Pelican Press

******** naval cadet, sailor identified as victims in Brooklyn Bridge ****** – The Washington Post ******** naval cadet, sailor identified as victims in Brooklyn Bridge ****** – The Washington Post ******** naval cadet, sailor identified as victims in Brooklyn Bridge ****** The Washington PostWhat we know about the ******** Navy training ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge, killing at least 2 CNNFamily mourns ******** Navy cadet killed in Brooklyn Bridge ****** YahooMexican navy cadet is first victim to be identified in Brooklyn Bridge ship collision Fox NewsMexican Navy sailors prepared high-flying farewell display before fatal Brooklyn Bridge ****** Gothamist Source link #******** #naval #cadet #sailor #identified #victims #Brooklyn #Bridge #****** #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech Now Tech Now Alasdair Keane visits the McLaren Technology Centre. Source link #Tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Saturday Lotto: WA’s heritage game receiving $1 million prize pool boost in 45-year celebration Saturday Lotto: WA’s heritage game receiving $1 million prize pool boost in 45-year celebration To celebrate the 45-year run of Saturday Lotto, players have the chance to strike gold with an extra $1 million in prize money for the weekend draw. The division one prize pool will increase from an estimated $5 million to an estimated $6 million, beginning with the first draw this Saturday, May 24. Lotterywest spokesperson James Mooney said the introduction of Saturday Lotto was an exciting time for the State back in 1979. “Prior to 1979, Lotto games ran like raffles, so when Saturday Lotto came along, it was incredibly exciting for WA players,” he said. “The first Saturday Lotto draw offered West Aussie’s the chance to win a $35,000 division one prize. “At this time Perth’s median house price was around $25,000, so $35,000 was a life-changing offering for WA players.” What they didn’t anticipate at the time was just how popular Saturday Lotto would become in Western Australia, with three times the predicted 45,000 tickets sold for the first draw and retailers were selling out of tickets just hours after opening their doors. The big initial draw for Saturdays, which was State-based at the time, saw two tickets from WA match the winning six numbers, splitting the division one $35,000 prize between a pair of lucky punters. Margaret Hambley, owner of EE Hambley in Queens Park, said the store that’s been in her family for 78 years has sold Lotto tickets longer then she has worked there. “I’ll always remember (in 1979) spending Fridays filling the old Hugan terminals with tickets and delivering it to Lotterywest HQ each week,” she said. “There were plenty of Saturday Lotto Tickets in there each time and it is still much loved among players today. Camera IconVintage photos from EE Hambley back when Saturday Lotto first began. Credit: Lotterywest “Saturday Lotto is the go-to game for most of my regular players, they always favour it over other games. “Saturday Lotto creates the most division one winners in WA each year and has been around so long that it has a special place in people’s heart.” Since its inception, Saturday Lotto has delivered the most division one wins in WA every year, as well as helping raise nearly $1 billion over the past decade through its grants program for the WA community. Source link #Saturday #Lotto #heritage #game #receiving #million #prize #pool #boost #45year #celebration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BBC uncovers child sex abuse in South Africa’s ******** mines BBC uncovers child sex abuse in South Africa’s ******** mines This story contains details, including a video, that some people may find distressing. The most shocking thing for Jonathan, who had endured six gruelling months living and working underground in an abandoned South African gold mine, was the abuse he witnessed being meted out to children. Some are recruited for cheap labour, but others are brought in specifically for sex, campaigners say. Jonathan, now in his late 20s, had migrated to South Africa from a nearby country on the promise of making easy money working in one of its dozens of disused mines, closed by multinationals because they were no longer commercially viable. We are protecting his full identity as he fears reprisals from the vicious criminal gangs that run the ******** mining industry for speaking to the media. Details of what the young people were going though emerged after the death of dozens of ******** miners near the town of Stilfontein late last year when the mine was blockaded by police. In a calm and steady voice, Jonathan describes the heat, long hours and limited food and sleeping options which took a toll on his body. But an enduring memory is what happened to the underage miners in the shaft where he worked. “I used to see these kids in the mine – teenagers actually, 15, 17-year-olds. “Others used to take advantage of them sometimes. It was a little bit scary, and I wasn’t comfortable with it.” He said they were ****** by adult miners who promised to give them some of the gold they found in exchange for sex. “If that kid is desperate for money, he will take the risk.” Jonathan describes how the children would approach teams of miners for protection but “that team would have conditions”. Sex was also used as punishment if the teenagers failed to complete a task for their team. Jonathan says the children in the mine where he worked were all foreign and did not realise what they were getting themselves into. ******** miners enter abandoned mines through disused shafts, often descending kilometres and not able to leave for months [AFP] Mining researcher and activist Makhotla Sefuli backs this up. He says criminal gangs specifically target children to work in ******** mines across South Africa. Many of them are abducted from neighbouring countries and trafficked. They are enticed by baseless promises of finding them employment in the formal mining industry. “Their passports are confiscated when they get to South Africa… It is common knowledge that these young boys are being abused,” Mr Sefuli says. The BBC has spoken to miners who worked in at least two other ******** mines who told us they saw children being abused in the shafts where they were working. Tshepo, not his real name, says he saw older men forcing young boys to have sex with them underground. “In some instances, they did it for the money. Some are recruited solely for that purpose, because of the financial incentives that will come with the practice of maybe trading sex underground.” He adds that the abuse deeply affected the children. “They change their behaviour patterns and have trust issues. They don’t want you to get close to them, because they feel that they can no longer trust anyone.” South Africa’s ******** mining industry made global headlines last year following a standoff between police and miners at the Buffelsfontein gold mine, near the town of Stilfontein in the North West Province. The authorities had been trying to curb ******** mining, which the government said cost South Africa’s economy $3.2bn (£2.6bn) in lost revenue last year. They launched an operation called Vala Umgodi, or seal the hole, in December 2023, promising to take a tough stance on the gangs. As part of the operation, the police limited the amount of food and water that went down the Stilfontein mine to, as one minister put it, “smoke out” the ******** miners. Officials said the men were refusing to come out for fear of being arrested. Soon footage began to emerge from within the mine showing dozens of emaciated men begging to be rescued, as well as rows of body bags. Eventually a court ordered the authorities to save the men. Among those brought up were many who said they were underage, but as a number of them were migrants without documents confirming how old they were, the authorities carried out medical tests to get an estimate. Through this, the Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that 31 of the rescued Stilfontein miners were found to be children. They were all Mozambicans nationals and in November, 27 of them were repatriated. Save the Children South Africa helped translate some of the interviews between the underage miners and the rescue workers. “They went through trauma, because some of them also saw others being ********* exploited,” the charity’s CEO Gugu Xaba tells the BBC. “Just the feeling that they may not come out of there destroyed those children mentally. “The adult miners would start by grooming them, by acting like they like them.” She says the children were then made to perform ******* acts on the adults and they were then ******, days after day. “You find that the adult will have three or four of them that they are doing the same thing to.” “Most children are trafficked in order to be used as sex slaves. And you’ve got a pimp who is taking the money””, Source: Gugu Xaba , Source description: CEO, Save the Children South Africa, Image: A head and shoulders shot of a woman with grey hair and glasses. Ms Xaba says mining gangs recruit children because they are easier to manipulate and cheaper. “Children don’t understand when you say: ‘I’ll pay you 20 rands ($1; £0.80) per day.’ The adults sometimes refuse to work, but children find themselves with no choice. So it’s easier to use a child to do the work. It’s easier to take a child who’s kind of voiceless and to bring them down there.” Beyond being exploited financially, she says there are gangs that recruit children specifically for sex. Many ******** miners spend months underground, rarely going up to the surface. Markets spring up underground to provide them with anything they need. “Most children are trafficked in order to be used as sex slaves. And you’ve got a pimp who is taking the money, and it means every day this child is used as a commercial sex worker.” The BBC asked the police and the DSD whether anyone would be charged over the ******* abuse allegations. They did not respond to our requests. A source working on the Stilfontein miners’ cases said many of the children did not want to testify. Meanwhile, the ******** mining industry continues to thrive. And with an estimated 6,000 vacant mines potentially available to explore, it is a business that is unlikely to end anytime soon, leaving thousands of vulnerable children at risk. More South Africa stories from the BBC: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Source link #BBC #uncovers #child #sex #abuse #South #Africas #******** #mines Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Design, Key Features Revealed; Likely to Launch on May 22 Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Design, Key Features Revealed; Likely to Launch on May 22 Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is set to launch in China in May. The handset will likely be unveiled on May 22, during Xiaomi’s 15th anniversary launch event. The company has confirmed several key features of the upcoming smartphone, including chipset, battery, display and camera specifications. The design and colour options of the phone have been revealed as well. Notably, the preceding Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro, with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC and dual 32-Megapixel front cameras, was launched in March 2024. Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Launch, Key Features: All We Know In a Weibo post, Xiaomi announced that it will host a special launch event on May 22 at 7pm local time (4:30pm IST) to mark its 15th anniversary. The company will unveil the “Xuanjie O1” or XRING O1 mobile chipset, the Xiaomi 15s Pro handset, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra tablet and the Xiaomi YU7, Xiaomi’s first SUV, at the event. The Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro smartphone could be unveiled in the country on the same day. Xiaomi is already accepting pre-reservations for the Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro in China via its website. A series of posts on the company’s Weibo profile has revealed the design and key features of the handset. It is set to arrive in Nebula Purple and Sakura Pink colourways, and it will also be sold in ****** and white colour variants. The Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro will boast a 6.55-inch 1.5K OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 3,200 nits peak brightness level. The display will support HDR10+, HDR Vivid and Dolby Vision and carry TÜV Rheinland’s triple eye certifications. It will have a 1.6mm ultra-narrow, uniform bezel. The handset’s metal middle frame is 7.45mm thick. Xiaomi further revealed that the Civi 5 Pro will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC and a 6,000mAh battery. For optics, the handset is confirmed to feature a Leica-backed triple rear camera unit, including a 50-megapixel primary sensor alongside a 50-megapixel floating telephoto shooter and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro successor will sport a 50-megapixel front camera sensor with autofocus and an f/2.0 aperture. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Xiaomi #Civi #Pro #Design #Key #Features #Revealed #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia plans to sell tech to speed AI chip communication – Reuters Nvidia plans to sell tech to speed AI chip communication – Reuters Nvidia plans to sell tech to speed AI chip communication ReutersNvidia announces humanoid robotics, customer AI infrastructure offerings at Computex 2025 Yahoo FinanceNVIDIA Launches AI-First DGX Personal Computing Systems With Global Computer Makers NVIDIA NewsroomComputex 2025 Live Blog: All the latest tech from Taipei Tom’s HardwareNvidia, Foxconn to Build AI Factory in Taiwan WSJ Source link #Nvidia #plans #sell #tech #speed #chip #communication #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Design, Key Features Revealed; Likely to Launch on May 22 Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Design, Key Features Revealed; Likely to Launch on May 22 Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro is set to launch in China in May. The handset will likely be unveiled on May 22, during Xiaomi’s 15th anniversary launch event. The company has confirmed several key features of the upcoming smartphone, including chipset, battery, display and camera specifications. The design and colour options of the phone have been revealed as well. Notably, the preceding Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro, with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC and dual 32-Megapixel front cameras, was launched in March 2024. Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro Launch, Key Features: All We Know In a Weibo post, Xiaomi announced that it will host a special launch event on May 22 at 7pm local time (4:30pm IST) to mark its 15th anniversary. The company will unveil the “Xuanjie O1” or XRING O1 mobile chipset, the Xiaomi 15s Pro handset, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra tablet and the Xiaomi YU7, Xiaomi’s first SUV, at the event. The Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro smartphone could be unveiled in the country on the same day. Xiaomi is already accepting pre-reservations for the Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro in China via its website. A series of posts on the company’s Weibo profile has revealed the design and key features of the handset. It is set to arrive in Nebula Purple and Sakura Pink colourways, and it will also be sold in ****** and white colour variants. The Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro will boast a 6.55-inch 1.5K OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 3,200 nits peak brightness level. The display will support HDR10+, HDR Vivid and Dolby Vision and carry TÜV Rheinland’s triple eye certifications. It will have a 1.6mm ultra-narrow, uniform bezel. The handset’s metal middle frame is 7.45mm thick. Xiaomi further revealed that the Civi 5 Pro will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC and a 6,000mAh battery. For optics, the handset is confirmed to feature a Leica-backed triple rear camera unit, including a 50-megapixel primary sensor alongside a 50-megapixel floating telephoto shooter and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro successor will sport a 50-megapixel front camera sensor with autofocus and an f/2.0 aperture. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Xiaomi #Civi #Pro #Design #Key #Features #Revealed #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Private data including criminal records stolen in Legal Aid hack Private data including criminal records stolen in Legal Aid hack A “significant amount” of private data including criminal records has been hacked from the Legal Aid online system, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said. The MoJ said said it became aware of a cyber-attack on the Legal Aid Agency’s online digital services on April 23 of data dating back to 2010. It then became aware the incident was “more extensive than originally understood”. Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle apologised for the breach, saying she understood the news “will be shocking and upsetting for people”. The group that carried out the attack claimed it accessed 2.1 million pieces of data, according to the PA news agency. The MoJ has not verified that figure, however. The ministry urged members of the public who have applied for legal aid in this time ******* to take steps to safeguard themselves. “This data may have included contact details and addresses of applicants, their dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments,” it said. It also warned the public to be alert for any suspicious activity, including unknown messages or phone calls, and to update any potentially exposed passwords. “If you are in doubt about anyone you are communicating with online or over the phone you should verify their identity independently before providing any information to them,” it said. The ministry said it was working with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre, and has informed the Information Commissioner. The Legal Aid Agency’s online digital services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and get paid by the government, have been taken offline. Source link #Private #data #including #criminal #records #stolen #Legal #Aid #hack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Migrant dies as small boat sinks crossing English Channel Migrant dies as small boat sinks crossing English Channel Jacob Panons BBC News, South East Getty Images A person has died after a small boat sank while attempting to cross the English Channel A person has died after a small “overloaded” boat sank while attempting to cross the English Channel, French authorities have said. A total of 62 people were rescued from the water after the boat broke up overnight on Sunday to Monday, the Maritime Prefect of the Channel and the North Sea said. A French Navy helicopter helping with the search spotted an unconscious person in the water, who was subsequently declared dead by the medical team on board a French assistance and rescue intervention tug, French authorities said. A mother and her baby were taken to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, in France, with hypothermia. The French tug recovered 50 people, the RNLI recovered two people and the Border Force Ranger recovered nine people. The other rescued people were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer quay and taken care of by the land rescue services. A migrant also died trying to cross the Channel in April. Crossings this year As of last month, more than 9,000 people had crossed the English Channel on small boats in 2025. This was 42% higher than at the same point in 2024, when the total stood at 6,265, and 81% higher than at the same stage in 2023, when the total was 4,899. Home Office figures show more people arrived in small boats between January and April 2025 than in the same four-month ******* in any year since data on Channel crossings began in 2018. The figures come as the government has vowed to crack down on people-smuggling across the Channel. Source link #Migrant #dies #small #boat #sinks #crossing #English #Channel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple’s ‘AI crisis’ could mean EU users will have the option to swap Siri for another default voice assistant Apple’s ‘AI crisis’ could mean EU users will have the option to swap Siri for another default voice assistant “In response to EU regulatory pressure” Apple could be working to let users in Europe switch to third-party voice assistants over Siri The move comes amid indefinite delays to AI-powered Siri upgrades originally planned for March 31 Executives are showing concern for the future of the company, as Apple falls behind competitors in the AI race Apple is reportedly working on tweaking its iPhone operating system to allow European users to choose a third-party voice assistant as their default option over Siri. The news comes via a bombshell Bloomberg Apple AI report by Mark Gurman and Drake Bennet, citing “a person with knowledge of the matter” and follows in the wake of Apple’s public struggle to provide Siri with AI upgrades that were first revealed in June 2024. It’s a situation that has already resulted in Apple pulling a range of AI-focused ads and “available now” claims from the Apple Intelligence webpage. These upgrades were originally supposed to launch in iOS 18.4 on March 31, but now appear to have been delayed with no firm release date. You may like This report also claims that Google Gemini is on track to be added in iOS 19 as a ChatGPT alternative, according to people with knowledge of the plan. Alongside struggling to make Siri smarter, Apple is also now seemingly facing regulatory sanctions in the EU after already being fined for forcing users to use its own App Store. Right now, if you ask Siri on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro or newer) something like “How does CRISPR DNA editing work?” the virtual assistant currently has no answer – except to ask users if they’d like ChatGPT to answer. According to an Apple exec cited by Bloomberg, Apple’s usual methodology is “we’re late, we have over a billion users, we’re going to grind it out, and we’re going to beat everyone”, but that’s not working this time around. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. (Image credit: Apple) Where to now for Siri? To back up its claims, Bloomberg’s report notes that Eddy Cue – Apple’s Senior Vice President for Services – is worried that “AI could do to Apple what the iPhone did to Nokia”. Cue has recently been quoted during court testimony as saying it’s possible the iPhone could be irrelevant 10 years from now, “as crazy as it sounds”. While it ultimately might not have a choice when it comes to changes in the EU, Apple would obviously prefer Siri to be able to compete with Gemini and ChatGPT head on, but at this point, it does not appear to have a clear path when it comes to closing the gap, with a senior member of Apple’s AI team stating, “This is a crisis… It’s been sinking for a long time.” While allowing users to ditch Siri for a third-party alternative would deal with the problem in the short term and could be a good thing for iPhone and Mac users, from Apple’s perspective it would also be an undesirable admittance of that current state of affairs. (Image credit: Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP via Getty Images) In his court testimony, Cue stated that for the first time in 22 years, Google searches on Apple devices fell last month. The provided reason was that users were turning away from search engines and towards AI tools for gathering information. While Apple has a dedicated customer base that is going to continue to buy Apple devices almost no matter what, as AI becomes more integrated into people’s work and personal lives, it may be the deciding factor for less loyal users. By comparison, Android devices have long allowed owners to switch to a different virtual assistant, something that’s continuing into the age of AI. Apple has undeniably fallen behind when it comes to AI integration, but perhaps not disastrously so – and when it comes to such a world-changing technology, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Given how unreliable Google AI Overviews can be, it’s certainly not an exact science. Acknowledging that they need time to get Siri to a point where it can rival the others, and giving users further functionality in the meantime, seems like a win/win for Apple and its customers – if the iPhone maker can ******** its pride. You might also like… Source link #Apples #crisis #users #option #swap #Siri #default #voice #assistant Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*** poised to reset trade and defence ties with Europe *** poised to reset trade and defence ties with Europe The United Kingdom is poised to agree the most significant reset of ties with the European Union since Brexit, seeking closer collaboration on trade and defence to help grow the economy and boost security on the continent. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who backed remaining in the EU, has made a bet that easing trade frictions and securing tangible benefits for Britons will outweigh talk of “betrayal” from Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage when he agrees to closer EU alignment at a summit in London on Monday. “It’s time to look forward – to move on from the stale old political fights and to find common sense, practical solutions that improve the lives of British people,” Starmer said on X. At the heart of the reset is a defence and security pact that could allow British defence companies to take part in a 150 billion euros ($A260 billion) program to rearm Europe. According to people briefed on the talks, the two sides have agreed to provide access to fishing waters for 12 years – a move that is likely to be criticised by politicians and the industry – in order to remove border checks and paperwork that have prevented many small food producers from exporting since Britain left the bloc in 2020. Britain was also hoping to secure access to faster e-gates for *** travellers at EU airports. In return, it is expected to agree to a limited youth mobility scheme and could participate in the Erasmus+ student exchange program. Talks continued through the night before a breakthrough was secured in the early hours, ahead of Starmer’s meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. EU ambassadors were meeting in Brussels to approve it. The reset follows US President Donald Trump’s upending of the post-war global order and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which have forced governments around the world to rethink ties on trade, defence and security. Britain struck a full trade deal with India earlier in May and secured some tariff relief from the United States. The EU has also accelerated efforts to forge trade deals with the likes of India and deepen partnerships with countries including Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore. Britain’s vote to leave the EU in a historic referendum in 2016 revealed a country that was badly divided over everything from migration and sovereignty of power to culture and trade. It helped trigger one of the most tumultuous periods in British political history, with five prime ministers in office before Starmer arrived last July, and poisoned relations with Brussels. Polls show a majority of Britons now regret the vote although they do not want to rejoin. Farage, who campaigned for Brexit for decades, leads opinion polls in Britain, giving Starmer limited room for manoeuvre. But the prime minister and French President Emmanuel Macron have struck up a solid relationship over their support for Ukraine, and Starmer was not tainted with the Brexit rows that went before, helping to improve sentiment. One trade expert who has advised politicians in both London and Brussels said the government needed to “break the taboo” on accepting EU rules, and doing so to help farmers and small businesses was smart. Trade experts also said Britain benefited from the greater focus on defence, making the deal look more reciprocal, and said improved ties made sense in a more volatile world. When “trade disruption is so visible and considerable” anything that reduced trade friction with a country’s biggest trading partner made sense, said Allie Renison, a former *** government trade official at consultancy SEC Newgate. Source link #poised #reset #trade #defence #ties #Europe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This Is Why Rockstar Doesn’t Like to Cast Famous Actors in GTA After Jason Sudeikis and Samuel L. Jackson’s Casting This Is Why Rockstar Doesn’t Like to Cast Famous Actors in GTA After Jason Sudeikis and Samuel L. Jackson’s Casting Remember when Ray Liotta’s unmistakable voice brought Tommy Vercetti to life in GTA: Vice City? Or when Samuel L. Jackson’s commanding presence made Officer Tenpenny one of gaming’s most memorable villains? Those star-studded days of Rockstar’s casting approach seem like ancient history now. The gaming powerhouse once packed its titles with Hollywood heavyweights, but somewhere along the way, they deliberately changed course. This shift wasn’t just a budget decision—it came from frustrating experiences that shaped how Rockstar approaches storytelling in their virtual worlds. Why Rockstar abandoned Hollywood talent Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser didn’t ****** words when explaining why the studio moved away from celebrity voice actors. In a revealing Vulture interview from October 2018, he laid bare the challenges of working with big names: I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, poor *******, but we don’t bring in name actors anymore because of their egos and, most important of all, because we believe we get a better sense of immersion using talented actors whose voices you don’t recognize. This candid admission followed a particularly heated exchange with Burt Reynolds during GTA: Vice City development. The legendary actor reportedly shouted “Get the ****** out of here” during an argument with Houser about scene direction. Not exactly the collaborative environment Rockstar was hoping for. The studio’s experience with Jason Sudeikis, who voiced right-wing radio host Richard Bastion in GTA IV, represented one of their final major celebrity castings. While the Ted Lasso star delivered a memorable performance parodying conservative talk radio, Rockstar was already shifting their philosophy. This pivot away from celebrity casting wasn’t just about avoiding difficult personalities. Rockstar genuinely believes unknown voices create better immersion—when you hear Trevor Phillips in GTA 5, you’re not thinking “that’s the guy from that movie.” You’re simply experiencing Trevor in all his raw, unfiltered glory. The star-studded history of GTA voice acting Whose voices will define Vice City’s return? | Image Credit: Rockstar Games Before this philosophical shift, Rockstar assembled impressive celebrity lineups that would make Hollywood producers envious. GTA: Vice City featured Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper, Burt Reynolds, and Gary Busey—a veritable “who’s who” of 80s and 90s cinema perfectly matched to the game’s Miami Vice aesthetic. Samuel L. Jackson‘s turn as corrupt officer Frank Tenpenny in San Andreas delivered one of gaming’s most compelling villains. His performance elevated the entire narrative, proving that star power could enhance gaming experiences when properly utilized. However, this celebrity approach changed dramatically with GTA 5, which featured relatively unknown actors like Shawn Fonteno (Franklin), Ned Luke (Michael), and Steven Ogg (Trevor). Despite lacking Hollywood credentials, these performers delivered iconic performances that helped make GTA 5 the entertainment juggernaut it remains today. And as GTA 6 approaches with rumored voice actors like Manni L. Perez and Gregory Connors, Rockstar’s philosophy seems unchanged—find talented performers who become the character, not celebrities playing a role. What do you think about Rockstar’s approach? Do you miss the star power of earlier GTA titles, or do you prefer the immersion of unknown actors? Share your thoughts in the comments! Source link #Rockstar #Doesnt #Cast #Famous #Actors #GTA #Jason #Sudeikis #Samuel #JacksonsCasting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gartner: Considerations when using GPUs in the datacentre Gartner: Considerations when using GPUs in the datacentre CIOs expect extensive value from their artificial intelligence (AI) investments, including increased productivity, enhanced customer experience (CX) and digital transformation. As a result, Gartner client interest in deploying AI infrastructure – including graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI servers – has grown substantially. Specifically, client enquiries regarding GPUs and AI infrastructure increased nearly fourfold annually from October 2022 through October 2024. Clients are exploring the use of hosted, cloud and on-premise-based options for GPU deployment. In some cases, enterprises will select a “full-stack” AI offering that includes GPU, compute, storage and networking in a bundled package. In other instances, enterprises will select and deploy the pieces, individually selected and integrated. The requirements of AI workloads are different from most existing datacentre workloads. Multiple interconnect technologies are available to support GPU connectivity. A common question from Gartner clients is: “Should I use Ethernet, InfiniBand or NVLink to connect to GPU clusters?” All three approaches can be valid, depending on the scenario. These technologies are not mutually exclusive. Enterprises can deploy them in conjunction with one another (for example, InfiniBand or Ethernet) to scale out beyond a rack. A common misconception is that only InfiniBand or a supplier-proprietary interconnect technology (such as NVLink) can deliver appropriate performance and reliability. However, Gartner recommends that enterprises deploy Ethernet over alternative technologies, such as InfiniBand, for GPU clusters up to several thousand. Ethernet-based infrastructure can provide the necessary reliability and performance, and there is widespread enterprise experience with the technology. Furthermore, a broad ecosystem of suppliers is associated with Ethernet technology. Optimise network deployments for GPU traffic The current state of practice for computer processing unit (CPU)-based, general-purpose computing workloads is a leaf/spine network topology. However, leaf-spine topologies are not always optimal for AI workloads. In addition, running AI workloads colocated with existing datacentre networks can create noisy neighbour effects that degrade performance both for AI and existing workloads. This can delay the processing and job completion time for AI workloads, which is highly inefficient. In a buildout of AI infrastructure, networking switches typically represent 15% or less of the cost. As a result, saving money by using existing switches often leads to suboptimal overall price/performance for the AI workload investment. As a result, Gartner makes several recommendations. Due to the unique traffic requirements and GPU costs, Gartner suggests building out dedicated physical switches for GPU connectivity. Furthermore, rather than defaulting to a leaf-spine topology, Gartner also suggests using a minimal number of physical switches to reduce physical “hops”. This could ultimately lead to a leaf-spine topology, as well as other topologies, including single-switch, two-switch, full-mesh, cube-mesh and dragonfly. Avoid using the same switches for other generalised datacentre computing needs. For GPU clusters below 500 GPUs, one or two physical switches is ideal. For organisations with more than 500 GPUs, Gartner advises IT decision-makers to build out a dedicated AI Ethernet fabric. This is likely to require a deviation from the standard, state-of-practice, top-of-rack topologies towards middle-of-row and/or modular switching implementations. Enhance Ethernet buildouts Gartner recommends using dedicated switches for GPU connectivity. When deploying Ethernet (compared with InfiniBand or shelf/rack/row optimised), use switches with specific requirements. Switches need to support: High-speed interface for GPUs, including 400Gbps access ports and above. Support for lossless Ethernet, including advanced, congestion-handling mechanisms – for example, datacentre quantised congestion notification (DCQCN). Advanced traffic-balancing capabilities, including congestion-aware load balancing. Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA)-aware load balancing and packet spraying. Support for static pinning of flows Furthermore, the software to manage AI networking fabrics must be enhanced as well. This requires functionality at the management layer to alert, diagnose and remediate issues quickly. In particular, management software that provides advanced granular telemetry (including sub-second and sub-100 millisecond intervals) is ideal for troubleshooting and visibility. In addition, the ability to monitor and alert (in real time) and provide historical reporting for bandwidth utilisation, packet loss, jitter, latency and availability at the sub-second level is required. Ultra Ethernet (and accelerator) support When building fabrics, Gartner advises IT leaders to consider hardware providers that pledge to support the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) and Ultra Accelerator Link (UAL) specifications. The UEC is developing an industry standard to support high-performance workloads on Ethernet. As of February 2025, there is no proposed standard available, but Gartner expects a proposal before the end of 2025. The need for a standard stems from the fact that suppliers currently use proprietary mechanisms to provide the high-performance Ethernet necessary for AI connectivity. Long term, this reduces interoperability for customers as it locks them into a single supplier’s implementation. The benefit of suppliers confirming a consistent UEC standard is the ability to interoperate. There is also a separate, but related, standards effort for shelf/rack/row-optimised accelerator link called the UAL. The goal of UAL is to standardise a high-speed, scale-up accelerator interconnect technology aimed at addressing scale-up network bandwidth needs that are beyond what Ethernet and InfiniBand are currently capable of. Reduce risk with co-certified implementations Finally, because of the stringent performance requirements for AI workloads, connectivity between GPU and network switches needs to be optimised and error-free from a hardware and software perspective. This can be increasingly challenging, given the rapid pace of change associated with both networking and GPU technology. To mitigate the potential for implementation challenges, Gartner recommends following validated implementation guides that are co-certified (see box: Benefits of co-certification of networking GPUs) by the networking and GPU suppliers. The value of following co-certified design is that both suppliers should stand by deployments that are done according to this specification, ultimately reducing the likelihood of issues and decreasing mean time to repair (MTTR) in the event of an issue. This article is based on an excerpt of the Gartner report, Key networking practices to support AI workloads in the data center. Andrew Lerner is a distinguished vice-president analyst at Gartner. Source link #Gartner #Considerations #GPUs #datacentre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump Shares Unhinged Plan to Release ‘Terrorists’ On Justices’ Doorsteps Trump Shares Unhinged Plan to Release ‘Terrorists’ On Justices’ Doorsteps President Donald Trump is raging against the Supreme Court after it temporarily blocked his administration from using a centuries-old wartime law to fast-track migrant deportations. On Saturday, the president ramped up his attacks by highlighting a plan to move “terrorists” near justices’ homes. “The president should release these terrorists near the Chevy Chase Country Club, with daytime release,” former GOP staffer Mike Davis wrote online. Trump shared the post. Davis, a MAGA loyalist and contender for attorney general, continued: “The Supreme Court still has an ******** injunction on the President of the United States, preventing him from commanding military operations to expel these foreign terrorists.” The Maryland country club referenced reportedly counts Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh among its members. Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau entered the online fray by summarizing the madness: “The President re-posts a suggestion from an advisor that he release ‘terrorists’ near the homes of Supreme Court justices who’ve merely ruled that the government can’t send people to a foreign gulag without due process.” Davis jumped on the rebuttal, replying “Yes” to Favreau, and suggesting migrants be sent to “wealthy white liberal enclaves, like Chevy Chase and Martha’s Vineyard… Then let’s see how much ‘due process’ you liberals want.” The Supreme Court ruling that has set Trump off is Friday’s 7-2 decision to continue its temporary block on deportations attempted under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The court found that his administration had violated due process by giving migrants just 24 hours notice before being sent packing and providing them with insufficient information to mount a defense. It “does not pass muster,” the justices wrote. “THE SUPREME COURT WON’T ALLOW US TO GET CRIMINALS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!” Trump complained on Truth Social. He followed his outburst with a lengthy rant later on. One man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was deported to El Salvador despite a court order preventing it, prompting the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. to demand his return—something the Trump team has so far ignored. Source link #Trump #Shares #Unhinged #Plan #Release #Terrorists #Justices #Doorsteps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qualcomm to launch data center processors that link to Nvidia chips Qualcomm to launch data center processors that link to Nvidia chips Cristiano Amon, CEO & President, Qualcomm, on Centre Stage during day one of Web Summit 2024 at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, Portugal. Shauna Clinton | Sportsfile | Getty Images Qualcomm on Monday said it plans to launch processors designed for data centers to power artificial intelligence, which will link to Nvidia’s chips. Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) have become a critical component in data centers used to train huge AI models that power applications like chatbots. They are often paired with a central processing unit (CPU) — a market dominated by Intel and AMD. Qualcomm said it is planning to launch a custom CPU for the data center that can connect to Nvidia’s GPUs and software. A link to Nvidia’s infrastructure is key for any player hoping to crack into the data center given the relevance of the U.S. chip giant’s semiconductors for AI. The announcement actually marks a re-entry into the data center market for Qualcomm after previous efforts last decade bore little fruit. In 2021, Qualcomm acquired Nuvia, which designs processors based on Arm designs and has been key to the U.S. tech titan’s efforts with data center CPUs. The data center CPU market remains highly competitive. Big cloud computing players like Amazon and Microsoft already design and deploy their own custom CPUs. AMD and Intel also have a strong presence. Last week, Qualcomm signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi-based AI frim Humain to develop data centers, joining a slew of U.S. tech companies making deals in the region. Humain will operate under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Getting into the data center is part of a broader strategy from Qualcomm to diversify its business, which has traditionally been dominated by sales of processors and modems for smartphones. Under CEO Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm has moved into chips for cars as well as PCs — a market historically dominated by Intel. Amon said on Monday during at presentation at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan, that there are now more than 85 PC designs that are on ***** or in development with Snapdragon X Series chips, which were first announced in 2023. Amon also said the company will announce a new PC chip during its annual summit in September. Qualcomm is pitching its chips as power efficient and capable of running AI processes on a device, rather than in the cloud, where they are typically done now. Some of the touted advantages of on-device AI include faster AI apps and more security, since data doesn’t need to leave a piece of hardware. Source link #Qualcomm #launch #data #center #processors #link #Nvidia #chips Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

OnePlus 13s India Launch Date Set for June 5; Specifications, Colourways Teased Ahead of Debut OnePlus 13s India Launch Date Set for June 5; Specifications, Colourways Teased Ahead of Debut OnePlus 13s will be launched in India and other markets in the first week of June, the company announced on Monday. It is set to be introduced as the China-based OEM’s first compact flagship smartphone, and will be powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Confirmed to be available in three colourways, the upcoming OnePlus handset will be equipped with a Cryo-Velocity vapour chamber for efficient heat dissipation and is claimed to deliver up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge. OnePlus 13s India Launch Date, Specifications The OnePlus 13s will be launched in India on June 5 at 12pm (noon) IST. The compact flagship phone will be offered in three colourways — ****** Velvet, Pink Satin, and Green Silk. The green colour option will only be available in India. As per the company, the flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Elite processor will power the smartphone. The OnePlus 13s features a 4400 sq mm Cryo-Velocity vapour chamber, along with a cooling layer on the back cover, which is claimed to help in heat dissipation. OnePlus says it carried out stress tests using Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and the phone managed to maintain a stable frame rate for up to seven hours until the battery ran out. During WhatsApp calls, it is claimed to deliver 24 hours of usage on a single charge, and 16 hours of browsing content on Instagram. As per the company, the phone also introduces a new Plus key, which replaces the alert slider. It is a customisable button which provides one-press access to essential functions like Sound, Vibration, Do Not Disturb, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. For improved connectivity, OnePlus has upgraded the 360-degree antenna system which now has a total of 11 antennas including three high-performance modules and four-mode ultra-wideband low-frequency antennas. Meanwhile, the company’s proprietary signal-balance mode technology is claimed to reduce the impact of obstructions like handholding and improve signal strength by up to 60 percent. The OnePlus 13s will also feature a G1 Wi-Fi chipset, an integrated Wi-Fi module developed for smartphones in India. The company claims it delivers a fast and stable Wi-Fi connectivity while commuting in Delhi Metro or in low-signal buildings and lifts. The OnePlus 13s also supports 5.5G connectivity in India, which enables it to connect to three network cells across different towers at once. Source link #OnePlus #13s #India #Launch #Date #Set #June #Specifications #Colourways #Teased #Ahead #Debut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amos Robert Luis Lima arrested after allegedly stealing boy’s scooter & cash in Winthrop Amos Robert Luis Lima arrested after allegedly stealing boy’s scooter & cash in Winthrop Police allege the man stole the boy’s e-scooter as he rode along the street in a highly sought-after suburb. Source link #Amos #Robert #Luis #Lima #arrested #allegedly #stealing #boys #scooter #amp #cash #Winthrop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Clues and answer for Monday, May 19 Clues and answer for Monday, May 19 Hey, there! Welcome to the start of a new week. We hope you’re refreshed and ready to handle whatever comes your way. Whenever you need a break today, there’s a new game of Wordle to dip into. In case you need some help with it, here’s our daily Wordle guide with some hints and the answer for Monday’s puzzle (#1,430). It may be that you’re a Wordle newcomer and you’re not completely sure how to play the game. We’re here to help with that too. What is Wordle? Wordle is a deceptively simple daily word game that first emerged in 2021. The gist is that there is one five-letter word to deduce every day by process of elimination. The daily word is the same for everyone. Wordle blew up in popularity in late 2021 after creator Josh Wardle made it easy for players to share an emoji-based grid with their friends and followers that detailed how they fared each day. The game’s success spurred dozens of clones across a swathe of categories and formats. The New York Times purchased Wordle in early 2022 for an undisclosed sum. The publication said that players collectively played Wordle 5.3 billion times in 2024. So, it’s little surprise that Wordle is one of the best online games and puzzles you can play daily. How to play Wordle To start playing Wordle, you simply need to enter one five-letter word. The game will tell you how close you are to that day’s secret word by highlighting letters that are in the correct position in green. Letters that appear in the word but aren’t in the right spot will be highlighted in yellow. If you guess any letters that are not in the secret word, the game will gray those out on the virtual keyboard. You’ll only have six guesses to find each day’s word, though you still can use grayed-out letters to help narrow things down. It’s also worth remembering that letters can appear in the secret word more than once. Wordle is free to play on the NYT’s website and apps, as well as on Meta Quest headsets. The game refreshes at midnight local time. If you log into a New York Times account, you can track your stats, including the all-important win streak. How to play Wordle more than once a day If you have a NYT subscription that includes full access to the publication’s games, you don’t have to stop after a single round of Wordle. You’ll have access to an archive of more than 1,400 previous Wordle games. So if you’re a relative newcomer, you’ll be able to go back and catch up on previous editions. In addition, paid NYT Games members have access to a tool called the Wordle Bot. This can tell you how well you performed at each day’s game. Previous Wordle answers Before today’s Wordle hints, here are the answers to recent puzzles that you may have missed: Yesterday’s Wordle answer for Sunday, May 18 — LIVID Saturday, May 17 — GROWN Friday, May 16 — FIFTH Thursday, May 15 — EAGER Wednesday, May 14 — BONGO Today’s Wordle hints explained Every day, we’ll try to make Wordle a little easier for you. First, we’ll offer a hint that describes the meaning of the word or how it might be used in a phrase or sentence. We’ll also tell you if there are any double (or even triple) letters in the word. In case you still haven’t quite figured it out by that point, we’ll then provide the first letter of the word. Those who are still stumped after that can continue on to find out the answer for today’s Wordle. This should go without saying, but make sure to scroll slowly. Spoilers are ahead. Today’s Wordle help Here is a hint for today’s Wordle answer: Throw a baseball. Are there any double letters in today’s Wordle? There are no repeated letters in today’s Wordle answer. What’s the first letter of today’s Wordle? The first letter of today’s Wordle answer is P. The Wordle answer today This is your final warning before we reveal today’s Wordle answer. No take-backs. Don’t blame us if you happen to scroll too far and accidentally spoil the game for yourself. What is today’s Wordle? Today’s Wordle answer is… Today’s Wordle answer for Monday, May 19 – PITCH PITCH Not to worry if you didn’t figure out today’s Wordle word. If you made it this far down the page, hopefully you at least kept your streak going. And, hey: there’s always another game tomorrow. Source link #Clues #answer #Monday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ambitious Gen Z leading return to office in a bid to get ahead Ambitious Gen Z leading return to office in a bid to get ahead Young professionals are in the office more than other generations, a recent study by real estate firm JLL found. Whitebalance.space | E+ | Getty Images Some ambitious Gen Z professionals are leading the return-to-office trend, eager to climb the corporate ladder, learn from their older peers and upend stereotypes about their generation. Born between 1997 and 2012, many members of Gen Z started their first jobs in the midst of the pandemic. As remote and hybrid work became the new norm, the youngest generation at work were often scapegoated for the rise in empty offices, facing a flurry of criticism for being lazy and shirking in-person work. Recently, JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon complained that while he has been working seven days a week since the pandemic, “the zoomers don’t show up.” Zoomers refers to Gen Z. Meanwhile, British businessman Lord Alan Sugar, 78, urged young workers to get back into the office saying they “just want to sit at home.” However, contrary to those accusations, young workers up to the age of 24 are coming to the office an average of three days a week, higher than all other age groups, per a recent global study of 12,000 employees by real estate firm JLL. Additionally, Gen Z report craving more in-person interaction, with 91% of Gen Z desiring a balance between virtual and in-person opportunities to connect with colleagues and grow professionally, per a survey of nearly 2,000 U.S. adults by events company Freeman. Although young workers enjoy the benefits of remote work and flexibility, they view the office as “a launchpad for their careers,” Dan Schawbel, a managing partner at research firm Workplace Intelligence said. CNBC Make It interviewed three Gen Zers about how being in the office is helping them get ahead. ‘We have no idea how to be a professional adult’ Gen Z have been said to have made several corporate faux pas in recent years from channeling the “office siren” aesthetic to using TikTok slang like “ick,” due to their inexperience. The office provides an environment for young workers to get to grips with corporate norms from communication skills to dress codes. Trust specialist, Sophia Thibault, said the pandemic hit in the middle of her first year in college affecting her ability to socialize. So when her first job at MRHFM law firm required her to be in the office five days a week, she welcomed the opportunity. “At first it was a little annoying having to be in office every single day, but I think it helped me really transition into the workforce,” the 24-year-old said. “I just want to be paid well and be surrounded by the people that are going to guide my future. How can I learn when I’m not here with them?” Max Ranzato Associate at PEM Law LLP Being around colleagues 40 hours a week helped develop Thibault’s ability to interact with a diverse group of people and pick up habits like corporate lingo, buzzwords, and the dress code by observing others — much of which can’t be learned “behind a computer screen,” she said. “Overall, my friends who I graduated with, like being in office because we have no idea really how to be a professional adult,” she said. Max Ranzato, a 28-year-old associate lawyer based in New York, agreed with Thibault’s view and recalled getting his first job out of college as a life science recruiter which shifted from full-time in the office to remote work after a year, because of the pandemic. Ranzato said remote work stalled his learning as his manager wasn’t there anymore to give him advice. “Once it switched to remote, you lost all of the fun and perk of being a recruiter and then it just went to cold-calling people all day alone, not talking to anyone, not eating lunch with anybody, not really making friends,” he said. “I definitely think working from home is very lonely.” ‘I want to be highly successful’ But for Gen Z, working in an office isn’t just about filling the gaps in their corporate knowledge, it’s also about getting ahead. “I want to be highly successful,” said Ranzato, who now works at a law practice and commutes 90 minutes from Queens to New Jersey four days a week just to be in the office. “So I walk to the subway, take the subway to Penn Station to get the train, take a train to Newark, New Jersey, and then I Uber to the office,” he explained. “It sounds very intense, but I don’t mind it.” Ranzato, who estimates his commute costs between $600 – $800 monthly, says it’s worth it because as an ambitious lawyer hoping to make partner one day, he feels that his “learning grows exponentially while being in the office.” In the office, Ranzato interacts with partners every day, observing their behavior and communication style in meetings and asking the questions he needs. “I just want to be paid well and be surrounded by the people that are going to guide my future. How can I learn when I’m not here with them?” His Gen Z friends who are accountants or engineers feel the same way and hope to be recognized by higher-ups. “They want money. They want to level up. They want to do what their bosses are doing,” he said. Schawbel explained that the office environment accelerates career progression via “immersion,” which is harder to replicate through a screen. Thibault said in her former job at law firm MRHFM, she and her Gen Z colleagues were always in the office, and were extremely motivated. “We were on top of our work…and everyone in the office knew if you needed somebody to work on something, ‘give it to the three girls, they’ll get it done.'” Molly Gilbride, a 25-year-old media relations specialist in Seattle, said she’s “confused” when Gen Z are accused of being lazy and shirking the office because in a prior role, Gen Z were the core group of workers coming into the office. “I think we value flexibility and the choice to be in the office, but that’s not to say we don’t like going into the office because it’s too much work,” she said. ‘Hybrid is the future’ Even the Gen Z workers who love being in the office appreciate one or two work-from-home days. Morsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty Images Even Gen Z workers who love being in the office, appreciate one or two work-from-home days a week, signaling an evolution of the traditional 9-5. “The future is overwhelmingly leaning toward hybrid,” Schawbel said. “It’s about the best of both worlds.” Gilbride’s current company allowed her to transition to a remote job due to personal issues, but she misses being in the office because it added a bit of “diversity” to her week. “The flexibility of remote work is fantastic and it’s what I needed in my life at this moment in time, but I am trying my best to get back to a place where I can be hybrid because I love going to the office.” Ranzato also enjoys his work-from-home Fridays because the “freedom” allows him to do the dishes, cook lunch, or fold clothes. With billable hours, he can make up his hours throughout the week, customizing the structure to fit his life. TikTok content creator Gigi Robinson believes “hybrid is the future.” The New York-based 26-year-old doesn’t work a full-time job because she lives with multiple chronic illnesses and regularly commutes hours for treatments during the working week. Robinson was studying at the University of Southern California when the pandemic hit and studying became strictly remote. “Serendipitously, Covid happened, and all of a sudden, the accessibility tools that I was once begging for: Can I Zoom into class? Can I do remote hand in? were accessible to everybody. And I was like, ‘well, why was this so hard before?'” Robinson, who now runs a fully remote internship program at one of her companies, believes that remote work offers accessibility for people like herself. Remote Gen Z workers are not just slacking off, Thibault pointed out. She spoke of her surprise when an older colleague once mentioned that he sits by his pool when working from home. “When I’m working from home, I’m not sitting in my pool…I wouldn’t be swimming in my pool during work hours and I wouldn’t blatantly be telling co-workers that,” she said. “I feel like Gen Z, we want to prove ourselves, this is our first chance to work and be professionals and we are very money-motivated and motivated by feedback, new positions… so that is what is driving us to work harder [and] be in the office. But also when we’re at home, we’re working hard as well.” Source link #Ambitious #Gen #leading #return #office #bid #ahead Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump wants South Korea to pay more for U.S. troops on their soil Trump wants South Korea to pay more for U.S. troops on their soil U.S. joint military exercise with South Korea in Yeoncheon-gun, South Korea. Getty Images Sharing the costs of hosting U.S. troops in allied countries has been a favorite topic of U.S. President Donald Trump since his first term in the White House. But as more countries try to eke out a deal to escape the spectre of tariffs in his second term, Trump is making his own moves: bundling negotiations on trade, tariffs, and defense cost-sharing into a single comprehensive deal, which he called “one-stop shopping.” One such country in his sights is South Korea, which is home to about 28,500 U.S. troops known as U.S. Forces Korea. On April 8, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had discussed “payment for the big time Military Protection we provide to South Korea,” among other issues, with then-acting president Han Duck-soo. “We are bringing up other subjects that are not covered by Trade and Tariffs, and getting them negotiated also. “ONE STOP SHOPPING” is a beautiful and efficient process!!!” Trump wrote. While South Korean officials have reportedly said that defense payments are off the table, the country’s two leading presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo, have hinted that they are open to discussing a defense cost-sharing agreement. However, analysts told CNBC that a transactional approach wouldn’t necessarily work in the U.S.’s favor. Paying dues At the Munich Security Conference in February, then-Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said, “It has been said that trade and security are two sides of the same coin, and one assumes that as trade dependencies shift, security alliances will follow.” But, the image of the U.S. in Asia, Ng said, “has changed from liberator to great disruptor to a landlord seeking rent.” The U.S. president is likely to bring defense payments up in trade talks, Bruce Bennett, Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, told CNBC. “It’s the way he does business,” Bennett said. “So it’s not like he definitely wants to bring troops home, but it is a matter that he wants the recognition and the acceptance of responsibility from our allies,” he added. This was the stance espoused by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, who said in a 2024 interview that U.S. Forces Korea should be overhauled to be “more relevant” to handling China, as opposed to North Korea. One way South Korea could “pay more” is by investing in its forces and buying more U.S. military equipment, Bennett said. This will enable the South Korean military to plug any capability gaps while allowing U.S. Forces Korea to focus more on China, he added. “[If] the Korean government says we’re volunteering to …raise our budget by $3 or $4 billion, we’re going to use it to buy equipment so that the U.S. can have a shift in focus, I think that would go a long way to meeting the President’s interests.” South Korea spent 2.6% of its GDP on defense in 2024, more than the global average of 2.5%, and one of the highest in the world, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. In 2025, the country allocated 61.25 trillion South Korean won ($43.83 billion) for defense, or a 3.1% increase from the year before. However, such a transactional approach will damage U.S. credibility, Hoshik Nam, assistant professor at the Department of Sociology and Political Science at Jacksonville State University, said. Using the deployment of U.S. forces as leverage in trade negotiations could lead close allies to perceive U.S. commitments as less credible, Nam added. “In the long term, this position could reframe the U.S. as an isolated superpower.” How the burden sharing has evolved South Korea wasn’t required to make any financial contribution in its original 1966 agreement with the U.S on troops stationed in the country, known as the Status of Forces Agreement. Cost sharing only became a feature of the alliance in 1991, when Seoul agreed to share some of the burden of stationing U.S. troops in three areas, namely logistics, local labor, and military construction. Nam explained that South Korea’s rapid economic growth from the 1960s created the conditions for cost-sharing. “Both countries also agreed that their relationship should move beyond a simple aid-provider and recipient dynamic,” he noted. The funds provided by the South Korean government also created local jobs and helped local industries, Nam said. “Regarding construction, most projects are carried out by Korean construction companies. In terms of logistics, the equipment, services, and facilities are all supplied by Korean companies,” Nam highlighted. In October 2024, Seoul agreed to raise its contribution for hosting U.S. troops by 8.3% in 2026, to 1.52 trillion won ($1.13 billion). However, Trump’s ‘one stop shopping’ stance to bundle trade with defense agreements could throw the latest cost-sharing agreement by the Biden administration into jeopardy, given that the 2024 agreement covers the ******* of 2026-2030. Source link #Trump #South #Korea #pay #U.S #troops #soil Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump Tax Bill Advances After GOP Deal for Faster Medicaid Cuts – Bloomberg Trump Tax Bill Advances After GOP Deal for Faster Medicaid Cuts – Bloomberg Trump Tax Bill Advances After GOP Deal for Faster Medicaid Cuts BloombergRepublican bill cuts Medicaid for unemployed, undocumented children, Planned Parenthood USA TodayThese are the Americans at risk of losing coverage due to proposed Medicaid cuts ABC7 Los Angeles2M New Yorkers could lose health coverage under GOP’s ‘beautiful bill,’ estimates show GothamistMedicaid Cuts Are Turning Into a Republican Battle Royal WSJ Source link #Trump #Tax #Bill #Advances #GOP #Deal #Faster #Medicaid #Cuts #Bloomberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Chery launching yet another brand, this one at the expense of ******** Land Rovers Chery launching yet another brand, this one at the expense of ******** Land Rovers JLR will end production of Jaguar- and Land Rover-branded vehicles in China to make room for a new brand established with partner Chery. Source link #Chery #launching #brand #expense #******** #Land #Rovers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

***, EU Leaders Meet in First Formal Summit Since Brexit ***, EU Leaders Meet in First Formal Summit Since Brexit Negotiators from the *** and the European Union worked into Sunday night in a bid to reset post-Brexit relations ahead of a summit in London. According to people familiar with the matter, the *** and the EU reached a deal to strengthen their bilateral relationship. Bloomberg’s Lizzy Burden reports from Lancaster House. Source link #Leaders #Meet #Formal #Summit #Brexit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 15s Pro, Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra, Xiaomi YU7 Launch Date Announced; XRING 01 Chipset Spotted in Geekbench Xiaomi 15s Pro, Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra, Xiaomi YU7 Launch Date Announced; XRING 01 Chipset Spotted in Geekbench Xiaomi 15s Pro will go official in China later this week. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra and the company’s latest electric car, Xiaomi YU7, will be launched alongside the new smartphone. Xiaomi’s new self-developed chipset, XRING 01 SoC, will be announced during the event. The Xiaomi 15s Pro is confirmed to be the first phone to ship with this new chipset. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15s Pro has appeared on the Geekbench database with model number 25042PN24C. The listing reveals the CPU speeds. In a post on Weibo, Xiaomi confirmed that the Xiaomi 15s Pro will be announced on May 22. The launch event will begin at 7:00pm (4:30pm IST) in China. The company will also introduce the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra and Xiaomi YU7 SUV at its 15th anniversary event. Its in-house XRING 01 chipset is also expected to be unveiled on the same day. This chipset is based on a 3nm process, and is likely to debut on the Xiaomi 15s Pro. Xiaomi 15s Pro Specifications (Expected) The ******** tech brand is yet to reveal the specifications of its new devices. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15s Pro bearing model number 25042PN24C surfaced on the Geekbench database, revealing some of its key details. The listing indicates that a 10-core chipset with a motherboard codenamed ‘ O1_asic’ will power the phone. The XRING 01 CPU has a 2+4+2+2 architecture, and the listing reveals that it has two prime CPU cores clocked at 3.90GHz, four cores capped at 3.40GHz, and two cores at 1.89GHz. The CPU also has two cores capped at 1.80GHz. The Xiaomi 15s Pro managed to get a single-core score of 3,119 and a multi-core score of 9,673. The handset runs on Android 15 and is expected to be equipped with 16GB of RAM. Those numbers are quite impressive, indicating better CPU performance than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and close to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra is rumoured to come with a 14-inch display with 3.2K resolution. It could offer up to 120W wired charging support. It is likely to run on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Xiaomi #15s #Pro #Xiaomi #Pad #Ultra #Xiaomi #YU7 #Launch #Date #Announced #XRING #Chipset #Spotted #Geekbench Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why fish and youth mobility are the big stumbling blocks Why fish and youth mobility are the big stumbling blocks Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen at the European Political Community summit, in Tirana on May 16, 2025. Leon Neal | Afp | Getty Images Hopes are high that the U.K. and European Union could finally agree to reset relations Monday, after Britain’s acrimonious exit from the EU in 2020. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior officials in London for a much-anticipated summit which is taking place against a backdrop of unpredictable global dynamics — led by the U.S. Talks between both sides intensified in the run-up to the gathering at Lancaster House in central London, with last-minute haggling over emotive issues, including a youth mobility scheme and fishing rights. There has been a “late breakthrough” on the EU reset deal, Sky News reported early Monday, and one senior EU official told CNBC Monday there was an agreement, although they were not yet able to add any detail on what had been agreed. News of the deal is expected to emerge “mid-morning,” according to Sky News, with sources telling CNBC’s sister network that there are “still steps to take” to shore up the agreement, however. Talks between the U.K. and EU’s teams went on past midnight, with one person describing Sunday as a “crazy” day of ups and downs, Sky News said. A press conference will be held at 12:30 pm London time. “A deal is likely,” Mujtaba Rahman, managing director of Europe at Eurasia Group said in emailed comments ahead of the summit. “This in turn, will ultimately pave the way for the U.K.’s participation in EU security and defense policy, including defense industrial policy; a deal to remove friction on trade in agrifoods … and a role for the European Court of Justice in resolving disputes — progress on a youth mobility scheme and more cooperation on energy policy and carbon border taxes are likely as well.” The Trump administration’s recent shift toward U.S. isolationism when it comes to global affairs, and particularly those more acutely affecting Europe, such as the war in Ukraine, make the case for an ambitious reset, Rahman noted. But the U.K. will also be wary of an increase in support for Reform ***, the party belonging to Brexit architect, Nigel Farage. Starmer’s popularity has fallen to its lowest level on record, with just 23% of Brits polled having a favorable view of the prime minister, according to YouGov research released last week, while positivity toward Farage and Reform *** has risen. A deal between the U.K. and EU “is there for the taking,” Christopher Granville, managing director of Global Political Research at TS Lombard, said in emailed comments, but the big question is whether the U.K. government “will balk for fear of ‘Reform ***’.” “This will be a revealing test of the political calibre of the Labour government close to one year after its huge election win.” Sticking points British leader Starmer has repeatedly said there will be no return to the EU’s customs union, single market, or freedom of movement in any deal that he strikes with the bloc, but critics are keeping a close eye on the degree to which he sticks to that position. Two of the biggest stumbling blocks in talks leading up to this ***-EU summit were access that EU boats have to fish in U.K. waters — with a post-Brexit deal on fishing rights set to expire in 2026 and France and Denmark pushing for those rights to be extended — as well as a youth mobility scheme that could enable people aged between 18 and 30 to travel and work freely between the U.K. and EU for a limited amount of time. Matt Cardy | Getty Images The problem for the Labour government is how to agree on thorny issues like those, without looking like it’s returning to a pre-Brexit partnership. “Keir Starmer is really in a difficult position here,” Gesine Weber, fellow at the ******* Marshall Fund, told CNBC Monday. “He will not want to appear too pro-European and go back to rejoining the EU, that is absolutely not on the table here. He has to balance domestic politics and to strike the balance between getting closer and seeing where cooperation can be approved, but also reaffirming some things that the U.K. had clearly wanted to achieve through Brexit.” While it’s easier for both sides to agree on security and defense given the shared threat of Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Weber said, other policy areas that have always been complicated were likely to remain so. “These are areas like fisheries, market access and economic questions, but also of youth mobility and freedom of movement,” she told CNBC’s “Early Europe Edition.” “It’s very difficult to say right now what is exactly going to be the result of this summit.” Analysts at risk consultancy Teneo were skeptical that any agreement would include far-reaching improvements in the trade relationship. “The summit declaration will likely consist of three parts: one will be symbolic, one will be underwhelming in substance, and one will serve as a steppingstone for more tangible talks about greater cooperation,” Teneo’s geopolitical research team noted ahead of the summit. The underwhelming part will be a broad array of announcements on trade, Teneo said, noting that while there might be some agreements to cut red tape for U.K. exporters, major improvements are unlikely without U.K. membership in the single market — a bridge too far for the government. Source link #fish #youth #mobility #big #stumbling #blocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]