Pelican Press

Breville basks in the glow of coffee machines as cost of living crunch forces more Australians to brew at home Breville basks in the glow of coffee machines as cost of living crunch forces more Australians to brew at home Coffee machine sales are on the rise as more Australians look to beat the cost-of-living crunch by increasingly brewing at home. Source link #Breville #basks #glow #coffee #machines #cost #living #crunch #forces #Australians #brew #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UBS whistleblower verdict thrown out despite US Supreme Court win UBS whistleblower verdict thrown out despite US Supreme Court win By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – A former UBS bond strategist who persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to make it easier for corporate whistleblowers to win retaliation lawsuits suffered a setback on Monday, as a jury verdict awarding him back pay and other damages was thrown out. In a 2-1 decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said defective jury instructions at Trevor Murray’s 2020 trial made it too easy to conclude that his whistleblowing contributed to the Swiss bank’s decision to fire him. A contributing factor “must actually cause or help cause the termination decision – it is not enough merely to influence the termination, or generally to be the type of thing that tends to cause termination,” Circuit Judge Michael Park wrote. The decision means UBS need not pay Murray the $903,300 jury verdict, plus $1.77 million for legal bills. U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla in Manhattan had instructed jurors that whistleblowing could be a contributing factor in Murray’s termination if it “tended to affect in any way” UBS’s decision to fire him. Park said this let jurors hold UBS liable without proof that Murray’s whistleblowing “actually did” lead to his firing. The appeals court returned the case to Failla. Murray’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. UBS declined to comment. Monday’s decision followed a unanimous Supreme Court ruling last February that restored the jury verdict, which the 2nd Circuit had previously thrown out. That ruling said financial industry whistleblowers need not prove their employers fired them with “retaliatory intent,” but only that they were treated differently for whistleblowing. Murray said UBS fired him in February 2012 after he complained about pressure to issue bullish research on commercial mortgage-backed securities to support the bank’s trading operations. He said UBS’s conduct violated the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate governance law. UBS said it fired Murray as part of a broader cost-cutting that included thousands of job losses, following a $2 billion loss by a rogue trader. Circuit Judge Myrna Perez dissented from Monday’s decision, saying reasonable jurors would have understood Failla’s “perfectly adequate” instructions. The case is Murray v UBS Securities LLC et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 20-4202. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Source link #UBS #whistleblower #verdict #thrown #Supreme #Court #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

At least 1 dead and several injured after a private jet crashed into another upon arrival in Arizona – CNN At least 1 dead and several injured after a private jet crashed into another upon arrival in Arizona – CNN At least 1 dead and several injured after a private jet crashed into another upon arrival in Arizona CNNPrivate jets collide at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, killing 1 person, authorities say YahooPlane owned by Motley Crue’s Vince Neil crashes at Scottsdale Airport; 1 dead, 3 hurt The Arizona RepublicMötley Crüe’s Vince Neil owns one of the planes involved in Scottsdale ****** FOX 10 News PhoenixOne fatality as Learjet collides with parked G200 during Scottsdale runway excursion Flightglobal Source link #dead #injured #private #jet #crashed #arrival #Arizona #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump faces showdown with Jordan over Gaza plan Trump faces showdown with Jordan over Gaza plan Lucy Williamson Middle East correspondent BBC Imad Abdallah sits with other day labourers in a square in central Amman hoping to pick up temporary work Donald Trump is expected to face fierce resistance from Jordan’s King Abdullah at the White House today, in their first meeting since the US president proposed moving Gaza’s population to Jordan. Jordan, a key US ally, has been treading a tightrope between its military and diplomatic ties, and popular support for the Palestinians at home. Those fault lines, already tested by the Gaza War, are being pushed to breaking point by Trump’s plans for Gaza’s peace. He has expanded on his demand that Gazans be moved to Jordan and Egypt, telling a Fox News anchor that they would not have the right to return home – a vision that, if enforced, would contravene international law. On Monday he said he might withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they did not take in ************ refugees. Some of the fiercest opponents of moving Gazans to Jordan are the Gazans who moved here before. Some 45,000 people live crammed into the Gaza Camp, near Jordan’s northern town of Jerash, one of several ************ refugee camps here. Sheets of corrugated iron hang over narrow shop doorways, and children rattle along on donkeys between the market stalls. All the families here trace their roots back to Gaza: to Jabalia, Rafah, Beit Hanoun. Most left after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, seeking temporary shelter. Generations later, they are still here. Maher Azazi, now 61, left Gaza with his family when he was three years old “Donald Trump is an arrogant narcissist,” 60-year-old Maher Azazi tells me. “He has a mentality from the Middle Ages, the mentality of a tradesman.” Maher left Jabalia as a toddler. Some of his family are still there, now picking through the rubble of their home for the bodies of 18 missing relatives. Despite the devastation there, Mr Azazi says Gazans today have learned the lessons of previous generations and most “would rather jump into the sea than leave”. Those who once saw leaving as a temporary bid for refuge, now see it as helping Israel’s far-right nationalists take ************ land. “We Gazans have been through this before,” says Yousef, who was born in the camp. “Back then, they told us it would be temporary, and we would return to our home. The right to return is a red line.” “When our ancestors left, they had no weapons to fight, like ****** has now,” another man tells me. “Now the younger generation are fully aware of what happened with our ancestors, and it will never happen again. Now there is resistance.” Palestinians are not the only ones to seek refuge in Jordan – a tiny superpower of stability surrounded by the Middle East’s many conflicts. Iraqis arrived here, fleeing war in the early 2000s. A decade later, Syrians came too, prompting Jordan’s king to warn that his country was at “boiling point”. Many native Jordanians blame the waves of refugees for high unemployment and poverty at home. A food bank by the mosque in central Amman told us it hands out 1,000 meals a day. Waiting for work outside the mosque, we met Imad Abdallah and his friend Hassan – both day labourers who have not worked in months. “The situation in Jordan used to be great, but when there was the war in Iraq, things got worse, when there was the war in Syria, it got worse, now there’s a war in Gaza, it’s got a lot worse,” Hassan said. “Any war that happens near us, we become worse off, because we’re a country that helps and takes people in.” Imad was blunter, worried about feeding his four children. “The foreigners come, and take our jobs,” he told me. “Now I’m four months without a job. I have no money, no food. If Gazans come, we will die.” But Jordan is also under pressure from its key military ally. Trump has already suspended to it US aid worth more than $1.5 billion a year. And many here are braced for a growing confrontation between the new US president and their own political leaders, who are pushing back. Jawad Anani, a former deputy prime minister close to the Jordanian government, says King Abdullah’s message to Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday will be clear: “We consider any attempt by Israel or others to push people out of their own houses in Gaza and the West Bank as a criminal act. But any attempt to push those people into Jordan will be tantamount to a declaration of war.” Even if Gazans wanted to relocate voluntarily, on a temporary basis, as part of a wider Middle East plan, he said, the trust simply was not there. “There is no confidence,” he said. “As long as Netanyahu is involved, he and his government, there is no confidence in any promises that anybody makes. *******.” Trump’s determination to push his vision for Gaza could end up pushing a key US ally into a critical choice. Last Friday, thousands protested here against Trump’s proposal. Jordan is home to US military bases, and millions of refugees, and its security co-operation is crucial for Israel, worried about smuggling routes into the occupied West Bank. Any risks to Jordan’s stability mean risks for its allies too. If stability is Jordan’s superpower, the threat of unrest is its biggest weapon and its best defence. Additional reporting: Mohamed Madi, BBC News Source link #Trump #faces #showdown #Jordan #Gaza #plan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Rugby Pacific: Utility back Harry Potter happy to slot in where needed for Western Force opener Super Rugby Pacific: Utility back Harry Potter happy to slot in where needed for Western Force opener Newly-capped Wallaby Harry Potter is poised to slot in on a wing for Western Force when they launch their season on Saturday night, but has declared he is willing to play a number of roles. Source link #Super #Rugby #Pacific #Utility #Harry #Potter #happy #slot #needed #Western #Force #opener Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Stock’s Super Bowl Ad Was the Most Watched – but Did It Move the Needle? This Stock’s Super Bowl Ad Was the Most Watched – but Did It Move the Needle? The Booking.com Super Bowl ad featuring the Muppets was the most watched of them all. Booking stock was rising, up 1% on Monday. Is Booking stock a buy? It got more views on YouTube than any other Super Bowl ad. For a good portion of the Super Bowl audience, the ads are a ******* draw than the game itself. The most-watched television event on the U.S. calendar is a prime opportunity for companies to get in front of consumers and make an impression. So, a lot of money is spent, not only to get a slot during the game, but on the ads themselves to create the most buzz for a brand. While there were a lot of memorable ads, the winner appears to be Booking.com, a travel website owned by Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:). Its ad featuring Jim Henson’s Muppets had the most views on YouTube during and after the Super Bowl, according to various sources, including Variety and Brand Innovators. That’s the type of buzz that companies want to create around their ads. But did the exposure move the needle for Booking’s stock price? Booking Stock Trading Higher on Monday Booking stock was trading higher on Monday, up about 2% after the opening bell and then settling back down as the day wore on. By 2:00 p.m. ET, the stock was up around 1% to $4,928 per share. So, while the ad, the views, and the positive press around it may have provided a small lift for the stock, it was nothing major. But Booking stock has been on a nice run over the past six months, climbing about 43%, and analysts are more bullish on its prospects. Last week, Booking stock got a big price target upgrade from UBS to $5,560 per share. That would be a 12% increase over its current price. UBS calls Booking its top pick in the travel stock space and expects a strong Q$ earnings report. Also, Booking should benefit from what is expected to be a good year for travel to Europe, given the relative strength of the . Booking stock has a median price target of $5,230 among the 40 analysts that cover it, which would represent about a 6% gain. Most analysts consider it a buy. Strong Quarter for Expedia Raises Expectations Booking is due to report its fourth-quarter earnings next week on February 20. Investors may have been able to glean some insight into its prospects from the Q4 earnings reported by Booking rival Expedia (NASDAQ:) last Friday, February 7. Expedia stock skyrocketed some 18% to $204 per share after its Q4 earnings release. Expedia beat estimates with a strong Q4 that saw room nights booked jump 12%, gross bookings surge 13%, and revenue rise 10%, year over year. Further, net income jumped 124% to $299 million, or $2.32 per share, while adjusted earnings were 30% higher. The strong holiday travel season for Expedia bodes well for Booking when it reports earnings on February 20. While it has an astronomical entry price of $4.928 per share, Booking stock has a decent valuation, trading at 33 times earnings and 23 times forward earnings. Booking is also a major candidate for a stock split. It has never had a stock split, as the high price might indicate, so perhaps one might be coming. Booking stock has been a stellar performer over the years with a 10-year average annualized return of 17%. The Super Bowl ad aside, it has some nice momentum heading into 2025, and might be a stock to consider leading up to the February 20 earnings release. Original Post Source link #Stocks #Super #Bowl #Watched #Move #Needle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Emergency responders at scene of deadly jet collision in Arizona Emergency responders at scene of deadly jet collision in Arizona STORY: :: February 10, 2025 :: Emergency responders on the scene after a deadly jet collision in Arizona :: Scottsdale, Arizona :: At least one person has been killed and four others injured The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that it was investigating the ******, which it said involved a Learjet 35A that skidded off the runway, which then collided with a Gulfstream 200 jet. At least four other people were injured in the ******, Dave Folio, a spokesperson with the Scottsdale Fire Department, said at a press conference. The incident comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of U.S. air safety. Source link #Emergency #responders #scene #deadly #jet #collision #Arizona Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best music streaming services in 2025 The best music streaming services in 2025 Free tier: Yes | Individual plan: $12/month | Duo plan: $17/month (2 members) | Family plan: $20/month (up to 6 members) | Student plan: $6/month | Streaming quality: Up to 320kbps Ogg Vorbis Spotify is the most popular music streaming service, and as such it’s available on the widest array of devices and platforms. A Spotify Connect feature makes it a breeze to move your stream from one device to another without losing your place. It also has a decent free tier — not good, mind you, as you still have to deal with ads, limited track skips and no offline downloads — which provides access to most of the service’s social features and gigantic music and podcast catalog at no cost. Those social features are another area where Spotify excels. You can follow friends, discover and collaborate on other people’s playlists and easily share your own mixes. You likely know about Spotify Wrapped, which remains a certified Big Deal every year. With many artists, you can also view tour dates right from the app and find links to buy tickets and merch. If you want podcasts and audiobooks alongside your music, meanwhile, Spotify has gone all-in on those. Most podcasts you enjoy are probably on here, a number of popular shows are exclusive to the service and paid members get 15 hours of audiobook streaming as part of their subscription. Spotify is built around playlists much more than full albums, and it leans harder on “the algorithm” than rivals like Apple Music. The good news is that many of those playlists are genuinely great. “Discover Weekly” fully deserves its reputation for digging up tracks you haven’t streamed but still align with your tastes. A regularly updated “daylist” morphs with the kind of music you stream at different points in the day. What feels like a billion other mixes based on artists, decades, moods and more nebulous concepts (from “cottagecore” to “escapism” to “Ethiopian jazz”) are mostly on point. There’s still plenty of manually curated playlists as well: Things like “Rap Caviar,” “New Music Friday” and “Viva Latino” may not be personalized to your tastes, but they’re clearly put together by knowledgeable people who are in tune with current trends. In truth, other services are no longer that far behind Spotify when it comes to surfacing relevant new music. Still, simply following the app down its many rabbit holes will usually lead you to something enjoyable, and its playlists typically do well to mix lesser-known acts in with the big names. Spotify’s biggest issue is its interface: It’s kind of a mess. The desktop app has a handy sidebar that provides fast access to your library, while the mobile app puts several playlists, podcasts and recent listens right at the top. After that, there are rows of podcast and audiobook suggestions sandwiched between a shotgun blast of playlists. At least some of those, however, may be programs you’ve never shown an interest in. The way Spotify pushes you toward aesthetically similar content is good for finding three-minute songs, but it’s much more obnoxious when applied to hours-long shows. Podcasts are not music; you can’t group and recommend them by vibe the way you can with certain tracks. If we like the Engadget Podcast, for instance, that doesn’t mean we want to spend another 80 minutes listening to other, possibly more aggravating people talk tech. Keep scrolling, and the mobile app descends into a string of large TikTok-style suggestion cards. These look slick, but scrolling through a feed of giant icons, one recommendation at a time, isn’t an efficient way of finding something interesting. Spotify has also spent the last couple of years pushing an “AI DJ” tool that works like an algorithm-based personal radio station, but while it’s technically impressive, it still tends to make jarring leaps between genres. In our most recent round of testing, it managed to jump from Fleetwood Mac to Playboi Carti within five tracks. And while we realize that everyone consumes music differently, it must be said that the app’s playlists-over-all approach essentially devalues the album as a concept. Intentional or not, it can turn listening to music into an echo chamber, one where you don’t have to engage with the way musicians make their art. In more objective issues, Spotify lacks any sort of lossless streaming despite confirming a CD-quality “HiFi” tier four (!) years ago. Every few months, we get whispers of the service coming actually for real this time, but at this point we’ll believe it when we see it. Though you can play local files through the Spotify app, you can’t import them into your library across devices as neatly as you can with Apple’s service. The Premium plan also costs a dollar more per month than Apple Music (for now). Last but not least, while no music streaming service properly values artists — buy merch and tickets, folks — Spotify has a particularly horrible reputation for low payouts. A recent Harper’s report even said that the company has populated some playlists with copy-cat tracks credited to fake artists to further pinch pennies. (The company has disputed this.) Ultimately, our guide is for consumers, and Spotify still does enough well in certain areas to be a worthwhile product for some people. In many ways, however, it has become the poster child for the streaming industry’s most worrying traits. Source link #music #streaming #services Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Enphase Energy: Linear, Log Scale Signal Bottom Could Be Nearing Enphase Energy: Linear, Log Scale Signal Bottom Could Be Nearing In a textbook case of investors getting carried away on a good story, the stock of solar energy solutions Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:) reached an all-time high of $340 in late-2022. At that price, the shares were trading at a P/FCF ratio of 70 as if the high sales growth rates would last forever. But energy, solar or not, is a cyclical business, which goes from ***** to bust in a predictable fashion. The initial supply deficit leads to high growth and big profits for the few players in the industry. This, in turn, attracts more competition, whose supply eliminates the initial deficit and eventually creates a glut, destroying the high growth and big profits, which attracted it in the first place. When the new competition comes from a country known as the world’s factory, things can deteriorate very quickly. That’s precisely what happened in 2024 after China decided it wants some of solar’s **** profit margins. It flooded the market with so many solar panels that people started using them as cheap garden fencing instead. As a result, the entire industry suffered a painful downturn. Sales at Enphase Energy crashed 42% in 2024. Free cash flow, however, fell by just 18%, which speaks for responsible cost management and resiliency during a crisis. This is what brought Enphase Energy to our attention as the stock is down more than 80% from its 2022 record. From an Elliott Wave perspective, the linear chart above is not very useful. That’s because investor enthusiasm between 2020 and 2022 was so strong that it made everything prior to it look almost invisibly small. For instance, Enphase Energy plunged 64% during the Covid ****** of March, 2020, but it looks like nothing more than a blip here. True, we can recognize an a-b-c running flat correction, followed by an impulse, marked 1-2-3-4-5. But the big picture context in which these patterns fit is missing on this chart. To get a clearer view, we need to switch to logarithmic scale, which makes a 10% move in 2018 look just as big as a 10% move in 2022. It fixes the distortion created by the post-Covid exponential price growth. And the logarithmic chart shows that the running flat correction fits into the position of wave (4) within a ******* impulse pattern, market (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5). The five waves we saw on the linear chart are therefore labeled as wave (5) and the five sub-waves of wave (1) are also visible. The 64% Covid ****** is marked as wave (2). Every impulse is followed by a three-wave correction and that’s precisely what the post-2022 bear market stands for. If this count is correct, Enphase Energy stock could be searching for a bottom already. The P/FCF ratio has also come down to a much more reasonable 18. That being said, the situation in the solar industry remains very challenging. With more cash than debt on its balance sheet, the company should be able to continue weathering the storm, but the stock can keep sliding in the short-to-mid-term. We’ll be keeping an eye on it, and the underlying fundamentals, for signs of improvement. Original Post Source link #Enphase #Energy #Linear #Log #Scale #Signal #Bottom #Nearing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Did you see it? SpaceX launched from Vandenberg Monday night – Bakersfield Now Did you see it? SpaceX launched from Vandenberg Monday night – Bakersfield Now Did you see it? SpaceX launched from Vandenberg Monday night Bakersfield NowSpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California Spaceflight NowSpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites to orbit from California (photos) Space.comLatest SpaceX Falcon 9 launch visible in Bakersfield KGET 17SpaceX Launch Rescheduled for Monday Afternoon Santa Barbara Edhat Source link #SpaceX #launched #Vandenberg #Monday #night #Bakersfield Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

State Government puts $600k into continuing TradeStart Program for South West and Great Southern businesses State Government puts $600k into continuing TradeStart Program for South West and Great Southern businesses A program that helps small Great Southern and South West businesses put their products on the menus of foreign restaurants and the shelves of international shops has received a three-year funding boost. Source link #State #Government #puts #600k #continuing #TradeStart #Program #South #West #Great #Southern #businesses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokémon Go unveils dates for next season’s Community Day and special events Pokémon Go unveils dates for next season’s Community Day and special events Five Community Days are scheduled for the next season You can take part in several special events too Raids will also be in huge focus As we enter the last few weeks of the Dual Destiny season in Pokémon Go, it’s time to look at what the future holds. While we don’t know much about the upcoming content, Niantic has released dates for all the Community Days and special events of the next season, giving you plenty of chances to catch, battle, and explore. There’s an entire lineup on things to do until June. Five Community Days are scheduled for the next Pokémon Go season, starting with one on March 8th, followed by a Community Day Classic on March 22nd. The season continues with Community Days on April 27th, May 11th, and another Classic event on May 24th. These offer good opportunities to encounter featured Pokémon, earn bonuses, and stock up on resources. In addition to Community Days, several other special events are on the way. Max Battle Weekend kicks things off first from March 8th to 9th. If you’re looking to test your catching skills, Catch Mastery takes place on March 16th, while Research Day on March 29th focuses on discovery-based gameplay. Meanwhile, Hatch Day on April 6th grants another way to expand your collection. Looking to stock up on resources? Here’s a list of the redeemable Pokémon Go codes for freebies! Raid battles will be a major focus this season, with multiple Raid Days set for March 23rd, April 5th, April 13th, May 3rd, and May 17th. The last of these will be a Shadow Raid Day, where you’ll take on some of the toughest Pokémon available. If you enjoy PvP-style challenges, Max Battle Days return on April 19th and May 25th, providing an opportunity to test your skills once again. Are you still left with things to do? Wrap them up before the Dual Destiny season ends by downloading Pokémon Go now for free on your preferred link below. Source link #Pokémon #unveils #dates #seasons #Community #Day #special #events Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man who walked onto golf course during WM Phoenix Open arrested: Scottsdale *** Man who walked onto golf course during WM Phoenix Open arrested: Scottsdale *** The Brief 19-year-old Brandtbert J. Brudenell was arrested by Scottsdale Police over an incident at the WM Phoenix Open. The man is also believed to be involved in a racist incident that was caught on video. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Scottsdale Police officials have an update on an incident involving a man who walked onto the golf course at TPC Scottsdale during the WM Phoenix Open. The incident, according to a statement, happened on the night of Feb. 6. Suspect identified by police Per a statement we received on Feb. 10, the suspect in the case was identified as 19-year-old Brandtbert J. Brudenell. Brudenell, according to investigators, was found walking on the WM Phoenix Open course near the 2nd hole. The incident happened when the course was closed. What they’re saying “Upon contact with officers, Brudenell refused to exit the course grounds, and ProEm security informed officers that Brudenell had run from security earlier. Officers placed Brudenell under arrest for criminal trespass, refusing to provide a truthful name, and being under 21 with any liquor in the body,” read a portion of the statement. What’s next The suspect, according to Scottsdale Police, was taken to Scottsdale City Jail. Suspect was reportedly seen making racist remarks in video According to Scottsdale Police, Brudenell’s arrest came after an incident that was captured on video, and subsequently shared online. Police say officers had no knowledge of the video when they contacted Brudenell. Dig deeper In the video, a man who looks like Brudenell was seen spouting a number of racist comments, including “you guys are [expletive] border-hopper [expletive].” “We were doing our own thing, and he approached us and started making comments about ******** men, so we started recording,” a caption on the video reads. Later, the man in the video also made a rather violent comment about people who were caught at the border. We have received a statement from the man’s employer, Vivint, which reads: What they’re saying “We launched an investigation as soon as we were made aware of the video, quickly identified the individual, and terminated his employment, which began less than three months ago. This behavior is abhorrent and in no way reflects the values of our brand.” Meanwhile, Scottsdale Police say they have been in contact with the person who originally posted the video. A report was taken, and an investigation into that incident remains ongoing. Source link #Man #walked #golf #Phoenix #Open #arrested #Scottsdale Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Review [Capsule Computers] The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Review [Capsule Computers] Travis Bruno of Capsule Computers writes: “While far from a mainstream JRPG franchise, one that has always been an easy recommendation for those looking to delve into a storied franchise has been The Legend of Heroes games. Spanning across nearly two decades of releases on numerous platforms, there have always been consistent story arcs seeing longtime characters often returning in later entries. What finally made the franchise a bit more approachable was the fact that, while still set in the same world and featuring the same lore, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak a bit over six months ago placed the franchise in a nearly completely fresh starting point. This allowed newcomers a chance to enter this storied franchise without too much concern for the lore, and even then an extensive glossary was provided in-game. So now that The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II has arrived to continue the journey of Arkride Solutions’ members as well as implement elements from Reverie, is this a worthwhile continuation to Van an company’s story?” Source link #Legend #Heroes #Trails #Daybreak #Review #Capsule #Computers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Pixel 9a Official Case Designs Leaked; Could Arrive in Four Colour Options: Report Google Pixel 9a Official Case Designs Leaked; Could Arrive in Four Colour Options: Report Google Pixel 9a is likely to be launched in the coming weeks as the company’s successor to the midrange Pixel 8a model, and images of the official covers for the handset have surfaced online. These design of these cases appear to corroborate previous reports about the design of the handset, which is expected to resemble the company’s Pixel 9 smartphone. This year, the Pixel 9a might arrive by March, which is at least two months earlier than the company’s typical launch schedule. Google Pixel 9a Case Colour Options (Expected) Android Authority has published images of silicone cases for the purported Pixel 9a, obtained from a source at Google. These cases are said to have a microfiber lining on the inside, are seen in four colourways, and they are likely to match the rumoured colour options of the upcoming Pixel 9a, which previously online — Iris, Obsidian, Peony, and Porcelain. We’ve seen leaked images of the purported Pixel 9a over the past few months, and the handset is expected to resemble the standard Pixel 9 model that was introduced last year. However, the images also suggest that the Pixel 9a will have a dual rear camera module that isn’t raised like the more expensive model. Google Pixel 9a Specifications (Expected) Thanks to recent reports, we have a fairly good idea of what to expect from the Pixel 9a. The phone is likely to run on Android 15 and could feature a Tensor G4 chip and 8GB of RAM that enables support for on-device AI (artificial intelligence) functionality. Google is also expected to equip the Pixel 9a with a 6.3-inch Actua display that is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. It could arrive with a 48-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera on the rear panel. The phone might also feature a 5,100mAh battery that can be charged at 23W (wired) and 7.5W (wireless), according to recent reports. Source link #Google #Pixel #Official #Case #Designs #Leaked #Arrive #Colour #Options #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

British oil major BP reports sharp drop in fourth-quarter profit, vows strategy reset – CNBC British oil major BP reports sharp drop in fourth-quarter profit, vows strategy reset – CNBC British oil major BP reports sharp drop in fourth-quarter profit, vows strategy reset CNBCBP chief defends profits plunge as board braces for investor turmoil The GuardianBP’s Profit Falls More Than Expected; Announces $1.75 Billion Share Buyback The Wall Street JournalBP’s fourth-quarter earnings drops to four-year low Yahoo FinanceBP profits drop as it says it will reset strategy BBC.com Source link #British #oil #major #reports #sharp #drop #fourthquarter #profit #vows #strategy #reset #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Woman arrested for drunk driving, rear-ending Constable deputy’s unit Woman arrested for drunk driving, rear-ending Constable deputy’s unit EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A 24-year-old woman was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after she rear-ended an El Paso County Constable’s Office patrol unit early Saturday morning, Feb. 8, in Northeast El Paso, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO) said. Kimberly Dominguez, 24, was arrested for driving while intoxicated with a bond set at $2,000. She also had an outstanding warrant for driving with no license, carrying a $375 bond, EPCSO said. EPCSO said that shortly before 2:50 a.m. on Feb. 8, EPCSO Special Traffic investigators responded to a motor vehicle ****** at the 5300 block of Railroad Dr. The ****** involved a marked El Paso County Constable’s Office patrol unit from Precinct 1 and another vehicle, EPCSO added. The Constable deputy was traveling northbound on Railroad Drive, assisting with an ongoing call. He was operating his unit with emergency lights activated, moving at a slower pace than normal traffic, EPCSO said. EPCSO said that Dominguez failed to see the Constable deputy’s unit and crashed into the rear of the vehicle, causing heavy rear-end damage to the unit and significant front-end damage to her vehicle. The Constable deputy was taken to the University Medical Center for further medical evaluation but has since been released and is doing well, EPCSO said. “This ****** underscores the risks that intoxicated drivers pose to law enforcement officers and the public. We remain committed to keeping our roads safe and holding those who drive under the influence accountable,” Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said. “The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office urges drivers to make responsible decisions, designate a sober driver, and remain vigilant, especially around emergency vehicles with activated lights. Anyone who witnesses reckless or impaired driving is encouraged to report it immediately,” read the news release. 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 KTSM 9 News. Source link #Woman #arrested #drunk #driving #rearending #Constable #deputys #unit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Codex Lost PlayStation 5 Review | Thumb Culture Codex Lost PlayStation 5 Review | Thumb Culture Codex Lost is a game thats rough around the edges but has some pretty good content. Considering its not a triple A game, it does a lot well. Source link #Codex #Lost #PlayStation #Review #Thumb #Culture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** facility starts sucking CO2 out of seawater to help the climate *** facility starts sucking CO2 out of seawater to help the climate Weymouth Bay on England’s south coast, where SeaCURE is sucking carbon dioxide out of seawater Heidi Stewart/Alamy At the back of the Sea Life aquarium in Weymouth on England’s south coast, a hangar resounds with the rush of water into tanks. Three reef sharks and a nurse shark are cruising around in one. A stingray is hiding somewhere in another. But a closed rectangular tank of stainless steel holds an entirely different beast: carbon dioxide bubbling out of seawater as part of a process scientists hope could someday help reverse climate change. A red line on a computer screen shows… Source link #facility #starts #sucking #CO2 #seawater #climate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

These Crypto Stocks Are Worth Another Look Amid Ongoing Policy Shifts These Crypto Stocks Are Worth Another Look Amid Ongoing Policy Shifts Cryptocurrency markets are once again exhibiting heightened volatility, a familiar characteristic for veteran investors in digital assets. This renewed volatility is driven by the typical market cycles, but the current cycle is being significantly influenced by a shift in the United States’ approach to the cryptocurrency sector. The new administration has signaled its intent to position the U.S. as a central hub for cryptocurrency innovation, and that has introduced fresh dynamics into the market equation. This policy recalibration is prompting investors to reconsider their stance on digital assets. America’s Crypto Ambition: Policy Initiatives and Market Implications The U.S. government’s ambition to become a global leader in the cryptocurrency industry has signaled a shift towards a more supportive environment for digital assets. This new policy direction aims to foster responsible innovation and growth in the cryptocurrency sector through positive rhetoric and supportive regulatory frameworks. The overarching message indicates a strategic intent to harness the economic and technological potential of cryptocurrencies within the U.S. This direction in U.S. policy is particularly significant due to the considerable variance in the global regulatory terrain for cryptocurrencies. Jurisdictions worldwide adopt diverse approaches, ranging from outright prohibition to fostering innovation. As a global economic power, the U.S.’s policy trajectory carries substantial weight, potentially shaping international regulatory norms and influencing market sentiment globally. Key regulatory bodies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are expected to play a crucial role in defining and implementing the regulatory aspects of this evolving policy, focusing on investor protection and market integrity while allowing for innovation within this developing asset class. How Policy Shifts Amplify Crypto Market Swings The market’s reaction to the evolving U.S. policy narrative exemplifies the cryptocurrency market’s inherent volatility. Announcements and even perceived shifts in regulatory stance can act as immediate catalysts for market fluctuations. The anticipation of clearer and potentially more favorable regulations can instill optimism and drive up cryptocurrency valuations. The market is susceptible to regulatory signals, especially from influential regions like the United States. Any indication of regulatory uncertainty or potential restrictions can lead to sharp market downturns, highlighting the significant impact of regulatory developments and market sentiment on cryptocurrency valuations. The regulatory climate heavily influences investor confidence. Greater regulatory clarity often signals broader adoption and institutional investment, while ambiguity can trigger caution and speculative selling. Leading cryptocurrencies like (BTC) and (ETH) act as market sentiment indicators, reacting quickly to policy news. The diverse range of altcoins often shows even greater volatility in response to policy changes, amplifying overall market trends. Stocks on the Front Lines of Crypto Policy Publicly traded cryptocurrency firms participate in the volatile crypto market, which is currently being shaped by evolving U.S. policy. These companies are dynamic entities that present distinct investment opportunities during the potential sector resurgence. Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:) is currently the dominant publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange. The company has demonstrated financial health and significant growth capacity, with Coinbase’s stock price up 125% over one year. While its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 46.14 might suggest a premium valuation, this is reflective of its market-leading position and substantial revenue generation, evidenced by annual sales of $3.11 billion. Coinbase exhibits strong profitability, with a net margin of 29.76% and a return on equity of 14.81%, indicating efficient capital utilization and a capacity to generate earnings even during market fluctuations. While currently a Moderate Buy, Coinbase’s analyst community consensus projects a price target of $289.06, suggesting appreciation from its current level and validating confidence in its continued market leadership as regulatory clarity potentially enhances broader crypto adoption, creating increased trading volumes. Marathon Digital (NASDAQ:) and Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:) are significant providers of digital computing power (known as “hash” rate), a resource critically important to the cryptocurrency ecosystem, especially for cryptocurrency mining. This computational muscle is also becoming increasingly valuable for High-Performance Computing (HPC), which enables breakthroughs in fields like artificial intelligence (AI), scientific modeling, and complex data analytics. Marathon Digital’s strategic acquisition of a wind farm demonstrates its commitment to sustainable, near-zero-cost energy solutions. Energy consumption is a critical factor in the cryptocurrency mining sector, so these solutions are essential for sustained profitability. Additionally, Marathon’s substantial cryptocurrency holdings further solidify its position as a fundamentally sound asset. Despite recent earnings reports indicating a negative net income for Riot Platforms, the company’s strategic execution reveals operational growth and efficiency improvements. This is evident in the increased deployed hash rate and cryptocurrency production. Furthermore, Riot’s ability to generate substantial power credits emphasizes its focus on cost optimization and revenue diversification beyond mining rewards. Marathon and Riot are strategically positioning themselves for future growth in the cryptocurrency sector. They are actively enhancing their infrastructure and optimizing their operations in order to stay ahead of market trends. Industry analysts have recognized their potential, with Riot Platforms receiving a Buy rating and a price target of $17.55 and Marathon receiving a Hold rating with a price target of $25.67. Both companies provide positive upside potential and a positive outlook that suggests that as the regulatory landscape and market sentiment stabilize, they will be well-positioned to capitalize on the expanding cryptocurrency market and generate healthy returns for investors. Proceed With Prudence, Explore With Purpose The evolving U.S. policy terrain may be opening the door to greater mainstream integration of cryptocurrencies, potentially driving new opportunities, use cases, and market growth. This may be a good time for investors to strategically reconsider cryptocurrency. However, any renewed interest in cryptocurrency should be based on thorough research, risk assessment, and a clear understanding of this dynamic asset class’s transformative potential and inherent challenges. Informed decisions, grounded in ongoing market analysis and regulatory awareness, are essential for successfully navigating the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Original Post Source link #Crypto #Stocks #Worth #Ongoing #Policy #Shifts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump cuts continue in the U.S. government Trump cuts continue in the U.S. government Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images It’s been just over three weeks into the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump, and the flurry of announcements from the White House shows no sign of abating. The administration is set to pause enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, President Trump has removed the director of the government ethics office, and (gasp!) even the humble penny is not spared, with Trump ordering a halt to penny production. For investors, the dismantling of ethics regulations would definitely raise questions. How would U.S. companies now conduct themselves, especially in markets where corruption is more rampant? Will more brown envelopes be slipped under tables, all in the name of retaining or winning business? Will the rule of law be superseded by the amount of business brought in by a company? There are no straight answers to these questions, but expect to hear experts and economists’ two cents in the coming days. Well, at least when the penny is still around. — Lim Hui Jie What you need to know today Altman declines $97.4 billion offer for OpenAI by Musk-led investorsTesla CEO Elon Musk is leading a group of investors in offering to buy control of OpenAI for $97.4 billion, CNBC confirmed. The offer is for the nonprofit that oversees the artificial intelligence startup behind ChatGPT. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote on a post on X, “no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” Musk then replied to the OpenAI chief on X calling him a “swindler.” Asian economies scramble to appease Trump as he ratchets up tariff threatsAs the specter of U.S. President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs looms, several Asian economies that enjoy substantial trade surpluses with Washington are scrambling to negotiate favorable solutions with him to avoid being slapped with higher duties. Trump said Friday that he would announce reciprocal tariffs — duties that match those levied on U.S. goods by respective countries — as soon as Tuesday, to take effect immediately. ******** companies are seeing a record rise in dividend payoutsChinese companies are enticing investors with record dividend payouts and share buybacks amid rigorous corporate governance reform, with some market watchers saying more are on the horizon. Goldman Sachs estimates that ******** companies’ cash distribution could hit $3.5 trillion this year to notch a new high.Markets shrug off tariff fearsU.S. stocks rose on Monday, powered by major tech names and as traders looked past the latest U.S. tariff threat from President Donald Trump. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.38%, led by a 4.8% gain in McDonald’s. The S&P 500 gained 0.67%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.98%. Asia markets were more mixed on Tuesday, with South Korean markets in positive territory and ******** markets falling. BYD rolls out driver assistance tech with DeepSeek’s help, shares reach record highChinese electric car giant BYD shares hit a record high in Hong Kong trading Tuesday after the company said it was debuting driver assistance technology with the help of DeepSeek. Shares rose more than 4% Tuesday morning to an all-time high of 345 Hong Kong dollars ($44.24), before paring gains. [PRO] Traders lower rate cut expectationsInvestors are lowering their expectations even further for interest rate cuts out of the Fed this year, as they grow more concerned about tariffs and the effect they could have on inflation. Economists have warned that a wide-scale trade war could significantly raise prices, and consumers appear to be worried as well. And finally… Tim Boyle | Getty Images News | Getty Images What the end of the penny means for the economy, your piggy bank, and the way America prices items President Donald Trump has ordered the Treasury to stop minting new pennies, which could have an impact on prices, cash consumers, and those coins still under your couch cushions. Experts predict a mild inflationary impact, as more prices are rounded to the nearest five cents. People at the bottom of the economic ladder will probably feel any penny pinch the most, as they are either unbanked or unable to access debit or credit cards or a digital wallet. » Read more Source link #Trump #cuts #continue #U.S #government Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PSN Outage Hurt Call of Duty Fans So Much They’re Demanding an Offline Mode PSN Outage Hurt Call of Duty Fans So Much They’re Demanding an Offline Mode For those who prefer to play single-player, Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 offers a variety of great options. These include a campaign mode that has been well received by both fans and critics, as well as the option to play the multiplayer and zombies modes split-screen with a friend or by yourself with bots. Some gamers might want to play it offline, but that’s not possible with the latest CoD installment. Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 needs a constant internet connection to be played. | Credit: Activision. Many might be worried that ****** Ops 6 has abandoned its offline content because the gaming business is shifting more and more toward online gaming. Ultimately, the offline features of both MW2 and MW3 were subpar, so that was quite obvious in the case of ****** Ops 6. But what if you lose your internet connection or there is a server outage? Oh, wait! That has recently happened. Call of Duty fans demand an offline mode in the game The Call of Duty fanbase was one of the communities most affected by the recent PlayStation server outage. | Credit: Activision. The recent PlayStation outage has literally shaken the gaming world, more especially the Call of Duty fans. Starting from February 7, the server blackout lasted for 24 hours and gave the fans a nightmare, just like in 2011. Not only gaming but fans were also exempted from using the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Direct, PlayStation Video, and many more. And the fans of online-only games suffered the most. Despite having a superior campaign experience, the game can’t be played in offline mode, unlike the CoD titles from the previous generations. And amidst these kinds of situations, like the recent outage, you can’t do anything except sit in front of your console hopelessly. That is why the CoD community is urging to bring back offline mode in the game. Comment byu/Cheeky_Guy from discussion inblackops6 Comment byu/Cheeky_Guy from discussion inblackops6 Comment byu/Cheeky_Guy from discussion inblackops6 Comment byu/Cheeky_Guy from discussion inblackops6 Sony, however, has given away five days of additional membership extension for PS Plus users as compensation. But if something like this ever happens again, Call of Duty players won’t have any other options but wait for the server to come back. The servers are restored now, but the silence from Sony regarding the reason behind this server outage is pretty intriguing and concerning as well. However, credible industry insider Tom Warren decided not to remain silent as he stated that this server outage might be the result of another DDoS attack, which targeted Xbox in the Christmas of 2024. If this happens, not only the Call of Duty fans’, but major sensitive data of millions of fans on the PlayStation platform might be compromised. Why does Call of Duty feature no offline mode? Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 uses texture streaming. | Credit: Activision. In an official statement in June 2024, Activision announced that you need to be connected to the internet all the time if you want to play ****** Ops 6. But why? We have previously seen campaign modes of the older CoD titles being played without any hassle in offline mode, but why is it different in the case of ****** Ops 6? The company’s official statement claims that this was done in order to “deliver the highest-quality visuals.” A constant internet connection is necessary because this game will employ texture streaming in all game settings. The real reason might be DRM, but making the online factor mandatory is quite outrageous, keeping in mind ****** Ops Cold War also had texture-streaming but was optional. Additionally, Activision has promised to “reduce the game’s overall storage space on your hard drive” by implementing texture streaming. However, the campaign mode can be played with paid subscription services like PlayStation Plus or Game Pass Core. That means the compensation from Sony is of no use to the server outage-affected CoD campaign players. Now it’s up to Activision and Treyarch if they are going to pay any heed to this request from the fans. Source link #PSN #Outage #Hurt #Call #Duty #Fans #Theyre #Demanding #Offline #Mode Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

John Oliver Crashes Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ With Brutal ‘F**king’ Truth About America – HuffPost John Oliver Crashes Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ With Brutal ‘F**king’ Truth About America – HuffPost John Oliver Crashes Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ With Brutal ‘F**king’ Truth About America HuffPostJohn Oliver Interrupts Jon Stewart’s Monologue on ‘The Daily Show’ The New York TimesJohn Oliver Returns to ‘The Daily Show’ to ‘Gloat’ That Trump Turned America Into Monarchy | Video Yahoo EntertainmentJohn Oliver Welcomes America to its Monarchy Era in Surprise ‘Daily Show’ Appearance Hollywood ReporterJohn Oliver Crashes ‘Daily Show’ to Skewer Trump’s Latest Power Grab The Daily Beast Source link #John #Oliver #Crashes #Jon #Stewarts #Daily #Show #Brutal #Fking #Truth #America #HuffPost Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why The Order: 1886 Didn’t Get a Sequel As Planned Why The Order: 1886 Didn’t Get a Sequel As Planned The Order: 1886 was a one-and-done game released on PlayStation 4 in 2015. It was a pretty good title, pieced together by Ready at Dawn and offering players an immersive, original single-player campaign. It plunged gamers into an alt-history version of London in, you guessed it, 1886, pitting them against werewolves and vampires, among other things. The Order: 1886 was a deeply cinematic affair, and even the game’s aspect ratio promoted a sense of ‘playing a movie’, but it wasn’t enough to warrant a follow-up title, despite one being planned by Ready at Dawn. In a recent interview, the studio’s co-founder explained why a sequel never arrived. Missed it by That Much In an interview with MinnMax uncovered by VGC, it’s revealed why The Order: 1886 didn’t receive a sequel, despite many players asking for one over the years. As the discussion unfolded in the 24-minute sequence, Ready at Dawn’s Andrea Pessino explained: I don’t think it was the sales – I think it was the critical reception. Sony is a very proud group and rightfully so, and the critical reception, if it had even been just in the 70s, we would have had the sequel, I’m convinced. Pessino was referring to The Order: 1886’s Metacritic score, which landed on a not-so-good 63 post-launch. That was despite the game testing well and generating solid responses from previews and mock interviews, Pessino reported. The Order: 1886’s follow-up title should have arrived in 2018 if everything had gone as planned. Ultimately, the team at Ready at Dawn had to slice and dice the opening game to meet Sony’s deadlines, resulting in some of the game’s more innovative and engaging segments effectively becoming sheer cinematics: One of the problems is that so much was cut. A lot of the more subtle narrative parts were lost because so much was chopped away and things that were supposed to be interactive became a movie. We needed another year, that’s the reality. We needed at least one more year, we didn’t get it. Here’s the full interview: The Order: 1886 is one of those games that’ll go down in history as needing a sequel. It fits in nicely alongside the likes of Bloodborne, another PlayStation 4 game that, for many years, fans worldwide have cried out for a follow-up title to. Did you play The Order: 1886? Let us know what you think on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Delta Force’s single-player campaign releases next week SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Order #Didnt #Sequel #Planned Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BP profits drop as it says it will reset strategy BP profits drop as it says it will reset strategy Oil giant BP’s profits dropped sharply last year with the firm saying it will “fundamentally reset” its strategy. It is widely expected to say later this month that it will scale back renewable projects following similar moves from rivals including Equinor. BP’s net income fell to $8.9bn (£7.2bn) in 2024, down from $13.8bn the previous year. It said lower oil and gas prices, plus lower profits from its refineries, had dented how much money it had made. Source link #profits #drop #reset #strategy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]