A larger iMac might not be dead, after all
A larger iMac might not be dead, after all
Ever since the 27-inch iMac was discontinued back in 2022, Apple hasn’t said anything about plans to revive it, or launch a successor. Similar is the fate of the iMac Pro, which got the discontinuation treatment in 2022, and has since remained a mystery.
But it seems plans for a large-screen all-in-one (AIO) desktop aren’t dead at Apple. In the latest edition of his PowerOn newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the company might eventually turn its attention to delivering a super-sized desktop.
“The company remains interested in the professional market, though, and it’s planning new Mac Pro and Mac Studio models. Apple also will probably eventually get around to offering a larger-screen iMac,” says the report.
When Apple first overhauled the iMac design language with the arrival of its M1 refresh, there were hopes that a variant with larger panel might eventually be launched to complement the 24-inch version. Unfortunately, those hopes and industry murmurs never took shape.
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
So, when can we expect a return to the 27–inch iMac? Or something even more grandiose in terms of screen real estate? Not anytime soon, it seems. The company is reportedly busy with a long-overdue refresh for the Mac Studio Display, which might hit the shelves next year.
As far as plans for a higher-end display go, the company is reportedly in no rush to launch a successor to the ProDisplay XDR. Priced at $5,000, that product was never expected to become a mainstream hit, so a refresh isn’t imminent, even though it has been on the market since 2019.
But when it comes to a larger iMac making a potential return, that remains an enigma. Back in 2023, TFI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, claimed that Apple was prepping a 32-inch iMac upgrade for release at some point in 2024 or 2025. That has yet to happen.
The updated model was supposed to get a mini-LED display upgrade, similar to the current-gen MacBook Pro laptops. Will Apple deliver a 27-inch or 32-inch iMac this year? So far, the chatter around such a machine has been rather modest, or vague.
Apple’s upcoming slate of computing hardware includes an imminent refresh of the MacBook Air, powered by the M4 silicon. Later this year, the transition to M5 silicon will begin, starting with the MacBook Pro. The company is expected to launch updated Mac Pro Mac Studio models, as well, followed by an M5-powered iPad Pro next year.
Source link
#larger #iMac #dead
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Mike Pence emerges as one of the few Republicans willing to challenge Trump 2.0
Mike Pence emerges as one of the few Republicans willing to challenge Trump 2.0
WASHINGTON (AP) — His group spent nearly $1 million on ads opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s health agencies. He’s delivering speeches urging the president to stand with longstanding foreign allies and lobbying members of Congress while aides write letters and opinion columns.
This weekend, he posted an article he penned more than a decade ago on the limits of presidential power after Trump claimed that, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”
Mike Pence is emerging as one of the last Republicans in Washington willing to publicly criticize the new administration.
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.
It’s an especially jarring role for the former vice president, whose refusal to break with Trump defined their time together in office until the two had a falling out over Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and his efforts to remain in power.
Pence and those who work with him at Advancing American Freedom, his political advocacy group, stress they are not looking to take on the “Never Trump” mantle. They intend to praise the administration when they agree with it, while raising concerns when they don’t, advocating for longtime conservative principles that have fallen out of favor as Trump’s “Make America Great Again” brand of populism has taken hold.
“We’re calling ****** and strikes here,” Pence told The Associated Press.
Pence opposed Kennedy — who has since been confirmed as secretary of health and human services — due to Kennedy’s past comments voicing support for abortion rights. His group is now lobbying against Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s pick for labor secretary, accusing her of being pro-union, and plans to spend the coming months pushing to increase military spending, shrink the deficit, and make permanent 2017 tax cuts, as well as trying to convince Trump to stop slapping tariffs on allies.
The AP recently sat down with Pence to discuss his efforts and his relationship with Trump — including a closely watched handshake at the ******** of President Jimmy Carter and his wife’s lack of reaction as the 45th and 47th president took his seat.
Here is a transcript of that conversation, which has been lightly edited for space and clarity:
Q: What do you see as your role and the role of AAF over the next four years?
Pence: “To be an anchor to windward … I came across that line I think in a Herman Melville book a long time ago.”
“The wind blows in the direction of more government. And I think it’s a role of conservatives to anchor the party so that when the wind blows, you put the anchor to windward so you stay grounded and hopefully do some small part to hold, you know, hold the ship of state on the principles that really minted my career in this movement.”
“A strong defense, to American leadership of the free world, limited government, fiscal responsibility, growth, the right to life, traditional values — those were the values that drew me to the Republican Party. And I still think that they are the timeless ideals of the party of Lincoln. And so I want to do my part, even as a former elected official, to use whatever remains of my bully pulpit to be a champion for those principles.”
Q: How are you picking your battles?
Pence: “Well, for me, it’s always principles first. It’s not personal. I went to the inauguration last month and I was very moved in the outpouring of kind words and expressions of appreciation from former colleagues, including many members of the new administration who I encountered in hallways. And I saw Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio. I gave him a hug, told him how proud I was of him. We had praised him from here when he was selected. I must have seen about or interacted with about half the incoming Cabinet.”
“We went to the Carter ********. And the president and I had a very cordial exchange. You know, he was coming down the row in front of us at the National Cathedral and he said, ‘Hi, Mike.’ And I was standing up, extended my hand, and I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President.’ And I could see his countenance softened. And he said, ‘Thanks.’ And Melania reached out and I said, ‘Congratulations, Melania.’ And it was, you know, the people that know me know it’s not personal. I’ve long since forgiven the president for any differences that we had at the end of our administration. We still have those differences as the president still holds the view that, to my knowledge, that I had some authority that I did not have under the Constitution or laws of the country. But from my heart, I’ve prayed often for the president.”
“And so, to answer your question, I think that the way we want to approach this is with integrity to principle. And I’m very encouraged. I think the Trump administration is off to a great start … I’m very pleased about the president undoing Biden’s border policies and putting back into place the policies that we had negotiated and established that secured the border. But you know, with regard to the nomination of RFK … for me, it would begin and end with the right to life … I saw the nomination of an abortion rights supporter to be secretary of HHS to be a dramatic departure from 50 years of strong pro-life leadership at HHS under Republican administrations. So we thought it was important to speak out. And we got a lot of quiet encouragement about that.”
Q: Quiet encouragement?
“Well, we got a lot of quiet encouragement from people that, for whatever reason, didn’t feel compelled to join us in that chorus. But I thought it was an important point for us to make. And, you know, we’ll continue to be a champion.”
Q: Why are Republicans so reluctant to speak out publicly?
Pence: “I never speculate on motives. You know, I’m not new to town. I’ve waged lonely battles before.”
“But you know, you have to be willing to step out and lead. And my hope is that even in the wake of this fight that, you know, the Senate has worked its will, the president will get his choice at HHS. My hope is that when the next issue of life comes up, that people will have been encouraged, emboldened to know that they’re not alone.”
Q: Is there support in the party for moving back in the direction that you’d like to see versus the populist, MAGA wing of the party that’s ascendant?
Pence: “Well now you hit it. Now you’re on it. I don’t think — look, I think some of the prominent voices in the party have embraced a more populist thinking. I don’t believe the overwhelming majority of people that ever vote Republican think any differently than they thought during our administration when we hewed to a conservative agenda or the years before or since.”
“Let me give you one anecdote. So I’m at a town hall meeting when I’m running for president. And at the end of the town hall meeting — it was well-attended, it was in Iowa — a farmer walked up to me and he said, ‘It was a great town hall meeting. I agree with everything you say.’ You know, and I argued for — this was literally in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack. And I argued for strong American support for Israel, strong American leadership in the world, continued support for Ukraine in their fight and limited government and bringing about reforms to put our fiscal house in order and right to life.
And this farmer says to me, he said, ‘I agree with absolutely everything you said.’ So I said, ‘Well, can I count on your vote?’ And he said, ‘No, I got to be for Trump this time.’ And he goes, ‘But I’ll see you in four years. You’re going to be a great president someday.’ I said, ‘Would you mind telling me, you know, why?’ And he said words I never forgot, which was in effect: He lamented Biden’s failed record. And I saw that he was drawn to the need for a rematch. And then he said, ‘Plus, if they can do that to a former president, they can do that to me.’ And the ‘lawfare’ stuff went into higher relief.
“So I didn’t see in this last election a Republican Party that was embracing big government or a vision to pull back from America’s commitments on the world stage or marginalizing the right to life. I didn’t see that traveling all over the country and I still don’t see it. I think there were other factors that gave the former president a decided advantage in the election. He’d earned it. He’d won it. And then he won it in the fall. But I don’t think the party’s changed.”
Q: You mentioned the Carter ******** earlier. Tell me about your wife’s reaction to the Trumps that day.
(At the ********, former second lady Karen Pence refused to acknowledge the then-president elect or shake Melania Trump’s hands — footage that ended up going viral online.)
Pence: “My wife loves her husband. And I love my wife and I have great respect for her. And so — but I’ve been really moved at how many people around the country have thanked us both for that day.
“But again, you know, I want to emphasize, we’re eyes forward here. You know, I’d always thought the president was going to come around on the position he took on Jan. 6. If you read the end of my book, which I’d be flattered if you did, you’ll read we actually parted on very amicable terms, very good terms. But in the spring, when he returned to the rhetoric about how I could have done something that neither the Constitution nor the law would ever permit any vice president to do, then I just decided it was important to go our separate ways. But hope springs eternal. And we want to be a constructive force for the conservative agenda. I think that’s good for the administration. It’s good for the Congress. More importantly, it’s good for America.”
Source link
#Mike #Pence #emerges #Republicans #challenge #Trump
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Trump’s firings of independent agency heads put 90-year-old Supreme Court precedent in crosshairs
Trump’s firings of independent agency heads put 90-year-old Supreme Court precedent in crosshairs
Washington — President Trump’s firings of the members of independent agencies and boards have prompted a string of legal fights that could set the Supreme Court up to reconsider and potentially overturn a 90-year-old decision that shields certain executive branch officials from being removed after political shifts in the White House.
Since returning to the presidency, Mr. Trump has terminated the heads of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board, as well as the director of the Office of Government Ethics and the special counsel, Hampton Dellinger, who oversees the office that investigates whistleblower complaints.
The officials learned of their firings through emails stating that they had been removed from their respective positions at their agencies, according to court filings.
But in subsequent lawsuits challenging their removal, some of the officials have alleged that Mr. Trump violated federal laws passed by Congress that created the agencies and limited the president to removing their members only for cause — in cases of neglect of duty or malfeasance.
The president has said the heads of executive branch agencies should share his administration’s objectives, but the firings may have also been aimed at provoking these very legal challenges, with the ultimate goal of addressing the question to the Supreme Court.
“It really was kind of a matter of time before a test case made its way to the court, where the court would have a chance to overrule Humphrey’s,” Joel Alicea, a law professor at the Catholic University of America, told CBS News.
Alicea was referring to the Supreme Court’s 1935 decision in the case Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, in which the court carved out an exception to the president’s power to remove executive officers. William Humphrey, appointed to a second term on the Federal Trade Commission by President Herbert Hoover, was asked to resign by President Franklin Roosevelt. The new president then fired him, citing their policy differences, rather than dismissing him for cause. The case is referred to a Humphrey’s Executor because he died not long after his firing, but the executors of his estate brought the case to pursue his back pay.
In Humphrey’s Executor, the Supreme Court found that Congress could impose for-cause removal protections to multi-member commissions of experts that are balanced along partisan lines and do not exercise any executive power. The high court recognized another exception in 1988, which applies to certain inferior officers who have limited duties and lack policymaking or significant administrative authority.
In recent years, though, the Supreme Court has chipped away at its 1935 ruling and reasserted the president’s power to remove executive branch officers at will. Most notably in 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s structure of a single leader removable only for inefficiency, neglect or malfeasance is unconstitutional.
“In our constitutional system, the executive power belongs to the president, and that power generally includes the ability to supervise and remove the agents who wield executive power in his stead,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court’s conservative majority. “While we have previously upheld limits on the president’s removal authority in certain contexts, we decline to do so when it comes to principal officers who, acting alone, wield significant executive power.”
Now, nearly five years later, the high court is on track to revisit again the issue of the president’s removal power and could overturn the nearly century-old ruling allowing Congress to protect the members of independent agencies from being fired at will.
In what is likely to be the Trump administration’s first Supreme Court emergency appeal of his second term, the solicitor general is expected to ask the high court to permit Dellinger’s firing, according to documents obtained Sunday.
Two justices, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, who was appointed by Mr. Trump, have already indicated that it’s time for the Supreme Court to scrap its 1935 precedent.
“The decision in Humphrey’s Executor poses a direct threat to our constitutional structure and, as a result, the liberty of the American people,” Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion to its 2020 decision on the CFPB, which was joined by Gorsuch.
Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, said that in a future case, he “would repudiate what is left of this erroneous precedent.”
Three more members of the court, Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito, all have experience working in the executive branch that could have shaped their views on executive power.
“This has nothing to do with the justices’ ideological leanings or which president appointed them,” Alicea said. “This has to do with deeply held views about the nature of presidential removal under Article II of the Constitution, and these are views that some of these justices have had for decades.”
At least one of the officials fired by Mr. Trump recognized that she may be part of a broader plan to target the Supreme Court’s 1935 ruling. Gwynne Wilcox, the chair of the National Relations Board, received an email on behalf of the president on Jan. 27 informing her and the agency’s general counsel that they had been “removed from the office of members of the National Labor Relations Board.”
But the National Labor Relations Act, passed by Congress in 1935, restricts the reasons for removal of board members to “neglect of duty or malfeasance in office,” and requires that they receive “notice and hearing.”
Mr. Trump’s firing of Wilcox was a “blatant violation” of that law, she wrote in a lawsuit challenging her removal. But Wilcox also said that the president’s action was “apparently designed to test Congress’s power to create independent agencies like the board.”
“Although Ms. Wilcox has no desire to aid the president in establishing a test case, she is also cognizant of the fact that, if no challenge is made, the president will have effectively succeeded in rendering the NLRA’s protections — and, by extension, that of other independent agencies — nugatory,” her lawyers wrote.
Citing Humphrey’s Executor, Wilcox’s legal team wrote that Congress has relied on that decision for decades when structuring independent agencies and warned that “abandoning it now could cast a cloud over a wide variety of agency decision-making.”
But Alicea said that if Humphrey’s Executor is reversed, it would bring these agencies under the direction of the president.
“The American people will have more control over their own government by having a president who they elect that superintends the entire federal bureaucracy, and I think that’s a much better and much healthier constitutional structure than what we’ve had since the New Deal, where you have agencies that are largely insulated from direct presidential control and oversight, and therefore less politically accountable to the American people,” he said.
The Trump administration, too, has laid out its roadmap: It plans to urge the Supreme Court to overrule Humphrey’s Executor.
In a letter to Sen. ***** Durbin, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, dated Wednesday, acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris said the Justice Department believes certain for-cause removal provisions that apply to members of multi-member commissions are unconstitutional.
The department, she wrote, will no longer defend the constitutionality of those provisions. Harris specifically pointed to the protections for members of three agencies that the Trump administration believes violate the Constitution: the Federal Trade Commission, the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“To the extent that Humphrey’s Executor requires otherwise, the department intends to urge the Supreme Court to overrule that decision, which prevents the president from adequately supervising principal officers in the executive branch who execute the laws on the president’s behalf, and which has already been severely eroded by recent Supreme Court decisions,” Harris wrote.
As acting solicitor general, Harris represents the federal government before the Supreme Court. Mr. Trump has nominated D. John Sauer, his former defense attorney, for the role but he has not yet been confirmed.
Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said in response to Harris’ letter that it’s been the law of the land for decades that members of bipartisan, independent agencies are protected from removal by the president and can only be terminated for cause.
“But under President Trump, the Justice Department will no longer defend these duly-enacted laws and will instead push the Supreme Court to overturn a nearly-century-old Supreme Court precedent upholding the constitutionality of these statutes,” he said in a statement. “This is a striking reversal of the Justice Department’s longstanding position under Republican and Democratic presidents alike, but not surprising from an administration that is only looking out for wealthy special interests — not the American people.”
The U.S. Supreme Court
More
More
Melissa Quinn
Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts.
Source link
#Trumps #firings #independent #agency #heads #put #90yearold #Supreme #Court #precedent #crosshairs
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Irish goods exports to United States surge by 34%
Irish goods exports to United States surge by 34%
Ireland’s goods exports to the United States surged by 34% to €72.6bn (£60.4bn) in 2025 while its imports from the US fell slightly to €22.5bn (£18.7bn).
That meant Ireland had a goods-trade surplus with the US of just over €50bn (£41.6bn), according to the data from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO).
These trade patterns have gained political significance since Donald Trump regained the US presidency.
He regards countries which have big trade surpluses as taking advantage of the US.
Last week he launched his “fair and reciprocal” plan for trade which could pave the way to large tariffs, or import taxes, on goods from many countries.
Trump mentioned Canada, Taiwan and India as well as describing the EU as being “absolutely brutal on trade”.
So far Trump has not given any indication that he would seek to single Ireland out among EU countries.
Trade policy in the EU is what is known as an “exclusive competence” meaning that only the EU can negotiate trade deals and impose tariffs, rather than individual states.
The major reason for Ireland’s trade surplus with the US is the presence of pharmaceutical manufacturers who export most of their Irish output to the US.
The CSO said that in 2024 overall exports of medical and pharmaceutical products rose by 22.4bn or 29% to just under €100bn (£83.1bn).
These products accounted for 45% of all Irish goods exports.
One likely factor for the increase in exports in 2024 is that Eli Lily manufactures its weight loss drug, Zepbound, at a facility in County Cork.
US pharma companies are in Ireland partially because of the country’s low corporation tax rate.
The researcher Brad Setser, who works for the US Council on Foreign Relations, has tracked the activities of the pharmaceutical companies.
In 2023, in evidence to the US Congress finance committee, he said: “There is no plausible explanation for the current scale of US imports of pharmaceuticals from Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, and Singapore that isn’t tied to tax avoidance.”
Source link
#Irish #goods #exports #United #States #surge
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Directive 8020: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more
Directive 8020: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Release date
Platforms
Trailers
Gameplay
Preorder
The team at Supermassive Games made a name for themselves with one of the best horror games Until Dawn. Since then, the team has produced new narrative horror games almost every year, with their next upcoming video game revealed to be Directive 8020. Between Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and Saros, there are a lot of upcoming PS5 games set in space to look forward to. However, none promise to blend horror with a narrative driven by player choice like this. Supermassive Games haven’t approached sci-fi horror in their games yet, so let’s make all the right choices to learn everything about Directive 8020 and hopefully survive.
A ton of games have been announced this year, so keep up to date with our lists of upcoming Xbox Series X games, upcoming Switch games, and upcoming PC games.
Release date
Supermassive
Despite just being revealed this year, Directive 8020 will launch on October 2, 2025. Supermassive Games usually tries to line its games up with the Halloween season, so this should be a great game to pick up at that time of year.
Please enable Javascript to view this content
Platforms
Supermassive
Directive 8020 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. There is a chance it could come to the Switch 2, but no other Supermassive Games titles have hit that platform so we wouldn’t bet on it.
Trailers
Directive 8020 – Story Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games
The story trailer for Directive 8020 debuted during the February State of Play event. This was the first look at the game, but also gave us the release date.
The game will take place on a ship called the Cassiopeia on a mission to survey and scout a new planet before the Earth becomes uninhabitable. The craft is meant to serve as a colony but only staffed with essential crew for this test mission. Of course, this test doesn’t go smoothly. Our cast of characters will wake up four years into the journey when a hull breach is detected. That’s only the start of the trouble, as a ******* and unexpected ****** landing throws everything into chaos. Despite all that, the trailer also teases an alien threat that, much like The Thing, has the ability to appear and act like any member of the crew.
The only named characters we know of is Brianna Young and Commander Staford who are played by Lashana ****** and Danny Sapani respectively.
Gameplay
Supermassive
The gameplay in Directive 8020 isn’t wildly different from previous Supermassive Games. It is still a third-person narrative adventure game where you will control several characters, in this case 5, and explore environments, talk to others, and make critical decisions that can have dire consequences. Making decisions has always been the meat of these games, and this entry promises to have some of the most difficult yet.
Beyond walking around and interacting with things, Directive 8020 will include some new mechanics. Characters will be equipped with a utility strap that controls a flashlight that is great for exploring the dark but also exposes your position. Stealth will be a ******* focus here, which is helped by a new scanner that you can use to remotely interact with various electronics to use as distractions or communicate with other crew members.
The last new tool we know of is called a “wedge tool” which mainly lets you pry open doors, but can also be used to attack the alien. It can only stun it, however, so don’t expect to kill it with brute force. At best, it will give you a chance to escape.
Preorder
Supermassive
In a strange twist, Directive 8020 is not available to preorder yet, despite having a set release date. As soon as we get more information on when and how you can preorder, we will update this article.
Source link
#Directive #release #date #trailers #gameplay
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
I’m halfway through testing the Shark Cryoglow, and I’m already completely sold on this puffy eye-busting LED face mask
I’m halfway through testing the Shark Cryoglow, and I’m already completely sold on this puffy eye-busting LED face mask
When I first heard about the rise in LED face masks like Shark’s new Cryoglow, I wasn’t sold. That’s because I’m a huge skeptic when it comes to beauty tech, belied by the stacked pile of gadgets and gizmos I’ve collected over the years.
In fact, the very reason I’ve developed such a chip on my shoulders is because of that mountainous product pile; very few have had any meaningful impact on my core skin concerns, those being my lifelong battle against acne and dark, puffy bags beneath my eyes.
I’ve tried just about everything to manage my acne and subsequent scarring, and the near-constant dark, puffy circles underneath my eyes signal a life decorated by insomnia and bouts of routine dysregulation. The signs of aging are also beginning as I crawl towards 30, and while I’m a huge advocate of aging gracefully, I have to wear a fair amount of concealer to hide my biggest skin insecurities and I’d love to have fewer fine lines to worry about.
As of writing, I’m testing the Shark Cryoglow, and I’ve started to see some promising results even before completing my review; here are my initial thoughts.
Have questions about the Shark Cryoglow ahead of my full review? Let me know in the comments below.
(Image credit: Future)
How does the Shark Cryoglow work?
Enter the Shark Cryoglow, which I’ve been testing for three weeks as of writing; approximately half of the recommended eight-week treatment which uses LED light to stimulate collagen production and cell metabolism to reduce fine lines, treat acne and reduce inflammation.
There are four different treatments programmed into the Shark Cryoglow which use different wavelengths to treat different skin conditions. Red light therapy delivers much of the collagen production, while also reducing inflammation and accelerating healing alongside anti-aging benefits. Blue light targets acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation, particularly for oily and acne-prone skin, while near-infrared light therapy improves circulation and reduces fine lines and wrinkles, helping to plump your skin and reduce redness.
(Image credit: Future)
These different wavelengths are used across pre-set treatments designed to target different skin conditions; Better Ageing mode (reducing fine lines and firming skin in eight weeks), Blemish Repair mode (improves blemishes in four weeks) and Skin Sustain, designed to be used following an eight-week cycle of one of the former treatments to boost brightness and maintain results.
In tandem with this technology, the Shark Cryoglow also features controllable under-eye cooling metal pads to reduce puffiness and dark circles through cryotherapy. There are three different temperature settings to account for different skin sensitivities, or you can opt to use the mask without the cooling affect.
There are only a few clinical studies into LED face mask technology, with some positive, albeit varied results, and little insight into the long-term effects. That being said, I can at the very least say my personal experience has been a positive one so far.
(Image credit: Future)
First impressions
Shark’s Cryoglow LED face mask makes quite the impression, looks-wise. Unlike some of the other flexible mask models on the market, it’s a solid mask with cushioning to comfortably fit a variety of face shapes. It also comes with extra optical cooling covers to bring the under-eye pads closer to your face if needed.
Instead of wraparound straps like those found in some of its competitors, the Shark Cryoglow has two elasticated straps that go across the top and sides of your head above your ears, which I personally find more comfortable; though it is a little heavy.
It can also take some getting used to the narrow field of view afforded by the Shark Cryoglow and many of the other LED masks on the market. For most, this won’t be an issue; it’s no bad thing to take a moment for some self-care, sit back and relax as the LED face mask works its magic. I, however, can’t sit still, and found it a little difficult that I couldn’t move around or play on my phone easily while my skin was being rejuvenated.
Attached to the mask is the handheld remote, from which you both charge the device and select the treatment cycles or coolness, as well as tracking your progress and adjusting settings.
Early results
I’ve found it easy to commit to and keep up my LED treatments thanks to the on-device remote keeping tabs on my activity, and its super-quick treatments are all less than 10 minutes, meaning it’s not a huge drag on my self-care routine to keep up.
After just a few weeks of use, my skin has shown some noticeable improvement, though I wouldn’t yet go as far as to say it’s a silver bullet solution.
For one thing, my under-eye bags have drastically reduced from daily cooling, and I’ve even noticed improvements in discoloration. I’ve been mostly using Blemish Repair mode, with the odd burst of Better Aging, and I’ve noticed some solid early signs of improvement. After the first two weeks, my skin seemed to regain some elasticity, and a slightly more consistent tone. By week three, I noticed my acne improved; while it’s not gone entirely, it’s becoming less prone to cystic outbreaks and, while my evidence is only anecdotal, does seem to be healing more quickly, too.
One of my only gripes so far outside of the heaviness is that the battery life is a little sub-par. It needs charging after three or four treatments, which is fine until you’re caught in a situation where you’re in a rush to leave the house and want to give your skin some treatment beforehand.
I’ve not yet finished my full testing and review process, so I can’t say for certain what my verdict on the Shark Cryoglow is; however, it’s certainly on track to win me over. Stay tuned for my full review in a few weeks, and let me know in the comments below if you have any Cryoglow questions!
You might also like…
Source link
#halfway #testing #Shark #Cryoglow #completely #sold #puffy #eyebusting #LED #face #mask
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Enough range to cover almost any family outing
Enough range to cover almost any family outing
Who needs more than 500km of range anyway? That’s the question Kia will be asking prospective buyers of its EV5 SUV.
Source link
#range #cover #family #outing
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Get a four-pack of Chipolo One Bluetooth trackers for 32 percent off
Get a four-pack of Chipolo One Bluetooth trackers for 32 percent off
Tired of losing stuff? Chipolo is selling a four-pack of its . This represents a discount of 32 percent. Just remember to pop in the code “ENGADGET10” at checkout. That brings the ***** price of $75 down to $67.50. The discount applies to all colorways, and there are a bunch to choose from. There are also combo packs that include multiple colors.
This gadget not only made our list of the , but it’s our very favorite release in the product category. The One is a near-perfect tracker. The battery lasts two full years, it works great with both Android and iOS devices and the ringer is incredibly loud. This is great news for those who tend to misplace items under mountains of linens or between couch cushions.
Chipolo
This is over 30 percent off.
Save $32 with code
ENGADGET10
$68 at Chipolo
There’s also no perceptible lag between pressing the Ring to Find button and hearing the trill. This isn’t true of many rival trackers. It even has a handy hole for attaching to keychains and the like. This may seem like an obvious design element, but .
The only downside involves the finding network. Chipolo isn’t a big name like Apple or Samsung, so there are fewer people on the network. This could be an issue if you don’t live in a major metropolitan area. Basically, the One is perfect for looking for lost items in or near the home, but not as useful when searching for misplaced stuff (like luggage at an airport) out in the wild.
One last thing. Remember that coupon code from before? It works across the entire site, so feel free to grab a ten percent discount on everything else Chipolo makes. This includes wallet trackers that are shaped like credit cards and smaller tracking rings.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Source link
#fourpack #Chipolo #Bluetooth #trackers #percent
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Montech HyperFlow Silent 360 Review: Good, but not quite “silent”
Montech HyperFlow Silent 360 Review: Good, but not quite “silent”
The latest AIO to land on our test bench is Montech’s new Hyperflow Silent 360. In contrast to the company’s previous HyperFlow 360 ARGB, this cooler has lower maximum noise levels and a sleek all-****** design without ARGB lighting.
In some ways, the Hyperflow Silent is an improvement over Montech’s last generation AIO – especially when set to run silently. In other ways, it regresses over the last-generation design, particularly in worst-case scenarios. Testing this AIO was interesting, as the results provide a good example of how a cooler can perform better or worse depending on where a CPU’s hotspot is located, as you’ll see in detain in our testing below.
Will this AIO make our list of best coolers on the market? Let’s take a look at the specifications and features of the Hyperflow Silent 360 AIO, then we’ll go over thermal performance and noise levels.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Cooler specifications
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Cooler
Montech Hyperflow Silent 360
MSRP
$89 USD
Radiator Material
Aluminum
Pump Speed
Up to ~3100 RPM
Lighting
None
Warranty
6 Years
Socket Compatibility
Intel Socket LGA 1851/1700/115x/1200/20XX AMD AM5 / AM4 / AM3
Unit Dimensions (including fans)
397 (L) x 120 (W) x 55mm (D)
Base
Copper cold plate
Maximum TDP (Our Testing)
>258W with Intel’s i7-14700K
Packing and included contents
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The packaging for Montech’s Hyperflow Silent 360 is relatively standard, not much different from the average AIO. The product is secured with plastic wrappings and molded cardboard. The fans are preinstalled for convenience.
Included in the box are the following:
Three pre-installed 120mm fans
360mm radiator and CPU block
Pre-installed Thermal Paste
Extra thermal paste and applicator tools
Mounting accessories for modern AMD & Intel platforms
Tubing management clips
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Features of Montech’s Hyperflow Silent 360
Pre-installed and extra thermal paste
Montech’s AIO comes with pre-installed thermal paste, to make installation simple and easy for most users.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Montech also includes a small tube of thermal paste, as well as a paste stencil and spreading tool for users who might need to install the AIO more than once.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
27mm radiator
Montech’s AIO includes a radiator 27mm thick, which is standard for most liquid coolers.
Accessible refill port
I go out of my way to recognize companies when they don’t include a consumer-unfriendly “warranty void if removed” sticker on top of the refill port – an action which is technically ******** under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in the USA. Montech includes an accessible refill port without any warnings so that users who wish to service their equipment can do so. Most users won’t have to do this during the lifespan of the six-year warranty, but it’s nice to have the option should the need arise.
Tubing management clips
Included are two tubing clips, to help keep things tidy and organized.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
120mm fans
There’s more to a cooler than just the heatsink or radiator. The bundled fans have a significant impact on cooling and noise levels, as well as how the cooler looks in your case. It seems that the primary difference between the fans in Montech’s HyperFlow ARGB and this new model is that these fans run slightly quieter and have slightly lower static pressure and airflow. Also, of course, there’s no RGB lighting here.
These fans have both advantages and disadvantages – as you’ll see in our benchmarks below. When noise-normalized (that is, when set to a specific low 38.9 dBA sound threshold) these fans allow for better performance compared to Montech’s previous AIO.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Dimensions
120 x 120 x 28mm
Fan Speed
800-2200 RPM
Air Flow
Up to 72.3 CFM
Air Pressure
Up to 3.12 mmH2O
Bearing Type
FDB
Lighting
None
Full RAM compatibility
Like almost every other AIO on the market, Montech’s Hyperflow Silent 360 doesn’t interfere with or overhang RAM DIMMs in any manner, allowing for use of all sizes of RAM, no matter how tall.
Six-year warranty
Most AIOs on the market have a limited warranty of only 1-3 years. Montech goes the extra mile with a six year warranty for the Hyperflow Silent 360, which is rare for an AIO with a budget price.
Things I didn’t like about this AIO
The main thing I don’t like about this AIO is branding it as “silent”, whic is misleading. While it does run quieter than Montech’s last AIO, I wouldn’t consider it “silent” in any sense of the word, and runs louder than it needs to as we’ll soon see.
Testing configuration – Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851 platform
Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPU
Intel Core i7-14700K
GPU
ASRock Steel Legend Radeon 7900 GRE
Motherboard
MSI Z790 Project Zero
Case
MSI Pano 100L PZ ******
System Fans
Iceberg Thermal IceGale Silent
There are many factors other than the CPU cooler that can influence your cooling performance, including the case you use and the fans installed in it. A system’s motherboard can also influence this, especially if it suffers from bending, which results in poor cooler contact with the CPU.
In order to prevent bending from impacting our cooling results, we’ve installed Thermalright’s LGA 1700 contact frame into our testing rig. If your motherboard is affected by bending, your thermal results will be worse than those shown below. Not all motherboards are affected equally by this issue. I tested Raptor Lake CPUs in two motherboards. And while one of them showed significant thermal improvements after installing Thermalright’s LGA1700 contact frame, the other motherboard showed no difference in temperatures whatsoever! Check out our review of the contact frame for more information.
I’ve also tested this cooler with Intel’s latest platform, Arrow Lake and LGA 1851.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPU
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
GPU
MSI Ventus 3X RTX 4070Ti Super
Motherboard
MSI Z890 Carbon Wifi
Case
MSI MPG Gungnir 300R
System fans
Pre-installed case fans
LGA 1700 and 1851 installation
The installation of the AIO is simple. The following steps assume that you will mount the radiator to your case first.
1. You’ll first need to place the backplate against the rear of the motherboard, using the adhesive strips to secure it.
2. Next you’ll need to secure the mounting studs and connect them to the motherboard backplate.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Take the CPU block and place it atop of the CPU, and secure it with the included screws.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
4. Afterwards, connect the PWM cables to your motherboard and then power on your computer to complete installation.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Source link
#Montech #HyperFlow #Silent #Review #Good #silent
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
How cruise operators are navigating new emission rules
How cruise operators are navigating new emission rules
In 2025 and 2026 respectively, the Mediterranean and Norwegian seas will be the latest bodies of water to become Emission Control Areas (ECAs).
These regulations will require all ships to use fuel with less than 0.10% sulphur content within these areas or use sulphur abatement technology if approved by the flag state. In the case of the Norwegian Sea ECA, which will also cover some inland waterways – fjords – there’s an additional requirement relating to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
Different tiers of control will be applied based on a ship’s construction date, and various means are available for ships to comply. These include engine design, using alternative fuels, and installing devices such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).
While the new ECAs will have regulatory, operational, and financial impacts for all vessels, these will likely be more pronounced for cruise operators, notes Mark Towl, Lloyd’s Register’s principal regulatory risk specialist.
Cruise ships will likely have multiple port calls and extended stays within ECAs, requiring constant compliance with emission standards, whereas cargo vessels spend less time in these areas and can have their compliance managed more strategically, explains Towl.
“Because of their frequent and extended stays in port, cruise operators will likely face increased costs associated with very low sulphur fuel for emission compliance,” he says.
“Due to the nature of their operations, cargo ships often spend less time in ports or in coastal waters compared to cruise ships. They may switch to compliant fuel before transiting the Mediterranean Sea ECA and switch back to a more cost-effective fuel option once they are through the area.”
Another challenge cruise ships face is high public visibility and passenger expectations for sustainable practices, making compliance crucial for maintaining a positive reputation.
“Cargo operators face less public scrutiny and can focus more on regulatory and financial implications,” Towl adds.
When it comes to the monitoring and enforcement of regulations, cruise ships entering ECAs could undergo regular inspections by port authorities, including fuel log checks, fuel sulphur content verification and equipment certification checks, according to Towl.
“And ships equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) or ‘scrubbers’ will be closely monitored, as they must meet specific ECA standards for sulphur removal,” he says.
The consequences of non-compliance can’t be ignored, especially by public facing organisations like cruise operators. According to the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) guidelines for port state control under MARPOL Annex VI, the use of non-compliant fuel is considered to be of such a serious nature that it may warrant detention of the ship involved.
Story Continues
Several coastal states have already enforced sanctions for ships not complying with IMO regulations.
“Several coastal states have already enforced sanctions such as fines of several thousand Euros for ships not complying with IMO regulations,” says Natasha Brown, head of outreach and communications at the IMO.
Depending on a ship’s operational profile, sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions compliance could require significant investment in emissions abatement technology if ships that have previously operated solely outside of an SOx ECA will now be operating in the ECA.
“Operators will face a choice of using compliant fuel or fitting a scrubber,” says Towl.
“This is likely to be a more pronounced cost impact for cruise ships operating solely in or around the Mediterranean Sea, where there are no other SOx ECAs they may be entering, than for those entering the Norwegian Sea ECA, as there are already neighbouring North Sea and Baltic Sea SOx ECAs with which they already have to comply.”
Due to the requirement of keeping fuel usage records, many cruise operators will choose to install or upgrade continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) that provide real-time data on sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions.
But this isn’t to say cruise operators are on the back foot. All of Carnival Corporation’s cruise ships are already capable of operating in SOx ECAs with either LNG, EGCS, or compliant fuels, for example.
“We saw SOx regulations coming 10 years in advance, so we’ve been working on it for most of that time,” says Mike Kaczmarek, Carnival Corporation’s SVP of marine technology and refit. “But for locations that require NOx Tier III (currently only the Norwegian World Heritage Fjords), we will have to install SCRs. This will also have an impact on itinerary planning, due to the ship modifications required.
“We have had some advanced notice regarding NOx requirements and our engineers developed an SCR internally, which can be retrofitted. We’ve had one ship operating in the Norwegian fjords with our SCR, so it’s a proven solution.
“We were the first to build large LNG-powered cruise ships, and we currently have ten of these, with several more on order. These meet all NOx requirements so we won’t need an SCR,” Kaczmarek continues. “We’ve also tested biofuels in some of our ships, and the use of biofuels will be one of the principal ways we will comply with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulations in the near/medium term.”
The company has also won funding from the EU Innovation Fund for a methanol conversion project for one ship in its Princess fleet.
The Costa Smeralda was Carnival’s first LNG-powered vessel. Credit: maudanros / Shutterstock
“This is planned for 2026. Currently, we’re doing technical studies and risk assessments to give the ship methanol capability – it will still be capable of burning NGO and HFO,” adds Chris Millman, Carnival Corporation’s VP of marine technology.
“We’re at a stage where everyone’s still unsure what the final answer will be [in terms of regulation] so we’re compelled to look at everything and have got our fingers in many areas including development into carbon capture. We’re staying pretty close to state-of-the-art technology across the board.”
Operators like Carnival are also working closely with the wider industry to ensure a smooth transition to more sustainable fuels like LNG to curb cruise emissions.
“We can’t just expect [the infrastructure] to be there, so we have to take the initiative to work with ports, distributors suppliers; the whole logistics chain, to make it work,” says Kaczmarek.
“We’ll continue to watch regulatory developments closely. We plan our itineraries at least two years in advance, so we simply can’t be surprised because we can’t turn on a dime! This is why it’s so important that we keep looking way ahead.”
This article was originally published in our digital magazine, Ship Technology Global. You can subscribe to the magazine for free by clicking here.
“How cruise operators are navigating new emission rules” was originally created and published by Ship Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Source link
#cruise #operators #navigating #emission #rules
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s lovey-dovey Valentines Day event is still going
Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s lovey-dovey Valentines Day event is still going
Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s Hugs & Hearts festival is still underway
It offers you great rewards via catching the limited-time Lovebugs around the island
Nurture them towards stunning transformations and grab exclusive cosmetic rewards
While Valentine’s Day may now be a quiet memory for most of us, there’s no reason to give up on the lovey-dovey season just yet. And that’s because plenty of top releases are still running great (and reward-rich) events for you to enjoy! Case in point, Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s Hugs & Hearts festival.
What’s on offer with the Hugs & Hearts festival? Well, until February 21st you’ll be able to dash around the island and capture the limited-time Lovebugs. Capturing these lets you nurse them towards a stunning new transformation and then earn new love-themed cosmetics to decorate your island and abode.
Stuff like the Heart Dining Chair, Heart Glasses, Rose Backpack and more are sure to provide some garish, but very welcome, atmosphere during the Hugs & Hearts event. You can nab these up until February 21st (as mentioned above) so be sure to check in before the event is over!
Hi Kitty
Hello Kitty Island Adventure, as you may know, is an Apple Arcade exclusive for mobile. With Hello Kitty, Sanrio’s instantly recognisable mascot, now placed firmly into the world of an Animal Crossing-like. As far as releases in the genre it wears its inspiration upon its sleeve so there’s little surprise it drops in a few of the popular festival aspects to boot.
It’s also interesting to see this become a regular thing to boot, as Hello Kitty Island Adventure threw a similar (though not fully identical) event last year under the flag of Hearts and Hugs!
Meanwhile, once you’re done collecting bugs don’t fret! Because there’s plenty more to do, especially if you check out our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week; where we collate all of the best launches from the last seven days for you to jump into on your mobile platform of choice!
Source link
#Kitty #Island #Adventures #loveydovey #Valentines #Day #event
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Paul Raj: Retired Catholic priest found not guilty of touching teen in 2005 at Parmelia church
Paul Raj: Retired Catholic priest found not guilty of touching teen in 2005 at Parmelia church
A Catholic priest has been found not guilty of inappropriately touching a 14-year-old parishioner in 2005 during a ‘golf lesson’.
Source link
#Paul #Raj #Retired #Catholic #priest #guilty #touching #teen #Parmelia #church
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
New Vegas for 100 Years and Staying “lean and invested” Is the Key
New Vegas for 100 Years and Staying “lean and invested” Is the Key
Avowed and Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian seems to have planned for things to care of, way ahead in the future. It wants to scale at a slow and steady pace so that it reaches the 100-year mark eventually, outliving its employees. Obsidian was founded back in 2003 by ex-****** Isle Studios members who had worked on successful games like Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment.
Obsidian Entertainment has big plans for the future. Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment is known for making mid-budget games with realistic sales expectations. The company wants to aim for mild success rather than chasing big numbers like some of the other developers in the market. By staying small and focused Obsidian maintains creative control. This approach also creates more room for innovation and risk-taking.
Obsidian takes a calculated approach to scaling
Avowed is Obsidian’s latest release. Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment
Some recent RPG titles coming into the market are backed by a massive budget, pressurizing the developer to achieve higher sales numbers. This approach has a high-risk high-reward ratio that is only sustainable for big developers. Even Obsidian’s latest release Avowed’s game size is significantly lower than other similar titles.
Smaller developers like Obsidian, however, take a different approach. It makes games at significantly lower budgets and aims for mild success rather than dominating the market. This enables it to set achievable targets that are easily met and in turn help in maintaining an environment where each employee feels valued, preserving the company culture.
Unlike some of the other massive developers, Obsidian was not subjected to mass layoffs since it was already comprised of a smaller team and currently seems to be thriving within its parent company.
Obsidian Entertainment VP of Operations Marcus Morgan and VP of Development Justin Britch talked about their 100-year plan during the recent D.I.C.E Summit. They stressed the fact that it is of utmost concern to them that their employees do not feel like a cog in the machine and that their two biggest pillars of strength rely upon staying lean and invested. Reflecting on the seriousness of their claims Morgan said (via PC Gamer):
Are we serious? … Yes. And why not? Nintendo was founded in 1889
Obsidian has turned 22 now and wants its recent titles including Avowed and Fallout: New Vegas to be there after 78 more years and it aims to do so by staying lean and invested without chasing big profits. Obsidian’s approach has always been on providing narrative depth and player freedom without focusing much on making its game hyper-realistic or stylized.
Obsidian is not into chasing big profit margins
Obsidian takes a sustainable approach to game development. Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian maintains a mild success graph by predetermining a reasonable budget for its games and then aims at achieving a realistic target that does not put much pressure on it. This approach has helped it to stay relevant and thrive in the market up to this point and if all goes well, it might just hit its 100-year mark.
Investing huge amounts of money in an RPG game does not always pay off, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the biggest example of it. It failed to perform well in the market leaving a huge hole in BioWare’s pockets, which resulted in layoffs.
However, there are also success stories like that of Baldur’s Gate 3 which exceeded Larian Studio’s expectations and did extremely well in the market. It too was a high-budget game. At the end of the day, it is a gamble, and the higher the budget the higher the stakes. Obsidian’s approach eliminates this risk. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.
Source link
#Vegas #Years #Staying #lean #invested #Key
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Tearful homecoming for one Thai national held hostage by ******
Tearful homecoming for one Thai national held hostage by ******
STORY: Nearly 500 days after he was taken hostage by ****** militants from southern Israel,
Watchara Sriaoun is reunited with his family, in their hometown of Kut Yang in northeastern Thailand.
“For more than 15 months, I could only pray to be reunited with my family, with my relatives, with everyone,” he told his church, alongside his parents and daughter.
Watchara and his brother went to work in an Israeli kibbutz in 2020, despite worries about risks of a regional conflict.
“I had to go. I wanted my family to have a better life, and I wanted my daughter to get an education.”
Working as farmers, they sent the equivalent of about $1,500 home every month.
But on October 7, 2023, Watchara was taken hostage by ****** militants.
“They took my phone. They started shooting, so I raised my hands and said, ‘Thailand, Thailand.’ Then, they took my phone and then surrounded me.”
Watchara said while in captivity, some days there was enough to eat and drink; other days, barely anything.
He also said he was repeatedly told he would be released soon.
Except that never happened – until early February, following the latest ceasefire deal between Israel and ******.
When he was finally freed, Watchara described seeing gardens and fields from a helicopter, after more than a year of confinement.
“It felt like I was reborn,” he said.
Before the conflict, about 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel’s agriculture sector, making them one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country.
During the October 7 attack, ****** gunmen killed 41 Thais and kidnapped 30 Thai laborers.
The first group of Thai hostages was returned late November, 2023.
::Ratana Sriaoun
More than a year later, Watchara’s mother is overjoyed that he finally made it home.
“We have been waiting for this for a long time. It’s a miracle—something many thought would never happen.”
For Watchara, all he wants to do now is reconnect with his daughter, and support his aging parents.
Source link
#Tearful #homecoming #Thai #national #held #hostage #******
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Flooding threat lingers in Kentucky after deadly weekend rainfall as life-threatening cold air moves into the Central US – CNN
Flooding threat lingers in Kentucky after deadly weekend rainfall as life-threatening cold air moves into the Central US – CNN
Flooding threat lingers in Kentucky after deadly weekend rainfall as life-threatening cold air moves into the Central US CNNAt Least 10 Dead In Kentucky After Severe Flooding Sweeps The South; Hundreds Of Thousands Without Power The Weather ChannelAt Least 8 People Dead, Including a Mom and Her Young Child, in ‘Severe’ Kentucky Storm PEOPLENeighborhoods under water, recovery efforts underway after major weekend storm USA TODAY
Source link
#Flooding #threat #lingers #Kentucky #deadly #weekend #rainfall #lifethreatening #cold #air #moves #Central #CNN
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
A look at what Kylie Minogue achieved at her Perth show at RAC Arena following backlash on social media
A look at what Kylie Minogue achieved at her Perth show at RAC Arena following backlash on social media
It was supposed to be Kylie Minogue’s groundbreaking return to the world stage.
However, the Aussie Princess of Pop faced far more tension on social media than she would have expected following her Perth show on Saturday night.
Unveiling her Tension world tour at RAC Arena, almost every age group was in the crowd as fans around the globe watched with anticipation through the camera lenses of the audience.
As the initial glow of her live performance began to wear off, fans demanded they “deserve more” in response to a social media video she herself released.
The singer chanted “woo woo woo” and “we did it!” as she gleefully embraced her stage crew.
“Something isn’t right in Camp Kylie at the moment. There’s a distinct lack of quality control,” one person commented, adding “we deserve more”.
Other fans argued Kylie’s showing was more of a “greatest hits” performance which lacked a distinct focus on her Tension and Tension II albums.
Tracks from those two albums comprised roughly a fifth of her total songs performed.
Some followers highlighted her world tours of 2008 and 2011 — X and Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour respectively — as her highpoint.
“We have been waiting for a world tour for over 10 years.. this feels like a kindergarten show . . . your X and Aphrodite tour were mind-blowing and amazing,” another fan argued.
It seems greeting the packed arena suspended from a diamond-shaped strobe light was not quite extravagant enough.
But is all this spinning around over one show valid?
Those spreading negative commentary did not actually attend the show — nor do they even live in Australia.
They’ve read the set list online and decided that due to their favourite songs missing the cut, suddenly the whole show needs to be written off.
Let’s look at what the songstress actually managed to achieve on the historic night.
Arguably, most fans would have hoped for Kylie to belt out her vast catalogue of hits from years gone by. And she did, with the likes of Loco-motion, On A Night Like This, and I Should Be So Lucky evidence of her 40-year chart success.
And after teasing a new track titled last night i dreamt i fell in love just one day prior to taking the stage, the singer debuted it in Perth of all cities.
She certainly could have held its global release and debut for Sydney or Melbourne, or even London, all markets with larger fan bases.
Kylie proved her world class stamina by keeping the crowd on out of their seats for more than two hours, a feat itself that should be noted.
Her standard setlist from both her 2019 Golden Tour and 2011 Aphrodite tour’s each featured 26 songs, six fewer than the 32 performed on Saturday.
And let’s be clear: plenty of attendees did in fact love the performance.
“Perth show was UNREAL!!!!!!” one fan responded to the post.
Another said, “You were INCREDIBLE tonight! Absolutely blown away!”
For a direct comparison to a recent A-lister in Perth, ********* rapper Drake twice raced through 90-minute sets as he performed a medley of 42 tracks earlier this month.
However, while Drake was hardly jumping through hoops or flying through the air, he did build two opposing stages and a full-circuit glass bridge that ensured he made eye contact with every fan in the stadium.
“I spent all the motherf…… money I needed to make this happen and now I’m here,” he told the crowd.
He also matched Kylie with a couple of outfit changes, albeit more gimmicks than a direct correlation to his music, and entered the mosh pit in moment he “dreamt about for a long time”.
Taylor Swift, arguably the gold standard of live pop performers, is renowned for her three-hour plus marathon sets that keep fans standing for as long as it takes to run one.
But charging a couple hundred dollars more on average per ticket than Kylie, it’s not fair the two be directly compared.
And let’s not forget, Kylie will be 60 years old in less than four years. That’s right, she’s been a professional performer since she was just a teenager.
With Adelaide the next stop on her six-month long locomotion around the world, time will tell if she heeds the advice of a fringe of fans or sticks to her guns.
Source link
#Kylie #Minogue #achieved #Perth #show #RAC #Arena #backlash #social #media
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Want Decades of Passive Income? 3 Stocks to Buy Right Now
Want Decades of Passive Income? 3 Stocks to Buy Right Now
Investing in the stock market is an excellent way to build long-term wealth. However, given the numerous approaches you could take, navigating the world of investing can feel overwhelming. One tried-and-true approach to generating passive income from your investments is dividend investing.
A comprehensive study conducted by Ned Davis Research and Hartford Funds found that over 50 years (ending in 2023), dividend-paying stocks have delivered an impressive annual return of 9.17%. In comparison, non-dividend payers delivered 4.27%. Furthermore, dividend stocks experienced less volatility, making them an attractive choice for investors seeking stability alongside growth.
Image source: Getty Images.
Dividend payers display financial prudence and a long-term commitment to returning capital to shareholders. They also operate businesses that thrive across time and can deliver income and stock price appreciation, the two factors that help investors grow their nest egg over time. If that appeals to you, here are three top-notch dividend-paying stocks to consider adding to your portfolio today.
Berkshire Hathaway made headlines about a year and a half ago when it accumulated a mystery stock over several quarters. Investors learned last year that the stock was Chubb (NYSE: CB), a large multinational insurance company.
What makes Chubb appealing is its disciplined underwriting and strong cash flows. Over the past two decades, Chubb has displayed excellent underwriting, an extremely important skill in the highly competitive insurance industry. The company has consistently outperformed its peers in balancing risk and pricing policies. This translates directly into positive cash flow, which is why the company has raised its payout for 31 consecutive years.
The insurance business has steady demand over time, and Chubb is a solid company that can grow as the global economy grows. While its dividend yield of around 1.4% is modest, combining that with stock price appreciation has resulted in stellar returns of over 13% annually since its dividend streak first began.
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) has a key advantage operating in an industry known for its high barriers to entry. The company serves a vital role in credit markets, evaluating the creditworthiness of entities, including corporations and governments, and assigning them credit ratings that serve as essential risk indicators for investors and lenders.
Breaking into the credit ratings industry isn’t easy. Companies face regulatory oversight and rely on their reputation as credible evaluators of creditworthiness to maintain trust with investors and the broader market. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), S&P Global dominates the industry with a 50% share of the credit rating market, far outpacing its nearest rivals, Moody’s (32%) and Fitch Ratings (12%).
Story Continues
S&P Global has faced headwinds in recent years when fewer companies issued debt amid rising interest rates. Still, its strong data and analytics business provides steady cash flows to help balance out some of that weakness.
For investors seeking stability in an otherwise turbulent market, S&P Global stands out not only due to its unparalleled market presence but also due to its commitment to consistent dividend growth and robust financial health. With an impressive track record of raising its dividend for 53 consecutive years, S&P Global provides investors a reliable income stream and stellar returns of 14% annually since this streak began.
Aflac (NYSE: AFL) provides life insurance and supplemental health insurance policies to customers in the United States and Japan. Unexpected health challenges can impose significant financial strain on individuals and families, and many people and businesses turn to Aflac to protect themselves against life’s uncertainties.
The insurer has benefited from lower claims costs in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, total revenue grew while claims costs fell, helping net earnings increase 17%. The company is also positioned to benefit from higher interest rates. In 2024, its net investment income increased by 8%, and the company continues to benefit from reinvesting cash from lower-yielding investments to higher-yielding ones.
This steady demand gives Aflac a strong and stable business model, reflected in its impressive track record of increasing dividend payouts for 42 consecutive years. Aflac offers an attractive annual yield of 2%, and since it began raising its payout, it has returned investors an impressive 17% annually.
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.
On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $360,040!*
Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $46,374!*
Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $570,894!*
Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.
Learn more »
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 3, 2025
Courtney Carlsen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Moody’s, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Want Decades of Passive Income? 3 Stocks to Buy Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
Source link
#Decades #Passive #Income #Stocks #Buy
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
How humanity moved from ‘eternal’ to ‘bookended’ time – Aeon
How humanity moved from ‘eternal’ to ‘bookended’ time – Aeon
How humanity moved from ‘eternal’ to ‘bookended’ time Aeon
Source link
#humanity #moved #eternal #bookended #time #Aeon
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Elizabeth Pearce revealed as woman killed in Dalkeith car ****** on Saturday night
Elizabeth Pearce revealed as woman killed in Dalkeith car ****** on Saturday night
The woman killed in a horror Dalkeith car ****** on the weekend has been revealed as Perth woman Elizabeth Pearce.
Flowers were being laid on Monday at the site of the tragedy on Birdwood Parade, close to the Nedlands War Memorial in one of Perth’s most exclusive residential locations.
Several people stopped by the memorial to leave flowers, and messages and pay their respects to Ms Pearce, who studied at the University of Western Australia and once attended Mosman Park’s prestigious St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.
Camera IconDalkeith ****** victim Liz Pearce Credit: Unknown/Facebook
The only physical markings of the incident left were police paint markings on the road setting out the ******, sand on the road to cover spilled oil and a large tyre divot in the grass next to the curb.
Police could also be seen on Monday morning on Birdwood Parade checking the speeds of drivers on the road. It is understood some tickets were handed out.
The 24-year-old Ms Pearce was in a rideshare vehicle on Saturday night when the Honda Jazz was allegedly struck by a Jaguar being driven at 130km an hour in the 50km/hr zone by Perth obstetrician Rhys Henry Stone Bellinge.
Ms Pearce died of her injuries and the car’s 25-year-old driver was rushed to hospital, where he remains.
Dr Bellinge, who has been charged with manslaughter and dangerous driving, allegedly had a blood alcohol reading of 0.183.
In 2018 Ms Pearce was named in The West *********** as having received a certificate of distinction for her school results.
Source link
#Elizabeth #Pearce #revealed #woman #killed #Dalkeith #car #****** #Saturday #night
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered shuts its electronic doors for iOS
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered shuts its electronic doors for iOS
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered is set to shutter on iOS
This comes after issues with in-game purchases that could not be resolved
Crystal Chronicles originally released with innovative multiplayer features on GameCube
If you’re a fan of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered on iOS, you may have noticed some recent issues regarding in-game purchases. Some of you have reportedly had issues accessing paid content, and if so we’ve got both good news and bad news.
The good news is the folks at Crystal Chronicles have noted your issues and prepared a fix, the bad news is that this fix takes the form of shutting down support for the iOS version of Crystal Chronicles Remastered. They’ve also released information on how you can claim refunds for content paid for after January 2024.
Originally released for the Nintendo GameCube with the innovative (but overly complex) integration of using GameBoy Advances as controllers for a multiplayer experience, Crystal Chronicles found new life with its mobile release. However, after recent issues regarding accessing paid content, it seems as if the writing is now on the wall for iPhone and iPad players.
Cracking crystals
It’s not exactly the greatest resolution, but the folks at Crystal Chronicles have outlined how players can claim refunds if they’ve been unable to access the content. And while this may be cold comfort to some it does mean that you won’t be out of pocket even if you are missing out on Crystal Chronicles Remastered for the foreseeable future on iOS.
For a lot of us, I’m sure it’s rather ironic that a release which originally slumped because of how innovative it was is now facing redundancy on a new platform. However, once more (with emphasis) it’s worth noting the issues that Crystal Chronicles highlights regarding preservation on mobile.
If you want to hear us discuss topics such as that, it might be worth digging into the official Pocket Gamer podcast, out now with our latest edition on an audio streaming service near to you!
Source link
#Final #Fantasy #Crystal #Chronicles #Remastered #shuts #electronic #doors #iOS
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
HanesBrands CEO to depart as Q4 2024 sales beat expectations
HanesBrands CEO to depart as Q4 2024 sales beat expectations
HanesBrands board of directors has started the process of finding a new CEO (chief executive) and has engaged the services of consultancy Spencer Stuart to assist in identifying suitable candidates for the role.
The upcoming CEO transition comes as the company’s quarterly and annual performance outpaced projected key indicators, signalling the effective implementation of its strategic reformation plan.
Bratspies, the former Walmart executive, will also resign from the board when he steps down as CEO but will continue in an advisory capacity to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
Board chairman Bill Simon said: “We are actively searching for the next leader who will continue building on our momentum for the next chapter of the company’s growth. We will provide updates as appropriate. On behalf of the entire board, we deeply appreciate the transformative leadership Steve has demonstrated throughout his tenure as CEO to make HanesBrands a new and better company.
“Steve led HanesBrands through a turbulent ******* in our industry, overhauling the company’s operating model, completing the ***** of the Champion business and positioning HanesBrands as a global powerhouse in basics and innerwear. Under Steve’s leadership, the company has narrowed its focus and is now on track to deliver even stronger performance and increased shareholder returns in the coming years.”
In the fourth quarter 2024, HanesBrands net sales from continuing operations was $888m, a 4.5% increase over the previous year.
The company attributed the growth to cost-saving initiatives and reduced input costs which boosted gross profit by 14% to $390m and adjusted gross profit by 15% to $392m.
Gross margin expanded by 380 basis points to 43.9% and adjusted gross margin by 400 basis points to 44.1%.
During the quarter, HanesBrands’ operating profit saw a 27% rise to $120m with operating margin up by 240 basis points to 13.5%. Its adjusted operating profit climbed by 33% to $126m.
The company’s income from continuing operations was $46m in Q4 FY24, down from $99m in the same ******* a year ago. Earnings per diluted share stood at $0.13 against $0.28 in Q4 FY23.
The company noted that its fiscal year 2025 includes an extra week and ends on 3 January 2026. HanesBrands anticipates net sales from continuing operations between $3.47bn and $3.52bn, accounting for foreign currency exchange rate headwinds of about $60m.
The midpoint forecast suggests sales consistent with the prior year on a reported basis and an approximate 1% increase on an organic constant currency basis.
Story Continues
GAAP operating profit from continuing operations is projected to be between $420m and $440m, while adjusted operating profit is estimated between $450m and $465m after excluding restructuring charges of roughly $25m to $30m.
For Q1 FY25 ending 29 March 2025, the company expects net sales from continuing operations of around $750m despite foreign currency exchange rate headwinds of about $15m.
This represents an approximate 1% increase compared to the prior year on both a reported basis and an organic constant currency basis.
Bratspies said: “We enter 2025 as a new company. We are a more simplified, focused business with a powerful asset base and significant competitive advantages. We believe we are well positioned to build on the fourth quarter’s momentum and deliver positive sales growth, additional margin expansion, strong cash generation and continued debt reduction, providing us multiple levers to create additional shareholder value in 2025 and beyond.”
“HanesBrands CEO to depart as Q4 2024 sales beat expectations ” was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Source link
#HanesBrands #CEO #depart #sales #beat #expectations
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Paleontologists uncover a nearly complete skull of a 30 million-year-old apex carnivore in Egypt – CNN
Paleontologists uncover a nearly complete skull of a 30 million-year-old apex carnivore in Egypt – CNN
Paleontologists uncover a nearly complete skull of a 30 million-year-old apex carnivore in Egypt CNN’Fearsome’ New Leopard-Sized Predator From 30 Million Years Ago Revealed NewsweekNear-complete skull discovery reveals ‘top apex,’ leopard-sized carnivore Phys.orgSkull of a 30-million-year-old apex predator discovered in Egypt Popular Science
Source link
#Paleontologists #uncover #complete #skull #millionyearold #apex #carnivore #Egypt #CNN
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
‘Ghost of Yotei’ May Be Cooked before Arrival and Its Female Lead Is the Least of Its Worries Right Now
‘Ghost of Yotei’ May Be Cooked before Arrival and Its Female Lead Is the Least of Its Worries Right Now
When Ghost of Yotei was unveiled at September’s PlayStation State of Play, the internet predictably exploded over Sucker Punch’s decision to replace Jin Sakai with a new female protagonist, Atsu, voiced by Erika Ishii. But while keyboard warriors were busy typing out their “get woke, go broke” manifestos, some astute observers noticed something far more concerning.
Not the protagonist swap we should be worried about right now. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTube
The game’s 1603 Hokkaido setting isn’t just historically inaccurate—it’s potentially problematic in ways that could make or break this highly anticipated sequel. And no, we’re not talking about whether women could be warriors in feudal Japan (they absolutely could, by the way).
A ghost in more ways than one
The concerns about Ghost of Yotei extend far beyond its deliberately anachronistic title or casting choices. In 1603, Mount Yotei wasn’t even called Yotei—the local Ainu people knew it as Machineshiri. But this naming discrepancy is just the tip of a historically problematic iceberg that threatens to sink the game before it even sets sail.
The stunning landscapes shown in the announcement trailer paint a picture of a samurai-filled feudal province, complete with sprawling castles and traditional Japanese architecture. There’s just one small problem—none of that existed in 1603 Hokkaido. The region was primarily home to the Ainu people, Japan’s indigenous population who would later face systematic erasure from their own lands.
While some fans have defended these creative liberties as necessary for entertainment, a meticulously researched Reddit post has blown the lid off just how far the game strays from historical reality:
The post’s author, u/GetmyCakeForLater, backs every claim with historical sources that paint a very different picture of 1603 Hokkaido. And what about that massive castle dominating the trailer? Pure fantasy. The only Japanese castle in Hokkaido (Matsumae Castle) wouldn’t be built until 1606, and even then, it was a modest three-story structure located far to the south.
However, architectural accuracy is just the beginning of potential issues. The ******* question looms: how will the game handle its combat encounters? Will players, as Atsu, end up fighting against the Ainu? The prospect of turning marginalized people’s tragic history into gaming entertainment doesn’t sit well with many, especially given Japan’s complex relationship with its indigenous population.
Between authenticity and entertainment
A castle built on historically shaky foundations. | Image Credit: Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch earned tremendous goodwill with their handling of Ghost of Tsushima, even becoming ambassadors for the actual island. But Hokkaido in 1603 presents a far more delicate challenge.
The Japanese presence in the region at that time was minimal, limited to small fishing villages and trading posts along the southern coast. The timing itself is particularly loaded—1603 marked the beginning of a centuries-long process of colonization that would forever change Hokkaido’s cultural landscape.
This leaves the developers with some tough choices. They could take creative liberties with history, but risk contributing to the further erasure of Ainu culture. Or they could tackle the complex historical reality head-on, potentially sacrificing the kind of action-packed gameplay their fans expect.
The studio has promised fans “an original story” that they “can’t wait to tell,” and their previous work suggests they’re capable of handling sensitive material with respect. But threading this particular historical needle will require exceptional care and sensitivity.
While we remain hopeful that Sucker Punch can pull it off, the concerns raised by the community deserve serious consideration.
What do you think about these historical concerns? Should Sucker Punch have chosen a different setting or time *******? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source link
#Ghost #Yotei #Cooked #Arrival #Female #Lead #WorriesRightNow
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Pope’s health a ‘complex clinical situation’, ******** says
Pope’s health a ‘complex clinical situation’, ******** says
Pope Francis is being treated for a “complex clinical situation” and will remain in hospital for as long as necessary, the ******** has said.
The 88-year-old was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday to undergo treatment and tests for bronchitis.
In an update on Monday, the ******** has said the pontiff has a “polymicrobial infection” of his respiratory tract, which has required a change in his treatment.
Before his admission last week, the Pope had bronchitis symptoms for several days and had delegated officials to read prepared speeches at events.
Source link
#Popes #health #complex #clinical #situation #********
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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.
