Pelican Press

Trump border czar warns Eric Adams on immigration agreement Trump border czar warns Eric Adams on immigration agreement President Donald Trump’s border czar Thomas Homan, left, and New York Mayor Adams, right, and others, meeting in New York, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Ed Reed | Office of the Mayor of New York via AP President Donald Trump’s border czar implicitly warned New York Mayor Eric Adams during a joint televised interview Friday to follow through on his promise to allow federal immigration authorities into the city’s massive jail complex on Rikers Island. “If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York City, and we won’t be sitting on a couch,” said Trump immigration chief Thomas Homan Friday in a joint interview with Adams on “Fox and Friends.” “I’ll be in his office, up his butt, saying ‘Where the hell is the agreement we came to?'” Homan said. Adams chuckled nervously during Homan’s comment, saying only, “We’re going to deliver for the safety of the people of this city.” Adams’ promise Thursday to sign an executive order that would permit federal authorities to use Rikers came just hours after the stunning resignations of six top Department of Justice prosecutors, who quit rather than carry out the orders of a high-ranking DOJ official in Washington, that they dismiss criminal corruption charges filed against the mayor. Shortly after the Homan and Adams appeared Friday on Fox News, news broke that assistant Manhattan U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten — who had been the lead prosecutor in the case — resigned. “I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion” to dismiss the Adams case, Scotten wrote high-ranking DOJ official Emil Bove in an email Friday. Scotten’s former boss, acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, resigned Thursday after telling Attorney General Pam Bondi that Adams’ lawyers recently urged DOJ officials to agree to what amounted to a “quid pro quo” with the mayor. In exchange for Adams’ bribery case being dropped by federal prosecutors, the mayor would allow the Trump administration to carry out immigration enforcement actions in New York City, Sassoon wrote in a letter to Bondi. Adams and his lawyer, Alex Spiro, deny there is a quid pro quo deal with the DOJ. Trump on Thursday denied telling the DOJ to dismiss the charges against Adams. Read more CNBC politics coverage Adams was indicted in September on charges including campaign contribution conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery, which include allegations he accepted $100,000 worth of plane tickets and luxury hotel stays from wealthy Turkish nations. The order to dismiss the Adams case came from Bove, a former criminal defense lawyer for Trump who now holds a top job at the DOJ. Bove issued the directive first to Sassoon, who refused to do it and resigned. Bove then ordered several senior DOJ officials in Washington to carry out his demand. Like Sassoon, they too refused to comply with Bove’s order. As of Friday morning, the case against Adams technically remained pending in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Bove was appointed to his DOJ post by Trump after representing the president last year at his criminal hush money trial in New York, which ended in Trump’s conviction. In her letter Wednesday to the attorney general, Sassoon said that Bove had proposed “dismissing the charges against Adams in return for his assistance in enforcing the federal immigration laws.” Critics of Bove’s order have warned that by seeking to dismiss the criminal case against Adams without prejudice, meaning that the criminal charges can be re-filed at any time, the DOJ is effectively putting the mayor under its thumb. If the prospect of a revived criminal case against Adams is constantly hanging over the mayor’s head, his ability to act independently, or refuse to do the president’s bidding, would be severely compromised, they say. Source link #Trump #border #czar #warns #Eric #Adams #immigration #agreement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

******** president accuses U.S. of harbouring drug cartels – National ******** president accuses U.S. of harbouring drug cartels – National ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum is accusing the U.S. of harbouring drug cartels, and claims American citizens are working with organized crime groups in Mexico, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s “slanderous” claims earlier this month that Mexico had joined forces with drug traffickers. “There is also organized crime in the United States and there are American people who come to Mexico with these ******** activities,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference on Thursday. “Otherwise who would distribute fentanyl in the cities of the United States?” Sheinbaum was responding to a reporter from the Animal Político news outlet, who mentioned an investigation they published this week that found more than 2,600 U.S. citizens have been arrested in Mexico for offences related to organized crime, including smuggling drugs and firearms, since Mexico’s former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in December 2018. Story continues below advertisement “The issue isn’t just that drugs go from Mexico to the United States,” she added. Sheinbaum said that Mexico is willing to work with the U.S. government on security issues in Mexico, but she stressed that the U.S. government also has to “do its work” to “avoid the trafficking of drugs in their country.” “In the United States, they also have to act,” she said. 5:18 Canada’s new fentanyl czar looks to satisfy Trump’s border demands During her press conference, Sheinbaum also urged Google to reconsider its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for U.S. users. Sheinbaum said that Mexico could file a civil lawsuit against Google. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Google changed the name for U.S. users of Google Maps to reflect the decision by the Trump government to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Story continues below advertisement Sheinbaum has repeatedly decried the move, arguing the “Gulf of Mexico” name has long been recognized internationally. On Thursday, she said Google had not resolved Mexico’s earlier complaints. “If necessary, we will file a civil suit,” she said. “Even President Trump isn’t proposing that the entire Gulf of Mexico be called the ‘Gulf of America,’ but only their continental shelf. So Google is wrong.” She urged Google to review the decree from the White House, arguing “the only place it was effective was where (the U.S.) has sovereignty, or up to 22 nautical miles from the coast.” 0:43 Mexico sends Google letter over Gulf of Mexico name change In a lengthy statement on X last week, Sheinbaum addressed Trump’s statement that the tariffs against Mexico were a response to ******** immigration and the “alliance” between drug trafficking organizations and Mexico’s government. Story continues below advertisement “We categorically reject the slander made by the White House against the ******** government about alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any attempt to intervene in our territory,” Sheinbaum wrote on social media. “If there is such an alliance anywhere, it is in the U.S. gun shops that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups.” Trending Now ********* man sells both Teslas, cancels Cybertruck order to boycott Elon Musk Teddi Mellencamp reveals she has ‘multiple’ brain tumours, will undergo surgery Sheinbaum said the ******** government has “seized more than 40 tons of drugs in four months,” including “20 million doses of fentanyl,” and has “arrested more than ten thousand people linked to these groups.” More on World More videos “If the U.S. government and its agencies want to address the serious fentanyl consumption problem in their country, they could, for example, combat the ***** of narcotics on the streets of their major cities — something they do not do — as well as the money laundering generated by this ******** activity, which has caused significant harm to their population,” she added. Sheinbaum also suggested that the U.S. could “launch a massive campaign to prevent drug consumption and protect their youth,” like Mexico has done. “Drug consumption and distribution occur in their own country, and that is a public health problem they have not addressed. Moreover, the synthetic opioid epidemic in the United States originates from the indiscriminate prescription of these medications, authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as demonstrated by the legal case against a pharmaceutical company,” Sheinbaum wrote. Story continues below advertisement “Mexico does not seek confrontation. We believe in collaboration between neighbouring countries. Mexico does not want fentanyl to reach the United States — or anywhere else. Therefore, if the United States truly wants to combat the criminal groups that traffic drugs and fuel violence, we must work together in a comprehensive manner, but always under the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration, and, above all, respect for sovereignty — which is non-negotiable. Coordination, yes; subordination, no.” On Feb. 2, the governors of Mexico’s 31 states and Mexico City backed Sheinbaum in a joint statement. “We energetically condemn the accusations that suggest there is a link between our government and narco-trafficking cartels,” it said. “These claims are not only baseless, they also ignore the major, verifiable efforts Mexico has made to combat organized crime,” the statement read. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s economy minister, said on X that Trump is hurting himself. “Accusing the ******** government of being an ally of narco [traffickers] is — apart from an insult to our country – a pretext to distract US public opinion from the tremendous mistake of imposing disruptive tariffs on Mexico and North American companies that operate here. Shooting oneself in the foot,” Ebrard wrote. — With files from Reuters &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #******** #president #accuses #U.S #harbouring #drug #cartels #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel Panther Lake-H CPU hits max turbo power of 64W — mobile chips’ leaked specs point to substantial power draw Intel Panther Lake-H CPU hits max turbo power of 64W — mobile chips’ leaked specs point to substantial power draw Hardware leaker Jaykihn has shared what’s believed to be the preliminary power specifications for Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake-H CPUs, which are set to be used later this year in a new slate of laptops and mobile devices, which were previously shown off at CES 2025. The alleged preliminary spec details three variants of chips within the series, denoting performance, efficiency, and Xe3 cores. These chips are set to be based on Intel’s upcoming Celestial architecture. They will likely materialize as Intel’s Core Ultra 300H series, and the alleged preliminary power specifications allow some speculation about the kinds of devices the company will target. The first variant shows off a 16-core chip with a 4+8+4 configuration. Assuming this means four performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and four GPU cores. This specific configuration will likely reside in systems alongside a dedicated GPU. PL1 (Performance Base Power – PBP) and PL2 (Maximum Turbo Power – MTP) in both baseline and performance power modes will pull 25W and 64W- respectively. Panther Lake -H (PTL-H)Power specification update.Preliminary. pic.twitter.com/UEstu0QXyJFebruary 14, 2025 The 4+8+4 configuration has notably fewer efficiency cores than its previous-gen counterparts. The same can be said for the second variant listed, featuring a 24-core configuration split into 4+8+12. This may indicate its suitability for a higher-end device with four performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and 12 GPU cores. The PBP is listed at a baseline of 25W, with an MTP of 55W. In the ‘performance’ mode, this changes to 25W and 64W, respectively. The cTDP Max headroom on both chip configurations lists higher wattages, up to 80W MTP. This might imply that both chips have some headroom built for burst-heavy tasks like rendering. However, they are also set to be more efficient than the Core Ultra 200H series, which could boost into 100W+ territory. The final listing is for a seemingly lower-end eight-core chip with a configuration of 4+0+4. This will likely be the Core Ultra 300U chip, set to be used in entry-level devices or gaming handhelds. This configuration can run with a PBP of just 15W and an MTP of 44W under the ‘baseline’ power mode, while it boosts up to a similar 25W PBP and 55W MTP under the ‘performance’ mode. This tells us that Intel is starting to get serious about efficiency in its mobile chips. While AMD has long held the efficiency crown for x86 mobile devices, this initial power spec may be a step in the right direction for Intel. AMD has gained ground on Intel in both the desktop and laptop CPU market, with competition fiercer than ever. Intel’s Panther Lake H CPUs will be produced in volume on the company’s 18A (1.8nm-class) process in 2H 2025. The products are expected to be on shelves in early 2026. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Intel #Panther #LakeH #CPU #hits #max #turbo #power #64W #mobile #chips #leaked #specs #point #substantial #power #draw Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review (PS5) Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review (PS5) Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) is Warhorse Studio’s second game. It continues the story of Henry of Skalitz and his adventures in 1400s Bohemia. KCD2 pulls no punches, committing to simulating life in all its tedium, grime, and brutal violence. However, Warhorse Studio’s second effort is one for the books, offering an immersive, engaging experience unlike anything else in this generation. A game that embodies the motto of “Audaces fortuna iuvat.” The Bohemian ideal I wouldn’t call Kingdom Come: Deliverance 1 an ugly game; if anything, it looked washed out with sunlight at times, but the look fit its humble setting of the rural Bohemian countryside. In contrast, KCD2 looks incredible, a true next-generation upgrade in fidelity with dense forests and bustling city streets. The game gives you plenty of opportunities to absorb its setting with its large maps, and I was particularly impressed when simply walking from point A to point B. Looking at the open field beside me, I saw mice dash out of the tall grass and across the road. Small details like that and how the birds chirp in the woods early in the morning as rays shine through trees make me go beyond impressed and into wonder as to how Warhorse pulled this off. Nothing looks copied; everything looks handmade, and there are multiple huge maps! Henry puts on layers and layers of armor and clothes, but I never saw any distracting clipping in the cutscenes. All the pieces of my Henry mismatched outfits seemed to fit together well. Every aspect of the visual and audio experience is on point, letting you be fully immersed in the world. A knight’s tale The story of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 picks up seemingly days after the first game with our lovable hero, Henry, and his friend, Sir Hans Capon, on a mission to deliver a message in hopes of ending the violence raging across Bohemia. Naturally, this simple delivery mission goes wrong, and the party is killed, leaving Henry and Capon injured and dirt-poor in a region where nobody knows who they are. Henry must once again build himself back up from nothing, navigating political plots, castle sieges, and the dangers of war-torn Bohemia in his quest to get revenge on the people who destroyed his home of Skalitz. The story of KDC2 is complex, and if you don’t know anything about the first game, you may be confused with all the names of lords and noble houses being thrown around. However, the game has a detailed codex, and the major plot points are easy to follow. There is a war in Bohemia between nobles loyal to the rightful King Wenceslas and nobles loyal to the invading King Sigousmand. Sigasmands army is the one that burned down Henry’s village and killed his family, so we don’t like them. Simple. The story is engaging, with plenty of room for player choice and twists to keep you on your toes with enough levity to keep it from being too much of a downer. The story is very long, with a dozen characters, but it is paced so well that I never felt lost, which is an accomplishment in itself. Sword and word play The gameplay in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can be divided into several categories. Stealth, direct combat, and dialogue are all affected by your gear, with Henry having three outfit slots. You can dress your Henry however you want, but it helps to have one outfit for sneaking, talking, and fighting. What you wear will influence what people think of you, so if you want to seem like a charismatic guy, you’d best be dressed to the nines. In the new combat system, you can strike from only four positions as opposed to the last game’s six, and the Master Strike counter can only be performed by swords with cross guards. The new system may sound like a downgrade, but it adds more depth by making the player pay attention to the enemy’s weapon and eliminates the annoying problem where some random dirt farmer is parrying your attacks like a knight. The new system definitely encourages the player to stick to swords, but the skill tree is deep enough for all weapons to feel worthwhile, encouraging you to play how you want. Speaking of skills, KCD2 has a massive amount of them, from sneaking and specialized weapon skills, including fists, to charisma and the scholar skill that you level up by reading books, many of which teach Henry about things like craftsmanship or horse-riding and the most essential skill for any young Bohemian man, drinking. If this all sounds overwhelming, it is not in practice. You are playing the game normally when you get a notification that you can pick up a new perk and go to the menu to pick the one you want. That’s what it’s like to play KCD2; there are a lot of systems going on, but it’s put together so well that things just make sense. Conclusion KCD2 is the perfect sequel and a game that isn’t afraid to play by its own rules. It offers an at times brutal experience but also an immensely satisfying one filled with memorable characters and a beautiful world. It is one of the few games well-worth its price tag of $70. If you were scared away by its commitment to realism, I implore you to give KCD2 and Warhorse Studio a chance as I did. If you’re a fan of the series, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 delivers in every way you hoped, ascending to a select few all-time great works of art in the industry and one that was well worth the wait. James Kub Contributor James is primarily a PlayStation gamer but he has a love for all games regardless of platform. He mainly enjoys single player narrative focused games but has a soft spot for multiplayer co-op games. He also wrote his thesis on the making of DOOM and credits it as the reason he graduated collage. Source link #Kingdom #Deliverance #Review #PS5 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Sudan RSF attacks famine-hit camp, battle lines harden Sudan RSF attacks famine-hit camp, battle lines harden Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces have attacked the famine-stricken Zamzam displacement camp, residents and medics say, as the paramilitary tries to tighten its grip on its Darfur stronghold while losing ground to the army in the capital, Khartoum. The latest fighting has hardened battle lines between the two forces in a conflict that threatens to splinter Sudan after plunging half the population into hunger and displacing more than one-fifth since April 2023. This week, as it attempts to consolidate its territory, the RSF has staged multiple attacks on Zamzam residents, according to three people at the camp. Medical aid agency MSF has confirmed seven deaths from the violence, while residents say dozens may have been killed. Medics are unable to perform surgery inside Zamzam, and travel to al-Fashir’s Saudi hospital, a frequent RSF target, has become impossible, MSF said. Reuters verified a video showing RSF forces inside Zamzam earlier this week, stamping on a rival flag as a building burned in the background. Zamzam is located near al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur and the army’s last remaining foothold in the wider Darfur region. The RSF, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, says Zamzam is a base for the Joint Forces, former rebel groups now fighting alongside the army. The Joint Forces said in a statement on Thursday that they were not present in the camp. The Sudanese government said the army, Joint Forces, and other volunteers were able to push the RSF back from Zamzam on Wednesday. Nearly 22 months after war erupted from a power struggle between the two factions, the RSF controls almost all of Darfur in Sudan’s west, and much of the neighbouring Kordofan region. The army controls Sudan’s north and east and has recently made major gains in Khartoum. Next week, a “political charter” setting up a parallel government in RSF-controlled territories will be signed, with the announcement of a cabinet coming soon after, Ibrahim al-Mirghani, a politician who supports the effort, told Reuters. The RSF has targetted Zamzam with artillery for months, causing some people to dig holes for shelter, according to one resident and a video shared by activists. “Inside the neighbourhoods, they terrorise, steal, and kill … people hide in these holes when they are firing and when they are raiding, because there is nowhere else to flee,” the resident told Reuters. The RSF has also continued raids and arson attacks on villages surrounding al-Fashir in recent weeks, according to the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab. The Yale Lab found that over half the structures in Zamzam’s main market were destroyed in a manner consistent with arson attacks, executive director Nathaniel Raymond told Reuters. A video shared by army-aligned Darfur governor Minni Minnawi showed stalls burned to ash and vegetables strewn on the ground. Arson was also detected on residences along the northern entrance to the camp, said Raymond. Tens of thousands have been displaced, many seeking refuge in Zamzam and increasing the camp’s population to up to one million people, according to the International Organisation for Migration. Sudan’s top UN official Clementine Nkweta-Salami said on Thursday she was “shocked by the attacks on Zamzam IDP camp and the blockages of escape routes.” Across Darfur RSF forces have restricted aid efforts, now also hit by freezes on USAID, according to UN and other aid workers. MSF, one of few humanitarian groups operating in the area, had to stop a nutrition programme for 6000 malnourished children as attacks on Zamzam raised prices there, the aid group’s North Darfur coordinator Marion Ramstein said. A global hunger monitor determined in August that Zamzam was experiencing famine. In December, it confirmed famine in two other camps in al-Fashir. Earlier this month, MSF said it found that the proportion of the camp’s children who were malnourished had risen to 34 per cent, a similar level to Tawila, a nearby town to which many have fled from RSF attacks. Source link #Sudan #RSF #attacks #faminehit #camp #battle #lines #harden Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Aid Trucks Enter Gaza as ****** Pledges to Release Three More Hostages Aid Trucks Enter Gaza as ****** Pledges to Release Three More Hostages Several aid trucks entered southern Gaza through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint in Rafah on February 14, as ****** pledged to release three more hostages amid ongoing ceasefire tensions. ****** announced it would release three more Israeli hostages on Saturday, as part of the ceasefire agreement. The hostages were identified as Iair *****, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Alexandre Sasha Troufanov. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that military operations would resume if the hostages were not released by Saturday noon. In Gaza, the delivery of humanitarian aid has been hindered by damaged infrastructure and logistical challenges, leaving many residents without access to supplies. This situation has sparked tensions, with ****** accusing Israel of not meeting the first phase of the ceasefire’s goals. Credit: Quds News Network via Storyful Source link #Aid #Trucks #Enter #Gaza #****** #Pledges #Release #Hostages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Germany: Munich car ramming suspect had 'Islamist motive' – DW (English) Germany: Munich car ramming suspect had 'Islamist motive' – DW (English) Germany: Munich car ramming suspect had ‘Islamist motive’ DW (English)Munich Car Attack: What We Know The New York TimesFarhad Noori, Afghan migrant who drove car into Munich crowd, was a bodybuilding ‘Islamic extremist’ who said ‘Allahu Akbar’ New York Post A driver plows into a demonstration in Munich, injuring 30 people The Associated Press Source link #Germany #Munich #car #ramming #suspect #039Islamist #motive039 #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Take-Two Boss Suggests That Current GTA Online Could Continue After GTA 6 Releases Take-Two Boss Suggests That Current GTA Online Could Continue After GTA 6 Releases Everyone in the gaming world is waiting for GTA 6 with bated breath, and there’s one question that many are wondering about: Just what exactly is going to happen to the game we currently know as GTA Online when GTA 6 releases? While we still don’t have the answer, in a recent interview, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick hinted that the current GTA Online could continue after GTA 6 releases as a “legacy title.” Speaking to IGN, Zelnick said that the publisher has a history of “support[ing] our properties when the consumers are involved with those titles.” He cites the 2012 example of NBA 2K Online in China, noting that the original game is still online and on the market, even after the release of NBA 2K Online 2 in 2017. “…We’ve shown a willingness to support legacy titles when a community wants to be engaged with them.” You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA VI) Trailer Breakdown Zelnick was quick to clarify that he was speaking “theoretically,” and that an announcement will be made in the future. However, this appears to be an important indication as to what Take-Two’s future plans might be. GTA Online is a huge moneymaker for Rockstar and Take-Two in general, but it’s been widely speculated by many that GTA 6 will bring a new version of GTA Online along with it. It’s unclear how exactly this hypothetical new GTA Online would interface with the old GTA Online, particularly when you consider the amount of resources that some players have put into the game. Fans still don’t have the clarification they seek, but this might mean they can rest a bit easier. We still don’t know GTA 6’s release date, but Take-Two has said multiple times that it’ll release in Fall 2025. Zelnick said in another interview back in late 2024 that Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 will probably not be released close to one another–Borderlands 4 releases on September 23, which might indicate that GTA 6 will come later in the year, assuming it doesn’t slip to 2026. Source link #TakeTwo #Boss #Suggests #Current #GTA #Online #Continue #GTA #Releases Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airbnb shares pop most on record after Q4 earnings beat Airbnb shares pop most on record after Q4 earnings beat Brian Chesky, co-founder and chief executive officer of Airbnb Inc., during a news conference in Los Angeles, California, US, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Eric Thayer | Bloomberg | Getty Images Airbnb shares surged 14% and headed for their best day ever after the company reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings. The stock debuted on the Nasdaq in December 2020, and its sharpest rally to this point came in February 2023. The shares are up 22% this year. The online rental platform posted earnings of 73 cents per share on $2.48 billion in revenue. That topped analyst estimates of 58 cents per share of earnings and $2.42 billion in revenue, according to LSEG. Revenue increased 12% from a year ago. “Airbnb is a fundamentally stronger company today than it was several years ago,” the company said in a letter to shareholders. “We’re continuing to build on this momentum in 2025, executing a multi-year strategy to perfect the core service, accelerate growth in global markets, and launch and scale new offerings.” The company also swung to a profit, reporting net income of $461 million, or 73 cents per share. In the year-ago quarter, Airbnb reported a loss of $349 million, or 55 cents a share. Adjusted profit totaled $765 million, reflecting 4% year over year growth. Gross booking value, which measures host earnings, taxes, and service and cleaning fees, rose to $17.6 billion and topped a StreetAccount forecast of $17.2 billion. Airbnb also reported 111 million nights and experience booked for the *******, representing 12% year-over-year growth. That was above the 108.7 million StreetAccount estimate. During an earnings call with investors, finance chief Ellie Mertz said Airbnb will invest $200 million to $250 million to scale new business opportunities it plans to announce in May. “We want the Airbnb app — kind of similar to Amazon — to be one place to go for all of your traveling and living needs,” CEO Brian Chesky said on the call. He also said that each business the company plans to roll out could take three to five years to scale but should strengthen its core business. “A great business could get to $1 billion of revenue,” he said. “And you should be able to expect one or a couple of businesses to launch every single year for the next five years.” Despite the strong fourth-quarter results, Airbnb offered light guidance for the current quarter of $2.23 billion to $2.27 billion in revenue. That trailed a $2.3 billion estimate from LSEG. The company said the first quarter of 2024 benefitted from Easter and an extra day in February. Airbnb also commented on the recent wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area last month, saying that its nonprofit Airbnb.org housed over 19,000 people and 2,300 pets and has received $27 million in donations. That includes $18 million from its founders. — Ashley Capoot contributed reporting Source link #Airbnb #shares #pop #record #earnings #beat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*** weather: Snow, ice and freezing rain forecast as Met Office issues warning *** weather: Snow, ice and freezing rain forecast as Met Office issues warning With an easterly wind, it has been pretty cold in the *** this week, not helped by the persistent layer of cloud for most of us. From Brighton, London, Swindon, and Wrexham across to Leeds there have been zero hours of sunshine recorded in the last seven days, compared to 40 hours in north-west Scotland. On Saturday we’ll be getting a band of rain moving in from the south-west which will clash with colder air in the east and bring some wintry precipitation. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice from 06:00 to 14:00 GMT on Saturday. Parts of northern England, particularly the north-east, are likely to see some snow. It will fall largely to the east Pennines with 2-5cm for example expected on the North York Moors and Northumberland, and some freezing rain may be mixed in. The warning says ice over the Pennines, particularly above 200m (656ft) is where the freezing rain is possible. We’re not expecting widespread ice or disruption from the freezing rain but it’s worth being aware of the hazards it can bring. Source link #weather #Snow #ice #freezing #rain #forecast #Met #Office #issues #warning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Bioware Boss’ “Favorite Moments” Are When the Character Feels Comfortable to Disclose They Are Trans or Non-binary Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Bioware Boss’ “Favorite Moments” Are When the Character Feels Comfortable to Disclose They Are Trans or Non-binary It has been interesting to see how Dragon Age: The Veilguard and its reception have turned out after the game’s release. The title weaves many trans and non-binary identities into its storytelling, which the game’s director, Corinne Busche, a trans woman herself, has worked on to ensure the characters feel comfortable talking about their real selves. Dragon Age: The Veilguard focuses greatly on inclusivity | BioWare The game’s character creation system is the perfect example of how the studio has gone to lengths to make the game feel inclusive. Players can customize and interact with the characters to a great extent, which more or less also helps in making sure there is more depth in them and the plotline. Dragon Age: The Veilguard and its undying spirit to make a safe space for Trans and Non-Binary identities The game has a lot of customization and depth to the characters | BioWare Developed by BioWare and published by EA, last year’s Dragon Age doesn’t only focus on aesthetics but also heavily on integrating gender identity in its gameplay. Players can make different choices in-game through dialogues and explore characters and their gender journey while making genuine connections and understanding. Highlighting how this is one of the most important parts of the game, the director of Dragon Age: The Veilgard, Corinne Busche, revealed the following in an interview via Polygon. My favorite moments on the topic are not just the moment of introspection and being able to say to yourself that you’re trans or non-binary, It’s actually those disclosure moments that happen later on where you meet another character that you feel comfortable disclosing to, or you start developing a relationship with one of your companions and you want to disclose. Busche’s considerate use of they/them pronouns when referring to a few different characters in the game is another sign of how significant it has remained for the studio throughout to make sure there is an authentic representation of the community. Why Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an important game in contemporary times Dragon Age: The Veilguard tried to bring a revolution around in the industry | BioWare The inclusion of different characters in the game who don’t feel afraid or embarrassed of their real identity is a ******* deal than many of you might think. Not only does it make the title feel more authentic, but it brings about a change in the industry, focusing on more inclusivity. The gaming industry has always been more orthodox and ruthless regarding these matters, with many even criticizing the decision to make the game feel inclusive by going so out of the way. However, it needs to be understood that every decision while making Dragon Age: The Veilguard was taken intentionally and with the creative liberty of the studio and what they wanted to represent. Source link #Dragon #Age #Veilguard #Bioware #Boss #Favorite #Moments #Character #Feels #Comfortable #Disclose #Trans #Nonbinary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Help Them Feel Remembered’: Justwhiti and Husband Deangelo’s Prayer for Singles ‘Help Them Feel Remembered’: Justwhiti and Husband Deangelo’s Prayer for Singles Christian comedian Whitney Moss also known as Justwhiti once hosted a podcast for singles which included skits about the struggles of living as a Christian single. At first, she wasn’t getting many views. That is until she posted a video of her praying for her future husband. It was a moment Whitney said resonated with what she calls her tribe. “I had women in the comments like, ‘Oh I feel the same way. Where’s my husband at? I need to be wifeable,'” she explained in an interview on CBN’s Prayerlink. “And I was like, ‘this is so easy. I pray for my future husband all the time. So just throw some jokes in there and it really started to catapult my platform.” Whitney’s platform now includes nearly one-million followers on Instagram. Those who tune in can relate to her skits that incorporate biblical humor with Christian dating. Little did she know that her future husband would also be watching. Deangelo Moss had a successful company but was also in pursuit of what God had for him in a wife. When he came across Whitney’s page on Instagram, he reached out to her. “I found her online and I shot my shot so to speak,” Deangelo explained during the interview on Prayerlink. “Didn’t get much response at first but I was persistent. And eventually I was able to get her attention.” After several refusals, Whitney gave Deangelo a chance. And after dating for a little over a year, they tied the knot in October of 2024. While Whitney may no longer be single, she has made a commitment to continue her ministry to singles through a community called Singlehood and SISTERHOOD. “What I learned in singleness is I needed my sisters,” she explained. “I needed support. The times your tone feels like a broken record. You want to hope but it hurts. You know hope deferred makes the heart sick. Or you just want to vent how you feel. And my sisters really carried me.” “The Lord just put it on my heart where women can feel seen,” Whitney added. “I could bring tools, and we meet weekly for life group on Zoom and everybody can talk and cry and just express. I’m excited for it.” The couple has also launched an outreach called The Dating Project. “We want to help create environments where people can connect with one another for the purpose of building Kingdom relationships,” Deangelo commented. “But then secondly we also want to educate people to help them understand some of the nuances of actually going about this dating process.” Meanwhile, this Valentine’s Day Whitney and Deangelo are also praying for those who desire to find love. “Keep them open and receptive for what you have for them Lord,” Whitney said in a prayer she shared on Prayerlink. “That you have plans for us Lord and that you care about the details of our heart Lord, including marriage. I just ask that you help the singles feel assured in their faith and assured in your love for them even when they don’t understand. Even when their heart literally aches. Lord, I ask that you help them to feel remembered.” Source link #Feel #Remembered #Justwhiti #Husband #Deangelos #Prayer #Singles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Bungie’s Marathon Wasn’t At State of Play Why Bungie’s Marathon Wasn’t At State of Play PlayStation State of Play from February 12 was littered with announcements and trailers, but nothing from Bungie about their upcoming PVP extraction shooter, Marathon. Marathon was one of a few prolific titles that weren’t featured, leaving fans confused as to why Bungie’s first big project post-Destiny wasn’t shown. Why Was Marathon Not At State of Play? According to Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, Marathon wasn’t shown because Bungie is likely going to holding their own showcase event for it, likely in April of this year. During yesterday’s Game Mess Decides show, Grubb said that this decision falls right into the Bungie playbook. “Marathon wasn’t here because they’re probably going to do their own thing. Bungie does their own thing usually for Destiny. They’re going to adopt that same ‘we’re going to talk to our audience’ strategy this year as well. I think April [is] when we probably hear from them about Marathon. And it would be its own thing separate from a State of Play.” The new Marathon game, not to be confused with the older Marathon trilogy from made by Bungie in the 1990s, was revealed in 2023. Considering the success Bungie has found with Halo and Destiny, and given their recent acquisition by PlayStation, expectations for Marathon are quite high. Marathon is already going through the ringer during its development process. In 2024, the game’s director Christopher Barrett was reportedly fired due to inappropriate conduct towards several female employees. Barrett has denied these claims and has since filed a lawsuit against Bungie. The last official update regarding the game itself came this past October, from new game director and former director for VALORANT, Joe Ziegler. Ziegler says there have been some “aggressive” changes to gameplay over the past couple years following several playtests. He also said that different parts of the game are at different stages of development. Can Bungie’s Marathon live up to the hype? Let us know down below, and take the discussion further in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out coverage of the technical issues plaguing the Elden Ring Nightreign test sessions. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Bungies #Marathon #Wasnt #State #Play Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NZ derby a chance to kickstart Phoenix: coach Italiano NZ derby a chance to kickstart Phoenix: coach Italiano Running out of opportunities to make a charge to the A-League Men finals, Wellington don’t need any additional motivation for their crunch derby clash with leaders Auckland FC. The Phoenix (19 points) sit six points outside the top six with 10 games to go after Friday night’s 1-0 loss to Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park. But coach Giancarlo Italiano is adamant last season’s semi-finalists have what it takes to make a run, now they are starting to overcome a rough early run with injury. “I’m always the optimist and believer, especially with this group, that once we get all of our players back, we can make a significant run still,” he said.”Whether that gets us into the six or not, I’m not really sure.”It’s true we are running out of games, but the belief in the group is that we can definitely put a run of games together and get close to the six.”If we had picked up maximum points against Mariners and Brisbane we would have been three points off third, which is crazy and shows you how close the competition is. “It’s really going to come down to who the sixth team is and whether we can get close enough … there’s always hope.” That clearly needs to start in next Saturday’s clash with Steve Corica’s Auckland at Go Media Stadium. Wellington have tasted defeat in their only two meetings with their New Zealand rivals, losing 2-0 at home and 2-1 away, and are hungry for a breakthrough. “A great opportunity. I don’t need to motivate the group … boys will be up for it, especially the homegrown boys,” Italiano said. “It will be another big derby and probably the best game of the season so far was last week between Wanderers and Sydney. “We want to match that, we want to give our fans something to be proud of as well and match Auckland. “Auckland are deservedly first at the moment, but we’re going to go there and try and spoil the party. “There’s a lot of context to the game, there’s bragging rights within New Zealand, again, it’d be nice to also halt their progress to be No.1. “It gives us the story of also keeping our season alive.” The Phoenix welcomed back Alex Rufer successfully after a bout of glandular fever, but have a concussion concern over Matthew Sheridan. Source link #derby #chance #kickstart #Phoenix #coach #Italiano Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With Big ‘Silo’ Renewal By Apple TV+ And Return Of The “Netflix Effect”, AMC Networks Staying In Third-Party Licensing Game With Big ‘Silo’ Renewal By Apple TV+ And Return Of The “Netflix Effect”, AMC Networks Staying In Third-Party Licensing Game Last December’s two-season renewal of Apple TV+ series Silo was a boon to AMC Networks, whose studio arm produces the show. But even though there’s no major follow-up project in the pipeline, top execs plan to remain in the third-party business. “Currently we’re producing pretty much exclusively for our AMC-owned platforms,” Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios, said Friday on a quarterly conference call with Wall Street analysts. Nevertheless, he continued, “We do have a studio, we are able to produce for third parties when it’s beneficial to us and makes financial sense. We do have a lot of interest in our studio content, so we’re going to be strategic and opportunistic as we go forward.” More from Deadline In 2023, AMC Networks collected $56 million in licensing fees for Silo, according to SEC filings. Even when that gain and a $20 million gain from returned licenses from Hulu are factored out, overall licensing in 2024 increased 4% over 2023 levels to reach $277 million. That $277 million figure also includes a sizable amount from Netflix, which reached a deal to feature past seasons of several AMC Networks shows. CEO Kristin Dolan highlighted what she called the “Netflix effect,” wherein library episodes draw a crowd on Netflix, helping to generate buzz for new seasons when they arrive on the company’s own channels and streaming outlets. The phenomenon dates back more than a decade, with Breaking Bad an early beneficiary. Production started last fall on the third season of Silo, a dystopian drama starring Rebecca Ferguson (who also is an executive producer) and created by Graham Yost. Apple TV+ hasn’t announced a premiere date for the third season. The streaming outlet said the fourth season will be the show’s last. License fees are generally accounted for when a season debuts on a network or streamer, so even though the renewal news came last December the financial benefit will not show up in financial results until around the time of premiere. CFO Patrick O’Connell noted during the call that the company far exceeded guidance of $225 million in licensing revenue last year. “That was based on our current level of production,” he said, with the company’s 2025 forecast set at $250 million. “We continue to produce at really healthy levels and the market continues to be extraordinarily receptive to the programming that we’re producing,” the exec said. Licensing “was a net growth driver in 2024 and we continue to think it’s going to be a tailwind in 2025.” Story Continues Another upcoming milestone noted by Dolan will be the return to the company in early 2027 of rights to the original Walking Dead series, which will offer a number of strategic options. Licensing was one of the few upbeat themes for AMC Networks in an otherwise disappointing quarter, with an ongoing ad slump helping to drag total revenue down 12% from the year-ago *******. The company undershot Wall Street analysts’ consensus forecasts for revenue and earnings per share and also took a charge of $267.8 million to reflect the declining value of its linear networks. Shares in AMC Networks fell 7% in early trading Friday after traders digested the earnings report. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Big #Silo #Renewal #Apple #Return #Netflix #Effect #AMC #Networks #Staying #ThirdParty #Licensing #Game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

US retail sales plunged along with temperatures in January after a bustling holiday season – The Associated Press US retail sales plunged along with temperatures in January after a bustling holiday season – The Associated Press US retail sales plunged along with temperatures in January after a bustling holiday season The Associated PressUS retail spending plunged last month, falling for the first time since August CNNRetail sales slumped 0.9% in January, down much more than expected CNBCRetail sales plunge in January as wildfires, cold give consumers pause AxiosUS Retail Sales Drop by Most in Two Years Amid Fires, Storms Bloomberg Source link #retail #sales #plunged #temperatures #January #bustling #holiday #season #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mexico’s president takes aim at U.S. gunmakers if cartels are designated as terrorist groups Mexico’s president takes aim at U.S. gunmakers if cartels are designated as terrorist groups Mexico’s president on Friday warned U.S. gunmakers they could face fresh legal action and be deemed accomplices if Washington designates ******** drug cartels as terrorist groups. “If they declare these criminal groups as terrorists, then we’ll have to expand our U.S. lawsuit,” Claudia Sheinbaum said at a daily press conference. A new charge could include alleged “complicity” of gunmakers with terror groups, she said. Sheinbaum said the U.S. Justice Department itself has recognized that “74% of the weapons” used by criminal groups in Mexico come from north of the border. An estimated 200,000 to half a million U.S. firearms are smuggled into Mexico every year, “60 Minutes” reported in December. A 2023 CBS Reports investigation found that dozens of cartel gunrunning networks, operating like terrorist cells, pay Americans to buy weapons from gun stores and online dealers all across the country, as far north as Wisconsin and even Alaska, according to U.S. intelligence sources. The firearms are then shipped across the southwest border through a chain of brokers and couriers. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum speaking during a briefing conference on Feb. 12, 2025. Carlos Santiago/Eyepix Group/LightRocket via Getty Images On Thursday, the New York Times reported that the U.S. State Department plans to classify criminal groups from Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador and Venezuela as “terrorist organizations.” The cartels targeted in Mexico are the Sinaloa cartel, the Jalisco New Generation cartel, the Northeast cartel, the Michoacan family and the United cartel, the Times reported. Mexico has already filed a lawsuit in the United States against U.S. arms manufacturers and vendors, claiming $10 billion in damages for their alleged role in criminal violence in the country. Earlier this month, Sheinbaum angrily rejected an accusation by the United States that her government has an alliance with drug cartels. “We categorically reject the slander made by the White House against the ******** government about alliances with criminal organizations,” the president wrote on social media at the time. “If there is such an alliance anywhere, it is in the U.S. gun shops that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups,” she added. Last month, Sheinbaum launched a campaign to crack down on the number of weapons on the country’s streets by offering cash to those who anonymously leave weapons at designated drop-off locations, including churches. Earlier this week, Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla said U.S. military aircraft may have spied on cartels during recent flights near ******** territory. Asked whether the aircraft had spied on ******** drug traffickers, the general said: “We can’t rule it out because we don’t know what they did.” Tensions between the closely connected neighbors soared after the White House said Trump would slap tariffs of 25% on both ******** and ********* goods because of ******** immigration and drug smuggling. The threatened tariffs have since been halted for 30 days. Source link #Mexicos #president #takes #aim #U.S #gunmakers #cartels #designated #terrorist #groups Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gaza plans put Egypt-US relations to tough test Gaza plans put Egypt-US relations to tough test In the bustling heart of Cairo, coffee shops teem with Gazans who managed to flee at the start of Israel’s devastating war on ******. Although they have found safety, they remain worried about loved ones back home. In the past few days here, Egyptian intelligence officials have been meeting ****** leaders to shore up the shaky ceasefire. Tens of millions of Egyptians – tuning into the constant news updates – already feel their country’s intimate involvement in the war in Gaza. But now – with President Trump’s surprise post-war vision, which proposes displacing two million Palestinians to “a parcel of land” in Egypt and Jordan, so that the US can take over the territory – they fear an existential threat. Egyptians flocking to Friday prayers say Trump’s idea needs a reality check. “We’d be moving the battlefront from their land into our own!” says Abdo, a civil engineer. “The Israeli army and the ************ resistance are eternal enemies and there is no peace between them. This would mean us giving Israel a pretext to attack them on our land in the name of self-defence.” Others stress how the idea of permanently displacing Gazans would be tantamount to the liquidation of the ************ quest for statehood. But, they say, it would also breed extremism and cause instability in Egypt. To try to convey a similar message, Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has launched a behind-the-scenes diplomatic blitz. He is facing one of the most challenging moments of his rule, which could reset relations with his country’s key Western ally. Egypt is dangling the threat to its peace treaty with neighbouring Israel – long seen as a cornerstone of stability and US influence in the Middle East. Since Washington brokered the breakthrough 1979 deal, it has seen Cairo as a close ally. Egypt has consistently been one of the biggest recipients of US military aid, agreed as part of the treaty. Last year, it was allocated $1.3bn in military assistance. However, on Egypt’s influential night-time talk shows, commentators have been voicing strong criticism. American military aid “does not constitute any value to Egypt,” Ahmed Mousa, a popular host on a private TV channel, recently said. He insisted Egyptians refuse “pressure” or “blackmail”. Egypt’s leader is choosing a different approach to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who recently met Trump at the White House. There, Abdullah adopted a placatory tone and promised to take in sick Gazan children, while not giving ground on the idea of resettlement for Gazans. Egyptian reports say that Sisi refuses to visit Washington while displacement is on the agenda, although the US maintains no trip has been scheduled. Egypt’s own economy has been hard-hit by the Gaza war; it says it has lost $8bn in Suez Canal revenues due to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on ships in the Red Sea which began in response to Israel’s Gaza offensive. The hope now is that by devising its own “masterplan” for Gaza reconstruction, Egypt can both avoid the hugely problematic mass displacement of Palestinians and boost its own economy. The Egyptian real estate tycoon, Hisham Talaat Moustafa – who is close to Sisi – has been on TV, pushing a $20bn (£16bn; 19bn euros) proposal for building 200,000 homes in Gaza in just three years, without Palestinians being moved away. The plan is feasible, says Professor Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyid of Cairo University: “I don’t think it will be impossible for the Egyptians to find safe areas for Palestinians to move there while their part of Gaza is being rebuilt.” Various “innovative ideas” are being put forward, he adds, including one for rubble to be used as a building material in reconstruction. Speaking ahead of a Middle East trip, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that Arab states “don’t like” the Trump Gaza plan. “Now, if someone has a better plan – and we hope they do,” he went on, “now’s the time to present it.” Some Arab leaders are due to meet soon in Saudi Arabia, with Egypt calling for an Arab summit to discuss an alternative “comprehensive vision” for Gaza in Cairo on 27 February. Proposals are believed to involve a Gulf-led fund to help foot the hefty bill for reconstruction, and a deal to sideline ******. Israel and the US have made clear that the ************ armed group which has governed in Gaza since 2007 must have no future role. Egypt’s idea involves training a new security force and identifying ************ technocrats – not affiliated to any political faction – who would be in charge of early recovery projects. However, coming up with a deal that satisfies Israel’s hardline government will be challenging. The former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken envisaged world powers and the UN playing a temporary role in Gaza, until the ************ Authority (PA), which governs parts of the occupied West Bank, could take charge. But the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, sought to block the PA’s involvement, as part of his opposition to ************ statehood. Egypt, along with other Arab states, remains committed to the long-time international formula for peace, the two-state solution which conceives an independent ************ state alongside Israel. Its foreign ministry has stated that it wants to work with President Trump to “achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the region by reaching a just settlement of the ************ cause.” Back outside the mosque in Cairo, worshippers quietly point out how their country must try to avoid troubling repetitions of history. Already Egypt says it hosts more than 100,000 Gazans. With the idea of taking in many more, some worry their country could become a base for ****** – an ideological offshoot of the country’s own banned ******* Brotherhood – which, they argue, could be reinforced, stirring up domestic turmoil. Ultimately there is strong support for Egypt taking a strong position and standing up to the US. “Life is getting more difficult for us with the number of refugees we’ve already got. Imagine if we take in more!” exclaimed a shop owner, who did not want to give his name. “The Palestinians need to live on their own land not ours. We don’t need anything from the USA. “I stand by Sisi and the government and we’re ready to face the full consequences.” Source link #Gaza #plans #put #EgyptUS #relations #tough #test Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Don’t take AI on a Valentine’s Day date – there’s a hefty bill to pay that you’d never expect Don’t take AI on a Valentine’s Day date – there’s a hefty bill to pay that you’d never expect Being single on Valentine’s Day can be depressing, but finding solace in conversations with an AI assistant is no less so. Not only do they lack a personality, but their one true desire is your personal data. Privacy experts at Surfshark found that four of the five most popular AI companion apps on the Apple App Store may track your personal data utilization for profit. “Instead of being there for us, they can feel more like surveillance tools,” said Surfshark’s cybersecurity expert, Miguel Fornés, pointing out how AI companions’ tracking can shake users’ trust while invading their privacy. AI companions: which are the most data-hungry? The team at Surfshark carefully inspected the data collection practices of the five AI companion services. These details were sourced from the Apple App Store and include the number, type, and handling of the data types collected by each app. Among the apps analyzed – Kindroid, Nomi, Replika, EVA, and Character AI – 80% “may use data to track their users.” Tracking, experts explain, refers to linking user or device data collected from the app with user or device data collected from other apps and websites for targeted advertising purposes. Tracking also involves the sharing of user or device data with data brokers. “This detailed data can lead to companies influencing your choices, which can have negative effects, like overwhelming ads, financial risks, or other unexpected issues,” said Surfshark’s cybersecurity expert. Character AI was the service most in love with users’ data. While the average was 9 unique types of data collected out of 35. Character AI rises above its competitors by collecting up to 15 of these. EVA was the second most data-hungry of the lot, gathering 11 types of data. Worse still, both of these applications collect users’ approximate location info to deliver targeted ads. Nomi was the only application to stand apart by claiming to not collect data for tracking purposes. Not only the data collected by the service seems to be problematic, though. App developers, Surfshark explains, could access the data you willingly share during your conversation with the AI chatbot, too. The danger here is that AI companion apps are designed to simulate human-like interactions such as friendship and love. You may be more willing to disclose even more sensitive information than you’d do with ChatGPT-like chatbots. “This may lead to unprecedented consequences, particularly as AI regulations are just emerging,” experts note. This is why Surfshark strongly advises taking some precautions when using AI companion services to keep your personal data safe and minimize misuse. Fornés said: “Make sure you are frequently checking what permissions these apps have and be mindful of what information you are sharing.” Source link #Dont #Valentines #Day #date #hefty #bill #pay #***** #expect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

XRP & DOGE Blast After SEC Acknowledges Grayscale ETF Applications XRP & DOGE Blast After SEC Acknowledges Grayscale ETF Applications XRP and Dogecoin surge after the U.S. SEC acknowledged Graycale’s applications for XRP and DOGE spot ETFs. Plus, GameStop considers buying bitcoin and South Korea lifts a ban on crypto trading in a sign of greater global acceptance of digital assets. CoinDesk’s Christine Lee hosts “CoinDesk Daily.” Source link #XRP #DOGE #Blast #SEC #Acknowledges #Grayscale #ETF #Applications Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After Technical Problems, More Elden Ring Nightreign Test Sessions Possible After Technical Problems, More Elden Ring Nightreign Test Sessions Possible · · February 14, 2025 The first Elden Ring Nightreign network test session has come and gone, and it resulted in for frustration than fun for many users. Due to what FromSoftware called “congestion”, many couldn’t take part in the first session The issues ultimately led to the PlayStation Servers going down for maintenance during the test. Afterwards, FromSoftware took to social media to apologize for the issues. “We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the game server issues,” the social media post said. “Work is currently ongoing to improve the stability of the Network Test.” The developer then added that they are considering an extra test session to make up for the problems with the initial run. As of publishing, there are still four more Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test sessions scheduled for the weekend. Those times are as follows: February 14: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET February 15: 11am-2pm PT / 2pm-5pm ET February 16: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ET February 16: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET Were you able to get in to the first Elden Ring Nightreign network test session? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, read about what Ubisoft had to say about preorders for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Technical #Problems #Elden #Ring #Nightreign #Test #Sessions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump border czar warns Eric Adams on immigration agreement Trump border czar warns Eric Adams on immigration agreement President Donald Trump’s border czar Thomas Homan, left, and New York Mayor Adams, right, and others, meeting in New York, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Ed Reed | Office of the Mayor of New York via AP President Donald Trump’s border czar implicitly warned New York Mayor Eric Adams during a joint televised interview Friday to follow through on his promise to allow federal immigration authorities into the city’s massive jail complex on Rikers Island. “If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York City, and we won’t be sitting on a couch,” said Trump immigration chief Thomas Homan Friday in a joint interview with Adams on “Fox and Friends.” “I’ll be in his office, up his butt, saying ‘Where the hell is the agreement we came to?'” Homan said. Adams chuckled nervously during Homan’s comment, saying only, “We’re going to deliver for the safety of the people of this city.” Adams’ promise Thursday to sign an executive order that would permit federal authorities to use Rikers came just hours after the stunning resignations of six top Department of Justice prosecutors, who quit rather than carry out the orders of a high-ranking DOJ official in Washington, that they dismiss criminal corruption charges filed against the mayor. One of those prosecutors, acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, said Adams’ lawyers recently urged Justice Department officials to agree to what amounted to a “quid pro quo” with the mayor. In exchange for Adams’ bribery case being dropped by federal prosecutors, the mayor would allow the Trump administration to carry out immigration enforcement actions in New York City, Sassoon wrote in a letter to Trump’s Attorney General, Pam Bondi. Adams and his lawyer, Alex Spiro, deny there is a quid pro quo deal with the DOJ. Trump on Thursday denied telling the DOJ to dismiss the charges against Adams. Read more CNBC politics coverage Adams was indicted in September on charges including campaign contribution conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery, which include allegations he accepted $100,000 worth of plane tickets and luxury hotel stays from wealthy Turkish nations. The order to dismiss the Adams case came from Emil Bove, a former criminal defense lawyer for Trump who now holds a top job at the Justice Department. Bove issued the directive first to Sassoon, who refused to do it and resigned. Bove then ordered several top DOJ officials in Washington to carry who his demand. Like Sassoon, they too refused to comply with Bove’s order. As Friday morning, the case against Adams technically remained pending in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Bove was appointed to a high-ranking post at the DOJ by Trump, after representing the president last year at his criminal hush money trial in New York, which ended in Trump’s conviction. In her letter Wednesday to the attorney general, Sassoon said that Bove had proposed “dismissing the charges against Adams in return for his assistance in enforcing the federal immigration laws.” Critics of Bove’s order have warned that by seeking to dismiss the criminal case against Adams without prejudice, meaning that the criminal charges can be re-filed at any time, the DOJ is effectively putting the mayor under its thumb. If the prospect of a revived criminal case against Adams is constantly hanging over the mayor’s head, his ability to act independently, or refuse to do the president’s bidding, would be severely compromised, they say. Source link #Trump #border #czar #warns #Eric #Adams #immigration #agreement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What Is PlayStation Doing? – Insider Gaming Weekly Podcast What Is PlayStation Doing? – Insider Gaming Weekly Podcast Welcome everyone to Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast for February 14, 2025. In this week’s episode: PlayStation Network went down and Sony said nothing, and there was a State of Play that left everyone a bit underwhelmed. Mike, Grant, and Albert also take a trip down memory lane look back at games they wish they could experience for the first time again. And Mike also has an exclusive update on the state of the exclusive NFL license with EA. It’s Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast! If you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing (links below) and leaving a rating and review. You can also submit questions for future shows and your feedback to ⁠[email protected]⁠. Subscribe To Insider Gaming Weekly: A Video Game Podcast Spotify: Apple Podcasts: iHeartRadio: Amazon Music: Pocket Casts: About The Show Each and every Friday, Senior Editors Mike Straw and Grant Taylor-Hill alongside Senior Producer Albert Perkins bring you the latest in video game news, events, rumors and more. From friendly debates to challenges for the audience and each other, you don’t want to miss a single thing from Insider Gaming Weekly. Even Insider Gaming Co-Founder Tom Henderson will stop by from time to time to talk the latest in gaming rumors that players need to know about. Don’t forget to share the show and leave a rating to help us grow this new venture. You can also submit questions for future shows and your feedback to ⁠[email protected]⁠. Join the Discussion If you want to talk about the latest episode of the show with the hosts and staff, head on over to the Insider Gaming Forums where you can hangout with other gamers and listeners, and talk about everything from your favorite games and shows to even sharing your best in-game artwork. It’s all there at the Insider Gaming Forums. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #PlayStation #Insider #Gaming #Weekly #Podcast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DOJ will need 'fool,' 'coward' to toss Eric Adams case, says seventh prosecutor to resign over order – CNBC DOJ will need 'fool,' 'coward' to toss Eric Adams case, says seventh prosecutor to resign over order – CNBC DOJ will need ‘fool,’ ‘coward’ to toss Eric Adams case, says seventh prosecutor to resign over order CNBCRead the Resignation Letter From Hagan Scotten The New York TimesDrama over Adams case raises questions about Trump administration’s ‘weaponization’ of justice CNNOrder to drop New York Mayor Adams’ case roils Justice Department as high-ranking officials resign The Associated Press Source link #DOJ #039fool039 #039coward039 #toss #Eric #Adams #case #seventh #prosecutor #resign #order #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon is holding a devices event on February 26, here’s what to expect Amazon is holding a devices event on February 26, here’s what to expect Amazon is holding an event on February 26 at 10AM ET, and that’s unusually early in the year for the company, which typically has its launches in the fall like the rest of its peers. However, considering the last time Amazon had a “devices and services” showcase was in September 2023, this one is overdue. (Yes, there was a Kindle launch in October last year, but that doesn’t really count.) While we don’t exactly know what the company plans on showing off, we certainly have some educated guesses. Let’s get into it. First of all, the company’s hardware chief, Panos Panay, and his devices and services team will be on hand. This indicates the presence of new gadgets at the event. However, the main focus will likely be more information on the long-promised next-gen Alexa. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. How do we know this? Amazon sent out five versions of a bare-bones invite to the event. Internet sleuths pieced the images together and, lo and behold, the background spells out the word “Alexa.” The AI-infused refresh has faced several delays since first being announced back in 2023. We reported that the team was having trouble getting the updated chatbot to do basic things, like creating a timer and turning on smart lights. These kinds of tasks have been the bread and butter of the current Alexa chatbot for years. The development team has also reportedly had issues with hallucinations. The company claims the new LLM-powered Alexa will be able to “process nuance and ambiguity—much like a person would—and intelligently take action.” Amazon says that it’ll be able to complete complex requests, like “Alexa, every weeknight at 9PM, make an announcement that it’s bedtime for the kids, dim the lights upstairs, turn on the porch light and switch on the fan in the bedroom.” That sounds useful, if it works. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. That brand-new Alexa would likely benefit from some dedicated hardware, thus the inclusion of Panay and his team. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten updates to the Echo line of smart speakers, so a refresh of some kind is more than likely. It’s also possible the budget-friendly and useful Echo Buds earbuds will get an upgrade. We also saw some Echo Frames glasses at the September 2023 event, which bring hands-free access to Alexa wherever you go, too, so it’s possible the company updates that device since there has been a lot of development in the smart glasses space in the last year and a half. What shouldn’t we expect? Well, Amazon just introduced some new Kindles at the tail-end of last year. It’d be weird to see an e-reader at this event. Also, while it’s possible the company could introduce new Fire tablets and the like, that doesn’t really gel with the whole Alexa theme. Update, February 13 2025, 12:05PM ET: This story has been updated to add context in the intro on when Amazon last held a “devices and services” event. Update, February 14 2025, 11:50AM ET: This story has been updated to add details on the last Echo Frame update, which was revealed at Amazon’s event in September 2023. Source link #Amazon #holding #devices #event #February #heres #expect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]