Pelican Press

U.S. ‘industrial renaissance’ is driving a rebound in fundraising U.S. ‘industrial renaissance’ is driving a rebound in fundraising Jonathan Gray, president and chief operating officer of Blackstone Inc., from left, Ron O’Hanley, chief executive officer of State Street Corp., Ted Pick, chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley, Marc Rowan, chief executive officer of Apollo Global Management LLC, and David Solomon, chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., during the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Hong Kong, China, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images An “industrial renaissance” in the U.S. is fueling demand for capital, Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management said at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Hong Kong. “There is so much demand for capital, [including through debt and equity] … What’s going on is nothing short of extraordinary,” Rowan said on Tuesday during a panel discussion. This demand has been supported by massive government spending, particularly on infrastructure, the semiconductor industry and projects under the Inflation Reduction Act, said the asset manager, who is reportedly in the running for Treasury Secretary position under President-elect Donald Trump. “What we’re watching is this incredible demand for capital happening against a backdrop of a U.S. government that is running significant deficits. And so the capital raising business, I think that’s going to be a good business,” he said. Industrial policies, including the CHIPS and Science Act and the 2021 infrastructure legislation, warrant billions in spending. Rowan added that the U.S. has been the largest recipient of foreign direct investment over the past three years and is expected to stay at the top spot this year as well. Rowan and other panelists also identified energy and data centers — needed for artificial intelligence and digitization — as growth sectors requiring more capital. Blackstone President and COO Jonathan Gray told the panel that data centers were the biggest theme across his entire firm, with the company employing billions on their development. “We’re doing it in equity, we’re doing it financing … this is a space we like a lot, and we will continue to be all in as it relates to digital infrastructure.” Fundraising and M&A recovery Other panelists at the summit organized by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said that capital raising was well-positioned to recover from a recent slowdown. According to David Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, capital raising activity had reached peak levels in 2020 and 2021 amid massive Covid-era stimulus but later became muted amid the war in Ukraine, inflation pressures and tighter regulation from the Federal Trade Commission. There has been a recent pick up in activity as conditions have normalized, along with expectations of friendlier regulation on dealmaking from the FTC under the incoming Donald Trump administration, Solomon said. While there ******** an inflationary backdrop and other risks in the current environment, Ted Pick, CEO of Morgan Stanley said that the consumer and corporate community are “by in large, in good shape” as the economy continues to grow. “This environment has been one where, if you are in the business of allocating capital, it’s been great,” he said, adding that the group was now gearing up to get into “raising capital mode.” “That is [the] hallmark of a growing and thriving economy, which is where the classic underwriting and mergers and acquisitions businesses take hold,” he said. Solomon predicted that these trends would see “more robust” capital raising and M&A activity in 2025. Source link #U.S #industrial #renaissance #driving #rebound #fundraising Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save Nearly 50% On The Awesome Peach’s Castle Lego Mario Set Ahead Of ****** Friday Save Nearly 50% On The Awesome Peach’s Castle Lego Mario Set Ahead Of ****** Friday The Lego Super Mario Peach’s Castle Expansion Set is down to its lowest price ever ahead of ****** Friday. Both Amazon and Walmart are offering the sprawling set for just $69 (was $130), though it’s unclear how long the deal will stick around. The set works with the interactive Lego Super Mario Adventures Starter Set–which is also on ***** for $40 (was $50), so consider snagging them both ahead of the busy shopping holiday. $69 (was $130) This awesome Lego Mario set clocks in at 1,216 pieces. When you’re done snapping its bricks together, you’ll have a large, interactive version of Peach’s Castle. It also features accessories like a Time Block, stained glass window, Bob-omb painting with a hidden Action Tag, and a cake with a Goomba hiding inside. You’ll also get figures for Bowser, Ludwig, and Toadette. The set plays nicely with other Lego Super Mario expansions, and the highly interactive castle is a great companion for any of the Super Mario Lego Starter Sets (but especially the Peach one) Keep in mind that, while this Peach’s Castle Set comes with tons of cool features and makes a great playset, it doesn’t actually include a Peach figure. For that, you’ll want to buy the Peach Adventures Starter Set, which is on ***** for $40 (was $50). This isn’t the only great Lego Super Mario deal up for grabs right now, as you’ll find plenty of others on ***** ahead of ****** Friday. Whether you want to pick up all three starter sets, a tiny expansion to use alongside Peach’s Castle, or a hilarious muscle car for Bowser, a bit of everything is on *****. Here’s a look at our favorites–and be sure to check out our ****** Friday Hub for even more great offers. ****** Friday Lego Super Mario Deals Source link #Save #Awesome #Peachs #Castle #Lego #Mario #Set #Ahead #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zombie ****** surrender policy had ‘huge flaws’ Zombie ****** surrender policy had ‘huge flaws’ Ben Schofield/BBC The model of ****** known as k-mach-165 was among thousands of blades surrendered by a wholesaler in Luton The Home Office underestimated how many zombie knives and machetes would be surrendered ahead of a recent ban, documents show. Research by the BBC also suggests some owners may have been offered more in compensation than their knives cost. An MP said there were “huge flaws” in the government’s original impact assessment for the scheme, while another queried why compensation was not capped. The Home Office said the scheme had taken dangerous weapons “off our streets” and that compensation claims had “undergone stringent review”. Steve Hubbard/BBC A pallet-load of boxes containing hundreds of k-mach-165s was part of a haul surrendered to Bedfordshire Police in September The ban was introduced by the previous ************* government to cut serious ********* and ******. It widened the definition of zombie knives, which were already banned, to include knives that were 8in (20cm) long, if they had other specific features. The Home Office opened a month-long surrender and compensation scheme before it became law on 24 September. It offered to pay a minimum of £10 per ****** to retailers and individuals handing in three or more. But BBC research suggests knives of the type banned could be bought far more cheaply than this. It comes after an investigation found ******** blades were still available to buy online, a month after they were outlawed. An impact assessment shows the Home Office thought owners would hand in 472 blades, resulting in compensation of about £14,000. Officials would not reveal the actual total but said the results of the scheme would be published “shortly”. However, partial data from several police forces in England and Wales shows at least 39,000 knives were surrendered. One retailer in the West Midlands handed in more than 100 blades. Nottinghamshire Police said it saw 455 knives surrendered, while Avon and Somerset had more than 1,000. On 9 September, Luton-based Sporting Wholesale delivered 35,871 blades to Bedfordshire Police and made a claim for compensation. There is no suggestion the firm did anything ******** or intended to profit from the scheme. Among the knives it surrendered were hundreds of a blade known as k-mach-165. Hundreds of k-mach-165 knives (top) were surrendered by Sporting Wholesale. The ****** looks identical to a blade offered by a ******** supplier (bottom) Sporting Wholesale, which owns the Anglo Arms ****** brand, is thought to have sourced its knives and machetes from China. One Guangdong-based supplier, which the BBC is not naming, sells similar knives, including one advertised online alongside a sheath marked “Anglo Arms”. Posing as a business wanting to import knives into Western Europe, the BBC asked the supplier for its latest product list, costs and a shipping estimate for 30,000 knives. A ****** very similar to k-mach-165 was offered to us for $5.58 if we ordered 1,000 of them. Using an exchange rate from 25 January, and adding shipping costs, import duty of 8% and VAT at 20%, the ****** would land in the *** for about £6.15. Sporting Wholesale would not say if it used the same supplier or if it anticipated it would profit from the compensation scheme. The company would also have faced other costs, such as storage and staffing, above the price of the blades. K-mach-165 has been advertised for ***** in the *** for about £15. Another blade handed in by Sporting Wholesale was the k-mach-572. At least 144 k-mach-572s (top) were surrendered. The ******** supplier offered to sell a similar blade (bottom) It surrendered at least 12 boxes of this model, each containing 12 blades. The ******** supplier offered to sell our reporter 1,000 similar blades for $5.58 each, which would land in the *** for about £6.15. It also offered to sell another ****** model, which had also been surrendered, similar to one used to ******* a man in Luton in 2023. A ****** similar to Sporting Wholesale’s (top) was used to fatally stab Omar Khan in Luton. The supplier’s version (bottom) would cost about £10.85 when buying wholesale The supplier said the ****** would cost about £10.85 each, when buying 1,000. Sporting Wholesale is based in a warehouse on the outskirts of Luton. Ben Schofield/BBC Sarah Owen, Labour MP for Luton North, said the government’s assessment of the surrender scheme had “huge flaws” Sarah Owen, Labour MP for the area, said: “Thirty-five thousand knives off the street is better than 35,000 knives on the streets.” But she said the Home Office’s impact assessment “clearly had flaws – huge flaws”. Ms Owen added: “I think former ministers who set up this scheme really have questions to answer on how they decided that compensation was going to be allocated and to who. “But I think we need to look at why it was that it was designed this way, because clearly it wasn’t designed for the quantity of knives that were actually handed in.” Ben Schofield/BBC Richard Fuller, ************* MP for North Bedfordshire, said if the government did not know the size of the market for zombie knives it should have considered capping compensation The Home Office said its estimates were based on a previous surrender and compensation scheme in 2019. In a consultation in spring 2023, it added, zombie ****** retailers did not provide data on sales or stock. Richard Fuller, ************* MP for North Bedfordshire, said the government should have considered capping compensation payments to avoid an “open-ended cost to the taxpayer”. He said: “Whether or not this particular store should get its full compensation – I don’t think it’s clear yet that that should be paid and my advice to the government would be to go back and check its homework and see what its rights are under legislation it’s passed.” He also supported the aim of getting more knives off the streets. A Home Office spokesperson said: “All claims for compensation submitted under the ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes surrender scheme have undergone stringent review. “Dangerous weapons with no other purpose but to harm have been taken off our streets, supporting our mission of halving ****** ****** and serious ********* within a decade.” Sporting Wholesale declined to comment. The ******** supplier was contacted but did not respond. Source link #Zombie #****** #surrender #policy #huge #flaws Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Control 2 Confirmed As Action RPG; First Game Receiving Free 2025 Update Control 2 Confirmed As Action RPG; First Game Receiving Free 2025 Update From GameWatcher: “Remedy and Annapurna Pictures have announced a strategic partnership on Control 2 intending to also bring Control and Alan Wake to film and television. The deal will see Annapurna finance 50% of the development budget for the upcoming Control 2, while Remedy will receive a greater revenue share from game sales after the initial investments have been recouped from sales.” Source link #Control #Confirmed #Action #RPG #Game #Receiving #Free #Update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussie aces chase biggest prize in ******** golf history Aussie aces chase biggest prize in ******** golf history Aussies Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, Grace Kim and Gabriela Ruffels are among 60 players chasing a $6.13 million ****, the biggest cheque in women’s golf history. Source link #Aussie #aces #chase #biggest #prize #women039s #golf #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Vision Pro’s next original game is a tactile delight Apple Vision Pro’s next original game is a tactile delight The Apple Vision Pro hasn’t exactly been the success Apple may have been hoping for. The pricey headset has struggled to find a mainstream audience since launch and we may be seeing the end result of that slow adoption soon. Apple Insider reports that production on the headset has significantly slowed and that Apple may stop making new ones altogether since it’s sitting on such an overflow. Whatever happens, it’s starting to feel clear that this iteration of the headset won’t be a breakthrough device. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t still developers who believe in it, though. One of its biggest early supporters is Resolution Games, a developer that has released several games on the platform since launch, including a version of its hit Demeo. Rather than backing off, Resolution will double down on the platform next year with Gears & Goo, its first game built exclusively for Apple Vision Pro. It’s the kind of proof of concept that Vision Pro needs to convince buyers that there are worthwhile apps on the platform. Ahead of its January 9 release date, where it’ll come to Vision Pro as part of Apple Arcade, Digital Trends took Gears & Goo for a spin. We found a solid tower defense game that makes great use of the tech’s top-tier passthrough and precise hand controls. It’s not a ******* app by any means, but it’s a reminder of what a device like Vision Pro stands to offer players if more developers adopt it. Tower defense, reimagined Gears & Goo feels a bit like a good proof of concept rather than a must-buy game. It’s a straightforward tower defense game that has players mining for supplies, building troops, and sending them to ******** alien towers. It’s a lighthearted little strategy game filled with colorful ooze and cute critters. My demo would take me through its first few missions, introducing me to its tactile controls and its mixed reality visuals. When I ***** the game up, I’m not tossed into a ****** screen. Rather, a giant floating land mass appears in the room in front of me. By pressing my fingers together, I can drag the board to rotate it or resize it. I shrink it down a bit so I can see the whole lay of the land easily from a sitting position and then get ready to ******. The loop here isn’t too innovative for the genre. First, I drag some workers over to a tree and rock to start mining materials. Once I have enough, I build a barracks and start pumping out long and close range attackers. They start marching toward an ****** base and auto-attacking enemies along the way. The only thing I can do to help them is switch pads on the ground to reroute them down different lanes. Once they overtake an ****** structure, I can form a new base there and start pumping out even more troops or laying down defensive turrets. It’s all classic tower defense without many twists. It doesn’t really need one, though, because the platform is what makes it stand out. Everything I’m describing is controlled with nothing more than my eye and some simple hand gestures. The Vision Pro’s impressive eye-tracking shines here, as I can stare at an option on a menu to select it with accuracy. It’s as good as using a mouse. I don’t select the wrong button at any point during my demo, which is surprising considering that some of the UI icons are rather small. The hand controls are similarly natural. To pick up a minion, all I need to do is stare at it and then pinch my thumb and index finger together. I instantly pluck my little pal from the board and plop it down where I want by releasing the gesture. That same motion is used to select menu options and flip route tiles, making it a bit of a “one-button” game. When I build a new home base on one level, I swing the board around with my fingers to put it right in front of me. I don’t need a tutorial to pick any of this up; it’s second nature from the jump. Resolution Games It’s not the kind of game that’s going to make anyone rush out to buy a Vision Pro. If anything, it’s a cute extra for those who already have one. What my demo shows, though, is just how much potential devices like the Vision Pro have as gaming platforms. There’s something very satisfying — futuristic even — about using my hands and eyes so accurately as a controller to manipulate a board that’s appearing in real space. I instantly get the appeal of games like Triangle Strategy making the jump to mixed reality, as the tech really feels built for strategy games where players place units and select attacks from a menu. Resolution Games especially seems to understand what kinds of games are a match for the tech. Its previous games have translated to Apple’s device naturally, but it’s clear that Gears & Goo was built for it first. It is to Vision Pro what Astro’s Playroom is to PS5; it’s a polished tech demo that shows players exactly how a few basic gestures can control a game world. Resolution tells me that it’s committed to exploring mixed reality further, so it could wind up becoming Apple’s secret ******* when it comes to expanding its gaming footprint. I don’t expect Gears & Goo to be a smash hit, but it’ll make one heck of a convincing Apple Store demo. Maybe that’s what the Vision Pro needs most of all right now. Gears & Goo launches on January 9 for the Apple Vision Pro. Source link #Apple #Vision #***** #original #game #tactile #delight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Notre-Dame almost ready for reopening in Paris Notre-Dame almost ready for reopening in Paris STORY: :: November 19, 2024 :: Paris :: Workers prepare for the Notre-Dame cathedral’s grand reopening in early December :: The building was gutted by a ***** in 2019, with over $580 mln since spent on repairs The cathedral, built over nearly 200 years starting in the middle of the 12th century, is due to reopen on Dec. 8 with days of festivities after the ***** that ravaged it on April 15, 2019. Though French authorities have said an electrical fault or ********** may have sparked the conflagration, it ******** unclear exactly what caused it. The facade of the building, which hulks over the Ile de la Cite island in the middle of the Seine river, held, but the damage has required years of work to stabilize and restore the edifice. About 500 workers have been racing to do so. The official leading the project said in April that the project had cost 550 million euros ($580.36 million), funded in part by massive donations, including by luxury sector billionaires Francois Henri Pinault and the Arnault family. The cathedral has received so much funding that there will be money left over for further investment in the building. Source link #NotreDame #ready #reopening #Paris Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony’s A1 II features a dedicated AI processor and refined ergonomics Sony’s A1 II features a dedicated AI processor and refined ergonomics When the A1 arrived in 2021, it put the camera world on notice. In more than a few categories, Sony’s full-frame mirrorless camera outperformed rivals like the Canon R5 and came with a lofty $6,500 price to match. However, after nearly four years, the A1 finds itself in an awkward position. Despite its position as Sony’s flagship, the A1 is not the most complete camera in the company’s lineup, with the more recently released A7R V and A9 III each offering features not found on their sibling. That’s changing today with the introduction of A1 II, which retains the performance capabilities of its predecessor while borrowing quality-of-life improvements from the A7R V and A9 III. To start, the A1 II features the same fully stacked 50.1-megapixel CMOS sensor found inside the A1. As before, Sony says photographers can expect 15 stops of dynamic range for stills. The company has once again paired that sensor with its Bionz XR image processing engine but added a dedicated AI processor to handle subject recognition and autofocus. As a result, the A1 II can still ****** at up to 30 frames per second using its electronic shutter, and the autofocus system once again offers 759 points, good enough for 92 percent coverage of the sensor. Sony However, Sony is promising substantial improvements in autofocus accuracy due to that dedicated AI processing unit. Specifically, the camera is 50 percent better at locking eye focus on birds and 30 percent better at eye autofocus when it comes to other animals and humans. Additionally, you won’t need to toggle between different subject-detection modes. Instead, the camera will automatically handle that for you. Sony’s pre-capture feature also offers a one-second buffer that can capture up to 30 frames before fully depressing the shutter button. That said, the most notable addition is the inclusion of Sony’s most powerful in-body image stabilization (IBIS) to date, with the A1 II offering an impressive 8.5 stops of stabilization. For context, that’s three additional stops of stabilization over the original A1. When it comes to video, the A1 II is no slouch. It can capture 8K footage at up to 30 fps using the full readout of its sensor. It can also record 4K video at 120 fps and FHD footage at 240 fps for slow motion, with support for 10-bit 4:2:2 recording. If Super 35 is your thing, there you have the option for 5.8K oversampling. In addition to Sony’s ****** profiles, the A1 II can store up to 16 user-generated LUTs, and the camera offers the company’s breathing compensation and auto stabilization features. Of the latter, Sony says you can get “gimbal-like” footage with only a slight crop. Sony On the useability front, the A1 II borrows the deeper grip and control layout of the A9 III. Also carried over from the A9 III is the camera’s 3.2-inch four-axis LCD screen and 9.44-million dot OLED viewfinder with 240Hz refresh rate. Moreover, the new camera includes Sony’s latest menu layout design. Oh, and the company plans to include two separate eyecups in the box. Nice. When it comes to connectivity, there’s a full-sized HDMI connection, USB-C and an upgraded Ethernet port that supports transfer speeds up to 2.5Gbps. For storage, the camera comes with two CFexpress Type A card slots that are also capable of reading and saving to UHS-II SD cards. Alongside the A1 II, Sony also announced a new 28-70mm G Master Lens with a constant f/2 aperture (pictured above). While not the lightest lens in Sony’s stable, it still weighs under a kilogram. Both the A1 II and the 28-70mm F2 G Master will arrive in December. They will cost $6,500 and $2,900, respectively. Source link #Sonys #features #dedicated #processor #refined #ergonomics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Geopolitics are finally starting to play a role in stock market action Geopolitics are finally starting to play a role in stock market action There’s an old Wall Street phrase, “news follows the tape.” It means that stock price movements often occur before news is widely known. That’s been happening to stocks. The S & P 500 has been drifting lower for a week. It’s been drifting lower on valuation concerns, concerns on potentially fewer rate cuts, stickier bond yields, and concerns about President-elect Donald Trump’s tariffs and potential appointments. Now, with geopolitical issues around Russia/Ukraine , there is another log on the *****. This definitely puts the nuclear threat squarely on the table. Geopolitics has finally inserted itself into the market. So why are stocks, particularly cyclical sectors like industrials, rallying mid-morning? Bulls seem to want to believe this most recent Russian threat will lead to a deal to end the war sooner. Others say positive headlines around the Middle East, with Iran reportedly agreeing to halt near nuclear *****-grade uranium production, is also a positive. Either way, it means geopolitical issues are another factor inserting themselves into markets. But where does that leave the market? In a bit of a limbo. Nobody’s happy right now The bulls aren’t happy because the momentum has been broken and the tone is not as positive as after the election. While some sectors (banks) are holding onto their rallies, other sectors are getting sold every day: Consumer staples and health care, particularly big pharma, have been awful. The bears aren’t happy because the market has not given up enough, and they have a point: The S & P 500 closing high was 6,001 on Nov. 11, so we are a mere 2% below that. Pity the Wall Street strategists Pity the poor Wall Street strategists who are now writing their 2025 outlooks. They have an impossible job. In a normal year, most strategists are comically wrong in their outlook, because it is impossible to estimate where the market is going to be a year from now. There are simply too many variables. This year is not normal. There are a lot of moving parts, so there is an even stronger chance your forecast is going to be comically wrong because events are unfolding as you are writing and you don’t know how they will be resolved. So what do you do when the macro environment is shifting like quicksand beneath your feet, but you still have to put out a forecast? You mean-revert. Take a look at estimates for the small handful of brave souls who have already made 2025 forecasts. BMO Capital (Brian Belski) 6,700 Morgan Stanley (Mike Wilson) 6,500 Goldman Sachs (David Kostin) 6,500 UBS 6,400 Evercore ISI 6,600 (mid-2025) You’ll notice they all tend to cluster around 6,500? That is about 10% above the current S & P 500 level. What is the current average yearly return of the S & P 500? 10%. Tough call going into the end of the year I know everyone has read the studies, that there is an average rise in the markets of about 3% going into the end of the year after a presidential election. The S & P 500 is up 0.3% since the close on Election Day. But those are just averages. If it was that simple, “Let’s just buy the market and sell on New Year’s!,” everyone would be rich. It’s been a pretty clean story for most of the year: The economy has been reasonably strong, and earnings have been growing at 10%, and are still estimated to be up a healthy 14% for 2025. But geopolitics, tariffs, and Trump appointments have now greatly complicated the 2025 outlook, and the market is reflecting some of that uncertainty. Source link #Geopolitics #finally #starting #play #role #stock #market #action Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Control 2 Will Lean More Into RPG Mechanics Control 2 Will Lean More Into RPG Mechanics Control 2, the sequel to developer Remedy Entertainment’s eerie game will be an action-RPG. This was shared during Remedy’s Capital Market day on November 19, alongside additional details to Control’s Mac support and an upcoming free update. Action-RPG might conjure the image of a game like Diablo, but it doesn’t sound as if Remedy is straying greatly from the formula of the first Control. In a statement to GameSpot, the developer expanded on the news: “Let people speculate, but suffice to say, Control 2 is a natural continuation to the first game, holding on to key tenets of storytelling and spectacle, but leaning even further into player agency, exploration and RPG mechanics.” Elsewhere in the investor video, Remedy said that the sequel is being made to appeal to a wider audience, but didn’t elaborate exactly on what this means for the game. In addition, Control will receive a free update in early 2025, which will unlock “some previously released content.” The previously released content could refer to a few existing exclusive and paid DLC outfits–the Extradimensional Suit available through the AWE DLC, the Tactical Response outfit as a preorder reward, the Astral ***** Suit as a day-one bonus for PS4, and the Urban Response outfit as a goodie included in the Control Digital Deluxe edition for PS4. Lastly, Control Ultimate Edition will be available on Mac on February 12, 2025. While the sequel doesn’t have a release window, the multiplayer spin-off, FBC Firebreak, should ease the wait when it launches next year. If you want a closer teaser, there’s a glimpse of the sequel in Alan Wake 2: The Lake House DLC, which is an additional chapter you shouldn’t miss. Source link #Control #Lean #RPG #Mechanics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nations League: What next as group stage ends and how is World Cup affected? Nations League: What next as group stage ends and how is World Cup affected? Promotion/relegation play-offs will take place in March. These ties will see the teams who finished third in League A playing two-legged ties against second-placed sides from League B, with winner of those takes taking place in League A. Meanwhile, the third-place teams in League B will face the second-placed sides in League C, with winners securing their place in League B. Finally, the two nations who finish bottom in League C with the best record will play the runners-up of League D. League A/B play-offs: Austria, Belgium, Greece, Hungary, Scotland, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. League B/C play-offs: Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo or Romania, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia and Slovenia. League C/D play-offs: Gibraltar, Latvia, Luxembourg and Malta. Source link #Nations #League #group #stage #ends #World #Cup #affected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Of Ash and Steel's Take on Classic RPGs | COGconnected Of Ash and Steel's Take on Classic RPGs | COGconnected Of Ash and Steel is an upcoming open world action RPG, with an emphasis on old school exploration, emergent gameplay and exciting combat. Source link #Ash #Steel039s #Classic #RPGs #COGconnected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rio to take full control of uranium mine near Kakadu Rio to take full control of uranium mine near Kakadu Rio Tinto plans to compulsorily acquire shares in Energy Resources of Australia and get on with rehabilitating the Ranger uranium mine surrounded by Kakadu. Source link #Rio #full #control #uranium #Kakadu Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PS5 vs. Xbox Series S PS5 vs. Xbox Series S Between the regular PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, buying a current-gen console is not as simple as it once was. However, you do need to make the right choice if you want to play the best PS5 games or best Xbox Series games, which is the most important factor in a gaming machine. Sure, many games are now cross-platform, but not all of them. We compared the PS5 to the Xbox Series X already, but what about the S? Let’s pit Sony’s console against the smaller Xbox and see which one is worth it for you. PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S: specs Right off the bat, we need to point out that the PS5 and Xbox Series S are aimed toward slightly different audiences, and their specs do differ a considerable amount. The PS5 is aimed toward a “premium” audience looking for high-end visuals and performance, while the Series S is presented as more of an affordable option to get as many players on board as possible. You’ll notice the PS5 is a more powerful system in many ways than the Series S, but that doesn’t necessarily mean deciding between the two is easy. When it comes to specs, both offer custom SSDs (solid-state drives), meaning games and apps will load incredibly fast. This is a huge upgrade from the current generation’s HDDs (hard disk drives), which are starting to show their age as games become much larger in scope. The main difference between the two on the surface is that the Series S lacks a disc drive, while the standard PS5 will accept 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs. This could be a major factor for some, especially those with less reliable internet connections. The standard PS5 will cost more than the Xbox Series S, and a lower price point could prove to be the most enticing factor when choosing one over the other. Another main difference in specs is attributed to the PS5’s 10.3 TFLOPS, 36 CUs, and 16GB GDDR6 memory — compared to the Xbox Series S’s 4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs, and 10GB GDDR6 memory. We’ll get into the specifics of what that means later on, but the point is that you’re getting a less powerful, but more affordable machine if you buy a Series S. Microsoft has also noted that the Series S is the “smallest Xbox ever,” and while we don’t know the exact dimensions of it, you can guarantee it will be more compact than the PS5. This, again, might make a difference depending on the space you have at your disposal. Here’s what to expect from each system, in terms of specs. PlayStation 5 Xbox Series S Dimensions – – Weight 10.54 pounds 4.25 pounds ****** ****** and White White CPU 8-core, 3.5GHz Custom Zen 2 8-core, 3.6 GHz, AMD Zen 2 GPU 36 CUs, 10.3 TFLOPS, 2.23GHz 20 CUs, 4 TFLOPS, 1.565GHz Memory 16GB GDDR6 10GB GDDR6 Memory bandwidth 448GB/s 224GB/s Storage 825GB Custom SSD 512GB NVME SSD Optical drive 4K UHD Blu-ray drive No, digital only 4K Yes 1440p, scalable 4K HDR – – Ports Includes USB and NVME slot USB Online subscription PS Plus Xbox Live Gold Price $450/$500 $299 Availability November 12, 2020 in the US (November 19 in other territories) November 10, 2020 Digital Trends review PS5 Review Series S Review PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S: graphics Image used with permission by copyright holder But what about visuals? This is yet another possible major factor for some when choosing between the two. Despite the noticeable difference in specs, either one will offer beautiful visuals — it just comes down to what you’re looking for in a console. But let’s compare each system’s teraflops (TFLOPS), as it’s a great place to start when evaluating the visual fidelity of the machines. You’ve probably seen or heard this term pop up recently as a buzzword throughout the marketing of each system. A TFLOP is a measurement of a computer or console’s performance, and it refers to the ability of a machine to calculate one trillion floating-point operations per second. When comparing the two, the PS5 features 10.3 TFLOPS, over double that of the Series S’s 4 TFLOPS. This means the PS5 can calculate 10.3 trillion floating-point operations per second, compared to the Series S’s 4 trillion. This is partially why the PS5 will be able to output at a higher resolution than the Series S. In fact, the Series S has fewer TFLOPS than that of the PS4 Pro, which sits at around 4.2. Still, the Series S is way more powerful than its predecessor, the Xbox One — and intends for it to offer 1440p resolution at up to 120 frames per second, without the need for a 4K display. The PS5 will feature 36 CUs and a GPU frequency capped at 2.23GHz — compared to Xbox Series S’s 20 CUs and 1.565GHz. In essence, these figures determine a machine’s clock speed, or the rate at which the system can perform internal operations. The PS5 will allow for a variable clock speed, based on what is required of the GPU. As for the Series S, it will deliver four times the processing power of the Xbox One, making it a worthy choice for a next-generation machine, especially at that price. All in all, despite one being more powerful than the other, you might not “need” a system with 10.3 TFLOPS. Even with the less powerful Xbox Series S, it’s still a ****** compared to what we have now, and it’s able to deliver faster load times and higher (and more steady) frame rates, all thanks to the Xbox Velocity Architecture. PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S: resolution Image used with permission by copyright holder In terms of resolution, you’ll notice a difference between the two machines — particularly in that the PS5 supports 4K output at 120Hz, and is said to be future-proofed with 8K support as well. Since 8K won’t be the standard for several more years, that might not be a huge factor for you right now, but it is forward-thinking that Sony is opting to future-proof its machine with 8K support. The Xbox Series S, on the other hand, delivers great visuals at 1440p resolution and up to 120 frames per second, and can also scale your games up to 4K if you have a display that supports it. This means you can still get beautiful-looking games without the need for a 4K screen, though if you have one, games will look even better. Both machines seem to offer support of “up to 120 frames per second,” though you’ll need a display that can render these fast frame rates. With each system, you’ll have a much better visual experience with less screen tearing if you’ve got a monitor that features 120Hz refresh rates — which the Xbox Series S and PS5 will support. In yet another attempt to future-proof, both will feature an HDMI 2.1 port, and despite this not being the standard quite yet, the systems will be ready to go once HDMI 2.1 becomes more ubiquitous. HDMI 2.1 will allow for much lower latency, improved frame rates, and eventually, 8K support — just don’t expect to enjoy resolutions that high with the Series S. Again, if high resolution is important to you, the PS5 should be your first choice in this regard, as the Series S is capped at 1440p (with scalable 4K). PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S: storage Image used with permission by copyright holder Yet another important factor with each system is the amount of onboard memory they’ll come with, and the two differ in this regard. The Xbox Series S comes with a 512GB NVME SSD, while the PS5 will launch with an 825GB SSD. This might seem like a tremendously low amount on both fronts, and while it technically is, the power of the SSD will likely make up for it. With the PS5, its custom SSD features a raw read bandwidth of around 5.5GB per second, meaning it will be able to run more efficiently than a standard SSD off the shelf. In other words, it will run more efficiently and it will allow for the decompression of file sizes, due to the Oodle Kraken algorithm from RAD Game Tools. This decompression of file sizes is key and will free up space and lower the amount of texture pop-in — allowing files to be read in milliseconds. This means that despite the seemingly low hard-drive size of the PS5, the files for games themselves should, in theory, be smaller, and you’ll get more mileage out of the SSD overall. This will, of course, be up to the developer, but we’ve got our fingers crossed that the days of 150GB+ install sizes will be over. The PS5 plays most PS4 games. Takashi Mochizuki of Bloomberg uploaded a video of the PS5 running the PS4 version of Marvel’s Spider-Man, compared to the same game running on a PS4 Pro. The result was staggering, as the game was able to load on PS5 in less than a second, compared to eight seconds on a PS4 Pro. Now, bear in mind, this is a less technically demanding game than something you might see on PS5 natively, but it’s still a great way to measure the SSD’s speed. Check out the footage below: Sony’s official video comparing performance of PS4 Pro vs next-gen PlayStation pic.twitter.com/2eUROxKFLq — Takashi Mochizuki (@6d6f636869) May 21, 2019 As for the Xbox Series S, it, too, will feature an SSD, though it is different than the one included with PS5. We do know the Series S’s hard drive will feature a read speed of 2.4GB per second, which is less than half of that of the PS5. Even at 2.4GB per second, this is still a massive leap compared to what we have with the current generation in which the Xbox One X only reads at 120MB per second. And if you’re worried about storage space on your machines, both the PS5 and the Xbox Series S allow for external storage upgrades. While we know how fast both SSDs will be based on sheer numbers, it’s not exactly clear how they will perform in practice, as it will ultimately depend on what you’re trying to run. As the technology improves, the size and scope of games likely will, too, so everything seems to be scaling upward. At the end of the day, the PS5 will come with a larger hard drive than the Xbox Series S, so keep that in mind when making your decision to purchase. PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S price Image used with permission by copyright holder Price is likely the most important factor for consumers looking to purchase a next-generation machine. In fact, many potential buyers will not compare specs at all, and will purchase whichever system is less expensive. For this reason, Microsoft has prioritized low cost with the Xbox Series S, making it easy for consumers to jump into the next generation of games. The Series S is less powerful than the PS5, yes, but it will only cost $300. This is a massive win for Microsoft, especially compared to the price of both PS5s, which are more expensive than the Series S — but remember, you certainly get what you pay for. Microsoft is offering the Series S as part of its All Access program, allowing you to pay a monthly amount to gain immediate access to the system and Game Pass Ultimate with no upfront cost — just like buying a new smartphone. With the Xbox Series S, specifically, it will cost you $25 (35 for the Xbox Series X) each month, and you’ll receive your console right away, along with two years of Game Pass Ultimate. This, again, is just a testament to Microsoft’s consumer-friendly approach. When it comes to the PS5, the Digital Edition will be $450 and the Standard Edition will be $500, which is on par with what many were predicting. In terms of the power of the systems, you can get the best looking next-gen experiences for the least amount of money by getting the Digital Edition PS5. But many consumers might not take this into consideration and opt to go with the Series S, despite it being inferior from a technical standpoint. PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S: games ******’s Souls remake for PS5. Image used with permission by copyright holder Aside from price, the other major factor that will sway consumers is the games available on each machine. Both will feature many of the same third-party titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite, and Baldur’s Gate 3. When it comes to a first-party lineup of games, Sony has the edge. Microsoft has spent recent years acquiring more studios and focusing more on exclusive games, but it has moved away from making its games exclusive. There are too many excluives to name, but check out our list of the best PS5 exclusives and Xbox exclusives for the highlights. Image used with permission by copyright holder It’s also worth touching upon the notion of backward compatibility — which both systems will include, though each platform handles differently. The Xbox Series S and Series X handle backward compatibility the same way as Xbox One. It all works through software, instead of “true” backward compatibility in the traditional sense. The solution Microsoft has come up with is consumer friendly, cost efficient, and works with a huge library of games from the original Xbox to current titles. The PS5 is almost universally backward compatible with PS4 games and has a growing library of PS1, PSP, PS2, and PS3 games available via its PlayStation Plus subscription service. You cannot, however, use any discs from generations prior to PS4 on the console. We do know a large selection of current-generation games will feature upgrades to the next-generation versions within the same family — some free and others that will cost a small fee. For example, games like The Witcher III, Cyberpunk 2077, Grand Theft Auto V, Rainbow Six Siege, and Control will all be upgradable, and the list continues to grow as we get closer to this holiday season. Do keep in mind that the Series S versions of these games will be presented at a lower resolution than the Series X counterparts — as well as the PS5 versions. PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S: controllers Image used with permission by copyright holder Both the PS5 and Xbox Series S systems will come packaged with a controller, so let’s get into the differences of each. The Series S will feature the same controller that comes with the Series X, but it will be ****** White instead of ******. This controller mirrors the Xbox One controller, but comes with some new enhancements for the upcoming generation. Microsoft boasts “improved ergonomics,” a new hybrid D-pad, better grip on the triggers, and the new Share button. It won’t be much of a departure from the already fantastic Xbox One controller, but will come packed with some new bells and whistles that make it better. The PS5’s new controller, DualSense, is an even ******* departure from its predecessor for many reasons. Obviously, dropping the DualShock moniker is a major difference, but the controller itself is a fresh take as well. It features adaptive triggers that offer varying degrees of resistance based on how hard you pull them. The DualSense also features haptic feedback, and replaces its Share button with a new Create button instead. This new button will likely be coupled with enhanced software that focuses not just on sharing, but editing and creating videos and images. The biggest change comes with the DualSense’s appearance — dropping the solid ****** found with most PS4 DualShocks. What you get is a mix of ******, white, and blue, mirroring the PS5 system itself. Both are now available in a wide range of colors, plus in the Elite model for Xbox and DualSense Edge for PlayStation. Source link #PS5 #Xbox #Series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nearly half a million without power as Pacific storm batters Washington Nearly half a million without power as Pacific storm batters Washington Nearly half a million are now without power as the incoming Pacific storm moves into Western Washington. As of 8:50 p.m., Seattle City Light reports that over 76,781 customers are experiencing outages. Overall the state is reporting nearly half a million without power. Some of the outages are caused by fallen trees, wind and equipment ********. Outages by County: Public utility companies are reporting issues with their websites and are unable to provide accurate outage numbers at this time. Snohomish County **** said that crews have been out preparing for the storm. “So we’ve been preparing for this storm for two days now. Making sure our trucks are loaded with all the equipment they’ll need to restore power as quickly as they safely can,” said Kellie Stickney, spokesperson for Snohomish Couty ****. “We’ll even start reaching out to our partner agencies to make sure if we need mutual crews, that we’ve already started those conversations. The incoming storm is expected to bring high winds, rain, and blizzard conditions in the mountain passes. KIRO 7 has teams around Western Washington bringing the latest conditions on the road. Source link #million #power #Pacific #storm #batters #Washington Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best Apple sales on iPads, AirPods, Apple Watches and MacBooks The best Apple sales on iPads, AirPods, Apple Watches and MacBooks Apple devices have a few things in common: they’re well-designed, solidly built and easily connect with one another. But chances are, if it bears the Apple logo, it’s not cheap. That’s why promos like ****** Friday are always worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new Apple device. We’ve reviewed nearly every major release from the company over the last 20 years, including the newest products for 2024, like the AirPods 4, the M4 iPad Pro, the M4 Mac Mini and more. Some of those devices are seeing their first discounts for ****** Friday and others are dipping back to the lows they saw earlier in the year. Here are the best Apple ****** Friday deals we could find from retailers across the web. The best ****** Friday Apple iPad deals Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget The line between Apple’s tablets and laptops is a little blurry at this point, especially with the release of the iPad Pro this year, which (at the time) housed the company’s most powerful chip. The iPad Air is our current pick for the best iPad you can buy and we were delighted by the iPad mini that came out just last month. The only problem is iPads are among the more expensive tablets you can buy. Hopefully these ****** Friday iPad deals help out. Apple iPad (2021, 9th gen) for $200 ($129 off): Apple discontinued this model with the release of the new iPad Pro and Air models earlier this year. In what’s likely an effort to get rid of current stock, the price is down to a new record low. The 9th generation iPad is the former budget pick in our guide to the best Apple tablets and will serve well as a casual browsing, streaming and game playing machine. Also at Amazon and Walmart. Apple iPad Pro (2024, 7th gen, 11-inch) for $899 ($100 off): The latest iPad Pro came out back in May and, notably, was the first Apple device to sport the M4 system-on-a-chip. We gave it an 84 in our review calling it an engineering marvel and the best screen our reviewer had ever seen. It’s also our pick for the best iPad for power users. The only problem is it’s very expensive, but this ***** helps a little. Also at Amazon. Apple iPad Air (2024, 6th gen, 11-inch) for $499 ($100 off): The iPad Air is the Apple tablet we recommend for most people in our buying guide and it earned a high score of 91 in our review. It strikes the best balance between performance, price and features of all slabs in the lineup. It has an M2 chip which is really overkill for casual browsing and gaming, but will ensure that your tablet is compatible with the latest Apple Intelligence tricks and demanding games. Also at Target. Apple iPad mini (2024, 7th gen) for $479 ($20 off): This is technically Apple’s newest iPad overall, as the mini was just released this October right before the announcement of a few new Macs — the new Pro and Air tablet came out in May along with the other iPads. In his review, Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham called the mini a “necessary update to the best small tablet on the market.” This is a small discount, not surprising for a brand new slate. The best ****** Friday Apple AirPods deals Billy Steele for Engadget Apple has four models of AirPods right now: The AirPods Pro 2, the over-ear AirPods Max and two AirPods 4, one with active noise cancellation and one without. Apple has been doing a lot of interesting things with their headphones lately, making this a good time to ***** in. Though the discounts for ****** Friday look to be minor, it’s better than paying full price. Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) for $539 ($10 off): Apple’s only over-ear headphones haven’t had a full revamp in a few years. When the iPhone 16 came out, Apple swapped out the lightning port for a USB-C connector and introduced new colors. While the overall design and build is a bit old at this point, they still deliver balanced sound in a premium package. Also at B&H Photo. Apple AirPods 4 (standard) for $119 ($10 off): Here’s a minor discount on Apple’s newest personal audio device. They were announced alongside the iPhone 16 back in September. There are two versions of the AirPods 4, this is the standard version without active noise cancellation. Both have a redesigned shape for a better fit and offer an open ear design (as opposed to the closed-ear shape of the Pro model). We gave them an 88 in our review. Apple AirPods 4 (ANC) for $169 ($10 off): The new buds with ANC got a respectable 86 in that same review. We noted they had pro-level features like letting you nod or shake your head to respond to Siri’s questions and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. The best ****** Friday Apple Watch deals Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget If you take steps or do a workout and you’re not wearing a smartwatch, does it really count? Of course, the Apple Watch is more than a fitness tracker, it’s also a shortcut to your iPhone notifications, a handy Siri portal and an always-on weather forecast. Plus it tells time. While they’re not cheap, these ****** Friday Apple Watch discounts should help. The best ****** Friday Mac and MacBook deals Photo by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget Apple held a quiet Mac Week at the tail end of October in which it announced the new desktop M4 Mac mini, the all-in-one M4 iMac and the M4 MacBook Pro laptop. The MacBook Air from back in March is still the model we recommend for most people Apple MacBook Air (2024, M3, 13-inch) for $899 ($200 off): Apply the coupon to get the full deal on the latest MacBook Air. It’s our top pick for the best laptop for most people, and this model has 16GB of RAM built in — double the previous base amount so it can tackle the demands of the burgeoning Apple Intelligence. Also at B&H Photo, no coupon required. Apple MacBook Air (2022, M2, 13-inch) for $800 ($200 off): The previous MacBook Air has a (still very fast) M2 processor and it’s our previous pick for the best overall laptop for most people. This is the 13-inch model with 16GB of RAM. It’s previously gone as low as $749, so this isn’t an all-time low. Apple iMac (2024, M4, 24-inch) for $1,150 ($148 off with coupon): Apple just released the refreshed iMac last month, but now the silver model is already on *****. It has the latest Apple silicon, the M4 system on a chip that gives it a speed boost and enables the new Apple Intelligence features in macOS Sequoia. Also at B&H Photo. for $100 off. Apple Mac mini (2024, M4) for $549 ($50 off): Use the coupon to get the full deal as this is a first-time low on Apple’s $599 example of good things, small packages. The five-inch by five-inch box can tackle some serious workloads and ******** the most affordable entry point to accessing Apple’s latest silicon. We gave it a solid score of 90 in our review, praising the incredibly fast M4 chip and useful ports. Apple MacBook Pro (2024, M4 Pro, 14-inch) for $1,400 ($199 off with coupon): The main update Apple gave to its most powerful laptops is the faster than ever M4 chip. Not much else changed, but that’s not a bad thing as the ***** are excellent machines that we recommend to pro users. They have enough power to handle even the most demanding video, audio and any other productivity tasks you can throw at it. The best ****** Friday deals on Apple gear Apple Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Apple #sales #iPads #AirPods #Apple #Watches #MacBooks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick to be commerce secretary Trump picks Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick to be commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, speaks during a rally for *********** presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, U.S. October 27, 2024. Carlos Barria | Reuters WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate a key transition adviser and billionaire financial services executive, Howard Lutnick, to lead the Commerce Department, according to two sources familiar with the process. “He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the ******* States Trade Representative,” Trump said in a statement announcing the pick. The Cantor Fitzgerald CEO has led and been the public face of Trump’s transition. It’s not clear yet what his selection for a Cabinet post would mean for his role in the transition going forward. As co-chair of Trump’s transition, Lutnick has been an outspoken advocate for his agenda, including explaining how the president-elect plans to use tariffs once in office. Lutnick is the CEO and chairman of the financial services titan Cantor Fitzgerald. The Commerce Department will play a key role in executing some of Trump’s proposed tariffs on goods imported into the ******* States. Lutnick has been at Cantor Fitzgerald since the early 1980s when he graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania with an economics degree. He suffered immense personal tragedy at a young age, losing his mother while still a student in high school and then his father during his first week at college. Lutnick was working at Cantor Fitzgerald when terrorists targeted New York City’s World Trade Center towers Sept. 11, 2001, the firm’s headquarters. Hundreds of Cantor Fitzgerald employees, including Lutnick’s brother, were *******. Following the attacks, Lutnick became an outspoken advocate for the business community as New York worked to rebuild itself. The commerce secretary announcement follows days of speculation over who might fill the remaining top Cabinet posts in the incoming Trump administration, including treasury secretary, for which Lutnick was viewed as a top contender. Lutnick’s pick was first reported by Punchbowl News. An official for the transition did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Still unknown is whom Trump will select to lead the Treasury Department, a role for which Lutnick drew public support over the weekend from Elon Musk, the billionaire recently tapped to serve as the head of a new ‘Department of Government Efficiency.’ Musk has been a near-constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since the election, evincing his closeness to Trump. Source link #Trump #picks #Cantor #Fitzgerald #CEO #Howard #Lutnick #commerce #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Best ****** Friday Flight Stick And Yoke Deals For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 The Best ****** Friday Flight Stick And Yoke Deals For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 was cleared for takeoff today, and if you’re an Xbox Game Pass member, you’ll find it’s now available in your library. To bring the game to the next level, consider pairing it with a flight stick to make the simulator more realistic. These are usually quite expensive, but a handful of popular flight sticks are discounted at Amazon ahead of ****** Friday. The most affordable flight stick on ***** is the Turtle Beach Velocity One Flight Stick, as it’s now just $97 (was $130). Along with a sleek design, it offers customizable throttle and flap levers, 27 programmable buttons, eight axes, an integrated OLED flight management display, and some flashy RGB lighting. It’s designed specifically for Xbox, though it’ll also work on PC. Turtle Beach Velocity One Flight Stick Gallery For a more premium option, there’s Turtle Beach’s Velocity One Flight Deck System. Featuring both a joystick and throttle, you’ll have a staggering 139 programmable buttons, contactless Hall Effect controls, a customizable OLED display, and adjustable haptic feedback settings. It’s currently seeing a nice $100 discount, so take a look at the high-end gadget while it’s on *****. Other notable deals include the Logitech G X56 Hotas Throttle and Joystick for $200 (was $250) and Logitech G Pro Flight Yoke System for $145 (was $170). You’ll also find the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas One (Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 Edition) for $100. This just launched today alongside Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and with 14 buttons, a rapid trigger, and a detachable throttle, it’s a solid choice even though it’s not currently on *****. You’ll find a list of the best ****** Friday flight stick and yoke deals below. If you haven’t picked up Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 yet, the game is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass. This includes a massive Collector’s Edition with 125 in-game aircraft to fly and a long list of physical merch like a collectible Antonov AN-225 model plane, flight bag, lithograph print, and more. Check out our Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 preorder guide to see all the versions of the game that launched today. For more discounts, head over to our ****** Friday Hub to find savings on video games, laptops, Lego sets, and more. Best ****** Friday Flight Stick Deals Source link #****** #Friday #Flight #Stick #Yoke #Deals #Microsoft #Flight #Simulator Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Biden agrees to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines Biden agrees to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines US President Joe Biden has agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel land mines, a US official told the BBC. The official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, said such mines would be delivered soon and Washington expected that they would be used on Ukraine’s territory. Kyiv was also committed to not using such mines in areas populated with Ukrainian civilians, the official said. The move is seen as an attempt to slow Russian troops who have been steadily advancing in Ukraine’s east in recent months. Source link #Biden #agrees #give #Ukraine #antipersonnel #mines Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Touhou Spell Carnival Review (PS5) Tohou Looking Its Best | The Outerhaven Touhou Spell Carnival Review (PS5) Tohou Looking Its Best | The Outerhaven The outerhaven writes: Touhou Spell Carnival does a decent job blending RPG mechanics into the bullet-***** formula of Touhou Project. It can get overwhelming with everything on screen and having to protect five characters. Source link #Touhou #Spell #Carnival #Review #PS5 #Tohou #Outerhaven Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Farmers protest against inheritance tax changes Farmers protest against inheritance tax changes The farmers’ demonstration was best summed up in two images: real tractors being driven by farmers around Parliament Square, and beside them a collection of toy tractors being peddled around by their children. They illustrated the essence of the farmers’ argument: there is a deep-seated cultural expectation that they will pass on their farm to the next generation. For many, it feels like a deep responsibility that stretches high into their family tree, and so the expectation falls upon them to ensure the very thing their forebears did for them they manage to as well – hand it down to their sons and daughters. As a reporter, I love covering protests and marches at Westminster. They are an essential megaphone in the never-ending conversation of our democracy. I have been turning up at them with a microphone and camera for 20 years – to witness and scrutinise those making the most of their much-cherished right to come to London and – often – shout at the government. I love them because people sufficiently passionate about their cause to trek to the capital and then make a public, almost certainly contentious, argument often deserve to be listened to and should be vigorously questioned too. And, for me, those conversations offer an insight into not just what those protesting think, but why they think it. This gathering of farmers left me with three thoughts: Firstly, as we have already explored, there is the huge power of the cultural expectation of handing on a farm to the next generation. It is not just a business, but an identity, a belonging, a geographical rootedness – and the prospect of not being able to pass it on generates huge anger and emotion. That is a big part of the explanation for why this argument has got so noisy, so quickly. Secondly, contested notions of fairness are so often central to the most contentious political arguments, and this one is no different. The government argues existing inheritance tax isn’t fair or sustainable – as everyone else sufficiently well off to pay it is charged 40% and farmers are charged nothing. Ministers also argue the exemptions have tempted rich folk to buy up farm land – pushing up its value – primarily to avoid inheritance tax. And, as they are at pains to point out over and over again, they insist the vast majority of family farms will be unaffected and those that are will be charged 20%, half the rate charged to anyone else caught within its grasp. Plus, they say, schools and hospitals desperately need more money. Others say the farmers are a noisy, well-organised lobby group seeking to shield their often considerable wealth and perpetuate a privilege to the exclusion of others. And all this brings us to the third big question here: what does it mean to be rich? Talking to farmers, very quickly our conversation would often involve very big numbers – talk of assets running into a few million pounds. These are huge figures that point to considerable wealth and yet the farmers insist, for two reasons, they are not rich. Their annual income is often modest, they point out – and they don’t value their farm in numerical terms, but in emotional ones. The prospect of selling it horrifies them; handing it on is what they seek to do. The farmers insist they are determined to press on with their campaign. Ministers insist they are determined to press on with their plans for change. You may choose to sympathise with the farmers’ arguments or not – or the government’s arguments, or not – but the protests offer an insight into what contributes to the view of many of the farmers, and why them backing down doesn’t seem likely any time soon. Source link #Farmers #protest #inheritance #tax Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Apple Arcade still kicking? We tried 4 upcoming games Is Apple Arcade still kicking? We tried 4 upcoming games Five years after its launch, Apple Arcade continues to defy expectations. Rather than flopping in a blaze of glory as some may had predicted, Apple has stayed committed to its ad-free mobile gaming service over the years. It continues to put out new games every month and even occasionally nets some surprising releases, like Final Fantasy IV‘s 3D remake. The service will continue to expand in 2025, as Apple has already announced a few games coming this January (including the Apple Vision Pro-exclusive Gears & Goo). After announcing its upcoming game slate earlier this week, Digital Trends attended an Apple gaming event filled with demoes. We went hands-on with upcoming mobile games like Sonic Rumble, played Infinity Nikki on an iPhone, and saw new releases like Neva running on Mac. As part of our demo day, we tried out four upcoming Apple Arcade titles. Each one was completely different, modeling how the service caters to seasoned gamers, casual players, and kids. If you’re curious about what Apple’s been up to on its service these days, here are our takeaways on the four new games we tried. Skate City: New York Snowman and Agens When Apple Arcade first opened its doors, it launched with a flood of games. It was a little overwhelming to sort through them all initially, but a few titles stood out. Ranking high on the list of highlights was Skate City, an approachable skateboarding game that had players performing tricks by swiping the screen. Five years later, the team behind it is back with Skate City: New York. It’s very similar to its predecessor, with easy to learn, difficult to master skating controls, but it’s set in New York City this time. The 2D levels are an urban playground that take players from familiar streets to Central Park. For those who loved the original when it first released, the new installment looks to deliver another meaty arcade skating game full of challenges to complete and a free skate mode to perfect your craft. Talking Tom Blast Park Outfit7 A big appeal of Apple Arcade is its selection of family games. Titles like Hello Kitty: Island Adventure are some of the platform’s biggest breadwinners. Apple is adding another highlight to that list on December 5 with Talking Tom Blast Park. It’s an on-rails “shooter” (I mean that term in the least violent way possible) where players run around an amusement park tossing plungers at mischievous racoons. It’s a lighthearted charmer that can be easily played with one hand. What’s most interesting about it, though, is its approach to infinite runner gameplay. The more you play, the more parts of the park you can build. When building a new attraction, like a roller coaster, it gets fluidly added to the infinite run. That means that runs are always evolving rather than looking the same every time. It’s a fun bit of screen-tapping with some genuinely clever progression hooks to boot. Gears & Goo Resolution Games Mobile users aren’t the only ones getting new games. Apple Vision Pro owners will get an exclusive game of their own on January 9 with Gears & Goo. The tower defense game puts a map full of alien towers right in your living room thanks to the Vision Pro’s passthrough technology. From there, players can move troops around the board and build defenses with just their eyes and a simple pinch gesture. I was impressed by it all during my demo. The eye-tracking is precise and the hand controls feel incredibly natural. It’s not a reason to run out and buy a Vision Pro, but it does show off how hand controls can be used to naturally interact with game worlds. If you happen to have a Vision Pro, you might as well check it out in January. Boggle: Arcade Edition Zynga Some Apple Arcade games are aimed at more casual players, and Boggle: Arcade Edition fits that task well. It’s the word game you already know, but reimagined with a level-based adventure mode that makes for great *****-sized sessions. In the missions I played, I’d have to either rack up enough points or create a certain number of words to complete the level’s goal. It’s a simple Boggle shake-up, but one that’ll help fans stay sharp and challenge themselves in new ways. Boggle: Arcade Edition launches on December 5 alongside a wave of new games that also includes Pac-Man 256+ and Barbie ****** Creations+. Source link #Apple #Arcade #kicking #upcoming #games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cyber ********** ramping up attacks against private schools Cyber ********** ramping up attacks against private schools A new report has revealed a worrying increase in cybercriminal attacks on wealthy private schools, using sinister techniques to hack sensitive data. Source link #Cyber #********** #ramping #attacks #private #schools Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes makes its way to PS4 and PS5 on December 3 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes makes its way to PS4 and PS5 on December 3 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is one of the most twisted, trippy, satisfying and deeply complex puzzle games to hit the market in years, and it’s heading to a new platform. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes will debut on PlayStation 4 and PS5 on December 3, joining the game’s existing versions on PC and Switch. PlayStation players, prepare yourselves for mind-bending riddles in a lonely hotel that exists outside of time. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes comes from Swedish indie studio Simogo, which previously made Device 6, Year Walk and Sayonara Wild Hearts. Simogo is helmed by its two co-founders, Simon Flesser and Magnus “Gordon” Gardebäck, though they collaborate with other creators on each new project. Lorelei is published by Annapurna Interactive. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes presents a dramatic mystery in a grayscale world shot through with red accents, glitching and bright like the player is watching everything play out on an old surveillance feed. Most of its puzzles require mind-numbing amounts of logic and deduction, though others are solvable by pure instinct, and both types are incredibly gratifying. At the same time, a current of quiet ******* underpins every scene: The hotel grounds are filled with maze-faced phantoms, the remnants of unhinged artists, memories of ****** and ghostly children with owl faces. Simogo knows how to make a puzzle game that David ****** would love. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is one of the most innovative titles of 2024, and it’s nominated in the Best Independent Game category at this year’s Game Awards, alongside Animal Well, Balatro, Neva and UFO 50. That’s an absolutely stacked category and Lorelei certainly deserves to be there. Source link #Lorelei #Laser #Eyes #PS4 #PS5 #December Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Philippines to repatriate ********* ***** convict from Indonesia Philippines to repatriate ********* ***** convict from Indonesia MANILA/JAKARTA (Reuters) -A ********* spared from ********** on ***** trafficking charges in Indonesia in 2015 will be returned to the Philippines after years of negotiations between the two Southeast ****** neighbours, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Wednesday. Mary Jane Veloso, a domestic helper and mother of two, was arrested in the city of Yogyakarta, for carrying 2.6 kg (5.73 pounds) of ******* hidden in her suitcase in 2010. Veloso was spared from going before the ******* squad at the last minute in 2015 after Philippine officials asked then Indonesian President Joko Widodo to allow her to testify against members of a human and *****-smuggling ring. The ********** of eight other ***** convicts went ahead, and at the time Widodo described Veloso’s reprieve as a postponement. Widodo’s term as president ended last month. “After over a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, we managed to delay her ********** long enough to reach an agreement to finally bring her back to the Philippines,” Marcos said in a statement. “This outcome is a reflection of the depth of our nation’s partnership with Indonesia – ******* in a shared commitment to justice and compassion,” Marcos said, thanking Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his ‘goodwill’. Prabowo’s office said on Wednesday that Veloso would serve the rest of her sentence in the Philippines and the reason for the transfer was “diplomacy and reciprocal partnership in law enforcement”. Veloso had always maintained her innocence, claiming to be an unwitting ***** mule for a ********* employment recruiter. She had previously worked as a domestic worker in Dubai, but left to escape an abusive employer, her legal team had said. A court record says the recruiter asked Veloso to fly to Yogyakarta from Manila to hand over a suitcase to a man. Authorities there discovered packages of ******* wrapped in foil hidden inside the lining of her luggage and arrested her. Indonesia has harsh anti-narcotics laws and has ********* several foreign nationals, including two Australians who were leaders of the Bali Nine trafficking ring in 2015. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Editing by John Mair and Saad Sayeed) Source link #Philippines #repatriate #********* #***** #convict #Indonesia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]