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Stellar Blade Developer Expects The Game To Be Even ******* On PC, Aiming For 2025 Launch Stellar Blade Developer Expects The Game To Be Even ******* On PC, Aiming For 2025 Launch Stellar Blade developer Shift Up has revealed more details on the game’s upcoming PC release, and it has high expectations for the platform. In the studio’s Q3 2024 earnings report, Shift Up confirmed that Stellar Blade is “being considered within 2025” for a PC release–something it has spoken about in the past. “Considering recent trends such as Steam’s expanding market share in the AAA game sector and the global success of ****** Myth: Wukong, we expect the performance on PC to exceed that on consoles,” Shift Up said in its report. To put that into context, ****** Myth: Wukong had a strong launch in August with 10 million copies sold in its first three days on PC and PS5, and within two weeks, that figure climbed to 18 million. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Stellar Blade – NieR:Automata DLC Trailer Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter ****** Myth: Wukong was developed by ******** studio Game Science and one of the company’s biggest external investors believes that it will sell 30 million copies over its lifetime, a figure that can potentially be reached with its upcoming expansion. In comparison, Stellar Blade reached 1 million sales on PS5 by the end of June. Shift Up also mentioned that sales on PS5–where Stellar Blade is exclusively available for now–continue to remain stable, thanks in part to the studio constantly updating the game and releasing new DLC for it. “With the addition of the Nier: Automata DLC and ongoing marketing activities, we plan to maintain the IP’s popularity until the platform expansion,” Shift Up explained. The Nier: Automata DLC for Stellar Blade will be available starting November 20, and in addition to some stylish outfits inspired by the game’s co-protagonist 2B, there’ll be a new hairstyle for heroine Eve to equip, as well as a photo mode will be added to the game. “A strong battle system and exciting moments make Stellar Blade more than just an imitator,” Imran Khan wrote in GameSpot’s Stellar Blade review. Source link #Stellar #Blade #Developer #Expects #Game #******* #Aiming #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Observations explore icy protoplanetary disk of the star PDS 453 Observations explore icy protoplanetary disk of the star PDS 453 High-resolution observation of PDS 453. VLT/SPHERE 1.6 µm polarized intensity image shown with a logarithmic stretch. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2411.04741 Using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), an international team of astronomers has inspected an icy protoplanetary disk of a young star known as PDS 453. Results of the new study, published on the preprint server arXiv, yield essential information about the structure and composition of this disk. Protoplanetary disks represent an important stage in the formation of planets. Astronomers believe that the final composition of planets depends on the chemical process taking place within the disk. Therefore, studies of the initial phase of disk formation could be crucial in improving knowledge of the formation and evolution of planetesimals, planets and other objects. PDS 453 is a young intermediate-mass F-type star located some 424 light years away in the Scorpius-Centaurus OB association. The star is estimated to be about 5 million years old and is assumed to be an intermediate object between a low-mass T Tauri star and a Herbig Ae star. The protoplanetary disk of PDS 453 was first identified in 2006. It is an edge-on disk with a sharp outer edge potentially due to truncation by a nearby candidate companion object. Previous observations of this disk have found that it contains water ice in its layers above the mid-plane. Recently, a group of astronomers led by Laurine Martinien of the Grenoble Alpes University in France, has employed VLT’s Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) instrument, to explore the disk of PDS 453 in more detail. The study was complemented by data from the Hubble Space Telescope’s Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS). “In this paper we present archival HST/NICMOS and new VLT/SPHERE data, providing the sharpest and highest contrast image of the disk to date,” the researchers wrote. The observations found that the protoplanetary disk of PDS 453 has the typical morphology of a highly inclined system with two reflection nebulae. The images show that the disk extends from near the stellar surface to a distance of about 160 AU, with a sharp transition at 70 AU that produces a clear ring-like feature. The disk’s inclination was measured to be 80 degrees. PDS 453’s disk is composed of a mixture of dust and water ice. It was found that 10% of the inner part and 20% of the outer part of the disk contain (by volume) water ice. This level is similar to what is typically suggested from water ice observations for disks across a wide range of inclinations. The astronomers concluded that their results suggest that the disk of PDS 453 is in a rare configuration in which our line of sight to the star grazes through the disk’s upper surface. They noted that further observations of this disk, especially using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) or the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), are needed in order to better constrain the parameters of this structure. More information: Laurine Martinien et al, The grazing angle icy protoplanetary disk PDS 453, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2411.04741 Journal information: arXiv © 2024 Science X Network Citation: Observations explore icy protoplanetary disk of the star PDS 453 (2024, November 13) retrieved 13 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Observations #explore #icy #protoplanetary #disk #star #PDS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AirPods Pro hacked using Faraday cage and microwave as a jammer to fool geofencing — enthusiast activates hearing aids feature in AirPods Pro in geoblocked India AirPods Pro hacked using Faraday cage and microwave as a jammer to fool geofencing — enthusiast activates hearing aids feature in AirPods Pro in geoblocked India An India-based tech enthusiast who bought a pair of AirPods Pro 2 for their hard-of-hearing grandma to use as hearing aids, discovered that the feature is geoblocked in India due to regulatory restrictions. So, instead of throwing in the towel and calling it a day, Rithwik Jayasimha (@thel3l) and their Lagrange Point tech enthusiast guild built a Faraday cage and a microwave jammer to spoof their location and unlock the hearing aid feature on the earbuds. According to the group, hearing aids in India cost between INR 50,000 and INR 800,000 (approximately $600 to $9,500), putting it out of range of most users. On the other hand, AirPods Pro 2 is just half the price of the cheapest hearing aids at INR 24,900 (around $300), making it an excellent substitute for those with hearing problems. To use earbuds as hearing aids, you need to be in a country where Apple doesn’t geoblock the feature, run iOS or iPadOS 18.1 or newer, have the AirPods Pro 2, and ensure that it uses the 7B19 firmware or newer. Although Jayasimha had all the hardware and software needed to setup the AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids, they were located in an unsupported location—India—so they decided to spoof their location and fool Apple into thinking that they’re located in the U.S. This is easier said than done, because even though they’ve spoofed the IP location and locale of the iPad they were using to setup the earbuds, the device still knows that they were in India. After several rounds of testing and trial-and-error, one of their companions mentioned that the iPad used the SSIDs and MAC addresses that the routers around them broadcast to determine their location. So, even if the iPad didn’t have cellular and had its GPS turned off, it was still able to accurately place the region it’s in. The group then decided to put the iPad and an ESP32 board that cycles through a hundred Wi-Fi SSIDs that are located in Menlo Park, California in a makeshift Faraday cage (a cardboard box lined with aluminum foil outside) and then place it on top of a microwave going full blast to overpower and jam any 2.4G Wi-Fi signals in its immediate vicinity. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Rithwik Jayasimha/Lagrange Point) (Image credit: Rithwik Jayasimha/Lagrange Point) (Image credit: Rithwik Jayasimha/Lagrange Point) (Image credit: Rithwik Jayasimha/Lagrange Point) (Image credit: Rithwik Jayasimha/Lagrange Point) They then ran a script on a MacBook that instructed the iPad to reboot and turn on its Wi-Fi antenna five minutes after that. The first few attempts *******, though, requiring the group to adjust their Faraday cage, microwave jammer, and a few restarts. But, finally, after approximately three hours of fiddling around, the Mac Console reported that the iPad is showing itself as located in the U.S. With that result, the group pulled the iPad out of the makeshift cage, connected the AirPods to the device, and the Hearing Aid setup process popped up on the screen. Success! With proof of concept done, the group repeated the process a couple more times and built a more permanent Faraday cage. Now that they have the process down pat, they offered a hearing aid unlocking camp at Lagrange Point to allow anyone in the Bengaluru area to benefit from the feature. That way, it will allow more people to afford hearing aids without having to spend more than $500. If you’re nowhere near Lagrange Point’s office, you can recreate their detailed process and unlock the feature on your own without needing to travel there (or to a country that has the feature turned on). Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #AirPods #Pro #hacked #Faraday #cage #microwave #jammer #fool #geofencing #enthusiast #activates #hearing #aids #feature #AirPods #Pro #geoblocked #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Top Stocks Crushing Q3 Earnings With Strong 2024 Guidance 3 Top Stocks Crushing Q3 Earnings With Strong 2024 Guidance Hims & Hers tripled consensus EPS estimates in Q3 while raising Q4 guidance thanks to its compounded GLP-1 treatment business. Payoneer is profiting off the growth in cross-border business payment volumes, which is growing 25% YoY. Astera Labs is riding demand in faster connectivity for AI workloads at data centers and on the cloud. Every earnings season has its share of outperformers, companies that report blowout quarters and raise their forecasts. The market reacts quickly sending shares sharply higher. The third quarter of 2024 earnings season is no different. If you want to track the best of the best when it comes to crushing consensus estimates, here are 3 stocks to keep on your radar. Hims & Hers Health: Riding the GLP-1 Supply Shortage Telehealth platform operator Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:) has been a growth machine in terms of revenue and subscribers. The platform offers personalized health solutions and prescriptions for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, weight loss, ******* health, behavioral health, and skin care. Users can get prescriptions delivered discreetly upon an online medical consult. The medical sector fintech puts users on an automatic delivery schedule with recurring billing for their treatments. Hims & Hers started offering GLP-1 compounds in May of 2024, which are non-FDA evaluated substitute treatments like compounded Semaglutide during periods of a supply shortage of the branded medicine. In this case, Novo Nordisk (NYSE:) Semaglutide medicine Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lily (NYSE:) dual agonist GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound. This has caused a surge in revenue, as evidenced by its blowout third quarter of 2024 results. Hims & Hers reported Q3 2024 EPS of 32 cents, tripling consensus estimates for 10 cents. Revenue skyrocketed 77.1% YoY to $401.56 million, crushing $382.2 million consensus estimates. Subscribers grew 44% YoY to 2 million. The company provided upside guidance for Q4 2024 revenue of $465 million to $470 million, crushing 4421.12 million consensus estimates. Eli Lilly petitioned the FDA to curtail compounded Tirzepatide sales, claiming there was no longer a supply shortage and for safety concerns since compounds aren’t regulated. The FDA decided to limit the sales of compounded GLP-1 treatments. This triggered a lawsuit from the Outsourcing Facilities Association, which caused the FDA to reconsider taking Tirzepatide off the ***** shortage list. Hims & Hers sells its compounded GLP-1 injections for as low as $199 a month versus $1,100 or more for the monthly injections of branded GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound. For now, Hims & Hers continues to sell its version of GLP-1 compounds, and they have announced the purchase of a U.S. compounding facility. Hims & Hers plans to bring liraglutide, the first generic GLP-1, to market in 2025. Payoneer: Profiting on Cross-Border Business Payments Digital payment services provider Payoneer Global (NASDAQ:) offers a payment infrastructure platform enabling customers to manage cross-border payments. Companies with international business use the platform as a one-stop global multicurrency account to service their accounts payable and accounts receivable needs. Payoneer enables freelancers on popular platforms like Upwork (NASDAQ:) and Fiverr International (NYSE:) to receive payments from international clients. The company is building a full-service financial stack for global small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).Payoneer reported Q3 2024 EPS of 11 cents, more than doubling consensus estimates for 4 cents. Revenues surged 19.4% YoY to a record $248.3 million, beating consensus estimates for $225.44 million. Transaction volume grew 25% YoY. Payoneer issued upside full-year 2024 revenue guidance of $950 million to $960 million versus $926.13 million consensus estimates. Adjusted EBITDA is expected between $255 million to $265 million. Payoneer CEO John Caplan believes the company is “at the beginning” of its growth trajectory. They have increased the growth rate for ideal customer profiles (ICPs) for four straight quarters to 11% YoY and ARPU for five straight quarters to 20%. Astera Labs: Riding the AI ***** in Data Centers and Cloud Connectivity Astera Labs (NASDAQ:) designs and produces semiconductor chips that improve the latency and efficiency of data transfer in electronic devices. They offer connectivity solutions for cloud and AI infrastructure, including servers, computers, data centers and cloud systems. The demand growth of high bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI workloads is a growth driver for Astera as its chips make faster data transmission possible. Astera reported Q3 2024 EPS of 23 cents, beating consensus estimates by 6 cents. Revenues surged 206% YoY to $113.1 million, crushing the $97.5 million consensus estimate. Astera Labs CEO Jitendra Mohan stated, “Our business has now entered a new growth phase with multiple product families ramping across AI platforms based upon both third-party GPUs and internally developed AI accelerators. With an expanding product portfolio, including the new Scorpio Fabric Switches, we are cementing our position as a critical part of AI connectivity infrastructure, delivering increased value to our hyperscaler customers, and unlocking additional multi-year growth trajectories for Astera.” The company issued upside EPS guidance for the fourth quarter of 2024 of 25 cents to 26 cents versus 18 cents, with revenues of $126 million to $130 million firmly above consensus estimates for $107.94 million. Original Post Source link #Top #Stocks #Crushing #Earnings #Strong #Guidance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Personal luxury goods market to shrink for first time since GFC Personal luxury goods market to shrink for first time since GFC The storefronts of Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co. and Patek Philippe are seen as people enter Icon Siam, a luxury shopping mall located on the Chao Phraya River, on June 12, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. Lauren Decicca | Getty Images News | Getty Images The personal luxury goods market looks set to face its first slowdown since the Global Financial Crisis this year, as macroeconomic uncertainty and a pronounced slowdown in China weigh on consumer spending, according to the Bain & Company’s annual luxury report . This is the first slowdown in demand for personal luxury goods — which include clothing, bags, jewelry and cosmetics — in 15 years, excluding the Covid-19 lockdown *******, according to the Wednesday findings. Higher costs and falling customer loyalty saw shoppers shun high-end brands in 2024, denting company profits and likely to cause the sector to contract by a projected 2% over the full-year *******, the report showed. It noted that overall luxury spending is forecast to remain flat year-on-year in 2024 at around 1.5 trillion euros ($1.59 billion), even as segments including autos, travel and fine wine record modest growth. China weakness weighs heavy Global economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures have emerged as common threads in the earnings reports of luxury labels this year, with LVMH, Burberry and Gucci-owner Kering all posting repeated revenue misses. But it’s dwindling demand from the key ******** market that has proven especially concerning for the sector, as the economy has struggled to rebound from a Covid-19-era slowdown. Even Cartier-owner Richemont, which had been an outlier in the wider sectoral downturn, last week reported a 1% fall in sales in the first half of its fiscal year, due in part to weakened demand from China. “Mainland China has experienced a sharp slowdown, worsening throughout the year as domestic spending decreased due to lackluster consumer confidence,” Bain & Company noted. Sustained weakness in the China market could weigh further on the luxury sector in 2025, according to the report, which nevertheless cited this as a lower probability outcome and instead pointed to a gradual recovery in the second half of next year as its more “realistic scenario.” Luxury demand in Europe and the U.S. has shown signs of gradual improvement quarter-on-quarter this year, with Japan leading the way due to favorable currency exchange rates. As such, the report forecast the sector will grow slightly next year, barring any major economic headwinds. Pockets of growth The report also pointed to glimmers of light for the sector, with luxury cars and hospitality, fine wines and gourmet dining all recording gains this year. Luxury travel particularly emerged as an area of growth, with consumers increasingly switching their spending toward experiences, social events and wellness. Small personal items, such as eyewear and beauty, also saw an uptick, as shoppers opted for “small indulgences” rather than ******* buys, the report said. Nevertheless, it noted that luxury brands would need to do more to attract and retain their increasingly fickle consumer base, especially within the younger Gen-Z segment covering people born between 1997 and 2012. “50 million luxury consumers have either opted out of the luxury goods market or been forced out of it in the last two years. This is a signal for brands that it’s time to readjust their value propositions,” said Claudia D’Arpizio, partner at Bain & Company and lead author of the study. “To win back customers, particularly the younger ones, brands will need to lead with creativity and expand conversation topics. Simultaneously, they must keep their top customers front and center, surprising and delighting them while rediscovering one-to-one human interactions,” she added. Source link #Personal #luxury #goods #market #shrink #time #GFC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech Life: The dangerous job of online moderating Tech Life: The dangerous job of online moderating We hear from a former moderator in Kenya who was left traumatised by his previous job. Source link #Tech #Life #dangerous #job #online #moderating Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Phil Spencer Confirms Xbox is Planning an Xbox Handheld, But It’s a Few Years Away Phil Spencer Confirms Xbox is Planning an Xbox Handheld, But It’s a Few Years Away · · November 13, 2024 Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has confirmed that Xbox is planning an Xbox handheld console, but it’s a few years away from release. The news comes from a new interview with Bloomberg. Spencer said that the company is currently working on prototypes and considering what it [a handheld console] might do. Spencer said the “expectation [internally] is that we would do something” in that category of the handheld console market. However, if you’re currently saving up the pennies in hopes of buying such a console soon, Spencer promptly squashed any false expectations and said that such a device is still a few years out. Nonetheless, rumors of Xbox’s next-generation console and a handheld device have been circulating for some time. In March 2024, Windows Central’s Jez Corden claimed that Xbox was already prototyping an Xbox handheld. Other rumors also circulated that Xbox could be planning to release its next-generation console sooner than PlayStation. On the Xbox Two podcast, Corden said, “I know that they’ve [Xbox] have got handheld prototypes right now”. Corden soon clarified that these are “new prototypes” and not the old prototypes often referred to. Earlier this year, Xbox announced that its next-generation console would be “unique” and “powerful.” But apart from usual buzzwords, its currently not clear on what exactly that entails. What do you think of Xbox working on its own handheld console? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Shawn Fonteno almost quit GTA 5 Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Phil #Spencer #Confirms #Xbox #Planning #Xbox #Handheld #Years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

When the boss doesn’t want to hear about your stress When the boss doesn’t want to hear about your stress Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Employees who struggle with stress on the job will often get help from mental health and stress management resources provided by their employers. But a new study from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business finds that when stress causes an employee to become disengaged from their work and their performance suffers, managers are less likely to provide the resources that might help. The study, “Under Pressure: Employee Work Stress, Supervisory Mentoring Support, and Employee Career Success” was published in the journal Personnel Psychology. Emily Campion, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship and study co-author, said there comes a point where a manager may perceive that their stressed-out worker requires more resources and attention than their productivity warrants, so managers are less likely to provide the resources needed to help. “Managers have only so many resources at their disposal and if they spend too many resources on a single person, they can’t spend as many resources on other employees,” said Campion. The researchers gathered data by asking a series of survey questions to more than 500 employees and managers in the U.S., U.K., and Hong Kong, asking about employee stress and manager responses to that stress. Campion said they found some evidence that “broadcasting your stress can actually repel support.” That lack of support leads to a downward spiral, where the employee becomes further disengaged, which adds more stress, and so on. Ultimately, this leads to lower career satisfaction and promotability ratings, and fewer promotions, adding even more stress. She said managers can step in early by providing stress management resources, which is easier when the worker has not yet disengaged. Eventually, though, they simply don’t have the resources. What should employees do when they’re struggling with stress? Campion cautions the findings are not a reason for employees to hide their stress. Instead, she said employees should alert managers as soon as they’re starting to feel stress, before it leads to disengagement and reduced performance. If the stress is about a certain task, that should be communicated to the manager. Though not explicitly addressed in the study, Campion suggests that broad feelings of stress may be perceived by managers as a more abstract problem rather than something that is identifiable and solvable, but can still be addressed with support services such as employee assistance programs (EAP). Campion said most employers encourage employees to use them and that they should not be viewed as just being there for public relations or recruiting purposes. At the same time, she said employers should not be quick to blame employees. Managers should take their employees’ claims of stress seriously and identify stressed employees early before they become disengaged. More information: Berrin Erdogan et al, Under Pressure: Employee Work Stress, Supervisory Mentoring Support, and Employee Career Success, Personnel Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/peps.12662 Provided by University of Iowa Citation: When the boss doesn’t want to hear about your stress (2024, November 13) retrieved 13 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #boss #doesnt #hear #stress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perplexity AI Begins Experimenting With Ads on Its Search Platform Perplexity AI Begins Experimenting With Ads on Its Search Platform Perplexity AI, the company behind the eponymous artificial intelligence (AI) search platform, announced on Tuesday that it will begin experimenting with ads this week. An earlier report highlighted the company’s plans of incorporating ads by the end of the year to boost its revenue. The AI firm says that ads will be shown in a format that does not clutter or ruin the user experience of the platform. Additionally, it highlighted that all ads will be marked as sponsored to inform users when an ad is being displayed. How Perplexity Plans to Show Ads on Search Results In a blog post, the AI-powered search engine shared details of how it plans to implement ads on the service. Claiming that it will not duplicate the SEO industry’s use of “arbitrary tactics to improve their rankings at the expense of user utility”, Perplexity says it will instead show ads in a format that is “transparent” and generate a user’s curiosity about a brand. Perplexity will display ads as “sponsored follow-up questions” and “paid media” on the side of an answer. The ads will include a question that directly delves into the brand’s offerings. The AI firm also highlighted that if a user clicks on the sponsored question, the response will not be written or edited by the brand, and instead Perplexity’s AI will be used to generate an authentic answer. The company also revealed that Indeed, Whole Foods Market, Universal McCann, and PMG are its initial brand partners, and users can expect to see ads from these firms in the coming days. While Perplexity plans to start its ad tests this week, they will only be shown to users residing in the US. Perplexity says that the move to show ads will allow it to generate revenue and share it with its publisher partners. Perplexity pays partnering publishing companies to use their articles and data to generate response to queries. “Experience has taught us that subscriptions alone do not generate enough revenue to create a sustainable revenue-sharing program. Especially given how rapidly our publisher program is growing, advertising is the best way to ensure a steady and scalable revenue stream,” Perplexity added. Source link #Perplexity #Begins #Experimenting #Ads #Search #Platform Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An under-the-radar Trump trade that will benefit from pro-crypto stance and deregulation An under-the-radar Trump trade that will benefit from pro-crypto stance and deregulation President-elect Donald Trump’s second term could mean more gains for Block , according to Bernstein. “The crypto piece is obvious – bitcoin is ~3% of ****** profits and SQ has been strategically focused on bitcoin mining hardware and self-custody wallet,” analyst Harshita Rawat told clients. “But SQ has also come under regulators’ scrutiny (FinCen, CFPB) recently around its Cash App and Afterpay businesses. Lower regulatory scrutiny may also mean that SQ can lean into more Cash App products (e.g., on lending, commerce).” SQ YTD mountain SQ, year-to-date Rawat also sees potential for Block’s inclusion in the S & P 500 and an acceleration of Square ****** payment volume – which is the total dollar amount of card payments processed by sellers using the Square platform – heading into next year. The President-elect has taken a pro-crypto stance during his time on the campaign trail , pledging to ensure that the federal government doesn’t sell off its bitcoin holdings. Trump has also vowed to unseat U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler, who has been more aggressive with regards to regulation. Wall Street is already largely bullish on the name, with 36 of the 48 analysts covering it having a strong buy or buy rating. Its average price target of $88.18 reflects around 1% upside from Tuesday’s close. This comes as the stock has surged nearly 13% in 2024 and more than 25% in the past one month. A more favorable regulatory environment could also spell gains for Visa , which has rallied around 19% this year, according to Bernstein. Back in September, the Department of Justice sued the world’s biggest payments network , accusing it of having an ******** monopoly over debit payments. “The DOJ lawsuit likely shaved some turns off of Visa’s multiple,” the analyst said. “While it is unlikely that the DOJ pulls the case, it’s possible that President-elect Trump names a more pro-business Head, who might be more amenable to a weaker settlement with Visa.” With that in mind, Rawat likes Visa over Mastercard in the near term. She also said that Capital One’s planned acquisition of Discover Financial Services – the likelihood of which has increased since the election’s outcome – could also dampen Mastercard shares in the long term. That stock has seen the biggest year-to-date gains of the three, rising around 24%. Source link #undertheradar #Trump #trade #benefit #procrypto #stance #deregulation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AstraZeneca boosts U.S. investment on confidence in economy AstraZeneca boosts U.S. investment on confidence in economy The office building of biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is being seen in Shanghai, China, on May 23, 2024. Nurphoto | Getty Images A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions. AstraZeneca said it is doubling down on its investment in its U.S. business, a move that comes just one week after Donald Trump’s election win. AstraZeneca announced plans for $2 billion in new spending on research and development, bringing its total capital investment in the country to $3.5 billion by the end of 2026. The cash will be used to boost the company’s research and development, as well as its manufacturing footprint in the U.S. The British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant expects the new investment to create more than 1,000 jobs, “contributing to the growth of the U.S. economy,” according to a release. The company said it currently has 17,800 U.S. employees working across 17 sites in 12 states. AstraZeneca said the expanded footprint will include a research and development center in Cambridge, Mass., manufacturing plants in Maryland and Texas and other sites at unspecified locations across the West and East coasts. AstraZeneca called the investment the first in a series of steps toward hitting its revenue target of $80 billion by 2030 – a goal set earlier this year. The drugmaker is now one of the first major foreign companies to announce plans to invest in the U.S. after Trump’s victory. Several companies similarly announced major U.S. investments during Trump’s first term. Trump would often try to take credit for those investments, even if it was hard to prove a connection to his administration. But AstraZeneca declined to explicitly say whether there was a link between Trump winning a second term and its increased spending in the U.S. During a media call after the company’s earnings release Tuesday, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the investment is a “testimony of our confidence in the U.S. economy – of the U.S. marketplace over the next few years.” Soriot, during a separate event in New York City on Tuesday, also told reporters that the drugmaker has been looking at the expanded investment “for a number of months.” A previous version of a Tuesday report from the Wall Street Journal suggested the company was motivated by other factors: A source familiar with the matter told the outlet that AstraZeneca’s new investment came in response to the election results and is a bet that a second Trump administration would amend certain elements of President Joe Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA. The current version of the report no longer mentions the IRA. That legislation, signed into law in 2022, includes provisions that aim to lower prescription ***** costs for seniors, such as allowing Medicare to negotiate medication prices with manufacturers. AstraZeneca and other drugmakers have acknowledged that the IRA, particularly its Medicare price talks, is a headwind to their businesses. AstraZeneca’s diabetes treatment Farxiga was among the 10 drugs targeted in the first round of negotiations, which set new prices for 2026. But Soriot on Tuesday pushed back on the idea that the company’s decision was based around potential changes to the IRA. During the media event, he joked that “I sort of dream sometimes” of the IRA being repealed, “but not to that extent.” He also said some of the IRA’s provisions are “good things,” such as a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket spending for Medicare Part D enrollees starting in 2025. Soriot said the company believes that the IRA is “here to stay,” adding the decision to boost its investment in the U.S. is “not so much” based on “policies specific to our industry.” “It’s more a general belief that the economy will remain strong. And if you have a strong economy, hopefully, that drives investments in innovation, sure, in our industry, but also many other industries,” he told reporters. “We want to tap into this innovation in the U.S.” When asked about Trump’s tariff policies, Soriot said it is “probably more relevant to other industries and certainly other companies.” Trump has threatened to slap a tariff of up to 60% on all goods imported to the U.S. from China. But Soriot called his tariff policy “irrelevant” to AstraZeneca because the company does not source products from China for the U.S. The products AstraZeneca commercializes in the U.S. are manufactured in its several plants across the country, “and we’re investing in even more now,” he told reporters. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at *****@*****.tld. Latest in health-care tech: General Catalyst’s HATCo to buy Summa Health for $485 million A subsidiary of the venture capital firm General Catalyst has agreed to purchase Summa Health, an integrated health system in Ohio, for $485 million, according to a release on Thursday. The two organizations first announced the acquisition plans in January, but the terms were previously undisclosed. Summa said Thursday that the deal will help it eliminate $850 million in existing debt when combined with its current cash. The health system had about $859 million in debt as of Sept. 30, according to financial filings. Summa operates across five counties in northeast Ohio, and it supports more than 1,000 inpatient beds across its network of hospitals, community-based health centers and its multi-specialty group practice. General Catalyst ***** the groundwork for the acquisition last year when it announced a new company called the Health Assurance Transformation Company, or HATCo, which it said operates on “decades-long” timelines. Buying a hospital is an unprecedented move in the venture industry, but the fund’s goal is not to cut costs at Summa, HATCo executives told CNBC this winter. Instead, the company will work to generate new revenue streams for Summa by bringing in new technology and models of care. “This is not like a turnaround, this is not a distressed system,” HATCo CEO Dr. Marc Harrison said in a January interview. The company has committed $350 million in capital funding to Summa over the first five years, which will be used to invest in tech and ensure the health system has the resources it needs for routine workflows, according to Thursday’s release. HATCo has also committed an additional $200 million over the first seven years, which is intended “for strategic and transformative investments.” HATCo will evaluate tech solutions from a range of different companies, not just those within General Catalyst’s portfolio. The tech companies HATCo taps to use within Summa will be on the mature side, not early-stage startups, Harrison added. As part of the acquisition, Summa will switch from a non-profit to a for-profit organization. The health system said that once the deal closes, the remaining funds will be used to support a new health-focused community foundation for the greater Akron area. “We will be able to invest in and grow our team in ways we could not achieve as an independent organization,” Summa executives said in the release. “And while the structure and model of Summa Health will shift when we become part of HATCo, our priorities will not change and our providers, employees and leadership team will transition to the new entity.” The deal is still subject to regulatory approval. Representatives for General Catalyst and Summa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Read more about why HATCo is acquiring Summa here. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at *****@*****.tld. Source link #AstraZeneca #boosts #U.S #investment #confidence #economy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Guardian stops posting on Elon Musk’s ‘toxic’ X The Guardian stops posting on Elon Musk’s ‘toxic’ X British newspaper group the Guardian has announced it will no longer post on X, formerly Twitter, saying it has become a “a toxic media platform”. In a message to readers, it said the US presidential election “underlined” its concerns that its owner, Elon Musk, had been able to use X to “shape political discourse.” Mr Musk strongly backed Donald Trump and has now been given a role cutting government spending in his incoming administration. The BBC has contacted X for comment. The Guardian said users would still be able to share articles and it was likely continue to embed X posts in its coverage of world events. But it said the “benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives.” “This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right *********** theories and racism,” it added. X users have reacted with vitriol, with those who paid for prominent replies accusing it of “woke ***********” and “virtue signalling”. Mr Musk and the Guardian are far from political bed fellows – but even so its departure is likely to intensify questions about whether others will follow, as X and Mr Musk align themselves more with Donald Trump. Its rivals already appear to be benefiting. Meta’s Threads has continued to expand, and Bluesky, set up by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, briefly topped the download charts in the *** and US Apple App Stores on Wednesday, as users look to alternatives. Its userbase has grown by four million in just two months, and Bluesky said in a post on Tuesday that it had picked up a million new users in the seven days since Trump’s win. However it ******** comparatively tiny, with 15 million users worldwide. Source link #Guardian #stops #posting #Elon #Musks #toxic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox is building a handheld but it’s likely ‘years away’, says boss Xbox is building a handheld but it’s likely ‘years away’, says boss Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed that Microsoft is working on handheld gaming prototypes, but claimed that any potential device is still years away. Microsoft’s gaming CEO has repeatedly hinted that it could create its own Steam Deck-style Xbox device, and in a new interview with Bloomberg, the exec said that the “expectation is that we would do something” in the category. Microsoft is working on prototypes and considering what it might do, Spencer confirmed, and he’s asked his hardware team to analyse the market and “develop its vision based on what it learns”. Any device is a few years out, he said. In the near term, Xbox will focus on making its app work better on existing portable devices, and partnering with hardware manufacturers to make sure their products sync, he added. “Longer term, I love us building devices,” Spencer said. “And I think our team could do some real innovative work, but we want to be informed by learning and what’s happening now.” In March, Windows Central claimed Microsoft was working on “fully native Xbox handheld” prototypes. And in a Polygon interview published a few days later, Microsoft Gaming CEO Spencer discussed what he’d like to see in a potential Xbox handheld. The executive returned to the subject during an IGN interview following this summer’s Xbox Games Showcase, in which he dropped his biggest hint yet that a handheld could be in the works. When it was put to Spencer that Xbox has been building its business around the strategy of being where the players are, be that on PC or more recently on other console platforms, he said: “So we should have a handheld? I think we should have a handheld too.” Source link #Xbox #building #handheld #years #boss Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia’s rumored CPU could pack integrated GPU to rival RTX 4070 mobile – should AMD and Intel start to worry now? Nvidia’s rumored CPU could pack integrated GPU to rival RTX 4070 mobile – should AMD and Intel start to worry now? Nvidia APU rumored to equal RTX 4070 laptop GPU in performance Laptops are already being made with the APU, including from Alienware The Arm-based APU could outgun AMD’s Strix Halo by miles for efficiency Nvidia’s apparent plan to make an Arm-based CPU for PCs – in conjunction with MediaTek – raised some eyebrows, certainly, and now we’re hearing a bit more about how powerful said APU from Team Green might be in terms of its integrated graphics. For the uninitiated, an APU is an all-in-one chip (packing a processor, alongside an integrated GPU and NPU) and with a powerful enough graphics solution, these can make for a great engine for thin-and-light gaming laptops, dispensing with the need to have a separate graphics card in the chassis. (They’re also ideal for PC gaming handhelds, too). Moore’s Law is ***** (MLID) has some fresh info on Nvidia’s rumored Arm-based SoC, namely that said integrated graphics will match the RTX 4070 laptop GPU (with the chip running at around 65W). MLID further notes that laptop makers are already working with Nvidia to realize this APU, and there’s a rumored deal with Alienware on the boil. We could see new entrants bursting onto our best gaming laptop list powered by the Nvidia APU as soon as the end of 2025, or the leaker still believes that’s a possibility – though we may realistically be waiting until 2026. It is, after all, a big move for Nvidia, and one that Team Green and its partners will want to get right. PS5 Pro Review, Nvidia APU Performance *****, AMD RDNA 4, XBOX Future | NX Gamer | Broken Silicon 283 – YouTube Watch On Analysis: The battle against a Halo product If you recall, AMD also has powerful APUs on the cards, and is closer to launch than Nvidia – in fact, Team Red is expected to reveal new Strix Halo chips at CES 2025 (alongside a whole heap of other goodies). Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Interestingly, the Strix Halo flagship APU has also been strongly rumored to have seriously peppy integrated graphics, and comparisons have been drawn to the discrete RTX 4070 laptop GPU here, as well – or that Team Red’s top chip might even be slightly more powerful. Still, in Nvidia’s favor, it’s not clear if that flagship APU will serve gaming laptops, or just workstations, as we’ve discussed in the past. And even if the Nvidia APU is a bit behind in terms of the performance of its integrated GPU, it’s targeting much better efficiency. (Strix Halo rumors point to 120W for the flagship, and as we see here, 65W is mentioned for Nvidia’s effort – that kind of power difference is huge in the world of portables). We can also expect a seriously powerful NPU from Nvidia, and AMD Strix Halo for that matter. What’s going to be the problematic area for Nvidia is that its APU is Arm-based, so will run Windows on Arm with its inherent drawbacks, as seen with current Snapdragon SoCs. Whereas AMD’s Strix Halo is a traditional x86 chip and won’t have any compatibility (or performance overhead) worries – though come 2026, the picture for Arm chips in that respect may have changed a great deal. Microsoft is certainly ******** on that, and Nvidia too, no doubt – if this rumor is right. More competition in the mobile CPU arena will be a prospect that Intel isn’t keen on. Team Blue has a big business in producing laptop CPUs, an area it continues to be strong in despite all the woes around its desktop processors. Is that going to change with Nvidia’s entry into the laptop CPU market? It’s not what Intel needs right now, that’s for sure. Via TweakTown You might also like… Source link #Nvidias #rumored #CPU #pack #integrated #GPU #rival #RTX #mobile #AMD #Intel #start #worry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Loblaw misses revenue expectations on weak household item demand – National Loblaw misses revenue expectations on weak household item demand – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size ********* supermarket retailer Loblaw Companies missed third-quarter revenue estimates on Wednesday, hurt by a slowdown in the demand for its non-essential goods such as household items and electronics. Consumers have been holding back on discretionary spending as prices remain relatively high despite inflationary trends declining, hurting demand for higher-end brands offered by retailers such as Loblaw. However, demand for value deals has helped Loblaw’s discount banners such as No Frills and Maxi. “***** front store sales reflected continued strength in the beauty category but were pressured by the Company’s exit from certain low margin electronics categories and lower customer spend on convenience items,” the company said. Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. Same-store sales in the food retail segment grew 0.5% in the third quarter, compared with 4.5% a year ago. The company’s quarterly revenue rose to C$18.54 billion ($13.28 billion) from C$18.27 billion a year earlier, compared with analysts’ average estimates of C$18.65 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Trending Now Former B.C. premier John Horgan ***** following battle with ******* Kate Middleton fans slam TV star for ‘vile’ comment about princess’s looks Story continues below advertisement Loblaw’s adjusted earnings per share was C$2.50 in the third quarter, topping expectations of C$2.45. 1:23 ‘Canadians can breathe a sigh of relief’: Macklem says after bank cuts interest rate to 3.75% Source link #Loblaw #misses #revenue #expectations #weak #household #item #demand #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Super Dark, Gory Game That Almost Started a Uprising in Rockstar Makes GTA Look Family Friendly The Super Dark, Gory Game That Almost Started a Uprising in Rockstar Makes GTA Look Family Friendly When we think of Rockstar Games today, our minds immediately jump to Grand Theft Auto and its controversial yet groundbreaking impact on gaming culture. But long before GTA 6 became the most anticipated game of the decade, another title from the studio’s past pushed boundaries so far that it nearly caused an internal revolt. A game so disturbing that the developers had to scramble for excuses. | Image Credit: Rockstar North In 2003, while riding high on the success of GTA 3 and Vice City, the studio released a game that would make even their most controversial titles look tame by comparison. This wasn’t just another sandbox ****** simulator—it was something far darker, more disturbing, and according to some former employees, crossed a line that many weren’t comfortable with. The Game That Makes GTA Look Tame Cover art of Manhunt (2003). | Image Credit: Rockstar North Manhunt, developed by Rockstar North, wasn’t just another violent video game. It was a psychological horror experience that put players in the role of one James Earl Cash, a ****** row inmate forced to participate in snuff films for a mysterious director’s twisted entertainment. The game’s unflinching portrayal of ********* was so realistic and disturbing that it caused serious concern within the studio’s own ranks. According to former Rockstar employee Jeff Williams (via GamesRadar+), the development of Manhunt nearly sparked an uprising at the company: It may sound surprising, but there was almost a mutiny at the company over that game. It was Rockstar North’s **** project—most of us at Rockstar Games wanted no part of it. We’d already weathered plenty of controversy over GTA 3 and Vice City—we were no strangers to it—but Manhunt felt different. The game’s brutality wasn’t just for shock value—it was integral to the experience. Players were rewarded for executing increasingly violent ******, with the most savage executions earning the highest ratings. This mechanical integration of gore went far beyond anything seen in GTA or other games of the era. “This is a brutal blood sport.” | Image Credit: Rockstar North The key distinction, Williams explained, was in how the ********* was presented: With GTA, we always had the excuse that the gameplay was untethered – you never had to hurt anybody that wasn’t a ‘bad guy’ in one of the missions. You could play completely ethically if you wanted, and the game was parody anyway, so lighten up. The controversy reached its peak when the game was implicated in a *** ******* case, though police later dismissed any connection. Several countries, including Germany, New Zealand, and parts of Canada, banned the game outright. But perhaps most telling was the internal reaction of the devs themselves: Manhunt, though, just made us all feel icky. It was all about the *********, and it was realistic *********. We all knew there was no way we could explain away that game. There was no way to rationalize it. We were crossing a line. This internal conflict at Rockstar highlighted a crucial moment in gaming history, where developers themselves were grappling with the ethical implications of their creative choices. From Controversy to Legacy: Rockstar’s Uncompromising Vision In true Rockstar fashion, the controversy only leads to a sequel. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games Despite the backlash, or perhaps because of it, Manhunt has become a fascinating chapter in Rockstar’s history. The game demonstrated that the studio wasn’t afraid to explore darker, more controversial themes, even if it meant alienating some of their own employees and facing intense public scrutiny. Looking ahead to GTA 6, it’s clear that the now-dominant gaming giant’s willingness to push boundaries hasn’t diminished. While they may have moved away from the extreme gore of Manhunt, their commitment to creating bold, provocative experiences ******** unchanged. It’s this uncompromising approach that has earned them such deep reverence from fans, who eagerly await each new release with unprecedented levels of anticipation. What do you think about Rockstar’s evolution from Manhunt to GTA 6? Should developers push boundaries even if it makes people uncomfortable? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Super #Dark #Gory #Game #Started #Uprising #Rockstar #GTA #Family #Friendly Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Valkyrie Syn 360 AIO Liquid Cooler Review: A strong AIO marred by beta-level software Valkyrie Syn 360 AIO Liquid Cooler Review: A strong AIO marred by beta-level software The SYN AIO from MyValkyrie features what might be the fanciest packaging I’ve seen for a cooling product, plus upgradable storage via an SD Card, and is available in both 240mm and 360mm models. Does the 360mm version of Valkyrie’s SYN AIO have what it takes to make our list of best AIO coolers? We’ll have to put it through testing to be sure, but first here are the specifications from My Valkyrie. Cooler specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally Cooler Valkyrie Syn 360 MSRP $209.99 USD Heatsink Material Aluminum Rated Lifespan Unlisted Socket Compatibility Intel Socket LGA 1851/1700/1200/115x AMD AM5 / AM4 Base Copper Max TDP (Our Testing) ~260W with Intel’s i7-13700K Installed Size (with fans) 276mm (L) x 52 mm (W) x 120mm (D) Warranty 5 years Packing and included contents (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The packaging of the AIO is rather different from most coolers. It feels like luxury product packaging. The individual parts are protected by molded foam, carboard, and plastic coverings. On the side of the unit, a removable keychain is attached which can be used to open the drawers. The fans are contained in a second drawer below the main parts. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Included with the cooler are the following: 360mm radiator and CPU block Pre-installed 32GB SD Card Three 120mm fans Hardware Fan and ARGB hub Valkyrie thermal paste and pre-installed thermal paste Bushing tool Mounting for AMD and Intel platforms (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Features of Valkyrie’s SYN 360 *⃣ Included PWM and ARGB Hub A transparent PWM and ARGB hub is included, which supports up to six devices. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) *⃣ Full RAM compatibility As this AIO does not interfere or overhang DIMM slots in any manner, all sizes of RAM, no matter how tall, are compatible with the SYN 360 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) *⃣ 2.1-inch LCD display, MythCool software Valkyrie’s SYN features a 2.1-inch round display, which can be customized with a custom background, GIF, or video file via the MythCool software. You can also control the software using a mobile phone, if you prefer. I’ll go over a few more details about the software in the next section of the review. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) *⃣ 27mm thick radiator The radiator included is a standard 27mm size, for a total of 52mm in thickness if you include the fans attached. *⃣ Rotatable, braided tubing The braided tubing of the AIO is fully rotatable, which can help make installation easier. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) *⃣ Extra thermal paste Most companies either have pre-applied thermal paste for their coolers, or include a small tube of thermal paste for the user to apply. MyValkyrie goes the extra mile and does both – pre-applying paste to the CPU block, and also including an extra tube for future use. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) *⃣ Upgradeable storage Valkyrie’s SYN AIOs include a removable 32GB SD card for storing custom animations and videos. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) *⃣ Cable management features Included are cable management clips and velcro straps, which can help keep the tubing of the AIO organized. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) *⃣ 3x Valkyrie X12 fans There’s more to a cooler than just the heatsink or radiator. The bundled fans have a significant impact on cooling and noise levels, as well as how the cooler looks in your case. Valkyrie includes its X12 120mm fans with the AIO. These fans feature 9 blades, rubber anti-vibration pads, and incorporate ARGB strips for decorative lighting. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Swipe to scroll horizontally Model Valkyrie X12 Dimensions 120 x 120 x 25mm Fan Speed 800-2150 RPM ± 10% Air Flow Up to 80 CFM Air Pressure Up to 3.14 mmH2O Bearing Type FDB Lighting ARGB What I don’t like about the SYN 360 High Price The price of this AIO is higher than competing 360mm AIOs. Part of this can be explained by the inclusion of the LCD screen and included PWM hub, but $209.99 is still hard to accept because of the next point. “Beta” level software The software is very rough around the edges and feels clunky and rushed. Some parts have not been translated into English yet and display in Mandarin. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The software also only includes one background for the display. No other visuals are available, unless you upload a custom image or video file. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Testing Methodology, and how my testing differs vs the competition I do a few things differently than many other reviewers, to ensure my results are actually applicable to most users. I test in an actual case, rather than an open bench. The problem with testing on an open bench is that with typical consumer usage – you know, with an enclosed computer case – the ambient temperature within the case will be higher than that of outside air, which adds difficulty to the cooler’s job. I also strictly regulate the ambient temperature to 23 degrees C during testing. I do not accept results at 22 or 24 C as valid, even though in theory there wouldn’t be a significant difference in terms of test results. Testing is also only performed with recent-generation CPUs. Older CPUs have ******* hotspots due to older manufacturing processes, and they also have lower clock speeds, which can make them easier to cool. Many other reviewers, and also most of my own older reviews, only test coolers with a load running on the CPU. While this does provide good and useful information, it doesn’t paint a complete picture of how a cooler will perform. Many workloads, and especially gaming, will stress both the CPU and GPU. To test how well a CPU’s cooler will perform in these situations I’ve added two tests: one with a light CPU and one with a moderate CPU load, both while running a full load on with AMD’s Radeon RX 7900GRE. Today’s highest-end CPUs, whether Intel or AMD, are difficult to cool in intensive workloads. In the past. reaching 95 degrees Celsius or more on a desktop CPU might have been a cause for concern. But with today’s top-end CPUs, this is considered normal operation. Similar behavior has been present in laptops for years due to cooling limitations in tight spaces. All testing is performed with a 23 C ambient room temperature. Multiple thermal tests are run on each CPU to test the cooler in a variety of conditions, and acoustic measurements are taken with each result. These tests include: 1. Noise-normalized testing at low noise levels 2. Out-of-the-box / Default configuration thermal and acoustic testing a. No power limits enforced b. Because CPUs hit TJ Max in this scenario, the best way to compare cooling strength is by recording the total CPU package power consumption. 3. Thermal and acoustic testing in power-limited scenarios a. Power limited to 175W to emulate a medium-intensity workload b. Power limited to 125W to emulate a low-intensity workload The thermal results included are for 10-minute testing runs. To be sure that was sufficiently long to tax the cooler, we tested both Thermalright’s ********* X 120 R SE and DeepCool’s LT720 with a 30-minute Cinebench test with Intel’s i9-13900K for both 10 minutes and 30 minutes. The results didn’t change much at all with the longer test: The average clock speeds maintained dropped by 29 MHz on DeepCool’s LT720 and 31 MHz on Thermalright’s ********* X 120 R SE. That’s a small 0.6% difference in clock speeds maintained, a margin of error difference that tells us that the 10-minute tests are indeed long enough to properly test the coolers. Testing configuration – Intel LGA1700 platform Swipe to scroll horizontally CPU Intel Core i7-14700K Motherboard MSI Z790 Project Zero Case MSI Pano 100L PZ Monitor LG 45GR95QE PSU Silverstone HELA 1300 There are many factors other than the CPU cooler that can influence your cooling performance, including the case you use and the fans installed in it. A system’s motherboard can also influence this, especially if it suffers from bending, which results in poor cooler contact with the CPU. In order to prevent bending from impacting our cooling results, we’ve installed Thermalright’s LGA 1700 contact frame into our testing rig. If your motherboard is affected by bending, your thermal results will be worse than those shown below. Not all motherboards are affected equally by this issue. I tested Raptor Lake CPUs in two motherboards. And while one of them showed significant thermal improvements after installing Thermalright’s LGA1700 contact frame, the other motherboard showed no difference in temperatures whatsoever! Check out our review of the contact frame for more information. Installation The cooler installation is simple and easy. The fans come pre-installed, saving a few moments of installation time. I generally recommend securing the radiator to the case before proceeding to other steps. 1. Place the CPU bracket against the rear of the motherboard, and secure it using the included standoffs. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 2. With the first installation of the cooler, you won’t need to apply thermal paste – it’s already on the copper contact plate. However, additional paste is included for other installations. If you’re not sure how to apply thermal paste, we have a guide you can read for more details. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 3. Attach the mounting bars, and secure it using the included thumbscrews. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 4. After securing the CPU block, you’ll need to connect the pump to a USB header using the included cable. You’ll also need to connect the power cord to the CPU block and a SATA power port. Finally, connect the ARGB and PWM cables to finish installation. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Source link #Valkyrie #Syn #AIO #Liquid #Cooler #Review #strong #AIO #marred #betalevel #software Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump picks Elon Musk for US government cost-cutting role Donald Trump picks Elon Musk for US government cost-cutting role Reuters Elon Musk (L) will team up with Vivek Ramaswamy (R) on the project US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Elon Musk for a role in government cost-cutting, as part of his drive to “dismantle” bureaucracy when he returns to the White House next year. Tech billionaire Musk, who has called for huge spending cuts, has been picked alongside biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge). The acronym is a nod to Musk’s favourite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin. Trump said the pair would act in an advisory capacity, and that the Doge would not be an official government department. On the same day, Trump named another political newcomer – Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth – as his pick for defence secretary. Musk threw millions behind Donald Trump’s successful re-election bid, and was hotly tipped for a role in the administration that has so far rewarded loyalists. Trump himself outlined a plan for Musk in government cost-cutting on the campaign trail. Ramaswamy ran as a *********** candidate for president earlier this year against Trump, before dropping out and endorsing him. Since triumphing in last week’s vote, Trump has been assembling his top team – with another of his one-time *********** rivals, Marco Rubio, reportedly in the frame to be his new secretary of state. Trump looks likely to enjoy significant support for his legislative agenda in Congress. Republicans won the Senate and are closing in on control of the House. What is the Doge? It ******** to be seen how the Doge will operate. The organisation does not currently exist and, when created, it is not expected to be an official department. Such agencies have to be established through an act of Congress and typically employ thousands of staff. In Tuesday night’s announcement, Trump acknowledged that it will “provide advice and guidance from outside of government”. He said the initiative would help his administration “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies”. He said Musk and Ramaswamy would work with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to tackle “massive waste and ******” in $6.5tn (£5.1tn) of annual government spending. Trump has likened the new initiative to the Manhattan Project, a top-secret World War Two programme to develop the first nuclear weapons. The president-elect said Musk and Ramaswamy would complete their work no later than 4 July (********* Independence Day) 2026. The organisation’s name refers to Musk’s preferred cryptocurrency – which was itself jokingly in 2013 named after an internet meme. Dogecoin has soared in value over the past week. The roles of Musk and Ramaswamy In business, Musk has become known for his opposition to perceived government overregulation and his approach to cost-cutting – most notably after he took over Twitter, which he rebranded X and ***** off thousands of staff. Musk, who also founded SpaceX and Tesla, recently called for at least $2tn in cuts to US federal spending, nearly a third of the government’s budget, without offering specifics. He has also proposed eliminating hundreds of federal agencies, arguing that many of them have overlapping areas of responsibility. In a press release from Trump’s campaign, Musk said: “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people.” After the announcement, Musk posted on X: “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!” Ramaswamy reposted Trump’s announcement on social media saying “we will not go gently”. He also said he was withdrawing from consideration to fill incoming US Vice-President JD Vance’s soon-to-be-vacated Ohio Senate seat. Last year, while running for president, Ramaswamy said he would ***** more than 75% of the federal work force and close down several major agencies, including the Department of Education, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Since Trump’s election victory last week, Musk has reportedly spent every day with Trump at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He also took part in a recent phone call Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Flurry of appointments Trump announced the appointments of Musk and Ramaswamy amid a flurry of press releases on Tuesday evening, which also saw several senior national security positions filled. John Ratcliffe, slated to lead the CIA, previously served as Trump’s director of national intelligence and oversaw US intelligence agencies. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was confirmed as Trump’s nomination to serve as secretary of homeland security. Meanwhile, some eyebrows were raised at the nomination of Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon. A veteran of the Iraq war, he has limited experience of government but has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s for several years. North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of the race for the White House in his twice-weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the *** can sign up here. Those outside the *** can sign up here. Source link #Donald #Trump #picks #Elon #Musk #government #costcutting #role Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LEGO Horizon Adventures Review | GodisaGeek LEGO Horizon Adventures Review | GodisaGeek GodisaGeek: “LEGO Horizon Adventures is a lot of fun, and Studio Gobo has done a great job making Aloy’s journey full of excitement and humour.” Source link #LEGO #Horizon #Adventures #Review #GodisaGeek Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wednesday’s biggest analyst calls on Wall Street like Apple Wednesday’s biggest analyst calls on Wall Street like Apple Here are Wednesday’s biggest calls on Wall Street: Oppenheimer initiates Pure Storage as outperform Oppenheimer said the data storage company is best positioned for share gains. “Our bullish stance is predicated upon our view that Pure Storage is: (1) a beneficiary of rising creation and storage of unstructured data that is used to build and deliver AI applications; (2) a long-term share gainer in the all-flash array (AFA) market, where it has a technological advantage.” Evercore ISI downgrades Caterpillar to in line from outperform The firm said it sees earnings per share risk for Caterpillar. “Better secular trends in power gen/data centers and government infrastructure/re-shoring/energy transition act as partial offset to that much more challenging starting point for CAT, but clearly big operating leverage on volumes bouncing off of somewhat depressed level is not the set up today.” UBS upgrades 3M to buy from neutral After a change in analyst coverage, the firm upgraded 3M and said it’s a “big idiosyncratic opportunity with plenty to fix.” “We believe the company’s new outsider CEO, William M. Brown, is hitting all the right notes, including (1) reallocating R & D spending towards reinvigorating growth (currently less than 20% of R & D spend goes to new product development and annual new product introductions are down 85% vs. a decade ago); (2) improving order fill rates.” BTIG upgrades On Holding to buy from neutral The firm said it sees a slew of tailwinds ahead for the shoe company. “We view Q3 as a representation of ONON’s true top-line momentum and go-forward earnings power, vs. Q2 when the business was heavily constrained, esp. at DTC [direct to consumer].” Wells Fargo upgrades Bank ******* to overweight from equal weight Wells Fargo likes Bank *******’s balance sheet trends. “BKU is in the process of transforming both sides of their balance sheet, with DDA [demand ******** accounts] growth highlighting the improved mix-shift in the funding base, while the strong FL/NY markets are allowing for commercial loan growth to replace lower-yielding, longer-duration, residential.” Morgan Stanley upgrades CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings to overweight from equal weight The firm said the software company is gaining market share. ” CCCS is a market share leader, positioned to capture value digitizing and automating the P & C Insurance industry.” Barclays reiterates Instacart as overweight The firm said it’s sticking with its overweight rating following earnings. ” CART shares are finally starting to reflect the solid fundamental story, yet its 11x EBITDA still trails the peer group by a whopping 50%.” Redburn Atlantic Equities downgrades Starbucks to sell from neutral The firm downgraded the stock citing a lack of near-term growth prospects. “However, as has been the case at Starbucks of late, the recovery will come at a cost not adequately reflected in consensus, in our view. In addition, with shares trading at an elevated forward P/E multiple, there is little room for error. We downgrade to Sell with an $77 PT.” Telsey reiterates Target as outperform Telsey says it’s sticking with its outperform on Target ahead of earnings next week. “We expect the positive comp trend to continue in 3Q24 and ahead.” Bank of America reiterates Salesforce as buy The firm raised its price target to $390 per share from $325 and said Salesforce is a top pick. “A round of calls with partners suggests largely in-line deal activity, consistent with Q2. Key takeaways: 1) steady growth in Sales/Marketing Clouds & Service Cloud, 2) health care/life sciences, financial services & government verticals continued to outperform.” Morgan Stanley reiterates Spotify as overweight The firm said Spotify ******** a top pick following earnings. ” Spotify continues to make ’24 a showcase for a) product leadership, b) pricing power, and c) operating leverage. This results in a ramp in FCF from roughly zero in ’22 to $2.3bn in ’24 on its way to $3.6bn by ’26E.” Jefferies reiterates Netflix as buy The firm said the latest report of monthly active users for Netflix weakens the bear case. ” NFLX’s disclosures of 70M MAUs [monthly active users] (vs. +75% growth from 40M in May) and 50% of new subs joining through the ad tier were better than expected and weaken the bear narrative that NFLX’s ad tier lacks scale.” Piper Sandler reiterates Micron as overweight The firm said it’s getting more bullish on the stock after a series of meetings with Micron management. “We feel the company continues to be well-positioned with its HBM [high bandwidth memory] product offering and roadmap. Incremental growth drivers in the near-term continue to be outsized orders from the data center end market while longer-term, automotive as well as a return to growth from handsets and PCs could provide tailwinds in our view.” Evercore ISI reiterates Apple as outperform Evercore said the stock is a top pick heading into 2025. “Beyond AI, we continue to expect solid growth out of Services (low teens) and Wearables (HSD) in FY25 along with continued strength in margins. This growth coupled with steadily accelerating iPhone y/y growth should enable Apple stock to work higher as we go through 2025.” Wedbush reiterates Tesla as outperform The firm said it expects Tesla shares to accelerate, especially after President-elect Donald Trump named Elon Musk to a Department of Government Efficiency. “This is another indicator that Musk will have a major seat at the table in the White House and ultimately this is a positive for Tesla as Trump will fast track the autonomous and AI initiatives in our view over the next 12 to 18 months that will be a gamechanger to the Tesla story.” TD Cowen reiterates Cava as buy The firm said Cava had a “flawless” third quarter. “We are pleased with the sales-driven 3Q beat and 2024 guidance raise from tangible sales drivers in addition to improvements in brand awareness & customer satisfaction.” Source link #Wednesdays #biggest #analyst #calls #Wall #Street #Apple Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

French headteacher describes spiral of events that led to beheading French headteacher describes spiral of events that led to beheading @ch_capuano Samuel Paty was a well-liked history and geography teacher murdered outside his school The former headteacher of a French school has revealed the shocking sequence of events that led to the beheading of Samuel Paty by a Chechen ********. Audrey F told the court in Paris how she had tried to stop a row spiralling out of control that began with a 13-year-old student lying to her parents. What began with Samuel Paty giving a lesson on freedom of expression in October 2020 escalated when the father of the girl, who had not even been in the class, turned up at the headteacher’s office with a local Islamist activist. “I didn’t manage to protect him,” Audrey F said of her late colleague – a well-liked history and geography teacher in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. “It’s such an enormous waste.” The row tragically ended with Paty’s ******* outside the school by 18-year-old Abdoullakh Anzorov, who was shot ***** by police at the scene. The girl, known in court by the initial Z, had just been suspended by the school for two days for repeated absence and rudeness. That was not what she had told her parents. The girl claimed she had confronted Paty in a class she had not attended, falsely alleging that he had told ******* students to leave the room while he showed “******” images of the Prophet Muhammad. Although the mother of another girl had phoned the school in tears, Audrey F said she had called her back, with Samuel Paty also on the call, and said the mother appeared reassured. In reality, three cartoons published by a French satirical magazine had been discussed in class, and Paty had said anyone who felt they might be offended did not have to stay. Any depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are considered highly offensive by Muslims. But there had been no attempt to target or exclude Muslims students. The following morning, Audrey F was told that the excluded student’s father Brahim Chnina was outside the school with another man, Abdelhakim Sefrioui, who wrongly claimed to be acting on behalf of French imams. The pair were demanding action against Paty, who they condemned as a “thug” and wanted removed. Audrey F said that while she had tried to focus the conversation on the girl’s exclusion from school, Abdelhakim Sefrioui had taken the lead, refusing to allow freedom of expression to be used by a “thug”. The ******* of Samuel Paty, 47, shocked France and came five years after militant Islamist gunmen murdered 12 people at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo which published the original cartoons. Abdelhakim Sefrioui and Brahim Chnina are accused of identifying Samuel Paty as a “blasphemer” in online videos and of involvement in a “********* **********” group and complicity in “********** *******”. BENOIT PEYRUCQ/AFP Eight people are being tried in Paris and all deny involvement in the ******* They are among eight people on trial at the court in Paris who all deny the charges against them, while not denying their involvement in the case. The other six include a pair accused of helping the teenage ******* and others who are accused of egging him on on social media. Audrey F, who has left France to teach at an international school in China, told the court that she had felt the next day that the situation had now become a problem and “something is not right at the school”. Two videos appeared on social media, one from Brahim Chnina in which his daughter repeated her ***** about the class, another later from Abdelhakim Sefrioui, naming both Samuel Paty and the school. “By now I was very worried, not specifically for Mr Paty but for the school,” she told the court. On the advice of a superior she went to the police with Samuel Paty, where he filed a complaint, and contacted the local authority. The geography teacher was urged to stay at home until the school holidays which were only days away. He refused to do so and Audrey F did not insist. Threatening emails were sent to the school and there were anonymous phone-calls too. A police car was parked outside the school for several days. On the final day of half-term, at 16:45 on Friday 16 October, Samuel Paty was stabbed and decapitated by the 18-year-old Chechen ******** outside the school. Brahim Chnina’s daughter has already been convicted of making false and slanderous accusations, while five other teenagers have been found guilty of taking part in a group preparing aggravated *********. When asked in court what Abdelhakim Sefrioui and Brahim Chnina could have done to calm the situation, Audrey F said nothing would have happened if they had not posted videos online. Regretting that she had been unable to protect her colleague, the former headteacher said: “I tell myself that if there is justice, perhaps I’ll manage to move on.” Source link #French #headteacher #describes #spiral #events #led #beheading Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 19 best gift ideas for the remote worker in your life The 19 best gift ideas for the remote worker in your life A good to-do list app can bring order to those who struggle to keep track of everything on their schedule. There are tons of options in this space, but my personal favorite is TickTick Premium, which works across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux and the web. It offers a powerful set of tools for organizing thoughts and structuring events. You can group tasks with specific tags, distinguish them by priority level, set reminders for recurring events and see all of your upcoming to-dos in a calendar or “today” view. Visually, the app is clean, easy to parse and consistent across devices, so you can set a task on the web and update it on an iPad without feeling lost. While it isn’t explicitly designed for note-taking you can jot down thoughts and create structured lists within each to-do. Search works well, and you can create a task with natural language, so writing, “finish gift guide by next Wednesday at 4pm” will automatically set the correct due date. (This isn’t bulletproof, but it generally goes right.) Apps like this aren’t a cure-all for those who can’t stay on top of their lives, but if your loved one often seems frazzled at work, TickTick may help them see a little bit clearer. — J.D. Source link #gift #ideas #remote #worker #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Even AI laggards can see triple return on investment Even AI laggards can see triple return on investment Boosting employee productivity is regarded as one of the big wins when deploying generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology, a survey has reported. However, in the next 24 months, a greater focus will be placed on functional and industry use cases. The study from IDC based on a poll of 3,476 people reported that 43% believe the productivity use case currently delivers the greatest return on investment. The survey, commissioned by Microsoft, found that for every $1 invested in GenAI, organisations, on average, achieved a 3.7-fold return on that investment. IDC defines an AI leader as an organisation whose enterprise-wide AI strategy is aligned to business goals and whose reimagined business models repeatedly create business value. The analyst reported that respondents who identified as leading the way with GenAI say they are seeing a 10-fold return on their initial investment. On average, AI deployments are taking less than eight months, and organisations are realising value within 13 months. But when looking at the speed with which an AI initiative generates value, 29% of the AI leaders polled implement AI in less than three months versus laggards at 6%. Yet even in those organisations that are classed as AI laggards, the return on investment is, on average, almost three times the initial outlay. When broken down by region, IDC reported that North America had the least number of AI laggards (16%), while the proportion of AI laggards in Western Europe (31%) and Asia-Pacific (32%) is almost double. Moody’s Analytics, one of the Microsoft customers quoted in the report accompanying the survey results, has used Microsoft Azure OpenAI to help democratise access to market data. “Moody’s provides information on financial markets to help customers make informed investment decisions,” said Nick Reed, chief product officer at Moody’s Analytics. “With GenAI, we are democratising access to that content in a powerful way for our customers. For example, Moody’s Research Assistant, built on Microsoft Azure OpenAI, helps customers generate insights from our credit research, data and analytics. The tool has saved users up to 25% of the time typically spent on tasks performed by financial analysts.” While the use of a pre-built AI such as Microsoft Copilot is predominant today, the IDC poll reported that organisations are planning to either customise a pre-built AI or use a custom-built AI in the next 24 months. In fact, while 43% of survey respondents say they are currently using pre-built AI today, this figure drops by 18% when asked about their plans over the next 24 months. The survey shows that while just under a fifth (19%) of the people polled say their organisations are building custom AI today, when asked about their plans over the next 24 months, there is a significant jump (to 36%) in the proportion of organisations planning to go down the custom AI route. Source link #laggards #triple #return #investment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump names Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defence secretary pick Trump names Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defence secretary pick Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump has named Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host, author and military veteran, as his pick for defence secretary. Hegseth, 44, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, will be responsible for the world’s most powerful military in his first political role. Announcing his choice on Tuesday, Trump described him as “tough, smart and a true believer in America First”. The news came on the same day Trump announced another political newcomer, billionaire Elon Musk, would take a government cost-cutting role. Trump’s administration is taking shape after his win in last week’s presidential election. Hegseth was one of a flurry of security appointments that also included Trump’s pick of John Ratcliffe to head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). If confirmed for his role by the US Senate, Hegseth will arrive at the Pentagon with decisions to make on issues such as military assistance for ******* during its campaign in Gaza, and on support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion. Trump wants the US to disentangle itself from foreign conflicts generally. During the election campaign, he criticised the Biden administration’s expenditure to support Kyiv. Also on Tuesday, Trump confirmed that he wanted South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to play a significant role as homeland security secretary. Another military veteran, Michael Waltz, was chosen by Trump as national security adviser – meaning he will advise the president on foreign threats. Senator Marco Rubio – who shares Waltz’s hawkish views on China – is expected to be Trump’s future secretary of state, sources have told the BBC’s US partner, CBS News. But the pick is not yet confirmed. Republicans have won back control of the Senate, the upper chamber of Congress, and are inching towards a majority in the House, the lower chamber, as vote-counting continues. Some of the government appointments – including Hegseth’s – require a vote of approval by senators, although Trump, also a ***********, has demanded that the next leader of the US Senate let him bypass this process. He can give out other jobs directly. Senate Republicans are due to vote on a new leader on Wednesday – the day that Trump is also expected to visit the outgoing president, Joe Biden, at the White House as part of the traditional transfer of power. Who is Pete Hegseth? Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ivy League graduate Hegseth has in recent years worked as a ************* commentator. He lives with his wife and seven children in Tennessee. He has hosted programmes on Fox News, using his platform to draw attention to military and veterans’ issues. He had his last day at Fox on Tuesday. He is reported by US media to have successfully lobbied Trump during his first presidency to pardon servicemen accused of war *******. In his statement announcing Hegseth as his pick for defence secretary on Tuesday, Trump highlighted the former soldier’s education at Princeton and Harvard universities, and his military experience in Afghanistan and Iraq. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” Trump wrote in a post. The president-elect also drew attention to Hegseth’s work as a published author. He said the book The War on Warrior “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our warriors, and how we must return our military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence”. What has he previously said about the military? Hegseth has been an outspoken opponent of what he has referred to as “woke” policies within the US military and its leadership. “The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth said on a podcast this month. One of his tasks as defence secretary could be to act on Trump’s campaign promises to get rid of US generals who he accuses of pursuing progressive policies in the force. Before his selection by Trump, Hegseth was asked on the same podcast about what changes he would make in the military. He referred to “first of all” ******* the US’ top military officer, Gen Charles “CQ” Brown Jr, saying people involved in diversity, equality or inclusion policies had “got to go”. “Either you’re in for war fighting and that’s it, that’s the only litmus test we care about,” Hegseth told the Shawn Ryan Show, in an episode released last week. Gen Brown is a former fighter pilot with command experience in the Pacific and Middle East, and was appointed into the chairman of the ****** Chiefs of Staff role by President Joe Biden last year. On the same podcast, Hegseth also said “whatever” combat standards were in 1995, “let’s just make those the standards”. North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of the race for the White House in his twice-weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the *** can sign up here. Those outside the *** can sign up here. Source link #Trump #names #Fox #News #host #Pete #Hegseth #defence #secretary #pick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fortnite ***** Reveals All Nike and Jordan Kicks Cosmetics Fortnite ***** Reveals All Nike and Jordan Kicks Cosmetics · · November 13, 2024 Prominent Fortnite Leaker HYPEX has revealed the game’s upcoming Nike and Jordan cosmetics. Check out the complete list below. Earlier this month, Epic announced that Fortnite will officially introduce Kicks as the new cosmetic item, which will be available across 500 of the most popular skins in the game. The blog post also revealed the initial lineup for Fortnite Kicks, featuring Nike and Jordan brands, with some originals from Fortnite. The latest ***** reveals which Nike and Jordan sneakers are making it to the game. Here’s the complete list of Fortnite Nike and Jordan Kicks revealed by HYPEX: Air Jordan 1 High OG’ ****** Toe Reimagined’ Air Jordan 11 ‘Retro Bred’ Air Jordan 3 ‘****** Cement-Gray’ Air Jordan 3 ‘Retro Palomino’ Air Jordan 4 ‘Retro Manila’ Fortnite Shark Slippers Nike Air ‘Galaxy Foamposite’ Nike Cortez OG Nike Shox In the game, these Nike and Air Jordan Kicks cosmetics will be usable on skins like Miles Morales, Cell, John Wick, and many more. In other news, Fortnite has confirmed that the game’s OG map will return permanently on December 6. Also, the game’s first-person mode will launch on December 11. What are your thoughts on the leaked Fortnite Nike and Air Jordan Kicks? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more information from Insider Gaming, read about Phil Spencer confirming an Xbox handheld console that is years away. 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 #Fortnite #***** #Reveals #Nike #Jordan #Kicks #Cosmetics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]