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Sony is dropping the PSN account requirement on PC, but having one will now unlock in-game content Sony is dropping the PSN account requirement on PC, but having one will now unlock in-game content PC players will soon no longer require a PlayStation Network account to play Sony’s first-party games, but having one will now also unlock in-game extras. With the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PC on January 30, having a PSN account to play the game will be optional. That will also be the case with previously released titles God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, plus The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, which will be released on April 3, 2025. However, Sony will now be offering in-game content unlocks to incentivize players to use a PSN account, which also offer players trophies and friend management. Players with PSN accounts will receive the following benefits: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 ****** Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit God of War Ragnarök: Gain access to the Armor of the ****** Bear set for Kratos at the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms (previously only accessible in a New Game+ run) and a resource bundle (500 Hacksilver and 250 XP) The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered: +50 points to activate bonus features and unlock extras Jordan’s Jacket from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet as a skin for Ellie Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Gain access to Nora Valiant outfit “Game creators at PlayStation Studios will continue to work on bringing more benefits to players who sign up for a PlayStation Network account, so be sure to follow studio channels for more information,” said Asad Qizilbash, SVP head of publishing for PlayStation’s studio business group. Today’s announcement follows confirmation earlier this month that The Last of Us Part 2 on PC would require a PSN account to play. While this has been the case for some multiplayer titles, such as the now-defunct Concord, the inclusion in strictly single-player titles has previously attracted the ire of players. Other than the requirement of a second account, the fact that PSN is not available in many countries would, in theory, preclude players in many regions from playing the game. The backlash to the PSN inclusion in Helldivers 2 was such that Sony itself u-turned and removed the requirement, saying at the time it was “learning what’s best for PC players.” When the requirement was added for the PC version of God of War Ragnarök, one player even created a mod which removed it, but it was taken down at the creator’s request, in case of action from Sony. Source link #Sony #dropping #PSN #account #requirement #unlock #ingame #content Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel’s ban on Unrwa a catastrophe, UN ************ agency warns Israel’s ban on Unrwa a catastrophe, UN ************ agency warns Yolande Knell Middle East correspondent Reuters Unrwa’s presence in Gaza was crucial in getting humanitarian supplies to civilians during 15 months of war As Israel prepares to outlaw the main UN agency for ************ refugees on Thursday, there are warnings that it could undermine vital aid delivery and long-term chances of peace. Israeli officials have not spelt out how they will enforce the legislation passed last year by Israel’s parliament, which accused Unrwa of being complicit with ****** – an allegation the agency denied. “It will be a catastrophe if this ban takes place,” says Juliette Touma, communications director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa). “It will deepen and further the suffering of the ************ people who rely on the agency for their survival, for their education and healthcare.” Even before 15 months of brutal war left the vast majority of the two million people in Gaza displaced and homeless, most were registered refugees. Unrwa camps were first set up in Gaza to house Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their land in fighting before and after the state of Israel was created in 1948. For seven decades, those original refugees and their descendants – as well as a new wave of refugees created by the 1967 Middle East War – have been cared for by Unrwa. Across the Middle East – in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon as well as the occupied ************ territories – there are some six million ************ refugees. Ahmed Naseer says he doesn’t know how he’ll feed his nine children if Unrwa meal donations are stopped They include the Naseer family, currently huddled in a tent in the courtyard of an Unrwa school-turned-shelter in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. They are from Beit Hanoun in the north but have decided to delay returning to the rubble of their home, even as a fragile ceasefire has taken hold. “I have a disability, and I have a big family,” says Ahmed Naseer, a father of nine who says he struggles to access food aid. “Right now, we get hot meals twice a week from Unrwa and people are still starving. What would it be like if it stops for good?” Ahmed says his children – all formerly Unrwa students – have forgotten basics like their times tables, as their schools have been closed for so long. Now they worry their lessons will never resume. “We just want to go back to school to make up the days we’ve lost,” says 16-year-old Malak. “Every child in Gaza has a dream of what they want to do when they grow up – to be a doctor or engineer. If education is stopped, there will be no future for us.” The full implications of legislation passed by the Israeli parliament are not yet clear. In October, it voted overwhelmingly to ban Unrwa activity on Israeli soil and forbid contact between Israeli officials and Unrwa employees. The laws come into effect on 30 January. However, the legal wording does not directly address the agency’s operations in Gaza, or the occupied West Bank. UN workers say it will ultimately be impossible to function in either location without co-ordinating with Israel’s military authorities. Talking to the BBC, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel suggests that only ************ officials should deal with Unrwa in the West Bank. She accuses the agency of being infiltrated by ****** in Gaza and becoming a security threat. “Israel actually gave more than a year to the international community to clean out this organisation, but it didn’t. It tried to sweep it under the rug and turn a blind eye to breaching the law of neutrality,” Haskell says. “This was the only logical step.” Israel has long accused Unrwa of perpetuating conflict by keeping alive ************ hopes of returning to their historic homeland. However, tensions have risen dramatically since the ******-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the war they triggered. A year ago, Israel accused 18 Unrwa employees of taking part in the deadly assault. A UN investigation then found that nine employees may have been involved and the agency fired them. UN officials reject most of Israel’s accusations against it and insist Unrwa is impartial. Many international donors, including the *** and the European Union, have since resumed donations to the agency. Getty Images Boxes were seen being moved out of Unrwa’s headquarters in East Jerusalem earlier this week There is nervousness among tens of thousands of ************ refugees in occupied East Jerusalem, where Unrwa workers could be seen stacking boxes outside some offices this week. Israel’s government has ordered Unrwa to vacate its compound in this part of the city, which it has annexed in a move not recognised internationally. “You can see in front of us the Unrwa Shufat health centre where I was director, and on the other side are the girls’ school and separate boys’ one,” says Salim Anati, retired GP, as he shows me along the bustling main road of Shufat refugee camp where he grew up. He tells me how his parents – who were expelled from their homes in what is now Lod in Israel – never believed that the refugee camp or Unrwa would become permanent fixtures. Dr Salim Anati, a retired GP in East Jerusalem, says people in his area are shocked by the ban on Unrwa The fate of refugees – a core issue in the Israel-************ conflict – was meant to be worked out in peace talks. However, they stalled a decade ago. Now Palestinians feel Israel is using the opportunity to push its own political solution. Dr Anati says Palestinians refuse to accept the abolition of Unrwa and its services. “All people are shocked, because it’s something fundamental for us as refugees and Unrwa represents the international agreements and our dream of the right of return to our villages and cities.” The UN has repeatedly said there is no alternative to Unrwa. At a heated meeting in New York on Tuesday, senior UN officials and every member of the Security Council except the US – Israel’s closest ally – described Israel’s actions as a violation of international law and its obligations under the UN charter. The deputy US ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, accused the Unrwa head, Philippe Lazzarini, of being “irresponsible and dangerous” when he outlined the expected “disastrous” impact, particularly on aid in Gaza. But Mr Lazzarini said the legislation would impose “massive constraints”, particularly on the Gaza aid operation, and called on international powers to push back against it “in support of peace and stability”. Source link #Israels #ban #Unrwa #catastrophe #************ #agency #warns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Witcher’s Biggest Flaw Can Decimate Henry Cavill’s Warhammer 40K Universe The Witcher’s Biggest Flaw Can Decimate Henry Cavill’s Warhammer 40K Universe Two years after Amazon MGM Studios got its hands on the global rights to Warhammer 40k, Games Workshop and the streamer have finally sorted out all of their creative differences. It’s confirmed Henry Cavill’s Warhammer 40k show is coming soon. Warhammer 40k series is one of the most anticipated projects. (Image via Games Workshop) Considering Cavill’s love for the 40k franchise, it’s not a surprise that he did everything he could do with Amazon and Games Workshop to make this dream project a reality. However, if the actor makes the same blunder as he did in The Witcher, the show is doomed even before release. Warhammer 40k must carefully handle Henry Cavill’s role Warhammer 40k series has a lot of expectations riding on it. (Image via Games Workshop) There’s no denying the fact that Henry Cavill was the perfect choice to play Geralt in Netflix’s The Witcher. However, his portrayal of the character wasn’t free from criticism. Sure, his stoic and emotionally distant approach to the character was on par with Sapkowski’s books and CD Projekt Red’s games, but the show just ended up leaning too much into it. Due to the sole focus on Geralt’s cold nature, it ended up flattening the character’s personality. The series failed to balance the emotional depth of Geralt and the other characters. When it came to dealing with things such as Yennefer’s betrayals or Ciri’s fears, Cavill’s performance felt quite rigid. Geralt in the series should’ve felt like a warrior who’s been burdened by the harsh reality of his world, but it felt like he was nothing but a robot, especially during the emotional scenes where we expect characters to open up. Now that Cavill is going to appear in the Warhammer 40k universe, he must make it a point to avoid repeating the same mistakes as he did in The Witcher. We all know that the Warhammer universe is a vast world that’s filled with characters that bring out the worst of humanity. You might think that they lack emotions, but that manifests in different and more intense ways. If Cavill really wants to do justice to the Warhammer 40k show, he should make it a point to adapt the emotional aspect of the lore. We don’t know if he’s going to play as a Space Marine or the Imperium of Man; he must do his best to find the balance between his hardened nature and the weight of responsibility. All the moments of losses, defeats, and victory should carry value. We don’t want yet another cold and emotionless character from Cavill. Warhammer 40k series has reached new heights Space Marine 2 proved to be a massive success. (Image via Focus Entertainment) It’s no secret that the Warhammer 40k series is having a big moment right now. It all started with the release of Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 by Saber Interactive back in September 2024. Right upon its release, the game smashed all records and set new heights for the franchise. Seriously, Saber has done an incredible job, and it’s a title where you can grind for hours without wanting to question your gaming choices. Now that Cavill’s Warhammer 40k is finally in motion, it could bring even more attention to the Warhammer franchise, considering the fact that one of the biggest stars is attached to the project. We’ve already seen how Fallout and The Last of Us series managed to refresh the gaming side of things. With that said, are you excited for Cavill’s upcoming Warhammer 40k show? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Witchers #Biggest #Flaw #Decimate #Henry #Cavills #Warhammer #40K #Universe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Comcast’s L4S low-latency tech promises up to a 78% latency reduction, testing begins in select cities Comcast’s L4S low-latency tech promises up to a 78% latency reduction, testing begins in select cities According to comments made to The Verge this morning, Comcast is now rolling out a new latency reduction technology, L4S, to its Xfinity Internet service customers in select cities. The company plans to eventually roll out the feature to all its Xfinity Internet customers. According to Comcast spokesperson Joel Shadle, L4S trials have shown that “we were able to reduce working latency—the latency under normal conditions in the home when people are using the Internet—by 78 percent.” L4S, which stands for “Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput,” is a technology that assigns indicators to packets of Internet traffic. These indicators show when traffic gets congested from point A to point B, allowing the devices on either end to adjust to this issue. In theory, this should reduce or even eliminate congestion. Of course, this doesn’t magically increase bandwidth, especially throughput in raw download/upload speed. However, more intelligent traffic routing and management on the client and host sides can make a big difference. Comcast has been developing and testing this with help from Valve, Nvidia, and Apple. This should mean improved performance with game streaming, online gaming in general, and real-time video calling (mainly through FaceTime). For those familiar with Internet traffic, you may already know the concept of “QoS,” or Quality of Service. Quality of Service typically happens within a router or a data center, where packets are sorted by type and latency sensitivity to ensure real-time gaming and video streaming function as intended. Not all QoS implementations are created equally, though, and it’s usually understood as an optional router setting. Comcast is now doing L4S similarly, but it is a bit more advanced to allow for more dynamic traffic adjustments even within specific types of traffic, not just how that traffic is allocated within given bandwidth constraints. While hands-on testing of L4S has yet to be seen, lowering latency for online calls or gaming, especially game-streaming, is imperative for a consistent and reliable experience. And trust me: playing competitively in today’s market of high-refresh rate monitors and high-end PCs owned by your opponents, you want every bit of latency reduction you can get. Don’t be a weird monster who insists on running games at uncapped framerates. If you’re too lazy to find the right in-engine FPS cap, please set a framerate cap, even Nvidia Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag 2. Variable framerate means variable input lag, and maximizing GPU resources contributes to higher input lag in general and worsens performance dips where they occur since you have no overhead to compensate. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Comcasts #L4S #lowlatency #tech #promises #latency #reduction #testing #begins #select #cities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD released instructions for running DeepSeek on Ryzen AI CPUs and Radeon GPUs AMD released instructions for running DeepSeek on Ryzen AI CPUs and Radeon GPUs AMD has provided instructions on how to run DeepSeek’s R1 AI model on AI-accelerated Ryzen AI and Radeon products, making it easy for users to run the new chain-of-thought model on their PCs locally. Several LLMs using R1 are compatible with RX 7000 series desktop GPUs and select Ryzen CPUs with XDNA NPUs. However, they require the optional driver Adrenalin 25.1.1 to run. The guide has everything AMD users need to get DeepSeek R1 running on their local (supported) machine. LM Studio has a one-click installer tailor-made for Ryzen AI, which is the method AMD users will use to install R1. AMD shows how the application needs to be tuned for its hardware, including a list of the maximum supported LLM parameters. DeepSeek R1 allegedly has only recently been distilled into “highly capable” smaller models, small enough to run on consumer-based hardware. The DeepSeek-V3 model was initially trained on a cluster of 2,048 Nvidia H800 GPUs for context. Demo: DeepSeek R1 Distill – YouTube Watch On The maximum supported LLM parameters are based on memory capacity. The RX 7600 XT, 7700 XT, 7800 XT, 7900 GRE, and 7900 XT all support up to “DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-14B”. The flagship RX 7900 XTX supports up to “DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-32B”. The RX 7600, with its 8GB of VRAM, supports up to “DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama-8B”. Similarly, Ryzen 8040 and 7040 series mobile APUs are equipped with 32GB of RAM, and the Ryzen AI HX 370 and 365 with 24GB and 32GB of RAM can support up to “DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama-14B”. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 can support up to “DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama-70B”, but only in 128GB and 64GB memory capacities. The 32GB supports up to “DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-32B”. How To: DeepSeek R1 Distill – YouTube Watch On DeepSeek’s new AI model has taken the world by storm, with its 11 times lower computing cost than leading-edge models. Two days ago, it was solely responsible for Nvidia’s record-breaking $589 billion market cap loss. The DeepSeek R1 model relies on extreme optimization levels to provide its 11X efficiency uplift, relying on Nvidia’s assembly-like Parallel Thread Execution (PTX) programming for most of the performance uplift. Nvidia and AMD GPUs aren’t the only GPUs that can run R1; Huawei has already implemented DeepSeek support into its Ascend AI GPUs, enabling performant AI execution on homegrown ******** hardware. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #AMD #released #instructions #running #DeepSeek #Ryzen #CPUs #Radeon #GPUs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

VA Senator Tries to End ‘Religious Exemption’ for Homeschoolers Fueling Privacy Fears VA Senator Tries to End ‘Religious Exemption’ for Homeschoolers Fueling Privacy Fears Virginia homeschooling parents are taking a stand against a proposed bill that they say dismantles the “religious exemption” for home instruction and infringes on their First Amendment rights. “To protect freedom, we must keep the coercive power of government as far as possible away from the family unit, especially when the freedom of conscience is at stake. If the religious exemption is abolished and only home instruction remains for homeschoolers, the stakes in such conflicts increase dramatically because of the encroachment of government power on the free exercise of religion,” reads a statement from Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). Currently, parents in Virginia can homeschool their children for any reason as long as they provide documentation to their local school district about the curriculum they will be using and show evidence that their child is progressing and learning. However, parents who get a religious exemption to homeschool their children are not required to do that. A religious exemption in this case means that parents or caretakers can assert a religious belief against public education, including objections to theories and beliefs commonly conveyed in public schools such as evolution or LGBT ideology. Earlier this month, Virginia Democratic Senator Stella Pekarsky introduced S.B. 1031, a bill that, if passed, would require parents seeking a religious exemption to submit to full government approval. They would have to prove they could adequately educate their own children, notify the school district superintendent that a child will be given home instruction, and show that the child is progressing in their education. Homeschooling parents argue the bill infringes on their religious freedoms and parental rights. “This is an all-out attack against religious liberty and parental rights,” said Callie Chaplow, with the Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV). “We’ve had 40 years of homeschool law that has worked and it has worked well.” According to HEAV, the new measure “eliminates and replaces all current evidence of progress laws; removes the probationary *******; gives new, broad, undefined authority to the superintendent to determine neglect in education or care; brings the courts into the fold; and removes all privacy protections for ALL homeschooled and religiously exempt minors and their families.” SB 1031 would also require “the administration of standardized achievement tests or statewide assessments” based on their grade level. Chaplow points out that because home instruction allows parents to educate their children at a pace to ensure that a child understands the material, they may not fall exactly on a specific “grade level” at the time of testing. As a result, a division superintendent could claim a child will suffer “neglect in his education or care” if home instruction is permitted, and could petition the circuit court and seek an order to stop homeschooling. “This could strap a family with administrative burdens and legal expenses for years,” explains Chaplow. “Our freedom is on the line!” While introducing the bill to the committee’s Public Education sub-committee, Sen. Pekarsky pushed back against those claims. “This bill most definitely wins the fake news award,” she claimed. “The things that have been said about it and the things that have been written up are just simply false. Currently, the religious exemption allows parents to exempt their children from education with no further requirements or continued instruction.” Pekarsky continued, “The requirements are very basic, very easy, and one can fulfill them. This bill would just align the over 6,000 children currently exempted for religious reasons with the same compliance requirements as [homeschooling].” There are about 56,000 students across the state who are homeschooled under regular “home instruction” guidelines, according to Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) data. There are almost 7,000 students who have a religious exemption that does not require ongoing government approval that those families find to be intrusive. Supporters of the bill argue that it would ensure children would be equally educated. “I was homeschooled in Virginia from 6th through 12th grade under the religious exemption statute. There were years when I was handed textbooks and told to complete them without help or guidance… I knew many parents who use the religious exemption statute to limit their children’s access to education, especially for daughters,” Eve Ettinger, a representative with Coalition for Responsible Home Education, told a Virginia committee last week. Melody Clark, with the Virginia Institute Action, pointed out, “Many in public school are likewise left behind by failing public schools.” “However, this legislation threatens all homeschooled families and undermines Virginia’s longstanding right to educate their children following their faith-based convictions,” she said. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is backing homeschool families and their rights. “Since day one, I’ve believed that at the heart of our Commonwealth is the right that parents have to make decisions for their children’s education,” he wrote. “I stand with parents across Virginia in opposition to SB 1031. We cannot allow this attack on homeschooling to become law,” he said in a statement posted to X. Since day one, I’ve believed that at the heart of our Commonwealth is the right that parents have to make decisions for their children’s education. I stand with parents across Virginia in opposition to SB 1031. We cannot allow this attack on homeschooling to become law. pic.twitter.com/lj3ePvzAGT — Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) January 22, 2025 Next Steps The bill passed in the Senate Education & Health Committee Tuesday night and is expected to go before the finance committee before proceeding to the Senate. Scott Woodruff, a lawyer with HSLDA, is sounding the alarm, explaining on X that the Senate adopted a substitute for the bill that creates a work study group of “political appointees” who would recommend appealing the exemption. SB 1031 passed the senate committee. It was referred to the finance committee, and then likely will go before the senate. If you haven’t, yet, please sign up for our email alerts at to stay updated. pic.twitter.com/OP3TxTilny — HSLDA (@HSLDA) January 28, 2025 “This is a blatant end run about democracy,” Woodruff said. “It would, in effect, be a kangaroo court. The outcome can be pre-determined by the persons who are appointed by the political figures.” “We are not going to accept this,” he added. “This is still a very bad idea and we are going to continue opposing it.” ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.*** Source link #Senator #Religious #Exemption #Homeschoolers #Fueling #Privacy #Fears Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cuisineer Review – A Little Undercooked | COGconnected Cuisineer Review – A Little Undercooked | COGconnected A rouge-lite following Pom in Cuisineer, after she inherits her parent’s beloved restaurant. Now it’s up to her to make Potato Palace shine. Source link #Cuisineer #Review #Undercooked #COGconnected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man committed obscene act outside stranger’s window Man committed obscene act outside stranger’s window A man who committed a “disgusting” and “alarming” obscene act outside the bedroom window of a stranger has avoided jail. Source link #Man #committed #obscene #act #strangers #window Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

No Man’s Sky update adds billions of stars and even more planets No Man’s Sky update adds billions of stars and even more planets No Man’s Sky is back with Worlds Part II, expanding the universe in new ways as only games can. Hello Games, the studio behind No Man’s Sky, has announced the release of its newest iteration and the billions of stars and trillions of planets added to its universe. In a statement about the release, Sean Murphy, founder of Hello Games, explained, “This allows us to push the boundaries of our engine and technology without changing the things people love about the game already. If you settled on your home planet with a beautiful base that you lovingly crafted, that is safe — but now there are new worlds to explore with a level of variety no one has seen before.” This shift includes the addition of Gas Giants, which Hello Games claims are up to 10 times ******* than any planets previously included in the game. The developers have also improved things under the sea, with better fishing and deep sea diving. Plus, the lighting should be better, with more detailed shadows, sharper sunlight and, of course, those shining starry skies. Hello Games also says Worlds Part II offers quests that connect existing storylines and mysteries. A lot of this development comes from work on Hello Game’s new fantasy game Light No Fire. Source link #Mans #Sky #update #adds #billions #stars #planets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s startup chose China’s DeepSeek instead of OpenAI Ex-Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s startup chose China’s DeepSeek instead of OpenAI DeepSeek R1, a ******** open-source LLM, is making waves in the tech landscape for its superior performance compared to OpenAI’s best while requiring substantially fewer computing and training resources. Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger took to X and praised the model with compliments. In a chat with TechCrunch, he revealed that his startup will use DeepSeek over OpenAI. If you haven’t been keeping up with industry news, Pat Gelsinger stepped down as CEO of Intel last month and was replaced by two interim CEOs. Speculation suggests that Intel’s disappointing stock market results contributed to Gelsinger’s dismissal or ousting by the board. Nonetheless, Gelsinger now serves as chairman of his new startup, Gloo, which is reportedly a messaging platform for Churches. Gloo is developing an AI service dubbed “Kallm,” described briefly as an AI-powered chatbot. After comparing DeepSeek’s R1 vs OpenAI’s o1 model, the former was a better fit for Gloo, being open-source and likely easier to integrate. “My Gloo engineers are running R1 today, they could’ve run o1 — well, they can only access o1, through the APIs,” said Gelsinger. Expanding the tweet below, you’ll see that Gelsinger also shared some praise at X, thanking DeepSeek for bringing affordable AI and driving competition. Wisdom is learning the lessons we thought we already knew. DeepSeek reminds us of three important learnings from computing history:1) Computing obeys the gas law. Making it dramatically cheaper will expand the market for it. The markets are getting it wrong, this will make AI…January 27, 2025 DeepSeek used Nvidia’s H800 GPUs to train its R1 model but sticks with (mostly) homegrown Huawei Ascend AI accelerators (likely the Huawei 910C) for inferencing to save on costs and reduce dependence on Western hardware. Sam Atlman famously declared that AI startups with $10 million are “totally hopeless”, however, DeepSeek claims its total training expenditure was just $5.6 million while requiring 11x less compute than Meta’s Llama 3 405b model. Industry experts have contested these numbers, but Gelsinger asserts, “You will never have full transparency, given most of the work was done in China. But still, all evidence is that it’s 10-50x cheaper in their training than o1.” The focal point remained on how DeepSeek is pushing the industry to go open-source and find creative solutions rather than throwing hardware at the problem. DeepSeek is under investigation by Microsoft and OpenAI for allegedly using data from ChatGPT illicitly in distillation. Likewise, DeepSeek collects hordes of user data and stores it in servers based in China, though at least they are transparent about their practices. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #ExIntel #CEO #Pat #Gelsingers #startup #chose #Chinas #DeepSeek #OpenAI Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Drone footage shows devastation in Gaza’s Jabalia and Beit Hanoun Drone footage shows devastation in Gaza’s Jabalia and Beit Hanoun Aid agencies have described a catastrophic situation in northern Gaza, where more than 300,000 displaced Palestinians have so far returned to their neighbourhoods under the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and ******. The UN says almost 70% buildings across Gaza have been destroyed or badly damaged by Israeli bombardment, and that in most cases the displaced have no physical homes to return to in the north. Drone footage shows the scale of the destruction in the towns of Jabalia and Beit Hanoun, which were besieged by Israeli ground forces for three months before the ceasefire took effect. Source link #Drone #footage #shows #devastation #Gazas #Jabalia #Beit #Hanoun Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Now Only This One Jim Carrey Movie Has Made More Than Sonic 3 At The Box Office Now Only This One Jim Carrey Movie Has Made More Than Sonic 3 At The Box Office Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continues to succeed at the box office, and it’s now become actor Jim Carrey’s No. 2 movie of all time based on global performance at the box office. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has now brought in $446.7 million globally, which is only behind 2003’s Bruce Almighty ($484.6 million) in terms of Carrey’s best-performing movies of all time (via Cartoon Base). Some of Carrey’s other top-performing movies have included The Mask ($351.6 million), How the Grinch Stole Christmas ($347.2 million), and Batman Forever ($336.6 million). These numbers are not adjusted for inflation. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is also helping set records for actor Keanu Reeves. The third Sonic movie is now ******* than any John Wick movie in the US in terms of money made at the box office. The three Sonic the Hedgehog movies have earned more than $1 billion together, and a fourth is coming in 2027. It’s not immediately clear if Carrey will come back to play Dr. Robotnik again, but the actor has said he would consider it. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 recently passed $200 million in the US alone, becoming just the second video game movie ever to clear that mark, joining The Super Mario Bros. Movie. There are a number of video game movies coming up in 2025, including A Minecraft Movie (April 4), Until Dawn (April 25), Mortal Kombat 2 (October 24), and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (December 5). Source link #Jim #Carrey #Movie #Sonic #Box #Office Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South Sudan plane ****** kills at least 20, leaves only one survivor South Sudan plane ****** kills at least 20, leaves only one survivor Only one person has survived a plane ****** in South Sudan, which killed 20 oil workers who were on board, the government said. The plane, which was heading to the capital, Juba, crashed three minutes after take-near the oil fields in Unity State on Wednesday morning, said Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. Among the victims are five foreign nationals: two ********, one Indian, and two Ugandan crew members. The 15 other victims were all South Sudanese. The cause of the ****** has not been determined, but authorities said they are investigating. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those on board during this incredibly difficult time,” said Chol. The oil workers, who were all men, worked for the Greater Pioneer Company (GPOC) and the plane was operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company. GPOC is a joint venture that includes state-owned oil companies from India, China, Malaysia, and South Sudan. It was meant to be a routine exploration mission. South Sudan’s aviation infrastructure is not well developed and the country has a poor safety record. Air accidents are common, and frequently blamed on overloading of the aircraft or the weather conditions. In 2021, five people were killed after a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) crashed near Juba. Source link #South #Sudan #plane #****** #kills #leaves #survivor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CS Pros Caught Matchfixing Finally Unbanned After 10 Years CS Pros Caught Matchfixing Finally Unbanned After 10 Years Counter-Strike pro players Joshua “steel” Nissan and Braxton “brax” Pierce are now unbanned from competing at official Valve events, over 10 years after the two were involved in the notorious iBUYPOWER match fixing scandal. Whether it’s as players, coaches, or team analysts, the two can now participate at the Major. After spending a decade banned from competing at the highest level of pro Counter-Strike, the two are free to pursue any opportunities. The Doors to the Counter-Strike Major are Finally Re-opened Back in August 2014, members of the iBUYPOWER CS:GO roster purposefully lost a match against NetcodeGuides.com, after betting against themselves on CS skin gambling site CSGOLounge. Despite some evidence being present immediately after the match, the story wasn’t uncovered until journalist Richard Lewis published a report in January 2015. Within two weeks of the story’s publishing, Valve handed indefinite bans to all that participated, preventing them from competing at any Valve-affiliated events. These bans, coupled with bans from other prominent tournament organizers such as ESL, effectively ended the careers of the players involved. Given that they were unable to participate at any major tournament, their team options were severely limited. In 2017, the players had their bans lifted from organizers like ESL and DreamHack, however the Valve bans had been made permanent in 2016. In 2020, both steel and brax transitioned to VALORANT, with steel finding some success with 100 Thieves. Valve finally relented in 2023 though, making the bans no longer permanent and letting them expire after 10 years. That day where the bans expire has finally come, and the players can now compete at or participate in the Counter-Strike Majors. During the IEM Katowice broadcast, a small celebration was held for steel, who’s worked on stream as an analyst for a few years. During the segment, steel said that he learned “a very hard lesson for myself, as well as for everyone in the tier two scene.” The bans and their length have been a major talking point in the community for a long time. In fact, it was Richard Lewis himself who petitioned months after his original report in 2015 that Valve not leave the bans indefinite. Over the years, some have argued the bans be lifted earlier as the players had been punished enough. Some though have argued that the severity of the punishment is crucial to deterring future instances of match-fixing. Has 10 years been enough for these players? Join the discussion down below or in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more of the latest esports news, stay tuned to Insider Gaming. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Pros #Caught #Matchfixing #Finally #Unbanned #Years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are set for court, here’s their dispute in 90 seconds Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are set for court, here’s their dispute in 90 seconds A trial date has been set for the hearing of the claims between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who co-starred in 2024 film It Ends With Us. The US actors have filed lawsuits against each other, with Lively accusing Baldoni of ******* harassment and a smear campaign. Baldoni is counter-suing Lively and her husband, the actor Ryan Reynolds, on claims of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy. He’s also suing the New York Times for libel. Both parties strongly deny the claims. The BBC’s Yasmin Rufo explains the dispute in 90 seconds. Filmed and edited by Amy Walker. Produced by Ian Casey. Source link #Blake #Lively #Justin #Baldoni #set #court #heres #dispute #seconds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

February’s PlayStation Plus Essential games have been revealed, including Payday 3 February’s PlayStation Plus Essential games have been revealed, including Payday 3 Sony Interactive Entertainment has revealed February 2025’s PlayStation Plus Essential games. February’s PlayStation Plus Essential games are Payday 3 (PS5), High on Life (PS4, PS5) and Pac-Man World Re-Pac (PS4, PS5). They’ll be available for subscribers to claim from February 4 until March 3. Sony has also announced plans to shift away from providing PS4 games as part of its monthly PlayStation Plus offerings. Starting in January 2026, “PS4 games will no longer be a key benefit” of the service, with Sony instead turning its focus to offering PS5 titles. As ever, February’s Essential games will be available for anyone with a PlayStation Plus membership, regardless of tier. They will remain in the player’s library for as long as they continue to have an active PlayStation Plus subscription. If their subscription ends, so too will access to the games, but rejoining the service will make them available again. Subscribers to the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers also receive access to the Game Catalog, a library of downloadable PS4 and PS5 titles. This month’s new releases include God of War Ragnarök, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand. PlayStation Plus Premium also offers a range of PS1, PS2 and PSP games to download, and PS3 games via cloud streaming. This month’s additions to the Classics Catalog include Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings and Medievil 2. Sony also confirmed today that PC players will soon no longer require a PlayStation Network account to play its first-party games, but having one will now also unlock in-game content. Source link #Februarys #PlayStation #Essential #games #revealed #including #Payday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I created a Windows 11 virtual machine to test DeepSeek safely – here’s how you can do it for free I created a Windows 11 virtual machine to test DeepSeek safely – here’s how you can do it for free DeepSeek is a new AI tool that has got a lot of people excited – but there are also some serious security concerns as well, which is why I’ve written this guide on how to create a virtual machine to test out DeepSeek. Creating a virtual machine might sound complex, but it’s actually quite straightforward. It essentially makes a computer that runs within your real PC, and will act as if it was a real device. This means you can test out software on the virtual machine without worrying about messing up your real PC, as everything is run within the virtual machine and kept separate from your files and folders. This process, which security experts often refer to as running software in a ‘sandbox’ is much safer than running the software normally on your PC, as any malware or security problems that might come with the software will have access to your personal files and data. So, when I wanted to try out DeepSeek, I decided to do it within a sandbox using a virtual machine based on the security and privacy issues I’ve been reading about. My devices often have a mix of personal files and work-related files, so while using a virtual machine to test out DeepSeek might seem like overkill, it’s always better to be safe than sorry – and the process is actually quite easy (and free). Tools and requirements for creating a Windows 11 virtual machine to test DeepSeek A modern PC VirtualBox software Windows 11 ISO image DeepSeek account Steps for creating a Windows 11 virtual machine to test DeepSeek Download and install VirtualBox Download the Windows 11 ISO image Create a new virtual machine within VirtualBox Use ISO to boot virtual machine into Windows 11’s installation process Install Windows 11 Sign up for DeepSeek and use it Step by step guide for creating a Windows 11 virtual machine to test DeepSeek 1. Download and install VirtualBox (Image: © Oracle) The first thing you’ll need to do is download and install the VirtualBox software. From the download page we’ve linked here, select the version under ‘VirtualBox Platform Packages’ for the operating system you use. For this guide, I selected Windows hosts. Once VirtualBox has downloaded, double click the downloaded program file to run the installation process and follow the instructions to install it on your PC. 2. Download the Windows 11 ISO (Image: © Microsoft) You also need an ISO file of an operating system. ISO files are a type of file that used to be known as disc images, and while we don’t usually use CDs or DVDs with our PCs these days, ISO images are still widely used – kind of like a virtual CD that your PC can run even without an optical disc drive. You can use ISO files of Linux distros or other operating systems, but for this walkthrough, we’ll use Windows 11, as Microsoft has made it easy and safe to download the ISO image for. Go to Microsoft’s official Download Windows 11 page and scroll down to where it says Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices then click the drop-down box and select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices), then click Download Now and save the file to a location on your hard drive. The file is just under 6GB, so make sure you have enough room. 3. Create the new virtual machine (Image: © Microsoft / Oracle) Open up VirtualBox and select New (with a blue icon). When the Create Virtual Machine window appears, enter in the name of the virtual machine you want to create (this can be anything, but it’s best to give it a descriptive name such as ‘Windows 11 test’). The Folder text box shows you where the virtual machine is going to be saved, you can leave this as default unless you want it created somewhere else. In the ISO Image box, press the down arrow, then select Other… Browse to the location where you downloaded the Windows 11 ISO and select the file. VirtualBox should detect that it’s a Windows 11 install and fill in the rest of the boxes. Once done, click Next. 4. Hardware configuration (Image: © Microsoft / Oracle) In the next window you can configure the Windows 11 installation. You don’t need to change anything here, though I recommend you choose a new username and password, which will be used to log in to Windows 11. Once done, click Next. You’ll then need to allocate the hardware for the virtual computer. This is an important balance to get right, as it dedicates parts of your physical PC’s hardware for use by the virtual machine. First is a slider for the memory. On the far-right side is the amount of RAM your physical PC has (in our case 16GB). By default, VirtualBox will give your virtual machine 4GB. This is the minimum amount you need to run Windows 11. You can change the amount of RAM allocated to the virtual machine by sliding the bar from left (less) to right (more). The more RAM you allocate to the virtual machine, the faster it’ll perform – but bear in mind that allocating too much RAM will leave your main PC with less RAM to use while the virtual machine is running. So, you want to strike a balance between giving the virtual machine enough memory to perform well, without impacting the performance of your entire PC. Underneath, you’ll see ‘Processors’ and here you can allocate processor cores to the virtual machine. Again, this should be a careful balance as allocating too many could make your PC run slower. By default, it will allocate two cores, and I’ve found that to be perfectly fine for using DeepSeek in Windows 11. If you’re worried about this step, just leave the settings at their default and click Next. 5. Set up a virtual hard drive (Image: © Microsoft / Oracle) Like in the previous step, you’ll need to allocate a virtual hard drive from your physical hard drive for the virtual machine to use. This is especially important when running software in a sandbox, as it ensures that anything that happens in the virtual machine is kept within the virtual drive, rather than impacting your files and folders on your PC’s hard drive. The default option is 80GB which should be more than enough for installing Windows 11. It’s important to note that while 80GB sounds like a scary amount of disk space to allocate, VirtualBox doesn’t partition off that amount right away (unless you check the box saying ‘Pre-allocate Full Size’). Instead, the virtual hard drive will grow in size as you use it, with the size you select here being the maximum size the virtual hard drive can grow to. It’s important that you don’t select a size that is close to the total capacity of your PC’s hard drive, as you don’t want that filling up! Of course, if you need more space on your PC in the future, and don’t need to use the virtual machine any more, you can easily delete the virtual drive. Click Next to continue, then Finish. 6. Install Windows 11 (Image: © Microsoft / Oracle) Your virtual machine will now boot. You might see a message saying ‘Press any key to continue’ – click the VirtualBox window then press any key on your keyboard to continue. VirtualBox will cleverly identify when your mouse is over the window, and will automatically switch so your mouse controls the cursor in the virtual machine. Clicking somewhere in the virtual machine where you can type will automatically switch your keyboard to work in the virtual machine. Clicking outside of the VirtualBox window will return your mouse and keyboard to control your physical PC. The Windows 11 Setup window should appear asking for a product key. As we are just using this for a temporary test virtual machine, don’t put any key in here – just click I don’t have a product key. Windows 11 will then be installed on the virtual machine. 7. Start up Windows 11 and sign in to DeepSeek (Image: © Microsoft / Oracle / DeepSeek) Windows 11 should now boot, and you’ll be able to use your virtual machine just like a normal PC – but within a window! Now we can safely use DeepSeek (and other applications) in a sandbox. Open up the Edge web browser and head to the DeepSeek website. You can then create an account or log in using your Google account. Due to the privacy concerns currently surrounding DeepSeek, I strongly recommend that you don’t use your Google account to log in. Instead, click Sign up and then enter your email address (this can be your Gmail), create a password (and confirm it), tick the box to confirm you agree to the terms of use, then press Send code. When you get the code, enter it in the text box. You’ll then be signed up to DeepSeek and will be able to use it as you would normally. 8. Turning off your virtual machine (Image: © Microsoft / Oracle) When you’ve finished using your virtual machine, you can turn it off the usual way by opening the Windows 11 start menu and pressing the power icon and choosing Shut down. You can also click File > Close in the VirtualBox menu bar at the top of the window. This displays the Close Virtual Machine window. By selecting Save the machine state and then clicking OK, VirtualBox will essentially pause the virtual machine where you are. When you load up the virtual machine in the future, you’ll be able to continue where you left off. Final thoughts on a Windows 11 virtual machine to test DeepSeek You might think that going through this process is overkill, especially as for the moment DeepSeek is used through a web browser, so no software is installed on your PC. However, you can never be too cautious when testing new software and services, and because DeepSeek is getting a huge amount of attention (alongside limited information on how it handles your data), being extra careful is a good idea. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. And, once you’ve created a virtual machine for this, you can use it for other things as well, such as downloading and trying out other apps that you’re unsure about. If something does go wrong with your virtual machine, you can simply delete it and start again – something you can’t do if you accidentally mess something up on your real PC! You might also like Source link #created #Windows #virtual #machine #test #DeepSeek #safely #heres #free Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Chubb’s Evan Greenberg says insurer just had the best year in its history Chubb’s Evan Greenberg says insurer just had the best year in its history Chubb CEO Evan Greenberg Scott Mlyn | CNBC California is a tough market for insurers — and growing more so, according to Chubb CEO Evan Greenberg. The executive has long proclaimed that Chubb won’t write insurance where it can’t get a reasonable return for taking on risk. And it’s that approach that helped it report strong 2024 results. “We had a great quarter, which contributed to an outstanding year. In fact, the best in our company’s history,” Greenberg told analysts on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Chubb shares are trading 3% higher on Tuesday. The stock has risen 13% over the past year, but has been under pressure this month as the Los Angeles area battled costly wildfires. Chubb, along with Allstate and Travelers, are among the publicly traded insurers expected to have some of the greatest exposure. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Chubb shares over the past year Greenberg kicked off the company’s earnings call immediately addressing its exposure to the disaster. Right now, it expects to see $1.5 billion in net pretax costs in the first quarter. Chubb had reduced its exposure by 50% in the areas where wildfires occurred, he said. The state, as well as consumer advocacy groups, are preventing insurers from charging premiums that truly reflect the risks in the area, he said, explaining that the artificially suppressed prices are only encouraging people and companies to opt for riskier places to live and work. “Frankly, it’s an unsustainable model, and one way or the other, the citizens of the state paid for the price for coverage,” he said. “California is not alone in this regard, but it certainly stands out.” Best. Year. Ever. Greenberg expressed confidence in Chubb’s ability to manage the risks the industry faces. “While we’re in the risk business and there’s plenty of uncertainty in the world, we’re confident in our ability to continue growing operating earnings and EPS at a double-digit rate, tax and [foreign exchange] notwithstanding. Our earnings growth will come from three sources: [property and casualty] underwriting, investment income and life income.” He said he expects the industry is in a ******* of sustained inflation – and so rates are rising just to stay steady, which may not affect margin improvement. Why size matters Greenberg said Chubb is positioned competitively to grow its commercial middle market lines, which serve companies smaller than $1 billion, because there’s a lot of change in climate and catastrophe events and growth in litigation. Regional and mutual insurers “have a harder time” in this area, he said. “They’re not equipped with the data, with the balance sheet, with depth of business in reinsurance relationships to be able to … compete the same way,” he said. On multiple metrics, the company is seeing bragworthy growth. P&C underwriting income rose 7% in 2024 from the prior year, with a combined ratio of 86.6%. Global P&C premiums written grew almost 10% during the same *******, with life premiums jumping 18.5% in constant dollars. During the lastest quarter, Chubb reported net income of $2.58 billion, or $6.33 per share. Excluding items, it earned $6.02 per share. Net investment income rose 13.7% to $1.69 billion on an adjusted basis. Chubb has been making its mark by insuring more affluent customers, and that contributed to its fourth-quarter strength. Premium growth in this segment rose 10%, including a 34% bump in new business, the company said. “Premiums in our true high net worth segments, the group that seeks our brand for the differentiated coverage and service we are known for, grew 17.6%,” it added. Homeowners pricing rose more than 12% for the quarter and ahead of loss costs. Chubb, the market leader in crop insurance, said agriculture premiums fell a bit because of lower commodity prices and a change in the risk formula with the U.S. government. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Chubbs #Evan #Greenberg #insurer #year #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Goldman says DeepSeek sell-off is a correction, not the start of bear market Goldman says DeepSeek sell-off is a correction, not the start of bear market Despite investors’ jitters over the debut of the DeepSeek artificial intelligence app, Goldman Sachs remains confident in the stock market. “In our view this is a correction and not the start of a sustained bear market,” chief global equity strategist Peter Oppenheimer wrote in a 16-page note to clients on Wednesday, entitled “Concentration & Correction – what to do next”. While U.S. equities, led by the Magnificent Seven stocks — have dominated the global market, Oppenheimer said this outperformance isn’t “irrational exuberance,” but just a reflection of superior fundamental businesses. Tech’s influence on the broader market’s performance has reflected the sector’s surging profits in comparison to other industries over the same *******. Despte that, there remaim other attractive opportunities in the U.S. market, and beyond, he added. “This suggests that we are not at the start of a major rotation out of all that has performed best into everything that has lagged, but rather are at the start of a longer ******* of market broadening,” Oppenheimer said. As a result, the London-based strategist advises investors to diversify their holdings, recommending staying long stocks, but to hedge some risk by overweighting safe-asset bonds. When looking at the U.S., he touts the S & P Midcap 400 index or the S & P 500 Equal-Weighted index. For growth opportunities, investors should look to global growth names outside of technology. “These have the advantage of being cheaper than technology but also more diversified,” said Oppenheimer. Source link #Goldman #DeepSeek #selloff #correction #start #bear #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PlayStation Plus Free Games For February 2025 Revealed PlayStation Plus Free Games For February 2025 Revealed PlayStation has revealed this month’s batch of free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers. All PS Plus members will be able to claim a trio of freebies starting February 4–Payday 3, High on Life, and Pac-Man World: Re-Pac. If you haven’t claimed January’s PlayStation Plus free games yet, make sure to do so before next Tuesday. Sony also mentioned that it will focus more on offering PS5 titles through the monthly games and Game Catalog benefit starting January 2026. While PS4 owners may still receive free games as part of the subscription, Sony says these will only be occasionally handed out from next year. Payday 3 It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for Payday 3, which was supposed to kick off the next era of the popular bank-heist-simulator series. While the core game isn’t bad, numerous server issues and low player numbers made for a rough launch, but developer Starbreeze hasn’t thrown in the towel on Payday 3. yet. As part of an effort titled Operation Medic Bag, Starbreeze has been steadily improving on the game with several patches and an offline mode. High on Life If you’re a fan of Rick and Morty, then High on Life will appeal to you as it shares much of the same oddball humor as the hit animated series. A first-person shooter that features very talkative guns and an alien space cartel who get “high” on humans, the game was made by Squanch Games, a studio founded by Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland and Tanya Watson. Roiland resigned from the company in 2023, following a series of controversies. Pac-Man World: Re-Pac A remake of the original Pac-Man World platformer, Pac-Man World: Re-Pac is a charming game featuring the Bandai Namco icon. Its gameplay was overhauled and its graphics were updated for this 2022 release, which saw Pac-Man embark on a quest to save his friends and family from the ghosts who had kidnapped them. PlayStation Plus Free Games for February 2025 PS Plus February 2025 free games Available February 4 until March 3. Payday 3 High on Life Pac-Man World: Re-Pac Source link #PlayStation #Free #Games #February #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tesla TSLA 2024 Q4 earnings Tesla TSLA 2024 Q4 earnings André Thierig, plant manager of the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, stands at the final inspection of the production of Tesla Model Y electric vehicles. Patrick Pleul | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Tesla plans to release fourth-quarter results after the bell on Wednesday. Here’s what analysts are expecting, based on an average of estimates compiled by LSEG: Earnings per share: 76 centsRevenue: $27.26 billion Tesla’s earnings report follows a steep rally in the company’s stock price tied to the election of President Donald Trump. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was the biggest backer of Trump’s campaign efforts and is now leading the president’s new government efficiency advisory board. The electric vehicle maker’s stock price is up 58% since Trump’s victory in November as investors bet that Musk’s influence would lead to both favorable policies and less oversight of his companies. In early January, Tesla reported deliveries for the fourth quarter of 495,570. For the full year, deliveries came in at about 1.8 million, marking the company’s first annual decline. Deliveries are the closest approximation of sales reported by Tesla, but are not precisely defined in the company’s shareholder communications. To end 2024, Tesla offered a range of discounts on inventory vehicles and special discounts for buyers in North America who were referred by another Tesla customer. In China, Tesla cut prices on its popular Model Y SUVs before debuting a refreshed version, the Model Y Juniper. Given the discounts on its vehicles in the quarter, margins are likely to be in focus on Wednesday’s call, along with guidance for Tesla’s core automotive and energy businesses in 2025. Tesla previously reported that it had deployed 31.4 gigawatt-hours in battery energy storage systems in 2024, with 11 GWh of that deployed in the fourth quarter. Tesla’s growing energy division makes most of its revenue from sales and use of its big, backup batteries, including versions for home, business and utility-scale projects. Tesla uses online forum Say Technologies to solicit and choose investor questions for execs to answer on earnings calls. As of Tuesday, more than 100 inquiries had flooded in about Tesla’s plans around autonomous vehicle technology. Musk has been promising Tesla will turn its existing cars into robotaxi-ready vehicles for years but so far the company has not delivered a system safe to use without a driver at the wheel, ready to steer or brake at any time. In October, Tesla drummed up excitement among fans by showing off an early prototype version of a Cybercab at its “We, Robot” event. However, Tesla still doesn’t produce robotaxis. Instead, the company sells a premium version of its partially automated driving system called “FSD,” short for Full Self-Driving Supervised. Meanwhile, competitors including Alphabet’s Waymo in the U.S., and China’s WeRide and Pony.ai are already testing and commercially operating driverless ride-hailing services. Besides the FSD-related inquiries, more than 100 shareholders submitted questions to the Say forum about Musk, seeking information about his obligations at the White House, and about the impact of his political and public conduct on the company. Musk has recently made offensive jokes and gestures making light of the Holocaust, and has promoted Germany’s far-right, anti-immigrant party AfD, or Alternative fur Deutschland, ahead of the country’s elections in February. His remarks and behavior have drawn rebuke from Democrats in the U.S. and leaders in Germany, Poland, the U.K. and France as well as from Jewish groups. As CNBC previously reported, Tesla’s brand value shed $15 billion in 2024, owing to multiple factors including the company’s aging lineup of EVs, and Musk’s incendiary political rhetoric and conduct, according to research by Brand Finance. WATCH: Musk ‘resisting’ budget Tesla model Source link #Tesla #TSLA #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Next The Sims 4 Expansion Pack Has Been Leaked Next The Sims 4 Expansion Pack Has Been Leaked · · January 29, 2025 The next expansion pack for The Sims 4 has been leaked ahead of its reveal. Known Sims leaker anadius has found that the next expansion pack for the game will be a “Businesses & Hobbies” pack. The announcement is expected to come within the next week as part of The Sims 25th Anniversary roadmap. The exact date is expected between February 4-6. Just names this time: Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack + Set Up Shop (bonus content if you buy early) Got that info 8h ago but wanted more details. There’s still nothing. Details of the 18th expansion pack are still scarce as anadius said he didn’t have all the information just yet. He did add there will be bonus content should you buy the expansion early. PODCAST: Xbox Developers Direct Us: Insider Gaming Weekly Podcast The leak of the next expansion pack isn’t the only news for The Sims to make the rounds. A recent report claims that both The Sims 1 and The Sims 2—along with all of their expansions—will be getting a re-release this week. The latest update suggests Friday, January 31 as the launch. EA hasn’t commented on the rumors of the re-release. The company is scheduled to announce its Q3 FY2025 earnings on Tuesday, February 4 where it’s possible the series’ recent performance and future plans will be discussed. What are you hoping for with The Sims 4 Business & Hobbies expansion pack? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out the free games coming to PlayStation Plus members in February and and check out the details for the latest major update to No Man’s Sky. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Sims #Expansion #Pack #Leaked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

1,200-Year-Old Pregnant Woman’s Sacrifice Unearthed in Ecuador’s Manteño ******* Burial 1,200-Year-Old Pregnant Woman’s Sacrifice Unearthed in Ecuador’s Manteño ******* Burial The remains of a young pregnant woman, who lived approximately 1,200 years ago during the Manteño ******* in Ecuador, have been unearthed by archaeologists. Her grave contained a striking combination of artifacts and evidence of violent death, which has led researchers to suspect ritual sacrifice. The discovery was made at the Buen Suceso site, where the burial was found to include the remains of another individual’s skull and burnt offerings. The context and contents of the grave have raised significant questions about her societal role and the reasons for her tragic fate. Details of the Study According to a study published in Latin American Antiquity, the woman, aged 17 to 20, was in the late stages of pregnancy when she died. Fractures on her skull indicated a fatal blow to her head, while her hands and left leg had been severed post-mortem. Radiocarbon dating has placed her death between 771 and 953. Sara Juengst, a bioarchaeologist from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, explained to Live Science that the presence of valuable trade artifacts, including Spondylus mollusk ornaments and obsidian blades, hinted at her high status within her community. Artifacts and Interpretations The inclusion of Spondylus shells, often linked to fertility and water, along with a crab claw placed on her abdomen, suggested ritualistic intentions. These items, along with the burnt material dated to 991-1025, indicated that the grave may have been revisited centuries after her burial. Juengst suggested that this could reflect an attempt to associate her sacrifice with environmental events like El Niño, which might have disrupted agriculture and prompted desperate measures. Significance of the Burial The burial has prompted discussions about women’s political and social roles in Manteño society. Juengst speculated that her power, possibly linked to her pregnancy, may have made her a target for sacrifice or elimination. Benjamin Schaefer, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, cautioned against definitive interpretations, suggesting future studies could provide deeper insights into this unique discovery. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Oppo Find X8 Ultra Tipped to Boast Flat Screen With Narrow Bezels Data Privacy Day 2025: Top Apple Privacy Features to Enable on Your Devices Source link #1200YearOld #Pregnant #Womans #Sacrifice #Unearthed #Ecuadors #Manteño #******* #Burial Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review: More like a 4080 Super Super – Ars Technica Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review: More like a 4080 Super Super – Ars Technica Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review: More like a 4080 Super Super Ars TechnicaNvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Vs RTX 4090: And The Winner Is? ForbesRTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PCs Are Already Available Right Now at Adorama IGNRTX 5090 and 5080 cards have appeared on Newegg and Best Buy PCWorldNvidia Warns It Will Likely Run Out of RTX 5090 and 5080 Cards at Launch Gizmodo Source link #Nvidia #GeForce #RTX #review #Super #Super #Ars #Technica Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

R.F.K. Jr. Would Keep Stake in HPV Vaccine Suit if Confirmed R.F.K. Jr. Would Keep Stake in HPV Vaccine Suit if Confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick to be health secretary, is keeping his financial stake in major litigation against Merck over a widely used vaccine given to young people, according to an ethics agreement made public on Wednesday and court documents. That conflict of interest could raise questions for lawmakers as Mr. Kennedy aims to run agencies that regulate the drugmaker. The ethics document said Mr. Kennedy would continue to collect fees for cases in which he referred clients to Wisner Baum, a law firm suing Merck over Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The vaccine is administered to adolescents to prevent cervical and other cancers later in life. The arrangement with Wisner Baum, which also includes other matters, has earned Mr. Kennedy, one of the nation’s fiercest vaccine critics, more than $2.5 million in the past two years, according to records filed with federal election officials for his presidential run and the agreement, approved by the Office of Government Ethics as part of the confirmation process. That sum is far higher than about $200,000, the latest salary figure for the health and human services secretary, according to a former agency spokesman. “I am entitled to receive 10 percent of fees awarded in contingency fee cases referred to the firm,” Mr. Kennedy said in the ethics filing. He wrote that he is not a lawyer in any of the cases. The agreement says Mr. Kennedy may retain a contingency fee interest in cases that the ethics office of the Department of Health and Human Services determines do not involve the federal government. He will divest his interest in cases that do, such as those brought through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Mr. Kennedy has railed against what he deems corruption and conflicts of interest in government and the pharmaceutical industry. He has vowed to root out what he calls “regulatory capture” — the close ties between industry and government, especially drugmakers and the Food and Drug Administration. The ethics filings clear the way for the Senate Health Committee and the Finance Committee to schedule confirmation hearings for Mr. Kennedy. After their release, Senator Michael D. Crapo, Republican of Idaho and the Finance Committee chairman, set a hearing for Mr. Kennedy next Wednesday. But the disclosures could also complicate Mr. Kennedy’s prospects. Two influential Republicans, Senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have expressed concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines. Mr. McConnell is the former Republican leader; Mr. Cassidy, a doctor, is the chairman of the Health Committee. One Democratic member of the Finance Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, said Mr. Kennedy’s finances showed “outrageous conflicts of interest that endanger public health.” “This disclosure shows that R.F.K. Jr. made millions off of peddling dangerous anti-vaccine conspiracies,” she said in a statement. “Even worse, if he is confirmed, his finances will still be tied to the outcomes of anti-vaccine lawsuits — even as he’d be tasked with regulating them as health secretary.” Two ethics experts who reviewed the agreement said his stake in the lawsuits appeared to be highly problematic, as the F.D.A., which approves drugs and vaccines, would fall within Mr. Kennedy’s purview as health secretary. The experts said any action Mr. Kennedy took related to Merck, one of the world’s largest drugmakers, could appear to be motivated by his financial interest in a handsome settlement. “I think he’d have to recuse a huge amount to not appear to be extracting money from Merck,” said Richard W. Painter, a University of Minnesota law professor and former chief White House ethics lawyer. “And it almost looks like extortion.” A spokeswoman for Mr. Kennedy declined to comment. The first of many lawsuits claiming that young people were harmed by the HPV vaccine is on trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. Mr. Kennedy has used social media to promote the claims; in 2022 he posted a video to recruit additional plaintiffs. Merck said the allegations have no merit. Wisner Baum paid Mr. Kennedy about $856,000 in 2024 and $1.6 million the year before, financial records filed with the government show. It was not clear from the records how much of that money came from cases involving Merck. Mr. Kennedy has also worked with Wisner Baum on other litigation, including cases related to the herbicide Roundup. Agreements like the one submitted by Mr. Kennedy and signed by the Office of Government Ethics are based on criminal laws that prevent federal officials from self-dealing and regulations guarding against the appearance of conflicts of interest. Wisner Baum is not the only law firm that has received client referrals from Mr. Kennedy. He has had a similar arrangement with Morgan & Morgan, which advertises itself as “America’s Largest Injury Law Firm.” The firm recently sued some of the nation’s largest food manufacturers, accusing them of using a “********** playbook to fill our food environment with addictive substances that are aggressively marketed to children and minorities” — language that echoes Mr. Kennedy’s assault on ultraprocessed foods. Mr. Kennedy does not appear to be involved in that suit and said in the ethics agreement that he would terminate that referral agreement upon confirmation. He also pledged that, if confirmed, he would end his consulting agreement with his book publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, and divest his interests in a number of companies, including Apple, Amazon and two biotech firms, CRISPR Therapeutics and Dragonfly Therapeutics. The document outlining what Mr. Kennedy’s obligations would be is not clear on the degree to which he would need to sidestep matters related to Merck or the Gardasil vaccine, Mr. Painter, the ethics expert, said. Mr. Painter said he believed that senators should decline to confirm Mr. Kennedy until he resolves the matter. Virginia Canter, the chief counsel for the watchdog group State Democracy Defenders Action and a former government ethics lawyer, also reviewed the ethics statement and said Mr. Kennedy did not appear to be walled off from Merck’s business unless there was a subsequent decision by agency ethics officials. Merck makes a number of vaccines as well as Keytruda, the blockbuster ******* drug. Ms. Canter said ethics guidelines include an impartiality rule that prompts officials to consider the appearance of bias in their actions. Given Mr. Kennedy’s potential profit, “how could he be impartial?” she asked. Gardasil lawsuits that Mr. Kennedy worked on claim that young people developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, known as POTS, and premature ovarian failure as side effects of the vaccine. Mr. Kennedy was a leader in organizing large law firms to get involved in the Gardasil cases, according to a report by Reuters. The cases also allege that Merck’s early studies of the vaccine “were designed in a manner to obfuscate and conceal the identification of serious injuries, including injuries with a delayed onset,” court records show. Robert Josephson, a spokesman for Merck, noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website says the agency “has not detected any safety concerns related to POTS following HPV vaccination.” “An overwhelming body of scientific evidence, including more than 20 years of research and development, continues to support the safety and efficacy profiles of our HPV vaccines,” Mr. Josephson said. A study done in Scotland found that adolescents who got the HPV vaccine before they were 14 were found to have no cases of cervical ******* as adults in their late 20s to mid-30s, when 15 to 17 cases would be expected in the group. Mr. Kennedy is likely to face a flurry of questions from lawmakers during confirmation hearings, including over his opposition to vaccines, which include a petition to revoke approval of all Covid shots during a deadly phase of the pandemic. He has faced opposition from abortion foes who underscore his nearly lifelong affiliation with the Democratic Party. He has also made a dizzying number of claims over the years, including that the polio vaccine was more deadly than the disease. Susanne Craig contributed reporting. Source link #R.F.K #Stake #HPV #Vaccine #Suit #Confirmed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]