Pelican Press

Here’s why you should max out your health savings account Here’s why you should max out your health savings account Marco Vdm | E+ | Getty Images Many employees have a health savings account, which offers tax incentives to save for medical expenses. However, most are still missing out on long-term HSA benefits, experts say. Two-thirds of companies offer investment options for HSA contributions, up 60% from one year ago, according to a survey released in November by the Plan Sponsor Council of America, which polled more than 500 employers in the summer of 2024. But only 18% of participants invest their HSA balance, down slightly from the previous year, the survey found. That could be a “huge mistake” because HSAs are “the only triple-tax-free account in America,” said certified financial planner Ted Jenkin, founder and CEO of oXYGen Financial in Atlanta. More from Personal Finance: Thanksgiving meals are expected to be cheaper in 2024 as turkey prices drop Could Trump reinstate the student debt that Biden forgave? What experts say 2025-26 FAFSA is open ahead of schedule: Why it’s important to file early Health savings accounts are popular among advisors, who encourage clients to invest the funds long term rather than spending the funds on yearly medical expenses. But you need an eligible high-deductible health plan to make contributions. Some 66% of employees picked an HSA-qualifying health plan when given the choice, according to the Plan Sponsor Council of America survey. However, the best health insurance plan depends on your family’s expected medical expenses for the upcoming year, experts say. Typically, high-deductible plans have lower premiums but more upfront expenses. HSAs can look like a ‘health 401(K)’ HSAs have three tax benefits. There’s an upfront deduction on contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. If you invest it wisely, it can look like a health 401(k). Ted Jenkin Founder and CEO of oXYGen Financial “It’s one way to deal with the inflationary cost of health care,” said Jenkin, who is also a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council. “If you invest it wisely, it can look like a health 401(k).” A 65-year-old retiring today can expect to spend an average of $165,000 in health and medical expenses through retirement, up nearly 5% from 2023, according to a Fidelity report released in August. That estimate doesn’t include the cost of long-term care, which can be significantly higher, depending on needs. Why employees don’t use HSAs for long-term savings There are a couple of reasons why most employees aren’t investing their HSA balances, according to Hattie Greenan, director of research and communications for the Plan Sponsor Council of America. “I think there’s a lot of confusion about HSAs and [flexible spending accounts],” including how they work and how they’re different,” she said. While both accounts offer tax benefits, your FSA balance typically must be spent yearly, whereas HSA funds can accumulate for multiple years. Plus, your HSA is portable, meaning you can take the balance when changing jobs. However, many employees can’t afford to cover medical costs yearly while their HSA balance grows, Greenan said. “Ultimately, most participants still are using that HSA for current health care expenses.” Source link #Heres #max #health #savings #account Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Methanol poisoning deaths highlight SE Asia’s fake alcohol problem Methanol poisoning deaths highlight SE Asia’s fake alcohol problem Getty Images Towns like Vang Vieng in Laos – where the fatal poisonings took place – are known stops on the backpacking trail through South East Asia Suspected methanol poisoning from tainted drinks has reportedly ******* five tourists in a Laos holiday town in the past fortnight. A British woman, an *********** woman, a US man and two Danish nationals have *****, while another *********** woman ******** critically ill in hospital. The deaths remain under police investigation, but news reports and testimonies online from other tourists suggest they may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol. Methanol poisoning has long been a well-known issue across South-East Asia, particularly in the poorer countries along the Mekong river. But despite foreign governments posting warnings about alcohol consumption in these places, there is still little awareness among the backpacker party scene. Flavourless and colourless, methanol is hard to detect in drinks and victims typically don’t see symptoms of poisoning straight away. And in countries like Laos – one of the poorest and least developed in Asia – the problem arises from alcohol suppliers exploiting an environment where there is low law enforcement and almost no regulations in the food and hospitality industries. What is methanol poisoning? Methanol is a toxic alcohol used in industrial and household products like paint thinners, antifreeze, varnish and photocopier fluid. It is colourless and has a similar smell to ethyl alcohol – the chemical substance found in alcoholic drinks. But methanol is dangerous for humans and drinking just 25ml of it can be lethal. It can take up to 24 hours for victims to start showing signs of illness which include: nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain which can escalate into hyperventilation and breathing problems. If not treated, fatality rates are often reported to be 20% to 40%, depending on the concentration of methanol and the amount taken, says international medical charity Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) which tracks the number of global outbreaks. But if a poisoning is diagnosed quickly enough, ideally within the first 30 hours, treatment can reduce some of the worse effects. How common is the problem in South-East Asia? Asia has the highest prevalence of methanol poisoning worldwide, according to MSF’s database. It is a problem that often affects poorer countries – outbreaks are common in Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Indonesia is regarded as a hotspot – it has reported the highest number of incidents in the past two decades, according to MSF, largely down to the widespread production and consumption of bootleg *******. Towns like Vang Vieng in Laos, where the fatal poisonings took place, are known stops on the backpacking trail through South East Asia. The town’s economy is built on tourism, with streets of bars, restaurants and hostels that cater to visitors. But in Laos, law enforcement is under-resourced and there are few regulations around food and alcohol standards. There is also an industry of home-brewed alcohol, which can lead to accidental poisonings. Producers also make counterfeit drinks by making products with methanol instead of ethanol because it is cheaper, say local observers. “You have the unscrupulous producer adding methanol to their drinks because it’s cheaper – it’s used to create a stronger-seeming drink or make lower-quality alcohol drinks seem more potent,” one Western diplomat in the region told the BBC. They also said methanol poisonings are reported to consulates across the region. However, a lack of data means it is hard to quantify the scale of the contamination, and where tainted drinks enter the supply chain. “I don’t think it’s nefarious bar owners going out of their way to poison tourists – that’s not good for them or their industry either,” the diplomat said. “It’s more about the production side – there being being low education, low regulation, people cutting corners.” What can be done about it? The diplomat also said that the risks of bootleg alcohol are well known among tourism operators and embassies, but a high-profile campaign is needed to inform tourists. “This horrific event will probably help educate people, but not solve the cause of the problem,” they added. Several Western governments updated their advice about alcohol dangers in South-East Asia on their consulate and travel pages this week. Some campaigners have sought to raise attention to the dangers before. *********** man Colin Ahearn runs a Facebook page called ‘Don’t Drink Spirits in Bali‘ where he warns against mixed drinks like cocktails or drinks made from opened bottles of spirits. He told *********** media earlier this week that his page used to receive a submission a week about methanol poisoning across South East Asia. Addressing this, the western diplomat told the BBC that it would be hard for people to protect themselves unless they went completely teetotal on holiday, as it is unrealistic for tourists to check the original source of all their alcoholic drinks. Source link #Methanol #poisoning #deaths #highlight #Asias #fake #alcohol #problem Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

It Can Cost Up To $500,000 For A Spot On Opening Night Live 2025 It Can Cost Up To $500,000 For A Spot On Opening Night Live 2025 · · November 21, 2024 The cost to show your game at Opening Night Live is set to get even more expensive for studios. According to a new report from ******* outlet GamesWirtschaft, Geoff Keighley’s annual event at Gamescom is charging up to nearly $500,000 for an spot on Opening Night Live 2025. The report claims that prices start at $146,800 (€140,000) for a 30-second ad and rises to roughly $487,506 (€465,000) for a 180-second (three-minute) ad, based on currency conversion rates as of writing. The three-minute ad is one of two new tiers offered for 2025 along with a 150-second ad for roughly $419,360 (€400,000). In total, there are six different tiers to choose from, all more expensive than the reported cost for the same amount of time in 2024. Across the board, the increases range from 17.4% up to 21.9%. Opening Night Live 2025 is scheduled to air August 19, 2025, the day before Gamescom 2025 officially begins. Opening Night Live 2025 Ad Rates 30 seconds: $146,776 or €140,000 ($125,000 or €115,000 in 2024) 60 seconds: $214,922 or €205,000 ($179,600 or €165,000 in 2024) 90 seconds: $283,068 or €270,000 ($234,000 or €215,000 in 2024) 120 seconds: $351,214 or €335,000 ($288,000 or €265,000 in 2024) 150 seconds: $419,360 or €400,000 180 seconds: $487,506 or €465,000 It’s worth noting that neither Keighley himself nor the Gamescom promoters have confirmed these prices. Insider Gaming has attempted to reach out for comment, though no response has been received as of publishing. What do you think of the cost to air a trailer or ad during Opening Night Live 2025? Let us know in the comments, and join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming Forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out the full list of winners at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Cost #Spot #Opening #Night #Live Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump gets a brutal reality check Donald Trump gets a brutal reality check Donald Trump is not a monarch. That’s the unmistakable lesson of the ill-fated nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Rather than showcasing Trump’s absolute power over his GOP allies, it revealed his limits. The doomed nomination lasted just eight days — and its ******** is an unwelcome lesson for the president-elect, who has been projecting invincibility and claiming a historic mandate despite his reed-thin popular vote victory. “The short version is ‘checks and balances work,’” said Eugene Volokh, a UCLA professor of law. Though Republicans will control both chambers of Congress, the resistance from Senate Republicans to Gaetz’s nomination proved that there are still some checks on Trump — no matter how limited — that can hold, despite ***** on the left that he will squeeze Congress into submission, get carte blanche from the *************-dominated Supreme Court and enact his agenda at will. “I think it shows that Donald Trump cannot get anything he wants,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California-Berkeley School of Law. Chemerinsky and others cautioned against extrapolating too much from the Gaetz debacle; he was so uniquely despised and compromised by legal and political scandal, and vying for a position that wields unique and extraordinary power, that his ******* nomination may not be a harbinger of the pushback Trump may face for other nominees. In fact, if Trump is able to muscle through his other controversial nominees, the lesson may be that Trump is more unchecked by Congress than ever, said Edward Foley, an Ohio State University constitutional law expert. “The Senate will have come up short as measured by the Senators’ own views about the nominees and their capacity to withstand presidential pressure,” Foley said. Still, Trump has long sought to avoid even the appearance that his power, particularly over Republicans, has limits. He won the presidential election just 16 days ago and is at the apex of his influence, unfurling unconventional nominees for powerful government posts at breakneck speed. And he has vowed to launch his second term with a fusillade of executive branch force, from mass deportations to pardons for Jan. 6 rioters to facilitating the wind-down of the Russia-Ukraine war. And he is also expected to rely on the attorney general to rip out the last vestiges of any lingering investigations into his own alleged *******. And in recent days, Trump appeared to lean into the Gaetz nomination despite acknowledging its uphill climb. He reportedly called senators and urged them to keep an open mind, and he sent his Vice President-elect JD Vance to Capitol Hill to persuade senators with reservations about Gaetz. The ******** to confirm Gaetz — perhaps his most ferocious loyalist in Washington — to a post that wields significant influence over Trump’s own legal fate is not the plan Trump drew up. Sen. Chuck Grassley said the episode shows that Trump’s ability to jam through controversial nominees is roughly the same as it was for Bill Clinton. “He had to send up three secretaries of treasury before he finally got one,” the Iowa *********** noted. Jordain Carney contributed to this report. Source link #Donald #Trump #brutal #reality #check Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stephen Flynn will not seek dual mandate to become MSP Stephen Flynn will not seek dual mandate to become MSP PA Media Stephen Flynn represents Aberdeen South at Westminster SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says he will not seek a dual mandate to stand as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament while remaining an MP. Flynn, who represents Aberdeen South in the House of Commons, said: “Hands up, I’ve got this one wrong.” He previously said he would aim to hold his Westminster seat until the next general election, due in 2029, but would not accept two salaries. The Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat at Holyrood is currently held by the SNP’s Audrey Nicoll. Flynn said he had sought a dual mandate “for the right reasons” but it did not change the fact he had got it wrong. He said: “My aim to save the public purse from unnecessary strain by potentially overlapping the role of an MP and an MSP for a short ******* until the next general Election was genuine in its intent. “Alongside all SNP members, I now look forward to assessing the new candidate selection rules that my party will put in place.” PA Media Stephen Flynn with SNP leader John Swinney Flynn’s intention to stand had caused anger within his party. Ahead of the 2021 election, the SNP changed internal rules to require MPs to resign their seat at Westminster to ****** for selection to Holyrood. The party’s ruling body – the National Executive Committee (NEC) – could decide to scrap the rule for contests ahead of 2026. First Minister John Swinney said last week that the SNP had yet to make a decision on whether its politicians could hold a dual mandate – where a single person sits in both Westminster and Holyrood. Swinney, who held seats at both Westminster and Holyrood between 1999 and 2001, told BBC Scotland News: “We’ve had times in the past when we’ve had dual mandates – I had a dual mandate myself for two years in the early days of devolution. “The party has got to come to its conclusions about these particular issues and it will do in the fullness of time.” Source link #Stephen #Flynn #seek #dual #mandate #MSP Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars Outlaws’ Lando story DLC is out today Star Wars Outlaws’ Lando story DLC is out today The first story DLC for Star Wars Outlaws is available today. Wild Card, which is available as part of the game’s Season Pass or can be bought separately, sees protagonist Kay hired to infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament and crossing paths with Lando Calrissian. The game also makes its debut on Steam today, containing all previous updates including today’s new version 1.4 update which removes stealth ******** from almost all quest objectives. Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card is OUT! Kay is hired to infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament. As she crosses paths with the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, she soon learns that another game is being played.@UbiMassive pic.twitter.com/z7n0KlByZc — Star Wars Outlaws (@StarWarsOutlaws) November 21, 2024 Source link #Star #Wars #Outlaws #Lando #story #DLC #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A sliver of lab-grown wood has been made from stem cells A sliver of lab-grown wood has been made from stem cells Plant stem cells growing in culture New Dawn Bio What may be the world’s first piece of lab-grown wood isn’t quite big enough to qualify as a woodchip – it’s more like a splinter. But the tiny fragment could be a big step towards reducing the number of trees chopped down to meet our lumber demands, if it holds up to the task. “As far as we know, our early prototype is the first piece of interconnected wood-like tissue ever produced from cell culture,” says Tom Clement at start-up New Dawn Bio. Source link #sliver #labgrown #wood #stem #cells Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trudeau floats ‘other options’ if Mexico won’t address China trade concerns – National Trudeau floats ‘other options’ if Mexico won’t address China trade concerns – National Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he would prefer Mexico remain a North ********* free trade partner but “we may have to look at other options” if the country doesn’t address concerns about ******** manufacturers working to wedge into the market. Trudeau said he raised the “real and genuine concerns about ******** investment into Mexico” directly with ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum in a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 leaders’ summit in Brazil on Monday. Those concerns have led some ********* premiers to call for Canada to strike its own bilateral deal with the U.S. under incoming president-elect Donald Trump, cutting Mexico out of the Canada-******* States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The prime minister said his first priority will be to stand up for ********* workers and the ********* economy, and that Ottawa was “leaving all doors open” to secure those interests. “Ideally, we do that as a ******* North ********* market,” he told reporters at an unrelated press conference in Toronto. “But, pending decisions and choices that Mexico has made, we may have to look at other options.” He would not say what those options might be. Story continues below advertisement “But let me just say it again: my ideal situation is we continue to work well together to protect jobs in North America from overcapacity or economic coercion that other countries have been responsible for.” Sheinbaum told reporters in Mexico City on Wednesday that Trudeau “doesn’t agree” with the calls to cut Mexico out of CUSMA, and that during their meeting at the G20 they agreed on maintaining a three-way trade deal. But she also said she told ******** President Xi Jinping at the summit “that we have a trade agreement with North America, but that there was room for a relationship with China, which was very important.” 1:33 ‘We’ve been here before’: Trudeau says Canada is prepared to renegotiate CUSMA Ontario Premier Doug Ford said last week that Mexico is “importing cheap products” from China, then “slapping a made-in-Mexico sticker on and shipping it up” into Canada and the U.S., bypassing both CUSMA rules and ********* and ********* tariffs on ******** vehicles. Trump has made similar comments about China using Mexico to access the U.S. auto market, threatening the ********* industry. Story continues below advertisement Ford called for a bilateral deal with the U.S. and a separate one with Mexico “if Mexico wants,” which Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she agreed with “1,000 per cent” in a CBC interview Friday. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Ford claimed Wednesday after a call with his fellow premiers that they all backed his demand for separate bilateral trade deals with the U.S. and Mexico. Trump has vowed to reopen CUSMA to address the issue when the trade pact is up for review in 2026. He railed during the campaign about ******** automakers building manufacturing plants in Mexico, which is not currently happening, although China’s top EV maker BYD has plans for a ******** facility. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday that she shares the “legitimate” concerns about ******** investment in Mexico, and the fact Mexico has yet to align with ********* and U.S. tariffs on ******** electric vehicles and materials like steel and aluminum. She said the concerns have been raised to her directly by both members of the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden and the incoming Trump administration. “We are not a ********* to ******** unfair traded goods,” Freeland said Tuesday. “However, the same cannot be said of Mexico.” 2:03 Canada needs to have ‘predictable’ relationship with China, Joly says A report by the ******* States Trade Representative earlier this year warned that U.S. industry stakeholders “expressed concerns that increasing ******** foreign direct investment in the automotive sector in Mexico poses a significant threat to the competitiveness of the North ********* auto industry” and could allow China to skirt tariffs. Story continues below advertisement According to the U.S. industry group Coalition for a Prosperous America, which promotes the U.S. taking a combative trade stance, more than 20 ******** auto manufacturers have invested billions in Mexico. The Biden administration in July imposed new tariffs on steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico but made elsewhere, a move meant to address the evasion of tariffs by China. More on Politics More videos Deputy ******** Foreign Trade Minister Luis Rosendo Gutierrez last month said Mexico would continue to prioritize the U.S. and Canada due to their strategic alliance through CUSMA, but that did not imply Mexico would “break with China” or “deny them investments in Mexico.” CUSMA’s rules of origin clause requires higher levels of North ********* parts in vehicles sold in the three countries compared with NAFTA, which Trump has said China is also trying to exploit by bringing ******** components through Mexico. Trump, who has vowed a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all foreign imports, has said ******** imports could see a 25 per cent levy if the country doesn’t stem the flow of migrants arriving at the U.S. border. During the presidential campaign, Trump said he would impose tariffs of at least 200 per cent or more on all vehicles imported from Mexico — which would hurt ********* automakers in the short term — and suggested levies on ******** companies who operate in Mexico and bypass CUSMA rules as high as 1,000 per cent. Story continues below advertisement Mexico has vowed to retaliate with its own tariffs on ********* imports if Trump follows through with his threat, which the country’s economic minister warned would bring economic harm to North America. —With files from The ********* Press and Reuters &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Trudeau #floats #options #Mexico #wont #address #China #trade #concerns #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Actor Who Plays Him in Modern Warfare Starred in Last Decade’s Most Underrated Spy Thriller The Actor Who Plays Him in Modern Warfare Starred in Last Decade’s Most Underrated Spy Thriller From Soap Mactavish to Captain Price, the Call of Duty franchise has produced some iconic characters over the years, particularly in the Modern Warfare sub-series. Simon Riley, better known as Ghost, is one of the most adored by fans. Ghost is one of the most popular characters in Call of Duty. | Credit: Activision. He was a key figure in the 2022 Modern Warfare 2 single-player campaign, and the British special forces’ mask has come to represent the series. We still can’t forget the scene when he was burnt alive by Capt Shepherd in MW2 (2009). The character’s popularity rose so high, there was serious demand for a Ghost spin-off title. Two Years Ago, We Got a Slight Glimpse of a Ghost Spin-Off Title in Call of Duty Setting What’s behind that mask? A spin-off title might have revealed that. | Credit: Activision. According to reports from a well-known leaker in 2022, Infinity Ward has started developing a new campaign that will explore Ghost’s beginnings. Ralphs Valve disclosed in a piece for whatifgaming that the Modern Warfare game developers want to explore the character’s past in a new single-player narrative. The leaker claims that Samuel Roukin, who plays Ghost’s voice, was asked about the possibility while Modern Warfare 2 was being developed. However, there was no proof that Roukin had signed on. According to the leaker, the spin-off would concentrate on Ghost’s life prior to the events of Modern Warfare 2 and provide some insight into how he came to don his trademark mask. The idea of a distinct Ghost campaign has been brought up previously. Brian Bloom, the head writer for Infinity Ward, told IGN that the team “would like” to work on Modern Warfare 2 before its release. Simon “Ghost” Reilly, who was born in Manchester and experienced personal hardships and severe family trauma, went on to have a prosperous military career. For fans, Riley’s story of tenacity, selflessness and eventual treachery is legendary. He has repeatedly demonstrated his resilience, whether it is in the face of Russian adversaries or his family’s demons. Samuel Roukin Would be the Perfect Man to Don the Ghost Character in a Spin-Off Title Samuel Rouking played an important role in Turn: Washington’s Spies. | Credit: Prime Video. Samuel Roukin, an English actor best known for his work in Turn: Washington’s Spies, provides the voice of Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Reilly in Modern Warfare 2 (2022). After taking Jeff Leach’s place in the original MW2 cast, the MW2 voice actor returned to voice Ghost in Modern Warfare 3 as well. As of now, there is no confirmation from Activision about a separate spin-off title on Ghost, but if there has been any, it was surely Roukin’s job to take the recording mic once again. Turn: Washington’s Spies is one of the most successful spy series of the last decade. In it, Rouking played the role of Captain John Graves Simcoe, which perfectly aligns with the background of Ghost. Sadly, those claims from that leaker never came to reality. We are yet to witness a spin-off title on Ghost, to know more about his dark past and his journey of seeing the light of becoming one of the most essential members of Task Force 141. We hope Infinity Ward announces something in the near future for a special title, dedicated to our masked hero. Source link #Actor #Plays #Modern #Warfare #Starred #Decades #Underrated #Spy #Thriller Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World’s thinnest spaghetti won’t please gourmands but may heal wounds World’s thinnest spaghetti won’t please gourmands but may heal wounds The pasta nanofibres Beatrice Britton/Adam Clancy Scientists have produced the world’s thinnest spaghetti strands, 200 times slimmer than a human hair. These would challenge even the speediest chef, overcooking in a fraction of a second, but they could have applications in medicine and industry. Adam Clancy at University College London and his colleagues created a mixture of flour and formic acid, a common food preservative. They used electrical forces to push this mixture through a hollow needle, which ejected nanofibres just 372 nanometres in diameter – too small to see with the ****** eye. Such slender fibres have been produced from starch extracted from plants before, but Clancy says that process is environmentally harmful. “It’s just: soak in corrosive materials, dissolve it away in water, rinse it, throw it in the river,” he says. The individual strands can be spun into a pasta net Beatrice Britton/Adam Clancy But with a flour mixture that doesn’t happen – you just grind grains to create flour and mix it with formic acid, he says. The resulting “nanopasta” can then be spun into a tiny mat about 2 centimetres across. While it isn’t intended as food, Clancy says that it should be safe to eat, but is reticent to talk about having tried it. “It’s an ethical quandary to talk about scientific self-experimentation,” he says. “But, hypothetically, one might expect it to be chewier than you’d expect.” Clancy believes that a range of other natural raw materials could be even more useful, with desiccated potato – which has a higher starch and lower fibre content than the flour mix – potentially making even better nanofibres. Such material could be woven into bandages that allow air and moisture to pass freely, but keep bacteria out, says Clancy. Nanofibres are also used as a scaffold to regrow tissue on, and are being investigated for use in filtration systems and batteries. Topics: Source link #Worlds #thinnest #spaghetti #wont #gourmands #heal #wounds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SK hynix announces production of its 321-layer NAND flash — shipments will start in the first half of 2025 SK hynix announces production of its 321-layer NAND flash — shipments will start in the first half of 2025 SK hynix has announced the mass production of the world’s first 321-layer NAND flash. According to the press release, the company will supply customers with its 321-high NAND flash featuring 1TB capacity starting in 1H 2025. SK hynix’s 321-layer high NAND flash is built on a technology the company dubs the “3 plugs” process. This technology is purportedly known for its excellent production efficiency, and “…electrically connects three plugs through an optimized follow-up process after three times of plug processes are finished.” “For the process, SK hynix developed a low-stress material while introducing the technology that automatically corrects alignments among the plugs.” SK hynix also uses the same development platform for its 321-layer NAND as its previous generation 238-layer flash, yielding a purported 59% improvement in 321-layer production. The move to 321 layers has purported improved data transfer speeds by 12% and read performance by 13% compared to the previous generation. Power efficiency has also been increased by more than 10%. Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 – Cell 0 SK hynix Samsung Micron YMTC Kioxia Current Layer Count 321-layers 280-layers 232-layers 232-layers 218-layers 321-layer NAND flash is currently the highest-layer flash in the industry. Samsung is the closest so far, with its 280-layer NAND flash, but it is actively working on 300-layer and even 400-layer flash to compete with SK hynix. Micron, YMTC, and Kioxia are the furthest behind, with 232-layer and 218-layer architectures at the time of writing. Samsung’s next-generation 300-layer NAND flash will purportedly be produced differently from SK hynix. It will use a “double-stack” technique, which involves placing one 3D NAND stack on a 300 mm wafer and building another stack of flash on top of the first one. SK hynix’s solution is purportedly more efficient and involves using three layers. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #hynix #announces #production #321layer #NAND #flash #shipments #start Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What do cabinet members do? Here are the expectations for each role in a president’s administration What do cabinet members do? Here are the expectations for each role in a president’s administration One of the first tasks faced by an incoming president is staffing the Cabinet, the people who collectively are a president’s top advisers and the nation’s highest officials. Most of the members of this group need to be confirmed by the Senate in order to serve in the roles chosen for them by the president. Cabinet secretaries run the federal government’s departments, serving as their public faces while overseeing implementation of the president’s policies. In those roles, they provide counsel to the president on matters related to the departments they manage. President-elect Donald Trump has announced who he will nominate for many of these top jobs, including secretary of state, but others who will replace President Biden’s Cabinet appear up for grabs. Attorney general Trump announced on Nov. 13 that he’d nominate former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general, but now he’ll have to select another candidate. Eight days later, Gaetz withdrew from consideration amid a House Ethics Committee investigation into ******* misconduct and obstruction allegations against him. The role is currently held by Merrick Garland, a former federal judge and prosecutor. The attorney general is the nation’s top cop, overseeing the Department of Justice, a sprawling agency of 115,000 prosecutors, investigators, civil attorneys and other staff. What does the attorney general do? The attorney general gives legal advice and opinions to the president, as well as to the heads of other federal agencies, and represents the ******* States in legal matters generally. The attorney general also supervises law enforcement agencies that fall under the Justice Department’s umbrella, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, known as the ATF. Trump criticized the FBI for years, dating back to his first run for president, when the agency investigated alleged links between his associates and Russian officials, and after he left office, the FBI searched his residence in Florida for classified records he kept after his first term. The attorney general also has the power to appoint special counsels, lawyers who investigate — and prosecute — cases in which the Justice Department may have conflicts of interest. Trump has raged against the special counsels who investigated him during and after his first term in office. Agriculture secretary Trump has not yet announced who he’ll nominate for agriculture secretary. The current secretary of agriculture is Tom Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa who held this Cabinet role twice, during Mr. Biden’s administration, as well as under former President Barack Obama. What does the agriculture secretary do? As the head of the Agriculture Department, the agriculture secretary oversees an agency dedicated to farming and livestock food production, agricultural trade and production, food safety and the protection of natural resources. The U.S. Forest Service is the department’s largest agency, responsible for 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. Commerce secretary Trump is expected to nominate billionaire Howard Lutnick to be commerce secretary. Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, has also served as co-chair for the Trump transition and has been a major donor to his campaign. The current Secretary of Commerce is Gina Raimondo, a former governor of Rhode Island. What does the commerce secretary do? As the principal adviser to the president on matters relating to commerce, the secretary oversees the Commerce Department, an agency with more than 46,000 employees devoted to driving economic development, job growth and blocking trade practices by other counties deemed harmful to the U.S. Defense secretary Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth is Trump’s choice to be defense secretary. Hegseth is viewed as a surprise pick for the role, which typically goes to people with experience as senior military officials. What does the defense secretary do? If confirmed, Hegseth would lead 1.3 million active-duty service members, including soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, among a total of 3.4 million personnel worldwide. Hegseth would also be responsible for overseeing any use of the military on domestic soil. Trump said as recently as Monday that he plans to declare a national emergency and use the military to support a plan to conduct mass deportations of immigrants deemed to be in the country illegally. The secretary of defense is second only to the president in the military’s chain of command. Hegseth would manage the Pentagon, craft national defense policy, and coordinate intelligence — via the Defense Intelligence Agency — with the National Security Council. Secretary of education Trump plans to nominate Linda McMahon to be education secretary. The former WWE executive served in his first administration as administrator of the Small Business Administration. Currently, Miguel Cardona is education secretary. He was formerly a teacher and commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education. What does the education secretary do? The education secretary oversees the Education Department, the smallest of all Cabinet agencies. Its 4,400 employees are responsible for distribution of federal financial aid for education, collecting and disseminating data and research related to schools, and prohibiting discrimination in schools. Trump has talked about shutting down the department and leaving its responsibilities to be carried out by states. Energy secretary Trump selected Chris Wright, a campaign donor and fossil fuel executive, to serve as energy secretary. Wright is the CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, and an advocate of oil and gas development. The current energy secretary is Jennifer Granholm, a former governor of Michigan. What does the energy secretary do? The energy secretary oversees national energy production and policy, nuclear development — including the military’s nuclear weapons and reactor programs — and energy conservation programs. Health and human services secretary Trump says he’ll nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The lawyer and prominent vaccine skeptic will replace Xavier Becerra, a former California attorney general. Trump said during his presidential campaign that he’d let Kennedy “go wild” on issues relating to health, food and medicine. Kennedy has spread misleading claims about vaccine safety and is a leader in the movement against vaccine mandates. He has also urged removing fluoride from drinking water. What does the health and human services secretary do? If confirmed by the Senate, Kennedy would oversee a sprawling 80,000 employee agency that includes the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food and ***** Administration and the Indian Health Service. The human services portion of the HHS portfolio includes the Administration for Children and Families and its Office of ******** Resettlement, which is charged with caring for undocumented and unaccompanied children apprehended along the border. Kennedy would have the authority as HHS secretary to establish regulations related to food and ***** safety and public health. He would be able to declare public health emergencies and would be involved in coordinating federal responses to widespread health crises, such as epidemics. Secretary of Homeland Security Trump announced on Tuesday that he will nominate South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be secretary of homeland security. He said in the announcement that Noem “will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the border.” The Biden administration’s outgoing homeland security secretary is Alejando Mayorkas, who previously served as a deputy secretary of homeland security, and before that, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. What does the secretary of homeland security do? This department is responsible for a broad range of domestic security concerns, with a mandate that includes anti-terrorism, border security and immigration, as well as disaster prevention and management. Trump made immigration and border issues the central focus of his campaign, and has promised to launch a mass deportation effort aimed at removing millions of people from the ******* States. If confirmed, Noem would be the primary Trump Cabinet member coordinating his nationwide effort to deport millions of immigrants — an endeavor that would involve not only various DHS agencies, but also the Justice Department, state and local law enforcement and potentially the Defense Department. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Trump has not yet announced who he’ll nominate for secretary of housing and urban development. Adrianne Todman is the current acting secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a former CEO of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, who has held the post since March. What does the HUD secretarydo? This secretary is responsible for overseeing the nation’s top agency in charge of administering housing law. The agency is tasked with trying to increase home ownership and access to affordable housing. Interior secretary Trump plans to nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as secretary of the Interior. The former technology executive and venture capitalist ran against Trump for the *********** presidential nomination before dropping out in December. If confirmed, Burgum would replace Deb Haaland, a former member of Congress who is the first Native ********* to serve as a cabinet secretary. What does the interior secretary do? The Interior Department manages about 75% of all federal land — about 507 million acres — and runs programs relating to the ******* States’ indigenous populations. Labor secretary Trump has not yet announced who he will nominate for labor secretary. Julie Su, the current acting Secretary of Labor, has held the post since March 2023 and is a former California labor secretary. What does the secretary of labor do? The Labor Department administers thousands of federal laws and regulations related to workplace safety and conditions, wages, unemployment benefits and employment services. Secretary of state Trump intends to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of Sstate. Rubio has represented Florida in the Senate since 2011, and if confirmed would take over as the nation’s top diplomat. The job is currently held by Antony Blinken, a longtime foreign policy aide to Mr. Biden. Rubio is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the top *********** on the Senate Intelligence Committee. He is a China hawk with extensive foreign policy experience. What does the secretary of state do? As the head of the State Department, Rubio would be Trump’s top adviser on foreign policy and international relations. Rubio would oversee a global network of embassies and consulates, and nearly 80,000 employees dedicated to the nation’s diplomacy. Rubio would take on the high-profile role of secretary of state at a time when the U.S. and its allies are navigating precarious conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, among other regions. Transportation secretary Trump says he’ll name former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy as his nominee for transportation secretary. Duffy is a former reality TV star who is co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. He sat on the House Financial Services Committee and chaired the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019, and in his announcement, Trump noted that Duffy is married to a Fox News host, calling him “the husband of a wonderful woman, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on Fox News.” Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg currently has the job. What does the secretary of transportation do? The secretary of transportation oversees the nation’s complex federal network of highways and railroads, as well as pipelines, aviation and trucking regulation. Duffy would take on the role at a precarious time, as East coast dockworkers are in stalled contract negotiations and nearing a possible strike in January. The secretaries of transportation and labor would have key roles in navigating a potential crisis that could snarl supply chains and cause severe economic consequences in the early days of the new administration. Treasury secretary Trump has not yet announced who he will nominate for treasury secretary. The current secretary is Janet Yellen, a former chair of the Federal Reserve. What does the treasury secretary do? As the chief financial officer of the federal government, the treasury secretary would be Trump’s top adviser on economic and fiscal policy. The Treasury Department oversees the U.S. Mint and the Internal Revenue Service, among other agencies. Veterans affairs secretary Trump chose former Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, and as the top *********** on the House Judiciary Committee. “We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform,” Trump said in a statement announcing the pick. If confirmed, Collins would replace Denis McDonough, a former White House chief of staff under Obama. What does the veterans affairs secretary do? Collins would run the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the primary federal agency administering veterans’ benefits and health care, as well as memorials. Other Cabinet-level positions Environmental Protection Agency administrator Trump will nominate former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of ********* businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards.” If confirmed, Zeldin would replace Michael Regan, a former secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality, and is the first ****** EPA administrator. What does the EPA administrator do? The EPA enforces the federal Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and other environmental statutes. It also conducts environmental assessments, research, and education. Small Business Administration administrator Trump has not announced who he will nominate for administrator of the small business administration. The current administrator is Isabel Guzman, who previously served as director of California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate. What does the administrator of the Small Business Administration do? This agency’s goal is to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, and in doing so, bolster the nation’s economy. It also assists in economic recovery after disasters. Ambassador to the ******* Nations Trump says he’ll nominate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik for the job of U.S. ambassador to the ******* Nations. Stefanik is a vocal Trump ally and chair of the House *********** Conference. The current ambassador to the U.N. is Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a career diplomat. What does the ambassador to the ******* Nations do? The ambassador represents U.S. interests at the world’s largest international organization, advocating for the country’s political, economic, social, legal and military interests. Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Trump has not announced who he will nominate for chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. The current chair is Jared Bernstein, who was previously chief economist and economic adviser to then-Vice President Biden during the Obama administration. What does the chair of the council of economic advisors do? The council advises the president on economic policy and prepares the annual Economic Report of the President. Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Trump announced on Tuesday that he’d nominate John Ratcliffe to head the CIA, the nation’s top foreign intelligence service. Ratcliffe is a former director of national intelligence, and if confirmed he’ll replace William Burns. What does the director of the Central Intelligence Agency do? If confirmed by the Senate, Ratcliffe would oversee the nation’s largest foreign spy agency. The CIA collects and analyzes intelligence, conducts covert paramilitary operations, counterterrorism and offensive cyber operations. Director of national intelligence Trump announced on Wednesday that he has selected former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, now a ***********, to serve as his director of national intelligence. Gabbard served in the Army National Guard and represented Hawaii in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021. Gabbard has never worked in intelligence. Her views on Russia, opposition to U.S. intervention in Ukraine, and a 2017 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have drawn criticism. The current director is Avril Haines, a former deputy national security advisor and deputy director of the CIA. What does the director of national intelligence do? The head of the national intelligence community, a key adviser to the president, leads the 17 civilian and military agencies tasked with conducting intelligence gathering and analysis in support of the country’s national security and foreign policy interests. As DNI, Gabbard would be involved with managing intelligence and response to terrorism-related events, overseeing the national intelligence program and advising the Homeland Security Council. Perhaps her most important role would be one that would put in her regular contact with Trump: the President’s Daily Brief. Coordinated by the director of national intelligence’s office, this daily summary of high-level information and analysis on national security issues is provided only to the president and key advisers. Office of Management and Budget director Trump announced Russell Vought is his choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a job he held in the first Trump administration. The current director is Shalanda Young, who was previously staff director for the House Appropriations Committee. What does the director of the Office of Management and Budget do? The director oversees the agency tasks with preparing the budget proposed to Congress annually by the president. It also manages the financial paperwork of other agencies. Office of Science and Technology Policy director Trump has not announced who he will nominate for director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The current director is Arati Prabhakar, who was previously director of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. What does the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy do? The president’s science adviser gives counsel on the effects of science and technology on both domestic and foreign affairs. ******* States trade representative Trump has not announced who he will nominate for U.S. trade representative. The current trade representative is Katherine ****, a former chief trade counsel for the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the first ****** ********* to serve in the role. What does the ******* States trade representative do? The trade representative is the president’s main adviser and spokesperson on matters of trade and is in charge of pushing the nation’s foreign trade policies. Vice president JD Vance was elected vice president on Nov. 5. He is the junior senator from Ohio, a position he has held for less than two years. He will replace Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Trump defeated in the presidential election. What does the vice president do? The lone member of the president’s cabinet who is voted on, the vice president, is the second-highest ranking member of the federal government. The vice president also serves as the president of the Senate, empowered to cast tie breaking votes. White House chief of staff Soon after winning the election, Trump announced Susie Wiles as his chief of staff. Wiles, a Florida-based political operative who served as Trump’s campaign co-chair, will be the first woman in U.S. history to serve as chief of staff. The current chief of staff is Jeffrey Zients, who previously served as counselor to the president and White House coronavirus response coordinator. What does White House chief of staff do? The chief of staff leads the Executive Office of the President, collectively the staff who serve the president most closely in the West Wing and nearby executive offices. The chief of staff is the president’s most senior political appointee, working with the president often on a near-daily basis. 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 #cabinet #members #expectations #role #presidents #administration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Love is in the air at Gracetown Kite Festival this Sunday Love is in the air at Gracetown Kite Festival this Sunday Sunday will see the annual Gracetown Kite Festival spread its wings yet again. The celebration, which is always held at Gracetown Oval on the last Sunday in November, was expected to attract up to 300 visitors and residents, organiser Elizabeth Reed said. This year’s festival, to be held from 2pm-5pm, had an Indigenous theme honouring the Rainbow Serpent, she said. “The kite festival is held to offer the community a low-cost, memorable experience,” Ms Reed told the Times. “It provides community engagement and enriches the social fabric of the South West community. “The event offers the local community a free interactive experience where they can participate by making and flying their own kites. “The Gracetown Kite Festival opens the hearts and imaginations of all who attend, providing a free event accessible to all community demographics.” Ms Reed said she was “thrilled” at the growing support of small local businesses for the event, and thanked the festival’s numerous sponsors. As well as community workshops, food and drink vendors and music from DJ Saramony, highlights of this year’s festival will include professional kite flyer Michael Alvarez from Kite Kinetics with his flotilla of more than 300 kites. It will include a 12m whale shark and an 8m dolphin, while Jan Alvarez will run kite-making workshops with Indigenous themes. Although the festival is free, donors are encouraged. Supporters can pledge to the event via gofund.me/1f0b5a39. Source link #Love #air #Gracetown #Kite #Festival #Sunday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The tactical-action roguelike “Toads of the Bayou” is now available for PC via Steam The tactical-action roguelike “Toads of the Bayou” is now available for PC via Steam “The London-based (the ***) indie games publisher Fireshine Games and Villers-Guislain-based (France) indie games developer La Grange Studios, are today very proud and happy to announce that their tactical-action roguelike “Toads of the Bayou“, is now available for PC via Steam.” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #tacticalaction #roguelike #Toads #Bayou #Steam Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX signs second commercial deal for Starship lunar lander with Lunar Outpost SpaceX signs second commercial deal for Starship lunar lander with Lunar Outpost As SpaceX’s Starship test program continues to gain momentum, the company signed its second commercial deal to deliver a payload to the moon using a lunar lander variant of the massive vehicle. Starship will ******** Lunar Outpost’s rugged rover, called Eagle, to the lunar surface by 2029, the Colorado-based startup said. Lunar Outpost CEO Justin Cyrus declined to provide other details about the mission, such as whether this will be a dedicated flight or part of a ride-share, or the cost. It’s also unclear how Starship will actually transport the rover, which looks like a small pickup truck, from inside the vehicle to the surface. Lunar Outpost’s rover ambitions got a major boost from NASA earlier this year when the space agency selected it, along with two other teams, for the initial phase of a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) program. The three teams were selected for the one-year contract to advance their rover concepts for potential use by astronauts under NASA’s Artemis program. The 12-month ******* will culminate in a subsequent competitive request for proposals, where the three companies will then compete for a demonstration task order. The LTV program has the potentially to be very lucrative: The total potential value of the task orders over the next 13 years is $4.6 billion, though the agency has said that due to budgeting concerns, it is only selecting a single provider. Even if the team led by Lunar Outpost, which also includes Leidos, General Motors, Goodyear, and MDA Space, is not selected by NASA, Cyrus said the company plans on proceeding with rover development. “Lunar Outpost Eagle is our flagship vehicle and will be the backbone of outposts on other planetary bodies,” he said in an emailed statement. “Our company has been focused on mobility since inception and the lunar terrain vehicle has accelerated our truly industry leading capabilities which unlock a sustainable presence on the moon and Mars.” The startup also closed a Series A round for an undisclosed amount last month to support several initiatives, including the rover development. The new deal for the Starship cargo delivery follows a similar contract SpaceX made last year with Venturi Astrolab — which is also leading a team selected under the LTV program — to deliver its rover to the moon’s surface. Source link #SpaceX #signs #commercial #deal #Starship #lunar #lander #Lunar #Outpost Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Poring Rush, the casual battling spin-off from hit MMORPG Ragnarok Online, is out now Poring Rush, the casual battling spin-off from hit MMORPG Ragnarok Online, is out now Poring Rush, a spin-off of developer Gravity’****** MMORPG Ragnarok Online, is out now Combine different varieties of these iconic monsters for new unique abilities Play match3 minigames and more to grab rewards Fans of Ragnarok Online now have a new way to enjoy their favourite franchise on the go. No, it’s not a new entry in the series proper, but it’s set to be just as fun, as now you can ****** alongside those adorable Porings in new adventure game Poring Rush, releasing today! Poring Rush sees you battling your way through increasingly challenging sets of foes, aided along the way by the titular creatures. You’ll gather new, more powerful armour, weapons and items while also supplementing your lineup of Porings, and grabbing even further treasure from match-3 minigames and more. To celebrate the launch a seven-day mission event is set to take place! The Porings, for those not in the know, are a variety of iconic low-level enemies from Ragnarok Online. Similar to the slimes you find in franchises like Dragon Quest, Porings have gone from being throw-away enemies to arguably mascots of the series as a whole. They’ve even had spin-offs before, such as the match-3 Angel Poring. Onwards, my porings It feels like virtually every fantasy franchise out there has a mascot character. For the aforementioned Dragon Quest, it’s Slimes, for something like Dungeons & Dragons it’s gelatinous cubes (or maybe kobolds) and for Dark Souls it’s er…I don’t know, Hagar the Horrible? Either way, if you’re a Ragnarok Online fan looking to scratch your on-the-go battling and match3 *****, this might be the release you’ve been eagerly awaiting. However, if you’re more of a casual fan, or someone looking for a more in-depth RPG experience, this may be a bit heavy on the *****-back fun. Still, if you need other options, you don’t have to look far. Why not check out the latest entry in our regular feature of the top five new mobile games to try this week, just released? Source link #Poring #Rush #casual #battling #spinoff #hit #MMORPG #Ragnarok #Online Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trudeau floats ‘other options’ if Mexico won’t address China trade concerns – National Trudeau floats ‘other options’ if Mexico won’t address China trade concerns – National Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he would prefer Mexico remain a North ********* free trade partner but “we may have to look at other options” if the country doesn’t address concerns about ******** manufacturers working to wedge into the market. Trudeau said he raised the “real and genuine concerns about ******** investment into Mexico” directly with ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum in a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 leaders’ summit in Brazil on Monday. Those concerns have led some ********* premiers to call for Canada to strike its own bilateral deal with the U.S. under incoming president-elect Donald Trump, cutting Mexico out of the Canada-******* States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The prime minister said his first priority will be to stand up for ********* workers and the ********* economy, and that Ottawa was “leaving all doors open” to secure those interests. “Ideally, we do that as a ******* North ********* market,” he told reporters at an unrelated press conference in Toronto. “But, pending decisions and choices that Mexico has made, we may have to look at other options.” He would not say what those options might be. Story continues below advertisement “But let me just say it again: my ideal situation is we continue to work well together to protect jobs in North America from overcapacity or economic coercion that other countries have been responsible for.” Sheinbaum told reporters in Mexico City on Wednesday that Trudeau “doesn’t agree” with the calls to cut Mexico out of CUSMA, and that during their meeting at the G20 they agreed on maintaining a three-way trade deal. But she also said she told ******** President Xi Jinping at the summit “that we have a trade agreement with North America, but that there was room for a relationship with China, which was very important.” 1:33 ‘We’ve been here before’: Trudeau says Canada is prepared to renegotiate CUSMA Ontario Premier Doug Ford said last week that Mexico is “importing cheap products” from China, then “slapping a made-in-Mexico sticker on and shipping it up” into Canada and the U.S., bypassing both CUSMA rules and ********* and ********* tariffs on ******** vehicles. Trump has made similar comments about China using Mexico to access the U.S. auto market, threatening the ********* industry. Story continues below advertisement Ford called for a bilateral deal with the U.S. and a separate one with Mexico “if Mexico wants,” which Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she agreed with “1,000 per cent” in a CBC interview Friday. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Ford claimed Wednesday after a call with his fellow premiers that they all backed his demand for separate bilateral trade deals with the U.S. and Mexico. Trump has vowed to reopen CUSMA to address the issue when the trade pact is up for review in 2026. He railed during the campaign about ******** automakers building manufacturing plants in Mexico, which is not currently happening, although China’s top EV maker BYD has plans for a ******** facility. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday that she shares the “legitimate” concerns about ******** investment in Mexico, and the fact Mexico has yet to align with ********* and U.S. tariffs on ******** electric vehicles and materials like steel and aluminum. She said the concerns have been raised to her directly by both members of the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden and the incoming Trump administration. “We are not a ********* to ******** unfair traded goods,” Freeland said Tuesday. “However, the same cannot be said of Mexico.” 2:03 Canada needs to have ‘predictable’ relationship with China, Joly says A report by the ******* States Trade Representative earlier this year warned that U.S. industry stakeholders “expressed concerns that increasing ******** foreign direct investment in the automotive sector in Mexico poses a significant threat to the competitiveness of the North ********* auto industry” and could allow China to skirt tariffs. Story continues below advertisement According to the U.S. industry group Coalition for a Prosperous America, which promotes the U.S. taking a combative trade stance, more than 20 ******** auto manufacturers have invested billions in Mexico. The Biden administration in July imposed new tariffs on steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico but made elsewhere, a move meant to address the evasion of tariffs by China. More on Politics More videos Deputy ******** Foreign Trade Minister Luis Rosendo Gutierrez last month said Mexico would continue to prioritize the U.S. and Canada due to their strategic alliance through CUSMA, but that did not imply Mexico would “break with China” or “deny them investments in Mexico.” CUSMA’s rules of origin clause requires higher levels of North ********* parts in vehicles sold in the three countries compared with NAFTA, which Trump has said China is also trying to exploit by bringing ******** components through Mexico. Trump, who has vowed a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all foreign imports, has said ******** imports could see a 25 per cent levy if the country doesn’t stem the flow of migrants arriving at the U.S. border. During the presidential campaign, Trump said he would impose tariffs of at least 200 per cent or more on all vehicles imported from Mexico — which would hurt ********* automakers in the short term — and suggested levies on ******** companies who operate in Mexico and bypass CUSMA rules as high as 1,000 per cent. Story continues below advertisement Mexico has vowed to retaliate with its own tariffs on ********* imports if Trump follows through with his threat, which the country’s economic minister warned would bring economic harm to North America. —With files from The ********* Press and Reuters &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Trudeau #floats #options #Mexico #wont #address #China #trade #concerns #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I.C.C. Issues Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Over War in Gaza I.C.C. Issues Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Over War in Gaza The International ********* Court’s arrest warrants for *******’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, were issued for war ******* and ******* against humanity in Gaza. The court also sought to arrest ******’s military chief, Muhammad Deif, for ******* against humanity. Source link #I.C.C #Issues #Arrest #Warrant #Netanyahu #War #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

20 years later, the Nintendo DS ******** one of gaming’s best devices 20 years later, the Nintendo DS ******** one of gaming’s best devices It’s a special day. Today, November 21, 2024, marks the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo DS‘ launch in North America. It’s hard for me to believe it’s been that long, because Nintendo’s dual-screen handheld device defined my childhood more than any other device. While I started my gaming journey on the original Xbox and Game Boy Advance, the Nintendo DS is what truly made me fall in love with video games. It was an innovative piece of technology that drew my attention in ways none of my other childhood toys could. These were formative gaming experiences that I’ll always remember. Now almost old enough to vote, the Nintendo DS can be considered a retro gaming handheld. It deserves the same level of reverence that’s usually given to formative systems like the NES or ***** Genesis. With that in mind, let’s look back at what made this system so special to me and millions of others. Innovative hardware When it comes to gaming technology, Nintendo always finds ways to be ahead of the curve — at least in terms of creativity. The Nintendo DS is one of the greatest examples of that strength, as it popularized the idea of a touchscreen (and touchscreen gaming) years before modern smartphones became commonplace. As a child, opening the system up and using its stylus gave the DS a tactile feel that no other system could offer. I remember spending countless hours in PictoChat with my brother and other friends who had DS systems. I also appreciated its Game Boy Advance compatibility, which meant I didn’t have to leave that gaming library of mine behind. Looking at all of the gaming platforms I owned before I started writing about the industry professionally, the Nintendo DS is certainly the one I played the most. Digital Trends The appeal of the DS can also be seen in its longevity. With all the updates and variations this console received, I owned around four different DS systems when all was said and done. It’s a branding Nintendo built on further with the 3DS, another handheld I adore and own multiple versions of. As video game technology gets increasingly homogenized, the DS is a reminder of a creativity-driven era where a gaming device could offer a radically different look and playing experience than any other platform. Amazing games It’s the games that make or break a system, though, and the DS is full of classics. Two series defined my time with the Nintendo DS: Super Mario Bros. and Pokémon. I got my first taste of both on Game Boy Advance, but I genuinely became a fan of both on DS. Super Mario 64 DS, a launch title I remember getting around the same time as the system itself, is the definitive version of Nintendo’s seminal 3D platformer. Even if it lacks full analog control, it’s a technical marvel that Nintendo got this it running better on a DS just eight years after the original’s release. And while the New Super Mario Bros. series gets a lot of flak nowadays, the first game to bear that name is a truly creative platformer full of memorable levels that mesmerized my younger self. I got so good at New Super Mario Bros. that I remember playing through a level without dying when my eyes were dilated at an eye doctor appointment (I also think its multiplayer mode is highly underrated). Nintendo I’ve played no video game series more than Pokémon, though, and the games I’ve played the most were all on Nintendo DS. I remember going to Target with my dad to buy Pokémon Platinum, getting the last copy on the shelf, walking out of the store, and hearing other kids bummed out that they couldn’t pick a copy up. That memory stuck with me, and I’ve spent hundreds of hours in the Sinnoh region since then. To this day, most of my favorite Pokémon can be found in Platinum. In 2011, Pokémon ****** and White brought me back to the series. The DS-era Pokémon titles struck a perfect balance of gameplay depth, memorable monster designs, and strong technical performance. While I believe that the Pokémon games that came after, like X and Y or Sword and Shield, are underrated, there’s no denying that the franchise peaked on DS. I’m happy to have been at the epicenter of that. Undeniable impact Looking at my gaming tastes today, I see how they were all fundamentally shaped by the DS. I will always be interested in picking up a new Mario platformer or Pokémon RPG on day one because of how those series ingrained themselves in me on this Nintendo handheld. I appreciate gaming technology that tries to be innovative or stand out from the competition in distinct ways, likely because I appreciated how the DS did that. Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends And it’s an experience that will always be locked closely to my childhood. It’s hard to recreate that experience on a different platform. The technology exists to emulate DS games, but so many of them utilize the touchscreen in distinct enough ways that they just don’t feel quite right to play on any other platform. The Nintendo DS is a system you really had to be there for to understand its heyday. Twenty years after its original release, Nintendo has completely left the DS brand behind after shutting down online play on the 3DS. Enough time has passed for us to truly look back and understand the impact the Nintendo DS had not just on the video game industry, but on us individually. As the idea of the DS makes the jump from contemporary to retro, I’m grateful that I can still boot up my DS systems and play Super Mario 64 DS or Pokémon Platinum anytime I want and remember why I adore video games in the first place. Source link #years #Nintendo #******** #gamings #devices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Piper Sandler highlights the stocks most likely to benefit from bullish market sentiment Piper Sandler highlights the stocks most likely to benefit from bullish market sentiment Wall Street’s optimistic tone since Donald Trump secured a return to the White House could have outsized benefits for a handful of stocks that typically gain when sentiment is bullish, according to Piper Sandler. Stocks soared to record highs immediately after Trump’s victory in early November. Investors hoped that his election would lead to ******* regulations, which could trigger a spree of dealmaking on Wall Street, as well as lower corporate taxes. The postelection rally has broadened out in recent days toward stocks outside of the “Magnificent Seven.” “By many metrics, bullish sentiment is at an extreme,” Michael Kantrowitz, Piper Sandler’s chief investment strategist and head of portfolio strategy, wrote in a Tuesday note. “Investors expect the market to climb higher and accordingly, Wall Street expects the data to improve (cooling inflation, rising housing activity, rising industrial production, etc.).” In addition to those factors, Kantrowitz cited data that showed that recession fears have eased, and there is an expectation that oil prices will fall or remain low. Also, interest rates should continue to drift lower. Against this backdrop, Piper Sandler screened for stocks that are most sensitive to bullish sentiment. Their methodology tracks the performance of stocks against various macro variables to find the greatest correlations over a five-year *******. Here’s a look at some of the stocks that made the list. To be sure, correlation does not directly amount to causation. Ridesharing firm Uber made the cut. Shares have advanced more than 12% in 2024. The company recently beat Wall Street’s earnings estimates on the top and bottom line in the third quarter . Some analysts have said the company could benefit from ******* regulations under the incoming Trump administration, specifically as it relates to its autonomous driving ambitions . UBER YTD mountain Uber Technologies stock. Garmin is another stock that historically performs well when market sentiment is high, registering gains 62% of the time. Its stock has advanced nearly 60% in 2024. The smartwatch and digital map company surpassed analyst estimates for revenue and earnings in the third-quarter late last month. Garmin issued a higher-than-expected revenue outlook of roughly $6.12 billion for fiscal 2024. Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting $5.98 billion. GRMN YTD mountain Garmin stock has gained nearly 60% in 2024. Other stocks on the list included Applied Materials and Micron Technology . Source link #Piper #Sandler #highlights #stocks #benefit #bullish #market #sentiment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SEC Chair Gary Gensler will step down Jan. 20, making way for Trump replacement SEC Chair Gary Gensler will step down Jan. 20, making way for Trump replacement U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler testifies before a House Financial Services Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. September 27, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will resign on Jan. 20, the agency announced Thursday, paving the way for President-elect Donald Trump to select a replacement immediately. Gensler took over the SEC in 2021, and under his leadership the commission has taken an ambitious but controversial approach to several regulatory issues, including cryptocurrencies. Trump has not announced his pick to lead the SEC, but the expectation is that the next chair will be friendlier to Wall Street and crypto. SEC commissioners serve five-year terms, so Gensler could have in theory stayed on until at least 2026. Instead, he is leaving the agency completely, as was widely expected. “The staff and the Commission are deeply mission-driven, focused on protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and ensuring that the markets work for investors and issuers alike. The staff comprises true public servants. It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve with them on behalf of everyday Americans and ensure that our capital markets remain the best in the world,” Gensler said in a press release. Under Gensler, the SEC pushed to require more disclosures from publicly traded companies and financial advisors for investors. Those new areas of disclosure include risk around climate change and cybersecurity. The agency also sped-up settlement times for stock trades to just one day, a change spurred in part by the meme-stock trading in early 2021. Gensler’s SEC has had several high profile disputes with the crypto industry, including a legal ****** with Grayscale to block bitcoin ETFs. Grayscale won in court, and billions of dollars have flowed into those new funds since they launched in January. The SEC sued several large digital asset companies in recent years over how they were handling or selling crypto, including Coinbase, with mixed results. The SEC has also been at odds with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in recent years, including investigating him for potential ****** surrounding his $44 billion purchase of social media company Twitter, now known as X, in 2022. The agency is currently seeking sanctions against Musk after he skipped a court-ordered testimony in that probe. Under Gensler, the SEC has investigated whether Musk is in compliance with an earlier settlement agreement that required the billionaire CEO to have a securities lawyer review some of his social media posts about Tesla before sharing them. Musk, who has been publicly critical of the SEC, campaigned with Trump and is set to work with the new administration as co-head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Trump could have the opportunity to quickly reshape the SEC. In addition to Gensler’s soon-to-be vacant seat, the terms for two of the other four commissioners expire in either 2024 or 2025. Commissioners can serve up to 18 months beyond the end of their term. Presidential appointments to the SEC are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. — CNBC’s Lora Kolodny contributed reporting. Source link #SEC #Chair #Gary #Gensler #step #Jan #making #Trump #replacement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars Outlaws just fixed those maddening stealth missions Star Wars Outlaws just fixed those maddening stealth missions Happy days. Massive and Ubisoft have listened to the complaints and with Star Wars Outlaws. Players know what I’m talking about. It’s those mind-numbing stealth missions that automatically fail as soon as someone is spotted. A new patch lets the game continue, even after being caught, so players can try to ****** their way out of a situation. The developers say this change was instituted to give players a decision as to whether they prefer stealth or combat in any given scenario. Drew Rechner, Creative Director on Star Wars Outlaws, notes that the dev team has removed “forced stealth from almost all quest objectives.” However, stealth is still an option for any of these objectives. It’s just not required. “Star Wars Outlaws represents to us a true scoundrel experience and as Kay and Nix are street thieves by trade, stealth will always be an option for players that prefer that playstyle,” the devs wrote in a blog post. “We heard your feedback, and we’re implementing changes that allow for greater player freedom and embracing more playstyles.” The update also improves detection mechanics while operating in stealth mode, as the pre-existing ****** AI “could be unpredictable and inconsistent.” Now players will be able to choose stealth, action or, of course, a combination of both. My preferred method will be stealth until I get caught, which should happen approximately five seconds after entering a compound. Today’s build expands player choice in other ways beyond removing forced stealth objectives. Players can now pick up and keep weapons for longer periods of time in the field, and the developers have added “more opportunities to use them in various scenarios.” Combat has also gotten another update, as players will now be able to target additional ****** body parts beyond the head for “exploiting weak points.” Update 1.4 even includes some slight graphical upgrades, thanks to a refined camera system that improves the focus. To accompany today’s update, Ubisoft has dropped some story DLC called Wild Card. Everyone’s favorite villain-turned-hero Lando Calrissian is a major player in this expansion. Star Wars Outlaws , but Massive and Ubisoft have been busy improving the game since launch. The game now features , with a complete overhaul of the stats of various weapons and enemies. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #Star #Wars #Outlaws #fixed #maddening #stealth #missions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bluesky CEO Jay Graber says X rival is ‘billionaire proof’ Bluesky CEO Jay Graber says X rival is ‘billionaire proof’ Bluesky has surged in popularity since the presidential election earlier this month, suddenly becoming a competitor to Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Threads. But CEO Jay Graber has some cautionary words for potential acquirers: Bluesky is “billionaire proof.” In an interview on Thursday with CNBC’s “Money Movers,” Graber said Bluesky’s open design is intended to give users the option of leaving the service with all of their followers, which could thwart potential acquisition efforts. “The billionaire proof is in the way everything is designed, and so if someone bought or if the Bluesky company went down, everything is open source,” Graber said. “What happened to Twitter couldn’t happen to us in the same ways, because you would always have the option to immediately move without having to start over.” Graber was referring to the way millions of users left Twitter, now X, after Musk purchased the company in 2022. Bluesky now has over 21 million users, still dwarfed by X and Threads, which Facebook’s parent debuted in July 2023. X and Meta didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Threads has roughly 275 million monthly users, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in October. Although Musk said in May that X has 600 million monthly users, market intelligence firm Sensor Tower estimates 318 million monthly users as of October. Bluesky was created in 2019 as an internal Twitter project during Jack Dorsey’s second stint as CEO, and became an independent public benefit corporation in 2022. In May of this year, Dorsey said he is no longer a member of Bluesky’s board. “In 2019, Jack had a vision for something better for social media, and so that’s why he chose me to build this, and we’re really thankful for him for setting this up, and we’ve continued to carry this out,” said Graber, who previously founded Happening, a social network focused on events. “We’re building an open-source social network that anyone can take into their own hands and build on, and it’s something that is radically different from anything that’s been done in social media before. Nobody’s been this open, this transparent and put this much control in the users hands.” Part of Bluesky’s business plan involves offering subscriptions that would let users access special features, Graber noted. She also said that Bluesky will add more services for third-party coders as part of the startup’s “developer ecosystem.” Graber said Bluesky has ruled out the possibility of letting advertisers send algorithmically recommended ads to users. “There’s a lot on the road map, and I’ll tell you what we’re not going to do for monetization,” Graber said. “We’re not going to build an algorithm that just shoves ads at you, locking users in. That’s not our model.” Bluesky has previously experienced major growth spurts. In September, it added 2 million users following X’s suspension in Brazil over content moderation policy violations in the country and related legal matters. In October, Bluesky announced that it raised $15 million in a funding round led by Blockchain Capital. The company has raised a total of $36 million, according to Pitchbook. Source link #Bluesky #CEO #Jay #Graber #rival #billionaire #proof Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The New Xbox Series X Digital Console Is Discounted For ****** Friday The New Xbox Series X Digital Console Is Discounted For ****** Friday Xbox Series X and Series S ****** Friday deals are available now at select major retailers. Multiple Xbox console models are up for grabs for $50 off. Most notably, you can get the recently released Xbox Series X All-Digital 1TB console for $400 and Xbox Series S for $249. We’ve rounded up the best Xbox Series X|S ****** Friday deals below. In addition to the consoles, you can save big on Xbox Expansion Cards and take advantage of a terrific Xbox Wireless Controller bundle deal at Amazon. $400 (was $450) The Xbox Series X All-Digital released on October 15, so the fact that it’s on ***** already is pretty cool. The All-Digital swaps Carbon ****** for ****** White, matching the Series S. Internally, this is the same console as the regular Series X, just without a disc drive. That means it’s capable of playing games in 4K resolution with the best performance possible on the Xbox platform. All Xbox Series X|S owners should give Game Pass Ultimate a try, but it’s especially valuable if you opt for a model without a disc drive, such as the new Series X All-Digital. You can get three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $50 at Amazon, 10 bucks cheaper than buying directly from Microsoft. $249 (was $300) The Xbox Series S has received surprisingly few discounts this year, so we wouldn’t be surprised if this deal sold out in the coming days. Like the All-Digital Series X, the Series S only plays digital games. The Series S maxes out at 1440p resolution, though frame rates when running at its best resolution vary by game. If you want the best performance for graphically demanding games, the Series X or Series X All-Digital are better options. But if you are buying an Xbox for casual gaming in the family room or as a secondary console, the Series S offers great value at $250 for the 512GB model. $449 (was $500) If you want to play physical games and/or watch 4K Blu-rays, the regular Xbox Series X with a disc drive is available for $50 off, too. This ****** Friday deal is expected to end on November 23. While it’s not on *****, it’s worth noting the recently released 2TB Galaxy ****** Special Edition is still in stock at Best Buy for $600. Best Buy is the only major retailer with the space-themed Xbox, which has double the storage space. 1TB – $100 (was $150) | 512GB – $68 (was $80) You can increase the storage capacity on your Xbox Series X|S with one of the official Western Digital or Seagate Expansion Cards. These plug-and-play upgrades are the only optional storage devices that can store and boot Xbox Series X|S games. The WD ****** 1TB Xbox Expansion Card is on ***** for its lowest price yet for ****** Friday. Over at Amazon and Best Buy, you can save $50 on the 1TB model. The 512GB Expansion Card is available for $68. Xbox Expansion Card Deals at Amazon Meanwhile, Seagate’s 2TB Expansion Card is on ***** for $200 (was $250). The 1TB Seagate model is on *****, but the WD ****** card is a much better deal right now. $75 (was $136) If you want a second controller for your new Xbox, we’d highly recommend checking out Amazon’s bundle deal, which includes an Xbox Wireless Controller, 4K ***** Stick, and 1-Month Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $75. There’s also an $80 bundle with the 4K Max ***** Stick. $75 Xbox Controller Bundle – Choose your controller: $80 Xbox Controller Bundle – Choose your controller: Source link #Xbox #Series #Digital #Console #Discounted #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s Neuralink Cleared to Start Brain Chip Trial in Canada Elon Musk’s Neuralink Cleared to Start Brain Chip Trial in Canada Canada’s University Health Network said its Toronto Western Hospital would be the first non-US site of a trial for a device created by Neuralink Corp., Elon Musk’s brain-implant company. “We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this research advancement in neurosurgery,” UHN Chief Executive Officer Kevin Smith said in an announcement. He also said UHN would be the “first and exclusive” site for the trial in Canada, but did not say when it would begin. On Wednesday, Neuralink said that it had received approval from regulators in Canada to launch clinical trials for its device in that country. “Health Canada has approved the launch of our first clinical trial in Canada!” the company posted on X, the social media service also owned by Musk. “Recruitment is now open.” Neuralink added that it was seeking patients with Quadriplegia due to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s ********, or spinal cord injury. Health Canada didn’t immediately provide a comment. For months, Neuralink has been recruiting patients in the US, *** and Canada, with links to a registry on its website. Other companies in the field, such as Synchron Inc., are recruiting for their own future trials. Neuralink’s first product aims to allow patients to control external devices, such as computers, through their thoughts. Neuralink is also working on treating other conditions such as blindness, but that project is further away. In the distant future, Musk has said Neuralink could work with healthy patients on functions such as augmenting memory. Its first human patient, Noland Arbaugh, was implanted with Neuralink’s device earlier this year, at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. © 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source link #Elon #Musks #Neuralink #Cleared #Start #Brain #Chip #Trial #Canada Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]