Pelican Press

OnePlus Ace 5 Launch Timeline Tipped; Said to Feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 6.78-Inch Display OnePlus Ace 5 Launch Timeline Tipped; Said to Feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 6.78-Inch Display OnePlus Ace 5 and OnePlus Ace 5 Pro have been in the rumour mill for quite some time now. While the BBK-owned brand has yet to share details on the lineup, a new ***** claims that the vanilla model will land in China next month. The OnePlus Ace 5 is tipped to get a 1.5K resolution display. It is said to run on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC chipset. The OnePlus Ace 5 is expected to arrive in markets outside China with the OnePlus 13R moniker. Digital Chat Station (translated from ********) claims in a Weibo post that the OnePlus Ace 5 will be launched in China in December. This indicates that OnePlus 13R will be released in global markets including India as a rebranded version of the OnePlus Ace 5 in the coming months, presumably in January. The OnePlus Ace 3 was unveiled in China in January. In global markets, the handset is available as the OnePlus 12R. OnePlus Ace 5, OnePlus Ace 5 Pro Specifications (Expected) Previous leaks suggested that the OnePlus Ace 5 will come with a 6.78-inch BOE X2 8T LTPO display with a 1.5K resolution. It is said to be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The handset could pack a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 50-megapixel main camera. The OnePlus Ace 5 may feature a 16-megapixel selfie shooter. It is said to come with an alert slider and carry a 6,300mAh battery with 100W fast charging support. The OnePlus Ace 5 Pro, on the other hand, is speculated to run on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It is said to pack a 6,500mAh battery with 100W fast charging support. The Pro model could be exclusive to the ******** market. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #OnePlus #Ace #Launch #Timeline #Tipped #Feature #Snapdragon #Gen #6.78Inch #Display Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UBS upgrades 3M to buy, says shares can rally more than 40% UBS upgrades 3M to buy, says shares can rally more than 40% 3M is poised to see a return to steady growth in the months ahead, according to UBS. The bank raised its rating on the stock buy from neutral and hiked its price target to $184 from $130, reflecting more than 41% upside. Shares were nearly 1% higher in the premarket following the move. This year, the stock has risen more than 42%. MMM YTD mountain MMM, year-to-date Analyst Amit Mehrotra thinks CEO William Brown – who assumed the role on May 1 – is already making substantive change at the company. Mehrotra highlighted Brown’s focus on new product innovation through reallocating research and development spending and on sales growth through improving order fill rates. “We see the potential for its new CEO to drive meaningful change at this 120-year-old company,” he told clients in a Tuesday note. “These changes can drive improvement in organic sales growth and [operating] margin, which will drive EPS upside and justify a better multiple on the underlying company than is currently implied in the stock price.” Mehrotra said the company could see 40% earnings growth by 2028, if the CEO is successful in his efforts. The analyst also sees potential for meaningful share buybacks, citing around $7.5 billion in repurchases between 2025 and 2028. Mehrotra is among the 10 analysts on Wall Street who have a strong buy or buy rating on the name, per LSEG. The average price target of $144.74 implies around 11% upside. Source link #UBS #upgrades #buy #shares #rally Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Denmark lays out EU AI Act compliance blueprint with Microsoft backing Denmark lays out EU AI Act compliance blueprint with Microsoft backing Jaque Silv | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Denmark on Wednesday ***** out a framework that can help EU member states use generative artificial intelligence in compliance with the ********* Union’s strict new AI Act — and Microsoft’s already on board. A government-backed alliance of major Danish corporates, led by IT consultancy Netcompany, launched the “Responsible Use of AI Assistants in the Public and Private Sector” white paper, a blueprint that sets out “best-practice examples” for how firms should use and support employees in deploying AI systems in a regulated environment. The guide also aims to encourage delivery of “secure and reliable services” by businesses to consumers. Denmark’s Agency for Digital Government, the country’s central business registry CVR and pensions authority ATP are among the founding partners adopting the framework. This includes guidelines governing how the public and private sector collaborate, deploying AI in society, complying with both the AI Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), mitigating risks and reducing bias, scaling AI implementation, storing data securely, and training up staff. Netcompany CEO André Rogaczewski said the provisions ***** out in the white paper were primarily aimed at companies in heavily regulated industries, such as in financial services. He told CNBC he’s aiming to address one core question: “How can we scale the responsible usage of AI?” What is the EU AI Act? The EU AI Act is a landmark law that aims to govern the way companies develop, use and apply AI. It came into force in August, after previously receiving final approval from EU member states, lawmakers, and the ********* Commission — the executive body of the EU — in May. The law applies a risk-based approach to governing AI, meaning various applications of the technology are treated differently depending on the risk level they pose. It’s been touted as the world’s first major AI law that will give firms clarity under a harmonized, EU-wide regulatory framework. Though the rules are technically in effect, implementation them is a lengthy process. Most of the provisions of the Act — including rules for general-purpose AI systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT — won’t materialize until at least 2026, at the end of a two-year transition *******. “It is absolutely vital for the competitiveness of our businesses and future progress of Europe that both the private and public sector will succeed in developing and using AI in the years to come,” Caroline Stage Olsen, Denmark’s minister of digital affairs, told CNBC, calling the white paper a “helpful step” toward that goal. Netcompany’s Rogaczewski told CNBC that pitched the idea for a white paper to some of Denmark’s biggest banks and insurance firms some months ago. He found that, though each organization was “experimenting” with AI, institutions lacked a “common standard” to get the most out of the tech. Rogaczewski hopes the Danish white paper will also offer a blue print for other countries and businesses seeking to simplify compliance with the EU AI Act. Microsoft’s decision to sign up to the guidelines is of particular note. “Getting Microsoft involved was important since generative AI solutions often involve algorithms and global tech,” said Rogaczewski, adding the tech giant’s involvement underlines how responsible digitization is possibility across borders. The U.S. tech giant is a major backer of ChatGPT developer OpenA, which secured a $157 billion valuation this year. Microsoft also licenses OpenAI’s technology out to enterprise firms via its Azure cloud computing platform. Source link #Denmark #lays #Act #compliance #blueprint #Microsoft #backing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NVIDIA shifts production to GeForce RTX 50 series, only 1 RTX 40 GPU reportedly still in production NVIDIA shifts production to GeForce RTX 50 series, only 1 RTX 40 GPU reportedly still in production OtterX20h ago(Edited 20h ago) I’m dumbfounded at the lack of Final Fantasy Tactics on this list. It usually tops many sites and players’ lists of best ********* Tactical RPGs ever made… for all platforms, not just PS1. Even if it wasn’t the first JTRPG ever made, it really did popularize the subgenre. The original is still sooo good! Source link #NVIDIA #shifts #production #GeForce #RTX #series #RTX #GPU #reportedly #production Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New *****-Resilient Dicliptera Polymorpha Discovered in India’s Western Ghats New *****-Resilient Dicliptera Polymorpha Discovered in India’s Western Ghats A new plant species, Dicliptera polymorpha, notable for its resilience to ***** and dual blooming pattern, has been identified in the Northern Western Ghats by scientists from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune. This rare find contributes to the biodiversity records of one of India’s major ecological hotspots. Unlike typical plants, Dicliptera polymorpha showcases an unusual adaptation, flowering twice a year, with one phase triggered by grassland fires. This unique characteristic makes it one of the few known Indian species with such adaptive flowering. Unique ***** Response and Growth Characteristics As per the official release from Department of Science & Technology, Dicliptera polymorpha, collected in Talegaon-Dabhade’s grasslands by ARI botanists, demonstrates a remarkable response to grassland fires that periodically sweep the region. A research team led by Dr. Mandar Datar, with botanist Adittya Dharap and Ph.D. student Bhushan Shigwan, observed that while the plant’s primary flowering occurs post-monsoon, a second, shorter flowering phase is prompted by ***** exposure, with dwarf shoots emerging from woody rootstocks. The plant’s adaptation is seen as an evolved survival trait in response to the region’s harsh climatic conditions and human-ignited fires. Validation and Conservation Implications The distinctive inflorescence of Dicliptera polymorpha was confirmed as a new species by Dr. I. Darbyshire from the Kew Botanic Garden, London. Published recently in Kew Bulletin, the study highlights the species’ potential for conservation interest due to its limited habitat and specialised blooming cycle. Conservation efforts are recommended to manage human-induced fires sustainably to protect the delicate grassland ecosystems that support species like Dicliptera polymorpha, emphasising the ecological importance of the Western Ghats and the need for targeted management to prevent habitat degradation. In light of this discovery, the researchers stress the urgency of conserving the Western Ghats’ unique biodiversity, which ******** a source of undiscovered species with adaptive traits. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Signal Updated With Call Links Feature, Raise Hand Button, Emoji Reactions and More Improvements NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment Captures Gravity Waves From Hurricane Helene in Florida Source link #FireResilient #Dicliptera #Polymorpha #Discovered #Indias #Western #Ghats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Denmark lays out EU AI Act compliance blueprint with Microsoft backing Denmark lays out EU AI Act compliance blueprint with Microsoft backing Jaque Silv | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Denmark on Wednesday ***** out a framework that can help EU member states use generative artificial intelligence in compliance with the ********* Union’s strict new AI Act — and Microsoft‘s already on board. A government-backed alliance of major Danish corporates, led by IT consultancy Netcompany, launched the “Responsible Use of AI Assistants in the Public and Private Sector” white paper, a blueprint that sets out “best-practice examples” for how firms should use and support employees in deploying AI systems in a regulated environment. The guide also aims to encourage delivery of “secure and reliable services” by businesses to consumers. Denmark’s Agency for Digital Government, the country’s central business registry CVR and pensions authority ATP are among the founding partners adopting the framework. This includes guidelines governing how the public and private sector collaborate, deploying AI in society, complying with both the AI Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), mitigating risks and reducing bias, scaling AI implementation, storing data securely, and training up staff. Netcompany CEO André Rogaczewski said the provisions ***** out in the white paper were primarily aimed at companies in heavily regulated industries, such as in financial services. He told CNBC he’s aiming to address one core question: “How can we scale the responsible usage of AI?” What is the EU AI Act? The EU AI Act is a landmark law that aims to govern the way companies develop, use and apply AI. It came into force in August, after previously receiving final approval from EU member states, lawmakers, and the ********* Commission — the executive body of the EU — in May. The law applies a risk-based approach to governing AI, meaning various applications of the technology are treated differently depending on the risk level they pose. It’s been touted as the world’s first major AI law that will give firms clarity under a harmonized, EU-wide regulatory framework. Though the rules are technically in effect, implementation them is a lengthy process. Most of the provisions of the Act — including rules for general-purpose AI systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT — won’t materialize until at least 2026, at the end of a two-year transition *******. “It is absolutely vital for the competitiveness of our businesses and future progress of Europe that both the private and public sector will succeed in developing and using AI in the years to come,” Caroline Stage Olsen, Denmark’s minister of digital affairs, told CNBC, calling the white paper a “helpful step” toward that goal. Netcompany’s Rogaczewski told CNBC that pitched the idea for a white paper to some of Denmark’s biggest banks and insurance firms some months ago. He found that, though each organization was “experimenting” with AI, institutions lacked a “common standard” to get the most out of the tech. Rogaczewski hopes the Danish white paper will also offer a blue print for other countries and businesses seeking to simplify compliance with the EU AI Act. Microsoft’s decision to sign up to the guidelines is of particular note. “Getting Microsoft involved was important since generative AI solutions often involve algorithms and global tech,” said Rogaczewski, adding the tech giant’s involvement underlines how responsible digitization is possibility across borders. The U.S. tech giant is a major backer of ChatGPT developer OpenA, which secured a $157 billion valuation this year. Microsoft also licenses OpenAI’s technology out to enterprise firms via its Azure cloud computing platform. Source link #Denmark #lays #Act #compliance #blueprint #Microsoft #backing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

These 3 Active ETFs Beat the S&P 500 Over the Last 5 Years These 3 Active ETFs Beat the S&P 500 Over the Last 5 Years Beating the S&P 500 is often the ultimate goal in investment management. Doing this consistently is very difficult. A bet Warren Buffet made shows he knows this to be true. Still, some funds still are able to achieve this goal. Beating the consistently is something many investors dedicate their lives to, but few are able to reach the lofty goal. Often just called “the S&P,” this index has cemented its place as the primary measuring stick to which “active” investors compare themselves. Active investing refers to not buying a low-cost index fund that will perform equally to the S&P or another index. It means building a custom portfolio or strategy with the goal of generating a higher return than the market, and ideally while taking less risk. Achieving this is exceedingly difficult. Warren Buffett knows this. That’s why, back in 2007, he bet that not one out of a group of five hedge funds would be able to beat the return of the S&P 500 over the next 10 years. In the end, he was proven unequivocally correct. Over that *******, the best-performing fund achieved an annual return of 6.5%, while the worst-performing generated barely more than 0%. Over the *******, the S&P 500 crushed them, with a return of 8.5% annually. Yet, it’s still not impossible to find funds that have beaten the S&P 500 over a lengthy *******. Mathematically, it becomes easier when investing in funds that charge lower fees. The 2.5% annual fee charged by the hedge funds in the Buffett exercise was a big hurdle they ultimately couldn’t overcome. Even when investing in actively managed ETFs, fees will be much higher than an index-tracking alternative. However, below are three active ETFs that beat the return of the S&P 500 over the last five years after fees. Enhancing the S&P With Strategic Options Trading The Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF (NYSE:) has a 16.7% annual return over the past five years. The S&P 500 returned 15.9% annually. This ETF is mostly an S&P 500 index fund. It has 99.8% of its portfolio in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:). However, it uses a key financial instrument to enhance its returns: options. Through opportunistic buying and selling options on the S&P, the fund has been able to enhance its returns over the index. The fund specifically buys and sells put options to do this. By selling put options, the fund generates income. It will also buy put options with a lower strike price than the one it sold. This allows it to collect and spread between the two. This strategy can go wrong if the fund incorrectly forecasts price movements in the S&P, causing it to lose money. However, it has been able to be right more times than not over the last five years. Recently, ******* Really Has Been Better The Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (NASDAQ:) has been able to achieve a 16.5% return annually over the past five years. The fund also bases its investment strategy largely on the S&P 500. However, it differs by giving disproportionate allocations to the largest companies in the index. “Mega-cap” refers to the largest companies with market capitalizations over $200 billion. Essentially, it means “larger than large cap.” Large-cap stocks are typically defined as those with market capitalizations over $10 billion. Currently, the only stocks in the portfolio fall into the mega-cap definition. It makes sense why this strategy has been able to outperform. From 2019 to 2023, the Magnificent Seven stocks, the seven largest companies in the S&P Index, have greatly outperformed the overall index. This shows how having an over-allocation to the largest stocks has provided return benefits over the S&P. Using Growth, and Possibly ESG, To Boost Returns The ClearBridge Large Cap Growth ESG ETF (NASDAQ:) has been able to achieve an annual return of 17% over the past five years. It invests in stocks that fall within the market capitalization range of the Russell 1000 Growth Index, another important large-cap index. Thus, it has a growth tilt, investing in companies with growth characteristics. This has helped the fund, as growth stocks have performed better than value stocks in the recent past. However, whether that will continue is uncertain. It also has an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) bent. It “invests in stocks of companies that are socially conscious in their business dealings and directly promote environmental responsibility.” The merits of this type of investing have been the subject of much debate and controversy. However, there is some evidence to suggest that investing in “green” stocks like these has led to overperformance. Original Post Source link #Active #ETFs #Beat #Years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JD Sports and Fullers warn Budget will push up prices JD Sports and Fullers warn Budget will push up prices Prices in shops and pubs will rise as a result of tax rises on businesses announced in the Budget, two bosses have warned. Andy Higginson, chair of JD Sports and the British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, said tax increases from April, including a rise in National Insurance, would lead to a jump in costs for shoppers. Higher drinks prices could show in as little as six months, added Simon Emeny, the boss of Fullers, which owns about 400 pubs and hotels. There has been a growing backlash from firms to the higher costs they face from the Budget, but chancellor Rachel Reeves has said “businesses will have to absorb some of this through profits”. From April next year, employers will have to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100 currently. Minimum wages are also set to rise from April. On Wednesday, Mr Higginson warned: “I’m guaranteeing you today, if these go through as they are without any sort of feathering, we’re going to see significant inflation in prices.” He called on the government to “phase” in the increases in National Insurance and minimum wages for businesses “over the next two to three years” rather than in April next year. “We just need to make sure that the immediate impact of all these things doesn’t come in one big lump and that the economy has time to absorb these changes in a way that doesn’t fuel inflation,” Mr Higginson told the BBC’s Today programme. The chancellor’s budget included £40bn in total worth of tax rises. More than half of these will be paid for by employers, with the National Insurance increase set to generate £25bn a year. But there are concerns, the impact will still be felt by working people if firms decide to pass on costs through higher prices and if wage increases are restricted. “It doesn’t feel like a Budget for working people. It doesn’t feel like a Budget for growth. I think it will restrict investment,” said Fullers boss Mr Emeny. The pub chain boss added that businesses still had not recovered profits fully post-Covid, and that the Budget measures announced cost an “extra £3.5bn” for the hospitality sector. “There’s no way a sector like ours can carry this level of cost and just absorb it as profit,” he added. Mr Emeny said that the combination of NI and minimum wage changes would cost his business an additional £8m, although the businesses latest results saw increased sales and profits on its food, drinks and hotels. In the six months to September, Fullers increased profits before tax by 21% to £17.6m compared with the same time last year. The average price of a pint of draught lager in the *** was £4.47 in September, according to the Office for National Statistics, but the British ***** and Pub Association recently revealed that landlords make 12p profit per pint. One London pub boss has said he will likely raise the price of a pint as much as 40p as a result of the Budget. Mr Higginson said the Budget created a “worrying” backdrop for businesses at a time when economic growth is desperately needed. “[Labour] came to business pre the election with a promise of economic literacy and being pro-growth, and they do need growth – if you’re going to invest in public services… you do need to get that growth, and it’s hard to see that the actions so far really match that pro-business rhetoric,” he said. Source link #Sports #Fullers #warn #Budget #push #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to unlock Sirin 9mm in ****** Ops 6 & Warzone How to unlock Sirin 9mm in ****** Ops 6 & Warzone The Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 and Warzone Season 1 update looks to introduce a heap load of content to both titles, including a fresh Battle Pass, new maps, Perks, and even weapons. Speaking of new guns, the Sirin 9mm will be the first new Secondary ******* added to ****** Ops 6 and Warzone, so if you’re looking to unlock it as soon as it’s available, here’s everything you need to know. How to get Sirin 9mm in BO6 and Warzone The Sirin 9mm will be available in ****** Ops x Warzone Season 1 as a special event reward. The event date has not been confirmed just yet, so it’s unclear when the new Secondary ******* will be available to unlock. We don’t know exactly how players will be unlocking this ******* just yet, but we know that it will be locked behind an in-game event, and players will likely have to participate and complete a specific task in order to unlock it for Custom Loadouts. Once we know the official details on the event and unlock requirements for the Sirin 9mm in ****** Ops 6 and Warzone Season 1, we’ll be sure to update this piece. Credit to Activision. Sirin 9mm details The Sirin 9mm is a fully automatic Secondary ******* in the Special category with SMG-like characteristics. It has 30 ******* levels, 3 mags, and a magazine size of 32, which is perfect for a fully automatic *******. You can equip the Sirin with an Optic, Muzzle, Barrel, Underbarrel, and Magazine. According to the official CoD blog, the Sirin 9mm has a slow but steady ***** rate, allowing you to stay on target for those mid ranged engagements. The **** has a moderate kick, but once you get some attachments to control the recoil, it’s straightforward to hit your shots with. That was everything you need to know about the new Sirin 9mm Secondary coming to ****** Ops 6 and Warzone in Season 1. It will join 6 other weapons in the new season, including the Saug SMG and Krig C ******** Rifle. To stay updated on the latest gaming news, make sure you sign up for the Insider Gaming weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #unlock #Sirin #9mm #****** #Ops #Warzone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Global GPU market to hit $100 billion in 2024: JPR Global GPU market to hit $100 billion in 2024: JPR Graphics processing units (GPUs) are ubiquitous and found in many of the devices that we interact with on a daily basis. In addition, GPUs are used for AI and supercomputer workloads, and high-end processors from companies like AMD or Nvidia can cost $10,000–$30,000 or more. Demand for these units is increasing rapidly. As a result, the revenue of GPU developers is growing, and this year the global GPU market is expected to exceed $98.5 billion, according to Jon Peddie Research. Currently, there are 20 companies and seven IP vendors developing discrete, integrated, and embedded GPUs, JPR reports. Most of these graphics processors are entry-level integrated GPUs, and only a few companies develop standalone GPUs for gamers including the best graphics cards. However, most of the revenue is earned from GPUs that are not used for graphics: sales of AI and HPC GPUs total only several million units per year, but since they are sold for tens of thousands of dollars per unit, they bring in tens of billions for Nvidia and billions for AMD. In just two quarters of its fiscal 2025, Nvidia earned $42 billion from its AI and HPC GPUs, and for the whole year, sales of its compute GPUs could exceed $90 billion. AMD expects sales of its AI GPUs to exceed $3 billion. It is hard to estimate the revenues of companies like Biren or MetaX, but we doubt their compute GPU sales come close to those of AMD. “Graphics processing units (GPUs) have become ubiquitous and can be found in almost every industrial, scientific, commercial, and consumer product made today,” said Dr. Jon Peddie, the president of Jon Peddie Research. “Some market segments, like AI, have grabbed headlines because of their rapid growth and high average selling price (ASP), but they are low-volume compared to other market segments.” However, while the market for AI GPUs is low volume compared to other segments, all newcomers to the GPU market — particularly those from China — are focused on datacenter AI GPUs rather than on GPUs for gaming. Of course, these companies face restrictions from the U.S. government, which does not want China to access leading-edge AI technologies, but apparently, they are willing to take the risks as the potential of the AI market is very significant. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Global #GPU #market #hit #billion #JPR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aghios Lavrentios: A Timeless Retreat in the Heart of Pilio Aghios Lavrentios: A Timeless Retreat in the Heart of Pilio Where to stay There are several great options for accommodation in the village. One standout choice is Iliopetra Suites (Tel.: (+30) 24280.964.06), known for its elegant design and stunning views. Another excellent option is Dryades Wellness Spa (Tel.: (+30) 24280.961.10), housed in a historic mansion and a modern building. It offers comfortable rooms and suites with views of the Pagasetic Gulf, as well as a spa featuring an indoor pool, hammam, and sauna. Lastly, the Palio Elaiotrivio (Old Olive Mill) (Tel.: (+30) 24280.964.81) has been converted into a tasteful guesthouse decorated with wood and stone. The rooms and suites feature fireplaces and open onto a spacious courtyard with a large plane tree. Where to eat Aghios Lavrentios includes five eateries, each with its own distinct character. Start your day at Irthame kai Desame (Tel.: (+30) 24280.963.34) for coffee, delicious desserts, curated snacks, and hearty breakfasts. For traditional Greek dishes, visit Lotos (Tel.: (+30) 695.511.8669), while Vasilikos & Díosmos (Tel.: (+30) 693.705.0473) offers more creative, restaurant-style plates. Platanus Orientalis (Tel.: (+30) 24280.966.92) combines a modern look with the classic experience of a Volos and Pelion-style tsipouradiko (ouzo bar), and Tripórto (Tel.: (+30) 694.769.3030) is best known for its grilled specialties. Source link #Aghios #Lavrentios #Timeless #Retreat #Heart #Pilio Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Father takes responsibility for ****** of 10-year-old daughter Father takes responsibility for ****** of 10-year-old daughter Sara Sharif’s father has accepted “full responsibility” for her ******, a court has heard. Her father Urfan Sharif, 42, stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, had denied ******* after Sara’s body was found with dozens of injuries at the family’s home in Woking, Surrey, last year. Under cross-examination at the Old Bailey, Mr Sharif said: “She ***** because of me.” The court previously heard that Sara was hooded, burned and beaten during more than two years of ******. Jurors were previously told Mr Sharif’s case was that Ms Batool was responsible for Sara’s ******, and he made a false confession in a phone call and also in a note to protect his wife. But on Wednesday, as the court day was getting under way, Mr Sharif unexpectedly said: “I admit what I said in my phone call and my written note. Every single word.” In response to questioning from Ms Batool’s barrister Caroline Carberry KC, Mr Sharif suddenly said: “I want to say something”. “It was you who inflected those injuries on her, wasn’t it?”, Carberry KC asked. “Yes”, he said. “On the night of 6 August, you badly beat Sara?”, Carberry KC added. “Yes,” he said. Mr Sharif also told the court that he caused fractures to Sara and used a cricket bat and a metal pole. At this stage, Ms Batool, who had been sobbing loudly, left the court and the hearing was suspended. A post-mortem examination found Sara had suffered dozens of injuries including “probable human ***** marks”, an iron ***** and scalding from hot water before she ***** on 8 August 2023. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC previously said a bloodstained cricket bat, a rolling pin with Sara’s DNA on it, a metal pole, a belt and rope were found near the family’s outhouse. Mr Sharif, Ms Batool and Urfan’s brother Mr Malik all previously denied charges of ******* and causing or allowing the ****** of a child. Source link #Father #takes #responsibility #****** #10yearold #daughter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Player So Dedicated He Recorded His Playthrough in 600-Page Sketchbook A Player So Dedicated He Recorded His Playthrough in 600-Page Sketchbook Elden Ring is regarded as one of the greatest gaming titles of all time. This action-adventure title from FromSoftware was released in 2022 and since its release, it has sold more than 25 million copies. However, there are certain reasons for this huge success. Elden Ring was released in 2022. | Credit: FromSoftware. One of those major reasons is the godly difficult bosses we have to face in the game. Be it the Tree Spirits or the Tree Sentinels, facing these creatures might feel like a big headache, but it gives an immense sense of satisfaction after beating them. This feeling made a fan so motivated that he went on to cast his whole Elden Ring story through a sketchbook. The Journey of an Artist’s Elden Ring to an Amazing 600-Page Sketchbook You can find every detail of Elden Ring in the 600-page sketchbook. | Credit: Artyz Artifacts. A gifted artist named Artyz Artifacts shared a 600-page sketchbook containing all of their Elden Ring playthrough history. The artist stated in the description that Red ***** Redemption 2‘s Arthur Morgan’s journal served as the inspiration for his work. Thus, the “labor of love” sketchbook was created by Artyz Artifacts in an attempt to capture the momentous occasion. It’s reasonable that Artyz would say that he “wanted to avoid the tedium involved” by citing an artist by the name of IAN OD AKAm as the source of some of the map layouts. His self-deprecation in the comments sections is what I find the most offensive. He claims that he keeps these sketchbooks because he is terrible at art and wants to improve. I think you’re doing great, buddy! The artist painstakingly drew everything they encountered while playing the game in the sketchbook. The pages include a variety of characters and quests that have been finished, including the truncated dialogue and notes about tasks in addition to locations and characters. This incredible sketchbook can serve as a complete game companion and let you enjoy the game independently of the digital version. Red ***** Redemption 2 Fan Recreates Arthur Morgan’s Journal for Seven Months, and It’s Perfect Red ***** Redemption 2 fan shows his dedication towards the game. | Credit: Rockstar Games. An amazing replica of the journal used by Arthur Morgan, the main character in Red ***** Redemption 2, was created by an artist over the course of seven months. One crucial component of Red ***** Redemption 2 is the journal, which, among other things, tracked the plot of the game. Since its late 2018 release, Red ***** Redemption 2 from Rockstar Games has shipped over 65 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video games ever. One feature of the highly praised open-world action game that keeps getting praised is Arthur Morgan, the main character. Because of his compelling narrative and nuanced personality, Arthur Morgan is considered one of the best main protagonists in video games. The outlaw was also a gifted illustrator, and many people, including Instagram user kunstundso_05, have attempted to replicate his sketches in real life from his personal journal. The replica of Arthur Morgan’s journal from Red ***** Redemption 2 took seven months to create, according to a recent post by kunstundso_05. The artist clarified that this replica was a birthday gift for their boyfriend and that it included the same diary entries, notes, and sketches as the original journal. In addition to having a touching narration by Mary Linton, one of the supporting characters Arthur Morgan interacts within Red ***** Redemption 2, kunstundso_05’s video received a lot of praise from Instagram users. Source link #Player #Dedicated #Recorded #Playthrough #600Page #Sketchbook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 Chipset Said to Offer 20 Percent Performance Jump Despite Change in Development Plans Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 Chipset Said to Offer 20 Percent Performance Jump Despite Change in Development Plans Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite at its annual Snapdragon Summit event in Hawaii last month, and the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip features multiple upgrades including on-device generative artificial intelligence (AI) and second-generation custom-built Qualcomm Oryon CPU cores. A tipster has now claimed that its successor, the purported Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC, might offer an even ******* jump in single-core and multi-core performance, despite recently reported changes in its development plans. Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 Chipset Performance Benchmarks (Expected) In a post on X (formerly Twitter), tipster @Jukanlosreve suggested that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will offer a 20 percent jump in single-core and multi-core performance, citing sources in South Korea. This year, Qualcomm already delivered a 30 percent uplift in CPU performance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, when compared with last year’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The tipster claims that the single-core score of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC will be around the 4,000-point mark on Geekbench 6, compared to the reported 3,200 single-core score of Qualcomm’s current flagship mobile chipset. However, the performance improvement isn’t limited to just the purported Snapdragon chipset. The tipster claims that the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 will also offer a similar score on the benchmarking platform. It was also suggested that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 would utilise Samsung Foundry’s SF2 2nm-class manufacturing in addition to TSMC’s N3P process. However, the tipster, in a subsequent post, claimed that it isn’t likely to be the case anymore and the plans have been cancelled. Thus, Qualcomm’s purported chipset is expected to be produced solely using TSMC’s manufacturing prowess. The recently launched Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is built on 3nm fabrication process and features a second-generation custom-built Qualcomm Oryon CPU with eight cores, having a peak clock speed of 4.32GHz. It features Qualcomm Adreno GPU and enhanced Hexagon NPU as part of the Qualcomm AI Engine, helping it achieve 40 percent better gaming performance and 35 percent enhanced ray-tracing capability over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Source link #Snapdragon #Elite #Chipset #Offer #Percent #Performance #Jump #Change #Development #Plans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House Republicans move ahead with leadership elections as majority yet to be decided House Republicans move ahead with leadership elections as majority yet to be decided Washington — House Republicans are moving forward with their leadership elections Wednesday, though majority control still hangs in the balance as a number of key races have yet to be determined. Still, Republicans are operating as if they’ve secured control of the lower chamber for another two years. CBS News has characterized control of the House as lean ***********. The election for the No. 4 leadership spot, House *********** Conference chair, is the only competitive race, after Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York was offered a role to serve in President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet as U.S. ambassador to the ******* Nations. Rep. Kat Cammack of Florida. Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan and Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana announced Monday they are running for conference chair. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, both from Louisiana, said the day after the election that they would seek to return to their leadership roles in the next Congress, which begins in January. In a pair of letters to their *********** colleagues, both ***** out similar priorities including border security, extending Trump-era tax cuts, reining in government spending and cutting regulations. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota also said in a letter to colleagues last week that he would seek another term in the role and acknowledged the infighting that has been a staple of the GOP majority in the current Congress. “We will always have disagreements over policy and strategy. That’s a good thing,” he said in his pitch. “Governing is messy and imperfect. But I have always believed that there is more that unites us than divides us. I’ve witnessed this as your whip, bringing together members from across our conference to hash out these disagreements and find a path to 218 votes.” Republicans regained control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections after four years of Democratic rule. But infighting has made it difficult for them to govern with a razor-thin majority amid early retirements and the expulsion of GOP Rep. George Santos, whose New York seat was later picked up by a Democrat. If they do hold onto control, House Republicans could again be governing with a slim majority, which would again put Johnson in a difficult position, even with Republicans in power in the Senate and White House. Johnson has had to rely on Democratic votes to pass legislation and was even rescued by Democrats from an ouster attempt. Trump’s personnel selections for his second term could also have an effect on the potential *********** majority. As of Monday evening, the former president had tapped two House Republicans to serve in his administration, which would squeeze the potential GOP majority even further until those seats are filled in a special election. Caitlin Yilek Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation. Source link #House #Republicans #move #ahead #leadership #elections #majority #decided Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jackson Barrett: Perth is finally back at the centre of cricket world as Border-Gavaskar trophy heats up Jackson Barrett: Perth is finally back at the centre of cricket world as Border-Gavaskar trophy heats up The WACA Ground is in lockdown, India has its guard up and *********** legends are already throwing barbs out at India’s players and coaches. It means the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series must be here. The cricket rivalry between the two countries is hot on the heels of the Ashes as the most fierce we have got. And India’s ‘secret squirrel’ entry into Perth this week has put the city at the centre of the cricket world. It’s the biggest benefit of the deal to play the first Test of the summer at Optus Stadium for the next three years. It means Perth is home to more than just cricket. Last year, it was the storm around David Warner’s selection — sparked by a bombshell column in The Sunday Times from former fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson — and the controversy around Usman Khawaja being banned from wearing a peace dove on his shoe. This year it has been the selection debate that gripped the nation and now the bizarre siege mentality of our Indian visitors, who have escaped intense scrutiny in their home nation after being wiped off the park in a rare loss to New Zealand. The West Test in Perth from November 22 is going to be the biggest cricket spectacle we have hosted since a 2013 clash with England where Johnson was in his pomp, Ryan Harris bowled that ripping ball to dismiss Alistair Cook and we claimed the Ashes three-nil en route to a clean sweep. We have hosted two World Cups since then, but Australia has played one-sided matches here against Afghanistan in 2015 and Sri Lanka in 2022. We missed out on a match in the most recent Ashes series and the one before that was a rain-ruined drubbing. And if there was any doubt about that, images of feverish fans climbing trees and even bringing their own ladders to catch a glimpse of their heroes should settle them. India’s cricket team is one of the biggest brands in world sport and their fascinating locked-down camp in Perth has made for gripping theatre. Source link #Jackson #Barrett #Perth #finally #centre #cricket #world #BorderGavaskar #trophy #heats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Visions of Nuclear-Powered Cars Captivated Cold War America, but the Technology Never Really Worked Visions of Nuclear-Powered Cars Captivated Cold War America, but the Technology Never Really Worked Greg Daugherty History Correspondent Car buyers today have their pick of gasoline-powered, electric and hybrid vehicles. But if some 1950s visionaries had their way, another option would be available in dealer showrooms: nuclear. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, at the height of the ******* States’ quest for peaceful uses for atomic energy, several major carmakers rolled out prototypes for nuclear-powered automobiles. Foremost among them were the Ford Nucleon and Seattle-ite XXI and the Studebaker-Packard Astral. In theory, nuclear-powered cars could run for thousands of miles without refueling, and some could even fly. But several problems remained. For one, nobody had developed a nuclear power plant small enough to fit into a car. For another, scientists calculated that an automobile with enough lead and other materials to shield the driver and passengers from radiation would weigh at least 50 tons, making it more than 25 times as heavy as the average vehicle. There was also the question of what to do with the nuclear waste. These issues were never resolved, and the world quickly moved on. Still, the surviving prototypes offer a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been. A woman poses next to a full-size model of the Studebaker-Packard Astral. Studebaker National Museum The rise of the Astral and the Ford Nucleon By the 1950s, the idea of nuclear-powered automobiles would have been familiar to science fiction and comic book fans. “Atomobiles,” as they were sometimes called, had appeared in pulp sci-fi magazines as early as 1928. DC Comics’ Boy Commandos series introduced one in a 1949 issue, calling it “the fastest machine on land, on sea and in the air.” Tom Swift Jr., a fictional teenager who succeeded his father in a popular series of books for young readers, also got a “triphibian atomicar,” though he had to wait until 1962 for it. Meanwhile, real-life carmakers were starting to tease the public with their visions of Atomic Age wonders. Within the first three months of 1958, two were already making headlines. First out of the box was the Astral, which made its local debut at the South Bend Arts Center in Indiana in January 1958. That April, it went on display at the International Automobile Show in New York City. Studebaker Astral The Astral was a full-size mock-up of a car that was designed to balance on a single wheel stabilized by a gyroscope—when, that is, it wasn’t flying through the skies or sailing the seas. Though the prototype lacked a motor, the Astral was reportedly meant to run on atomic energy, either from its own nuclear engine or power beamed to it from another source, says Kyle Sater, the curator at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend. Additionally, the vehicle was supposed to generate a forcefield around itself to prevent collisions, providing some reassurance to anyone worried that a fender bender might end in a mushroom cloud. While it never got off the ground (or onto the road), the Astral made the rounds at car shows and dealerships before eventually winding up at the Studebaker National Museum, where it resides today. As Sater says, visitors often remark on its unmistakable resemblance to the flying car from “The Jetsons.” Probably the most publicized nuclear concept car of its day was the Ford Nucleon, which the Detroit automaker unveiled in February 1958. Newsweek wondered if it could be “The Atomic Car of the Future?” A three-eighths scale model of the Ford Nucleon The Vox Agency Rather than a full-size prototype of the car, Ford produced a three-eighths scale model. While the Nucleon was designed to be 200 inches long, or close to 17 feet, the prototype was just 75 inches long, or a bit over 6 feet. The rear of the car, behind the passenger compartment, would have contained what Ford promotional materials described as a “power capsule” with a radioactive core. After traveling 5,000 miles, the core could be recharged at a special charging station, which its designers envisioned “as largely replacing the present-day service station,” according to a company brochure. Ford acknowledged that a car like the Nucleon wasn’t a realistic prospect in 1958 but said it had been “designed on the assumption that the present bulkiness and weight of nuclear reactors and attendant shielding will someday be reduced.” Held in the collections of the Henry Ford Museum of ********* Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan, the Nucleon prototype is currently on loan to the Atomic Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate in Las Vegas. The end of the era of nuclear-powered cars The U.S. was not alone in its efforts to race into the age of atomic cars. Also in 1958, a French automaker released a prototype for the Arbel Symétric, a car intended to run on nuclear waste. Russia claimed to have invented a nuclear-powered vehicle as early as 1955, but as the ********* magazine Car and Driver reported, “Coming from a nation that modestly admits to having invented everything … this ******* to create the excitement it might have.” Behold the Ford Seattle-ite XXI, a 3/8 scale concept car designed by Alex Tremulis, displayed at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962. pic.twitter.com/4eaorp661u — Humanoid History (@HumanoidHistory) October 20, 2018 In 1962, Ford announced its second foray into a nuclear future, showing off the Seattle-ite XXI at that year’s Seattle World’s Fair, where it became a star attraction. The streamlined two-seater had six wheels (four in the front and two in the back) and was slated to be powered by either “fuel cells or a compact nuclear device,” a Ford promotional brochure said. Like the Nucleon before it, the Seattle-ite existed only as a three-eighths scale model, making it another concept car that was more concept than actual car. Ford readily admitted as much: “A styling experiment like Seattle-ite XXI, with its many forward-looking features, could lead to exciting new concepts of automobile styling, comfort and safety,” the brochure noted. The Seattle-ite marked the end of the 20th century’s brief flirtation with nuclear-powered cars. The technology to produce a working one simply didn’t exist. At the same time, however, Cold War engineers and designers had been drawing on government funding to experiment with alternative modes of transportation, in some cases more successfully. The first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, was commissioned in 1954. The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, followed in 1961. A nuclear-powered civilian cargo ship, the Savannah, was launched in 1959 and spent much of the 1960s visiting ports in the U.S. and around the world to promote the government’s Atoms for Peace program. Other experiments that never got far off the drawing board included nuclear-powered airplanes, passenger ships and dirigibles. The rear of the Ford Nucleon would have contained what promotional materials described as a “power capsule” with a radioactive core. The Vox Agency Even the humble elevator might have gotten a nuclear makeover if Frank Lloyd Wright had succeeded in his plans. In 1956, the architect proposed installing 76 of them in a mile-high skyscraper he envisioned for downtown Chicago—one of the many Wright projects that never came to fruition. The future of nuclear cars More than 60 years have passed since the world gave up on cars with a nuclear reactor under the hood. Are we any closer today to seeing one of these futuristic marvels in our neighbors’ driveways? Sadly, or maybe happily, depending on your point of view, most experts think not. While fitting a reactor core into a car or truck might be feasible today, the weight of the surrounding shielding ******** an unsurmountable problem, says Jacopo Buongiorno, director of the Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. What’s more, the nuclear scientist and engineer adds, a “nuclear-powered car would probably cost 100 times as much” as a conventional one. Nuclear Energy: A New Beginning ? | Jacopo Buongiorno (MIT) Even so, atomic energy could play a role in tomorrow’s automobiles, albeit indirectly. For one thing, nuclear power currently accounts for about 20 percent of the electricity generated in the U.S., meaning it already supplies a sizable share of the power that’s used to recharge electric cars. Nuclear power could also aid in the production of cleaner fuels, for example by generating electricity to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. That hydrogen could power fuel cells, which would, in turn, provide electricity for car engines. Finally, electricity produced through nuclear power could be used to create a synthetic fuel much like gasoline or diesel. By combining hydrogen and carbon dioxide drawn from the earth’s atmosphere or from seawater, this process could be net carbon neutral. In other words, we might all be driving nuclear-powered cars someday—just not the kind our 1950s forebears imagined. Get the latest History stories in your inbox? Filed Under: ********* History, Cars, Cold War, Electricity, Energy, Inventions, Nuclear Power, Pop culture, ******* History, Technology, Transportation Source link #Visions #NuclearPowered #Cars #Captivated #Cold #War #America #Technology #Worked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stellar Blade Hype Train Continues With PC Release Aiming For 2025 Stellar Blade Hype Train Continues With PC Release Aiming For 2025 Stellar Blade is one of the latest titles to be scrutinised by Digital Foundry for its ongoing PS5 Pro coverage, with John Linneman confirming Shift Up’s action-adventure game benefits from a huge visual improvements thanks to the use of Sony’s PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Source link #Stellar #Blade #Hype #Train #Continues #Release #Aiming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Mac mini M4 gets thumbs-up from iFixit for repairability – but not without downsides around SSD upgrades Apple Mac mini M4 gets thumbs-up from iFixit for repairability – but not without downsides around SSD upgrades Mac mini M4 has been rated for repairability by iFixit The compact computer scored a 7/10 with a laudable modular design There are sticking points with the proprietary SSD, though Apple’s Mac mini M4 has been given the teardown treatment by iFixit, and there are generally positive findings here, albeit with some catches. The website is famous for taking apart hardware and rating it in terms of design and repairability considerations, and iFixit begins its video teardown by underlining just how much smaller the new Mac mini is compared to the computer in the past. Apple achieved this by cramming a lot of components into a small space in an impressive manner, and something to note is that the power supply has been changed from a single module to a board that runs across the top of the chassis. There’s also a large fan inside the Mac mini M4 and an innovative cooling design which is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of keeping the power used in check given the limited space in the more compact chassis. Another interesting move on the cooling front is that the Mac mini with vanilla M4 has an aluminum heatsink, whereas the model with the M4 Pro SoC has a larger copper heatsink to better cool the more powerful processor, which makes sense of course. There’s good news on the storage front: the SSD is removable, as we’ve already heard about, so upgrading to a ******* drive is possible. We say that, but there are caveats here, which we’ll come back to in a moment. The plus point of removable and replaceable ports is also noted, at least on the front of the Mac mini – sadly the rear ports are soldered (as is the system RAM, alongside the M4 chip itself at the heart of the machine). Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. The controversial position of the power button on the underside of the Mac mini also gets a mention, inevitably, along with an observation that perhaps Apple is overly concerned about aesthetics here. Overall, iFixit praises the thinking about the modular design, with the likes of those ports (on the front), and the storage, pinning a 7/10 (provisional) score for repairability on the Mac mini M4. M4 Mac mini Teardown – UPGRADABLE SSD, Powerful, and TINY – YouTube Watch On Analysis: Storage and Apple’s proprietary choice Coming back to the issue of storage, while the SSD can be upgraded, there are catches as mentioned (which we already touched on in a previous report). The drives are physically different between the Mac mini with M4 and the computer with the M4 Pro, so you can’t swap SSDs between those models. However, iFixit did successfully upgrade a base Mac mini M4 with a 512GB SSD from another model replacing a 256GB drive. The other fly in the ointment here is that the SSD is a proprietary Apple drive, so you can’t just go and buy any old solid-state drive and plug it into your Mac mini. You’ll need an SSD from another Mac mini, or one sold by Apple – if the company starts offering these (which isn’t the case yet). So, that rather limits the storage upgrade options as you can imagine. There is the possibility that third parties will produce compatible SSDs for Mac mini upgrades, and indeed there have already been announcements to that effect. The downside of such a ‘fudged’ (well, unofficial) drive installation could be that Apple closes off this avenue via firmware updates that render the third-party SSD inoperable, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. Let’s just hope Apple sells SSDs for Mac mini storage upgrades itself, but skeptics are already doubtful this might happen – and the point of the replaceable drive here is more about facilitating repairs, than upgrades. You might also like Source link #Apple #Mac #mini #thumbsup #iFixit #repairability #downsides #SSD #upgrades Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate Republicans to elect new leader as Trump looms over contest Senate Republicans to elect new leader as Trump looms over contest Washington — Senate Republicans are meeting Wednesday to elect a new leader to represent the conference after ********* Leader Mitch McConnell — the longest serving leader in the Senate history — opted to step down from the post. Meeting behind closed doors on Wednesday morning, the *********** senators are casting secret ballots to elect their new leadership, as three candidates vie for Senate *********** leader, with President-elect Donald Trump’s shadow looming over the race. Whip John Thune of South Dakota, former Whip John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida are gunning for the top role, having worked behind the scenes for months to win support from their colleagues. But the leadership race took on new meaning following the 2024 elections, which saw Republicans take control of the Senate for the 119th Congress. With Trump’s return to the White House next year, and the possibility that Republicans retain control of the House, the GOP may have a unified government in Washington, teeing up a long list of legislative priorities for the new Senate leader to work on with Trump. Though Trump hasn’t made an endorsement in the leadership race, he looms large over the contest, weighing in with demands for the new leader to speed the confirmation of his nominees. Even without a Trump endorsement, his MAGA base of supporters have made clear who they favor in the race, launching a vocal social media campaign for Scott as leader in recent days and warning that Cornyn and Thune would threaten Trump’s agenda. Scott has been considered the underdog in the race, facing Thune and Cornyn, who both have years of experience in leadership — but who have also been less reliable supporters of Trump. The Florida *********** challenged McConnell for the role in 2022, when he earned just 10 votes. Whether Scott’s coalition grows in the wake of Trump’s victory ******** to be seen. Vice President-elect and Ohio Sen. JD Vance is also eligible to vote because he will be a member of the 119th Congress, albeit briefly, before Inauguration Day. A candidate needs a majority of the conference, or 27 votes, to become leader. If no candidate secures a majority on the first ballot, the lowest vote-getter will be dropped from the list in the next round. Outside of the top post, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the GOP conference chair who was also initially on the shortlist for leader, announced he would instead seek the whip position. And Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is seeking to chair the GOP campaign arm, the National *********** Senatorial Committee. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Senate #Republicans #elect #leader #Trump #looms #contest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Wood County Sheriff’s Office and Jail near completion 2 years after breaking ground New Wood County Sheriff’s Office and Jail near completion 2 years after breaking ground WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Just over two years after crews broke ground on the new Wood County Sheriff’s Office and Jail, the locks are on the cell doors, elevators are operational, furniture is being placed and computer wires are being connected as the end of construction nears. The transition team has begun to train in the new building, Wood County Jail Administrator Lt. Ted Ashbeck said. Ashbeck and Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker anticipate starting the move into the new building sometime in February, after the staff is fully trained on the procedures in the new facility. Once the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and Jail are completely moved out of the old building, work on razing the old jail can begin sometime in 2025. Becker said he didn’t know exactly when that would happen. People who would like to get a look inside the new facility firsthand are invited to attend an open house on Dec. 17 immediately following the Wood County Board meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m., Becker said. Jail construction is under budget and ahead of schedule Laura Valenstein, chairwoman of the Wood County Jail Construction Adhoc Committee, said construction has gone extremely well. The construction is under budget and ahead of schedule, she said. Samuels Group of Wausau, the construction company building the jail, has been easy to work with, Valenstein said. “They’ve done a great job,” she said. “They’ve been extremely receptive to feedback and a few things we wanted to change along the way.” Becker, Ashbeck, Facilities Manager Reuben Van Tassel and sheriff’s office staff have done a good job staying on top of things with the jail project, Valenstein said. It was Valenstein’s first time being the chairwoman of such a large project and they made it easy, she said. “I get to watch from the outside while the team deals with the nitty gritty,” Valenstein said. Becker said he’s enjoyed working with Valenstein and Van Tassel during the project, which broke ground in October 2022. The Samuels Group has been good about making needed changes as they’ve been brought to their attention and keeping the project within its $98 million budget. Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker leads a tour through the new Wood County Jail on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, as it nears completion in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. New facility increases safety and opportunities The new jail will have many new features that improve safety for both inmates and staff as well as increased opportunities for training and inmate programming. The new jail has video conference rooms placed throughout the facility. Currently, corrections officers bring inmates to the one conference room in the jail. The inmates wait outside the room for their turns to make court appearances. It’s a system that doesn’t work well, Becker said. The multiple video conference rooms will limit how far inmates have to be moved for their court appearances. There also is one conference room that will allow a defendant’s attorney to be in the jail with the inmate, instead of in the courtroom. Some of the changes in the new jail Becker likes best are those that will allow for increased programming to help inmates. The current jail’s one small conference room also serves as the library. Having multiple conference rooms in the new jail will also allow for more meetings and training, Becker said. The experience with COVID-19 had the jail’s designers and staff thinking about what elements the new jail needed to protect inmates’ health. There are cells designated for inmates who are *****. The area includes an exam room for nurses to see inmates with medical problems. The staff will be able to segregate ***** inmates from the general jail population, Becker said. The jail also has a padded cell for inmates who are experiencing mental health issues, Becker said. The cell is designed to keep an inmate who is violent from hurting themselves. Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker leads a tour through the new Wood County Jail on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, as it nears completion in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. The new jail kitchen also is designed to allow inmates to train on working in professional kitchens, Becker said. He hopes to work with Mid-State Technical College to create a program interested inmates can go through to become trained for restaurant work. “Mid-State has been a very good partner for a lot of our jail programs,” Becker said. The new facilities also give Wood County Sheriff’s Office staff more evidence room, better work spaces to write reports and meet, more locker room space and a new workout room. Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or *****@*****.tld. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33. This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: New Wood County Jail will be finished soon Source link #Wood #County #Sheriffs #Office #Jail #completion #years #breaking #ground Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Berserk Boy studio signs up with Among Us publisher Outersloth for its next game, Berserk B.I.T.S Berserk Boy studio signs up with Among Us publisher Outersloth for its next game, Berserk B.I.T.S The studio behind action platformer Berserk Boy has signed up to Outersloth for its next game Berserk B.I.T.S. Outersloth, the indie publishing fund set up by Among Us developer Innersloth, will fund the remining development of the game, which is now set for a 2025 release. BerserkBoy Games now says the game is being supported “as a split between Outersloth, Casey Yano from Mega Crit (Slay the Spire) and a mystery friend”. Released earlier this year, Berserk Boy is a 2D action platformer inspired by the Mega Man games. The game was critically well-received, with a Metacritic score of 83. VGC’s Berserk Boy review called it “a great modern take on Mega Man style gameplay and one of the better recent attempts to bring the 16-bit era into the 2020s”. For Berserk B.I.T.S, however, the studio is going in a completely different direction and offering a “bit-collection, virus-busting idle game”. The game will run on the player’s desktop alongside other applications, and can work in the background as it auto-battles and collects chips. These chips can then be used for various powers, upgrades, weapons, summons and abilities. BerserkBoy Games lead Zu Ehtisham says the addition of new funding from Outersloth will help to expand the game’s scope, and add new features, including an extended campaign, deeper customisation, more helper resources and a wider range of battle chips. “Partnering with Outersloth is a very exciting opportunity,” he said in a statement. “With this added support, we’re amped up at the thought of expanding Berserk B.I.T.S in ways that give players even more collecting and battling. The added time and resources will let us develop even more features and some secrets too.” Source link #Berserk #Boy #studio #signs #Among #publisher #Outersloth #game #Berserk #B.I.T.S Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Billie Jean King Cup 2024: Spain against Poland postponed after severe weather alert in Malaga Billie Jean King Cup 2024: Spain against Poland postponed after severe weather alert in Malaga A severe weather alert in southern Spain has led to the opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup between Spain and Poland being postponed. The two nations were set to play in Malaga on Wednesday. Two weeks after flash floods caused devastation in eastern Spain, several areas of the nation are on alert again. A new weather front brought heavy rain in Malaga on Wednesday. “This decision has been made based on guidance from the relevant authorities to ensure the health and safety of all participants and attendees,” said the International Tennis Federation, which organises the event. “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation.” Source link #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #Spain #Poland #postponed #severe #weather #alert #Malaga Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Star Citizen Event Asks Players to Save Stanton From Pirates New Star Citizen Event Asks Players to Save Stanton From Pirates Today Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games released a new dynamic event on the growing game’s online persistent universe. Source link #Star #Citizen #Event #Asks #Players #Save #Stanton #Pirates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Server manufacturers ramp-up edge AI efforts Server manufacturers ramp-up edge AI efforts Server manufacturers have long recognised the niche in public cloud computing that physical servers neatly fill. This has evolved over time to IT leaders and the industry recognising that some workloads will always be run on-premise; some may run both on the public cloud and on-premise, and some may be wholly cloud-based. Artificial intelligence (AI) inference is the workload that’s now gaining traction among the server providers, as they look to address concerns over data loss, data sovereignty and potential latency issues, when crunching AI data from edge devices and the internet of things (IoT). Dell Technologies has now extended its Dell NativeEdge edge operations software platform to simplify how organisations deploy, scale and use AI at the edge. The Dell platform offers what the company describes as “device onboarding at scale”, remote management and multi-cloud application orchestration. According to Dell, NativeEdge offers high-availability capabilities to maintain critical business processes and edge AI workloads, which are able to continue to run irrespective of network disruptions or device failures. The platform also offers virtual machine (VM) migration and automatic application, compute and storage failover, which, said Dell, provides organisations increased reliability and continuous operations. One of its customers, Nature Fresh Farms, is using the platform to manage over 1,000 IoT-enabled facilities. “Dell NativeEdge helps us monitor real-time infrastructure elements, ensuring optimal conditions for our produce, and receive comprehensive insights into our produce packaging operations,” said Keith Bradley, Nature Fresh Farms’ vice-president of information technology. Coinciding with the KubeCon North America 2024 conference, Nutanix announced its support for hybrid and multi-cloud AI based on the new Nutanix Enterprise AI (NAI) platform. This can be deployed on any Kubernetes platform, at the edge, in core datacentres and on public cloud services. Nutanix said NAI delivers a consistent hybrid multi-cloud operating model for accelerated AI workloads, helping organisations securely deploy, run and scale inference endpoints for large language models (LLMs) to support the deployment of generative AI (GenAI) applications in minutes, not days or weeks. It’s a similar story at HPE. During the company’s AI day in October, HPE CEO Antony Neri discussed how some of its enterprise customers need to deploy small language AI models. “They typically pick a large language model off the shelf that fits the needs and fine tune these AI models using their unique, very specific data,” he said. “We see most of these were loads on premise and co-locations where customers control their data, given their concerns about data sovereignty and regulation, data leakage and the security of AI public cloud APIs.” In September, HPE unveiled a collaboration with Nvidia resulting in what Neri describes as a “full turnkey private cloud stack that makes it easy for enterprises of all sizes to develop and deploy generative AI applications”. He said that with just three clicks and less than 30 seconds to deploy, a customer can deploy an HPE private cloud AI, which integrates Nvidia accelerated computing network and AI software with HPE’s AI server, storage and cloud services. During its Tech World event in October, Lenovo unveiled Hybrid AI Advantage with Nvidia, which it said combines full-stack AI capabilities optimised for industrialisation and reliability. The AI part of the package includes what Lenovo calls “a library of ready-to-customise AI use-case solutions that help customers break through the barriers to ROI [return on investment] from AI”. The two companies have partnered closely to integrate Nvidia accelerated computing, networking, software and AI models into the modular Lenovo Hybrid AI Advantage. Edge AI with the hyperscalers The public cloud platforms all offer feature-rich environments for GenAI, machine learning and running inference workloads. They also have product offerings to cater for AI inference on IoT and edge computing devices. Amazon Web Services offers SageMaker Edge Agent; Azure IoT hub is part of the mix Microsoft offers; and Google has Google Distributed Cloud. Such offerings generally focus on doing the heavy lifting, namely machine learning, using the resources available in their respective public clouds to build data models. These are then deployed to power inference workloads at the edge. What appears to be happening with the traditional server companies is that in response to the cloud AI threat, they see a number of opportunities. IT departments will continue to buy and deploy on-premise workloads, and AI at the edge is one such area of interest. The second factor likely to influence IT buyers is the availability of blueprints and templates to help them achieve their enterprise AI goals. According to analyst Gartner, while the public cloud providers have been very good at showing the art of the possible with AI and GenAI, they have not been particularly good at helping organisations achieve their AI objectives. Speaking at the recent Gartner Symposium, Daryl Plummer, chief research analyst at Gartner, warned that tech providers are too focused on looking at the advancement of AI from their perspective, without taking customers on the journey to achieve the objectives of these advanced AI systems. “Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, Meta and OpenAI have made one major mistake – they’re showing us what we can do, [but] they’re not showing us what we should do,” he said. The missing pieces concern domain expertise and IT products and services that can be tailored to a customer’s unique requirements. This certainly looks like the area of focus the likes of Dell, HPE and Lenovo will look to grow in partnership with IT consulting firms. Source link #Server #manufacturers #rampup #edge #efforts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]