During a visit to Turkey, President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly stated that Ukraine will never recognize Russian control over any of its occupied territories, even as peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to resume in Istanbul. Speaking from Ankara, where he is meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Zelensky emphasized Kyiv’s unwavering position that all temporarily occupied areas remain Ukrainian land and dismissed the Russian delegation as "phony." The renewed negotiations, mediated in part by U.S. officials under President Trump’s administration, represent the first direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022, though major breakthroughs appear unlikely given ongoing disputes over territory such as Crimea and the Donbas. Russian officials signaled a willingness to discuss possible compromises, but Zelensky made clear territorial concessions are not on the table, underscoring that recognition of Russian control is a non-starter for Ukraine. Stellar Blade is set for its PC release on June 11, bringing with it a host of new features and enhancements. The PC version will support NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 3, unlocked frame rates, ultrawide and super ultrawide resolutions, high-resolution textures, and full key customization across gamepads, keyboards, and mice. Players can also experience enhanced haptic feedback and adaptive trigger features with the DualSense controller. New content, including the challenging Boss Challenge event, the Royal Guard Suit, and 25 additional Nano Suits, will debut for both PC and PS5 users, with PS5 players accessing the update via a patch. The game now offers Simplified Chinese and Japanese voiceovers with facial animation support. To celebrate the PC launch, all players will receive a free Crimson Wing outfit. Minimum and recommended system requirements have also been announced, ensuring smooth gameplay across a variety of setups. Is Soft Survey Data Poised for a Significant Increase?
Soft survey data, long viewed with skepticism amid concerns about economic chaos driven by tariffs, appears to be on the rise, surprising many establishment economists. This shift is highlighted by a dramatic surge in the Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey, which jumped from -26.4 to -4.0, far exceeding expectations. Notably, the six-months-ahead business conditions index soared by 40.3 points to +47.2, signaling renewed optimism. While employment and new orders showed solid gains, shipments fell, and inflation measures ticked higher. Looking ahead, survey respondents anticipate modest declines in prices paid but increased activity in new orders and employment. In aggregate, both the New York and Philadelphia indexes point toward expansion for May, suggesting the ISM manufacturing PMI could also climb. This uptick in soft survey data raises questions about whether the recent period of peak pessimism is ending and if optimism is set to return. Wonder Launches Mixed Reality Anthology on Quest 3 Today
Wonder, the new anthology of mixed reality experiences developed by Metanaut, the studio behind Gadgeteer, is now available on Meta Quest 3. Targeted at both XR veterans and newcomers, Wonder aims to bring magic and tranquility to everyday spaces through immersive, 20-minute experiences designed for relaxation. At launch, users can explore three unique scenarios: Ancient Ruins, which transforms your surroundings into a mysterious cave affected by a black hole; Jellyfish Bloom, an underwater journey illuminated by bioluminescent jellyfish; and Parallel Worlds, where reality-bending portals create alternative versions of your environment. The app features photorealistic visuals, controller-free hand-tracking, and environment scanning for a personalized experience. Wonder is available today for $3.99, with additional experiences slated for future updates and a potential price increase as new content rolls out.