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Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Which is Better? Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Which is Better? Samsung has finally introduced its most affordable 5G smartphone in India. The latest Samsung Galaxy F06 5G is the brand’s attempt to capture a sizeable chunk in the sub-Rs 12,000 price segment. The Korean brand’s latest budget-centric smartphone comes loaded with interesting features and specifications. The device offers a unique design at the rear panel, a decent processor, the latest Android version, and more. However, the competition is quite tough in this price segment. The Lava Blaze 3 5G has almost the same features and specifications as the Galaxy F06 5G. So, the question here is: Which is better? So, to help you with the decision, we are putting both devices against each other to see which offers a better value-for-money proposition. So, without further ado, let’s get started. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Price in India The Samsung Galaxy F06 5G price in India currently starts at Rs 10,999 for the 4GB RAM and 128GB storage option. The 6GB RAM and 128GB model is available for Rs 11,499. That said, the company is currently offering an introductory bank cashback offer, which brings the effective price of Rs 9,499 for the base variant and Rs 10,999 for the top-end variant. The Lava Blaze 3 5G comes with a single variant that is priced at Rs. 11,499. However, with some banks’ offers, customers can purchase it for as low as Rs 9,999. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Design The Samsung Galaxy F06 5G offers a sleek design. The rear panel comes with a new Ripple Glow finish that shimmers with every movement. The front comes with a waterdrop-notch display. The Samsung Galaxy F06 5G is available in two colour options: Bahama Blue and Lit Violet. It measures 167.4 x 77.4 x 8mm and weighs 191 grams. The Lava Blaze 3 5G also brings an interesting design language to the table. The device offers a glass back and packs a Vibe Light at the rear panel, which is a segment-first feature. The front panel comes with a punch-hole cutout. The Lava Blaze 3 5G is available in Glass Blue and Glass Gold colour options. The phone measures 164.3 x 76.24 x 8.6mm and weighs 201 grams. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Display The Samsung Galaxy F06 5G features a 6.7-inch HD+ display. The screen comes with a screen resolution of 720×1600 pixels. Moreover, the company is offering a 60Hz refresh rate and up to 800nits of peak brightness on the latest device. The Lava Blaze 3 5G is loaded with a 6.56-inch HD+ curved display. The screen offers a resolution of 720×1600 pixels. Moreover, the handset features a 90Hz screen refresh rate. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Performance and OS The Samsung Galaxy F06 5G is loaded with the latest MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, which is based on a 6nm process. The handset comes loaded with ARM Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. Moving on, the Galaxy F06 5G is available with up to 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. The storage can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card. The device comes equipped with Android 15 with One UI 7.0 on top. Interestingly, the brand is offering four years of OS and four years of security updates for this smartphone. The Lava Blaze 3 5G is also powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor. The handset comes loaded with a single storage option. You get 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. That said, the memory can be further expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card slot. The Blaze 3 5G runs on Android 14 operating system and offers a stock Android experience. The company promised an upgrade to Android 15 and two years of security updates for the phone. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Cameras The handset comes equipped with a dual-camera setup on the rear panel. The device features a 50-megapixel with f/1.8 aperture coupled with a 2-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. On the front, the device features an 8-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calling. The Lava Blaze 3 5G comes equipped with a dual-camera setup on the rear panel. The device features a 50-megapixel with f/1.8 aperture coupled with a 2-megapixel AI sensor. You also get a new Vibe Light feature on the smartphone. On the front, the device features an 8-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calling. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Battery In terms of battery, the Samsung Galaxy F06 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery. The company offers 25W fast-charge support. The Lava handset is loaded with a 5,000mAh battery. The device also supports 18W fast charging. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G: Conclusion To conclude, both devices come neck-to-neck in terms of sheer specifications. The Samsung Galaxy F06 5G offers a shiny design language coupled with the latest Android version. It is a good thing to see that the brand has promised four years of OS and security updates to the device, which is a rarity in this price segment. On the other hand, the Lava Blaze 3 5G brings a slightly better display and a glass back that adds a bit of premium touch. So, if you want a Samsung smartphone under a budget with longer updates, then you can consider the Galaxy F06 5G. Those who want a stock Android experience coupled with a slightly smoother display can consider the Lava Blaze 3 5G. Samsung Galaxy F06 5G vs Lava Blaze 3 5G comparison Key Specs Display 6.70-inch 6.50-inch Front Camera 8-megapixel 8-megapixel Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 2-megapixel 50-megapixel + 2-megapixel RAM 4GB, 6GB 6GB Storage 128GB 128GB Battery Capacity 5000mAh 5000mAh OS Android 15 Android 14 Resolution – 1600×720 pixels Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #F06 #Lava #Blaze Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony Expects Stronger First-Party Games in FY 2025; 42% of PS5 Holiday Purchasers Were New Users Sony Expects Stronger First-Party Games in FY 2025; 42% of PS5 Holiday Purchasers Were New Users Sony hosted its financial conference call, and Hiroki Totoki provided more insight into the performance of the PlayStation business and PS5. Source link #Sony #Expects #Stronger #FirstParty #Games #PS5 #Holiday #Purchasers #Users Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** says it will continue releasing hostages under Gaza deal ****** says it will continue releasing hostages under Gaza deal ****** has said it is committed to implementing the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel and will continue releasing hostages within the agreed time frame. Following talks in Cairo, the ************ armed group said Egyptian and Qatari mediators had confirmed they would “remove obstacles” to the deal. There was no response from Israel, but the prime minister’s office denied Egyptian and Qatari reports that mediators had bridged the gaps between the two sides and both were committed to continue implementation. On Tuesday, Israel said the ceasefire would end if ****** did not return hostages this Saturday. ****** had earlier said it was postponing releases over what it claimed were Israeli violations. ****** said Israel was not allowing in the agreed amounts of vital humanitarian aid, including tents and shelters, which Israel denied. The group’s announcement prompted US President Donald Trump to propose Israel cancel the agreement and “let hell break out” unless “all of the hostages” were returned by Saturday. Source link #****** #continue #releasing #hostages #Gaza #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Work on new towns to begin by 2029, housing minister says Work on new towns to begin by 2029, housing minister says Work on a number of new towns will begin before the next general election after more than 100 locations across England were put forward, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has pledged. Most proposals are for extensions to existing towns or cities, alongside proposals for new standalone settlements. The aim is for each new town to have at least 10,000 homes, contributing towards the 1.5 million Labour has pledged to get built by 2029. Each new town will include affordable housing, and infrastructure such as transport, GP surgeries, schools and green spaces, ministers have said. Creating a new generation of new towns is a key element of the government’s long-term plan for housebuilding, and part of its efforts to unlock economic growth. More than 100 potential sites across England have been suggested to a special taskforce set up to examine the options, after the government asked for expressions of interest from councils, housing developers and landowners. The sites have not been revealed, but London, the South East, the South West and the east of England have proved the most popular – though there were expressions of interest from every region. The taskforce will identify specific locations – as well as funding options – by the summer, with a view to construction on the first sites beginning by the time of the next election. Pennycook told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the aim was to build “well-designed, affordable, attractive homes” that would “eventually house millions of people just as the post-War waves of new towns did”. He described it as a “transformational programme” that he expected to “make a contribution to housing numbers in this Parliament”. However, speaking on Sky News, he conceded: “These things take time to get off the ground. No one’s pretending that the new towns programme is going to make up the bulk of that 1.5 million number. “We’re relying on the other changes we’ve made, including overhauling the national planning policy framework to get new sites coming through.” He said he expected some of the construction to take place on greenfield land, but there would also be “big expansions of existing towns and cities where that is appropriate”. “There’s got to be sustainable places, as I say, they’ve got to be well-connected, well-designed.” Source link #Work #towns #housing #minister Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police release footage of missing Queensland woman Tayla Spies as search continues Police release footage of missing Queensland woman Tayla Spies as search continues CCTV footage shows Tayla Spies just hours before she vanished from a small town in Queensland’s Western Downs region in early February. Source link #Police #release #footage #missing #Queensland #woman #Tayla #Spies #search #continues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Train Hero Now Available On Steam And Google Play Train Hero Now Available On Steam And Google Play Train Hero is an immersive adventure game that combines cutting-edge technology with compelling storytelling that forever keeps you on edge. Source link #Train #Hero #Steam #Google #Play Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Interview: Why Samsung put a *** startup centre stage Interview: Why Samsung put a *** startup centre stage Oxford Semantic Technologies, is an example of what Matt Clifford, chair of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), was thinking about when he drafted the proposals for the government 50-point AI ppportunities action plan. In 2017, three University of Oxford professors – Ian Horrocks, Boris Motik and Bernardo Cuenca Grau – formed Oxford Semantic Technologies to take to market a novel approach to data discovery, which uses Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KRR). KRR is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) that represents a logical and knowledge-based approach. Unlike machine learning, which finds patterns in vast datasets and draws statistical outputs, KRR aims to improve the accuracy of AI inference by making logical and explainable decisions based on data combined with expert knowledge. The company’s technology caught the attention of Samsung Electronics and was acquired by Samsung in July last year. Co-founder Horrocks was among the speakers at last month’s Galaxy Unpacked event, where Samsung unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S25. In a recent podcast interview with Computer Weekly recorded after Galaxy Unpacked, Horrocks described the experience as “pretty amazing”, which he says was the culmination of many years of research. The DeepSeek effect What is interesting about the technology developed by Oxford Semantic Technologies is that it does not require vast amounts of compute to run AI, as Horrocks explains: “One of the reasons why Samsung was so excited about our knowledge graph system is the fact that it can run on the phone. You can build it with a relatively small footprint and relatively small compute requirement.” Among the benefits of using on-device AI, as Horrocks points out, is: “You do need to move potentially sensitive personal data off into the cloud. You can do everything on your own device, so you’re in control. The AI on the phone can’t use what it can’t see and isn’t sharing your sensitive personal data.” The idea that AI does not require vast farms of hugely expensive high-performance compute is a departure from the generally accepted approach deployed across the industry. In fact, a direct effect of China’s DeepSeek is that it demonstrates to the AI world that AI can be done on the cheap. This resulted in financial market turmoil, especially as server manufacturers and the likes of Nvidia have modelled their projected growth on the exponential rise in demand for AI servers, powered by the latest and most expensive generation of graphics processing units (GPUs). When asked about DeepSeek, Horrocks says: “I still think it’s very interesting how it challenges the orthodox view that generative AI [GenAI] is just all about compute power for training and inference.” In fact, anyone can download the open source distribution of DeepSeek and run it locally on a personal computer. But for many, the incredibly low cost of $0.14 per million tokens to query the cloud-base version undercuts rival large language models. The US has banned the export of high-end chips from Nvidia to China in a bid to stifle ******** AI research and development. With more details of DeepSeek being revealed, what is becoming apparent is that its R1 model used “inferior” AI processor technology. Unlike the US AI firms, which have access to the latest Nvidia graphics processors (GPUs), it has now transpired that DeepSeek used the Huawei Ascend 910C AI chips for inference. According to Huawei, the Ascend 910C is slightly inferior to the Nvidia H100 in performing basic learning tasks. However, it claimed that the Ascend 910C can offer lower energy costs and higher operational efficiency than its more powerful rival. Yet, even with the lower processing performance, benchmarks show that DeepSeek is just as good as OpenAI. On-device AI Irrespective of what policial instruments are used to target DeepSeek – which, at the time of writing, is being sanctioned by a growing number of countries – its existence demonstrates that a large language model (LLM) can run on relatively low-spec hardware. It can be downloaded from an open source repository on GitHub and there are small versions of the model that can run entirely disconnected from a network on a PC or Mac. But Horrocks and the team at Oxford Semantic Technologies have been able to get AI to run on even smaller devices. Oxford Semantic Technology’s RDFox has a very small footprint in terms of processing requirements, as Horrocks explains: “One of the reasons why Samsung was so excited about our knowledge graph system is that RDFox can actually run directly on the phone.” Horrocks says that one of the challenges the people behind Oxford Semantic Technologies were able to tackle is how to achieve what he calls “logical reasoning” in a small footprint. This ultimately led to the RDFox product. “I was working with a brilliant colleague at Oxford called Boris Motik, who had this idea that to address this problem using a combination of modern computer architecture with some very clever, novel data structures and algorithms,” he adds. According to Horrocks, the main benefit, which RDFox shares with DeepSeek, is that potentially sensitive personal data does need to be uploaded to the public cloud for processing. “You can do everything there on your own device, so then you’re in control. You can control what the AI on the phone can see and what it can’t see, and you know that it isn’t sharing your sensitive personal data,” he adds. It is too early to tell how significant on-device AI will become. It is already providing enhanced and richer search internet results, but this is just scratching the surface of what is possible once millions of people have AI on a device that they carry around everywhere. The brief feature – which, on the Galaxy S25, summarises the day’s activities – is something people may find useful. “One of the things that’s important,” Horrocks adds, “is that it integrates across multiple devices. So, maybe when you go to the gym or you’re walking the dog, maybe you have a wearable device, the device’s AI can learn a user’s daily routine.” And, as Horrocks points out, this represents a big opportunity for Samsung. Source link #Interview #Samsung #put #startup #centre #stage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

White Station Middle School assistant principal accused of ***** White Station Middle School assistant principal accused of ***** MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis-Shelby County Schools assistant principal was arrested on Monday and indicted on an aggravated ***** charge. Dr. Marcus Matthews, 44, serves as the assistant principal of Grade 7 at White Station Middle School. Principal charged with ***** was on TV after writing paternity book Dr. Marcus Matthews (SCSO) He is being held on a $100,000 bond. Memphis-Shelby County Schools provided the following statement regarding Matthews’ arrest: “Memphis-Shelby County Schools is aware that Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies visited White Station Middle School on Monday to meet with a school staff member who was escorted from the building and later placed under arrest. The Sheriff’s Department has not released details of the charges leading to the arrest, but this incident does not appear to be related to immigration enforcement. The District has placed the staff member on investigative leave until more information becomes available. The safety of students and staff remains our top priority.” “I’m just at a loss for words with it because that’s just so surprising,” said Seth Russell, a previous student at the middle school. “When I was there I felt like everything was fine and all the staff were you know really helpful. I mean, I just feel bad for all the students.” One mother said her sons could not stop crying after hearing the news because they adored Dr. Matthews. “I hope and pray that he gets the help, and so I have compassion for that and for the victims, my gosh,” said the woman. We will update this story as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Source link #White #Station #Middle #School #assistant #principal #accused #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Astronomics Preview – Thumb Culture Astronomics Preview – Thumb Culture “Astronomics is a top-down space mining and exploration game by Numizmatic (Light Fingers) and it launched into Early Access on Steam February 10th, 2025.” Jordan @ Thumb Culture Source link #Astronomics #Preview #Thumb #Culture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump-Putin Call Was ‘No Betrayal’ of Ukraine, Hegseth Says Trump-Putin Call Was ‘No Betrayal’ of Ukraine, Hegseth Says The U.S. defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, on Thursday defended President Trump’s conversation about Ukraine with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, saying it was “no betrayal” of Kyiv even though no representative of that country took part. The call on Wednesday, which Mr. Trump characterized as the beginning of a negotiation to end the war in Ukraine, was the first known conversation between the Russian and American leaders since Mr. Trump returned to the White House last month. It has raised concerns among some European leaders that Ukraine could effectively be sidelined in any peace negotiations. “There is no betrayal there,” said Mr. Hegseth, speaking as he arrived for a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. “There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States is invested and interested in peace, a negotiated peace.” He said that only Mr. Trump, who held a separate call with Mr. Zelensky after he had spoken with Mr. Putin, was capable of convening the powers who could bring peace. The call between Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump raised alarm in part because Ukrainian and European leaders have repeatedly insisted that there should be no talks on ending the war in Ukraine that do not involve Ukrainian representatives. Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary general, reiterated that position when he arrived at the meeting in Brussels, saying it was crucial that Ukraine be closely involved in all talks on its future. Mr. Hegseth’s remarks came a day after he said that the United States did not support Ukraine’s desire to join NATO as part of a peace plan and that a return to Ukraine’s borders before 2014 — when Russia annexed Crimea — was “unrealistic.” On Thursday, he repeated calls for NATO members to increase their military spending beyond 2 percent of gross domestic product and aim for 5 percent, — saying that Europe needs to step forward in leadership and in providing security guarantees. But Mr. Hegseth also offered a robust defense of the NATO alliance and America’s role in it. “America is right alongside our allies in NATO to ensure we remain strong and that this conflict comes to an end,” he said in Brussels. That message is likely to reassure NATO countries, who were rattled when Mr. Trump said during his first term that the United States might withdraw from the alliance. Source link #TrumpPutin #Call #Betrayal #Ukraine #Hegseth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wizardry Variants Daphne Review – Hardcore Droid Wizardry Variants Daphne Review – Hardcore Droid Wizardry Variants Daphne is a thrilling and surprisingly immersive turn-based dungeon crawler that stays true to its early RPG roots. Source link #Wizardry #Variants #Daphne #Review #Hardcore #Droid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CVS gets an upgrade to buy from Leerink Partners after pharmacy operator’s strong earnings CVS gets an upgrade to buy from Leerink Partners after pharmacy operator’s strong earnings CVS Health has more room to run even as the broader health care segment remains troubled, according to Leerink Partners. Leerink upgraded the pharmacy operator and benefits manager to outperform from market perform and raised its price target to $75 per share from $55. Leerink’s new forecast calls for about 19% upside from Wednesday’s close. CVS Health has pulled back more than 17% over the past year, but has been on fire in 2025 with a 40% year-to-date gain. On Wednesday, the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings , sending the stock up 15% on the day. CVS YTD mountain Shares have advanced about 40% so far in 2025. “With CVS’ seeing the important stabilization signs we’ve been waiting for on Aetna and HC Benefits, we see the reward as positively skewed on a risk-adjusted basis,” analyst Michael Cherny wrote. “We see this initial FY25 guidance … as likely driving more upside than downside to our multi-year estimates.” Cherny added that the stock is still trading at discount elative to peers despite the early 2025 surge. CVS trades at about 10 times forward earnings, well below the S & P 500 health care sector’s multiple of 18. The analyst also pointed to CVS’ managed care and retail pharmacy segments as catalysts for growth moving forward and could “create a series of natural offsets that help drive the enterprise growth algorithm.” “The totality of CVS has better long-term upside potential than what we feel is currently factored into the stock, with the biggest pieces of uncertainty starting to show positive signs of improvement/potential inflection,” Cherny said. Analysts are somewhat split on the stock. LSEG data shows that 17 of 29 who cover CVS rate it as a buy or strong buy. The remaining 12 have a hold rating on it. Source link #CVS #upgrade #buy #Leerink #Partners #pharmacy #operators #strong #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Genesis Invitational Best Bets and Golf Odds – VSiN Genesis Invitational Best Bets and Golf Odds – VSiN Genesis Invitational Best Bets and Golf Odds VSiNPower Rankings: The Genesis Invitational PGA TOURGolf model reveals top three longshot picks to target at the 2025 Genesis Invitational CBS SportsThe Genesis Invitational 2025: How to watch, schedule, more ESPNGenesis Invitational prize money: Rory McIlroy can pass this all-time great for second in career money NBC Sports Source link #Genesis #Invitational #Bets #Golf #Odds #VSiN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelda fans definitely dont want to miss this awesome new Switch RPG Zelda fans definitely dont want to miss this awesome new Switch RPG EP Games Oppidum shouldnt fly under your radar if you love Zelda-style visuals and indulging in RPG antics on your Nintendo Switch. Source link #Zelda #fans #dont #awesome #Switch #RPG Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scarlett Johansson calls out ‘misuse of AI’ over deepfake Kanye West protest video Scarlett Johansson calls out ‘misuse of AI’ over deepfake Kanye West protest video Scarlett Johansson has warned about the “misuse of AI” after a deepfake video purported to show her and other Jewish celebrities sending a message of protest to Kanye West. It comes after the rapper recently left the X platform following a tirade of anti-semitic posts, and also sold swaztika T-shirts on his website. In the fake video, Johansson and other stars including David Schwimmer and Jerry Seinfeld were depicted wearing a white T-shirt showing the Star of David on a hand giving a one-finger salute, above the word “Kanye”. The US actress said that while she had no time for “hate speech”, she was as concerned about the threat of AI making us “risk losing hold on reality”. In a statement to People, the ****** Widow actress said: “It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction. “I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. “But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it.” She added: “We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality.” Likenesses of Steven Spielberg, Adam Sandler and Sacha Baron Cohen were also used without their permission in the video, as well as other stars including Natalie Portman and Lenny Kravitz. The video carries the slogan: “Enough is enough. Join the fight against anti-semtisim.” West, now legally known as Ye, repeatedly referred to himself as a “Nazi” and praised Hitler on X before saying he was closing his account on Sunday. He also appeared in an advert during the Super Bowl directing people to his website, which started selling only one product: T-shirts with swastikas on. On Tuesday, the site was taken down by Shopify due to policy violations. On Wednesday, Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy condemned the ad in a note to staff. “The ad, which was presented as a legitimate online apparel site before and during the airing of the Super Bowl, was switched at some point afterwards, and completely outside of our stations’ control respondents to the commercials were redirected toward the marketing of a wholly appalling product,” he said, Variety reported. Meanwhile, Ty Dolla $ign, who collaborated with West in 2024 on his latest albums, Vultures 1 and Vultures 2, also distanced himself from the rapper this week, but stopped short of calling him out by name. “I do not condone any form of hate speech towards anybody,” Ty Dolla $ign wrote on Instagram. Writing in the Jewish Chronicle about the deepfake anti-Kanye video, Nicole Lampert said “it was was thrilling to see Jewish stars standing up to Kanye West – if only they had really done it”. “A viral video of the campaign, which transpired to be AI-generated, only serves to highlight the deafening silence of the celebrity class.” The issue comes as new figures from the ***’s Advertising Standards Authority suggest fake adverts featuring celebrities and public figures remain the most common type of scam adverts appearing online. Source link #Scarlett #Johansson #calls #misuse #deepfake #Kanye #West #protest #video Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rogue states could use AI to do ‘real harm’, warns ex-Google CEO | Artificial intelligence (AI) Rogue states could use AI to do ‘real harm’, warns ex-Google CEO | Artificial intelligence (AI) Google’s former chief executive has warned that artificial intelligence could be used by rogue states such as North Korea, Iran and Russia to “harm innocent people”. Eric Schmidt, who held senior posts at Google from 2001 to 2017, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that those countries and terrorists could adopt and misuse the technology to develop weapons to create “a bad biological attack from some evil person”. The tech billionaire said: “The real fears that I have are not the ones that most people talk about AI – I talk about extreme risk. “Think about North Korea, or Iran, or even Russia, who have some evil goal. This technology is fast enough for them to adopt that they could misuse it and do real harm.” In reference to the head of the al-Qaida terrorist group who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks in 2001, he said: “I’m always worried about the ****** bin Laden scenario, where you have some truly evil person who takes over some aspect of our modern life and uses it to harm innocent people.” Schmidt agreed with the US export controls introduced by the former US president Joe Biden, which restricted the ***** of the microchips that power the most advanced AI system to 18 countries to slow adversaries’ progress on AI research. He urged government oversight on private tech companies that are developing AI models, but added that over-regulation could stifle innovation. “It’s really important that governments understand what we’re doing and keep their eye on us,” he said. “My experience with the tech leaders is that they do have an understanding of the impact they’re having, but they might make a different values judgment than the government would make.” Schmidt was speaking from Paris, where the two-day AI Action summit finished on Tuesday with the US and *** refusing to sign an agreement on “inclusive” AI. The declaration was signed by 57 countries, including India and China, the EU and the African Union. The *** declined to back the joint communique because it failed to provide enough “practical clarity” or address “harder questions” about national safety. The US vice-president, JD Vance, has said that regulation would “kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off”. Schmidt said Europe’s more restricted approach meant “that the AI revolution, which is the most important revolution in my opinion since electricity, is not going to be invented in Europe”. Separately, Schmidt, who was head of Google when the company bought Android, which now makes the most-used mobile phone operating system in the world, said he supported initiatives to keep phones out of schools. “The situation with children is particularly disturbing to me,” he said. “I think smartphones with a kid can be safe, they just need to be moderated … we can all agree that children should be protected from the bad of the online world.” Schmidt has also supported proposals for a ban on social media for children under 16. He said: “Why would we run such a large, uncontrolled experiment on the most important people in the world, which is the next generation?” Source link #Rogue #states #real #harm #warns #exGoogle #CEO #Artificial #intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Is Where Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Strike – WIRED This Is Where Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Strike – WIRED This Is Where Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Strike WIREDAsteroid’s odds of hitting Earth go up as Webb telescope is tasked with studying potential “city-killer” CBS NewsChances of asteroid approaching Earth doubling in 2032 EuronewsOdds of asteroid hitting Earth went up, but that was expected: What to know about 2024 YR4 USA TODAY Source link #Asteroid #YR4 #Strike #WIRED Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wrongly jailed man ‘at risk of losing housing’ Wrongly jailed man ‘at risk of losing housing’ Paul Burnell BBC News, Manchester PA Media Andrew Malkinson was wrongly convicted of ***** in 2004 and spent most of two decades behind bars The lawyer for Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, has said his client is at risk of losing access to social housing because he has started to receive compensation. Mr Malkinson has received an initial payment following the miscarriage of justice he suffered after the Court of Appeal quashed his 2004 conviction for a ***** in Salford. Lawyer Toby Wilton welcomed news of the payment but said because the money was not exempted from the assessment for state support his client could lose social housing access. Mr Wilton had previously criticised the £1 million cap on compensation payouts, arguing it should be lifted. He told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “This is another symptom of successive governments not really having applied their minds to the statutory scheme for miscarriage of justice – or as we’ve seen with the CCRC (Criminal Cases Review Commission), to miscarriages of justice. “And that is that unlike other compensation payments – for example, payments made to victims of the Grenfell Tower fire – payments under the miscarriage justice scheme are not exempted when it comes to assessment for state support. “Which means that just by virtue of having received this very happy news from me that he has been awarded payments, Andy now faces prospects of losing the social housing that he waited a very long time to be given.” ‘Limbo’ Mr Malkinson had his conviction quashed in 2023 after years protesting his innocence, but has faced a long wait since then for compensation from the Ministry of Justice. The 59-year-old, who was a security guard working in Salford before his arrest, was convicted in 2004 and chances to free him were repeatedly missed, leading to one of the worst miscarriages of justice in *** legal history. Following news of his initial payment, Mr Malkinson said he “would hesitate to say that I am grateful, but I am relieved the Ministry of Justice has finally done the right thing to lift me out of limbo”. The amount of compensation has not been revealed but The Guardian reported he would receive a “significant” six-figure sum as an interim payment this week. Source link #Wrongly #jailed #man #risk #losing #housing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nicho shines as Sharks overrun Raiders in NRL trial Nicho shines as Sharks overrun Raiders in NRL trial Cronulla talisman Nicho Hynes has put the competition on notice with a stand-out performance against Canberra in the NRL’s pre-season challenge. In 50 minutes at GIO Stadium on Thursday night, the gifted halfback scored one try, assisted two and was unlucky not to have set up another as the Sharks came from behind to run over the top of a young Raiders side 40-10. Canberra started at full strength, except for captain Joe Tapine and fellow forward Corey Horsburgh, but despite early signs of promise, capitulated meekly once the starting squad was rotated through towards the end of the opening *******. The Sharks’ back-up brigade showed more promise. Towering prop Tuku Hau Tapuha and centre Chris Vea’ila scored tries, while new recruit Addin Fonua-Blake showed signs of things to come, barging his way through the Raiders’ defence to score his first four-pointer since his off-season switch from the Warriors. The moment of the match, however, came from Canberra fullback Kaeo Weekes, who produced a piece of individual brilliance to open the scoring. The young speedster, who has a mortgage on the Raiders’ No.1 jersey following the departure of Jordan Rapana, blitzed past a half-cooked Sharks chasing pack on his 10m line before running 60 metres and handing the ball to Ethan Strange to run it in under the crossbar. Sebastian Kris then put the home side 10-0 up, running onto a loose ball batted back from recruit Savelio Tamale, on the end of a Jamal Fogarty bomb. But then it was Hynes, as it so often is, who inspired Cronulla back to their best. He got the Sharks on the board after Ronaldo Mulitalo knocked down a Braydon Trindall bomb before setting up Samuel Stonestreet on the wing with a pin-point cut-out pass to set up a two-point lead at halftime. Stonestreet dropped a carbon copy play cold soon after the interval when he had a clear path to the tryline, but it mattered little. The Sharks scored another 28 points unanswered, with additional tries to Trindall, Hau Tapuha, Vea’ila, Fonua-Blake and Jesse Ramien, as Hynes iced his quad on the sidelines after being give a half-hour early mark. Both coaches will be glad to have seen out the pre-season without any major injuries, but Ricky Stuart would’ve had his heart in his mouth as his son Jed’s bloodied face was patched up after a ****** head-knock late in the second half. Source link #Nicho #shines #Sharks #overrun #Raiders #NRL #trial Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Palmer Luckey says his entire career has led to this moment — scoring a $22 billion US Army contract for high-tech goggles Palmer Luckey says his entire career has led to this moment — scoring a $22 billion US Army contract for high-tech goggles Palmer Luckey’s Anduril is set to take over Microsoft’s US Army contract for mixed-reality goggles. The 10-year contract, worth $22 billion, has been plagued by development issues. Anduril now has a shot — a moment that Luckey said was part of Anduril’s original vision. Palmer Luckey just clinched a big personal win — his defense startup, Anduril, is set to take over Microsoft’s $22 billion contract to make high-tech goggles for the US Army. Both firms announced the transition on Tuesday, saying Anduril would spearhead “oversight of production, future development of hardware and software, and delivery timelines” for the Integrated Visual Augmentation System program. The IVAS is meant to give soldiers a headset that uses augmented and visual reality to feed them information on the battlefield in real time. One of its most important functions is to help the wearer identify drones quickly and clearly. For Luckey, the contract transition is his own watershed moment. In his blog on Tuesday, he wrote that the announcement is “deeply personal.” “Everything I’ve done in my career — building Oculus out of a camper trailer, shipping VR to millions of consumers, getting run out of Silicon Valley by backstabbing snakes, betting that Anduril could tear people out of the bigtech megacorp matrix and put them to work on our nation’s most important problems — has led to this moment,” he wrote. The move calls back to Luckey’s original foray into the tech industry, when he founded Oculus VR and sold it to Facebook in 2014 for $2 billion. After being ousted from Facebook, he started Anduril in 2017, and his defense startup has since delved into drones, AI, and counter-electronic warfare systems for the US military. In September, Microsoft and Anduril said they were collaborating on the IVAS program, with Luckey’s firm providing its Lattice software for the headsets. Now, the entire program is set to be under Anduril’s control. Luckey wrote in his blog that he’d recognized the combat potential for high-tech goggles since he was a teenager, and that providing them to the US military was part of Anduril’s original pitch deck eight years ago. Yet Anduril’s size at the time, which he estimated was a team of about a dozen people, hurt its chances at scoring the contract. “I do believe our crazy pitch could have won this from the start — as things stand, though, there is no time like the present,” Luckey wrote. The US Army is having a rough time with IVAS The handover still needs to be approved by the US government. The US Army awarded Microsoft the 10-year contract in 2021, when the deal was valued at up to $22 billion. The IVAS program has since faced a tough road in development and testing. Microsoft converted its HoloLens 2 headsets for military use, but soldiers criticized the devices, complaining of software glitches and side effects like headaches, nausea, and neck strain. A US Army soldier wearing a prototype IVAS headset.US Army The feedback prompted the US Army to delay the IVAS program in October 2021, and the systems have been repeatedly retweaked for the battlefield in the years after. Within Microsoft, the entire HoloLens project appeared to be ailing. Business Insider’s Ashley Stewart reported in 2022 that plans for a third version of the headset were scrapped, and that the company had lost billions on its mixed-reality program. In October 2024, Microsoft confirmed plans to halt production of the HoloLens 2 and cut support for the device, throwing the IVAS program into question. Microsoft’s move tracked with a shift in the entire industry, as tech giants stepped back from developing mixed-reality headsets to instead focus on the AI race. After Microsoft’s decision, the US Army hinted in late January that it was surveying the market for a new contender for its 10-year contract, releasing a request for information related to the IVAS program. With Anduril now in the driver’s seat, it’s not immediately clear what hardware it will use for the IVAS. There was no mention of the discontinued HoloLens 2 in its joint statement with Microsoft. Instead, the joint statement said that part of Anduril’s deal is to make Microsoft’s Azure cloud service its “preferred hyperscale cloud” for the IVAS. As Anduril takes over IVAS, Luckey projected confidence in his blog, writing that he wanted to “turn warfighters into technomancers” through his heads-up displays. “We have a shot to prove that this long-standing dream is no windmill,” he wrote. Microsoft confirmed to Business Insider that its agreement with Anduril is now pending DoD approval. Anduril did not respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Palmer #Luckey #entire #career #led #moment #scoring #billion #Army #contract #hightech #goggles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PlayStation says it’s planning to release more family games like Astro Bot PlayStation says it’s planning to release more family games like Astro Bot PlayStation says it’s planning to release more family games in the future, following the success of Game of the Year platformer Astro Bot. Speaking during an earnings call on Thursday, Sony president Hiroki Totoki highlighted the Team Asobi platformer’s recent awards success, and said that it validated its intention to expand its family offerings in the future. “At The Game Awards 2024, our first-party title Astro Bot won four categories, including Game of the Year and Best Family Game – the most of any title,” he said. “In addition, the live service game Helldivers 2, which was released in February last year, won Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game awards. The fact that titles in genres we are planning to expand in the future, including titles for families and live service games, have received these awards is a major stride towards building a broad title portfolio.” Astro Bot has been a critical hit for PlayStation in a genre it’s less frequently targeted in the modern era. Astro Bot won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, Game of the Year at the New York Game Awards, and earned numerous outlet accolades, including VGC’s Game of the Year award. According to Sony, the title sold 1.5 million units in its first nine weeks, a significant chunk of which was to new players. In Europe, Astro Bot is said to have outperformed virtually any non-Super Mario new 3D platform game released in the last decade. Commenting on the game around its launch, PlayStation studios boss Hermen Hulst claimed the Astro Bot IP was a “very, very” important brand for PlayStation going forward. “Astro is very, very important to PlayStation,” he said. “Obviously we had the pre-install with the PlayStation 5 that millions have embraced and loved, and I think that’s becoming a little bit of a platform to launch this new game now. “It’s remarkable that a very small team is able to deliver a game that is so big, it’s really become a great game in itself, and it’s become a celebration of everything PlayStation at this point.” Source link #PlayStation #planning #release #family #games #Astro #Bot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Honda rules out hostile bid for Nissan after merger talks collapse – Financial Times Honda rules out hostile bid for Nissan after merger talks collapse – Financial Times Honda rules out hostile bid for Nissan after merger talks collapse Financial TimesCarmakers Nissan and Honda call off merger talks CNNJapanese automakers Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi drop their talks on a business integration The Associated PressNissan Sees Losses as It Seeks to Rebuild Without Honda’s Help BloombergHonda and Nissan Scrap $50 Billion Merger Plan The New York Times Source link #Honda #rules #hostile #bid #Nissan #merger #talks #collapse #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Embracer says Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s success is a ‘reminder’ it should make great games Embracer says Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s success is a ‘reminder’ it should make great games Sales of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 are approaching 2 million as Embracer Group hails the game’s success as a “reminder” that it should develop great games. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was released at the start of February to strong reviews and positive player sentiment. The game is rapidly approaching 2 million copies sold, according to Embracer, having sold 1 million copies in its first 24 hours. The game peaked at 250,000 concurrent users on Steam. “The success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a reminder of our core – to bring great products to the market,” said Embracer Co-founder & CEO Lars Wingefors on Thursday. “High-quality teams need to have the resources and the time to execute their visions. When you have the right teams, this trust benefits everyone, including gamers, employees, and shareholders. I am convinced that we will remain among the industry leaders in our core business verticals in the future.” Embracer Group has faced struggles in recent years, shutting down multiple studios and failing to produce a game that’s both a commercial and critical success. Developer Warhorse has big plans for future support for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. The game already has several pieces of announced DLC, some of which were included in the Gold Edition of the game. Following that, Warhorse announced its year-long roadmap for the game, with plans to support it for years to come. The studio’s previous title, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, received several years of updates and ports to new consoles, including a highly successful Nintendo Switch version. VGC’s review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 called it a “filthy brute of an RPG.” “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a brilliant RPG that’s uncompromisingly itself. Difficult, mucky, and bloody, it’s an excellent realization of the promise of the first game and a coming-out party for Warhorse into gaming’s top tier.” Source link #Embracer #Kingdom #Deliverance #success #reminder #great #games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unofficial TikTok downloads surge in the US Unofficial TikTok downloads surge in the US TikTok’s uncertain future in the US has caused a surge in people putting the app on their phones through unofficial means, the BBC has been told. An executive order from President Donald Trump means the social media platform can be used in the US despite the Supreme Court upholding a law which will see it sold or banned. Even so, Apple and Google are preventing new downloads of the app meaning people are increasingly turning to a technique called “sideloading” if they want to get it for the first time or reload it to a new device. It involves users turning to third-party sites, which are sometimes referred to as ****** markets, rather than official retailers to get hold of software. One such company, Signulous, says 120,000 people have used its services to get TikTok onto iPhones. Neil Pomperleau, from the firm, shared screenshots from his dashboard that showed more than 2,000 downloads per hour at times. “One of the most popular apps in the world can only be sideloaded in the US so it’s been a good thing for us with record traffic to our site and a spike in customers”, he told the BBC. People in the US are also turning to virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow users to pretend they are in a different country – so TikTok fans can make it appear they are in Canada, for example, where the ban does not apply. Search engine queries for “VPN” hit an all-time high last month, according to Google data. Dozens of YouTube guides about the method have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in the last three weeks. Experts say the trends show how difficult a ban would be to enforce, if one is introduced when a final decision on TikTok – due by April – is made. Currently it is not ******** to download TikTok and although US lawmakers ruled that distributing it is against the law, both President Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, indicated they would not not enforce it. Unofficial app shops like Mr Pomperleau’s operate in a legal grey area by signing up customers to software developer accounts. The firms often charge a fee to take customers through the technical process of sideloading – something which comes with an increased risk of downloading faulty or malicious software due to the stores being less well-resourced than official app stores. Mr Pomerleau – whose firm charges people a $20 annual fee – admits he is operating in risky territory. “The law on the books is that TikTok is not allowed to be distributed in the US but we’re sort of operating on this pinky swear from two different US presidents that they won’t enforce this law.” “I imagine Google and Apple are a little too risk-averse for their size and the whole situation’s really unpredictable,” he says. TikTok itself appears to trust the President’s promise too. On Monday it released a download kit to make it easier for Android users to sideload the app onto devices. Sideloading on Android phones is more common than on iPhones. Another iPhone sideloading company called AppDB has had nearly 95,000 TikTok downloads and seen its membership double since the ban according to screen shots shared with the BBC. “People will always find a way to get what they want,” says Aleksei Borodin from AppDB. One US user who downloaded TikTok through the sideloading process, Dewayne Puckett, said it was “an experience, but the app works like normal”. Apple argues that sideloading apps is a security risk and has long insisted apps need to be vetted and verified through the official App Store. The company charges an average 30% commission to apps using its store, which it says is for the protection of consumers. Although the fee is controversial, it is true that generally Apple is more successful at keeping malicious apps out than other marketplaces like Google’s Play Store. Since March last year Apple has been forced to allow competition app shops onto the iPhone in the EU after new laws were passed to encourage more choice. Source link #Unofficial #TikTok #downloads #surge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rachel Reeves’s CV exaggerated time at Bank of England Rachel Reeves’s CV exaggerated time at Bank of England Billy Kenber Politics investigations correspondent Phil Kemp Political producer Getty Images Rachel Reeves’s online CV exaggerates how long she spent working at the Bank of England. The Chancellor left the financial institution nine months earlier than she states in her LinkedIn profile. This means she spent five and a half years working at the bank – including nearly a year studying – despite publicly claiming to have spent a decade there. On the professional networking site LinkedIn, the Chancellor’s profile claims she worked at the Bank of England from September 2000 to December 2006. However, BBC News has established she had left by March 2006 when she began working for Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) in West Yorkshire. A photo taken in March 2006 shows her with other HBOS staff at the Council of Mortgage Lenders annual lunch. A former HR lead for the bank who helped with Reeves’s relocation also said she could recall her first day and it was in March 2006. A spokesman for Reeves confirmed that dates on her LinkedIn were inaccurate and said it was due to an administrative error by the team. They said the Chancellor hadn’t seen it before it was published. The Chancellor has cited her time as an economist at the Bank of England as part of the reason she can be trusted with the nation’s finances and has repeatedly claimed to have spent up to 10 years there. Reeves’s profile on the social media site LinkedIn says she worked at the Bank of England between September 2000 and December 2006 In a 2021 magazine interview, which she subsequently posted on X, she said: “I spent a decade working as an economist at the Bank of England and loved it.” In a speech to the Labour Party Business Conference in February last year, Reeves said: “I spent the best part of a decade as an economist at the Bank of England.” She said the same thing in a speech at a CEO summit in July 2022, and in a video posted on her Facebook page in the same month. The claim was also repeated in a Labour party document last year which stated that she spent “most of the first decade of her career at the Bank of England”. As she had already started at HBOS by the spring of 2006, her time at the central bank only amounted to five and half years. This included nearly a year studying for a Masters at the London School of Economics (LSE). Last year, during previous controversy about Reeves’s CV, the Bank of England confirmed that Reeves had left in 2006 but refused to give the month of her departure saying it was a detailed staff record which they couldn’t provide. Reeves also stood for election in Bromley in south-east London more than three months after she had taken a job in West Yorkshire. She stood in a by-election on 29 June 2006 but had taken up a role at HBOS in March that year and received a relocation package to move from London. It is understood she rented a flat in Leeds and kept a flat in London at this time. The Chancellor’s online CV gives incorrect dates for her time at HBOS as well, which her team also acknowledged. It states that she left in December 2009, five months before she was elected to parliament in May 2010. In fact, we have established, her employment at HBOS finished in mid-May 2009, when she signed a compromise agreement. An invoice for legal advice on the agreement stated that it arose “from a decision by your employer to terminate your employment”. The bank was undergoing restructuring at the time of Reeves’s departure and a spokesman for the Chancellor said she had taken voluntary redundancy. A compromise agreement, now known as a settlement agreement, is a legal document between an employer and employee which HBOS used when senior managers were made redundant. Reeves was pictured with other HBOS staff at the Council of Mortgage Lenders annual lunch in March 2006 Reeves was allowed to continue using a company car for six months, according to her spokesman. She then spent a year campaigning ahead of the May 2010 general election without seeking further employment. The MP for Leeds West and Pudsey has previously faced accusations that she has embellished her online CV. Her LinkedIn profile was changed last year to describe her role at HBOS as “Retail Banking”. It had previously claimed she worked as an economist at the bank but she instead held a management role in the bank’s Customer Relations department, which dealt with complaints. In November, several MPs raised the row in the House of Commons while putting questions to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. The prime minister’s spokeswoman also faced questions at that time, with journalists asking if Sir Keir expected members of his Cabinet to tell the truth on their CV. The spokeswoman said the row related to “the chancellor’s time before she was the chancellor”. “The prime minister is very clear that what is most important is having a chancellor who is able to balance the books and who is able to be straight with the public and restore the public finances,” she added. Source link #Rachel #Reevess #exaggerated #time #Bank #England Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]