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Reading FC: Rob Couhig completes takeover of League One club Reading FC: Rob Couhig completes takeover of League One club BBC Radio Berkshire’s Reading commentator Tim Dellor: The deal is over the finish line! Eleven days ago we were told it had been agreed in principle, but this statement – the last of dozens issued by the EFL and Reading FC over the last couple of years – brings the sorriest saga in Reading FC’s history to an official end. The last couple of legal technicalities, and the signing of documents, had been complicated by Dai Yongge being in China, and Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair being in the States. After so many missed deadlines, collapsed deals and rumours on social media, fans were just starting to get anxious again, but now, for the first time in years they can relax. Yongge and his sister Dai Xiu Lee have left the building, and have no stake in the club. The training ground and stadium are all wrapped up in this deal, which is also good news, there had been a fear during the sales process the three entities might be split up. Couhig and Trosclair arrive under the banner of Redwood Holdings, that’s the company that now owns Reading FC. They nearly got a deal over the line last September, and it looked as if with that deal collapsing their chance was gone. Dogged determination, and some brilliant knowledge of corporate law, provided them with a second chance. They arrive as knights in shining armour. Some of their recent tactics to acquire the club may not have been to everyone’s liking, but such was Yongge’s unpopularity, all fans will now be rejoicing. Couhig and Trosclair will use their experience owning Wycombe Wanderers to right the ship at the SCL. For me, Reading is a far ******* club – with a ******* fanbase and higher expectations – but expect forensic accountancy, some prudent signings as they try and build a squad capable of getting back up into the Championship, and above all a renewed sense of optimism around the place. There wasn’t much of that about during Yongge’s tenure. Source link #Reading #Rob #Couhig #completes #takeover #League #club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This New Video Game Movie Adaptation Is An Extreme Surprise This New Video Game Movie Adaptation Is An Extreme Surprise There probably aren’t many people who expected Riders Republic to get a movie adaptation. But Ubisoft is indeed planning to bring the extreme sports game to the silver screen, with a notable directing duo now attached to the project. Deadline reports Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah–known as Adil and Bilall–have signed on for Riders Republic. The filmmakers have helmed the last two entries in the Bad Boys franchise: 2020’s Bad Boys for Life and 2024’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The pair also directed two episodes of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, as well as served as executive producers on the MCU project. Adil and Bilall worked within the DC Universe as well, directing Batgirl. But Warner Bros. infamously shelved the movie, even though it was finishing filming. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: Riders Republic Review As for Riders Republic, the massively multiplayer extreme sports game was announced in 2020 and launched in late 2021. The game focuses on biking, skiing, snowboarding, and wing suiting–with skateboarding being added in 2023. The title was developed at Ubisoft Annency, which previously made Steep. Riders Republic is the latest video game movie in the works, joining a list of over 40 other projects. Along with Adil and Bilall, Stillwater screenwriter Noé Debré is reportedly attached to pen the movie’s script. Ubisoft also has other video game properties planned for film adaptations: Watch Dogs, Just Dance, and Rabbids. Though keep in mind that doesn’t mean they will actually get made. Source link #Video #Game #Movie #Adaptation #Extreme #Surprise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An options play that could reap strong gains in this chip-related stock as trade tensions ease An options play that could reap strong gains in this chip-related stock as trade tensions ease Lam Research (LRCX) is positioned to capitalize on a cooling trade war, with the U.S. and China reaching a temporary pause and reduction in tariffs. This development alleviates pressures on the semiconductor industry, which has been impacted by supply chain disruptions and uncertain business conditions. LRCX, a key player in semiconductor equipment, stands to benefit from increased demand for chip manufacturing as global tensions ease. With an attractive valuation, strong profitability, and a recent breakout signaling optimal timing for adding bullish exposure in a recovering sector. Trade timing The timing for adding bullish exposure to LRCX is optimal, as the stock recently broke above its bearish trendline resistance around $82, signaling a reversal. This breakout, combined with outperformance in both its sector and the S & P 500, suggests further upside potential to its $113 target, making this an attractive entry point with a strong risk-to-reward profile. Fundamentals LRCX trades at a discount to its industry despite superior profitability, positioning it as an undervalued name with significant upside potential in a recovering semiconductor market. Forward PE ratio: 21.1x vs. industry median of 24.7x Expected EPS growth: 15.4% vs. industry median 16.6% Expected revenue growth: 10.8% vs. industry average 10.9% Net margins: 27.2% vs. industry average 10.4% Bullish thesis Trade war relief : The temporary pause and reduction in tariffs between the U.S. and China have boosted demand for semiconductor equipment and benefiting LRCX’s growth outlook. Attractive valuation : LRCX’s attractive valuation combined with a strong net margins position it as an undervalued leader in the semiconductor space. Institutional accumulation : LRCX is outperforming both its sector and the S & P 500, reflecting strong momentum and potential institutional accumulation. Options trade To capitalize on LRCX’s potential upside, I’m buying a June 27 $85/$95 Call Vertical @ $3.01 Debit. This entails: Buying the June 27 $85 call @ $4.10 Selling the June 27 $95 call @ $1.09 The maximum reward is $699 if LRCX is above $95 at expiration. The maximum risk is $301 if LRCX is below $85 at expiration. The breakeven point for this trade is $88.01. View this Trade with updated prices at OptionsPlay . This strategy positions you to benefit from LRCX’s anticipated rally, leveraging its technical breakout, attractive valuation, and the easing of trade war tensions to profit from a high-quality semiconductor name with defined risk. With LRCX outperforming its sector, this call vertical offers a compelling opportunity to capture upside potential in a recovering market. DISCLOSURES: None. All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL’S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer. Source link #options #play #reap #strong #gains #chiprelated #stock #trade #tensions #ease Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cassie Ventura resumes testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: ‘He was yelling at me’ – The Guardian Cassie Ventura resumes testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: ‘He was yelling at me’ – The Guardian Cassie Ventura resumes testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: ‘He was yelling at me’ The GuardianLive updates: Cassie Ventura testifies in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial CNNWhat experts want you to know about PTSD and abusive relationships amid the Diddy trial USA TodayWhat Is a ‘Freak Off’? Meaning, According to Diddy Prosecutors TODAY.comCassie Set to Continue Emotional Testimony at Diddy Trial: Day 3 Live Updates People.com Source link #Cassie #Ventura #resumes #testimony #Sean #Diddy #Combs #trial #yelling #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US PGA 2025: Rory McIlroy wants to create ‘more highlights’ US PGA 2025: Rory McIlroy wants to create ‘more highlights’ When asked if he still has a ‘North Star’ achievement following his emotional Masters win, McIlroy added: “Not necessarily. I think everyone saw how hard having a North Star is and being able to get over the line. “If I can try to get the best out of myself every week, I know what my abilities are, I know the golf that I can play and if I keep doing that every week, especially in these four big ones each year, I know I’ll have my chances.” Having won all four majors, McIlroy’s next significant achievement could be to match Sir Nick Faldo’s European record of six major titles. “I’ve always said I’m not going to put a number on it,” added McIlroy, who will play alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Xander Schauffele during the first two rounds of the US PGA. “I’ve talked about becoming the best European ever or the best international player, whatever that is, but the numbers tell one thing and it might not be the full story. “I feel like I burdened myself with the career Grand Slam stuff and I want to enjoy this. I want to enjoy what I’ve achieved and enjoy the last decade or whatever of my career. “I don’t want to burden myself with numbers or statistics. I just want to play the best golf I can.” Source link #PGA #Rory #McIlroy #create #highlights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Michael Walters: My top 8 Indigenous AFL players in history ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round Michael Walters: My top 8 Indigenous AFL players in history ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round I’ve chosen the players who inspired me and shaped my career, made an impact on the field and were also role models off the field, writes Michael Walters as he picks his top eight Indigenous AFL players. Source link #Michael #Walters #top #Indigenous #AFL #players #history #ahead #Sir #Doug #Nicholls Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Newark mayor: Arrest had nothing to do with DHS Newark mayor: Arrest had nothing to do with DHS Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, New Jersey, says he is not trying to pick a fight with the Department of Homeland Security. He says he was arrested while trying to learn more about a private company that isn’t following state laws as it operates an immigrant detention center. #ICE #immigration #newark Source link #Newark #mayor #Arrest #DHS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A new MSI Claw is rumored to be in the works – and it could get AMD’s best handheld processor to challenge the Legion Go 2 A new MSI Claw is rumored to be in the works – and it could get AMD’s best handheld processor to challenge the Legion Go 2 A new leak reveals a new MSI Claw handheld, with the model name ‘MSI Claw 7 A2HM’ It appears to be an upgrade from the original MSI Claw A1M Previous rumors suggested a new MSI Claw would use one of AMD’s Ryzen Z2 processors The biggest computing tech event of the year, Computex 2025, is fast approaching, which means that new handheld gaming PCs could be unveiled – and fortunately, a new leak suggests a new handheld from MSI may be one of them. As reported by VideoCardz, a new MSI Claw has been spotted by a leaker on X (@94G8LA), based on MSI’s hardware parts store. It appears to be a new variant of the original MSI Claw A1M, as it’s labelled ‘MSI Claw 7 A2HM’, but is instead rumored to use one of AMD’s Ryzen Z2 APUs or Intel’s Arrow Lake processors. This comes after speculation of MSI eventually releasing a new Claw handheld that could take advantage of Team Red’s new APU lineup; while this should be taken with a grain of salt, this leak makes the previous rumors more plausible. You may like The purported new Claw won’t be an ‘AI+’ handheld based on its leaked model name, so it may be safe to assume that it might not be as powerful as the Claw 8’s Core Ultra 7 258V chip. However, it could likely be an upgrade from the original A1M model, which used the Core Ultra 5 155H processor (and that wasn’t received well based on reviews). Regardless, the question remains; if it does use one of AMD’s Ryzen Z2 processors, will this be the Z2 Go (which we’ve seen on the Legion Go S), the Z2, or the Z2 Extreme? If the latter is the answer, then we could be in for a fantastic upgrade from MSI’s original A1M handheld mishap. (Image credit: Jouri Altorf) I’d absolutely love a Ryzen Z2 Extreme MSI Claw, but just not with a 7-inch screen… The negative consensus surrounding the MSI Claw A1M is old news at this point; it was criticized due to its poor gaming performance and battery life, along with the inability to compete against other handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally. Despite the massive improvements made with the Claw 8 AI+, MSI looks set to right its wrongs with the rumored Claw A2HM model (especially if it’s using the Z2 Extreme APU) – but the only gripe I have is that it will be another 7-inch display. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. It’s not terrible by any means, as I’ve become accustomed to using my Asus ROG Ally’s 7-inch screen, but it’s definitely not ideal. A lot of potential screen space is already taken up by bezels, and this is why I’ve had the MSI Claw 8 AI+ on my wishlist, thanks to its 8-inch screen and powerful processor alongside it for great performance. These are still just rumors, of course, but if MSI can launch an 8-inch A2HM as well, it would actually be great competition for the Claw 8 AI+ with more variety for its consumers. You may also like… Source link #MSI #Claw #rumored #works #AMDs #handheld #processor #challenge #Legion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Floods force evacuation of elementary schools in northwestern Maryland – The Washington Post Floods force evacuation of elementary schools in northwestern Maryland – The Washington Post Floods force evacuation of elementary schools in northwestern Maryland The Washington Post200 rescued from Maryland elementary school using boats as flood waters started to reach the second floor CNN12-year-old boy remains missing, schools closed due to East Coast severe flooding NBC NewsOfficials searching for child swept away by flood waters cbs19news.comAlbemarle rescue crews searching for missing child in floodwaters WVIR Source link #Floods #force #evacuation #elementary #schools #northwestern #Maryland #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hunger is income problem not a food issue Hunger is income problem not a food issue Harriet Heywood & Louise Hulland BBC News, Cambridgeshire Cambridge City Foodbank “[There is ] no shame in needing to come… no one should be put in that position in the first place,” says senior organiser, Kate McIntosh An emergency food service says more people are turning to them for help than ever before. Cambridge City Foodbank gave out 17,666 emergency food parcels last year, 20% more than in 2023. The service said in some cases parents had been going without food so their children could eat, or were making items like one tea bag last a week. Senior organiser, Kate McIntosh, said hunger in Cambridge was not always a food problem, but more of an income issue. Cambridge City Foodbank “We will always be here to help people for as long as there is a need for us,” Ms McIntosh added Visitors to the foodbank receive a parcel with three days’ of nutritionally balanced food for everyone in their household. Ms McIntosh said that, thanks to the generosity of others, the service was able to keep food on its shelves – but it was becoming stretched as more people sought help. “It doesn’t come down to if people are able to budget or not, it’s the fact there is just not enough money in the first place to stretch to cover people’s essential needs,” she said. “There are so many more people turning to us for the first time and a lot more people needing to rely on us more than once. “They don’t turn to us because they don’t know where their supermarket is or how to cook… people are making impossible choices between heating or doing a food shop.” Cambridge City Foodbank To use the foodbank a food voucher is needed. These can be attained via a referral process through community organisations like housing associations, GPs and advice charities The foodbank said that, nationally, 86% of people who experienced food insecurity would not seek out help. It added when people did come to them for help it was because they were “really pushed to the limit”. Ms McIntosh said: “When people do visit us, quite often they have been going without food for quite some time because it can take a lot of courage to turn up. “This is in Cambridge on our doorstep. This is people’s neighbours, friends, colleagues – it’s becoming such a common experience.” Source link #Hunger #income #problem #food #issue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kojima Reveals Either An Amazing Or Horrible Game Idea Kojima Reveals Either An Amazing Or Horrible Game Idea Death Stranding 2: On the Beach writer-director Hideo Kojima is full of game ideas. Speaking on his podcast (via IGN), Kojima said he’s intrigued by the idea of a “forgetting game” where the player would have to get through a game quickly to make the most of it. The character would forget important information and lose certain abilities if people stopped playing for a long enough time. For example, if you didn’t play this game every day, the character would forget things like “how to fire their gun or what their job is,” and with enough time away, the player would forget how to even move. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: Death Stranding 2 – On The Beach Trailer Full Breakdown Whether or not Kojima has explored this concept in any real way beyond discussing it is unknown, however. For now, it seems to be just that–a concept that he may or may not ever explore. Another concept that Kojima floated in the podcast was a game where a game begins with a character being born, then becoming a child, and then an adult, ultimately running through when the character is 70 or 80. “When you are a teenager you’ll be able to run faster but by the time you reach 60 you’ll slow down a bit,” Kojima said, adding that no one would buy this game. Also during the podcast, Kojima said one of his original plans for Death Stranding 2 was for main character Sam’s beard to “gradually grow out over time.” Players would have to remember to shave, if they wanted. “If they didn’t, Sam would end up looking unkempt,” Kojima said. But Kojima abandoned plans for this feature because the actor who plays Sam, Norman Reedus, is a famous person. “I didn’t want him to look uncool,” Kojima said. For what it’s worth, Reedus has an amazing head of hair, but it’s true he’s not known for donning a massive beard. Death Stranding 2 launches on June 26 for PS5. For lots more, be sure to read GameSpot’s hands-on preview of Death Stranding 2 that chronicles our 30 hours of time with the game. In addition to Reedus, the cast for Death Stranding 2 includes Elle Fanning, Troy Baker, Lea Seydoux, George Miller, and Debra Wilson. Beyond Death Stranding 2, Kojima is making at least two other games. These include OD and Physint. We don’t know much about them, but OD is being made in partnership with Xbox and Phsyint with Sony. Source link #Kojima #Reveals #Amazing #Horrible #Game #Idea Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exceptionally low river levels forecast in parts of the *** Exceptionally low river levels forecast in parts of the *** Malcolm Prior, Georgina Rannard, Jenny Kumah BBC Rural Affairs and Climate and Science teams Getty Images The ***’s rivers are forecast to hit exceptionally low levels in some parts of the country in the next three months, according to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), raising questions over supplies to households, farmers and businesses. The warning comes after the driest spring in England since 1961, with northern regions experiencing the driest start to the year in nearly a century. Almost all of the *** is expected to have below normal or low river levels in May, apart from the south-west of England. The Environment Agency has said that the *** is at medium risk of drought and warned households of the risk of water restrictions. The next 2-3 weeks will be “crucial” in determining if drought will happen, says Mark Owen, head of fisheries for the Angling Trust and a member of the National Drought Group. That is the group led by the government that can declare if drought is officially underway. The country is not now in drought, but the impacts of the exceptionally dry weather are already being felt. Some farmers are being forced to water their crops instead of relying on rainfall, which is something that normally happens later in the year. “We are having a drought now from an agricultural point of view,” arable farmer Nick Deane told BBC News from his farm in Norfolk. He had to start irrigating his fields in March. “We have to ration our water and decide which areas we are going to put that water on in order to keep the crops growing,” he said. He warned that an extremely long drought would mean farmers struggle to produce food and more produce would need to be imported. The dry and sunny weather this year has led to a larger area of the *** burned by wildfires this year compared to in any other entire year. Malcolm Prior/BBC Nick Deane is worried about how early in the year he has been forced to irrigate his crops The last drought was in June-August 2022, which was the joint hottest summer (with 2018) and fifth driest since the 1890s. Five companies introduced hosepipe bans, affecting 19 million people, and waterways had restricted navigation. That drought was preceded by six months of very dry weather. However, the wet summer in 2024 and moderately-wet winter means water supplies are in a better place now and water companies have larger reserves to rely on. But dry weather earlier in the year has risks. It does “potentially pose a greater risk to water resources later on in the year, particularly if the dry weather continues,” says Stephen Turner, hydrologist at the *** Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Last week, Richard Thompson, chair of the National Drought Group, warned that water companies may need to bring in water restrictions to protect supplies if the dry weather continues. At the moment the key questions are when will it next rain and when it does, how much will there be. There are some signs that some rain is on the horizon, with unsettled weather from the west at the end of next week. Drinking water comes from different places depending on the geography and geology of regions. Roughly speaking, the south of England takes a long time to get into drought but a long time to leave. That’s because a lot of rainfall is stored in rocks underground and takes a long time to reach rivers and water supplies. By contrast, the north of England quickly enters drought and quickly gets out because reservoirs are more heavily used for water supplies. Water Companies introduce hosepipe bans when water supplies reach a certain low in their areas. If drought conditions become severe, the government can restrict irrigation of farms, reduce boats’ movement on waterways, and limit water available to non-essential businesses like car washes. In an extreme scenario, it could ration the amount of water available to homes and businesses but that has not happened since 1976. Water industry bosses and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) are calling on the government to do more to ensure the driest parts of the *** have secure water supplies in the face of any future drought. Water ***, which represents the water industry, is calling for a new national water grid of pipes, canals and reservoirs to be set up in England to move water from the wettest regions to where it is most needed. And farmers say they need more government funding and less planning red tape to build their own reservoirs to supply their farms. Malcolm Prior/BBC Tim Place is one of the six farmers who built their own 270,000 cubic metre reservoir to secure water supplies Mr Deane came together with five other farmers, including fruit growers, to build their own reservoir. It took four years and cost more than £1m. It has proved vital, they say, with 15% of the stored water already used this year in the dry conditions. But the group said obtaining planning permission was costly and difficult. A government spokesman said it was working with the agricultural sector to improve its water supply resilience and establish more groups of farmers who could work together to develop their own reservoirs. He added: “Over £104bn of private sector investment has been secured to fund essential infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs, to help secure our future water supply for farmers.” Are the dry conditions linked to climate change? The prolonged dry weather is linked to what are called “blocking highs” when a high pressure weather system becomes stuck. Scientists do not know if this blocked pattern is linked to climate change. Global warming is expected to cause more extreme weather events globally. Studies about our future climate suggest more and longer periods of dry weather as well as periods of less rainfall in the ***. Winters are likely to be wetter and warmer. That could exacerbate other forms of drought like hydrological or agricultural drought, according to the Met Office. Source link #Exceptionally #river #levels #forecast #parts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Western Digital’s New Gaming SSD Can Write 14GB Per Second Western Digital’s New Gaming SSD Can Write 14GB Per Second Western Digital’s new NVMe SSD hits speeds surpassing just about everything else on the market at the moment. The WD ****** SN8100 can read 14,900MB per second while also offering write speeds of up to 14,000MB (14GB). Available in three different capacities, the SN8100 is geared toward users with high-end gaming PC rigs. Though you could add a heatsink to the SN8100 and install it in your PS5, the SN8100’s performance far exceeds the requirements for PlayStation’s console. Starting at $180 The WD ****** SN8100 reaches the theoretical performance limit of PCIe 5.0, meaning you won’t find a faster SSD unless you jump to PCIe 6.0. The lineup uses Western Digital’s latest NAND technology for added reliability, and with an endurance up to 2,400 TBW, you can expect to use the drives for a long time before running into any hiccups. Early reviews for the SSD have been nothing short of stellar, with critics and fans pointing out its wonderful performance, rapid load times, and reliability. They’re also more power-efficient than PCIe 4.0 alternatives from WD ******. This SSD is about as premium as it gets–but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the the right for your rig. And if you’re working on a budget, its price tag might put it out of reach. Thankfully, there are plenty of other great SSDs to consider. From older WD ****** products to those from Samsung, Crucial, and Lexar, here’s a list of popular NVMe SSDs to check out. Many of these are currently on ***** at Amazon. More NVMe SSDs for PC Gaming & PS5 Samsung 990 Evo Plus 1TB (7,250MB/s) — $75 ($110) Samsung 990 Evo Plus 2TB (7,250MB/s) — $140 ($185) Samsung 990 Pro 2TB (7,450MB/s) — $170 ($250) WD ****** SN850X 2TB (7,300MB/s) — $164 ($190) WD ****** SN7100 2TB (7,250MB/s) — $140 ($149) WD ****** SN850P 1TB for PS5 (7,300MB/s) — $117 ($159) WD ****** SN850P 2TB for PS5 (7,300MB/s) — $193 ($252) Crucial P310 1TB (7,100MB/s) — $74.56 Crucial P310 2TB (7,100MB/s) — $130 Crucial P310 4TB (7,100MB/s) — $130 Lexar NM1090 Pro 2TB (14,000MB/s) — $250 ($270) Source link #Western #Digitals #Gaming #SSD #Write #14GB Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The GOP wants to deregulate AI — provision in Budget Reconciliation bill blocks state governments from meddling for 10 years The GOP wants to deregulate AI — provision in Budget Reconciliation bill blocks state governments from meddling for 10 years House republicans are trying to sneak a 10-year pause on AI regulation into the Budget Reconciliation bill. Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY), who chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, introduced a provision to the Budget Reconciliation bill last Sunday night that will prevent states and local governments from enforcing any legislation on AI. According to 404 Media, this limitation was inserted into an already controversial bill that will cut Medicaid access to millions of Americans, and would take away the power of individual states to regulate artificial intelligence as they would see fit. The text of the proposal, which is under Title IV, Subtitle C, Part 2c of the bill, says, “In general — except as provided in paragraph (2), no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10-year ******* beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.” This means that states will lose power over anything related to AI, as they cannot implement their own rules and must follow the federal directive. You may like Several states have already enacted laws that control the use of AI in their respective territories. For example, California mandates that health care providers must tell their patients if they use generative AI to communicate with them. Furthermore, AI developers in the state must document and publicly share the information about the data they used to train their models — a crucial law to help prevent AI companies from stealing copyrighted data. New York also requires businesses that use AI for hiring to conduct audits of their tools to avoid any bias. What’s more concerning is that the bill’s text covers such a broad spectrum of AI, including models, systems, and even “automated decision systems”. This means that both new AI models and old algorithms that can make automated decisions are covered by the federal law. Many AI and tech companies have been trying to get closer to President Trump and the Republican Party, and it seems that their efforts are bearing fruit. Several key personalities involved in AI have become key members of the administration, including Elon Musk, former PayPal COO David Sacks, and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who has invested in Facebook, Twitter, and OpenAI. The current government has also suspended or reversed former President Biden’s executive orders aimed at reducing the threat of uncontrolled AI development. 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. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #GOP #deregulate #provision #Budget #Reconciliation #bill #blocks #state #governments #meddling #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Morgan Stanley says China’s ‘best AI enabler’ is worth $200 Morgan Stanley says China’s ‘best AI enabler’ is worth $200 Rising demand in the artificial intelligence space could mean a boost in shares of Alibaba , according to Morgan Stanley. Analyst Gary Yu reiterated his overweight rating on the e-commerce giant and has a $180 price target on the name, implying nearly 37% upside from Tuesday’s close. Using a sum-of-the-parts valuation analysis, Yu said the stock could be worth $200 per share, or about 52% higher than its latest closing price. Alibaba shares have already soared more than 57% year to date, outpacing the broader market. “Alibaba is a major AI enabler poised to benefit from surging AI inference demand,” the analyst wrote in a Tuesday note entitled “China’s Best AI Enabler.” “AI inference demand has surged after DeepSeek’s moment in January . While the three major hyperscalers have significantly hiked capex since 2H24, we believe Tencent and Bytedance prioritize their GPU capacity for internal demand, leaving AliCloud as a unique [cloud service provider] with sizable allocation for external customers.” BABA .SPX YTD mountain BABA vs. S & P 500, year-to-date Yu estimates that year-over-year cloud revenue growth could rise from 13% in the third quarter to 18% in the fourth quarter, and ultimately to 25% in fiscal 2026. The analyst also said that a cloud revenue beat in its fourth-quarter results before the bell Thursday could serve as a potential near-term catalyst for the stock. Additionally, seeing that Alibaba is an “early AI adopter” relative to its e-commerce peers, Yu thinks that the medium- and long-term potential of an AI-driven lift to the company’s core e-commerce businesses has not been taken into account in its current valuation. Alibaba has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.1, according to FactSet. “With better AI offerings and shopping experience, we believe user engagement and time spent will improve, driving increasing e-commerce activities,” Yu wrote. “We expect online penetration expansion to drive better GMV [gross merchandise value] and an increase in take rate from better eCPM [effective cost per mile] to drive revenue expansion.” A majority of analysts on Wall Street have taken a bullish stance on Alibaba, with 41 out of 43 analysts covering the stock having a strong buy or buy rating, per LSEG. The remaining two analysts have taken a neutral view with a hold rating. Shares were more than 1% higher in morning trading during Wednesday’s session. Source link #Morgan #Stanley #Chinas #enabler #worth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

For Republicans, Tariffs Pose a Risk Like No Other For Republicans, Tariffs Pose a Risk Like No Other The time after a presidential election can feel like a moment of clarity. The results, after all, are finally in. But over the last two decades, the post-election ******* hasn’t offered any clarity at all about the future of American politics. The winning party repeatedly convinces itself it has won a mandate, or even a generational advantage. The shellshocked losers retreat into internal debate. And then just a few months later, it becomes clear that the next phase of American politics will not be what the winners imagined. This week, the next two years of American politics began to come into focus, and it does not look like a MAGA or Republican “golden age.” The special House elections in Florida and the Supreme Court election in Wisconsin confirmed that Democratic voters were not, in fact, stunned into submission by last November’s election. More important, President Trump’s sweeping tariffs — and the economic downturn that may follow — have created enormous political risks for Republicans. In one key respect, the elections on Tuesday were not significant: They do not suggest that Democrats solved any of the problems that cost them the last election. Instead, they mostly reflect the party’s advantage among the most highly informed, educated and civically engaged voters. This advantage has allowed Democrats to excel in low-turnout elections throughout the Trump era, even as he made enormous gains among the disaffected and disengaged young, working-class and nonwhite voters who show up only in presidential elections. Still, Democrats won’t have to face many of those disaffected and disengaged voters until 2028. The results last Tuesday thus offer a plausible preview of the next few years of elections: major Democratic victories, including in next year’s midterm election. There might not have been anyone marching in pink hats, and congressional Democrats might have been “playing dead,” but the Democratic special election strength looks just as large as it did in 2017 and 2018, before the so-called blue wave flipped control of the House. Perhaps this shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise: It’s what happened the last time Mr. Trump won. But it’s not what triumphant Republicans or despondent Democrats had in mind in the wake of Mr. Trump’s victory, when there was seemingly no “resistance” to Mr. Trump and the “vibes” seemed to augur a broad rightward cultural shift. The tariffs announced Wednesday, however, introduce a political problem of an entirely different magnitude for Mr. Trump and his party. No party or politician is recession proof. Historically, even truly dominant political parties have suffered enormous political defeats during major economic downturns. In none of those cases — not even with the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariff — could the president be held responsible for the downturn as self-evidently as today. And whatever it may have felt like after the election, the Republican Party is not even close to politically dominant. If anything, Mr. Trump and the Republicans today could be especially vulnerable, as so much of his political strength is built on the economy. Throughout his time as a politician, he usually earned his best ratings on his handling of economic issues. He’s benefited from his reputation as a successful businessman and from effective economic stewardship in his first term. He won the last election, despite enormous personal liabilities, in no small part because voters were frustrated by high prices and economic upheaval that followed the end of the pandemic. In New York Times/Siena College national surveys last fall, more than 40 percent of voters who backed Mr. Trump in 2024 but not 2020 said that the economy or inflation was the most important issue to their vote. Even before this week’s tariffs, Mr. Trump had squandered his post-election honeymoon. His approval rating had fallen back under 50 percent, back toward where it stood before the election. His early threats to raise tariffs, including on partners like Canada, Mexico and Europe, probably played an important role in diminishing his support. In a reversal of the usual pattern, the latest polls had found that Mr. Trump’s ratings on the economy were even worse than his overall approval rating. There were other indications that his actions had taken an early political toll: Consumer confidence was falling, inflation expectations were rising, and polls found that tariffs themselves were generally unpopular. This all pales in comparison with the tariffs Mr. Trump enacted Wednesday. It is, of course, too early to judge the full economic effect and thus the political fallout. It may even be too soon to know the ultimate Trump tariff policy. For the same reason, many of Mr. Trump’s supporters will give the policy a chance. His approval rating might not plunge overnight. But if the tariffs cause a recession and significant price increases, as many economic analysts expect, a plunging approval rating might be only the beginning of his problems. While Mr. Trump may not run for re-election (third-term dreams notwithstanding), many Republicans will be — and many of them were never entirely on board with tariffs in the first place. Already, a half-dozen Republican senators have supported legislation to rein in the president’s authority to impose tariffs. This is nowhere near enough to overcome a presidential veto, but it is an unusual level of Republican opposition to Mr. Trump, and the time for opposition to build is nowhere near over. If the economic fallout is bad enough, the dissatisfaction with the Trump administration could combine with the longstanding Democratic turnout advantage to make seemingly safe Republican states in 2026 — think Kansas, Iowa and Texas — look plausibly competitive, perhaps even along with control of the Senate. Congressional Republicans’ continued support of (or acquiescence to) Mr. Trump — whether on tariffs or his other excesses — could be in jeopardy. For now, all of these potentially extraordinary developments are in the distant future. They are not necessarily likely, either. But as Mr. Trump’s second term takes shape, it increasingly seems clear that the “golden age” augured by the post-election “vibes” are even less likely still. Source link #Republicans #Tariffs #Pose #Risk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stanley Malcolm Douglas Farmer: Albany man called ‘******* deviant’ and jailed for indecent and obscene acts Stanley Malcolm Douglas Farmer: Albany man called ‘******* deviant’ and jailed for indecent and obscene acts A registered child sex offender who has terrorised Albany women in their homes and workplaces for months has been jailed. Source link #Stanley #Malcolm #Douglas #Farmer #Albany #man #called #******* #deviant #jailed #indecent #obscene #acts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can Joby Spark a Short Squeeze? Dual Aircraft Flight Could Be the Catalyst Can Joby Spark a Short Squeeze? Dual Aircraft Flight Could Be the Catalyst On May 12, 2025, Joby Aviation (NYSE:) announced an operational achievement: it successfully flew two of its pre-production prototype aircraft simultaneously for the first time. The May 9 landmark event, completed in Marina, California, marks a major step forward in Joby’s flight testing and program maturity. Coming just after its Q1 2025 update, which highlighted FAA certification progress and routine piloted transition flights, this achievement signals growing operational readiness. Demonstrating the ability to fly multiple aircraft at once shows Joby’s expanding test capabilities, a critical element in accelerating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification and its path to commercial launch. For investors, this is a tangible sign of execution and scaling capability. How Dual Flights Impact Joby’s Certification Timeline The strategic importance of Joby Aviation’s ability to fly multiple aircraft simultaneously cannot be overstated, particularly in the context of the rigorous and lengthy FAA certification process. It allows Joby to increase its testing throughput significantly, gather a larger volume of flight data in parallel, and evaluate a broader range of operational scenarios more efficiently. This expanded capacity is especially important for progressing through Stage 4 (Testing & Analysis) of the FAA’s type certification process. As of Joby’s Q1 2025 update on May 7, the company reported it was 43% complete on the FAA side and 62% complete on the internal side of Stage 4, marking its second consecutive quarter of record progress. With six aircraft in its test fleet, the dual-flight milestone is expected to accelerate remaining validation efforts and support faster completion of certification tasks. Additionally, two of Joby’s aircraft are currently undergoing testing at Edwards Air Force Base for defense partners. The ability to fly multiple aircraft may also aid in meeting Air Force contractual milestones more efficiently. How Joby’s Q1 Progress Enables New Milestones This operational progress builds on Joby’s strong Q1 2025 performance. A key highlight from that ******* was the successful execution of routine piloted full transition flights, where company pilots seamlessly maneuvered the aircraft from vertical takeoff to wing-borne cruise and back to vertical landing. This critical capability demonstration, first achieved on April 22, showcased the aircraft’s design maturity and pilot handling characteristics. Financially, Joby closed the quarter with $812.5 million in cash, equivalents, and short-term investments, with the first $250 million tranche of Toyota (NYSE:)’s latest $500 million investment commitment expected to be reflected in the second quarter’s cash balance. Joby also reaffirmed full-year cash usage guidance of $500 million to $540 million, reinforcing confidence in its runway. Manufacturing capabilities are also advancing, with the company’s fifth aircraft produced on its pilot production line having been powered on, and the expanded manufacturing facility in Marina, California, nearing completion with an expected handover in June 2025. This facility will more than double Joby’s existing manufacturing footprint. These developments set the stage for the successful two-aircraft flight and highlight the cumulative momentum behind Joby’s accelerated timeline. Post-Milestone Market Reaction Joby Aviation’s stock closed at $7.00 on May 12, 2025, showing recent positive momentum (up ~17% in the past month), suggesting growing investor optimism after positive operational news. Despite a recent downgrade citing sector concerns and not issues with the organization, the analyst consensus remains a Moderate Buy with an average 12-month price target of $8.67 (around 25% upside). Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated its Buy rating post-Q1 earnings, increasing its price target to $12.00 (an even better ~72% upside). While Joby’s 16.68% short interest and recent insider selling suggest that there might still be some market skepticism and potential volatility, the simultaneous flight milestone represents a significant positive development that could further strengthen investor confidence and put pressure on prevailing bearish sentiment. This combination of positive factors could potentially create conditions conducive to a short squeeze should a major positive catalyst suddenly emerge. Joby: Accelerating Towards Commercialization Joby Aviation’s simultaneous flight of two eVTOL aircraft signifies escalating operational maturity and intensified efforts to accelerate FAA certification. Building on routine piloted transition flights and positive Q1 2025 updates, this achievement reinforces Joby’s leadership in urban air mobility. For investors, the ability to conduct complex parallel testing continues the de-risking process on the path to Type Inspection Authorization and full type certification. As Joby advances toward delivering an aircraft to Dubai in mid-2025 and aims for passenger operations in early 2026, successful simultaneous flight operations should be a critical indicator for investors tracking the company’s journey to commercial viability and market leadership. Original Post Source link #Joby #Spark #Short #Squeeze #Dual #Aircraft #Flight #Catalyst Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Why I.R.S. Audits, Already at Their Lowest Levels, May Fall Further Why I.R.S. Audits, Already at Their Lowest Levels, May Fall Further The Internal Revenue Service’s audit rate has been lower this decade than in most taxpayers’ lifetimes, a New York Times analysis shows, and if the Trump administration follows through with plans to cut the agency’s work force, audits will almost certainly become even rarer. The most recent I.R.S. data shows the audit rate of individual taxpayers has decreased by about two-thirds since 2010. Exact comparisons of audit rates are challenging because the I.R.S. has changed its definitions over time. But the Times analysis of historical I.R.S. data found that the effective audit rates between 2020 and 2023, all under 0.5 percent, were lower than any published audit rate since at least 1950. In 1980, the agency’s published audit rate was over 2 percent, and in 1960 it was over 3 percent. In the 2010s, audit rates plunged for all income levels. For most Americans, an audit might have been a one-in-100 event at the beginning of the decade. By the end of the decade, it was even less likely. For households with very high incomes, the audit rate is also considerably lower than it used to be. (The I.R.S. also audits corporations and partnerships, and its data shows steep declines in these audits, too.) The lower audit rates have led to less revenue for the government. The agency collected about $11 billion of additional revenue through personal income audits of 2010 returns. More recent tax years have a significant percentage of audits still being processed, but additional revenue is trending downward. For the 2019 tax year, the agency has collected only about $4.5 billion from personal income audits so far. The Trump administration is currently targeting a roughly 25 percent cut in the I.R.S. work force, according to people familiar with the matter, though they cautioned that the scale of potential cuts has continuously changed. The agency had about 100,000 employees in January, and cuts of between 18 percent and 50 percent have been discussed by the administration this year. Bryan Camp, a professor at the Texas Tech School of Law who previously worked at the I.R.S., said a decrease in staffing would inevitably lead to fewer audits. He said the decline in audits over the last decade was primarily because of the loss of I.R.S. workers; the agency cut its head count by about 20 percent from 2010 to 2020. Congressional Republicans in the 2010s successfully cut appropriations for the I.R.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s administration tried to reverse this trend as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. During Mr. Biden’s term, the I.R.S. added about 20,000 employees. The goal was to increase I.R.S. enforcement spending by about $45 billion over 10 years in hopes of increasing revenue by about $125 billion over the same *******. It’s not clear if any increased revenues from the Biden plan will materialize. The Congressional Budget Office estimated at the time that it would take 30 months for the I.R.S. to collect additional revenue from its new workers because of training time and the length of the average audit. By the time 30 months had elapsed, President Trump was back in office. And congressional Republicans have since rescinded or frozen the extra I.R.S. enforcement funding. Mr. Trump has long feuded with officials over his own tax compliance. As a candidate in 2016, he said he had been under audit for years and believed it was “very unfair.” The Trump Organization was found guilty of tax fraud in 2022, and a New York Times investigation in 2018 found Mr. Trump participated in tax schemes in the 1990s that included instances of fraud. The Trump administration laid off 7,000 I.R.S. probationary employees this year. (They have been rehired after court orders and in some cases have been asked to return to work.) And the agency lost 5,000 employees who opted to take a buyout offer. If the Trump administration were to cut I.R.S. staffing levels by the more extreme 50 percent, the former Biden Treasury official Natasha Sarin, now president of the Budget Lab at Yale, estimates a loss of $350 billion to $2.4 trillion in revenue over 10 years. Although that estimate published by the lab covers a wide range, she said it was clear that funding the I.R.S. pays for itself. “Every estimate has within it some sense that every dollar provided to the I.R.S. generates X dollars over time,” she said. “Exactly how productive those dollars are is a subject of intense academic debate.” Less revenue for the government would add to the deficit, even as Elon Musk, who is leading Mr. Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, says he is trying to narrow the deficit. But Republicans say audits amount to harassment of taxpayers. Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, the chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means committee, said in a statement shortly after Mr. Trump’s inauguration that the president’s approach with the I.R.S. would help “middle-class Americans and small businesses living in fear” of more audits. A White House spokeswoman, Liz Huston, did not answer specific questions about I.R.S. staffing levels or audit rates, but said in a statement: “President Trump has made it clear that he is committed to making the federal government more efficient without compromising mission-critical operations. There will be no disruptions to service.” The I.R.S. did not respond to requests for comment. Beyond I.R.S. staffing levels, there are other reasons the audit rate has fallen since 2010, said David Hasen, a professor at the University of Florida’s law school. One of them is that Congress has moved many time-consuming administrative roles to the I.R.S. “The I.R.S. is asked to do more and more,” he said. “The Affordable Care Act involves the I.R.S. Other programs like the child tax credit do too. It siphons off resources.” Whom to audit? The Biden administration said its goal was to raise audit rates only on high-income earners, partnerships and corporations. The I.R.S. commissioner at the time, Danny Werfel, promised the agency would ensure “audit rates do not increase for those earning less than $400,000 a year.” Focusing audits on higher earners has political logic, but it also makes sense from a strict return-on-investment standpoint. An in-person audit of someone in the top 0.1 percent of earners takes twice as many auditor hours as an average in-person audit, but the potential additional tax revenue is many times greater. Audits also have financial benefits for the government beyond the immediate tax collected, deterring taxpayers from skirting the rules in future years. Ben Sprung-Keyser, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, was part of a team of researchers who studied the long-term consequences of an audit. They found that taxpayers who were randomly audited and who owed additional money went on to pay more in future tax returns, even a decade later, compared with those who were not randomly audited. In the ensuing years, “the result of those audits is approximately three times as large as the original revenue collected during the audit itself,” Professor Sprung-Keyser said. The deterrence effect is similar for low-income and high-income earners as a percentage of taxes paid, but the total dollars returned is much larger for high-income filers. Monte Jackel, a tax lawyer who has represented companies and wealthy individuals, said that sophisticated taxpayers and their lawyers are aware of enforcement trends when they file their returns. “You cannot take the audit rate into account in an opinion” for a client, Mr. Jackel said. “But realistically it’s always in the background.” When there are fewer audits, he said, “word gets around.” Andrew Duehren contributed reporting. Source link #I.R.S #Audits #Lowest #Levels #Fall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Crew Was Digging Under a Buddha Statue—and Found a 1,300-Year-Old Gold Treasure A Crew Was Digging Under a Buddha Statue—and Found a 1,300-Year-Old Gold Treasure Archaeologists in Thailand uncovered 33 ancient gold, silver, and bronze treasures beneath a 1,300-year-old reclining Buddha statue. They found rare repoussé metal sheets depicting Buddha and intricate artistry, showcasing Dvaravati-era craftsmanship and ritual offerings. The Phimai National Museum is preserving these historic finds, including ornate jewelry and ritual artifacts, for further study and conservation. Digging a drainage system is rarely an exciting process. But ‘rarely’ doesn’t mean ‘never,’ as was recently proven in Thailand when crews discovered a trove of gold treasures under the a famous reclining Buddha statue, located inside the Wat Thammachak Sema Ram temple complex. While digging over four feet below the sandstone statue, crews ran into a ceramic container. Inside that container were 33 ancient ornaments of gold, silver, and bronze, according to a translated statement from Thailand’s Fine Arts Department. The items included gold rings, silver earrings, and a pair of special bronze hoop earrings in the same style as others from the Dvaravati ******* (about 1,300 years ago) that have been found across the country. With one box of treasure found, crews were quick to search for more while continuing their conservation work at the Phra Non archaeological site. Digging around what is considered the country’s longest (the sculpture is 43 feet long) and oldest (created around 657 A.D.) reclining Buddha statue, they made three additional finds, which included hammered metal sheets covered in intricate artistry that had been created with a technique known as repoussé. One such discovery—a rectangular sheet of gold about three inches by five inches in size—depicts a seated Buddha in the pose of a teacher. The figure is shown with spiral curls, a large halo, elongated earlobes, and a robe over one of his shoulders. A small hole in the top right corner of the artwork means that it was likely hung with string, and could have either been worn or used as decoration, said Phanombutr Chantrachot, the director-general of the Fine Arts Department. Another repoussé sheet (this one made of a lead-tin alloy) also featured a representation of a Buddha, this time standing in an arched frame. This piece, which is about 4.5 inches by 6 inches, also depicts two attendants next to the Buddha figure. The left attendant was no longer discernible because of damage, but the attendant on the right might be the Thai expression of the Hindu god Brahma. The third piece is comprised of stacked metal sheets crammed inside packed clay, with cement between the metal. Due to damage, Chantrachot said, it was unclear exactly how many layers of metal were included. But while it was difficult to determine what was depicted on the metal, Chantrachot said that the location engraved behind the Buddha’s reclining head has lead experts to believe that the artwork was some sort of ritual offering purposely placed in the spot in which it was found. The Phimai National Museum is now conserving and cataloging the golden finds. You Might Also Like Source link #Crew #Digging #Buddha #Statueand #1300YearOld #Gold #Treasure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

6 Months Since Release, One Map Demand for Marvel Rivals Refuses to Die 6 Months Since Release, One Map Demand for Marvel Rivals Refuses to Die Six months into Marvel Rivals’ life cycle, and the honeymoon phase is definitely over. NetEase’s superhero shooter launched to considerable fanfare last December, bringing Marvel’s iconic characters into a competitive 6v6 format that quickly garnered a dedicated player base. But beneath the flashy ultimates and character reveals lurks a persistent issue that refuses to die: map repetition. While the game has evolved through balance patches, new heroes, and seasonal content, players continue to voice their frustration about getting stuck in the same environments match after match. The never-ending map rotation struggle “One feature I’d love is to not have the same map/mode back to back,” wrote Reddit user Key-Distribution9906 in a massively upvoted thread discussing the future of the game. This seemingly simple request has become a rallying cry for the community, with the post itself amassing over 9K upvotes. The sentiment was echoed with biting sarcasm by AmEn-MiNii: “What do you mean? You didn’t like playing domination 4 times in a row, in which you lost all 4 games? Here I have a better idea. Try it a 5th time in a row. Go get em tiger.” The frustration is palpable, especially considering NetEase’s recent decision to introduce map rotation in ranked play, removing two maps while only adding one new one (Krakoa). Some players have suggested implementing map voting as a potential solution. “Map voting might help,” proposed choff22, though LMHCinNYC quickly countered: “But then we might have the same problem lol people will choose the same maps over and over.” This raises a difficult question for NetEase: how exactly can they solve the issue without creating new problems? The specter of other games’ map voting systems looms large, with Fashizl69 humorously referencing Counter-Strike’s infamous map voting tendency: “de_dust2 de_dust2 de_dust2 de_dust2 de_dust2”—a nod to how players often vote for the same map repeatedly when given the choice. Deeper issues plaguing the superhero battleground Metal messiah for a dying meta? | Image Credit: NetEase Games The map rotation controversy is just one symptom of Marvel Rivals’ growing pains. With player counts dropping by a staggering 75% since launch, NetEase faces mounting pressure to address fundamental issues before its superhero shooter loses its momentum entirely. Matchmaking quality has emerged as another significant pain point. “Better Matchmaking would be nice too,” commented KFded, echoing widespread complaints about one-sided matches. Indeed, the current system seems to produce extremes—either your team steamrolls the opposition, or you get utterly demolished, with balanced matches becoming increasingly rare. And this problem is particularly acute in ranked play, where the Season 2 meta has exacerbated tensions between different role players. The “dive meta” that emphasizes quickly eliminating support players has led to what some call a “Strategist Strike,” with support players protesting their treatment both in-game and by fellow players. NetEase has demonstrated a willingness to respond to community feedback throughout Marvel Rivals’ first six months. However, with toxicity rising and player counts falling, they’ll need to act decisively to keep their superhero shooter in the fight. The upcoming Ultron update might be their best chance to turn things around—but will it be enough? What do you think about Marvel Rivals’ map rotation issues? Have you experienced the same maps back-to-back, and would map voting solve the problem? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Months #Release #Map #Demand #Marvel #Rivals #Refuses #Die Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Musk and Trump Are Working to Consolidate Government Data About You How Musk and Trump Are Working to Consolidate Government Data About You Privacy advocates say that all this data could enable the government to punish its political opponents by weaponizing information about an individual’s personal life (bankruptcies, criminal histories, medical claims) or halting the benefits they receive (housing vouchers, retirement checks, food assistance). “They have not demonstrated a single case in which fraud detection has required some universal governmental access to everybody’s data,” said Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland. “In fact, the creation of a monster uniform database of all information on all citizens will be an invitation to fraud and political retaliation against the people.” That is how personal data is tracked and used in authoritarian states, Mr. Raskin added. Both Russia and China stockpile data on their citizens to track opponents and squash dissent of the ruling party in government. The White House declined to directly address how it would safeguard and use the data it is seeking to consolidate, including whether the administration is trying to create one central database, citing only its focus on fraud. “Waste, fraud and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long,” the White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in a statement. “It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it.” Technologists warn that trying to match complex data sets to make decisions about government programs — including by using artificial intelligence to identify waste in government spending, as Musk allies have discussed — could produce rampant errors and real-world harm. And national security experts note that a large collection of data about American citizens would be an enticing target for enemy nation states, hackers and cybercriminals. Countries including China, Russia and Iran have been behind major breaches of U.S. government databases in recent years, U.S. officials have said. Private companies and data brokers that buy and sell data know plenty about Americans, too. But a crucial difference lies in what the federal government alone can do with that data, privacy advocates say. Google doesn’t control the apparatus of immigration enforcement. Target doesn’t have the power to halt Social Security payments. “This gets to a fundamental point about privacy: It is not just the question of, ‘Does anyone else in the world know this about me?’” said John Davisson, the director of litigation at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which has sued the administration to block DOGE’s access to financial data at the Treasury and federal work force records at the Office of Personnel Management. “It is a question of who knows this about me, and what can they lawfully — or as a practical matter — do with that information?” Source link #Musk #Trump #Working #Consolidate #Government #Data Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House Republicans advance Trump’s tax bill. ‘SALT’ deduction in limbo House Republicans advance Trump’s tax bill. ‘SALT’ deduction in limbo Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., speaks during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee impeachment inquiry hearing into U.S. President Joe Biden on Sept. 28, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters House Republicans have advanced trillions of tax breaks as part of President Donald Trump’s economic package. After debating the legislation overnight, the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax, passed its portion of the legislation on Wednesday morning in a 26-19 party line vote. But the battle over the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, remains in limbo. The text released Monday afternoon would raise the SALT cap to $30,000 for those with a modified adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less. But some House lawmakers still want to see a higher limit before the full House vote. While the SALT deduction is a key priority for certain lawmakers in high-tax states, the current $10,000 cap was added to help fund the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA, of 2017. More from Personal Finance: How college savers can manage 529 plans in a turbulent market Social Security COLA for 2026 projected to be lowest in years Here’s the inflation breakdown for April 2025 — in one chart Following the vote, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., said in a statement that Ways and Means Republicans will “continue to work closely with President Trump and our House colleagues to get the One, Big, Beautiful Bill that delivers on the President’s agenda to his desk as soon as possible.” The full House vote could come as early as next week. But the legislation could see significant changes in the Senate, experts say. House Republicans’ proposed tax cuts The House Ways and Means Committee legislation includes several of Trump’s campaign priorities, including extensions of tax breaks enacted via the TCJA. If enacted as drafted, Republicans could also deliver no tax on tips and tax-free overtime pay. But questions remain about the details of these provisions. Rather than cutting taxes on Social Security, the plan includes an extra $4,000 deduction for older Americans, which may not fully cover Social Security income, according to some experts. The $4,000 deduction costs $90 billion over 10 years, compared to $1 trillion for exempting Social Security income from tax, Garrett Watson, director of policy analysis at the Tax Foundation, wrote in a post on X Tuesday. “Tax filers with no other income sources outside of Social Security would typically see little benefit, while others may see ******* gains from this idea,” he wrote in that thread. The House Ways and Means bill also extends the maximum child tax credit of $2,000 enacted via the TCJA, and temporarily raises the tax break to $2,500 per child through 2028. However, some policy experts have criticized the proposed credit design since lower earners typically can’t claim the full amount. The proposed legislation “did nothing for the 17 million children that are left out of the current $2,000 credit,” Kris Cox, director of federal tax policy with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ federal fiscal policy division, told CNBC. Source link #House #Republicans #advance #Trumps #tax #bill #SALT #deduction #limbo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration’s EPA plans to weaken limits on some “forever chemicals” in drinking water Trump administration’s EPA plans to weaken limits on some “forever chemicals” in drinking water The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it plans to weaken limits on some “forever chemicals” in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones. The Biden administration set the first federal drinking water limits for PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, finding they increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and babies being born with low birth weight. Those limits were expected to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water for millions of people. Commonly called “forever chemicals,” PFAS are found nearly everywhere — in air, water, and soil — and can take thousands of years to break down in the environment. Limits on three types of PFAS, including GenX substances found in North Carolina, will be scrapped and reconsidered by the agency, as will a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS. The Biden administration’s rule also set standards for the two common types of PFAS, referred to as PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion, effectively the lowest level at which they can be reliably detected. The EPA will keep those standards in place, but give utilities two extra years — until 2031 — to comply and treat for the chemicals. “We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water. At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. The development was first reported by The Washington Post. Environmental groups slammed the move. “With a stroke of the pen, EPA is making a mockery of the Trump administration’s promise to deliver clean water for Americans,” said Erik Olson, a senior strategic director of health at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council. Source link #Trump #administrations #EPA #plans #weaken #limits #chemicals #drinking #water Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Far-right extremists guilty of planning terror attacks Far-right extremists guilty of planning terror attacks Three far-right extremists who amassed hundreds of weapons and planned to carry out attacks on targets including a mosque have been convicted of terrorism offences. Brogan Stewart, 25, from West Yorkshire, Christopher Ringrose, 34, from Staffordshire, and Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire, were part of an online group who “idolised the Nazi regime”. Sheffield Crown Court was told how Stewart had detailed torturing a ******* leader using an “information extraction kit”. All three were found guilty of terrorism offences at the same court on Wednesday. During the nine-week trial, the court heard more than 200 weapons including machetes, hunting knives, swords and crossbows were found at their homes. Ringrose had also begun to build a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm, which counter-terror police said would have been a “lethal weapon”. Source link #Farright #extremists #guilty #planning #terror #attacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]