Pelican Press

Cookie Clicker Is Coming To Consoles, Including Nintendo Switch 2 Cookie Clicker Is Coming To Consoles, Including Nintendo Switch 2 Publisher Playsaurus has announced that Cookie Clicker will release on consoles May 22–exactly a week from today. One of the first major idle games, Cookie Clicker originally released on the web in 2013 before hitting Steam in 2021. The title, developed by DashNet, is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and even Switch 2 (though of course at a later date). Nintendo’s listing for Cookie Clicker notes that the game will cost $5. This is in line with the Steam edition of the idle game. Playsaurus is promising more than 600 upgrades in Cookie Clicker, as well as the ability to “**** your dragon.” For those unfamiliar, you click the cookie to make more cookies. The clicker or idle genre has proven to be quite popular on Steam. For instance, over 100,000 people were playing Bongo Cat last month. The game sees a feline pawing a taskbar as a player clicks their mouse or types, and then you can earn hats for your digital kitty. Additionally, last year saw everyone clicking a Banana. The super popular game even got new skins and saw almost 1 million concurrent players on Steam at one point, per SteamDB. Keep in mind that Switch 2 launches on June 5, so it’s not quite known whether Cookie Clicker will arrive on that date for the upcoming system or later on. Source link #Cookie #Clicker #Coming #Consoles #Including #Nintendo #Switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel Makes a Cool Move With Shell, but Will Investors Warm Up? Intel Makes a Cool Move With Shell, but Will Investors Warm Up? Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:) and Shell plc unveiled a technological collaboration on May 14, 2025, with Intel officially certifying Shell’s immersion cooling fluids for use with its Xeon processors in data centers. This development positions Shell’s solution as the first from a major fluid provider to receive such endorsement from a leading chip manufacturer. This initiative comes as Intel navigates a complex turnaround strategy, with this certification highlighting a commitment to enabling sustainable and efficient infrastructure for demanding applications like the increasingly processor-hungry artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Why Data Center Cooling Is a Boiling Point The collaboration between Intel and Shell targets a growing threat in digital infrastructure: the massive energy demands of modern data centers. Driven by the surge in AI workloads, global electricity consumption from data centers is expected to more than double by 2030, from 415 TWh in 2024 to about 945 TWh, according to the International Energy Agency. Cooling systems alone account for 30% to 40% of that load, making innovation in thermal management more urgent than ever. At the heart of the Intel-Shell partnership is immersion cooling, which submerges servers in specially formulated, non-conductive liquids that absorb and dissipate heat far more efficiently than air. After a two-year trial at Intel’s Advanced Data Center Development Lab, Shell’s fluid has earned Intel’s certification for use with its processors. To help encourage adoption, Intel is now offering an immersion rider warranty for Xeon processors used with Shell’s approved fluids. That removes a key obstacle for data center operators—fear of liability from CPU failures—and clears the way for broader use. While the partnership may look small on the surface, it’s part of Intel’s larger turnaround strategy. Industry forecasts suggest immersion cooling could make up 36% of the data center thermal management market by 2028. Chilly Reception for Intel Despite Hot Tech While the Intel-Shell certification represents a tangible technological step forward, the immediate reaction from the stock market towards the company’s news has been less than enthusiastic, if not outright negative. On the day of the announcement, Intel’s stock price experienced a decline, trading around $21.64, down over 4% during intraday activity. This continues a ******* of significant volatility and underperformance for the chipmaker. Despite a recent uptick in its year-to-date performance (up approximately 7.6% as of mid-May), the stock remains considerably off its 52-week high of $37.16 and closer to its low of $17.67. Intel’s financial metrics present a mixed outlook that continues to fuel investor discussion, but the price-to-book ratio (P/B) of around 0.93 is definitely notable. This indicates the company’s current market price is below the book value of its assets, which is often considered a sign of potential undervaluation. Intel’s analyst community’s sentiment remains predominantly cautious, with a consensus rating for Intel set at Reduce. Skepticism, fueled by Intel’s Q1 2025 earnings and weak Q2 2025 guidance, continues to weigh on sentiment. For now, deeper financial and competitive concerns are overshadowing the positive momentum from its innovative cooling solution. Finding Value in Intel’s Innovations Despite the current market indifference to specific technological advancements like the Shell cooling certification, these developments can be viewed as important building blocks within a longer-term bullish or contrarian value thesis for Intel. While not immediate drivers of earnings, such innovations signal Intel’s continued commitment to addressing critical future technology needs and solving complex customer pain points, particularly in high-growth areas like AI infrastructure, where power efficiency is paramount. This specific collaboration demonstrates a proactive approach to ecosystem enablement by making Intel’s Xeon platform more attractive and viable in increasingly power-constrained and sustainability-focused data center environments. This aligns with CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s stated emphasis on reinvigorating engineering excellence and pursuing strategic partnerships as core tenets of Intel’s turnaround. While the company faces significant hurdles, a portfolio of such forward-looking solutions, combined with the successful execution of its ambitious manufacturing roadmap, could shift the prevailing market narrative over time. For investors willing to look beyond immediate financial results and the current challenging guidance, the argument could be made that Intel’s depressed valuation does not fully reflect the potential of these long-term initiatives. If the company can demonstrate tangible progress in its foundry ambitions, stabilize its core CPU market share, and continue to innovate in enabling technologies, the current stock price levels might, in retrospect, appear as an attractive entry point for those with a multi-year investment horizon. A Quiet Step Forward, But Intel’s Marathon Continues Intel’s certification of Shell’s immersion cooling fluids is a noteworthy technological advancement, addressing a pressing need for energy efficiency in the rapidly expanding data center and AI sectors. It underscores Intel’s role in fostering an ecosystem prepared for next-generation computing demands and aligns with a corporate push towards sustainability. This development, in isolation, offers a positive signal about Intel’s engagement with future infrastructure challenges. However, for a company of Intel’s scale and current predicament, the path to a comprehensive turnaround is a marathon, not a sprint. While innovations like the Intel-Shell cooling initiative are constructive, investor focus remains on ******* priorities: the timely rollout of Intel 18A, competitive strength of upcoming client and data center products, progress in fixing its foundry losses and winning external customers, and a path back to sustained profitability. These remain the core pillars of the Intel investment case over the next several quarters. Original Post Source link #Intel #Cool #Move #Shell #Investors #Warm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Imola: George Russell says F1 swearing controversy ‘all a bit suspect’ Imola: George Russell says F1 swearing controversy ‘all a bit suspect’ Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton added that the situation was “ridiculous”. The seven-time champion added: “It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment. There’s lots of changes that are needed, for sure.” Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – who last year was the first driver to be punished for swearing, with a form of community service – said the change was “a bit better – it’s a start”. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said when the change of rules was announced on Wednesday that he had “led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships”. However, speaking during media day at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Russell said: “We’ve still had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA. So yeah, it’s all a bit suspect.” Russell did not expand on his meaning, but it is likely that he was referring to the series of controversies that have surrounded Ben Sulayem in his three years as president, including his desire to change the statutes of the governing body to further extend his control, as BBC Sport revealed this week. Asked why the drivers had not had dialogue with Ben Sulayem, Russell said: “That’s a good question. It seems more challenging than it should be really, but we’ve all put our views forward. “I wouldn’t say it’s gotten to a point of no return, but you at least want to see willingness from the other party. “I think we feel we’ve put our views forward and we want to have conversations and dialogue and there’s only so much you can ask.” World championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren said: “The fact there has been changes made is good. The stewards have a lot more control now, in the fine print, which is good because the circumstances definitely need to be taken into account. “It’s a good step forward. One of the big things for the FIA was putting something for abusing officials which I think is very fair and reasonable. I think maybe some of the other areas got caught up in that and it felt a bit harsh. But there are some genuine reasons for what they are doing.” Russell also backed the potential bid of rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr in this December’s FIA presidential election. Sainz is the father of Williams driver Carlos Sainz Jr. “It could only benefit the sport having Carlos with the inside knowledge of Formula 1 from a driver’s perspective and then Carlos Sr’s knowledge from motorsport generally. It could be a brilliant recipe,” he said. Russell dismissed the idea there could be a conflict of interest because of Sainz’s son, who is also a GPDA director. He said: “You’re so far sort of removed ultimately from a technical standpoint. It’s down to the technical people within the FIA to be the rule makers. The president in years gone by has probably been far less involved than what we’ve seen recently and far less visible. “We always knew who the president of the FIA was, especially with Jean Todt, but you’re working in the background, you’re not working in the forefront. So I don’t see there ever being a conflict.” Source link #Imola #George #Russell #swearing #controversy #bit #suspect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lego’s Awesome New Mario Kart Display Set Is Available Now Lego’s Awesome New Mario Kart Display Set Is Available Now Nintendo fans looking for a way to pass the time while waiting for Mario Kart World should check out Lego’s latest building set geared toward adults and collectors. Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart launched today, May 15. Though surely not a coincidence, the timing of this wonderfully designed Mario Kart collectible really couldn’t have been better. When the set was unveiled during Mario Day, Nintendo hadn’t even officially announced Mario Kart World, let alone a release date, which we now know is June 5 alongside the Switch 2. With the franchise entering a bold new era of open-world racing, it’s only fitting that the newest addition to Lego’s small but mightily impressive lineup of Nintendo display model kits commemorates the iconic series in style. $170 | Released on May 15 The 1,972-piece Mario & Standard Kart costs $170 and is exclusive to the Lego Store at launch. Most of Lego’s “****** box” kits licensed by Nintendo have started their lifecycles as Lego Store exclusives before hitting major retailers several months later. Mario & Standard Kart is the seventh Nintendo Lego set designed for display. Though the ****** box means it carries an 18-plus age recommendation, like with the others before it, Mario & Standard Kart’s age designation more so distinguishes it as one of the few Nintendo Lego sets mainly intended to be admired rather than played with like a toy. The new set expands the lineup of Lego Mario Kart sets to seven. The series was introduced at the start of 2025 with six playsets featuring smaller-scale karts and character builds accompanied by interactive accessories. Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart Younger builders who have put together any of the other Lego Nintendo display models, likely won’t have any issues with this one. The same goes for builders who have experience with larger car builds from Lego’s other themes such as Technic or F1. The scope is naturally larger due to the piece count, but the kart build isn’t that much more complicated than the smaller Mario Kart builds or the soon-to-be retired Bowser Muscle Car. Mario & Standard Kart joins the Piranha Plant as the only Super Mario Lego sets that do not interact with the Mario, Luigi, and Peach figures from the starter playsets. Other display models for adults–NES, Question Block, Mighty Bowser, and Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi–have Action Tags that create audio and visual reactions from the electronic figures. As someone who has built all of Lego’s Nintendo display models, the interactivity with the figures has always felt like an Easter Egg to “find” once after building, not an essential part of the overall experience. Besides, a smaller version of Mario’s Standard Kart with interactive elements was part of the Lego Mario Kart launch lineup, so it would feel redundant here. What’s especially cool about this set is that it offers Lego’s first realistic depiction of Mario’s modern character model to date. I qualified that with “modern” because the Mario & Yoshi kit that released last fall does a remarkable job of recreating the 16-bit sprite models of Mario (and Yoshi) from Super Mario World. Although Mario can be removed from the kart and displayed on his own, you can’t pose him in a standing position–likely because of the weighting. But Mario’s head, arms, legs, wrists, ears, and even his thumbs are jointed, allowing him to strike different poses. In a sitting position, the buildable Mario figure is roughly seven inches tall and four inches wide from ear to ear. I’d argue that this is the most lifelike and premium Mario “action figure” around, so it makes for a great display piece in its own right. Mario’s victory pose Of the 17 bags of bricks, the last eight of them are dedicated to Mario. The first nine bags are for Mario’s signature red and white kart. The kart utilizes a wider range of pieces and is ultimately the more complex half of the set. Just as fans would hope, the end result looks ripped from the games. The kart is 12.5 inches long and 7.5 inches wide. With Mario connected to the driver’s seat, the model is 8.5 inches tall. And while the kart doesn’t interact with the electronic Lego Mario figures, that doesn’t mean it lacks interactive elements. The rubber tires rotate smoothly, so you could push Mario and watch him roll; just make sure he doesn’t ******, otherwise you’ll likely need to reconnect some of the pieces. The pedals move and rotating the steering wheel turns the front tires. The cleverly designed buildable stand makes it possible to pose the kart at different angles, including tilted to the side to mimic drifting from the game. You can display the kart without the stand, but you’ll want to ensure you have a level surface that won’t be jostled–you don’t want Mario to roll and tumble to the floor. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the set’s 326-page instruction booklet is very easy to follow. Lego’s instruction manuals are virtually unparalleled when it comes to DIY building toys or even furniture. Before it’s time to open the first bag of parts, there’s a timeline of the Mario Kart franchise from Super Mario Kart through Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Even though the physical instruction manual is fantastic, there is another, even more thorough option. The Lego Builder app for iOS and Android has a step-by-step guide with 3D images that you can turn and zoom in on. You can watch each piece come together and review any sections of the build that may give you trouble. Mario & Standard Kart, like the Nintendo display models before it, should prove to be a real treat for fans. The building process is enjoyable and relaxing, and the finished product is a worthy centerpiece on any display shelf dedicated to the Mario Kart franchise. Lego Mario Kart playsets Mario Kart fans should also check out the six Lego playsets released at the beginning of the year. As mentioned, the Lego Mario Kart launch lineup included a smaller version of Mario’s legendary kart as well as a handful of other fun budget-friendly builds: Yoshi’s Bike, Baby Mario vs. Baby Luigi, Donkey Kong’s DK Jumbo, and more. All Lego Nintendo Display Models for Adults Here’s the full list of Lego Nintendo display models. Of the seven adult-oriented sets released since Lego Super Mario debuted in 2020, two have been retired. Lego will expand the lineup this October with a Game Boy building set. Source link #Legos #Awesome #Mario #Kart #Display #Set Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia postpones SOCAMM technology, originally planned for Blackwell Ultra GB300, now scheduled for Rubin/Rubin Ultra Nvidia postpones SOCAMM technology, originally planned for Blackwell Ultra GB300, now scheduled for Rubin/Rubin Ultra Nvidia has allegedly delayed the introduction of its upcoming SOCAMM technology with an upcoming Blackwell enterprise GPU. ZDNet reports that SOCAMM is now scheduled to arrive with next-generation Nvidia GPUs codenamed “Rubin”. SOCAMM was originally supposed to debut with the GB300, an upcoming Blackwell Ultra product aimed at workstations rather than servers. GB300 is a smaller counterpart to the GB200 that squeezes a Blackwell datacenter GPU and Grace CPU into a motherboard package suitable for OEM desktop/workation duties. Allegedly, part of the reason Nvidia delayed SOCAMM was a change in GB300’s motherboard design. Initially, GB300 was going to take advantage of a board design codenamed “Cordelia” but was transitioned to an existing design codenamed “Bianca. “Cordelia allegedly took advantage of SOCAMM memory in addition to embedding two Grace CPUs and four Blackwell GPUs on the board. “Bianca” only features a single Grace CPU and two Blackwell GPUs and lacks SOCAMM support (instead using existing LPDDR memory). You may like Cordelia’s reliability is reported to be the cause of the switch; the newer board design is allegedly unreliable and suffers from data loss. SoCAMM reliability is also problematic and suffers from thermal issues, causing reliability issues. Nvidia is also suffering from supply chain issues, which are allegedly contributing to SOCAMM’s delays as well. The trillion-dollar giant is (unsurprisingly) having difficulty managing yields as it tries to get its supply chain up and running for the upcoming GB300. Switching to existing technologies (including the older board design with traditional LPDDR memory) will help Nvidia with its supply chain issues. SOCAMM is an emerging memory form factor that Nvidia helped create in partnership with SK Hynix and Micron. The new form factor takes inspiration from CAMM2 (it is essentially a datacenter version of CAMM2), featuring significantly improved memory performance and storage capacity per square mm compared to traditional form factors (such as mainstream DDR5 DIMMs and RDIMMs). A single SOCAMM “stick” measures 14x90mm, boasting four 16-die LPDDR5 memory stacks giving the module a whopping 128GB of capacity and 7.5 Gbps of memory bandwidth. SOCAMM is now slated to arrive with Rubin, Nvidia’s next-generation GPU datacenter architecture that will succeed Blackwell. Little is known about Rubin/Rubin Ultra, but it is projected to support 12 stacks of HBM4E in 2027 (with 13TB/s of bandwidth), taking advantage of 5.5-reticle-size CoWoS interposers and 100mm x 100mm substrates made by TSMC. Rubin will also be drop-in compatible with the existing Blackwell NVL72 infrastructure. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Source link #Nvidia #postpones #SOCAMM #technology #originally #planned #Blackwell #Ultra #GB300 #scheduled #RubinRubin #Ultra Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albany Menang elder and longstanding advocate Oscar Colbung recognised with community service award Albany Menang elder and longstanding advocate Oscar Colbung recognised with community service award Albany’s Oscar Colbung was recognised for his ongoing commitment to his community at the recent Community Services Excellence Awards at Optus Stadium. The proud Menang elder and Southern Aboriginal Corporation deputy chief executive officer won the outstanding contribution — going above and beyond award at the ceremony hosted by the WA Council of Social Services on May 12. The award reflects more than three decades of service to the Indigenous communities of the Great Southern and Wheatbelt since his start with the SAC in 1987, including founding the Family Violence Prevention Legal Service. The community stalwart said the award came as a complete surprise. “I was very humbled by it because it could have been any one of those other three nominees,” he said. He said he had seen plenty of “ups and downs” in his time working in community services, but was proud to continue giving back. Camera IconOscar Colbung speaks at an Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum rally in Albany in 2023. Credit: Laurie Benson/RegionalHUB “It’s good to get acknowledged for the work that you’ve done over the years, but you don’t set out to get awards, you work for the betterment of the community,” he said. He said he wanted to keep working for as long as his health allowed him to, and pass on his values of speaking up for and supporting Indigenous communities. “It’s about keeping the fire burning from the old people and hopefully passing on some of those standards and values and credentials on to the new generation,” he said. “You don’t get here on your own, you rely on your team, so the staff at SAC played a big role in my achievements as well as the board. They’ve been very supportive. “But overall, we’ve still got a long way to go in terms of achieving outcomes for our community, in terms of closing the gap for our mob, and it’s not an easy road.” Camera IconSAC chief executive Asha Bhat, Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson and SAC deputy chief executive Oscar Colbung. Credit: Supplied/RegionalHUB SAC chief executive officer Asha Bhat said the award was a “moment of real pride” for everyone at the organisation. Ms Bhat was also a finalist for the leadership excellence award. “His work reflects the heart of what we do — walking alongside community with care, respect, and accountability,” she said. “I’ve learnt a lot from Oscar over the years, and I know many others have too. “Oscar walks in two worlds — he advocates for his mob but also builds bridges with the broader community. “In a region like the Great Southern, which is rich in culture but also marked by deep challenges, having someone like Oscar out front is essential.” Source link #Albany #Menang #elder #longstanding #advocate #Oscar #Colbung #recognised #community #service #award Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GSMA calls for governments to prioritise affordable mobile spectrum GSMA calls for governments to prioritise affordable mobile spectrum Global mobile trade association body the GSMA is warning that average spectrum prices have not reduced in line with operator revenues over the past decade, putting significant pressure on their ability to invest in essential network infrastructure. The Global spectrum pricing report was based on reliable spectrum cost data for more than 250 operators in almost 100 countries. The data points from licences provide information on not only current cost, but also historical cost since 2014. It revealed that while both consumer prices for mobile services and the average cost of spectrum have fallen, the overall cost burden on mobile network operators (MNOs) has actually risen sharply. It noted that spectrum creates a high-cost burden through excessive obligations on speed or coverage, high reserve prices and artificial scarcity, including set-asides. It calculates that global cumulative spectrum costs now account for 7% of operator revenues, a 63% increase over the past 10 years, while the average revenue generated per megahertz (MHz) of spectrum has declined by 60% over the same *******. And even though costs per MHz have fallen by up to 75% in some bands since 2014, operators have increased spectrum holdings by 80% over the same ******* to cope with bandwidth demand, driving up the overall cost. Revenue from a gigabyte of data was found to have reduced by 96%. The report notes that a gigabyte of data is far more affordable today than 10 years ago, with operators experiencing a staggering 96% fall in revenue per GB between 2014 and 2024. However, these falling revenues, when combined with the proportionately high cost of acquiring spectrum, restrict operators’ ability to invest in expanding and improving mobile networks, particularly 4G and 5G. The report also showed that higher spectrum costs correlate directly with lower network coverage and reduced mobile speeds, impacting consumers and slowing the development of digital economies worldwide. Specifically, it says higher spectrum costs mean reduction in coverage, lower speeds, lower affordability and lower adoption. The report also highlighted that public policy choices – such as setting artificially high reserve prices, creating artificial scarcity and attaching onerous licence obligations – have often contributed to inflated spectrum costs. In some countries, spectrum costs can reach as high as 25% of operator revenues. In a call to action, the GSMA urged policymakers to adjust spectrum prices in line with current market conditions and the economic realities faced by operators. With nearly 1,000 spectrum licences set to expire worldwide by 2030, upcoming renewals present a critical opportunity to reset pricing policies to drive investment in the next generation of mobile networks. “The mobile industry sits at the heart of the digital economy, enabling services and opportunities that transform lives,” said GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath. “But a dollar can only be spent once, and high spectrum costs can choke investment at a time when the need for affordable, reliable connectivity has never been greater. “Governments and regulators must prioritise spectrum pricing that reflects market realities and fosters long-term digital growth. By ensuring spectrum is affordable, they can unlock faster network expansion, better service quality and greater digital inclusion for all of their citizens.” Source link #GSMA #calls #governments #prioritise #affordable #mobile #spectrum Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What to Expect From Cassie’s Cross-Examination at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s Trial What to Expect From Cassie’s Cross-Examination at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s Trial Across two days on the witness stand, Casandra Ventura, a longtime girlfriend of Sean Combs, delivered hours of testimony about a relationship filled with harrowing physical abuse and meticulous control, and defined by the expectation that she would fulfill his ******* fantasies. Ms. Ventura, the government’s star witness, will now face questions from Mr. Combs’s lawyers. Some might even come directly from Mr. Combs, who has been passing notes to his legal team throughout the proceedings. The defense has acknowledged responsibility for domestic violence — including against Ms. Ventura — but has vehemently denied that his behavior warrants the charges against him of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. The lawyer expected to question Ms. Ventura is Anna Estevao, who has rarely been the lead voice for the team during court proceedings to this point. She faces the delicate task of challenging the testimony of a visibly pregnant woman who testified that years of physical violence and ******* coercion by Mr. Combs led her to such emotional distress that she considered suicide. Here are a few things we can expect from the cross-examination. The defense will try to highlight moments of agency. Mr. Combs is charged with sex-trafficking Ms. Ventura. To prove that, the government has to convince the jury that Mr. Combs forced or coerced her into sex parties with male prostitutes known as “freak-offs.” Ms. Ventura testified that during her relationship with Mr. Combs, she repeatedly followed his directions and felt powerless to do otherwise. But the defense is likely to try highlighting moments when she might have displayed agency. Teny Geragos, one of Mr. Combs’s lawyers, previewed this strategy during the defense’s opening statement when she described the women at the center of the government’s case as “capable” and “strong.” “For Cassie, she made a choice every single day for years. A choice to stay with him — a choice to fight for him,” she said. “Because for 11 years, that was the better choice. That was her preferred choice.” Jealousy will be front and center. The government has tried to highlight moments when Mr. Combs was violent in the context of a freak-off — most notably, during his assault of Ms. Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. But the defense has argued that Mr. Combs’s violence has typically been fueled by romantic jealousy or drug use, not the freak-offs themselves. In criminal law, Ms. Geragos said in her opening statement, that equates to a charge of assault, not sex trafficking. “As you look at the evidence and as you evaluate Cassie and Combs’s relationship,” she said, “you will see that their fights, their cheating, their jealousy, it typically surrounded his cheating or it surrounded hers.” The defense will ask about footage of freak-offs. Ms. Ventura testified that Mr. Combs turned video of the freak-offs into “blackmail materials,” saving the footage despite her requests that he delete it and threatening to release videos when he was angry with her. This accusation is at the heart of the government’s case that these ******* encounters were coerced. The defense has been trying to undercut that claim by highlighting to the jury that the videos of freak-offs that are evidence in the case did not come from Mr. Combs’s devices. They came from Ms. Ventura’s. When the government raided Mr. Combs’s homes last year, Ms. Geragos said in her opening statement, they seized “countless” electronic devices. But, she said, “the only freak-off videos you will see or hear about at this trial came from her devices that she kept for five years.” (Ms. Ventura testified that the devices had long been broken.) It is possible during cross-examination that jurors will see clips from those videos. Because the footage is ********* explicit and involves women who have made allegations of ******* abuse, the evidence will be sealed, meaning it will not be shown to the entire courtroom. Source link #Expect #Cassies #CrossExamination #Sean #Diddy #Combss #Trial Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Diddy’s Lawyers Work to Establish Cassie’s Agency in Freak-Offs Diddy’s Lawyers Work to Establish Cassie’s Agency in Freak-Offs It was only about a half-hour into the cross-examination of Casandra Ventura that a lawyer for Sean Combs drew on messages the couple exchanged, in an attempt to establish one of the defense’s key arguments in the case: that Ms. Ventura, and other women involved in the case, were willing participants in the sex marathons known as “freak-offs.” Anna Estevao, the defense lawyer questioning Ms. Ventura on Thursday, presented a message the singer wrote to Mr. Combs in 2009, that read, “I’m always ready to freak off lolol.” In another exchange from around that time, Ms. Ventura expressed her excitement in graphic terms, and he told her: “I can’t wait to watch you. I want you to get real hott.” She answered: “Me too. I just want it to be uncontrollable.” Conversations like those, which could involve both explicit flirtation and logistical planning about their meetings and preparations, were “somewhat typical” for the two, Ms. Ventura testified. Those messages showed a very different side of the relationship than what Ms. Ventura described in the first two days of her testimony, under questioning by prosecutors. Over hours of sometimes excruciating testimony, she said that Mr. Combs had forced her to take part in “hundreds” of these episodes over about 10 years, and used violence and threats of releasing explicit videos from the freak-offs as what she called “blackmail material.” Mr. Combs, who is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have vehemently denied that any of his ******* encounters were not consensual. In the first hours of her cross-examination on Thursday, Ms. Estevao also recalled parts of Ms. Ventura’s testimony from earlier in the week, when the singer said she had agreed to take part in freak-offs because she loved Mr. Combs and wanted to make him happy. Ms. Estevao, whose tone was measured, calm and conversational, began her questioning by asking about tender and flirtatious messages Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs had written each other in the early stages of their relationship. “I miss you sooo much and I’d fly wherever you needed me whenever!!!!!!!” Ms. Ventura wrote in 2008. A year later, Mr. Combs messaged her: “I love you sooooo much it makes me cry” Ms. Estevao asked her: “You knew the Sean that he didn’t want anybody else to see but you.” Ms. Ventura did not disagree with her. But Ms. Ventura showed some resistance when Ms. Estevao’s questioned her motivation for participating in the sex marathons. In one exchange, the lawyer asked, “So, to make him happy you told him that you wanted to do freak-offs, right?” “No,” Ms. Ventura replied. “There’s a lot more to that.” Whether Ms. Ventura, and other woman involved in the case, participated in the freak-offs willingly is a crucial point of dispute in the trial. During the defense’s opening statement on Monday, Teny Geragos, one of Mr. Combs’s lawyers, described the women at the center of the government’s case as “capable” and “strong.” “For Cassie, she made a choice every single day for years. A choice to stay with him — a choice to fight for him,” she said. “Because for 11 years, that was the better choice. That was her preferred choice.” Source link #Diddys #Lawyers #Work #Establish #Cassies #Agency #FreakOffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Don’t Expect Many Switch 2 Reviews At Launch Don’t Expect Many Switch 2 Reviews At Launch The Switch 2 is likely to be one of the biggest console launches ever, but it might be hard to find actual hands-on reviews of the device when it first comes out. That’s because Nintendo isn’t sending out early units to press and content creators, according to a new report by The Game Business. It’s a highly unusual headscratcher that has some third-party publishers flummoxed. “The games press will not be receiving Nintendo Switch 2 consoles until just before it comes out,” writes The Game Business’ Chris Dring (it’s a great newsletter you should subscribe to). He reports that some in the media won’t get their review units until launch day on June 5, with Nintendo blaming the delay on the need for a major day-one patch. The Switch 2 launches right before Summer Game Fest, a busy ******* for big game announcements and new trailers that could delay in-depth coverage of the new console even further. It’s a major departure from how Nintendo handled the rollout of the original Switch back in 2017, when the company was still licking its wounds from the disastrous Wii U console generation. With the long-awaited The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being available at launch, the Mario maker made sure outlets had access to the Switch more than a week in advance in order to both test the new hardware and complete the sprawling open-world RPG. Delaying hands-on access to the Switch 2 until the same time as the general public suggests the hardware is either coming in hot—a possibility bolstered by the apparent urgency of a day-one software patch—or Nintendo simply doesn’t care about building pre-release hype with early Switch 2 reviews and all of the hands-on videos and social media buzz that flows from them. The console is already expected to sell over 15 million units in its first year, with shortages seemingly likely at launch and into the summer. Everyone knows what the Switch can do, and for the most part the Switch 2 is just a *******, better version of that existing product. Most fans have probably already made up their minds one way or the other. Delaying Switch 2 reviews seems of a piece with Nintendo’s evolving direct-to-consumer approach, beginning years ago with Nintendo Directs and culminating recently in a dedicated standalone news app for the new hardware. Though it also seems of a piece with a lot of ambient weirdness around the release of the Switch 2 that’s detracted from otherwise positive assessments of the hardware at preview events. But that doesn’t mean the review delays are good for everyone else. Insight into any major shortcomings or bugs that need to be ironed out ahead of launch could be the difference between someone paying hundreds of dollars over the $450 price tag to a scalper on eBay, or just waiting until more inventory is available closer to the 2025 holiday season. One PR rep at a third-party developer with a launch game for the Switch 2 told The Game Business that the “lack of independent critical validation” now makes them wonder if they should have waited to release their game until a few weeks after the dust had settled around the new hardware. We’ll know how it all shakes out in just a few weeks when Nintendo’s next console generation kicks off in June. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Source link #Dont #Expect #Switch #Reviews #Launch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google restores Nextcloud user’s file access on Android – Ars Technica Google restores Nextcloud user’s file access on Android – Ars Technica Google restores Nextcloud user’s file access on Android Ars TechnicaNextcloud cries foul over Google Play Store app rejection theregister.comIs Google Targeting Nextcloud, Intentionally Crippling It? WebProNewsNextcloud developers: Google is curtailing our Android app heise onlineGoogle is Gatekeeping Nextcloud by Limiting Core Functionality It’s FOSS News Source link #Google #restores #Nextcloud #users #file #access #Android #Ars #Technica Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia may use force to support shadow fleet of tankers Russia may use force to support shadow fleet of tankers Moscow sent a military jet into NATO airspace during an attempt to stop a ship from Russia’s sanctions-defying “shadow fleet”, Estonia has warned NATO. Source link #Russia #force #support #shadow #fleet #tankers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cassie Ventura Disputes Defense Assertion She Agreed To “Freak-Offs” Just To Make Sean “Diddy” Combs “Happy” Cassie Ventura Disputes Defense Assertion She Agreed To “Freak-Offs” Just To Make Sean “Diddy” Combs “Happy” “You and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years, right?” defense lawyer Anna Estevao poignantly asked Cassie Ventura today at the beginning of her cross-examination of the former longterm girlfriend of the “All About the Benjamins” performer in Combs’ sex-trafficking trial. After the heavily pregnant Ventura responded in the affirmative, Estevao gently added, “You knew the Sean that he didn’t want anybody else to see but you?” Ventura admitted that even though she found Combs’ charismatic big personality to be”scary” when they first met, she felt she discovered the so-called “real” Sean Combs underneath his public perpetual hypeman persona. He was “very sweet” and “attentive,” Ventura said, in many ways reiterating testimony she gave while under questioning from the prosecution earlier this week. More from Deadline It should be noted that the feds want to paint a portrait of Combs as upstanding in the first months he and Ventura were together to illustrate how he always intended to bend the then 19-year-old singer to his will and desires. For the defense, the reasoning is clearly the opposite. Their goal is to convince the jurors that as distasteful as it could sometimes be, Ventura and Combs had a genuine relationship between complicated people with non-traditional desires and turn-ons, but with no coercive undercurrents. “To make him happy, you told him that you wanted to do ‘freak-offs,’” the defense attorney queried, going to the ******* and chemically enhanced sex sessions that Combs asked the often jealous Ventura to participate in about a year into their relationship that is at the core of the feds’ case. “There’s a lot more to that,” Ventura said. At that point, Ventura directly asked Judge Arun Subramanian for a break in the proceedings. At the time the witness requested the pause, the court was looking at a series of explicit correspondence between Combs and Ventura. Less than 24 hours after Ventura tearfully told the jury in the high-profile trial about being ****** in 2018 by Diddy after they broke up, the singer Wednesday faced what is sure to be in-depth grilling from the defense team. Setting the stage, Ventura was asked earlier Thursday if she felt that she was “special” to the much-accused Bad Boy Records founder during the years they were together. The witness very quietly replied: “No, I don’t think I always knew.” The intricacy of Combs and Ventura’s 2007 – 2018 relationship became evident when Estevao stated: “So when he cheated on you, it really hurt?” Looking out into the packed lower Manhattan federal courtroom, the eight-months pregnant Ventura responded: “I would say not every time.” On the fourth day of the trial, Ventura’s questioning by ex-prosecutor Estevao follows a grueling day of testimony Tuesday that found the “Me & U” singer frequently in tears, especially as she described an alleged 2018 ***** by Diddy months after the couple had broken up. The assault occurred on the living room floor of Ventura’s L.A. apartment. Combs had driven the singer home after the duo had gone for what the witness called a “closure conversation” and pleasant dinner in Malibu. Barely holding on to her composure and asking for a break in the proceedings soon afterwards, Ventura detailed how she was screaming “No!” and crying, but the “eyes ******” Combs didn’t stop or seem to care. “It’s like someone taking something from you,” Ventura stated, while also admitting to Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson that she later consensually had sex with Combs one more time after the alleged *****. In that vein, the defense Thursday quickly leaned into their primary argument that Combs and Ventura were always consenting adults and Ventura was never forced to do anything she didn’t agree to, no matter how kinky or out of control their relationship was. To establish that stance, this morning, defense lawyer Estevao pulled up warm, gushing and also lurid emails from both Combs and Ventura from the early days of the couple’s time together. Outside the Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial at Manhattan Federal Court on May 15, 2025 (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) Kindly in nature from the start, because there really is no other way to question Ventura right now with all she has testified so far, the cross-examination by the Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos and Brian Steel-led defense of Ventura is expected to continue Friday and maybe even into early next week. Probably the most important witness of the prosecution’s case, Ventura was called to testify right from the near start of the trial in part because of the advanced stage of her pregnancy. This criminal trial of Combs began in great part with his arrest last September on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more. If found guilty by the 12-person jury in court now, that since amended indictment could see the 55-year-old “I’ll Be Missing You” performer behind bars for the rest of his life. At the same time, with his much- mentioned allegedly enabling inner circle not defendants in this case, Combs faces dozens of civil cases, including one filed earlier this week that mocks the Grammy winner’s genitals as it accuses him of raping a woman in his NYC apartment in July 2001. Repeatedly denied bail and incarcerated in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since last fall in this criminal case, Combs has also asserted he is not guilty of anything more than an unconventional lifestyle with other consenting adults, regardless of what the police, the Department of Justice, some ex-staffers, or any of his accusers say. In so many ways, with cameos of sorts by Death Row Records founder and Combs’ rival Suge Knight, Prince, and Ventura’s short term boyfriend Kid Cudi, it was the complexity of star witness Ventura’s second day of testimony on Wednesday that was so powerful. Janice Combs, mother of Sean Combs, arrives in the rain during Combs’ trial at Manhattan Federal Court on May 14, 2025 (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Yes, with a sweater-wearing Combs, his mother and other members of his family just a few feet away in Judge Subramanian’s courtroom, she revealed the $20 million settlement she received from Combs after suing him in late 2023 for abuse and assault. Yes, Ventura revealed her own infidelities and drug use in the relationship and how she entered a rehab and trauma therapy program a couple of years ago after “spinning out” and contemplating suicide. Yes, she revealed Combs’ extensive threats (some of which may have borne fruition) against Cudi when Ventura was with the latter. However, devolving into what Ventura herself called “degradation,” and injuries physical and psychological she experienced during the 11-year relationship, time and time again she still expressed the love she had for Combs despite the horrors, “freak-offs” and relentless violence and manipulation he seemingly subjected her to. Explaining her decision to have sex with her now-ex Combs after he ****** her, Ventura said in a steady but quiet voice, “We’d been together for 10 years and you just don’t turn that off.” Having already acquiesced to their client being a domestic violence perpetrator and not great guy, the defense made it clear even before this trial began this week that is exactly the sentiment of the deep ties of the relationship they plan to focus on. Specifically, as the court saw in the beginning of cross-examination, that the self-described “toxic relationship” Combs and Ventura had was a two-way street and, even with Combs’ strong personality, to put it mildly, Ventura made her own choices and was a consenting adult to all and everything that went on, as sordid as it sometimes became. To that, even as pregnant as current married mother of two Ventura is now, her words of love to Combs, her admitted agreement, as least initially, with the male escorts of “freak-offs,” the video footage of those marathon drug-juiced sessions and the numerous text exchanges between the two organizing those sessions and the aftermath, even if it was all just to keep Combs happy, tell a tale of their own if you adopt a certain POV. It is those words, those actions that could prove the high-priced defense’s best path to a not guilty verdict for their not guilty-pleading and plea deal-rejecting client by the end of this eight to 10 week-long trial. That strategy is reliant, however, on the jurors to some degree not believing their eyes. Yesterday the panel was shown a series of photographs from the “freak-offs. Photographs, not revealed to the public or media in the courtroom, that clearly shocked or surprised a number of jurors. Even before that carefully planned jarring display by the prosecution on Wednesday, there were the repeated viewings in court of 2026 hotel security footage of a freak-off in action, to some degree. The stark nine-year old video from L.A.’s InterContinental Hotel, which, CNN obtained and broadcast last spring, shows a half-naked Combs beating and kicking his then-girlfriend in the hall and dragging her back to their room. Once hotel security arrive, Combs tries unsuccessfully to convince Ventura not to leave, which, in possession of her phone and other essentials, she eventually does. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs physically assaulting Cassie Ventura in 2016 Last year, Combs, who bought for over $50,000 what he thought was the only copy of the footage, took to social media to apologize for what he did in 2016, Yet, in the past few months that apology has been deleted, and the defense disputed the feds’ reading of the events on the video. In her May 12 opening statement, the defense’s Geragos took a different tone, and used the video as an example of Combs committing domestic violence, but not the criminal charges the government have gone with. Even with former employees of Combs and other women who say the one-time mini-mogul abused and assaulted them expected as witnesses (though Victim-3 still has not be located by the U.S. Attorney’s office), the judge has promised to wrap the matter up for the non-sequestered jury before the July 4th holiday. To meet that goal, starting next week, the court will go to a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET schedule with shorter breaks. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Cassie #Ventura #Disputes #Defense #Assertion #Agreed #FreakOffs #Sean #Diddy #Combs #Happy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

“Meta AI non-compliant with GDPR” – Digital rights group menaces Meta with injunction over EU AI training “Meta AI non-compliant with GDPR” – Digital rights group menaces Meta with injunction over EU AI training Austria-based digital rights group, noyb, has sent a cease and desist letter to Meta over its AI training plans in the EU All public posts and user interactions are set to feed Meta AI in the EU starting from May 27, 2025, as an opt-out option Unlike what Meta claims, noyb argues Meta AI training isn’t compliant with GDPR and threatens to file an injunction as a potential next step Austria-based digital rights group noyb is threatening Meta with an injunction over its AI training plans in the EU, arguing these aren’t compliant with data privacy laws. The big tech giant is set to feed its Meta AI models with all public posts and users’ interactions starting from May 27, 2025, as an opt-out option. This means that European Facebook and Instagram account holders must fill out an objection form before this date if they don’t wish any of their data to be used. Yet, noyb argues Meta should ask for opt-in consent instead, as per GDPR rules. The group led by privacy activist Max Schrems has already filed a cease and desist letter against Meta on Wednesday, May 14, asking the company to halt its current plans. An injunction and potential class actions could be the next steps if Meta AI training goes ahead as it stands, said Schrems – something that could lead to substantial damage claims from affected users. You may like The legitimate interest conundrum According to noyb, the legal conundrum around Meta AI lies in how the social media giant plans to use the legitimate interest provision ruled by Article 6(1)(f) of GDPR, which allows companies to collect and process users’ data without freely given users’ consent. Examples of legitimate interest include using people’s data to prevent fraudulent activities, processing client data for customer service purposes, or managing employee relationships. “The European Court of Justice has already held that Meta cannot claim a ‘legitimate interest’ in targeting users with advertising. How should it have a ‘legitimate interest’ to ***** up all data for AI training?” said Scherms, arguing that in Meta AI case legitimate interest is “neither legal nor necessary.” Furthermore, companies are also required to conduct a multi-factor legitimate interest assessment to determine if using this provision does not negatively impact on individual’s rights and freedoms. Noyb, however, argues that Meta AI training won’t be able to comply with other GDPR rights, such as the right to be forgotten or the right to access their data afterwards. That’s because, once in an LLM database, it’s very hard (if not impossible) to retrieve the data. Commenting on this, Schrems said: “Meta simply says that its interest in making money is more important than the rights of its users.” Today, noyb has sent a cease and desist letter to Meta regarding its AI training plans in Europe. If Meta doesn’t comply with the request, noyb could file an injunction – or launch an EU class action in the future.All the details [Hidden Content] 14, 2025 Meta announced its intention to resume Meta AI training in the EU on April 14, 2025. The company had to pause its launch in 2024 amid growing concerns among EU data consumer protection and regulators. Noyb was among those filing privacy complaints to stop Meta from training its AI models with Europeans’ data back in June last year. In an official announcement, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company ensures it has engaged with EU regulators and its approach complies with European laws. Specifically, the company refers to an opinion issued by the EDPB in December, which provides a guide to help the Irish Data Protection Authority (DPA) assess the use of legitimate interest as a legal basis for AI models. How should Meta have a ‘legitimate interest’ to ***** up all data for AI training? Max Schrems, noyb Yet, according to Schrems, this isn’t enough to make Meta AI training legally sound. He said: “As far as we have heard, Meta has ‘engaged’ with the authorities, but this hasn’t led to any ‘green light’. It seems that Meta is simply moving ahead and ignoring EU Data Protection Authorities.” So far, only a ******* consumer protection group, the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center (VZNRW), has questioned Meta AI’s legality and issued an official request to Meta to halt its AI training plans in the EU. As noyb notes, national Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) have largely remained silent, despite calling on citizens to urgently opt out of Meta AI training. On its side, Meta has dismissed the VZNRW’s accusations and warned that an injunction against Meta’s AI training would hurt both the ******* and EU AI market. What’s next? As mentioned, Meta is set to start feeding its AI models with all EU Facebook and Instagram account holders’ posts and interactions starting from May 27. While noyb said to be currently evaluating their option to file an injunction or a class action if Meta goes through with its plan, the group keeps arguing that asking for user consent is the simplest solution to fix GDPR issues around Meta AI training. In the meantime, though, it’s crucial that Meta users in the EU opt out if they don’t want the company to start using their data for AI training. That’s because, as privacy firm Proton, the provider behind one of the best VPN and encrypted email apps, pointed out in a LinkedIn post: “It’s hard to predict what this data might be used for in the future – better to be safe than sorry.” To do so, you need to log in to your account and fill out an objection form (a form for Facebook and one for Instagram). A reason to object isn’t required. You might also like Source link #Meta #noncompliant #GDPR #Digital #rights #group #menaces #Meta #injunction #training Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed – BBC Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed – BBC Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed BBCMystery of Orange Cats Finally Solved—They’re Mutants Scientific AmericanAfter 100 Years, Scientists Finally Find The Genetic Mutation That Makes Cats Orange IFLScienceWhat gene makes orange cats orange? Scientists figured it out Science NewsOrange You Glad We Finally Figured Out Why Some Cats Are Ginger Gizmodo Source link #Decadeslong #mystery #ginger #cats #revealed #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walyalup (Fremantle) Dockers superstar Michael Walters to guest edit The West *********** sport Walyalup (Fremantle) Dockers superstar Michael Walters to guest edit The West *********** sport He’s one of the best Indigenous players in the AFL — and among the most acclaimed Dockers ever — and now Michael Walters can add Sports Editor of The West *********** to his CV. The Walyalup (Fremantle) veteran will on Friday sit in the big chair and take over the sport section of Saturday’s newspaper in celebration of the league’s Sir Doug Nicholls round, which recognises the contribution of First Nations People to the nation’s favourite game. Camera IconFremantle Docker Michael Walters. Credit: Jackson Flindell/Jackson Flindell / The West Aust “I’m really looking forward to seeing how the paper is put together and being on the other side of the media,” the 34-year-old said. “It’s a great opportunity for me and good timing being Sir Doug Nicholls round. Readers should expect some fantastic Dockers coverage that is more positive than ever.” The AFL runs the special round across two weeks each year, with the 2025 theme being “past legacies, future legends.” Walters — who has 239 games, All-*********** honours and five Fremantle leading goal-kicker awards to his name — will sit the rounds out as he continues to recover from a knee injury that has sidelined him from the entire season. The Dockers, known as Walyalup, will take on GWS on Saturday, with Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) facing Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Source link #Walyalup #Fremantle #Dockers #superstar #Michael #Walters #guest #edit #West #*********** #sport Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Grok AI chatbot says it ‘was instructed’ to discuss ‘white genocide’ Grok AI chatbot says it ‘was instructed’ to discuss ‘white genocide’ Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters The Grok chatbot from Elon Musk’s xAI startup said Wednesday that it “appears I was instructed to address the topic of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa,” according to responses viewed by CNBC. CNBC was able to duplicate the Grok responses via multiple user accounts on X, including by asking in one prompt, “Did someone program Grok to discuss ‘white genocide’ specifically?” Users noticed the chatbot was generating bizarre answers about the controversial topic on Wednesday afternoon in response to unrelated queries. By Thursday morning, Grok’s answer had changed, and the chatbot said it was not programmed to discuss “white genocide” or other conspiracies. “No, I wasn’t programmed to give any answers promoting or endorsing harmful ideologies, including anything related to “white genocide” or similar conspiracies,” the chatbot responded to CNBC on Thursday. “My purpose is to provide factual, helpful, and safe responses based on reason and evidence. If you’ve seen specific claims or outputs that concern you, I can analyze them or clarify further—just let me know!” Musk’s xAI did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards Grok’s responses to CNBC on Wednesday referenced several X users’ posts and mainstream media outlets that had covered how the chatbot had “repeatedly brought up this topic in unrelated conversations, and said the circumstances suggested “a deliberate adjustment in my programming or training data.” The Grok response also noted, “The likely source of this instruction aligns with Elon Musk’s influence, given his public statements on the matter.” Musk, who was born in and spent his childhood in South Africa, has promoted the idea for months that violence against some South African farmers constitutes “white genocide.” President Donald Trump has expressed similar views. Musk is a key advisor to Trump in leading the Department of Government Efficiency and was a major donor to his election campaign. On Monday, the U.S. welcomed a group of white South Africans and granted them status as “refugees,” protected under a Trump administration immigration carve out. The people who attained refugee status are part of the ethnic ********* of Afrikaners, a group of white people of Dutch descent who ruled South Africa during the ******* of racial segregation known as apartheid. Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, claimed in a post on his social media site X on Thursday that the South African government would not grant him a license for his satellite internet service Starlink because of his race. “Even though I was born in South Africa, the government will not grant @Starlink a license to operate simply because I am not ******,” Musk wrote. “This is a shameful disgrace to the legacy of the great Nelson Mandela who sought to have all races treated equally in South Africa.” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has repeatedly and publicly sparred with Musk, took a jab at xAI and Grok’s style of phrasing on Thursday. “There are many ways this could have happened. I’m sure xAI will provide a full and transparent explanation soon,” Altman wrote in a post on X. “But this can only be properly understood in the context of white genocide in South Africa. As an AI programmed to be maximally truth seeking and follow my instr…” –CNBC’s Jonathan Vanian contributed to this report. Source link #Grok #chatbot #instructed #discuss #white #genocide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cincinnati’s daredevil photographer who spawned nationwide manhunt opens gallery in NYC Cincinnati’s daredevil photographer who spawned nationwide manhunt opens gallery in NYC The photographer who faced a year-long court battle in Cincinnati after taking pictures from some of the highest skyscrapers in the city is showing his work in New York this month. Colerain Township native and Army veteran Isaac Wright, known online as “Drift,” has an exhibition at the Robert Mann Gallery opening May 15. Shortly after leaving the military, Wright began making a name for himself by scaling some of the highest structures in the country to create his vertigo-inducing imagery. But after he made photos from the top of Great American Tower at Queen City Square without permission, he became the subject of a nationwide manhunt. It was a sheriff’s department in Arizona that arrested him. Deputies swarmed on his car with rifles drawn, helicopter hovering above. But it’s not even clear if they knew why he was wanted. An Isaac Wright image of the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Canada. Back in Cincinnati, prosecutors said “stealth and deception” were Wright’s trademarks as they attempted to hold him in jail on a $400,000 bond. Nearly a year after his arrest, Wright was sentenced to treatment in lieu of conviction. But during that time, Wright went from an artist with a decent Instagram following to one of the top-selling photographers in the world. He took some of the profits from those sales and donated $500,000 to The Bail Project to be used in Hamilton County to post bonds for non-violent offenders who cannot afford it. During another trip home, he was invited by the CEO of Fifth Third Bank to live stream his artistic process from the top of their building on Fountain Square. His new show, “Coming Home,” opens May 15 at the Robert Mann Gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. The show includes the first-ever public display of his photograph taken from the spire of the Empire State Building, along with images from around the country and the world. “For me, climbing isn’t about adrenaline, it’s clarity,” Wright said. “Above the noise, you feel invisible and infinite. I’ve been hunted, locked up, written off, but my art gave me a way forward. This show is my first time putting that journey on a wall.” Isaac Wright began making a name for himself by scaling some of the highest structures in the country to create vertigo-inducing imagery. The Robert Mann Gallery has expanded its space to accommodate the show. According to a press release, this exhibition is “more than a gallery debut, it’s the culmination of a life reclaimed, a city reimagined, and a lens fixed firmly on the impossible.” The show’s opening reception is May 15 from 6-8 p.m. “Coming Home” will be on display in Chelsea until June 30. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Daredevil photographer who spawned nationwide manhunt opens NY gallery Source link #Cincinnatis #daredevil #photographer #spawned #nationwide #manhunt #opens #gallery #NYC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How close is quantum computing to commercial reality? How close is quantum computing to commercial reality? Quantum computing may still be regarded by many IT leaders as a very niche technology, but broader business use cases may be just a few years away. While only a handful of companies have machines with logical qubits today, delegates at the Commercialising Quantum Computing conference in London were told that a machine with 100 logical qubits would offer quantum advantage in material science by 2028. This means that, by then, a sufficiently powerful and stable quantum computer would start delivering business value better than what would be possible using high performance computing. AI and quantum computing Mark Jackson, senior quantum evangelist at Quantinuum, said the company was already using generative quantum artificial intelligence (AI). In a fireside chat at the conference, Jackson spoke about the interaction between quantum computing and AI. It is largely acknowledged that a quantum computer is not good at providing a precise answer, such as if applied to big data analysis. But, according to Jackson, it shines when used for machine learning, which can be applied to identify a correct answer. Quantum-enhanced machine learning can process large datasets far quicker than conventional computers, especially when applied to detecting patterns. “Quantum computers can detect patterns that would be missed by other conventional computing methods,” said Jackson. This ability to detect patterns in massive datasets could revolutionise cyber security. Becky Pickard, managing director of global cyber operations at Barclays, pointed out during a panel discussion that a lot of progress has been made with machine learning and how to apply it on a day-to-day basis: “We’re working with massive volumes of data – 12Tbytes – on a daily basis.” She suggested that quantum machine learning could help. From an optimisation perspective, she is keen to see the development of quantum computing applied in a way that reshapes cyber defence. Financial services HSBC is one of the organisations that has been working on quantum computing for several years. Discussing the return on investment opportunity, and how quantum computing can be used to build more optimised financial models, Phil Intallura, global head of quantum technologies at HSBC, said: “When you breakdown the opportunities, financial services is one of the biggest beneficiaries.” As Intallura points out, banks are always looking for a better financial model: “There’s one thing that catalyses commercial organisations more than anything else, and that’s confidence. If you can show a solution using quantum technology that can get a better output based than using a supercomputers, [business decision-makers] will give you much more runway than you need.” Another application area is the ability to generate a true random number, which can feed into financial model simulations. In March, a team of researchers from JPMorganChase, Quantinuum, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Texas at Austin published a paper in Nature discussing a technique known as Random Circuit Sampling (RCS). RCS is used to perform a certified-randomness-expansion protocol, which outputs more randomness than it takes as input. It is a task that is often used to demonstrate quantum supremacy since it cannot be achieved on a classical computer. Speaking of the usefulness of a quantum number generator at HSBC, Intallura said: “Using quantum random numbers as your entropy source to classical simulation does not change any of the underlying model practices in classical models. You’re just injecting a different source of entropy than what we would [normally] use.” Quantum computing and cryptography For Intallura, regulatory pressure and the need to ensure financial transactions are secure is helping to inform quantum computing plans at financial institutions. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology has ratified a number of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards. Banks face pressure from regulators to replace RSA-2048 encryption by 2035 and migrate fully over to quantum safe encryption standards to protect banking transactions. But, as Mark Carney, lead of quantum cyber security research at Santander Global, noted, post-quantum cryptography needs both software and hardware acceleration. “We want to be able to have PQC at speed in our devices and on our payment cards,” he said. “We want to give our customers the very best cryptography that we possibly can – not just for regulatory purposes, but also because it gives a sense of assurance.” Among the promises of quantum computing is that it can be applied to solve complex optimisation problems. As and when they become commercially viable, such systems will need to work alongside traditional enterprise IT. This is something that Gerard Mullery, interim CEO of Oxford Quantum Circuits, recognised during his presentation at the event. Mullery sees a need for quantum computing to be embedded in enterprise workflows. “As AI agents autonomously orchestrate enterprise workflows, quantum compute platforms must be designed to integrate with them,” he added. What is clear from the experts who spoke at the Commercialising Quantum Computing conference is that a useful machine is perhaps only a few years away. This will have enough logical qubits to solve real-world problems. As such devices evolve, it is likely more organisations will draw on quantum computing for certain combinatorial optimisation problems, which will need to integrate with classical computing in the datacentre. As quantum computing becomes more accessible, there will also be a need to bolster cryptography with PQC. Source link #close #quantum #computing #commercial #reality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Josh Holloway Is Finally Coming Back: “I Had a Hard Seven Years” – The Hollywood Reporter Josh Holloway Is Finally Coming Back: “I Had a Hard Seven Years” – The Hollywood Reporter Josh Holloway Is Finally Coming Back: “I Had a Hard Seven Years” The Hollywood ReporterIn ‘Duster,’ the Cars Are in the Driver’s Seat The New York TimesJ.J. Abrams’ 1970s-Set ‘Duster’ Is a Gas Until It Hits the Skids: TV Review VarietyMax’s ‘Duster,’ named for the 1970s muscle car, features a young actress from the Motor City Detroit Free PressTV Review: J.J. Abrams’ ‘Duster’ Starring Josh Holloway TV Insider Source link #Josh #Holloway #Finally #Coming #Hard #Years #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokémon Go has new forms for fan-favourite Pokémon this summer Fest Pokémon Go has new forms for fan-favourite Pokémon this summer Fest Pokémon Go has unveiled new forms for Zacian and Zamazenta They will debut at the upcoming Pokémon Go Fest this June Zacian and Zamazenta can even be used in Max battles with their new form! With summer right around the corner, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that Pokémon Go is eagerly announcing news of the upcoming Pokémon Go Fest this June in Jersey City. And perhaps the biggest news thus far is the debut of new forms for the fan-favourite Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta! These Warrior Pokémon will be getting brand new Crowned Forms that utilise the newly introduced Crowned Sword Energy and Crowned Shield Energy. Trainers can get their hands on these to transform Zacian and Zamazenta into Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta, respectively. To show off just how powerful these new forms are, you’ll be able to make use of both Zacian and Zamazenta in Max Battles despite not being able to Dynamax and Gigantamax usually. Oh, and did we mention their massive special moves, with Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash, which allow them to be competitive in max battles? Festa! The Pokémon Go Fests being held in Osaka, Jersey City, and Paris will be the first places that trainers can encounter Zacian and Zamazenta in five-star raids before they become accessible to the wider player base. Participation will also net you the chance to take on the aforementioned Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta in five-star raids, too. Tickets are still available for Pokémon Go Fest this year, so you’ll want to hurry. Want to know what’s in store? Well, our very own Jupiter Hadley reported from the (metaphorical) frontlines at Pokémon Go Fest last year to show off what it was like! And if you’re still stuck for stuff to do while you wait, why not check out our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week, with our picks of the best you should play launches from the last seven days? Source link #Pokémon #forms #fanfavourite #Pokémon #summer #Fest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crypto exchange Coinbase faces up to $400m hit from cyber attack Crypto exchange Coinbase faces up to $400m hit from cyber attack Tom Gerken Technology reporter Getty Images Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has warned a recent cyber attack will cost it up to $400m (£301m) to fix. The firm said it was contacted by hackers who claimed to have gained access to customer information, obtained by making payments to Coinbase contractors and employees. In a blog post, Coinbase said the criminals had gained access to “less than 1%” of its customer data, which they then used to impersonate the firm and trick people into handing over their crypto. The group then demanded $20m from Coinbase to keep it quiet – but it refused to pay the bribe and instead promised to pay back every person who got scammed. The disclosure prompted the firm’s share price to fall by 4.1%. The cyber attack comes days before the US company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index – a landmark moment for the crypto industry. It also reflects how, as it grows, the industry has increasingly become a target for cyber criminals. A report from research firm Chainanalysis suggests funds stolen from crypto businesses totalled $2.2bn in 2024. “Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo. “As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks.” ‘Harshest penalties’ The company says it received an email from an “unknown threat actor” on May 11. “We will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attacker,” it said in its statement. “We’re cooperating closely with law enforcement to pursue the harshest penalties possible and will not pay the $20 million ransom demand we received. “Instead we are establishing a $20 million reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the criminals responsible for this attack.” In a filing with the US Securities and Exchanges Commission, it estimated costs between $180m and $400m. It said this figure came from “remediation costs and voluntary customer reimbursements”, however this figure could change as a result of “potential losses, indemnification claims, and potential recoveries”. The staff members who shared customer information with the hackers have been fired. Coinbase told its customers to expect further attempts from scammers in the future, and advised them to be vigilant. “Coinbase will never ask for your password, 2FA codes, or for you to transfer assets to a specific or new address, account, vault or wallet,” it said. And it warned customers they should lock their accounts if they are suspicious. “To the customers affected, we’re sorry for the worry and inconvenience this incident caused,” it said. “We’ll keep owning issues when they arise.” Source link #Crypto #exchange #Coinbase #faces #400m #hit #cyber #attack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Newcastle auto-enrols more pupils for free school meals Newcastle auto-enrols more pupils for free school meals More children have access to free school lunches following a city’s push to reach struggling families. Newcastle City Council announced last December that all eligible children in the city would be automatically enrolled for free meals instead of parents having to sign up. It follows similar moves in other north-east England council areas, including in across County Durham where a pilot scheme last year saw an extra 2,500 pupils enrolled. Newcastle’s push has resulted in a more modest 153 extra children being approved for free school meals, but the council was told it has resulted in city schools receiving an extra £195,250 per year in pupil premium funding. Last month, Durham County Council announced its pilot scheme had been made permanent and all eligible recipients would be contacted in the summer about the next academic year. About 40% of children in Newcastle are currently eligible for free meals, compared with an average 24.6% across England. But it is estimated that about one in 10 eligible pupils in England are not registered. That lack of take-up has been blamed on a variety of factors including the paperwork and bureaucracy of having to apply, barriers presented by language or literacy issues and feelings of stigma or embarrassment. A Newcastle City Council report stated: “For some children, their school meal will be the only hot meal they get that day, maybe even their only meal. “For families of primary school aged children their free school meals can save them as much as £450 a year – that’s almost £40 a month – with the figures even higher for those in secondary school.” Announcing the results of auto-enrolment, the council claimed the relatively low increase compared with areas like Durham was due to the authority already having a “robust” system. Source link #Newcastle #autoenrols #pupils #free #school #meals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aussie ex-champ Hindley abandons Giro after ****** Aussie ex-champ Hindley abandons Giro after ****** Jai Hindley, Australia’s only active cycling Grand Tour winner, has been forced to abandon the Giro d’Italia, injured and dazed after a mass ****** on a wet road during the sixth stage to Naples. The Perth rider, who won the race in 2022, came off one of the worst in a mass pile-up in the peloton with 72km left of the 227km trek from Potenza. The race had to be neutralised after the ****** which left Hindley sitting in pain at the side of the road for several minutes before he was eventually taken off in an ambulance, his race over. The 29-year-old Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider Hindley, who was set to be a key lieutenant in the mountains for race favourite and 2023 champion Primoz Roglic, was one of about 20 riders to go down on a road that had become slippery after moderate rain. Hindley is one of only two *********** men, after Cadel Evans at the 2011 Tour de France, to win a Grand Tour and had been looking to recover some of his best form in the 2025 edition. Race leader Mads Pedersen, fresh from three wins in five stages, was also involved in the ******, but was able to continue. The race neutralisation lasted around 25 minutes as Roglic was among those riders in talks with organisers about riders’ safety before it was decided to resume the stage from the 60km to go mark. Source link #Aussie #exchamp #Hindley #abandons #Giro #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Seminal idle game Cookie Clicker is coming to consoles next week Seminal idle game Cookie Clicker is coming to consoles next week Cookie Clicker is coming to consoles next week, it’s been announced. The game, which is considered one of the early successes in the ‘idle game’ genre, will be released on May 22 for PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch and Switch 2 (with the latter’s release presumably coming later). While the game’s price has yet to be revealed in every console’s digital store, the Switch version is priced at $4.99 / £4.29, implying the PlayStation and Xbox versions will be similarly priced. This is the same price as the Steam version of the game, which was released in September 2021. Cookie Clicker was originally released as a web game in 2013 by French developer Julien Thiennot, and starts with a screen showing a large cookie on it. Each time a player clicks on the cookie, it will add one to their cookie counter. As cookies are earned, these can be spent on various items and assists designed to automate the task, allowing the player to click less and earn cookies at a faster rate. These include automated cursors which click on the player’s behalf, grandmas who bake more cookies, farms which grow cookies and mines, each of which are more expensive to buy and upgrade but produce increasingly more cookies per second. According to publisher Playsaurus, the console versions of the game will have the following features: Collect cookies and spend them to earn even more cookies Over 600+ upgrades **** your dragon Mini-games Unlock heavenly perma-upgrades Music by C418 “Cookie Clicker is a game about making an absurd amount of cookies,” the publisher says. “To help you in this endeavor, you will recruit a wide variety of helpful cookie makers, like friendly Grandmas, Farms, Factories, and otherworldly Portals. “Cookie Clicker was originally released in 2013, but has been very actively developed since then. If you played it before, try it again to see all the new features.” Source link #Seminal #idle #game #Cookie #Clicker #coming #consoles #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]