Pelican Press

Reddit shares slump 6% on daily active user miss Reddit shares slump 6% on daily active user miss Steve Huffman, co-founder and CEO of Reddit, speaks during WSJ Tech Live conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal at the Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California, on October 21, 2024. Frederic J. Brown | Afp | Getty Images Reddit shares dropped more than 6% Thursday after the social media company fell short of Wall Street’s user estimates in the fourth quarter. The company reported a 39% rise in global daily active uniques from a year ago to 101.7 million, below the Wall Street estimate of 103.1 million. In a letter to shareholders, CEO Steve Huffman said that Reddit experienced some “volatility” in user growth as a result of a Google search algorithm change. He noted that the tweak occurs twice a year and primarily impacts logged-out users who visit the site without an account, but search-related traffic has since recovered into the first quarter. “What happened wasn’t unusual — referrals from search fluctuate from time to time, and they primarily affect logged-out users,” Huffman wrote. “Our teams have navigated numerous algorithm updates and did an excellent job adapting to these latest changes effectively.” Despite the disappointing user figure, Reddit surpassed Wall Street’s top-and-bottom line estimates for the *******, with earnings of 36 cents per share on $428 billion in sales. Analysts polled by LSEG had forecast earnings of 25 cents per share and $405 billion in revenue. Sales also grew 71% from a year ago. Reddit also offered better-than-expected revenue guidance for the first quarter, while net income roughly quadrupled to $71 million, or 36 cents per share. Many Wall Street analysts stood by the stock despite the Google issue, with Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak recommending that investors buy the dip. Wells Fargo analyst Ken Gawrelski maintained his overweight rating, but said a full bounce back in the stock may depend on steady consecutive U.S. user growth. “We like Reddit’s growth but see balanced risk reward,” wrote Bank of America’s Justin Post. He cited a high valuation, dependence on Google and a potential revenue deceleration later this year among the reasons for his neutral rating. Reddit’s stock has climbed since its initial public offering in March 2024 at $34 a share. Shares are up 24% year to date. — CNBC’s Jonathan Vanian contributed reporting Source link #Reddit #shares #slump #daily #active #user Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Assyrtiko de Louros 2021 Bio by Hatzidakis Winery Assyrtiko de Louros 2021 Bio by Hatzidakis Winery Assyrtiko de Louros is not just a wine—it is a symbol of Santorini’s winemaking heritage, an authentic expression of the island’s unique terroir. Since 2011, this prestigious label from Hatzidakis Winery has carried the legacy and passion of pioneering winemaker Haridimos Hatzidakis, who dedicated himself to showcasing the Assyrtiko variety through a single-vineyard wine of remarkable character. With a commitment to organic viticulture and an ongoing pursuit of excellence, the Hatzidakis family and winery team continue to honor this tradition. Since 2019, they have revived this iconic label with outstanding results, offering wine lovers a truly exceptional experience. The 2021 Vintage: A Rare and Unique Expression In 2021, the century-old, ungrafted, organically grown vineyard at Louros, in Pyrgos, was harvested late—by Santorini standards—at the end of August. The wine matured on the lees for 24 months in oak barrels and was bottled unfiltered, with only 2,400 bottles produced. Assyrtiko de Louros 2021 captivates from the first glance with its deep yellow hue and intense golden reflections. The nose reveals a complex aromatic profile of ripe stone fruits, sweet quince, lemon peel, tea, mastiha, star anise, vanilla, and exotic spices. On the palate, these flavors are mirrored, complemented by high acidity and a bold tannic finish. Food Pairing & Serving Suggestions Enjoy Assyrtiko de Louros 2021 alongside exquisite dishes such as white and red meats, seafood, shellfish, and aged, rich cheeses. Serve at 14-16°C to fully appreciate its complexity. Now available for worldwide shipping at Santorini.net Eshop. A Winemaker’s Reflection on the 2021 Harvest Looking back at the 2021 harvest, Stella Hatzidakis shares a heartfelt reflection: “Harvest time has always defined my summers. It started as a game—sorting grapes, sun-drying them, tasting the must. I was always by my parents’ side during this magical process. I feel deeply moved that, year after year, these memories continue to grow, and when the process is complete, we can look forward to the next vintage with anticipation. I am sincerely grateful to my mother, my siblings, our wonderful winery team, and our dedicated vine growers, who keep the magic of the harvest alive by giving their very best!” Source link #Assyrtiko #Louros #Bio #Hatzidakis #Winery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How much did it snow in Milwaukee Wednesday? Here are the latest snow totals How much did it snow in Milwaukee Wednesday? Here are the latest snow totals After logging its driest January on record, Milwaukee finally woke up to a winter wonderland on Thursday. From Wednesday morning to the early morning hours Thursday, a snowstorm swept southeast Wisconsin, closing schools and businesses and creating hazardous driving conditions. The snow finally halted around 3 a.m. Thursday, though an additional 1 to 3 inches is forecast to hit Milwaukee over the weekend. Here’s how much it snowed in Milwaukee during the storm: How much did it snow in the Milwaukee on Wednesday? Here’s how much it snowed in Milwaukee and surrounding areas, according to latest totals from NWS Milwaukee, last updated between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 12 a.m. Thursday: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitefish Bay: 7.2 inches This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How much did it snow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin yesterday? Source link #snow #Milwaukee #Wednesday #latest #snow #totals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PlayStation Just Had Its Best Sales Quarter Yet, PS5 Lifetime Sales Now At 75 Million PlayStation Just Had Its Best Sales Quarter Yet, PS5 Lifetime Sales Now At 75 Million The PlayStation 5 has reached a new milestone, as Sony revealed that the console has enjoyed its best sales quarter to date. In its financial results for the three months that ended on December 31, 2024, Sony says 9.5 million PS5 consoles were shipped, and with overall sales currently at 75 million units sold, the PS5 is now almost on par with the PS4 at the same point during its lifecycle (76.5 million units). What’s interesting to note here is that these results also include the $750 PS5 Pro console bundled into them, so it’s not clear yet what its sales impact currently is when compared to the regular models available at a substantially lower price. A closer look at the business of PlayStation. Gallery According to Sony, 42% of PS5 purchases were new users and the company also noted that even more PS4 owners are migrating to PS5. Sony says games like Astro Bot and Helldivers 2 were also successful at helping it expand into family and live-service game markets. Sony did note that monthly active users have also risen 5% year-on-year on all platforms–up to 129 million now, with half of them being on PS4–while sales of games and consoles had increased by 16%. Overall, the games division has seen major increases as operating income increased by 37% year-over-year, thanks in part to higher profit margins on hardware and third-party games. Network services revenue has increased substantially. PlayStation Plus and Network Services revenue has also increased by 20% and 28%, respectively, and the adoption of digital software has also steadily risen to 74%, a notable jump when compared to 66% last year. Sony has now raised its sales revenue forecast by 3% for the current fiscal year ending in April 2025. Looking at the rest of 2025, Sony has a big year ahead of it. While upcoming games like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei weren’t present during the February 2025 State of Play, the livestream did reveal numerous third-party games, a Days Gone remaster, and Housemarque’s Saros. Source link #PlayStation #Sales #Quarter #PS5 #Lifetime #Sales #Million Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 ‘Hidden’ 12.5% Yields to Handle Market Volatility and Earn Stable Income 3 ‘Hidden’ 12.5% Yields to Handle Market Volatility and Earn Stable Income No two ways about it: This stock market is getting twitchy, and it’s (frankly beyond) time for all investors to take it seriously. Trade wars. The possibility of spiking . The Fed’s “will they or won’t they” act around rate cuts. And then there’s the ongoing doubt about whether AI will deliver on its big profit promises. Our 3-Step Volatility Plan: Boost Income, Cut Taxes—and Go Beyond Stocks We’re all feeling it: The market heads higher, and every day it does, the voice in our head telling us that a fall is around the corner grows just a little bit louder. So what are we going to do? We’re certainly not going to abandon stocks—or the stock-focused closed-end funds (CEFs) in our CEF Insider portfolio. Because over the long run, stocks are still the No. 1 way to build wealth for pretty well all investors (and of course, we do not want to reduce our income stream from our stock holdings). But we are going to take the prudent step of bolstering our stock holdings with CEFs holding another asset that gives us reliable income, low volatility and a valuable tax shelter, too. I’m talking about municipal bonds, which state and local governments issue to pay for infrastructure projects. As I’ll show you below, these so-called “boring” investments are anything but. Plus we get a package of “extra” benefits when we buy our “munis” through 7.5%-yielding CEFs. Munis Transform a 5% Yield Into 8.3% Munis has long been a go-to for conservative income investors. They provide tax-free income, low default rates and a loyal investor base that tends to buy their munis and hang on to them forever, helping further reduce volatility. Further helping reduce volatility is the fact that there are strict rules in place to ensure municipalities only borrow as much as they can afford. This lets us collect munis’ high yields with less stress than we might have with taxable bonds and stocks. Since many munis’ dividends are federally tax-free (and some are even exempt from state and local taxes), they tend to appeal to wealthy investors, as well. Look at this: Source: Bankrate.com As the chart above shows, if you’re in the highest tax bracket, a 5% yield from a muni bond (or a CEF holding munis) is equal to 8.3% from a taxable bond or stock (and the three muni-bond CEFs we’ll look at below yield a lot more than that!). 2025 Uncertainty Opens Our “Muni Buy Window” Muni-bond yields are higher than they’ve been in years, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes, which allowed muni-bond CEFs to buy higher-yielding bonds. Now that rates are falling more slowly than originally expected, there’s still a large pool of higher-yielding munis available for our CEFs to buy. And when the Fed goes back to cutting rates, likely later this year, those bonds should see price gains—particularly intermediate- and long-duration bonds—as they’ll have more appeal than newly issued bonds that yield less. Moreover, with 2025 likely to show lower stock returns than 2023 and 2024, more stock investors should be looking to pick up munis, as well, adding to our buy case here. 3 Cheap Muni-Bond CEFs (Yielding 12.5% on a Taxable-Equivalent Basis) With all that said, let’s look at three high-yielding muni-bond CEFs with attractive discounts: With over 7.6% dividends on average, these funds produce an incredible income stream equal to a 12.5% taxable yield. 1. IIM: A Muni Fund With Long-Term, Durable Income Let’s start with the Invesco Value Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:). This fund, like all three of our muni-bond CEFs, focuses on undervalued muni bonds from across the US, which limits its geographic risk. As you can see above, it trades at a 6.7% discount to net asset value (NAV, or the value of its underlying portfolio), which means we’re buying its holdings for a little over 93 cents on the dollar. Like most CEFs, the fund uses leverage to boost returns—in the case of IIM, it has borrowed against about 32% of its portfolio. That’s reasonable for low-volatility assets like munis. Moreover, Invesco can borrow for much less than you and me—and its borrowing costs will fall as interest rates do. Perhaps the best thing about IIM, though, is that the weighted average maturity of its portfolio is 18.8 years, incredibly long for a bond fund. This means IIM has locked in high yields that can be relied on for nearly two decades. If interest rates start to fall fast, expect investors to pivot to funds like IIM to secure a higher income stream for longer, while bond CEFs with short durations will have to buy newer bonds that yield less. 2. IQI: Our Friend When Markets Get Rough The Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:), for its part, locks in its portfolio’s income stream for even longer, with a weighted average maturity of 19.28 years. On top of that, its focus on higher-rated bonds (that’s what the “quality” in the name refers to) means it has a bit of extra insulation in a major selloff, while offering roughly the same yield as its sister fund, IIM. IQI uses roughly the same amount of leverage as IIM, at 31.5%. But here again, it benefits from Invesco’s low borrowing costs (which, again, are likely to fall with rates). 3. Averse to Leverage? Go With KTF Finally, DWS Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:) provides safety in a different way: It uses no leverage at all, so even in the biggest selloff imaginable, it isn’t at risk of a margin call. Despite that, KTF still yields 7.6%, roughly the same as the other two funds here. It also sports an effective maturity of 17.4 years. The fund’s 3.2% discount is lower than those of the other two, but still reasonable in light of its lower leverage risk. What I like about KTF is its management team, which has a history of knowing how to adjust the fund’s portfolio as interest rates shift. Muni-Bond CEFs: The Ultimate Diversification Play These three funds offer strong yields and compelling discounts, making them attractive buys for any income investor or, really, anyone looking to diversify beyond stocks. They’re just the beginning: There are over 100 publicly traded muni-bond CEFs, and many are better deals than these three. That lets us swing into (and out of) the best ones for the market moment, giving us high, stable yields and a level of safety we can’t get by investing in stocks alone. Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Hidden #Yields #Handle #Market #Volatility #Earn #Stable #Income Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump set to impose sweeping reciprocal tariffs within hours: ‘The big one’ – National Trump set to impose sweeping reciprocal tariffs within hours: ‘The big one’ – National Donald Trump is going to impose reciprocal tariffs on Thursday afternoon, the U.S. president said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “NEWS CONFERENCE ON RECIPROCAL TARIFFS TODAY, 1:00 P.M., THE OVAL OFFICE. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” Trump said in the post. He posted earlier in the day, saying it was going to be a “big one.” “THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” 1:52 From beer to fridges, what products might cost more with metal tariffs? Trump on Monday signed a pair of executive orders that will impose 25 per cent tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum on March 12, with no exceptions or exemptions. Story continues below advertisement “It’s a big deal. This is the beginning of making America rich again,” Trump said as he signed the orders in the Oval Office. 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. The move drew widespread condemnation from some of the United States’ closest trading partners, including Canada. What are reciprocal tariffs? Trending Now Zelenirstat ******* pill made in Alberta shows promising early results Alberta premier defends her government amid corruption allegations After weeks of focus on retaliatory tariffs, many may wonder what the term “reciprocal” means. Trump has not specified in detail how he defines the term. There remains uncertainty about whether his order would apply only to matching tariffs or to including other foreign taxes that he views as a barrier to exporting American goods. Broadly speaking, a reciprocal tariff would appear to be aimed at matching either the value or the spirit of any tariffs in place by other countries on American products. Story continues below advertisement This is different from what has become known in the ********* context as a retaliatory tariff, which has been used when discussing a response to hit back at new tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canada. For example, Canada does not have across-the-board tariffs on American goods. If Trump follows through on his threat to impose those sweeping 25 per cent tariffs next month, those sweeping U.S. tariffs would not be reciprocal, since Canada does not have any matching ones already in place. Canada has a list ready of retaliatory tariffs that the government will impose in direct response if that happens, which Trudeau has said are crafted to inflict pain on American consumers while minimizing pain on Canadians. –with files from The Associated Press More on Canada More videos &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Trump #set #impose #sweeping #reciprocal #tariffs #hours #big #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How India could grow its nuclear ambitions How India could grow its nuclear ambitions This report is from this week’s CNBC’s “Inside India” newsletter which brings you timely, insightful news and market commentary on the emerging powerhouse and the big businesses behind its meteoric rise. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. Saint-Paul-****-Durance is a small town of about 1,000 people in the south of France, featuring a picturesque 15th-century château and a handful of shops. Yet, its quaint charms were not the only reason that attracted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. Saint-Paul-****-Durance is also home to Cadarache, one of the world’s preeminent centers of nuclear research. The thermonuclear visit comes after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set aside $2.3 billion in the federal budget earlier this month to promote the development of nuclear power generation in India. “This initiative aims to enhance domestic nuclear capabilities, promote private sector participation, and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs),” the government said in a statement. Small modular reactors, that produce under 300 megawatts of electricity, have been touted as the answer to several challenges the nuclear industry faces. The industry says SMRs, which will be manufactured in modules elsewhere and assembled onsite, will reduce construction time and cost, which have tended to come in multiple times the initial estimates. In fact, the government says it will build five modular reactors in under a decade using the funds, helping it reach its self-imposed 100-gigawatt nuclear energy target by 2047. Nuclear energy accounts for about 3% of India’s generation capacity currently, with plans to increase capacity from 6.7 gigawatts to 22.4 gigawatts by 2031. While the goals are certainly ambitious, the challenges look daunting, if not outright impossible to overcome. The International Energy Agency and investment banks Bernstein and Royal Bank of Canada, for instance, say India’s nuclear ambitions are quite simply unachievable. Even with China’s track record for infrastructure development, it took the country about 15 years to set up its first modular reactor Linglong One. Analysts say it will be “pleasantly surprising” if India were to beat this time scale. “While it absolutely merits a whole-hearted attempt on India’s part – from a stock market analyst perspective it is too far to be … priced in today,” said Bernstein analyst Nikhil Nigania. “There is a low likelihood that even [one] indigenous SMR would be operational in India by 2033 against [the five the government] has planned.” Atomic lawsuits India may also have also stumbled on the first step. A tender for a 220-megawatt Bharat Small Reactor, which isn’t modular, puts all the financial risks of building a nuclear power plant onto the private sector — under the “Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act” — while the state-owned power company NPCIL retains many of the benefits, including ownership and control of the power plant. The CLND Act, which sees companies and their suppliers on the hook for any nuclear accident in India, is viewed by some industry experts as the bane of the private sector. They say if it were not for the law, construction of the world’s largest nuclear power plant would now be underway in India. French-state-owned nuclear giant EDF, which operates more than 60 nuclear power stations in France and the U.K., submitted its plans in 2021 to build six reactor units that would generate 9.6 gigawatts of carbon-free energy. Yet, earlier this year, it said the existence of the CLND had prevented it from pushing ahead. “In addition to the country risk, which includes a substantial tax dimension, the conditions related to the scope of nuclear liability in India must be met, and the project’s financing plan must be secured before the final contracts are signed,” EDF said in a bond prospectus document issued earlier this year. U.S. nuclear giant Westinghouse Electric Company, meanwhile, proposed to build six 1,200 megawatt AP1000 reactors, which have been tried and tested in the U.S. as well as in China, more than a decade ago. Yet, no progress has been made on the deal since then. “Westinghouse, the supplier of high output nuclear power plants, remains skittish about sales to India with the absence of durable assurance of limited liability in the event of an accident,” said Ashley Tellis, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 2023. The concerns have not gone unnoticed. The Indian government has said it intends to amend the laws preventing companies like EDF from entering the nuclear sector. “For an active partnership with the private sector towards this goal, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be taken up,” said Finance Minister Sitharaman in the budget speech to Parliament. Amending the statute books is just a first step for India, however, as it looks to make some headway in meeting its nuclear goals. Scarce land Another key factor holding up the construction of these rotund machines has been finding suitable land. Nuclear scares of the past, including the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011, have repeatedly been used by locals to protest against having plants built in their backyard. The foundation stone for the 1.4 gigawatt Gorakhpur plant in the state of Haryana was laid in 2014, for instance, yet it is not expected to produce a single joule of energy until 2032 — 18 years later. But India is also learning from its experience. Since finding land — and seeking a myriad of approvals from stakeholders — is one of the most time-consuming processes, new plants currently in the planning stages are being deployed in a cluster of six giga-sized reactors. Most of India’s existing plants are geographically dispersed and only have two or four reactors that have sub-gigawatt production capacity each. The government now has about 6.5 gigawatts worth of reactors currently under construction that are all extensions to existing nuclear power plants, which require fewer permissions. Today’s long timelines don’t mean it’s always been this way. The country has previously built reactors within five years, simply by replicating known technologies on existing nuclear plant sizes. The private companies Private companies currently involved with nuclear power projects — limited to only the non-core elements of a reactor — are also helping make the construction process significantly more efficient. For instance, earlier this month, engineering firm Larsen & Toubro delivered the steam generators that are expected to be installed at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in the southern state of Karnataka ahead of schedule. “L&T is committed to deliver 6-8 nos 700 MWe Steam Generators every year and for the success of 220 MWe Bharat Small Reactor (BSR) programme to ensure net-zero carbon emissions by 2070,” said Anil V Parab, senior executive vice president of L&T Heavy Engineering in a statement. Another way to cut timelines, and increase the odds of achieving India’s ambitious goal, is to partner up with foreign entities, such as France’s EDF, for technological expertise, according to analysts. Russia supplies the underlying technology for the vast majority of India’s nuclear plants, while France and the United States are leading operators of nuclear energy reactor fleets. Would it come as any surprise if nuclear was on Modi’s agenda while visiting Paris and Washington this week? Source link #India #grow #nuclear #ambitions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Crosby to Marner: 4 Nations opener electrifies as Canada downs Sweden in OT Crosby to Marner: 4 Nations opener electrifies as Canada downs Sweden in OT It’s been nearly a decade since men’s international hockey has seen the best players from those countries face off against one another. And on Wednesday night in Montreal, Canada and Sweden showed all those who watched what the hockey world has been missing out on. An overtime thriller saw Canada down Sweden 4-3 in the opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off that saw a vintage performance from captain Sidney Crosby, a statement goal from forward Mitch Marner and a rocking home crowd. Here are 5 highlights from the game. There were doubts Crosby, 37, would even be able to suit up for the opening game after picking up an injury just before the tournament began. Story continues below advertisement However, Crosby looked like was performing at 100 per cent, picking up three assists in what will go down as a vintage performance for the future hall-of-fame player. Crosby facilitated the opening goal with a spin-o-rama backhand pass across the crease to fellow Nova Scotian Nathan MacKinnon on the power play in the first *******. Crosby then dished it to a trailing Mark Stone in the second ******* to make it 3-1 for Canada. In overtime, Crosby sent a back pass to the Mitch Marner in the neutral zone and hurried out of Sweden’s zone to avoid an off-side call, setting up Marner to bury the game-winning goal and seal the 4-3 win. Cheers for Marner, boos for Matthews The Toronto Maple Leafs are well represented in the tournament, with Marner and Swedish forward William Nylander squaring off against each other in Wednesday’s game. Story continues below advertisement But captain Auston Matthews, who is leading team USA, was also featured in Wednesday’s showcase. Matthews was brought out during the opening ceremony, alongside Finland captain Aleksander Barkov. Unlike the cheers heard for Marner, Matthews was greeted to loud boos from the pro-********* crowd – a typical experience for Matthews when he and the Leafs play the Canadiens in Montreal. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Matthews and the Americans will play Finland on Thursday, with puck drop set for 8 p.m. Eastern at the Bell Centre. Crosby and MacKinnon may be the first players that come to mind when thinking about prominent hockey players out of Nova Scotia. Story continues below advertisement But Brad Marchand, born in the Halifax suburb of Hammonds Plains, popped in a goal after receiving a cross-ice pass from linemate Brayden Point to make the score 2-1 in the first *******. Marchand, who captains the Boston Bruins, doesn’t ever get cheers when in Montreal. But after scoring that goal, the crowd erupted. Trending Now Zelenirstat ******* pill made in Alberta shows promising early results Trump threatens ********* cars with tariffs up to 100% Super Mario makes surprise appearance Mario Lemieux, one of the all-time great hockey players, made a surprise appearance holding Canada’s ceremonial banner during the opening ceremony. Story continues below advertisement And the crowd erupted, even chanting his name before puck drop. Lemieux, born in Montreal, also made a surprise appearance in the Canada’s locker room before the game to read out the starting line-up. Montreal’s crowd setting the bar high When the 4 Nations shifts to Boston for the final stretch of games next week, fans there will have their work cut out for them. Story continues below advertisement The crowd in Montreal for opening night was electric for the first best-on-best action in men’s international hockey in almost a decade. Fans were electric, and we also advised by the public announcer before the game to respect the singing of the national anthem. That came amid the backdrop of a growing trade war between the United States and its allies like Canada, which prompted booing of the Star-Spangled Banner at professional sporting events in Canada earlier this month. View full screen View full screen Previous Image Next Image Close Modal Gallery With that in mind, Canada and the United States will square off on Saturday in Montreal, with puck-drop set for 8 p.m. Eastern. More on Sports More videos &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Crosby #Marner #Nations #opener #electrifies #Canada #downs #Sweden Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Comes to PlayStation 4 This April, New Song Pack Out Today Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Comes to PlayStation 4 This April, New Song Pack Out Today “The Tokyo-based (Japan) indie games publisher Ryu’s Office and indie games developer Unknown X, are today super happy and excited to announce that their anime-themed rhythm/action game “Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost” (which is set in the “Touhou Project” universe), is coming to the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo Eshop in 2023 (the game is also coming to PC via Steam in 2023 as well).” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #Touhou #Danmaku #Kagura #Phantasia #Lost #PlayStation #April #Song #Pack #Today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Data hoarders race to preserve data from rapidly disappearing U.S. federal websites Data hoarders race to preserve data from rapidly disappearing U.S. federal websites U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that has resulted in many government agencies taking down webpages and sites to comply. Because of this, data hoarders across the internet are racing to preserve them all before they’re taken offline, with MuckRock reporting that the End of Term Archive, which includes the Internet Archive, Stanford University, Common Crawl Foundation, University of North Texas, and Webrecorder, having already saved more than 500 terabytes from .gov domains. It’s reported that more than 8,000 government pages have been taken down, including the Department of Justice database detailing the criminal charges and convictions of January 6 rioters, LGBTQ+ rights and ****-related information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool released by the Council on Environmental Quality, among others. Because of this, the r/DataHoarder Subreddit is rallying its over 832,000 members to help save the data in danger of being taken offline and deleted. u/didyousayboop shared on the Subreddit that the Archive Team, composed of volunteer digital archivists led by Jason Scott — the Free Range Archivist and Software Curator at the Internet Archive — is asking for help with its US Government project. This effort is focused on archiving all government content, especially data that is at risk of being removed because of the current administration’s efforts. We’ve also seen several threads in the r/DataHoarder asking for help backing up specific pages and websites. These include NOAA, USAID, the National Center for Education Statistics, the National **** Curriculum, CDC Immunization Publications, and more. Someone was even asking for help downloading USAID’s videos on its YouTube channels, fearing that they would be next, after the USAID website went down. Aside from requests to backup data and volunteers acting on them, we’re also seeing others volunteering to host the archived site data for free on their domains. This is one of the biggest efforts we’ve seen in archiving, where a huge collection of storage geeks is putting out their best effort to download and preserve online historical data. If you want to join them and help save the information hosted on government servers, you can check out the instructions u/didyousayboop left on r/DataHoarder. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Data #hoarders #race #preserve #data #rapidly #disappearing #U.S #federal #websites Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thumzup: A High-Risk, High-Reward Opportunity in Digital Advertising Thumzup: A High-Risk, High-Reward Opportunity in Digital Advertising Thumzup Media Corp (NASDAQ:) is emerging as a disruptive force in digital advertising, leveraging user-generated content to create an innovative marketing ecosystem. Despite its early-stage challenges, the company’s recent performance and growth trajectory suggest significant potential. Expanding Advertiser Base Thumzup has demonstrated strong momentum in advertiser acquisition, with its base growing by 230% in 2024, surpassing 600 active brands. This expansion highlights the increasing demand for the platform’s approach, which incentivizes social media users to promote brands organically. As traditional digital advertising becomes saturated, Thumzup’s model offers a compelling alternative that resonates with brands seeking authentic engagement. Nasdaq Listing and Capital Infusion The company’s successful uplisting to Nasdaq and subsequent $8.2 million public offering have strengthened its financial position. Access to capital markets not only improves liquidity but also enhances credibility, attracting institutional interest and fueling expansion into new markets. Financial Challenges and Turnaround Potential While Thumzup’s balance sheet remains weak—its book value per share declined by 58.5% to $0.046—the company’s rapid business expansion suggests room for improvement. The key question is whether revenue growth will outpace costs and lead to profitability. Investors should closely monitor upcoming earnings reports to assess progress on this front. A Growing Digital Advertising Market The digital advertising industry is projected to reach $400 billion by 2028, providing Thumzup with a substantial Total Addressable Market (TAM). If the company can scale effectively, capture market share, and differentiate itself from competitors, it could carve out a valuable niche in this expanding sector. Stock Volatility and Speculative Activity Thumzup’s stock has been highly volatile, currently trading at $3.36 within a recent range of $3.25 to $3.93. This level of price fluctuation indicates strong speculative interest, making the stock appealing for short-term traders while presenting risks for long-term investors. Final Thoughts Thumzup represents a compelling but high-risk investment opportunity. Its rapid advertiser growth, Nasdaq listing, and exposure to the booming digital advertising market make it an intriguing play. However, financial challenges remain a key concern. Interested in it investors should very carefully weigh the company’s growth potential against its execution risks before taking a position. Source link #Thumzup #HighRisk #HighReward #Opportunity #Digital #Advertising Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘The Rings of Power’ Officially Renewed for Season 3, Plans Major Time Jump – Hollywood Reporter ‘The Rings of Power’ Officially Renewed for Season 3, Plans Major Time Jump – Hollywood Reporter ‘The Rings of Power’ Officially Renewed for Season 3, Plans Major Time Jump Hollywood ReporterView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Rings #Power #Officially #Renewed #Season #Plans #Major #Time #Jump #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avowed review: Obsidian’s latest RPG is its best Avowed review: Obsidian’s latest RPG is its best “Avowed embraces what works best about Obsidian Entertainment’s games to offer an unforgettable adventure.” Pros Excellent writing Lots of nuanced choices Contemporary themes Smooth combat Strong art direction Table of Contents Table of Contents Relevant Fantasy The best combat in an Obsidian game The beautiful Living Lands Another fantastic RPG About ten hours into Avowed, I was eager to leave Dawnshore, the fantasy RPG’s first area. I wanted to discover what nail-biting choices, legendary weapons, and wonderfully designed place were coming next. Before I could do that, I had to deal with a major consequence of my actions: The first NPC I met in Avowed was killed. Obsidian Entertainment’s latest begins with a shipwreck. Players wash ashore on an island just outside of The Living Lands, and a furry blue Orlan named Garryck helps players gain their bearings and get off the island. He wasn’t a permanent party member but served as my gateway into Avowed‘s dialogue system and setting at large. We parted ways after I got to Dawnshore, and I only occasionally spoke to him when I saw him in the city of Paradis. Eventually, I ******* off a rebel organization by getting their leader to surrender themselves to the inquisitor zealots of the Steel Garrote, who executed him. In response, those rebels killed Garryck and hung his body near the exit of Dawnshore, a place I knew I had to walk. I genuinely felt sad and reflected on how I got to this point, which can only be achieved through good writing, a choice-driven dialogue system that doesn’t function on binary good and evil choices. With Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment once again flaunts its writing chops with a fantasy story that is contemporary in its themes and combat that feels better than most other first-person western RPGs. Whether you’ve experienced a Pillars of Eternity game before or not, this is a must-play. Xbox Games Showcase Deep Dive | Avowed Relevant Fantasy Avowed is set in the world of Eora, which Obsidian created for its Pillars of Eternity games. While those previous titles were CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3, Avowed is a first-and-third person RPG more comparable to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. You do not need to play the Pillars of Eternity games to enjoy Avowed, as it’s an well-written fantasy adventure all on its own. If you do feel lost in the lore at any point during a conversation, it’s also possible to pull up a glossary at any time during dialogue to look at the definitions of Eora-specific jargon. Avowed‘s story is more relevant now than ever. In Avowed, players control the Envoy, a human from the Aedyran Empire. They are also a Godlike, a being blessed with the powers of a God, though the Envoy doesn’t know which exact deity imprinted on them. The Envoy is sent to The Living Lands by the Aedyran Emperor to investigate the Dreamscourge, a plague that corrupts the minds of the people and animals of that continent, which is populated by people who were trying to escape the thrall of the law-and-order driven empires that dominate Eora. Once the Envoy arrives, things quickly escalate as the fanatical, Aedyran-backed Steel Garrote starts exerting their power more prominently, The Dreamscourge spreads to all parts of The Living Lands, and the Envoy begins conversing with a mysterious being whose voice echoes in their head. It’s a captivating premise all around, with lots of attention paid to every piece of dialogue, from the most obvious missions to the smaller sidequests. Xbox Game Studios At large, Avowed is a story about Imperialism, how it gets intertwined with religious fanaticism, and how a pandemic can serve as a powder keg for explosive political fallout. If you’ve followed what has been happening in the United States over the past several years, you’ll understand that Avowed‘s story is more relevant now than ever. Art does not exist in a vacuum; best fantasy stories address contemporary real-world issues. Avowed deftly handles those topics throughout its main narrative, even as it lets players shape exactly what happens through dialogue choices. By the end of my adventure, I truly came to care about The Living Lands and all the people inhabiting it. I was moved when Garryck died and deeply considered the consequences of every important choice I had to make. In turn, this got me thinking about my stance on real-world issues, activating my mind in a way only great art can. Avowed’s narrative doesn’t just deliver thematically; the moment-to-moment dialogue, character development, and frequent choices with consequences do too. Avowed doesn’t have binary good and bad denotations for each dialogue choice. My Envoy’s background and skill point distribution sometimes unlocked new dialogue options, but these weren’t always the “best” ones for the situation. Inaction has major consequences at some points, so I always felt compelled to explore every nook and cranny of each new area of The Living Lands. Thankfully, it’s populated by a wide variety of memorable characters, including the ones in the Envoy’s party. There’s Kai, a snarky former Auamuan soldier backed up by a fantastic performance by Brandon Keener, the voice behind Garrus Vakarian’. The second companion is Marius, a gruff dwarf who is excellent at tracking things but struggles to maintain personal connections. Obsidian Entertainment Next comes Giatta, a headstrong human animancer (mage) with a troubled past who sets out with the Envoy after being banished from her hometown. Finally, players recruit Yatzi, a ******* Orlan animancer who’s not afraid to flirt and is deeply knowledgeable about the history of The Living Lands. It’s the best set of companions I’ve traveled with in an RPG since Baldur’s Gate 3, and by the end of the adventure, you’ll come to care for them very deeply. Obsidian has time and again proven itself as a premier RPG developer, and Avowed shows that the writing players a significant part in upholding that reputation. Few developers can get me to care about a motley crew of ragtag companions like Obsidian, and even as some not deeply familiar with Eora’s lore, I had no problem getting swept up in Avowed’s contemporary yet fantastical story that put the fate of The Living Lands in my hands. The best combat in an Obsidian game Where Obsidian’s RPGs can be more hit-or-miss is in the gameplay. The combat in games like Fallout: New Vegas or Alpha Protocol pales next to writing and narrative. Although the combat isn’t quite as fluid as something like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, this is certainly the best first-person RPG gameplay Obsidian has delivered yet. The simplest way to describe Avowed is that this is how you remember Skyrim playing. In reality, Bethesda Game Studios’ RPG classic has pretty stiff combat. It’s based around managing stamina, blocking, and healing while hacking and slashing at enemies with a wide variety of weapons. Avowed refines that further, giving each individual hit more impact and having the more fluid feel of an action game. Xbox Game Studios Managing stamina during combat is important, as it’s used for physical attacks and to block. Typically, players want to attack enemies enough to stagger them so they can then perform a more powerful finishing move that deals massive damage. Avowed offers a wide variety of combat styles for players to choose from, including your standard swords and axes, as well as guns that fire slowly but pack a bunch. By the end, I was mainly using a sword and shield and an arquebus gun to rip and tear through anything or anyone who got in my way. Throughout the adventure, I obtained plenty of Legendary weapons, each of which came with unique abilities, like a sword called Last Light of Day that deals bonus fire damage with every hit and heals me with every kill. To stay on par with the enemies I was finding, I also had to constantly upgrade the quality of my weapons with crafting materials or purchase new weapons and armor with gold. Those resources aren’t overflowing in Avowed, though. Typically, I find that frustrating in RPGs, but here, I appreciated how it encouraged thorough exploration of each area of The Living Lands. The beautiful Living Lands The Living Lands is a place I wanted to explore thoroughly thanks to Avowed’s fantastic art direction. The scenic environments look gorgeous thanks to Unreal Engine 5, as the game retains the vibrancy Eora had from an isometric perspective, even though players are now experiencing the world from a new view. Avowed embraces color without going fully cartoonish, and each of The Living Lands areas has a distinct vibe of its own. Avowed finds a middle ground between Skyrim and The Outer Worlds ... Most of the adventure takes place across four large zones. My favorite is The Emerald Stair, which is full of purple hues and corrupted swamps. A giant ornate city in the center of everything. That made sense as this area of The Living Lands was hit hard with plague and famine, yet those in charge there didn’t want to do much about it. Each zone of The Living Lands is essentially a mini open-world full of quests to complete, bosses and caves to explore, and loot to find. Avowed finds a middle ground between Skyrim and The Outer Worlds in its structure. My first playthrough took me around 35 hours to complete, and unlike some other RPGs, none of that time felt like fluff or filler. I can’t wait to do more playthroughs where I can make different choices and mess around with the vast magic system of Avowed that I haven’t spent much time with yet. This is certainly the best-looking first-person RPG Obsidian has made, but it isn’t without some warts. The facial animation is particularly uncanny, with a lot of odd mouth movements that are intentionally unsettling if you look at too closely. On performance mode, the frame rate often dips during conversations, as animations play at a significantly slower frame rate. Xbox Game Studios Some of the more visually demanding late-game areas also tanked the frame rate on Xbox Series X. Avowed isn’t nearly as glitchy as games like Fallout: New Vegas, thankfully, but polish is still the lone sore spot in an otherwise amazing package. Hopefully, these issues are smoothened over time, but they aren’t enough of a deterrent to make me not want to recommend Avowed. Another fantastic RPG The best RPGs push back at the player, challenging them to make difficult choices in dialogue and combat to succeed and craft an adventure that feels personal. From Metaphor: ReFantazio to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, there has been no shortage of amazing RPGs lately that do just this. Avowed is another to add to that pile. It uses its fantasy setting to tell a story that feels relevant to our modern times and delivers entertaining action combat without abandoning the RPG nitty-gritty systems that draw people to RPGs. I’ve always deeply appreciated Obsidian’s work in this space, so I’m happy to see them confidently succeed in an area where their peers at Bethesda Game Studios and Bioware have recently stumbled. Obsidian continues to embrace what makes its games great — industry-leading dialogue that makes you deeply care for its worlds and characters — while actively working to improve upon historical weak points for their games, like combat. Avowed is the best RPG I’ve played since Baldur’s Gate 3 and could become my favorite Obsidian game in time. If RPGs like Skyrim have tickled your fancy in the past, I highly recommend you check out Avowed as soon as possible. Just make better choices than me if you want Garryck to live, though. Avowed was reviewed on Xbox Series X with a code provided by the publisher. Source link #Avowed #review #Obsidians #latest #RPG Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

England in India: Brendon McCullum says injuries impacted tourists training time amid criticism England in India: Brendon McCullum says injuries impacted tourists training time amid criticism England’s latest injury concern is over opener Ben Duckett, who injured his left groin in the third ODI. He will have a scan in the coming days before England’s Champions Trophy opener against Australia on 22 February in Lahore. “He’s had quite a lot of cricket over the last little while,” said McCullum. “We will make that call, work out if he’s going to be at risk, if he’s in or out.” England have already lost all-rounder Jacob Bethell to a hamstring injury – he has been replaced by batter Tom Banton – while wicketkeeper Jamie Smith has not played since the third T20 on 28 January because of a calf injury. McCullum said Smith will be fit to face Australia and played down concerns over Brydon Carse’s toe issue, a cut to Jofra Archer’s hand and a hamstring ******* impacting Jamie Overton. “Jamie [Smith] would have been a risk [on Wednesday] but he will be available for the first game,” McCullum said. “With Brydon, hopefully his toe has healed by then and he is available for the first game. “Jamie Overton feels OK. He felt a little bit of tightness after the last game but he should be fine for the first one. Jofra should be available. That’s good news.” Source link #England #India #Brendon #McCullum #injuries #impacted #tourists #training #time #criticism Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What to expect at Mobile World Congress 2025 What to expect at Mobile World Congress 2025 On March 3, Mobile World Congress will kick off in Barcelona, Spain. While it’s not the premier show it once was, many of the smartphone industry’s leading players still attend the conference and frequently announce new devices there. Below, you’ll find a list of the more notable phones we expect to be announced at MWC 2025. Nothing Phone 3a series At MWC 2022, Nothing’s Carl Pei showed off a prototype of what would become the company’s first handset, the Nothing Phone 1, behind closed doors, and at last year’s event, Nothing announced the Phone 2(a). This year, we’re definitely getting at least one new device from the company at MWC, with Nothing teasing something for March 4, the second day of the show. I say at least one device because Nothing’s invite says “Phone 3a Series.” To add to that, recent reports suggest the company is preparing to announce a Phone (3a) Pro alongside a regular offering. Why would Nothing release a “Pro” version of a midrange device, you ask? I’m not sure, but this is Nothing we’re talking about and the company has frequently done things a bit differently from the rest of the pack. Xiaomi 15 Ultra Xiaomi In 2024, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra made its global debut ahead of MWC, and it’s looking like history will repeat. Before the start of this month, there was some evidence to suggest Xiaomi would launch its new flagship at MWC 2025, but more recent rumors suggest the company plans to announce the 15 Ultra on February 26. In any case, Xiaomi is listed as an exhibitor at MWC 2025, so if the phone does debut before the end of this month, there’s a good chance it will be on the show floor for people to try out. Like the 14 Ultra before it, it looks like the 15 Ultra will be a photography powerhouse, with the phone rumored to feature a 1-inch main sensor and 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. HMD Global Since 2017, HMD Global has been a mainstay at MWC. First, with its Nokia-branded phones, including retro throwbacks like the 8110 Reloaded, and now more recently with devices carrying its own name. Given that history, it seems a safe bet the company will have something to announce at the show. What that could be is more of a mystery, though it’s possible the sub-$100 HMD Key could get a global release. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung After Samsung teased the Galaxy S25 Edge at Unpacked last month, you might think it would be fitting for the company to launch the phone in Barcelona next month. After all, MWC was the venue where, up until the Galaxy S10 in 2019, Samsung announced every S series phone beginning with the S2 back in 2011, and the company’s presence at MWC was the highlight of the event. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem Samsung is feeling nostalgic for and the sunny boulevards of Barcelona, with little in the way of rumors suggesting we could see the S25 Edge at MWC 2025. Still, never discount the chance Samsung may have a surprise up its sleeve. Everything else As Engadget’s resident AI reporter, I’m obligated to mention a lot of companies will probably have AI-related announcements to share at MWC 2025. Don’t expect anything from the big players like OpenAI — the company isn’t registered as an exhibitor — but with artificial intelligence being the trendy thing in the industry right now, everyone will be trying to cash in on the hype; in fact, “AI+” is one of the main themes of MWC 2025. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #expect #Mobile #World #Congress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump reciprocal tariffs news conference set for 1 p.m. Trump reciprocal tariffs news conference set for 1 p.m. U.S. President Donald Trump reads about tariffs on steel and aluminum, as Howard Lutnick stands in the background, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., Feb. 10, 2025. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters President Donald Trump set an Oval Office news conference on his plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on other countries for Thursday at 1 p.m. ET. Trump’s all-caps post on Truth Social announcing the presser offered no details about the plan, which remains opaque. In another post earlier Thursday, Trump hyped up the forthcoming tariffs, writing, “TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!!” Read more CNBC politics coverage This is developing news. Please check back for updates. Source link #Trump #reciprocal #tariffs #news #conference #set #p.m Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two people fighting for life and 28 injured as car drives into crowd in Munich attack Two people fighting for life and 28 injured as car drives into crowd in Munich attack Counter-terrorism police have arrested a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker suspected of deliberately plowing a car into a crowd in Munich, injuring 28 people. At least two people are fighting for their lives after the attacker rammed the protest organised by trade union Verdi. Children are among the injured, authorities said. The attack took place a mile away from the venue of the Munich Security Conference which begins on Friday, with US vice president JD Vance and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky due to arrive in the city on Thursday. Did you witness the attack or do you know anyone who did? Contact *****@*****.tld.*** Police investigate the car used in the attack (REUTERS) Police fired gunshots at the car after it weaved between the police vehicles tailing the demonstration and drove into the crowd. Shellshocked witnesses told of hearing an “engine roar” and “wheels spinning”, with images showing dozens of police surrounding a smashed-up Mini Cooper as debris was strewn across the floor in the wake of the ******. At a press briefing on Thursday lunchtime, Bavarian governor Markus Söder said the incident was “suspected to be an attack”. Investigations are being carried out by the Bavarian Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism, state minister Georg Eisenreich added. Although eyewitnesses told Bild that two men were seen in the Mini, police said they “cannot confirm” whether more than one person was involved. Click here to follow the latest updates on the Munich car attack Udo Kunte told Merkur, a local newspaper: “Suddenly there was an engine roar behind us, wheels spinning and then there was just a clattering.” Another demonstrator told Bayerischer Rundfunk: “I was in the demonstration and saw that a man was lying under the car. Then I tried to open the door, but it was locked.” Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter told Bild: “The police chief has just informed me that a vehicle drove into a group of people and unfortunately many people were injured, including children. I am deeply shocked. My thoughts are with the injured.” The attacker was already known to police for drug-related offences and shoplifting, Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters. Verdi, Germany’s second largest trade union with around 1.9 million members, had called a strike for childcare workers to call for better wages and working conditions. Frank Werneke, the union’s chairman, told The Independent in a statement that they are “deeply dismayed and shocked” by the attack. “This is a difficult moment for all colleagues. We unions stand for solidarity, especially in such a dark hour.” Debris was seen strewn across the floor after the attack (AP) The strike had been called after employers failed to submit a final offer in January negotiations. The union promised to “noticeably increase the pressure until the second round of negotiations on February 17th and 18th”. The union called for an eight percent salary increase along with three extra days off, it said in an Instagram post before the strike., Journalist Sandra Demmelhuber wrote in a post on X: “A person was lying on the street and a young man was taken away by the police. People were sitting on the ground, crying and shaking. Details still unclear.” A police officer uses a dog to search the car driven by the arrested driver (AFP via Getty Images) Traffic disruptions are expected around the scene and police have asked people to avoid the area so emergency services can carry out their work. Authorities have set up a collection point for witness statements and a care centre for those psychologically impacted by the attack at Löwenbräukeller on Stiglmaierplatz. A large-scale police operation was underway near the southern city’s central train station due to the Munich Security Conference. Source link #people #fighting #life #injured #car #drives #crowd #Munich #attack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wanderstop is brewing up a clever twist on the cozy genre Wanderstop is brewing up a clever twist on the cozy genre I’ve got some mixed feelings on the “cozy” game genre these days. When I was first getting into the original Animal Crossing, it almost felt like a counterculture release. It was an antidote to action-packed video games that was wholly unique in tone and spirit. That success has only grown in recent years, turning cozy games into the same kind of industry it once felt like an answer to. More and more games feel like they’re following the same laid back playbook, and that can get old after a while. Wanderstop could be the game to disrupt that pattern, or at least shake it up enough. The upcoming debut from Ivy Road, founded by indie veterans behind games like The Stanley Parable and Gone Home, sounds familiar on paper. It’s a tea shop simulator that has players planting their own ingredients and serving drinks to customers. If you love the genre, you’ve undoubtedly played something like it in the past few years. But there’s more to Wanderstop than meets the eye, at least based on what I experienced in a hands-on preview with its intriguing first hour. The story begins by introducing Alta, a fierce warrior who prides herself on being an undefeatable beast. That is, until she’s defeated. A surprising series of losses sends her into a downward spiral, and that leads her stranded in the woods unable to lift her sword. She finds herself posted up at a local tea shop where she begrudgingly takes a job from Boro, the establishment’s kind-hearted owner. Wanderstop – Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games That’s where the loop you might expect from a game like this comes into play. As Alta, my job is to make tea ****** from harvested leaves, grow fruit-bearing plants, trim weeds, and fill orders for other wanderers who come to the clearing. I have a few tools to accomplish that, including a watering can that I need to occasionally fill up at pumps around the field surrounding the shop. It’s a charming little farming management loop, but one that already has some creative tricks up its sleeve. Its most unique twist is its farming, which isn’t just as simple as placing a seed in the dirt. Instead, I need to plant multiple seeds in specific patterns to create the plants I want. Three blue seeds in a row creates a plant that produces more blue seeds. A blue seed sandwich between two pink ones produces a hybrid that grows both seeds. That same system extends to fruit plants, which are made by placing three seeds around a central one. Different color combinations create different fruits, making gardening more of a puzzle game. I spend a fair amount of time in the first hour discovering as many combos as I can and setting up a reliable system of seeds and fruits ready to be harvested at a moment’s notice. There’s another puzzle layer in tea making. When I get a customer’s order, they usually ask me for a drink that’ll have a certain effect, like something that’ll cure an ailment. I have to figure out what fruit I should use in my mix by consulting a field guide, which gives me some background on each fruit. It’s similar to the system found in Strange Horticulture, a flower shop management game that similarly tasks players with cracking research puzzles to correctly fulfill orders. Annapurna Interactive Actually making tea is a minigame of its own, as everything takes place in a massive contraption at the center of the shop. Using a moving ladder that can rotate around the device, I need to pull a rope to fill it with water, control a pump to heat it up, open a valve, drop ingredients in, and then pull a lever to drip the tea into a cup. It’s a simple series of minigames, but one that makes it feel like I’m actually concocting something. While those are cute touches that make Wanderstop feel more active, it’s the writing that has me more intrigued. I’m not just serving tea to random, faceless customers. Rather, each person who comes to the shop has a full story that plays out in multi-step quests. My first patron is a ****** hunter who initially refuses to actually order anything, infuriating Alta. After letting them wander around for a bit, they finally give me a tea order. Fulfilling that gets them to open up to me about what brought them to the clearing. My ****** hunting pal is there to, well, hunt demons. The more I interact with them, the more of their story. The other patron I mean is a knight who wants nothing more to impress his son (all while dealing with a witch’s curse that seems to be taking over his limbs). Both stories pack in quiet emotional moments with some legitimately funny gags. Alta’s especially a riot, delivering the dry wit of a barista who is both overly committed to the gig and over it entirely on day one of the job. There’s much more to her story and that’s what I want to see more of at this point, especially since it’s unclear how complex the farming puzzle hook will really get based on the first hour. Wanderstop seems to be telling a story about burnout, as Alta struggles to regain her momentum after pushing herself too hard at the peak of her fighting career. I get the sense that it’s all building towards a life lesson about learning when to slow down and conserve your energy so that you can fight again at full strength one day. If it can stick that landing while escalating its puzzle hooks, Wanderstop could brew up a cozy game that’s invested in its life lessons just as much as its pastel colors. Wanderstop launches on March 11 for PS5 and PC. Source link #Wanderstop #brewing #clever #twist #cozy #genre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘There’s No Other Show Like It’ – Vulture ‘There’s No Other Show Like It’ – Vulture ‘There’s No Other Show Like It’ Vulture12 times ‘Saturday Night Live’ made a cultural bang over the past 50 years The Associated Press”SNL50″ anniversary: The messy digital evolution of “Saturday Night Live” AxiosSaturday Night Live is bad, actually The Guardian Source link #Show #Vulture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Need a new computer? Dell XPS desktop PC and laptop are on ***** Need a new computer? Dell XPS desktop PC and laptop are on ***** Table of Contents Table of Contents Dell XPS Desktop 8960 — $1,060 $1,510 30% off Dell XPS 14 9440 laptop — $1,700 $2,000 15% off Whether you’re on the hunt for desktop computer deals or laptop deals, you can’t go wrong with Dell XPS deals. We’ve even found a pair of offers from Dell itself that should catch your attention! The Dell XPS Desktop 8960, originally priced at $1,510, is down to $1,060 for savings of $450, while the Dell XPS 14 9440 laptop, usually sold for $2,000, is on ***** for $1,700 following a $300 discount. You can’t go wrong with either of these bargains — it’s all a matter of deciding whether you want a desktop PC or you need the portability of a laptop. Dell XPS Desktop 8960 — $1,060 $1,510 30% off Jacob ****** / Digital Trends / Digital Trends The Dell XPS Desktop 8960 scored 4 out of 5 stars in our review, as it delivers flagship-level performance at a relatively affordable price. It’s actually our top pick among the best desktop computers as it’s the one that will work for the most people with its 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM that’s excellent for a Windows 11 Pro system, according to our guide on how much RAM you need. The desktop PC also comes with a 1TB SSD for storage, and all of this is packed in a chassis with an understated by attractive design that will match the aesthetic of any home office. From its original price of $1,510, the Dell XPS Desktop 8960 is available for $1,060, following a 30% discount that’s equivalent to savings of $450. You have to act fast though, as we’re not sure how much time is remaining before the PC’s price goes back to normal. Dell XPS 14 9440 laptop — $1,700 $2,000 15% off Luke Larsen / Digital Trends The Dell XPS 14 9440 is a new model for the brand following the Dell XPS reset early last year, and the laptop has certainly turned heads with its sleek and modern design. It’s not all about the looks though — it’s also a reliable machine with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. The device also has Windows 11 Home pre-installed in its 1TB SSD, and it’s equipped with a 14.5-inch screen with Full HD+ resolution and nearly no bezels surrounding it. You can currently buy the Dell XPS 14 9440 at 15% off, which translates to $300 in savings on its sticker price of $2,000. That means you’ll only have to pay $1,700 for this powerful laptop, but this offer isn’t expected to last long. Source link #computer #Dell #XPS #desktop #laptop #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Elder Scrolls? I don’t know her Elder Scrolls? I don’t know her Sorry, beefcakes, but this review isn’t for you. All the fighters and rangers out there will still get a sense of how phenomenal Avowed is, the lushness of its environments, the clarity of its combat systems and the depth of its conversation trees — but at its core, this is the review for Avowed players who want to spend their time in the Living Lands learning how to become a master of mushroom-powered magic. This is the Avowed review for wizards. And, sure, all of their friends. To be clear, I would happily play Avowed as any mixture of classes, and I’m likely going to boot up a new campaign and do exactly this very soon. But in my first runthrough, I wanted to see if the game would let me live out my fantastical spell-slinging dreams, and it absolutely did. 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. Avowed is a first-person, open-world RPG from Obsidian and it’s a spin-off of the studio’s Pillars of Eternity series, but it introduces an entirely fresh storyline and map, and doesn’t require any existing knowledge of that universe. You are the envoy to the powerful Aedyran empire and you’ve just landed on the shores of the Living Lands, a lawless region occupied by outcasts, criminals and refugees from the wider world. Aedyr and its good squad, the Steele Garrote, are making inroads in this land and attempting to wrest control of its settlements in the name of law and order. You know, classic colonizer *****. However, that’s not why you’re here — you’re on a mission to uncover the source of the Dreamscourge, a rapidly spreading illness that consumes the minds of people and animals, covering their bodies in bright fungal growths and turning them into rabid killing machines. It’s kind of like cordyceps in The Last of Us, but with rainbow face mushrooms and rambling spiritual breakdowns preceding the full zombie phase. The Dreamscourge’s growths look eerily similar to markings on your own face, but you’ve carried yours since birth and they signify you as a godlike, someone who’s been touched by one of the many deities of this world. This is a rare and special status, and part of your journey involves uncovering the identity of your god, a mystery that’s haunted your entire life. What’s more, as you interact with aquamarine pillars of spiritual power called adra, a booming voice interrupts your thoughts and dreams, begging you to trust it and claiming it can help cleanse the world. Obsidian Entertainment This complex foundation forms a tapestry of twisting, interlocking narrative threads that span politics, military strategy, religion, occultism, science, trust, relationships, duty and identity over 45 hours of playtime. That’s for a fairly focused run, too — I skipped plenty of sidequests in the interest of finishing the game before my deadline, and a full, leisurely playthrough could easily have tacked on 20 more hours and oodles of narrative intrigue. The lore runs deep in Avowed and each of its storylines is handled with supreme care, as are all of the notes, letters, poems and plaques scattered across the Living Lands. There are thousands of completely optional pieces of writing to find here, and each one is delivered in its own voice, serving its own purpose. Avowed is full of life and its history was written with a deft hand. After creating my character with purple and pink hair, yellow freckles and big coral mushroom paddles across my eyes, I chose to be a Court Augur — the most mystical option — and started building out my interpersonal and mana-generating stats. Mana in this game is called essence, and you also have health and stamina gauges. Leveling up certain characteristics unlocks their associated dialogue options in conversations, and throughout my playthrough, I focused on Perception, Intellect and Resolve because I hate being made to look a fool. Also, as the game progressed, I realized I needed as much stamina and essence as I could get. The Living Lands comprise four main regions: Dawnshore, Emerald Stair, Shatterscarp and Galawain’s Tusks. Their landscapes range from lush, water-logged forests dotted with iridescent fog and glowing mushrooms, to blackened, craggy spires and bone-like structures in a hellish volcanic wasteland. Each area is gorgeous in its own way and packed with people to help, bounties to secure, secrets to unravel and so very many shiny items to pick up. As someone who absolutely can’t resist a glowing outline or the tinkling of a nearby lockbox, Avowed is a buffet of delight. The game encourages you to pick up absolutely everything in sight, and though there is an encumbrance limit, it’s generous and never caused me any real problems. There also seems to be no such thing as “stealing” with your character, no matter how destitute or hostile the surrounding NPCs may be. Obsidian Entertainment The dialogue system offers ample opportunity to forge a distinct personality and apply it to every scenario, whether you want to be a hardline government simp, religious zealot, socialist vigilante or some combination of all three. The choices you make in conversations with townsfolk, your companions and the voice in your head ripple across the campaign, altering the outcomes of major narrative points in tangible ways. Treat each decision as if it really matters, because in this game, it probably does. Avowed let me live out my anti-colonization, pro-contraceptive, magical underground rebellion fantasy, but I found it just as enjoyable to talk to kith — the humanoid creatures of the Living Lands — just for the sake of talking. My favorite dialogue moments happened while standing around the fire of my party camp, learning more about the lives of my companions, shaping my own personality and swapping scary stories. Also, the way the firelight glints off of the slick turquoise scales of my companion Kai’s chest is endlessly mesmerizing. Ahem, speaking of — there is no romance in Avowed and I have to say, I didn’t miss it. Horny characters abound in the Living Lands, so there’s no shortage of flirty dialogue options if you care to partake, but there’s enough happening at all times that a roll in the hay never feels like top priority. Your party maxes out with four companions: the aforementioned Rauataian nomad Kai, the mountain dwarf and tracker Marius, the defiant animancer human Giatta, and the talented wizard-in-training Yatzli, a hearth orlan with pink hair and big, fluffy ears. I know who I would start a romance with — Giatta and I had some lovely fireside chats — but more than anything, I’m happy to have these characters as my friends and reinforcements throughout the game. Obsidian Entertainment Some of Avowed’s best storylines are sidequests about your companions’ lives, fleshing out their personal demons, helping them find closure, and providing context for their behaviors and beliefs. Kai’s sidequest involving his old friend, Tama, stands out as a particularly moving vignette. Play it when you see it. You can take two companions at a time on your adventures, and the campaign touches on their backstories in turn, making certain party members more useful in specific missions. Kai is a tank with a fire-starting gun; Marius has a bow and shadow-step assassin ability; Giatta heals, shields and buffs; and Yatzli uses magic to control crowds and deal devastating damage. Once I realized that playing as a wizard meant I didn’t have to use a grimoire to cast spells, I was completely committed to maxing out that class tree, ignoring the fighter and ranger skills entirely. There’s also a godlike ability tree that fills up as you discover memories of your past lives in hidden locations around the Living Lands. Godlike moves include things like passive boosts, area-of-effect spells and attacks. Finding one of these is a treat, because it triggers a moment of introspection between your character and the voice in their head: A beautiful, hand-drawn image of an ancient event fills the screen and the voice asks how you acted in past moments of extreme tragedy and triumph. These conversations nurture your relationship with the voice and help establish your personal history, and they’re quietly, deeply satisfying. Obsidian Entertainment In combat, I ended up with two main loadouts: A wand and one-handed staff as my main, and a flaming sword and pirate-y gun in the other. Every now and then I swapped my secondary loadout for a bow, which takes two hands to fire but never runs out of arrows, and I had a lot of fun landing headshots from afar. I upgraded my chosen weapons and armor at the party camp throughout my adventure, and added enhancements to the objects that could handle them. Upgrading and enhancing is its own little game, and this feature made me feel less insane as I ran in the opposite direction of my waypoint marker, compulsively picking up every single shiny thing on screen. This is for upgrades, I whispered to myself while gathering my 166th twig. Yes, yes, upgrades. The action wheel was also a critical tool. Opening it during combat pauses the action, allowing you to browse consumables, godlike abilities and, most importantly for a young wizard, spells. I mapped health and three spells to the D-pad, but the rest of my magic abilities were added to the wheel as I unlocked them. It became second nature in the heat of battle to pull up the wheel, down some wild mushroom stew and then pick a spell to fling at incoming enemies, whether ice, fire, lightning or pure magic damage, laser-focused or area-of-effect. And then, I’d watch my foes fry. Truly, I loved being a wizard. Managing my stamina bar, essence meter and health gauge was the trickiest part of combat, but I quickly fell into a groove of stabbing, dodging and spell-slinging that worked against a range of enemy types. My overall combat tip is simple: Kill the healers first. By the end of the campaign, I really did feel godlike. Obsidian Entertainment Enemies in Avowed don’t level up relative to your own experience. This means those level one lizard bros in Dawnshore will always be level one, and the level five beetles in Galawain’s Tusks will always be level five. I appreciate this approach because it’s immediately clear when you need to spend some time grinding, and it’s easy to plan future raids and sidequest runs. That said, I’m a fan of grinding (hey-o), so this choice plays into my open-world RPG preferences nicely. My time in the Living Lands wasn’t without bugs, of course, and I’m not talking about the giant spiders. I played on Xbox Series X and experienced four hard crashes in 45 hours, and three of these were in the same area, which happened to be a big boss fight, so that definitely wasn’t ideal. I restarted the game each time and didn’t lose any real progress. There were also consistent animation issues with close-up dialogue scenes, where it seemed like the game had trouble rendering characters based on how much hair they had — Yatzli was particularly stuttery from a visual standpoint. The flame animation on my Fan of Flames also cut out sometimes, but the damage kept spewing out, so this wasn’t a huge deal. None of these issues ruined the game and none of them are above further optimization from Obsidian — hopefully in a day-one patch. But honestly, by the time the end credits rolled, I’d forgotten that any of these things had happened. I simply felt warm and fulfilled, like I’d just completed a fantastic game. The third line in my review notes says, “I would like to be a mushroom witch pls,” and Avowed let me be exactly that. I played the game as a kind and self-righteous chaos ******, but if I’d wanted, I could’ve been a staid enforcer of colonial expansion, a hubristic wannabe king or something in between. The Living Lands easily support all of these realities, thanks to a universe filled with fabulous writing, exciting secrets, breathtaking views, intriguing characters and smooth mechanics. Though Avowed is set in the world of an existing franchise and it’s yet another entry in the stacked genre of open-world fantasy RPGs, it feels like the start of something new. Source link #Elder #Scrolls #dont Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Europe caught out by Trump’s Russia move Europe caught out by Trump’s Russia move Paul Kirby Europe digital editor CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL/AFP v Foreign ministers from major European countries joined their Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday, as news of Trump’s call with Putin emerged Arriving at Nato headquarters early on Thursday, Europe’s defence ministers had one common message – that there could be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine and Europe at the table too. The question is to what extent the US is listening. After a frenetic 24 hours of US declarations, there is a tangible sense that Europe’s leaders have been caught by surprise; that they now fear being bypassed on any potential Ukraine deal and being deprived of a voice on the future of European security. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke of Donald Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin as being “very much out of the blue”, even if the US president had made it clear for months that he was aiming to bring a quick end to the war. “There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine,” said the ***’s John Healey. “The same is true for Europe,” warned Dutch Defence Secretary Ruben Brekelmans. “Because of course what is negotiated also has implications for Europe, so we think Europe should also sit at the table.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rammed home the message on X when he posted: “All we need is peace. A just peace. Ukraine, Europe and the United States should work on this together. Together.” The US is clearly engaging with its Nato allies and Ukraine. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is spending two days at Nato HQ and Vice-President JD Vance will see Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference. But Europe’s problem, and specifically the EU’s problem, is that it struggles to speak with one voice and present a united vision. Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s most recognisable figurehead, met Hegseth this week but has been barely visible since. Europe’s leaders have had plenty of time to prepare for Trump’s peace plan. Now they’re left wondering whether the US is listening to them, or even reading their communiques. The *** joined Poland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain late on Wednesday in agreeing that the security of the European continent was “our common responsibility” and that a just and lasting peace in Ukraine was necessary for transatlantic security too. Baerbock told ******* radio that obviously Europe could not replace the US in military support for Ukraine, but a strong Europe was in US interest and it had to be made clear that “the USA needs us too”. Omar Havana/Getty Images US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (L) joined Nato’s Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels Europe could have claimed more agency instead of waiting for Trump’s initiative, Tyyne Karjalainen, of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said. “These statements we’re seeing now…I’m afraid they’re a symbol of weakness not strength,” she added. So far, there is no obvious space for Europe in Trump’s peace push, and arguably not enough for Kyiv. Until now there had been a general acceptance that there should be no talking to Vladimir Putin without Ukraine. Trump is planning face-to-face talks with the Russian leader, apparently in Saudi Arabia, but the two men have already prepared the ground with a lengthy phone-call. The US president’s follow-up chat with Volodymyr Zelensky was far shorter. Zelensky spoke initially of his belief that “America’s strength is sufficient to pressure Russia and Putin into peace”. But on a trip to the southern city of Kherson on Thursday he made clear that Kyiv would not accept “any bilateral negotiations about Ukraine without us”. “Putin hopes that by holding talks only with Trump, he will be able to negotiate more favourable terms,” Aleksandra Kozioł, from the Polish Institute of International Affairs, said. “In doing so, he will also present himself as a leader who talks to another superpower on an equal footing.” The worry for European leaders is that the US may have already moved some way towards meeting Russia’s war aims – and that it might go further. Ukraine’s consistent demand has been for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its sovereign territory and for Ukrainian control over its state borders. Judging by remarks from Trump and Hegseth, the US already considers Russia’s 2014 capture of Crimea and eastern areas in the Donbas as a fait accompli and that Ukraine won’t be joining Nato. Trump added that Ukraine needed fresh elections “at some point”, repeating a Putin fallacy that Zelensky was no longer a legitimate leader, even though Ukraine is under martial law precisely because of Russia’s war. Hegseth was adamant there had been no betrayal of Kyiv, but ******* Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said it was “regrettable…that the Trump administration has already made public concessions to Putin before negotiations have even begun”. “It would have been better to talk about Ukraine’s possible Nato membership or the country’s possible loss of territory only at the negotiating table and not to take it off the table beforehand,” he said. Along with the evident alarm that Putin may already have the upper hand, there was a clear warning from Nato and the EU on Thursday that any agreement had to last. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said it was crucial that any deal should not unravel as had been allowed to happen with Russia in the past. “It is always important to bear in mind that Russia is the aggressor here and it cannot be rewarded for its aggression,” warned EU Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper. “When it comes to any discussions, any peace deals, it needs to be sustainable. A bad deal will only lead to more war. Just as it did before.” European governments are already expecting to foot the bill to help rebuild Ukrainian cities, but President Trump may ask for European boots on the ground as well, to provide security guarantees. Not only do Europeans have a strong argument to be involved in the overall plan, but Poland, the Baltic states and the Nordic countries would be especially wary of an emboldened Russia if it fell apart. Hegseth stressed on Thursday that standing up against Russia’s “war machine” was an “important European responsibility”, and he reinforced Trump’s demand for 5% of economic output (GDP) to be spent on defence. Few European governments have managed anything like that, while Russia’s government is already spending almost a third of its annual budget on defence. Poland aims to spend 4.7% of its GDP on defence this year and Latvia 3.45%, but Germany has only just hit 2% and Spain and Portugal are hoping to reach 2% in 2029. Luxembourg’s Defence Minister Yuriko Backes acknowledged the US demand but said numbers should not be set arbitrarily. “What we should be focusing on is our plans and our ambitions that determine our investments not the other way around,” she said. Source link #Europe #caught #Trumps #Russia #move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Here’s what happens to the body when **** medication is stopped – National Here’s what happens to the body when **** medication is stopped – National A generation has passed since the world saw the peak in AIDS-related deaths. Those deaths — agonizing, from diseases or infections the body might otherwise fight off — sent loved ones into the streets, pressuring governments to act. The United States eventually did, creating PEPFAR, arguably the most successful foreign aid program in history. ****, which causes AIDS, is now manageable, though there is still no cure. Now the Trump administration has put the brakes on foreign aid while alleging it’s wasteful, causing chaos in the system that for over 20 years has kept millions of people alive. Confusion over a temporary waiver for PEPFAR — and the difficulty of restarting its work, with U.S. workers, contractors and payments in upheaval — means the clock is ticking for many who are suddenly unable to obtain medications to keep AIDS at bay. The U.S.-led global response to **** has been so effective that AIDS wards of people wasting away are a vision of the past. Now health experts, patients and others fear those days could return if the Trump administration doesn’t reverse course or no other global power steps into the void, and fast. “In the next five years, we could have 6.3 million AIDS-related deaths,” the U.N. AIDS agency told The Associated Press. That’s a shock at a time of rising complacency around ****, declining ******* use among some young people and the rise of a medication that some believe could end AIDS for good. Story continues below advertisement The agency has begun publicly tracking new **** infections since the aid freeze. 4:13 Health Matters: **** lifespan study Here’s a look at what happens to the body when **** drugs are stopped: An immune system collapse **** is spread by bodily fluids such as blood, breast milk or ******. It gradually weakens the body’s immune system and makes it vulnerable to disease, including ones rarely seen in otherwise healthy people. The surprising emergence of such cases in the 1980s is what tipped off health experts to what became known as the AIDS epidemic. Story continues below advertisement Years of intense advocacy and shocking sights of children, young adults and others dying of pneumonia and other infections led to the response that created PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Twenty million people around the world died before the program was founded. Now millions of people take drugs known as antiretrovirals that keep **** from spreading in the body. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Stopping those drugs lets the virus start multiplying in the body again, and it could become drug-resistant. **** can rebound to detectable levels in people’s blood in just a few weeks, putting ******* partners at risk. Babies born to mothers with **** can escape infection only if the woman was properly treated during pregnancy or the infant is treated immediately after birth. If the drugs are not taken, a body is heading toward AIDS, the final stage of infection. 2:38 **** cases up in Canada despite downward global trend The daily danger of germs Trending Now Alberta premier defends her government amid corruption allegations Zelenirstat ******* pill made in Alberta shows promising early results “Without **** treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about three years,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Story continues below advertisement For a long time, there may be no noticeable symptoms. But a person can easily spread **** to others, and the immune system becomes vulnerable to what are called opportunistic diseases. The National Institutes of Health says opportunistic diseases include fungal infections, pneumonia, salmonella and tuberculosis. For a country like South Africa, with the world’s highest number of **** cases and one of the largest numbers of TB cases, the toll could be immense. Unchecked by **** treatment, the damage continues. The immune system is increasingly unable to fight off diseases. Every action, from eating to travel, must consider the potential exposure to germs. For years, the importance of taking the drugs every day, even at the same time of day, has been emphasized to people with ****. Now the ability to follow that essential rule has been shaken. Already, hundreds or thousands of U.S.-funded health partners in countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia have been laid off, causing widespread gaps in **** testing, messaging, care and support on the continent most helped by PEPFAR. At some African clinics, people with **** have been turned away. Restoring the effects caused by the Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze during a 90-day review *******, and understanding what’s allowed under the waiver for PEPFAR, will take time that health experts say many people don’t have. Story continues below advertisement Meanwhile, the head of the U.N. AIDS agency, Winnie Byanyima, told the AP that more resistant strains of the disease could emerge. And an additional 3.4 million children could be made orphans — another echo of the time when the world raced to confront AIDS with few tools at hand. More on Health More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Heres #body #**** #medication #stopped #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Lies of P Prequel Expansion DLC Announced For Summer 2025 Lies of P Prequel Expansion DLC Announced For Summer 2025 The first Lies of P expansion was announced during the February 2025 State of Play, and it’ll arrive in Summer 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Overture is a prequel that’ll take players back to the beginning of the Puppet Frenzy, revealing how the city of Krat fell into ruin. As Geppetto’s Puppet, P, you’ll come into contact with a strange artifact that allows you to travel back in time to Krat alongside the legendary Stalker Lea and uncover the dark secrets that led to its destruction. Developer Round8 Studio says that players can expect opulent locations to explore, mysteries to uncover, and of course, cunning enemies to test your skills against. P will be able to make use of new weapons and an additional combat style to help him survive against overwhelming odds. “Through Lies of P: Overture, we aimed to fully refine, forge, and complete the story as we originally envisioned it. There’s a term in movie making known as a director’s cut,” game director Ji Won Choi said in a blog post. “This version differs from an initial theatrical release and usually includes additional footage the filmmaker believes perfects the work. With Lies of P: Overture I wonder if we subconsciously aimed to create a developers cut of Lies of P.” Lies of P was a big hit when it was first released, as its Bloodborne-esque gameplay and lavish world design made for a memorable experience. Shortly after release, game director Ji Won Choi confirmed that DLC was in development and the studio was working on a sequel. The ending of Lies of P did tease a very wild location for P to possibly explore next, but we’ve also got a few ideas for other classic tales that could form a great foundation for the sequel. Source link #Lies #Prequel #Expansion #DLC #Announced #Summer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Prenuvo adds new health tests to full-body scan, fresh funding round Prenuvo adds new health tests to full-body scan, fresh funding round Prenuvo’s clinic in New York City, New York. Courtesy of Prenuvo Preventative health startup Prenuvo on Thursday announced it will offer three new health assessments in addition to its flagship full-body MRI scan. The company is launching a detailed blood test, neurological scan and body composition analysis that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in recent weeks. Prenuvo said it wants to give customers an accurate picture of their health, and that its patients have been asking for more. “They have come to the understanding and realization that the health system is not serving their needs as it relates to keeping them healthy,” Prenuvo CEO Andrew Lacy told CNBC in an interview. “Consumers are increasingly looking for alternate solutions so they can stay on top of their health.” Prenuvo exploded in popularity because of its $2,500 full-body MRI scan that has been lauded by celebrities like Kim Kardashian. The company can check for hundreds of conditions like *******, multiple sclerosis and aneurysms once its custom, FDA-approved MRI machines scan a person’s body in an hour. The full-body scan and the new blood test, neurological scan and body composition report will be packaged together and offered to customers for $3,999, Lacy said. Prenuvo MRI machine Courtesy of Prenuvo Prenuvo has surpassed 110,000 members, and the company generated $100 million in revenue last year. It owns and operates 17 clinics across North America and plans to expand to 15 more locations in the coming months, including sites in Europe and Australia, Lacy said. Lacy said Prenuvo has grown quickly but is profitable. Prenuvo has faced criticism for its steep prices, and some medical experts have warned that the scans aren’t meant to replace targeted screenings and could cause patients to seek out unnecessary care. Investors are bullish anyway. The company announced Thursday that it closed a $120 million funding round, co-led by Left Lane Capital, Forerunner Ventures and its existing investor, Felicis. Prenuvo will use its fresh financing to support its product expansion, its push into new regions and explore applications for artificial intelligence. A competing full-body MRI startup Ezra announced a $21 million funding round last February. Prenuvo has the largest repository of whole-body MRI imaging in the world, Lacy said, which means there are lots of opportunities for the company to build models that make its exams more accurate and its 80 board-certified radiologists more efficient. The company’s new body composition analysis, which is called the Prenuvo Body Composition report, uses AI to assess the volume and symmetry of muscles and the distribution of **** in the abdomen. Lacy said muscle size and distribution is a leading indicator of mobility, and **** distribution can affect risk of metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease. “This is really, really important information for patients who are looking to proactively manage their health,” Lacy said. Patients will not need to undergo any additional imaging for the Prenuvo Body Composition report. Prenuvo MRI machine Courtesy of Prenuvo Prenuvo’s new brain health scan is also imaging based, and it gives patients a glimpse into their cognitive health and function, the company said. The scan uses neurological sequences that Prenuvo developed in-house to assess blood flow, the brain’s microvascular structure and identify any repetitive trauma from activity like sports. It requires an additional 10 minutes of imaging, and the sequences are already FDA approved, Lacy said. The blood assessment is new territory for the company, and it will check patients’ biomarkers to provide insights into hormonal, cardiovascular, metabolic and immune health. Lacy said the test could help detect leukemia, a blood ******* that can’t be identified with imaging, for instance. “Blood and imaging together is just incredibly powerful,” Lacy said. “It’s not a case of one plus one equals two, it’s one plus one equals five.” Initially, a phlebotomist, a person who is trained to draw blood, will come to patients’ homes to collect the blood sample, Prenuvo said. The company also plans to draw blood inside its facilities eventually, but Lacy wants to provide a premium experience that is as calming and comfortable as possible. Patients can access the new assessments at Prenuvo’s Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and New York locations starting Thursday. Additional locations will offer the tests this spring, the company said. “No one is going to care about your health more than you do,” Lacy said. “When you diagnose things early, it’s empowering. You can do something about it.” Watch: John Hancock CEO talks collaboration with Prenuvo and focus on longevity Source link #Prenuvo #adds #health #tests #fullbody #scan #fresh #funding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]