Pelican Press

What is a whaling ******* (whaling phishing)? What is a whaling ******* (whaling phishing)? A whaling *******, also known as whaling phishing or a whaling phishing *******, is a specific type of phishing ******* that targets high-profile employees, such as the chief executive officer (CEO) or chief financial officer, in order to steal sensitive information from a company. In many whaling phishing attacks, the attacker’s goal is to manipulate the victim into authorizing high-value wire transfers to the attacker. The term whaling stems from the size of the attacks, and the whales are thought to be picked based on their authority within the company. Due to their highly targeted nature, whaling attacks are often more difficult to detect and prevent than standard phishing attacks. In the enterprise, security administrators can help reduce the effectiveness of whaling attacks by encouraging corporate management staff to undergo information security awareness training. How whaling attacks work The goal of a whaling ******* is to trick an individual into disclosing personal or corporate information through social engineering, email spoofing and content spoofing efforts. For example, the attackers might send the victim an email that appears to be from a trusted source; some whaling campaigns include a customized malicious website created especially for the *******. Whaling ******* emails and websites are highly customized and personalized, and they often incorporate the target’s name, job title or other relevant information gleaned from a variety of sources. This level of personalization makes it difficult to detect a whaling *******. Whaling attacks often depend on social engineering techniques, as attackers send hyperlinks or attachments to infect their victims with malware or solicit sensitive information. By targeting high-value victims, especially CEOs and other corporate officers, attackers might also induce them to approve fraudulent wire transfers using business email compromise techniques. In some cases, the attacker impersonates the CEO or other corporate officers to convince employees to carry out financial transfers. These cyberattacks can fool victims because attackers are willing to spend more time and effort constructing them due to their potentially high returns. Attackers often use social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, to gather personal information about their victim to make the whaling phishing ******* more plausible. 5 ways to protect against whaling phishing Defending against whaling attacks involves a mix of employee security awareness, data detection policy and infrastructure. Some best practices for identifying and preventing whaling attacks include the following. 1. Employee awareness Preventing any type of cybersecurity threat requires every employee to take responsibility for protecting the company’s assets. In the case of whaling phishing, all employees — not just high-level executives — must be trained about these attacks and how to identify them. Although high-level executives are the targets, lower-level employees could indirectly expose an executive to an ******* through an email security lapse. Employees should know what social engineering tactics to look for, such as fake email addresses that mimic a trusted email address. For example, if an employee regularly corresponds with an email address that reads “[email protected],” then the hacker might send a malicious email from “[email protected]” to mimic the trusted correspondent and gain the victim’s trust. Employees should also be wary of requests for money through email. 2. Multistep verification All requests for wire transfers and access to confidential information or sensitive data should pass through several levels of verification before being permitted. Check all emails and attachments from outside of the organization for malware, viruses and other issues to identify potentially malicious traffic. 3. Data protection policies Introduce data security policies to ensure emails and files are monitored for suspicious network activity. These policies should provide a layered defense against whale phishing and phishing scams in general to decrease the chances of a data breach occurring at the last line of defense. One such policy might involve monitoring emails for indicators of phishing attacks and automatically blocking those emails from reaching potential victims. Indicators of a potential phishing email include the following: The display or domain name differs slightly from the trusted address. The email body contains requests for money or information. The domain age doesn’t match the domain age of the trusted correspondent. 4. Social media education As an extension of employee awareness, make high-level executives aware of social media’s potential role in enabling a whaling *******. Social media contains a wealth of information that cybercriminals can use to craft social engineering attacks like whale phishing. Executives can limit access to this information by setting privacy restrictions on their personal social media accounts. CEOs are often visible on social media in ways that telegraph behavioral data that ********** can mimic and exploit. 5. Anti-phishing tools and organizations Many vendors offer anti-phishing software and managed security services to help prevent whaling and other phishing attacks. However, social engineering tactics remain prevalent because they focus on exploiting human error, which exists with or without cybersecurity technology. The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is an organization dedicated to cybersecurity and phishing research and prevention. It provides resources for companies affected by phishing and conducts research to provide information on the latest threats. Companies can also report a suspected threat to APWG for analysis. Differences among phishing, whaling phishing and spear phishing Phishing attacks, whaling phishing attacks and spear phishing attacks are often confused. All are online attacks targeting users to gain sensitive information or to use social engineering to coax the victim into taking some harmful action. A whaling ******* is a special form of spear phishing that targets specific high-ranking victims within a company. Spear phishing attacks can target any specific individual. Both types of ******* generally require more time and effort on the part of the attacker than ordinary phishing attacks. Learn how phishing, spear phishing and whaling compare. Phishing is a broader term that covers any ******* that tries to fool a victim into taking action, including sharing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and financial records for malicious purposes; installing malware or ransomware; or completing a fraudulent financial payment or wire transfer. While ordinary phishing email attacks usually involve sending emails to a large number of individuals without knowing how many emails will be successful, whaling email attacks usually target one specific individual at a time — typically a high-ranking individual — with highly personalized information. Examples of whaling attacks In 2016, the Belgian Crelan Bank lost $75 million in a whaling ******* centering on CEO ******, when its CEO was whaled during a routine internal audit. The ******* was an example of CEO ******. In a more recent example, *********** hedge fund Tessian lost $8.7 million in 2020 when hackers sent out a fake Zoom invitation — a technique that flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic — and one of the fund’s co-founders opened it. The bogus Zoom invitation installed a malicious link that created fake invoices in the fund’s email system. In 2024, a human resources executive at Pune IT was duped into purchasing more than $11,000 worth of Apple gift cards for all the company’s employees by cybercriminals posing as the company’s CEO. Fast Company predicted an increase in whaling attacks in 2024, citing the Okta *******, in which hackers accessed customers’ uploaded browser files. The magazine explained that the increase is a result of breakthroughs in new technologies that can penetrate multifactor authentication. Fast Company also predicted increases in spear phishing due to artificial intelligence. According to David Fine, supervisory special agent at the FBI, people are the key to both carrying out and defending against phishing attacks. Source link #whaling #******* #whaling #phishing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Solana Hits Three-Year Price Peak: What’s Driving Its Resurgence? Solana Hits Three-Year Price Peak: What’s Driving Its Resurgence? On November 18, 2024, (SOL-USD) reached its highest price in three years, climbing to $244.89. This places it less than $20 from its all-time high of $260.06, reached in November 2021. Even more impressive is Solana’s market capitalization, which has now surged past $114 billion, cementing its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap — behind (BTC-USD), (ETH-USD), and (USDT). Since the start of the year, Solana’s market dominance has more than doubled, now sitting at a historic 3.81%. Key Growth Catalysts 1. Revival of Meme Token Trading Solana’s network has seen a significant spike in user activity, particularly in the realm of meme tokens. The blockchain’s Total (EPA:) Value Locked (TVL) has climbed to $8.4 billion — its highest since 2021. Leading the charge is , Solana’s largest decentralized exchange (DEX), which recorded over $4.1 billion in daily trading volume. Among the standout tokens is Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT-USD), whose capitalization has grown sixfold in two weeks to $1.6 billion, with its price soaring by 2,900%. This resurgence underscores Solana’s ability to attract both new and returning traders seeking opportunities beyond traditional markets. 2. Institutional Interest in Solana-ETF The growing anticipation of a Solana-focused ETF has further amplified investor enthusiasm. VanEck, a leading investment firm, applied earlier this year to launch a spot Solana ETF, expected in 2025. Such developments are drawing the attention of institutional investors, who increasingly view Solana as a key player in the crypto landscape. A market expert from crypto exchange ChangeNOW, noted, “The anticipated launch of a Solana-ETF has fueled optimism among private and institutional investors. Coupled with increased media coverage, this has brought new users to the network. Many market participants are now projecting the token’s price to rise to $300–$350 by mid-2025.” What ***** Ahead? Solana’s growth is being closely watched by traders and investors. Its ability to consistently offer low transaction costs, coupled with high throughput, positions it as a competitive alternative to Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain. Breaking its all-time high of $260 may just be the beginning. With meme token activity, ETF developments, and rising institutional interest, Solana appears well-poised for continued success. However, the sustainability of this rally will hinge on the network’s scalability and its ability to maintain strong user engagement. Source link #Solana #Hits #ThreeYear #Price #Peak #Whats #Driving #Resurgence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelenskiy visits embattled Ukrainian frontline town Zelenskiy visits embattled Ukrainian frontline town Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he has visited the “intense” eastern frontline town of Pokrovsk, where Russia has directed an unrelenting infantry ******** for months to close in on the strategically placed road and rail hub. The trip comes a day before Ukraine marks 1000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion at a critical moment after the US election win of Donald Trump, who has promised to end the war without saying how, raised the prospect of future negotiations. Zelenskiy handed out military awards as he met sergeants from several units battling to defend Pokrovsk, site of a major coal mine, that Russian forces have been trying to capture, advancing within 8km from the city’s outskirts. “I know that only thanks to your strength the east has not been completely occupied by the Russian Federation,” Zelenskiy said in the video. Russia occupies a fifth of Ukraine and has been advancing at its fastest rate since 2022 in recent months. The front near Pokrovsk and another near the city of Kurakhove have been the scene of the most ferocious Russian offensives for months. Pokrovsk ***** at an intersection of roads and a railway that make it an important logistics point for the military and for civilians. Its coal mine is the only one in Ukraine that produces coking coal vital for the steel industry. The military said its forces had repelled more than 30 Russian attacks near Pokrovsk in just the past day. Zelenskiy’s office said he also visited other parts of the Donetsk region to check the progress with fortifications and discuss preparations for the looming winter with regional officials. The bulk of critical infrastructure – for the supply of water, electricity and natural gas – has been ruined in the Donetsk region as cities and towns have come under daily artillery *****, drone, missiles and guided ****** attacks. Vadim Filashkin, the regional governor, said about 324,000 civilians remained in Ukrainian-held parts of the region, down from about two million over the same territory before the invasion. The Donetsk region, where Russian proxy forces launched an insurgency in 2014, is one of four Ukrainian provinces that the Kremlin claimed to have annexed in late 2022. Russia says capturing the rest of the province is one of its principal war aims. A Russian missile ******* ******* 10 people and wounded 44 in Ukraine’s ****** Sea port of Odesa on Monday, local governor Oleh Kiper and police said. Four children were among the wounded while three people were in serious condition, Kiper said on the Telegram messenger. Zelenskiy said on Telegram that a Russian ballistic missile had hit a residential neighbourhood, and that an apartment building, a university building and an administrative building had been damaged. “These are not random strikes – these are show strikes. After calls and meetings with ******, after all the false gossip in the media about supposedly ‘refraining’ from strikes. Russia is showing what it is really interested in: only war,” he said. Police said that seven police officers, a medic and two residents had been ******* and 14 police officers were among the wounded. Source link #Zelenskiy #visits #embattled #Ukrainian #frontline #town Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Get Your Claws On This Deal For The Discontinued X-Men ’97 Lego Set Before It’s Gone Get Your Claws On This Deal For The Discontinued X-Men ’97 Lego Set Before It’s Gone Believe it or not, Lego sets do have a limited shelf life, and one of the more popular Marvel kits will be retired soon. The Wolverine’s Adamantium Claws set has been fairly popular–helped in no small part by the excellent X-Men ’97 animated series and a new Deadpool movie this year–and this replica of the famed X-Man’s signature claws will be discontinued soon. In case you’d like to grab a box before Lego retires this collectible, you can grab it for $56 from Target, and in case it sells out, the Lego Store has it for its regular price of $70. Once it’s gone, expect the price on this one to soar on the reseller market. Lego Marvel: Wolverine’s Adamantium Claws This display piece is roughly 600 pieces and is based on Wolverine’s animated incarnation. The clawed glove features 3 posable claws, movable fingers, and a sturdy stand with a descriptive panel. The completed model measures over 14.5 inches high, 5.5 inches wide, and 3.5 inches deep, so it’s a large collectible. If you want to pair it with another attention-grabbing Lego piece, the Lego X-Mansion launched earlier this month. This is a hefty weekend build, but once complete, it’s a colorful diorama that shows off the iconic headquarters of the X-Men, includes several of them as minifigures, and even has a massive Sentinel ****** for the team to battle. As mentioned above, this Wolverine collectible will be retired soon, and it’s not the only Lego set about to be sunsetted. While most of these are still being sold for their regular retail price, you can pick up a few bargains here, especially if you’re a Nintendo fan. Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart expansion is currently being sold for $88 (was $110), and Princess Peach’s Castle expansion set has been discounted to $104 (was $130). There’s even a cool Avengers: Endgame set on ***** for $70, a nice 30% discount in this last-chance collection of Lego. Last Chance Lego Sets Source link #Claws #Deal #Discontinued #XMen #Lego #Set Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Democrats and Republicans vastly underestimate the diversity of each other’s views Democrats and Republicans vastly underestimate the diversity of each other’s views After indicating their own attitude about a randomly selected policy issue, participants indicated where they thought 20 Democrats and/or 20 Republicans stood on the same policy issue, using the above tool. Credit: University of Pennsylvania According to a new study by researchers at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, both Democrats and Republicans significantly underestimate the diversity of policy attitudes within their own party and among the opposing party. This discovery challenges existing beliefs about polarization and suggests that reducing these misperceptions could ease political tensions. The study, conducted by doctoral candidate Nicholas Dias, Associate Professor Yphtach Lelkes, and Annenberg School alum Jacob Pearl (Ph.D. ’22) and published in Political Science Research and Methods, surveyed more than 9,400 participants to examine ********* partisans’ perceptions of political attitudes. “We’ve long thought that Americans see the other party as more extreme, but our results suggest that a greater problem may be that Americans fail to see the diversity of views within each party,” says Dias, lead author of the study. Participants were first asked to share their own attitude toward a particularly polarizing policy issue—*********, **** control, immigration—and then were asked to intuit how 20 Democrats and/or 20 Republicans would respond to the same question on a scale from 0 to 10. For example, when asked about *********, zero represented the position of “********* should never be forbidden,” while ten represented “********* should never be permitted.” Participants assigned each imagined Democrat or *********** a number representing their opinion. The results revealed that Democrats and Republicans underestimate the diversity of the other party’s policy attitudes and their own party’s policy attitudes by more than a factor of two. However, Democrats and Republicans did not significantly overestimate how extreme the average member of each party was. These findings challenge the traditional understanding of perceived polarization. Previous research has suggested that Democrats and Republicans consistently overestimate how ******** the other party is, always believing that the other party is much more ******** than it actually is. However, this study suggests that the greater error in Democrats’ and Republicans’ perceptions is how diverse they perceive the parties to be. The researchers also measured how participants felt toward the other party and how comfortable they were socializing with them. They found that, the more a participant perceived the other side to hold diverse attitudes, the more participants liked the other party and felt comfortable socializing with them. Perceiving the other party as having more diverse attitudes was also associated with lesser concern that the party supports violating democratic norms. This research opens the door for new strategies to reduce polarization, such as encouraging people to recognize the moderate and diverse views held by opposing party members. “Our research suggests that fostering awareness of the diversity within political parties could reduce partisan hostility and create space for more constructive dialogue,” says Lelkes, co-director of the Polarization Research Lab, a collaboration between faculty and researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, and Stanford University. More information: Nicholas C. Dias et al, ********* partisans vastly under-estimate the diversity of other partisans’ policy attitudes, Political Science Research and Methods (2024). DOI: 10.1017/psrm.2024.36 Provided by University of Pennsylvania Citation: Democrats and Republicans vastly underestimate the diversity of each other’s views (2024, November 18) retrieved 18 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Democrats #Republicans #vastly #underestimate #diversity #views Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Midlands, North East ***** and rescue services to use Motorola control room platform Midlands, North East ***** and rescue services to use Motorola control room platform Motorola Solutions has gained a new contract with ***** and rescue services (FRS) in Hereford and Worcester, Shropshire, Cleveland ***** Brigade, and Country Durham and Darlington to use a shared control room platform. Working together, the four ***** and rescue services operate 77 ***** stations, covering a population of 2.5 million people, and they will now deploy a control room solution (CRS) to allow the four control rooms to work independently, as well as in a collaborative services hub capacity, to ensure greater efficiency and scalability for emergency services. As part of the deployment, the shared platform encompasses an integrated communication control system (ICCS) for call-taking, computer aided dispatch (CAD) and data recording to help each FRS increase the effectiveness and resilience of incident response. The platform also integrates call-taking, dispatch and data management to improve response times, standardise processes and enable seamless collaboration during high-demand situations. As it combines workflows from initial call-taking to dispatch, the unified response system, the platform will standardise data and processes. This, said Motorola Solutions, will allow them to provide control room staff with the ability to more quickly respond to incidents and be able to scale operations and capabilities in times of high demand. “By adopting this innovative approach, ***** and rescue services can enhance capabilities, improve service delivery and minimise costs by sharing the same underlying infrastructure,” said Motorola Solutions *** and Ireland country manager Fergus Mayne. “By choosing a hub solution, emergency services foster standardisation for seamless information exchange during ****** operations and increase scalability to accommodate varying demand levels – especially leading to faster response times.” Drilling deeper into one of the forces, Hereford & Worcester ***** and Rescue Service has 25 ***** stations, with 41 ***** engines strategically located across the two counties. Each year, it attends a wide variety of incidents, including property and countryside fires, road traffic collisions, water rescues, rope rescues, collapsed structures, hazardous materials and animal rescues. The service has around 250 wholetime firefighters and 380 on-call firefighters, supported by some 20 ***** control staff and approximately 100 support staff. It also hosts one of 29 national urban search and rescue specialist units. Chief ***** officer Jon Pryce said: “Our control room is an essential function and the first point of contact to our communities in any emergency situation. “By creating this new multi-agency hub, our four ***** services can manage incidents together when they need to, such as in spate conditions, when a control room may need to cover a large amount of incoming 999 calls,” he added. “The new control room solution will help us to maximise the capabilities of our control room staff, and use the latest technology to mobilise and coordinate frontline staff.” Source link #Midlands #North #East #***** #rescue #services #Motorola #control #room #platform Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Druckenmiller bought regional banks but a healthcare pick is his biggest bet Druckenmiller bought regional banks but a healthcare pick is his biggest bet Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller built a sizable position in regional banks and made one healthcare name his biggest position last quarter — two bets that have been rallying since the election of President-elect Trump two weeks ago. The former lead portfolio manager for George Soros’ Quantum Fund, who now runs his own Duquesne Family Office, bought $115 million worth of shares in SPDR S & P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) in the third quarter, making it the firm’s seventh biggest holding, according to a new regulatory filing. Meanwhile, Druckenmiller dramatically hiked his bet on clinical genetic testing company Natera to $453 million, pushing it to the top of his portfolio at the end of September and more than double the $214 Natera represented in the portfolio in the second quarter. . Banks and healthcare companies are seen as beneficiaries under a Trump presidency because of potential deregulation. The regional banking ETF has climbed 12% this month alone, while Natera has jumped nearly 26% in November. In the lead-up to the presidential election, Druckenmiller said the market was convinced of a Trump victory and that if the *********** did take the White House, it would very likely prove a red sweep. The GOP eventually gained majority control of the Senate and kept control of the House of Representatives. KRE YTD mountain SPDR S & P Regional Banking ETF The widely followed investor was recently applauded for his big win on key artificial intelligence player Nvidia . He first bought the chipmaker in 2022 as he grew bullish on the burgeoning industry, comparing the power of AI to the internet. However, he exited the winning bet this year, later admitting it was a “big mistake” as Jensen Huang’s company continued its rally. During the third quarter, Duquesne added a small bet on Broadcom, worth $41 million, as another AI play. Druckenmiller shot to fame after helping make a $10 billion bet against the British pound in 1992. He later oversaw $12 billion as president of Duquesne Capital Management before closing his firm in 2010. Source link #Druckenmiller #bought #regional #banks #healthcare #pick #biggest #bet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2 health stocks are buys. They are down enough on Trump RFK Jr. pick for HHS 2 health stocks are buys. They are down enough on Trump RFK Jr. pick for HHS We are buying 25 shares of Danaher at roughly $229 each. Following Monday’s trade, Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust will own 550 shares of DHR, increasing its weighting to roughly 3.6% from 3.4%. The health care sector has been the big ****** in the market since the election. If the SPDR Health Care Sector Fund , commonly referred to as the XLV, trades lower Monday it will mark its sixth straight negative session. The group is facing a big wave of uncertainty after President-elect Donald Trump picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic and obesity ***** critic , to be his secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. There is nothing the market hates more than uncertainty, which is why stocks can fall so hard when there is an unclear view of policy. But uncertainty can also create opportunity. We never want to downplay risks — but at a certain level, a stock will price in too many potential changes, reflecting outcomes that may be too severe. If what happens in real life turns out to be better than what was initially feared, then nibbling on high-quality health care names at these prices could turn out to be bargains. We’re not buying big here because the uncertainty overhang could linger for some time, but some of these stocks are getting oversold. That’s why we are turning to a couple of health care stocks that have been beaten down over the past couple of weeks. Since the election, Danaher shares have fallen from $250 each to $230 while Eli Lilly shares have dropped from $806 to $720. DHR YTD mountain Danaher YTD Danaher reported a better-than-expected quarter with a return to growth in its bioprocessing business. Bioprocessing is the use of cell components to make various products including targeted therapies such as vaccines. Danaher got a lot of business from vaccine makers during Covid. Part of the reason why Danaher has come under pressure after the RFK Jr. pick is concerns about funding to the National Institutes of Health, the country’s national medical agency, and part of HHS. But as Leerink analysts estimated in a research note Monday, less than 1% of Danaher’s revenue has exposure to NIH funding. The other side of Danaher’s risk is if pharma companies cut back on research and development due to regulatory changes. This will be something to watch in the future, but we think Danaher stock trading at around 27 times 2025 earnings estimates reflect some of this risk. LLY YTD mountain Eli Lilly YTD Separately, we would be buyers of five shares of Eli Lilly at roughly $7each if we were not restricted from trading. The five shares represent half of what we sold in early September when the stock traded at around $960. Eli Lilly shares fell from $903 to $846 after a disappointing third-quarter report where inventory destocking of its fast-selling GLP-1 medications caused the company to miss estimates and lower full year guidance. We were troubled by Eli Lilly’s messaging after the quarter, but felt encouraged in the days that followed that management reiterated to the analyst community that the miss was purely destocking driven and not based on fundamentals or underlying demand . But the possible appointment of RFK Jr. has created a whole host of uncertainty for Eli Lilly and the ***** stocks at large. Last week we pointed out RFK Jr.’s criticism of the obesity drugs, with his two main issues being pricing and his view that dietary and food-systems changes are the better way to tackle high rates of obesity. Sure, pricing may become more of an issue in the future, but there’s no debating the science and the medicine’s ability to treat obesity and other conditions. The recent correction in Eli Lilly puts shares trading slightly above 30 times the consensus 2025 adjusted earnings per share estimate on FactSet of $22.52. If you look out to 2026, Lilly shares are trading at roughly 24 times. While these multiples are a premium to other ***** stocks, we think it’s cheap considering the company’s top-tier growth that will continue as GLP-1 supply capacity catches up to demand. Another thing to keep in mind is that Eli Lilly faces no major patent cliff or IRA pricing exposure through the rest of the decade. (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long DHR, LLY. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Source link #health #stocks #buys #Trump #RFK #pick #HHS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scholz’s ****** call was ‘strategic mistake’, Estonia says Scholz’s ****** call was ‘strategic mistake’, Estonia says By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) – ******* Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s call with Russian President Vladimir ****** was a “strategic mistake” that weakened ********* unity in the face of Moscow’s war against Ukraine, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on Monday. In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of a meeting of ********* Union foreign ministers in Brussels, Tsahkna said he hoped widespread international criticism of Scholz’s call would dissuade any other ********* leaders from talking to ******. Scholz held a one-hour call with ****** on Friday – his first direct communication with Russia’s leader in almost two years. He defended the call as a way to make clear to ****** that *******, ********* and other support for Ukraine would not wane. But Tsahkna, whose Baltic nation is one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters and one of Moscow’s fiercest critics, said the call had damaged Western efforts to isolate ******. “It was a strategic mistake,” he said. “We have had a principle agreed that we keep ****** in isolation.” Tsahkna said that position should be maintained until ****** showed a willingness to take part in meaningful negotiations and withdraw his troops from Ukraine. But currently ****** was doing the opposite, Tsahkna said, pointing out that Russia mounted one of its most severe attacks on Ukraine in months in the days after Scholz’s call. “It just weakened our unity and our positions,” Tsahkna said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was quick to criticise Scholz’s call. He said it was “exactly what ****** has long sought” and could open a “Pandora’s Box” of calls that would further undermine efforts to isolate him. Arriving at Monday’s EU meeting, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis voiced scepticism about the call. He said such a moves had to come from a position of strength, not weakness, or “the Russians will ****** it”. “They clearly are doing exactly that with the massive new rocket barrages against Ukraine’s civil infrastructure, against energy,” he said. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Editing by William Maclean) Source link #Scholzs #****** #call #strategic #mistake #Estonia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aztec ****** Whistle Will Mess Up Your Mind, Study Reveals Aztec ****** Whistle Will Mess Up Your Mind, Study Reveals One of the most remarkable ancient musical instruments ever discovered is the so-called Aztec ****** whistle. Newly published research seems to confirm the correctness of the ‘****** whistle’ label, as it turns out these whistles create sounds that would be at home on the soundtrack of any good horror movie, based on the way they are perceived by the human brain—which is as frightening, and possibly extremely so depending on the circumstances. The Screaming Whistle and its Chilling Impact Found inside the graves of sacrificial victims and other deceased people in Aztec burial grounds, these small, skull-shaped wind instruments produce a haunting and eerie sound that is at least somewhat reminiscent of a human scream (when blown forcefully). Human sacrifice with original skull whistle (small red box and enlarged rotated view in lower right) discovered 1987–89 at the Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl temple in Mexico City, Mexico (burial 20; photo by Salvador Guillien Arroyo, Proyecto Tlatelolco 1987–2006, INAH Mexico). (Nature). There has been ongoing debate about the true purpose of these whistles, for the ***** as well as for the living. In a new study just published in the journal Communications Psychology, a team of researchers from the Cognitive and Affective Neurosciences Unit at the University of Zurich in Switzerland decided to explore a somewhat different but related question. They were interested in learning how the human brain reacts to the otherworldly, high-pitched, wind-like sounds produced by these unique whistles, information which could make it easier to figure out how they were used. For the purposes of their research, the Swiss scientists recruited volunteers who were asked to listen to Aztec whistles being blown while their brain activity was being monitored. The results of this research proved most enlightening, as the scientists discovered that these haunting instruments produced sounds that listeners experienced as unpleasant and even frightening. “Skull whistle sounds are predominantly perceived as aversive and scary and as having a hybrid natural-artificial origin,” the study authors explained. “Skull whistle sounds attract mental attention by affectively mimicking other aversive and startling sounds produced by nature and technology.” As the whistle was being blown, the participants in the new study experienced a heightening of activity in their brains’ auditory regions. At the same time, brain wave monitoring showed the auditory cortex was put on high alert, meaning the brain was perceiving the sounds from the whistles as threatening. “Skull whistles thus seem [to be] unique sound tools with specific psycho-affective effects on listeners, and Aztec communities might have capitalized on the scary and scream-like nature of skull whistles,” the study authors concluded. In other words, now that experiments have shown that the ****** whistles produce sounds that can provoke strongly negative reactions, it is reasonable to believe the Aztecs understood the frightening nature of their skull-shaped whistles and found ways to use that to their advantage. It should be noted that there are video and audio recordings allegedly made by Aztec ****** whistles that sound almost identical to a human scream, and a loud one at that. While these results are real, the “****** whistles” that make such sounds are all larger replicas of the original whistles, which are only an inch or two (3-5 cm) in length. Original exemplars and replicas of Aztec skull whistles.(Nature). Whistling a Tune for the Gods The first Aztec ****** whistle was found in Mexico City in 1999, in the grave of a 20-year-old man who was apparently the victim of human sacrifice. Many others have been recovered since then, mostly from tombs dating back to the years 1250 through 1521, and quite frequently from the burials of sacrifice victims. “Many ancient cultures used musical tools for social and ritual procedures, with the Aztec skull whistle being a unique exemplar from postclassic Mesoamerica,” the study authors explained in their Communications Psychology article. “Skull whistles can produce softer hiss-like but also aversive and scream-like sounds that were potentially meaningful either for sacrificial practices, mythological symbolism, or intimidating warfare of the Aztecs.” Notably, this whistle was recovered in the Tlatelolco temple, which was devoted to the Aztec **** of wind, Ehecatl. The wind-like nature of the sound the whistle produces seems to fit with the idea that its purpose is to pay homage to this important deity, presumably in ceremonies and rituals associated with ****** (and possibly with the afterlife). Whistling Past the Graveyard (or in the Graveyard in This Case) It has long been theorized that Aztec warriors might have carried ****** whistles with them to ***** in unison on the battlefield, to scare and intimidate the forces of opposition. But there is no actual historical evidence to support such an idea. In fact the study authors think it is more likely the whistles were used for ritual and ceremonial purposes, and that it is no coincidence that they seem to turn up in the burials of Aztec sacrificial victims more often than not. A 3-D print copy of an Aztec ****** Whistle. (NeoBatfreak/CC BY-SA 4.0) Given what has been discovered about the whistles’ effect on the human brain, they may have been blown during sacrificial rituals to scare away evil spirits or other types of negative forces that could prey on the deceased when they crossed over. Regardless of the intent, when ****** whistles were blown, they would have sent a chill up and down the spine of anyone who heard one, even the mighty Aztecs. Top image: Arkaeology Aztec ****** Whistle. Source: Jennysnest/CC BY-SA 4.0 By Nathan Falde Source link #Aztec #****** #Whistle #Mess #Mind #Study #Reveals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A new chemical process to produce raw materials A new chemical process to produce raw materials Triazenolysis: making amines by breaking olefins. Credit: Tatyana Savin Researchers at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion have developed a new chemical process to produce raw materials for the manufacture of polymers, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural compounds. In a paper about the process in Nature Chemistry, the researchers detail how they developed the new process and conducted a computational analysis to explain its mechanisms and key stages. The study was led by doctoral students Alexander Koronatov and Deepak Ranolia, and postdoctoral researcher Pavel Sakharov, under the guidance of Prof. Mark Gandelman. Called triazenolysis, the new process converts alkenes—common organic compounds such as petroleum—into multifunctional amines useful in various research and industrial applications. The Technion-developed process mimics ozonolysis, a long-established technology used to create molecules with carbon-oxygen bonds. Ozonolysis, developed more than a century ago, is effective at forming carbon-oxygen bonds but does not produce carbon-nitrogen bonds. This is where triazenolysis comes into play, producing carbon-nitrogen bonds relevant to a wide range of applications by cleaving carbon-carbon bonds in olefins (a class of chemicals made up of hydrogen and carbon with one or more pairs of carbon atoms linked by a double bond). More information: Aleksandr Koronatov et al, Triazenolysis of alkenes as an aza version of ozonolysis, Nature Chemistry (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01653-3. On chemRxiv: DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2023-h5jnz Provided by Technion – ******* Institute of Technology Citation: Triazenolysis: A new chemical process to produce raw materials (2024, November 18) retrieved 18 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #chemical #process #produce #raw #materials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** consumers losing more than ever to holiday scams *** consumers losing more than ever to holiday scams The ***’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Action ****** have launched their annual appeal to consumers to pay more attention to ******, after publishing figures that reveal rising losses to online scammers during the festive shopping season, which kicks off in earnest over the next fortnight heading into ****** Friday. Despite giving similar warnings last, and every, year, Brits lost over £11.5m to cyber ********** during November and December of 2023 – a jump of about £1m – with clothing, technology products and cars among the most prominent items targeted. Victims lost an average of £695 each, and those aged 30 to 39 submitted the largest number of reports, closely followed by 40 to 49 year-olds. According to the statistics, about 43% of reported incidents involved a social media platform, and 19% an online marketplace. The NCSC is today launching a national campaign to encourage people to take the bare minimum of steps to protect themselves, such as turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect their online accounts. “As we head into the holiday shopping season, people are understandably eager to find the best deals online,” said NCSC CEO Richard Horne. “Unfortunately, this is also prime time for cyber **********, who exploit bargain hunters with increasingly sophisticated scams – sometimes crafted using AI – making them ******* to detect. To stay protected, I strongly recommend following our online shopping guidance, including setting up two-step verification and creating memorable-but-secure passwords using three random words.” Recently appointed Home Office minister for ****** Lord Hanson added: “We know that more needs to be done to tackle online ******. Our message to anyone shopping online as we approach ****** Friday is simple: if you come across anything that doesn’t feel right – stop what you’re doing, break contact, and do not click any links. “This government is committed to defeating this scourge, and we will continue our work with industry and other partners to better protect the public from this appalling ******,” he said. NCSC guidance Besides implementing simple technical measures, online shoppers are also being encouraged to be on the lookout for standard-yet-effective cyber ********* tactics. For example, some fraudsters often try to create a false sense of urgency using limited-time offers, or promoting apparently scarce or exclusive items. In all instances, the best course of action is to shop sceptically – always keeping in mind the old adage that if something seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is. If something doesn’t seem quite right, the best course of action is to stop, break off contact, do not click on any links that have already been sent, and research the company or seller through trusted review sites. Consumers can find out more about this year’s campaign at the Stop! Think ****** microsite. Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer protection organisation Which?, said she was in favour of the NCSC and government doing more to raise awareness of ****** and scams, but urged them to go further, saying it was not right that the onus always falls on consumers to protect themselves. “Tackling ****** must be made a national priority, and the government should lead a more coordinated approach by encouraging sectors to share data and stop scams spreading,” she said. “New duties, equivalent to the obligations being introduced for banks and online platforms, should be placed on telecom providers, online advertising providers and domain registrars to ensure they verify the legitimacy of users.” Source link #consumers #losing #holiday #scams Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Walmart Upcoming Earnings: How Will Tech Initiatives Shape Results? Walmart Upcoming Earnings: How Will Tech Initiatives Shape Results? Walmart Inc (NYSE:) is a technology-powered omnichannel retailer. The Company is engaged in the operation of retail and wholesale stores and clubs, as well as e-commerce websites and mobile applications, located throughout the ******* States, *******, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India, and Mexico. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, WalMart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. WMT Q3 2024 reports earnings at 7:01 AM ET TUESDAY, Nov 19, 2024 Price Performance: Fundamentals: Option Statistics: Put/Call ratio for Nov. 22 expiry is 0.702% more calls than puts which suggests the following three scenarios: Any sharp rally will face liquidations of Calls pre or post earnings. Earning miss or lower guidance could trigger a sell-off Tuesday. Earning and guidance in line or better than estimates trigger a short-live rally. Key Highlights: Walmart stock is trading 61% higher YTD, reflecting the strength of its diversified business. Robust E-Commerce Initiatives continues to produce positive outcomes. Consumers can get drugs delivered with their grocery orders; service will be available in 49 states by the end of January. Walmart’s Antidote to locked-up products. Some staff can use mobile devices to unlock display cases. Technology could be offered to Walmart+ loyalty members. Technical Analysis Perspective: WMT rally from May 2022 is in a parabolic Arc pattern, showing a strong trend in progress. Monthly prices are rising inside a rising channel, challenging resistance between 88/90. A rejection of this channel resistance eyes a drop to 78/77 the middle line of the channel. A parabolic pattern has a tendency of reversing sharply with any negative catalyst. Monthly Relative Strength model is hovering around the extreme levels at 85% in November. The highest RSI reading has been between 88% (1998/99), 86% (1991) and 94% (1983). WMT RSI may remain higher for a while, however, it is showing a warning sign suggesting that this is not a time to buy. WMT Monthly Chart AMAT Seasonality Chart WMT 19 years seasonality suggests that it closes 2.8% higher in November 70% of the time. So far in November stock is up about 3. 95% from its opening price. Conclusion: Technical setups suggest that the stock is at extreme levels; warning that this is not a time to buy. A prudent strategy will be to wait and see. Fundamentally the stock appears to be overvalued as per a few analysts. Source link #Walmart #Upcoming #Earnings #Tech #Initiatives #Shape #Results Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beirut Residents Reel Under Fresh Round of ******** Airstrikes Beirut Residents Reel Under Fresh Round of ******** Airstrikes In the first strikes on Beirut for weeks, at least 10 people were ******* and 45 more injured according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Source link #Beirut #Residents #Reel #Fresh #******** #Airstrikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lego Horizon Adventures set confirmed for 2025 Lego Horizon Adventures set confirmed for 2025 Following earlier reports, Lego has announced a new Lego Horizon set due for release in March. Aloy & Varl vs Shel-Walker & Sawtooth will cost €44.99 / $44.99 / £39.99 when it releases on March 1, 2025. The set will include 768 pieces. Currently, Lego has released one set based on the Horizon franchise. The Tallneck was released in May 2022 for $79.99. The set has since been retired. “We’re delighted to bring one of gaming’s most beloved franchises to life in both physical and digital Lego brick form,” said Kate Bryant, product lead, of branded games at the Lego Group. “We hope this latest set continues to fulfill our commitment to seamless play and empowers our fans to expand on their favourite games in their own, unique way.” “Lego Horizon Adventures has brought Aloy and the acclaimed Horizon universe to a new audience and we’ve been very pleased with the title’s launch,” said Roy Postma, Art Director, Guerrilla. “This new set adds to that momentum by enabling players to build on the excitement of the adventures they experience in the game in true Lego fashion.” VGC’s review of Lego Horizon Adventures called it a “simple family adventure.” “Lego Horizon Adventures is an enjoyable family game with witty writing and great visuals,” we wrote. ”The gameplay won’t scratch the ***** of players who were introduced to Aloy via the main series, but for younger gamers, this is one of the vanishingly few family games available on modern consoles that’s of legitimately high quality. “Witty writing and a cheeky sense of humor make the game feel like Gurrella letting its hair down before heading off on the journey of Horizon 3. Some repetitive gameplay aside, it’s an enjoyable palette cleanser in the middle of 2024’s long list of epic experiences.” Source link #Lego #Horizon #Adventures #set #confirmed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Citizen scientists help explain magenta aurora over Japan Citizen scientists help explain magenta aurora over Japan a) Aurora photos taken from Aomori, b) from Hokkaido, c) from Chubu, and d) from Tohoku, Japan. Credit: a) 🄫KAGAYA b) ~d) @Courtesy of a citizen scientists Citizen scientists in Japan enabled researchers to learn why May 2024’s aurora appeared a magenta ****** over the country. This effort in extending research beyond academies and laboratories has greater consequences for humanity than explaining pretty lights. Around the world, the historic geomagnetic superstorm of late spring 2024 inspired millions of non-scientists around the world—many armed with highly sensitive smartphone cameras—to take a fantastic, unprecedented number of images of the aurora it produced. In Japan, this widespread popular uptake of what is now quite advanced imaging technology (even if it is kept in everyone’s pocket) proved to be a tremendous boon for atmospheric physicists and other scientists specializing in “space weather.” It allowed them to discover why the Northern Lights over Japan appeared as a mysterious magenta ****** this time instead of the typical red that is observed when aurorae are visible over that country. The researchers describe both their findings and what could be a model for the organization of future “citizen-science” operations in the journal Scientific Reports on October 28. In early May this year, one of the most extreme geomagnetic storms in the history of recording such events hit the Earth’s atmosphere. This great “storm” in space, composed of ionized particles, is what produces the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, in the northern hemisphere and the aurora australis, or Southern Lights, in the southern hemisphere. This time, however, the storm was so strong—the ninth most severe storm in the 110-year history of Japan’s Kakioka Magnetic Observatory, one of the oldest geomagnetic stations in the world—that the polar lights could be photographed at much lower latitudes than normal. The distribution of 179 auroral observations over Japan during the 11 May 2024 magnetic storm. Credit: National Institute of Polar Research In Japan, space weather researchers took advantage of ordinary people taking pictures of the aurora with their smartphones to organize one of the densest citizen science observation efforts anywhere, despite being a low-latitude country where the aurora was somewhat fainter than in places like Canada or northern Europe. The different colors of an aurora come from the emission of light from different atoms and molecules in the atmosphere when they are bombarded by the particles from space. The dramatic green hue seen in many photographs of the polar lights comes from atomic oxygen (single atoms of oxygen rather than molecular oxygen, or two oxygen atoms bound together) at the lower altitudes within the atmosphere that are visible to people. (The human eye is also just very sensitive to this ******). At even lower altitudes, where atomic oxygen is less common, blue is more visible, and this comes from the greater presence of nitrogen. At the very highest altitudes in the atmosphere, however, there is a lower concentration of atoms of any kind. The fewer collisions there result in a perception by humans of the excited atomic oxygen atoms as the ****** red. This is why the upper parts of the aurora curtains can appear as green fading into a scarlet hue. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter—daily or weekly. At low latitudes, as in Japan, normally there is no green at all, only red because only the upper part of the aurora can be seen above the horizon. “Yet this time, weirdly, the images revealed a very clear and dominant magenta hue to the aurora ‘curtains’ over Japan, not red,” said Ryuho Kataoka, the lead author of the study and a specialist in extreme space weather. To solve the mystery, the researchers quickly took to social media to encourage people to observe and report their sightings of the auroras, as well as to input data into a questionnaire asking about observation locations, time, elevation angles and other details, allowing researchers to analyze the auroras’ characteristics in unprecedented detail. Estimated auroral emission altitude around the 11 May 2024 magnetic storm peak. Credit: National Institute of Polar Research The effort resulted in an impressive 775 grassroots submissions, which the researchers then combined with satellite observations and advanced modeling techniques to explore the conditions that had led to the magenta aurora. The elevation data from these citizen scientists proved to be particularly useful. The researchers used elevation angles to calculate the position of the aurora over time, and found that it was often a surprisingly high altitude of roughly 1,000 km above sea level—which should thus drive a red appearance. But on top of this, the time and season of year meant the atmosphere was more “preheated” ahead of the aurora, in turn driving an upwelling of ionized molecular nitrogen—what is usually responsible for a blue hue. “Blue plus red makes us see magenta,” added Professor Kataoka. “And the magenta was made all the more visible and vibrant by the sheer volume of solar activity, even though, ironically, the preheating would also have worked to reduce the peak brightness of the aurora.” Better understanding of magnetic storms goes beyond explaining why humans see the pretty colors of aurorae; these storms can have profound, negative impacts on satellite operations, GPS systems, power grids and even the safety of passengers and crews aboard high-altitude flights. And so ahead of the next magnetic storm, the researchers want to take an even more coordinated approach to citizen science and spread their efforts further afield. This particular study was limited to Japan and used only the ********* language, representing something of a proof of concept. But by using automated translation of their questionnaires and social media posts into local languages around the world, the researchers feel that they will be able to produce a global replication of this effort, with the ultimate aim of analyzing different phases of magnetic storms, to better protect humanity from the dangers posed by extreme space weather. More information: Ryuho Kataoka et al, Extended magenta aurora as revealed by citizen science, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-75184-9 Provided by Research Organization of Information and Systems Citation: Citizen scientists help explain magenta aurora over Japan (2024, November 18) retrieved 18 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Citizen #scientists #explain #magenta #aurora #Japan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steam Deck OLED, step aside – the Lenovo Legion Go’s price is now closer to Valve’s handheld gaming PC, thanks to an early ****** Friday deal Steam Deck OLED, step aside – the Lenovo Legion Go’s price is now closer to Valve’s handheld gaming PC, thanks to an early ****** Friday deal The handheld gaming PC market is expanding rapidly with new chips from AMD (the rumored Ryzen Z2 series) and multiple new devices on the way. While we await the announcements of successors to gaming handhelds from Asus, Valve, and Lenovo, you’ll be glad to hear that the Lenovo Legion Go is now available for just $549 (was 699.99) at Amazon, while *** shoppers get an even better deal – it’s down to £499 (was £699) at Currys. Even if you’re not in the US or ***, it’ll be wise to keep an eye out for potential deals on the Legion Go in the coming weeks – early ****** Friday deals have been a treat so far, and if they’re any indication, we could see many more enticing price drops. Having tested the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and the Lenovo Legion Go, I can confirm that the latter leads in terms of display quality. Yes, I know the Steam Deck OLED creates a spectacle thanks to the great contrast available, but I’d rather not deal with babying my handheld to avoid potential *****-in. Not in the US or ***? Scroll down to see the best Lenovo Legion Go deals in your region! Today’s best Lenovo Legion Go deal in the US Today’s best Lenovo Legion Go deal in the *** While it might not be OLED, the Lenovo Legion Go provides an 8.8-inch 2560×1600 IPS display – this is fantastic for competitive handheld gaming in games like Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6. While using the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, I found that I couldn’t perform at the same level I would with my desktop PC – but the Legion Go gave me that advantage with a ******* screen. There are some downsides to this, as this leaves Lenovo’s handheld being pretty heavy to handle (especially noticeable during long gaming binges). It’s also important to note that the 1600p resolution is far too much for the Z1 Extreme chip – you will almost definitely find yourself dropping the resolution for smoother performance. Still, even at FHD resolutions, it’s certainly a treat. When you add in the Nintendo Switch-style detachable controllers for more ways to play, the Legion Go brings a lot to the table. This is one of the best deals for any handheld gaming PC you’ll see for a while, so don’t hesitate to get your hands on it at the £499 price. More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the US Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99 Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99 Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones Cheap TVs: smart TVs at Best Buy from $69.99 Christmas trees: top-rated trees from $54.99 Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99 Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping Holiday: decor, lights, Christmas trees & PJs from $10.99 Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture Lowe’s: holiday decor, appliances & tools from $17.31 Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats, jeans & jewelry Samsung: $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances Target: save on furniture, tech & clothing Walmart: cheap TVs, ****** vacs, furniture & appliances More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the *** Amazon: up to 68% off toothbrushes and TVs AO: savings on games consoles and appliances Argos: up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs and gifts Boots: up to 50% off Dyson, *****-B and Philips Currys: early deals on TVs, appliances, laptops Dell: laptops, desktops, monitors from £299 Dyson: up to £150 off Ebay: up to 50% off refurbished tech EE: up to £600 off Samsung and Apple John Lewis: up to £300 off appliances and TVs LG: £1,000 or more off TVs and appliances Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and tablets Very: up to 30% off phones, appliances & clothing Source link #Steam #Deck #OLED #step #Lenovo #Legion #Gos #price #closer #Valves #handheld #gaming #early #****** #Friday #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steve Bannon set for New York trial starting Feb. 25, judge rules Steve Bannon set for New York trial starting Feb. 25, judge rules Key Trump ally Steve Bannon released from prison Key Trump ally Steve Bannon released from prison 01:58 Steve Bannon, one of President-elect Donald Trump’s loudest supporters, is scheduled for trial in February in a case in which Trump once pardoned him — but this time a White House pardon isn’t on the table. A judge Tuesday set Feb. 25 as the start of Bannon’s trial on charges related to alleged money laundering, *********** and a scheme to defraud. The case stems from Bannon’s alleged role in an organization that raised millions on the promise — during Trump’s first term in office — that they would privately build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon and the now-defunct group, called We Build the Wall, are accused of pocketing donations. He has entered a not guilty plea in the case and called the charges “nonsense,” accusing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of pursuing allegations out of political animus. Trial in the case was originally scheduled for November 2023, but has been delayed repeatedly. Bannon was indicted on federal charges in a similar case in August 2020, but Trump pardoned him as one of his last acts before leaving office in 2021 after his defeat to President Biden. Presidents cannot issue pardons for state charges. As Trump enters the second month of his new presidency, his former senior counsel and White House chief strategist will be in court. Bannon completed a four-month federal prison sentence just three weeks ago. He was incarcerated for defying a subpoena from a congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 ******* on the U.S. Capitol. Graham Kates Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering ********* justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at *****@*****.tld or *****@*****.tld Source link #Steve #Bannon #set #York #trial #starting #Feb #judge #rules Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House ethics panel to meet House ethics panel to meet Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., leaves the House *********** Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The House Ethics Committee will meet Wednesday to discuss its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next attorney general, NBC News reported Monday. Several key *********** senators want the report on Gaetz released to the Senate for their consideration on whether to confirm him for the AG post, if and when Trump formally nominates him. The Ethics Committee had been investigating Gaetz for alleged ******* misconduct and potential ******** ***** use, and other actions. The panel had been scheduled to meet last Friday on the report but postponed that session. Gaetz, who represented a Florida congressional district, resigned abruptly from the House last week after Trump said he would nominate him for AG. His resignation ended the Ethics panel’s jurisdiction over him. Read more CNBC politics coverage House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. has said he would “strongly request” that the committee not release its report on Gaetz, arguing that doing so would be “a terrible breach of protocol, tradition and spirit of the rule.” If Gaetz is confirmed as attorney general, he would lead the Department of Justice, which previously investigated him for possible **** trafficking of an underage girl. The DOJ did not file ********* charges against Gaetz in that case, and he has denied any wrongdoing. On Thursday, a lawyer who represents a woman who says she had **** with Gaetz when she was underage called for the Ethics report to be released. — NBC News’ Scott Wong contributed to this report. Source link #House #ethics #panel #meet Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unreal Engine 5 Powered Zelda Ocarina of Time Game Looks Absolutely Stunning Unreal Engine 5 Powered Zelda Ocarina of Time Game Looks Absolutely Stunning Released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time paved the way for the evolution of 3D gaming. It’s a masterpiece that captured players’ hearts worldwide with its immersive world-building, innovative mechanics, and unforgettable story. More than two decades later, it still holds a special place in the hearts of fans, though its graphics show the passing of time. Players still enjoy the game’s exceptional music and captivating story. | Image Credit: Nintendo Recently, a fan has been working to recreate Ocarina of Time using Unreal Engine 5. The result is spectacular as the reimagined game has a high level of detail and immersion that makes fans long for a full-fledged next-gen experience. With Switch 2 on its way, players are asking Nintendo not to miss the opportunity and create a stunning, modernized version of its classics. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Meets Unreal Engine 5 Players are buzzing with excitement after seeing the fan-made version of Ocarina of Time in UE5. | Image Credit: Nintendo’s Tears of Kingdom The Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the most anticipated consoles in recent times. So, the idea of seeing a remastered version of Classic games like Zelda Ocarina of Time or Zelda: A Link to the Past is not bad. Modern technology like Unreal Engine 5 has showcased its incredible capabilities to transform old games into modern ones. Recently, one talented fan has done exactly that, they have taken the task of recreating Zelda Ocarina of Time within the Unreal Engine 5. The results are exceptional as it not only captured the breathtaking landscapes and iconic locations from the original N64 classic but also brought characters and combat sequences to life with a level of detail that feels both nostalgic and modern. The user, CryZENx, showcased the potential of UE5 as it managed to recapture the very essence of the classic adventure. Even the combat that was once pixelated (by today’s standards) is now fluid, dynamic, and far more visually engaging. Let’s not forget the iconic music that will elevate these new visuals and the entire experience to the next level. With the stunning visuals and realistic world-building that Unreal Engine 5 offers, a remake of this or any other iconic Zelda title would not only push the Switch 2’s hardware to its limits, delivering a modernized experience for both long-time fans and newcomers but also increase the appeal of the upcoming console as well. Remastering Zelda Games Would Be a Dream Come True Players want to see the remastered version of various classic titles in Switch 2. | Image Credit: Nintendo’s Tears of Kingdom Nintendo has always been known for its commitment to quality and ability to innovate. With the Switch 2 on the horizon, now might be the perfect time to reintroduce some of the company’s most beloved games to a new generation of players. By adopting cutting-edge technology like Unreal Engine 5, it could bring a new level of polish and immersion to its games that hasn’t been seen before. This would not only allow them to revisit the company’s rich history filled with innovation and brilliance but also convert the Classics into a modern title that appeals to both longtime and new audiences. As players look ahead to Switch 2, the possibility of experiencing Ocarina of Time in this new, visually stunning form is exciting. The fan-made Unreal Engine 5 remake is just a glimpse into what could be a reality if Nintendo decides to revisit its classic library with the power of next-gen technology. In the end, for fans of The Legend of Zelda series, remakes of all-time Classics like Ocarina of Time would be a dream come true. Many are also hoping that Nintendo looks to the fan-made remake as an inspiration, taking note of what’s possible when modern technology meets classic gaming. Source link #Unreal #Engine #Powered #Zelda #Ocarina #Time #Game #Absolutely #Stunning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

No-frills US carrier Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection No-frills US carrier Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection US budget carrier Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection after a long run of financial losses and a series of ******* merger attempts. On Monday, the Florida-based airline said it had arranged an agreement to restructure its debt and raise money during a bankruptcy process that is expected to last until early 2025. During that time, Spirit’s operations will continue as normal and passengers will be unaffected, it said. Spirit, which has not recorded a full-year profit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, is the first US airline to file for bankruptcy in more than a decade. ********* Airlines declared bankruptcy in 2011 to cut labour costs during a ******* of high fuel prices. In a statement, Spirit said the bankruptcy process – known as Chapter 11 – will not impact employee pay or payments to aircraft leasing companies. The company will be de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange in the “near term” and stock shares will be cancelled, with no value, as part of its restructuring, Spirit said. Despite strong demand, the no-frills airline posted losses of approximately $360m (£285m) in the first half of this year. Competition in the budget travel market has been rising and Spirit has also been forced to ground aircraft as a result of mechanical issues with some engines, which drove up operating costs. Earlier this year, Spirit’s highly anticipated $3.8bn ($3bn) merger with another US carrier, JetBlue, collapsed. A Massachusetts judge blocked the deal, arguing that a merger would reduce competition in the market. Another attempt to merge, with Frontier Airlines in 2022, fell apart after Spirit was outbid by JetBlue. Originally a long-haul trucking company founded in 1964, which pivoted to aviation in the early 1980s, the firm rebranded as Spirit in 1992. It is considered a pioneer in budget flying, forgoing many amenities that are standard on other airlines in order to keep ticket prices low. Source link #Nofrills #carrier #Spirit #Airlines #files #bankruptcy #protection Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is It Still Possible To Make A Sequel As Good As *********'s Creed 2? Is It Still Possible To Make A Sequel As Good As *********'s Creed 2? *********’s Creed 2 set the template for the series going forward, but it’s ******* to see it getting made today. Source link #Sequel #Good #Assassin039s #Creed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I cloned my voice with AI and even my wife can’t tell the difference I cloned my voice with AI and even my wife can’t tell the difference Listening to your own voice saying words you’ve never said before is an unsettling experience, but in the AI future which we’re living through right now in 2024, it’s almost unsurprising. Of course, AI can now clone your voice and make it sound just like you! It’s almost expected, isn’t it? What is surprising, to me at least, is how easy it is to do. You can access an AI voice cloner for free online, and clone your voice, then get it to say anything you want in just a few minutes. The training takes just 30 seconds, then you’re good to go. There are no real security checks or restrictions on what you can do with that voice once you’ve trained it either. So, you could make it swear, or threaten somebody. There seem to be hardly any guardrails. Who’s that voice? If you type in ‘AI Voice Cloner’ into a Google search bar you’ll be spoiled for choice. A lot of the voice cloners require you to sign up for a monthly fee before they will clone your voice, but quite a few of them have a free option. I tried a few of the free choices and some of them, despite promising unparalleled accuracy, produced a robotic version of my voice that was going to fool nobody. No, I had a higher goal in mind: I wanted to produce a clone of my voice that would fool my wife. I eventually settled on Speechify to clone my voice, since it combined ease of use, full access to the voice cloner, and a 30-second training time. Once you’ve made a free account on Speechify you simply talk to your microphone for 30 seconds or longer to train your AI voice. Once you’ve done that you can type in some text and hit the Generate button to hear the words spoken back to you in your own voice. If you’re concerned about security, Speechify has a pretty detailed privacy statement, and it does say that it will never sell your information and is committed to protecting the privacy of your data. So, your uploaded voice should be for only you to use. I thought what I created was pretty convincing, but I needed to see what my wife thought. I crept up behind her and played a sample clip of ‘me’ and… well ok, she laughed because she could tell it was coming out of my MacBook’s speakers, but she was impressed. “Actually”, she said, “I think it sounds like you, but better”. And that is the benefit of cloning your voice. It doesn’t make mistakes when it talks. There are no ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ and it gets everything right the first time. If I think about how many times I’ve had to record and re-record the intros to my podcasts because I couldn’t get it quite right, I can see an obvious application for an AI voice cloner. But that’s also a danger in AI voice cloning because you can get the fake voice to say just about anything. Daisy, the AI granny, was an AI voice created to trap scammers into long and fruitless phone calls. (Image credit: O2 ******* Media) Voices from the beyond While scams that involve stealing your voice are one level of concern, the security implications have ramifications that go even beyond the grave. Recently the legendary late British talk show host, Michael Parkinson, surprised everybody by announcing that he was launching a new podcast called Virtually Parkinson. Thanks to the miracles of AI his voice would be interviewing people in real time once again. In Parkinson’s case, his estate is fully behind the podcast, but what if permission has not been given? David Attenborough, the grandfather of the BBC’s natural history programming recently expressed unease at an AI version of his voice, describing it as “disturbing“. We live in an age where AI can create podcasts without any human interaction and even AI sports presenters are starting to appear. So, in a way, we shouldn’t be surprised that it’s so easy for AI to clone our voices, but the implications could be profound. With AI giving celebrities (or rather, their estates) the option to continue working long after they have shuffled off this mortal coil, the future for both celebrities and individuals suddenly seems very uncertain. You might also like… Source link #cloned #voice #wife #difference Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street analysts explain why Tesla is booming postelection while other EV makers struggle Wall Street analysts explain why Tesla is booming postelection while other EV makers struggle Tesla has been on a tear since Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, despite the president-elect’s plans to target key benefits that have supported electric vehicle makers. The stock has soared more than 37% since the election, while legacy automakers such as Ford and General Motors have have seen modest gains of more than 5%. Pure-play electric vehicle stocks like Rivian and Lucid are flat and down more than 3%, respectively, since Trump’s victory. So why is Tesla soaring even as a second Trump administration is expected to fundamentally disrupt the U.S. electric vehicle market? Trump is planning to ***** the $7,500 tax credit for people who buy electric vehicles and has vowed to rescind all unspent funds under the Inflation Reduction Act. And increased tariffs could make inputs for electric vehicles more expensive. These headwinds ignore the fact that Trump’s new best friend is Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi told clients in a Monday note. Musk spent around $200 million to help elect Trump, and is heading a new government efficiency group with former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. “As a result, Trump has turned more favorable towards electric cars, and to Elon’s interests more broadly,” Sacconaghi, who rates the stock as underperform, told clients. Legacy automakers Ford and General Motors, on the other hand, are in a difficult position with few positive narratives postelection. Once the EV tax credits are gone, they will face lower sales volume, hurting profitability, or will have to slash prices which will hurt their margins, according to a Friday UBS note. The biggest potential impact for Tesla is the acceleration of testing for self-driving cars, Sacconaghi said. Trump is planning to ease rules for self-driving vehicles, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News. Tesla’s stock gained around 8% on Monday in wake of the report. While regulation of self-driving vehicles largest resides with the states, Trump could at least pick someone to lead the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration who has a more favorable view of the technology and would put an end to investigations of Tesla, Sacconaghi said. Musk’s role within Trump’s inner circle also reinforces the “tough to bet against him thesis” driving option activity and retail buying postelection, Barclay’s analyst Dan Levy told clients in a Monday note. Some will argue that Tesla’s rally creates an even larger disconnect between the stock and the company’s actual fundamentals, Levy wrote. But Tesla’s fundamentals are largely steady postelection, while Musk’s relationship with Trump underlines how Tesla largely controls the self-driving vehicle narrative, the analyst said. “For now, so long as fundamentals are steady and the premium narrative is in place, it may be tough to ****** the stock,” Levy told clients. He rates the stock as equal weight. Despite the potential advantages Tesla has under Trump compared to competitors, Bernstein and Barclays still see downside for Tesla. Barclays raised its price target to $270, but that still suggests a nearly 16% pull back from Friday’s close of $320.72. Bernstein’s target is $120, implying downside of 63%. Source link #Wall #Street #analysts #explain #Tesla #booming #postelection #makers #struggle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Electrical work’ carried out at home where boy ***** ‘Electrical work’ carried out at home where boy ***** Family picture Muhammad Esmael and his father ***** in the ***** Electrical alterations had been made in a house where a three-year-old boy and his father ***** in a *****, an inquest has heard. Muhammad Esmael was found in a bedroom at the house in West Cross, Swansea, at about 13:30 on 1 July last year. His father Naemat Lawa Esmael, 51, was found lying on the front lawn and ***** in hospital two days later. Muhammad’s mother, Sharmeen Ahmed, told the inquest at Swansea Guildhall that her husband had made home improvements in their council-owned house, including some electrical work. An inquest in Swansea heard Muhammad Esmael’s father had carried out some electrical work at the property Investigators found an extension lead had been wired into a socket in the room where the ***** started, where a storage unit contained items including a games console and a TV, the inquest was told. Jason Woodman of Mid and West Wales ***** and Rescue Service told the inquest that, “based on the balance of probabilities”, the ***** had started in that area. He said there were no other potential source of ***** found in the room. Mr Woodman said there was heat and ***** damage under the surface the TV and console were on, adding that “charring” was seen underneath the area, although there wasn’t photographic evidence. He said the smoke detector may not have sounded because the door of the bedroom was closed. A photo of the remnants of a TV and games console unit shown in the inquest revealed extensive damage. Forensic scientist Iain ***** told the inquest he found no evidence of a fault with any of the equipment, including extension cables, a TV and a games console, which had been taken from the first-floor bedroom. Assistant coroner Kirsten Heaven told the inquest it was “unfortunate” that there wasn’t more detailed evidence, photography and forensic analysis of the area. Muhammad ***** from exposure to the flames and things burning around him, the inquest was told. ‘The best dad’ Speaking through an interpreter, Ms Ahmed told the inquest she wanted to know the exact cause of the ***** so nobody else would have to go through what she had. “It would have been much easier for me to lose my life there and then, than go through all this sorrow now,” she said. She told the inquest that Muhammad and his father had a very loving relationship, adding that “he was the best dad”. Mrs Ahmed said her husband and Muhammad had been upstairs preparing to go to the mosque on the afternoon when the blaze broke out, but when she came upstairs she saw flames in a mirror reflection. She said Mr Esmael had come out of the shower and opened the door to a blaze in the front bedroom. She told the coroner she could hear “some noise” from the ***** alarm but that it was low-pitched and not continuous. Ms Ahmed suffered from smoke inhalation following the blaze, along with her teenage daughter. ‘Exposed electrical wire’ An electrical expert with South Wales Police, Barry Kelly, who assessed the electrical aftermath following a *****, told the inquest that items had been removed from the property before he arrived. He said there was exposed electrical wiring in the living room, which could have caused a serious electric shock if touched, and that there were alterations in other areas of the house too. In the room where the ***** started, he said that there were two cut cables coming out of the wall, where a socket would have been, and that electrical items had gone. He said he could not subsequently offer an opinion on a possible cause of the *****. The inquest also heard two statements from firefighters Leighton Brown and Gareth Davies who said the stairs banister, ceiling and the whole of the landing was “covered in smoke and *****” on their arrival. Mr Brown said he also heard “a few beeps” on the ***** alarm. Floral tributes and teddy bears were left outside the house following the ***** Siobhan Cooze from Swansea council said the family moved into the house in 2021, adding that smoke alarms were installed there in 2020. She said electrical works were not permitted in council properties and that this was made clear to tenants “at several points” in the tenancy sign-in. Swansea council electrician Thomas Mainwaring said the local authority’s homes were fitted with hard-wired smoke alarms and were connected to a lighting circuit. He said the alarms were all connected, so if one sounded, they all sounded, and a smoke alarm might bleep if the main power supply had been cut off and the battery power was low. The inquest continues. Source link #Electrical #work #carried #home #boy #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]