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Skyrim Dev Who Closely Worked With Todd Howard on Why The Elder Scrolls 6 Won’t Use Unreal Engine 5 Skyrim Dev Who Closely Worked With Todd Howard on Why The Elder Scrolls 6 Won’t Use Unreal Engine 5 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered was one of the gaming industry’s most poorly kept secrets. However, it completely managed to shock everyone with its impressive graphical fidelity. Seriously, Bethesda and Virtuos Studios managed to knock it out of the park with modern visuals, and all of it wouldn’t have been possible without the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5. Unreal Engine 5 is said to be one of the best game engines available today, offering immense potential for crafting realistic and ambitious games. Considering we’ve already seen what Bethesda can do with the engine in Oblivion Remastered, many can’t help but wonder why Bethesda isn’t giving the same treatment to Elder Scrolls 6. However, there’s a reason why Bethesda hasn’t fully dipped its toes into this idea. This is why Elder Scrolls 6 won’t use Unreal Engine 5 A few months ago, VideoGamer got an opportunity to sit down with ex-Bethesda developer Bruce Nesmith and chat about the company’s continued use of Creation Engine. If you’re unaware, Nesmith was one of the original game designers for Oblivion, Skyrim, and other Bethesda classics. In the last couple of years, we’ve seen major developers move to Unreal Engine 5 and abandon their in-house tools. One might look at the success of Oblivion Remastered and believe that Bethesda should use Unreal Engine 5 for all of its projects going forward. However, for Bethesda, it’s not a simple move. You and I could both identify a hundred lousy games that used Unreal. Is it Unreal’s fault? No, it’s not Unreal’s fault.” According to Nesmith, it’s not just about the game engine; it’s the quality that matters, too. There should be a big focus on the quality of the title rather than the engine itself. One can identify hundreds of poor games on any engine, including Unreal, but that doesn’t mean it’s the engine’s fault. Switching to Unreal Engine 5 can prove to be a very troublesome task. (Image via Bethesda Game Studios) Nesmith also believes that switching over to Unreal Engine 5 would prove to be a massive task for Bethsda. For a game such as the Elder Scrolls 6, it’s going to require years of technical work, high costs, and extensive staff hiring. Moving to Unreal could solve some of the technical hiccups within the developer’s game, but these issues are secondary to the game quality. Unreal Engine 5 should be Bethesda’s top priority Moving to Unreal Engine 5 can help the developer move forward. (Image via Bethesda Game Studios) While Nesmith does make a point about game quality, it still doesn’t change the fact that Bethesda’s titles feel like stone-age games. Todd Howard and his team have been using some type of Creation Engine since the release of Skyrim all the way back in 2011. With Starfield, the developer decided to upgrade its in-house engine. However, that didn’t solve anything, as bugs and issues that had been part of all the Bethesda games in the last decade still existed in Starfield. Even the original Creation Engine was plagued with issues that carried over from previous iterations, as it was built upon the foundations of the Gamebryo engine, which was used to make Fallout 3 and the original Oblivion. There are a number of ex-Bethesda employees who also believe that Bethesda would be better off dropping its Creation Engine. While chatting with Kiwi Talkz, ex-Bethesda employee Nate Purkeypile stated that the developer should use Unreal Engine 5 going forward. He reflected upon the development of Starfield and revealed that too much time was spent upgrading the animation and rendering systems due to the move to Creation Engine 2. While this might benefit future titles such as Elder Scrolls 6, there are some engine flaws that still need to be addressed. With that said, do you think Elder Scrolls 6 should use Unreal Engine 5? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Skyrim #Dev #Closely #Worked #Todd #Howard #Elder #Scrolls #Wont #Unreal #Engine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This new book is a one-sided attempt to puncture the AI bubble This new book is a one-sided attempt to puncture the AI bubble The AI **** by Emily Bender and Alex Hanna wants to expose the hype generated by large artificial intelligence companies, but it is a frustrating read Source link #book #onesided #attempt #puncture #bubble Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall St falls after Moody's surprise downgrade; yields rise – Reuters Wall St falls after Moody's surprise downgrade; yields rise – Reuters Wall St falls after Moody’s surprise downgrade; yields rise ReutersStock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq stage comeback after Moody’s downgrades US credit rating Yahoo FinanceMortgage rates cross back over 7% after U.S. credit downgrade CNBCWhy Moody’s Debt Downgrade Is Bad News for Your Mortgage Plans Barron’sThe ‘Sell America’ Trade Makes a Comeback The New York Times Source link #Wall #falls #Moody039s #surprise #downgrade #yields #rise #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Attempt to reach expert consensus on teens and phones ends in argument Attempt to reach expert consensus on teens and phones ends in argument Are teenagers at risk of harm from smartphones? Experts disagree Drazen Zigic/Getty Images An attempt to reach a scientific consensus on the potential harms posed by smartphones and social media use in young people has descended into an argument among researchers. This failed consensus suggests it will be difficult for policy-makers to lean on existing evidence when deciding how to regulate such technologies. Valerio Capraro at the University of Milan-Bicocca in Italy and more than 100 colleagues, drawn from 11 different disciplines, have published a “consensus statement” on the potential negative effects of smartphone use on adolescents. “We’ve been following the discussion about the debate, and we thought that maybe we could try to find a common ground between different viewpoints,” says Capraro. The researchers analysed 26 detailed claims about the use of smartphones’ impact on teenagers’ mental health, such as that heavy use of phones can cause sleep deprivation or behavioural addiction. These claims were drawn from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt at New York University, a book that has been influential in the debate over smartphones, but also heavily criticised by some researchers. Haidt himself is also a co-author of the statement. Each researcher then individually rated whether they agreed with each claim, as well as the strength of evidence supporting the claims. There was broad agreement on several critical points; 99 per cent agreed that adolescent mental health had declined notably in the US, with similar trends in other Western nations. And 98 per cent concurred that heavy smartphone use correlates strongly with sleep disturbances. More than 94 per cent of experts surveyed agreed that young girls encountered particular issues, including unduly comparing themselves to peers, feeling the need to look perfect and being exposed to online ******* harassment. However, the experts also agreed in similarly high proportions that the evidence for these claims is only correlational, not causal. More rigorous research, including longitudinal studies tracking smartphone users over time, would be needed to prove a correlation, many agreed. Overall, while more than 90 per cent agreed something was wrong with young people, only 52 per cent supported policy actions like age restrictions and phone bans in schools. Despite that caveat, the researchers suggest that shouldn’t be an excuse for inaction by policy-makers. “Obtaining high-quality causal evidence of the effectiveness of policy decisions often takes years, whereas policymakers often have to make decisions in rapidly changing environments with limited data,” they wrote. But researchers who weren’t involved with the consensus statement have disputed its findings, and it has also drawn criticism on social media. For example, Pete Etchells at Bath Spa University, ***, points out that only around 120 of the 288 invited experts from across various disciplines took part in the process. He suggests that those who believe smartphones have a negative impact on adolescents would be more likely to opt in to a survey like this – thus skewing the outcomes. “I’d like to see them account for potential expert biases in their dataset,” he says. “I don’t think they do this.” Etchells, who has also written a book on the subject, wonders how those 288 initially invited experts were selected: “I know I wasn’t contacted about this at any point.” Sonia Livingstone at the London School of Economics also disagrees with the researchers selected to form a consensus. “The long list is meant to provide a sense of balance, but it mainly lists those on one side of the argument. If science is not balanced, it is nothing,” she says. Capraro defends the diversity of the panel, saying that “thousands of people are working on these topics around the world”, and that “it’s not feasible to contact them all”. Questions of who took part aside, Livingstone also takes issue with the claims examined. “The problem is that it’s a biased set of questions. They don’t ask, ‘is there also evidence [that] social media can improve mental health or friendships or a sense of belonging?’ There is also evidence for those,” she says. Capraro says the aim of the research was to “represent as many viewpoints as possible” on a “very hotly debated topic”. Topics: Source link #Attempt #reach #expert #consensus #teens #phones #ends #argument Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who are the winners and losers? Who are the winners and losers? Ben Chu, Tom Edgington and Tamara Kovacevic BBC Verify Getty Images A deal to “reset” relations between the *** and the EU following Brexit has been agreed at a summit in London. The agreement covers a range of issues, including defence, fishing, the trade in food products and the ability of young people to move freely between the *** and the EU. BBC Verify has gone through the deal, picking out the potential winners and losers. FoodGetty Images Winner: *** food exporters to the EU who could see fewer checks Loser: People who don’t want the *** to follow EU rules, as there are strings attached Since Brexit, *** goods travelling to the EU – including food products – have faced new checks and extra paperwork. Some items, such as *** exports of raw burgers and sausages, have been banned from entering the EU because they do not meet its strict import rules. *** food exports to the EU have fallen – with volumes in 2024 down 34% compared with 2019 – and the industry blames this partly on the added red tape. Now, both sides have agreed to work on a joint food safety agreement that could remove many of the current barriers. If signed and fully implemented, it would reduce paperwork, ease checks, and could even lift bans on products like raw meats. Food and drink exports to the EU in 2023 were worth £14bn, accounting for 57% of all the sector’s overseas sales. But the deal comes with conditions. The *** will need to follow future EU food standards – a system known as “dynamic alignment” – and accept that the European Court of Justice will have the final say in any disputes in this area. The *** will be also required to make a financial contribution. However is it currently unknown how much the payment would be and when it would be required. FishingGetty Images Winner: The EU – fishing vessels get 12 more years of access to *** waters Loser: *** fishermen who wanted annual negotiations on fishing access Although fishing accounts for a very small part of the *** economy – just 0.04% of GDP in 2024 – it is politically sensitive. The “reset” document notes “political agreements leading to full reciprocal access to waters to fish until 30 June 2038” – a 12-year extension to the current deal negotiated by Boris Johnson’s Conservative government – and much longer than expected. Under the existing agreement (due to expire in 2026), EU vessels get access to *** waters to fish – in return for transferring 25% of their fishing quota – the amount they are allowed to catch – to *** fleets. Some *** fishing groups have criticised the existing deal and do not want to see it extended. Elspeth Macdonald, who represents 450 fishing boats as chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation says: “This deal is a horror show for Scottish fishermen, far worse than Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement.” She says the long-term deal takes away the industry’s bargaining power in future talks and would prefer annual negotiations with the EU. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says there will be “no increase in the amount that the EU vessels can catch in British waters” and says it will now be easier for *** fishermen to export their products. In 2023, the *** exported £1.2bn of fish to the EU, around 70% of all fish exports. Tavish Scott from Salmon Scotland, which represents salmon farming in Scotland, says the agreement to reduce checks would “speed up the delivery of our premium salmon to market”. Youth mobilityGetty Images Winner: Young people in the *** and EU who should – if this is confirmed – be able to work and study more freely between the two Loser: Those who oppose an increase in net migration to the *** will point out that any mobility scheme could affect immigration figures, although this effect may be temporary The details here are still to be confirmed, but the winners would be those young people from both the *** and EU who would be able to work and study more easily across Europe and Great Britain. Other youth mobility schemes have focused on people aged 18 to 30. However, the impact of what is being called a “youth experience scheme” could be uneven. Before Brexit more young people from the EU came to the *** than went the other way. And, remember, Sir Keir has pledged to “significantly” reduce immigration levels in the coming years. So there’s a big question mark on what impact a ***-EU scheme could have on *** immigration levels. Madeleine Sumption from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory told BBC Verify that a scheme would likely increase net migration in the short term, as new participants arrive. However, she adds that if everyone left the *** when their visa expired, the long-term impact on migration levels would be minimal. “If the *** is worried about the impact, it could phase in the scheme, where it gradually increases the quota. So as people leave, the quota could be raised rather than a big bang all come at once,” she said. eGatesGetty Images Winner: British tourists may be able to use eGates at EU airports but we do not know which ones and from when Loser: Those expecting to escape long queues this summer As part of the agreement, *** nationals will be able to use eGates at EU airports, rather than having their passport manually checked by a border officer. The government claims: “British holidaymakers will be able to use more eGates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control.” However the text of the EU-*** agreement is less clear, only referring to the “potential use of eGates where appropriate“. It is unlikely any change will be implemented by the summer, travel organisation Abta told BBC Verify. Abta believes the deal clarifies that the EU countries can offer eGates to *** nationals once a new Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into effect in October. EES is an automated IT system for registering all non-EU travellers for a short stay, each time they cross the EU’s external borders. Whether *** passengers will avoid a border guard altogether will depend on the technology at each border crossing, Abta says. Defence Winner: *** defence firms may get contracts from new EU rearmament fund Loser: EU defence firms which hoped to get more of these revenues The EU has established a Security Action for Europe fund (SAFE) with €150bn (£126bn) of loans, backed by the EU budget, to enable its member states to rearm. This was going to be spent on EU-based defence firms. The fund also allows for the involvement of a number of non-EU countries and could now be opened up to *** defence companies too. This would potentially allow EU firms to use the fund to buy kit from the ***. The *** has a large defence manufacturing industry relative to many EU states and this sector directly employs about164,00 people in the ***. Between 2020 and 2024, the *** was estimated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute to have accounted for around 3.6% of total global annual arms exports, making the *** the seventh largest national exporter. Again, the detail is still being worked out here and we do not know when and exactly how the *** will participate in the fund. Source link #winners #losers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Lion King Fans Can Get A Terrific Deal On The 1,445-Piece Simba Lego Set The Lion King Fans Can Get A Terrific Deal On The 1,445-Piece Simba Lego Set The Lion King fans can save big on Lego’s large-scale model kit of Young Simba for a limited time. The 1,445-piece Lego display set geared toward adult Disney fans is on ***** for only $92 (was $130) at Amazon and Walmart. This $38 discount practically matches the all-time low price ($91.19). Younger builders and those who don’t want to drop close to $100 should check out the small-scale Simba Cub Lego set, which is up for grabs for only $16 (was $20). If you want some background noise while building, Amazon has The Lion King on 4K Blu-ray for only $15, and the live-action remake is even cheaper at just $11.76. $92 (was $130) The completed 1,445-piece Simba model stands over 11.5 inches tall when completed. It’s part of Lego’s ****** box model series for adults, so it’s primarily designed to be a display piece. That said, it does have a movable head, so Simba can strike a few different poses. Lego’s Young Simba building set is a faithful replica of its on-screen counterpart, and it’s an easy recommendation at this new low price point. If you need help piecing together the project, it works with the Lego Builder app, allowing you to zoom in and rotate the model to get a better look at how everything snaps together. $16 (was $20) If the Young Simba Set looks enticing but is a bit too expensive (or complex), check out the smaller and more affordable Simba Cub Set. Discounted to $16 (was $20), the 222-piece set builds a 4-inch replica of Simba. It’s also more posable than the Young Simba Set, with a rotating head, movable legs, and swiveling tail. You’ll also find a few accessories with the set, making it both a display piece and a tiny playset for young fans of The Lion King. The Lion King Blu-ray Deals: Fans of The Lion King who want to add the movies to their personal Blu-ray collections can get the original film and the 2019 live-action remake on 4K Blu-ray for super cheap at Amazon. Plus, the Steelbook Edition of the most recent movie in the franchise, Mufasa: The Lion King, is in stock at Amazon for $45. More Lego Disney Deals & Preorders: Beyond these two great Lion King sets, several other Lego Disney discounts are available right now. From Frozen and Inside Out to Up and Encanto, a bit of everything is on *****. The Magical Madrigal House is seeing one of the best discounts, as the sprawling playset is discounted by $32. You’ll get to build eight different rooms throughout the house, then create your own scenes with mini-doll figures for Abuela, Mirabel, Isabela, Dolores, Luisa, and Camillo. There’s also a bunch of great sets arriving on June 1, including ones for Moana and 101 Dalmatians. Here’s a list of our favorites to help you sift through all the deals and preorders. Source link #Lion #King #Fans #Terrific #Deal #1445Piece #Simba #Lego #Set Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Green guides Gloucestershire to rare red ball victory Green guides Gloucestershire to rare red ball victory Cam Green’s spell playing county cricket in England’s West country is a brief one, but Bristolians will not forget him in a hurry, and nor will Kent’s beleaguered bowling attack. The *********** allrounder has made an unbeaten 67 off 90 ****** to steer Gloucestershire to a tense three-wicket victory over Kent in Bristol, ensuring his first innings century did not go to waste. It was Gloucestershire’s first win of the season, and their first home red ball victory since September 2022. Glos were set 162 to win on Monday’s fourth and final day after Kent had been dismissed for 253 in their second innings. Kalgoorlie’s Grant Stewart, who made a remarkable career-best 182 off 189 ****** in the first innings, had added 41 to his match tally. The home team lost former Australia opener Cameron Bancroft, their captain, for seven as they slumped to 4-57 but Green and James Bracey, who shared a 222-run fifth-wicket partnership in the first dig, again combined well. After Green was reprieved on three, Jack Leaning missing a sharp chance at second slip off Kashif Ali, he and Bracey they took the score to 121. With no time pressure Glos looked to be cruising. But Nathan Gilchrist dismissed Bracey then had Graeme van Buuren caught for a pair next ball. Green, driving powerfully straight and pulling well, moved to a 50 but Kent further reduced Glos to 7-138. Green and Zaman Akhter settled the innings and gradually whittled down the target before a scrambled single to point by Green off fellow West *********** Stewart ensured victory. Green has one more match in his stay with Gloucestershire, which was funded by a mystery benefactor, away to Darren Lehmann’s Northamptonshire, before joining Australia for the World Test Championship final. “He’s been an amazing assent for us, on and off the field. I’ve loved having him around and learning from him,” said young opening batter Joe Phillips. Green would love to face Kent’s modest, injury-hit attack every week, he has made 310 runs for thrice out against them this season, compared to 12 in three innings against other opponents. Whether that equips him to face Kagiso Rabada and company at Lord’s next month is another matter, but runs on the board are good for any batter’s confidence. Elsewhere in Division Two Caleb Jewell fell to veteran English seamer James Anderson for the second time in the match, dismissed for 12 as Derbyshire ground out a draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Set 329 to win the visitors were never in contention, finishing on 8-220 with Anderson taking 2-25 off 26 overs. The result left Lancashire bottom, four points behind Lehmann’s Northants with work to do for new Red Rose captain Marcus Harris. In contrast Leicestershire, captained by Peter Handscomb, are 38 points clear at the top. In Division One Surrey defeated Yorkshire by an innings and 28 runs despite Jonny Bairstow’s 77. South Australia’s Jordan Buckingham had followed his first innings three and 0-66 with a golden duck. That moved the defending champions top after previous leaders Nottinghamshire lost by seven wickets at Durham. Source link #Green #guides #Gloucestershire #rare #red #ball #victory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The curious case of the missing Alexa+ users – many are still waiting for ‘early access’ The curious case of the missing Alexa+ users – many are still waiting for ‘early access’ Amazon’s rollout of Alexa+ lacks much public evidence Technical issues may be delaying a wider release Amazon claims Alexa+ is in use by hundreds of thousands of homes Amazon unveiled Alexa+ with great fanfare more than six weeks ago, but there hasn’t been much of a conversation among AI and voice assistant users about it since. My informal check of more than a dozen heavy Alexa users around the U.S. found none with access to it, and a report from Reuters suggests it’s far from the explosive event Amazon hyped it up to be at the debut presentation. Alexa+ is supposed to be Amazon’s infusion of AI into the eleven-year-old voice assistant. Using generative AI as a glow-up tool makes Alexa smarter, more useful, better at conversation, and just more intuitive as an assistant. Alexa+ is supposed to give the voice assistant many new and enhanced abilities to carry out your requests, such as processing multiple prompts at once and adapting to personalize its services. For instance, it should remember your dietary preferences while helping you order food. Invites for early access were meant to start going out in late March. Anecdotally, none have arrived, and a look around social media doesn’t reveal any buzz either. Here at TechRadar, Alexa has, for weeks, been telling Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff that he’s “on the early access list,” but there’s still no sign of Alexa+. You may like Even a Reddit post covered by TechRadar has since been removed from the website. Amazon begs to differ about that conclusion. The company is expressing confidence over the current and future release of Alexa+. “Early Access to Alexa+ is ramping up. It’s already open to hundreds of thousands of customers, and we expect it to roll out to millions over the coming month,” an Amazon spokesperson told TechRadar. “This is no different than other invite programs we’ve run – we scale as we learn.” Alexa+ plans As Amazon insists there is no slow-walking of Alexa+, the reasons behind an apparent delay aren’t official either. That said, the Reuters report cited possible technical issues around the speed and accuracy of the revamped Alexa, as well as higher-than-preferred costs to run the new models. There’s a bit of déjà vu here since Amazon made a lot of noise around an AI-enhanced Alexa in the fall of 2023, with an early preview promised in the weeks ahead that never actually happened. It’s a far cry from the 2014 reveal of the original Amazon Echo, which started shipping just a few weeks after it appeared on a stage. Amazon might feel the stakes are too high to prioritize timing over performance this time. If Alexa+ fumbles at launch, it could undercut Amazon’s entire smart home strategy. Worse, it might reinforce the idea that Alexa is more of a talking timer than a true digital assistant. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Amazon also recently made it so Alexa interactions are processed only in the cloud, removing the option for local processing. This change may boost Alexa+’s brainpower, but it also raises privacy flags that may need to be dealt with before a wide release. So, Alexa+ technically exists, and Amazon swears it’s being used. But you’ll have to wait for a review of Alexa+ from someone’s home. Until then, Alexa+ is more ghost than AI ghost in the machine. You might also like… Source link #curious #case #missing #Alexa #users #waiting #early #access Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Supreme Court Order – The New York Times The Supreme Court Order – The New York Times (ORDER LIST: 605 U.S.) 24A1059 MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025 ORDER IN PENDING CASE NOEM, SEC., DHS, ET AL. V. NAT. TPS ALLIANCE, ET AL. The application for stay presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is granted. The March 31, 2025 order entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, case No. 3:25-cv-1766, is stayed pending the disposition of the appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari, if such a writ is timely sought. Should certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court. This order is without prejudice to any challenge to Secretary Noem’s February 3, 2025 vacatur notice insofar as it purports to invalidate EADS, Forms I-797, Notices of Action, and Forms I-94 issued with October 2, 2026 expiration dates. 8 U. S. C. §1254a(d) (3). Justice Jackson would deny the application. See Source link #Supreme #Court #Order #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Middle East Trip Ignites Defense and AI Export ***** Trump’s Middle East Trip Ignites Defense and AI Export ***** President Donald Trump’s first overseas trip since returning to the White House turned a lot of heads across the aerospace & defense and semiconductor industries last week. Over the course of just a few days, he visited three key Persian Gulf states—Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—where a cascade of economic agreements potentially totaling in the trillions of dollars was unveiled. One of the marquee announcements was a $142 billion arms deal, part of a broader $600 billion commercial package between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Touted by the White House as the “largest defense sales agreement in history,” the deal includes “state-of-the-art warfighting equipment” and services from more than a dozen American defense companies, though none are named. Saudi Arabia is already the largest U.S. foreign military sales (FMS) customer, with nearly 80% of its defense acquisitions coming from American companies. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi Arabia spent more than $80 billion on defense in 2024, making it the seventh-largest military spender in the world and by far the largest in the Middle East. The Saudis aren’t alone. The UAE and Qatar have also made substantial defense purchases in recent months, including advanced drones, helicopters and counter-drone systems. As geopolitical uncertainty grows, Gulf nations are doubling down on deterrence, and they’re looking to the U.S. for the tools to do it. Betting Big on AI Infrastructure and American Semiconductors One of the more striking takeaways from the trip might be the emergence of AI and semiconductors as critical assets in the defense toolkit. In Saudi Arabia, a new state-backed initiative called HUMAIN is leading a multibillion-dollar push to build an “AI Zone,” in partnership with Amazon (NASDAQ:) Web Services (AWS). The project, which will feature dedicated server farms powered by American semiconductors, is part of a broader effort to localize advanced tech manufacturing and training within the Kingdom. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:), the world’s leading AI chipmaker, is expected to provide HUMAIN with at least 18,000 of its GB300 Grace Blackwell processors. Over the next five years, that number could reach several hundred thousand chips. Meanwhile, the UAE is negotiating for more than a million NVIDIA chips, enough to radically boost its own AI infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s AI investments alone could generate $3 to $5 billion in annual chip sales, with longer-term infrastructure spending estimated at $15 to $20 billion, according to Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya. That would make sovereign AI one of the fastest-growing areas in the broader $450 billion AI infrastructure market. Aviation Remains a Strategic Pillar Aviation shouldn’t be overlooked. In Qatar, Boeing (NYSE:) signed its largest-ever widebody aircraft deal, a $96 billion order with Qatar Airways for up to 210 American-made jets. Powered by GE Aerospace engines, the order includes both the 787 Dreamliner and 777X platforms. This deal alone underscores the continued strategic value of aerospace as a core pillar of both economic and national security policy. Commercial aircraft deals often include co-production agreements, pilot training and maintenance support—capabilities that enhance soft power while reinforcing the industrial base. Global Military Spending on a Relentless Uptrend All of this comes against a backdrop of surging global military budgets. World defense spending hit a record $2.7 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% year-over-year increase and the sharpest rise since at least 1988, according to SIPRI. Spending has risen for 10 consecutive years, with gains across all five global regions. Meanwhile, NATO is moving toward a new target of 5% of GDP for defense spending, up from the longstanding 2% benchmark. Both Germany and the U.S. have endorsed the increase, and the final plan is expected to be unveiled at the NATO summit this June. The world isn’t de-escalating. It’s rearming, with greater urgency, more advanced tools and higher price tags. I see these trends as a growing opportunity across multiple sectors—defense contractors, semiconductor makers, AI infrastructure providers and aerospace manufacturers. While individual names and strategies must be evaluated with care, the broader momentum is unmistakable. Source link #Trumps #Middle #East #Trip #Ignites #Defense #Export #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Strasbourg Open: Emma Raducanu builds French Open momentum with win over Daria Kasatkina Strasbourg Open: Emma Raducanu builds French Open momentum with win over Daria Kasatkina After reaching the Miami Open quarter-finals in March and moving back inside the world’s top 50, Raducanu chose to take a “physical and mental” break from competitive action. That meant she did not begin her clay court swing until a month later in Madrid. A second-round exit in the Spanish capital was followed by last week’s run to the Italian Open fourth round, where she managed to win three clay-court matches in a row for the first time in her career. Victory over Kasatkina was another indication the Briton is hitting her stride at the ideal time before her second French Open campaign begins. The players exchanged breaks of serve in a scrappy start to the match but, after being gifted a second game by Kasatkina, Raducanu took charge. A hold of serve without reply allowed her to grow in confidence and she was soon dictating play with punishing, powerful groundstrokes. Taking full advantage of her opponent’s continued struggles on serve, Raducanu reeled off five consecutive games to win her first set in four meetings with Kasatkina. The second set was not straightforward. Raducanu’s opening hold of serve proved invaluable as it was followed by a run of seven consecutive breaks, with former world number eight Kasatkina digging in. Raducanu could not hide her delight after unleashing a superb backhand down the line to close in on victory, eventually ending Kasatkina’s resistance with her fourth match point. Raducanu reached the second round in her only previous Roland Garros appearance in 2022. The 2021 US Open champion is currently working with Mark Petchey – a former coach of Andy Murray – on an informal basis, having been without a full-time coach since January. Elsewhere on Monday, fellow Briton Harriet Dart was knocked out in the first round of French Open qualifying, losing 6-1 6-2 to Ukrainian 21-year-old Anastasiya Soboleva. Heather Watson and Francesca Jones will begin their bids to join Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal in the main draw on Tuesday. Source link #Strasbourg #Open #Emma #Raducanu #builds #French #Open #momentum #win #Daria #Kasatkina Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The West *********** Pulse: Ema *****’s artwork a reflection of pressures placed on Asian-*********** children The West *********** Pulse: Ema *****’s artwork a reflection of pressures placed on Asian-*********** children A deeply personal exploration pressure and academic anxiety is changing how families interact and it’s on display at this year’s The West *********** Pulse exhibition. Source link #West #*********** #Pulse #Ema #Poons #artwork #reflection #pressures #AsianAustralian #children Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vance questions handling of Biden’s health Vance questions handling of Biden’s health Vice President JD Vance extended his best wishes to former President Biden following Sunday’s announcement that Biden had been diagnosed with prostate *******. But Vance also openly wondered about how Biden’s health was handled when he was still in office. CBS News White House reporter Aaron Navarro has more. Source link #Vance #questions #handling #Bidens #health Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SAG-AFTRA Files Unfair Labor Practice Complaint Against Epic Games Due To A.I. Darth Vader SAG-AFTRA Files Unfair Labor Practice Complaint Against Epic Games Due To A.I. Darth Vader Last week, Epic Games added a Darth Vader NPC to its battle royale game, Fortnite, as an AI-voiced character. Trained on the voice of James Earl Jones, who is the voice of Vader in the Star Wars movies and elsewhere, it didn’t take long for players to get this NPC Vader to say curse words and slurs, as reported by PC Gamer. Now, three days later, SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Epic-owned signatory company, Llama Productions. However, it’s not because Fortnite is using AI to give Vader a voice per se. According to the complaint filed today, SAG-AFTRA claims Epic replaced bargained union voice work with this AI without notice, thereby breaking terms and conditions supposedly agreed on by both SAG-AFTRA and Epic. “Within the past six months, the Employer, by its agents and representatives, failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite,” the complaint against Llama Productions reads. Disney In a statement released following this filing, SAG-AFTRA says, “We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies to allow new generations to share in the enjoyment of these legacies and renowned roles. However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader’s iconic rhythm and tone in video games.” The company says Llama Productions chose to replace human performers’ work with AI technology but did so “without providing any notice of their intent to do this and without bargaining with us over appropriate terms.” As such, SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the company with the NLRB. Jones’ family is aware that an AI voice trained on him was added to Fortnite, as they released a statement confirming they collaborated with Epic to make this happen. They write, “James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it. We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the excitement of this iconic character.” Game Informer contacted Epic Games for comment and will update this story if it hears back. Source link #SAGAFTRA #Files #Unfair #Labor #Practice #Complaint #Epic #Games #Due #A.I #Darth #Vader Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Novo Nordisk bets on new CEO to regain weight loss drug edge over Eli Lilly Novo Nordisk bets on new CEO to regain weight loss drug edge over Eli Lilly A view of the logo of Novo Nordisk at the company’s office in Bagsvaerd, on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, March 8, 2024. Tom Little | Reuters Novo Nordisk is banking on fresh leadership to help it reclaim the crown in the booming weight loss drug market. The Danish drugmaker on Friday abruptly announced that longtime CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen is stepping down, as its obesity injection Wegovy loses ground to Eli Lilly’s rival treatment, Zepbound. While Eli Lilly entered the market later, it is emerging as the frontrunner in a space that some analysts believe could be worth more than $150 billion by the early 2030s. Novo Nordisk’s new top executive will need to help the company close the gap with Eli Lilly, fend off emerging rivals and navigate other challenges. The next CEO will have to spearhead the company’s plans to launch a new slate of weight loss drugs before key patents for Wegovy expire, and manage the impact of Medicare drug price negotiations and President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs on pharmaceuticals. It’s unclear who will take Jorgensen’s place, but the company said it is considering both internal and external candidates. “While Novo [Nordisk] took a commanding early lead in the obesity duopoly, they have ceded ground at a critical moment when more competitors are quickly approaching,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said in a note on Friday, referring to other drugmakers racing to market their own obesity treatments. Novo Nordisk once held the title of Europe’s most valuable company – worth $615 billion at its peak – driven by skyrocketing demand for Wegovy and its diabetes counterpart, Ozempic. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Novo Nordisk shares have plunged in the last year as Eli Lilly gains ground on its rival. But investor enthusiasm has faded after Eli Lilly gained a ******* share of the market and clinical trial data on Novo Nordisk’s next wave of obesity drugs underwhelmed investors. Shares of Novo Nordisk have plunged more than 50% over the past year, wiping out over $300 billion in market value. Novo Nordisk’s stock is still up more than 250% since Jorgensen took over as CEO in January 2017. But shares of Eli Lilly have gained about 800% since that same month, when CEO Dave Ricks took over the company. Mounting pressure also came from the powerful Novo Nordisk Foundation, the controlling shareholder of the Danish drugmaker. The foundation recently urged Novo Nordisk’s leadership to consider an “accelerated CEO succession” and pushed for greater board representation, according to a statement on Friday. Novo Nordisk on Friday said it jointly concluded with Jorgensen that it was time to find a new CEO following the foundation’s request, recent market challenges and the steep decline in the company’s share price. Jorgensen said he did not see his ouster coming and was only informed of it recently, according to several reports on Friday. Days before the announcement, Novo Nordisk slashed its sales and profit forecast for the first time since the launch of Wegovy four years ago. Seigerman said it’s still unclear whether a new top executive will be able to address the company’s challenges. “Although it might satisfy some for investors to drive a CEO transition, without meaningful change in near-term strategy, we continue to see a more difficult path forward,” he said. Competition rises ahead of drug launches Novo Nordisk has been ceding market share to Eli Lilly, even though Zepbound’s dollar sales still trail Wegovy’s. Zepbound and Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug Mounjaro now make up over half of U.S. prescriptions for so-called GLP-1s, which mimic hormones to tamp down appetite and regulate blood sugar, according to a separate note from Seigerman earlier this month. That outpaces the combined 46% share of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic. A combination image shows an injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug, and boxes of Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk. Hollie Adams | Reuters New U.S. prescriptions of Zepbound surpassed those for Wegovy for the first time in early March 2024, just months after the launch of Eli Lilly’s drug, Reuters reported at the time. By August, some analysts were estimating that Zepbound had captured 40% of the U.S. weight loss drug market, hot on Wegovy’s heels. That “market-share traction clearly demonstrates that physicians and patients prefer Zepbound” over Wegovy, Bernstein analyst Courtney Breen wrote in a note in early May. Real-world data and a head-to-head clinical trial have shown that Zepbound leads to more weight loss than Wegovy. Novo Nordisk has also struggled to convince Wall Street that its pipeline of next-generation weight loss drugs can help it maintain its position in the market, especially after Wegovy loses exclusivity and drugmakers can sell cheaper generic alternatives. For example, Novo Nordisk repeatedly told investors its CagriSema shot, expected to be launched in 2026, would help people lose 25% or more of their body weight. But the once-weekly drug failed to live up to that forecast in December 2024, sending shares of the company plunging. The company in April said it has filed for U.S. approval of an oral version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic. It comes as drugmakers rush to develop more convenient weight loss pills, which could account for $50 billion of the market in the coming years, according to some analyst estimates. But Seigerman, in a separate note in April, said Novo Nordisk has no clear strategy for its oral obesity drug portfolio. He said that is “likely to challenge growth in the end of the decade,” especially as Eli Lilly’s own obesity pill impresses investors and inches closer to entering the market. Unlike oral semaglutide, Eli Lilly’s pill is a small-molecule drug and not a peptide medication. That means Eli Lilly’s drug is absorbed more easily in the body and doesn’t require dietary restrictions like oral semaglutide does, which may be a notable advantage for the company. Seigerman acknowledged that Novo Nordisk’s experimental small-molecule pill, amycretin, could be competitive long-term. But he said that won’t happen soon, as the drug is not expected to launch for several years. Outside of pipeline issues, Novo Nordisk and the rest of the pharmaceutical industry are grappling with the Trump administration’s ambitions to lower drug prices and bring manufacturing to the U.S. Trump has said he plans to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the U.S. and signed an executive order that aims to cut drug prices by tying them to the lowest prices abroad. Signs of a changing strategy Novo Nordisk made it clear that its strategy remains unchanged despite Jorgensen’s abrupt exit. “We have a strong product portfolio with lots of potential,” Novo Nordisk board chairman Helge Lund said on a call with analysts on Friday. “We have an experienced executive team to continue to evolve and drive the company forward with a long-term perspective.” But Seigerman said the decision to swap CEOs seems to “draw attention to pivots in this strategy that may be necessary.” Investors have already been seeing potential signs of that shift, according to Seigerman. Novo Nordisk has long prioritized peptide-based therapeutics. But the company’s recent dealmaking indicates that it is leaning “heavier on oral small molecule solutions for the obesity market,” Seigerman said. The company last week announced a licensing deal with the U.S. biotech company Septerna for experimental small-molecule pills for obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases. But those pills are in early development and those products are years from entering the market, meaning the agreement is still risky. The same can be said of several of Novo Nordisk’s other recent tie-ups. For example, Novo Nordisk in March said it had agreed to pay up to $2 billion for the rights to an early experimental drug from the ******** pharmaceutical company United Laboratories International. The newly acquired drug is a clear potential competitor to Eli Lilly’s so-called “Triple G” obesity drug retatrutide because they both use a three-pronged approach to promoting weight loss and regulating blood sugar. But retatrutide is in late-stage clinical trials, which means it could enter the market years before Novo Nordisk’s drug does. Source link #Novo #Nordisk #bets #CEO #regain #weight #loss #drug #edge #Eli #Lilly Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

'SNL' just wrapped its 50th season: It's time to cruelly rank its musical guests – NPR 'SNL' just wrapped its 50th season: It's time to cruelly rank its musical guests – NPR ‘SNL’ just wrapped its 50th season: It’s time to cruelly rank its musical guests NPRThe Best of ‘S.N.L.’ Season 50: Trump, Biden and Domingo The New York Times‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 50 is complete. Now, we’re ranking all 20 hosts Los Angeles Times5 Ways ‘Saturday Night Live’ Missed the Moment in Historic Season 50 Cracked.comEvery ‘SNL’ 50th Season Episode Ranked and the 7 Best Sketches of the Year Pajiba Source link #039SNL039 #wrapped #50th #season #It039s #time #cruelly #rank #musical #guests #NPR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How long has Biden had *******? What to know about prostate ******* testing and how it spreads How long has Biden had *******? What to know about prostate ******* testing and how it spreads Former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis with an advanced stage of prostate ******* that has metastasized, or spread, to his bones prompted an outpouring of concern and questions about his condition. Those questions include how long the ******* may have taken to develop and whether he was screened for it during earlier checkups. While it’s unclear exactly how long Biden has had *******, its rapid spread is attributed to it being an aggressive form of the disease. His ******* was categorized as having a Gleason score of 9, which places him in Grade Group 5, the most severe category. The Gleason score is a system for grading the severity of prostate ******* based on analysis of cell samples under a microscope. When prostate ******* is more advanced and spreads, the bones are among the areas most likely to be affected. It can also commonly spread to the lymph nodes, liver or lungs, according to the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, late-stage ******* diagnoses are not uncommon. A 2014 analysis from ******* Research ***, for example, found that 46% of all cancers in that country were diagnosed at an advanced stage. A 2023 study published in the journal Lancet Oncology found disruptions in care amid the pandemic also led to an increase in late-stage diagnoses across nearly all ******* types, including prostate. Slower-growing cancers can take years to develop and be detected, while more aggressive ones can become apparent more rapidly and also spread to other parts of the body quicker. Biden, who is now 82, did not undergo prostate ******* screening during his last medical checkup while in office, in February 2024, according to records released at the time. Experts say this is likely due to that fact that these screenings are not routinely recommended for men 70 years or older. “Doctors will stop screening for prostate ******* at 75 or so, because after that, the prostate cancers you typically pick up are very slow growing, and so the harms of all of the testing and treatment for something that may not kill you — you’re talking about risk versus benefit. It may not be worth the risk,” Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, explained on “CBS Mornings” Monday. Instead, Biden’s diagnosis came after he recently saw a doctor due to ******** symptoms. A small nodule was found in the prostate, which necessitated further evaluation, his office said last week. “******** symptoms are quite common in older men and are usually due to benign conditions like having an enlarged prostate,” Gounder said. In this case, however, the testing discovered *******. Gounder said the situation underscores the importance of tailoring medical decisions to the individual. “He had new symptoms and is functionally active, which justified a closer look,” she said. There have been advancements in treating advanced prostate *******, and Gounder said the treatment goal in a case like this would be to control the *******, slowing its progression and preserving quality of life. Biden’s type of ******* is hormone-sensitive, which means it should respond to a testosterone-blocking treatment, Gounder said, adding that this might be combined with other medications or chemotherapy, depending on the specific case. Back in 2019, Biden was diagnosed with benign enlargement of the prostate, or BPH. That December, his campaign released his medical evaluation, which noted: “This patient has been treated for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). This was initially treated with medication and was then definitively treated with surgery. He has never had prostate *******.” BPH is very common in older men, with around 80% of men over 70 having it, according to Yale Medicine. How do doctors screen for prostate *******? Prostate ******* testing typically involves two methods: a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test and a digital rectal exam, or DRE. A PSA test is a type of blood test that can indicate a higher chance of prostate ******* but is not a definitive diagnosis. A DRE involves a doctor using a gloved finger to feel for any bumps on the prostate via the *******. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of national experts, say the decision on screening for prostate ******* among men aged 55 to 69 years should be an individual one — and it recommends against PSA screening for men 70 and older. “Many men will experience potential harms of screening, including false-positive results that require additional testing and possible prostate biopsy; overdiagnosis and overtreatment; and treatment complications, such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction,” the task force’s recommendation summary notes. “Clinicians should not screen men who do not express a preference for screening.” Prostate ******* is common, second only to skin ******* as the most common ******* affecting males, according to the Cleveland Clinic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for every 100 males, 13 will develop prostate ******* at some point in their lives. Sara Moniuszko Sara Moniuszko is a health and lifestyle reporter at CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper’s wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News’ HealthWatch. Source link #long #Biden #******* #prostate #******* #testing #spreads Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Manchester City: Pep Guardiola defends trophyless season by referencing Community Shield Manchester City: Pep Guardiola defends trophyless season by referencing Community Shield “Of course, it’s important to qualify, but except for Newcastle who won the Carabao Cup, Liverpool won the Premier League and Manchester City that won the Community Shield – the other teams didn’t win trophies,” Guardiola said. “So the other teams like Chelsea, who can win one title [Europa Conference League] against Real Betis, and [Manchester] United and Tottenham can win the Europa League. “All the other teams, they are expecting of course to qualify for the Champions League but this is important for every club that play this in competition next year. “We played a really good [FA Cup] final, not enough to win it, and we have the last two games, we need four points to be in the Champions League next year and this is enough and everyone has to be aware of that.” With Liverpool Premier League champions and Arsenal sealing second spot, City have a fight to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition and a fascinating race has developed for the top five, with third-placed Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in seventh separated by a solitary point. Results over the weekend means City have dropped to sixth in the table, but they hold a game in hand over the challengers which comes against Bournemouth on Tuesday (kick-off 20:00 BST), with the final round of games taking place on Sunday. Source link #Manchester #City #Pep #Guardiola #defends #trophyless #season #referencing #Community #Shield Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mushroom cook's phone records under the microscope Mushroom cook's phone records under the microscope Accused ********* Erin Patterson will have her phone records further scrutinised in court as a digital forensic expert continues his evidence. Source link #Mushroom #cook039s #phone #records #microscope Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Putin says Russia prepared to discuss 'compromises' on Ukraine after 'frank' Trump call Putin says Russia prepared to discuss 'compromises' on Ukraine after 'frank' Trump call Putin says Russia prepared to discuss ‘compromises’ on Ukraine after ‘frank’ Trump call Source link #Putin #Russia #prepared #discuss #039compromises039 #Ukraine #039frank039 #Trump #call Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mortgage rates cross back over 7% after U.S. credit downgrade Mortgage rates cross back over 7% after U.S. credit downgrade After several weeks of sitting stagnant, mortgage rates surged higher Monday following Moody’s decision to downgrade the U.S. credit rating. Bond yields moved higher after the late Friday announcement, and mortgage rates loosely follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury. The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed loan hit 7.04% Monday, according to Mortgage News Daily. That is the highest level since April 11. “The average mortgage lender had to account not only for the market movement in Friday’s closing minutes, but also to the additional weakness seen this morning. That makes for a fairly big jump, day-over-day, but it does very little to change the ******* picture,” said Matthew Graham, chief operating officer at Mortgage News Daily. The April surge in mortgage rates did have a direct effect on the housing market, causing it to pull back right in the heart of the usually busy spring season. Pending sales of existing homes in April, counted by signed contracts, dropped 3.2% compared to April of last year, according to Realtor.com. Homebuilders also noted a steep drop in demand in April. Homebuilder sentiment is now at the lowest level since the end of 2023, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ monthly index. There was a bit of a comeback in mortgage demand from homebuyers in the first two weeks of May, according to a weekly index from the Mortgage Bankers Association, but that was when rates were just sitting right around 6.9%. There has been a marked slowdown among buyers recently, whenever the rate goes over that 7% threshold. In addition, any rate increase will knock some people out of even qualifying for a mortgage. Source link #Mortgage #rates #cross #U.S #credit #downgrade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qualcomm isn’t giving us new Snapdragon chips at Computex – but there’s a surprise waiting in September Qualcomm isn’t giving us new Snapdragon chips at Computex – but there’s a surprise waiting in September 2024 was a banner year for Qualcomm at Computex, with the massive launch of its Snapdragon X Elite laptop processors putting it at the forefront of the event. In fact, Qualcomm’s keynote presentation last year was so impressive that I declared them the winners of the event, with guest stars from makes of many of the best laptops including Microsoft, HP, Dell, and Asus appearing alongside Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. During today’s keynote at Computex 2025, things were a little more subdued. No exciting chip announcements here; instead, Amon got up on stage and discussed the (admittedly quite good) progress Qualcomm has made with the Snapdragon platform over the past year. A key factor he pointed to was the rapid growth in apps supported on the Snapdragon X Elite platform, along with the now 1,400+ games that are playable on Snapdragon laptops. CEO Cristiano Amon gave a slightly strange AI-powered Q&A during Qualcomm’s keynote presentation. (Image credit: Future) Much like last year, Amon showcased Qualcomm’s impressive pull in the Windows computing market despite only entering the CPU fight with Intel and AMD last year. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made a brief appearance in the presentation, along with executives from Asus and HP. You may like There were also some cheeky jabs at Intel and Apple (the latter regarding the fact that Fortnite is fully playable on Snapdragon hardware), plus the usual slew of corporate drivel about how AI is revolutionizing… something. Honestly, I kind of tuned out for a bit there, until Amon fired up a laptop live on stage which proceeded to ask him (presumably human-curated) questions about Qualcomm’s AI hardware in a synthy robot voice. Pretty cool, I guess, but what really caught my attention was a teaser at the very end of the keynote presentation. What’s next for Snapdragon So, while we got no new chips from Qualcomm at Computex, it looks like we now have a tacitly announced date for the next generation of Snapdragon X systems-on-a-chip (SoCs). It’s September 23: the date of Qualcomm’s own event, Snapdragon Summit, which will take place in Hawaii. What exactly are we getting in September? Amon wouldn’t say, only that “the revolution continues” and “I promise you that you will be impressed”. Still, there are some pretty reasonable assumptions that I’m willing to make here. Qualcomm’s second-gen Snapdragon X chips were something I had hoped to see at Computex, but it seems we’ll be waiting a while longer. (Image credit: Qualcomm) While naming conventions are still a bit up in the air (since we’re only a single generation into Qualcomm’s Windows laptop chips), the current popular assumption is that the next-gen SoCs will use the ‘Snapdragon X2’ moniker, so I’ll just go with that here. I expect the initial launch to feature both X2 Elite and X2 Plus chips for the premium and midrange laptop markets, with broad integration across the majority of productivity laptop manufacturers; Dell’s XPS series, Asus’s Zenbooks, Lenovo’s Yoga line, the works. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. A ‘basic’ Snapdragon X2 chip will likely follow a bit further down the line (similar to how the Snapdragon X chip was announced at CES in January this year), providing a more budget-conscious alternative. But I’m most interested in the rumored 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite chip for desktops… A desktop revolution? Will we get a non-integrated Snapdragon X2 Elite? I wouldn’t quite bet on that; so far, we’ve only seen Snapdragon chips in compact PCs from the likes of Lenovo. So don’t expect to see a third option beyond Intel and AMD when it comes to motherboards for DIY PCs – but do expect more mini PCs and systems like the best all-in-one computers. It’s mini PCs that arguably stand to gain the most from a proper desktop-focused Snapdragon chip. (Image credit: Geekom) While ‘Team Q’ (still workshopping that name, I’m open to suggestions!) might be a relative newcomer to this particular industry arena, it’s made a serious impact. Cristiano Amon’s keynote included a somewhat surprising statistic: as of last quarter, Qualcomm now holds about 9% of the integrated processor market for the US and the top 5 European markets. Considering the fierce competition, it’s a seriously impressive showing. Given how much Qualcomm changed the game with the arrival of its first X Elite chips last year, I think the use of the word ‘revolution’ might actually be somewhat justified here. I don’t say that lightly; it’s a phrase that I’m frequently annoyed to see used to describe extremely marginal changes. But with Qualcomm finally making Windows on Arm work with the Snapdragon X series, I’ve got high hopes for whatever Team Q does next. You might also like… Source link #Qualcomm #isnt #giving #Snapdragon #chips #Computex #surprise #waiting #September Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fringe theories, a friend's death and massive explosives: Portrait emerges of Palm Springs bombing suspect – Los Angeles Times Fringe theories, a friend's death and massive explosives: Portrait emerges of Palm Springs bombing suspect – Los Angeles Times Fringe theories, a friend’s death and massive explosives: Portrait emerges of Palm Springs bombing suspect Los Angeles TimesMan Who Blew Up Palm Springs Fertility Clinic in Deadly Explosion Left Behind Chilling Writings People.comPalm Springs bombing suspect’s father speaks with KTLA, says son burned their house down KTLALIVE COVERAGE: One person dead after suspected bomb explodes in Palm Springs KESQFBI says fertility clinic bomb suspect had ‘nihilistic ideations.’ What does that mean? USA Today Source link #Fringe #theories #friend039s #death #massive #explosives #Portrait #emerges #Palm #Springs #bombing #suspect #Los #Angeles #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge rules Trump administration’s dismantling of U.S. Institute of Peace was ******** Judge rules Trump administration’s dismantling of U.S. Institute of Peace was ******** Washington — A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to take over the U.S. Institute of Peace, finding that the moves led by the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency were made by leaders who were illegally installed and lacked the legal authority to dismantle the organization. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled in favor of several institute board members and its president, who had been fired and challenged their terminations, as well as the administration’s efforts to take over and disassemble the organization. The institute’s mission is to promote conflict resolution and the prevention of conflict around the world. The five board members who challenged their removals are Ambassador John Sullivan, Judy Ansley, Joseph Falk, Kerry Kennedy and Mary Swig. The institute’s president, Ambassador George Moose, was also ousted by ex officio board members Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Kenneth Jackson was then installed as the acting president of the Institute of Peace. In March, Howell declined to issue emergency relief to the Institute of Peace, but said that it was “undisputed” that the removal of board members was not in accordance with federal law, though the plaintiffs at the time were unable to make the required showing for a temporary restraining order. But in a 102-page decision granting the former board members request to summarily rule in their favor, Howell wrote that President Trump “second-guessed the judgment of Congress and President Reagan in creating USIP 40 years ago, and the judgment of every Congress since then, including in 2024,” when he signed an executive order that effectively dismantled the Institute. Howell said the purported firings of Institute of Peace board members and its president, Moose, was unlawful and ordered that they remain in their roles. The judge also found that the appointments of Jackson and Nate Cavanaugh as president of the institute are invalid, and said any actions taken by them are voided, including Cavanaugh’s efforts to transfer the organization’s headquarters to the General Services Administration. Howell blocked DOGE officials from gaining access to or exercising control over the U.S. Institute of Peace’s offices, facilities, computer systems or other records. In her ruling, the judge criticized Trump and DOGE, writing they “used brute force and threats of criminal process to take over USIP’s headquarters, despite being cautioned that this organization did not fall within the executive branch and its leadership was not subject to the president’s unilateral executive branch removal power.” The judge said that the Elon Musk-led DOGE’s firing of Institute of Peace Board members, staff, and contractors, as well as its shifting of the building to be used for other purposes was unlawful. “This administration then went even further, taking severe actions to dissemble USIP, including terminating its appointed board members, its expert management, its dedicated staff and contractors located in both Washington, D.C. and around the world, and dispersing its assets and headquarters building,” Howell wrote. “These actions against USIP were unlawful.” The judge said that Article II of the Constitution places limits on the president’s ability to remove executive branch subordinates, and said Mr. Trump’s actions regarding the Institute of Peace were outside his legal authority. “The president’s efforts here to take over an organization outside of those bounds, contrary to statute established by Congress and by acts of force and threat using local and federal law enforcement officers, represented a gross usurpation of power and a way of conducting government affairs that unnecessarily traumatized the committed leadership and employees of USIP, who deserved better,” Howell wrote. The U.S. Institute of Peace is one of several entities that has been targeted by the president and DOGE as part of his efforts to severely slash the size of the federal government. The organization was created by Congress four decades ago through a law signed by President Ronald Reagan and is characterized as an independent nonprofit corporation. But the administration has winnowed the institute’s staff to five employees, and it has ceased conducting programmatic activities. The U.S. Institute of Peace’s assets have also been transferred to the General Services Administration. Its Washington, D.C., headquarters is in the process of being leased to the Department of Labor, according to court records. The dispute between DOGE and the Institute of Peace started in mid-March, when DOGE team members attempted to gain access to the entity’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. The institute said in a statement that several DOGE members arrived at its building “unannounced” and were accompanied by two FBI agents. DOGE officials left after being rebuffed by an Institute employee but later returned and had “broken” into the building and were able to access internal systems through a former security contractor for the building, court filings revealed. The Metropolitan Police Department became involved when the institute’s former outside counsel reported what he said was an unlawful entry by DOGE officials. In their lawsuit, the institute’s fired board members said employees with a former security contractor and DOGE personnel “engaged in additional attempts to unlawfully access the USIP headquarters building, but were eventually able to enter the building, forcibly occupy it, and expel including the duly appointed USIP President, other USIP personnel, and outside counsel.” Jacob Rosen Jake Rosen is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He was previously a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump’s 2024 campaign and also served as an associate producer for “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” where he worked with Brennan for two years on the broadcast. Rosen has been a producer for several CBS News podcasts, including “The Takeout,” “The Debrief” and “Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.” Source link #Judge #rules #Trump #administrations #dismantling #U.S #Institute #Peace #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez calls for Israel to be banned Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez calls for Israel to be banned The Spanish prime minister has called for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest over its military action in Gaza. Pedro Sánchez noted Russia has been banned from the contest since 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, and said there should not be “double standards”. Israel came second in the contest’s grand final in Switzerland on Saturday, but topped the public vote – with Spanish viewers giving Israel the maximum 12 points. Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, Amichai Chikli, ridiculed Sánchez with a social media post that said the vote had been a “slap in the face” for the Spanish PM, “which we have heard here in Jerusalem”. BBC News has asked Eurovision organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for comment. Speaking at a news conference in Madrid, Sánchez said: “Nobody was up in arms when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began three years ago and [Russia] had to leave international competitions and could not take part, as we have just seen, in Eurovision. “Therefore Israel shouldn’t either, because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture.” He also expressed solidarity with “the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment”. “Spain’s commitment to international law and human rights must be constant and must be coherent,” he said. “Europe’s should be too.” Sánchez and his government, which officially acknowledged a ************ state last year, have been harsh critics of Israel, and last week in Congress the prime minister referred to the country as “a genocidal state”. Israel has strenuously denied accusations of genocide, and its foreign ministry summoned the Spanish ambassador for a formal reprimand over Sánchez’s “serious remarks”. At Eurovision, Spain’s televote saw the country award Israel maximum points for its song New Day Will Rise by Yuval Raphael. Spain’s broadcast network RTVE has since requested an audit of the votes. Ahead of the Eurovision final on Saturday, RTVE aired a message in support of Palestinians – despite being warned to avoid references to Gaza by the EBU. Spain’s entry, Esa Diva by Melody, finished in 24th place on Saturday night in Basel. Source link #Spanish #Pedro #Sánchez #calls #Israel #banned Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]