Pelican Press

New Syrian Leader to Meet Erdogan in Turkey – The New York Times New Syrian Leader to Meet Erdogan in Turkey – The New York Times New Syrian Leader to Meet Erdogan in Turkey The New York TimesWe ask President Ahmed al-Sharaa how he will rebuild Syria The EconomistSyria’s Interim President in Saudi Arabia on First Foreign Trip Bloomberg Source link #Syrian #Leader #Meet #Erdogan #Turkey #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PlayStation’s First Game Was an “almost finished” Space Shooter for the Nintendo-Sony Prototype With Better Graphics “than the standard of that time” PlayStation’s First Game Was an “almost finished” Space Shooter for the Nintendo-Sony Prototype With Better Graphics “than the standard of that time” Amidst the world of consoles, Nintendo and PlayStation are household names. But very few remember that these two tech giants once collaborated for the first incarnation of the PlayStation, nicknamed the Nintendo PlayStation. This console was in the works way before the arrival of PS1 and was designed as a hybrid console that supported both Nintendo’s Super NES and Sony’s new CD-based Super Disc format. Nintendo PlayStation was actually a thing. | Credit: Matts Lindh via Wikimedia Common under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. However, this hybrid model never saw the light of reality due to disputes between the two companies, and the project was ultimately canceled. The Japanese company later on collaborated with Phillips, which was Sony’s arch-rival at that time, and prompted Sony to build its own console, and the rest is in front of you. After many years, we have now got to know the first game of that hybrid console. Sony veteran Shuhei Yoshida reveals the first-ever game for Nintendo PlayStation Nintendo PlayStation was about to get a Silpheed-like game. | Credit: *****. Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida has recently ended his legendary journey at the company of more than three decades, in January 2025. However, this journey started after the collaboration between Sony and Nintendo failed as Yoshida became a part of Ken Kutaragi’s team, which was leading its company to a standalone console. Although the hybrid console has been extensively dissected in recent years, relatively little is known about the software library that would have been included. Recently, however, Yoshida has disclosed that the business was developing its own FMV space shooter for the system, which was purportedly the first PlayStation game ever made. This is what he stated in an interview with MinnMax: Everybody who joined Ken’s team around that time, the first thing they showed us was that Nintendo-Sony PlayStation – a prototype already working. They had almost finished a game on it, and I got to play the game on the system the day I joined. As a space shooter with a pseudo-3D perspective and FMV backgrounds that stream from the disc, Yoshida compares this game to the ***** CD version of Silpheed. Yoshida says the game was canceled because the backgrounds were pre-rendered videos, which is why it had “richer graphics than the standard of that time.” Yoshida unfortunately couldn’t recall who led the game’s development or even if it was developed in Japan or the US. Eventually, Sony would release a few games that were similar on the real PlayStation. It released Philosoma from developer G-Artists in 1995. A few years before that PS1 title, Sony subsidiary Psygnosis experimented with a similar idea with Novastorm. Shuhei Yoshida reveals the reason behind PS Vita’s downfall Monster Hunter 4 was only released on the Nintendo 3DS. | Credit: Nintendo. Monster Hunter has always been a popular title in the world of gaming. From dominating the handheld console market on PSP to becoming the most-wishlisted game on Steam recently, this franchise never lost its aura. However, one of the games of this franchise was the real reason PS Vita stumbled in front of the Nintendo 3DS. Before this handheld console, the market was well and truly under the realm of PSP. But everything changed when 3DS captured the exclusive deal of Monster Hunter 4 and PS Vita just looked everything shattering, hopeless. This is what Shuhei stated about this in an interview with Minnmax: At the launch, both the 3DS and the PS Vita were $250, but [Nintendo] dropped the price by $100. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ Then they announced the biggest game on the PSP, Monster Hunter, was coming out on the Nintendo 3DS as an exclusive. That was the biggest shock! In response to the exclusive deal, Sony made an effort to develop a number of Monster Hunter substitutes, including Soul Sacrifice and Freedom Wars, the latter of which received a remaster last month. However, it was never able to fully bounce back, and the 3DS eventually overtook the struggling PS Vita as the market leader for handheld devices. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd sold nearly five million copies on the PSP alone, demonstrating the series’ enormous success there. Despite the 3DS giving a shock to Yoshida, the upcoming Nintendo console has failed to fulfill the expectations of the former PlayStation veteran. Source link #PlayStations #Game #finished #Space #Shooter #NintendoSony #Prototype #Graphics #standard #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Palantir soars more than 23% as AI powers strong earnings and guidance Palantir soars more than 23% as AI powers strong earnings and guidance Palantir surged more than 23% in premarket trading Tuesday after reporting stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and guidance driven by ongoing artificial intelligence gains. The Denver-based software company posted adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share and $828 million in revenue. That topped the 11 cents per share and revenues of $776 million expected by analysts polled by LSEG. Palantir also issued upbeat guidance for the current quarter and full year. In the first quarter, the company forecast revenues between $858 million and $862 million. The LSEG estimate called for $799 million. The company projects sales of $3.74 billion to $3.76 billion, ahead of a $3.52 billion estimate. The software company has been on a record run, surging 340% in 2024 as its AI platform gained traction amid ongoing investor excitement around the technology trend. Palantir provides software and technology services and is most widely known for its work with defense agencies. In a letter to shareholders, CEO and co-founder Alex Karp called the momentum within its commercial and government segments “unlike anything that has come before.” Read more CNBC reporting on AI The company reported 64% growth in its U.S. commercial revenue, while U.S. government revenues rose 45% year over year. Palantir forecasted 54% U.S. commercial sales growth in 2025. “We are at the way beginning of our trajectory, we are at the way beginning of a revolution, and we plan to be a cornerstone, if not the cornerstone company, and driving this revolution in the U.S. over the next three to five years,” Karp said during the earnings call. Karp said Palantir is “very long America” and at the forefront of making the country “more lethal” to scare off adversaries. His comments come after DeepSeek’s climb in popularity last week shook financial markets and raised concerns about the high costs associated with AI models. “I think the real lesson, the more profound one, is that we are at war with China,” said Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar. “We are in an AI arms race.” Several Wall Street firms lifted their price targets on the stock in the wake of the report. Bank of America’s Mariana Perez Mora called the company an AI “value adder” and lifted her price target, while Morgan Stanley upgraded shares to equal weight from underweight, “Given the strength of the outlook, we acknowledge that we were wrong about our core fundamental catalyst of slowing growth below the 30% level due to the tougher compares in 2025,” wrote analyst Sanjit Singh. “This leaves us with valuation as the primary remaining concern.” Source link #Palantir #soars #powers #strong #earnings #guidance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia bans DeepSeek on government devices over security risk Australia bans DeepSeek on government devices over security risk Tom Gerken Technology reporter Getty Images Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices and systems over what it says is the security risk the ******** artificial intelligence (AI) startup poses. DeepSeek stunned the world in January when it unveiled a chatbot which matched the performance level of US rivals, while claiming it had a much lower training cost. Billions of dollars were wiped off stock markets internationally, including in Australia, where stocks tied to AI – such as chipmaker Brainchip – fell sharply overnight. The *********** government has insisted the ban is not due to the app’s ******** origins but because of the “unacceptable risk” it poses to national security. DeepSeek has been approached for comment. Australia’s move specifically requires any government entities to “prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek products, applications and web services”, as well as remove any previously installed, on any government system or device. That means a wide range of workers will not be able to use the tools in the country, including those working in such varied areas as the Australia Electoral Commission and Bureau of Meteorology. It is less clear whether it means DeepSeek would be banned from public sector computers in different areas of the economy, such as schools. The ban does not extend to devices of private citizens. Growing – and familiar – concerns Western countries have a track record of being suspicious of ******** tech – notably telecoms firm Huawei and the social media platform, TikTok – both of which have been restricted on national security grounds. The initial reaction to DeepSeek – which quickly became the most downloaded free app in the *** and US – appeared to be different. President Donald Trump described it as a “wake up call” for the US but said overall it could be a positive development, if it lowered AI costs. Since then, though, doubts about it have started to be voiced. An *********** science minister previously said in January that countries needed to be “very careful” about DeepSeek, citing “data and privacy” concerns. The app has already been banned in Italy, which temporarily blocked ChatGPT over privacy concerns in March 2023. Regulators in South Korea, Ireland and France have all begun investigations into how DeepSeek handles user data, which it stores in servers in China. The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has also said the US is now looking into possible security implications. The US Navy has reportedly banned its members from using DeepSeek – though it has not confirmed this to the BBC. Generally, AI tools will analyse the prompts sent to them to improve their product. This is true of apps such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini as much as it is DeepSeek. All of them gather and keep information, including email addresses and dates of birth. However, security experts have previously warned that anyone working on confidential or national security areas needs to be aware of the risk of whatever they enter into chatbots being kept and analysed by the developers of those tools. Source link #Australia #bans #DeepSeek #government #devices #security #risk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crews remove wreckage in Potomac River after midair collision last week Crews remove wreckage in Potomac River after midair collision last week Officials say it will take several days to remove all of the wreckage in the Potomac River from the midair collision that happened last week. Additional remains were recovered Monday and are in the process of being identified, officials say. CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave has the latest. Source link #Crews #remove #wreckage #Potomac #River #midair #collision #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Adobe’s Acrobat AI Assistant can now assess contracts for you Adobe’s Acrobat AI Assistant can now assess contracts for you Adobe has updated the Acrobat AI Assistant, giving it the ability to understand contracts and to compare them for you. The company says it can help you make sense of complex terms and spot differences between agreements, such as between old and new ones, so you can understand what you’re signing. With the AI Assistant enabled, the Acrobat app will be able to recognize if a document is a contract, even if it’s a scanned page. It can identify and list key terms from there, summarize the document’s contents and recommend questions you can ask based on what’s in it. Adobe The feature can also compare up to 10 contracts with one another and be able to check for differences and catch discrepancies. When it’s done checking, and if you’re satisfied that everything’s in order, you can sign the document directly or request e-signatures from your colleagues or clients. Adobe listed a few potential uses for the feature and said you can use it to check apartment leases, to verify out-of-country charges for mobile plans and to compare perks or amenities of competing services. It could be even more useful if you regularly have to take a look at multiple contracts for your work or business. Of course, you’d have to trust the AI assistant to actually be able to spot important information and catch both small and significant changes between different contracts. If it works properly, then it could be one of Acrobat AI’s most useful features, seeing as users (according to Adobe itself) open billions of contracts each month on the Acrobat app. The Acrobat AI Assistant isn’t free, however. It’s an add-on that will cost you $5 a month whether or not you’re already paying for Adobe’s other services and products. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #Adobes #Acrobat #Assistant #assess #contracts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft’s ID@Xbox Showcase Set for February 24 With Focus on Indie Games Microsoft’s ID@Xbox Showcase Set for February 24 With Focus on Indie Games Microsoft is coming back with its independent games-focussed ID@Xbox showcase later this month. The showcase will feature trailers, gameplay and reveals from indie studios, including Don’t Nod, No More Robots, 11 Bit, and more. ID@Xbox will be livestreamed as part of IGN Fan Fest on February 24. Last month, Microsoft hosted its Xbox Developer Direct showcase, where it brought updates on first-party games like Doom: The Dark Ages and South of Midnight. ID@Xbox Showcase Confirmed for February 24 In addition to trailers and announcements from independent studios, the ID@Xbox showcase will also feature the next big collaboration for poker-inspired roguelike deckbuilder Balatro. The breakout indie hit from 2024 has previously collaborated with games like The Witcher 3, Among Us, Vampire Survivors, and more. At least 15 independent game studios are confirmed to be a part of the ID@Xbox showcase: 11 Bit, BigFan, Critical Reflex, Daedalic, Game Source Entertainment, No More Robots, Panic, Playstack, Raw Fury, Thunder Lotus, Cult Games, Team17, Curve, Akapura, and Don’t Nod. The ID@Xbox showcase will be livestreamed on February 24, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (10.30pm IST). Microsoft’s second games showcase this year will follow last month’s Xbox Developer Direct event, where studios provided updates on Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. At the showcase, Koei Tecmo made a surprise announcement as well, revealing Ninja Gaiden 4. Additionally, the Japanese publisher launched Ninja Gaiden 2 ******, a remaster of 2008’s Ninja Gaiden 2, featuring graphical improvements. The game is out now on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X and Game Pass. Sony, too, is tipped to return with its State of Play showcase later this month. While the PlayStation parent has not confirmed the broadcast yet, the next State of Play is expected around February 14, and will likely feature announcements from first and third-party studios. Source link #Microsofts #IDXbox #Showcase #Set #February #Focus #Indie #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bank of America sees Nvidia overcoming DeepSeek, trade war challenges and rising to all-time high Bank of America sees Nvidia overcoming DeepSeek, trade war challenges and rising to all-time high Nvidia should have no issue navigating headwinds tied to global trade and rising competition, allowing shares to hit a fresh all-time high, according to Bank of America. BofA reiterated a buy rating on the artificial intelligence darling, alongside a $190 price target. Bank of America’s forecast implies nearly 63% upside from Monday’s $116.66 close. While Nvidia stock has surged more than 76% over the past year, its shares have been under pressure so far in 2025 and have dipped 13% year-to-date, as the rise of DeepSeek sparked a tech sector sell-off. Investors are reevaluating the AI trade, as they try to gauge how much investment will be needed and which companies will dominate the technology. NVDA 1Y mountain Nvidia stock. Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya said Nvidia is still well positioned despite DeepSeek’s large language model sparking questions about whether or not the tech sector’s high spending for AI development is necessary. The analyst noted large customers, Meta Platforms and Microsoft , which recently reported earnings, have not pulled back on their capital expenditure plans. This suggests Nvidia’s sales will continue to grow at a robust pace. Nvidia reports its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 26. While President Donald Trump on Saturday announced stiff tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico, and Beijing hit back with its own duties, set to begin on Feb. 10, the door is open for the world’s largest economies to come to a new trade agreement, Arya said. At the moment, tariffs for Canada and Mexico have been placed on pause . Regardless, the analyst expects overall demand will offset any losses seen in the ******** market. This is especially true given most global server production has shifted away from Beijing and toward Taiwan, Mexico and even the U.S., he said. “Overall, we expect rising demand from the west (US cloud, enterprise, OpenAI Stargate etc.) to offset China headwinds for NVDA,” Arya said. “Some have pointed to NVDA’s rising Singapore exposure but that’s a ‘bill-to’ and not a ‘ship-to’ destination, per NVDA.” Source link #Bank #America #sees #Nvidia #overcoming #DeepSeek #trade #war #challenges #rising #alltime #high Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China targets Google, Nvidia and Intel as Trump tariffs bite – Financial Times China targets Google, Nvidia and Intel as Trump tariffs bite – Financial Times China targets Google, Nvidia and Intel as Trump tariffs bite Financial TimesChina launches an antitrust probe into Google. Here’s what it means The Associated PressAlphabet’s Discounted Valuation Is an Antidote to Tariff Risk BloombergChina launches antitrust probe into Google after Trump tariffs South China Morning PostChina to launch probe into Google over alleged antitrust violations CNBC Source link #China #targets #Google #Nvidia #Intel #Trump #tariffs #bite #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elgato’s Popular Audio-Mixing Software Is Getting A Big Upgrade Elgato’s Popular Audio-Mixing Software Is Getting A Big Upgrade Elgato has announced a brand-new version of its free digital audio mixer took, dubbed Wave Link 2.0. Like the original software, the 2.0 version is designed to give content creators a flexible suite of options for managing their audio feeds while also adding in several quality-of-life upgrades designed to address the challenges that streamers and podcasters regularly run into. One of the big new features is Voice Focus, which Elgato says was developed in collaboration with audio company AI-Coustics and can be used to remove unwanted noise, room reverb, and echo. At the same time, Elgato claims that a user’s voice can be isolated and elevated to “professional” quality standards and this toolset is designed to deliver high-quality results in seconds. Essentially, if you’re in a rush to get started on on your project and you don’t want to tweak audio settings, this can potentially make you sound like a pro with minimal input needed from you. Wave Link 2.0 Gallery Managing multiple audio channels should also be easier with the new simplified layout in Wave Link 2.0. The overhaul includes one-click audio-routing allows users to instantly assign apps to channels, app-grouping for better organization, and input channel-renaming to streamline your layout. Additionally, digital tools like a compressor, de-esser, equalizer, and reverb adjuster have been retained and you’ll still be able to use third-party audio plug-ins. Naturally, Wave Link 2.0 is designed to work best with Elgato hardware–the current version can be used with other microphones if you prefer–and the company says it is aiming to introduce meaningful user experience improvements with the new software. If you’re looking to get into livestreaming or podcasting, Elgato’s gear is recommended as it has a very user-friendly design and offers high-quality results at a reasonable price. The Elgato Wave 3 condenser microphone is a favorite amongst streamers for its plug-and-play design, while the Stream Deck is pretty great for livestreams as this is a 15-button customizable panel that you can assign specific functions to. Other neat Elgato tech includes the Elgato Wave XLR Audio Mixer in case you want to fine-tune your sound and the Elgato Stream Deck pedal for when you need something that offers hands-free functions. Elgato streaming hardware deal Source link #Elgatos #Popular #AudioMixing #Software #Big #Upgrade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi Led Mobile Market as India’s Premium Smartphone Segment Rose 36 Percent YoY in 2024: CMR Xiaomi Led Mobile Market as India’s Premium Smartphone Segment Rose 36 Percent YoY in 2024: CMR The premium smartphone market in India grew 36 percent year-on-year in 2024, according to a report by CyberMedia Research (CMR). Samsung was the top premium smartphone brand last year, while Apple was one of five top smartphone brands in the country, as the company’s share soared by 72 percent in Q4 2024. On the other hand, the budget and midrange segments grew by 1 percent and fell by 7 percent, respectively. The decline of 2G smartphones continued, with a drop of 22 percent YoY in 2024. Vivo Led Indian 5G Smartphone Market in Q4 2024 According to the research firm’s latest report ‘India Mobile Handset Market Review Report for CY2024’, the premium smartphone market in the country (comprising smartphones priced between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000) grew by 36 percent, while the super-premium segment (between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 1 lakh) increased by 10 percent. The uber-premium segment (over Rs. 1 lakh) rose by a more impressive 25 percent, according to the market research firm. The smartphone maker that witnessed the biggest growth in India in 2024 was Apple, as the iPhone maker broke into the top 5 list in the last quarter of 2024, with a 72 percent YoY increase in market share. Meanwhile, Vivo led the 5G smartphone market in Q4 2024, with a market share of 19 percent, with Samsung close on its heels at 18 percent. Meanwhile, Xiaomi (including Poco) beat Samsung (16.9 percent) and Vivo (16.7 percent) with an 18 percent market share, to become the top phone maker on CMR’s leaderboard for 2024. In the premium smartphone market, Samsung, Apple, and Vivo were the top three brands last year, with 28 percent, 25 percent, and 15 percent, respectively. Feature Phones, 4G Handsets Continue to Decline Both the 4G smartphone segment and feature phones with 2G connectivity saw a decline of 59 percent and 22 percent, YoY in Q4 2024, respectively. On the other hand, budget smartphones (priced under Rs. 7,000) grew by 1 percent over the past year. In Q4 2024, Vivo led the market (18 percent) with the Vivo T3x 5G, Vivo Y28s 5G, and VIvo T3 Lite 5G. Xiaomi was in second place (15.2 percent), boosted by sales of the Redmi 13C 5G, Redmi A3x, and Redmi A4 5G. Samsung was right behind Xiaomi with 15.1 percent market share, according to the CMR report. Meanwhile, Carl Pei-led Nothing grew over 800 percent in the last quarter, thanks to the Nothing Phone 2a series and products from its sub-brand, CMF. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips powered one in three of all premium smartphones launched in 2024, while MediaTek-equipped smartphones notched an impressive 52 percent market share. Midrange and high-end smartphones today are now available with generative AI (GenAI) features, and CMR predicts that smartphone shipments in 2025 likely to see single-digit growth. “As India’s smartphone market evolves in 2025, the premium segment (>INR 25,000) will continue to grow, driven by rising consumer demand. Smartphone OEMs will reposition their product strategies from primarily hardware-centric to GenAI-centric product strategies with a simultaneous focus on innovating in the value-for-money and affordable smartphone segments to cater to mass-market demand,” said Pankaj Jadli, Analyst at CMR. Source link #Xiaomi #Led #Mobile #Market #Indias #Premium #Smartphone #Segment #Rose #Percent #YoY #CMR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S&P 500: Where Are Stock Prices Going Next? S&P 500: Where Are Stock Prices Going Next? Stocks opened significantly lower on Monday, with the dipping below last Monday’s local low after the open. However, it rebounded and closed just 0.76% lower, retracing much of its initial decline. The index closed slightly below the 6,000 level. Today, the S&P 500 is expected to open virtually flat, likely extending its consolidation. Investors are awaiting key at 10:00 a.m. and earnings reports from , , and after the close. Investor sentiment declined last week, as shown by Wednesday’s AAII Investor Sentiment Survey, which reported that 41.0% of individual investors are bullish, while 34.0% of them are bearish. The S&P 500 index continues its consolidation, as we can see on the daily chart. Nasdaq 100 Rebounded from 21,000 The closed 0.84% lower after rebounding from a daily low of 21,004.35. Despite earnings releases, major tech stocks continue to trade sideways. This week, earnings reports include: , (today), (tomorrow), and (Thursday); volatility is likely to remain elevated. Resistance is around 21,800, marked by the previous trading range, while support is at 21,000, marked by recent lows. VIX: Briefly Above 20 The , a measure of market volatility, advanced to the daily high of 22.51 last Monday, the highest level since December 20. However, it later retraced most of that move, falling to 14.90 on Friday. Yesterday, it briefly reached 20.42 before pulling back. Historically, a dropping VIX indicates less fear in the market, and a rising VIX accompanies stock market downturns. However, the lower the VIX, the higher the probability of the market’s downward reversal. Conversely, the higher the VIX, the higher the probability of the market’s upward reversal. S&P 500 Futures Contract Trades Above 6,000 This morning, the contract is trading above 6,000, after rebounding from a local low of around 5,936 yesterday. Support is at around 5,900-5,950, while resistance is still at 6,000-6,050. Conclusion Stocks are likely to open virtually flat this morning, as the uncertainty remains despite yesterday’s rebound. Investors are closely watching earnings reports and key economic data this week. Further consolidation appears likely. Yesterday, in my Stock Price Forecast for January 2025, I noted “recent rallies have provided selling opportunities. What will February bring? The earnings season is in full swing, likely adding to volatility. Political developments are increasing uncertainty. The market’s ongoing consolidation since November may be forming a medium-term topping pattern ahead of some more meaningful downward correction. However, no confirmed bearish signals have appeared yet.” For now, my short-term outlook is neutral. Here’s the breakdown: The S&P 500 is likely to continue fluctuating. The stock market is still seeing increased volatility following the post-election rally. In my opinion, the short-term outlook is neutral. Source link #Stock #Prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coal and gas among US targets of China’s retaliatory tariffs Coal and gas among US targets of China’s retaliatory tariffs China has announced retaliatory tariffs against the US after President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tax on all ******** imports. The counter-measures include a 15% tax on coal and liquefied natural gas imports from the US, while crude oil, agricultural machinery, pickup trucks and large-engine cars will face a 10% tariff. These are expected to come into force next Monday. China has complained to the World Trade Organization (WTO) – accusing the US of breaking international rules. Trump says the tariffs are a response to trade deficits – as well as an effort to curb the flow of the opioid fentanyl. His administration says chemicals used to make the drug come from China. Beijing has previously said that America’s fentanyl crisis was its own issue. The new US tariff of an additional 10% on ******** imports came into effect on Tuesday. In a statement announcing its response, China said the move was “not only unhelpful in solving its [America’s] own problems, but also undermines the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US”. Other steps Beijing has taken in response to the Trump administration’s new tariffs include adding more US companies to its blacklist “unreliable entity” list. This time PHV Corp, the company that owns fashion brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and US biotechnology firm Illumina, have both been targeted. In a statement, China’s commerce ministry accused the firms of “discriminatory measures against ******** enterprises”. Firms added to the list may face a number of sanctions including fines and having the work visas of their foreign employees revoked. Beijing has also announced plans to restrict the export of 25 critical minerals, some of which are key components for electrical products. These include tungsten, which is difficult to source and a crucial material for the aerospace industry, tellurium, widely used for solar panels, and molybdenum, which is used to strengthen steel alloys. A ******** watchdog has launched an investigation into Google for alleged violations of competition rules, known as antitrust. Although Google’s search services have been blocked in China since 2010, it still has some business activities in China. It still provides apps and games to the ******** market through partnership with local developers for example. Both the US and China have in the past imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of one another’s goods in the past as part of an ongoing trade war. Meanwhile, Trump has suspended for 30 days the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada that he threatened. After last-minute negotiations, the two US neighbours agreed to stricter border security and taking ******* steps to address fentanyl trafficking – a win for Trump’s strategy of leveraging the US economy to force concessions from other countries. Together, China, Mexico and Canada accounted for more than 40% of imports into the US last year. It remains unclear whether Trump will follow through on his threats to Canada and Mexico once the 30-day deadline is up. That uncertainty stirs fears that could see businesses reducing their reliance on American markets, holding off on investing in building new factories or hiring workers until the trade stand-off becomes clearer. Source link #Coal #gas #among #targets #Chinas #retaliatory #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Game Pass Titles for February 2025 Revealed Xbox Game Pass Titles for February 2025 Revealed Xbox Game Pass has several bangers in store for February 2025, with games like Far Cry New Dawn, Starfield, and Madden NFL 2025 arriving for the subscription service. Moreover, this is also the month players received the highly anticipated action RPG from Obsidian, Avowed. Xbox Game Pass Schedule for Feb 2025 During the first week of February, Xbox Game Pass will add several new games, the first of which is available today, February 4. Far Cry New Dawn is available today for cloud consoles and PC through Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. The next day, February 5, players receive three new games for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S through Game Pass Standard. Another Crab’s Treasure and Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred arrives for both consoles, whereas Starfield will only be available for Xbox Series X/S. On February 6, players can dive into Madden NFL 25 on Cloud, Console, and PC via EA Play through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The rest of February is pretty stacked for Game Pass. On February 13, players will try out Kingdom Two Crowns on cloud and console through Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass Standard. Last but not least by any means, Obsidian’s highly anticipated release for this year, Avowed, will be available on Day One through Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass for Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on February 18. More games for Feb 2025 will be revealed in the Wave Two announcement. Games Leaving Game Pass This Month The following list of games will not be available on Xbox Game Pass from February 15: A Little to the Left Bloodstained Ritual of the Night EA Sports UFC 3 Indivisible Merge and Blade Return to Grace Tales of Arise In other news, Valve is reportedly building a ‘Steam Console’ to rival PlayStation and Xbox. Also, Far Cry New Dawn is receiving a 60FPS update on Series X/S and PS5. What are your thoughts on Xbox Game Pass titles for February 2025? Let us know in the comments or on our new community forum! For more information from Insider Gaming, read about Nintendo Switch’s sales of over 150 million units. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Xbox #Game #Pass #Titles #February #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scoop: 20,000 federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says – Axios Scoop: 20,000 federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says – Axios Scoop: 20,000 federal workers take “buyout” so far, official says AxiosAFGE Cautions Feds Not to Be Tricked into Resigning. You Might Not Get Paid AFGEOPM, implementing Musk’s DOGE plans, sends federal workers 2nd ‘Fork in the Road’ email ABC News Source link #Scoop #federal #workers #quotbuyoutquot #official #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

VALORANT Patch 10.02 Notes – All Changes and Fixes VALORANT Patch 10.02 Notes – All Changes and Fixes · · February 4, 2025 VALORANT is one of the most popular online multiplayer titles in gaming, attracting thousands of players a day to the tactical shooter genre. With so many agents and abilities, the game consistently receives fixes when these abilities aren’t working properly, like the one in today’s 10.02 patch. Here’s the full breakdown of bug fixes coming to VALORANT in Patch 10.02. VALORANT 10.02 Patch Notes VALORANT Patch 10.02 doesn’t feature any significant gameplay changes or improvements, save for one to Killjoy’s Alarmbot. It features a number of bug fixes, primarily targeting agent abilities that were bugged. Here are those changes: Vyse: Fixed an issue where Arc Rose and Razorvine were visible when placedon specific water surfaces. Tejo: Fixed an issue where players could rarely survive running straight through the full duration of Armageddon. Killjoy: Fixed an issue where Killjoy’s recall minimap indicator could get stuck in a state where it was invisible. Killjoy: Alarmbot logic has been updated to be more intelligent. In niche circumstances, the Alarmbot will now path towards players if they are on ledges and explode on them if they would be hit by the size of the explosion rather than trying to run extremely long paths around the map. Fixed an issue where certain types of damage could leave players with Regen Shields at 1 HP when the damage should have been lethal. This also fixed issues where Clove could tank lethal damage specifically when Regen Shield and Pick Me Up were active at the same time. Fixed a bug where Observers were seeing inconsistent player team outline colors. The following fixes to Premier, VALORANT’s seasonal competitive mode, apply only to PC players: Fixed an issue where long team names could overlap each other on the playoff bracket screen. Fixed an issue where dropdowns on the standings sometimes cut off text. Fixed an issue where the division name text was not always correctly aligned on the match history screen Since his arrival at the start of the season, Tejo has become a popular fixture amongst competitive and pro players. However, his destructive ultimate Armageddon was sometimes not killing players caught in it’s full blast. Now, thanks to patch 10.02, players caught in the full duration will die. Arguably the biggest change in VALORANT Patch 10.02 is the improved intelligence of Killjoy’s Alarmbot. Players are no longer safe from the Alarmbot if it they’re up on a ledge above it. What changes do you want to see added to VALORANT in a future patch? Let us know down below and on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out our review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #VALORANT #Patch #Notes #Fixes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. RTX 50 laptop pricing starts from $1,899 for an RTX 5070 Ti toting Asus ROG Strix G16 U.S. RTX 50 laptop pricing starts from $1,899 for an RTX 5070 Ti toting Asus ROG Strix G16 Nvidia’s RTX 50 series laptop GPUs are expected to start shipping in March 2025, but retailers and OEMs are already putting up listings with prices. We’ve already seen laptops equipped with RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 graphics cards go live on the Polish e-commerce website Dream Machines. And in January Best Buy listings for RTX 50 series laptops paired with either an Intel Arrow Lake-HX or AMD Dragon Range Refresh CPU, were spotted, with prices ranging from $1,899 to $4,199. Aside from these retailers, we’ve also started seeing some major laptop manufacturers going live with RTX 50-series laptop listings. For example, if you check the Asus U.S. store page, you’ll find 16 laptops listed with Blackwell GPUs, ranging from the RTX 5070 to the RTX 5090. Unfortunately, only six of these laptops have price tags at the time of writing, with the most affordable being the ROG Strix Scar 16 which sports an RTX 5080 laptop GPU and an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX priced at $3,199.99. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Those interested in the other end of the spectrum will have the ROG Strix Scar 18 which is powered by the RTX 5090 laptop GPU and the same processor for $4,299.99. HP is also offering a single laptop model, the HP Omen Max, that comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU and an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, priced at $2,699.99 at Best Buy. Swipe to scroll horizontally Laptop Manufacturer Price Best Buy Price GPU CPU Display Storage ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835LX-XS97) $4,299.99 $4,199.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 18.5-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz HDR 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU605CX-XS98) $4,199.99 $3,999.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 285H 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz OLED 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LX-XS97) $3,999.99 – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz HDR 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU605CW-XS98) $3,399.99 $3,199.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 285H 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz OLED 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835LW-XS97) $3,299.99 – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 18-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz HDR 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LW-XS97) $3,199.99 – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz HDR 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix G18 (G814FP-WS96) – – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX 18-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix G16 (G614FR-ES96) – – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix G16 (G614PR-G16) – $1,899.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 16-inch WUXGA 16:10 165Hz 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix G18 (G815LW-G18.U95080) – $2,899.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 18-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix G18 (G815LP-IS96) – – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 18-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU605CX-G16.U9X5090) – – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 285H 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz OLED 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU605CW-G16.U95080) – – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 285H 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz OLED 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU605CR-XS97) – $2,399.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 285H 16-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hz OLED 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835LR-XS96) – – Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 18-inch 2.5K 16:10 240Hx HDR 1 TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA403WW-QS092W) – $2,999.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 14-inch 3K 16:10 120Hz OLED 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD HP Omen Max (16-AH0097NR) $2,699.99 $2,699.99 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 16-inch 4K 16:10 240Hz 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD If we look through the table above, the price for RTX 5090 laptops ranges from $3,999.99 to $4,199.99, while those with an RTX 5080 are priced between $2,699.99 and $3,399.99. Lastly, an RTX 5070 Ti laptop will set you back by $1,899.99. These prices stay on track with Nvidia’s pricing for these laptop GPUs, which shows how much GPU prices have inflated through the years. Gaming laptops powered by an RTX 40-series laptop GPU debuted in 2023, with enthusiast-class laptops equipped with an RTX 4080 starting at $1,999 — a nearly 35% increase in pricing based on currently available data. Hopefully, we will find more laptop models equipped with RTX 50-series Blackwell GPUs as March 2025 comes nearer. This should deliver more competition and maybe lower prices for consumers. But given that the laptop GPU itself is priced so high, it’s unlikely that we’ll get an “enthusiast-class” laptop with an RTX 5080 and up for less than $2,500. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #U.S #RTX #laptop #pricing #starts #RTX #toting #Asus #ROG #Strix #G16 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Five ways China is hitting back against US tariffs Five ways China is hitting back against US tariffs Michael Race Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images The trade war between the world’s two biggest economies has escalated after China hit back against the introduction of tariffs by the US with measures of its own. Beijing has set out to target specific American goods with retaliatory taxes, among other measures, following the blanket 10% tariff introduced by President Donald Trump on all ******** imports to the US. In some ways, this latest ****-for-tat is nothing new and builds on the long-running trade dispute between the nations, with tariffs having already been imposed and threatened on various goods since 2018. Trump has said he plans to speak to ******** President Xi Jinping, so a deal could yet be struck. But if China proceeds with its response on 10 February as planned, what could the impact be? Coal, oil and gasGetty Images Part of China’s countermeasures to Trump’s tariffs is to announce import taxes of its own on US coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) of 10%, and a 15% charge on crude oil. The response from Beijing means companies wanting to import fossil fuels from the US would have to pay the tax in order to do so. China is the world’s largest importer of coal, but it gets most of it from Indonesia, although Russia, Australia and Mongolia are also among its suppliers. When it comes to the US, China has been increasing imports of LNG from the country, with volumes nearly double 2018 levels, according to ******** customs data. But its overall fossil fuel trade is modest, with US imports accounting for just 1.7% of China’s total crude oil bought from abroad in 2023. This suggests China is not dependent on the US and so the impact of the tariffs on its economy could be minimal. Rebecca Harding, a trade economist and chief executive of the Centre for Economic Security think tank, said China could easily source more supplies from Russia, where it has already been buying oil on the cheap as the Kremlin seeks to fund its war effort. On the flipside, the US is the world’s largest LNG exporter, and so has plenty of other customers, particularly the *** and the European Union. Agricultural machinery, pick-up trucks and big cars As well as fuel, China has slapped a 10% tariff on agricultural machinery, pick-up trucks, and some large cars. But China is not a big importer of US pick-ups and it gets most of its cars from Europe and Japan, so a 10% tariff on an already small number of imports would not hit consumers too hard. In recent years, China has increased investments in farm machinery to enhance production and reduce reliance on imports, and to strengthen its food security. So the introduction of tariffs on agricultural machinery might be another move to try to boost domestic industry. Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at consultancy Capital Economics, said all the tariff measures were “fairly modest, at least relative to US moves”. He suggests that China’s targeted goods represent about $20bn (£16bn) worth of annual imports – around 12% of China’s total imports from the US. “This is a far cry from the more than $450bn worth of ******** goods being targeted by the US.” But he said China had “clearly been calibrated to try to send a message to the US [and domestic audiences] without inflicting too much damage”. Google probe The ******** authorities have also announced some non-tariff measures, one of which is an anti-monopoly investigation into US tech giant Google. It is unclear what the investigation will involve, but for context, Google’s search services have been blocked in China since 2010. The company still has some business presence in the country through providing apps and games to the ******** markets by working with local developers. But China only generates about 1% of Google’s global sales, which suggests if it cut ties entirely with the country, it wouldn’t be much worse off. Calvin Klein added to ‘unreliable entities’ listGetty Images China has added PVH, the American company that owns designer brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, to its so-called “unreliable entity” list and accused them of “discriminatory measures against ******** enterprises”. The list, which has other US firms on it, was created in 2020 by Beijing amid the heating up of trade tensions. For Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, being on China’s list will make it harder to do business in the country. They may face sanctions, including fines, and having the work visas of their foreign employees revoked. Regulators will also go to factories of the firms to investigate operations, according to Andreas Schotter, professor of international business at Western University in Ontario, Canada. The US has its own “entity list”, which bars certain organisations from buying products from US companies without approval from Washington. “China is hitting back in the same way President Trump is accusing ******** companies. This is all part of the US driven de-coupling of the US and China,” Prof Schotter added. Export controls on rare metals While tariffs have been placed on the companies wanting to import goods from abroad, China has also imposed export controls on 25 rare metals. Some of the metals are key components for many electrical products and military equipment. China has mastered the ability to refine such metals, and produced almost 90% of global refined output. The restricted list includes tungsten, which is difficult to source and a crucial material for the aerospace industry. While there are restrictions on exports, Mr Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics, said it was notable that the critical metals China imports from the US, which are used to make high-end chips, semiconductor machinery, pharmaceuticals and aerospace equipment were not targeted in any measures. The experience of previous rounds of restrictions suggests exports will drop sharply as companies scramble to get licences, a process that takes several weeks. When it comes to the impact of the restrictions, it appears the US has a plan. On Monday, Trump said he wanted Ukraine to guarantee the supply of more rare earth metals in exchange for $300bn of support in its fight against Russia. Source link #ways #China #hitting #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Shuhei Yoshida Remembers Scariest Moment for Sony Shuhei Yoshida Remembers Scariest Moment for Sony While the PS Vita will go down as a commercial failure, its prospects weren’t that bad when it was announced. Yes, smartphone gaming was getting ******* at the time, but Sony matched the price of the Nintendo 3DS with a much more powerful machine, and the PSP had been hugely successful, selling over 80 million units. But everything changed when Monster Hunter 4 was announced as a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. Source link #Shuhei #Yoshida #Remembers #Scariest #Moment #Sony Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

“Unsafe At Any Speed”. Comparing automobiles to code risk “Unsafe At Any Speed”. Comparing automobiles to code risk Outgoing CISA chief Jen Easterly recently compared secure software development to automotive safety, arguing that we were at an inflection point similar to 1965 when Ralph Nader published the book Unsafe At Any Speed. The book spurred public outrage over road safety, which helped foster the widespread adoption of innovative vehicle safety measures. After reading Jen’s posts on the topic, the open question remains: are we really at a point where we can use outrage against insecure software risk to drive meaningful change? Let’s see if we can objectively view this question and determine what needs to happen in 2025 alongside continued public pressure. For CISO and IT software buyers, besides your day-to-day improvement, demanding that the software you purchase is secure, and your vendors pledge to secure by design principles, what should you focus on in 2025 to help move the needle? Show me the incentive, and I’ll show you the outcome The comparison between automobile risk in the 1960s and software risk in the modern era is evident. Rapid technology innovation has resulted in unsafe products being used daily. The software world, much like the automotive industry in the 60s, prioritises speed of release, features and functionality, and pushing the boundaries and limits of safe usage, all in the name of selling more products and innovating new offerings faster than your competitors. Software developers face continued pressure to release products as quickly as possible, often at the expense of the security of the code. Security is perceived as slowing down the development cycle and is often a bolt-on after the fact. To quote the great Charlie Munger, “Show me the incentive, and I’ll show you the outcome.” Software developers don’t write secure code because they have no incentive to do so. To make matters worse, the companies they work for have very little incentive to focus on the security of their products either. IT and CISO buyers have been purchasing insecure code for as long as code has existed. he automobile industry had a similar problem – cars purchased to that point were not bought because they were safe. People weren’t going to the automobile dealerships (did they have dealerships in the 60s?) and asking questions about the vehicle’s safety rating or if it had a collapsable steering column and padded dashboard. They purchased vehicles based on the look, the style, the top speed and acceleration, and most importantly, the joy they received while operating the new mode of transportation. Safety was not a required feature and was thus an afterthought. This is almost identical to how we have built and purchased software up through today. We prioritise and purchase based on the value we get from the software, with little to no interest in how secure it is. There is no incentive to prioritise security when that’s not what buyers demand. The automobile industry required consumer recognition of the problem, resulting in an outcry for better safety standards before automobile manufacturers would “waste their time” on product safety features. We won’t see an ‘Unsafe At Software Speed’ moment in 2025 The software industry hasn’t learned from the automobile industry’s past for a few key reasons. First of all, when you get into a car accident, there is a nontrivial chance of the loss of life. People die when there are no safety features present in their cars, and even a small number of deaths is unacceptable to the public. The consequences of a motor vehicle accident were immediate and visceral and left a lasting impression in the minds of those who were in one or saw one. Software is different. When the software on your TV, for example, breaks, you just reboot it. Until recently, in the worst case, the vast majority of software flaws resulted in the compromise of some anonymous corporate entity with little to no bearing on the populace. Sure, there might be a very small chance that their accounts were compromised, money directly stolen from them, or fraud perpetrated against them, but most of the consumer world believes that “that won’t happen to me,” and by the law of large numbers, they are probably right. And if it does, they are insured, covered for loss, and, most of the time, only suffer from having to jump through lots of hoops to regain what they’ve lost. Because of this laissez-faire attitude toward the risks, it is much easier for the software industry to ignore the problem, writing it off as a cost of doing business. In other words, there is no demand for change. In addition to the difference in risk between automobiles and software vulnerabilities, the complexity of the software landscape dwarfs that of the automobile of the 1960s. If we could quickly implement four to six software processes and fix the entire global software risk register, I promise we would. The problem is way more complex and challenging to fix than the less than 10 large auto manufacturers of the 1960s had to figure out. If only 10 software development firms existed today, it would be easier to mandate change. However, software is literally in everything that we touch. From IoT devices to home appliances to children’s toys – software has eaten the world, making securing that software a much more difficult task to complete. Automobile builders had to make a few changes to their products and were ready to sell. They didn’t have to change the entire manufacturing world for every product available to the public to move towards safety. Here is where the comparison falls short. SbD and the push to secure our software This incredible level of complexity begs the question of who is responsible for fixing the problem. In May 2024, there was a major push for software vendors to sign the “Secure by Design (SbD) pledge.” Currently, over 250 companies have committed to following secure by design principles and ensuring that their software is created with high-security standards at every step of the development process. I love the Secure By Design pledge, but 250 companies is a drop in the bucket; according to CyberDB there are over 3,500 cyber security companies alone. These are just the companies that are working to secure our daily lives. 250 signatures is a mere blip compared to the number of companies in the United States. Some research claims over 33 million businesses in 2024 in the US alone, the bulk of which are small businesses. The difficult problem is getting to the tipping point required for businesses across the US, and the world, to realise that the risk is too high and demand change from their software vendors. Research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Engineering and Applied Science shows that approximately 25% of a population is required to hit the tipping point for large-scale social change. We aren’t even close. What I think we should be thinking about isn’t how we fix code security problems better or faster, but instead, how we get to the tipping point where the incentive structure changes and the software of the world begins to fix itself. If we think of it this way, we quickly see that change will only come when a groundswell of buyer demand and government-mandated regulations are implemented. Fixing secure code as a movement in 2025 Given the negative outlook and tempered expectations that I’ve presented, you probably regret reading this article. I’d love for you to leave with the opposite idea in your brain and maybe approach 2025 as the year in which the software industry can move closer to the tipping point for building software more securely. Similar to the issues discussed in Unsafe at Any Speed, companies that write software of any kind will continue to push back on ownership of the problem and attempt to deflect or ignore responsibility for any health, safety, and security issues that appear. As software is used increasingly in life-and-death situations such as healthcare, automotive, emergency communications, etc. the business and buyer demand for less risk will increase. If we are loud enough, at some point, software liability will switch to those who are building the product, and when it does, the incentive structures will change, and companies will pay much more attention to the risks to their own business. Sadly, I don’t think we’ll ever get to the point where businesses care enough about code security to prioritise it just because it’s the right thing to do for their customers. Instead, to achieve our goals, we have to make it imperative to the health and success of their business to write more secure code, and the only way to do this is to be VERY LOUD and DEMAND CHANGE. So, what can you do as a CISO and IT software buyer in 2025 to help move the needle and grow toward the secure code tipping point? First and foremost, we need each of you to be educated on the risks of software flaws and help articulate these issues to the developers of software that you purchase or license. Users and developers must be more aware of the importance of security and the potential consequences of software vulnerabilities to both the company that sells the software and the people that use it. Second, and likely more critical, you must push your government representatives and agencies to become more educated on the topic and build stronger regulations and standards for secure software creation. The automobile would have never become more secure if government agencies hadn’t stepped in and put regulations and standards in place that demanded that motor vehicles have at least a minimum level of safety. We have to have regulations in the software world that place the tipping point within reach, and it’s up to the buyers and users of software to push the government on this front. Liability must shift back to the builder, which only happens when the government gets involved. It’ll take an army, but if we scream and yell loud enough over time, purchase only software that is written securely, and make a significant enough level of noise, we can continue to slowly march toward improvement. The slow march to ‘Secure At All Speeds’ Just as Unsafe At Any Speed was a wake-up call for the automotive industry, a growing awareness of software security issues and the impact of vulnerabilities to human safety and health is building pressure for a similar reckoning in the software world. We must keep moving toward a Secure At All Speeds software development world. I don’t think we’ll see the tipping point hit in 2025, but each of us must approach this change with a uniform rallying cry to build the volume required to be heard at the highest levels. Thank you, Jen Easterly and the CISA team, for the ground work you’ve done towards this movement, and I hope 2025 is the year where we will work together to take daily steps toward success. Source link #Unsafe #Speed #Comparing #automobiles #code #risk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Woman files civil lawsuit against author and his ex-wife Woman files civil lawsuit against author and his ex-wife A woman has filed civil lawsuits against Neil Gaiman and his ex-wife in the US, accusing the British author of ********* assaulting her. The lawsuits against Gaiman and Amanda Palmer were filed in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New York. The woman alleges the former couple violated laws on federal human trafficking, with complaints of assault, battery and inflicting emotional distress against Gaiman and negligence against Palmer. She is seeking at least $7m (£5.6m) in damages. Gaiman, 64, has denied allegations of ******* misconduct made by eight women, saying he has “never engaged in non-consensual ******* activity with anyone. Ever”. The lawsuits claim the woman was befriended by Palmer when she was 22 and homeless in New Zealand and began working for the couple, which is when the assaults began. According to the lawsuits, Palmer told the woman there had been previous complaints from more than a dozen different women. Five women, four of whom were among eight featured in a New York Magazine article in January, made allegations about the writer in a Tortoise Media podcast series published in summer 2024. Gaiman, whose books Good Omens, American Gods and The Sandman have been adapted for television – has denied all of the allegations made against him, posting on his blog, on 14 January: “I’ve stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation. “As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don’t, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen.” He acknowledged that he was “careless with people’s hearts and feelings” and could have “done so much better”, but said he does not “accept there was any abuse”. Source link #Woman #files #civil #lawsuit #author #exwife Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alcohol-related deaths spiked 18% during pandemic, study finds – National Alcohol-related deaths spiked 18% during pandemic, study finds – National Alcohol-related deaths rose about 18 per cent during the pandemic, according to a study that points to the harm of making liquor more available at a time of increased vulnerability. Researchers with the Public Health Agency of Canada compared alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations before and after the pandemic, finding 1,600 more deaths than expected. They also found hospitalizations jumped eight per cent, with an even higher increase of about 14 per cent in 2020 and 2021. This happened as alcohol retail sales saw the highest increase in a decade – despite an absence of tourists in Canada. The study says provinces designating alcohol as “essential” and allowing liquor stores to remain open during lockdowns while making it easy to access with home delivery, could have undermined public health messaging about its harms. Lead author Dr. Yipu Shi says these findings confirm the harm of drinking more alcohol, which may be attributed to increases of stress, boredom and worsening mental health during the pandemic. Story continues below advertisement The study shows certain demographics faced more alcohol-related harm than others, including females, young adults and low income earners, exposing pre-existing disparities in these groups. Their findings, published Monday in the ********* Medical Association Journal, examined data between 2016 and 2022 and only included deaths that could be fully attributed to alcohol, such as alcohol liver disease, which accounted for almost 10,800 in total. They found hospitalizations linked to drinking rose three times more among females than males – 15.6 per cent compared to. 5.7 per cent – which Shi says could have been attributed to higher stress, loneliness, exposure to intimate partner violence, and job loss than males. 1:54 Alcohol health concerns come as dry January begins The study also reported a 55 per cent increase in mortality for those aged 25 to 44 years old, a “very concerning” spike that suggests younger adults had trouble with drinking before the pandemic, and it only got worse. Story continues below advertisement Higher alcohol consumption was recorded among the highest income group, but mortality rates for this group were the lowest. Dr. Daniel Myran, Canada’s research chair at the University of Ottawa department of family medicine, says this highlights the fact that people who are lower income tend to experience more harm and face more risk of chronic diseases. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. “It’s interesting that the richest 20 per cent of neighborhoods see almost half the increase in mortality that the lowest income groups, the lowest income neighborhoods, see. I think that there were very different pandemic experiences for people based on socioeconomic status,” he said. More on Health More videos Shi says the lower prevalence of pre-existing alcohol-related diseases for high income earners could have mitigated the adverse effects of drinking more liquor. The report also shows regional differences with the Prairies and British Columbia seeing three times the deaths tied to alcohol than in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces, and six to seven times the deaths seen in Quebec. Researchers say these differences could be tied to public health restrictions, economic impacts, and health care capacity during the pandemic. For example, they say major waves of COVID-19 in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan likely delayed care for alcohol-related conditions. In contrast, the low infection rate in the “Atlantic bubble” may have translated to more health care capacity and reduced harm. Trending Now Canada to divert aluminum to Europe in response to Trump tariffs Want to buy *********? How to find alternatives to big U.S. brands A rise in alcohol-related deaths has also been noted in the United States – where it jumped 29 per cent – and 19 European countries, where it rose 18 per cent. Story continues below advertisement 4:51 Health Matters: Alcohol consumption and increased ******* risk The study says the surge in deaths due to alcohol dropped after 2022 as vaccines and COVID-19 treatments became available. But Myran says the pre-pandemic baseline is still a bad state of affairs. Before the pandemic, alcohol use was already a leading cause of mortality in Canada. The challenge is alcohol control policies are not viewed as a “political win,” Myran says, but expanding alcohol sales to convenience stores, making liquor cheaper, and giving tax breaks, are easy popularity points for politicians. Many provinces allowed liquor stores to start doing booze home deliveries during the pandemic, and still do. “There really is a very influential and powerful alcohol lobby who meet regularly with decision makers and politicians who are not interested in policies that will reduce the ***** of alcohol because that is how their companies make money,” says Myron. Dr. Tim Naimi, director of the ********* Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, says the rollback of alcohol policies that took place during this ******* that have persisted, such as making it available on delivery apps, will be among the lasting negative impacts of the pandemic. Story continues below advertisement “Rather than leading to a strengthening of alcohol policies during a ******* when people were even more vulnerable than usual, it led to an erosion of those policies, and that has continued,” Naimi said. Naimi said he hopes this study will spur reflection for policy makers. &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Alcoholrelated #deaths #spiked #pandemic #study #finds #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mr Box is a new endless runner with an isometric twist, out now on iOS Mr Box is a new endless runner with an isometric twist, out now on iOS Mr Box is a newly-released endless runner on iOS Take on multiple zones and obstacles as you race along an isometric track Use power-ups and abilities to evade obstacles and battle enemies When it comes to the heroes of the endless runner genre we have bold explorers, stylish delinquents and even jetpack-borne felons. But what if your preference is something a little less bold? Like today’s subject, the block-headed, put-upon but still brave, Mr Box? I feel it’d do you a disservice to explain what an endless runner is, after all, if you’re reading this site you’ve probably played dozens. So, what does Mr Box bring to the table? Well, a distinct (and strange) twist in that rather than a simple 2D plane the action in Mr Box takes place on an isometric course. It certainly makes Mr Box stand out a bit, but at a glance, the trailer and gameplay do give me a weird sense of vertigo. At the same time,e there are all the features you’d expect from an endless runner, complete with different zones, power-ups to avoid certain obstacles and more. Box with god I don’t want to come down too harsh on Mr Box, even with its aggravatingly quirky descriptions, as this is clearly a release made with a decent spoonful of love. It’s also interesting to see the use of the “tap & release” controls for a character who doesn’t actually fly, and it certainly fits the isometric perspective. Do I think Mr Box is a new epoch in the annals of gaming? Not necessarily, but it’s definitely a lot more original than some of the releases we see hit the app store, so with that being said it’s likely worth a gander if you’re a fan of the genre. Speaking of which, if you’re craving more endless running action why not check out our list of the top 25 best endless runners on Android to find both top releases and others which may have flown under your radar? Source link #Box #endless #runner #isometric #twist #iOS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Infinix Note 50 Pro Reportedly Acquires SDPPI Certification; May Launch Soon Infinix Note 50 Pro Reportedly Acquires SDPPI Certification; May Launch Soon Infinix Note 40 Pro was unveiled in April last year in India alongside the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G. Infinix now appears to be preparing to introduce a successor — Infinix Note 50 Pro. Ahead of any official announcement from the Transsion Holding subsidiary, the new Infinix Note series phone has allegedly grabbed certification from Indonesia’s SDPPI certification site, pretty much confirming its arrival. The last year’s model has a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chipset under the hood and houses a 5,000mAh battery. As per a report by GizmoChina, the unannounced Infinix Note 50 Pro was spotted on the SDPPI certification website. The screenshot of the listing shared by the publication shows the moniker and X6855 model number. The certification does not delve into any information about the specifications of the handset, but it suggests that it will be launched in global markets soon. The Infinix Note 50 Pro is rumoured to come with an NFC feature. It could be available in at least 12GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration. Specifications of the phone are scarce at this moment, however, it is expected to come with upgrades over the Infinix Note 40 Pro. Infinix Note 40 Pro 5G Price, Specifications The Infinix Note 40 Pro 5G was unveiled in April last year with a price tag of Rs. 21,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage version. It boasts a 6.78-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,436 pixels) curved 3D AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. It runs on 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 7020 SoC. The handset has a triple camera setup, headlined by a 108-megapixel main sensor with support for optical image stabilisation (OIS) and 3x zoom. On the front, it carries a 32-megapixel shooter for selfies and video chats. The Infinix Note 40 Pro 5G have an IP53-rated build for dust and water resistance. It has a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging and 20W Magnetic wireless charging support. Source link #Infinix #Note #Pro #Reportedly #Acquires #SDPPI #Certification #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Princess of Wales accompanies school class to National Portrait Gallery Princess of Wales accompanies school class to National Portrait Gallery The Princess of Wales travelled by coach along with an enthusiastic group of five-year-olds as she joined them on a visit to an exhibition in central London. Rather than a formal arrival in a royal car, the princess stepped off the bus with the primary school class as they pulled up at the National Portrait Gallery. The children were visiting a trail around the gallery encouraging them to think about their emotions, linked to Catherine’s early years education project, Shaping Us. At the weekend she launched an initiative aimed at teaching young children about “positive relationships” and challenging “mistrust and misunderstanding”. The gallery visit is another part of Catherine’s gradual return to work after completing her ******* treatment. She has also marked World ******* Day by releasing a photo taken of her by her six-year-old son Prince Louis. The gallery, which has Catherine as its royal patron, has opened an interactive, storytelling trail for young children, with activities encouraging them to think about their emotions as they create their own self-portrait. Children from All Souls primary school tried out the exhibition which uses the idea of a magical tree, with the royal visit surprising visitors at the gallery. Catherine’s Shaping Us initiative emphasises the importance of the first five years of children’s lives – and the latest stage of the project calls for a greater emphasis on teaching social skills and improving mental health. The princess, who revealed last month that she is in remission from *******, has been calling for a “rebalance” in society to encourage people to show more compassion and empathy. King Charles is continuing his ******* treatment and the Royal Family’s social media channel had a message “sending love to all those navigating a ******* diagnosis – as well as the incredible doctors, nurses, charities and families who work tirelessly to support them”. Source link #Princess #Wales #accompanies #school #class #National #Portrait #Gallery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]