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Every Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Boss Fight, Ranked Every Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Boss Fight, Ranked Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is, without any doubt, one of the best games in the entire series. It debuted on PlayStation 2 way back in 2004, and since then, it has remained a cult classic title, the subject of many memes, and the target of re-releases and remasters. It features a collection of boss fights, each one as memorable as the other, and all of them unique in their way. In this list, I’m breaking down all the Metal Gear Solid 3 boss fights, ranking them in order of how awesome they are to behold. It’s mostly subjective, right? For one man’s trash, there’s another man’s treasure – and that’s the same thing with these boss fights. They’re all special in their way, but some of the Metal Gear Solid 3 boss fights are so iconic that they’ll stick in our minds forever. 9. The Pain The Pain is the first member of ‘Cobra’ that we get to fight in MGS3: Snake Eater. As such, his fight is relatively plain and easy to overcome, and his abilities are rather weak and not all that impressive. He can control bees – that’s about it. 8. The Shagohod You wouldn’t think that going up against an enormous, nuclear-capable tank would be a boring boss fight, but that’s just what it is. It’s memorable because you’re fighting something so massive, but it’s an on-rails scene followed by a repetitive mechanism that sees you bring the behemoth to its knees relatively quickly. Related: Who Is Big Boss in Metal Gear? 7. The Sorrow The Sorrow’s battle is one of the cleverest Metal Gear Solid 3 boss fights, as it’s built around how you’ve played the game up until that point. If you’ve killed lots of enemies, your battle here will be ‘longed out’, but if you’re on a no-kill run, it’ll be over quickly. It rewards users with a nice camo suit, but ultimately, this fight is a walking simulator – but a smart one. 6. Ocelot Ocelot is cool – he’s one of the best Metal Gear Solid characters of all time and a memorable one at that. He and Naked Snake clash three times in Snake Eater, but the most exciting fight with him is his first one, when he is using his dual revolvers across a crevice – it’s the scene from which a few memes surfaced over the years. Related: Another 30 FPS Controversy? Thanks, Konami! 5. The End Fighting The End can either be an intense slog riddled with jumpscares or it can be the easiest battle in the world. Originally, users could trick the game, setting the time/date on their PlayStation 2 forward by a week once they’ve met The End, and he’d die in-game of old age… Clever, right? Otherwise, players could take part in a thrilling cat-and-mouse sniper battle across several regions of the game. 4. The Fear The Fear lives up to his name by basically offering up the creepiest Metal Gear Solid 3 boss fight in the game. He’s a strange, fork-tongued man who can dislocate his limbs at will, scramble up trees like a spider, and strike at Naked Snake with a crossbow in relative silence. With his remarkable camouflage, players are left to rely on sounds to track him, and he leaves traps everywhere to trip Snake up. 3. The Fury The Fury is a phenomenal boss that fights the player in a suffocating battle backed up by an overwhelming flamethrower and a whole lot of anger. He’s not insanely difficult to kill, but he can devastate the player very quickly in the close-knit, phobia-inducing environment in which the fight takes place. At the end of the fight, he supernovates and explodes in a brutal, cataclysmic eruption. 2. Colonel Volgin As the big baddy in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Colonel Volgin makes for a fantastic opponent. There are plenty of secret tricks the player can use to turn the tide of battle, but his abilities alone make his face-off one of the best Metal Gear Solid 3 boss fights in the game. He’s a powerful fighter with electromagnetic and lightning powers, and visually, he’s one of the most impressive bosses in Metal Gear history. Related: Learn About The MGS3 Remake 1. The Boss If there’s a more emotional boss battle in gaming, I don’t know what it is. At the very end of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Naked Snake must fight his mentor – The Boss. She means a huge amount to Snake, but still, he must do away with her, and that means an intense battle between the master and the apprentice must take place. It doesn’t help that the soundtrack to this fight is incredible and the setting is nothing short of beautiful. It’s such a dramatic battle, it’s the best Metal Gear Solid 3 boss fight on record. Read Next: Metal Gear Series Has Sold 60 Million Copies SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Metal #Gear #Solid #Snake #Eater #Boss #Fight #Ranked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Game: Andrew Lewis nabs top tipper prize thanks to a bit of luck and Mitch Owen masterclass The Game: Andrew Lewis nabs top tipper prize thanks to a bit of luck and Mitch Owen masterclass Hobart Hurricanes star Mitch Owen delivered Tasmania its first Big Bash title, and out west he helped one lucky punter take home $20,000 thanks to The Game and McDonald’s. Andrew Lewis took home The Game’s major prize as the Big Bash League’s season’s top tipper, but it didn’t come without late drama with it all coming down to the BBL final. “Going into the last round I was behind on sixes to another player, but in that last round only two of the favourites won and I tipped one of the underdogs, so I thought getting three out of the four I would be pretty close,” he said. “The final game when the Thunder hit 180-odd and the average winning margin was 160, I thought the Hurricanes had no chance to win this game and Mitch Owen went ballistic to get them over the line.” Lewis finished top of the charts in a three-way tie for tips but got over the line thanks to a vastly superior sixes margin. In terms of his strategy, Lewis kept it simple along with listening to his gut, with the one time he strayed from that method almost costing him. “It was pretty standard sitting in the mid-range to start with but coming into the fifth round I was equal first I think and that’s when I thought I could be in with a chance,” he said. Camera IconCricket Season Top Tipper Andrew Lewis has won $20K. Credit: Riley Churchman/The West *********** “In that fifth round I got seven out of eight, but I changed one of my tips just before the game between the Heat and the Hurricanes and if I had lost because of that I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. Lewis admitted it was a nervous final week but joked he faces more pressure now the prize is secured. “I watched the last part of it when I got the camp refreshing the phone and the app, and then I stood up in the room and was a bit shaky; it was definitely exciting. With cricket over, attention turns to footy, with registrations now open for the Game Footy. Sign up now and you could win a share in over $150,000 in prizes, including $1000 every week for the top tipper and a massive $50,000 for the season’s best thanks to TABtouch. Plus, you would drive away in a Mazda BT-50 SP just for playing, thanks to Mazda. “It’s free to enter,” Lewis said. “And with the chance to win easy money via early bird prizes and weekly tipper, people should just do it,” Lewis said. Source link #Game #Andrew #Lewis #nabs #top #tipper #prize #bit #luck #Mitch #Owen #masterclass Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Shrine Controversy in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is Far From Over The Shrine Controversy in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is Far From Over Since the announcement that Assassin’s Creed Shadows would take place in feudal Japan, the game has been the subject of a steady stream of cultural “controversy.” Because Yasuke is based on a real historical figure, there was faux outrage over his inclusion. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is going to be released on March 20, 2025. | Credit: Ubisoft. A viral video from earlier this month has drawn the attention of Japanese shrine officials, bringing Assassin’s Creed Shadows back into the spotlight as the game nears its belated release date of March 20. The shrine controversy in Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a new turn Assassin’s Creed Shadows is now in a big problem. | Credit: Ubisoft. Officials from Hyogo Prefecture’s Itate Hyozu Shrine have stated that they are taking “appropriate action” in response to the shrine’s inclusion in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, according to Sankei News. The Itate Hyozu Shrine said in a statement that they were not contacted by Ubisoft about the shrine’s inclusion in Shadows and that they would have declined if Ubisoft had requested their consent. In the controversial video, Yasuke is shown breaking into the place of worship and demolishing the altar and other items in the space. Although the player isn’t told to destroy the shrine directly, the prospect of doing so has infuriated some people. Wake up, Ubisoft “defender,” and hear our voice! What kind of Assassin’s Creed game destroys an actual religious site? Japanese culture is consumed but receives no respect. Here is a perfect example. pic.twitter.com/UsfWMgy53n — Shohei Kondo (@shoheikondo) January 31, 2025 It’s undeniable that the devastation of an admired religious site isn’t the most pleasant thing for those responsible for maintaining its modern counterpart, but it’s a stretch to suggest that a video game room with destructible elements is an act of outrageous disrespect. There is no promotional material for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that depicts the destruction of religious sites, and you are not required to destroy the shrine in order to advance in the game. Controversy never left Assassin’s Creed alone This is not the first of the sufferings for the franchise. | Credit: Ubisoft. Fans of the series have noted that the violence in the Assassin’s Creed series does not specifically target a certain demographic of people. Along with any artistic license taken in producing these historical-inspired works of fiction, the mobs that players battle typically represent the presumed population of the area at that time. Players usually engaged in combat with European crusaders in the original Assassin’s Creed game. In ****** Flag, players engage in combat with European soldiers and ****** and Indigenous pirates in the Caribbean. Players typically engage in combat with different Japanese foot soldiers and samurai in Shadows. Pope Alexander VI, a villain from Assassin’s Creed 2, is famously defeated by beloved series protagonist Ezio in a fistfight. In general, Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ critics have reacted negatively to the criticism the game seems to be getting for its historical accuracy—or lack thereof. Despite the series’ propensity to alter history, some, like the Assassin’s Creed source The Hidden One, claim that only Assassin’s Creed Shadows has received this much hate. The possibility of an Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan has long thrilled many gamers, but it has also presented a number of challenges. Source link #Shrine #Controversy #Assassins #Creed #Shadows Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Run for Senate or president? Run for Senate or president? TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Some believe the Democratic Party’s next savior is living here, huddled with family, in the relative obscurity of a small city on the shores of Lake Michigan. Pete Buttigieg has yet to decide if that’s a responsibility he wants. For now, Buttigieg, the 43-year-old former U.S. transportation secretary, is discussing his future with party officials, labor leaders and top strategists. He must decide soon whether he wants to return to the national spotlight as a candidate in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race or step aside to instead seek a much ******* role as his party’s next presidential nominee. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Prominent allies believe Buttigieg cannot feasibly do both, even as others raise the comparison to Barack Obama, who was elected president just four years after becoming a U.S. senator. “I don’t think you can run for Senate in 2026 and run for president in 2028 … I would think that would be very, very hard,” said Obama’s former chief strategist David Axelrod, who met briefly with Buttigieg last week ahead of a joint appearance at the University of Chicago. The Democratic Party may be hurting more at this moment than it was two decades ago, when voters turned to that first-term senator from Illinois over more established candidates to lead their comeback from the Bush years. Indeed, Democrats, demoralized and afraid, are crying out for strong new leadership with President Donald Trump and his allies, notably Elon Musk, racing to transform Washington while gutting key federal agencies. Buttigieg has the tools to lead his party on a national scale if he wants. More than four years after the little-known mayor outperformed far more experienced Democrats in the Iowa presidential caucuses, he remains one of the party’s best communicators, boasting a massive social media following, a national donor network and a Midwestern charm he displays in Fox News Channel interviews and smaller settings alike. More than anything, allies say, Buttigieg’s decision will be guided by the impact on his young family at a difficult cultural moment in Trump’s America. The Republican president has targeted LGBTQ+ initiatives and inclusion programs. Buttigieg is the openly gay father of 3-year-old twins. Axelrod complimented Buttigieg as “one of the most talented people in the party.” “He would be a frontline candidate in any race that he ran,” Axelrod said. Life in ‘the Cherry Capital of the World’ Buttigieg has lowered his profile since leaving the Biden administration last month. He hasn’t done any media interviews. He declined to speak to The Associated Press for this story. And he has challenged Trump only with a handful of social media posts, notably pushing back on the Republican president’s blaming of diversity hiring for the deadly midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. But based on the response, Democrats like what he has to say. His posts on X frequently garner millions of views. And just over a week after joining the newer social media platform Bluesky, he has quickly become one of its most-followed Democrats. Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has been a more visible presence around his new home of Traverse City, a lakeside resort town that calls itself “the Cherry Capital of the World.” His husband, Chasten Buttigieg, grew up in Traverse City. “Chasten actually was a speaker at our last Obama dinner; he sat at my table,” said Lauren Flynn, a local county commissioner. “I always get text messages from folks saying, ‘Oh, my gosh, I saw Pete shopping downtown or running by the bay.’” It’s much the same at the local coffee shop, Higher Grounds Trading Co., which features a pride flag out front and progressive messages on the walls. One barista described the shop as a low-profile spot where most customers don’t disturb the town’s highest-profile resident. “He’s been coming in more frequently,” barista Sydney Hall said recently, noting she’d served Buttigieg and his husband earlier that day. The coffee shop may be a welcoming environment, but some warn of safety concerns for members of the LGBTQ+ community and other prominent Democrats in the current political environment. Aaron Wright, president of the Traverse City-based Up North Pride, praised Buttigieg and his family for “sacrificing their physical safety for the betterment of their local area, the state and society.” He noted Traverse City is just 20 minutes from where members of a local militia plotted to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “That’s the No. 1 thing that I would imagine they’re considering is the physical safety of being where they are, as the people that they are, because people are drinking out of the firehose of misinformation and disinformation,” Wright said. “Malignant groups that want to see people like me suffer.” Wright’s husband, Trenton Lee, chair of the local Democratic Party, said his political opponents in local campaigns often focus on his sexuality rather than policies. “Pete offers that challenge to the other side, where if you took out his ******* orientation, the way he’s able to articulate issues and then actually work on them, he’s a shoo-in for whatever he runs for,” Lee said. “It forces them to be like, ‘The only issue I have is that he’s gay.’” Buttigieg is already facing allegations from some critics that he moved to the state solely to help his political career. “It’s not just that he carpet-bagged to Michigan a few years ago after being the mayor of South Bend. It’s that he did it in the most unrelatable enclave in the entire state,” said Jason Roe, a Republican strategist and former executive director of the state party. Traverse City, Roe said, is an “elite bubble” that only “underscores an elitism that was one of the problems in the Democratic Party.” Roe added that he’ll be surprised if Buttigieg enters the race, “because if he runs and loses, he could be done.” A plum opportunity in a key state There may be no better staging ground for an ambitious Democrat in 2025 than Michigan. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ unexpected retirement created a rare Senate vacancy ahead of next year’s midterms. A Republican hasn’t been elected to the U.S. Senate in Michigan this century, although Mike Rogers came within less than 1 percentage point last fall and is planning to run again. Michigan also offers a home state advantage to any prospective presidential candidate in 2028. The state is expected to host one of the nation’s opening presidential primaries. And in the general election, Michigan will be a premier swing state. Buttigieg is leaning on powerful allies to help make his decision. Longtime Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who retired in January and considers Buttigieg a close friend, attended his twins’ birthday party and visited him at home recently. She said she doesn’t expect to endorse in the Senate primary, but she told him directly he’d be a “very strong” candidate. “If he announced now, he’d be the front-runner,” Stabenow told the AP. “He’s a Midwesterner, and he talks like a Midwesterner. He’s somebody I think people really relate to.” Stabenow said she dares Buttigieg’s opponents to try to use his limited time in Michigan as a political weapon. “We have thousands of people that marry into Michigan every year,” Stabenow said. “We have a great (former) governor who was born in Canada. If that’s the best they’ve got, great.” Buttigieg has recently spoken with labor leaders across Michigan and met with Whitmer and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat expected to enter the Senate race soon. Veteran Democratic strategist Lis Smith, a key adviser on Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign and a close ally, has also worked with McMorrow in the past. Exploring his appeal beyond Michigan But Buttigieg is also looking beyond Michigan. Former Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who left Congress in January, said she speaks to Buttigieg semi-regularly and recently encouraged him to run for the Senate. Like other Buttigieg allies, she said his young family remains his chief concern as he navigates his options. “He’s hugely talented,” Kuster said. “And he has a tremendous ability to communicate — and communicate with the very people that we’re missing: the middle of the country, small towns.” Whether he runs for the Senate or not, Kuster said, there are plenty of New Hampshire Democrats who’d welcome him back to the state’s high-profile presidential primary in 2028. Buttigieg finished second in New Hampshire during his underdog 2020 presidential bid. Kuster pointed to Obama as an example of someone who ran for the Senate and then president a few years later. “These are all of the things he and his team are navigating,” Kuster said. “He obviously has a ton of choices.” ___ Peoples reported from New York. Source link #Run #Senate #president Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DC: Dark Legion opens pre-registration for the upcoming strategy game, with an official launch date that’s closer than you might think DC: Dark Legion opens pre-registration for the upcoming strategy game, with an official launch date that’s closer than you might think Inspired by the Dark Nights: Metal comic Pre-registration milestone rewards up for grabs Launching on March 14th FunPlus has officially announced the upcoming launch date for DC: Dark Legion, opening pre-registration sign-ups on iOS and Android as well as on PC. Launching worldwide on March 14th, the strategy game will give away plenty of milestone goodies to those who sign up, so there’s no better time than now to throw your name in the hat and get first dibs next month. I’ve had a go at this myself for our weekly Ahead of the Game feature, and I can honestly say I’m looking forward to it. It’s got the characterisation of the DC heroes and villains down pat so far, so if you’re a fan of the comics like I am – and you’re into base-building as an added bonus – this should be right up your alley. As for the pre-registration rewards, a million sign-ups will give away a Weapons Optional Gift Pack, while two million will put 100x Green Mother Boxes up for grabs. Five million will reward everyone with a Champion Gift Pack, and finally, 10 million will give you full heroes in the form of 10x Draws from The Bleed. While you wait though, if you’re on the hunt for something similar to tide you over, why not take a look at our list of the best strategy games on Android to get your fill? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by pre-registering for DC: Dark Legion on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Twitter page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Dark #Legion #opens #preregistration #upcoming #strategy #game #official #launch #date #closer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DeepSeek-led AI adoption offers China an opportunity to boost its sputtering growth DeepSeek-led AI adoption offers China an opportunity to boost its sputtering growth This week’s news that the DeepSeek Chatbot app, developed by China, was downloaded from the Apple app store significantly more times than the US-developed ChatGPT from Open AI, wiped billions off the global tech market. Leon Neal | Getty Images News | Getty Images DeepSeek’s sudden splash in the large language model space has given China a powerful tool to catalyze artificial-intelligence adoption in the country and boost economic growth. While Goldman Sachs pegs a 20-basis-point to 30-basis-point boost to China’s GDP over the long term — by 2030 — its expects the country’s economy to start reflecting the positive impact of AI adoption from next year itself as AI-driven automation improves productivity. “The recent emergence of DeepSeek … suggests faster AI development and adoption in China than we previously anticipated,” economists at the Wall Street bank said. The enthusiasm around DeepSeek is also being reflected in the sharp rally in China stocks, with the MSCI China index soaring over 21% from its January low, according to LSEG data. The startup’s rise is triggering a reassessment of China’s “investability” after an extended ******* of limited attention, Morgan Stanley said in a note this week. “DeepSeek demonstrates that China is at or near the cutting edge of AI development, which boosts the prestige of China’s economy and tech ecosystem, making them more attractive for global investors,” said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at Teneo. The company’s launch of a cheaper and more efficient AI model came as a timely confidence boost as the ******** leadership faces a prolonged economic gloom, partly owed to the slump in its property market, while the specter of a fierce trade war with the U.S. looms large. DeepSeek’s R-1 reasoning model has been lauded as being able to match, or even outperform, leading global AI offerings amid claims of running on cheaper and less sophisticated chips. The open-source model also can be repurposed by developers outside the company to significantly boost efficiency at a lower operating costs. The startup has shaken China’s AI ecosystem as well, with state-owned entities as well as large tech players, including competitors, leveraging its open-sourced architecture. “The scale and speed of [AI] adoption [in China] is amazingly fast right now, and it’s not slowing down,” said Wei Sun, principal analyst of artificial intelligence at Counterpoint Research. Beijing’s stamp of approval In a well-choreographed meeting earlier this week, ******** President Xi Jinping warmly greeted DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng and granted him a coveted front-row seat next to leaders of the country’s biggest private enterprises. That showed Beijing is eager to support the company, said Huiyao Wang, founder and president of Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank. “DeepSeek represents exactly what Beijing is keen to see by ‘new-quality productive force’ that will push China forward,” Wang added, referring to a strategy coined by Xi last year that bets on technological breakthroughs to fuel growth and productivity gains across the economy. ******** leadership last year vowed “a leap forward” by spurring new growth drivers based on innovation in advanced sectors, such as AI and semiconductors, as U.S. export controls on advanced equipment and the most advanced semiconductors thwarted its ability to make major tech breakthroughs. With Beijing signaling support for the startup, a growing number of local governments, from Hohhot in northern China to the southern city of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, are launching DeepSeek-powered “public servants” to automate governance, handling requests from administrative paper work to general public services. At least three state-owned telecommunications operators have also adopted the cutting-edge model in recent weeks. Private businesses have tapped the new model to see how it can improve productivity. Automakers, financial services companies, smartphone makers and cloud computing operators including Alibaba, Huawei and Tencent have rushed in recent weeks to integrate with DeepSeek. “With DeepSeek becoming a global household name in a matter of weeks, Beijing is [using it as an opportunity] to showcase China’s tech champions and demonstrate ******** tech resilience and innovation in the face of US-led controls,” said Reva Goujon, director at Rhodium Group. Labor worries Economists, however, warned that the pace of AI adoption should be “managed carefully” in China, which is already facing a weak labor market and high unemployment rate. The “job destruction” effects by AI, while raising labor productivity, could exacerbate deflation and further weaken the economy, Goldman Sachs said. The youth unemployment rate in China has remained above 15%, with over 10 million fresh graduates piling into the job market every year. Job losses have been reported in recent years in the real estate sector, among civil servants, and the financial sector. Compared with the U.S. though, the ******** labor market is less prone to AI automation risks due to a higher share of less-exposed, physically intensive jobs,” Goldman Sachs pointed out. Agriculture, manufacturing and construction make up 50% of all jobs in China, comparing to only 19% of total employment in the U.S. Sectors that are more prone to adopt AI-driven task automation, such as finance, insurance and services, constitute 14% of jobs stateside, but less than 3% in China, according to the bank’s estimates. A Pew study in 2023 found that 19% of U.S. workers are in jobs with high exposure to AI. That study used the term “exposure” as it’s unclear whether AI’s impact will be positive or negative. While AI application may cause the number of displaced workers to rise in the near term, these workers will eventually find jobs in other sectors where labor has a competitive advantage, helping employment to grow again, Goldman said. — CNBC’s Dylan Butts, Evelyn Cheng contributed to this report. Source link #DeepSeekled #adoption #offers #China #opportunity #boost #sputtering #growth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avowed vs Skyrim Heated Comparison While We Wait For the Elder Scrolls 6 Avowed vs Skyrim Heated Comparison While We Wait For the Elder Scrolls 6 Avowed is out, and players have now spent significant time in the game. Hence, there are a lot of new things about it that have just started to resurface. Including its annoying safety system that aims to hold your hand and guide you through the map without letting you make any bad decisions. Avowed is available on the Game Pass since day 1. Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment Avowed’s release has sparked a debate concerning its similarities with Skyrim. Players have been discussing the differences and similarities between the two games as they wait for the upcoming Elder Scrolls 6. Avowed is being criticized for having this annoying feature Skyrim still has a lot of significance in the RPG market. Image Credit: Bethesda Obsidian’s latest release Avowed imposes a lot of safety measures to help players avoid making bad decisions in the game. This aspect of the game is not being appreciated by fans of the RPG genre, including Skyrim since the other games give players a lot of freedom to make mistakes and then learn from them. Skyrim never holds players’ hands, in fact, it just throws you in the middle of a conflicted land and lets you fend for yourself. There are a lot of differences as well as similarities between Skyrim and Avowed. The biggest difference is the different approach to player freedom. The journey from cluelessness to mastery excites fans and enables them to approach the game creatively and personally. However, Avowed has kept Obsidian’s reputation of inviting modders intact. It’s like Avowed has child safety locks on… like the developers are just helicopter parents doing the gentle parenting thing. “No no, sweetie, don’t make bad choices. You’ll suffer the consequences that you’ll never have to learn because I stop you from experiencing them.” Vs… — ThePipSquee (@SqueePip) February 19, 2025 Avowed VFX vs Skyrim VFX. Over a decade ago.pic.twitter.com/KRoK6cFqex — Grummz (@Grummz) February 19, 2025 Ive played Avowed for over 10 hours so far, and haven’t seen anything woke. Some things are close but nothing egregious yet. I think people have associated the game with wokeness because of that insane art director. But Im having fun playing the game. — Rubicon (@BadCitizen6) February 19, 2025 However, when a game like Avowed, which is also known for its player freedom, creates barriers around bad decisions and forces players to follow only the desired path, it fails to offer the same level of immersion and personal relationship with the game as opposed to games like Skyrim. Skyrim does some things better than Avowed There are still some things that are better in Skyrim than Avowed. Image Credit: Bethesda Even after a decade since its release, Skyrim is still managing to give tough competition to games released in 2025. It still does some things better that games like Avowed need to learn as well. The water and arrow physics are way better in Skyrim than in Avowed. Even some of the magic VFX in Skyrim feels larger than life in the latter. However, Avowed does a great job at the graphical representation of its world, but it still has scope to get better. Avowed is a good game with a lot to offer and until Elder Scrolls VI hits the market the competition between it and Skyrim shall prevail. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Avowed #Skyrim #Heated #Comparison #Wait #Elder #Scrolls Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump expected to take control of USPS, fire postal board, officials say – The Washington Post Trump expected to take control of USPS, fire postal board, officials say – The Washington Post Trump expected to take control of USPS, fire postal board, officials say The Washington PostView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Trump #expected #control #USPS #fire #postal #board #officials #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shoot’n’Shell is a hand-drawn looter-shooter that you can enjoy completely offline, out now on iOS Shoot’n’Shell is a hand-drawn looter-shooter that you can enjoy completely offline, out now on iOS Plenty of distinct enemy types to take on Upgrade your gear as you go along No internet connection required Indie developer Serhii Maletin has announced the official launch of Shoot’n’Shell, a hand-drawn “2.5D twin-stick looter-shooter” on iOS. If you’re the type of person who thrives on relentless enemies and too many things happening on your screen all at once, this one should be right up your alley – and should prove to be quite the challenge to boot. In Shoot’n’Shell, you can truly put your levelheadedness and quick reflexes to the test as you take on 9 Mini Bosses, 3 Major Bosses, and a Final Boss to prove your combat prowess. Enemies have distinct behaviours as well, so can’t just point and shoot at anything that moves – you’ll really have to think twice about your strategies lest you end up overrun and beaten to a pulp. With three interesting biomes to clear and tons of customisation options for your gear, you can experiment with plenty of builds until you find the best playstyle that works for you. There are 27 permanent upgrades to unlock too, and best of all, you can do all this offline even when you’re off the grid. Are you on the hunt for more ways you can ramp up those panic levels? Why not take a look at our list of the best games like Vampire Survivors to get your fill? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by downloading Shoot’n’Shell on the App Store now. It’s a premium purchase that will set you back by $3.99 a pop or your local equivalent. You can also join the community of followers on the official Discord channel to stay updated on all the latest developments, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #ShootnShell #handdrawn #lootershooter #enjoy #completely #offline #iOS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Do US super-carriers make sense anymore? The BBC goes on board one Do US super-carriers make sense anymore? The BBC goes on board one Jonathan Head South East Asia Correspondent Reporting fromUSS Carl Vinson off the Philippines Watch: BBC invited onboard the USS Carl Vinson It looked small at first, in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Yet as we approached the USS Carl Vinson it filled the view out of the back of the Osprey tilt-rotor which was carrying us there, its deck packed with state-of-the-art warplanes. At nearly 90,000 tonnes, and more than 300 metres in length, the nuclear-powered Carl Vinson is one of the largest warships ever built. Watching its FA18 and F35 fighter jets being hurled into the air every minute or two by the carrier’s steam catapults is a spine-tingling experience, a procedure managed with impressive composure by the crew on the crowded deck. An untimely Pacific squall which drenched us and everything else did not slow them at all. Even after years of rapid advances in ******** military capabilities, the United States is still unrivalled in its capacity to project force anywhere around the world with its fleet of 11 super-carriers. But does a $13bn (£10bn) aircraft carrier which the latest ******** missiles could sink in a matter of minutes make sense anymore – particularly in the age of Donald Trump? BBC/Natalie Thomas The USS Carl Vinson (left), JS Kaga (centre), and FS Charles de Gaulle (right), taking part in joint exercise Pacific Stellar We had been invited onto the Carl Vinson to see another side of US carrier strategy, one which emphasises American friendliness, and willingness to work with allies – something you don’t hear much in Washington these days. The Carl Vinson was taking part in an exercise with two other aircraft carriers and their escorting destroyers from France and Japan, about 200km east of the Philippines. In the absence of wars to fight, US carrier groups spend much of their time doing this, learning how to operate together with allied navies. Last year they held one exercise that brought together ships from 18 navies. This one was smaller, but was the first in the Pacific involving a French carrier for more than 40 years. Making the case for alliances Down in the massive hangar, below the noisy flight deck, Rear Adm Michael Wosje, commander of the Carl Vinson’s strike force, was sitting with his French colleague, Rear Adm Jacques Mallard of the carrier Charles de Gaulle, and his Japanese colleague Rear Adm Natsui Takashi of the Kaga, which is in the process of being converted to Japan’s first aircraft carrier since the Second World War. The Charles de Gaulle is the only warship in the world which matches some of the capabilities of the US super-carriers, but even then is only half their size. All three admirals were brimming with bonhomie. The fraught scenes in Europe, where President Trump’s men were ripping up the rule book which underscored the international order for the past 80 years, and telling one-time allies they were now on their own, seemed a world away. BBC/Natalie Thomas Rear Admirals Jaques Mallard of the French navy, Michael Wosje of the US Navy and Natsui Takashi of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, on board the USS Carl Vinson “Our network of strong alliances and partnerships, such as those that we share with France and Japan, is a key advantage of our nations as we confront our collective security challenges,” said Adm Wosje. In impeccable English Adm Mallard concurred: “This exercise is the expression of a will to better understand each other, and to work for the defence of compliance in international law.” No one mentioned the radical new views emanating from Washington, nor did they mention an increasingly assertive China, although Adm Natsui might have had both in mind when he said Japan now found itself in “the most severe and complex security environment. No country can now protect her own security alone.” Down in the warren of steel corridors which make up the living quarters of the 5,000 men and women on the Carl Vinson, the official portraits of the new president and vice-president were already hanging, the one of Trump with its now familiar pugilistic glower. We were not permitted to interview the crew, and politics would have been off-limits anyway, but some of those on board were curious what I thought of the new administration. BBC/Natalie Thomas Official portraits of President Trump and Vice-President Vance in the crew quarters of the USS Carl Vinson. What is the new administration’s view of aircraft carriers? Internet access on board is spotty, but they do keep in touch with home. We were told they even get Amazon deliveries while at sea, picked up from designated collection points. It is a fair bet then that there is plenty of discussion of what President Trump has in store for these giants of the navy. Elon Musk has already vowed to bring his cost-cutting wrecking ball to the Pentagon and its $900bn budget, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has welcomed that, although, he stressed, the Pentagon is not USAID which President Trump has vowed to shut down completely. In the hangar we watched the crew maintaining the aircraft, surrounded by packing cases and spare parts. We were warned not to film any exposed parts of these technological marvels, for fear of revealing classified information. We could not even risk touching the F35 fighters, which have a prohibitively expensive special coating to help conceal them from radar. They showed us the “Jet Shop” where they repair and test the engines, a technician who identified himself as ‘082 Madeiro’ explained that they needed to carry enough spare parts to keep the planes flying on long deployments, and that after a certain number of hours the engines had to be completely replaced, whether or not they were faulty. There was a brand new engine in its enormous packaging next to him. Cost, around $15m. Here to stay? Running the Carl Vinson costs around $700m a year. So will the Trump administration take a knife to the Pentagon budget? Hegseth has said he believes there are significant efficiencies to be found. He has also openly mused about the value of aircraft carriers. “If our whole power projection platform is aircraft carriers, and if 15 hypersonic missiles can take out our ten aircraft carriers in the first 20 minutes of conflict, what does that look like?”, he said in an interview last November. The debate about the utility of aircraft carriers is not new. It goes right back to when they first appeared a century ago. Critics today argue that they are too vulnerable to the latest generation of ******** ballistic and hypersonic missiles, forcing them to stay at a distance from the ******** coast which would put their aircraft out of range. The money, they say, would be better spent on newer technology. BBC/Natalie Thomas Maintaining an F/A18 in the Carl Vinson’s hangar. New engines for these aircraft cost $15m BBC/Natalie Thomas The maintenance hangar under the flight deck on the USS Carl Vinson with an F35C Raptor fighter, left, and an E2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft, right There is something archaic about these massive, welded hunks of steel, that seemed to have their heyday in the Pacific War of the 1940s. Yet in the vast expanse of the ocean, with few airfields, it has proved difficult to do without them. Supporters argue that, with their escorts of guided-missile destroyers, the super carriers can defend themselves quite well, and that they are still hard to sink. Downsize these carriers, to carry only helicopters or planes which can land and take off vertically as many countries have done, and you end up with vessels which are even more vulnerable. It is worth noting that China too believes in the value of aircraft carriers; it has already built three. And as floating symbols of US prestige, they may appeal to President Trump, a man known for his love of flamboyant structures, whatever the economic arguments for and against them. BBC/Natalie Thomas An F/A18 Super Hornet fighters prepares for launch by steam catapult from the USS Carl Vinson At his Senate confirmation hearing Pete Hegseth said the Trump administration would prioritise increased ship-building, although he did not say how this can be achieved. The US has only four naval shipyards left; China has, by some estimates, more than 200 times the ship-building capacity of the US. He also told his counterparts in Japan and South Korea that he wanted to deepen defence co-operation with them. Europe may be on its own, but it seems Asian allies will get the attention of this White House as it focuses on the strategic challenge posed by China. Three new Ford-class nuclear carriers, the next generation after the Carl Vinson, are currently under construction, although two will not be in service until the next decade. The plan is to complete ten of this new class of carrier, and so far there have been no indications that the Trump administration wants to change that. For all its many critics, the US super-carrier is probably here to stay. Source link #supercarriers #sense #anymore #BBC #board Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fog harvesting could combat water scarcity in dry areas Fog harvesting could combat water scarcity in dry areas Harvesting fog could ease water scarcity in the world’s driest place, a new study has suggested. In Chile’s Atacama Desert, with annual rainfall of less than 1mm per year, the main water source is underground water-filled spaces which last recharged between 17,000 and 10,000 years ago. So-called fog harvesting, where fog water is collected and saved, is a feasible way to provide much needed water, scientists said in a research published in Frontiers in Environmental Science. In a year-long field study, scientists found it was possible to collect as much as five litres of water per square metre each day. Virginia Carter Gamberini, a co-author of the study, said the research showed it was possible to scale up fog water use, “from a rural, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities.” “Our findings demonstrate that fog can serve as a complementary urban water supply in drylands where climate change exacerbates water shortages,” she said. “The collection and use of water, especially from non-conventional sources such as fog water, represents a key opportunity to improve the quality of life of inhabitants.” Fog collectors typically consist of a mesh suspended between two posts. Water droplets collect on the mesh and fall into a gutter leading to water storage tanks. Collected water could be used for drinking, irrigation, and local food production. However, researchers said large storage systems, piping infrastructure, and ways of distribution would still be required. Source link #Fog #harvesting #combat #water #scarcity #dry #areas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Six Nations: Former England prop Joe Marler sings Adele on Rugby Special debut Six Nations: Former England prop Joe Marler sings Adele on Rugby Special debut Former England prop Joe Marler performs a stunning rendition of Adele’s Someone Like You and has former team-mates in hysterics with an entertaining debut on Six Nations Rugby Special. WATCH MORE: Captain Morgan on initiation punishments and famous relatives Watch Six Nations Rugby Special on BBC iPlayer Available to *** users only. Source link #Nations #England #prop #Joe #Marler #sings #Adele #Rugby #Special #debut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dune: Awakening Is Out on May 20 for $49.99; Benchmark and Character Creator Live Now Dune: Awakening Is Out on May 20 for $49.99; Benchmark and Character Creator Live Now Dune: Awakening launches on May 20 for PC, priced $49.99. The benchmark and character creator are both available now. Source link #Dune #Awakening #Benchmark #Character #Creator #Live Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police 'reasonable' in shooting man who stabbed tourist Police 'reasonable' in shooting man who stabbed tourist Police had just seconds to react when a young man stabbed a tourist on a city street and sprinted at officers while holding a knife, a coroner found. Source link #Police #039reasonable039 #shooting #man #stabbed #tourist Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Make the world your canvas with The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack Make the world your canvas with The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack Get crafty and creative with your favorite Hobbies! Source link #world #canvas #Sims #Businesses #amp #Hobbies #Expansion #Pack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jumia Technologies AG (JMIA) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with … Jumia Technologies AG (JMIA) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with … Revenue: $45.7 million, down 23% year over year in USD, and down 2% in constant currency. Gross Profit: $23.9 million, down 36% year over year, or 18% on a constant currency basis. Adjusted EBITDA: Negative $13.7 million compared to negative $6 million in Q4 2023. Loss Before Income Tax: $17.6 million, a 3% increase year over year or 19% decline on a constant currency basis. Cash Burn: $30.6 million compared to $26.8 million in Q4 2023. Quarterly Active Customers: Increased by 8% year over year. Physical Goods Orders: Grew by 18% year over year. Marketing Spend: Reduced from $6.2 million in Q4 2023 to $4.8 million in Q4 2024. Net Promoter Score: Increased to 63, a 17-point year over year increase. 90 Days Repurchase Rate: Increased by 375 basis points year over year. Liquidity Position: $133.9 million, including $55.4 million in cash and cash equivalents. Release Date: February 20, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Jumia Technologies AG (NYSE:JMIA) achieved an 18% year-over-year growth in physical goods orders in Q4 2024, indicating increased demand on their platform. Quarterly active customers increased by 8%, showcasing the strength and value of Jumia’s platform. The company successfully reduced marketing spend from $6.2 million in Q4 2023 to $4.8 million in Q4 2024, demonstrating cost-efficient marketing strategies. Jumia’s ****** Friday sales event was a key growth driver, with strong performance in priority categories such as electronics and phones. The company improved its net promoter score to 63, a 17-point increase year-over-year, reflecting stronger customer loyalty and satisfaction. Jumia Technologies AG (NYSE:JMIA) experienced a 12% decline in GMV in USD terms, although it grew 13% year-over-year in constant currency, affected by currency devaluations and reduced corporate sales. Revenue for Q4 2024 was $45.7 million, down 23% year-over-year in USD, driven by lower corporate sales in Egypt. Adjusted EBITDA was negative $13.7 million, compared to negative $6 million in Q4 2023, indicating increased operational losses. Cash burn for the quarter was $30.6 million, up from $26.8 million in Q4 2023, partly due to one-time termination costs and increased working capital. The average order value for physical goods orders decreased from $45.5 in Q4 2023 to $35.5 in Q4 2024, driven by currency variations and lower corporate sales. Q: Can you provide more color on the trends you’re observing in Q1 2025? A: Francis Dufay, CEO of Jumia Technologies AG, noted that they are seeing continued progress in growth and usage, which supports their guidance of 15% to 20% year-over-year growth. They are also observing strong execution and discipline on the cost side, which gives them confidence in their net loss guidance based on improved efficiency and cost management. Story Continues Q: Is there anything preventing Jumia from bringing on more selection to meet incremental demand? A: Francis Dufay explained that the challenge is more on the supply side rather than demand. Jumia is focused on increasing supply and improving value for money for customers. This involves operational improvements and a long list of actions, such as onboarding new suppliers and improving vendor experience. It’s a gradual process rather than an immediate fix. Q: Can you elaborate on the 1P versus 3P mix and the cyclical trends affecting it? A: Francis Dufay mentioned that they saw a decline in corporate sales, particularly in Egypt, which are largely first-party. This was due to reduced bulk purchases amid macroeconomic uncertainty. Jumia uses first-party sales when it provides better supply and value for money, and they do not foresee massive changes in the mix, excluding corporate sales impacts. Q: What is driving the physical order growth and how does it affect average order value (AOV)? A: Physical order growth is driven by upcountry expansion, better assortment, and improved customer experience. The AOV is a consequence of the mix, and Jumia focuses on delivering the best value for money in priority categories. They ensure profitability at all levels, regardless of AOV, by maintaining the right economics. Q: How does consolidating the warehouse footprint improve efficiency and costs? A: Francis Dufay explained that consolidating smaller warehouses into larger ones allows for better control over efficiency, productivity, and security. This structural change, mostly completed in the second half of 2024, is expected to lead to significant savings in fulfillment costs in 2025. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Source link #Jumia #Technologies #JMIA #Earnings #Call #Highlights #Navigating #Challenges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Connor McDavid scores in OT to give Canada 3-2 win over United States in 4 Nations Face-Off final – The Associated Press Connor McDavid scores in OT to give Canada 3-2 win over United States in 4 Nations Face-Off final – The Associated Press Connor McDavid scores in OT to give Canada 3-2 win over United States in 4 Nations Face-Off final The Associated PressJustin Trudeau sends fiery message to US after Canada’s 4 Nations win Fox NewsTrudeau after Canada win over U.S.: “You can’t take our country” or “our game” AxiosMcDavid delivers Canada 4 Nations title in OT ESPNHow to watch the final 4 Nations Face Off hockey game live online for free—and without cable Fortune Source link #Connor #McDavid #scores #give #Canada #win #United #States #Nations #FaceOff #final #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Government finances in surplus but miss forecasts Government finances in surplus but miss forecasts Government finances showed a large surplus last month after a surge in tax receipts but the figure missed forecasts made by the fiscal watchdog. The surplus – the difference between what the government spends and the tax it takes in – was £15.4bn in January, which is the highest level for the month since records began more than three decades ago. However, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which monitors the government’s spending plans and performance, had predicted that the surplus would be higher at £20.5bn. The latest financial figures come at a key time for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with anaemic economic growth and rising inflation putting pressure on her tax and spending plans. The OBR will release its latest outlook for the *** economy and public finances on 26 March, when it will detail what headroom the chancellor has against her self-imposed fiscal rules. Last October, the watchdog said she had £9.9bn in headroom. However, weak economic growth and higher borrowing costs have weighed on that wriggle room, raising the question of whether Reeves will have to raise taxes or cut spending. The government tends to take more in tax than it spends January compared with other times of the year due to the amount it receives in self-assessed taxes in the month. Source link #Government #finances #surplus #forecasts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony Being Sued For ‘Artificially High Prices’ on PlayStation Store Sony Being Sued For ‘Artificially High Prices’ on PlayStation Store It has been revealed that a Dutch consumer group has filed a class action lawsuit against Sony. The organisation – Massaschade & Consument – alleges that Sony is keeping prices on the PlayStation Store ‘artificially high’ and is abusing a position of power by preventing players from buying digital versions of PS4 and PS5 games elsewhere. The class action lawsuit joins others that have surfaced recently in Portugal and the United Kingdom, and this particular suit is exclusively reserved for residents of the Netherlands. ‘You’re Paying Too Much for PlayStation Games’ The class action lawsuit, which was discovered first by ‘Tweakers‘, states clearly in the headline that ‘you’re paying too much for PlayStation games’. The suit has dubbed the alleged overpayments ‘Sony Tax’, and it stresses that all PlayStation gamers in the Netherlands have a right to compensation. On February 17, the legal body wrote to Sony to ‘hold it liable to the abuse of its dominant position and its further unlawful conduct in relation to the PlayStation 4 and 5.’ Netherlands residents can register as part of the class action lawsuit for free by completing a simple form. The only requirement is that you’ve made a digital purchase via the PlayStation Store at some point since November 29, 2013. You must also be at least eight years old. In a statement on the site promoting the class action lawsuit, it was explained what Sony is doing wrong: The gaming industry is now ******* than the film, TV and music industries combined. Sony, as the manufacturer of the world’s best-selling console, is one of the most powerful – if not the most powerful – players in this market. And with such power comes responsibility. In the EU, it is ******** for large companies to abuse their position to make more profit at the expense of consumers. Yet Sony does not fully comply with these rules. When you buy a digital game or in-game content, Sony ensures that this can only be done via its own PlayStation Store. Sony keeps the market for itself in this way and can keep the prices artificially high. As a result, you pay more, without getting anything extra in return. This is also called the ‘Sony Tax’. In November 2023, Sony faced a whopping £5 billion class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom for this very same reason. That case was kicked off in 2022, but the most recent documentation about the lawsuit was published midway through 2024, and the results of the proceedings are unclear. Do you think Sony has an issue with PlayStation Store prices? Let us know in the comments or on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Dying Light 2’s Tower Raid mode is now permanent SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Sony #Sued #Artificially #High #Prices #PlayStation #Store Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v singer and Newcastle fan Bradley Simpson Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v singer and Newcastle fan Bradley Simpson Manchester City basically waved the white flag at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night and, without Erling Haaland, lacked belief against Real Madrid from the off. Let’s be frank, it was a shambolic performance from Pep Guardiola’s side, with a real lack of intensity. Part of the pickle City found themselves in was down to the way Pep had set them up. I don’t know how many times Abdukodir Khusanov had played at right-back before, but it cannot be many, and the combination of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in central midfield alongside Nico Gonzalez just didn’t work. They didn’t have the legs to cope with Real. It ended up being really disappointing as a contest. Real were always favourites but when City lose, you at least expect them to go down fighting. Instead, it was over after less than five minutes. They never believed they could win and how many times have you said that about a Pep team? Liverpool had a tricky time of it against Villa in midweek but they must think they can get at this City side too. Sutton’s prediction: 1-3 Bradley’s prediction: I don’t know about this one – it is such a huge and exciting game. City have got something to prove against Liverpool and although they had a bad result against Real, they did not look short of confidence against Newcastle. Liverpool are consistent at the moment, in terms of not being beaten, but their form is not exactly phenomenal either. Until a couple of weeks ago, I would have looked at the form Liverpool were in and thought it was all swinging in their favour, but City are much better now than when they lost at Anfield in December. City are going to come out really, really strong, like they did against Newcastle, but if they sit back, I feel like Liverpool will get back into the game. I’m going for a draw. 2-2 Source link #Premier #League #predictions #Chris #Sutton #singer #Newcastle #fan #Bradley #Simpson Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Person accused of killing Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey seemed keen to help police, court told Person accused of killing Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey seemed keen to help police, court told A woman accused of killing Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey had helped police about another matter before the teen was allegedly attacked, a court has been told. Source link #Person #accused #killing #Perth #schoolboy #Cassius #Turvey #keen #police #court #told Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alibaba shares jump, Amazon’s revenue beats Walmart Alibaba shares jump, Amazon’s revenue beats Walmart The Alibaba office building on Feb. 18, 2025, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province of China. Fang Dongxu | Visual China Group | Getty Images ******** tech titan Alibaba posted a startling 239% year-over-year jump in net profit in the final quarter of 2024. CEO Eddie Wu attributed that shiny result to growth in the company’s cloud business and its triple-digit expansion in artificial intelligence during the past six quarters, though increasing retail sales also played a part. Amazon, like Alibaba, wears dual hats of retailer and cloud provider. The company’s retail unit is its biggest moneymaker — but revenue is also fueled by its cloud computing services. In late 2024, Amazon’s quarterly revenue surpassed Walmart’s for the first time, in an indication that tech conglomerate is making inroads into more parts of the economy. Walmart, however, is still expected to be the world’s largest annual revenue generator — for now. What you need to know today U.S. markets retreat from recordsU.S. markets dropped Thursday. The S&P 500 was down 0.43%, retreating from recent highs and putting it in the red for the week thus far. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.01% and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.47%. Asia-Pacific stocks climbed Friday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index popped more than 3.4% to its highest level since February 2022, on the back of Alibaba shares surging. Japan’s Nikkei 225 added around 0.2% amid sustained consumer price growth. Sustained inflation in JapanJapan’s inflation rate in January climbed to 4% year on year, hitting its highest level since January 2023. Core inflation — which excludes prices of fresh food — rose to 3.2%, beating economists’ expectations of 3.1%, according to a Reuters poll. This figure was the highest since June 2023. The headline inflation has remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for 34 straight months. Alibaba shares pop on cloud growthAlibaba shot up 8.1% in U.S. on Thursday and jumped as much as 12% in Hong Kong on Friday. The ******** tech giant on Thursday reported net income of 48.945 billion yuan ($6.72 billion) in the December quarter, a 239% surge from a year ago. Alibaba’s top line was also better than expected, lifted by 13% year-on-year sales growth in its Cloud Intelligence Group during the quarter. Separately, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen increased his personal stake in Alibaba to around $1 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Amazon’s quarterly revenue beats Walmart’sAmazon has dethroned Walmart in quarterly revenue for the first time ever. Amazon said earlier this month that it brought in $187.8 billion in revenue during the fourth quarter — above the $180.5 billion reported by Walmart on Thursday. Since 2012, Walmart has held the distinction of being the top revenue generator each quarter, a title it gained after overtaking oil giant Exxon Mobil. Taking Thames privatePrivate equity investor KKR is offering about £4 billion ($5 billion) for U.K.’s struggling Thames Water utility, according to a person familiar with the matter. The water utility firm is saddled with ballooning debt and has warned it will run out of cash by March 24. KKR’s involvement would comprise a £4 billion management-buyout submission that would not result in the ***** of assets or a breakup of the utility, the source said. [PRO] Behind Thursday’s sell-offWalmart, as the U.S.’ largest retailer and generator of revenue, serves as a bellwether for consumer health. So when the company said it expects profit growth to slow this fiscal year, investors took notice and sold off shares. Here’s what analysts think of the dip in markets on Thursday. And finally… Donald Trump (L) and Russia’s Vladimir Putin arrive to attend a joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. Yuri Kadobnov | Afp | Getty Images Moscow loathed the U.S. for years as its economy paid a high price for war — now, it’s doing a U-turn Since invading Ukraine three years ago, Russia has spent a significant amount of energy demonizing the U.S. and denigrating the country. But the arrival of a friendlier administration under U.S. President Donald Trump, which kickstarted fledgling talks to end the conflict in Ukraine — as well as a way in from the economic and geopolitical cold — are prompting a softening of the Kremlin’s adversarial stance. As tensions between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spilled into open acrimony on Wednesday, with Trump calling Zelenskyy a “dictator,” Putin praised Trump for showing restraint amid what he described as “hysteria” by European leaders who are angry at being left out of negotiations on Ukraine’s future. Source link #Alibaba #shares #jump #Amazons #revenue #beats #Walmart Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket puts Darkness-type cards in the spotlight in latest Outbreak event Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket puts Darkness-type cards in the spotlight in latest Outbreak event Darkness-type Mass Outbreak event ongoing Get rewards from clearing themed missions Weavile EX is in the spotlight As you might expect wild Pokemon to do, there’s now a Mass Outbreak Event underway within Pokemon TCG Pocket, where it’s all about diving headfirst into the darkness this time around. In particular, the Darkness-type Pokemon Mass Outbreak Event will run until February 27th, offering a higher chance for these creatures to pop up in rare and bonus picks. Missions you clear during the event ******* might just reward you with particular shop tickets as well, along with additional Flair to be given away via exchanges throughout the event *******. At the forefront of this dark new update is Weavile EX, an evolved form of Sneasel which can pile on even more damage if your enemy’s Active Pokemon is already hurt. Darkrai, on the other hand, will also appear in rare picks, and can knock your opponent’s Active Pokemon to sleep along with its Dark Void attack. As for Bonus Picks, Murkrow will pop up to help you complete your Dex in case you’re still missing a few Darkness-type contenders. If you’ve been following our weekly Pocket Gamer Wrapps, you’ll likely be aware that plenty of us willing tributes have been quite enamoured with this card battler from day one. We’ve got plenty of Pokemon TCG Pocket tips too just in case you’d like to join the bandwagon! In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by downloading it on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Twitter page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Pokemon #Trading #Card #Game #Pocket #puts #Darknesstype #cards #spotlight #latest #Outbreak #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk waves 'bureaucracy' chainsaw gifted by Argentina's President Milei – BBC.com Elon Musk waves 'bureaucracy' chainsaw gifted by Argentina's President Milei – BBC.com Elon Musk waves ‘bureaucracy’ chainsaw gifted by Argentina’s President Milei BBC.comElon Musk wields chainsaw during CPAC appearance CNNWATCH: Elon Musk wields ‘chainsaw for bureaucracy’ on stage before speaking at CPAC PBS NewsHour5 takeaways from Musk’s CPAC talk The Hill Source link #Elon #Musk #waves #039bureaucracy039 #chainsaw #gifted #Argentina039s #President #Milei #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Scotland-England border Gretna Green landmark plan submitted New Scotland-England border Gretna Green landmark plan submitted Giancarlo Rinaldi BBC Scotland news Star of Caledonia Trust The Star of Caledonia will stand about 33m (100ft) high near the Scotland-England border New plans have been submitted for a giant landmark artwork – the Star of Caledonia – to be built on the Scotland-England border near Gretna Green. The winning design for the project, by Cecil Balmond OBE, was selected more than a decade ago but building work has never started. The size of the star has been reduced slightly in the revised plans and the project – costing about £10m – will also include a visitor centre for the artwork which hopes to attract up to 250,000 people a year. Lucy Houston, who chairs the Star of Caledonia Trust, said the trust was delighted to have reached a milestone in a “very long journey”. Star of Caledonia Trust The revised plans also include a visitor centre The idea of the landmark – hoping to emulate the success of the Angel of the North in Gateshead – first surfaced in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001. It aimed to celebrate the area’s role as a “gateway” between Scotland and England while also helping to boost the economy. A competition to design the massive structure was won in 2011 by Cecil Balmond’s Star of Caledonia. Planning permission was secured but the project never made progress due to funding issues. Star of Caledonia Trust The star will be visible to motorists crossing the border on the A74(M) motorway It has now been backed by wind farm firm CWP Energy with the trust working to secure the public element of the costs which have risen steadily from an early estimate of £4m. It has also shrunk in size slightly from the originally planned 40m (120ft) to about 33m (100ft) high. The steel sculpture with LED lights will, nonetheless, still be a prominent sight for people crossing the border between Scotland and England. Star of Caledonia Trust It is hoped the Star of Caledonia can be completed by early 2027 Ms Houston said: “I am delighted that the Star of Caledonia has reached a milestone on its very long journey, and I am relieved to see it move to planning in memory of my late husband Alasdair Houston. “As a trust, we are working very hard behind the scenes, pulling together feasibility, revenue and business models. “We are planning to start construction next spring, with a 12 to 15 month build – meaning that the Star of Caledonia will be up and open in spring 2027 – a full 25 years after its original conception.” She said residents in the area had been supportive of the project. Star of Caledonia Trust Dumfries and Galloway Council will be asked to approve the new plans “We are excited to see the Star of Caledonia get a new home, as the project is not just about a landmark sculpture but as a catalyst for tourism, local economies, and community pride,” she added. Rod Wood, managing director at CWP Energy, said the company was proud to be playing a part in seeing the landmark built. He said it was already “heavily invested” in Dumfries and Galloway with its wind farms but said the Star of Caledonia would “stand for generations” and could be a catalyst for tourism and boosting the economy. The revised plans have now been submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council for its consideration. They will be considered by planning councillors at a later date. Source link #ScotlandEngland #border #Gretna #Green #landmark #plan #submitted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]