Pelican Press

OpenAI’s next ‘giant breakthrough’ tipped to land soon and control your computer OpenAI’s next ‘giant breakthrough’ tipped to land soon and control your computer OpenAI is rumored to be launching new AI agent tool in January Report claims it’s codenamed Operator and can control your browser This help could help it write code or book travel on your behalf Forget chatbots – AI’s next big trick is expected to be artificial intelligence agents that can carry out computer-based chores on your behalf, and a new report claims OpenAI’s version will be landing very soon. OpenAI’s new tool, codenamed ‘Operator,’ could be released in January, according to Bloomberg and its two internal sources. It will apparently be released as a research preview initially and through the company’s application programming interface (API) for developers to get their hands on. AI agents are designed to operate your computer on your behalf without supervision. Like Anthropic’s similar ‘computer use’ tool for Claude, OpenAI’s Operator is expected to be able to carry out actions like writing code or booking travel. The space is shaping up to be the next big AI battleground, with Google recently leaking its so-called Jarvis AI tool that can browse the web for you. According to The Information, it could beat OpenAI to the punch by landing in December. Like Google’s solution, OpenAI’s equivalent is expected to be a “general purpose tool that executes tasks in a web browser,” according to Bloomberg’s source. So, while it might not be quite ready to pilot desktop apps on your behalf, OpenAI’s Operator sounds like another pretty powerful browser extension. How much do you trust AI? ChatGPT search (above) landed in October and effectively automates Google searches for you. OpenAI’s Operator is expected to do the same with web-based actions. (Image credit: OpenAI) There’s no doubt that tech giants think AI agents are the next big computing platform – in a recent Reddit AMA, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said, “I think the thing that will feel like the next giant breakthrough will be agents.” This apparent breakthrough will come soon, too, with Altman adding, “IMHO this is going to be a big theme in 2025.” Recent announcements and leaks from Anthropic, Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI certainly support this. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. However, given that AI agents are expected to work autonomously without supervision, they could also demand a large amount of trust. A significant asterisk on tools like ChatGPT Search – which already searches the web for you – is that they’re early releases that can still make mistakes. In October, OpenAI released a new benchmark called ‘SimpleQA‘ to measure the accuracy of its own AI models – and its recent o1 preview model performed pretty poorly, only getting a 42% success rate in the new benchmark. So, while AI agents might be the next big hype feature in 2025, it could still be a while before we entrust them with automating our computer-based chores – at least without some careful supervision. You might also like Source link #OpenAIs #giant #breakthrough #tipped #land #control #computer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-Wallaby Brett Robinson voted World Rugby chairman Ex-Wallaby Brett Robinson voted World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson, the former Wallabies back-row forward, has been elected as the first non-********* chairman of World Rugby in a huge boost for the game in Australia. The 54-year-old was voted as the governing body’s new leading official ahead of Frenchman Abdelatif Benazzi and Italian Andrea Rinaldo in Dublin on Thursday and will now succeed England’s Bill Beaumont in the prestigious and influential role. Robinson, a surgeon turned businessman and sports administrator, won after two rounds of voting at a meeting of the World Rugby council in the Irish capital and will serve a four-year term, with the possibility to stand for re-election in 2028. “It is an immense privilege and honour to have been elected World Rugby chair by my council colleagues today,” Robinson said. “During the course of the process, I have had many conversations with my colleagues around the world and am heartened by our shared ambition to continue to build on the strength of our game.” Robinson, who was on Rugby Australia’s board for nine years, has been on the global body’s executive board for eight years, with his appointment looking especially significant for domestic rugby at a time when the Lions’ visit next year and the 2027 World Cup is putting the game firmly back in the spotlight. Source link #ExWallaby #Brett #Robinson #voted #World #Rugby #chairman Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Leaks Suggest Valve Has Secretly Been Working on Half-Life 3 For All These Years New Leaks Suggest Valve Has Secretly Been Working on Half-Life 3 For All These Years For over a decade at this point, Half-Life 3 has loomed across the gaming landscape as a kind of ghostly presence, with most people making peace with Half-Life 2: Episode 2 being the canonical end of the saga. Gordon fighting the Antlion soldies – Image Credit: Valve. But if recent leaks are to be believed, Valve may have been quietly developing the mythical title all along. Its release would mark the return of one of gaming’s most legendary projects, possibly even coming out sooner than anyone might expect. Recent Leaks suggest Valve has been developing Half-Life 3 right alongside Alyx Alyx in Half-Life 2 – Image Credit: Valve. Recent findings that have surfaced across the internet suggest that Half-Life 3 might not just be an idea in Valve’s vault but an actual project. According to these leaks, the developers might be in the process of retooling their Source 2 engine, ramping up their physics and visual tech for the potential title, and aggressively hiring folks to work on their new projects. Not only that, but the project, codenamed HLX, involves a series of iterations aimed at creating a revolutionary physics engine and AI, suggesting that Valve may have scrapped or repurposed many ideas over the years to refine its vision for Half-Life’s future. This iterative approach makes sense, seeing how similar rumors surrounded Half-Life: Alyx, which saw multiple iterations before becoming the VR success it is today. Some even claim the game’s setting and mechanics have been completely mapped out, focusing on expanding the series’ signature blend of storytelling and innovative gameplay. These whispers also suggest we might see Half-Life 3 push beyond what Alyx achieved in VR. Think of it as the dev team trying to redefine what a modern Half-Life game could be, possibly incorporating VR elements but with the flexibility to cater to both VR and traditional players. Surprisingly, the team’s even experimenting with environments that respond intricately to players’ choices and interactions, which could make the world feel not just realistic but reactive on a whole new level. But with all this said, can we genuinely expect Half-Life 3 to become a reality soon? It’s a difficult question to answer, as Valve is notorious for keeping all its development processes a secret. Even if such a project is in the works, the road from prototype to polished release may be extended and winding. Yet these leaks, if accurate, suggest Half-Life 3’s development isn’t just some *********** theory—it’s taking shape in the background and could be upon us by the end of this console generation. How can Half-Life 3 build on what Alyx and its direct predecessors achieved before? Russell in Half-Life: Alyx – Image Credit: Valve. If Half-Life 3 does materialize, for starters, we’d likely see Gordon Freeman navigating the fallout of Episode 2’s events with Alyx. More importantly, and controversially, it might even play out from Vance’s perspective since HL: Alyx is also a thing now. Next, with the Combine storyline left more or less open-ended, a powerful new antagonist might emerge. One that challenges Freeman and has zero ties with G-Man would push the enigmatic character into uncharted territories as well. Gameplay-wise, Valve has always thrived on pushing the limits of physics, and Half-Life 3 would almost certainly ***** into deeper, richer interactivity. Think environmental puzzles built on the ones Alyx presented, which adapt dynamically to your approach or action sequences and rely on more than just ********* your way through. At the end of the day, though, a new Half-Life wouldn’t just be another game; it’d be Valve’s chance to remind the world why the company and its past titles are the stuff of legend. If Valve truly delivers on the vision suggested in these leaks, the title could go down as one of the most influential games ever made—if not the most—A revival that finally closes Gordon Freeman’s story would help the series claim the title of one of the greatest “complete” game franchises of all time. But, with all that said, what are your thoughts on the leaks so far? Do you think Half-Life 3 may come out a little sooner than expected? Let us know in the comments below! Source link #Leaks #Suggest #Valve #Secretly #Working #HalfLife #Years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

12,000-Year-Old Doughnut-Shaped Pebbles in ******* May Be Early Evidence of Wheel Technology 12,000-Year-Old Doughnut-Shaped Pebbles in ******* May Be Early Evidence of Wheel Technology Archaeologists in ******* have uncovered doughnut-shaped pebbles that may be among the earliest forms of wheel-like technology. Found at the Nahal Ein Gev II site in northern *******, these 12,000-year-old limestone pebbles feature central holes and are thought to have been used as spindle whorls—a tool for spinning fibres like flax and wool. Talia Yashuv, a graduate student and co-author of the study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Institute of Archaeology, told LiveScience that these ancient artefacts suggest early experimentation with rotational tools that could have ***** the foundation for later advancements like the potter’s wheel and the cart wheel. This discovery was published in PLOS One on November 13, offering a glimpse into pre-agricultural technology in the region. The roughly 100 perforated pebbles were analysed by Yashuv and Leore Grosman, a professor of prehistoric archaeology at the same institute. After scanning each pebble in 3D, the team produced detailed models to assess their potential uses. Most of the pebbles were thought unlikely to serve as fishing weights or beads due to their size and shape, which diverge from artefacts used in similar periods. Instead, the team recreated spindle whorls from the scanned models, which traditional craft expert Yonit Crystal used to spin flax and wool. While the flax was easier to handle, the replicas demonstrated that the pebbles were likely effective as spindle whorls, supporting early textile production, the study noted. Implications of the Findings The findings indicate that these spindle whorls could mark a key point in technological evolution, potentially linked to new methods of storage and survival. Alex Joffe, a director at the Association for the Study of the Middle East and ******* and experienced archaeologist, told LiveScience that the possibility that these artefacts could have enabled innovations like bags or fishing lines. Yorke Rowan, an archaeology professor at the University of Chicago, echoed this view, noting that the analysis represents a “critical turning point” in early technology. A Continuing Debate While these pebbles may represent one of the earliest uses of wheel-like forms, Carole Cheval, an expert in prehistoric textiles at CEPAM in France, told that the publication that she observed that similar objects have been found in other regions, possibly from earlier periods. This adds another layer to understanding the origins of rotational technology, highlighting the ongoing exploration of ancient human innovation. Source link #12000YearOld #DoughnutShaped #Pebbles #******* #Early #Evidence #Wheel #Technology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s proposed tariffs unlikely to include ********* oil: experts – National Trump’s proposed tariffs unlikely to include ********* oil: experts – National President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to slap an across-the-board tariff of at least 10 per cent on all imports including from Canada is unlikely to apply to ********* oil, energy experts are predicting. The threat of the tariff is causing a lot of concern north of the border, where the ********* Chamber of Commerce said such a tariff could take a $30-billion ***** out of the ********* economy. Rory Johnston, a Toronto-based oil market researcher and founder of Commodity Context, said he believes there’s a very small probability that Trump’s fees would apply to ********* oil, but it is “quite a potentially damaging one.” “Canada is uniquely vulnerable to market pressure posed by U.S. refineries given our lack of alternative egress,” Johnston said during a panel for the ********* Global Affairs Institute Wednesday. Michael Catanzaro, a former Trump energy adviser, told a forum in Washington, D.C. last week that he doesn’t expect Trump’s campaign vision of energy dominance and lower energy costs will exclude Canada. Story continues below advertisement “We should double down on the fact that the U.S. and Canada together can be this powerful force,” he said at the North ********* Energy Preeminence Forum hosted by the right-leaning Hudson Institute in Washington on Nov. 8. 5:38 The impact of a Trump presidency on the ********* economy More than 77 per cent of ********* exports go to the U.S. and trade comprises 60 per cent of Canada’s ****** domestic product. A significant proportion of that comes from oil and gas. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Canada is also the largest source of U.S. energy imports, and almost all ********* crude oil exports went to its neighbour in 2023. Most of that makes its way through pipelines to the Midwest, where the key battleground states flipped for Trump on promises of making life more affordable. Without exemptions for ********* crude, many experts agree that the cost at ********* pumps is certain to increase. It’s unlikely the *********** leader would take action that’ll make gas cost more, Johnston said. Story continues below advertisement Johnston added there could be a situation where Canada sees a boon from Trump’s tariffs. If the *********** leader puts those fees on all oil imports except Canada “that is actually a net good thing for ********* exports.” But all of this comes with the caveat that there’s been a rocky relationship between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump, and the ******** government in Canada has been at odds with the *********** politically on a number of fronts including climate action and renewable energy. Catanzaro recalled a meeting with ********* officials after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate agreement, an international treaty to cut greenhouse gases, during his first administration — a move the president-elect has promised to repeat. “They were very hostile to us and to the administration,” Catanzaro said. 4:04 Trump’s proposed tariffs would make it ‘very difficult’ for Canadians: ambassador to U.S. warns Trending Now Still trying to see Taylor Swift in Toronto? Last-minute tickets priced as high as $33K Police say missing Wisconsin kayaker faked his ******, fled to eastern Europe The ********* reaction set the bilateral relationship back for some time, Catanzaro said. Story continues below advertisement Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa and co-chair of the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations, said he’s not certain the *********** leader would be willing to give a tariff concession under Trudeau. Hampson said Trump would know that giving Canada an immediate exemption would provide Trudeau a powerful argument about his ability to negotiate with the president-elect ahead of Canada’s looming election. The *********** leader would not be happy with that outcome, given their notably rocky relationship during Trump’s first administration, Hampson added. More on Canada More videos Trump called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest” after the prime minister criticized the president’s 2018 tariff actions at the G7 summit in Quebec. There was another *****-up when Trudeau and other NATO leaders appeared to be on video talking about a Trump press conference the following year. Trump called the prime minister “two-faced.” Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s then-trade representative, recounted in his book that U.S.-Canada relations were “at their lowest ebb since the ******* ********* invasion of Upper Canada during the War of 1812.” The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, negotiated under the first Trump administration, will come under review in 2026. Hampson said Trump could use the tariffs, or a threat of them, to force Canada into concessions. Wilbur Ross, the former U.S. commerce secretary who was involved in the negotiation of that trilateral agreement, recently told CBC that Trump is likely to carve out exemptions for sectors such as ********* oil and gas. Story continues below advertisement Eric Miller, president of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, said politicians run for office in poetry and govern in prose, agreeing that wide-reaching tariffs on ********* energy were unlikely. &copy 2024 The ********* Press Source link #Trumps #proposed #tariffs #include #********* #oil #experts #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

VCs say tech investing is ‘tough’ amid IPO lull and ‘nuts’ AI hype VCs say tech investing is ‘tough’ amid IPO lull and ‘nuts’ AI hype Edith Yeung, general partner at Race Capital, and Larry Aschebrook, founder and managing partner of G Squared, speak during a CNBC-moderated panel at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. Rita Franca | Nurphoto | Getty Images LISBON, Portugal — It’s a tough time for the venture capital industry right now as a dearth of blockbuster initial public offerings and M&A activity has sucked liquidity from the market, while buzzy artificial intelligence startups dominate attention. At the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon, two venture investors — whose portfolios include the likes of multibillion-dollar AI startups Databricks Anthropic and Groq — said things have become much more difficult as they’re unable to cash out of some of their long-term bets. “In the U.S., when you talk about the presidential election, it’s the economy *******. And in the VC world, it’s really all about liquidity *******,” Edith Yeung, general partner at Race Capital, an early-stage VC firm based in Silicon Valley, said in a CNBC-moderated panel earlier this week. Liquidity is the holy grail for VCs, startup founders and early employees as it gives them a chance to realize gains — or, if things turn south, losses — on their investments. When a VC makes an equity investment and the value of their stake increases, it’s only a gain on paper. But when a startup IPOs or sells to another company, their equity stake gets converted into hard cash — enabling them to make new investments. Yeung said the lack of IPOs over the last couple of years had created a “really tough” environment for venture capital. At the same, however, there’s been a rush from investors to get into buzzy AI firms. “What’s really crazy is in the last few years, OpenAI’s domination has really been determined by Big Techs, the Microsofts of the world,” said Yeung, referring to ChatGPT-creator OpenAI’s seismic $157 billion valuation. OpenAI is backed by Microsoft, which has made a multibillion-dollar investment in the firm. ‘The IPO market is not happening’ Larry Aschebrook, founder and managing partner at late-stage VC firm G Squared, agreed that the hunt for liquidity is getting ******* — even though the likes of OpenAI are seeing blockbuster funding rounds, which he called “a bit nuts.” “You have funds and founders and employees searching for liquidity because the IPO market is not happening. And then you have funding rounds taking place of generational types of businesses,” Aschebrook said on the panel. As important as these deals are, Aschebrook suggested they aren’t helping investors because even more money is getting tied up in illiquid, privately owned shares. G Squared itself an early backer of Anthropic, a foundational AI model startup competing with Microsoft-backed OpenAI. Using a cooking analogy, Aschebrook suggested that venture capitalists are being starved of lucrative share sales which would lead to them realizing returns. “If you want to cook some dinner, you better sell some stock, ” he added. Looking for opportunities beyond OpenAI Yeung and Aschebrook both said they’re excited about opportunities beyond artificial intelligence, such as cybersecurity, enterprise software and crypto. At Race Capital, Yeung said she sees opportunities to make money from investments in sectors including enterprise and infrastructure — not necessarily always AI. “The key thing for us is not thinking about what’s going to happen, not necessarily in terms of exit in two or three years, we’re really, really long term,” Yeung said. “I think for 2025, if President [Donald] Trump can make a comeback, there’s a few other industries I think that are quite interesting. For sure, crypto is definitely making a comeback already.” At G Squared, meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Wiz is a key portfolio investment that’s seen OpenAI-levels of growth, according to Aschebrook. The startup, which turned down a $23 billion acquisition bid from Google, hit the $500 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) milestone just four years after it was founded. Wiz is now looking to reach $1 billion of ARR in 2025, doubling from this year, Roy Reznik, the company’s co-founder and vice president of research and development, told CNBC last month. “I think that there’s many logos … that aren’t in the press raising $5 billion in two weeks, that do well in our portfolios, that are the stars of tomorrow, today,” Aschebrook said. Source link #VCs #tech #investing #tough #IPO #lull #nuts #hype Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 13 best gifts for moms The 13 best gifts for moms We don’t speak for all moms, but a brief and unscientific survey has confirmed one gift most moms will love across the board: Time. Unspoken for, unstructured, zero-obligation time. While we couldn’t find extra hours on ***** anywhere online, we did find some gadgets and gizmos that help save time and others that make precious down time more enjoyable. Our recommendations include some of the gifts we’ve given to the moms in our own lives as well as what the moms on staff would want for themselves. Most have a tech bent, because we are who we are, but all should appeal to any mom who wants to make the most of their time. Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at Source link #gifts #moms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Power Metal review: The dilemma of mining more metals so we can ditch fossil fuels Power Metal review: The dilemma of mining more metals so we can ditch fossil fuels Lithium for batteries being extracted in the Atacama desert, Chile John Moore/Getty Images Power Metal Vince Beiser (Wildfire Books (***, 20 November); Riverhead Books, (US, 19 November)) The smartphone on which you are probably reading this article takes a heavy toll on the planet. If it is an iPhone, over 30 kilograms of ore had to be mined to harvest the metals within it, from the nickel and cobalt in its battery to the rare earths in its touch screen. Even larger volumes of such “critical metals”… Source link #Power #Metal #review #dilemma #mining #metals #ditch #fossil #fuels Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Rolls Out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1; Reportedly Gets Customisable Do Not Disturb Feature, More Google Rolls Out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1; Reportedly Gets Customisable Do Not Disturb Feature, More After rolling out the stable release of Android 15 for Pixel devices in October 2024, Google has now rolled out its Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 update. As per a report, the update hints at some of the ******* changes that will arrive in the next Pixel Drop software update. Google rolled out the update on November 12 and it is available for older, recent and new Pixel devices, including the foldables. As always the beta software update is only available to those who have opted for Google’s Beta software program. Google detailed the Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 update on its official Android Developer page. While we weren’t to test out the new beta update, the folks over at Android Authority say that there is a new customisable Do Not Disturb mode in the latest update. The feature will allow users to set rules for the mode as per their specific requirements as the currently available presets do not. There is a new menu for Modes that lets users create a custom mode complete with a custom name and icon, as per the report. Once created, the user will supposedly no be able to set a schedule for this mode. Another feature spotted by the same source suggests the presence of the Icon Shape Customisation feature. The much-loved Android feature was made available with the launch of Android 11 but was pulled out from Android 12 and has gone missing since. It now appears that Google might be reviving the feature in time for the upcoming Pixel Drop. While the feature is officially mentioned in the changelog, it is not visible under the new Wallpaper and Style customisation section in Settings. However, the source points to a tipster who discovered and used the same in the “in-development” version of the Pixel wallpaper app hinting that it could arrive sooner than later. The updated app now reportedly shows an app shape and layout tabs letting users change the shape of the icon to various presets. Other features available in the same include the Linux Terminal app (lets developers run Linux apps in a virtual machine), a better-organised touchpad and mouse settings (lets users customise the colour of the pointer) and the ability to control the mouse cursor using the number pad on a physical keyboard. Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 also brings the much-awaited kernel version update. It upgrades all Pixel devices with older Tensor processors (Tensor G1, G2 and G3) to Linux 6.1. Google’s latest smartphones including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold already run Linux 6.1. Source link #Google #Rolls #Android #QPR2 #Beta #Reportedly #Customisable #Disturb #Feature Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thursday’s biggest stock analyst calls like Nvidia Thursday’s biggest stock analyst calls like Nvidia Here are Thursday’s biggest calls on Wall Street: Citi initiates Gilead Sciences as buy The firm said it’s bullish on the biotech company’s **** franchise. “We are initiating coverage of Gilead with a Buy rating and a $125 TP.” Piper Sandler upgrades Campbell Soup to overweight from neutral Piper said it sees an attractive entry point for the stock. “We upgrade CPB from Neutral to Overweight on better long-term growth expectations with its Rao’s brand. It has improving US measured retail sales and volume trends (ex- SOVO acquired brands). Despite better trends, the stock has pulled back ~15% since mid- September, which we believe presents a good buying opportunity.” UBS initiates Cogent as buy The firm said it sees meaningful revenue acceleration for the internet services company. “We are initiating CCOI with a Buy rating and $102 PT. Oppenheimer reiterates Nvidia as buy The firm said it’s bullish heading into earnings next week. “We see NVDA best positioned in AI, benefiting from full-stack AI hardware/software. Reiterate Outperform and raise price target to $175 from $150.” Jefferies reiterates Tesla as hold The firm raised its price target on the stock to $300 per share from $195. “Tesla should take advantage of shares re-rating 30% back > $1trn since Trump’s election to raise equity. Assuming markets remain competitive, de-regulation raises the growth path but also the investment requirements for Tesla and competitors (AV, Robots) in ventures where returns remain unclear.” Bank of America upgrades ArcelorMittal to buy from Neutral Bank of America said the steel company’s valuation is “compelling.” ” ArcelorMittal is a leader in all major global steel markets, including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging. Its industrial presence in Europe, Asia, ******* and America gives it exposure to all the key steel markets, from emerging to mature.” Morgan Stanley upgrades Doximity to equal weight from underweight Morgan Stanley said consensus estimates are too low for the online networking services for medical professionals. ‘Doximity is seeing renewed momentum in its business and ************* Q4 guidance suggests room for upward revisions to estimates.” Evercore ISI opens a negative tactical call on Target The firm said it sees sales trend deceleration heading into earnings next week. “We are initiating a negative TAP call on TGT ahead of its earnings on 11/20, with potential downside to $140.” KeyBanc downgrades Papa John’s to sector weight from overweight KeyBanc said it sees a slowing recovery for Papa John’s shares. “.We are downgrading shares of Papa Johns International from Overweight to Sector Weight, as our industry conversations suggest a recovery in sales trends and store-level profitability metrics could take longer than previously expected, and potentially require reinvestment on the part of the Company and its franchisees.” JPMorgan initiates BluePrint Medicines as buy JPMorgan said the biotech company is a “blockbuster franchise not fully valued.” “We initiate coverage on Blueprint Medicines ( BPMC) with an OW rating and a Dec 2025 PT of $126.” Compass Point upgrades BXP to buy from neutral Compass said the real estate investment trust is undervalued. “We are upgrading BXP to Buy with an $88 PT as this blue chip office has lagged its two Manhattan focused office peers by +30% YTD, despite having a better balance sheet and higher average quality office portfolio. As an investment grade credit, BXP has continuous access to the unsecured debt markets.” Wells Fargo reiterates Burlington as a top pick Wells said the off-price retailer ******** a top pick heading into earnings later this month. ” BURL is likely to beat 3Q (w/ traffic accelerating into the exit).” JPMorgan reiterates Netflix as overweight The firm said investor sentiment ******** robust on the streaming giant. “We believe investor sentiment ******** strong into year-end on the 4Q content slate, along with confidence in NFLX meeting & beating its +11%-13% 2025 revenue outlook & 28% 2025 operating margin guide, while delivering meaningful FCF growth.” Barclays upgrades ********* Airlines to equal weight from underweight Barclays said it sees business travel improving and renegotiated card agreements for the airline. “We upgrade ********* to Equal Weight as balance sheet leverage fades, business travel share has room to improve and the carrier renegotiates co-brand card agreements in 2025.” Morgan Stanley reiterates Meta as overweight The firm said Meta is a major AI beneficiary. ” META’s scale and distribution have accelerated Meta AI adoption to levels comparable with ChatGPT and Gemini, despite only being released in April 2024.” Needham reiterates Amazon as buy Needham raised its price target on the stock to $250 per share from $210 after a series of channel checks. ” AMZN’s focus is on customer-centric innovation, and most of its product development comes directly from customer feedback. AMZN’s culture allows every FTE (full time equivalent) to pitch ideas and see them work-shopped, implemented and scaled quickly.” JPMorgan adds a negative catalyst watch on ResMed The firm said it’s keeping it’s overweight rating on ResMed but is concerned about a series of negatives catalysts in the months ahead for the sleep apnea company. “First, we expect Eli Lilly’s Zepbound label expansion to be granted by the FDA to include patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), following the SURMOUNT-OSA trial results. Secondly, Novo Nordisk will release results from its phase 3 trial for CagriSema, a ***** which offers weight loss of over 25%, a greater reduction than is offered by currently approved drugs.” Jefferies reiterates Microsoft as buy Jefferies said it’s getting even more bullish on the stock following a visit to company headquarters. “We believe MSFT can rerate as it continues to ********.” Source link #Thursdays #biggest #stock #analyst #calls #Nvidia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WikiLeaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning says censorship is still ‘a dominant threat’ WikiLeaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning says censorship is still ‘a dominant threat’ Former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning says censorship is still “a dominant threat,” advocating for a more decentralized internet to help better protect individuals online. Her comments come amid ongoing tension linked to online safety rules, with some tech executives recently seeking to push back over content moderation concerns. Speaking to CNBC’s Karen Tso at the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday, Manning said that one way to ensure online privacy could be “decentralized identification,” which gives individuals the ability to control their own data. “Censorship is a dominant threat. I think that it is a question of who’s doing the censoring, and what the purpose is — and also censorship in the 21st century is more about whether or not you’re boosted through like an algorithm, and how the fine-tuning of that seems to work,” Manning said. “I think that social media and the monopolies of social media have sort of gotten us used to the fact that certain things that drive engagement will be attractive,” she added. “One of the ways that we can sort of countervail that is to go back to the more decentralized and distribute the internet of the early ’90s, but make that available to more people.” Nym Technologies Chief Security Officer Chelsea Manning at a press conference held with Nym Technologies CEO Harry Halpin in the Media Village to present NymVPN during the second day of Web Summit on November 13, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. Horacio Villalobos | Getty Images News | Getty Images Asked how tech companies could make money in such a scenario, Manning said there would have to be “a better social contract” put in place to determine how information is shared and accessed. “One of the things about distributed or decentralized identification is that through encryption you’re able to sort of check the box yourself, instead of having to depend on the company to provide you with a check box or an accept here, you’re making that decision from a technical perspective,” Manning said. ‘No longer secrecy versus transparency’ Manning, who works as a security consultant at Nym Technologies, a company that specializes in online privacy and security, was convicted of espionage and other charges at a court-martial in 2013 for leaking a trove of secret military files to online media publisher WikiLeaks. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but was later released in 2017, when former U.S. President Barack Obama commuted her sentence. Asked to what extent the environment has changed for whistleblowers today, Manning said, “We’re at an interesting time because information is everywhere. We have more information than ever.” She added, “Countries and governments no longer seem to invest the same amount of time and effort in hiding information and keeping secrets. What countries seem to be doing now is they seem to be spending more time and energy spreading misinformation and disinformation.” Manning said the challenge for whistleblowers now is to sort through the information to understand what is verifiable and authentic. “It’s no longer secrecy versus transparency,” she added. Source link #WikiLeaks #whistleblower #Chelsea #Manning #censorship #dominant #threat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to Feed Chickens in LEGO Horizon Adventures? How to Feed Chickens in LEGO Horizon Adventures? LEGO Horizon Adventures, the latest action/adventure from Guerrilla and Studio Gobo, is live now, and there’s stuff you can do in the new title. One of the activities that players spend a lot of time in the game is the community board. This board consists of tasks you can complete for Gold Bricks. Some of these tasks are straightforward, whereas others need extra steps. This guide will explain how to complete the Animal Catering task in LEGO Horizon Adventures. Animal Catering in LEGO Horizon Adventures One of the first few tasks you must complete on LEGO Horizon’s community board is ‘Animal Catering’, which requires players to feed 10 chickens. However, there’s no food lying about or even chickens roaming around in Mother’s Heart, so how do you complete the task? Simple, just build the stuff you need. In Mother’s Heart, players can construct specific structures and build markets and shops to earn passive income. For this task, you must build a Chicken Coop and a Market Stall or Hotdog Cart. Remember that the Chicken Coop should be close to your food source, as there will be a lot of back and forth from this location. Keep in mind that these constructions cost coins. However, they do provide some passive income after they have been built. Once you have built the Market Stall or Hotdog Cart, you will see pieces, carrots, or hotdogs lying around these locations. Pick up the food item and drop it near your Chicken Coop, and the chickens will eat it up. Do this 10 times, and you will have completed the Animal Catering task in LEGO Horizon Adventures. In other news, check out the LEGO Horizon Adventures Trophy List. Also, here are all the different editions of the game. What are your thoughts on LEGO Horizon Adventures? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more Insider Gaming, check out our official Guides Hub. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Feed #Chickens #LEGO #Horizon #Adventures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Starship launch 6: When is the next SpaceX flight test and what can we expect? Starship launch 6: When is the next SpaceX flight test and what can we expect? SpaceX says on its website that it aims to conduct the sixth test flight of Starship as early as 18 November SpaceX SpaceX is making preparations for the sixth test flight of the world’s most powerful rocket, Starship. The company has been taking a “fail fast, learn fast” approach to research and development more akin to the world of Silicon Valley than the aerospace industry, and the pace of launches only appears to be speeding up. When is the next flight? SpaceX says on its website that it aims to conduct the sixth test flight of Starship as early as 18 November. This claim is backed up by the Federal Aviation Administration having issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) warning of a rocket launch in the area of SpaceX’s launch pads in Boca Chica, Texas. The 30-minute launch window will open at 4pm local time (10pm GMT). It took SpaceX 18 months to carry out the first five Starship test flights, with the fifth taking place in the middle of October. If the company carries out the sixth next week, it will mean a gap of just over one month since the last flight – its fastest turnaround yet. What will SpaceX attempt in flight 6? In many ways, flight 6 will be a repeat of flight 5, but with a few key differences. The booster stage will again attempt a “chopstick” landing, in which the craft is grabbed and secured as it returns to the launchpad, allowing it to be lowered to the ground. This approach is designed to eventually allow the booster to be re-used multiple times and massively reduce the cost of putting payloads into orbit. Starship during a high-altitude test flight SpaceX The upper stage will reach space, carry out a partial orbit and then re-enter Earth’s atmosphere for a splash landing in the Indian Ocean. But this time, the upper stage will attempt to reignite one of its Raptor engines while in space in order to collect valuable operational data. It will also test new heat shield designs during re-entry. Another difference is that the launch will take place later in the day so that the landing of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean can be filmed in daylight, ensuring greater detail. Previous missions have seen night landings and therefore footage – while cinematic and dramatic – hasn’t given engineers as much insight as video of a daytime landing will. What happened during previous Starship launches? Test flight 1 on 20 April 2023 saw three of the booster stage’s 33 engines fail to ignite. The rocket later span out of control and self-destructed. The second test flight on 18 November 2023 got further, gaining enough altitude that the booster and upper stages separated as planned. The booster stage ultimately exploded before reaching ground level and the upper stage self-destructed, although not before successfully reaching space. Test flight 3 on 14 March 2024 was at least a partial success, as the upper stage reached space once more, but it ******* to return to ground level intact. The next flight, on 6 June, saw the upper stage reach an altitude of more than 200 kilometres and travel at over 27,000 kilometres per hour. Both the booster and the upper stage completed soft splashdowns in the ocean. Test flight 5 was the most ambitious to date, with Starship’s Super Heavy booster dropping back to the launch pad and being safely caught by SpaceX’s launch tower, called Mechazilla, in a pair of “chopsticks”. It is equipped with a pair of “chopsticks” to grab the craft at a specific point and secure it, allowing it to be lowered to the ground. Topics: Source link #Starship #launch #SpaceX #flight #test #expect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Final Cut Pro 11 With New AI-Powered Caption Generation and Spatial Video Editing Released Apple Final Cut Pro 11 With New AI-Powered Caption Generation and Spatial Video Editing Released Apple released Final Cut Pro 11, the successor to the Final Cut Pro X, on Wednesday. The video editing app for Mac devices has received new artificial intelligence (AI) features as well as the capability to edit spatial videos. This major update introduces features such as Magnetic Mask, Transcribe to Captions, and tools to edit spatial video titles and captured footage. Alongside, the Cupertino-based tech giant also rolled out updates to Final Cut Pro for iPad, Final Cut Camera, and Logic Pro. Apple Final Cut Pro 11 Features In a newsroom post, the tech giant detailed the new features introduced in Final Cut Pro 11. The new version of the video editing software now gets two new AI features, which utilise Apple’s M-series chipsets. First is the Magnetic Mask feature. The feature can isolate people and objects in a video clip even where green screens have not been used. The tech giant says this tool will enable users to customise backgrounds and environments. Magnetic Mask can also be used with colour correction and video effects. Another AI-powered feature introduced with the new Final Cut Pro is Transcribe to Captions. With this, users can automatically generate closed captions in the video timeline. The company claimed it is using a native large language model (LLM) that can transcribe spoken audio. Apart from this, the Final Cut Pro 11 is also getting the capability to edit spatial videos. These videos can be captured with the Apple Vision Pro, iPhone 15 Pro models, as well as the iPhone 16 series. The video editing software can make colour corrections, adjust the depth position of titles and footage, and more. Users will be able to select various viewing modes to focus on either the left or the right eye angles when editing spatial videos. Once edited, the spatial videos can directly be exported to a user’s Photos library and be viewed on Vision Pro. The Final Cut Pro 11 also retains existing features such as the Magnetic Timeline, multicam editing, enhanced proxy tools, and more. 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. Experience Unmatched AI and Performance: The OPPO Find X8 Series Is Set to Redefine Flagship Standards Coinbase Acquires Utopia Labs, Aims to Speed Up On-Chain Payments Source link #Apple #Final #Cut #Pro #AIPowered #Generation #Spatial #Video #Editing #Released Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Watch autonomous cars do doughnuts and drift sideways round corners Watch autonomous cars do doughnuts and drift sideways round corners Driverless cars can now do doughnuts and drift like stunt drivers, skidding sideways around corners while maintaining control, which might help the cars recover from dangerous situations Source link #Watch #autonomous #cars #doughnuts #drift #sideways #corners Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WikiLeaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning says censorship is still ‘a dominant threat’ WikiLeaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning says censorship is still ‘a dominant threat’ Former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning says censorship is still “a dominant threat,” advocating for a more decentralized internet to help better protect individuals online. Her comments come amid ongoing tension linked to online safety rules, with some tech executives recently seeking to push back over content moderation concerns. Speaking to CNBC’s Karen Tso at the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday, Manning said that one way to ensure online privacy could be “decentralized identification,” which gives individuals the ability to control their own data. “Censorship is a dominant threat. I think that it is a question of who’s doing the censoring, and what the purpose is — and also censorship in the 21st century is more about whether or not you’re boosted through like an algorithm, and how the fine-tuning of that seems to work,” Manning said. “I think that social media and the monopolies of social media have sort of gotten us used to the fact that certain things that drive engagement will be attractive,” she added. “One of the ways that we can sort of countervail that is to go back to the more decentralized and distribute the internet of the early ’90s, but make that available to more people.” Nym Technologies Chief Security Officer Chelsea Manning at a press conference held with Nym Technologies CEO Harry Halpin in the Media Village to present NymVPN during the second day of Web Summit on November 13, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. Horacio Villalobos | Getty Images News | Getty Images Asked how tech companies could make money in such a scenario, Manning said there would have to be “a better social contract” put in place to determine how information is shared and accessed. “One of the things about distributed or decentralized identification is that through encryption you’re able to sort of check the box yourself, instead of having to depend on the company to provide you with a check box or an accept here, you’re making that decision from a technical perspective,” Manning said. ‘No longer secrecy versus transparency’ Manning, who works as a security consultant at Nym Technologies, a company that specializes in online privacy and security, was convicted of espionage and other charges at a court-martial in 2013 for leaking a trove of secret military files to online media publisher WikiLeaks. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but was later released in 2017, when former U.S. President Barack Obama commuted her sentence. Asked to what extent the environment has changed for whistleblowers today, Manning said, “We’re at an interesting time because information is everywhere. We have more information than ever.” She added, “Countries and governments no longer seem to invest the same amount of time and effort in hiding information and keeping secrets. What countries seem to be doing now is they seem to be spending more time and energy spreading misinformation and disinformation.” Manning said the challenge for whistleblowers now is to sort through the information to understand what is verifiable and authentic. “It’s no longer secrecy versus transparency,” she added. Source link #WikiLeaks #whistleblower #Chelsea #Manning #censorship #dominant #threat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s pick of Huckabee and Witkoff a clue to Middle East policy Trump’s pick of Huckabee and Witkoff a clue to Middle East policy Reuters Donald Trump said Mike Huckabee would “work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East” For now, Mike Huckabee seems to be keeping his cards close to his chest. Shortly after being announced as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to *******, the former *********** governor of Arkansas said: “I won’t make the policy. I will carry out the policy of the president.” But he did give an indication of what he expected that policy to be, citing the previous Trump administration’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem and to recognise the occupied Golan Heights as ******** territory – decisions as warmly welcomed by the ******** right wing as they were categorically rejected by Palestinians. “No-one has done more,” he told an ******** radio station. “President Trump and I fully expect that will continue.” What approach Trump will take to the *******-Gaza war is still unclear. But the right wing of ******** politics has welcomed the president-elect’s appointment of Huckabee, seeing it as predicting another term of ********* policy highly favourable to their longstanding aims of holding on to territory in the West Bank and expanding settlements. The appointment was greeted with joy by two far-right ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. On the social media platform X, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich messaged his congratulations to “a consistent and loyal friend”, while Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, wrote “Mike Huckabee” with heart emojis. AFP In 2011, Mike Huckabee helped lay a cornerstone for the ******** settlement of Beit Orot in occupied East Jerusalem Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have reason to be cheered by Huckabee’s appointment. He has been a consistent supporter of many Israelis’ ambitions to expand into territories that would form part of any future ************ state. Holding a press conference in 2017, shortly after a cornerstone-laying ceremony at one of the biggest ******** settlements in the West Bank, Huckabee said: “There’s no such thing as a settlement. They’re communities, they’re neighbourhoods, they’re cities. “There’s no such thing as an occupation.” The following year, he said: “I think ******* has title deed to Judea and Samaria,” using the name used by many in ******* for the area which became the occupied West Bank when it was captured by ******* in the 1967 Middle East war. The previous Trump administration declared in 2019 that it did not consider ******** settlements ******** under international law, contradicting decades of US policy. Other decisions, including a 2020 peace plan greenlighting the annexation of ******** settlements, were seen as more favourable to the settlers than any previous administration. The ******** far right has indicated that it sees Huckabee’s appointment as a sign that it will be able to further advance its agenda, including annexation of the West Bank, during the next Trump term. On Monday, Smotrich said that 2025 would be “the year of sovereignty” in the West Bank, adding that he had instructed ******** authorities to begin preparatory work for annexation of the occupied territory. That happening is a genuine ***** for Mustafa Barghouti, a West Bank-based veteran ************ politician who is leader of the ************ National Initiative political movement. “You can imagine the reaction of other powerful countries in the world would be, when the idea of annexing occupied territories, obtained by war, becomes legal and acceptable,” he says. “So it’s not just about Palestinians and our suffering, it’s about the international order.” Reuters Steve Witkoff is Donald Trump’s golf partner and spoke at his campaign events Whether Smotrich will get his wish ******** to be seen. Tal Schneider, a political correspondent at the Times of *******, says it is not a foregone conclusion that a pro-settler US ambassador will result in pro-settler policies in Washington. “Four years ago, some of the people that surrounded Trump were very much pro-settlements and pro-annexing, but it didn’t work like that last time. I predict it’s not going to work like that this time around.” Huckabee was not the only appointee announced on Tuesday. The president-elect also said Steve Witkoff would serve as his special envoy to the Middle East. As well as being a real estate developer, Witkoff is also a longtime golf buddy of Trump’s. The pair were playing together at the time of a second ******* ************** attempt in September. It is not clear what foreign policy experience Witkoff brings to the role, but he has previously praised Trump’s dealings with *******. In July, he argued that Trump’s “leadership was good for ******* and the entire region”. “With President Trump, the Middle East experienced historic levels of peace and stability. Strength prevents wars. Iran’s money was cut off which prevented their funding of global *******,” he said. Netanyahu’s decision to nominate a hardline settler leader for ******** ambassador to Washington three days after Trump’s election also indicates that the prime minister believes the next administration will be receptive to right-wing arguments. US-born Yechiel Leiter, who was Netanyahu’s chief of staff when he was finance minister, supports the annexation of the West Bank. According to the Haaretz newspaper, he was once active in the US-based ******* Defence League, the organisation founded by far-right ****** Meir Kahane. His son was ******* fighting in Gaza. He was also reported to support the Abraham Accords, Trump’s efforts to normalise relations between ******* and ***** states, which had some success. However, advancing that process has been derailed by the ongoing war in Gaza and ***** anger over the suffering of the Palestinians. Palestinians, already disillusioned with the US over Joe Biden’s support for ******* during the war in Gaza, say Trump’s pick for ambassador suggests the next president will make the prospect of an eventual two-state solution to the *******-************ conflict even more remote. “Mr Huckabee has said things that are absolutely contradictory to international law,” says Mustafa Barghouti, a West Bank-based ************ politician. “It will be really bad news for the cause of peace in this region.” Source link #Trumps #pick #Huckabee #Witkoff #clue #Middle #East #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Baldur’s Gate 3 Has Sold Two Copies in ******** City, the World’s Smallest Country With 764 Residents Baldur’s Gate 3 Has Sold Two Copies in ******** City, the World’s Smallest Country With 764 Residents Babadook75d ago (Edited 5d ago ) “Not only is it about to look better than the Quality Mode of the base PS5 thanks to the 1440p resolution upscaled to 4K with the added expanse of the PSSR’s 60 FPS, but Larian Studios was also able to add 60 FPS for the RPG’s split-screen mode. ” That is quite an impressive feat. This isn’t an easy game to run single player. Source link #Baldurs #Gate #Sold #Copies #******** #City #Worlds #Smallest #Country #Residents Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best budget ****** vacuum cleaner in 2024: low-effort cleaning at low prices The best budget ****** vacuum cleaner in 2024: low-effort cleaning at low prices One of the best budget ****** vacuums can take a lot of time and effort out of keeping your house clean, without taking a huge chunk out of your bank balance. While you can easily end up paying a small fortune for one of best ****** vacuums with all the most advanced features, it’s not hard to find a cheaper model that’ll do good job without too many compromises. What do we mean by budget, though? We count any ****** vacuum cleaner priced under $500/£400 as a budget model, and anything between that and $800/£650 as mid-range, and everything above that as premium. Most of our best budget ****** vacuum cleaner picks fall within the budget bracket, with one that’s in the lower mid-range. (Now’s a particularly good time to shop, too, because the ****** Friday ****** vacuum deals often pull pricier models down into the mid-range bracket.) Just because they’re relatively affordable, don’t think these robovacs fall short in terms of features. All but one of these ****** vacs can mop your floors as well as vacuuming, and among our picks you’ll find options with self-emptying docking stations, powerful suction and advanced mapping and navigation. We’ve tested most of these models extensively and can tell you just what’s so good about each of them, as well as alerting you to their weaknesses. So without further ado, read on to discover the best budget ****** vacuums available now. The quick list Top pick Best overall The best budget ****** vacuum right now is the Proscenic Floobot X1. It vacuums and mops well, it self-empties, it packs some pretty smart features and it comes in at a nicely affordable price. Read more below Big battery 2. Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus Best for larger homes If you have a lot of house to clean, this ****** vac is up to the job thanks to a long battery life and mapping that can cope with multiple floors, and it doesn’t slack when it comes to vacuuming and mopping. Read more below Epic suction Best for carpets This impressive ****** vac delivers serious suction for its low price, making it the perfect choice if you have a lot of carpeting that you want to keep clean; it packs in loads of high-end features, too. Read more below No frills Best vacuum-only Don’t need mopping? This model just vacuums, and as an added bonus it’s simple to use, making it an excellent choice for technophobes, although it’s a little lacking when it comes to suction. Read more below iRobot for less Best cheap Roomba If you want Roomba but you don’t have an enormous budget, this relatively cheap and cheerful option is the one for you: it vacuums and mops and has some pretty smart features for its price. Read more below The best budget ****** vacuum 2024 – as chosen by experts Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. Best budget ****** vacuum overall (Image credit: Future) The best budget ****** vacuum overall Specifications Max suction: 3,000Pa ****** height: 2.9″ / 7.4cm Dock size (H x W x D): 14.1 x 15.7 x 16.5″ / 36 x 39.8 x 41.8cm Mop function: Yes Self-empty: Yes Dock dustbin: 2.5L Reasons to buy + Great value + Decent mopping + Good battery life Reasons to avoid – Inconsistent navigation – Remote operation limited For the best budget ****** vacuum cleaner that’ll suit most people, we’d point you towards the Proscenic Floobot X1, simply because it ticks most of the boxes for what you’d expect from a ****** vacuum, at an affordable price. Assuming that what you want from a ****** vac is something that’ll keep your floors clean with minimal intervention from you, this one does the job, albeit with a few annoying quirks that you can probably learn to live with. Our reviewer was impressed by the Floobot X1’s high-end features including automatic room mapping, ability to detect hard flooring or carpet and apply the right cleaning tools, a self-emptying dustbox with a UV light to ***** off germs, and consistently good mopping action. This last feature’s a godsend in a cheap ****** vacuum, as many budget models are decidedly lacking when it comes to mopping. Bear in mind that you’ll have to attach the mopping pad yourself when you want the Floobot X1 to mop your floor, as well as filling its water tank, so it’s not entirely hands-free; you should also take into account the ongoing costs of buying new dust bags for its base station as well as replacing mop pads and other consumables periodically. But on the whole this is a solid all-rounder at a good price. Read more our full Proscenic Floobot X1 ****** vacuum cleaner review The best budget ****** vacuum for larger homes (Image credit: Future) The best cheap ****** vacuum for larger homes Specifications Max suction: 3,800Pa ****** height: 3.66″ / 9.3cm Dock size (H x W x D): 11.8 x 16.5 x 16.9″ / 30 x 42 x 43cm Mop function: Yes Self-empty: Yes Dock dustbin: 2.5L Reasons to buy + Vacuums and mops well + Great battery life + Impressive mapping Reasons to avoid – Struggles with large messes – Base station needs lots of room If you have a large home it can be tricky to find a budget ****** vacuum that’s up to the task of keeping dirt at bay. That’s partly because you can’t always rely the battery to keep on going through an entire clean without having to return to base for a recharge, but also because not all ****** vacs can save multiple maps, making it ******* to keep the whole house clean without constant remapping. The Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus is a winner in both these scenarios, as it can run for up to 300 minutes in one go, and its app can cope with multiple floors. In our review we were generally impressed with how well it performed for its price; it vacuums well thanks to a pair of side brushes and an effective brushroll (maybe too effective as it has a tendency to get tangled with hair), and it’s just as good as mopping, although as with the Proscenic Floobot X1 you’ll have to attach the vibrating mop pad yourself as well as filling the water reservoir. If you don’t have a lot of space you may run into problems with the base station, which needs quite a lot of clearance if you don’t want the ****** getting stuck when exiting; we also found that the Deebot N10 Plus can be a little on the loud side. Nevertheless, this is a lot of ****** vacuum for what you’ll pay. Read our full Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review The best budget ****** vacuum for carpet (Image credit: Future) The best budget ****** vacuum for carpet Specifications Max suction: 6,000Pa ****** height: 3.8″ / 9.7cm Dock size (H x W x D): 23 .1 x 16.8 x 13.4″ / 58.6 × 42.7 × 34cm Mop function: Yes Self-empty: Yes Dock dustbin: 2.5L Reasons to buy + Excellent navigation + Powerful suction + Impressive mopping Reasons to avoid – Big and ugly base station Homes with a lot of carpet need a vacuum with plenty of suction if you really want to keep things clean, and many ****** vacs just don’t have the power to pick up deep-down dirt effectively. That’s not a problem with the Xiaomi X20+, which packs an incredible amount of suction power for its equally incredible low price. Our reviewer was frankly amazed at how good the Xiaomi X20+ is, considering how cheaply you can buy it for. It’s available direct from Xiaomi for just £299, but it has features you’d expect to pay a lot more for, including automatic mop pad washing, rotational mopping, automatic mop lifting and excellent navigation. In fact, our reviewer’s only real complaint was that the Xiaomi X20+’s docking and cleaning station is huge and not very pretty, so you’ll want to tuck it away out of sight if at all possible. Note also that the Xiaomi X20+ isn’t currently available in the USA; for a ****** vac that offers comparable performance at a similar price, we’d direct you towards the dreame L10s Ultra. Read our full Xiaomi X20+ ****** vac review The best budget ****** vacuum without mopping (Image credit: TechRadar) The best budget ****** vacuum without mopping Specifications Max suction: 1,300Pa ****** height: 2.85″ / 7.1cm Dock size (H x W x D): n/a Mop function: No Self-empty: No Dock dustbin: n/a Reasons to avoid – Short on suction – Basic functionality – No self-emptying A great way to save money when looking for the best budget ****** vacuum cleaner is to opt for a model that doesn’t mop. While mopping is a function you’ll find on many cheap ****** vacuums – as this guide illustrates – it’s usually pretty basic compared with the mopping performance on premium ****** vacs, and in some cases you might be better off doing the mopping yourself. If you’d rather keep things simple with a ****** vac that just vacuums, we’d suggest the Eufy RoboVac 11S. It comes at a low price and delivers no-frills vacuuming; unlike other options on this list there’s no app or voice control, making it a good choice for first-timers or technophobes. And it does a pretty good job of keeping things clean on a daily basis; our reviewer found that because of its relatively low suction power it struggled with fine dirt on thick pile carpets, but found it it coped well with most cleaning tasks. Unfortunately the Eufy RoboVac 11S no longer appears to be on ***** in the ***; the good news, however, is that you can instead buy the Eufy G50, which has a similar feature set but improved performance, at a lower price. Read our full Eufy RoboVac 11S ****** vacuum review The best budget Roomba (Image credit: iRobot) 5. iRobot Roomba Combo i5 The best budget Roomba Specifications Max suction: 3,000Pa ****** height: 3.6″ / 9.25cm Dock size (H x W x D): n/a Mop function: Yes Self-empty: No Dock dustbin: n/a Reasons to buy + Good suction + App support Reasons to avoid – No self-emptying – Mop needs swapping in manually Roomba is arguably the most recognizable name in ****** vacuum cleaners, it’s a brand that generally lives up to expectations; we rate the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus as one of the very best options on the market. And while most of iRobot’s Roomba models comes with premium pricing to match their advanced features, if you’re on a limited budget there’s still an option in the form of the iRobot Roomba Combo i5. Like most Roombas, there are various configurations to choose from. If you don’t want mopping, you can save by opting for a model that doesn’t have ‘Combo’ in the name, and if you’re happy with a charge-only dock, look for a version without the ‘Plus’ (our Roomba range guide covers this in more detail, as well as helping you see the differences between the various similarly-named options.) The i5 is a slightly older Roomba now, but there are some strong reasons why you should go for this model if you’re after the best cheap ****** vacuum cleaner. It both vacuums and mops (although you’ll have to swap in a special combo bin for mopping), and features iRobot’s Dirt Detect technology for more thorough cleaning where it’s needed. Like more advanced models it features excellent smart mapping and will keep on learning as it goes; it can even figure out its own cleaning schedule that works around you. It also features iRobot’s unique dual rubber rollers, which we’ve found especially effective at picking up hair and dirt. The Roomba Combo i5 may be a little lacking in power and features compared with other models in this list, but if your instinct is to go with a trusted brand then you’re unlikely to be disappointed by it. Frequently asked questions What should you look for in a budget ****** vacuum? Inevitably when you shop for the best cheap ****** vacuum you’re going to have to compromise on features and performance. However by thinking about what you need from a ****** vacuum, you should be able to identify a model that’ll work well for you without costing the earth. One key spec to look for is maximum suction power, particularly if you have a lot of carpet. Cheap ****** vacuums are sometimes lacking in suction, but you’ll see that our listed options average around 3,000Pa, with the Xiaomi X20+ topping out at an impressive 6,000Pa. Bear in mind, however, that increased power means a ******* drain on the battery, and you’ll want to ensure that your ****** vac has a decent battery life. Another thing to consider if you have mostly carpet is whether you actually need a ****** vacuum that can mop. Mopping is a useful extra if you have a lot of hard floors, but with cheap ****** vacuums it often means manually swapping in mop pads and water tanks. If you can live without mopping you can save money and instead focus on better vacuuming performance. The best ****** vacuums come with base stations that not only serve as a charging point but which can also empty and even clean your ****** vac, saving you a lot of effort. With cheap ****** vacuums you’re more likely to get a simple charging point, which means you’ll spend more time emptying your ******’s bin, however three of our top choices come with more fully-featured base stations. Finally, think about what smart features you need. The Eufy Robovac 11S is a good choice if you want something simple that’ll just do the job, but if you want features such as automatic mapping, app control, smart scheduling and object detection, you’ll probably have to up your budget a little. How much should you spend on a ****** vacuum? This one’s very subjective; basically you should spend enough money to get the performance you want from a ****** vacuum, and that can depend on the size of your home, what types of flooring you have and whether you need smart features such as voice control, automatic scheduling and object detection. Our price bands for ****** vacuums are as follows: Budget: less than $500 / £400 Mid-range: $400-$800 / £400-£650 Premium: $800+ / £650+ A good ****** vacuum in the premium price bracket will pack plenty of power and should simply get on with the job, and only really require your attention when bins need emptying and water tanks refilling (notwithstanding the occasional instance when a robovac gets stuck and needs rescuing). Mid-range models will be less powerful and may need more in the way of manual intervention, while budget models are generally the least powerful and the most likely to require hands-on attention. The models we’ve listed in this guide are within the budget price band and the lower end of the mid-range price band. Source link #budget #****** #vacuum #cleaner #loweffort #cleaning #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Republicans retain House control, completing party’s sweep into power – National Republicans retain House control, completing party’s sweep into power – National Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect Donald Trump. A House *********** victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories that make up the majority. Republicans earlier gained control of the Senate from Democrats. With hard-fought yet thin majorities, *********** leaders are envisioning a mandate to upend the federal government and swiftly implement Trump’s vision for the country. The incoming president has promised to carry out the country’s largest-ever deportation operation, extend tax breaks, punish his political enemies, seize control of the federal government’s most powerful tools and reshape the U.S. economy. The GOP election victories ensure that Congress will be onboard for that agenda, and Democrats will be almost powerless to check it. Story continues below advertisement When Trump was elected president in 2016, Republicans also swept Congress, but he still encountered *********** leaders resistant to his policy ideas, as well as a Supreme Court with a ******** majority. Not this time. 1:50 Trump, Biden call for ‘smooth transition’ of power in White House meeting When he returns to the White House, Trump will be working with a *********** Party that has been completely transformed by his “Make America Great Again” movement and a Supreme Court dominated by ************* justices, including three that he appointed. Trump rallied House Republicans at a Capitol Hill hotel Wednesday morning, marking his first return to Washington since the election. “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s good, we got to figure something else,’” Trump said to the room full of lawmakers who laughed in response. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who with Trump’s endorsement won the *********** Conference’s nomination to stay on as speaker next year, has talked of taking a “blowtorch” to the federal government and its programs, eyeing ways to overhaul even popular programs championed by Democrats in recent years. The Louisiana ***********, an ardent *************, has pulled the House *********** Conference closer to Trump during the campaign season as they prepare an “ambitious” 100-day agenda. Story continues below advertisement “Republicans in the House and Senate have a mandate,” Johnson said earlier this week. “The ********* people want us to implement and deliver that ‘America First’ agenda.” Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Trump’s allies in the House are already signaling they will seek retribution for the legal troubles Trump faced while out of office. The incoming president on Wednesday said he would nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz, a fierce loyalist, for attorney general. Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Jordan, the chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, has said GOP lawmakers are “not taking anything off the table” in their plans to investigate special counsel Jack Smith, even as Smith is winding down two federal investigations into Trump for plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. 1:59 Trump’s cabinet picks signal trouble for Canada Still, with a few races still uncalled the Republicans may hold the majority by just a few seats as the new Congress begins. Trump’s decision to pull from the House for posts in his administration — Reps. Gaetz, Mike Waltz and Elise Stefanik so far — could complicate Johnson’s ability to maintain a majority in the early days of the new Congress. Story continues below advertisement Gaetz submitted his resignation Wednesday, effective immediately. Johnson said he hoped the seat could be filled by the time the new Congress convenes Jan. 3. Replacements for members of the House require special elections, and the congressional districts held by the three departing members have been held by Republicans for years. With the thin majority, a highly functioning House is also far from guaranteed. The past two years of *********** House control were defined by infighting as hardline ************* factions sought to gain influence and power by openly defying their party leadership. While Johnson — at times with Trump’s help — largely tamed open rebellions against his leadership, the right wing of the party is ascendant and ambitious on the heels of Trump’s election victory. Trending Now T&T stores ‘outperform’ rest of Loblaw network amid growing population Still trying to see Taylor Swift in Toronto? Last-minute tickets priced as high as $33K The *********** majority also depends on a small group of lawmakers who won tough elections by running as moderates. It ******** to be seen whether they will stay onboard for some of the most extreme proposals championed by Trump and his allies. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, meanwhile, is trying to keep Democrats relevant to any legislation that passes Congress, an effort that will depend on Democratic leaders unifying over 200 members, even as the party undergoes a postmortem of its election losses. 0:53 ‘Canada’s borders are secure’: Deputy PM says as Trump looks to deport migrants In the Senate, GOP leaders, fresh off winning a convincing majority, are already working with Trump to confirm his Cabinet picks. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota won an internal election Wednesday to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving party leader in Senate history. Story continues below advertisement Thune in the past has been critical of Trump, but praised the incoming president during his leadership election bid. “This *********** team is *******. We are on one team,” Thune said. “We are excited to reclaim the majority and to get to work with our colleagues in the House to enact President Trump’s agenda.” More on World More videos The GOP’s Senate majority of 53 seats also ensures that Republicans will have breathing room when it comes to confirming Cabinet posts, or Supreme Court justices if there is a vacancy. Not all those confirmations are guaranteed. Republicans were incredulous Wednesday when the news hit Capitol Hill that Trump would nominate Gaetz as his attorney general. Even close Trump allies in the Senate distanced themselves from supporting Gaetz, who had been facing a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of ******* misconduct and illicit ***** use. Still, Trump on Sunday demanded that any *********** leader must allow him to make administration appointments without a vote while the Senate is in recess. Such a move would be a notable shift in power away from the Senate, yet all the leadership contenders quickly agreed to the idea. Democrats could potentially ****** such a maneuver. Meanwhile, Trump’s social media supporters, including Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, clamored against picking a traditional *********** to lead the Senate chamber. Thune worked as a top lieutenant to McConnell, who once called the former president a “despicable human being” in his private notes. Story continues below advertisement However, McConnell made it clear that on Capitol Hill the days of *********** resistance to Trump are over. Source link #Republicans #retain #House #control #completing #partys #sweep #power #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Libbok back at 10 as Boks ring changes for England Test Libbok back at 10 as Boks ring changes for England Test South ******* have selected Manie Libbok at fly-half and foregone a forward-heavy bench for the Test against England at Twickenham as they kept only three players from the starting line-up that beat Scotland last weekend. Prop Ox Nche, ******* Bongi Mbonambi and lock Eben Etzebeth, who captained the side in their 32-15 victory over Scotland, remain from the side that played at Murrayfield last Sunday while coach Rassie Erasmus has gone for a traditional 5-3 split between forwards and backs on the bench for Saturday’s collision. It contrasts with the 7-1 split last weekend which saw the fabled Bok ‘***** squad’ squash Scottish hopes after coming on en masse in the second half. Libbok returns to the role he played in South *******’s last meeting against England in last year’s World Cup semi-final in Paris where he was taken off after 30 minutes, with replacement Handre Pollard going on to secure a win for the team. Libbok’s kicking woes have contrasted with his exciting open field play and denied him the chance to make himself the first choice at No.10 for the Springboks. On his return to the starting XV in July, he missed three of his five conversion attempts when South ******* beat Portugal 64-21 in Bloemfontein. Libbok then pulled wide a last-gasp penalty after coming on as a replacement against Argentina in Santiago del Estero in September, when the Springboks lost by a point. Erasmus, however, pointedly picked Libbok in the starting line-up the next week for the return fixture and saw the 27-year-old flyhalf cheered off after a match-winning performance in an emphatic 48-7 home victory over the Pumas. Wilco Louw will play his first Test since 2021 after returning to the Springbok set-up as a late injury call-up for this month’s tour. “The turnaround between the Scotland and England tests is short, so we had to be smart in our selection to enable us to field a fresh squad with only six days between two tough test matches,” said Erasmus in a statement naming the team. “It obviously has a knock-on in effect in the sense that we’ve made 12 changes to the starting lineup, but we have been rotating our squad all season.” South ******* have now opted for a 5-3 split in their last four meetings with England, with Erasmus saying it was a response to the challenge he expected the hosts to pose. South ******* team: 15-Aphelele Fassi, 14-Cheslin Kolbe, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10-Manie Libbok, 9-Grant Williams, 8-Jasper Wiese, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6-Siya Kolisi (capt), 5-RG Snyman, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Wilco Louw, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 1-Ox Nche Replacements: 16-Malcolm Marx, 17-Gerhard Steenekamp, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-Elrigh Louw, 20-Kwagga Smith, 21-Cobus Reinach, 22-Handre Pollard, 23-Lukhanyo Am. Source link #Libbok #Boks #ring #England #Test Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

When does new ****** Ops 6 Zombies map coming out? Everything we know about Citadelle des Morts When does new ****** Ops 6 Zombies map coming out? Everything we know about Citadelle des Morts Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Season 1 is bringing a plethora of new content to the game, from new weapons and maps to a huge overhaul for Warzone and an exciting Battle Pass. On top of all that, Zombies fans will be excited to hear that a new map is also on the way – Citadelle des Morts. For those eager to find out more about the new BO6 Zombies map, here’s everything you need to know, including its release date. Does the new BO6 Zombies map have a release date? Citadelle des Morts will arrive in the mid-season update for ****** Ops 6 Season 1. As the new season arrived on November 14, and seasons tend to last around 8 weeks, we expect the Season 1 Reloaded update to arrive on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Take this with a pinch of salt, as this is just speculation and not an official release date. Once Treyarch confirm the date for the mid-season update, we’ll be sure to let you know exactly when the new Zombies map will be arriving. Credit to Activision Citadelle des Morts map details Citadelle des Morts (Citadel of the *****) is a round-based ****** Ops 6 Zombies map that’s located in Europe, specifically the Principality of Avalon. It’s an abandoned medieval castle that is host to ghoulish horrors and hidden secrets. We don’t know many details, but from the teaser image, we expect the map to be fairly big. According to the CoD blog, players will take control of the BO6 Zombies crew, Weaver, Maya, Carver, and Grey, directly after the events of Terminus. This isn’t the first time players have fought waves of the undead in a castle, as ****** Ops 3 brought Der Eisendrache. Hopefully, Citadelle des Morts can live up to the setting, as Der Eisendrache is one of the most beloved maps of all time. The new map also arrives alongside a new Perk, Wonder *******, Gobblegums, Augments, and ****** types. That’s all we know so far about the new ****** Ops 6 Zombies map, but for more, make sure you check out what to do with Loot Keys and everything you need to know about the guided Zombies mode. Do you like the look and sound of Citadelle des Morts? Let us know if you think the map will be a hit for ****** Ops 6 in the Insider Gaming forum. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #****** #Ops #Zombies #map #coming #Citadelle #des #Morts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meta Orion AR glasses could get these 3 incredible sci-fi tricks, according to new Project Aria update Meta Orion AR glasses could get these 3 incredible sci-fi tricks, according to new Project Aria update Researchers have shared their impressive Meta Aria projects Aria is a research kit to help developers better understand AR and AI These projects could become Meta Orion features if we’re lucky Meta has just shared an update on its Aria AR glasses research project collaborations, and they reveal some exciting potential ways that the publicly available versions of its Meta Orion AR Glasses could shape our real-world lives when they launch. Project Aria’s goal is to help software developers and researchers “better understand how to build the software and hardware necessary for future AR and AI-powered glasses.” Initially an internal undertaking, Meta expanded Aria access to partners like BMW and various universities across the globe – and what they’ve created so far highlights some awesome use cases for AR glasses. It’s worth noting that all of these tools are still at the research stage, so we’re likely still years from them being packaged into a consumer usable app – something which may not even happen with any of these projects. But they highlight some of the ways Orion could be used, and who knows? With Orion likely years away there’s still plenty of time to turn these projects into the world’s best AR apps before they launch. 1. Learning from the experts The Matrix series is not a dystopian setting anyone wants to live in, but there’s one aspect of that world I’m sure most of us would want to bring into our real one: the ability to download any skill we could need. While the Orion glasses might not instantly make you a master of kung ***, or teach you how to fly a helicopter in seconds, they could help us gradually improve our skills with feedback it has learned from experts. Project Aria Case Study: University of Bristol – YouTube Watch On For its Project Aria research, the University of Bristol has been capturing data from highly skilled people – from chefs, to musicians, to athletes, to mechanics – tracking their movements and how they move objects to learn more about how they “interact with and change the world to achieve their goals.” With this understanding it’s easy to see how Orion could offer AR lessons about how to repair a bike or cook a delicious meal, going so far as to highlight the real-world object you need to use and showing you how to use it in real-time. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. 2. Driving more safely Researchers at IIIT Hyderabad have used Project Aria to develop its Driver Intent Prediction Project. Using the AI glasses’ outward cameras, and their inward eye-tracking cams – as well as various other car sensors – the team is able to tell where drivers are looking and importantly where they aren’t. Project Aria Case Study: IIIT Hyderabad – YouTube Watch On If a pedestrian mindlessly steps into the street while you’re looking in your mirrors, the glasses can detect that you haven’t seen them yet and warn you – allowing you to take action. The project’s goal is to reduce traffic accidents and it’s easy to see how this tool could help make us safer drivers if Orion were to launch with a version of it. 3. Maximizing accessibility The last two Aria projects demonstrate the glasses’ accessibility credentials. University of Iowa researchers are using Aria to help people with hearing loss by using the specs’ microphone array to help determine the direction sound is coming from. This could then be combined with prompts on an AR glasses’ display, or used in conjunction with traditional hearing aids to improve its effectiveness. Project Aria Case Study: University of Iowa – YouTube Watch On Meanwhile, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have used the glasses to help people with visual impairments. Using the glasses’ sensors (and some external beacons) Aria could help people more easily navigate unfamiliar environments with real-time guidance. Project Aria Case Study: Carnegie Mellon University – YouTube Watch On These kinds of accessibility features and more are exactly how technological advancements like Meta Orion could (and should) be put to use. As more people get their hands on Aria research kits I’m excited to see what other projects they work on, especially as that hopefully means that Orion will have some awesome tools when it eventually releases to the public. You might also like Source link #Meta #Orion #glasses #incredible #scifi #tricks #Project #Aria #update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Karine Jean-Pierre Hits Fox Reporter With Brutally ‘Honest’ Reality Check On Trump Karine Jean-Pierre Hits Fox Reporter With Brutally ‘Honest’ Reality Check On Trump White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday shut down a Fox Business Network reporter who asked if President Joe Biden apologized to President-elect Donald Trump for labelling him a “threat” to democracy. Fox Business Network’s Edward Lawrence questioned Jean-Pierre about Biden’s meeting with Trump and — without mentioning that Trump has used a similar “threat” line of ******* on Biden — asked about the president using the label for his GOP rival, who attempted a coup before the end of his first term. “The president is going to always feel obligated to be honest with the ********* people. What he says still stands,” said Jean-Pierre of Biden. She added that it’s not just the president who has warned of Trump’s second term, it’s his former staffers, as well. “You’ve heard that from the former chief of staff John Kellyandothers,” she said. “You’ve heard it directly from the president — president-elect, the former president about ‘****** of the people.’ Very, very clear — very clear.” Jean-Pierre went on to emphasize the importance of listening to “the will of the ********* people” and recognizing that there was an election. “And that’s what this president is doing: leading by example and putting — putting that aside and putting the ********* people first,” she said. “But what he said still stands. And it’s not just him. I don’t — we should not just put this at the president. His own people said this. So, I want to be really, really clear about that and not forget the facts. There are facts here that we should certainly also lift up as you’re asking me these questions.” Related… Source link #Karine #JeanPierre #Hits #Fox #Reporter #Brutally #Honest #Reality #Check #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

We are Tired of Helldivers 2 Players Ignoring a Potent Bug Swarm ******* and Going Straight for the Airburst Rocket Launcher We are Tired of Helldivers 2 Players Ignoring a Potent Bug Swarm ******* and Going Straight for the Airburst Rocket Launcher Every Helldiver knows that moment: a massive bug swarm bearing down on your position, mandibles clicking, acid sacs ready to ruin your day. And what do most Helldivers 2 players reach for? The trusty Airburst Rocket Launcher, of course. It’s reliable, it’s familiar, and it gets the job done… mostly. They won’t know what hit ’em. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTube But here’s the thing: while everyone’s been busy launching rockets into bug clouds, Arrowhead has quietly turned another ******* into an absolute ******. Thanks to some recent modifications, this overlooked gem might just be the most effective swarm-clearing tool in our arsenal. And yet, for some reason, most Helldivers are still sleeping on what could be Super Earth’s greatest gift to bug extermination since automated turrets. A Hidden Gem in Helldivers 2‘s Arsenal Let’s talk about the AC-8 Autocannon’s recent upgrade. While the Airburst Rocket Launcher got all the attention with its modest buff, the real star of the show has been flying under the radar. The introduction of programmable Flak ammunition has transformed this already solid Helldivers 2 ******* into something truly spectacular. The genius of these Flak rounds ***** in their proximity fuse mechanism. Unlike traditional rounds that need to actually hit their target, these shells detonate when they get close enough to any hostile presence. And it’s this efficiency and effectiveness that hasn’t gone unnoticed by those who’ve given it a chance: This isn’t just about raw firepower—it’s about efficiency. While your teammates are still reloading their rocket launchers, you could be racking up ***** streaks that would make even the most decorated Helldiver raise an eyebrow: Comment byu/Ok_Primary2606 from discussion inHelldivers Of course, like any sophisticated piece of Super Earth technology, there’s a learning curve. The proximity fuse system requires a certain finesse to master: Comment byu/Ok_Primary2606 from discussion inHelldivers This quirk isn’t actually a bug, but rather a feature of how proximity fuses work. They’re supposed to detonate when they’re—as the name implies—in “proximity” to any object, which is great for hitting aerial targets but can be tricky when the battlefield is littered with bug carcasses. Mastering Super Earth’s Latest Innovation When diving with a pal, don’t forget about assisted reloads! | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTube For those who haven’t yet discovered this game-changing feature (and judging by recent missions, that’s quite a few of you), accessing it is simpler than filing a requisition form: Comment byu/Ok_Primary2606 from discussion inHelldivers Arrowhead‘s timing of introducing this upgrade has some veterans wistfully imagining how different past campaigns might have been: Comment byu/Ok_Primary2606 from discussion inHelldivers The beauty of this system ***** in its versatility. While the proximity fuse mechanism might take some getting used to, the payoff is worth the learning curve. Think of it as Super Earth’s answer to the age-old question: “How do we make bug-swatting more efficient?” For best results, just remember to take the high ground whenever possible—a classic, Obi-Wan-approved military strategy that proves particularly effective with this setup. And if you find yourself in the thick of it, just remember to watch your ******* lines. The last thing you want is to explain to your squad why you turned their carefully planned ******** into an impromptu fireworks display with a lot of collateral damage. What’s your take on this recently enhanced bug-swatting solution? Have you given it a try, or are you still loyal to your trusty rocket launcher? Share your experiences in the comments below! Source link #Tired #Helldivers #Players #Ignoring #Potent #Bug #Swarm #******* #Straight #Airburst #Rocket #Launcher Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]