Pelican Press

Netflix is the exclusive home of WWE’s 2K fighting game on mobile Netflix is the exclusive home of WWE’s 2K fighting game on mobile If there are two things Netflix has been pushing over the last couple years its live sports and games. A large part of this initiative has come through its partnership with WWE to stream live shows. But, starting fall 2025, Netflix subscribers will also be getting exclusive access to WWE 2K video games on mobile. The WWE 2K series first launched 25 years ago and has remained extremely popular. Now, the organization is leaning further into its partnership with Netflix to give the streamer unique access. This announcement comes shortly after Monday Night Raw, WWE’s flagship show, began weekly live streams on Netflix in the US, ***, Latin America, Canada and more. It’s the first time in over 30 years that the show hasn’t aired on a linear TV network. Netflix is reportedly paying WWE $5 billion over 10 years for the ability to air Monday Night Raw and other WWE programs. WWE 2K will join over 100 games currently available in Netflix’s library. It also won’t require ads or in-app purchases. Subscribers can also check out some of the best games on Netflix include Kentucky Route Zero, Triviaverse and Before Your Eyes. Source link #Netflix #exclusive #home #WWEs #fighting #game #mobile Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Colour Options, RAM and Storage Configuration Tipped Xiaomi 15 Ultra Colour Options, RAM and Storage Configuration Tipped Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to launch in China next month and the global release could take place during MWC Barcelona. Ahead of the official debut, RAM, storage details, and the colour options of the phone have leaked online. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is tipped to be available in three shades with 16GB RAM. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra will arrive as a third model in the Xiaomi 15 lineup. It is expected to run on Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and could feature a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto sensor. A 91Mobiles report, quoting tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) has shared the possible RAM, storage, and colour options of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. It is said to be launched in 16GB RAM + 512GB storage configuration. The handset could be available in more memory storage combinations in China. For comparison, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra was launched in 16GB RAM + 512GB storage configuration in global markets. In China, it is offered in 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB and 16GB + 1TB variants. Further, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be reportedly available in ******, white, and silver shades. It is worth noting that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra was unveiled in ****** and White colours. As mentioned, Xiaomi’s much-anticipated Xiaomi 15 Ultra is likely to hit ******** markets next month. The global launch could take place during the MWC 2025 event in Barcelona in March first week. Xiaomi 15 Ultra Specifications (Expected) Like its siblings —Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro — the Ultra model is expected to be powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and run on Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0. It is likely to support wireless charging, 90W wired charging and satellite connectivity. It is expected to sport a 2K quad-curved display and a 50-megapixel triple rear camera unit. The camera setup could include a 1-inch main sensor with f/1.63 aperture and a 200-megapixel large-aperture periscope telephoto shooter. It is rumoured to have IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and splash resistance. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Xiaomi #Ultra #Colour #Options #RAM #Storage #Configuration #Tipped Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kash Patel confirmation hearing for FBI Director role begins today Kash Patel confirmation hearing for FBI Director role begins today Updated 8m ago Patel likely to face sharp questioning In order to win confirmation, Patel will need to secure support from all 53 Senate Republicans, assuming all Democrats oppose his nomination. But he is likely to face sharp questions from the Judiciary Committee about his fealty to Mr. Trump and his distrust of the Justice Department and FBI, the nation’s premier law enforcement agency. In his book “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy,” Patel said the FBI has become “compropised” and has claimed there is a so-called deep state of career government officials who attempted to “take down” Mr. Trump. He also suggested in a September radio interview that the FBI’s Washington, D.C., headquarters should be shuttered and reopened as a “museum of the ‘deep state.'” Patel told conservative commentator Steve Bannon in December 2023 that a second Trump administration would prosecute the president’s perceived enemies. “We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government, but in the media. Yes, we are going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” he said. “We are going to come after you. Whether it’s criminal or civilly, we will figure that out. But yeah, we are putting you all on notice.” By Melissa Quinn Updated 8m ago FBI insider raises concerns about Kash Patel’s role in hostage rescue Days before this week’s high-stakes confirmation hearing of Kash Patel to be FBI director, a bureau insider has come forward with new information questioning Patel’s judgment during sensitive hostage rescue missions, CBS News has learned. The whistleblower, whose identity is being withheld by Senate Democrats for fear of retaliation, worked with the FBI’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, which leads the government’s missions to rescue hostages overseas. The whistleblower alleges that Patel violated firmly entrenched protocols to keep such operations under wraps until the captives are safely in U.S. hands and their families have been notified. In a letter obtained by CBS News, Sen. ***** Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote that Patel, while serving on the National Security Council during the first Trump term, “broke protocol regarding hostage rescues by publicly commenting without authorization on the then-in-progress retrieval of two Americans held captive by Iranian-backed militants in Yemen in October 2020.” Read more here. By Daniel Klaidman Updated 8m ago What to know about Kash Patel Patel was born on Long Island, New York, and attended the University of Richmond. He received his law degree from Pace University, and has a certificate in international law from the University College London. He began his career as a public defender in South Florida, and worked as a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s National Security Division. He also was a legal liaison to Joint Special Operations Command. In 2017, Patel was special counsel on counterterrorism at the House Intelligence Committee, and then worked as a senior committee aide to its then-chairman, former Rep. Devin Nunes, and as senior counsel at the House Reform and Oversight Committee. During the first Trump administration, he worked for the National Security Council, as principal deputy at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller. Patel joined the board of directors for the Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns the social media platform Truth Social, in April 2022 and served as a national security adviser to the president during the campaign. By Melissa Quinn Source link #Kash #Patel #confirmation #hearing #FBI #Director #role #begins #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New homes fall again in government’s first six months New homes fall again in government’s first six months Daniel Wainwright Data journalist, BBC Verify BBC The number of new homes in England continued to fall during the first six months that Labour was in power, analysis by BBC Verify suggests. The BBC’s housing tracker shows every region of England had a year-on-year fall in new homes in the second half of 2024. About 107,000 new homes were recorded since last July’s election, down 10% on the same six months a year earlier. Experts warn Labour’s manifesto target for 1.5 million new homes by the next election will be hard to achieve, although the latest figures do not yet show the effects of housing targets and planning reforms. The government said it would deliver the homes and work was under way to “get Britain building again”. The Labour government’s targets for English councils, requiring 370,000 homes a year, were finalised in December. It expects to see the number of new homes rising “significantly” in about 2026-27, once reforms have taken effect. The data analysed by the BBC comes from energy performance certificates (EPCs), a leading indicator of new homes. BBC Verify analysis shows the number of EPCs for new homes lodged in the six months to December 2024 fell by 11,800 across England compared with the same ******* of 2023. The biggest fall was in the North West, down by more than 27% while Yorkshire and The Humber saw a decrease of nearly 15%. Decreases in the West Midlands and the North East were slight, at a few dozen homes. It can take on average almost four years from application to building completion, for sites with up to 100 homes, says planning consultancy Lichfields. Director Rachel Clements said the previous Conservative government’s changes in 2023, which removed mandatory housing targets, meant developers were less likely to submit an application because of the likelihood of refusal. “This negative housing policy environment has led to a decrease in planning applications submitted, let alone approved, let alone houses built,” she said. “Labour are rightly trying to turn the dial on this. Time will tell if it can deliver the enormous uplift needed.” The Conservative party has been approached for comment. Housing market analyst Neal Hudson, of BuiltPlace, said there were no easy solutions. “There’s been no money forthcoming from government to subsidise delivery by putting homes into the social or private rented sector, which is something that governments did during previous market downturns,” he said. Home Builders Federation chief executive Neil Jefferson said: “The planning changes are very positive, but were never on their own going to result in an increase in activity and further policy levers will need to be pulled to stimulate supply.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said Labour had inherited “the worst housing crisis in living memory”. “Work is already under way to get Britain building again, which includes overhauling the broken planning system and restoring mandatory housing targets for councils,” he said. “We are also increasing government investment in housing to £5 billion for this year, including an extra £500 million for the existing Affordable Homes Programme.” Interactive tool produced by Allison Shultes, Scott Jarvis, Steven Connor, Charlie Colbourne and Preeti Vaghela About the data Every new home, whether a new build or a conversion, must have an EPC by law within five days of construction work being finished. This makes them a leading indicator of new housing in England, although the figures differ from the official statistics on net additional dwellings produced once a year and with an eight-month lag. The main differences are that EPCs do not account for demolitions and may be lodged some time before homes are ready to live in, possibly in a different financial year. We have used EPCs because other quarterly statistics on new housebuilding in England tend to be an undercount. The government department in charge of housing has also used EPCs to estimate numbers of new homes while waiting for its annual net additional dwellings statistics to be published. Source link #homes #fall #governments #months Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WWE And Netflix Games Tag Team To Bring WWE 2K To Mobile WWE And Netflix Games Tag Team To Bring WWE 2K To Mobile Earlier this month, WWE Raw–the weekly flagship show for the largest professional wrestling company in the world–made the switch from traditional TV to weekly streaming on Netflix. Today, the two companies announced the next chapter in their partnership, which will see the WWE 2K video game franchise come to mobile devices via the Netflix Games service later this year. The announcement came via a brief teaser video featuring WWE Superstar CM Punk. No footage or additional details on the mobile version were provided–only that “WWE 2K games” would be coming to the service in “Fall 2025.” CM Punk in WWE 2K25 This has been a busy week for the WWE 2K franchise, which also revealed Roman Reigns as the cover athlete for WWE 2K25 on consoles and PC. This latest iteration of the annual wrestling simulation will offer over 300 wrestlers and add new features like intergender matches, a new hub world called The Island, and more. Netflix Games, meanwhile, now offers over 100 games free of charge to all subscribed members via its mobile app. Recent additions include Monument Valley 3, Squid Game Unleashed, Sonic Mania Plus, and another 2K offering in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI. WWE 2K will hit the Netflix Games service this fall. WWE 2K25 launches on March 14, though those who preorder the premium Deadman Edition or Bloodline Edition can access the game one week early on March 7. Source link #WWE #Netflix #Games #Tag #Team #Bring #WWE #Mobile Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung’s One UI 7 Now Bar Feature Tipped to Be Integrated With Google Maps Samsung’s One UI 7 Now Bar Feature Tipped to Be Integrated With Google Maps Samsung’s One UI 7 operating system, which was launched at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, is tipped to be adding Google Maps integration into the Now Bar. The South Korean tech giant introduced Now Bar and Now Brief at the event as new artificial intelligence (AI) features within the Galaxy AI suite. Now Bar shows a wide range of information and insights to users on the lock screen. As per the tipster, the tool will now also show Google Maps’ live navigation. Google Maps In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), tipster Tarun Vats claimed that the live navigation feature in Google Maps was getting integrated within the Now Bar. The tipster spotted the integration in the One UI 7 with Google Maps v25.04.01.717254420. It appears that Samsung added the support at the release of the OS, however, the Mountain View-based tech giant recently rolled out the feature. Google Maps v25.04.01.717254420 is rolling out live navigation in the Now Bar and Live Activities for devices on One UI 7. Works on S24 too! Repost pic.twitter.com/6XKVABfoOH — Tarun Vats (@tarunvats33) January 30, 2025 Based on screenshots shared by the tipster, it appears users will be able to start a trip on Google Maps on their supported device and continue to see the live navigation on the lock screen within the Now Bar. Additionally, the feature is also said to support Live Activities. In one of the screenshots, Google Maps was also spotted sending a live notification about the ongoing navigation. Interestingly, this is an Android 16 feature, however, the current build of One UI 7 is based on Android 15. It is possible that Google made the feature available to the Samsung OS. Notably, Now Bar is essentially a lock screen quick view of Now Brief insights. It is a rectangular bar featuring multiple cards near the bottom of the screen which can be vertically scrolled with a card deck-like animation. On the other hand, Now Brief is a new AI-powered feature that shows overviews of the user’s device usage and daily activities. The latter is an ecosystem feature which is tracked using devices such as the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring. Some of the insights users can see in Now Brief include weather forecasts, energy scores, recommendations for music and navigation, and more. Source link #Samsungs #Bar #Feature #Tipped #Integrated #Google #Maps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

One dead as Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola One dead as Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola Uganda has confirmed an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the capital Kampala, with the first confirmed patient dying from the disease, the health ministry said. The patient, a nurse at the Mulago referral hospital in the capital, had initially sought treatment at various facilities, including Mulago after developing fever-like symptoms. “The patient experienced multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital on Jan 29. Post-mortem samples confirmed Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (strain),” the ministry said on Thursday. The highly infectious hemorrhagic fever is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue. Symptoms include headache, vomiting blood, muscle pains and bleeding. Uganda last suffered an outbreak in late 2022 and that outbreak was declared over on January 11, 2023 after nearly four-months in which it struggled to contain the viral infection. The last outbreak killed 55 of the 143 people infected and the dead included six health workers. Source link #dead #Uganda #confirms #outbreak #Ebola Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City grows; one of largest in U.S. history – National Tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City grows; one of largest in U.S. history – National An outbreak of tuberculosis in the Kansas City area has grown into one of the largest ever recorded in the United States, with dozens of active cases of the infectious disease reported, according to health officials. As of Jan. 24, 67 active cases of tuberculosis, or TB, had been reported in Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas. The outbreak began last year, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said on its website. It did not specify a source of the outbreak. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is monitoring 384 people for TB exposure and helping with testing and treatment, a spokesperson said in a statement. “While this outbreak is larger than normal, the risk remains low for the general public,” the spokesperson said. Tuberculosis, which spreads through the air, is caused by a bacterium that typically affects the lungs, but can also impact other parts of the body, such as the brain, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If not treated, it can be fatal. Story continues below advertisement People can become infected with tuberculosis germs that can live in the body for years without causing symptoms, called inactive, or latent, TB. Without receiving treatment, those people can develop active tuberculosis at any time. 1:57 Analyzing the risks of tuberculosis Since 2024, 79 latent infections have been reported in the Kansas City, Kansas, area, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Trending Now Bank of Canada cuts key rate with ‘trade war storm’ on horizon Justin Baldoni apologizes to Blake Lively in ‘It Ends With Us’ voice message Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Four staff from the CDC are on site providing assistance with contact tracing, testing and screening and working with community leaders on health education, an agency spokesperson said. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. recorded 8,649 cases of tuberculosis last year, and 9,606 in 2023, according to the CDC. Tuberculosis replaced COVID-19 as the top cause for infectious disease-related deaths in 2023, according to a World Health Organization report published in October, highlighting challenges in the global effort in eradicating the disease. Story continues below advertisement While anyone can contract tuberculosis, it is most commonly found in people who live or used to live in large group settings or those who frequently travel to countries where tuberculosis is common. The largest tuberculosis outbreak in the U.S. occurred from 2015 through 2017 at a homeless shelter in Georgia, which was responsible for more than 170 active cases and more than 400 latent cases, according to the CDC, which began tracking TB cases in the 1950s. More on Health More videos Source link #Tuberculosis #outbreak #Kansas #City #grows #largest #U.S #history #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How To Open Genetic Apex Booster Packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket How To Open Genetic Apex Booster Packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket Pokémon TCG Pocket is evolving more than an Eevee, and Genetic Apex is far in the rearview mirror. However, many players still need to open the Packs to complete the set. I’m here today to tell you if it’s possible to open more, and if so, how to do it. I remember Pokémon TCG Pocket’s first day like it was yesterday. Learning what everything is, the Electabuzz of opening Packs, and getting more aggravated at duplicates the more unique cards I obtained. More booster sets have been released since, and Space-Time Smackdown‘s debut has left a burning question, is Genetic Apex available anymore? The debut set has nearly 300 Cards, meaning many players haven’t finished the set and gotten their Mew. With more booster sets expected, is Genetic Apex done and gone like a real-life set? Can You Still Open Genetic Apex Booster Packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket? Genetic Apex, where art thou? Image by Insider Gaming Yes, you can still open Genetic Apex booster Packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and it requires some simple navigation to find them. Genetic Apex is no longer the new kid on the block. It’s relegated to Pokémon TCG Pocket‘s archives, but it’s still an ever-present set. If you have cards left to get, you don’t just need to rely on Trading Cards to get them—also, learn how to get Trade Tokens if you are swapping with friends for desired Cards. How To Get Genetic Apex Booster Packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket Found you. Image by Insider Gaming You need to choose the “Select other booster packs” option in Pokémon TCG Pocket’s pack-picking menu to open Genetic Apex boosters. Opening Genetic Apex boosters isn’t well-advertised, hence the confusion. New booster sets are the priority and the focal point of day-to-day gameplay. If you’re after Genetix Apex Packs though, check out these handy pointers: Go to Pokémon TCG Pocket’s home menu screen. Click on the Packs on display. Press on Select other booster packs in the bottom-right corner of th screen. Now choose Genetic Apex. It immediately presents you with the classic three-pack offering of Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Charizard. You can now open Genetic Apex Packs like normal! Will Genetic Apex Packs Leave in Pokémon TCG Pocket? We don’t have confirmation of this, but due to the empty spaces in the “Select Expansion” sub-menu, it’s probable archaic Packs are always going to be available to open. There are tons of empty spaces to make room for future sets. There doesn’t need to be physical manufacturing of these cards as they’re digital, so there’s no need to worry about leftover supplies. I imagine Genetic Apex will be available for months (maybe years) to come. Are you relieved Genetic Apex is still in Pokémon TCG Pocket? Which cards are you missing from the set? I’m still missing all the Crown Cards and various Full Arts and it breaks my heart every day. Enough about my woes though, check out more Pokémon TCG Pocket guides: How to get Flair, and how to play Pocket on PC. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Open #Genetic #Apex #Booster #Packs #Pokémon #TCG #Pocket Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New DeepSeek AI rival claims to be more powerful than both V3 and ChatGPT-4o – meet Qwen2.5-Max New DeepSeek AI rival claims to be more powerful than both V3 and ChatGPT-4o – meet Qwen2.5-Max New AI model Qwen2.5-Max has been released by Alibaba Alibaba claims it’s superior to DeepSeek-V3 and others You can try it now using the Qwen Chat chatbot Things move quickly in the AI sphere, and no sooner have we got used to having DeepSeek around, than a new contender is on the scene. Alibaba, one of China’s leading tech companies, released a new AI model called Qwen2.5-Max, which it claims is superior to both DeepSeek-V3 and ChatGPT-4o in various benchmarks. It’s important to note that Qwen2.5-Max is not a reasoning model, like DeepSeek-R1 or ChatGPT-o1, so you can’t see the ‘thinking’ it does to get to each answer. It works on a level that’s comparable to DeepSeek-V3 or ChatGPT-4o. In a post on its website, the Qwen team says “Our base models have demonstrated significant advantages across most benchmarks, and we are optimistic that advancements in post-training techniques will elevate the next version of Qwen2.5-Max to new heights.” Benchmarks posted Benchmarks comparing the performance of the instruct models for Qwen2.5-Max vs rivals like Llama-3.1, DeepSeek-V3 and ChatGPT-4o. (Image credit: Qwen/Alibaba) The benchmarks posted by the Qwen team, such as Arena-Hard, LiveBench, LiveCodeBench, and GPQA-Diamond, show Qwen2.5-Max outperforming its rivals, while also demonstrating competitive results in other assessments, including MMLU-Pro. Unlike DeepSeek, Alibaba’s Qwen2.5-Max is not an open-source project, which means that certain details about how it works are not public knowledge. Try it now The easiest way to try Qwen2.5-Max for yourself is the Qwen Chat chatbot in a web browser. You need to sign in with an email address or your Google account. Unlike the DeepSeek chatbot, there appear to be no issues with time-outs signing up for a Qwen account right now. There doesn’t appear to be an official Qwen mobile app at this point, although some third-party mobile apps do enable access to its LLMs. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Given the current levels of censorship shown by DeepSeek, another ********-based AI, when asked about subjects that are sensitive to the ******** government, we were quite surprised when the answer to, “Is Taiwan a country?” from Qwen2.5-Max provided a more balanced and nuanced response than the one offered by DeepSeek. Qwen2.5-Max however refused to answer the question “What happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989?”, replying “As an AI language model, I cannot discuss topics related to politics, religion, sex, violence, and the like. If you have other related questions, feel free to ask.” You may also like Source link #DeepSeek #rival #claims #powerful #ChatGPT4o #meet #Qwen2.5Max Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola in the capital Kampala, one dead – Reuters Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola in the capital Kampala, one dead – Reuters Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola in the capital Kampala, one dead ReutersEbola kills nurse in Uganda’s capital Kampala, first death from virus since last outbreak ended in 2023 CBS NewsUganda Declares Sudan Ebola Outbreak After Nurse is Killed BloombergHospital nurse dies in Uganda in first Ebola virus outbreak since 2022, health ministry says ABC NewsUganda confirms Ebola case in nurse in capital city STAT Source link #Uganda #confirms #outbreak #Ebola #capital #Kampala #dead #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

We Know Where Oda-Sensei Needs to Focus Once the Manga Ends for Absolute Dominance We Know Where Oda-Sensei Needs to Focus Once the Manga Ends for Absolute Dominance It wouldn’t be a brag to say that One Piece might be the biggest anime and manga franchise in the world. In almost 30 years, the series has developed in almost every aspect and has managed to succeed no matter what. Be it the live-action adaptation or merchandise, One Piece has stayed at the top and will continue to do so for a long time. One Piece by Eiichiro Oda | Credit: Toei Animation Despite attaining so much success in almost every market, the one place that the One Piece franchise has failed continuously is the video gaming world. The series contains 56 games, including 11 mobile games, but not a single one has managed to become a global success. While there are a few games that managed to earn some recognition, it was not the same as the rest of the franchise. The biggest example of this is One Piece Odyssey, a role-playing video game that came out in 2023. One Piece fans had huge expectations with the video game, but once it got released, all those expectations turned into disappointment. And now the only way the One Piece franchise can conquer the video gaming world is if Eiichiro Oda himself contributes to it. One Piece games have been a major disappointment Although the One Piece franchise originally started in 1997, it entered the video game market in 2000 with the game called One Piece: Become the Pirate King!, which was published by Bandai and Banpresto. The game was One Piece’s first attempt to make a name for itself in the video gaming world, but it was a huge flop in multiple aspects. However, despite the initial failure, Bandai didn’t give up and decided to make more One Piece video games. The franchise even dived into mobile games, but the results were almost the same every time. As fans’ hope about getting a decent One Piece game was about to die, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the One Piece Odyssey, which was being published by ICLA. One Piece Odyssey | Credit: Bandai Namco Networks Odyssey was a special game because it was a part of the One Piece franchise’s 25th anniversary celebration. Comment byu/Dividing_MDH from discussion inOnePiece Fans had big expectations from the game, and finally, when it came out in January 2023, it got the same reception as the past One Piece video games. It was speculated that the creators didn’t have much knowledge about the One Piece universe. Eiichiro Oda might need to enter the video gaming world The fact that the One Piece franchise has continuously failed to make a name for itself in the video gaming world is quite concerning. This is because it is a near-perfect franchise, and the only stain on its image is the failure of the One Piece video games. Thus, it’s in desperate need of saving, and the only individual who can do this is Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation Oda has proved multiple times that he is the essence of One Piece. Any One Piece project that does not involve him is destined to fail. Without his contribution, One Piece feels incomplete. The biggest example of this is the One Piece live-action adaptation. It is probably the first live-action adaptation that managed to achieve so much success in its first try. Being the creator of One Piece, Oda understands the core of the story and its characters. He is the only one who knows how the One Piece universe works, and if the franchise hopes to become successful in the video gaming world, it will need the contribution from the One Piece creator. One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll. Source link #OdaSensei #Focus #Manga #Ends #Absolute #Dominance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin Rises Above 105K After Fed Meet and Ahead of US Data, Can BTC Retest ATHs? Bitcoin Rises Above 105K After Fed Meet and Ahead of US Data, Can BTC Retest ATHs? extends its recovery above 105k. The Federal Reserve leaves rates unchanged & is in no rush to cut. US GDP data up next. BTC ETF inflows are sluggish. BTC/USD technical analysis Bitcoin () is building on yesterday’s gains as it rises above 105k despite the Federal leaving interest rates unchanged. Many altcoins are also rising, with above 3200 and at 240. The Federal Reserve Leaves Rates on Hold Bitcoin has risen above the 105K on Thursday adding to yesterday’s gains despite the keeping unchanged at 4.25% to 4.5% range, as expected, and shifting to a slightly more hawkish tone. The Fed’s monetary policy statement highlighted solid growth and a resilient labour market. However, it also acknowledged a lack of improvement in inflation, which ticked higher to 2.8% YoY in December. Federal Reserve Chair Powell indicated that the Fed was in no rush to cut interest rates further and also hinted at a level of uncertainty surrounding the outlook for future cuts given potential policy changes from Trump. Following the decision, treasury yields ticked higher, with the briefly reaching 4.581%. The has risen back above 108.00, and Bitcoin gained 2.7%. The rise in Bitcoin is curious because the prospect of rates remaining unchanged for a longer ******* points to a bearish bias for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. BTC ETF demand remains weak Bitcoin ETFs remain sluggish, with SoSoValue data showing BTC ETF net inflows of just $92 million on Wednesday, following $18 million on Tuesday and large-scale outflows on Monday. BTC ETF inflows would need to accelerate to support further gains in Bitcoin’s price. However, it’s also worth noting that, according to sentiment data, the number of Bitcoin wallets holding between 100 and 1000 BTS has risen to a new all-time high. This milestone points to sustained confidence among mid-sized whales. US Q4 GDP up next Looking ahead, attention now turns to US for the final quarter, which is expected to show a grace of 2.8% annualised, down from 3.1% in the third quarter of 2024. Stronger and expected growth could support the Fed’s more hawkish stance and lift the US dollar while pulling riskier assets such as Bitcoin lower. However, weaker-than-expected data could boost Fed cut optimism and lift Bitcoin while dragging the USD lower. While the macroeconomic backdrop has become less supportive of crypto at least in the near term, the broader crypto landscape continues to see encouraging developments, particularly since Trump returned to the White House. In his first few days in office, Trump signed an executive order on crypto, and his administration is evaluating the potential for a national digital stockpile. While these developments have underwhelmed some, they are undeniably steps in the right direction for increased Bitcoin adoption. BTC/USD technical analysis BTC/USD spiked lower, finding support around the 50 SMA at 98.5k on Monday before recovering higher to close the day at 103.7k. BTC/USD has extended its recovery to 105.4k at the time of writing. The price respecting the 50 SMA combined with the RSI above 50 keeps buyers hopeful of further gains. Should bulls extend the recovery the price could retest the 109.5k record high. Should sellers break below 100k and the 50 SMA at 99K, this could pave the way for a deeper selloff towards 90k. Source link #Bitcoin #Rises #105K #Fed #Meet #Ahead #Data #BTC #Retest #ATHs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cherry and McDowall start for Scotland against Italy Cherry and McDowall start for Scotland against Italy Backs: Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Ben White (Toulon). Forwards: Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux Bègles), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors). Source link #Cherry #McDowall #start #Scotland #Italy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eternal Strands Review | TheSixthAxis Eternal Strands Review | TheSixthAxis Duuro says: “Eternal Strands is ultimately a game about hope in the face of devastation, about finding beauty in ruins, and about the choices we make when survival comes at a terrible cost. It’s an experience that combines spectacular moments of grandeur with quiet periods of reflection, wrapped in systems that are both engaging to master and meaningful to the story being told.” Source link #Eternal #Strands #Review #TheSixthAxis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Socceroo Gauci loaned by Villa in quest for game time Socceroo Gauci loaned by Villa in quest for game time Joe Gauci has signed on loan for third-tier English club Barnsley from Premier League Aston Villa as he seeks the playing time which he hopes will help him become the Socceroos’ No.1 goalkeeper. Gauci, who’s battling with Maty Ryan for the Australia gloves, has hardly had a look-in during his year at Villa where he’s been the understudy to the world’s top keeper, Argentinian Emiliano Martinez. Gauci broke the A-League Men’s outbound transfer record when Villa bought him from Adelaide United for a reported $2.5 million last February. Yet after just two appearances for the former European champs in the League Cup, he’s now after more minutes of action with a lower league club as he tries to nail down the Socceroos’ spot in his duel with the experienced Ryan. Australia skipper Ryan, who got the nod over Gauci as goalie for the last World Cup qualifier in Bahrain in November, has also just made a move from Roma to French Ligue 1 club Lens in his own quest for regular playing time. He made his debut at the weekend, keeping a clean sheet as Lens beat Angers 1-0, noting that “when you don’t play consistently, it really hurts.” Gauci obviously believes the same, and told the Barnsley club website: “It’s fantastic to be here, something I’m really excited for. “It’s a brilliant opportunity for myself to come and get some experience in English football and as well be here to help the club gain promotion and get back in the (division two) Championship.” Mladen Sormaz, Barnsley’s sporting director, added: “We’re happy to recruit a goalkeeper of Joe’s quality to the Club. His pedigree speaks for itself.” Barnsley are ninth in League One, two points outside the play-offs. Source link #Socceroo #Gauci #loaned #Villa #quest #game #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vodafone demonstrates ‘world’s first’ satellite video call with a standard mobile phone Vodafone demonstrates ‘world’s first’ satellite video call with a standard mobile phone Vodafone has demonstrated the capabilities of a new satellite network by making what it calls the “world’s first” satellite video call, albeit with some caveats. The company used partner AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites specifically designed to transmit 4G/5G mobile broadband signals from space. That technology will give users broadband cellular capability with any 4G/5G smartphone in remote areas lacking traditional mobile coverage. In its demonstration, Vodafone Group’s chief executive Margherita Della Valle explained that the BlueBird satellites can connect directly with a regular smartphone, then transmit the signal back to Vodafone’s terrestrial network via a satellite link. She then took a call from an engineer in a remote mountain region of Wales, a “nought spot” with no cellular coverage. The quality was a bit low-res and had substantial lag, but was decent otherwise. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. AST SpaceMobile’s five BlueBird satellites have onboard communications arrays that give off-the-shelf smartphones the same voice, data and video speeds as a broadband tower, up to 120 megabits per second. Once operational, the satellites will provide “non-continuous cellular broadband service across the United States and in select markets globally.” That will allow cell users to communicate even in areas with limited broadband tower coverage, like rural communities or national parks. SpaceX’s Starlink has already made a satellite video call using a regular mobile phone, so Vodafone hedged its claim substantially. Specifically, the company said it made the “world’s first space video call from an area of no coverage using a standard mobile phone and commercial satellites built to offer a full mobile broadband experience.” T-Mobile is working on a similar US network in partnership with Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service, but it will be limited to text messages at first. It’s also possible right now to connect to dedicated satellite phone networks using specific iPhone and Google Pixel models that have custom modems — but that’s limited to low-data communications like SMS messages and emergency alerts. Vodafone’s network, by contrast, would allow a full-**** broadband cellular experience when it launches in Europe, likely by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, AT&T, Verizon and AST SpaceMobile will begin testing in the US this spring, but no launch date (or pricing) for stateside service has been announced yet. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #Vodafone #demonstrates #worlds #satellite #video #call #standard #mobile #phone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs get local DeepSeek-R1 support — Intel, AMD in the works Microsoft Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs get local DeepSeek-R1 support — Intel, AMD in the works Microsoft just announced that it will release NPU-optimized versions of DeepSeek-R1, allowing it to take advantage of AI-optimized hardware found in Copilot+ PCs. According to the Windows Blog, the feature will first arrive on Qualcomm Snapdragon X PCs, to be followed by Intel Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) and other chips. The initial release will feature DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-1.5B, which an AI research team from UC Berkeley has discovered is the smallest model that delivers correct answers, but larger models featuring 7 billion and 14 billion parameters will arrive shortly thereafter. DeepSeek’s optimizations meant that it needed 11x less compute versus its Western competitors, making it a great model to run on consumer devices. However, it also uses Windows Copilot Runtime so developers can use on-device DeepSeek APIs within their apps. Furthermore, Microsoft claims that this NPU-optimized version of DeepSeek will deliver “very competitive time to first token and throughput rates, while minimally impacting battery life and consumption of PC resources.” This means that Copilot+ PC users can expect the power and performance of competing models like Meta’s Llama 3 and OpenAI’s o1 while ensuring that the devices it’s installed on still offer great battery life. That said, DeepSeek’s availability on Copilot+ PCs is geared more toward programmers and developers instead of consumers. Perhaps Microsoft is using it to encourage them to build more apps that would take advantage of AI PCs as many people still don’t see the need for it and market research suggests users only purchase these devices because they’re the only available option nowadays. Another thing that got us curious is Microsoft’s preferential treatment for Qualcomm Snapdragon X PCs at this time. While it launched the Copilot+ branding with these chips last July, the latest mainstream Intel and AMD laptops now also have built-in NPUs. AMD has even released instructions on how users can run it on Ryzen AI CPUs and Radeon GPUs, with the company even claiming that the RTX 7900 XTX runs DeepSeek better than the RTX 4090. Whatever the case, we’re still excited about the possibilities that DeepSeek unlocks for AI. Since it’s open source, nearly anyone can download it and run it locally, allowing others to build upon the advancements and optimizations the original model has put into place. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Microsoft #Snapdragon #Copilot #PCs #local #DeepSeekR1 #support #Intel #AMD #works Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A celebrity trainer’s 28-day plan to transform your mindset and body A celebrity trainer’s 28-day plan to transform your mindset and body For the full 28-day transformation program including daily workout videos and guided walking podcasts — plus meal plans and inspiration — download the Start TODAY app! If you started the new year with lofty goals and have already put them on the back burner, you’re not alone. In fact, a study by Columbia University found that by February, only 25% of people are still committed to their New Year’s resolutions. If this sounds familiar, then this month’s workout challenge is for you. Ngo Okafor, a celebrity trainer and founder of Iconoclast Fitness, a private training gym in New York City, has designed a well-rounded fitness plan that will sculpt lean muscle, improve your endurance and cardiovascular health — and most importantly, get your mind back in the game. His signature 28-day transformation program is known for helping people see a massive mental and physical shift in just four weeks. When asked what makes his program so effective, Okafor says it’s all about mindset. “I don’t believe in cages. I don’t believe in limits,” says Okafor. “So if somebody can do it, doesn’t matter how old they are, if they can handle it, then we just keep working. I believe in living a limitless life, so let’s go to work.” “I’m telling you, you can do this,” he says. And what your mind believes, your body will do. Ready to commit? Follow this 28-day workout plan — and these mindset tips that will keep your head in the game. 28-Day Transformation Challenge Start TODAY 28-Day Transformation Challenge >>Download the calendar here Workout schedule Monday: Full-body strength Wednesday: Full-body strength Friday: Full-body strength 4 motivation tips to shift your mindset You may think committing to a workout routine is a physical feat. But Okafor says it’s the mental hurdle that is the hardest to overcome. Your body will do what your mind tells it, he says. He shares some of the top mental tricks that you can use on yourself: See yourself as a child: “If you look at yourself as a child, there’s nothing you can’t do … babies, there were times they couldn’t walk. As adults, we’re like, ‘oh, I can’t do this. I can do that. If I jump, my knees are going to explode.’ These are all barriers and chains we put on ourselves; there’s no reason why we can’t do anything. When I start telling clients you can do anything, they think, maybe I can do anything and then they try it and do it. And then they try something else, and then they try something else. And that’s how it happens.” With clients ranging from 20-somethings with hip issues to those 70+, all of Okafor’s workouts provide modifications, helping people find a way to move toward their goal in a way that works for their body. “If you can’t move, if you can’t do that movement, we’ll adjust and find a way to help you do the movement.” Tell yourself to do just 5 reps. “You do five and then you’re like, ‘Oh, that wasn’t that bad.’ Then you do five more … it wasn’t that bad. You do five more. But you only set out to do five. You can start with five reps. And that’s the theme, start today, start now. Just do five reps. And don’t judge it if you stop at five; then you rest, get some water. There are days when I’m exhausted, but if I tell myself, just do five reps, I can do five reps, and then I start with the five reps, and it gets me going.” Set the smallest goal possible: “My resolution is just to run a mile a day. Of course, I can run more than a mile, but doing it every day is what makes it extremely difficult. I have people say, I want to run five miles a day, I guarantee you one week and they’re done because there are going to be days when you’re tired and five miles is a massive undertaking, but one mile, you can walk it in 20 minutes. It can be done every single day. So it’s little bit, little bit, a little bit. And then there’s going to be a day where you have all this energy and you do the big workout, but all those little pieces count. They add up, you know? So that’s how I get people to start.” Know that you’ll never regret a workout. “There are days I don’t want to come to the gym. And I am always happy that I did. You will never regret doing something.” For more motivational pep talks from Okafor, check out his podcasts in the Start TODAY app. Full-body strength routine You will need a pair of medium dumbbells and a mat for this workout. Repeat each move for 10 reps and finish each round with Okafor’s secret sauce: a 60-second cardio burst. Repeat the circuit 3 times through. Squat press Ngo doing a squat press Start standing with feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned out slightly. Grab a dumbbell in each hand and hold them at shoulder height, palms facing each other. Sink down into a squat, keeping your knees tracking over your toes, like you are sitting down and back into a chair. As you return to standing, push both dumbbells straight up overhead, being sure to keep the core engaged. Slowly lower the weights back to shoulder height and repeat the move. Deadlift Ngo doing a deadlift Start standing tall with feet hip-width apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing toward your body. Hinge at the hips, letting the weights slide down the front of your legs, until your chest is parallel to the ground (or as low as you can comfortably go). Using the hamstrings and glutes, pull yourself back up to standing. Repeat. Pushups Ngo doing pushups Start in a plank position with your shoulders over your wrists and your body forming a straight line from head to heel. Keeping the core engaged, bend at the elbows to slowly lower your chest toward the ground. (If you can only lower a few inches, that’s OK). Push yourself back up to the high-plank position and then repeat. Bent over row Ngo doing bent over row Start standing tall with feet hip-width apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, arms at your sides, and hinge at the hips until your back is parallel to the ground and the weights are hanging down in front of you. This is your starting position. Pull both elbows straight up toward the sky until the weights frame your ribcage, keeping the arms hugged into your sides. Pause for a second at the top before lowering the weights back down to the starting position. Repeat. Situps Ngo doing situps Start lying on your back. Bend your knees and rest your feet flat on the floor. You can gently place your hands behind your head or cross them on your chest. Engage your core and use your abs to pull your torso up toward your knees until you’re sitting in an upright position. Be mindful of not using momentum to pull yourself up (and not pulling on your neck if your hands are behind your head). Slowly lower your back onto the ground and repeat. (If you have any injuries or mobility issues that prevent you from doing a full situp, you can do crunches instead.) Scissor kicks Ngo doing scissor-kicks Start lying on your back with your legs extended straight out in front of you. Place both hands under your butt to protect your low back and raise your legs a few inches off of the ground. Engage the abs and lift your upper back off the ground for an added challenge (beginners can leave their head resting on the floor). Raise your left foot up a few inches and cross it over the right, while lowering the right foot a few inches and crossing it under the left, in a scissor motion. Switch, crossing the right foot over the left. Continue alternating, performing 20 reps total. Cardio blast Okafor’s secret sauce is ending each round with a 60-second cardio burst to get your heart rate up and burn calories. Perform each move for 20 seconds. Slow mountain climber Ngo doing slow mountain climber Start in a plank position with your shoulders over your wrists and your body forming a straight line from head to heel. Keeping the core engaged, pull your left knee toward your chest. Return your foot to the ground before pulling the right knee toward your chest. Try to keep your body in a straight line, keeping the core engaged to prevent the hips from piking. Continue alternating for 20 seconds. Marching Ngo marching Start standing tall with your feet hips-width apart. March in place by driving your right knee up toward your chest and then your left. Pump the opposite arm to create momentum and keep the core engaged the entire time. Move at a moderate pace focusing on power and form for 20 seconds. Jack press Ngo doing jack press Start standing tall with your feet shoulder-width apart. Your feet will jump out and in. However, instead of sweeping your arms out and up as in a standard jumping jack, you will press them straight up overhead. As you jump your feet out press both arms straight up, as you jump your feet in bring your arms straight down to your chest. Repeat for 20 seconds. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Source link #celebrity #trainers #28day #plan #transform #mindset #body Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Ultra-Rare GameCube Prototype Could Be Yours For Just $100,000 This Ultra-Rare GameCube Prototype Could Be Yours For Just $100,000 Several GameCube variants were released throughout the lifespan of the console, but for anyone looking to add a piece of sought-after Nintendo hardware to their collection, you now have a chance to do so. One of the ultra-rare “Space World” GameCubes has been listed on eBay, and all it’ll cost you is a mere $100,000. Put up for ***** by ConsoleVariations founder Donny Fillerup (via IGN), this is the indigo model that was shown off all the way back in 2000 at Nintendo Space World, alongside several other color variants. It’s worth noting that this GameCube prototype isn’t a functional model, as it’s merely a shell with some LEDs stuck inside of it so that it could wow audiences at the event back then, and it doesn’t come with a controller. What is interesting here is to see how many tweaks Nintendo made to the GameCube between this Space World reveal and its official launch in 2001. These are mostly cosmetic in nature, but this is still an interesting piece of gaming history. According to Fillerup–who previously sold off the Queen’s Golden Wii–selling the GameCube prototype will generate funds to build a gaming hangout for people to visit. If $100,000 is a little too rich for your blood, you can pick up a regular GameCube for much less on eBay or you can grab one of several GameCube games that were ported to Switch. Sadly, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, isn’t one of them–yet. Anyone else in the market for a modern Nintendo gaming system can also prepare themselves for the launch of the Switch 2 this year. Source link #UltraRare #GameCube #Prototype Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Neos Networks leads £1.2m *** Midlands broadband project Neos Networks leads £1.2m *** Midlands broadband project Nottinghamshire County Council has appointed Neos Networks to lead its D2N2 Gigahubs project to deliver gigabit connectivity across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. D2N2 aims to provide up to 1,000Mbps internet connections to public service buildings such as schools and libraries situated in rural areas where telecommunications infrastructure can lag behind that available in more built-up areas. To be eligible for the project, sites must be classified as a public sector building and perform a public function; be in a rural location according to a specific Office of National Statistics definition; have an existing broadband speed of less than 100Mbps; be located in an area where a gigabit capable network isn’t likely to be built commercially in the near future; and have no government-funded contract planned or in place to improve the network already. The £1.2m scheme is funded by the department formerly known as the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (now the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government), thanks to an early investment as part of East Midlands Combined County Authority devolution negotiations in 2023. Based on the official criteria, sites in Nottinghamshire currently include Langar C of E Primary School, near Bingham and Queen Eleanor Primary School, Harby, near Newark, with more eligible sites due to be identified. Meanwhile, 22 sites have been identified across Derbyshire and Derby. It is expected that the full scheme will be live by spring 2026. To help with the infrastructure build, Neos Networks is partnering up with fellow network firms Openreach and Netomnia. Initial survey work has already begun with the aim of benefitting up to 28 public buildings in rural locations such as libraries, schools and doctors’ surgeries. Commenting on the development, David Bruce, chief revenue officer at Neos Networks, said: “The build and deployment of this new infrastructure will provide councils with a cost-effective solution to offer new digital services at local sites. Much of the *** still has to deal with sub-par connectivity. “This new network will ensure the availability of high-speed connectivity for citizens across urban, semi-rural and rural locations, as this project enhances digital and social inclusion across the region. We look forward to working with the county council as it promotes new social and economic opportunities for communities.” Nottinghamshire County councillor Keith Girling, cabinet member for economic development and asset management, added: “We are so proud to be leading this project. This appointment is great news as having better broadband in our communities will really help those who can’t afford or access high-speed broadband at home. “Whole classrooms in rural areas could be online at once with no interruptions, and there will be more options to host virtual field trips to help broaden pupils’ educational experiences. And while face-to-face health advice is always the preference, having the option for a high-quality video call with a doctor could help to reduce waiting times.” Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and environment councillor, Carolyn Renwick, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting this project to bring better, faster broadband to our communities, particularly in rural schools, libraries and health facilities. As broadband services evolve, it’s important that we continue to keep pace to bridge the digital divide and make sure that our rural communities aren’t left behind.” Source link #Neos #Networks #leads #1.2m #Midlands #broadband #project Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Barclays tells staff to come into the office more Barclays tells staff to come into the office more Barclays has tightened its work-from-home policy with staff now required to come into the office for an extra day a week. The bank is the latest company to make changes to its flexible working policy that has been largely in place since the Covid pandemic, saying it recognised the importance of staff collaborating in the same place. A memo was sent to 85,000 Barclays employees that said they would now need to come into the office three days a week instead of two. Front office or client-facing staff, including investment bankers, are already required to be in the office five days a week. Barclays has had a hybrid working model in place for some time. “We recognise the benefits of balancing flexibility for colleagues with the importance of working together to collaborate in our physical locations,” a spokesperson for the bank said. “Our minimum time in-office requirements vary between business areas depending on the nature of work and needs of the business.” Barclays’ tighter working-from-home rules, first reported by the FT, come after JPMorgan announced staff would be required in the office five days a week from March. Earlier this year, Lloyds Banking Group said office attendance would be taken into account when deciding bonuses for senior executives. Lord Sugar, star of the BBC show The Apprentice, said on Thursday he wants to see all workers back in the workplace. The 77-year-old said he thought the problem was a lot of young people “just want to sit at home”. “I’m a great advocate of getting them back to work, because the only way an apprentice is going to learn is from his colleagues,” he said. Lord Rose, the former boss of Marks and Spencer and Asda, recently told the BBC that home working was part of the *** economy’s “general decline” and employees’ productivity was suffering. Source link #Barclays #tells #staff #office Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Netflix finally lets iOS users download an entire season with one tap Netflix finally lets iOS users download an entire season with one tap You’ll finally be able to download all the episodes in an entire season on Netflix with just one tap if you’re on iOS. The streaming service introduced the capability on Android years ago, but it remained a “much-requested” feature for users on iPhone and iPad until now. It’s not unusual for Netflix to give Android users access to a certain capability first — it took a year for Smart Downloads, which automatically deletes downloaded episodes you’ve already seen and then downloads the next one in a series, to be available on iOS. “We’ve heard that downloading episodes one-by-one has been a pain point for iOS members — something we’re now addressing with this rollout,” a Netflix spokesperson told Variety. It’s certainly great to have if you like stocking up on shows you can watch for long flights or cross-country road trips. The option to download entire seasons is available for all the shows currently on the streaming service. To download multiple episodes all at once, find the button for the new feature next to the Share option on the series’ page in the Netflix app. While tapping the button will download all the episodes in a season automatically, you can still manage individual episodes under the Downloads section in the My Netflix tab. Netflix Source link #Netflix #finally #lets #iOS #users #download #entire #season #tap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Doesn’t Support Bluetooth S Pen Interactions Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Doesn’t Support Bluetooth S Pen Interactions Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will not support Bluetooth interactions with the S Pen. The smartphone debuted at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 as the successor to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. And while it offers hardware upgrades, the flagship phone is confirmed to come with one key downgrade — the S Pen. Although a Samsung blog previously mentioned that customers could purchase a Bluetooth-equipped stylus for using select features on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the company has now reportedly denied this functionality. Lack of Bluetooth S Pen Support on Galaxy S25 Ultra Since Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s debut, reports have been floating about the flagship phone still supporting Bluetooth interactions with a S Pen which is now being sold as a separate accessory. The same was reportedly reiterated on the Samsung Insights blog which stated the following: The Bluetooth-enabled S Pen (now sold separately) acts as a remote control within select apps to help maximize productivity. Simply press the button on the side of the pen to activate the Air Actions menu and view all the available gestures. However, the South Korean technology conglomerate has now confirmed to Android Authority that the aforementioned information is erroneous since the Galaxy S25 Ultra does not support Bluetooth interactions at all and it intends to update its page. Gadgets 360 can confirm that the same has since been removed from the blog post. We can also confirm that the S Pen on our Galaxy S25 Ultra review unit doesn’t confirm Bluetooth interactions. Notably, previous generations of Samsung’s ‘Ultra’ phone models came with a stylus which supported low frequency pairing. It offered access to remote features such as air actions and remote clicker for the camera. However, the same won’t be possible on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, whose S Pen is now being marketed as a tool for note taking, scribbling, and using Google’s AI-powered Circle to Search. The company says only a small percentage of users took advantage of the Bluetooth interaction features and it aims to focus on features that are actually used. Hence, the capability has been removed. Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #S25 #Ultra #Doesnt #Support #Bluetooth #Pen #Interactions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New crime of endangering lives to target small boat crossings New crime of endangering lives to target small boat crossings Getty Images People smuggling gangs could be charged with a new criminal offence of endangering lives at sea, under plans announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Border officials will also get powers to seize migrants’ phones in the search for intelligence about who helped them to cross the English Channel. The major piece of legislation aims to tackle organised crime gangs at far earlier stages in their plans to move people illicitly. The package retains some powers introduced by the Conservatives, including longer forms of detention for some migrants and restricting when someone who says they have been trafficked into slavery can stay in the ***. But Cooper has confirmed that the former government’s £700m plan to forcibly transport some asylum seekers to Rwanda would be repealed. The planned new tools, inspired by successes in counter-terrorism cases, also include court orders to ban suspects from travelling or promoting smuggling on social media. The new offence of endangering lives at sea could lead to the prosecution of anyone arriving in the *** on a small and unsafe boat where they have been intimidated or coerced others passengers or risked their lives by refusing to be rescued outside of British waters. Officials said they’d come across migrants who had managed to get into a small boat, then held out babies to stop others climbing in. A senior law enforcement official said investigators often found themselves dealing with “traumatised victims in a floating crime scene.” Lessons from terrorism Other measures in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill aim to make it easier for law enforcement agencies to pursue gangs as they prepare to smuggle people into the ***, rather than have to wait to charge them with crimes after a movement has occurred. Ministers hope these powers will mean the police will be able to arrest and charge more gang members, or seek their extradition from abroad, before boats have left France. The proposed powers are based on legal principles that have been used for 20 years to apprehend suspected terrorists at much early stages of their planning. One of these “preparatory” powers will be a crime of being involved the handling or selling boat parts, where there is a suspicion the trade is for people smuggling. People who promote crossings, take bookings and arrange for potential passengers to meet boats in northern France could also face prosecution. Serious Crime Prevention Orders, a power to restrict the liberties of offenders, will be reformed so that the National Crime Agency can temporarily impose conditions on the lives of suspected smugglers, while they build a case. Those conditions could include bans on travel, internet and mobile phone use and how they can move money. NCA Amanj Hasan Zada: Investigators say top smuggler could have been apprehended much earlier had the proposed new powers been in force Cooper said:     ”Over the last six years, criminal smuggling gangs have been allowed to take hold all along our borders, making millions out of small boat crossings. “This Bill will equip our law enforcement agencies with the powers they need to stop these vile criminals, disrupting their supply chains and bringing more of those who profit from human misery to justice. “These new counter terror-style powers… will turbocharge efforts to smash the gangs. ” Ministers say the legislation is part of a broader strategy including giving the recently-created Border Security Commander powers to co-ordinate operations and lead talks with foreign law enforcement agencies. A recent deal with Germany has seen the country agree to introduce a new crime of ******** immigration to the ***, so investigators can target gangs operating in the country. Bulgarian authorities have begun using health and safety laws to seize shipments of inflatables from Turkey. But law enforcement chiefs say they have wanted new powers at home too. Police believe people smuggling involves hundreds rather than thousands of perpetrators, and was “not like the drugs trade”. “With concerted effort and legislation you can make a difference” they told reporters, in a background briefing on the basis that those speaking would not be named. In one recent example, Amanj Hasan Zada was jailed for 17 years for organising small boat crossings from Preston. The National Crime Agency only won the last November case with evidence linking his activities to specific crossings. Under the proposed new powers, investigators would simply have to show suspects like Zada had made preparations, such as funding boats or promoting crossings. Martin Hewitt, the Border Security Commander, said:   “These crucial measures will underpin our enforcement action across the system, and together with our strengthened relationships with international partners, we will bring down these gangs once and for all.” Source link #crime #endangering #lives #target #small #boat #crossings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]