Pelican Press

Fishing Clash kicks off virtual event alongside Major League Fishing competition, with IRL rewards Fishing Clash kicks off virtual event alongside Major League Fishing competition, with IRL rewards Earn IRL rewards in Fishing Clash’s latest event in collaboration with Major League Fishing Be in with a chance of qualifying for the Grand Finale by clearing event challenges Snag a spot in the top five in the Grand Finale to win MLF branded prize packs Ten Square Games has announced a new event for Fishing Clash players, inviting you to cast those lures to reel in IRL rewards alongside the Major League Fishing (MLF). Besides the prestige that comes from cooperation with the world’s largest professional tournament fishing organisation, the studio’s partnership with the MLF – now in its second year since first teaming up in July 2023 – will have you immersing yourself in live events in the real (reel?) world all while competing in in-game challenges across iconic and well-loved American waters. This time around, Fishing Clash’s latest collaboration will run alongside the MLF B&W Trailer Hitches Heavy Hitters all-star event from May 15th to the 23rd. While anglers go head-to-head at Smith Mountain Lake in Franklin County, Virginia for a $100,000 top prize, you too can get in on the virtual action in-game at the Toledo Bend Reservoir. All you have to do is clear event challenges and you might just snag a ticket to qualify for the Grand Finale. This will kick off in August, and with pearls, vanity items, MLF-themed vanities, and other goodies up for grabs. This continues the streak from the Redcrest 2025 circuit last month at Lake Guntersville, Alabama, where Fishing Clash fans also experienced an in-game event that ran parallel from March 31st to April 7th at the virtual Lake Guntersville fishery. Leaderboard competitions offered MLF branded goodies as a reward – something you’d definitely expect given the studio is the official title sponsor of the Angler of the Year (AOY) awards. By the way, if you happen to snag a spot in the top five in the Grand Finale, you get to bring home exclusive MLF-branded prize packs for the ultimate bragging rights. Those autographed MLF Angler Jerseys and Bubba Sculpin Fishing Knives will definitely come in handy! If you’re eager to get started on the road to the finale, why not head on over to the official Fishing Clash website today? Source link #Fishing #Clash #kicks #virtual #event #Major #League #Fishing #competition #IRL #rewards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nat Sciver-Brunt: The girl born in Tokyo who became England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt: The girl born in Tokyo who became England captain “I first met Natalie when I was working at Loughborough University,” says former fast bowler Katherine. “She was trialling at the National Cricket Performance Centre there. “She came in with an arm brace on because her elbow hyper-extends. Mark Lane, the England coach at the time, was trying to wind me up saying she could bowl faster than me. I thought ‘she’s not all that’. Laney’s wind-up worked, because I took notice.” Katherine and Nat became housemates and business partners. They invested in a property and rented it out to England team-mates Amy Jones, Beth Langston and Fran Wilson. The group were so tight the other players nicknamed them ‘Little Mix’. Whereas the rest could see the potential relationship developing, Katherine took her time. “It’s not like we wanted to hide anything from anyone, it’s just that me and Nat didn’t really know either,” says Katherine. “We were and still are all so close, that I didn’t want to mess up any of that. It was me holding back. “One day, I realised she was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Nat and Katherine went public about their relationship, engagement and eventual marriage. Last year, Nat had egg-freezing treatment, and they announced the birth of Theo, carried by Katherine, in April. “We felt it was important to touch on subjects some people would find helpful,” says Katherine. “We cover a lot of difficult bases in the public eye, playing international sport, being gay, being women. “We ticked a lot of boxes that touched areas where people could struggle. We felt if we could help people feel a little less uncomfortable, why not?” With two huge life events – becoming a parent and becoming England captain – happening at the same time, there are simultaneous struggles at play. Katherine was able to travel with Nat on England’s winter tours, but was too deep into the pregnancy to go to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in February and March. As Katherine spent time in hospital, Nat was in India becoming the leading run-scorer and player of the tournament. If Katherine had gone into labour, Nat would not have made it home in time. There was an initial plan for Nat to miss the West Indies series, but after England sacked Heather Knight, they needed a captain. “Watching the WPL and how she dealt with what we were going though, that showed me she will be fine as England captain,” says Katherine. “We know her for being calm, calculated and being able to pull off her best performances in the worst situations. For that alone, if there is anyone for the job, it is Nat.” And Katherine? “I’ll be looking away,” she says. “I have a distraction, which is good. I will be making sure Theo sees the first ball, so I can tell him he saw his mum’s first game as England captain.” Source link #Nat #SciverBrunt #girl #born #Tokyo #England #captain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Walyalup (Fremantle Dockers) ruckman Sean Darcy is on track to return from knee injury this weekend Walyalup (Fremantle Dockers) ruckman Sean Darcy is on track to return from knee injury this weekend Walyalup (Fremantle) ruckman Sean Darcy and midfielder Nathan O’Driscoll will be cleared to play against Port Adelaide on Saturday if they get through training on Wednesday unscathed. Darcy sat out last weekend’s win over Greater Western Sydney with a jarred knee which allowed Luke Jackson to play as the sole ruckman and he dominated the match. But Darcy is now set to give selectors plenty of headaches because he has quickly recovered from the injury he suffered against Collingwood, and now the Dockers must determine whether to stick with Jackson or return to their dual ruck set-up. Walyalup High Performance Manager Phil Merriman said Darcy’s availability would be determined on Wednesday. Camera IconSean Darcy. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West *********** “He’s good. He progressed well through the gears last week. The plan will be to see him main train on Wednesday and if he gets through that he will be available for selection,” he said. O’Driscoll hasn’t played an AFL match since injuring his ankle against the Western Bulldogs on April 6. He made his comeback through the WAFL on May 10 and moved well while gathering 17 disposals, but felt pain after the match and was rested from last weekend. Merriman said he would also get to test himself on Wednesday. “He’s very similar. He had a good week in the reconditioning program. He’ll be training fully on Wednesday and we’ll make sure he pulls up well from that and he’ll be available as well,” he said. Camera IconNathan O’Driscoll. Credit: Riley Churchman/The West *********** Nat Fyfe is on track to return to action before the mid-season bye with the star preparing for crucial weekend of training as part of his recovery from a hamstring injury. Fyfe sustained the injury in the WAFL and getting back to action next weekend would most likely see him again wearing a Peel uniform to gain match fitness before the club’s bye. “He is extremely diligent and his training has been outstanding. We will see him do a high volume football circuit this weekend, which is controlled. Then hopefully see him available for selection the following week,” Merriman said. Camera IconNat Fyfe. Credit: Riley Churchman/The West *********** Sam Sturt could join Fyfe this week after making big improvements from his knee injury. He was listed as being four weeks away from playing last week, but is now ready to increase his training with a focus on playing next weekend. The Dockers remain confident that veteran pair Jaeger O’Meara (hamstring/foot) and Michael Walters (knee) will both be available after the bye. Source link #Walyalup #Fremantle #Dockers #ruckman #Sean #Darcy #track #return #knee #injury #weekend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missouri’s December Betting Launch Offers Fresh Upside for Gambling Stocks Missouri’s December Betting Launch Offers Fresh Upside for Gambling Stocks Online sports betting will officially launch in Missouri on December 1, making it the 33rd state, plus Washington, D.C., to offer online sports betting. And most of the major sportsbooks are lining up to get in on the action, but just who is in and who is out won’t be known for a while. The December 1 launch was announced over the weekend, making official what Missouri residents and sportsbooks have been waiting for since online sports betting was approved in the state last November. For sportsbooks, it will be the first new state to launch since North Carolina did it in March 2024. For sportsbooks that are publicly traded, any time a new state launches, it provides an opportunity for revenue and earnings generation. Several sportsbooks have expressed their intentions to launch their platforms in Missouri. Among publicly traded companies, they include DraftKings (NASDAQ:); FanDuel, which is owned by Flutter (NYSE:); ESPNBet, which is owned by Penn Entertainment (NASDAQ:); Bally’s (NYSE:); Caesars (NASDAQ:); and MGM (NYSE:). But while all are hoping to be in the Missouri market, there are some hoops to jump through. Let the Licensing Begin On May 15, the Missouri Gaming Commission began accepting license applications to open sportsbooks in Missouri. The regulations allow each of the 13 state-licensed casinos to have their own online sportsbooks, so that would include Caesars, Bally’s, and Penn – all of which own Missouri casinos. The other casinos, owned by Boyd Gaming (NYSE:), Affinity, and Century Casinos (NASDAQ:), can partner with online sportsbooks since they do not have their own. FanDuel has an existing partnership with Boyd Gaming, so that could be a potential option for FanDuel, according to Bet Missouri. Other online sportsbooks are said to be lining up with Missouri casinos, reported Bet Missouri. In addition to the 13 casino-based licenses, the Missouri Gaming Commission is offering two untethered, independent licenses with no casino connection required. Applications for these two untethered licenses are due by July 15. The commission will then announce the two untethered selections by August 15. Then, for the rest of the licenses, applications are due by September 12 in order to offer sports wagering starting December 1. DraftKings and Flutter stocks were up on Monday, while Caesars, MGM, Penn, and Bally stocks were trading lower. Original Post Source link #Missouris #December #Betting #Launch #Offers #Fresh #Upside #Gambling #Stocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alina Habba taunted with boos and shouts of ‘shame’ as she arrives at hearing for arrested Newark mayor Alina Habba taunted with boos and shouts of ‘shame’ as she arrives at hearing for arrested Newark mayor Alina Habba, the interim U.S. attorney for the state of New Jersey, faced a crowd of protesters outside a federal courthouse where Newark Mayor Ras Baraka made his first court appearance after federal agents arrested him for trespassing outside an immigration detention center last week. Habba, Donald Trump’s personal attorney, was surrounded by a chorus of boos and chants of “shame” as she walked up the courthouse steps on Thursday. Protesters booed New Jersey interim U.S. attorney Alina Habba as she made her way to a federal court hearing for Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on May 15 (Getty) Baraka was arrested outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Elizabeth on May 9 as the mayor and members of Congress demanded answers from the administration about the conditions inside, marking a major escalation of immigration protests surrounding the facility. Videos from a chaotic scene of his arrest showed masked federal officers pushing against demonstrators and a group of House Democrats from New Jersey before Baraka was placed in handcuffs. Baraka was initially asked to leave a gated area of the facility, but agents came out to arrest him after he left. Federal officers can be seen shoving protesters and grabbing Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver past the fence into the facility as Baraka is moved towards the detention center. Agents appeared to swarm him and others as they blocked protesters from the fence. Speaking outside the federal courthouse in Newark on Thursday after a brief appearance in front of a judge, Baraka called the charges “petty” and “silly” and accused the Department of Justice of selective prosecution, “We believe I was targeted in this,” he told supporters. “I was the only person arrested, I was the only person identified, I was the only person they put in a cell.” The case against him is “wrong, it is unjust, it is undemocratic, it is unpatriotic, it is un-American,” Baraka said. Mayor Baraka told supporters outside the courthouse that he believes he was ‘targeted’ by the Trump administration (Getty) Habba and Trump administration officials have accused Baraka of trespassing and unlawfully barging into the facility, which the mayor has flatly denied. He released a video following the incident that he says shows him being “invited” past the detention center’s gates before his arrest, contradicting the government’s narrative that pushed past the gates without permission. “While the charges are unwarranted, we will fight this,” he said in a statement Thursday. “Grateful to everyone who showed up in support. This is ******* than me. It’s about all of us.” Baraka did not enter a plea on Thursday, and his lawyers intend to file a motion to dismiss the case, citing lack of jurisdiction and selective prosecution for what they argue is a politically motivated retribution for his opposition to the ICE facility and Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. In court filings, Habba labeled the charges against him a “petty offense” — but the Justice Department does not appear ready to back down. Habba and Trump administration officials accused Baraka of trespassing inside an ICE detention center where the mayor and protesters demonstrated to demand answers from the federal government about conditions for immigrants inside (Reuters) Administration officials have also suggested they are considering criminal charges against three members of Congress — including McIver and Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman — who were caught up in the brawl with federal agents. The three lawmakers and administration officials have both accused each other of committing assault. They “body slammed, body rammed, pushed, shoved, whatever you want to call it, it was assault,” Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News. In remarks after Baraka’s arrest, McIver said she and Watson Coleman were “assaulted,” and Menendez Jr. was “roughed up” after what was supposed to be an “oversight visit” to the facility. Menendez called what happened to McIver an “assault.” Habba, a Trump loyalist who represented the president in his civil fraud case and defamation lawsuits from E. Jean Carroll, was appointed by the president to serve as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor on March 25. Source link #Alina #Habba #taunted #boos #shouts #shame #arrives #hearing #arrested #Newark #mayor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. Treasury yields slip as Fed signals just one rate cut in 2025 – CNBC U.S. Treasury yields slip as Fed signals just one rate cut in 2025 – CNBC U.S. Treasury yields slip as Fed signals just one rate cut in 2025 CNBCView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #U.S #Treasury #yields #slip #Fed #signals #rate #cut #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Major ****** officers appeal for witnesses to come forward over May 2023 hit-and-run of cyclist in Geraldton Major ****** officers appeal for witnesses to come forward over May 2023 hit-and-run of cyclist in Geraldton Police have launched an appeal for any fresh information and a pair of witnesses to come forward over a hit-and-run of a cyclist in a Geraldton suburb two years ago. Major ****** investigation section officers are calling on the public’s help as they re-examine the case, which occurred in Mount Tarcoola on Thursday, May 4, 2023. They say about 2.30pm a cyclist was riding his distinctive red racing style bicycle in a northerly direction within the cycle lane of North West Coastal Highway. He was towing a yellow single wheel trailer at the time. The man — now in his 70s — lost consciousness when he was struck by a vehicle, causing him to fall off the bike and hit his head. He was wearing a helmet. Two members of the public stopped to help the cyclist as he regained consciousness. Police are appealing for those male witnesses, or any members of the public who may have information, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report details online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au Vision relating to the incident can be uploaded directly to Major ****** investigators via this link: [Hidden Content] Please note: the white 4WD pictured is not related to this matter. Source link #Major #****** #officers #appeal #witnesses #hitandrun #cyclist #Geraldton Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Deliver at All Costs review – madcap driving game goes nowhere fast | Games Deliver at All Costs review – madcap driving game goes nowhere fast | Games Deliver at All Costs casts you as a delivery driver in the late 1950s, and it looks fantastic in motion. Almost everything on the map can be destroyed, and there is immediate fun to be had from causing merry mayhem with your truck, clattering through deckchairs on the beach or driving straight through the middle of a diner and watching it collapse spectacularly behind you. But there is a void at the heart of this game where the core hook should have been. We get a glimpse of its potential during a mission that sees you racing to catch up with a rival’s delivery truck before it can reach its destination. The aim is to manoeuvre alongside, and hold down a button so the crane on the back of your own truck can sneakily lift the package off their vehicle and on to yours. All the while, rival trucks are attempting to ram you off the road, and after you grab the package, you then have to deliver it while fending off the attentions of these other drivers. It leads to some wonderfully comic scenes in which a hotel owner thanks you profusely for a consignment while standing in front of the ruins of his newly destroyed establishment: a casualty of the violent act of delivery. Keep on truckin’ … Deliver at All Costs. Photograph: Konami This one frantic mission is by far the best part of the game, and if the rest of Deliver at All Costs followed a similar path – a Crazy Taxi-style mad dash against the clock between pickup and delivery, with whole neighbourhoods razed in pursuit of logistical efficiency – then there would no doubt be a few more stars stuck to this review. Instead each mission varies wildly in content and quality. Some are passably enjoyable, including one that involves taking photos of a UFO while avoiding its laser beam. Others are simply dull, such as one in which you deliver balloons tied to the back of your truck, which intermittently cause it to rise into the air: more irritating than entertaining. Zany does not equal fun. If all of that kind of thing had been confined to side missions while the main game was about zipping parcels back and forth as quickly as possible, it might have worked. But these hit and miss escapades are all we get, and by the final third, the concept of delivering things is ditched completely. Instead Deliver at All Costs tells a dim-witted story through relentless dull cut scenes, with writing and acting that veer from passable to downright rotten. Protagonist Winston Green is a man with a murky past who ends up at loggerheads with his boss, Donovan, before the game jumps the shark entirely and veers off into po-faced sci-fi nonsense. It doesn’t help that the permanently angry Winston is one of the most unlikable video game protagonists ever created. As in Grand Theft Auto, you can hop out of your car and explore, but here there’s hardly anything to find, save for a few viewpoints (which are just that) and a tiny handful of side missions. These range from fun (race a parachutist down a mountain) to boring (find a man who looks like the mayor). There is the occasional unique car to discover, but as you have to use your delivery truck for most missions, doing so is largely pointless. The novelty of driving around in, say, a hot dog van wears off in seconds. There are crates full of cash to find too, but there’s little of note worth buying. The shop sells spare parts you can use to assemble gadgets for your truck, but apart from the boost-giving jet engine, they’re mostly superfluous. It’s all so frustrating. Deliver at All Costs offers up a beautiful destructible playground, then barely utilises it, instead focusing on a bizarre, half-baked story that somehow ends in a courtroom drama. It feels like being invited to a glittering champagne reception, then getting collared by a conspiracy theorist who insists on describing the plot of his hokey sci-fi novel for the next eight hours. What a criminal waste. Deliver at All Costs is out on 22 May, £24.99 Source link #Deliver #Costs #review #madcap #driving #game #fast #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Archaeologists May Have Discovered Ancient Biblical Relic Archaeologists May Have Discovered Ancient Biblical Relic Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways A team of American archaeologists believe they have uncovered the remains of Noah’s Ark, the Daily Mail reported. Researchers working at a site in Turkey known as the Durupınar Formation uncovered a “tunnel” located under a boat-shaped formation, which matches the Biblical description of Noah’s Ark. The site is only 18 miles from Mount Ararat, which has long been rumored to have been the final destination of the ship. “We’re not expecting something that’s fully preserved,” lead researcher Andrew Jones said. “What’s left is the chemical imprint, pieces of wood, and in the ground, the shape of a hall.” Noah’s Ark Scans Jones and his colleagues detected structures running as deep as 20 feet underground, something they believe would be unlikely were the mass anything but a ship. “This is not what you’d expect to see if the site were simply a solid block of rock or the result of random mudflow debris,” Jones explained. “But it is exactly what you’d expect to find if this were a man-made boat, consistent with the biblical specifications of Noah’s Ark.” Soil samples culled from 22 separate locations inside the formation have so far shown them to be radically different from samples collected from outside the mass. “Organic matter was found to be double inside the formation compared to the surrounding soil,” said soil scientist William Crabtree. “If you know soil science, as I am a soil scientist, you will understand that potassium levels, organic matter, and pH can all be affected by the decomposition of organic materials. If this was a wooden vessel and the wood had rotted over time, we would expect to see increased potassium levels, changes in pH, and higher organic content—and that’s exactly what we find.” Noah’s Ark Scans The Durupınar area has drawn the interest of archaeologists since the late 1940s, when the outline of the boat-like structure was first exposed. Still, there has never been an officially sanctioned excavation. Naysayers have long contended that the Durupınar is simply a rock formation, but considering their new evidence, Jones and Crabtree believe the area is worthy of official exploration. “We want to compare what’s inside the formation to what’s outside,” Jones said of future work he and his team hope to undertake. “That could give us a much clearer picture of whether this is truly something man-made.” Source link #Archaeologists #Discovered #Ancient #Biblical #Relic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Tons' of ticks are being found all over Indiana. Here's which ones can make you sick – The Herald-Times 'Tons' of ticks are being found all over Indiana. Here's which ones can make you sick – The Herald-Times ‘Tons’ of ticks are being found all over Indiana. Here’s which ones can make you sick The Herald-TimesKeep the bugs away, and enjoy your time outside – sponsored by OFF! WCNCPrevent mosquito, tick bites wpafb.af.milWJJQ WJJQ RadioWhy ticks are on the rise and how humans are fighting back Connecticut Public Source link #039Tons039 #ticks #Indiana #Here039s #sick #HeraldTimes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asus Refreshes ROG Strix, ROG Zephyrus, TUF Gaming Laptops With Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU Asus Refreshes ROG Strix, ROG Zephyrus, TUF Gaming Laptops With Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU Asus has refreshed its ROG Strix, ROG Zephyrus, and TUF gaming laptops with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPUs at Computex 2025 in Taipei. The Taiwanese tech giant has brought Nvidia’s mid-range graphics to its ROG Strix G16, ROG Strix G18, ROG Zephyrus G16, ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025), TUF Gaming A18, TUF Gaming A16, TUF Gaming F16, and TUF Gaming A14. All models in the lineup run on either an Intel or an AMD CPU. They pack up to 90Wh batteries. The ROG Strix G18 and ROG Strix G16 come with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor or an AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX processor. Asus is yet to share detailed pricing of the new Asus ROG Strix G16, G18, ROG Zephyrus G16, G14 and Asus Tuf Gaming A18, A16, A14 and F16 laptops with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics cards. They are confirmed to be available in Canada in the coming weeks through the Asus store, Amazon, Best Buy, Canada Computers, among others. Asus ROG Strix G18, ROG Strix G16 Specifications The Asus ROG Strix G16 and G18 come with Windows 11 Home and in Intel or AMD CPU configurations. Users can configure it with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU or an AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX processor paired with the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU with 8GB GDDR7. They support up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD storage ROG Strix models offer ROG Nebula displays with up to 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, 500 nits peak brightness, and 100 percent DCI-P3 coverage. The Asus ROG Strix G18 has an 18-inch 2.5K screen, while the ROG Strix G16 has a 16-inch OLED 2.5K screen. They offer advanced Tri-Fan cooling and a 1080-pixel Webcam. They pack a 90Wh battery. Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) Specifications The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is equipped with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU or AMD Ryzen AI 7 HX 350 processor, paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X 7467 memory, and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD storage. The ROG Zephyrus, on the other hand, can be equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, up to 32GB of LPDDR5X 8,000Mhz memory, and 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD storage. Both models ship with a new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU and 8GB GDDR7 graphics memory. Asus has packed Nebula OLED displays with 500 nits peak brightness on the ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16. The latter has a 16-inch 2.5K display with 240Hz refresh rate, while the ROG Zephyrus G14 sports a 14-inch 3K display with 120Hz refresh rate. They offer Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. You also get a 1080p full-HD IR Webcam. The ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) 73Wh battery, while the ROG Zephyrus G16 has 90Wh battery. Asus TUF Gaming A18, TUF Gaming A16, TUF Gaming F16, TUF Gaming A14 Specifications The Asus TUF Gaming A18 supports up to an AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU. It is equipped with up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage. It boasts an 18-inch display with 144Hz refresh rate, a 16:10 aspect ratio, 300 nits of peak brightness, and 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. The laptop houses a 90Wh battery. Asus TUF Gaming A16 ships with up to AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX, while the TUF Gaming F16 can be configured with up to an Intel Core i7 14650HX processor. Both models feature the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU. Both TUF Gaming A16 and TUF Gaming F16 have 16-inch displays with up to 2.5K resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits peak brightness. They pack 32GB DDR5 RAM and up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. They offer military-grade durability and second-generation Arc Flow fans for thermal management. They have 90Whr battery units. Asus TUF Gaming A14 Specifications The Asus TUF Gaming A14 ships with Windows 11 Home and has a 14-inch 2.5K IPS display with 165Hz refresh rate, 400 nits peak brightness, and 3ms response time. It also packs the new generation Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU paired with up to an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with up to 16GB LPDDR5X onboard RAM and 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. For connectivity, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 has Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E. It is backed by a 73Wh battery. Source link #Asus #Refreshes #ROG #Strix #ROG #Zephyrus #TUF #Gaming #Laptops #Nvidia #GeForce #RTX #5060Laptop #GPU Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

HUGE UPSET: Local qualifier Jacob Willcox takes out world No.1 Italo Ferreira at the Margaret River Pro HUGE UPSET: Local qualifier Jacob Willcox takes out world No.1 Italo Ferreira at the Margaret River Pro Jacob Willcox returned to Margaret River with one thing in mind following the disappointment of being cut from surfing’s elite tour at his home event last year: Redemption. At Main Break on Tuesday, the local qualifier took another step towards his ultimate goal of re-qualifying for the World Surf League’s championship tour, beating current world No.1 and 2019 world champion Italo Ferreira in pumping 8-10ft conditions. Willcox, a Margaret River local who grew up surfing the region’s famous breaks, had to do it the hard way just to earn his spot in the field, winning last week’s trials. And after a nightmare opening round defeat to Ferreira, in which his posted just two scores of 2.50, Willcox was left questioning everything, laid up in bed with a head cold for two lay days, before coming out firing in the elimination round earlier on Tuesday and saving his best for a rematch with the Brazilian powerhouse. “After this event last year I felt so disappointed, so heartbroken,” he said. “Redemption: that was my one word for this week. I just want to compete and hopefully this result leads me into a good campaign on the challenger series. I’m so fired up to get back on the tour.” Willcox looked a different surfer to Saturday’s rough start, putting it down in part to an equipment switch. He scored an excellent 8.33 for a wave that included sticking a massive vertical drop, three turns and a tough finish, adding to a solid 6.67 to post a 15.00 two-wave total. Ferreira put up a 6.87 and 6.00 for a 12.87 total but was always chasing and couldn’t find the big number he needed. “I had such a shocker that first day, I rode the wrong board and couldn’t even get off the bottom so it felt good just to get out there on the right board and do a turn,” Willcox said. “I was stoked to surf against Italo, he is one of my favourite surfers and so amazing to watch out there, it got me so fired up. To beat him was epic. “I’m knackered after those two heats, it’s pretty draining conditions with a lot of swell. I’ve been sick as a dog the past few days. It’s good just to be back in the water.” Camera IconJacob Willcox of Australia surfs in Heat 9. Credit: Cait Miers/World Surf League The 27-year-old has now surfed the Margaret River Pro eight times but never previously made it to the round of 16. With his best result at home already locked in, he hopes local knowledge can help him land a few more upsets. “I feel like it’s almost anyone’s game out there, you just need to be able to pick the good waves and being a local definitely helps,” he said. “It’s cool to be able to compete against these guys in the big event and beat them. I know I can do it, sometimes it just happen how you think. “It’s a blur out there when you ride out of that end section but you can hear everyone getting behind you. I’m so happy to have an event here at home to compete in front of all my friends and family.” Camera IconWSL Champion Italo Ferreira has been knocked out. Credit: Beatriz Ryder/World Surf League Willcox took six months away from competition to re-group following the disappointment of being cut from his rookie year on the CT and failing to re-qualify on the CS. He admitted feeling burnt out after his decade-long attempt to make it on surfing’s elite tour, only to have it ripped away at the mid-season cut, only a few months in. “I’m just trying to put some good heats together and set myself up for a good year,” he said. “I’ve had about six months off with no competing and I feel like that’s given me a lot of energy to come into this year pretty hungry.” Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS Source link #HUGE #UPSET #Local #qualifier #Jacob #Willcox #takes #world #No.1 #Italo #Ferreira #Margaret #River #Pro Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former NFL Player Arrested in Massive Human Trafficking Bust Former NFL Player Arrested in Massive Human Trafficking Bust Over 250 individuals were arrested in relation to a human trafficking ring, including one former NFL player. The bust took place in Florida after Polk County police and authorities began a multi-agency, focused effort tihho make the arrests. The former NFL player arrested in Florida was ex-linebacker Adarius Taylor, who spent seven years in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns. The Orlando Sentinel noted that, according to Sheriff Grady Judd, Taylor even traveled to the sting with his six-year-old daughter, leaving her in his car as he went inside. “Obviously he must have hit one too many people as a linebacker, because his brain cells are scrambled,” Judd said about Taylor. The former linebacker’s daughter was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families, one of the agencies who helped with this in-depth investigation. The operation lasted for nine days earlier this month, lasting from May 2 through May 10. Taylor was officially charged with felony negligent child abuse without bodily harm and misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution charges. 255 people were charged in total as a result of the sting, with 141 of those being charged with soliciting prostitutes. 93 people were charged with offering to commit prostitution, and in a disturbing development, 11 were charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex along with other child sex crimes; A few people were helped after being discovered as trafficking victims, and were assisted by the relevant authorities. Polk County police referred to their sting as “Operation Fool Around and Find Out,” and Judd issued a warning to anyone else who is operating similar operation. “A word to the wise: There’ll be another one,” Judd said, hinting that another multi-agency and organization sting will be conducted. This initial look shows that the problem of trafficking still exists in a major way, even with police doing all they can to curtail it. We’ll see what the future holds for Taylor after his arrest in association with one of the biggest human trafficking and prostitution-related arrests in the state of Florida, or in the entire country. Source link #NFL #Player #Arrested #Massive #Human #Trafficking #Bust Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

***, France, Canada warn of ‘concrete actions’ if Israel doesn’t halt war, boost aid – The Times of Israel ***, France, Canada warn of ‘concrete actions’ if Israel doesn’t halt war, boost aid – The Times of Israel ***, France, Canada warn of ‘concrete actions’ if Israel doesn’t halt war, boost aid The Times of IsraelUK, France, Canada threaten sanctions if Israel continues new offensive into Gaza. Here’s what we know CNNUN warns 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in next 48 hours without aid – Israel-Gaza war live The GuardianLIVE: Israel pounds Gaza, killing 60; Canada, France, *** threaten sanctions Al JazeeraNetanyahu blasts London, Ottawa, Paris for demanding end to war JNS.org Source link #France #Canada #warn #concrete #actions #Israel #doesnt #halt #war #boost #aid #Times #Israel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NDNA 2025: Wagin too strong for reigning premiers, Wickepin cling on in one-goal thriller in A1 competition NDNA 2025: Wagin too strong for reigning premiers, Wickepin cling on in one-goal thriller in A1 competition Wagin have proved they are serious contenders in this years Narrogin and Districts Netball Association A1 competition with an upset win over Williams on Saturday. Sharing equal points, the top of the table match had Wagin facing last year’s premiers Williams for the first time this season. Wagin came out firing, setting the pace early in a highly skilled and physical game across all areas of the court. Wagin’s midcourt in Felice Pocock and Jaelyn Ranieri combined well, and were feeding accurately to the dynamic duo, ******* Kickett and Lilli Worth, putting Williams under pressure early. Williams took some time to adapt to the strength Wagin was showing. Jaimee Medlen and Katherine Barritt displayed steady defensive pressure and assisted their team in causing multiple turnovers as Wagin led the first half 39-22. In the third quarter Williams made some changes with Megan Hardie coming into goal attack, combined with youngster Bella Logie. Both Hardie and Logie were putting Wagin’s defence through their paces, with Logie displaying impressive shooting accuracy. Williams continued to find their rhythm and matched the pace for the remainder of the game, showing great passages of play. However Wagin’s composure and momentum proved too strong, winning the game convincingly 69-48. Best players were Kickett who shot a massive 45 goals for the game, Pocock and Medlen. In the other A1 game of the day, Wickepin managed a hard-fought one-goal win over Pingelly, 43-42 at the final whistle. Camera IconPingelly’s Talicia Bennell shoots. Credit: Narrogin and Districts Netball AssociationCamera IconPingelly’s Abbie Smith jumps high in defence as Wickepin’s Georgia Dawes looks to make a pass. Credit: Narrogin and Districts Netball AssociationCamera IconWickepin’s Tyler Steere jumps for the ball. Credit: Narrogin and Districts Netball Association Source link #NDNA #Wagin #strong #reigning #premiers #Wickepin #cling #onegoal #thriller #competition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google I/O 2025 live: Android XR, Gemini, Project Astra, and more Google I/O 2025 live: Android XR, Gemini, Project Astra, and more Refresh Welcome to TechRadar’s Google I/O 2025 live blog! John-Anthony Disotto, Senior AI Writer, here to take you through the first few hours of today as we build up to one of Google’s biggest events of the year. So grab a coffee, set this tab up to the side of your monitor, and get ready for a huge day in the world of tech! Source link #Google #live #Android #Gemini #Project #Astra Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Biden is among thousands to get prostate ******* this year. Where to get tested in NC Biden is among thousands to get prostate ******* this year. Where to get tested in NC Former President Joe Biden’s Stage 4 prostate ******* diagnosis served as a reminder of the importance of ******* screenings. Prostate ******* is the second leading cause of natural deaths among North Carolina men, behind lung *******, according to the UNC Men’s Health program. The prostate is a ****** that lies between a male’s bladder and ******* and is part of his reproductive anatomy. Biden’s team announced his diagnosis Sunday afternoon, saying that he had an increase in ******** symptoms which led to the finding of a prostate nodule. Biden’s team said his form of prostate ******* is aggressive and has spread into his bones. Across the country, more than 180,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate ******* this year, and around 40,000 will die from it. But if caught early, UNC Health says that almost all men with this diagnosis can live five or more years. That drops to 34% once it spreads. The American ******* Society lists seven medical facilities where men can go to get screened for prostate ******* within a 50-mile radius of Raleigh. All seven also offer screenings for cervical, lung, breast and colorectal cancers. Those include: UNC Rex Healthcare of Wakefield, Raleigh Durham VA Medical Center, Durham University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Johnston Healthcare, Smithfield Carolina Urgent Care, Durham Carolina Urgent Care, Chapel Hill Call the American ******* Society at 800-227-2345 or use the chat feature on the group’s website, *******.org, to find out about options for potentially free screenings. A 2021 study by the UNC Men’s Health Program found that only 52% of men in North Carolina were screened for prostate *******. Symptom free More than 8,000 men in North Carolina were diagnosed with prostate ******* in 2021. Among them was Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville. In March 2021, he publicly announced he would undergo surgery after being diagnosed with prostate *******. Tillis said he didn’t have any symptoms. “I am blessed that my ******* was detected relatively early, and I can’t emphasize enough how important routine screenings are, regardless of how healthy you think you are,” Tillis said then. “I had no symptoms and would have never imagined I had *******. My prognosis is good because I went to my annual physical and received a PSA test, which led to a biopsy and eventually my diagnosis. Early detection can truly save lives.” Tillis was among the first in North Carolina to react to Biden’s news Sunday, posting on social media that he and his wife Susan “are saddened to hear about President Biden’s prostate ******* diagnosis and are praying for his full recovery.” Annual physicals UNC encourages all men between 19 and 49 to receive physicals at least every two years, and an annual physical after 50. Even if a patient is healthy, the routine screenings give doctors a patient’s baseline for blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and other things so that if something does go awry, a doctor knows what is normal for that individual. Between 50 and 69, but as early as 40, a prostate screening is done annually to ensure that a patient remains healthy. After 69, doctors will work with their patients individually to determine if a prostate exam is still necessary. Biden is 82. Prostate ******* is most common in ****** men or those with a family history, especially with a father or brother who was diagnosed. Prostate exams In February, state Rep. Rodney Pierce, a Democrat from Halifax County, proposed a bill to provide $4 million to fund free or low-cost prostate screenings and follow-up care to uninsured or underinsured men in North Carolina. That same month, in Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy of Greenville was among lawmakers who proposed requiring insurance companies to cover screenings without imposing any cost-sharing requirements on men at high risk of prostate *******. A prostate exam can include a prostate-specific antigen blood test, a digital rectal exam and a biopsy. Murphy, a urologist, encouraged men to ensure their doctor don’t stop at the PSA blood test, but also conduct a rectal exam to catch potential signs of ******* the blood test might miss. “A man with a ‘below normal’ PSA can still have prostate *******,” Murphy wrote on social media. “This is why a rectal examination by your physician must ALSO be done. Unfortunately, some doctors are forgoing critical examination and relying only on the blood test. Make sure your doctor does both.” Biden received an outpouring of support from lawmakers, including Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina, who wished him a speedy recovery. Source link #Biden #among #thousands #prostate #******* #year #tested Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Race for Poland’s presidency blows wide open – politico.eu Race for Poland’s presidency blows wide open – politico.eu Race for Poland’s presidency blows wide open politico.euDonald Tusk: next two weeks will ‘decide future of Poland’ The GuardianPolish centrist and nationalist presidential candidates to face off in 2nd round CNNPoles vote for a new president as security concerns loom large NPRPoland set for knife-edge presidential runoff as far right surges NBC News Source link #Race #Polands #presidency #blows #wide #open #politico.eu Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shocking footage of two women and child crossing busy freeway and walking over railway track Shocking footage of two women and child crossing busy freeway and walking over railway track Main Roads has released shocking footage of two women — one of whom is carrying a small child — crossing a busy freeway and walking over a railway track. The vision, which was released on X on Tuesday, shows the women walking across three lanes of traffic, before clambering over a concrete wall — located in the middle the freeway — and crossing two train tracks. The women — who pass the child between each other — are then seen waiting in the emergency lane before making a mad dash to the other side of the freeway. Main Roads released the footage to remind motorists to not put yourself or others in danger when your vehicle breaks down. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. “If you breakdown or are involved in a ******, the safest place to stay and wait for help is in your vehicle,” Main Roads said. “Never attempt to cross the road in the hope of attempting to reach a safer place, especially on a major highway or freeway. “If you’re a motorist driving past an incident, always remain alert, aware and vigilant. “Main Roads does not endorse or condone the behaviour shown in this vehicle.” Main Roads said its “slow down move over” law required drivers to slow down to 40km/h when approaching “flashing lights of stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks, incident response vehicles and RAC roadside assistance patrols”. Source link #Shocking #footage #women #child #crossing #busy #freeway #walking #railway #track Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Retailers aren’t going to ‘eat the tariffs’ Retailers aren’t going to ‘eat the tariffs’ “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary said in a Monday interview that retailers are not going to “eat the tariffs,” despite pressure from the Trump administration to do so. “This idea that the president says, ‘Listen, retailers, eat the tariffs.’ That’s not going to happen,” O’Leary said in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill.” O’Leary said he expects both customers and retailers to shoulder some of the burden of the cost increases, but he noted it’s difficult to predict the cost of goods without knowing the tariff rates — which are up in the air pending further negotiations with U.S. trading partners. “There’s going to be some distribution of the pain between increased prices, and retailers will take some of the hit, but it really depends what the hit is,” he continued. “We don’t know. Is it 10 percent? 20 percent? 25 percent? What is it? Nobody knows.” O’Leary said he expects retailers to lobby the administration, adding, “I really think that this is kind of like jawboning between the retailer and Trump, but that’s it. We’re at the beginning of a negotiation. The interview comes after Walmart announced it would raise prices on imported goods to pass along some of the cost to consumers as tariff-affected goods hit store shelves. The president responded to the news over the weekend, railing against the retailer for blaming tariffs for the higher prices and urging Walmart to bear the cost burden. “Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected.” “Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING,” he added. “I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!” Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Retailers #arent #eat #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unfair Labor Practice Accusation Against Fortnite for James Earl Jones’ AI Voice for Darth Vader Explained Unfair Labor Practice Accusation Against Fortnite for James Earl Jones’ AI Voice for Darth Vader Explained The Force is strong with controversy this week as Epic Games finds itself battling more than just Storm Troopers. The gaming giant behind Fortnite has been hit with an unfair labor practice charge by SAG-AFTRA over its new AI-powered Darth Vader feature that lets players chat with the Sith Lord using the iconic voice of the late James Earl Jones. While players have been excitedly recruiting the iconic villain to their squads since the feature launched on May 16, the actors’ union isn’t celebrating. The dispute isn’t about permission—Jones’ family explicitly approved the voice recreation—but rather about the process Epic allegedly skipped. The labor dispute behind the mask The heart of SAG-AFTRA‘s complaint isn’t about Darth Vader appearing in Fortnite or even using AI to recreate Jones’ iconic voice. Instead, it centers on Epic Games’ subsidiary Llama Productions allegedly making “unilateral alterations to employment terms” without proper notification or bargaining with the union. This controversy emerged during an ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike in the interactive media sector that began in July 2024. The union argues that while James Earl Jones‘ estate granted permission, Epic failed to negotiate terms with the union regarding the replacement of work that could have been performed by other voice actors. “We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas,” SAG-AFTRA wrote in their statement. “However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members.” What makes this particularly thorny is that 55 different actors (via BTVA) have portrayed Vader in games and other media when Jones wasn’t available. These performers now face potential displacement as AI technology advances. When AI goes rogue in the galaxy Unscripted and unfiltered. | Image Credit: Epic Games The labor dispute isn’t the only headache Epic Games is dealing with regarding its AI Sith Lord, though. Within hours of the feature’s launch, players discovered ways to trick Darth Vader into dropping F-bombs and other inappropriate language, forcing developers to deploy emergency fixes. Using Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model for dialogue generation and ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 model for audio, the AI Vader was designed to discuss battle strategies and Star Wars lore. Instead, clips of the Dark Lord swearing and making inappropriate comments started going viral. Loserfruit made the AI Darth Vader Swear pic.twitter.com/bJmPpqGXvf — Cordial (@ImCordial) May 16, 2025 Epic responded swiftly, pushing a hotfix “within 30 minutes” according to company representatives (via WIRED). They’ve since implemented three layers of safety filters and added a new parental control specifically for AI features. If players persistently try to provoke inappropriate responses, Vader now automatically leaves their squad and becomes unrecruitable for the remainder of the match. We pushed a hotfix immediately and this shouldn’t happen again. — Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 16, 2025 This controversy follows the baffling Star Wars drama where Vader himself de-canonized Disney’s sequel trilogy, creating a perfect storm of attention around the character. While players continue enjoying conversations with the AI villain, the behind-the-scenes battle between Epic and SAG-AFTRA highlights the complex reality of AI voice technology in gaming. What do you think about AI voice actors in games? Should unions have more say in how they’re implemented? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Unfair #Labor #Practice #Accusation #Fortnite #James #Earl #Jones #Voice #Darth #Vader #Explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

HP Eyes Software Differentiation as AI PCs Blur the Lines Between Device and Experience HP Eyes Software Differentiation as AI PCs Blur the Lines Between Device and Experience PC brands have found themselves in a unique position ever since the rise of AI PCs. The terminology refers to a new class of computers that are equipped with dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) to power artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and workflows. The chipsets are currently being manufactured by AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon. On the other hand, Microsoft is currently managing the software end of AI capabilities, which is integrating its Copilot assistant across the entire Windows 11 operating system. This means that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) do not have a seat at the table that determines the direction and extent of the AI features in the laptops dubbed AI PCs (or Copilot+ PCs, if they meet specified requirements). This does not render OEMs toothless since a large part of the experience, such as the choice of components, premiumness of the material, optimisation of the processor, and battery life, is still driven by them. However, when it comes to the marketing jargon of AI PCs, these highlights tend to take a *********. Does this mean OEMs are dependent on the narratives set by AI (hardware and software) providers while bringing their devices to the market? And just how can they distinguish themselves from competitors when it comes to showcasing the unique selling proposition (USP) of their devices? Questions are many, and to understand how PC brands are looking at the AI PC market and their go-to-market strategy, Gadgets 360 spoke with Vineet Gehani, Senior Director – Personal Systems category, HP India. The Question About Adoption The second generation of AI PCs has yet again brought about the question of the adoption of AI PCs. The global AI PC market was valued at $48.69 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $91.23 billion in 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 87.37 percent, according to MarketsandMarkets. Meanwhile, Research and Markets estimates the global laptop market to be worth $221.87 billion in 2024, rising to $241.37 billion in 2025. This indicates that AI PCs will account for 37.79 percent of the overall laptop segment next year, up from 21.95 percent in 2024. Gehani believes the evolution of the technology and a push for on-device AI were the primary drivers behind HP’s growth. “We want to make AI real for users, and that’s why we are not just talking about AI on the cloud, but as an ecosystem. AI is now available on the device. It is making the devices more productive, intuitive, productive, and collaborative while not compromising security,” he added. While increased use cases are great news for those who want more out of their laptops, a major barrier is also the price point. Addressing the concern, Gehani said, “We are now expanding this to the entire range of products that we carry to market. So, other than the absolute entry level, all of the other products are now AI-enabled. It’s about making the technology more accessible and making it more affordable.” HP’s Role in AI PCs The OEM vs AI provider conversation is also interesting. We asked Gehani whether he felt brands felt the narrative of the AI-driven devices was moving away from them and going towards chipmakers and OS developers. His response was a succinct, “If I were to flip the question, how would they carry it [the technology] to market?” The message was clear. HP believes it controls the end product, and as such, the power of narrative remains in its hands. Additionally, from an ecosystem perspective, each player is working towards the same goal. However, this did not answer our main question — how are brands, then, supposed to distinguish themselves from one another? Gehani points towards several first-party features HP has added to its AI PCs. There are three of them — the HP AI Companion, myHP app, and the Poly Camera Pro. The first is an AI-powered chatbot and document summarisation tool, the second is an AI-enabled control hub for various customisation settings on the device, and the third is a web camera app laden with AI capabilities. Additionally, he highlighted that HP is also heavily invested in making AI PCs more power-efficient. One way of doing it is by optimising the chipset to allow for a diverse range of workflows, some of which might not require much AI usage. Apart from optimising power consumption on a hardware level, the company is also working on it on a software level. “We are using smart sense technology (which can be controlled via the myHP app) to optimise the battery life based on what a user is doing on the device. It adjusts thermal output based on usage and monitors the external environment of the device,” he added. Essentially, HP’s strategy with AI PCs is to take whatever Microsoft and chipmakers are providing and then layer it with the brand’s AI experience. “We make sure that we are in the best position to carry the technology, and then we layer it for users using in-house tools such as AI Companion, myHP, and the Poly Camera Pro,” Gehani explained. But just differentiating is not good enough in this cut-throat market. Gehani let us know that HP holds 30 percent of the PC market share in India. But how does the company plan to continue to hold onto its lead and to build on it? “The only way to stay ahead in the market is by deeply understanding customer needs and meeting them through devices — because that’s ultimately the moment of truth. It’s when users choose your product, return to it, or upgrade. With the ongoing refresh cycle triggered by Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 and pushing adoption of Windows 11, we see a strong opportunity to grow our market share,” he said. What About Upgradability and the Microsoft Factor? Since AI PCs are in a nascent stage, it is reasonable to believe that the growth in this space will also be rapid. We have seen the same happen when laptops first arrived as a portable form-factor in the 1980s, and then brands such as Toshiba, IBM, and Apple continuously disrupted the space. So, assuming AI PCs do the same to the modern laptop space, will consumers have to worry about the upgradability of their devices as the existing models get outdated? Gehani said HP is taking care of this in two ways. “When it comes to software upgrades, we make sure to make them available to our users as soon as possible. From the hardware upgradability perspective, we have attractive exchange programmes that we run for both individuals and enterprises. We have worked to make it convenient for our users to trade in older devices and upgrade.” The final topic of conversation comes as a hypothetical question that can very quickly turn into a concerning reality. So far, the trend in the AI space is as follows. Brands offer AI features to users for free for a limited *******. Once a significant number of users have been onboarded, the company monetises the offering by creating paid subscriptions. We have seen this playbook with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Samsung’s Galaxy AI (which will be a subscription-based service starting in 2026), and even with Microsoft’s Copilot platform. The question here is, what if Microsoft takes the same route with its Windows 11-based Copilot features in the future? Would a subscription model, which works in the tech giant’s favour, not create an additional barrier for consumers looking to buy AI PCs? Gehani said HP will continue to honour the offerings it has created for the consumers. Additionally, the company is also focused on improving the capabilities of AI PCs, and making them more affordable. However, when it comes to what Microsoft might do with its AI service, “I think time will tell what happens in the industry. It is something we will see as we go forward.” Source link #Eyes #Software #Differentiation #PCs #Blur #Lines #Device #Experience Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Team Goes Inside That Tragic One-Two Punch of Penultimate Episode – The Hollywood Reporter ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Team Goes Inside That Tragic One-Two Punch of Penultimate Episode – The Hollywood Reporter ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Team Goes Inside That Tragic One-Two Punch of Penultimate Episode The Hollywood Reporter‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Star Max Minghella on Nick’s Fate: ‘Nobody Could Accuse Them of Pandering’ Variety‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Bosses Unpack the Tragic, Noble Deaths of Those 2 Major Characters TheWrap‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Will Have an ‘Honest Conclusion’ With Series Finale (Exclusive) Us WeeklyThe Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 9 – Release Date, Schedule, Where To Watch Newsweek Source link #Handmaids #Tale #Team #Tragic #OneTwo #Punch #Penultimate #Episode #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Parts of India’s ‘Silicon Valley’ flooded after heavy rains Parts of India’s ‘Silicon Valley’ flooded after heavy rains Meryl Sebastian, BBC News, KochiGetty Images Several parts of the city have received over 100mm of rain which authorities say is rare Parts of the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, often called India’s Silicon Valley are under water after heavy rainfall. The city is on high alert for more pre-monsoon showers on Tuesday due to cyclonic formations over the Andaman Sea, according to authorities. Three people, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in rain-related incidents on Monday. Bengaluru is home to major global technology companies, many of whom have asked their employees to work from home due to flooded roads. Getty Images Large parts of the city have been flooded by heavy rain that began on Sunday Many parts of the city received 100 mm (4in) of rain on Monday, a record since 2011. This is “rare” for Bengaluru, CS Patil, a director at the regional weather department told news agencies. Apart from severe water-logging and traffic disrupting daily life, heavy rainfall has also caused property damage. In one of the city’s major IT corridors, the compound wall of a software firm – i-Zed – collapsed on Monday morning, killing a 35-year-old female employee. Videos also showed commuters wading through knee-deep water, with several cars parked on waterlogged streets. Water has also entered houses in some parts of the city. Authorities say the city corporation has identified 210 flood-prone areas where they were working round the clock to “rectify” the situation. “There is no need for the people of Bengaluru to be worried,” DK Shivakumar, deputy chief minister of Karnataka state told reporters on Monday. Jagadeesh NV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The city is on high alert for more rain on Tuesday Getty Images People are wading through knee deep water in the city Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is the capital is currently run by the Congress party. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which sits in the opposition in the state has accused the local government of failing to tackle rain-related issues in the city and the state, despite spending million of rupees on its infrastructure. The BJP has demanded the immediate release of 10bn rupees ($117m, £87.5m) for relief operations. The state government has, however, defended itself saying these were long-standing issues. “The issues we face today are not new. They have been ignored for years, across governments and administrations,” Shivakumar said. Floods have been a recurring phenomenon in Bengaluru in recent years. Experts partly blame rapid construction over the city’s lakes and wetlands and poor urban planning for the crisis. Officials are facing heavy criticism for the recurring problem on social media with many complaining about the city’s crumbling infrastructure and deluged roads. Source link #Parts #Indias #Silicon #Valley #flooded #heavy #rains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This robovac will vacuum, mop and clean itself for just AU$799 – grab the Ecovacs Deebot T20e for its lowest price yet This robovac will vacuum, mop and clean itself for just AU$799 – grab the Ecovacs Deebot T20e for its lowest price yet I’ve been testing Ecovacs’ robot vacuums for nearly a decade now and I’m impressed by their evolution. They went from being basic vacuums to smart do-it-alls very quickly – and forced other brands to keep up. One of the best Deebots in recent times was the T20 Omni. It was pricey at launch (costing AU$1,799) and didn’t come with a lot of suction (just 6,000Pa). It still scored an impressive 4.5 stars in our Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni review, so you can imagine how well this more-powerful sibling will perform. With a higher 7,100Pa of suction, the T20e Omni will usually set you back AU$1,999 when it’s at full price – a lot more than the newer and even more powerful Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni. However, as there’s currently a whopping 60% discount that drops the price down to just AU$799. That’s an absolute steal and I would recommend you ***** up these savings if you’ve been eying an all-in-robot vacuum. How can I recommend something we’ve not reviewed, I hear you ask. That’s because I feel confident that we can extrapolate from the performance of the T20 Omni. And I’ve personally tested its T30 successor and think it’s the best-value all-in-one robot vacuum. Sure, the T30 Omni looks different and has better specs, but for just AU$799, you’re getting even better value if you predominantly have hard floors. Considering I found that the newer model struggles on dirty carpets in my Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review despite its 11,000Pa suction, I’m won’t suggest the T20e Omni will do any better with its 7,100Pa of power. Let it work on a hard floor, though, and it will do a good job of everyday cleaning. It will vacuum, mop, empty the dustbin on its own, wash its mop pads and then dry them too. All you need to do is set it all up in the map, add schedules and routines, and make sure the clean water is refilled regularly, and the dirty water is regularly emptied. That’s minimal effort, right? However, I should mention that the T20e Omni uses cold water to wash the mops – not hot, as it does in the T20 and T30 Omni models. Still, I’ve chucked those mop pads into the machine every once in a while with no issues. Similar machines – the ones that do all the functions I’ve listed above – typically cost upwards of two grand. Sure, they come with more suction, but that doesn’t always translate into good performance – a case in point being the Roborock Qrevo Edge. So, trust me when I say that the T20e Omni will be a great cleaner for homes with hard floors without burning a hole in your pocket. If, however, you do have a little spare change, you could also consider the Deebot T30 Omni, which is also discounted right now, albeit only by 34%. It’s still a fantastic investment. I even appreciated its design more than any other similar robovac. No matter which Deebot you opt for, you’ll have a handy helper in both. Just note that both will also incur some ongoing costs – the replacement dust bags every month or so (depending on use) and the mop pads as they start to wear out. You might also like… Source link #robovac #vacuum #mop #clean #AU799 #grab #Ecovacs #Deebot #T20e #lowest #price Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]