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Switch 2 Looks Like The Ultimate Nintendo System Switch 2 Looks Like The Ultimate Nintendo System Nintendo has developed a reputation for defying expectations–for bucking industry trends and charting a distinct path from its competitors with wildly inventive games and consoles–which is why the Switch 2 feels almost disappointingly conservative at first glance. Rather than reinvent the wheel yet again with its newest system, the company has opted to take a more conventional approach when developing the platform, beefing up specs and augmenting the hardware with a few additional (though not exactly groundbreaking) features. But though it may not seem as outwardly surprising or disruptive as previous Nintendo systems, the Switch 2 consolidates nearly every console feature Nintendo has pioneered into one package, making it the culmination of the company’s hardware experiments. Every new feature the Switch 2 boasts can be traced back, in one form or another, to a previous Nintendo console. The system’s built-in mic stands as a prime example. Nintendo has tinkered with adding microphones to its consoles since its earliest days as a game maker. The Famicom included a mic in one of its controllers; subsequent systems like the Nintendo 64 and GameCube received mic accessories for use with certain games; the DS and 3DS each had mics built right into their hardware; and the Wii U offered one through the GamePad. Most of these, however, were used primarily for gameplay purposes–such as barking commands in Nintendogs–rather than for communicating with other players. The Switch 2’s mic serves a different function. Though some titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree still use it for minigames, the mic is primarily meant to facilitate GameChat, the system’s touted group-chat function. This, of course, is hardly a novel feature for a game console in this day and age; other platforms have offered voice chat for years, and even the original Switch allowed it (albeit in a roundabout way through the separate Switch Online smartphone app). GameChat, however, is intended to be a communal experience–more of a social hangout than a way to coordinate with others who are playing the same game. Building the microphone directly into the system rather than offering it as a separate headset opens GameChat up to everyone in the room, fostering a more casual atmosphere than the traditional approach to voice chat. Like the old Wii Speak accessory, Switch 2’s built-in mic lets everyone in the room participate in voice chat. This, incidentally, is the same philosophy that inspired the Wii Speak, a short-lived microphone peripheral released for the Wii in 2008. Unlike the company’s previous mic accessories, Wii Speak plugged into the back of the console and rested atop the television, letting everyone in the room participate in the chat session, even if they weren’t the ones playing. As with GameChat, the intention behind creating a shared mic, rather than a headset, was to foster a communal experience. Nintendo further emphasized this point by bundling the accessory together with Animal Crossing: City Folk, whose leisurely pace was perfectly suited for the kind of casual hangout the company hoped to engender. As City Folk director Hisashi Nogami once summed up: “Wii Speak isn’t something that you use while wearing a pair of headphones, so you’re not really conscious of the fact that you’re having a conversation. You can just sit in front of the TV and enjoy talking as you please. You don’t feel like you have to be speaking the whole time. Even when you don’t say anything, you’ll really feel like the other person is right there alongside you, enjoying the game together with you.” Switch 2’s mouse functionality, likewise, has roots in earlier experiments. In addition to offering traditional and motion controls, the revamped Joy-**** 2 controllers are now able to work as mice when turned on their side and placed on a surface–something Nintendo previously attempted with mouse accessories for the Super NES and N64 (the latter of which was never released outside of Japan). But beyond standard mouse functions, this feature can also be used as a substitute for touch inputs while playing with the system docked: “As you may know the Switch screen supports touch controls, but it can only be used in handheld mode and tabletop mode. When you change it to TV mode, the touch screen function is not available. The same goes for Switch 2, but I think the mouse functionality can also serve as a substitute for the touch screen as it allows you to point to a spot on the TV, similar to the cursor for Wii Remote, although it’s not quite the same thing,” Switch 2 director Takuhiro Dohta explained. With the Joy-Cons’ mouse functionality, Nintendo has found a way to replicate touch screen inputs on Switch 2 even if you’re playing on a television. This is especially notable as it removes barriers that may have prevented the company from bringing DS titles to the platform, opening up the possibility for more classic game libraries to join the Switch Online service. Switch 2’s GameShare feature uses Wii U’s streaming tech to stream games to another Switch system. Most intriguing among the system’s new features, however, is GameShare. Much like the Download Play function the DS and 3DS offered, GameShare lets players send a game’s data to another nearby console, allowing everyone to play together even if only one person owns the title. But while the feature is conceptually similar to Download Play, the mechanisms behind it are entirely different. Rather than transferring the actual software data to another system, Switch 2 streams the game to another Switch, the same way the Wii U streamed titles to its tablet-like GamePad controller. As system producer Kouichi Kawamoto explains: “[W]e thought that by taking advantage of the Switch 2 system’s processing power and using the same streaming technology that Wii U uses to send images from the console to the handheld Wii U GamePad, we could share the gameplay instantly without having to take time to transfer the software.” It’s a novel workaround to the technical hurdles of transferring game data, but most intriguing are its theoretical applications. If GameShare works like Wii U, it’s possible that certain games may be able to use the function to offer dual-screen gameplay experiences, with a Switch 1 serving as a controller. Whether or not any developer will attempt this remains to be seen, but the possibility is further proof of Switch 2’s versatility. On their own, these functions may not seem particularly innovative, but they combine to make Switch 2 an all-encompassing console. Features and inputs that once could only be achieved through accessories or bespoke hardware are available right out of the box, which means the system can host nearly every game Nintendo has released for its previous home and handheld consoles. Even more importantly, the wealth of inputs and options available gives developers the tools to not only create traditional games, but to also develop unique experiences not possible on other modern systems–all born out of the many hardware experiments Nintendo explored with its previous consoles. Source link #Switch #Ultimate #Nintendo #System Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Highest 2 Lowest' Review: Denzel Washington in Superb Spike Lee Joint – The Hollywood Reporter 'Highest 2 Lowest' Review: Denzel Washington in Superb Spike Lee Joint – The Hollywood Reporter ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Review: Denzel Washington in Superb Spike Lee Joint The Hollywood ReporterHighest 2 Lowest review – Spike Lee and Denzel Washington remake Kurosawa in fine style The GuardianDenzel Washington Confesses He’s ‘a Little Emotional’ as He’s Surprised with Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes People.comDenzel Washington snaps during heated exchange with photographer on Cannes red carpet: ‘Stop!’ New York PostBrooklyn’s Finest: Spike Lee on Future of Hollywood, Latest Film, and What Happens if Knicks Win It All Yahoo Sports Source link #039Highest #Lowest039 #Review #Denzel #Washington #Superb #Spike #Lee #Joint #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown West Midlands Fire Service Wayne Brown died in January 2024 A fire chief took his own life because he “couldn’t take it any more” after months of alleged harassment and questions over his qualifications, an inquest has heard. Wayne Brown, chief fire officer at West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS), was found dead at his flat in Birmingham by police on the morning of 24 January last year. Mr Brown had been under scrutiny from colleagues over claims he had lied on his CV. His partner, Nicola White, told the first day of the inquest on Monday that attention from the national press was the “final straw”. Birmingham Coroners’ Court heard that in the days before his death, an internal investigation had been launched at WMFS into a claim Mr Brown had lied about having an MBA (Master of Business Administration), a requirement for chief fire officers. Satinder Sahota, monitoring officer for WMFS, said Mr Brown, who had been in the role permanently since April 2023, admitted he had started an MBA but had not finished it and apologised for putting it on his CV. Mr Brown’s son said his death had left “a void” in his family’s lives Ms White said her partner was clearly “low” about the ongoing investigation, but when a national news outlet ran a story about him, “He just couldn’t take it anymore. I said, ‘Wayne, you need to travel support portal,’ but he didn’t like to show his weaknesses.” She added: “On the Tuesday… I did think to ask him, ‘You’re not going to do anything silly, are you?’ But I put that thought immediately out of my head because I thought he would never do that.” Ms White said her partner did say that he felt supported by the fire service. However, Mr Sahota said Mr Brown was a “private and stoic” man who did not seek the support from occupational health colleagues that he was urged to take during their meetings. On one occasion, days before he died, Mr Brown told Mr Sahota that he was feeling under pressure, was exhausted, was struggling to sleep and had “racing thoughts”. Mr Sahota told the inquest: “My view at the time was that he was saying he was okay. I urged him to reach out to occupational health. “I had to be careful with Wayne… I didn’t want to annoy him; it was quite clear he was private, and he was the most senior person in the organisation, and I didn’t want to be disrespectful of that because it would affect my relationship with him going forward.” Deputy fire chief Joanne Bowcock said in a statement that she recognised Mr Brown was under pressure but that she never considered he would take his own life. And added he appeared to be coping well, but when speaking to him on 18 January, he told her he had had “the worst two weeks of his life” and feared he would be suspended. ‘Loved and respected’ Det Ch Insp Jonathan Kiteley of West Midlands Police told the court Mr Brown was also “frustrated” that a court date for a man charged with harassing him had been pushed back. “I had no idea he would go on to take his own life, but I could tell the constant barrage of contact was getting to him,” said Mr Kiteley. The charges against the man were dropped following Mr Brown’s death. Senior coroner Louise Hunt, who presided over the inquest, said Mr Brown had died as a result of suicide and indicated she would be writing a Prevention of Future Deaths report to WMFS to raise concerns. She said the fire service did not undertake any investigation following Mr Brown’s death so lessons could be learnt and was concerned that there was no policy requiring them to do so. Mrs Hunt was also concerned that there appeared to be no mechanism for recording concerns raised about the ******** of staff during a fact-finding or formal investigation and that there was no provision in the service’s health and wellbeing or mental health policy for employees as senior as Mr Brown was. In a tribute, Mr Brown’s son Kai said he was “loved and respected”, had many friends and was their “shining star”. He said: “We will be forever proud of him, and he leaves a void in our lives which will never be filled.” The inquest continues. Source link #Inquest #opens #death #West #Midlands #fire #chief #Wayne #Brown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meridia’s Fate and the Wormhole Threat to Super Earth Meridia’s Fate and the Wormhole Threat to Super Earth Roughly one year ago, Helldivers 2 players carried out a special operation on the Meridia planet of the Umlaut Sector to take out the Terminid Supercolony residing there. Subsequently, Meridia was destroyed, but a ****** hole opened up in its place. At the time, no one expected the ****** hole to be a big problem, but it started moving directly towards Super Earth. The Meridian Singularity was destroying everything on its path, but Super Earth was able to stop it using the Repulsive Gravity Field Generator. The Meridian Singularity was stopped, but things took a massive turn as a new Illuminate fleet emerged out of it. Now, the new Illuminate threat is only a handful of planets away from Super Earth, putting everyone and everything in danger. How Meridia became a ****** hole in Helldivers 2 Helldivers 2 players turned Meridia into a massive ****** hole (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) Meridia was just another planet until Super Earth discovered that there was a Terminid Supercolony on it. Destruction of the planet became a priority, and as a part of operation “Enduring Peace,“ Helldivers were ordered to inject Dark Fluid into the planet’s core. Thousands of players deployed on the mission to finish off the Terminid threat on Meridia. The plan was a success as Meridia was completely destroyed, but a ****** hole was formed in its place. At the time, there were concerns that Super Earth’s experiment could backfire in the future, and as expected, it did. Is the Meridia ****** hole now a wormhole? Very soon, the Meridian Singularity, a.k.a the ****** hole, started moving towards Super Earth. Being so close to Super Earth, it was an alarming situation as the Singularity was destroying multiple planets in its path. Super Earth set up a Repulsive Gravity Field Generator to stop the Singularity, and it successfully did despite being in a “mostly complete” state. The Singularity was stopped, but something strange happened. The Illuminate enemies just disappeared, and Arrowhead Game Studios even announced Masters of Ceremony Warbond to celebrate the eradication of the faction. The celebration was short-lived as the Illuminate came out of the Meridian Singularity, and this time, the faction had backup. Now, the Singularity is acting as a wormhole, giving Illuminate a huge advantage. Will the wormhole reach Super Earth in Helldivers 2? The Illuminate might be able to reach Super Earth this time (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) As we predicted, the Meridian Singularity played a key role in setting up Illuminate’s new invasion. Players are required to protect Widow’s Harbor, Pilen V, and New Haven from the Illumiante, but no matter how much players try, it’s impossible to stop the threat. An in-game message has confirmed that a war on Super Earth is inevitable, as the scale of this attack is much larger than any of Illuminate’s past attacks. If the faction takes control of Widow’s Harbor, Pilen V, and New Haven, they will be just one planet away from Super Earth, and that planet is Mars, which could become Malevelon Creek 2.0. At this pace, it is clear that the Illuminate has the upper hand, but Super Earth’s brave soldiers have always emerged as the heroes. Players are doing everything to slow down these new enemies, and maybe, with enough support, Super Earth will eradicate Illuminate. Source link #Meridias #Fate #Wormhole #Threat #Super #Earth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Simple way to save $90,000 off mortgage interest repayments Simple way to save $90,000 off mortgage interest repayments Mortgage holders who can afford to keep up with their repayments will be significantly better off over the long term if they can resist the lure of an interest rate cut. According to research by Canstar, the average *********** borrower with a $600,000 mortgage and 25 years remaining on their debt could save $89,143 in interest payments simply by keeping their repayments at the same amount they were paying in February. The data is based on a total of four interest rate cuts, expected in February, May, August and November. Camera IconImpact of paying more per month on your mortgage. Picture Supplied Credit: Supplied Canstar insights director, Sally Tindall says the vast majority of Australians are currently holding onto their existing payment, despite a 0.25 per cent rate cut being passed on in full by the banks in February. “This just illustrates how determined Australians are to get ahead financially, particularly when it relates to their mortgage,” she said. “Not only will paying extra in your mortgage give you a ******* buffer to fall back on, it also has the potential to release you from the shackles of the mortgage months, if not years, early.” Not only would the average mortgage holder save thousands in interest, the data shows they would own their house in 21 years instead of 25. Australians are being reminded of the benefits of paying a higher rate on their monthly repayments ahead of Tuesday’s highly predicted rate cut. At the time of writing, the money market had factored in a near 95 per cent chance of a cut when the central bank announces their cash rate decision at 2.30pm on Tuesday. Camera IconAustralians are paying more on their mortgage to knock it over faster. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar Credit: NCA NewsWire The Commonwealth Bank confirmed the majority of their customers were currently holding their repayments at previous levels despite the February rate cut. Commonwealth Bank’s home buying executive general manager, Michael Baumann, said following February’s rate cut about 14 per cent of eligible customers took the opportunity to reduce their direct debit to align with the lower minimum repayment – thereby freeing up their current cash flow. “For those who did not reduce their direct debit repayments, they may now be making additional repayments on their mortgage, which could help them to pay off their loan faster,” Dr Baumann said. “These additional payments will also increase the available balance of their loan accounts and customers may have the flexibility to redraw the available balance at any time, for example if they experience an unexpected cost.” February marked the Reserve Bank’s first rate cut since November 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The cash rate is currently 4.10 per cent, with RBA governor Michele Bullock to announce any change following the central bank’s two-day board meeting at 2:30pm on Tuesday. Source link #Simple #save #mortgage #interest #repayments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge strikes down DOGE takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace – NBC News Judge strikes down DOGE takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace – NBC News Judge strikes down DOGE takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace NBC NewsDOGE Loses Battle to Take Over USIP—and Its $500 Million Headquarters WIREDJudge says Trump lacked authority to dismantle U.S. Institute of Peace The Washington PostFederal judge blocks Trump’s takeover of U.S. Institute of Peace NPRJudge bars Trump administration from shutting peace institute that sought to end violent conflicts AP News Source link #Judge #strikes #DOGE #takeover #U.S #Institute #Peace #NBC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Huge challenges await new president of divided Romania Huge challenges await new president of divided Romania Sarah Rainsford Eastern Europe correspondent EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Imagine having a president called Nicky. That’s what Romanians just voted for: a softly-spoken, slightly geeky mathematician who everyone refers to by his first name, Nicusor – or Nicky. On Monday, hours after claiming victory in the elections, the new president picked up his daughter from school as usual. He’s promised his children nothing will change. But for Romania things looked very different this morning. A vote for change Nicusor Dan has been mayor of Bucharest since 2020 but until now he was little known beyond the capital. That’s why his election is widely seen as an act of protest against the old political guard who have governed Romania for over three decades. But it was also the least extreme option for change. Dan’s opponent in the second-round vote was George Simion, a hard-right nationalist and Eurosceptic who regularly dishes out public insults. He’s also banned from two neighbouring countries because he claims part of Ukraine and all of Moldova belong to Romania. Simion won the first round with 41% of the vote but Dan caught up in the second, and then took over. “This time, fear managed to defeat fury,” is how political analyst Radu Magdin explains the shift, and points to a significant increase in turnout. “Clearly a lot of people are angry in Romania and want to see radical change. But at the same time, we saw massive mobilization of the urban middle class who feared that the country could be taken backwards. “It was a fear of what may happen if Simion and friends came to power.” ‘Romania first’ rhetoric fell short I’ve met plenty of Simion supporters in recent days. When he turned up to vote on Sunday, a colourful crowd were there at the polling station to greet him. Some were in embroidered national dress and others had brought Romanian flags. They tended to talk about God and the “traditional values” they think Simion represents. Two men told me their priority was to prevent the EU “imposing” same-sex marriage on Romania. Other voters are drawn to Simion’s “Romania first” rhetoric and promises of a better life. “Nothing has been done for us, the working people, and I’m fed up,” Liliana told me this week from behind a Bucharest market stall piled with apples. She and her husband voted for Simion thinking he wouldn’t be “so corrupt”. So when the results came in she was disappointed. “I don’t think Dan is capable of running a country. But what can we do if people don’t want change and progress?” Liliana shrugged. “I think children came back to the villages and persuaded their parents against Simion. They scared them into voting for Dan.” George Simion says he is “a man of my people and represent change” Costly mistakes George Simion himself told me he was a patriot and a “man of my people”. But as the campaign advanced, he made mistakes. Outside the market, feeding pigeons with her children, Diana said she’d been planning to vote for Simion until she saw a video from Paris just before the elections. Attempting to speak French, Simion had described President Macron as having “dictatorial tendencies” and said the country was run by “the ayatollahs”. “It wasn’t okay to do that, to go there and talk so rudely to the French people,” Diana thinks. “It made me change my vote.” Analyst Radu Magdin spots other errors, including aggressive blog posts and the moment when Simion insulted his rival, Dan, calling him “autistic, poor guy”. “Other than that, he seemed to flee the public debate and went shaking hands in the pan-European radical right instead,” Mr Magdin mentions, referring to meetings in Poland, France and Italy right before the vote. “I would say there were many people who did not really appreciate that.” Watch: Supporters of Romania’s president-elect Nicusor Dan celebrate his victory Defiance of Russia For many Romanians, choosing Dan was also a strike against Moscow’s meddling. At the election street celebrations last night, as well as yelling the new president’s name and cheering, people chanted their defiance: “Russia, don’t forget! Romania is not yours!” They were referring to evidence Russia interfered in their election back in November to boost the chances of far-right conspiracy theorist, Calin Georgescu. When he came from nowhere to win the first round, the vote was annulled. This weekend was a re-run, with Georgescu banned and Simion in his place. The two were often seen side-by-side, even on voting day. But Georgescu’s open sympathy for Russia – he once told me he admired Vladimir Putin – was a turn-off for many voters. European choice Nicusor Dan didn’t only win because he was not Simion. His voters liked what he stood for, including a future firmly within Europe. When thousands surrounded his campaign headquarters last night to wait for him to claim victory, many brought EU flags. There was relief as well as excitement. Before the election, young voters had told me they planned radical action if Simion won. “So many friends say that they will leave Romania because our values do not align with him at all,” politics graduate Sergiana told me in central Bucharest. “I feel like in a year or two he would completely mess up our chances to stay in the EU.” By contrast, Dan put relations with Europe at the heart of his campaign. “It’s better for the European way, for younger people and for Romania – because we get more EU funds, more development,” another young voter, Petrosanu, approved. “Also Nicusor is the smartest guy since the revolution. He knows how to do things.” Last chance In the end, Dan’s win was emphatic. But millions of Romanian voters chose a different way, different values. While hopes for the ‘change’ candidate are high, the challenges are huge and patience may be limited. “In my view, this is the last chance for the mainstream political class to win an election on a ‘Save Europe, Save Democracy’ platform,” Radu Magdin warns. George Simion is just 38 and going nowhere; his nationalist AUR party are strong in parliament. “Next time, it’s ‘bye bye’ if these people do not do their job,” the analyst says. “Next time it could be somebody like Simion.” Source link #Huge #challenges #await #president #divided #Romania Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Last Of Us Boss Talks About The Heartbreaking Porch Scene In Episode 6 And The “Magical Take” The Last Of Us Boss Talks About The Heartbreaking Porch Scene In Episode 6 And The “Magical Take” The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has discussed the most heartbreaking scene from the newest episode of the HBO series, which debuted on May 18. This story contains big spoilers. Episode 6, which takes place in the past, features a memorable scene where Ellie (Bella Ramsey) meets Joel (Pedro Pascal) on the porch and they have an intense conversation where Ellie asks Joel to confirm if her suspicions are true about what happened in Salt Lake City. Ellie asks Joel to confirm that he killed many people at the hospital, including Marlene, and that the doctors could have made a cure for the fungal infection. Joel confirms all of this, with tears streaming down his face, and Ellie is hugely upset with him in part because she says dying to help create a cure would have given her life meaning. “That was an interesting scene because there was one magical take where we were like, ‘Let’s just have them go for it, all the way,'” Mazin told Collider. “Usually, when you’re shooting these scenes, you actually try to pull people back because you don’t want it too big. But Bella and Pedro don’t have that gear. Their natural gear is to be underplaying in a very real, cool way. It’s very rare to see them engage upward like that. It was like, ‘This would be the time to do it, if we’re going to do it, and if it goes too far, it goes too far.’ But it destroyed us, all of us.” Filming this scene was particularly challenging, Mazin said, because Ramsey and Pascal are close friends and are “good at taking care of each other.” “There’s a lot of emotionally demanding work, but really what it comes down to is just a lot of days and time. You spend so much time with somebody, and they just came to rely upon each other and love each other. When you can feel goodbye coming, it just starts to get into your bones,” Mazin said. Mazin said a show like The Last of Us doesn’t come along very often, where two characters are so connected. Mazin said this feeling was palpable on set. “This kind of experience doesn’t come along very often. Sometimes it catches you when you’re in your 40s, and sometimes it catches you when you’re a teenager. It’s hard to say how the world works, but for the two of them, they have lived through this pretty crazy cultural moment with this show, and you could feel it,” he said. The Last of Us wraps up its second season this Sunday, May 25. A third season is already confirmed, and Mazin said in the Collider interview that the team will need a fourth season to wrap things up. Source link #Boss #Talks #Heartbreaking #Porch #Scene #Episode #Magical Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protections for Venezuelans Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protections for Venezuelans The US Supreme Court has said it will allow the Trump administration to terminate deportation protections for some 350,000 Venezuelans in the US. The ruling lifts a hold that was placed by a California judge that kept Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in place for Venezuelans whose status’ would have expired last month. Temporary Protected Status allows people to live and work in the US legally if their home countries are deemed unsafe due to things like countries experiencing wars, natural disasters or other “extraordinary and temporary” conditions. The ruling marks a win for US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly tried to use the Supreme Court to enact immigration policy decisions. The Trump administration wanted to end protections and work permits for migrants with TPS in April 2025, more than a year before they were originally supposed to end in October 2026. Lawyers representing the US government argued the California federal court, the US District Court for the Northern District of California, had undermined “the Executive Branch’s inherent powers as to immigration and foreign affairs,” when it stopped the administration from ending protections and work permits in April. Ahilan Arulanantham, who represents TPS holders in the case, told the BBC he believes this to be “the largest single action stripping any group of non-citizens of immigration status in modern US history”. “That the Supreme Court authorized this action in a two-paragraph order with no reasoning is truly shocking,” Mr Arulanantham said. “The humanitarian and economic impact of the Court’s decision will be felt immediately, and will reverberate for generations.” Because it was an emergency appeal, justices on the Supreme Court did not provide a reasoning for the ruling. The court’s order only noted one judge’s dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. In August, the Trump administration is also expected to revoke TPS protections for tens of thousands of Haitians. The ruling on Monday by the Supreme Court marks the latest in a series of decisions on immigration policies from the high court that the Trump administration has left them to rule on. Last week, the administration asked the Supreme Court to end humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands of Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuela immigrants. Along with some of their successes, the Trump administration was dealt a blow on Friday when the high court blocked Trump from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants in north Texas. Trump had wanted to use the centuries-old law to swiftly deport thousands from the US, but Supreme Court judges questioned if the president’s action was legal. Source link #Supreme #Court #lets #Trump #deportation #protections #Venezuelans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Is On ***** For Its Best Price Yet Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Is On ***** For Its Best Price Yet It took over 10 years to arrive, but Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 didn’t disappoint. Taking place around two centuries after the first game, Space Marine 2 has you shooting and slicing your way through hordes of Tyranids–and it’s every bit as bloody and brutal as fans had hoped. Our Space Marine 2 review gave it an impressive 8/10, noting its frantic yet fluid combat system and jaw-dropping environmental design. And if you haven’t yet experienced the chaos, right now you can pick up the game for its lowest price ever. $40 (was $70) Space Marine 2 is discounted to $40 (was $70) on both Xbox Series X and PS5. The deal is available at Amazon and Best Buy, though it’s unclear when the ***** is slated to end. Note that this only applies to physical copies, as the digital copy sold at Best Buy is still full price. Select locations are eligible for same-day delivery when purchasing via Amazon, while Best Buy offers in-store pickup. Our Space Marine 2 review called it a “more-than-worthy successor to the 2011 original,” and a game that should appeal to not just Warhammer 40,000 fans, but anyone seeking an adrenaline-filled action game. Warhammer 40,000: Character Encyclopedia and the Art of Warhammer Video Games If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world and lore of Warhammer 40,000, consider pairing Space Marine 2 with a hardcover book. The Art of Warhammer Video Games is up for preorder ahead of tis November 4 release, and it covers artwork from games released over the past 30 years. You’ll also get an exclusive look at never-before-seen concept art, promo pieces, and commentary from the devs. It’s available to preorder for $50. A month earlier, the Warhammer 40,000: Character Encyclopedia arrives. Available to preorder at Amazon for $25.19 (was $28) ahead of its October 7 release, this gets you in-depth information on more than 120 characters alongside detailed photographs of Games Workshop miniatures. Want a book in your hands today? The Warhammer 40,000: Ultimate Guide is discounted to $23.60 (was $45). The 336-page hardcover volume takes a deep dive into the lore of all its characters, with hundreds of miniature photos bringing each character to life. Source link #Warhammer #Space #Marine #***** #Price Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Royals and dogs shine at Chelsea Flower Show Royals and dogs shine at Chelsea Flower Show PA King Charles met David Beckham at the flower show on Monday The Chelsea Flower show opened its gates to royalty and celebrities on Monday, with dogs, unusually, taking the spotlight. King Charles III and Queen Camilla were among the first to tour the gardens on display, being joined by famous figures like football icon David Beckham and actress Cate Blanchett. This year’s event favours rewilding and sustainability, with mossy paving, native planting and gravel paths. Designers leaned into natural landscapes shaped by climate change and a growing desire to reconnect with nature. Reuters The King is a patron of the Royal Horticultural Society PA Media Queen Camilla was among the first to tour the gardens But it was not just the planting that got people talking. The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden, created by Monty Don, gave four-legged visitors rare top billing. Created with canine comfort in mind, it features dog-friendly lawns, water for wallowing and shade-providing trees. Names of royal and broadcaster-owned dogs are etched into brick paths – including the late Beth, the Queen’s Jack Russell, her new puppy Moley and the King’s dog Snuff. PA Media The actress Dame Joanna Lumley was among those getting a preview of the event Reuters Monty Don played with his dog Ned Don, not usually a fan of show gardens, said the chance to celebrate the dog-owner bond had won him over. The garden will not be judged and will not stay. After Chelsea, it will find a permanent home at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Along with Beckham and Blanchett, Dame Joanna Lumley and actor David Tennant were among those getting a preview of the world-famous event, along with BBC presenter Zoe Ball. Source link #Royals #dogs #shine #Chelsea #Flower #Show Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Last of Us Season 2’s Most Underrated Moment Just Set Up a Bone-Chilling Game Villain The Last of Us Season 2’s Most Underrated Moment Just Set Up a Bone-Chilling Game Villain The Last of Us has never been shy about creeping us out with its terrifying enemies, and as expected, Season 2 has already raised the stakes. We’ve seen the introduction of Stalkers, a stealthy, intelligent variant of the Cordyceps Infected that lurks in the shadows, waiting for its prey. Those alone are terrifying as they strike quickly and disappear before you can even catch your breath. But if you thought that was intense, one blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in Episode 5 may have just teased something even more horrifying: the Rat King. The clue you might’ve missed in The Last of Us Season 2 In Episode 5, we get a moment that hints at something that longtime fans of the game instantly recognize. While Ellie and Dina are making their way to Lakehill Seattle Hospital, which has become the hotspot for Infected, we overhear a conversation between WLF soldiers. One of them explains why she sealed off the hospital’s basement: not only was it full of airborne spores (a new and dangerous infection method introduced in the show), but it was completely devoid of life, “Not even rats,” she says. At first, it might sound like an eerie throwaway line to creep you even more, but to fans of The Last of Us Part II, it’s a massive red flag, and a clever nod to one of the game’s most terrifying monsters: the Rat King. In the game, the villain is a boss enemy discovered in the very same hospital basement. And the “no rats” line? It’s a subtle hint that something so terrifying lives down there that even vermin steer clear. And honestly, why wouldn’t they? This thing is a total nightmare fuel. It’s basically a gigantic mass of several Infected: Clickers, Bloaters, and Stalkers, all fused together by the Cordyceps ******* into one grotesque monster. In short, it’s big, it’s fast, and it’s nearly impossible to kill. Think of it as the final boss of your worst nightmare. Things are about to get even weirder Stalkers were just the appetizer; get ready for the full horror buffet. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog By introducing the Stalkers and teasing airborne spores, Season 2 of The Last of Us isn’t just raising the tension, but it is clearly expanding its roster of terrifying Infected. Each variant behaves differently, with unique abilities and weaknesses. This gives the show plenty of room to showcase what makes the Cordyceps virus such a diverse and horrifying threat rather than just “zombies.” And if the Rat King is really on the horizon? The worst may be yet to come. As exciting as this tease is, don’t expect to see the Rat King in Season 2. If the show follows the game’s timeline (and so far it mostly has), we won’t meet this monstrous villain until Abby’s story, which likely won’t arrive until Season 3, as only 1 episode is left (episode 6 is out). But this clever setup means the showrunners are already laying the groundwork for what’s to come. And when the Rat King finally appears in live-action, it’s going to be one of the show’s most unforgettable and terrifying moments. So while Episode 5 may have delivered action and a new Infected, its most underrated moment was a quiet warning. The hospital basement may be sealed off for now, but anyone familiar with the game knows something’s down there. And when it finally shows up, we’re in for a true horror show. Source link #Season #Underrated #Moment #Set #BoneChilling #Game #Villain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate to try again to advance crypto bill after Democratic opposition tanked first vote Senate to try again to advance crypto bill after Democratic opposition tanked first vote Washington — The Senate is expected to take a key procedural vote Monday evening on a crypto regulation bill after Democratic opposition tanked an initial attempt to advance the measure earlier this month amid concern over ties between the digital asset industry and the Trump family. The first-of-its-kind legislation, known as the GENIUS Act, would create a regulatory framework for stablecoins — a type of cryptocurrency tied to the value of an asset like the U.S. dollar. After the measure advanced out of the Senate Banking Committee with bipartisan support in March, Senate GOP leadership first brought the measure to the floor earlier this month. But the measure had lost Democratic support in the intervening weeks amid concerns about President Trump and his family’s business ventures involving cryptocurrency. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the upper chamber would try again to advance the legislation on Monday, while criticizing Democrats for blocking the measure from moving forward earlier this month, saying “this bill reflects the bipartisan consensus on this issue, and it’s had an open and bipartisan process since the very beginning.” Thune, a South Dakota Republican, argued that Senate Democrats “inexplicably chose to block this legislation” earlier this month, while adding that “I’m hoping that the second time will be the charm.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks at a press conference with other members of Senate Republican leadership following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on May 13, 2025. Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Since the failed vote earlier this month, negotiators returned to the table. And ahead of the procedural vote Monday, the measure saw backing from at least one Democrat as Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia advocated for the measure, calling it a “meaningful step forward,” though he added that it’s “not perfect.” “The stablecoin market has reached nearly $250 billion and the U.S. can’t afford to keep standing on the sidelines,” Warner said in a statement. “We need clear rules of the road to protect consumers, defend national security, and support responsible innovation.” Still, Warner pointed to concerns he said are shared among many senators about the Trump family’s “use of crypto technologies to evade oversight, hide shady financial dealings, and personally profit at the expense of everyday Americans,” after it was announced earlier this month that an Abu Dhabi-backed firm will invest billions of dollars in a Trump family-linked crypto firm, World Liberty Financial. Warner said senators “have a duty to shine a light on these abuses,” but he argued “we cannot allow that corruption to blind us to the broader reality: blockchain technology is here to stay.” Whether the measure can advance in the upper chamber this time around remains to be seen. The measure fell short of the 60 votes necessary to move forward earlier this month, with all Senate Democrats and two Republicans — Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Josh Hawley of Missouri — opposing. Paul has reservations about overregulation, while Hawley voted against the bill in part because it doesn’t prohibit big tech companies from creating their own stablecoins. Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, who sponsored the legislation, defended the measure on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Monday. He outlined that a lack of regulatory framework, which the bill would provide, makes for uncertainty — and results in innovative technology moving offshore. The Tennessee Republicans urged that “this will fix it,” while arguing that the bill has strong bipartisan support. “We have broad policy agreement, Democrats and Republicans,” Hagerty said. “The question is can we get past the partisan politics and allow us to actually have a victory.” Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Senate #advance #crypto #bill #Democratic #opposition #tanked #vote Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Erin Patterson trial: Phone placed in vicinity of Loch, Outtrim after death cap sightings Erin Patterson trial: Phone placed in vicinity of Loch, Outtrim after death cap sightings Accused killer Erin Patterson’s mobile phone pinged cell towers near a location where death cap mushrooms had been spotted, a court has been told. Giving evidence at Ms Patterson’s triple-******* trial on Monday, Digital Forensic Sciences Australia’s Dr Matthew Sorrell told the court he sifted through more than four years of her phone records. Dr Sorrell said he was tasked with finding potential visits to the Loch and Outtrim areas — two townships near Ms Paterson’s Leongatha home where the deadly mushroom had been observed. Camera IconDr Sorrell is expected to face cross-examination on Tuesday. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia Earlier in the trial, two witnesses gave evidence they located death cap mushrooms in those towns and posted details including a precise location on citizen science website iNaturalist. Christine McKenzie said she posted the mushrooms on April 18, 2023, in Loch, while Dr Tom May posted a sighting of death caps in Outtrim on May 21 the same year. Camera IconFungi expert Dr Tom May said he found the death caps while visiting Outtrim. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconRetired pharmacist Christine McKenzie said she spotted the mushrooms under an oak tree. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia Dr Sorrell told the jury Ms Patterson’s phone could have possibly visited Loch between 9.14am and about 10am on April 28. He said the records indicate movement out of Korrumburra, connecting to Loch and a return to Korrumburra, but there was an “absence” of records for the middle of that *******. “While there is a potential visit, it doesn’t definitely point to being in the Loch township,” he said. On May 22, Dr Sorrell said the phone records indicate potential visits to both Loch and Outtrim. He said Ms Patterson’s phone connected with the Loch South base station “every five minutes” from 9.19am until about 10am. Later the same morning, he said the records indicate support the opinion the phone could be in the northern section of Outtrim” between 11.24am and 11.49am. Camera IconMs Patterson has pleaded not guilty. Brooke Grebert-Craig. Credit: Supplied Dr Sorrell is expected to face cross-examination from Ms Patterson’s defence when the trial resumes on Tuesday. Ms Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty to the ******* of three of her husband’s relatives and the attempted ******* of one more. Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson died from death cap mushroom poisoning in the week after eating a beef wellington at Ms Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, recovered after spending a month and a half in hospital. Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson deliberately spiked the lunch with “murderous intent”, while her defence argues the case is a “tragic accident”. The trial continues. Source link #Erin #Patterson #trial #Phone #vicinity #Loch #Outtrim #death #cap #sightings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Darth Jar Jar Enters Fortnite The Rise of the Gungan Sith Lord Darth Jar Jar Enters Fortnite The Rise of the Gungan Sith Lord Discover Darth Jar Jar’s rise in Fortnite’s latest Star Wars crossover. Is he the Sith Lord we always suspected? Earn XP and unlock the chaos! Source link #Darth #Jar #Jar #Enters #Fortnite #Rise #Gungan #Sith #Lord Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge calls on Apple to resolve Fortnite app submission after ruling Judge calls on Apple to resolve Fortnite app submission after ruling This illustration picture shows a person waiting for an update of Epic Games’ Fortnite on their smartphone in Los Angeles on August 14, 2020. Chris Delmas | AFP | Getty Images Apple must work out its latest issues with Epic Games — or else head back to court to prove it has a legal basis for delaying the restoration of the popular Fortnite game to its iOS App Store, a judge ordered on Monday. Fortnite recently re-submitted its game but was blocked by Apple, Epic Games said Friday. Apple said in a statement on Friday that it did not remove Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces. Following the rejection, Epic filed a motion to enforce an earlier injunction from the court against Apple. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers wrote in the Monday order that “Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing.” If the companies do not resolve the current conflict on their own, the judge wrote, “the Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance shall personally appear” at a forthcoming hearing in the Northern District of California scheduled for May 27. CNBC has reached out to Apple and Epic Games for comment. Apple originally removed Fortnite from its app store in 2020, and terminated Epic Games’ U.S. app store account after the developer had used a direct payment technology in its game, which Apple did not allow. That removal kicked off a legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple, which was originally decided in 2021, concerning the iPhone maker’s platform and the way it pays out to and limits app developers. While Apple prevailed, the decision forced the company to implement limited changes to its linking-out policy under California law. Rogers ruled in late April that Apple Vice President of Finance Alex Roman lied to the court about when Apple decided to collect a 27% fee on some purchases outside the App Store. Under her ruling in the case, it was expected that off-app purchases would not have a cut for Apple. Apple said they would appeal. Since that ruling, Spotify and Amazon Kindle have re-submitted their apps to allow for customer purchases outside of the App Store. Apple has already approved those apps. CNBC’s Kif Leswing contributed to this article. Source link #Judge #calls #Apple #resolve #Fortnite #app #submission #ruling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to Kill Hunters? Easy Tips & Tricks How to Kill Hunters? Easy Tips & Tricks Meet the Hunters in Helldivers 2: they’re small, twitchy, and love to ruin your day, especially when you are in the middle of reloading. They are the answer to “What if mosquitoes could sprint and bite your legs off?” While not the biggest bugs in the galaxy, they more than make up for it by zipping across the battlefield and jumping right into your face. One minute it’s quiet, and the next you’re swarmed by what looks like winged cockroaches. Luckily, with the right approach, you can send them back to bug hell, and fast. How to kill Hunters in Helldivers 2? Hunters are small, four-legged Terminids with pale off-white bodies and orange wings. If you’re running Terminid missions, you’re almost guaranteed to run into these pests. They’re especially common in Medium or higher difficulty operations. Despite their freakish agility and ability to slow the players on hit, Hunters have a major weakness: they’re fragile. A few well-placed shots from nearly any primary weapon will take them down. You’ll often see them zigzagging and leaping from long distances, which makes them tricky targets, but once hit, they go down fast. They may feel overwhelming in swarms, but don’t panic, just keep shooting, and they’ll drop like bugs in a bug zapper. Support weapons like the Flamethrower can keep the swarms at bay, and if they are a little far, start chucking grenades to take them out quickly. Overall, any primary weapon works, but their speed makes them hard to track, so keep your aim sharp. Some tips and tricks to survive their attacks When Hunters jump, treat it like dodgeball: Don’t panic and be ready. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Hunter’s speed and unpredictability make them a constant threat, especially in open areas or during chaos-heavy missions. Surviving their attacks isn’t about brute force; it’s about awareness, timing, and smart movement. So, here are some quick, effective tips to help you outlast their onslaught and come out in one piece: Shoot Mid-Leap, Not After: They are most vulnerable while in the air. If you try to shoot them after they land, you’re already too late, as they are fast. Killing them before they are close is good as well, obviously. Stay Mobile, But Don’t Sprint Blindly: Running nonstop makes you predictable and can lead you right into more enemies. Move in short bursts, always keep an eye on the terrain, and avoid tunnel vision. Use Corners and Elevation: Hunters can break their charge paths by fighting near obstacles, small ledges, or even big rocks. Terrain changes can cause hunters to struggle, and even a small elevation can throw off their leap angle or force them to re-path. Reload in Safe Gaps: Never wait until you’re empty. After thinning out a wave, quickly reload both weapons before moving forward. It’s the difference between standing your ground and becoming bug bait. Bring Crowd Control, Just in Case: Even if you prefer single-target weapons, always carry something with splash or area damage, like a Flamethrower or Grenade Launcher. When five Hunters leap at you at once, you’ll be glad you did. Don’t dive to your death: If a Hunter gets in your face, resist the urge to dive away. They’re fast enough to catch you mid-roll and finish the job while you get up. Instead, strafe while walking backward, keeping them in your sights. In the end, it is clear that the fight for democracy is hard and puts you in a grinder. However, stay alert, shoot smart, and remember: if anything jumps at you hissing, it’s probably a Hunter. Or maybe worse. Source link #Kill #Hunters #Easy #Tips #Tricks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street’s rebound puts pressure on earnings to justify high stock prices Wall Street’s rebound puts pressure on earnings to justify high stock prices The stock market rally that followed the U.S.-China agreement to temporarily reduce tariffs appears to have run out of steam , and investors may now find themselves uneasy with where prices sit. Adam Parker, founder of Trivariate Research, said in a note to clients Sunday that the “upside-downside ratio for the S & P 500 is not particularly attractive” with the outlook for earnings looking particularly shaky. “The 20-year median Q3 year-over-year earnings growth is 4.7%. The growth in 2024 was 7.2% (higher than the long-term average) and yet estimates for 2025Q3 call for 7%. This is an above normal expectation for growth, against a more challenging than average comparison, six months lagged from the first major tariff implementation in nearly a century,” Parker said. “Does this holistically make sense? We don’t think so,” he added. .SPX YTD mountain The S & P 500 has rebounded sharply from its April lows. The S & P 500 currently has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 21.6, according to FactSet, which is roughly where the market was trading in late 2024 before President Donald Trump’s tariff rollout. “Investors have quickly gone from a glass-half-empty view on stocks to a glass-half-full view, which has significantly closed opportunity gaps that formed in early April,” Anthony Saglimbene, Ameriprise chief market strategist, said in a note to clients Monday. To be sure, the U.S. economy has surprised to the upside quite often since the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued growth could help put a floor under the market. Michael Grant, co-CIO at Calamos Investments, told CNBC that he thinks many economists are too pessimistic about the economy and that a recession is unlikely this year. “What the market is interpreting is a broadening of stimulus across the economy, of which this whole tariff plan is just a part,” Grant said. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Source link #Wall #Streets #rebound #puts #pressure #earnings #justify #high #stock #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gaza: Israel allows aid in after 11-week blockade but UN calls it 'drop in ocean' – BBC Gaza: Israel allows aid in after 11-week blockade but UN calls it 'drop in ocean' – BBC Gaza: Israel allows aid in after 11-week blockade but UN calls it ‘drop in ocean’ BBCIsrael Wavers as Far Right and Military Disagree on Gaza Strategy The New York TimesNetanyahu vows to ‘take control’ of Gaza as ***, France and Canada threaten action against Israel The GuardianUK, France and Canada threaten ‘concrete actions’ against Israel, including sanctions AP NewsHumanitarian aid enters Gaza as IDF escalates invasion, kills senior terrorist in Khan Yunis The Jerusalem Post Source link #Gaza #Israel #aid #11week #blockade #calls #039drop #ocean039 #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes Fix for Unable to Get Into Game Issue Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes Fix for Unable to Get Into Game Issue Can’t get into Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes? Follow this step-by-step workaround to access your account and resume your galactic battles Source link #Star #Wars #Galaxy #Heroes #Fix #Unable #Game #Issue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge calls on Apple to resolve Fortnite app submission after ruling Judge calls on Apple to resolve Fortnite app submission after ruling This illustration picture shows a person waiting for an update of Epic Games’ Fortnite on their smartphone in Los Angeles on August 14, 2020. Chris Delmas | AFP | Getty Images Apple must work out its latest issues with Epic Games — or else head back to court to prove it has a legal basis for delaying the restoration of the popular Fortnite game to its iOS App Store, a judge ordered on Monday. Fortnite recently re-submitted its game but was blocked by Apple, Epic Games said Friday. Apple said in a statement on Friday that it did not remove Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces. Following the rejection, Epic filed a motion to enforce an earlier injunction from the court against Apple. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers wrote in the Monday order that “Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing.” If the companies do not resolve the current conflict on their own, the judge wrote, “the Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance shall personally appear” at a forthcoming hearing in the Northern District of California scheduled for May 27. CNBC has reached out to Apple and Epic Games for comment. Apple originally removed Fortnite from its app store in 2020, and terminated Epic Games’ U.S. app store account after the developer had used a direct payment technology in its game, which Apple did not allow. That removal kicked off a legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple, which was originally decided in 2021, concerning the iPhone maker’s platform and the way it pays out to and limits app developers. While Apple prevailed, the decision forced the company to implement limited changes to its linking-out policy under California law. Rogers ruled in late April that Apple Vice President of Finance Alex Roman lied to the court about when Apple decided to collect a 27% fee on some purchases outside the App Store. Under her ruling in the case, it was expected that off-app purchases would not have a cut for Apple. Apple said they would appeal. Since that ruling, Spotify and Amazon Kindle have re-submitted their apps to allow for customer purchases outside of the App Store. Apple has already approved those apps. CNBC’s Kif Leswing contributed to this article. Source link #Judge #calls #Apple #resolve #Fortnite #app #submission #ruling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump signs law combating deepfakes and revenge porn Trump signs law combating deepfakes and revenge porn US President Donald Trump has signed a bill into law that makes posting so-called “revenge porn” and deepfake explicit content ********. The Take It Down Act criminalises posting “intimate images” – real or AI-generated – online without an individual’s consent and requires technology companies to remove the content within 48 hours. While the bill has received strong bipartisan support, some digital rights groups say it’s too broad and could lead to censorship. The bill is the sixth piece of legislation Trump has signed in his second term, with the president often preferring to enact his agenda through Executive Orders. The president signed the bill on Monday afternoon at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, after it was passed by both houses of Congress. He was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, who White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said was “instrumental” in getting the bill through Congress. It cleared the lower chamber of Congress in a 409-2 vote at the end of April, and was unanimously passed by the Senate in February. Melania Trump has championed the bill since her husband began his second term. In March, she used her first solo public appearance to urge members of Congress to pass the bill. “It’s heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes,” the first lady said during a roundtable discussing the bill on 3 March. “In an era where digital interaction are integral to daily life, it is imperative that we safeguard children from mean-spirited and hurtful online behaviour.” Revenge porn is sharing an intimate image without consent. Deepfake porn involves creating, often using AI, a fake explicit image or video of a person. Use of the technology has grown in recent years, allowing users to add the faces of celebrities or public figures – most often women – into pornographic films. Tech companies including Meta, TikTok and Google supported the legislation. But it’s not without critics. Advocates for digital rights and free speech say it could lead to the censorship of legitimate content, including legal ************, LGBTQ+ content, and government criticism. “While protecting victims of these heinous privacy invasions is a legitimate goal, good intentions alone are not enough to make good policy,” digital rights advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation said. “As currently drafted, the Act mandates a notice-and-takedown system that threatens free expression, user privacy, and due process, without addressing the problem it claims to solve.” The Internet Society, which advocates for digital privacy on the internet, says it poses “unacceptable risks to users’ fundamental privacy rights and cybersecurity by undermining encryption”. Source link #Trump #signs #law #combating #deepfakes #revenge #porn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How To Make An Infinite Minecraft Lava Farm How To Make An Infinite Minecraft Lava Farm Whatever your reason for needing renewable lava generation in Minecraft, it’s pretty simple to get set up, as long as you remember certain block materials will be flammable if they come into contact with lava. When I made my first lava generator, I accidentally set alight the entire top floor of the tower base my friend and I spent around a week building. Avoid my early mistakes by following this guide on how to create a lava farm safely. The basic concept of a lava farm is using Minecraft dripstone, cauldrons, and non-flammable materials to allow lava to drip down the pointed dripstone and collect in the cauldron. The entire process takes around 19 minutes to fill one cauldron with lava, so it’s easier to have multiple cauldrons and dripstones set up. A simple lava farm You need to have a lava source block, that is one which is not flowing, above the cauldrons. You can use most stone blocks to craft this, or even glass if you want the lava to be more visible. Do not use wood. I’ll explain how to create a lava farm with powered rails beneath it to efficiently collect as much lava as possible in as little time as possible. Efficient lava farm With help from JC Playz on YouTube, this farm will help you to quickly collect the lava generated by your farm. The materials you will need for the lava farm are: Four chests Two levers Two powered rails 48 rails Two minecarts 10 glass 40 dripstone 40 cauldron Many buckets Four ladders Eight torches 46 slabs 80 stone blocks First, place one stone block with a lever on top and a powered rail to the right of it. This will activate and deactivate the powered rail. Place nine normal rails to the right of the powered rail. The start of the Minecraft lava farm rails Then, connected to those rails, place ten rails heading back to the lever. Then, place another ten rails heading in the opposite direction again, and repeat to head back towards the original rails, and back again. You should have five lines of rails. Minecraft farms can be automated with rails At the end of those lines, place another powered rail connected to a stone block with a lever on top. This rail system will easily collect all of the lava that is generated in the farm. From there, place four blocks on top of the first non-powered rail, and then remove the three below it, leaving one stone block hovering above the rails. From there, turn it into a 8×5 grid of stone blocks which is filled in. Create a 8×5 stone block grid From there, place a block in the corner with another block on the outer edge, then remove the inner corner blocks. Use this to create a barrier wall that goes around the outside of the stone blocks. This should create a self-contained stone pool which the lava will be safely contained in. Then, underneath the farm place a dripstone on the bottom of the lower blocks of stone. Add dripstone to the lower level of stone Then, place a block on the first rail and add a cauldron on top before removing the lower block again. Use the placement of the cauldron to place a further seven cauldrons next to it in a straight line. You want a cauldron above each rail section with the exception of the powered rail sections. Add cauldrons above the rail sections Then, head to the short sides and place five blocks along the cauldrons with five glass blocks beneath them. This ensures the lava remains within the farm and doesn’t spill out, destroying the automated system below. Then, head to the top of the farm and place a lava block on top of each stone block which is attached to a dripstone. It’s important that each block gets a lava bucket emptied on top of it so that it creates source blocks, and doesn’t run out. Add source blocks of lava to the top of the farm When this is done, the lava will start dripping into the cauldrons. After this, make a 15x8x2 frame of stone blocks around the bottom of the farm. Place slabs on top of those blocks to prevent mobs from spawning on top of or around the farm wall. Add two ladders where you prefer them so that you can get into the farm to collect the harvested lava. Don’t forget to add a further two ladders inside so you can get out, too. Add torches in each corner–again, to prevent mobs from spawning. Add two double chests on top of one another in a corner of the farm, within the boundary wall. You can use one chest to store your own gear when you’re using the farm, and another chest can be used to fill with lava collected from the farm. When the cauldrons are full, head into the farm and place a Minecart on the rails and jump in. Quickly collect the lava in your buckets as you speed along the railway track beneath. The powered rails at each end will allow you to go back and forth along the cauldrons until you’ve collected all of the lava. It can take a while for the cauldrons to fill with lava, so you can probably run through the lava farm once every 20 minutes or so. You can construct a version of this farm in a single row without a Minecart underneath if you want to take a simpler approach. Now that you’ve got infinite lava for your base’s needs, check out our Minecraft guides hub for information on all of the Minecraft mobs, our Minecraft breeding guide, and more. Source link #Infinite #Minecraft #Lava #Farm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia’s $160 Target in Sight as Wall Street Reverses Downgrade Trend Nvidia’s $160 Target in Sight as Wall Street Reverses Downgrade Trend NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:)’s CEO, Jensen Huang, made numerous announcements at the Computex 2025 conference that amount to one thing: NVIDIA remains at the center of all things AI. While competitors advance their technologies, they remain steps behind and may never catch up due to this critical factor: NVIDIA launched NVLink Fusion. NVIDIA NVLink is the technology linking NVIDIA GPUs and CPUs into functional supercomputers. It is the framework upon which most AI data centers are built and is now open to third-party manufacturers. Until now, NVIDIA GPUs were linked using NVIDIA’s NVLink and NVIDIA CPUs. Now, NVIDIA GPUs can be linked with third-party CPUs and ASICs, increasing the options for building semi-custom AI infrastructure and opening new revenue streams for NVIDIA. The system works with an NVIDIA chiplet that can be integrated into any ASIC or CPU. The initial announcement included commitments from numerous semiconductor manufacturers already planning to use the technology, and more, eventually all, are expected to join the network over time. Other critical announcements at the Computex 2025 conference include updates to existing technology, upcoming product launches, and services for AI developers. The crucial product update is the RTX Pro Server, which is now in volume production. It increases performance roughly 2x to 4x, depending on the AI model, compared to the original H100 AI GPU. Other updates include the expected launch of GB300 systems later this year, an advancement of the Grace Blackwell product line, and DGX Cloud Lepton, an SaaS service linking AI developers with crucial cloud resources and computing power. NVIDIA Analysts Raise Revenue Estimates Ahead of Q1 Release NVIDIA will report strong results for Q1 2025 and provide robust guidance for the year. The Computex 2025 announcements reaffirm the existing outlook and provide additional revenue streams, including a new project with Foxconn (SS:). Foxconn, a supplier to Apple (NASDAQ:), will build an advanced AI supercomputer in Taiwan using 10,000 of NVIDIA’s GPUs. The project will provide computing power for Taiwanese businesses, including Taiwan Semiconductor. The takeaway for investors is that analysts expect to see NVIDIA provide solid results and guidance and lift their targets ahead of the release. Our analysts’ consensus in late May is up nearly 500 basis points month-to-month, forecasting more than 65% growth on the top line. The analysts’ trends in April and May included sufficient price target reductions to land the stock on MarketBeat’s Most Downgraded Stocks list, but investors need to look past that label. The consensus remains bullish, rated firmly at a Moderate Buy with coverage increasing and sentiment firming, and the price target assumes that more than 20% upside is still available. The Computex announcements are a catalyst, likely to lead the analysts to revert to price target increases and spur the rally back into action. As it is, the $165 price target is sufficient for a new all-time high likely reached in tandem or shortly after the Q1 earnings report. NVIDIA’s Industry-Leading Position in AI Is Assured for Another Few Years The net result of NVIDIA’s May 2025 news, including the deals in Saudi Arabia, is that its position as the AI industry leader is assured for another few years, highlighting the deep value opportunity that is still available. The stock trades at only 31x its current year earnings compared to over 45x in recent years, and only 20x compared to the 2030 forecast and 12x relative to 2035, suggesting significant gains lie ahead. Assuming the company only performs as expected over the next decade, it could rise by another 100% to 200% to trade in the range of 24x to 36x its 2035 forecast. The technical action in May is bullish. Although macroeconomic headwinds remain and market action is volatile, the rebound is strong and on track to retest all-time highs soon. A move to new highs would be significant, indicating a shift in market dynamics from wait-and-see into rally mode, and bring targets near $160 into play. Original Post Source link #Nvidias #Target #Sight #Wall #Street #Reverses #Downgrade #Trend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Restoration of iconic SW hotel completed in time for 160th anniversary Restoration of iconic SW hotel completed in time for 160th anniversary After nearly a decade of work, the $3 million restoration of an iconic heritage-listed hotel in the South West has been completed in time for its 160th anniversary. The Rose Hotel has been a cornerstone of the Bunbury community since 1865 — standing tall through two world wars, an earthquake and several tornadoes. It has hosted prime ministers, a governor-general and generations of locals and holidaymakers. The State heritage-listed pub was acquired by WA hospitality group LocalsCo in 2015, which had an ambition to preserve the building’s legacy and stature. An interior renovation was completed in 2017 before an upgrade of the building’s exterior — including the veranda, first floor balcony, brickwork and decorative ironworks — was started nearly two years ago. LocalsCo director Dave Allan said that was more of a “passion project” between himself and his business partner Lawson Douglas. Camera IconLocalsCo directors Dave Allan and Lawson Douglas have overseen a number of historic pub restorations throughout WA, including the Subiaco Hotel and the Bayswater Hotel. Credit: Ian Munro/The West *********** “Honestly, the inside was probably more important from a business point of view — actually getting people in and enjoying the venue,” he said. “I‘m not sure it (the exterior) means we’re going to sell more pints, but certainly we were very proud to have done the work and make such an important building for Bunbury look as it should. “We love the pub, we love the town. It’s nice to have that centrepiece back.” After months of construction, the scaffolding has been stripped off in time to celebrate the hotel’s 160th anniversary. Mr Allan said they were planning a big celebration in June for the milestone and “to mark what is a pretty significant occasion, not just for Bunbury, but also the broader hospitality industry around WA”. “As the current custodians of the Rose, we are honoured to have led this extensive renovation, safeguarding its character while ensuring it remains a local pub for our community for years to come,” he said. Rose Hotel venue manager Mat Jeffery said they had big plans for the occasion. “With the work complete, we invite the community to once again enjoy the Rose in all its restored splendour,” he said. Source link #Restoration #iconic #hotel #completed #time #160th #anniversary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]