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Monster Hunter Wilds represents a significant advancement in the franchise, emphasizing a more streamlined and engaging gameplay experience compared to its predecessors. The game features a seamless open world, dynamic seasonal changes, and a campaign that prioritizes action over filler content, making it accessible for both newcomers and veteran players. Despite some minor drawbacks, such as inconsistent visuals and the absence of a central hub, Wilds successfully showcases the series' signature monster-hunting allure.

Samsung has introduced Galaxy AI, a suite of generative artificial intelligence features designed to enhance user interaction with its flagship devices, including the Galaxy S24 series. This innovation aims to provide a more integrated and intuitive experience by automating tasks, offering personalized suggestions, and improving productivity through advanced editing tools. By utilizing on-device processing, Galaxy AI seeks to establish a digital companion that evolves with the user's habits and preferences.

The New York Times has released its latest set of connections puzzles, challenging players to group four words together that share a common thread. Today's puzzle features four groups with varying levels of difficulty, ranging from yellow (easy) to purple (difficult). By analyzing the words and their relationships, players can unlock the secrets behind these clever connections.

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1128, are TAWNYFLUNG. To solve the puzzle, many players employed a strategy involving three starting words, which were influenced by the results of the first two attempts.

Flexport is launching a suite of new AI-powered products and features, including Freightport Intelligence and Control Tower, in a bid to enhance its logistics capabilities. The company aims to leverage AI from OpenAI, Anthropic, and AWS to drive innovation and customer satisfaction. By embracing AI, Flexport hopes to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide customers with real-time visibility into their shipments.

John Legend has defended his decision to perform in Rwanda despite the country's involvement in the war in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. The American singer-songwriter told the BBC that he doesn't believe people should be punished for disagreeing with their leaders, and instead chose to use his platform to promote tourism on the African continent. Legend's decision to headline the Move Afrika event was met with widespread criticism, including from fellow Grammy-winner Tems.

The ENGWE MapFour N1 Air is a real treat to ride, especially considering the price. It’s on par with the Tenways CGO600 Pro in terms of target market and e-bike type but is significantly more affordable. The disc brakes are not fantastic and the advertised range was unachievable in my tests but all in all, this is one of the best commuter e-bikes for those on a budget.

The release of Monster Hunter Wilds is scheduled for February 28. Since its debut in 2004, Capcom’s Monster Hunter series has been one of the most successful action RPG franchises. The games revolve around hunting monsters, with players stepping into the role of a hunter who slays creatures, gathers materials and forges new weapons and armor to take on even greater challenges.

DeepSeek has generated considerable excitement in the AI community, showcasing significant efficiency improvements in large language models (LLMs) without fundamentally altering AI architecture or capabilities. The company's open-source approach stands in contrast to proprietary models, promoting a decentralized landscape that could foster rapid innovation and broader accessibility in the AI space. While DeepSeek accelerates the evolution of LLMs, it does not herald a new era of artificial general intelligence, emphasizing that future breakthroughs may rely on entirely different architectural frameworks.

A national dialogue conference is set to take place in Damascus, aiming to shape a new political system in Syria following decades of Assad's rule. Despite the organizers' claims of inclusivity, critics have raised concerns about the lack of representation for minorities and the dominant influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) over the proceedings. The conference's proposals will be integral to the transitional government's framework, but skepticism remains regarding the genuine nature of this political engagement.

Severance season 2 has delivered another exceptional episode, 'Attila', with its focus on character development and relationships within the macrodata refinement team (MDR). The intricate web of relationships between characters is slowly unraveling, exposing the complexities of Severance's unique workplace culture. Milchick's reprimanding of Ms. Huang highlights the tension between his expectations and her growth as an employee.

Nvidia is poised for a historic earnings surge as the AI boom drives spending and demand for its products, with Wall Street expecting a clear beat and raise. The company's architecture chips are in high demand, and analysts predict $38.15 billion in revenue and earnings of $0.85 per share. Nvidia's financials are strong, with cash reserves surging 50% to $38.5 billion in Q3.

Sales of unauthorised, flavoured disposable vapes in the United States amounted to around $2.4 billion in 2024, or 35% of the e-cigarettes from outlets such as convenience stores and supermarkets, according to private retail sales data reviewed by Reuters. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only authorised 34 tobacco- or menthol-flavoured vape products for legal sale in the United States, all from big tobacco companies like British American Tobacco and Altria. Flavoured disposable vapes account for around 35% of the market tracked by a market research firm.

Apple has announced its plans to invest $500 billion in the United States through a new Texas plant that will drive future tech innovation with an AI server facility in Houston, aiming to establish itself as a leader in AI personal assistants across various Apple devices. The 250,000-square-foot AI server facility is expected to launch operations in 2026 and support research and development for Apple Intelligence. By expanding nationwide employment to 20,000 positions, Apple aims to strengthen its global tech market competitiveness while promoting local economic growth.

Hostinger has launched Horizons, a no-code web app creator that allows users to build and publish their own web apps without any coding expertise. The tool uses AI to create, add, and edit components on the site, and is set to support over 80 languages from launch. By making it easier for people to create interactive and personal experiences, Hostinger aims to democratize access to web app development.

This week, Microsoft is adding just one new game to Xbox Game Pass, but it’s a true AAA title: Watch Dogs: Legion. The third installment in the open-world action-adventure series, following Watch Dogs and Watch Dogs 2, revolves around hacking, surveillance, and digital control. Set in a dystopian near-future London, Legion depicts a city under the grip of a totalitarian surveillance regime.

Huda Beauty has announced the sale of its fragrance brand KAYALI to co-founder Mona Kattan and private equity firm General Atlantic, allowing the beauty company to buy back a stake previously held by TSG Consumer Partners. Founded in 2018 by Huda Kattan and her sisters, Huda Beauty has gained significant social media traction, positioning itself ahead of competitors in the beauty industry. The restructuring aims to restore full founder ownership and maintain KAYALI's independence under Kattan's leadership.

Forcing federal workers back to the office was one of many Day One executive orders signed by President Donald Trump. Elon Musk warned Monday that government employees who have not yet returned to working from their offices full time will be placed on administrative leave, escalating his effort from within the Trump administration to tighten the screws on the federal bureaucracy. Musk's threat follows an executive order from President Trump last month ordering federal employees back to their offices and curtailing work-from-home practices.

Strategy has doubled down on its Bitcoin bet, with a $2 billion purchase that brings its total holdings to 499,096 BTC, despite a $670M loss in Q4 2024. The company is nearing its goal of raising $42 billion over three years for more Bitcoin buys through a series of high-stakes capital raises. Strategy's aggressive plan has garnered significant attention from institutional investors and traditional finance.

The discovery of near-Earth asteroids with new capabilities such as powerful telescopes and the upcoming launch of the NEO Surveyor and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will significantly increase the number of asteroid discoveries. These new tools have the potential to find 10 or even 100 times more objects like 2024 YR4, providing a better understanding of the Solar System's small rocks whizzing around. The data collected from these discoveries can help refine asteroid trajectories and improve the accuracy of threat assessments.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 has received its first major discount at Amazon UK, making it available for £599 (was £799), including a £100 price drop at checkout and a £100 Samsung gift card. The phone's powerful specs, including the latest AI technology, 12GB of memory, and a 50MP camera, make it an attractive option for those looking for a high-performance device. This deal is unlikely to be bettered for a while.

Alibaba upgraded, Rivian downgraded: Wall Street's top analyst calls demonstrate a significant shift in market sentiment, as major players like Morgan Stanley and Jefferies are confident in the long-term potential of Alibaba and Nike. These upgrades reflect growing optimism about the companies' ability to overcome challenges and deliver strong results in the coming years. The upgraded stocks are expected to drive growth and profitability, but the downgrades for Rivian and Lucid Group highlight the complexities and risks associated with emerging technologies.

The Yosemite Firefall appears on the side of El Capitan for two weeks at the end of February when specific conditions come together. The natural phenomenon requires a combination of clear skies, adequate water flow, and sufficient snowmelt. When these elements align, the Horsetail Fall glows orange like molten fire due to the Sun's rays passing through the waterfall.

Shenhuo New Materials Technology has achieved a significant milestone in mass-producing the thinnest battery foil in China, an 8-micron photovoltaic cell foil. The company's breakthrough production capacity allows for up to 100 tons of this ultra-thin foil per month. This innovation is expected to improve battery energy density and overall performance.

GOG is currently offering an 85% discount on the critically acclaimed first-person shooter, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, reducing its price from $32.90 to just $4.93 until March 1. The game immerses players in a 1960s alternate history where they must fight against Nazi occupiers, utilizing a combination of fast-paced combat and a gripping narrative. With over 30,000 reviews on Steam, the title is celebrated for its engaging story and intense gameplay, making this limited-time offer an attractive opportunity for both new and returning players.

The construction of big tech data centers has resulted in significant public health costs due to air pollution from powering these facilities, with cancers and asthma being among the illnesses linked to this pollution. According to a new analysis, these costs amount to $5.4 billion annually, accounting for the specific location where the data is processed. The study found that lower-income households are disproportionately affected by the health impacts of data center air pollution.

While Google remains the first name that comes to mind when it comes to search engines (RIP Ask Jeeves), there's a rebellion rising in the shape of AI. OpenAI's ChatGPT has become an enormously popular alternative, and its own search engine is remarkably simple to use, accessible almost anywhere the app can be found. With its broader mindshare, ChatGPT might make it the biggest competition Google has ever faced in a field it's traditionally run unopposed in. The simplicity of switching between the two search engines makes it an attractive option for those looking for alternative results.

The Youdao SpaceOne dictionary pen featuring DeepSeek-R1 has arrived in China, offering a unique AI-powered learning experience. The gadget supports multiple languages and features a larger display, built-in eSIM, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity. With its 78 million-word vocabulary and powered by DeepSeek-R1 deep reasoning for detailed answers and tutorials, the SpaceOne is poised to enhance users' learning experiences.

Starbucks Corp. is set to remove several less popular beverages from its US menu to enhance service speed and improve customer experience. The move comes alongside the elimination of 1,100 corporate positions aimed at reducing management layers and increasing efficiency within the company. By simplifying the menu, Starbucks hopes to decrease wait times and focus on higher-end offerings, with plans to reduce its US lineup by approximately 30% by late September.

A Steam Next Fest demo is turning heads with its realistic graphics and FMV sequences but is drawing criticism for weak gameplay. Still, puzzle fans might find it worth a look. Since its relaunch in 2018, publisher MicroProse has primarily focused on realistic military simulations. Now, with Neyyah, the company is venturing into point-and-click adventure territory.

Apple has committed to investing $500 billion in the US economy over the next four years, marking its largest ever commitment in the States. The investment will focus on supporting US manufacturing, with a 250,000-square-foot server manufacturing facility set to be built in Houston, Texas. Apple aims to create 20,000 new jobs across various fields, including R&D, silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning.

Apple's new $500 billion investment plan is winning over President Donald Trump — and proving that CEO Tim Cook knows how to play ball. The iPhone maker plans to spread its cash out across the next four years, coinciding with Trump's second term in office. Apple said it will launch an education initiative, double an existing $5 billion domestic manufacturing fund, and hire roughly 20,000 full-time workers.

The Galaxy Z Flip7 may not be powered by the Exynos 2500 chipset after all. Instead, Samsung is allegedly switching to the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite, which could bring significant improvements in performance and efficiency. This move would mark a departure from the company's previous reliance on its in-house chipsets.

Mar Vista Investment Partners, LLC's fourth quarter 2024 investor letter highlights Amazon.com, Inc.'s exceptional performance, driven by strategic focus on growth and profitability. The company achieved record operating margins across its AWS, International Retail, and North America Retail segments. This impressive performance is attributed to economies of scale, logistics efficiencies, successful AI implementations, increasing ad revenue, and accelerated AWS growth. Amazon.com's market capitalization has reached $2.295 trillion, with its shares gaining 23.95% of their value over the last 52 weeks.

Dell Technologies is expected to report improved quarterly earnings in its upcoming release, with analysts forecasting $2.53 per share, a 15% year-over-year increase. The company's revenues are anticipated to reach $24.66 billion, a 10.5% rise from the prior quarter. Analysts' revised estimates over the past 30 days indicate a 4.9% downward adjustment to their initial projections.

Wall Street analysts forecast that Medical Properties (MPW) will report quarterly earnings of $0.16 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year decline of 55.6%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $220.77 million, exhibiting an increase of 280.4% compared to the year-ago quarter. The current level reflects a downward revision of 5.5% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days.

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 14 gaming laptop is currently on sale for $1,249.99 (was $1,849.99), saving buyers $600 off the original price. This deal comes with the laptop's powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, which may be slightly outdated but still provides a competent gaming experience. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 14's portability and build quality make it an attractive option for those seeking a balance between power and mobility.

The Roborock Zeo Lite and Zeo Mini smart washer-dryers are now available to pre-order in Europe, offering the brand's innovative Zeo-Cycle low-temperature drying technology and remote controls via the app. Both models feature a range of cycles, intelligent dosing, and self-cleaning tools, catering to various user needs. The pre-orders mark the latest expansion of Roborock's product lineup.

Chevron is reorganizing some of its business structures and reshuffling its leadership team to improve operational efficiency and position the company for sustained growth. The company's $53 billion acquisition of Hess has been stalled due to an arbitration battle with larger rival Exxon Mobil, leading to cost overruns and delays in a large Kazakhstan project. Chevron plans to lay off up to 20% of its global workforce by the end of 2026.

A default password shipped in a widely used door access control system allows anyone to easily and remotely access door locks and elevator controls in dozens of buildings across the U.S. and Canada, a security researcher found. The vulnerability is rated as a 10 out of 10 on the vulnerability severity scale due to its ease of exploitation. Hirsch, the company that owns the Enterphone MESH system, has refused to fix the bug, citing its design and customers' failure to change the default password.

India and Britain are aiming to more than double their bilateral trade over the next decade, as discussions resume in the context of tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the potential for significant growth through a proposed free trade agreement and investment treaty, despite existing hurdles such as import duties and visa regulations. The renewed negotiations come after a pause due to elections in both nations and reflect a broader effort by India to engage in global trade agreements, having recently signed several key pacts.

Alef Aeronautics has demonstrated its Model Zero prototype flying over a parked car on a public road in California, marking a significant milestone in the development of flying cars. The company's 100% electric vehicle boasts a driving range of 320 kilometers and a flight range of around 160km. With secured pre-orders for over 3,300 units, Alef Aeronautics is poised to revolutionize transportation with its affordable Model A expected to enter production later this year.

The current iPhone 14 Plus deal at Argos is an attractive option for those looking to upgrade without breaking the bank. This phone offers many of the same features as newer models, including a large display and excellent cameras, at a significantly lower price point. For those who don't need the latest and greatest technology, this can be a great way to get a high-quality iPhone at a fraction of the cost.

The Motorola Moto G Power (2025) offers a compelling alternative to the iPhone 16e with its 6.8-inch Full HD+ display and a robust battery life that can last for multiple days, all at a significantly lower price point. Despite its similarities to the base Moto G, the Power variant enhances the viewing experience and durability, making it an appealing option for those seeking a mid-range smartphone. While the device excels in display and sound quality, its battery performance and camera capabilities may not fully satisfy all users, particularly in low-light conditions.

The US Government's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a new bug in Craft CMS versions 4 and 5 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, ringing the alarm for abuse in the wild. The vulnerability is a remote code execution (RCE) flaw that allows threat actors to decrypt sensitive data, generate fake authentication tokens, or run malicious code from a distance. The deadline to patch the CMS is March 13, 2025.

For decades, patents have been a bone of contention in the technology world, seen by some as a way to protect intellectual property, but by critics as a blunt weapon against innovation. In the age of AI, they are once again getting revisited. New York startup Patlytics has developed an AI-enabled patent analytics platform to help corporations, IP professionals and law firms streamline their patent workflows.

Cambium is developing an AI-driven platform that aims to streamline the timber supply chain by connecting tree care services with lumber buyers, thereby reducing waste wood that typically ends up discarded. Founded by Ben Christensen and his team, the startup focuses on repurposing salvaged wood, promoting environmental sustainability while offering businesses consistent contracts and improved service. By digitizing transactions and gathering data across the fragmented timber industry, Cambium intends to make salvaged wood a viable and attractive option for various companies.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Monday afternoon, with investors turning their attention to Nvidia's upcoming earnings. Apple announced plans to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over four years, while Berkshire Hathaway expanded its record cash reserves to $334 billion. Microsoft shares fell following an analyst report that the company canceled some U.S. data center leases.

The Yeedi S14 Plus robot vacuum boasts impressive features such as a 270-minute battery life, auto-emptying dustbin, and advanced navigation system. The device comes equipped with an extendable Ozmo roller mop that can exert up to 4,000 Pa of downward pressure while spinning at 200 RPM for efficient mopping. Yeedi's latest flagship robot vacuum promises to revolutionize the cleaning experience with its innovative technology.

The Eufy Familock S3 Max stands out as one of the top smart locks I've tested, offering a unique feature that makes it especially suitable for families. The lock's palm-vein recognition technology is more accurate than fingerprint scans, and its indoor screen shows who is at the door, keeping kids safe and informed. This smart lock also features a camera and doorbell button, making it a convenient solution for families with young children.