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MSI’s component showcase at Computex was impressive, but in the end, I fell in love with a bracket MSI’s component showcase at Computex was impressive, but in the end, I fell in love with a bracket I spent yesterday walking the floor of Computex 2025, checking out the latest and greatest computing tech of the year, and I got to spend a lot of time at the MSI booth. As one of the biggest PC component makers in the world, MSI had a lot to show off on the components front, from cases to power supplies to graphics cards to motherboards, and all of it was either what I expected from MSI (their components are great), or even better, some limited edition and concept products that anyone would want to include in their own PC build. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Starting on the premium build side of things, the MSI MEG Maestro 900L is a real showpiece of a PC case with a three-sided curved glass enclosure with diamond chamfer edges and support for a custom liquid cooling loop. It’s more or less a perfect case for a high-end build that isn’t a completely custom design. You may like Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Next, the IRONMOUSE VTuber-themed PC build with IRONMOUSE-branded components looked fantastic, and is the kind of build and component design that should inspire a lot of builders out there to go for a similar look. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Obviously, graphics cards were a big part of MSI’s booth this year, and that makes sense, seeing as it consistently makes some of the best graphics cards on the market, especially on the higher end of the stack, like the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Suprim Liquid SOC, but also smaller form factor cards on the lower end of the stack like the new MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Inspire 2X OC. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Of course, with so many components, you could build a whole PC out of just MSI parts, and MSI went out of its way to showcase some of its DIY innovations that aim to make PC building easier and less intimidating for first-time builders. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) In addition to its mainstream graphics card lineup, MSI also showed off new MSI GeForce RTX 5080 Expert OC and RTX 4080 Super Expert OC cards with a cool-looking grill design built into their shrouds. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) There were also some awesome special edition cards being shown off, like the MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Cyclone Visual OC, which is a single, large-fan design that has an LCD display in the center. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Of course, there was also the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Suprim Titanium Edition SOC card with a lux golden-colored finish. How much this card would set you back I can’t say, but I can’t imagine it’s cheap even by RTX 5090 standards. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) But the component that really stole my heart at the MSI booth yesterday was a simple bracket, one that I’m not even sure you’d be able to buy on its own, but which would come with the MSI MPG Coreliquid P13 360 AIO cooler. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) See, here’s the thing. I test a lot of processors for my reviews and features, and this often involves me swapping out motherboards with different chipsets. But in order to keep results comparable between Intel and AMD processors, I really need everything else on the testbench to stay the same, including the AIO cooler. The problem, though, is that the mounting for CPU coolers between AMD and Intel isn’t standardized. Instead, both chipmakers have their mounting screws oriented differently. Intel’s CPU cooler mountings form a square, while AMD’s form a rectangle with uneven length and height. This means that I have to swap out the mounting bracket for the AIO cooler every time I switch between the two chip brands, and losing one of those brackets is an absolute nightmare that could wreck days of testing. I know this because it’s happened to me more than once. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Enter the MSI Unibracket. A single bracket that works with both Intel LGA 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 motherboard mountings. As soon as I saw the Unibracket, I wanted to scream, because the solution to the problem is so blindingly obvious, I don’t understand how this part isn’t standardized across every CPU cooler manufacturer. Their loss is MSI’s gain, however, as once I get a Coreliquid P13 360 AIO cooler in the lab, it’s all but guaranteed to be my go-to CPU cooler for the testbench for the foreseeable future. You might also like… Source link #MSIs #component #showcase #Computex #impressive #fell #love #bracket Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This home improvement giant is a buy after latest earnings, Stifel says This home improvement giant is a buy after latest earnings, Stifel says Stifel growing bullish on Home Depot . The firm upgraded the home improvement giant to buy from hold and upped its target price to $425 per share from $405. Stifel’s forecast calls for roughly 13% upside from Tuesday’s close. Home Depot reported mixed first-quarter results , with earnings missing expectations while revenue topped estimates. However, the company stood by its full-year outlook, and CFO Richard McPhail told CNBC that the company is not planning to raise prices in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. “We believe this performance demonstrates HD’s idiosyncratic advantages suggesting upside potential to reiterated FY2 guidance but more importantly driving our increased conviction in the revenue acceleration underpinning our FY26E-FY27E,” analyst W. Andrew Carter said. HD YTD mountain Home Depot stock in 2025. Carter increased his full-year earnings forecast on Home Depot to $14.56 per share from $14.39 per share. “We view a fulsome home improvement category inflection [as] ‘when not if,’ but view our HD outlook as largely derisked from the timing shifting the narrative away from trepidation around ongoing negative revisions,” he said. Shares have ticked down about 3% in 2025 but have gained more than 8% in the past month. “We believe the FY25 performance will drive enthusiasm for HD’s ability to disproportionately capitalize on a likely above trend-line home improvement category recovery driving upside to our outlook and outperformance for H shares,” he continued. Analysts are mostly split on Home Depot. Of the 41 covering the stock, 26 have a buy or strong buy rating, according to LSEG. Another 14 rate shares as a hold, and one assigned a sell rating to it. Source link #home #improvement #giant #buy #latest #earnings #Stifel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to Press Ramaphosa to Pare Back Racial Equity Laws – The New York Times Trump to Press Ramaphosa to Pare Back Racial Equity Laws – The New York Times Trump to Press Ramaphosa to Pare Back Racial Equity Laws The New York TimesWhy South Africa’s president could be walking into an Oval Office ‘buzzsaw’ PoliticoSouth Africa-US relations: Can Cyril Ramaphosa charm Donald Trump? BBCTrump plans to press South African leader on ‘genocidal rhetoric’ The Washington PostRamaphosa-Trump meeting live: Musk Starlink deal and Afrikaner refugees in focus Reuters Source link #Trump #Press #Ramaphosa #Pare #Racial #Equity #Laws #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

West Nile virus detected in *** mosquitoes for first time West Nile virus detected in *** mosquitoes for first time Fragments of West Nile virus have been detected in *** mosquitoes for the first time, the *** Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. A research programme by the UKHSA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) found the genetic material in mosquitoes collected in Britain in 2023. West Nile virus is a vector borne disease usually found in birds that typically circulates through bird-biting mosquitoes. In rare cases, mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans. A UKHSA spokesman said the risk to the general public is “very low” but advice to healthcare professionals will be issued. Source link #West #Nile #virus #detected #mosquitoes #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

All 11 Tekken Games Ranked Worst to Best All 11 Tekken Games Ranked Worst to Best When it comes to a legendary fighting franchise that has been dominating the martial arts game scene, nobody does it like Tekken. The game first started in 1994 with its arcade debut, and since then, it has been creeping into the gaming history and legacy, shaping the fighting games genre. When gamers first played the game, it was a blocky 3D fighting game on the original PlayStation. Now, it has turned into a popular series that has been running for decades, fueling intense controller-spamming rivalries. The games have evolved in many aspects in the past few decades, and their latest installment from 2024, Tekken 8, shows the world that the game is not ready to die anytime soon. With better game mechanics, graphics, and an increase in the number of fighters, the game is not just another forgotten saga struggling to survive; it’s doing better than ever. The game has had multiple spin-offs and collaborations, but today, we will be looking at the main titles that follow the storyline and see who did it best and who got KO-ed. 11 Tekken 2 (1995) A still from Tekken 2 gameplay | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment This has to be the least fun Tekken game to come out of the original game saga. It was released in 1995 for arcades and was later ported to the original PlayStation. Sure, it was a great addition to the original game that came out in 1994, but the original game’s success was so massive, it had a ******* shoe to fill. The fighting game scene was heating up in the ’90s, and after the first game, everyone expected the second installment to take a step forward, but the results made it look like it took a step back. The game did introduce memorable characters like Lei Wulong and Jun Kazama, and the ******* roster gave players more fighting styles to explore. It even polished the game mechanics slightly, showing minor improvements compared to its sequel. But despite being the follow-up to a successful first game, Tekken 2 just did not hit. The visuals barely had any notable changes, and the overall gameplay was not that great. While it did lay some foundation for what the franchise would become, everything else forced the critics to rate the game at 6.2 on IGN, making it the lowest-rated game in the franchise. 10 Tekken (1994) A screengrab of Tekken gameplay | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment When Tekken first released, it was on arcades and, after a year, was ported to PlayStation. This was the game that started it all. While everyone was used to the same fighters, making the fights boring, Tekken introduced multiple characters with distinct fighting styles that quickly grabbed the attention of gamers. Even though it looks like a boxy mess today, the game was quite advanced for its time. It was quite fun to play this with your friends or siblings during vacations, and it has a special place in the hearts of gamers, but looking at it from a critical point of view, it does not compare to the other games the saga has made. It’s not surprising that Tekken scores a 7.5 on IGN, which is quite respectable as it started off the whole thing. 9 Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (2011) A tag team game in a still from Tekken Tag Tournament 2 | BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment The second Tag Tournament game was released a decade later, for the arcade in 2011 and for consoles in 2012. Even though the series took its sweet time to release, the game made sure it had everything that the fans loved from the original Tag Tournament and expanded on it. They offered over 50 characters from nearly the entire Tekken series and gave fans more variety and better matchup options. The game even introduced new mechanics like Tag Assaults and Tag Crashes to improve the gameplay. This meant better combos and creative strategies. And this one, too, like the last game, improved on the graphics, animation smoothness, and over-the-top intros and win poses. Despite all these positives, the game was tagged as unbalanced and complicated, and one of the most unfriendly games for a beginner, which earned it a low rating of 7.5 on IGN. 8 Tekken Tag Tournament (1999) A still from the game Tekken Tag Tournament | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Tekken Tag Tournament doesn’t fall under the main game title, but it’s one of those games that deserves some credit. The game was first released in 1999 for arcades, and later it was launched for PlayStation 2 in 2000. They also introduced a new feature that allowed players to switch between two characters in a match. It was a 2v2 tag system, which none of the other games had done before. The game was like a package that included most of the characters from the first three games, which meant players had better fighting options. Apart from the new game mechanics (which were fluid), the game only improved on the visual aspects, which the new PS2 console could handle. The extra juice from the PS2 was a huge leap for upgraded effects and smoother animations. Even without a mainline story, Tekken Tag Tournament earned itself a solid 8.7 on IGN and remains one of the most beloved spin-offs in the franchise. 7 Tekken 6 (2007) A still from the gameplay of Tekken 6 | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Tekken 6 came out in 2007, more than a decade after the franchise began, and it has evolved a lot since then. Still, it couldn’t quite match some of the games released in between. The saga was released on the arcade and has been pretty synonymous with PlayStation for consoles, but Tekken 6 marked the first time the franchise appeared on Xbox. The game introduced five new characters, for a total of 39 characters. It featured better graphics than its prequels and was the first game in the franchise to introduce the “Bound” system, which opened up more creative ways to execute and extend combos and destructible stages for added immersion. Let me tell you, even though the game is not as highly praised as some of the other games in the franchise, it’s not a bad game at all; the rest of the games are so GOATed that even their worst games are rated at a dream score for some other games. That being said, it did have a clunky online experience and one of the most forgettable story modes, but somehow, it still managed an 8.8 on IGN. 6 Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (2005) A still from the game Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Released in arcades in 2005 and later on the PSP and PlayStation 3, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection was an upgraded version of Tekken 5. Tekken 5 was already a loved game, but the added flair really helped to gain more attention towards the franchise. It also introduced two new characters, Lili and Sergi Dragunov, who quickly became fan favorites. The most notable thing about the game was how good it looked, and the improved sharpness really added to the hype. The best part is that it was not just limited to consoles; the game also came in PSP, which also looked surprisingly good despite being a handheld. It had added content from the original Tekken 5 and better replay value due to new stages, costumes, and a deep ranking system that kept players grinding. Even though it was not one of the mainline games, it gained a lot of attention from the fans and even got a staggering 8.5 on IGN. 5 Tekken 4 (2001) A still from the gameplay of Tekken 4 | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment The first three games of the Tekken saga made minute improvements to the graphical elements and mechanics, but the real challenge was added with the fourth installment, which came out in 2001 for arcades and PlayStation 2. It shook up the formula a bit. The game added a new layer of strategy with uneven stages and walls that affected movement and combos. These changes added more fun to the franchise, which was starting to feel a bit monotonous. The graphics were a serious leap forward, and the added tracks just added to the rush and fun. Some fans weren’t thrilled with the changes to the character roster and the less fluid gameplay compared to Tekken 3, but overall, Tekken 4 earned solid praise for trying something different. The game has a strong IGN rating of 9, but surprisingly, it’s not the best one the game series has to offer. 4 Tekken 8 (2024) A screenshot of Tekken 8 | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment After six and a half years of anticipation, BANDAI NAMCO finally blessed the fans with Tekken 8, which dropped in 2024. The game brings the legendary fighting franchise up to today’s standards and style. The game is built on Unreal Engine 5, and boy, does it look stunning compared to the older titles. The character models did not look like they were cut using scissors, and the world felt more interactive and dynamic. The story mode dives into the drama between Jin and Kazuya, giving longtime fans the payoff they’ve been waiting for. They also introduced a new heat system, which makes the character more powerful for a temporary ******* of time, which means faster and more aggressive combat, and forces players to play more offense. The game also added rollback netcode for smoother online gameplay, making it one of the most technically advanced Tekken games yet. Even with all that, it received a 9 rating from IGN, which makes you wonder how good the games that came in between were. 3 Tekken 3 (1997) A still from Tekken 3 | Credits: BANDI NAMCO Entertainment Lots of franchises have a main title that took them mainstream. Sometimes, it can be the original, and for others, it can be a later game that put the franchise on the map. Well, for the Tekken saga, it’s Tekken 3 that redefined the game series and put it on the global map. The jump in animation quality, fluidity, and character variety was wild compared to anything that came before it. This was also the game that introduced iconic characters like Jin Kazama, Hwoarang, and Xiaoyu, who would go on to become the main characters of the franchise. The game was fast and responsive, and the mechanics were something we hadn’t seen before. All these things came together to make the game super addictive. Even the sidestep was revolutionary and added to the 3D depth that changed the way people looked at the game, and the bonus Tekken Force mode added replayability that fans didn’t expect. All in all, the game has a special place in the hearts of hardcore fans and surprisingly wooed the fans as well, helping it hold a massive 9.3 rating on IGN. 2 Tekken 5 (2004) A still from Tekken 5 gameplay | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment By the time Tekken 5 landed on PlayStation 2 in 2005, the franchise had already seen its fair share of highs and lows, but this game was a bounce-back from the low-rated Tekken 4. After they experimented with the fourth installment, they brought back faster gameplay, smoother animations, and a more refined combat system that longtime fans loved immediately. The game also took a massive leap in the visual department as well, with stunning set designs and character models that used PS2 resources to the max, going back to playing it, and sometimes it still doesn’t feel like a PS2 game. The introduction of “****** Within” mode gave players a new way to explore Jin’s story. The game was loved by fans and critics alike and received a whopping 9.3 on IGN, making it one of the best games in the saga. 1 Tekken 7 (2015) A still from the game Tekken 7 | Credits: BANDI NAMCO Entertainment Without a doubt, the most beloved game in the franchise is Tekken 7. The game was released in 2015 for arcades and then to consoles in 2017. This was the game that brought the game back into the spotlight. They introduced slow-motion finishes, cinematic rage arts, and some of the most intense story cutscenes the franchise has ever seen. The seventh installment of the original saga was a complete package. This game also focused on expanding the roster with a bunch of newcomers, who will soon become fan favorites, including Akuma from Street Fighter, who entered the ring and surprisingly didn’t feel off. This also featured the netcode, which meant smoother gameplay when playing online, and the online gaming community embraced the game with open arms. It did not come as a surprise when it got a near-perfect 9.5, making it the highest-rated and most played game in the Tekken series. Source link #Tekken #Games #Ranked #Worst Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

England v Zimbabwe: Blessing Muzarabani ready for England in Trent Bridge Test England v Zimbabwe: Blessing Muzarabani ready for England in Trent Bridge Test Back trouble restricted Muzarabani’s playing time with Northants, but the injury did not affect the learning process. On the field, Ben Sanderson showed him how to bowl a full length in English conditions. Off the field, he formed a tight bond with Saif Zaib, Jack White and Ben Curran, the latter now a Zimbabwe team-mate. Even when he could not play for Northants, the county still put Muzarabani to work. “When I was injured I was touring the sponsorship boxes at Northampton,” he says. “I’d go in there and start conversations with fans. It really helped me to communicate, how to carry myself as a professional – outside cricket, just being a good human being.” Brexit ended the Kolpak era and Muzarabani returned to the plan to resume his international career. He was back in Zimbabwe colours in late 2020, a “better bowler” for his sojourn in England. Now his career is really gathering pace. A growing reputation as a white-ball operator has earned Muzarabani an Indian Premier League deal with Royal Challengers Bangalore, under coach and compatriot Andy Flower. Muzarabani will head for India straight after the Test in Nottingham. The whip in Muzarabani’s action have led to comparisons with South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. With his height and skid, they may be more similarities with former England pace bowler Steven Finn. Zimbabwe’s chequered past means there are few very meaningful statistics to overhaul, although Muzarabani has the chance to carve his niche. This year no team play more than Zimbabwe’s 11 Tests, meaning he can build from his current 51 wickets towards becoming only the second bowler from the country to reach 100. The other to top three figures, external is Heath Streak, his 216 unlikely to be overhauled. Even Streak cannot match Muzarabani’s average of 21.84, by far the lowest of any Zimbabwe bowler to have sent down at least 60 overs in Test cricket. Zimbabwe have not played a Test against England since 2003. Before then some of the country’s most famous cricketing moments came against the English: Eddo Brandes at the 1992 World Cup, England coach David Lloyd proclaiming “we flipping murdered ’em” in the first drawn Test with the scores level in Bulawayo in 1996. And 2025? “England are one of the best teams in the world,” says Muzarabani. “We believe in ourselves. We believe can win. We just have bring our ‘A’ game to beat these guys.” Source link #England #Zimbabwe #Blessing #Muzarabani #ready #England #Trent #Bridge #Test Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

New England coach gets tough after Ashes debacle New England coach gets tough after Ashes debacle England coach Charlotte Edwards is rolling out a “minimum fitness standard” and calling for more accountability in the area from players after a 16-0 whitewash in the multi-format Women’s Ashes earlier this year. Former batter Edwards, who captained England in more than 200 matches, replaced coach Jon Lewis last month amid England’s efforts to revive their form ahead of this year’s 50-over World Cup in India. “The players are very aware there will be minimum fitness standards come this time next year … there has to be more accountability in the area,” Edwards said on Tuesday, a day before her first match as England coach. “Before the World Cup it is about individuals improving as much as they can in that time … I am not going to set fitness standards (now) because there haven’t been any standards in place.” Edwards said the players had spent the last few weeks working hard to improve their fielding, an aspect of the game that came under heavy criticism during their dismal Ashes campaign. “Physically they are in a really good place as well and we have some great fielders within our T20 squad. It’s a big part of the game and we know that,” Edwards added. England host West Indies in three T20 matches and three One-Day Internationals between May 21-June 7, with India visiting for a limited-overs tour later next month. Source link #England #coach #tough #Ashes #debacle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Phison’s Apex RAID demo showed us blistering 113 GB/s speeds in Computex demo Phison’s Apex RAID demo showed us blistering 113 GB/s speeds in Computex demo Phison has been showcasing its data storage innovations at Computex 2025. Of particular interest, we attended a partner demo where the firm utilized 32 of its latest and greatest PCIe Gen5 SSDs in a RAID setup. During the demo, we saw CrystalDiskMark report data transfer rates as high as 113.6 GB/s for reads, and 104.6 GB/s for writes. (Image credit: Future) The PS5028 for AI Workstation Live Demo This demonstration of extraordinary speed was enabled by a powerful modern workstation PC and a mix of cutting-edge storage components. Specifically, Phison utilized an AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7978WX CPU, installed on an Asus Pro WS WRX90E-Sage SE motherboard, as the foundation of the system. The storage subsystem consisted of 32 of Phison’s potent new E28 Gen5 SSDs installed across a trio of Apex Storage X16 Gen5 add-in cards. All these components were installed in a sweet-looking be quiet! chassis, as you can see. You may like Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Phison’s new E28 Gen5 SSD rubs shoulders with the best in consumer mid-2025 PC land. A single E28 Gen5 in a modern PC will be able to deliver data transfer speeds of up to 14.8 GB/s reads and 14.0 GB/s writes. The Phison E28 Gen5 is being marketed as “the weapon of choice for serious gaming and productivity,” so it is definitely targeting consumers. Its controller features a quad-CPU architecture, is fabbed on TSMC’s 6nm node, and supports up to 32 TB. (Image credit: Future) Here we had 32 of Phison’s new E28 Gen5 SSDs; however, each Apex Storage X16 Gen5 add-in card can fit 16 M.2 SSDs (there’s a clue in the name), so two would have sufficed for a 32x SSD demo. We guess three cards were installed for optimal performance, load balancing, or another nuance of the Threadripper-powered Windows system. The storage performance in this setup seems remarkable. Witnessed data transfer rates as high as 113.6 GB/s for reads, and 104.6 GB/s for writes might seem amazing. However, it was confirmed by a Phison rep that the Windows kernel was actually holding back performance. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Apex Storage’s new X16 Gen5 add-in card features the PM584 Microchip switch that has 84 lanes, claimed to support the full 16 M.2 at full bandwidth. We were told each X16 Gen5 card also has a limit of 128TB of addressable storage, at this time (that would require using 32x 4TB drives). Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. If you are interested in the Apex Storage X16 Gen5 card, we were told that it ships in 30 days and will cost $3,995 without any storage onboard. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Source link #Phisons #Apex #RAID #demo #showed #blistering #GBs #speeds #Computex #demo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With little progress after phone calls and talks, Ukraine’s allies hit Russia with new sanctions With little progress after phone calls and talks, Ukraine’s allies hit Russia with new sanctions KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Kyiv’s European allies slapped new sanctions Tuesday on Moscow, a day after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a breakthrough on ending the 3-year-old war in Ukraine. “We have made clear again and again that we simply expect one thing from Russia now: namely, a ceasefire, unconditional and immediate,” ******* Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in addressing the sanctions. “We welcome the fact that Ukraine is still prepared to do this. We note with disappointment that Russia has not yet taken this decisive step, and we will have to react to this.” Diplomatic efforts have seen little progress in halting the fighting, including Monday’s phone call between Trump and Putin, and Friday’s direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul. In the phone call, Putin promised Trump that Russia is “ready to work with” Ukraine on a “memorandum” outlining the framework for “a possible future peace treaty.” “It appears that Putin has devised a way to offer Trump an interim, tangible outcome from Washington’s peace efforts without making any real concessions,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, in a post on X. Russian media struck a triumphal tone in reporting Putin’s conversation with Trump. Ukrainian leader seeks pressure on Moscow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel that “it is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war and occupation. We are working with partners to put pressure on the Russians to behave differently.” The new European Union sanctions targeted almost 200 ships from Russia’s “shadow fleet” illicitly transporting oil to skirt Western restrictions It also imposed asset freezes and travel bans on several officials as well as on a number of Russian companies. Ukrainian officials have said about 500 aging ships of uncertain ownership and safety practices are dodging sanctions and keeping oil revenues flowing to Moscow. The U.K. also targeted the shadow fleet with 100 new sanctions and also aimed at disrupting the supply chains of Russian weapons, officials said. “Putin’s latest strikes once again show his true colors as a warmonger,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. But Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday: “Russia never responds to ultimatums.” No new sanctions on Russia from Trump Trump has threatened to step up sanctions and tariffs on Russia but hasn’t acted so far. Ukraine has offered a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire, which Moscow has effectively rejected by imposing far-reaching conditions, and Zelenskyy proposed a face-to-face meeting with Putin last week but the Russian leader spurned that offer. Trump, who had pledged during his campaign to end the war in one day, said his personal intervention was needed to push peace efforts forward. He held separate phone calls with both Putin and Zelenskyy, and said the two countries would “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations, but there were no details on when or where such talks might take place. “The status quo has not changed,” Mykhailo Podoliak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, wrote on the social platform X on Tuesday. Russia launched 108 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. One drone dropped explosives on a passenger bus in the Dniprovskyi district of the Kherson region, injuring two people, the local administration said. Putin wants Ukraine to renounce joining NATO, sharply cut its military, and withdraw its forces from the four Ukrainian regions Moscow has seized but doesn’t fully control, among other demands to curb the country’s sovereignty. After the phone call, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti published an article headlined, “Europe’s hopes crushed: Trump refuses to go to war with Putin.” In the pro-Kremlin tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets, columnist Mikhail Rostovsky also portrayed the call as a blow for Ukraine’s European allies. “Kyiv will agree to a serious, fully fledged conversation with Russia only if it has no other options left. Trump is gradually cutting off these other options for Zelenskyy,” he wrote. “And this is very, very good.” Since Trump took office, Washington has urged Russia and Ukraine to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II. European leaders remain skeptical of Putin After Monday’s phone calls, European officials remained skeptical about Russia’s intentions. “Putin has never changed his position,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in Brussels. “Russia actually doesn’t want to end this war.” EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said Russia’s failure to negotiate in good faith should trigger the threatened U.S. sanctions. “We really haven’t seen, you know, the pressure on Russia from these talks,” she said. In Kyiv, there was skepticism about Putin’s motives. Peace “is not possible now. Only when (the Russians) run out of resources and army manpower. They are ready to fight, at least for this summer,” Svitlana Kyryliuk, 66, told The Associated Press. Putin will “stall for time, and that’s it,” she said. Volodymyr Lysytsia, a 45-year-old serviceman visiting the capital for rehabilitation, said Putin has made the front lines in eastern Ukraine a wasteland, with “nothing there, only scorched earth, everything bombed.” Some were unconvinced by Putin’s promise to Trump that Russia is “ready to work with” Ukraine on a “memorandum” outlining the framework for “a possible future peace treaty.” The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow’s 2022 invasion ended after less than two hours Friday, and while both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, they clearly remained far apart on key conditions to end the fighting. ___ Lorne Cook in Brussels, Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at Source link #progress #phone #calls #talks #Ukraines #allies #hit #Russia #sanctions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Oppo Reno 14 Series Confirmed to Launch Globally With Integrated Google Gemini Features Oppo Reno 14 Series Confirmed to Launch Globally With Integrated Google Gemini Features Oppo Reno 14 series was unveiled in China last week and they’re expected to be available in select global markets soon. The Reno 14 global versions will come with integrated Google Gemini features, the company has confirmed. The ******** variants of the phones run on Android 15-based ColorOS 15 out-of-the-box, sport 1.5K flat OLED screens and are claimed to meet IP66+IP68+IP69 dust and water-resistant ratings. The Oppo Reno 14 and Reno 14 Pro are powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8350 and MediaTek Dimensity 8450 chipsets, respectively. Oppo Reno 14 Series to Arrive With Integrated Google Gemini The Oppo Reno 14 series will launch globally with Google’s Gemini AI integrated into core Oppo apps, including Oppo Notes, Oppo Calendar, and Oppo Clock, the company confirmed in a press release. The global variants will ship with Android 15-based ColorOS 15, similar to their ******** counterparts. With Google Gemini integration, Oppo Reno 14 series users will be able to “pull information and complete tasks directly” in the Gemini chat with a single prompt. The chat can be activated by pressing and holding the “side button.” This could indicate the power button, since the ******** versions of the Reno 14 handsets do not have any other functional buttons other than the volume rocker. In the press release, Oppo added that Gemini will soon let users work across multiple apps and complete complex tasks more easily. For instance, Oppo Reno 14 users can prompt the Gemini app to read a long document, summarise it, and save the summary in Oppo Notes, or watch YouTube recipe videos to pick out the steps, and save them in the native Notes app. Users can add a booked trip to the Oppo Calendar app as well. The ******** versions of the Oppo Reno 14 5G and Oppo Reno 14 Pro 5G sport 6.59-inch and 6.83-inch 1.5K flat OLED displays, respectively. The base variants gets a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 SoC, whereas the Pro model uses the MediaTek Dimensity 8450 chipset. The phones come with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 3.1 onboard storage For optics, the Oppo Reno 14 5G series carry 50-megapixel OIS-supported triple rear camera units, including 50-megapixel periscope cameras alongside 50-megapixel selfie shooters. Both handsets support 80W wired fast charging and in-display fingerprint sensors. The base and Pro variants have a 6,000mAh and a 6,200mAh battery, respectively. They are claimed to meet IP66+IP68+IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. Source link #Oppo #Reno #Series #Confirmed #Launch #Globally #Integrated #Google #Gemini #Features Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

M&S cyberattack to wipe out nearly one-third of annual profits M&S cyberattack to wipe out nearly one-third of annual profits A Marks & Spencer Group Plc (M&S) store in Kingston-upon-Thames, ***. Bloomberg | Getty Images British retailer Marks & Spencer said Wednesday that a recent cyberattack, which left food shelves bare and brought online sales to a standstill, will wipe out almost one-third in its annual profits. The company, known for its clothing, homeware and food products, said last month’s cyber attack would cost the business £300 million ($403 million) in operating profit this year. “Our current estimate before mitigation is an impact on Group operating profit of around £300m for 2025/26,” the company said in a statement alongside its annual results. It added that the financial impact would be reduced through management of costs, insurance and other trading actions, with costs related to the incident to be presented separately as an adjusting item. The forecasted impact equates to 30.5% of the company’s £984.5 million annual operating profit before adjusting items as of March 29. 2025, which otherwise picked up by 17% year-on-year. The cyberattack, which occurred over the Easter holiday, has wiped over £1 billion from M&S’ stock market value and continues to cause disruptions to online retail, which the company said could be expected to continue into July. The high street giant said the “highly sophisticated and targeted cyber-attack” had led to a “limited ******* of disruption,” but that the incident had also marked an opportunity to accelerate its technology transformation program announced last year. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon M&S. “We will use this window of disruption to accelerate our technology transformation plans; the plans we laid out a year ago. In fact, we will condense the two-year plan into just six months,” CEO Stuart Machin said during an earnings presentation on Wednesday. The incident sent shock waves across the industry, with retailers such as the Co-op and Harrods also facing recent attacks. Machin said that he would not comment on whether the retailer had paid a ransom in a cyber attack, according to Reuters. He also noted that the incident was the result of “human error,” without providing further details. “We will now draw a line under this and move on to business as usual,” he said. Lucy Rumbold, equity research analyst at Quilter Cheviot, said the cyber attack had “overshadowed” otherwise solid annual results for the retailer, but added that much of the impact had already been priced in. Shares of M&S were up 0.68% by 10:23 a.m. London time. “This cyber attack highlights just how damaging things like this can be,” Rumbold said over email. “We now have a clearer picture around the profit damage, however uncertainty on the duration of the attack remains, leaving the company vulnerable to further risks in the market.” Businesses have been increasingly flagging cyber threats as a key risk to their operations. JD Sports on Wednesday cited “a significant cyber-attack” that stalls store sales as a “severe but plausible” downside scenario going forward. Source link #cyberattack #wipe #onethird #annual #profits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD unleashes RX 9060 XT at Computex 2025, a powerful GPU that starts from $299 and could be Nvidia’s worst nightmare AMD unleashes RX 9060 XT at Computex 2025, a powerful GPU that starts from $299 and could be Nvidia’s worst nightmare AMD has officially unveiled the RX 9060 XT graphics card It comes in 8GB and 16GB versions priced at $299 and $349 That pricing, and a peppy spec, outguns Nvidia’s rival RTX 5060 Ti AMD has revealed its latest RDNA 4 graphics card over at Computex 2025, with the RX 9060 XT coming in both 8GB and 16GB flavors, as has been rumored for a while now. The RX 9060 XT has 32 compute units (CUs) – compared to 56 CUs in the RX 9070 – as we also heard via the grapevine, and in fact, the rumor mill was pretty spot on about the specs here. The main piece of key info we were lacking was the price, and we now have that: the 8GB model will sell at $299, and if you want the 16GB version of this graphics card, that’ll run to $349. You may like Other specs include the 9060 XT using GDDR6 VRAM and having a boost clock of 3.1GHz, with a TDP of 180W. AMD provided some early performance teasers, and apparently, the RX 9060 XT is going to edge out Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti in gaming when not using frame generation. As VideoCardz reports, AMD let us know that the new graphics card will go on ***** come June 5 (which was again predicted via rumors). (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: A value-packed GPU with a lot of promise AMD’s benchmarks must be taken with some caution – as with any marketing materials, some cherry-picking can be involved – but the RX 9060 XT is looking sharp going by this testing. It’s shown as 6% faster than the RTX 5060 Ti in a suite of 40 games at 1440p resolution with ‘ultra’ graphics details. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Coupled with that competitive pricing, the RX 9060 XT is a very welcome addition to the lower-mid-range of the GPU market. Indeed, AMD also showed a presentation slide declaring that the RX 9060 XT gives buyers 15% more performance-per-dollar than the RTX 5060 Ti (working with that same battery of tests over 40 games). I should note that AMD is comparing the 8GB version of Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti to the 16GB flavor of the 9060 XT, which does cast something of a different light on those performance metrics – but the relative pricing still looks good value from Team Red here. It’s also worth bearing in mind that if you do go with the 9060 XT 8GB, this uses the full complement of PCIe lanes, whereas that’s cut in half with the 5060 Ti 8GB – and that can be important for older PCs that don’t have PCIe 5.0. Mainly because (last-gen) PCIe 4.0 proves a bottleneck on the bandwidth available to the GPU with only half of those lanes active (but not with the full set of 16 lanes, as per AMD’s design choice). So, that’s another win for AMD, and it has a strong offering on the table with the RX 9060 XT. The remaining question is, with no reference boards from Team Red, and the company relying entirely on third-party graphics card makers, are we going to see the MSRP adhered to? Or, if the RX 9060 XT models turn out popular, will pricing be inflated by those board-making partners? A lot of the answer to that may be tied up in stock levels, which is another variable here: how robust will initial supply levels be? The good news is that rumor has it that AMD won’t leave us in the lurch for stock, and much of the speculation around these new RDNA 4 models has proved correct, so hopefully that assertion will pan out, too. We won’t know for a couple of weeks yet, though, and real pricing on the shelves, as opposed to target MSRPs set by AMD, will still be a critical part of the equation here with the initial launch of the RX 9060 XT. You might also like… Source link #AMD #unleashes #Computex #powerful #GPU #starts #Nvidias #worst #nightmare Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

I Waited One Hour to Try Google's Android XR Smart Glasses and Only Had 90 Seconds With Them – Gizmodo I Waited One Hour to Try Google's Android XR Smart Glasses and Only Had 90 Seconds With Them – Gizmodo I Waited One Hour to Try Google’s Android XR Smart Glasses and Only Had 90 Seconds With Them GizmodoA new look at how Android XR will bring Gemini to glasses and headsets Google BlogWe tried on Google’s prototype AI smart glasses The VergeWarby Parker pops 16% on $150 million Google smart glasses partnership CNBCXREAL Unveils ‘Project Aura’ at Google I/O — An Optical See-Through XR Device for Android XR PR Newswire Source link #Waited #Hour #Google039s #Android #Smart #Glasses #Seconds #Gizmodo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rule the pool with Dreame’s amazing robotic pool cleaner Rule the pool with Dreame’s amazing robotic pool cleaner Every pool owner knows that there’s nothing better than a cool dip on a hot day – and nothing more dull than the chore of cleaning your pool. Wouldn’t it be great if you could relax while a robot quietly cleans from the floor to the waterline to make your pool crystal-clear and debris-free? That’s exactly what the Dreame Z1 Pro delivers. It takes care of the cleaning so you can enjoy your pool even more. AI power for incredible cleaning (Image credit: Dreame) Dreame are experts in making robots that make humans’ lives easier, and the Dreame Z1 Series brings the power of AI to efficiently and quietly clean pools of any kind. It’s been designed for above ground and recessed pools, saltwater and freshwater pools, and pools of every shape and size. The Z1 Series comes with Advance PoolSense, powered by AI. It’s the world’s first robotic pool cleaner with a Triple Surround Fusion Perception System – and that means intelligent navigation and path planning, optimal zoning and adaptive cleaning routes, specially created S-shaped and Z-shaped routes for floor and wall cleaning respectively, and smart obstacle avoidance to steer clear of pool noodles and other obstacles – even really small ones. It’s clever stuff, combining ultrasound, 3D structured light and time-of-flight (TOF) sensing to deliver exceptional environmental awareness: the Z1 Pro knows where to go and what path to take to deliver the best results each and every time. It automatically detects the shape of the pool and intelligently creates cleaning zones for targeted cleaning. Serious suction and brilliant brushing (Image credit: Dreame) The Z1 Pro’s AI smarts are teamed up with a really powerful cleaning system with a whopping 8,000GPH of suction power, dual brushless pump motors, active dual brushing and horizontal waterline cleaning. That system effortlessly eliminates leaves, dirt, algae and other debris, creating a cleaner, safer swimming environment all year long – including the icky bits along the waterline. The Dreame Z1 Pro is packed with clever technology, but it’s been designed with ease of use in mind. It’s the world’s first pool cleaner with a poolside-operable remote, and it comes with a smart app that makes it easy to control and to choose cleaning modes. There are four cleaning modes, enabling you to choose between deep cleans and targeted cleaning for your pool floor, walls and waterlines. Quiet, clever and incredibly easy to live with (Image credit: Dreame) The Z1 Pro is also extremely easy to live with. Its advanced filtration means there’s minimal debris, because it can capture even very small items such as small stones, leaves, sand, gravel and hair. It even filters particles as small as 180 micrometers, ensuring your pool stays crystal clear and impeccably clean. Those filters are also really easy to clean, as they live in a filter basket that can be removed with a single click. The Z1 Pro’s powerful battery delivers cordless convenience with long-lasting power, with a working time of up to 4 hours from a single charge. And when it’s done, its auto poolside parking means it even tidies itself away when the pool is back to its sparkling best. That makes the Dreame Z1 Pro the perfect present for any pool owner – including you! Click here to find out more about the smartest and easiest way to keep any pool crystal clear. Source link #Rule #pool #Dreames #amazing #robotic #pool #cleaner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tech Life Tech Life You’ve had a ‘lightbulb moment’ and invented something amazing. Now you need a patent. Source link #Tech #Life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 16 Early Render Shows Dual Tone Design, Triple Rear Cameras Xiaomi 16 Early Render Shows Dual Tone Design, Triple Rear Cameras Xiaomi 16 is expected to go official in the last quarter of this year as a successor to last year’s Xiaomi 15. As we wait for the official launch, a leaked Computer-aided design (CAD) render of the handsets hints at its design. The Xiaomi 16 is seen with a triple rear camera unit in the leaked render. The overall look of the phone appears similar to its predecessor, but the leak points to a dual-tone design. The Xiaomi 16 is speculated to ship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. Maijinbu Official shared an alleged CAD render of the unannounced Xiaomi 16. Design-wise, the new phone looks has some resemblance to the Xiaomi 15. It has a hole-punch display and a squircle camera module arranged in the top left corner of the back panel. The camera island is seen with three sensors, an LED flash, and Leica branding. The volume rockers and the power button are placed on the left spine of the phone. The alleged render indicates a dual-tone design for the Xiaomi 16. It has slightly rounded edges and narrow bezels on all sides. The USB Type-C port, speaker, and the SIM tray are said to be located on the bottom line. Xiaomi 16 is said to launch in China in September alongside the Xiaomi 16 Pro. The phones are believed to be the first to ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. Qualcomm is expected to unveil the flagship chipset at the Snapdragon Summit in September this year. The Xiaomi 16 is rumoured to have a compact form factor with a 6.32-inch flat display. It is tipped to run on the HyperOS 3 interface, based on Android 16. It could feature a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup. As per past leaks, the battery capacity of the Xiaomi 16 will be around 7,000mAh. Xiaomi is rumoured to use the latest silicon-carbon (Si/C) technology in the Xiaomi 16 and Xiaomi 16 Pro. Source link #Xiaomi #Early #Render #Shows #Dual #Tone #Design #Triple #Rear #Cameras Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jude Bellingham surgery: Real Madrid and England midfielder to miss start of next season Jude Bellingham surgery: Real Madrid and England midfielder to miss start of next season Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to miss at least the first six weeks of next season when he has shoulder surgery after the Club World Cup. The 21-year-old has struggled with a persistent shoulder problem since 2023 and Real have scheduled the operation for when the tournament in the United States is over. The former Birmingham City midfielder has worn strapping on his shoulder when playing for England and for his club, having initially missed two games for both Madrid and England at the end of 2023 after injuring his shoulder against Rayo Vallecano. The expanded 32-team Club World Cup takes place in the United States between 15 June and 13 July. Bellingham is expected to miss the whole of preseason and at least the first six weeks of the new campaign, which would also mean being absent for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September. On Friday, England boss Thomas Tuchel will name his England squad for June’s qualifier against Andorra and friendly against Senegal, with questions remaining about whether or not players due to play in the Club World Cup will be selected. Bellingham starred in his first season in Spain after signing for £115m from Borussia Dortmund. He helped Madrid to the La Liga title and Champions League, scoring 23 goals in 43 appearances. This season, though, he has scored just 14 in five, with Madrid losing the title to Barcelona and being knocked out of Europe in the quarter-finals by Arsenal. Source link #Jude #Bellingham #surgery #Real #Madrid #England #midfielder #start #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 16 Early Render Shows Dual Tone Design, Triple Rear Cameras Xiaomi 16 Early Render Shows Dual Tone Design, Triple Rear Cameras Xiaomi 16 is expected to go official in the last quarter of this year as a successor to last year’s Xiaomi 15. As we wait for the official launch, a leaked Computer-aided design (CAD) render of the handsets hints at its design. The Xiaomi 16 is seen with a triple rear camera unit in the leaked render. The overall look of the phone appears similar to its predecessor, but the leak points to a dual-tone design. The Xiaomi 16 is speculated to ship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. Maijinbu Official shared an alleged CAD render of the unannounced Xiaomi 16. Design-wise, the new phone looks has some resemblance to the Xiaomi 15. It has a hole-punch display and a squircle camera module arranged in the top left corner of the back panel. The camera island is seen with three sensors, an LED flash, and Leica branding. The volume rockers and the power button are placed on the left spine of the phone. The alleged render indicates a dual-tone design for the Xiaomi 16. It has slightly rounded edges and narrow bezels on all sides. The USB Type-C port, speaker, and the SIM tray are said to be located on the bottom line. Xiaomi 16 is said to launch in China in September alongside the Xiaomi 16 Pro. The phones are believed to be the first to ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. Qualcomm is expected to unveil the flagship chipset at the Snapdragon Summit in September this year. The Xiaomi 16 is rumoured to have a compact form factor with a 6.32-inch flat display. It is tipped to run on the HyperOS 3 interface, based on Android 16. It could feature a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup. As per past leaks, the battery capacity of the Xiaomi 16 will be around 7,000mAh. Xiaomi is rumoured to use the latest silicon-carbon (Si/C) technology in the Xiaomi 16 and Xiaomi 16 Pro. Source link #Xiaomi #Early #Render #Shows #Dual #Tone #Design #Triple #Rear #Cameras Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Changes at Trump’s Justice Department could shift which local police agencies get federal grants Changes at Trump’s Justice Department could shift which local police agencies get federal grants The Justice Department is shaking up the priorities for a popular grant program that provides millions of dollars in aid to budget-strapped local police departments across America, according to public documents reviewed by CBS News. In a fact sheet for the Community Policing Development microgrant program, the Trump administration eliminated language that encouraged police agencies to seek federal money for initiatives to help “underserved populations,” build trust in police, boost diversity in police departments and support community violence intervention. Instead, the administration lists “immigration and border security,” “violent crime prevention” and “uplifting the image of the law enforcement profession” as programs that are priorities for the highly sought-after grants, which are administered by the Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) division. The instructions to local police departments for funding in 2025 mark a noticeable shift from the guidance issued by the Justice Department during the Biden administration a year earlier. The 2024 guidance prioritized efforts at “building trust and legitimacy with the community” and “community violence intervention” initiatives, which include efforts to combat racism, trauma, poverty and other triggers to violence. The Trump administration has shifted the grant instructions for 2025 to invite police to make a compelling argument that the money will help stiffen border security, reduce violent crime, improve police departments’ public image, support “opioids and drug market interruption” and other priorities. Both the 2024 and 2025 instructions have an “Open Topic Area” for grant applications that don’t fit into any of the listed categories. Portions of the fact sheets for the Community Policing Development microgrant program in 2024 and 2025. Justice Department The change of language raises the prospect of a dramatic shift in which police agencies are granted money and what programs are approved for federal help. The Justice Department’s COPS community policing development grants program has awarded more than $67 million to dozens of police agencies since 2023, including for some cities as large as New York, Boston and Los Angeles, and those as small as Bluefield, W.Va., and Bellevue, Neb., according to a review by CBS News. The shift could imperil money from some projects that have been highly touted in small and large U.S. cities. “These are some significant changes,” said Chiraag Baines, a former Justice Department attorney and Biden administration aide. “There’s a broader impact to this than just grant money. It’s a statement about priorities and it could encourage police to give less priority to certain programs and initiatives if they think the Administration is going to be hostile to them.” Baines said the newly-listed priorities for projects combatting violent crime and opioid abuse are important. But he added the new language encouraging police to apply for money for projects that “uplift the image of law enforcement” is a change “that really confuses the issue. Police should be working to build trust and cooperation.” Communities have proudly announced their grant awards for “community violence interventions” during the Biden administration. Cleveland Heights, Ohio, touted a program that got a 2023 grant as a successful initiative to reach at-risk youths. The city’s announcement of the grant said the $175,000 award would be used for “foot patrols in violence-impacted areas and forming a new outreach and mentorship program for Cleveland Heights.” St. Petersburg, Fla., police are among the dozens of departments and cities to receive grants for initiatives to build “trust and legitimacy with the community” since 2021, including an approximately $174,000 grant in 2022. The agency told CBS News it used the grant to “support 20 non-profit youth sports leagues.” The police department also “collaborated with the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball team to offer softball programs for at-risk girls, increasing access and participation.” St. Petersburg won another $175,000 COPS grant, for police to help “underserved populations” in 2023. The department told CBS News it used the money for “arts and educational mentorship” for youth. The changes mark a paradigm shift, and have inflamed criticism from congressional Democrats. Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Democrat who was once a state prosecutor in Maryland, told CBS News, “It is really a marked change in priorities from the last administration. Local communities count on these funds to augment their community policing efforts. Safer communities start with trust and security not fear and distrust. COPS grants should build up the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve, not tear them apart.” A former Justice Department official who served in prior administrations told CBS News the shifting of grant criteria is common when the department changes leadership. But the official said the shift away from community violence intervention programs is a “recipe for depriving law enforcement of the leads and witnesses that can solve cases and prevent crime. Community police cuts crime because people trust the police enough to work with them.” Justice Department officials declined to answer specific questions about the changes in grant application language. A spokeswoman told CBS News in a written statement, “Under the direction of Attorney General Bondi, the COPS office is committed to highlighting the important work that our law enforcement partners do and to supporting law enforcement through hiring and grant assistance.” A review of prior COPS grants announcements shows a shift of language after then-President Joe Biden took office. The language in the 2022 COPS hiring grant fact sheet for police departments eliminated references from the first Trump administration that specified money was available for initiatives that focused on homeland security and school-based policing, and added language prioritizing “diversity training” projects. Even in a distinctively polarized political climate, federal COPS grants remain overwhelmingly popular and highly pursued by local police agencies. Grant awards are regularly touted by members of congress from both parties and publicly announced by local officials as victories for the community. A bipartisan group of federal legislators has introduced a bill to beef up funding for overall COPS grants. Rep. Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat whose district includes smaller communities in the Hudson Valley, co-sponsored the bill and said, “Far too often, small and midsized police departments like ours lack the resources they need.” Rep. Zach Nunn, an Iowa Republican who co-sponsored the measure, wrote, “Every Iowa town deserves strong public safety, regardless of size or geography, and I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to boost hiring and resources for law enforcement in our small and rural communities.” Nunn’s announcement said the proposal would “reauthorize the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program with double the amount of federal funding.” A spokeswoman for the Alexandria, Va., police department, which received a $175,000 grant last year to help serve “underserved populations,” told CBS News, “The Department of Justice COPS Office plays a vital role in supporting law enforcement agencies across the country. Their funding and technical assistance have been instrumental in helping departments build long-standing relationships between police and the communities they serve.” Some city officials and police departments declined to comment on their federal COPS grant awards, including Dearborn, Mich., which received an $88,816 grant for “building trust” in police in 2023. Scott MacFarlane Scott MacFarlane is CBS News’ Justice correspondent. He has covered Washington for two decades, earning 20 Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards. His reporting has resulted directly in the passage of five new laws. Source link #Trumps #Justice #Department #shift #local #police #agencies #federal #grants Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Under attack by Trump, South Africa's Ramaphosa responds with trade deal offer – Reuters Under attack by Trump, South Africa's Ramaphosa responds with trade deal offer – Reuters Under attack by Trump, South Africa’s Ramaphosa responds with trade deal offer ReutersTrump to meet leader of ‘out of control’ South Africa at White House Fox NewsTrump to host South Africa’s president amid tensions over US resettlement of white Afrikaners ABC NewsSouth Africa-US relations: Can Cyril Ramaphosa charm Donald Trump? BBCTrump plans to press South African leader on ‘genocidal rhetoric’ The Washington Post Source link #attack #Trump #South #Africa039s #Ramaphosa #responds #trade #deal #offer #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Premier Hotel Albany, Hybla Tavern and Bremer Bay Resort up to win title of WA’s best steak sandwich Premier Hotel Albany, Hybla Tavern and Bremer Bay Resort up to win title of WA’s best steak sandwich Three Great Southern pubs are up for the coveted title of best steak sanga in the State in the upcoming *********** Hotels Association awards. Albany’s Premier Hotel and Hybla Tavern are joined by the Bremer Bay resort to compete in the 2025 AHA & Little Creatures WA’s Best Steak Sandwich competition. The public can choose their preferred sandwich out of 19 regional and 50 metropolitan nominated restaurants. Premier Hotel events and administration manager Yvette Boyd believes her pub’s beloved favourite is in with a chance due to its fresh ingredients and traditional style. “The chef makes their own onion jam on site and it just finishes the sandwich off as a simple classic that works really well,” she said. “It’s a traditional pub-style steak sandwich with really fresh ingredients. “We even have Tuesday dedicated to our steak sandwiches, with our $25 steak sandwich and pint special.” Camera IconPremier Hotel Albany manager Nicholas Pesjak with the pub’s nominated steak sandwich. Credit: Cameron Newbold Bremer Bay Resort’s events and marketing manager Veronica Thomas, however, thinks the title belongs a bit further east along the south coast. “We think our steak sandwich is the greatest because it’s packed with 200g of perfectly seasoned, medium-rare steak, layered with melted cheese, fresh lettuce and tomato, sweet and tangy peperonata, and a bold chimichurri sauce — all served in a warm Turkish panini with a side of golden, crispy chips,” she said. “(It’s) crafted with care by our talented head chef Noi Boonkerd and her exceptional team.” Hybla Tavern on Middleton Beach is also in the running with its Melaleuka Farm Steak Sandwich, which head chef Arnaldo Ramos said includes a nod to his ********* heritage while incorporating modern *********** flavours. “Incorporating our very own premium Melaleuka Farm beef, farmed by us at our family farm in North Dandalup, our steak sandwich consists of only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients and offers our guests an intriguing twist on a traditional steak sandwich, a dish that they would not expect and an unforgettable flavour that will keep them coming back,” he said Camera IconHybla Tavern’s Melaleuca Farm Steak Sandwich is in the running for best in the State. Credit: Hybla Tavern/Facebook The public can sample the sandwiches and vote for their favourite online until May 26. The people’s vote, combined with the results of mystery judge visits throughout May, will decide the top four metro and regional finalists who will demonstrate their prowess in a live cook-off at the 2025 AHA Hospitality Expo at Crown Perth on June 24 and 25. AHA WA chief executive Bradley Woods said the steak sandwich competition — now in its 18th year — “captures the heart of Western Australia’s vibrant hospitality scene”. It’s an opportunity for venues to showcase their culinary flair, engage with their communities, and be recognised for producing one of WA’s most iconic and loved dishes. “This year’s competition promises to be a thrilling one, and we encourage everyone to get behind their favourite venue and help them secure a place in the live cook-offs.” Source link #Premier #Hotel #Albany #Hybla #Tavern #Bremer #Bay #Resort #win #title #steak #sandwich Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

HP OmniStudio X All-in-One PC With Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU Launched in India: Price, Specifications HP OmniStudio X All-in-One PC With Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU Launched in India: Price, Specifications HP OmniStudio X was launched in India on Wednesday. The all-in-one (AIO) PC is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with Arc Graphics, paired with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. The processor also comes with Intel AI Boost NPU which, along with the CPU, claims to deliver 47 tera operations per second (TOPS) of computational power. HP OmniStudio X features a 31.5-inch 4K resolution IPS screen, dual speakers, a 5-megapixel infrared (IR) webcam, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. HP OmniStudio X Price in India, Availability HP OmniStudio X AIO PC is priced in India at Rs. 1,79,999. It is offered in a single Meteor Silver colourway and can be purchased through HP Online Store and other offline retail stores across the country. HP OmniStudio X Features, Specifications The HP OmniStudio X sports a 31.5-inch 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) IPS anti-glare screen with 500nits peak brightness, 95 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, and 178-degree viewing angles. The screen comes with DC Dimming technology which is said to control brightness by adjusting direct current instead of cycling the backlight for flicker-free visuals. The PC is powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor with eight cores and eight threads. It has a burst clock speed of 4.8GHz courtesy of Intel Turbo Boost Technology along with a 12MB L3 cache. The chipset is complemented by Intel Arc Graphics and AI Boost NPU, with the total computational power rated at 47 TOPS. It ships with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD storage. The HP OmniStudio X comes with a 5-megapixel IR webcam with temporal noise reduction, Windows Hello support, and integrated dual array digital microphones. It also features Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and Ethernet connectivity options. The PC is equipped with one USB Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.4 support, two USB Type-A ports with a 10Gbps signaling rate, an RJ45 port, HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack. It also has an HDMI out port which can be used to connect a second monitor, according to the company. HP’s new all-in-one computer features dual 5W speakers with DTS:X Ultra audio and Poly Studio. Further, the AI-backed Pulse Pounding Adaptive Audio feature is claimed to automatically adjust audio levels based on the user’s distance from the screen, lowering it when they are in vicinity and increasing it when they step away. The OmniStudio X AIO PC ships with a HP 710 USB Meteor Silver Keyboard and Mouse combo. 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. Stellar Blade Sequel Confirmed by Shift Up, Launch Planned Before 2027 Tesla on Track to Launch Robotaxi Trial in Austin, Texas, by June End, Musk Says Source link #OmniStudio #AllinOne #Intel #Core #Ultra #CPU #Launched #India #Price #Specifications Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hinge Health IPO: Can Pain Relief Pay Off? Hinge Health IPO: Can Pain Relief Pay Off? So far in May, 20 initial public offerings (IPOs) have launched, nearly equal to March, but lower than IPO launches in January and February. Overall, there have been 127 IPOs this year, indicating that 2025 may surpass all the years following 2021’s extraordinary figure of 1035 IPOs. That figure is still exceedingly unlikely to repeat as the maintains elevated interest rates to avoid the possibility of stagflation. Nonetheless, when the popular copy trading platform eToro went public last week on , at a $5.64 billion valuation, it signals that the market is on the way to recovery. Last week, Hinge Health (NYSE:) also applied to go public on NYSE under ticker “HNGE”, with an expected price range of $28 – $32 per share. The question is, should investors partake in this IPO? Hinge Health Business Model On Tuesday, the Trump admin further detailed its prior proposal to negotiate drug prices, down to the lowest level offered in peer nations. Although this will affect pharmaceutical manufacturers, Hinge Health is outside of this domain. Rather, Hinge Health should be understood as a tech-health company, focusing on musculoskeletal (MSK) care via virtual means and aided by AI. Specifically, in collaboration with physical therapists, the company facilitates in-home exercise plans for physical therapy. In addition to physical therapists providing feedback via video calls or text, Hinge Health is integrating AI to track body motion for real-time feedback. To complement physical therapy services, the company also developed a wearable device, Enso, which is already FDA-cleared for musculoskeletal pain. In short, Hinge Health’s business model is highly scalable owing to its virtual nature and AI, with Enso devices adding personalized pain relief via the app. This model doesn’t rely on drugs and its side effects that may be discovered down the line, making for a safe inclusion in health plans. With over a million members through employer/health plan coverage, the company generates revenue from annual subscriptions to employers and insurers. The main demand for Hinge Health services comes from the inevitability of aging. According to NIH, musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions will affect over 2 billion people by 20250. Additionally, such pain relief is suited for post-acute injuries and post-surgical rehabilitation. To scale up to this demand level, AI integration will be critical. Outside of content generation, AI has advanced the most precisely in this motion capture arena, from video game development to health care. Therefore, one should expect to see even greater virtual feedback for MSK relief, all in the convenience of one’s home. Hinge Health Valuation, Revenue, and IPO Details Hinge Health was founded in San Francisco by Gabriel Mecklenburg and Daniel Perez in 2014. The company achieved $123.8 million in revenue in Q1 2025, a growth of 50% year-over-year. This quarter, Hinge Health also entered the profitability zone, at $17 million net income vs $26 million net loss in the year-ago quarter. Hinge Health is aiming for a $2.6 billion valuation, a major reduction from its 2021 goal of $6.2 billion. However, this only reflects the fact that the era of cheap money is over, courtesy of the Fed. The aforementioned stock (“HNGE”) price range of $28 – 32 covers 13,666,000 shares. To reach that goal, the San Francisco-based health-tech startup would have to raise over $437 million. For the IPO, the company called the services of three major banks as lead managers – Morgan Stanley, Barclays, and BofA Securities. To incentivize investors in its initial series of presentations (“roadshow”), 5.1 million shares are being sold by existing shareholders (“selling stockholders”). The company itself has $8.5 million shares to sell. If there is high enough demand, selling stockholders may grant the aforementioned banking underwriters to buy up to 2 million extra shares, within 30 days. The estimated Hinge Health IPO date, under the NYSE ticker symbol HNGE, is right around the corner, on May 22, 2025. *** Neither the author, Tim Fries, nor this website, The Tokenist, provide financial advice. Please consult our website policy prior to making financial decisions. This article was originally published on The Tokenist. Check out The Tokenist’s free newsletter, Five Minute Finance, for weekly analysis of the biggest trends in finance and technology. Source link #Hinge #Health #IPO #Pain #Relief #Pay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Loses It On Reporter For Asking A Perfectly Normal Question Trump Loses It On Reporter For Asking A Perfectly Normal Question President Donald Trump really didn’t like one of the comments he faced from the media as he visited the Capitol on Tuesday as part of an attempt to shore up support for his “big beautiful bill.” A reporter for the nonprofit outlet NOTUS asked Trump about Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus, who said the bill didn’t have enough support among conservatives to pass yet. “Andy Harris said that you didn’t adequately convince enough people to vote for the bill,” the reporter said. “Why don’t we see how the vote is,” Trump said, adding that he had a “great talk” with GOP lawmakers. “Who do you work for?” Trump asked. “NOTUS,” the reporter replied. “Who?” Trump asked again. “NOTUS.” “I don’t even know what the hell that is,” Trump said. “Get yourself a real job.” NOTUS was launched last year by Politico founder Robert Allbritton as a non-profit, non-partisan outlet as part of Allbritton Journalism Institute, which aims to train young political journalists. Source link #Trump #Loses #Reporter #Perfectly #Normal #Question Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Android 16 Release: Everything You Can Expect from Google’s Upcoming OS Update Android 16 Release: Everything You Can Expect from Google’s Upcoming OS Update Google has released the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update for eligible Google Pixel users. Unlike early previews and beta versions of major Android updates, the Quarterly Platform Release builds are said to be stable and ready for everyday use. This update includes elements from the Material 3 Expressive design language, which was unveiled earlier this month. It comes with visual refreshments for notifications, quick settings, the lock screen, as well as the launcher. Notably, the stable version of Android 16 will begin to roll out to global users in June. Android 16 Release: Everything You Can Expect The Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update has been released. It is currently available for the Google Pixel 6, 6a, 6 Pro, 7, 7a, 7 Pro, Fold, Tablet, 8, 8a, 8 Pro, 9, 9a, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold devices. The update brings the Material 3 Expressive interface, which introduces some design changes to notifications, quick settings, the lock screen, and the launcher. The stable version of Android 16 will roll out to global users in June. The folks over at 9to5Google have highlighted the changes that the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update brings. To begin with, Quick Settings has resizable tiles and a background blur. Since the Android 12 update, we have seen the fully expanded QS with eight large Tiles arranged in a 2×4 format. Now the size and placement of the Tiles can be customised. With the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update, there’s said to be a refreshed rectangular Brightness slider with a noticeable handle bar. The QS Tiles with the main icon appear in a circle when they are not enabled. Once enabled, they are seen in rounded rectangles or squares. The resizable QS Tiles in the new Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update can now be reduced to half their size, with only the icon and no text label. Users can resize the Tiles by tapping on them and dragging the slider to adjust to the desired size. The QS Tiles have also been grouped into Connectivity, Utilities, Display, Privacy, Accessibility, From system apps, and From apps you installed categories, with the latest Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update. You get a reset button at the bottom of the QS panel as well. The updated Notification Shade, on the other hand, has a blurred background and pill-shaped buttons for history, Clear all, and alert preferences. The Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update has refreshed the design of the Recents menu as well. The updated design is said to be helpful for users with the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and other larger devices. The Recents menu now appears in a uniform grid format instead of its uneven appearance in Android 15 versions. The Recents menu also appears with a pill-shaped button on top of app previews for options, replacing the old floating icon, making it easier to see and use. Additionally, the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 build brings new homescreen grid sizes and a redesigned lockscreen. For the latter, the “At a Glance” information now appears below the large clock, and when the clock is in the corner, the date, day, and temperature shift to the right. With the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update, the App List appears on a sheet instead of being displayed full screen. The Audio Sharing options get a design revamp as well, alongside an updated volume slider and volume adjustment panel. The Settings app, App info, as well as the design of the Wallpaper & Style section, have been refreshed, as per the publication. Source link #Android #Release #Expect #Googles #Upcoming #Update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]