration with Google Cloud and has been named FreshAI, CEO Kirk Tanner revealed during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on February 13. According to Tanner, who claims to test the AI assistant out himself a few times a week, FreshAI “gives customers the opportunity to build their orders” and “understands what to ask for.” SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter As is the case with most AI systems, accuracy is a big focus point for Wendy’s’ new assistant. Tanner noted that the ordering process “definitely is improving,” saying that if the introduction of the voice assistant goes smoothly this year, the chain might expand its use to the entire Wendy’s network. “It’s got a bright future,” Tanner said, “and we’re moving forward.” Related: Starbucks Just Made This Big Change to How Customers Receive Their Drinks—Here’s What You Need to Know Naturally, Wendy’s customers are turning up with mixed reviews on the current use and potential expansion of FreshAI. A post shared to the Wendy’s subreddit reveals whole discussions taking place on the matter, with fans weighing in with both good and bad things to say about AI in the workplace. “Hardee’s does this in my area and it’s the worst. Makes it hard to customize,” noted one reluctant fan. “And the prices won’t go down,” another chimed in. “The AI order takers are garbage and get the order wrong so often, I’ve had to have an employee start taking my order instead,” another Reddit user wrote. However one optimistic reader had this to say: “Once the tech is better, this should be a good thing. It’s hard to hear people sometimes.” Related: Wendy’s Fans Are ‘Super Excited’ About Reported Frosty Update While Wendy’s is doing what every major brand would do by streamlining business and expanding profits, customers rightfully feel as though the brand should spend a little more time on other issues, such as prices. And as for Wendy’s employees, the new AI assistant doesn’t necessarily make their job a dream either. As we saw recently with Dunkin’s AI ordering kiosk, outdated menus, system bugs and broken kiosks have all led to more chaos during peak hours, leaving employees overworked and stressed when they otherwise should not be. We’ll have to see how Wendy’s handles these unique issues moving forward, as the new AI system is inevitably on a takeover path whether we like it or not. Up Next: Related: Starbucks Fans Are Riled Up As Customers Are Now Limited to How Much Can Be Ordered Through the App Source link #Wendys #Making #Big #Change #Customers #Order #MealsHeres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  19. Pelican Press
    Apple’s Vision Pro has a problem a year into existence: Too few apps Apple’s Vision Pro has a problem a year into existence: Too few apps Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) takes a selfie with a greets customers on arrival for the release of the Vision Pro headset at the Apple Store in New York City on February 2, 2024. Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images When Apple revealed the Vision Pro in 2023, it called the $3,500 headset its next “major platform.” Two years later, and a year after going on *****, the device is thin on apps. Apple doesn’t regularly release stats on the number of Vision Pro apps that are available, and it’s hard to tell how many new apps come out in any given month. According to consultancy AppFigures, which tracks Apple’s platforms, the number of new Vision Pro apps has declined every month since the device hit the market in February 2024. When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, executives said that developers would be able to create new experiences that weren’t possible with traditional computers. But so far, top developers remain mostly focused elsewhere, and major tech companies like Google, Meta and Netflix have yet to release their most important apps for the headset. Many of the new apps and ideas for the Vision Pro are coming from independent developers, hacking on the weekends while holding down day jobs. One person in the indie camp is Adam Roszyk, a programmer in Poland who has created 17 Vision Pro apps since the headset was first released. For $4, Roszyk’s Night Vision app lets a Vision Pro user tap the depth-sensing cameras of the device to see objects in the dark. If you spend $5, you can perform a chore in a Luigi’s Mansion-like video game using the app Vacuume, which overlays virtual coins on your floor that you can vacuum up, along with any real dirt or dust. And for $6, Roszyk’s app Scan Export lets users create a 3D digital scan of an entire building just by walking around, a useful tool for those in construction or real estate. “We are still early, and we don’t really know how it can be really useful in your life,” Roszyk said. “There’s so many different ideas that just come to your mind.” Roszyk continues to work on Vision Pro apps because he said he believes “spatial computing” — Apple’s preferred terminology for headset and glasses technology that can integrate 3D objects with the world around them — will be the next big platform. Roszyk is betting that developing apps now can put him in prime position when more people are walking around with a Vision Pro or, perhaps some day, lightweight glasses. “This type of computing is the future,” Roszyk said. “I would definitely compare it to the first iPhones.” Roszyk’s efforts have made him money, but not enough for Vision Pro development to become his full-time job. His 17 apps have cleared about $4,000 on the App Store in the last three months. That number is growing as he releases more apps and more people find out about them, Roszyk said. Apple updated its most recent Vision Pro app count in August, with CEO Tim Cook telling investors on an earnings call that the platform had 2,500 apps. That number covers fully immersive apps that overlay virtual objects over the real world as well as 2D apps with some spatial components. By AppFigures’ count, less than 1,900 of these apps remained active at the end of January. Apple declined to comment. Rival Meta in 2023 said that it had 500 apps in its Quest store, and the company last year said that number had multiplied by 10. The Quest 3S, which has many of the same features as the Vision Pro, starts at $300. Meta also sold millions of its predecessors in recent years. While Meta hasn’t revealed how many users it has, its Meta Quest app was downloaded about 6 million times in 2024, according to AppFigures data, a useful proxy because users need to download the app in order to set up the headset. There are also about 1.5 million Vision Pro apps that are ported versions of iPhone and iPad apps. Apple automatically ports iPhone and iPad apps to the Vision Pro when they’re uploaded, but companies can decline. Those apps can be used inside the headset but appear as 2D flat screens. Meta started to emulate that strategy last year with 2D Android apps for Quest, but the company doesn’t have the same library of millions of existing mobile apps. Apple doesn’t publish Vision Pro sales, but one estimate from IDC suggests fewer than 1 million devices have been sold. Some services like Netflix and YouTube, and game streaming services like Nvidia GeForce Now can be accessed through the Apple Vision Pro’s browser. And existing apps often receive updates that introduce a spatial mode, such as the NBA scores app, which recently got an experimental feature that allows users to watch a live basketball game as if the players were miniature figurines on a table. Apple Arcade, a monthly game subscription from Apple, does require that its titles support the Vision Pro in addition to iPhones and iPads. Apple Arcade developers are paid by Apple and their apps are free to subscribers. Although many of those games are 2D, some are exclusive to the Vision Pro. In January, Apple released Gears & Goo, a Vision Pro app that enables the player to control an army of goofy frog-like characters on a table in the real world. Meanwhile, Meta is actively courting VR developers with a promise that they can make money. Meta in January said that its payment volume for Quest headsets rose by 12% last year, although it didn’t cite a total number. Meta has also said it has 200 apps that have made more than $1 million through software sales. No iPhone-like app gold rush The Apple Vision Pro headset is displayed at the Fifth Avenue Apple store on Feb. 2, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images The Vision Pro app gold rush has seen slower uptake than the iPhone’s app *****. A year after the iPhone App Store was launched in 2008, Apple was crowing about the platform having 50 million customers, 2 billion downloads and 85,000 apps. Apple regularly told investors and developers how much money it had paid from App Store sales — it hasn’t released any similar stat for the Vision Pro. Many in the VR industry hoped Apple’s entry would kick off a ***** like the iPhone did for mobile apps, creating fortunes as millions of users sought to fill their new devices with fresh software. “My assumption back then was whatever Apple releases might be in that final form, so it’s a good idea to be ready as early as possible,” said Nikhil Jacob, who runs Vision Uni, which publishes content about developing apps for the Vision Pro. “But my assumption there ended up being wrong.” Jacob said he believes that an app developer ecosystem for the Vision Pro will take a lot longer to build out than it did for the iPhone because key pieces are missing. Jacob hopes Apple improves the Vision Pro app store to help users find new apps. The slow uptake, due largely to the high price tag, has led some to worry that VR and its related technologies are once again entering a lull. “Winter has come,” said Jarrett Webb, who develops headset apps for Argo Design, a software consultancy. “Even Apple couldn’t produce a winner.” Still, some optimism remains among Vision Pro developers. They say that Apple’s hardware is solid, the company’s developer tools are improving, and that the Vision Pro lays the groundwork for future software and hardware updates. It also helps that Vision Pro owners still seem to be excited to try out new apps. Apple’s entry into the headset market, combined with Google’s recent announcement of its own Android XR platform, as well as Meta’s billions of dollars of investment signals that there will be a market for VR content, said John Gearty, who worked on the Vision Pro at Apple and is the founder of PulseJet Studios, a VR production house focusing on music. Gearty is hoping for steady growth from the market, but he has tempered his expectations. “I don’t think it’s ever going to be hockey stick growth,” he said. Apple has not said if it will update the Vision Pro. According to analysts, the company is working on a successor. Developers want it to be lighter and less expensive. They welcome any improvements that would get it on more faces. “Over time, everything gets better, and it too will have its course of getting better and better,” Cook told The Wall Street Journal in October. “I think it’s just arguably a success today from an ecosystem-being-built-out point of view.” — CNBC’s Jonathan Vanian contributed to this report. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Apples #Vision #Pro #problem #year #existence #apps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  20. Pelican Press
    Senate GOP adopts budget blueprint to advance Trump agenda, setting up clash with House Republicans – CNN Senate GOP adopts budget blueprint to advance Trump agenda, setting up clash with House Republicans – CNN Senate GOP adopts budget blueprint to advance Trump agenda, setting up clash with House Republicans CNNSenate border budget triumphs after all-night session while Trump-backed House bill lags Fox NewsSenate Passes G.O.P. Budget Plan After Democrats Force Long Night of Votes The New York TimesSenate GOP advances Trump’s backup budget after grueling all-nighter Axios Source link #Senate #GOP #adopts #budget #blueprint #advance #Trump #agenda #setting #clash #House #Republicans #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  21. Pelican Press
    A landscape forever altered? The LockBit takedown one year on A landscape forever altered? The LockBit takedown one year on Wednesday 19 February 2025 marked the first anniversary of Operation Cronos, a multinational cyber law enforcement action led by the ***’s National Crime Agency (NCA) with support from global partners, which disrupted the activities of the notorious LockBit ransomware crew in a targeted operation that has had a lasting impact on the ransomware economy. Looking back to 2023 and earlier, LockBit’s effectiveness and influence cannot be understated. According to the Counter Threat Unit (CTU) at Secureworks, now part of Sophos, LockBit attacks accounted for 25% of all listed victims on ransomware leak sites in 2023, with its closest competitor at the time, ALPHV/BlackCat, managing just 12%. LockBit targeted organisations across Britain and around the world, with its arguably most prominent *** victim the Royal Mail, which rejected an extortion attempt of more than £60m – described at the time as “absurd” – after the crew’s ransomware downed IT systems at its Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre in January 2023, paralysing international deliveries for weeks. Coup de grâce Reflecting on the success of Operation Cronos, Secureworks CTU senior researcher Tim Mitchell said: “When we coordinated our research alongside law enforcement’s seizure of the LockBit leak site on February 19, 2024, we knew it was a significant moment in time in the fight against cyber criminals. “It was the first step in a steady march of operations against ransomware, its enablers and cyber crime more broadly. And the most obvious result is the mark it’s left on the landscape, with affiliates scattering to new schemes or turning to independent operations.” Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s cyber crime unit, said that during the investigation leading up to Operation Cronos, he too had a distinct feeling that the agency was on the verge of a significant coup de grâce. “We knew, in the context of ransomware, that we had a unique opportunity to have a significant impact on the threat,” he told Computer Weekly. “How often do you get the opportunity to look at the threat landscape and say we can probably take out – if we do it well and right – 25% of that threat?” Greg Linares, now principal threat analyst at US-based managed security platform provider Huntress but at the time working elsewhere, also remembers the events of 19 February clearly. “We had a feeling this was going to occur,” he said. “We had FBI contacts that we worked with… But we didn’t know how big it was going to be. And it was a massive operation, it was really well executed.” But of course the immediate headline action was only part of the story, and much hinged on delivering the right blows at the right time to maximise the hoped-for results – not to do so would risk things backfiring, or missing the opportunity altogether. To get the best results, the NCA elected to significantly broaden the scope of its activity against the gang. “We could have put everything into trying to find out who was behind LockBit and effectively take out the kingpin,” said Foster. “Similarly, we could have gone down a technical route and taken down the leak site, their splash pages, etcetera. Alternatively, we could have gone out and hoovered up lots of people and tried to make arrests all around the world, and indict people and sanction people. “Actually, it was a combination of all of those things delivered in a sequenced way, combined with a very clear public articulation of what we’d done, and that together delivered a significant disruptive effect.” Foster also singles out the work of the NCA’s partners, security researchers, the wider private sector industry, and even the technology and national media whose reporters swarmed the story in short order, for amplifying the impact of Operation Cronos, and even building on it. “All of that together said that good quality cyber crime operations in the future need to be multifaceted, not linear. I think it was the multifaceted nature of Operation Cronos that was one of the key reasons as to why it was so successful.” Keeping up the pressure After the first flush of excitement had faded and the news stories started to drop off the top of Google searches, Operation Cronos kept on keeping on, with the NCA and others – particularly its US partners – keeping up a constant drumbeat of anti-ransomware law enforcement activity. Over the course of 2024 further announcements, indictments, and even arrests, were made against LockBit and its affiliates. Significantly, the investigators named-and-shamed LockBit ringleader LockBitSupp as a Russian national named Dmitry Khoroshev. The authorities also proved long-suspected links between the gang and the Russian government after demonstrating connections between LockBitSupp and Evil Corp’s Maksim Yakubets, who likely had access to senior Kremlin officials through his father-in-law, an ex-intelligence man, and may even have received tasking from Russia’s spy agencies. Other operations also targeted leak site operators and the money launderers who helped the likes of LockBit wash its ill-gotten gains. Most recently, in February 2025 the British government announced sanctions against Russian infrastructure services provider Zservers and its *** representative, XHOST, the “bulletproof” hosting service that allegedly facilitated LockBit attacks against targets in the ***. “The most obvious result is the mark it’s left on the landscape, with affiliates scattering to new schemes or turning to independent operations,” said Mitchell at Secureworks. “With these disruptions to the status quo, it has added friction and increased the cost for the cyber criminals, which ultimately makes such operations more challenging to successfully execute. The more collaboration we see across the industry and with law enforcement will lead to making it harder for cyber criminals to succeed.” Foster added: “Our overall assessment of the threat landscape for ransomware is that it has plateaued, but not decreased. That’s good news though, because it was accelerating at some rate. In the run up to our LockBit disruption, it was unequivocally true that the threat from ransomware was going up and up.” That ransomware attacks have levelled off in their volume is not just a consequence of Operation Cronos, said Foster, but also a reflection of other operations conducted last year, and significantly increased awareness of the ransomware threat in relevant stakeholder communities, which is to say, among CISOs and others empowered to take steps to address the threat. However, said Foster: “I am concerned that it [the ransomware threat] will continue to rise in the future, and I think we would reasonably expect it to unless we can continue to maintain our disruptive impact and disruptive effect, which means more of these operations, fundamentally based on more joint collaboration and information sharing across law enforcement, with government partners [and] between the public and the private sector. “This is never a one organisation mission, without a doubt. It’s everybody’s challenge. And I think if we can keep that up, hopefully we can continue to suppress the threat.” Evidence gleaned through Secureworks’ telemetry at first glance supports the plateauing of ransomware attack volumes, but it also reveals that even though LockBit’s demise did cause a slowdown in the wider landscape, December and January bucked the trend with a 61% year-on-year increase in the number of victims listed on leak sites in December, and an 80% increase in January. Also noteworthy is a significant increase in the number of operational gangs, said Mitchell. So, what is going on here? The first months of the year invariably see the publication of multiple annual threat and ransomware reports from security suppliers – which usually say exactly the same thing – Mitchell explained, and in early 2025, most of them pointed to a fragmentation of the ecosystem, which tracks with the idea that many individuals associated with LockBit have scattered to the four winds. “The increase through the year in the number of schemes operating is indicative of that fragmentation in the landscape. And it’s important to remember that a victim is named on a leak site when they haven’t paid a ransom, so an increase in victim numbers could mean that the number of victims paying is actually decreasing,” he said. Ransomware gangs show their resilience On the flipside, Linares at Huntress said that, unfortunately, LockBit also proved more defiant and resilient than many had hoped. “It’s interesting how LockBit has handled this takedown. It [Operation Cronos] was very successful but as we all know, LockBit hasn’t gone away,” he said. “They have put themselves back together again. They have reformed and stayed vigilant and persistent. “That’s a testament to how well they’re able to perform their activities. Unlike many other groups, they are well organised and this is not their first rodeo.” He said other gangs, such as RansomHub, Play, and even Cl0p, have all incorporated elements of LockBit’s playbook into their own, and learned lessons from its downfall. One notable effect of this is likely a widely observed decrease in dwell times, the amount of time between when ransomware gangs first access a future victims’ network and when they execute their attack. “We’ve [also] seen groups even skip out of ransomware entirely now and just go for straight extortion, because they find out that they’re getting caught at the level when they drop ransomware. LockBit has absolutely fuelled some of these trends,” said Linares. Foster at the NCA is sanguine on the fact that the LockBit gang – or people claiming to be associated with them – still pop up regularly, often trying to counter the NCA’s narrative with their own viewpoints, and recently teasing a return to ‘business’ and a new locker malware, LockBit 4.0. “When we did this we knew we would never be able to obliterate LockBit completely because of course, there’s legacy code, once something’s online it is, to a degree, permanently so, and it’s very easy for people to adopt the brand or try to find new things they could put out there. We accept the fact there will always be a bit of a legacy of LockBit floating around the system,” he said. “I think what’s clear though is that whatever it is that’s left of LockBit, through a cyber criminal lens, has got very little credibility if any. That plays out in what we’re seeing in the victim reporting, certainly in the ***. “I understand LockBit recently launched its new version a couple of weeks ago. We’re not seeing any effect from that. There hasn’t been a known, reported LockBit attack in the *** for over four months now and our international partners are seeing similar trends,” he added. This is not to say no LockBit ransomware attacks are taking place. Linares said that while the NCA operation credibility damaged the credibility of LockBit and LockBitSupp, even now there’s still some gang activity. “We have seen them in government and hospitals, mostly,” he said. “One thing that has happened post-their takedown is they started only going after targets that were much larger – to help their credibility and also to help them recoup money and lost income.” A couple of weeks ago, he said, Huntress started to see evidence of the previously-trailed version of LockBit 4.0, now dubbed LockBit Green – a LockBit 4.0 ****** version may also be available according to some sources – being used in the wild. “We’re starting to see some activity there. So, I believe while [Operation Cronos] helped discredit LockBitSupp … unfortunately they’re still ransoming people,” said Linares. Ransomware is not going away The jury is still out on whether or not LockBit 4.0 is a severe threat, but Secureworks’ Mitchell said we must remember the wider ransomware threat has not gone away. “Far from it,” he said. “Although the impact of such attacks on individual victims might be reduced, experiencing a ransomware incident is still a very bad day in the office. “Organisations should be prioritising the basics including regularly patching internet-facing devices, implementing phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication [MFA] as part of a conditional access policy, and monitoring the network and endpoints for malicious activity. “Organisations should also have an incident response plan in place, battle-tested regularly to ensure they’re prepared to respond a cyber attack with speed and precision,” he said. Foster also urges defenders to prioritise their own cyber resilience and ransomware response plans, describing law enforcement as merely one weapon in the fightback, albeit a very important one. “We will never not keep an eye on LockBit, that would be naïve, but there are other ransomware strains that my team and I are far more concerned about at the moment,” he concludes. Source link #landscape #altered #LockBit #takedown #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  22. Pelican Press
    Who could Arsenal face in Champions League last 16? Potential opponents for draw today – Evening Standard Who could Arsenal face in Champions League last 16? Potential opponents for draw today – Evening Standard Who could Arsenal face in Champions League last 16? Potential opponents for draw today Evening StandardArsenal to face PSV in Champions League last-16 Arsenal.comChampions league draws: Liverpool to meet PSG, Arsenal face PSV BBC.comChampions League draw live updates: Arsenal get PSV, Real Madrid to face Atletico, Liverpool taking on PSG The AthleticChampions League last 16 draw, plus Premier League buildup: football news – live The Guardian Source link #Arsenal #face #Champions #League #Potential #opponents #draw #today #Evening #Standard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  23. Pelican Press
    St Patrick’s Day move over Trump policy a gamble by Sinn Féin St Patrick’s Day move over Trump policy a gamble by Sinn Féin Enda McClafferty BBC News NI political editor Reuters Donald Trump attacked Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week and has threatened to remove Palestinians from Gaza Boycotting the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House is a big call by Sinn Féin. Such a snub risks damaging long-standing relationships with key political figures in the US. It could also play badly with the wider Irish diaspora, many of whom are big supporters of Donald Trump. But it is a gamble Sinn Féin’s leadership are prepared to take. Getty Images It is custom for Northern Ireland’s first and deputy first ministers to travel to the White House each year for St Patrick’s Day Politically it will feel like the right thing to do given President Trump’s previous threat to remove Palestinians from Gaza and attack on Ukraine this week. At the start of the month, Trump put forward a drastic shift in American policy towards the Middle East saying the US will take over the Gaza Strip and turn it into the Riviera of the region. A wave of international criticism met the comments – including from France, Germany and the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who has warned the US against ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Earlier this week, he accused Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky of being a “dictator” who “started the war “with Russia. For many it was a step too far, even for those within the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) who had fully supported the new Trump administration. But governments had to walk a thin line by criticising Trump’s remarks while not damaging relations with the US. Trump’s attacks came after Zelensky, reacting to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia from which Kyiv was excluded, said the US president was “living in a disinformation space” governed by Moscow. Oppositions parties like Sinn Féin had no such constraints. PA Media Both Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald are boycotting St Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House Eight Irish ministers are travelling to the US next month including Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin. It will feel like an easy hit for Sinn Féin given the wider public outrage against President Trump. But the decision by Northern Ireland’s first minister to announce her Washington boycott in Dublin will not be lost on her unionist political opponents. For them this will feel like a political strategy born in Dublin and not Belfast. The focus will now fall on Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly who was keen to travel to Washington. Though it is a joint office, she could still travel to the US as long as the move is not vetoed by the first minister which seems unlikely. If that happens Northern Ireland will be represented in the White House but not by the joint ministers. Source link #Patricks #Day #move #Trump #policy #gamble #Sinn #Féin Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  24. Pelican Press
    Montech Titan Gold 1200W ATX 3.0 power supply review Montech Titan Gold 1200W ATX 3.0 power supply review Montech is a rather new player in the PC power and cooling market. The Taiwanese company first appeared in 2016 and quickly made its presence international. Montech is currently focused on designing and producing PC cases, power supply units (PSUs), and CPU coolers. As the core philosophy of the company was to be competitive in terms of pricing, the vast majority of its products were targeting the high-volume mainstream market. To entice gamers and enthusiasts, Montech shyly began releasing high-end and top-tier products. Not too long ago, the company released its new Titan Gold PSU series. The Titan Gold consists of high-output units designed for powerful gaming systems, a completely new market segment for the company. We examine the most powerful unit of the series, the Titan Gold 1200W PSU. Besides being a high-quality unit on its own, the Titan Gold was one of the first units that achieved ATX 3.0 compliance, and it was awarded the Cybenetics Platinum certification, but is it good enough to compete among the best power supplies on our list? Specifications and Design Swipe to scroll horizontally Power Specifications (Rated @ 50 °C) RAIL +3.3V +5V +12V +5Vsb -12V MAX OUTPUT 22A 22A 100A 3A 0.3A 120W 120W 1200W 15W 3.6W TOTAL 1200W Row 3 – Cell 2 Row 3 – Cell 3 Row 3 – Cell 4 Row 3 – Cell 5 AC INPUT 100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz Row 4 – Cell 2 Row 4 – Cell 3 Row 4 – Cell 4 Row 4 – Cell 5 PRICE $165 Row 5 – Cell 2 Row 5 – Cell 3 Row 5 – Cell 4 Row 5 – Cell 5 In the Box Montech supplies the Titan Gold 1200W unit in a sturdy cardboard box. The artwork on the box is simplistic and focused around a picture of the PSU itself, but there is plenty of information about the specifications and certifications of the power supply on the sides and rear of the box. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Only the absolute basic items for the installation of the PSU can be found inside the packaging of the Montech Titan Gold, with the company supplying just a power cord and four mounting screws. There are no cable ties or straps, or any other accessories to be found. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Titan Gold 1200W ATX 3.0 PSU is a fully modular design, allowing for the removal of every DC power cable, including the 24-pin ATX connector. Most of the cables have individually sleeved ****** wires and ****** connectors, but the ATX 24-pin cable and the 16-pin PCIe 5.0 cable consist of ****** wires bundled inside nylon sleeving. The strange thing here is the presence of five PCIe connectors, as one of the cables only has a single connector. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Swipe to scroll horizontally Montech Titan Gold 1200W ATX 3.0 Connector type Hardwired Modular ATX 24 Pin – 1 EPS 4+4 Pin – 2 EPS 8 Pin – – PCI-E 5.0 – 1 PCI-E 8 Pin – 5 SATA – 12 Molex – 4 Floppy – 1 External Appearance Unlike what most would expect from a company that is trying to keep costs down to a minimum, Montech actually invested some resources into making the Titan Gold 1200W PSU visually attractive. The chassis cover is punched to create a natural finger guard shaped after the company’s logo. The entirety of the power supply is sprayed with matte ****** paint that is highly resistant to fingerprints but also rather easy to chip if mishandled. It measures 160 mm long, which is 20 mm longer than what the ATX standard dictates, but we do not foresee any compatibility problems with any modern case that is meant to house an above-average PC. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The sticker with the unit’s electrical certifications and specifications is found covering most of the power supply’s top side. About a quarter of the sticker is blue and may draw unwanted attention if visible from a windowed side panel. Both sides of the unit have the company logo embossed onto them. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) At the rear side of the unit, right next to the AC power connector and the basic on/off switch, there is a latching push button that controls the “smart-zero fan mode”. As the name suggests, this mode allows for passive operation while the PSU’s load is low – a frequently applied technique by many manufacturers nowadays. Disabling it will force the fan to continuously spin as long as the PSU is powered on but its speed will still be controlled thermally. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The front side of the unit is host to the numerous connectors for the modular cables. A legend and the company logo are printed on the chassis. There is also a sticker with the unit’s serial number. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Internal Design Montech is making use of a 135 mm fan for the cooling needs of the Titan Gold 1200W power supply. The fan is made by Hong Hua, a popular manufacturer among PC PSU OEMs. It has a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) engine for quiet operation and longevity but also has an extremely high maximum speed of 2300 RPM. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The OEM behind the Titan Gold 1200W power supply is Channel-Well Technologies (CWT), which is not a huge surprise considering that Montech has been in collaboration with them for several of their better products. The surprise here is that, while we didn’t know this when soliciting PSUs for review, the Titan Gold 1200W is using the same platform as the MSI MPG A1000G. It is an upgraded version of CWT’s most popular platform, slightly tweaked to add ATX 3.0 support. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Overall, the design of the Titan Gold 1200W is based on proven and relatively simple topologies. The filtering stage is typical, with four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors, with two rectifying bridges on a sizable heatsink following right after. The long heatsink that follows holds the active APFC components. Two very large capacitors, one 450V/680μF from Nippon Chemi-**** and one 420V/470μF from Rubycon, as well as a massive filtering inductor. The total capacitance of the circuit is very high and will undoubtedly cause a high inrush current that may cause small or quick circuit breakers to trip. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Moving on to the primary side of the main transformer, we find two transistors on a medium-sized heatsink, forming a typical half-bridge LLC inversion circuitry. The core of the secondary side is on a vertical daughterboard, which is home to eight power transistors that convert the transformer’s output to the main DC output of the power supply. The 3.3V and 5V lines are being generated via DC-to-DC conversion circuitry that can be found on their own vertical daughterboard. The secondary side capacitors are all made by Nippon Chemi-**** and Nichicon. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Cold Test Results Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient) For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) In consideration of the 80Plus Gold certification of the Montech Titan Gold 1200W PSU, the energy conversion efficiency is exceptional. The unit almost reaches 80Plus Platinum standards when powered via a 115 VAC source but cannot meet the 89% limit under maximum load. As Cybenetics ETA program takes into account the average efficiency of the unit, the Titan Gold achieved a Platinum certification there. Powering the Titan Gold from a 230 VAC outlet will increase its overall efficiency by 0.7%, but it will still not meet the 80Plus Platinum certification requirements, as the requirements also depend on the input voltage. The average nominal load efficiency (20% to 100% of the unit’s capacity) is 91.1% with the unit powered from a 230 VAC source, and drops down to 90.4% if the unit is powered by a 115 VAC source. We performed our testing with the “Smart Zero Fan” mode of the unit disabled, forcing the fan to spin regardless of the load. The large heatsinks and good efficiency of the Titan Gold allow it to operate with its fan spinning at very low speeds while the load is relatively low. Still, a 1200W PSU will operate almost inaudibly with a load of up to 500 Watts. After that point, the fan’s speed increases quickly, especially when the load is greater than 900 Watts, making the Montech Titan Gold a very loud PSU when heavily loaded. Hot Test Results Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient) The Montech Titan Gold 1200W power supply displayed good resistance to high ambient temperatures, especially considering its efficiency certification. We calculated an average efficiency degradation of 0.7% across the nominal load range. The degradation is very high while the unit is heavily loaded, peaking at 2% when the unit operates under maximum load, suggesting that the components are getting thermally stressed. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) With its massive 1200W power output in mind, the aggressive cooling profile of the fan keeps the internal temperatures of the Titan Gold PSU relatively low while the unit operates at low-to-medium loads. When the unit is heavily loaded, the very high thermal losses (which peak at about 160 Watts at maximum load) are becoming a bit too much for the cooling system to handle and the temperatures rise sharply. The temperatures do not get high enough to force the unit to shut down but they are uncomfortably high and definitely not good for the longevity of the unit. The high component temperatures also cause a significant efficiency drop at very heavy loads due to component stress. The speedy 135 mm fan does a good job keeping the internal temperatures of the massive 1200W PSU relatively low – however, when the ambient temperature is high, the fan reaches its maximum speed when the load is about 950 Watts. After that point, the temperatures will rise sharply, as the cooling system cannot do anything more to combat the high thermal losses. When the Titan Gold 1200W unit is operating inside a very hot environment, it will stay relatively quiet only while the load is lower than 300 Watts. As the load increases beyond 300 Watts, the fan’s speed will increase linearly and will reach its maximum speed when the load is between 900 and 1000 Watts, at which point it will be generating more than 57 dB(A). PSU Quality and Bottom Line Power Supply Quality The power quality of the Titan Montech Gold 1200W power supply is excellent for a product of this price range and of that efficiency certification. It has exceptional filtering on all voltage lines and a regulation lower than 1% on the primary 12V line. The maximum ripple on the 12V line is just 26 mV, a spectacular figure for a 1200W PSU. Montech also implemented exceptional filtering on the 3.3V/5V lines as well, where we recorded a maximum ripple of just 16 mV. As part of our standard testing, we test the primary protections of all power supplies we review (Over Current, Over Voltage, Over Power, and Short Circuit). We tested all of the protections of the Montech Titan Gold 1200W power supply, and they all operate as intended. However, as seems to be the trend with ATX 3.0 units that are upgrades/updates of older platforms, both the OCP and OPP protections of the unit are set a bit high. The OCP protection of the 12V rail kicked in instantly, as intended when the current was almost 35% above the unit’s maximum rating. Likewise, we could draw almost 200 Watts above its rated capacity for relatively long time periods before the unit’s OPP protection decided it should shut the unit down. These relatively high figures are the side effect of gaining ATX 3.0 compliance, as the engineers have to ensure that the power supply will not be shutting down due to short-term power excursions. Swipe to scroll horizontally Main Output Load (Watts) 241.83 W Row 0 – Cell 2 602.35 W Row 0 – Cell 4 899.2 W Row 0 – Cell 6 1197.61 W Row 0 – Cell 8 Load (Percent) 20.15% Row 1 – Cell 2 50.2% Row 1 – Cell 4 74.93% Row 1 – Cell 6 99.8% Row 1 – Cell 8 Amperes Volts Amperes Volts Amperes Volts Amperes Volts 3.3 V 2.04 3.37 5.11 3.36 7.67 3.34 10.22 3.33 5 V 2.04 5.09 5.11 5.06 7.67 5.03 10.22 5.01 12 V 18.59 12.08 46.46 12.04 69.7 11.98 92.93 11.97 Row 6 – Cell 0 Row 6 – Cell 1 Row 6 – Cell 2 Row 6 – Cell 3 Row 6 – Cell 4 Row 6 – Cell 5 Row 6 – Cell 6 Row 6 – Cell 7 Row 6 – Cell 8 Swipe to scroll horizontally Line Regulation (20% to 100% load) Voltage Ripple (mV) Row 0 – Cell 3 Row 0 – Cell 4 Row 0 – Cell 5 Row 0 – Cell 6 Row 0 – Cell 7 Row 1 – Cell 0 Row 1 – Cell 1 20% Load 50% Load 75% Load 100% Load CL1 12V CL2 3.3V + 5V 3.3V 1.4% 10 12 14 16 12 14 5V 1.55% 10 12 16 16 14 14 12V 0.9% 12 16 16 26 28 22 Bottom Line The Titan Gold 1200W marks a significant milestone for Montech, as it is their first entry into the ATX 3.0 market and one of the first units to be released under this new standard. With a focus on delivering a good price-to-performance ratio, the Montech Titan Gold 1200W aspires to be a top contender in the crowded power supply market. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Montech Titan Gold 1200W is a high-performance computer power supply that delivers excellent power quality with very low voltage ripple and good regulation. Ironically for its name, this PSU achieves Platinum-level efficiency and received that level of certification from Cybenetics, but barely missed the 80Plus Platinum certification requirement under maximum load. This power supply is highly efficient, especially at lower loads, but its performance drops slightly at higher loads. The build quality of this power supply is exceptional, featuring Japanese capacitors and construction by a reputable OEM. Additionally, the competitive retail price of the Montech Titan Gold 1200W makes it a great value for those in need of a powerful and reliable power supply. However, it is important to note that the power supply can get thermally stressed if it is kept running heavily loaded for prolonged periods of time, which must be considered for some applications. Home users and gamers need not worry about this, as regular PCs will not be running at maximum capacity for considerable periods. However, it will also generate very high noise levels if heavily loaded, which can be a potential drawback for some users. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) In conclusion, the Montech Titan Gold 1200W power supply is a good, cost-effective option for high-end gaming and workstation builds. Its 1200W output makes it a great choice for all but the most power-hungry of systems, more than easily accommodating a GeForce RTX 4090 and overclocked CPU, and the very good overall efficiency results to passable thermal losses. The build quality is solid and the unit is well designed, and the 12+4 pin connector ensures its compatibility and usefulness going forward. The only downside is the noise level under heavy loads which might be an issue for some users. However, for those who are looking for a top-performing power supply, the Montech Titan Gold 1200W is a great option, and its $165 retail price makes it highly competitive in the market. MORE: Best Power Supplies MORE: How We Test Power Supplies MORE: All Power Supply Content Source link #Montech #Titan #Gold #1200W #ATX #power #supply #review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  25. Pelican Press
    Trump ends deportation protection for 500,000 Haitians Trump ends deportation protection for 500,000 Haitians The US government will end the temporary protected status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians living in the country in August, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday. This comes despite deteriorating conditions in the Caribbean country, with gangs controlling about 85% of the capital and ******* violence against children increasing by 1,000% last year, according to the United Nations. US President Donald Trump has moved to overhaul parts of the US immigration system since returning to office and promised “mass deportations” and arrests. During his presidential campaign, Trump made a baseless claim that ******** immigrants from Haiti had been eating domestic pets in a small Ohio city. City officials told BBC Verify there had been “no credible reports” this actually happened. Then US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the claim a “conspiracy theory… based on an element of racism”. Temporary protected status is granted to nationals of designated countries facing unsafe conditions, such as armed conflict or environmental disasters. It has been held by Haitians since 2010 and will end on 3 August 2025. This means they will lose their work permits and could be eligible for deportation. On 1 February, the Trump administration announced the status would also end for Venezuelans living in the US, but this is currently facing a legal challenge from the National TPS Alliance. “For decades the TPS system has been exploited and abused,” the Department for Homeland Security said in a statement on Thursday. The system has allowed Haitians who “entered the US illegally, to qualify for legal protected status,” it added. But the announcement has also been met with criticism. More than 5,600 people in Haiti were killed in gang violence last year and the UN has said families are “struggling to survive in makeshift shelters while facing mounting health and protection risks”. Democratic congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called the decision “shameful” amid the “unspeakable violence” in Haiti. Haitians who have lived in the US for 15 years are at risk of deportation for “no reason other than being Haitian”, she added. Source link #Trump #ends #deportation #protection #Haitians Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Important Information

Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.

  I accept