Pelican Press

Donald Trump: Jim Chalmers says Australia has ‘more at stake than most’ from trade war Donald Trump: Jim Chalmers says Australia has ‘more at stake than most’ from trade war Australia has ‘more at stake than most’ if a global trade war erupts under Donald Trump’s second presidency, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned. Source link #Donald #Trump #Jim #Chalmers #Australia #stake #trade #war Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monkeys that escaped a lab are a species used for human research since the 1800s Monkeys that escaped a lab are a species used for human research since the 1800s The 43 rhesus macaque monkeys that escaped a South Carolina medical lab this week are among the most studied animals on the planet. And for more than a century, they have held a mirror to humanity, revealing our strengths and weaknesses through their own clever behaviors, organ systems and genetic code. The bare-faced primates with expressive eyes have been launched on rockets into space. Their genome has been mapped. They have even been stars of a reality TV show. Animal rights groups point out that the species has been subjected to studies on vaccines, organ transplants and the impact of separating infants from mothers. At the same time, many in the scientific community will tell you just how vital their research is to fighting AIDS, polio and COVID-19. In 2003, a nationwide shortage of rhesus macaques threatened to slow down studies and scientists were paying up to $10,000 per animal to continue their work. “Every large research university in the ******* States probably has some rhesus macaques hidden somewhere in the basement of its medical school,” according to the 2007 book, “Macachiavellian Intelligence: How Rhesus Macaques and Humans Have Conquered the World.” “The U.S. Army and NASA have rhesus macaques too,” wrote the book’s author, Dario Maestripieri, a behavioral scientist at the University of Chicago, “and for years they trained them to play computer video games to see whether the monkeys could learn to pilot planes and launch missiles.” Research begins in the 1890s Humans have been using the rhesus macaque for scientific research since the late 1800s when the theory of evolution gained more acceptance, according to a 2022 research paper by the journal eLife. The first study on the species was published in 1893 and described the “anatomy of advanced pregnancy,” according to the eLife paper. By 1925, the Carnegie Science Institute had set up a breeding population of the monkeys to study embryology and fertility in a species that was similar to humans. One reason for the animal’s popularity was its abundance. These monkeys have the largest natural range of any non-human primate, stretching from Afghanistan and India to Vietnam and China. “The other reason is because rhesus macaques, as primates go, are a pretty hardy species,” said Eve Cooper, the eLife research paper’s lead author and a biology professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder. “They can live under conditions and they can be bred under conditions that are relatively easy to maintain.” NASA rockets and the Salk polio vaccine In the 1950s, the monkey’s kidneys were used to make the Salk polio vaccine. NASA also used the animals during the space race, according to a brief history of animals in space on the agency’s website. For example, a rhesus monkey named “Miss Sam” was launched in 1960 in a Mercury capsule that attained a velocity of 1,800 mph (1,900 kph) and an altitude of 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) . She was retrieved in overall good condition. “She was also returned to her training colony until her ****** on an unknown date,” NASA wrote. Mapping the human genome In 2007, scientists unraveled the DNA of the rhesus macaque. The species shared about 93% of its DNA with humans, even though macaques branched off from the ape family about 25 million years ago. In comparison, humans and chimpanzees have evolved separately since splitting from a common ancestor about 6 million years ago, but still have almost 99% of their gene sequences in common. The mapping of the human genome in 2001 sparked an ********** of work to similarly decipher the DNA of other animals. The rhesus macaque was the third primate genome to be completed, ‘They’re very political’ For those who have studied the behavior of rhesus macaques, the research is just as interesting. “They share some striking similarities to ourselves in terms of their social intelligence,” said Maestripieri, the University of Chicago professor who wrote a book on the species. For example, the animals are very family oriented, siding with relatives when fights break out, he told The Associated Press on Friday. But they also recruit allies when they’re attacked. “They’re very political,” Maestripieri said. “Most of their daily lives are spent building political alliances with each other. Does that sound familiar?” Maestripieri was a consultant for a reality show about some rhesus macaques in India called “Monkey Thieves.” “They basically started following large groups of these rhesus macaques and naming them,” the professor said. “It was beautifully done because these monkeys essentially act like people occasionally. So it’s fascinating to follow their stories.” Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Source link #Monkeys #escaped #lab #species #human #research #1800s Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine attacks Moscow with 34 drones Ukraine attacks Moscow with 34 drones Ukraine attacked Moscow with 34 drones, the Russian Ministry of Defense said early Sunday morning. “Between 7:00 and 10:00 Moscow time, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a ********** ******* using an aircraft-type [unmanned aerial vehicle] against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a post on Telegram translated from Russian according to Google Translate. The Russian Ministry of Defense also said in their post that 70 Ukrainian drones had been “intercepted and destroyed,” including “34 over the territory of the Moscow region.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said early Sunday morning in a post on the social platform X that on the night before, “Russia launched a record 145 Shaheds and other strike drones against Ukraine.” “Throughout the week, Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial ******, around 600 strike drones, and nearly 20 missiles of various types,” he added in his post. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is inching closer to the three-year mark, but could face a drastic shake-up upon the return of President-elect Trump to the White House in late January. The president-elect met with Zelensky last month and highlighted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir ****** during the interaction, also implying he could make a deal to end the war “very quickly.” However, at a rally in South Carolina in February, Trump told a story from his first term in office where he spoke to another leader of a NATO country, saying he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever the ***** they want” if the country was “delinquent” in payments to the security alliance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Ukraine #attacks #Moscow #drones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** Rover Uncovers Evidence Supporting Theory of a Vast Ancient Ocean on Mars ******** Rover Uncovers Evidence Supporting Theory of a Vast Ancient Ocean on Mars In an intriguing development for Mars exploration, China’s Zhurong rover has uncovered geological features suggesting that a vast ocean may have once covered part of the Martian surface. The discovery, published on Thursday, November 7 2024, in the journal Nature, offers a fresh perspective on the long-debated theory that an ancient ocean occupied up to a third of Mars approximately 3.7 billion years ago. Evidence gathered by Zhurong indicates formations on the planet’s northern Utopia region that could represent remnants of a Martian shoreline, raising questions about Mars’ potential to support life in the past. Signs of Water-Based Activity on Mars Landing in 2021, Zhurong commenced its mission on Mars’ Utopia Planitia, an area in the planet’s northern hemisphere where signs of water had previously been observed. The rover identified features such as pitted cones, polygonal troughs, and etched surface patterns. According to Bo Wu, Lead Study Author from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, these structures align with characteristics typically associated with ancient water activity. Crater-like formations, for instance, may have been created by mud volcanoes, often occurring in regions with significant water or ice presence. Satellite data and analyses performed on Earth further reinforced this hypothesis, suggesting that a shoreline could once have been situated near Zhurong’s landing site. While these findings offer insights, Wu stated that they do not confirm the existence of a Martian ocean beyond doubt, a claim that would require further physical samples from Mars. Expert Perspectives on Martian Geological Activity The study’s conclusions have not been accepted among researchers universally. Dr. Benjamin Cardenas, a geoscientist from Pennsylvania State University, expressed some scepticism, suggesting that Martian winds over billions of years would likely erode evidence of any ancient shoreline. Cardenas, who has studied Martian surface changes, pointed out that even Mars’ slower erosion rates could erode these features over time. Nonetheless, he acknowledges the theory of an ancient Martian ocean ******** plausible. Implications for Life on Mars If Mars did indeed possess a vast ocean, understanding its nature could provide clues to the planet’s habitability and how life might originate in extraterrestrial environments. Dr. Cardenas noted that many scientists believe Earth’s earliest life emerged in oceanic environments, either near seafloor mineral-rich vents or in shallow coastal pools where water and air met. These findings underscore Mars’ potential to once have hosted similar life-supporting environments, a question that ******** pivotal in planetary science today. Source link #******** #Rover #Uncovers #Evidence #Supporting #Theory #Vast #Ancient #Ocean #Mars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Realme GT 7 Pro Camera Features Revealed Ahead of India Launch; to Get Underwater Photography Mode Realme GT 7 Pro Camera Features Revealed Ahead of India Launch; to Get Underwater Photography Mode Realme GT 7 Pro will launch in India on November 26 at 12pm IST. The phone was unveiled in China earlier this month. The Indian variant is expected to be similar to its ******** counterpart. Previously, the company has confirmed that the variant in India will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and have a similar design as the ******** version. Now Realme has revealed several camera specifications and features of the handset. The build details of the Realme GT 7 Pro have been confirmed too. Realme GT 7 Pro Camera Features The Realme GT 7 Pro will be equipped with a 1/1.95-inch 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and 120x digital zoom support, the company confirmed on an official microsite. As part of its triple rear camera unit, it will include a 1/1.56-inch 50-megapixel Sony IMX906 primary sensor as well as an 8-megapixel wide-angle shooter. In a press release, the company also revealed that the Realme GT 7 Pro will offer an underwater photography mode without requiring a case. This will be possible thanks to the IP69-rated build that is claimed to withstand depths of up to 2 meters for 30 minutes. The handset also features a sonic water-draining speaker which is said to ensure no water residue ******** in the smartphone speaker. Meanwhile, the in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor on the phone is claimed to work underwater. Users will also be able to switch between cameras, zoom, and perform other camera actions as well. The company said that the handset will come with an AI Snap Mode which will support up to 30 images per second with a shutter speed of 1/10266 seconds. It can be used to capture high-speed moving objects with precision and clarity, according to the company. The Realme GT 7 Pro India variant will also support a Live Photo feature. Although the company has yet to confirm the front camera details of the phone, the ******** variant has a 16-megapixel sensor. The Indian version will likely get the same selfie camera. According to the official microsite, the Realme GT 7 Pro will be available in India in Galaxy Grey and Mars Design colourways. The Amazon microsite for the handset confirms its eventual availability on the e-commerce site. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Realme #Pro #Camera #Features #Revealed #Ahead #India #Launch #Underwater #Photography #Mode Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ADCA 2024-25: Mt Barker veteran Neil Ferreira’s unbeaten knock helps Mt Barker to third straight victory ADCA 2024-25: Mt Barker veteran Neil Ferreira’s unbeaten knock helps Mt Barker to third straight victory Mt Barker handed Railways their first defeat of the season after veteran wicketkeeper-batter Neil Ferreira notched his second half-century in four matches in his side’s three-wicket win at Turf East. Source link #ADCA #Barker #veteran #Neil #Ferreiras #unbeaten #knock #helps #Barker #straight #victory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How ‘slow shopping’ will affect holiday spending How ‘slow shopping’ will affect holiday spending Americans are not holding back on holiday spending this year – but they are taking a more deliberate approach to the purchases they make, according to new research. Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Affirm, the study of 2,000 Americans who celebrate a winter holiday, revealed the growing trend of “slow shopping,” with nearly three in four respondents (73%) saying they have adopted this approach for the holiday shopping season. Additionally, three in five respondents (60%) said they’re starting earlier, making more frequent, smaller trips and being mindful of what they buy this year. The survey asked why purchasing habits have changed — and respondents pointed to value and intention. Source link #slow #shopping #affect #holiday #spending Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mass Effect N7 Day 2024 Round-Up Mass Effect N7 Day 2024 Round-Up November 7th, known as N7 Day, is a significant day in the calendar of Mass Effect fans. ‘N7’ refers to the in-universe military designation used by Earth’s System Alliance, assigned to trilogy protagonist Commander Shepard and Mass Effect: Andromeda character Alec Ryder, among others. Source link #Mass #Effect #Day #RoundUp Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A-League Women: Perth Glory coach Stephen Peters happy with first win but says improvement still needed A-League Women: Perth Glory coach Stephen Peters happy with first win but says improvement still needed Perth Glory coach Stephen Peters says his side must improve, but admitted he was pleased to get off the mark for the A-League Women’s season. Source link #ALeague #Women #Perth #Glory #coach #Stephen #Peters #happy #win #improvement #needed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

1000xRESIST Review | N4G 1000xRESIST Review | N4G NoobFeed editor Ahnaf Tajwar writes – 1000xRESIST is one of those titles that you’re going to be thinking about long after the credits roll. Considering this is an indie title, it’s a really great show of storytelling and world-building. The themes it tackles are pretty heavy and might not be for everyone, but I really can’t see anyone leaving disappointed from a story like this. Source link #1000xRESIST #Review #N4G Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Android 15 Brings Support for True Adaptive Refresh Rate on Smartphones and Other Devices Android 15 Brings Support for True Adaptive Refresh Rate on Smartphones and Other Devices Android 15 was released globally in August and since then, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme have introduced their iterations of the new operating system (OS) for their smartphones and other devices. The update is said to bring support for true adaptive refresh rate (ARR) which leverages discrete VSync steps to adapt to the frame rate of the on-screen content without changing the current display mode. Adaptive Refresh Rate on Android 15 Support for ARR has existed since Android 11 but it used a method known as refresh rate switching which essentially switched the display between different modes depending on the content and its requirements. Devices could switch between 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz, based on the display type. However, Android 15 brings a true ARR experience by allowing the system to adjust the refresh rate within one mode instead of using a fixed cadence. According to Android (via Android Authority), displays that support ARR can decouple the VSync rate and refresh rate based on the cadence of the content update. ARR on Android 15 brings two benefits: reduced power consumption and less jank. With this capability, devices usually operate at lower refresh rates and transition to higher rates only when essential. This is said to result in reduced power consumption. Furthermore, ARR also eliminates the need for switching between modes, reducing jank — an effect that usually appears when the content isn’t synced with the device’s refresh rate. Android says OEMs can implement ARR based on their preferred power trade-offs. The OS is claimed to support ARR with the new Hardware Composer (HWC) HAL APIs and platform changes. To enable it, device makers must support kernel and system changes on devices running Android 15 and later, as well as implement version three of android.hardware.graphics.composer3 APIs. However, screens which do not support the technology will still use the active display mode’s fixed cadence to adjust the refresh rate. 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. Nintendo, The Pokémon Company Seeking Injunction on Palworld, JPY 5 Million Each in Damages from Pocketpair Source link #Android #Brings #Support #True #Adaptive #Refresh #Rate #Smartphones #Devices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Family of window cleaner hit by 33K volts call for change in law Family of window cleaner hit by 33K volts call for change in law A window cleaner severely injured when he was struck by 33,000-volts is now able to “shuffle” around the house – as his family call for a change in the law. Dad-of-three Jason Knight, 35, suffered a near-****** incident and lost his left forearm and several toes. Electricity jumped about 2 meters (6.6ft) from a power cable to his cleaning pole. Jason, of Westbury, Wiltshire, was on the final window of a regular customer’s house when he was electrocuted on April 6. His loved ones are now demanding for a change of law to stop this from happening to someone else. Source link #Family #window #cleaner #hit #33K #volts #call #change #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Players Watch the World ***** Thanks to a Temporary Arsenal Augmentation Helldivers 2 Players Watch the World ***** Thanks to a Temporary Arsenal Augmentation The latest Major Order is nearing its end, and the Helldivers 2 devs rewarded the players with a Temporary Arsenal Augmentation. Watch out. Source link #Helldivers #Players #Watch #World #***** #Temporary #Arsenal #Augmentation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

IAM: Enterprises face a long, hard road to improve IAM: Enterprises face a long, hard road to improve Identity and access management (IAM) is a difficult and enduring challenge for enterprises. Organisations need to balance securing and managing identities effectively with ease of use for employees, customers and suppliers. Put in too many layers of identity and access control, and the result is “friction”: processes that make it ******* for employees to do their jobs. “Many organisations start their identity journey with a combination of only short-term objectives, poor identity data, immature identity architecture and weak user verification,” warns Scott Swalling, a cloud and data security expert at PA Consulting. “A poor IAM approach, at best, can make it cumbersome and frustrating for your users and administrative staff. Onerous processes that don’t take full advantage of IAM capabilities will breed users finding ways around them – as they always have – leading to security issues and potentially breaches.” Even with the expansion of measures such as multifactor authentication (MFA) and biometrics, access ******** a weak spot in enterprise security, as well as data compliance and privacy. IAM has become even more critical as enterprises move away from a fixed perimeter to flexible working, the cloud and web applications. The scale of the problem is very real. According to Verizon’s 2024 Data breach investigations report, stolen credentials were used in 77% of attacks against basic web applications. Google’s 2023 Threat horizons report found that 86% of breaches involve stolen credentials. “We need to transition to an identity-first security culture,” warns Akif Khan, a vice-president analyst at Gartner who focuses on IAM. “If you don’t identify your users, it’s hard to have any type of security. If you don’t know who is accessing your systems, how do you know if they should be accessing them, or not?” IAM, Khan suggests, is replacing the old idea of organisations having a secure perimeter. The risks of relying on perimeter security alone are clear. In June this year, data breaches at Ticketmaster and Santander were traced back to unsecured Snowflake cloud accounts. Securing privileged accounts goes hand in hand with strong identity management and initiatives such as zero trust. But as zero trust requires significant, long-term investment, CIOs and CISOs should also be looking to improve existing security for credentials and move to risk-based approaches for identity. This is prompting organisations to move towards policy-based access controls and risk-adaptive access controls. These systems allow firms to enforce multifactor authentication if an action appears high risk, or block it altogether. But this depends on a clear IAM strategy throughout the organisation. “Get the basics right to ensure you have clear visibility and control of who has access to your resources,” recommends PA’s Swalling. “Ensure identity data is good. Coupling this with robust privilege access management, utilising automation and machine learning where possible, will streamline and enhance administrative tasks and reduce user frustration.” Frustrated users make for ready victims, agrees Mustafa Mustafa, EMEA solutions manager for identity at Cisco, with a very real risk of MFA flood attacks. Zero trust Cisco is a proponent of the zero-trust security model, but Mustafa admits few organisations have fully achieved it. In fact, Cisco research found that 86% of enterprises have started on zero trust, but just 2% say they have reached maturity. Barriers include complexity and an inconsistent user experience. “The principle is trust no one, verify everyone,” says Mustafa. “The only way to implement a zero-trust policy is continuous verification of all users, devices and applications at all times and locations within or outside a given network.” This includes deploying multifactor authentication, least privilege access and micro-segmentation. Zero trust is worth the effort, he argues. It improves security, compliance and risk management, but also simplifies operations – once it is properly implemented – and potentially allows organisations to reduce administration overheads, costs, and delays and frustrations for users. It also makes hybrid and remote working easier to manage. Meanwhile, enterprises need to continue to invest in MFA, identity governance and administration, privileged access management, and single sign-on, to list just a few. This can force CIOs to operate in two “lanes” – one for improving security around identity and access now, and a separate, longer-term objective of moving to zero trust. In time, this will include making more use of artificial intelligence (AI) to spot unusual user behaviour or actions that could be evidence of a breach, and a move towards IAM based on risk, rather than just identity. This is sometimes also called adaptive authentication. “By integrating real-time risk assessments, organisations can grant access based on context rather than identity alone,” says John Paul Cunningham, CISO at Silverfort, an identity protection provider. “This shift would reduce the operational overhead and data burden of managing authentication and authorisation. Ultimately, adopting this model would enable businesses to strengthen security, improve user experiences and lower the cost of maintaining identity security,” he says. In practice, organisations are likely to rely on layers of security for layers of access, at least for now. Digital wallets “The more forward-thinking organisations are prioritising identity. But the challenge still exists of stitching together disparate systems,” says Cunningham. “Looking at the future you can build new platforms, but people still have a lot of legacy architecture.” However, enterprises still need to verify the identity of a user – whether an employee, supplier, or customer – in the first place. Here, the move towards global identity wallets (GIWs), usually part of a government-backed scheme, can help. Most often associated with digital government initiatives, GIWs might not be the most suitable tool for day-to-day access management, but they could play a role in onboarding staff or customers, and potentially cut ****** and credential theft. Already, there is some convergence between GIWs and IAM, with Microsoft’s Entra Verified ID integrated into the company’s Authenticator app, for example. According to Gartner, more than 500 million people worldwide will use phone-based digital identity wallets by 2026. This represents significant growth, and should ease a number of issues around identity verification, especially for government services. “In principle, you could have an identity wallet on your phone, and it’s not hugely different from an authenticator app. That could be used,” says Khan. “It’s not a Microsoft ID, but an ID in a Microsoft app.” Open standards around digital ID and interoperability between platforms are likely to drive adoption among government agencies and, in turn, take-up by citizens. Global identity wallet technology, for all its advantages, is likely to be too expensive for enterprises to set up on their own. And part of their advantage ***** in scale, and in the trust that comes with government-issued ID. “The market is moving towards portable digital identity, so users won’t have to verify their identities again and again, but instead have an ID wallet on a mobile device which verifies that ID,” says Khan. Businesses that currently pay for third-party identity verification services could even save money through a GIW. “How the commercials stack up will be key to this,” he says. Organisations also need to accept the identity asset in the wallet, which is again why government backing, and open standards and interoperability, are so important. And using GIWs could give advantages in areas as diverse as recruitment or providing services to new customers. “From a technical point of view, it makes perfect sense if there is a route to onboard someone more quickly,” says Khan. “In a competitive market, organisations will look to explore that.” Even so, GIWs look set to be part of the IAM landscape, rather than a replacement for internal identity and authentication systems. “You have an ID, and that ID has attributes such as ‘I’m an employee of Gartner’. Then you have your attributes for access rights, which is layers upon layers of information,” says Khan. “That might not all be in the wallet.” Firms will still need to check details against their own identity infrastructure. The prospects for enterprise use of identity wallets, and much of the future development of IAM, will depend on the type of information, and the levels of access, organisations need to secure. “Digital wallets can play a significant role in day-to-day authentication, extending beyond one-off events like onboarding or identity verification,” says Silverfort’s Cunningham. “By embracing digital wallets as a daily authentication tool, organisations can strengthen their security posture while enhancing user convenience and productivity.” He expects to see take-up in healthcare, government, access to benefits and border control, at least initially. But digital wallets could also strengthen MFA and give hard-pressed data security teams some breathing space as they look at longer-term options, including zero trust. “Digital wallets serve as an additional factor in MFA, a unique identifier similar to certificate-based tokens, and a secure storage solution for sensitive data like passwords and cryptographic keys,” says Cunningham. Used well, they could improve security and ease of use while also reducing support costs for enterprises. Source link #IAM #Enterprises #face #long #hard #road #improve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

North Walpole residents say prescribed 1018ha ***** of Nornalup Inlet shows DBCA methodology needs review North Walpole residents say prescribed 1018ha ***** of Nornalup Inlet shows DBCA methodology needs review A State Government department is under ***** from residents of a south coast town after it carried out a planned prescribed ***** on a day with a high ***** danger rating during breeding season for native animals. Source link #North #Walpole #residents #prescribed #1018ha #***** #Nornalup #Inlet #shows #DBCA #methodology #review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

“Chicken Police: Into the HIVE!” is now available for PC via Steam “Chicken Police: Into the HIVE!” is now available for PC via Steam “The Sherman Oaks-based (CA, the US) indie games publisher Joystick Ventures and Budapest-based (Hungary) indie games developer The Wild Gentlemen, are today super excited and happy to announce that their Point-and-cluck detective game “Chicken Police: Into the HIVE!” is now available for PC via Steam.” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #Chicken #Police #HIVE #Steam Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump is already wielding power and causing massive disruption Trump is already wielding power and causing massive disruption President-elect Donald Trump is already flexing raw power, showing he may try to subvert Washington’s checks and balances and leaving foreign leaders scrambling to come to terms with his victory. Early signs from Mar-a-Lago, the Florida club and estate where Trump is building his new administration, suggest that when he moves back into the White House in January, bolstered by a thumping win and a democratic mandate, he will act with maximum force. Trump has already taken to social media to issue orders to Senate Republicans running in this week’s majority leader election to endorse recess appointments for his Cabinet nominees — and all three candidates quickly signaled they’re open to the idea. He’s showing he plans to rule a GOP monopoly on power — if Republicans win control of the House, which CNN has not yet projected — with unchallenged authority. He sees Congress as a rubber stamp rather than a separate, co-equal branch of government. The president-elect’s decisions herald a new administration infused by outsider populism rather than conventional power brokers. He, for example, ruled out Cabinet posts for Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley, who both had top foreign policy spots last time around. On Sunday, he offered the job of US ambassador to the ******* Nations to New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, two sources familiar told CNN. And his inclusion of billionaire tech visionary and rabble rouser Elon Musk on a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — a privilege normally reserved for senior foreign policy aides — showed how Trump’s unorthodoxy will challenge every governing convention. Longer-term implications of Trump’s triumph are sinking in. Speculation about future Supreme Court positions and potential retirements is highlighting the next president’s potential to extend the dominance of the ultra-************* majority he built into the middle of the century. Federal workers are now dreading an expected purge of career bureaucrats by Trump allies keen to install political appointees who will not hesitate to carry out orders that could shred the regulatory state and central government authority. And CNN reported last week on discussions in the Pentagon about how the military would respond to any order to deploy against Americans, following Trump’s warnings as a candidate that he could shatter taboos on the use of forces on US soil. And another question is taking on added urgency: how far will Trump go in exacting the revenge he promised against his political opponents following the impeachments, indictments and one conviction on which he anchored his campaign? Cabinet nominations expected in the days ahead, including for attorney general, will shed light on the depth of his thirst for retribution. Democrats are, meanwhile, coming to terms with the massive fallout of their ******** to stop Trump’s return to power, even as they dissolve into self-recrimination. They lack a clear leader to revive their message or a platform of power if Republicans retain control of the House. This will only strengthen Trump’s hand in the weeks ahead. Overseas, Trump’s victory is forcing a massive geopolitical reassessment. From Europe to Taiwan and Iran to Russia, foreign leaders are gaming out how to deal with the unpredictability of Trump’s return. Some are racing to flatter the president-elect. Others are bracing for his wrath. A growing sense of frantic reordering and recalculation inside the ******* States and abroad underscores how Trump will return to office more powerful than he ever was in his first term, with the advantage of fewer restraints. His march to victory in all seven battleground states — he won Arizona, according to a CNN projection on Saturday — offers him popular legitimacy. And his historic achievement of becoming only the second president to win a non-consecutive term means he’s now a historic figure not an aberration. This new Washington reality will be on display Wednesday when Trump returns to the White House to lunch with President Joe Biden — who vanquished him in 2020 — but whose power ebbs by the hour as Trump establishes his own. Trump’s determination to project peerless authority is playing out on multiple fronts Staffing: Trump’s swift move to name his campaign co-chair Susie Wiles as the first female White House chief of staff means he wants a fast start. His rejection of Pompeo and Haley told its own story. Pompeo, the former CIA director and secretary of state, was seen as loyal to Trump in his first term. But he was recently branded a denizen of the “Deep State” by Trump consigliere Roger Stone. Haley, the ex-US ambassador to the UN, rebuked Trump during her primary run and he ignored the former South Carolina governor’s offer of help on the campaign trail. The message is clear: for new administration jobs, only ultra-MAGA loyalists need apply. Stefanik, currently the House GOP conference chair, started in Congress as a moderate *********** from upstate New York but has risen in the ranks of leadership by faithfully defending Trump. Establishing dominance over Washington Republicans: Trump has been mostly behind closed doors since his victory rally last week. But his social media posts are taking on thundering importance. On Sunday, he showed he will try to dominate more than one branch of government by laying down conditions for whoever wins the top job in Senate *********** leadership. “Any *********** Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the ******* States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump wrote on X. Past presidents have tried to use recess appointments as a last-ditch effort to get Cabinet nominees confirmed despite opposition. Trump could try to expand its use to secure multiple year-long temporary appointments for nominees considered too outlandish or unqualified by some senators, potentially including Republicans. Democrats, however, could filibuster resolutions to go into recess. Tony Carrk — executive director of Accountable.US, a nonpartisan watchdog group — warned in a statement that “President-Elect Trump is trying to gut our checks and balances and consolidate power by demanding Senate Republicans ignore their constitutional duty and install his nominees without public scrutiny.” Florida Sen. Rick Scott — who is being backed for majority leader by MAGA luminaries, including Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy — immediately pledged to fall in line. South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, both members of the old Senate guard who are considered the favorites in Wednesday’s secret-ballot election, soon signaled openness to the idea, too — a preview of the tightrope they’d likely have to walk with Trump as president. Thune, the current ********* whip, posted on X that all options were on the table including recess appointments. And Cornyn wrote on X that Republicans would stay in session to try to overcome any Democratic efforts to block Trump’s nominees, posting: “Additionally, the Constitution expressly confers the power on the President to make recess appointments.” Retribution: Washington is waiting, with trepidation to see if Trump follows through on his vow to use his new power to pursue his enemies. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan insisted Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union”: “I don’t think any of that is going to happen.” The Ohio *********** told Dana Bash, “We’re the party who’s against political prosecution. We’re the party who’s against going after your opponents using lawfare.” Still, Jordan has already officially warned special counsel Jack Smith, who led federal ********* investigations into Trump, to preserve records in order to leave open the possibility of a congressional investigation. Trump’s best political bet might be to use all his capital on his first 100-days agenda. But his lifelong mantra is to get even with enemies. Musk at the heart of government: One moment last week showed how Trump’s second term is likely to be even more unorthodox than his first. Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX pioneer, joined the call between Trump and Zelensky the day after the election, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN. A president-elect can put anyone he wants on a call. But since Musk has massive contracts with the US government, his mere presence alongside Trump — for whom he campaigned vigorously and promoted on X, which he owns — represents an apparent massive conflict of interest. Musk’s Starlink internet service is also critical for Ukraine’s troops battling Russia’s brutal invasion. Since Trump vowed to end the war and is close to Russian President Vladimir ******, it’s hard not to interpret Musk’s presence as potential leverage over Zelensky if he refuses to comply with Trump’s future demands. In a broader sense, the Trump-Musk friendship is a fascinating glimpse into the unorthodox inner circle the president-elect will bring to Washington. Their relationship offers Trump the affirmation of being feted by the world’s richest man. Musk gets inside access to the soon-to-be world’s most powerful man. And both are examples of outsiders who have bypassed normal routes to great influence through their vast wealth. Now they both wield great power that was once reserved for traditional political elites. Foreign leaders scramble: Presidents and prime ministers are ingratiating themselves with the president-elect with congratulatory calls and facing scrutiny at home over how they will deal with him. Trump is promising to return to the volatile foreign policy that defined his first term — and then some. There are already fears he’ll ignore NATO’s core principle of mutual self-defense or compromise Taiwan’s security by saying the US would not come to the democratic island’s aid in the event China invaded. Almost every assumption, therefore, about ********* power and policy that underpinned the post-World War II and post-Cold War world is now uncertain. The conundrum facing US allies was ***** out by French President Emmanuel Macron, who rode the Trump first-term rollercoaster. With transatlantic tensions expected to rise again, Macron pointed out last week that Trump was elected to represent the interests of Americans and questioned whether Europe would take care of its own interests. “I have no intention of leaving Europe as a stage inhabited by herbivores, only for carnivores to come and devour (us) according to their agenda,” Macron said, in a translation of his remarks on his official X account. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Trump #wielding #power #causing #massive #disruption Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Some The First Descendant Players Got Previously Hard-to-Obtain Modules Without Breaking a Sweat Some The First Descendant Players Got Previously Hard-to-Obtain Modules Without Breaking a Sweat The main part of the Patch is the reduction of the Outpost cooldown. However, more useful changes are also here, like the reduction of the “hold-X-button” time, removing the hero landing animation when falling from a high altitude, offering Supply Coins as compensation for an earlier issue, fixes to some weapons (like the Albion Cavalry Guy and The Final Masterpiece), and more. Source link #Descendant #Players #Previously #HardtoObtain #Modules #Breaking #Sweat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OnePlus 12R Android 15-Based OxygenOS 15 Stable Update Rolling Out for Global Users OnePlus 12R Android 15-Based OxygenOS 15 Stable Update Rolling Out for Global Users OnePlus 12R was launched in India in January this year with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM. It runs on Android 14-based OxygenOS 14 out-of-the-box. The company has now released the stable version of the Android 15-based OxygenOS 15 update with new features and fixes to OnePlus 12R users. Recently, OnePlus 12 users started receiving the stable OxygenOS 15 update as well. Notably, the OnePlus 12R was unveiled alongside the flagship OnePlus 12 handset. OnePlus 12R Android 15-Based OxygenOS 15 Update OnePlus confirmed in a community post, that the stable Android 15-based OxygenOS 15 is rolling out for OnePlus 12R users in India, ********* Union, North America as well as other global regions. The 3.54GB over-the-air (OTA) update carries the software version CPH2585_15.0.0.200(EX01) for Indian users. The company says that the update is rolling out in batches, so if you have not yet received the same, you may get it soon. Among the changes that the OnePlus 12R OxygenOS 15 update brings is smoother animations. According to the company, the rendering and animation performance is powered by a graphics engine which uses parallel processing to deliver lag-free visuals, especially while multi-tasking and running heavy applications. Parallel processing is said to offer smoother widgets, components, and folder transitions as well. The swipe consistency is said to be improved even with third-party apps, including WebView interfaces. The OxygenOS 15 update for the OnePlus 12R comes with a refreshed Home screen with redesigned icons, including fine-tuning the rounded corner design of the icons. The OnePlus OneTake feature allows users to customise properties for the Always-On Display, Lock screen, and Home screen. The Always-On Display can support classic and flux (seamless, fluid animations) modes, while the “Lock screen supports clock colour blending, glass textures, blurred wallpapers, AI depth effects, AI auto-fills, and more.” The Home screen supports glass patterns, blurred wallpapers, and other elements. The stable version of the OnePlus 12R OxygenOS 15 comes with an updated Fluid Cloud which is said to optimise app compatibility. Users can now capture Live photos with up to 3 seconds playback and access reversible photo editing features that save previous versions of the edit. The update offers enhanced Camera and filter integration as well. New Floating Window gestures have been introduced with the OnePlus 12R OxygenOS 15 update alongside resizable Split View windows. To open a floating window, users can swipe down on a notification banner and swipe down again to enlarge it. Swiping up will close the window while swiping sideways will hide it. The Split View windows can be resized by dragging the divider or by tapping to expand the display area. OnePlus Share now allows OnePlus 12R users with the OxygenOS 15 update to share files with iOS devices. The Quick Settings feature is said to have been visually improved as well. With the Split mode, users can access the notification drawer with a top-left swipe and the Quick Settings with a top-right swipe. The latest OxygenOS 15 update for the OnePlus 12R introduces a “Charging limit” feature which stops charging at 80 percent which is said to help extend battery life and minimise degradation. The company says the safety and privacy features have been improved as well. There are other smaller improvements that this update brings, which are detailed in the community post linked above. Source link #OnePlus #12R #Android #15Based #OxygenOS #Stable #Update #Rolling #Global #Users Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AFL announce Opening Round fixtures with Eagles fans to get first glance at Tom Barrass in Hawthorn colours AFL announce Opening Round fixtures with Eagles fans to get first glance at Tom Barrass in Hawthorn colours The biggest names of this year’s trade ******* don’t have long to wait to make their new club debuts as the AFL announced a blockbuster opening round. West Coast fans will get their first glimpse of defector Tom Barrass in Hawthorn colours in the second game of the 2025 season as the Hawks feature in their first home-and-away Friday night game in two years against grand finalists Sydney. Premiers Brisbane will launch the new campaign on March 6 with a clash against Geelong at the Gabba, with the club set to unveil the flag while the Cats unveil ***** recruit Bailey Smith. Opening Round will again showcase the nation’s game to the northern states with four matches in four days across New South Wales and Queensland. Former Power defender Dan Houston will take his first on-field steps as a Pie on the Sunday against Greater Western Sydney, who will also unleash Jake ********* after he departed the ******** via trade. *********’s former club will have played their first game the day before against Gold Coast. Victoria will be back firmly in the AFL’s focus for round one, with Carlton and Richmond squaring off for the round one – which will feature a full suite of nine games – Thursday night contest. All sides that feature in Opening Round will be given a bye within the first five weeks. Melbourne and Richmond were dumped from last year’s Opening Round, while Carlton requested not to be part of it. The Western Bulldogs were also snubbed but are likely to be given a blockbuster clash with Collingwood in round one to celebrate their 100-year anniversary. AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said he expected Opening Round to deliver large crowds. “After a successful start to the 2024 season, we look forward to continuing the momentum in 2025 before we head into a blockbuster round of matches in Round 1,” Dillon said. “Footy is growing exponentially in New South Wales and Queensland. All four clubs saw more than 10 per cent growth in membership this past season, and we have seen community participation numbers grow a combined 17 per cent this year. Camera IconAndrew Dillon, Chief Executive Officer of the AFL. Credit: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos “We were fortunate to be in a position where we were able to have access to our major venues in Queensland and New South Wales a weekend earlier than usual, which gave us a unique opportunity to create Opening Round, and we are thrilled these venues are available to us again for next year.” The AFL is also expected to increase Thursday night fixtures from 14 to 20 in 2025. Source link #AFL #announce #Opening #fixtures #Eagles #fans #glance #Tom #Barrass #Hawthorn #colours Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teamfight Tactics Into the Arcane Traits Explained Teamfight Tactics Into the Arcane Traits Explained Inspired by Arcane’s key characters and factions, Teamfight Tactics’ new set traits can help create some cool synergies and plays. Source link #Teamfight #Tactics #Arcane #Traits #Explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

iPhone Production in India Could Double Due to Donald Trump’s ******* Tariff Proposals: Report iPhone Production in India Could Double Due to Donald Trump’s ******* Tariff Proposals: Report In recent years, Apple’s production strategy in India has significantly improved thanks to its plans to expand manufacturing operations beyond China. Apple still relies on China for the bulk of its manufacturing and sales but several factors like the US-China trade tensions played a key role in boosting production in India. A new report suggests that Apple could double its iPhone production in India if the US imposes tariffs on ******** imports. The Cupertino-based company is likely to increase its iPhone production in India to over $30 billion annually if the newly elected US President Donald Trump decides to impose heavy tariffs on ******** imports. Trump’s Potential Tariff Hike Likely to Benefit India Economic Times citing officials and industry experts reports that Apple could double iPhone production in India to more than $30 billion annually over the next two years if new US President Donald Trump carries out his threat of imposing hefty tariffs on imports from China. Apple currently manufactures devices worth approximately $15-16 billion (roughly Rs. 1,30,000 crore to Rs. 1,36,000 crore) in India. Trump had threatened to impose tariffs of 60-100 percent on goods imported from China during his election campaigns. This could prompt Apple to shift its predictions to India. In his first term, Trump imposed tariffs on ******** imports and analysts believe that Trump’s return could further affect Indo-US relations. While some areas of India may face challenges, the electronics sector especially iPhone production will reportedly benefit from this move. If Apple expands its iPhone production in India as anticipated, India’s share in global iPhone manufacturing will surge over 26 percent in the coming years, up from the current 12 to 14 percent. The fresh capacity potentially create 2,00,000 jobs, said the report. The report quotes Neil Shah, vice-president at technology researcher Counterpoint Research, as saying that overall iPhone production value in India has the potential to go well beyond $30 billion a year in the coming couple of years. The shift in iPhone manufacturing would depend on whether the Indian government can make deep reforms to address cost inefficiencies and policy uncertainties due to taxes and tariffs to ensure that the additional production does not shift from China to other countries like Vietnam, adds the report. Over the past few years, Apple has notably increased its supplier base in India, partnering with major tech firms and contract manufacturers, including Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron. The iPhone maker is reportedly conducting early manufacturing work for the iPhone 17 at an unspecified factory in India. Source link #iPhone #Production #India #Double #Due #Donald #Trumps #******* #Tariff #Proposals #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China chip index nears 3-year high as TSMC order fuels self-reliance bets China chip index nears 3-year high as TSMC order fuels self-reliance bets SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s semiconductor index leapt close to a three-year high on Monday on bets a U.S. order halting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s shipments of advanced chips to ******** customers could accelerate Beijing’s self-reliance efforts. TSMC will from Monday suspend shipments of certain sophisticated chips to some ******** clients after receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Commerce imposing export restrictions on those products, Reuters reported on Sunday. Analysts said that while the move might lead to some short-term pain for ******** firms involved in designing chips for artificial intelligence accelerators and graphics processing units, it could benefit the domestic chipmaking sector as companies would have few alternatives. The CSI Semiconductor Index jumped more than 6% during trading on Monday to the highest since Dec. 20, 2021, while the CSI Integrated Circuits Index rose 5%. Shares in SMIC, China’s largest foundry and the country’s main alternative to TSMC, rose more than 4%. “In the medium and long term it will force the reorganization of the supply chain, increase the demand for domestic advanced process production capacity, and promote technological breakthroughs in upstream semiconductor equipment and materials,” ******** brokerage Cinda Securities said in a note published on Sunday. Several ******** technology firms and chip designers have in recent years sought to design their own advanced processors after the U.S. sanctioned Huawei Technologies and barred the likes of Nvidia and AMD from selling their most sophisticated chips to China. Many rely on Taiwan-based TSMC, the world’s leading contract chipmaker, for production. In the third quarter, 11% of TSMC’s revenue came from China, the company said. The U.S. imposed export restrictions on TSMC chips of 7 nanometre or more advanced designs, Reuters reported. The only foundry in China capable of producing chips at the 7 nm process node is SMIC, which is known for helping Huawei produce chips used in its latest smartphones, including the Mate 60 and Pura 70. Analysts said SMIC has been making such advanced chips using equipment supplied by companies like the Netherlands’ ASML and U.S.-based Applied Materials, which it managed to stockpile before U.S. sanctions took effect. However, SMIC has faced difficulties in ramping up production due to U.S. export controls barring it from purchasing equipment necessary for advanced chip manufacturing, while domestic alternatives are not yet ready for the effort. Story Continues Reuters reported in February that due to manufacturing constraints, SMIC has had to prioritise producing AI chips for Huawei over smartphone chips, as the former is seen as more strategically important. (Reporting by Shanghai and Beijing newsrooms; Editing by Jamie Freed) Source link #China #chip #index #nears #3year #high #TSMC #order #fuels #selfreliance #bets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New World: Aeternum: Every Archetype, Ranked New World: Aeternum: Every Archetype, Ranked This article analyzes the skills, strengths and weaknesses of each archetype in New World: Aeternum. Source link #World #Aeternum #Archetype #Ranked Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Throngs of Cyclists Ride for Hours Between Two ******** Cities Throngs of Cyclists Ride for Hours Between Two ******** Cities They were making the 40-mile journey from Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, to the neighboring city of Kaifeng, a cycling trip that can take up to five hours one-way. Source link #Throngs #Cyclists #Ride #Hours #******** #Cities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]