Pelican Press

Overwatch 2 Spotlight 2025 – Perks, Hero Bans, Map Voting, Stadium Mode, and More Coming This Year Overwatch 2 Spotlight 2025 – Perks, Hero Bans, Map Voting, Stadium Mode, and More Coming This Year __y2jb11d ago It’s an interesting premise but I don’t think it could work. A tank has to be forward(ish) in order to fulfill their role. I play Zara frequently (pretty well imo) and she is one of the few tanks that sits back more. I can’t imagine a tank that sits back any further than her. Source link #Overwatch #Spotlight #Perks #Hero #Bans #Map #Voting #Stadium #Mode #Coming #Year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dating apps should fix their problems before saddling us with new ones Dating apps should fix their problems before saddling us with new ones From lawsuits to fumbled advertising campaigns, are we falling out of love with online dating? Recent Ofcom data showed a decline in *** users, and Gen Z seems to increasingly hanker after in-person romantic spontaneity. More broadly, the rise of online dating has been accompanied by growing social isolation and loneliness, as well as polarisation of attitudes between younger men and women on topics like the value of feminism or ideals of healthy masculinity. To understand these changes, we need to recognise that dating apps have transformed how we connect in two ways: they make our search for intimacy … Source link #Dating #apps #fix #problems #saddling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Crypto scams thrive in 2024 on back of ‘pig butchering’ and AI: Report Crypto scams thrive in 2024 on back of ‘pig butchering’ and AI: Report Chainalysis said that crypto wallets linked to scams received $9.9 billion in cryptocurrency in 2024, according to its initial estimates Boonchai Wedmakawand | Moment | Getty Images Crypto fraud revenue is estimated to have hit record levels last year amid a surge in so-called romance scams as cybercriminals leverage artificial intelligence and become more organized, blockchain research firm Chainalysis warns. In a report released Thursday, the firm said that crypto wallets linked to scams received $9.9 billion in cryptocurrency in 2024, according to its initial estimates. It predicts 2024’s figure to grow to a record of $12.4 billion as Chainalysis identifies more scam wallets. Chainalysis added that its yearly estimates of scam activity have risen by an average of 24% between annual reporting periods since 2020. According to its 2024 report, a leading reason for the uptick in scam revenue was an increase in the prevalence of romance scams, commonly known as “pig butchering.” Pig butchering is a type of investing or romance scam in which a fraudster builds relationships with victims via social media or dating apps, intending to **** them out of money through a sham investment opportunity. The name “pig butchering” comes from the idea that scammers must first “fatten up” the victims with flattery and fabricated bonds before “butchering,” or stealing their money. More victims sent to slaughter In 2024, pig butchering revenue grew nearly 40% year over year, with the number of deposits to pig butchering scams growing nearly 210% over the same *******, according to Chainalysis. The firm said that those differing growth rates indicated an expansion of the victim pool, prioritizing more victims in exchange for smaller payments. While pig butchering scams predominantly originate from large scam compounds in Southeast Asia, there are signs that such scam centers have begun to become more geographically dispersed, the report stated. Last December, Nigeria’s anti-graft agency announced the arrest of 792 people in a raid on a building, where the suspects were believed to be running romance scams that targeted people mostly from Europe and the Americas, according to Reuters. Romance scams often rely on human trafficking victims to carry out fraud. An investigation by ProPublica in 2022 outlined how ******** criminal syndicates were trafficking victims to centers in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, forcing them to perform cyberfraud under threat of violence. While those scam compounds are often known for running pig butchering scams, they also act as havens for other types of frauds that can be carried out via the internet, according to Eric Heintz, a global analyst at International Justice Mission, who is cited in the Chainalysis report. “It’s not uncommon to have multiple criminal groups operating within the same compound focusing on different scams,” he added. Scam ecosystem ‘professionalizes’ The dynamic of multiple criminal groups operating within a compound has also materialized online through the creation of illicit crypto marketplaces and networks, according to Chainalysis. Primarily, this trend has been driven by Huione Guarantee, an online forum and peer-to-peer marketplace Chainalysis says operates as a “one-stop-shop” for illicit actors looking for the technology, infrastructure and resources to conduct scams. The ********-language platform is connected to Huione Group, a Cambodian conglomerate that offers legitimate services such as overseas remittances, insurance and, in the past, even luxury tourism offerings. According to Chainalysis, Huione Guarantee’s activity on blockchains indicates that it’s heavily used to support the pig butchering industry and for illicit crypto-based trading of scam technology products and services. One of the main services that can be found on the platform is money laundering, which scammers use to conceal their illicit activity, according to Chainalysis data. Meanwhile, some of the illicit products found on the site include targeted data lists, web hosting services, social media accounts and AI software. In 2024, Huione scam technology vendors received at least $375.9 million in cryptocurrency. Since 2021, Huione Guarantee and vendors advertising through its platforms have processed $70 billion in crypto transactions. “In short, Huione Guarantee has driven and enabled a scam ecosystem that is massive, growing, and interconnected,” the firm said in its report. Huione Group did not respond to a CNBC inquiry. Artificial intelligence facilitates scams In 2024, some of the most successful vendors on the Huione platform were AI service providers, who saw revenue grow by 1,900% year over year, as per Chainalysis data. This growth indicates an explosion in the use of generative AI technology to facilitate crypto scams, which often entails scammers using the tech to impersonate others or generate realistic content that fool victims into making phony investments. Chainalysis’s report said there are dozens of software vendors hosted on Huione Guarantee that sell this type of scam AI software. According to Elad Fouks, head of fraud products at Chainalysis and co-founder of fraud-detection app Alterya, who is quoted in the report, generative AI can be used to amplify and scale up crypto fraud and crimes. “GenAI enables the generation of realistic fake content, including websites and listings, to power investment scams, purchase scams, and more, making these attacks more convincing and harder to detect,” Fouks said. Some Huione vendors are even advertising “face-changing services” for $200 worth of cryptocurrency. Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched in 2022 and saw its popularity grow, there have been a growing number of cases of large firms losing millions to deepfake scams. Such scams use generative AI to create synthetic and fake identities and voices that allow fraudsters to impersonate real people and bypass identity verification controls Chainalysis says that the potential of AI technology to scale crypto scams exponentially further adds to the challenges associated with combating those crimes. Tackling crypto scams at scale will require sustained efforts from government agencies, regulators and organizations, the firm said. Source link #Crypto #scams #thrive #pig #butchering #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says US set to announce reciprocal tariffs Trump says US set to announce reciprocal tariffs US President Donald Trump says he plans to unveil reciprocal tariffs but has given no details about his latest tariff plan, which could take aim at every country that charges duties on US imports. “Today is the big one: reciprocal tariffs,” Trump wrote on his social media platform on Thursday. It was not immediately clear what time Trump’s tariff plan would be unveiled. On Wednesday, Trump indicated it could happen on Thursday morning. The White House had earlier told reporters it would happen before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s White House visit. Modi is scheduled to arrive at 4pm in Washington DC on Thursday. The Republican president’s latest round of market-rattling tariffs has ratcheted up fears of a widening global trade war and threatened to accelerate US inflation. Trump, who took office on January 20, has already announced tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports beginning on March 12, imposed 10 per cent tariffs on goods from China, and imposed a 30-day hold on tariffs on goods from neighbouring Canada and Mexico. Trump has not specified how he defines the term “reciprocal” and whether his order would apply only to matching tariffs or to including other foreign taxes that he views as a barrier to exporting US-made goods. with AP Source link #Trump #set #announce #reciprocal #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Incrementally better than its predecessor…again Incrementally better than its predecessor…again We called 2023’s Galaxy Watch 6 a “modest upgrade” from the Galaxy Watch 5, which itself also got described as “very similar” to its predecessor, the Watch 4. So it’s perhaps not surprising that Samsung’s latest smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 7, represents yet another minor improvement over the last generation. That’s just the nature of a yearly update cycle for a device that is already doing most things right. Samsung released the Galaxy Watch 7 in late July of 2024 and I started testing the watch in October. A series of events (****** Friday, the holidays, CES) pushed this review onto the back burner, which means I spent a lot of time with the watch in a less formal capacity, wearing it on and off for around three months before formally evaluating it for this review. Samsung/Engadget The Galaxy Watch 7 is a capable companion for Samsung phones with an accessible Health app, reliable activity tracking and zippy performance. But the AOD battery performance holds it back. Pros Looks more like a classic timepiece than the competition Fast performance thanks to its upgraded processor Health app is fun and easy to use Accurate activity tracking that automatically logs walks Advanced sensors can assess more complex health metrics Cons Always-on display drains the battery quickly Notifications don’t always appear The bezel-swiping navigation is clunky and unnecessary $300 at Samsung Design and hardware Samsung stuck with a flat, round face and super thin aluminum bezels that give the Galaxy Watch 7 a more classic timepiece vibe than the square “I’m a computer” Apple Watch or the futuristic orb that is the Google Pixel Watch 3. The Watch 7 retains the curved case design introduced with the Watch 5, which is supposed to allow better contact between the sensors and your wrist. Unfortunately, the sensor node sticks out from the underside quite a bit. It took about a week of wearing the watch before it felt comfortable, and the first night I attempted to sleep with it, I was so bothered by it that I wrenched it off in the middle of the night. That convex sensor node now houses 13 heart rate sensor LEDs, compared to just four on the Watch 6. We didn’t find anything lacking with the heart rate detection on the previous model and, when comparing the same workout on my personal Apple Watch Series 9 with the Galaxy Watch 7, I saw nearly the same beats-per-minute (bpm) readings. Performing a heart rate check manually on each watch gave the same result as well. Just like last year, the watch is available in a 40mm or 44mm case, which have a 1.3-inch and 1.5-inch screen, respectively. I tested the smaller model and was impressed with how readable I found it. Personally, I use a 45mm Apple Watch because the 41mm version is too hard to read, but despite being seemingly smaller, the Galaxy’s screen was nearly as easy. Holding the two side by side, I saw why: across the middle (where the bulk of text is displayed) the 40mm Samsung watch is actually wider than the 45mm Apple wearable. That’s because rectangular screens are measured on the diagonal, but the diameter of a circle is the same length from any angle. The Galaxy Watch has a thicker bezel, but running your finger along it is one way of interacting with the screen, so it’s helpful to have extra space for that. Two new colors, green and cream, add to the silver hue from last year. My silver review model is classy and the updated sport band has a scalloped texture (very reminiscent of the Apple Watch Ultra’s Ocean band, but much less bulky). Four pops of color thread just past the attachment points add a little personality. You can also customize the heck out of the watch faces, from background colors to clock fonts and complications. I was a fan of the new Ultra Info Board face and, overall, I felt like I had more appealing options in the faces gallery than with the Apple Watch — even before heading to the Play Store to look for more options. Amy Skorheim for Engadget The upgraded processor in the Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung’s own Exynos W1000, has one main CPU core and four smaller efficiency cores to run and switch between apps faster. We didn’t find the Watch 6 to be particularly slow, and I found the Watch 7 to be impressively fast when skimming through notifications, controlling Spotify, starting a workout and haphazardly opening and closing apps as I got to know the interface. RAM is the same at 2GB, but storage has doubled to 32GB (with 21GB available out of the box). I didn’t have long enough with the watch to put the capacity to the test, but the RAM seemed to keep the watch zipping along. There are two new components on the Watch 7: a dual-band GPS receiver and a sensor that measures your advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) index. The AGEs index is assessed as you sleep and gauges your metabolic health by detecting accumulated sugar/lipid compounds in your skin. Higher levels are associated with faster aging and adverse health conditions. Instead of a number, the result is a dot on a spectrum. Mine was just to the high side of the middle, and suggestions for improving my levels included eating vegetables, limiting processed foods, getting more sleep and being more active. Yes, little watch, I know. As for the GPS, it took a little effort to get it working the way I wanted. I was getting reliably accurate cadence and distance measurements (as checked against my Apple Watch and just looking at a map) but the mapping component was missing when I looked at the workout on my phone. After some research (thank you, Reddit) I learned that precise mapping is off by default. To turn it on, you need to first turn on Location Information in Samsung Health Settings on your phone. Then, in the Wear app, tap Watch Settings, Samsung Health settings, turn on Activities to detect, then tap Precise Location under the workout type you want to track. After that fix, I saw accurate routes in the workout details section. y. Sleep tracking I am happy to report I (probably) do not have sleep apnea. After setting up the sleep apnea detection feature, you only have to wear your watch to bed for two nights for it to log signs of the condition. Sleep apnea detection is a new feature that debuted with the Watch 7, but Samsung has said it will roll out to earlier compatible models in the future. After the watch tracks seven nights of sleep, it’ll award you one of eight “sleep animals,” which come with a description of the type of sleeper you are. This has been a feature since the Watch 4 and something the Pixel Watch does as well. I enjoyed finding out that I’m a lion (that’s the best sleeper and I will take a win wherever I can find it). Those who rate “lower” on the sleep animal food chain, can find sleep coaching tips within the Health app on ways to improve their sleep. Not surprisingly, this involves reminding you to keep a consistent bedtime while limiting distractions, alcohol and caffeine before sleep. For the sake of science, I slept for three nights in a row wearing both the Galaxy Watch 7 and my Apple Watch Series 9 so I could compare what they tracked. The two seemed to log the same patterns of awakeness and sleep, but Samsung was much more generous, telling me I got an average of about 45 more minutes of sleep and about three times as much deep sleep. I know much of our feelings about health are a matter of perspective, so I have to say I prefer the Galaxy Watch’s assessments. Though, I wish Samsung would call the light sleep stage “core” sleep like Apple does — that makes it feel more beneficial. After testing the Watch 7, however, I don’t think I’d wear it (or any watch, really) to bed voluntarily again. The dimmest the screen gets is 5 nits, which is much brighter than the single nit the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch can hit. When you go into sleep mode, the watch face stays off until you tap it, but the LED sensors underneath are also much brighter than the competition and were enough to wake me. One night, I turned on sleep mode early because the screen was too bright as I was putting my kid to bed at around 8PM. I kept sleep mode on as I watched TV then went to bed a few hours later. At four in the morning, I got a congratulatory vibration that woke me up to tell me I’d met my sleep goal. Of course, I couldn’t get back to sleep after that and I was, to put it mildly, displeased. That didn’t happen again, despite leaving sleep mode on for longer than eight hours on a few occasions, so either it was a fluke or the January 2025 software update fixed the flaw. Health and activity tracking One of the new health features for the Galaxy Watch 7 is a daily Energy Score, which is calculated in the Samsung Health app, but readily available on the watch. The score considers sleep metrics and yesterday’s activity levels to tell you how to approach the day ahead. On mornings when I got a higher number, the watch suggested I push myself by increasing the intensity of my workouts or trying something new. On days with a lower score, I was able to see why. This feature is nothing new in the industry, of course. Garmin has its Training Readiness score and Fitbit has been giving people Daily Readiness scores for years (and it’s finally free). Amy Skorheim for Engadget The measurement, along with other insights and commentary within the Health app, is where Samsung has put most of the AI-powered tricks for the Galaxy Watch 7. I saw various tips such as a suggestion to lower my activity goals (so I could actually reach them) after a few days of being a bit of a slug. All of the workout and health features from the previous models are here — our review of the Galaxy Watch 6 goes into those in depth. But in short, like any fitness tracker, the Galaxy Watch records your overall activity levels using different metrics. In this case, it’s three things: steps, active time (how many minutes in which you move with an elevated heart rate) and activity calories (those you burn in addition to the energy used from just existing). You can adjust your goals and decide whether you want the watch to nudge you to meet them. There are around 90 workouts the watch can track and it can auto-detect a few of those including walking, running, bike riding, high-intensity interval training and swimming. Overall, I found the activity tracking to be accurate and I appreciated how much quicker the Galaxy Watch was at detecting I was out on a walk compared to my Apple Watch. Also, unlike the Apple Watch, which will ask me whether I wanted to track my exercise, the Galaxy Watch just goes ahead and automatically tracks it. The Galaxy Watch is on par with the Pixel Watch 3 in terms of how quickly it assumes I’m on a walk but, like the Apple Watch, the Pixel wants me to confirm I want the workout tracked. So if I’m on a walk with the dog and have gloves on, I have to do some finagling to tap the start button before seeing my stats. Galaxy’s screen on the other hand (literally) just goes ahead and displays duration, steps and heart rate details. Samsung’s wearable is also quicker to give me credit for getting up and walking around after it prompts me to get moving. All activity and health tracking runs through the Samsung Health app, which is colorful and intuitive — I actually found it more enjoyable to browse than Apple’s Health app. I spotted a medication widget that not only reminded me to take a pill at the same time each day, it also told me about potential drug and allergy interactions. When it’s time to take the med, the watch buzzes and lets me mark it as taken without pulling out my phone. Samsung introduced the feature at the end of 2023 and, as it turns out, Apple came out with its version a full year earlier, but I credit the more navigable interface of Samsung Health for allowing me to actually find and use it — I’d just never noticed it in Apple’s app. Instead of a separate app, like Fitness from Apple (in which you’ll also find the company’s subscription-based workouts), there’s simply a tab (also called Fitness) within Samsung Health. There are dozens of videos to try for free on your phone, from providers like Zumba, Pocket Gym, FitOn and more. And when you play the videos from here, heart rate metrics from your watch will show up on your phone’s screen, just like Fitness+ workouts with the Apple Watch and Fitbit Premium classes with the Pixel Watch. Eventually, you’d need to pay to access all the videos a given provider offers, but it’s nice to have a little free content you can dip into as needed. One thing I have to point out is that even if the watch is on silent, by default it will still audibly coach you when you hit or approach certain metrics after you start a workout. The first time I tracked a yoga workout, the watch started blurting out calories burned and goals achieved while the entire class was silently lying in shavasana. I was even more red-faced than usual. Save yourself the embarrassment and disable audio guides in the settings when you start a workout. Performance and use The Watch 7 was the first to run Google’s new Wear OS 5 — before the Pixel Watch 3, even. Samsung layers its own One UI over Google’s software so the experience is a little different from the Pixel Watch. For example, you can either swipe from the left or right edge of the screen to pull up notifications or tiles (respectively) or you can drag your finger around the screen’s bezel, a movement meant to complement the physical spinning bezel of the Galaxy Watch Classic variant. On a screen-only interface, I found my finger was often in the way of what I was trying to look at, so I ended up just swiping, as on a Pixel or Apple Watch. Back in 2023, Samsung introduced gesture controls to the Galaxy Watch through an update to One UI 5, but the feature, which started as an accessibility aid, didn’t get much attention until Apple highlighted and expanded such functions with the release of the Series 9. The double tap feature on the Galaxy Watch 7 works similarly to how it does on the Apple Watch, performing simple functions like pausing timers, answering calls and so on. Both watches performed the same in terms of detecting when I was making the gesture but I actually used the gesture more often with the Galaxy Watch because a little pinch animation displayed over icons that the gesture could control. The Galaxy Watch 7 also supports a “knock knock” feature, in which you dip your fist downward twice like you’re rapping on a table and it’ll open an app you designate in the Buttons and Gestures menu from the Wear app’s watch settings. I set it to open the timer app and, later, the Google Assistant, which I found pretty convenient. Speaking of the Google Assistant, since the Galaxy Watch 4, users have been able to swap the default assistant to Google’s instead of Bixby. I recommend doing that. Asking Bixby a question (like, perhaps, “What’s the capital of Finland?”) directed me to look at my phone. When I posed the same query to Google Assistant, the word Helsinki appeared across the watch screen. None of these are brand new features — previous models allowed you to swap the assistant and gestures started with the Galaxy Watch 4. But the better processor and new sensors on the Galaxy Watch 7 have no doubt helped boost the accuracy and responsiveness. Notifications could use some work, however. Often, I’d feel a vibration, but when I lifted my wrist to check what it was, I’d just see the regular watch face. I could swipe to see what had triggered the ping, but I would prefer to just see it immediately. Battery and recharging I was surprised to see how many people complained about the Galaxy Watch 7’s battery life when I read users’ impressions at other review sites and on Reddit. At first, I found I was getting through a whole day and night, plus partway into the next day before needing a recharge. That was on par with my Apple Watch Series 9 (both have around a 300mAh battery). But I didn’t have the always-on display (AOD) enabled on the Galaxy Watch. Once I turned that on, the battery’s capacity steadily dove towards empty. One Sunday, I left the house around noon with the watch at 40 percent. I walked for 20 minutes, hung out at a coffee shop and played with a few features on the watch and the paired Galaxy phone. By the time I headed home at 3PM, the watch’s battery had dropped to four percent, prompting it to suggest I turn on watch-only mode. After that, I only used the watch with the AOD off. That said, using the watch without AOD isn’t terribly inconvenient. When I lift my wrist, the display wakes quickly. I remember being frustrated at how ridiculously hard it was to check the time on my Apple Watch Series 4, feeling dumb as I lifted my arm three or four times before the face lit up (I know I could tap to wake it, but it was the principle of the thing). If you plan to use the watch as a sleep tracker and also want to use the AOD, you may need to set aside time at the end of the day to recharge your watch before heading off to dreamland (or toss-and-turn land, depending on your sleep animal). The good news is that the watch recharges relatively quickly. I clocked it going from 4 percent to 75 percent in under 40 minutes. Both the Apple Watch Series 10 and the Pixel Watch 3 have been shown to recharge faster in other tests, but I didn’t find the Galaxy Watch to take unreasonably long. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (middle) compared to the 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 (right) and 45mm Google Pixel Watch 3 (left) (Amy Skorheim for Engadget) Price One positive carry-over from last year is price. Like the Watch 6 at launch, the Watch 7 starts at $300 for the 40mm model. That’s $49 cheaper than the base price for the Pixel Watch 3 and $99 cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 10. The Garmin Forerunner 165, our top pick for a running smartwatch, is $250. There’s no spinning-bezel Classic variant of the Galaxy Watch 7 (there wasn’t a Galaxy Watch 5 Classic, either). Instead, when announcing the seventh gen watch, Samsung also launched the $650 Watch Ultra and $400 Galaxy Ring — both of which make the flagship watch feel like a bargain. Of course, if you’re after a true budget smartwatch by Samsung, there’s the Galaxy Watch FE with a slightly smaller display, less powerful processor and fewer sensors. Wrap-up While the Galaxy Watch 7 may look nearly identical to its predecessor, a couple of internal improvements and software additions (and yes, some AI stuff) make it an appealing companion for a Samsung phone. It even does a few things better than the Apple Watch Series 10 (our current pick for the best overall smartwatch). As with most new releases, you probably don’t need to upgrade if you already have the prior model. But if you’re a fan of Samsung’s handsets and are looking for an attractive accessory with solid sleep insights, helpful fitness tools and surprisingly approachable health data, this could be it. For a long time, the Galaxy Watch was our pick for the best Android watch you could buy. But with the release of the Pixel Watch 3, Samsung’s wearable was knocked off its podium. The Galaxy Watch 7 does many things right and its classic looks and customizable watch faces will be a favorite for some, me included. Samsung also seems to be steadily improving the Health app — I was especially excited about the beta Meditation and Mood-tracking features, and hope they make their way from the phone to the watch. The effort the company has put into the Health app is only making the Galaxy Watch more useful and Samsung has developed an effective set of wearable sensors that can provide more advanced health metrics like AGEs index, EKGs and body composition. The heart rate and distance accuracy was on par with my Apple Watch Series 9 but the Galaxy Watch was actually quicker to detect I was out on a walk — it also automatically logged the workout for me. But if an always-on display is important to you and you want to use the watch for sleep tracking, you may want to look elsewhere. Still, this is a capable watch that makes a fun companion for an Android phone, particularly Samsung handsets, and I was sad to take it off when the review was over. Source link #Incrementally #predecessor…again Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

James Webb Telescope to Study Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2024 YR4 James Webb Telescope to Study Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2024 YR4 The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been allocated emergency observation time to study asteroid 2024 YR4, which has been classified as potentially hazardous. The space rock was identified in December 2024 and has been placed on the asteroid watch list due to its estimated 2.3% chance of colliding with Earth in December 2032. The emergency decision has been made to improve the accuracy of its size estimation, which is currently based on ground-based observations. Scientists believe that a more precise measurement of its dimensions will provide better insight into the potential risk it poses. Infrared Observations to Determine True Size According to reports, the European Space Agency (ESA), the asteroid has an estimated width of 55 metres, but this figure is uncertain due to limitations in ground-based telescopic observations. The asteroid’s brightness has been used to approximate its size, though its actual dimensions may vary significantly depending on surface reflectivity. If the surface is highly reflective, the asteroid could be as small as 40 metres. If it is less reflective, its true size could be as large as 90 metres, significantly altering the potential impact risk assessment. JWST has been selected for this task due to its ability to capture infrared emissions, which can provide a more accurate measurement of the asteroid’s size and surface composition. Unlike ground telescopes, which rely on reflected sunlight, JWST’s infrared capabilities will detect heat emitted by the asteroid, offering a clearer picture of its actual dimensions. The updated information will play a crucial role in refining impact probability models and informing future planetary defence strategies. Scheduled Observations and Data Availability Observations using JWST are planned for March and May. The first session will coincide with the asteroid reaching peak brightness, while the second will take place as it moves away from the Sun. These observations will be conducted using four hours of JWST’s director’s discretionary time, a reserve allocation used for urgent scientific inquiries. The data collected during these observations will be publicly released once processed. ESA has highlighted the significance of this research, stating that refining the size estimation of 2024 YR4 is essential for determining its potential impact consequences. The results will contribute to ongoing research into near-Earth objects and planetary defence strategies. Previous Impacts and Potential Consequences Historical events have demonstrated the damage that asteroids of this size can cause. The Tunguska event of 1908, which flattened an estimated 80 million trees over a vast area of Siberia, is believed to have been caused by an asteroid of similar dimensions. While an impact from 2024 YR4 would not cause mass extinction, the regional consequences could be severe. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. May 2024 Solar Storm Triggers Unusual Radiation Belts, Raising Space Safety Concerns Motorola Razr+ Paris Hilton Edition With Custom Accessories Launched: Price, Features Source link #James #Webb #Telescope #Study #Potentially #Hazardous #Asteroid #YR4 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best iPhones in 2025: which Apple smartphone is right for you, according to our expert | iPhone The best iPhones in 2025: which Apple smartphone is right for you, according to our expert | iPhone The best iPhone may be the one you already own. There is generally no need to buy a fresh phone just because new models have been released, as hardware updates are broadly iterative, adding small bits to an already accomplished package. But if you do want a replacement handset, whether new or refurbished, here are the best devices of the current crop of Apple smartphones. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Many other smartphones are available besides the iPhone, but if you’re an Apple user and don’t fancy switching to Android, you still have a couple of choices. Whether your priority is the longest battery life, the best camera, the biggest screen or simply the optimal balance of features and price, there’s more to choose from in the Apple ecosystem than you may expect, especially after the iPhone 16 models were released in September 2024. At a glance The best iPhones you can buy in 2025 The Apple iPhone 16 Plus with the iPhone 16. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Best iPhone for most people: iPhone 16 The iPhone 16 includes some of the first Apple Intelligence AI features, such as writing, proofing and summarising tools. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The base model iPhone 16 has almost all the features that make Apple’s latest smartphones great, but it’s significantly cheaper than the 16 Pro models. It has Apple’s modern yet familiar aluminium and glass iPhone design and Face ID but has a rearranged camera cluster on the back. It sticks with the same 6.1in OLED screen as its predecessors, which looks good but lacks an always-on mode. It’s also still stuck at a relatively slow 60Hz refresh rate, which can make scrolling and motion more jarring than on models with faster screens. The latest A18 chip is rapid and enables Apple’s Intelligence features (AI tools). The battery lasts about two days of general use, or at least a day of heavy use, and the phone charges with USB-C. It also supports MagSafe and Qi/Qi2 wireless charging and accessories. It starts with a decent 128GB of storage, although larger models are available if you don’t want to store your photos and videos in the cloud. The iPhone 16 is light and fairly compact for a modern smartphone, and its IP68 rating means it’s water-resistant to depths of six metres for up to 30 minutes – more than safe enough for any accidental dunks. It gains the useful Action button from 2023’s iPhone 15 Pro, which replaces the mute switch and can be used to mute the phone or for various other functions, such as turning on the torch or launching apps. The new Camera Control button is great for quickly opening the camera, even if zooming, changing settings and shooting photos with the button is fiddly in the camera app. The dual camera on the back is good, comprising a main 48MP camera and an improved 12MP ultrawide camera, which now has a macro photography mode for fun closeup shots. It also has Apple’s photographic styles features for those who want to customise how the camera captures photos (rich contrast, vibrant, warm) and get creative with tone and colour palette. The main camera can do a 2x in-sensor zoom, which works well in bright light, but the lack of a real telephoto camera holds the 16 back. The 12MP selfie camera is the same as other iPhones. The iPhone runs the recently released iOS 18.3, which includes support for RCS messaging with Android and adds more of Apple’s new AI features. They include a selection of AI writing tools that are built into the keyboard, which allow you to proof, rewrite and summarise text, create tables and lists, transcribe audio from calls and recordings, among other small features. An AI object remover in photos can help improve your shots, while the Image Playground tool can generate images for you from descriptions or photos, including cartoon versions of real people. The Genmoji tool in the keyboard can create custom emoji stickers too. Siri has a new design and can now pass queries to ChatGPT for more advanced answers. Apple’s notification summary tool has been tweaked too: it now summarises stacks of notifications with stylised italics and has paused summarising news and media notifications after a backlash. Apple’s visual intelligence feature allows users to point their camera at an object, text or information, such as URLs, calendar entries or phone numbers, to use them or find out more about them, including sending images to ChatGPT or Google for information. From £799 at Apple From £739 at John Lewis Why should you buy it? The iPhone 16 provides the standard iPhone experience at a cheaper price and in the most pocketable size, offering good battery life and access to new and future AI features. Buy if: you want the default, good iPhone experience today Don’t buy if: you want optical zoom on your camera Read our full iPhone 16 review: more buttons and speed for Apple’s standard phone Screen: 6.1in Super Retina XDR (OLED) Processor: Apple A18 Storage: 128, 256 or 512GB Camera: 48MP main + 12MP UW; 12MP front-facing Dimensions: 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm (HWD) Weight: 170g Battery and size upgrade: iPhone 16 Plus Though somewhat bulky to fit in a pocket, the iPhone 16 Plus has great battery life and a 6.7in screen. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Observer For an extra £100, the iPhone 16 Plus matches the specs, camera and features of the base model but adds a ******* 6.7in screen and long battery life, which can last up to three days of general use. It still has the same pitfalls as the vanilla iPhone 16, such as a 60Hz display and no optical zoom camera, while its size makes it more difficult to use one-handed and somewhat bulky in a pocket. From £899 at Apple £849 at John Lewis Read our full iPhone 16 Plus review: Apple’s battery beast Screen: 6.7in Super Retina XDR (OLED) Processor: Apple A18 Storage: 128, 256 or 512GB Camera: 48MP main + 12MP UW; 12MP front-facing Dimensions: 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm (HWD) Weight: 199g Best value iPhone: iPhone SE (2022) A dated design hides more modern parts for a great-value option in the iPhone SE. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The iPhone SE is something of a throwback. It takes the classic pre-2017 design of the iPhone – complete with a Touch ID home button and chunky bezels – and puts a more modern chip at its heart. The third-generation iPhone SE was released in 2022 and is still the best-value new iPhone, with 5G and the A15 Bionic chip used in the 2021 iPhone 13. The 4.7in screen is small and dim by modern standards, despite the phone feeling quite chunky. It lacks Face ID and other modern iPhone features, such as Apple Intelligence, and has only 64GB of storage at its base price. The single camera on the back is a bit weak, too. From £429 at Apple £479 at John Lewis Why should you buy it? The iPhone SE (2022) is the cheapest iPhone you can buy new. Buy if: you want the best-value iPhone, but don’t want to buy a refurbished model Don’t buy if: you want a modern iPhone experience or high-quality camera Read our full Apple iPhone SE 2022 review: dated design but bargain price Screen: 4.7in Retina HD (LCD) Processor: Apple A15 Bionic Storage: 64, 128 or 256GB Camera: 12MP rear; 7MP front-facing Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm (HWD) Weight: 144g Best iPhone for camera: iPhone 16 Pro The iPhone 16 Pro has a ‘crisp, bright and slick’ display. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The iPhone 16 Pro is Apple’s best phone. It’s the step-up option to the basic iPhone 16: the same good bits, but a slightly larger (6.3in) screen, despite being squeezed into a similarly sized titanium and glass body. The display is crisp, bright and slick, with a faster 120Hz refresh rate to keep scrolling and animations smooth. The screen also supports the handy always-on feature, showing the time and notifications when not in use. The 16 Pro also has a slightly more powerful A18 Pro chip and starts with 128GB of storage, with greater space available – up to 1TB – for those who need it. The battery lasts a good 40 hours of general use, meaning it will go through the heaviest of days, and most will need to charge it only every other day. It has the same two extra Action and Camera Control buttons as the regular model, but the camera on the back is better. The 48MP main camera and 48MP ultrawide camera are great and the extra 12MP 5x telephoto camera meaningfully closes the distances to objects. Combined, they shoot great photos across various lighting conditions and scenarios. From £999 at Apple £949 at John Lewis Why should you buy it? This is Apple’s best phone, with its most powerful camera, top performance and a high-quality big-enough screen in a device that’s still easy to fit in a pocket. skip past newsletter promotion Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Buy if: you want the Pro screen, titanium body and best camera without a massive display Don’t buy if: you want the longest battery life or biggest display on an iPhone Read our full iPhone 16 Pro review: Apple levels up its smaller ‘pro’ phone Screen: 6.3in Super Retina XDR (120Hz OLED) Processor: Apple A18 Pro Storage: 128, 256, 512GB or 1TB Camera: 48MP main + 48MP UW + 12MP 5x; 12MP front-facing Dimensions: 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25mm (HWD) Weight: 199g Best iPhone for screen: iPhone 16 Pro Max The iPhone 16 Pro Max, left, has a big battery and a big screen, which often makes it feel like a small tablet rather than a phone. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The biggest, most expensive iPhone in Apple’s 16 series lineup is the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It takes everything great from the smaller iPhone 16 Pro and adds a bright, crisp and smooth 6.9in display. Watching movies on it feels more like using a small tablet than a phone. The 16 Pro Max also has a big battery, lasting about 55 hours of general use between charges, so it needs charging every third day. That means it will manage even the heaviest all-day use, and is ideal if you want to game for hours. However, Apple’s superphone is so big that it is hard to handle, needing two hands to wield. It’s also quite heavy and bulky, making it a bit of a lump to carry in a pocket or small bag. From £1,199 at Apple From £1,129 at John Lewis Why should you buy it? The 16 Pro Max is Apple’s superphone with a massive, beautiful screen and excellent battery life, as well as everything good about its smaller 16 Pro sibling. Buy if: you want a huge, high-quality display and a long-lasting battery Don’t buy if: you want a smaller, more pocketable device Read our full iPhone 16 Pro Max review: totally maxed out Screen: 6.9in Super Retina XDR (120Hz OLED) Processor: Apple A18 Pro Storage: 256, 512GB or 1TB Camera: 48MP main + 48MP UW + 12MP 5x; 12MP front-facing Dimensions: 163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm (HWD) Weight: 227g Other iPhones still on ***** at Apple The iPhone 15 will have software support for about five to six years. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The iPhone 15, released in 2023, has the same screen and aluminium body as the current iPhone 16 but lacks the action and camera control buttons. It was great on release and will receive about five to six years of software support. However, it lacks Apple Intelligence support and is fairly expensive at an RRP of £699, so look for refurbished models or deals. The 2022 iPhone 14 has an older design, doesn’t support Apple Intelligence features and is getting on a bit, but it’s still a good phone. It’s not good value at its RRP of £599, though, so this is one to look out for refurbished, with about four years of software support expected. Replace or spruce up? Replacing your iPhone’s battery can be quick and breathe new life into it. Photograph: Apple If your iPhone is running slow or the battery doesn’t last as long as it used to, there may be something you can do. Check your battery health in settings. If it’s past its best, a replacement costs £65 to £109 from Apple, or cheaper through third parties, and will give your iPhone a new lease of life. To speed things up, check you have enough free storage and clear out any unused apps or content, off-loading photos and videos to the cloud and deleting music. Aim for at least 2GB of free space. If your phone is worn out, broken beyond repair or no longer receives crucial security updates, it’s time to upgrade. The latest software, version iOS 18, supports devices back to 2018’s iPhone XS/XR, so anything older should be replaced soon – though some older models may still receive occasional security updates from Apple. What to look out for in a refurb Buying refurbished phones is better for the planet and your wallet. The iPhone makes for an excellent refurbished phone, typically staying responsive for years and being supported with software updates for about seven years from release, or longer in some circumstances. That means you can use an older model for several years before it will need replacing. There are broadly two types of refurbished iPhone available: those refurbished and sold directly by Apple that come, essentially, as new, and those refurbished by third parties that come in various grades or condition – but cost less. Quick Guide A buyer’s guide to refurbished phones Show Several third-party retailers offer refurbished phones, including the *** high street chains CeX and Game and online stores such as musicMagpie and Envirofone. Marketplaces like Amazon and eBay and refurb specialist Back Market also have a wide range. And some phone operators, including O2, giffgaff, EE and Vodafone, sell refurbished iPhones. The condition of the phone is among the most important things to consider before parting with any cash. This is graded as follows: Grade A – virtually identical to a new phone on the outside, usually with the original box and accessories. These are often customer returns rather than trade-ins and are the most expensive. Grade B – in full working order but typically with light scratches, dents or nicks, and may come with original accessories. Grade C – in full working order but visibly worn and typically sold without original accessories. Grade D – also known as “for spares and repairs” or similar. These are broken devices sold for people to fix or gut for parts. Once you’re satisfied with the condition of the phone, be sure to also size up the device’s: Battery health – batteries wear out, typically only maintaining up to 80% of their original capacity after 500 full-charge cycles (about two to three years of nightly charging). Has it been replaced? Charging port – check for signs of damage, as these are among the first parts to break. Buttons – do they all work without pressing too hard? Broken buttons make phones difficult to use and can be expensive to fix. Fingerprint scanner – is the fingerprint reader functioning as it should? Scratches or repairs can cause them to be faulty. Network locks – check the phone works with the provider of your choice, as some are originally sold locked to certain networks and must be unlocked before being used on another. Unauthorised parts – not all repairs are done by the manufacturer or using certified parts, which can affect performance. Check it isn’t stolen – check the phone’s 15-digit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number against a database of stolen devices through a service such as CheckMEND or similar. Warranty – what kind of warranty does the retailer offer on its refurbished phones? Thank you for your feedback. Do not buy Any model older than an iPhone 13, because you won’t get many years of software support before you’ll have to replace it. An iPhone 13 mini unless it has a new battery. It had a relatively short battery life to start with and needed more frequent charging than larger iPhones, so its battery wears out faster. How I tested Quick Guide How I tested Show We combine real-world testing with various tools, such as benchmarking systems that perform standardised tasks. These help us evaluate a phone, measure its performance, confirm that it works as expected and compare it with its competition and predecessors. We use the phones at different times and in various environments, from firing off emails on packed commuter trains to weekends spent shooting photos in national parks, and everything in between. We do everything a typical smartphone user would, such as messaging, browsing, using apps, listening to music, watching videos, playing games and navigating the real world. That gives us a good impression of how a smartphone handles the rigours of day-to-day life – plus, it shows us how long the battery lasts and the strength of its wireless performance. The findings from our general use of the phones are combined with the results from specific tests for things such as the camera zoom, video playback and charging, to inform the reviews and help us rank the devices. Thank you for your feedback. Why should you trust me? I have been reviewing consumer electronics for 16 years, with more than a decade spent as the Guardian’s gadget expert. In that time I’ve seen all manner of tech fads come and go, smartphone giants rise and fall, the cutting edge morph into the mainstream, and have poked, prodded and evaluated more than 1,000 devices – sometimes to destruction. Samuel Gibbs is the Guardian’s consumer technology editor This article was originally published on 4 October. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This piece was updated on 13 February; information about the iOS 18.3 update was added. Source link #iPhones #Apple #smartphone #expert #iPhone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

****** says it will release hostages under ceasefire deal this weekend as planned ****** says it will release hostages under ceasefire deal this weekend as planned ****** has said it will release three hostages this weekend as planned, in a bid to save the fragile ceasefire deal with Israel. ****** had suspended the release of hostages after accusing Israel of breaching ceasefire obligations, including delaying the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, carrying out strikes across the enclave and hindering the entry of humanitarian aid. It comes after it emerged Israel is considering attacks on Iranian nuclear sites this year, according to US intelligence agencies, in a move which could dramatically escalate tensions in the region. The Israeli government wants to take advantage of Iran’s weakness after the damage done to its so-called proxy groups in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported. Analysis by intelligence agencies found that Israel is likely to push the Trump administration into backing the strikes. Military support from the US would likely be needed, military officials said. The strikes could take place by the summer, according to the Washington Post – but the White House, Israeli government, CIA, and other agencies have all declined to comment on the reports. Key Points ****** says it will go ahead with planned hostage release Israel considering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, say US intelligence agencies Egypt and Jordan resist Trump plan to resettle Palestinians ****** says it does not want ceasefire to collapse ****** had demanded more aid 13:15 , Sam Rkaina This week ****** accused Israel of failing to respect stipulations calling for a massive increase in aid deliveries and said it would not hand over three hostages due to be released on Saturday until the issue was resolved. In response, Netanyahu ordered reserves to be called up and threatened to resume combat operations that have been paused for almost a month unless the hostages were returned. Israeli minister Avi Dichter, a member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, told Israeli public radio on Thursday that he did not believe ****** would be able to get out of the agreement. “There’s a deal, they won’t be able to give anything less than what is in the deal,” he said. “I don’t believe that ****** can behave otherwise.” Egyptian security sources told Reuters they expected heavy construction equipment to enter on Thursday and if that happened then ****** would release hostages on Saturday. The standoff between Israel and ****** has threatened to reignite their conflict, which has devastated Gaza and taken the Middle East to the brink of a wider regional war. Egyptian and Qatari officials have been working to avoid a breakdown and a ************ official close to the mediation effort said both sides had agreed to go ahead with the ceasefire and the exchange of hostages for ************ prisoners. Israel ramps up home demolitions in the West Bank 13:02 , Alex Croft Israel has ramped up home demolitions in the occupied West Bank, which have previously been condemned as ******** under international law. Two more demolition orders in Kafr al-Dik were issued on Thursday, according to ************ news agency Wafa. Demolitions and forced evictions have also ramped up in Masafer Yatta, an area in the West Bank which Israel declared a “military firing zone” in 2022. Videos shared by Palestinians on the ground show Israeli bulldozers crushing houses in the region. Bel Trew | ‘We’re already in hell’: Palestinians in despair after Trump threatens Gaza truce 12:41 , Alex Croft Palestinians in Gaza have said they “are already living in hell” after Donald Trump vowed to cancel a truce if ****** does not release all hostages this weekend, as the fragile truce teetered on the verge of collapse. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have returned to northern parts of the besieged strip in recent weeks, camping in the rubble of their homes and still reeling from the loss of dozens of extended family members. With the precarious deal on a knife-edge, Mr Trump said “all hell will break out” if the hostage release at the weekend did not go as planned. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed Mr Trump’s threat, saying Israel will resume “intense” fighting in Gaza if all hostages were not freed at the weekend. Chief international correspondent Bel Trew reports: ‘We’re already in hell’: Palestinians in despair after Trump threatens Gaza truce Watch: Boris Johnson says Mar-a-Lago great place for people of Gaza to settle 12:21 , Alex Croft Sydney nurses suspended for threatening to ‘kill Israeli patients’ in viral video 12:00 , Alex Croft Two nurses in Sydney are facing a criminal investigation for antisemitism after claiming in a social media video that Israeli patients in Australia will be denied treatment or killed. The New South Wales health workers have been stood down at the Bankstown Hospital after allegedly declaring that they would kill Israeli patients if they had to treat them. One nurse, who falsely claimed to be a doctor, even suggested he had killed Israeli patients, 9News reported. Read the full report: Sydney nurses suspended for threatening to ‘kill Israeli patients’ in viral video Ceasefire has been close to failure 11:42 , Sam Rkaina The 42-day ceasefire has appeared close to failure this week amid accusations on both sides of violations to the agreement sealed last month with the help of Egyptian and Qatari mediators and U.S. support. ****** said it did not want the deal to collapse, though it rejected what it called the “language of threats and intimidation” from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump. They have said the ceasefire should be cancelled if the hostages are not released. “Accordingly, ****** reaffirms its commitment to implementing the agreement as signed, including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified timeline,” ****** said in a statement. ******, whose Gaza chief leader Khalil Al-Hayya is visiting Cairo for talks with Egyptian security officials, also said both Egyptian and Qatari mediators would press on with efforts “to remove obstacles and close gaps”. In pictures: Residents of West Bank camp destroyed by Israel walk among ruins 11:38 , Alex Croft A woman sits on the side of a destroyed street as she waits to return to her home in al-Faraa camp (AFP via Getty Images) Residents walk along a street destroyed by Israeli bulldozers in al-Faraa camp (AFP via Getty Images) A bulldozer clears mud and debris along a destroyed street (AFP via Getty Images) Two Britons arrested in Iran on security charges – state media 11:16 , Alex Croft Two British nationals were arrested by Iranian police on security-related charges and remain in custody, state media reported on Thursday. Iran’s official news agency shared blurred images of the pair meeting with the British ambassador – but did not identify them. It is not clear when they were detained. British officials have not commented on the arrests. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners on espionage and security-related charges in recent years. Iran has been accused by rights groups and western countries of attempting to win concessions through the arrests. Humza Yousaf: My wife’s family are facing ‘hell on Earth’ after Gaza devastation 10:56 , Alex Croft Humza Yousaf has said the situation in Gaza is already “hell on Earth” and his father-in-law has been left a “shell”, as he discussed the impact the war has had on his wife’s family. The former first minister said Palestinians will always resist attempts to take over their land, in response to recent remarks from Donald Trump which have thrown the recent Israel-****** ceasefire into question. Maged and Elizabeth El-Nakla – the parents of Mr Yousaf’s wife Nadia El-Nakla – were visiting relatives in the ************ enclave when war broke out following October 7 2023. They became trapped for four weeks before leaving through Egypt with other British nationals. Read the full report: Yousaf: My wife’s family are facing ‘hell on Earth’ after Gaza devastation ****** says it will go ahead with planned hostage release 10:53 , Sam Rkaina ****** has said it will go ahead with the planned hostage release this weekend. The terror group had been due to free three captives on Saturday before threatening to cancel it, putting the fragile ceasefire at risk. ****** says it has been in talks with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo, who have been trying to prevent the arrangement from falling apart. Egypt and Jordan resist Trump plan to resettle Palestinians 10:34 , Alex Croft Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah said Gaza should be rebuilt without displacing Palestinians, Egypt’s presidency said, reporting a phone call between the two on Wednesday. US president Donald Trump has continued to push for a plan to resettle the ************ population to both Egypt and Jordan, a proposal both countries have rejected repeatedly. Pictured: Graffiti symbolising Gaza reconstruction, on Israel’s separation wall in Bethlehem, occupied West Bank 10:15 , Alex Croft A man takes a picture of graffiti representing the reconstruction of Gaza (AFP via Getty Images) US secretary of state to visit Middle East 09:54 , Alex Croft US secretary of state Marco Rubio will visit Europe and the Middle East, the state department announced on Wednesday. In a crucial moment for peace in the Middle East, Mr Rubio will visit Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Too few tents entering Gaza threatens the truce. Here’s what’s happening 09:34 , Alex Croft Three weeks into the ceasefire between Israel and ******, the number of tents and temporary homes entering Gaza risks falling short of the goals set for the deal’s first phase. The looming deficit sits at the heart of a dispute between Israel and ****** that could topple the tenuous truce. ****** has indefinitely delayed the scheduled release of three hostages on Saturday, accusing Israel of obstructing the delivery of tents, pre-fabricated homes and heavy machinery into the devastated territory, where the majority of people are displaced and many live beside the rubble of blasted-out buildings. Israel rejects the accusation, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire in Gaza and resume the war if ****** does not release more hostages on schedule. Read the full report: Too few tents entering Gaza threatens the truce. Here’s what’s happening Israeli could strike Iran early as mid-year – report 09:12 , Alex Croft Earlier, we reported that Israel was considering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites this year, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US intelligence agencies. The Washington Post has reported that this attack could take place by the middle of this year. It would set back Iran’s nuclear programme by weeks or months but would risk a wider conflict, US intelligence reports found. The White House, Israeli government, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence all declined to comment. ****** says it does not want ceasefire to collapse 08:52 , Alex Croft ************ militant group ****** has said it does not want the Gaza ceasefire agreement to collapse. Mediators are pushing for the deal to be abided by, ensuring Israel adheres to the humanitarian protocol and the resumption of Israeli hostage and ************ prisoner releases, ****** said in a statement. It comes as Israel threatens to resume warfare in Gaza if hostages aren’t released by Saturday. Israel considering strikes on Iran, say US intelligence agencies 08:33 , Alex Croft Israel is considering significant strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, US intelligence agencies found according to a report. Israel is seeking to take advantage of Iran’s current weakness following the damage done to so-called proxy militant groups in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported. Analysis by the agencies, concluded in the final days of the Biden administration, found that Israel would pressure the Trump administration into backing the strikes. Military support from the US would likely be needed for a strike of such proportions, US military officials told WSJ. The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the Israeli military responded to requests for comment from the US outlet. ‘I walked 11 hours to return to Gaza, finding my town destroyed’ 07:00 , Jane Dalton In case you missed it: ************ journalist Nedal Hamdouna, who has been displaced seven times by the 15-month war in Gaza, describes ab emotional return home: I walked 11 hours to return to my home in Gaza – to find my house without walls Israel warns of ‘gates of hell’ in fresh war 06:00 , Jane Dalton The “gates of hell will open” on ****** if it does not release his country’s hostages by Saturday, the Israeli defence minister has warned. In a security consultation, Israel Katz said: “If ****** stops releasing the hostages, then there is no agreement and there is war. “If ****** does not release the Israeli hostages by Shabbat, the gates of hell will open on them, just as the US president promised. “The new Gaza war will be different in intensity from the one before the ceasefire.” He said the new war would “not end without ******’s defeat and the release of all the hostages”, adding it would “also enable the realisation of US president Trump’s vision regarding Gaza”. Donald Trump has pushed a plan to resettle the ************ population to Egypt and Jordan. Signs of hope in talks to rescue truce 05:00 , Jane Dalton There are signs that the differences over the fragile ceasefire deal could be bridged. A ****** official, Mahmoud Merdawi, told The Associated Press there were “positive signals” the three hostages will be released as planned on Saturday but the group had not yet received a commitment from Israel that it would adhere to the deal. An Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks said the two sides were close to an agreement and that Israel had committed to delivering more tents, shelters and heavy equipment to Gaza. The dispute was sparked when ****** accused Israel of failing to meet some commitments under the truce, including the delivery of tents and other aid, and said it would delay the next hostage release on Saturday. Israeli officials had no immediate comment. Israel says it is fulfilling its obligations under the deal. North Korea brands US ‘ferocious robber’ over Trump Gaza plan 04:00 , Jane Dalton North Korea has become the latest country to condemn Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza. Last week, the US president announced plans to take ownership of the war-torn region and make it the “Rivera of Middle East”. Under his plan, two million Palestinians would be resettled in neighbouring countries – which have opposed the idea. Now North Korea has joined the opposition to the plan, condemning the idea as “bluster” and accusing Washington of robbery. Commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency said: “The world is now boiling like a porridge pot over the US’ bombshell declaration’”. It also criticised the Trump administration over its calls to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland, and its decision to change the name of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America”. “The US should awaken from its anachronistic daydream and stop at once the act of encroaching upon the dignity and sovereignty of other countries and nations,” the KCNA report said, while calling the U.S. a “ferocious robber”. Relatives of hostages terrified as ceasefire teeters 02:30 , Jane Dalton Relatives of Israeli hostages are terrified as the Gaza ceasefire teeters ‘The next nightmare is just beginning’: Ceasefire raises new fears for Gazans 01:00 , Jane Dalton ‘The next nightmare is just beginning’: Inside Gaza Jordanian King discusses Gaza with Macron Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:59 , Jane Dalton Jordan’s King Abdullah discussed “dangerous developments” in Gaza and the West Bank during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the Jordanian royal court. The phone call comes a day after the Jordanian king met US President Donald Trump in Washington, where he reiterated his country’s “steadfast position” against Trump’s controversial Gaza displacement plan. The leaders of Egypt and Jordan have both reiterated their rejection of Trump’s plan to depopulate the Gaza Strip. Outrage as US TV host says ‘uneducated Palestinians threat because of explosive birth rate’ Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:59 , Jane Dalton Jesse Watters sparks outrage for saying ‘uneducated’ Palestinians are a ‘threat’ Why Jordan rejected Trump plan to resettle Palestinians Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:59 , Jane Dalton Jordan’s King Abdullah II once again rejected any mass displacement of Palestinians after meeting President Donald Trump, who has called for the Gaza Strip’s roughly 2 million residents to be removed from the territory. Mr Trump has suggested they could be resettled in Jordan and Egypt, both of which are vehemently opposed to any such scenario. The Palestinians also reject Trump’s plan, which they view as an attempt to forcibly displace them from part of their homeland. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have also rejected such plans. During his meeting with Trump, Abdullah volunteered to accept up to 2,000 children from Gaza who have ******* or otherwise require medical treatment. But in a post on social media after the meeting, he “reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” adding that it was a “unified Arab position”. Jordan and Egypt have made peace with Israel but support the creation of a ************ state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. They fear that the permanent displacement of Gaza’s population could make that impossible. Jordan’s King Abdullah II with Donald Trump (AP) ****** ‘monsters’ could feel full force of military, Israeli minister warns Wednesday 12 February 2025 20:59 , Jane Dalton Exclusive: ****** ‘monsters’ warned they will feel full force of Israel if hostages not released In pictures: Hostage families emotional in US hearing Wednesday 12 February 2025 19:59 , Jane Dalton Daniel Lifshitz comforts Ilana Gritzewsky during a House Foreign Affairs Committee roundtable discussion with family members of hostages held in Gaza (REUTERS) Ilay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David held in Gaza, at the House Foreign Affairs Committee roundtable discussion (REUTERS) Orna Neutra hugs Rep. Mike Lawler, as Ronen Neutra looks on. Their son Omer Neutra is a hostage (REUTERS) Signs of hope in talks to rescue truce Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:59 , Jane Dalton There are signs that the gaps in the fragile ceasefire deal could be bridged. A ****** official, Mahmoud Merdawi, told The Associated Press there were “positive signals” the three hostages will be released as planned on Saturday but the group had not yet received a commitment from Israel that it would adhere to the deal. An Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks said the two sides were close to an agreement and that Israel had committed to delivering more tents, shelters and heavy equipment to Gaza. The dispute was sparked when ****** accused Israel of failing to meet some commitments under the truce, including the delivery of tents and other aid, and said it would delay the next hostage release on Saturday. Israeli officials had no immediate comment. Israel says it is fulfilling its obligations under the deal. Explainer: Why ceasefire deal is at risk of collapse Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:20 , Jane Dalton Why is the Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal at risk of collapse? Shortfall in tents being sent to Gaza at heart of ceasefire crisis Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:00 , Jane Dalton Too few tents entering Gaza threatens the truce. Here’s what’s happening ‘Gates of hell will open’, Israeli minister warns ****** Wednesday 12 February 2025 17:02 , Jane Dalton The “gates of hell will open” on ****** if it does not release his country’s hostages by Saturday, the Israeli defence minister has warned. In a security consultation, Israel Katz said: “I came here to make sure that the IDF is properly prepared for the renewal of the war in Gaza. “The entire ceasefire agreement with the ****** murderers was intended to bring about the rapid release of the Israeli hostages who are being held in extremely harsh conditions in Gaza, and in return for this, Israel agreed to pay heavy prices. “If ****** stops releasing the hostages, then there is no agreement and there is war. “If ****** does not release the Israeli hostages by Shabbat, the gates of hell will open on them, just as the US president promised. “The new Gaza war will be different in intensity from the one before the ceasefire.” He said the new war would “not end without ******’s defeat and the release of all the hostages”, adding it would “also enable the realisation of US president Trump’s vision regarding Gaza”. Donald Trump has pushed a plan to resettle the ************ population to Egypt and Jordan. Defense Minister Israel Katz, the head of the IDF Major General Oded Biyuk, and the head of the Operations Division, Brigadier General Israel Shomer (Elad Malka, Ministry of Defense) Egypt and Jordan resist Trump plan to resettle Palestinians Wednesday 12 February 2025 16:40 , Jane Dalton Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah said Gaza should be rebuilt without displacing Palestinians, Egypt’s presidency said, reporting a phone call between the two on Wednesday. US president Donald Trump has continued to push for a plan to resettle the ************ population to both Egypt and Jordan, a proposal both countries have rejected repeatedly. Wednesday 12 February 2025 15:19 , Alex Ross Egypt and Qatar are stepping up efforts to save the Gaza ceasefire deal, state-affiliated Egypt’s Al Qahera news TV reported on Wednesday, citing an Egyptian source. The ceasefire has looked increasingly fragile since ****** said this week it was postponing the release of any more Israeli hostages held in Gaza, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement. US President Donald Trump has warned Palestinians that “hell will break loose” if Israeli hostages are not released on Saturday. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will resume “intense fighting” if ****** does not meet the deadline. Egyptian sources told Reuters that Qatar and Egypt were in discussions with ****** and Israel to prevent the cancellation of the ceasefire deal and to ensure its completion. Egypt and Qatar alongside the United States brokered the deal that took effect on January 19 after more than a year of extensive diplomatic efforts. ****** delegation arrives in Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks Wednesday 12 February 2025 14:54 , Alex Ross A ****** delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to continue Gaza ceasefire talks with the second phase of the deal supposed to get underway, a statement by the ************ militant group said. ****** said earlier this week it would stop the release of hostages scheduled for Saturday until further notice. Egypt’s president to stay away from White House if Gaza displacement on agenda – reports Wednesday 12 February 2025 14:20 , Alex Ross Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will not travel to Washington for talks at the White House as long as the agenda includes US president Donald Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza, two Egyptian security sources have said. Mr Trump has infuriated the Arab world with a plan to permanently displace the population of more than 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, claim U.S. control of it and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”. He has demanded Egypt and Jordan take in the Palestinians, and has threatened to withdraw aid from the two U.S.-allied Arab states if they refuse. Egypt has said Mr Trump had extended an open invitation to Sisi to visit the White House earlier this month. A US official said no date for such a visit has been set. The Egyptian presidency and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) UAE supports two-state solution for Gaza Wednesday 12 February 2025 13:45 , Alex Ross United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday that peace efforts in the region should be on the basis of a two-state solution for the conflict conflict, state news agency WAM reported. It said the UAE, one of the few Arab countries that normalised relations with Israel, categorically rejected any attempt to displace the Palestinians and deny them “inalienable rights”. US president Donald Trump caused outrage in the Arab world earlier this week when he proposed the US should take over the Gaza Strip and Gazans should be resettled elsewhere United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Why is the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and ****** at risk of collapse? Wednesday 12 February 2025 13:00 , Alex Ross As uncertainty continues over the truce, we’ve put together an explainer on why the deal is at risk of collapse, and what could happen next: Relatives of Israeli hostages are terrified as the Gaza ceasefire teeters Humanitarian aid arriving Gaza – in pictures Wednesday 12 February 2025 12:03 , Alex Ross Pictures taken today showing humanitarian aid coming into the southern Gaza town of Rafah. On Sunday, the United Nations’ humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said famine had been mostly averted in Gaza thanks to the surge of aid entering the territory during the fragile ceasefire. (AP) (AP) Israeli forces deployed in and around Gaza amid fears over end to ceasefire Wednesday 12 February 2025 11:15 , Alex Ross As concerns grow that the month-old ceasefire between Israel and ****** will break down, we’re just hearing that Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mobilised troops in the Gaza region. Under the ceasefire deal, the ************ militant group agreed to free three more hostages on Saturday – but has since said it was suspending the handover because of what it said were Israeli violations of the terms. Mr Netanyahu has warned Israel would resume “intense fighting” if ****** did not meet the deadline, but did not say how many hostages should be freed. He said he had ordered the military to gather forces in and around Gaza, and the military announced shortly afterwards that it was deploying additional forces to Israel’s south, including mobilising reservists. Two people struck in Gaza over flying a drone, says Israeli military Wednesday 12 February 2025 11:04 , Alex Ross The Israeli military says it struck two people in the southern Gaza Strip who were flying a drone. It said Wednesday that the drone was observed entering Gaza from Israel after past attempts to use drones to smuggle in weapons. Munir al-Bursh, director general of Gaza’s health ministry, said Tuesday that at least 92 Palestinians have been killed and more than 800 wounded by Israeli fire since the fragile ceasefire took hold last month. The Israeli military says it has fired upon people who approach its forces or enter certain areas in violation of the truce. ****** has threatened to delay the next release of hostages, accusing Israel of violating the agreement by firing on people and by not allowing the stipulated amounts of tents, shelters and other vital aid to enter the territory. Israel, with the support of President Donald Trump, has warned that it will resume the fighting if hostages are not freed on Saturday. Why has Jordan rejected Trump’s plan to resettle Palestinians? Wednesday 12 February 2025 10:07 , Alex Ross Jordan’s King Abdullah II once again rejected any mass displacement of Palestinians after meeting with President Donald Trump, who has called for the Gaza Strip’s roughly 2 million residents to be removed from the war-ravaged territory. Trump has suggested they could be resettled in Jordan and Egypt, both of which are vehemently opposed to any such scenario. The Palestinians also reject Trump’s plan, which they view as an attempt to forcibly displace them from part of their homeland. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have also rejected such plans. During his meeting with Trump, Abdullah volunteered to accept up to 2,000 children from Gaza who have ******* or otherwise require medical treatment. But in a post on X after the meeting, he “reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” adding that it was a “unified Arab position.” Jordan and Egypt have made peace with Israel but support the creation of a ************ state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. They fear that the permanent displacement of Gaza’s population could make that impossible. Jordan’s King Abdullah II with US president Trump (Getty Images) What is Trump’s relationship like with North Korea? Wednesday 12 February 2025 09:07 It’s still early days for the Trump administration, and we’re yet to see how exactly the US president will deal with North Korea in his second term in office. Last week, he said his team “will have relations with North Korea”, adding that he gets “along with them very well”. During his first term, Mr Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on three occasions, becoming the first sitting US president to step on North Korean soil since the end of the Korean war. However, the pair are in disagreement over the future of Gaza, with North Korea a strong critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Now the country’s news agency has called the US a “ferocious robber” over Mr Trump’s plan to take ownership of the Gaza region. North Korea has also raised alarm over the docking a US submarine in the South Korean city of Busan. We will have to see how, and if, Mr Trump responds to North Korea in the coming days (AFP via Getty Images) North Korea calls US a ‘ferocious robber’ after Trump’s plan to take over Gaza Wednesday 12 February 2025 08:47 , Alex Ross North Korea has become the latest country to condemn Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza. Last week, the US president announced plans to take ownership of the war-torn region and make it the “Rivera of Middle East”. Under his plan, two million Palestinians would be resettled in neighbouring countries – which have opposed the idea. Now North Korea has joined the opposition to the plan, condemning the idea as “bluster” and accusing Washington of robbery. Commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency said: “The world is now boiling like a porridge pot over the U.S.’ bombshell declaration’”. It also criticised the Trump administration over its calls to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland, and its decision to change the name of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America”. “The US should awaken from its anachronistic daydream and stop at once the act of encroaching upon the dignity and sovereignty of other countries and nations,” the KCNA report said, while calling the U.S. a “ferocious robber”. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image) Parties must cooperate to ensure truce holds, says *** government Wednesday 12 February 2025 08:00 , Alex Croft The *** government has called on all parties involved in the Israel-****** ceasefire to “cooperate” to ensure the truce holds. “Our focus absolutely remains on the true the ceasefire can be sustained,” a government spokesperson said on Tuesday. “We need to see the release of hostages this Saturday. This is a fragile deal. “We’re committed to building confidence on all sides to help sustain it, and we encourage all parties to engage, to sustain the ceasefire, to see all hostages released, and indeed continued flow of aid into Gaza, but [for] this deal to work really good parties [need] to cooperate in order to ensure all stages of the ceasefire are completed.” ICC prosecutor Karim Khan hit by US sanctions Wednesday 12 February 2025 07:00 , Alex Croft International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan is the first to be hit with economic and travel sanctions authorised by US president Donald Trump targeting Israel’s war crimes tribunal. Mr Khan, who is British, was named in an annex to an executive order signed by Trump last week, Reuters reported. The ICC on Friday condemned the sanctions, pledging to stand by its staff and “continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world, in all situations before it”. The Independent View | In the interest of both sides, the Gaza ceasefire deal must continue to be honoured Wednesday 12 February 2025 06:00 , Alex Croft In the nearly three weeks that have passed since Israel and ****** concluded the ceasefire agreement, there have been five exchanges of hostages and prisoners. These exchanges have not been without last-minute hitches and delays, but they have taken place – to the immense joy and relief of the families and friends of those who have returned, and doubtless to the satisfaction of the many officials who concluded and helped to broker the agreement. The procession of displaced Palestinians returning to northern Gaza, many seemingly in good heart, has also been an extraordinary testament to human resilience, given that most were setting off on the journey more in hope than in confidence that they would have any sort of home to return to. Their determination to return is all the more impressive given the immediate need that exists for food and medical aid, not to mention the gargantuan task of reconstruction that lies ahead. Read The Independent’s view: In the interest of both sides, the Gaza ceasefire deal must continue to be honoured Egypt and Danish leaders discuss Gaza in phone call Wednesday 12 February 2025 04:31 , Alex Croft Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and prime minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen discussed the Gaza truce in a phone call on Tuesday, according to a readout from Egypt’s government. “President El-Sisi and the Danish Prime Minister reiterated the crucial need for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in its three stages, the exchange of hostages and detainees, as well as facilitating immediate and unfettered access for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip to end the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the sector,” it read. “They also underscored the imperative to begin the reconstruction of Gaza to make it livable again, without displacing its ************ population, safeguarding their rights and ability to live on their land.” Death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza hits 48,219 Wednesday 12 February 2025 03:02 , Alex Croft At least 48,219 Palestinians have been killed and 111,665 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the Gaza health ministry said on Thursday. In the past 24 hours, 11 deaths were recorded and 10 people went into hospitals injured, health authorities said according to Wafa news agency. ICYMI: Netanyahu praises Trump’s idea for US to take over Gaza Wednesday 12 February 2025 01:29 , Alex Croft Israel’s fatal shooting of a pregnant ************ woman raises fears in the West Bank Wednesday 12 February 2025 00:01 , Alex Croft Israel’s fatal shooting of a pregnant ************ woman raises fears in the West Bank The call came in the middle of the night, Mohammed Shula said. His daughter-in-law, eight months pregnant with her first child, was whispering. There was panic in her voice. “Help, please,” Shula recalled her saying. “You have to save us.” Minutes later, Sondos Shalabi was fatally shot. Shalabi and her husband, 26-year-old Yazan Shula, had fled their home in the early hours of Sunday as Israeli security forces closed in on Nur Shams refugee camp, a crowded urban district in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem. Israeli military vehicles surrounded the camp days earlier, part of a larger crackdown on ************ militants across the northern occupied West Bank that has escalated since the ceasefire between Israel and ****** in Gaza took effect last month. Pregnant woman Sondos Shalabi was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Read more here: Israel’s fatal shooting of a pregnant ************ woman raises fears in the West Bank Stop dodging the Gaza issue, Prime Minister – get on the right side of history Tuesday 11 February 2025 23:01 , Alex Croft This week has marked a new, horrifying phase in the long history of attempts to ethnically cleanse the ************ people from their homeland. Donald Trump’s comments made during Tuesday’s US-Israeli press conference in Washington – that he wishes to “take over” Gaza, to make it “the Riviera of the Middle East” – constitute the most explicit denial of the ************ people’s rights to self-determination and return by any US administration to date. Away from the headline proposals on Gaza’s future, many Palestinians now fear the prospective Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have escalated attacks since the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Read the full piece: Stop dodging the Gaza issue, Prime Minister – get on the right side of history Syrian president: Trump Gaza plan is a ‘serious crime’ Tuesday 11 February 2025 22:00 , Alex Croft Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has described Donald Trump’s plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza as a “serious crime that will ultimately fail”. Trump has called for Palestinians to be removed from Gaza to make way for a US-owned major development site. “I believe no power can drive people from their land. Many countries have tried to do it and they have all failed, especially during the recent war in Gaza over the past year and a half,” Mr Sharaa said. “Over 80 years of this conflict, all attempts to displace them have failed; those who left have regretted their decision. The ************ lesson that every generation has learned is the importance of holding on to their land.” Egypt, Jordan and other Arab nations have also opposed any attempt to push Palestinians over the border. In pictures: Trump meets Jordan’s King Abdullah Tuesday 11 February 2025 21:15 , Alex Croft Trump meets King Abdullah outside the White House (EPA) US President Donald Trump meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the Oval Office at the White House (Getty Images) Who are remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and when might they be freed? Tuesday 11 February 2025 20:29 , Alex Croft More than a year after ****** attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023 – killing around 1,200 people and taking another 250 captive – around 80 hostages remain, although Israel believes around a third are dead. A ceasefire deal currently in place promises the release of the hostages held by ****** and other ************ militants in Gaza. The first stage of the ceasefire to due to last six weeks and see “a full and complete ceasefire” while 33 hostages in Gaza and up to 1,900 ************ prisoners in Israel are to be freed. The hostages released will include women, the elderly and the sick. Tara Cobham and Tom Watling report: Who are remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and when might they be freed? Watch: UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza following Trump comments Tuesday 11 February 2025 19:44 , Alex Croft Abiding by ceasefire only way to bring hostages home, says ****** official Tuesday 11 February 2025 18:59 , Alex Croft Abiding by the ceasefire deal is the only way to bring home Israeli hostages, senior ****** official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Tuesday. “Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the prisoners. The language of threats has no value and only complicates matters,” he told Reuters. ****** indefinitely suspended the release of hostages on Monday, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its ceasefire obligations. ICYMI: ‘Resumption of hostilities must be avoided at all cost’, says UN chief Tuesday 11 February 2025 18:21 , Alex Croft UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged ****** to continue with the release of hostages, one day after the militant group announced it would halt the exchange. “We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to an immense tragedy,” Mr Guterres said in a statement. It comes after ****** said on Monday it would stop releasing Israeli hostages due to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement, including air strikes on areas in the enclave. “Both sides must fully abide by their commitments in the ceasefire agreement and resume negotiations in Doha for the second phase”, Mr Guterres added. How Trump’s fever dream over Gaza could be a nightmare for the West Tuesday 11 February 2025 17:51 , Alex Croft Trump’s latest outburst on Gaza demanding that ****** release all hostages held there by Saturday or there will be “hell to pay” is as mad as the threats to cut aid to Egypt and Jordan are dangerous – and will only empower America’s enemies. The US president doesn’t have any capacity – that Israel doesn’t already have – to make ****** “pay” for not releasing the remaining hostages. His threats sit against the backdrop of a ceasefire deal that, for now, is barely holding. If the ceasefire breaks down entirely, then Israel may continue to bombard the enclave. Trump has already given Benjamin Netanyahu carte blanche to do so – and has lifted Biden’s previous restrictions on American 2,000lb munitions. World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes: How Trump’s fever dream over Gaza could be a nightmare for the West Israel will resume fighting in Gaza if hostages not freed by Saturday noon, says Netanyahu Tuesday 11 February 2025 17:22 , Alex Croft Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the Gaza ceasefire would end if ****** did not return hostages in the enclave by noon on Saturday. “The military will return to intense fighting until ****** is finally defeated,” he said in a video statement. Donald Trump meets Jordan’s King Abdullah Tuesday 11 February 2025 17:16 , Alex Croft Donald Trump met Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday for what is expected to be a tense encounter after the US presidents controversial Gaza proposals. Trump has proposed to forcibly transfer Palestinians out of Gaza before a US takeover of the strip would see it turned into the “Riviera of the Middle East”. King Abdullah has rejected any proposal to annex ************ land and displace its people. He is expected to convey his stance in today’s meeting. Trump greeted King Abdullah and they stood together briefly outside the White House before entering for their meeting. Source link #****** #release #hostages #ceasefire #deal #weekend #planned Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mini Ritz crackers are being pulled off shelves in Canada. Here’s why – National Mini Ritz crackers are being pulled off shelves in Canada. Here’s why – National Christie brand Original Mini Ritz Crackers are being recalled across Canada due to an undeclared allergen. The recall, issued by the ********* Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Tuesday, warned that the product may contain milk, which is not listed on the label, posing a potential risk to those with allergies. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. “Do not consume recalled products to which you are allergic or sensitive as they may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction,” the CFIA warned. The recalled crackers have a printed UPC of “0 66721 02774 0” and one of three best-by dates on the packaging: Jan. 22, 23 or 24, 2025. Trending Now This recall was triggered by the company. So far there have been no reported reactions associated with the consumption of this product. The CFIA said recalled products should be thrown out or returned to where they were purchased. More on Health More videos Source link #Mini #Ritz #crackers #pulled #shelves #Canada #Heres #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds’ First Post-Launch Update Already Revealed Monster Hunter Wilds’ First Post-Launch Update Already Revealed Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t release for another two weeks, but Capcom isn’t letting that get in the way of revealing the game’s first major post-launch update. The studio has revealed that Mizutsune will be the first monster added post-launch, teasing the dancing Leviathan in the game’s launch trailer. The first major update doesn’t have an exact release date yet, but Capcom has said it will release sometime in spring– so not long after Monster Hunter Wilds’ initial release. The update will see the return of Mizutsune, a Leviathan-class monster known for its dance-like movement and use of bubbles to ensnare its prey. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Monster Hunter Wilds – Official Launch Trailer Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Even though the update is still a while away, Mizutsune has been teased in the launch trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, showing off the monster’s ethereal appearance. Capcom has also teased that additional content will be coming with the free update, but details are pretty scarce at this point. The launch trailer also shows a roadmap for the game’s updates, revealing that a second major update is planned to release this summer. The second title update will also introduce a new monster to the game, and will come with further free content. Additional content will also be coming to Monster Hunter Wilds in the form of limited-time Event Quests, which players can complete to earn special armor. These free Event Quests will kick off in the week after release. A day one patch will add PS5 Pro Enhanced support to the game, enabling ray tracing for those lucky enough to be playing on Sony’s new and improved console. Monster Hunter Wilds releases for PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5, with PS5 Pro Enhanced support, on February 28, with a number of bonuses on offer for pre-ordering. Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #PostLaunch #Update #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How America became so car dependent How America became so car dependent Cars dominate America. About 92% of U.S. households have access to a car. But only about 55% of Americans have access to public transit. And only about 3.5% take advantage of the options available. The average American drives twice as much as the average *******, said Peter Norton, a professor at the University of Virginia. The most common explanation for this is that Americans just love cars — and driving, Norton said. Americans love the independence, the open road. Cars are freedom. But that’s a bit of a myth. “My careful study of this history over a couple of decades now persuades me that the historical record shows that car domination was not the popular preference,” Norton said. “It was not voted for through democratic processes. It wasn’t even the result, as a lot of people will try to claim, of free enterprise just doing its thing.” To be sure, the size of the U.S., its relatively low density, its wealth, its affordable suburbs, and — to be fair — the appeal of the automobile, are all key factors. But policies and lobbies have played an outsized role in the shift of available transportation options toward cars, said University of Iowa law professor Greg Shill. They continue to. That matters for those who want to build communities around alternatives, such as higher-density living, walkable or cyclable neighborhoods, or cheap and convenient public transit. Watch the video to learn more. Source link #America #car #dependent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nothing Phone 3a Series Confirmed to Use a Snapdragon Chipset, Get Faster AI Processing Nothing Phone 3a Series Confirmed to Use a Snapdragon Chipset, Get Faster AI Processing Nothing Phone 3a series is set to be launched on March 4. Ahead of the launch, the company has shared key information about the upcoming smartphones. Nothing CEO Carl Pei revealed that the handsets will be equipped with a Snapdragon chipset. In comparison, its predecessor, the Nothing Phone 2a series was powered by MediaTek Dimensity processors. The smartphone brand also highlighted that the upcoming series will get significant CPU and neural processing unit (NPU) upgrades. The latter will improve the on-device artificial intelligence (AI) processing. Nothing Phone 3a to Feature a Snapdragon Chipset In a community post, Pei announced the decision to move away from MediaTek for the upcoming Nothing Phone 3a series. He said, “I’m happy to announce that we are going back to the Qualcomm Snapdragon series with the Phone (3a).” While the CEO did not reveal any details about the mobile platform that could be used for these phones, he did claim that the CPU will be 25 percent faster and the NPU will be 72 percent faster than the Phone 2a Plus. An earlier report claimed that the Nothing Phone 3a could be equipped with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset. It is also said to feature a 6.8-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone could also arrive with Nothing OS 3.1 based on Android 15. It is likely to retain the Glyph interface as well. Separately, the Nothing Phone 3a is also rumoured to sport an additional button on the right side of the device, which could be for the camera. Other theories speculate that the button could be an action button, used for on-device AI or even have a multi-toggle function. The company has also stated that the Nothing Phone 3a series will be assembled at its manufacturing plant in Chennai. The facility has more than 500 employees, among which women make up 95 percent of the workforce, the company said. It is unclear whether the assembled units will be sold exclusively in India or will also be exported to other markets. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Apple Exploring Humanoid and Non-Humanoid Robots, Mass Production Could Start in 2028: Ming-Chi Kuo Source link #Phone #Series #Confirmed #Snapdragon #Chipset #Faster #Processing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk will withdraw his nearly $100 billion bid for OpenAI if it remains a nonprofit – CNN Elon Musk will withdraw his nearly $100 billion bid for OpenAI if it remains a nonprofit – CNN Elon Musk will withdraw his nearly $100 billion bid for OpenAI if it remains a nonprofit CNNMusk Says He Will Pull Bid if OpenAI Remains a Nonprofit The Wall Street JournalMusk will withdraw OpenAI bid if ChatGPT maker stays nonprofit, lawyers say CNBCSam Altman says Elon Musk is not a happy person: ‘Probably his whole life is from a position of insecurity’ FortuneElon Musk’s $97bn offer is a nuisance for Sam Altman’s OpenAI The Economist Source link #Elon #Musk #withdraw #billion #bid #OpenAI #remains #nonprofit #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man shot by police was lawfully killed, inquest finds Man shot by police was lawfully killed, inquest finds A man who was fatally shot by armed officers after entering a police station car park holding a knife and a bag with a cat inside was lawfully killed, an inquest has found. A jury reached a conclusion on Thursday after hearing evidence into the death of Marius Ciolac, who was shot outside Ascot Drive police station in Derby on the morning of 7 October 2022. The three-week inquest heard Mr Ciolac, originally from Cernavoda in Romania, entered the police station compound through a sliding gate at about 10:00 BST before a Taser, a baton round and a stun grenade were used, and he was shot in the abdomen minutes later. Mr Ciolac’s family previously described the 35-year-old as “sweet and gentle”, and told the jury he had a difficult childhood. Source link #Man #shot #police #lawfully #killed #inquest #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Car driven into crowd injures 28 in Germany ‘attack’ Car driven into crowd injures 28 in Germany ‘attack’ A driver has driven a car into a union demonstration in central Munich, injuring at least 28 people including children, authorities say. Authorities said it was believed to be an attack and the suspect – an Afghan asylum-seeker – was arrested. Participants in a demonstration by the service workers’ trade union Verdi were walking along a street near downtown Munich about 10.30am when the car overtook a police vehicle following the gathering, accelerated and ploughed into the back of the group. Officers arrested the suspect after firing a shot at the car, deputy police chief Christian Huber said. He added that at least 28 people were believed to be injured, some of them seriously. Munich mayor Dieter Reiter said he had been informed that children are among those injured. “I am deeply shocked,” Reiter said. “My thoughts are with the injured.” A damaged Mini could be seen at the scene, along with debris including shoes. The suspect was a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, Huber said. “It is suspected to be an attack – a lot points to that,” Bavarian governor Markus Söder told reporters at the scene. Söder called the apparent attack “a punch in the face” for Germany and said that there must be consequences once authorities determine exactly what happened. The incident follows a series of attacks involving immigrants in recent months that have pushed migration to the forefront of the campaign for Germany’s February 23 election. Most recently, a two-year-old boy and another person were killed in a knife attack in Aschaffenburg, also in Bavaria. The Bavarian capital will have a heavy security presence in the coming days because the three-day Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of international foreign and security policy officials, opens on Friday. Bavaria’s state interior minister Joachim Herrmann said authorities do not believe the car ramming was connected to the conference but they still need to determine the motive. with DPA Source link #Car #driven #crowd #injures #Germany #attack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel’s 18A and TSMC’s N2 process nodes compared: Intel is faster, but TSMC is denser Intel’s 18A and TSMC’s N2 process nodes compared: Intel is faster, but TSMC is denser TechInsights and SemiWiki have published key details that Intel and TSMC disclosed about their upcoming 18A (1.8nm-class) and N2 (2nm-class) process technologies at the International Electronic Devices Meeting (IEDM). According to TechInsights, Intel’s 18A could offer higher performance, whereas TSMC’s N2 may provide higher transistor density. Analysts at TechInsights believe that TSMC’s N2 offers a high-density (HD) standard-cell transistor density of 313 MTr/mm^2, which far exceeds the HD cell density of Intel’s 18A (238 MTr/mm^2) and Samsung’s SF2/SF3P (231 MTr/mm^2). While the information more or less aligns with SRAM cell sizes for 18A, N2, and N3, as well as with TSMC’s expectations for N2 and N3, there are some things to note. First, this only concerns HD standard cells. Virtually all modern high-performance processors that rely on leading-edge nodes use a mix of high-density (HD), high-performance (HP), and low-power (LP) standard cells, not to mention capabilities like TSMC’s FinFlex and NanoFlex. Secondly, it is unclear how Intel’s and TSMC’s HP and LP standard cells compare. While it is logical to assume that N2 has a transistor density lead, it may not be as massive as the lead in HD standard cells. Third, in their papers presented at the IEDM event, both Intel and TSMC disclosed performance, power, and transistor density advantages of their next-generation 18A and N2 manufacturing processes over their predecessors. Still, there is currently no way to compare these two fabrication technologies head-to-head. When it comes to performance, TechInsights believes that Intel’s 18A will have a lead over TSMC’s N2 and Samsung’s SF2 (formerly known as SF3P). However, TechInsights uses a debatable method to compare the performance of the upcoming nodes, as it uses TSMC’s N16FF and Samsung’s 14nm process technologies as baselines and then adds announced node-to-node performance improvements from both companies to make its prediction. While this might serve as an estimate, it may not be entirely accurate. On the other hand, Intel specializes in making high-performance processors, so 18A could be tailored for performance and power efficiency rather than HD transistor density. At the end of the day, 18A supports PowerVia, a backside power delivery network, and chips that use it might have performance and transistor density advantages over TSMC’s N2, which does not support this capability. However, this does not mean that every 18A chip will use PowerVia. When it comes to power, TechInsights analysts presume that an N2-based chip will consume less power than a similar SF2-based IC, as TSMC has typically led in power efficiency in recent years. As for Intel, this remains to be seen, but at least 18A will provide an advantage in this area. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. There are a couple of other things to note. Intel’s 18A is set to enter mass production in mid-2025 when Intel begins production of its Core Ultra 3-series ‘Panther Lake’ processors, which will be available later this year. By contrast, TSMC’s N2 is slated for high-volume manufacturing in late 2025, and the first products produced on this node will not be available until mid-2026 at the earliest, with mass-market products expected in Fall 2026. Samsung does not disclose when exactly its SF2 enters HVM, only stating ‘2025,’ which could mean any time from Q1 to Q4 this year. Source link #Intels #18A #TSMCs #process #nodes #compared #Intel #faster #TSMC #denser Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s Plateauing Fuel Use Is Without Precedent, IEA Says China’s Plateauing Fuel Use Is Without Precedent, IEA Says (Bloomberg) — A slowdown in the growth of China’s fuel use is without precedent for a country at its stage of economic development, the International Energy Agency said. Most Read from Bloomberg Rapid uptake of alternative transport, coupled with shifts in the Asian nation’s economy, mean fuel use is close to plateauing and may already have done so. There’s may be a small drop in fuel use this year, the Paris-based adviser said. “For China’s fuel growth trajectory to be leveling off at this early stage of development is without historical precedent,” the IEA said. “This slide is likely to accelerate over the medium-term, which would be sufficient to generate a plateau in total China oil demand this decade.” China’s use of the three most important fuel products – gasoline, jet/kerosene and gasoil – declined slightly to 8.1 million barrels a day in 2024, the IEA said in its monthly Oil Market Report. This is just below 2021 levels and narrowly above 2019 use. For 2025, the agency anticipates a modest gain of 210,000 barrels a day in China’s oil demand but there are signs the country’s fuel consumption “may even have passed its peak.” A slump in the construction sector, historically a cornerstone of gasoil use, alongside persistently underwhelming consumer spending, which is closely associated with personal mobility and gasoline demand, has meant that recent economic gains appear to have been less oil intensive than in the past, according to the IEA. New electric vehicles currently account for half of car sales, undercutting around 250,000 to 300,000 barrels a day of demand growth in 2024. The wider use of compressed and liquefied natural gas in road freight displaced around 150,000 barrels a day, the report showed. Expansion in the provision of public transport, especially high-speed rail, has also contributed to the weakening in fuel use. These fuel substitutions have suppressed demand growth by around 1.2 million barrels a day since 2019 and will cancel out a further 400,000 barrels a day this year, mainly due to accelerating EV penetration, the IEA said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Source link #Chinas #Plateauing #Fuel #Precedent #IEA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Split Fiction Coming To Xbox Game Pass or EA Play? Is Split Fiction Coming To Xbox Game Pass or EA Play? Hazelight Studios is looking to gatecrash all the Game of the Year parties again. Split Fiction is the studio’s newest co-op project, and Xbox Game Pass and EA Play members are curious to see if the title is coming to either subscription service. It Takes Two to Tango, which is why the 2021 predecessor was so revered and successful. It shined a spotlight on tandem tale-telling and showed co-op games still have so much potential. I’ve already discussed our most anticipated co-op games of 2025, and comfortably topping the list has to be Split Fiction. Split Fiction on Game Pass would be smart, and it’s an EA game, so EA Play access is logical. However, the cookie doesn’t always crumble this way. Can You Play Split Fiction on Xbox Game Pass? Who will you choose? Credit to Hazelight Studios Split Fiction isn’t coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch, and all the evidence would suggest it is staying this way. It’s common for new game announcement trailers to mention Game Pass. Split Fiction was announced during The Game Awards 2024, and came with a full trailer. Unfortunately for Game Pass subscribers, there was zero mention of it coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one. The Split Fiction Xbox Store Page also neglects to mention Game Pass eligibility. There’s still time before release, meaning it could change. If it does, we’ll update this page and let you know. Will Split Fiction Come to Xbox Game Pass? It’s not confirmed, but Split Fiction could come to Xbox Game Pass if It Takes Two is anything to go by. It Takes Two released in March 2021. The co-op title was on Xbox Game Pass a few months later in November 2021. There’s no guarantee history repeats itself with Split Fiction. But there is a precedent here, so stay tuned for a change in its status. Can You Play Split Fiction on EA Play? Split Fiction is not available as a day-one title on EA Play. EA rarely (if ever) makes new EA titles free on EA Play straightaway. You can grab a Split Fiction discount if you have EA Play though. But like Game Pass, it’ll likely be a while before Hazelight’s newest co-op adventure is free-to-play on EA Play. Can another Josef Fares game catch lightning in a bottle and win Game of the Year again? Or is Split Fiction destined to split opinions and fall short of It Takes Two? Let us know based on what you’ve seen so far. Sony’s February State of Play showcase rightfully gave Split Fiction more exposure. You can check out the exciting new trailer showing off the litany of new ideas the release brings. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Split #Fiction #Coming #Xbox #Game #Pass #Play Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw are getting two new AI editing features Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw are getting two new AI editing features Adobe Adobe announced at its Max Japan 2025 design conference a pair of new AI editing tools for its Lightroom and Camera Raw applications designed to reduce the tedious repetition of many common tasks. First off, Adaptive Profiles, which technically debuted last fall, is now generally available in both Lightroom and Camera Raw for color and monochrome HDR images. Per Adobe, Adaptive Profiles, “dynamically adjust the tones and colors of your photos, creating an enhanced, yet realistic, starting point for further editing.” But rather than apply the same pre-set enhancements to every image it is applied to, Adaptive Profiles uses AI to analyze each image and optimize its adjustments including Exposure, Shadows, Highlights, Color Mixer, and Curves. Distraction Removal, on the other hand, is currently available in Early Access for Camera Raw users but is coming soon to Lightroom. It detects and removes distracting elements within an image photo, such as reflections in windows, crowds, or people photobombing in the background. Adobe is also rolling out a new feature that is sure to save photographers time, effort, and potentially their sanity. The new Find Duplicates feature has arrived in Early Access for Lightroom on the web users that tracks down and removes duplicate images within its library so that users don’t inadvertently start editing the wrong shot. Find Duplicates is being bundled under the Clean Up tool, which can also find and remove blurred images and screenshots. You’ll soon find it easier to share the photos you take through Lightroom mobile for iOS, thanks to a few new updates that are being released. The app, for example, will now auto-generate shareable links that you can be viewed by anyone you send them to, regardless of if they have Lightroom themselves. That link generation process will also be 75% faster than before. You’ll be able to quickly designate how and where your images will be shared — whether that’s copying the link, sharing over social media, or sending them directly to your contacts. There’s no word yet on when these sharing features will arrive on the Google and Samsung Lightroom apps. Source link #Adobe #Lightroom #Camera #Raw #editing #features Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dashcam Footage Captures Deadly Shopping Mall Explosion in Taiwan Dashcam Footage Captures Deadly Shopping Mall Explosion in Taiwan Windows and walls were blown out by the blast at the building in Taichung, the island’s second-largest city. Source link #Dashcam #Footage #Captures #Deadly #Shopping #Mall #Explosion #Taiwan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How fast is the ***’s economy growing and what is GDP? How fast is the ***’s economy growing and what is GDP? The limited growth recorded was driven by a range of industries which performed strongly in December, including pubs and bars and machinery manufacturers. A slightly different measurement called GDP per capita – which divides the total amount of GDP by the number of people in the *** – actually fell over the *******, by 0.1%. That’s because while the economy expanded during the three months, the *** population also grew, meaning the share of the country’s wealth per person was smaller. The government has made economic growth a key political priority. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was not satisfied by the latest GDP figures, but that the government was “doing what is necessary to bring stability to the economy”. However, the Bank of England has halved its growth forecast for the year ahead. In February it said it expects the economy to grow by 0.75% during 2025, down from its previous estimate of 1.5%. It is concerned about the impact of higher inflation in the *** as a result of higher wage and national insurance costs for employers, and increased energy and water bills for consumers. US trade tariffs could also put prices up. On 26 March, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) – which monitors the government’s spending plans and performance – is also expected to downgrade its forecasts for the health of the *** economy over the coming years. Economic forecasts are not always accurate but predictions from the Bank of England and the OBR are looked at closely. Source link #fast #UKs #economy #growing #GDP Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony Unveils Days Gone Remastered with New Modes, but It’s a Weak Consolation for the Canceled Sequel Sony Unveils Days Gone Remastered with New Modes, but It’s a Weak Consolation for the Canceled Sequel Sony has recently unveiled Days Gone Remastered for PS5 and PS5 Pro with a lot of improvements, better optimization, and new game modes. However, this is not enough to make up for canceling the sequel. Fans were excited about updates on the sequel, but they instead got bombed by the news of it being shelved last year. They will now only get the upcoming remastered version. Days Gone Remastered will hit the market in April 2025. Image Credit: Bend Studios The upcoming Days Gone Remastered will play better than the previous game, largely because the developers have improved upon the graphical quality as well as added many accessibility options to make the game even more immersive than before. Days Gone Remastered has some things to offer The remastered version will have a much better photo mode for in-game photography. Image Credit: Bend Studios The upcoming Days Gone Remastered will be released in April 2025 on PS5 and PS5 Pro. The new content will also be available on PC as a DLC named Broken Road on the same day. Rumors about a remastered version of Days Gone started to stir up in September 2024. On top of coming with improved visuals, the game will now also be able to utilize the DualSense wireless controller to the fullest due to the addition of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for an even more enhanced and immersive experience. There have been additions of new game modes, including horde assault, a permadeath mode, and a speed run mode. The photo mode too has been tweaked a little and will come with upgraded features like time-of-the-day settings, a three-point lighting system, and new logo options. All of these things sound quite interesting, especially if you are a long-term fan of the game. However, these additions do not justify canceling the sequel of Days Gone. Fans were eagerly waiting for the next game but will not have to adjust with just a remaster, which is not as great as the additions make it appear to be. Days Gone Remastered will only be available digitally for $49.99, and players with a pre-owned copy on PS4 can upgrade the game for $10. Pre-orders start today, February 13, 2025. The additions do add more years to the lifecycle of the game There are 3 new game modes in Day Gone Remastered. Image Credit: Bend Studios Days Gone Remastered will surely breathe some fresh air into the lungs of long-term fans of the game, especially because they will now get to experience the game in a different light. Days Gone is one of the best zombie games on the market and tops all the lists. It will be a unique experience to play the game on the latest PS5 and PS5 Pro with full DualSense support and enhanced graphical quality with better lighting, shadows, and increased foliage draw distance. It will be refreshing to see the game in a new light and try to beat the game in the speed run mode or the permadeath mode, both of which sound quite fun and will require players to approach the game in totally different styles. All in all, the remaster does sound fun, but players had more expectations from the developer. After the news of the sequel being canceled, this is the best that the developer can offer at the moment. What do you feel about this? Are you happy with a remastered version of Days Gone? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Sony #Unveils #Days #Remastered #Modes #Weak #Consolation #Canceled #Sequel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cherry Xtrfy M68 Pro Wireless Mouse Review Cherry Xtrfy M68 Pro Wireless Mouse Review With so many mice to choose from, one could not be faulted for analysis paralysis while trying to decide which their next purchase should be. From battery life to feature set to hardware options there are a lot of factors to consider. Even within our own Best Wireless Mice guide you’ll find an impressive range to choose from. The Cherry Xtrfy M68 Pro Wireless Mouse hopes to grab the attention of those looking for an ultra-light (1.94oz / 55g) gaming solution that focuses on battery life and ease of use. From the 8,000Hz poll rating sensor to the sensor with a max DPI of 26,000, the Cherry Xtrfy M68 Pro Wireless Mouse aims to be a streamlined gaming powerhouse with a low-profile design for those looking for a no-fuss plug-and-play gaming experience. With a price point of $139, the M68 Pro Wireless offers some solid design features and hardware. The impressive battery life plays in its favor as well. However, some of the design sacrifices needed to achieve the mouse’s low-profile front end are a cost not all gamers will be willing to take on. Design and Comfort of the M68 Pro Wireless The M68 Pro Wireless shares many similarities with its counterpart, the M64 Pro Wireless, which we reviewed in December. Unlike its counterpart, the M68 Pro Wireless opts for a symmetrical design, but it features an ultra-low front-end profile measuring just 0.3 inches (7.7mm) high. This design element has carried over from the M64 Pro and offers a very natural and comfortable grip positioning for your hand and wrist. This design also allows for better mouse control — it lets your hand fully close around the mouse, making it feel like an extension of your arm instead of a separate peripheral. To further support this design philosophy of control, the button positioning is excellent on the M68 Pro Wireless. It is also quite comfortable and offers excellent positioning to be easily within reach of the thumb and fingers. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Constructed of lightweight but durable plastic, the M68 Pro Wireless is covered by a matte UV coating to help reduce overall wear and tear. The coating does a decent job at offering protection, but I’ve noticed that after a few weeks of using the ****** variation (white and “Vitality” editions are also available), the oil generated by my fingertips has begun to leave some lasting residue on the buttons. Thankfully it’s easily wipeable returning the M68 Pro Wireless to its fresh, out-of-the-box look. The ****** version of the M68 Pro Wireless offers a minimalist aesthetic: while the shell and rubberized covering over the scroll wheel feature the aforementioned matte ****** finish, the mouse is accented with matte white side buttons and a matte white side finish on the scroll wheel. This helps give the M68 Pro a distinct — albeit, subtle — look. Interestingly, as part of the plug-and-play design philosophy, the M68 Pro Wireless doesn’t feature any of the standard RGB lighting offered in other premium mice. When considering Poll Rating and DPI specs compared to other mice in its price range such as the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed, the lack of RGB isn’t surprising as the M68 Pro Wireless is built with professional players in mind. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The M68 Pro Wireless has a 5-button design and a fairly straightforward layout. The left and right primary buttons feature the well-performing Huano Transparent Blue Shell Pink Dot switches, which are a variation of the standard Blue Shell Pink Dot switches — known for their clicky sound, accurate actuation, and quick response. The transparent variant offered a similar experience to the original Blue Shell Pink Dot switches in testing with only one notable difference: When clicked, they gave a different tactical response. They’re still as spammable as the originals, but they’re slightly quieter overall. This is ideal for settings that require a lot of spamming — in my case, playing any competitive shooter — as the overall noise level is slightly lower. The side buttons offered solid feedback as well during testing, and, as mentioned, are positioned quite well, allowing your thumb to easily reach both buttons without putting extra strain on the joint. As for the scroll wheel, Cherry opts for a notch-style wheel with a single push button at the center. While there was no customization or tilt wheel clicking, the wheel performed quite well, providing consistent scrolling up and down the page. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Flipping the M68 Pro Wireless over, you’re greeted with all of the customization controls On the left side of the bottom plate is a slide switch that allows for switching between off, Mouse sensitivity (CPI), Poll Rating (PR), and Debounce time (DT). On the right side is a single button that cycles through the various options of each of these settings. While the M68 Pro Wireless is primarily a wireless mouse and supports 2.4GHz wireless via the included dongle, it also supports wired mode. This brings me to the only other notable design element that needs to be addressed: the position of the charging port. The mouse has a USB-C charging port that doubles as the wired mode port located on the right side of the mouse. While there is a solid reason for this — it allows for a low-profile front end for better control — it is unfortunately very awkwardly placed for using the mouse in wired mode. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) When plugged in, the 6-foot (1.8m) USB-A to USB-C Cherry Xtrfy Ezcord lies to the side of the mouse. This makes left-to-right movement feel encumbered by the cord and takes away from the overall performance. It’s a weird design choice that hampers performance. The M68 Pro Wireless charges relatively quickly (about two hours to go from 0% to 100%), but if you need to charge during a gameplay session, things get awkward. That said, the M68 Pro Wireless is comfortable to use in wireless mode. I have fairly large hands, but I still found the mouse quite comfortable in hand, thanks to the well-placed, easy-to-reach buttons. I had my 11-year-old daughter test the mouse for hand-size comparison — and after a few hours of Lego Fortnite, she was hesitant to give it back to me. She found it to be easy to use with great button placement, even with her smaller hands. The button placement, coupled with the mouse’s light weight of 1.94 ounces (55g) makes the M68 Pro Wireless easy to handle, move, and pick up. It’s a bit of an adjustment if you’re moving from something heavier, such as the 3.9-ounce Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, but it will quickly feel like an extension of your arm. The mouse also glides well, thanks to the PTFT feet. Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Sensor Model Pixart 3395 Max Sensitivity 26,000 Max Speed (IPS) 650 Max Acceleration (Gs) 50 Polling Rates 125 / 250 / 500 / 1000 / 4,000 / 8,000 Programmable Buttons 3 programmable buttons LED Zones NA Cable 6ft/1.8m, USB-A to USB-C (Cherry Xtrfy Ezcord) Connectivity 2.4GHz Wireless, Wired (USB-A to USB-C) Measurements (L x W x H) 4.85 x 2.5 x 1.54 inches / 123.2 x 65.5 x 39.1mm Weight (excluding cable) 1.94oz / 55g MSRP / Price at Time of Review $139.00 / £139.00 Release Date August 2, 2024 Performance The M68 Pro Wireless features a Pixart 3395 optical sensor, which has a maximum sensitivity of 26,000 DPI and a maximum speed of 650 IPS, and can handle up to 60 G’s of force. These specs put the M68 Pro Wireless in line with other premium gaming mice in its price range. It has DPI presets of 400, 800, 1,200, 1,600, 3,200, 4,000, 7,200, and 26,000, so you shouldn’t have any issues adjusting the mouse’s settings to suit your needs. The onboard switching is easy to use, but the lack of software means you’re limited to the pre-programmed presets that come with the mouse. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Pixart 3395 sensor responded well in testing — mouse movements were precise and accurate, and each of the DPI settings felt distinct. The M68 Pro Wireless performed expectedly well in game testing, with accurate movements and a speedy response time. The mouse manages a respectable 650 IPS in maximum speed and can handle up to 60 G’s of force — a little lower than what you’ll see in Razer’s latest mice (750 IPS, 70 G’s of force), but the responsiveness of the mouse was excellent, especially in FPS games. Like many ultralight, stripped-down gaming mice today, the M68 Pro Wireless boasts up to an 8,000 Hz wireless polling rate for an ultra-smooth experience. The mouse comes with an 8,000 Hz-ready 2.4GHz wireless dongle, which is a nice touch considering many of Razer’s mice require you to purchase a separate dongle for faster polling rates. The mouse’s sensor held up well during surface tests, providing accurate feedback on a variety of surfaces: a mouse pad, a reflective table top, and even a plastic folding table surface (though the slight texture did reduce the overall drag smoothness). The only surface the mouse struggled with was glass, which was what we expected. Features and Software Perhaps the biggest strength of the M68 Pro Wireless — and the entire Cherry Xtrfy M series — is the software-free plug-and-play design. All of the mouse’s settings are handled using the switches on the bottom of the mouse. It’s not super straightforward, and you will need to read through the online manual to understand what the small indicator light (located on the left side of the mouse) is trying to tell you. Along with CPI (DPI), polling rate, and debounce time, the mouse also lets you adjust lift-off distance, motion sync, and sensor mode. Lift-off has two presets (1mm and 2mm), while motion sync, which syncs data rates between the mouse input and computer input. As for sensor mode, the M68 Pro Wireless comes with three different ones: Pro Gaming, Standard Gaming, and Low Power. Pro Gaming mode dials the sensor settings to provide speed, sensitivity, and pro-level response times for serious gamers. The drawback to this mode is that it requires extra power, which means reduced battery life. Standard Gaming mode is a middle-of-the-road setting, for a solid gaming experience and decent battery life. Finally, Low Power mode focuses on preserving battery life. To switch these settings, including cycling through sensor modes, you’ll need to press and hold various combinations of buttons, which can be found in the manual. Luckily, lift-off and motion sync are probably not things you’ll need to switch too often, but if you plan on using the sensor modes it can be a bit of a hassle. The plug-and-play experience offered by the M68 Pro Wireless is actually pretty good if you’re the kind of gamer who knows what you want — and let’s face it, most of us aren’t switching up our mouse settings all that often, anyway. But because there’s no software, you are limited to the presets that come with the mouse. You can’t fine-tune settings like DPI, reprogram buttons, or measure things like battery life via software. There is an LED indicator light, but you’ll need to reference the manual to see what each setting is currently adjusted to, and as there are a lot of settings, this gets complicated quickly. You can also check the battery life with a combination of button presses and the indicator LED — but, again, that just further complicates things. The plus side, of course, is that you don’t have to struggle through bloated peripheral software. Battery Life The M68 Pro Wireless is designed primarily for wireless gaming over its 2.4GHz wireless connection. Wired gaming is an option, but it’s not a great option due to the odd placement of the charging port. The mouse has a 3,500 mAh battery, which Cherry rates at around 90 hours of use in Standard Gaming mode. This estimate proved to be true in my testing, and I was able to easily push through a couple of weeks before needing a recharge, which should be good for most gamers. In Pro Gaming mode, this time drops considerably — I managed about two and a half days of use. The biggest frustration was not having a good indicator of battery level — even when the battery was running low, the small indicator LED turning red was easy to miss, and I ended up with a dead mouse more than once during my tests. The mouse does recharge fully in about two hours, but the side location of the charging port is just so awkward. The Bottom Line The Cherry Xtrfy M68 Pro Wireless mouse is interesting. It has a sleek, minimalist symmetrical design that’s comfortable to use, and features a low-profile front end for exceptional mouse control. The buttons are well-placed and the plug-and-play design wasn’t too complicated as long as I had the manual on hand. The sensor performs very well and the battery life is in line with similarly stripped-down, lightweight mice. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) But there are two issues that are hard to get past — the complete lack of software support and the awkwardly-placed charging port. While I appreciate Cherry’s commitment to a hardware-focused design, it would be nice to have the option to make some adjustments and track battery life via software. At the very least, I’d like a better way to determine how the mouse is currently configured. The charging port location is a bit of a catch-22, as the location allows the mouse to have its low-profile front end, which does allow for fantastic control. But the mouse is very cumbersome to use in wired mode — it’s honestly better to just not use it. And while the charging time is relatively quick, it’s still two hours you’ll need to spend with a backup mouse. While it does bring a more interesting design concept to the table instead of just a boring, stripped-down ultralightweight, high-polling mouse like Glorious’ Model D 2 Pro 4K/8K, it is still $139. HyperX’s Pulsefire Haste 2 is lighter (53g) and also offers 8K polling rates — and while it is wired, the cable is extremely flexible and low drag (and it’s only $60). Source link #Cherry #Xtrfy #M68 #Pro #Wireless #Mouse #Review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pastor Gears Up For Potentially Historic Nationwide Baptism Event: ‘God Can Do Anything’ Pastor Gears Up For Potentially Historic Nationwide Baptism Event: ‘God Can Do Anything’ A California pastor is on a mission to hold the biggest mass baptism in world history. Mark Francey of Oceans Church in San Juan Capistrano, California, is gearing up for Baptize America, a one-day event June 8 he hopes will become the “world’s largest synchronized water baptism.” It’s an ambitious effort that follows two previous events: Baptize SoCal and Baptize California. The former, held in 2023, saw nearly 4,200 baptisms, while the latter, which unfolded last year, saw more than 12,200 people be immersed. Now, Francey wants to up the ante and take these local and state events national. “We’re going to launch a nationwide movement,” Francey said. “We just believe that if God could do it here in California, He can certainly do it in Tennessee, or Florida, or some of the other great states.” He continued, “We’re gearing up. We’re really, really excited for what God’s doing with this baptism movement.” Hear Francey explain here. Francey is working across denominations and “boundaries” to unite Christians on one of the main elements on which the vast majority of ****** believers agree: baptism. “I think that baptism could be a catalytic thing that we can all rally around, get excited about to mobilize the church to work together,” he said. Francey’s efforts come as claims of Christian revival reverberate across the U.S. Reports of college students being mass baptized in the backs of pick-up trucks and the much-heralded Asbury revival — an event at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, in February 2023 that attracted people from across the globe and resulted in a non-stop church service that lasted two weeks — have made headlines. Baptize America seeks to capitalize on this spiritual fervor, inviting churches across America to hold synchronized baptism events June 8. Individuals are also welcome to register on the Baptize America website. Francey said no one is more surprised by the success of his mass baptisms than he is, calling himself “probably the least likely candidate to try to do something like this.” But he believes he was called to step up to the plate with Baptize SoCal and help lead the movement — a call he has heeded. And with that local event expanding to a state effort and now a national quest, he knows he made the right call. “We’re just a bunch of nobodies that believe that God can do anything,” Francey said. “And when we tried to partner with God, He’s just created this divine momentum that we could never really reproduce.” Francey is hoping to reach people who don’t normally go to church but who might be curious about the ****** and faith. “We’re going to actually do a campaign that’s massive, basically inviting people that normally wouldn’t come to church to go, ‘Hey, do you want to get closer to God? Are you ready to take the next step? Get water baptized. It’s the largest synchronized baptism day in history. Be a part of it,’” Francey said. Find out more about Baptize America here. ***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.*** Source link #Pastor #Gears #Potentially #Historic #Nationwide #Baptism #Event #God Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony has sold 74.9 million PlayStation 5s Sony has sold 74.9 million PlayStation 5s Sony just had its best holiday season ever in terms of PlayStation 5 console sales with 9.5 million sold over the last three months (2024 Q3), the company announced in its earnings release. That’s 1.3 million more than it sold in the same quarter last year (its previous best holiday quarter) and raises all-time PS5 sales to 74.9 million. The launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro last fall likely provided a boost for the quarter, but Sony didn’t break out numbers for that console specifically. The record quarter means that the PS5 is just 1.5 million units behind where the PS4 was at the same time in its sales life cycle. It also propelled Sony to a higher-than-expected 469.3 billion yen ($3.05 billion) profit (all divisions included). The company also saw a boost in game sales, up to 95.9 million units sold in Q3 2024 compared to 89.7 million the previous quarter, despite a hefty drop in first party sales. That boosted game software revenue to 784 billion yen ($5.1 billion), compared to 733 billion yen in Q3 2023. On its webcast, Sony shouted out the success of Astro Bot and Helldivers 2, affirming its intention to expand its family and live service game offerings (despite axing recent games in the latter category). Meanwhile, PlayStation Network (PSN) monthly active users rose from 123 to 129 million. Looking ahead, Sony said it had “high expectations” game sales this year, including first-party titles Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei, both set to release in 2025. We’ll also see some big third-party launches, particularly Grand Theft Auto 6 set to arrive in fall 2025. Source link #Sony #sold #million #PlayStation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]