England v South *******: Captain Siya Kolisi returns for Springboks
England v South *******: Captain Siya Kolisi returns for Springboks
World champions South ******* have made 12 changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series match with England at Allianz Stadium.
Captain Siya Kolisi and former world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit return in the back row, while winger Cheslin Kolbe is also named in the side.
However, despite fielding seven forwards on the bench in the 32-15 win over Scotland, head coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for a conventional five forwards-three backs split among his replacements.
England are set to name their matchday squad at 13:30 GMT.
South ******* beat England 16-15 after a late Handre Pollard penalty in their last meeting in the 2023 World Cup semi-final.
The Boks squad includes 15 players who faced Steve Borthwick’s side in Paris, with Leicester Tigers fly-half Pollard among the replacements.
“England poses a completely different challenge to Scotland, and we selected our squad based on what we would like to do in the match and also what we think will be best to counter the challenge England poses,” said Erasmus.
“Fortunately, we have quite a few players who can switch positions if necessary, so we feel we have adequate depth throughout the team, which allowed us to select this group of replacements.”
England have lost their past four matches, including narrow defeats in their opening two autumn Tests against New Zealand and Australia.
Erasmus, however, says past results count for nothing when the two sides renew their rivalry in London.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Erasmus added: “If you have the right players and the right management, it can galvanise the team, especially if you have two close games like that.
“Our reality is we are playing England, who we seldom beat here. We are expecting a team that will be really tight and will play for their coaching staff. They believe fully they can beat us.”
Erasmus added: “England come off two narrow defeats, but the quality of their performances was good in both matches, so we know the size of the challenge.
“We lost narrowly to Ireland and France in back-to-back matches in 2022 and a year later were world champions so we know we shouldn’t read anything into the last two results.”
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Xbox considers a handheld gaming PC
Xbox considers a handheld gaming PC
Xbox is thinking about future hardware, and it might not just be another box attached to your TV. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer told Bloomberg the team is considering its own gaming handheld — but it’s years away.
In an earlier interview with IGN, Spencer had mentioned a hypothetical “Xbox gaming handheld PC device,” which now appears to be in the early research and prototyping stage. The Xbox boss said local play would be important to include if Xbox were to design a handheld console. Compared to existing devices, like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Legion Go, it’s unclear what unique features an Xbox handheld might offer.
— Mat Smith
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The biggest tech stories you missed
The ecommerce giant is taking on its ******** competitors.
Amazon Haul will be the company’s new discount storefront designed to compete with Temu and Shein. It will be mobile only and sell items at “crazy low prices.” Unlike Amazon Prime’s fast speeds, Amazon promises its Haul orders will arrive in less than two weeks. Previously, CNBC mentioned Amazon was exploring a storefront to sell goods to US customers directly from China.
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There’s plenty of storage.
Lightfoot / Otherlab
Lightfoot is an almost-$5,000 solar scooter conceived by San Francisco-based R&D outfit Otherlab. The two 120W panels on either side will trickle charge the battery on the road or parked outdoors. Otherlab claims this idle solar charging will add three miles of charge per hour or 18 miles if you leave it in daylight for a whole day.
Continue reading.
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VCs say tech investing is ‘tough’ amid IPO lull and ‘nuts’ AI hype
VCs say tech investing is ‘tough’ amid IPO lull and ‘nuts’ AI hype
Edith Yeung, general partner at Race Capital, and Larry Aschebrook, founder and managing partner of G Squared, speak during a CNBC-moderated panel at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Rita Franca | Nurphoto | Getty Images
LISBON, Portugal — It’s a tough time for the venture capital industry right now as a dearth of blockbuster initial public offerings and M&A activity has sucked liquidity from the market, while buzzy artificial intelligence startups dominate attention.
At the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon, two venture investors — whose portfolios include the likes of multibillion-dollar AI startups Databricks Anthropic and Groq — said things have become much more difficult as they’re unable to cash out of some of their long-term bets.
“In the U.S., when you talk about the presidential election, it’s the economy *******. And in the VC world, it’s really all about liquidity *******,” Edith Yeung, general partner at Race Capital, an early-stage VC firm based in Silicon Valley, said in a CNBC-moderated panel earlier this week.
Liquidity is the holy grail for VCs, startup founders and early employees as it gives them a chance to realize gains — or, if things turn south, losses — on their investments.
When a VC makes an equity investment and the value of their stake increases, it’s only a gain on paper. But when a startup IPOs or sells to another company, their equity stake gets converted into hard cash — enabling them to make new investments.
Yeung said the lack of IPOs over the last couple of years had created a “really tough” environment for venture capital.
At the same, however, there’s been a rush from investors to get into buzzy AI firms.
“What’s really crazy is in the last few years, OpenAI’s domination has really been determined by Big Techs, the Microsofts of the world,” said Yeung, referring to ChatGPT-creator OpenAI’s seismic $157 billion valuation. OpenAI is backed by Microsoft, which has made a multibillion-dollar investment in the firm.
‘The IPO market is not happening’
Larry Aschebrook, founder and managing partner at late-stage VC firm G Squared, agreed that the hunt for liquidity is getting ******* — even though the likes of OpenAI are seeing blockbuster funding rounds, which he called “a bit nuts.”
“You have funds and founders and employees searching for liquidity because the IPO market is not happening. And then you have funding rounds taking place of generational types of businesses,” Aschebrook said on the panel.
As important as these deals are, Aschebrook suggested they aren’t helping investors because even more money is getting tied up in illiquid, privately owned shares. G Squared itself an early backer of Anthropic, a foundational AI model startup competing with Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
Using a cooking analogy, Aschebrook suggested that venture capitalists are being starved of lucrative share sales which would lead to them realizing returns. “If you want to cook some dinner, you better sell some stock, ” he added.
Looking for opportunities beyond OpenAI
Yeung and Aschebrook both said they’re excited about opportunities beyond artificial intelligence, such as cybersecurity, enterprise software and crypto.
At Race Capital, Yeung said she sees opportunities to make money from investments in sectors including enterprise and infrastructure — not necessarily always AI.
“The key thing for us is not thinking about what’s going to happen, not necessarily in terms of exit in two or three years, we’re really, really long term,” Yeung said.
“I think for 2025, if President [Donald] Trump can make a comeback, there’s a few other industries I think that are quite interesting. For sure, crypto is definitely making a comeback already.”
At G Squared, meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Wiz is a key portfolio investment that’s seen OpenAI-levels of growth, according to Aschebrook.
The startup, which turned down a $23 billion acquisition bid from Google, hit the $500 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) milestone just four years after it was founded.
Wiz is now looking to reach $1 billion of ARR in 2025, doubling from this year, Roy Reznik, the company’s co-founder and vice president of research and development, told CNBC last month.
“I think that there’s many logos … that aren’t in the press raising $5 billion in two weeks, that do well in our portfolios, that are the stars of tomorrow, today,” Aschebrook said.
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan says Trump’s attacks on him are due to his ethnicity and religion
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says Trump’s attacks on him are due to his ethnicity and religion
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has accused Donald Trump of repeatedly criticizing him because of his “ethnicity” and ******* ******, comments likely to renew his long-running feud with the US president-elect.
The pair became embroiled in an extraordinary war of words during Trump’s first presidency, initially sparked by Khan speaking out against a U.S. travel ban on people from certain ******* countries.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, U.K. on Nov. 10, 2024.
Wiktor Szymanowicz / Future Publishing via Getty Images
Trump then accused Khan — the first ******* mayor of a Western capital when he was first elected in 2016 — of doing a “very bad job on terrorism” and called him a “stone cold ******” and “very *****.”
The mayor in turn allowed an unflattering blimp of Trump dressed as a baby in a diaper to fly above protests in Parliament Square during his 2018 visit to Britain.
The inflatable balloon called Baby Trump flies above the statue of wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Westminster Abbey in Parliament Square, Westminster, the seat of the U.K. Parliament, during Trump’s visit to the U.K. on July 13, 2018. Baby Trump is a 20-foot high orange blimp depicting Trump as an enraged, smartphone-clutching infant – and London Mayor Sadiq Khan gave special permission for it to appear above the capital because, he said, of its protest rather than artistic nature. It was the brainchild of Graphic designer Matt Bonner.
Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images
Speaking on a podcast recorded before Trump’s re-election on November 5 and released earlier this week, Khan, a son of Pakistani immigrants to Britain, said he viewed the past targeting of him as “incredibly personal.”
“If I wasn’t this ****** skin, if I wasn’t a practicing *******, he wouldn’t have come for me,” he told the High Performance podcast, which interviews prominent people in different sectors.
“He’s come for me because of, let’s be frank, my ethnicity and my religion.”
Khan added that during this ******* he was “speaking out against somebody whose policies were sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic, *******” and that he has “a responsibility to speak out.”
His latest comments on Trump are in stark contrast to those of his colleagues in Britain’s Labour party, which swept to power in July.
Several Labour members of Parliament now in senior government posts, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy, were critical of Trump while they were in opposition during his first White House term.
In 2018, Lammy labeled him a “woman-hating, neo-***** sympathizing sociopath.” But Britain’s now-top diplomat last week dismissed the remarks as “old news.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appeared at pains to forge a positive relationship with the president-elect, promptly congratulating him on his “historic election victory.”
Starmer said their phone call was “very positive, very constructive” and the so-called special relationship between the U.K. and U.S. would “prosper” in Trump’s second term.
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Powerball: Two West ***********’s pocket more than $127,000 in Thursday Lotto
Powerball: Two West ***********’s pocket more than $127,000 in Thursday Lotto
Two West Austalians are among three other winners from across the nation who have scored big in Thursday’s $30 million Powerball draw.
The fortunate Lotto players will each take home a cool $127,394.85 after securing division two wins.
Five West Australians — and 65 other players from across the rest of the country — will pocket a division three win worth more than $11,000 each.
The winning numbers from draw #1487 are 25, 11, 19, 5, 4, 10 and 14. The Powerball is 20.
Noone miraculously pulled off a division one win, meaning next weeks Powerball draw will balloon to an eyewatering $50 million.
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Apple hit by huge iCloud ‘lock in’ lawsuit that accuses it of ‘rip-off prices’
Apple hit by huge iCloud ‘lock in’ lawsuit that accuses it of ‘rip-off prices’
Which? argues that Apple is blocking consumers from cheaper alternatives
Apple offers 5GB of iCloud space for free, but you must pay for more
*** brand Which? is seeking £3bn ($3.8bn) in damages from Apple
Apple has long been accused of being miserly with its iCloud online storage tiers, but things have rarely move beyond the realm of truculent grumbling. That’s all changing now, though, as British consumer advocacy brand Which? has launched a £3bn ($3.8bn) lawsuit accusing Apple of ripping off its customers by locking them into expensive iCloud tiers.
When you buy an Apple device, you are given 5GB of iCloud storage for free. If you want to upgrade, you can choose from a range of paid-for iCloud options. However, Which? says that users are not offered a choice of rival cloud storage services, and instead have to use iCloud because Apple blocks certain data on your device from being uploaded to competitors’ services.
A separate lawsuit from March 2024 claims that Apple “arbitrarily sequesters” essential app data and device settings that would be required for a full device backup.
According to the legal action from Which?, “Apple iPhone and iPad iOS users have had little choice but to use Apple’s own iCloud service, and therefore Apple can charge users more than if it had to compete with rival cloud storage services.”
The Which? lawsuit is seeking damages of £3bn (around $3.8bn) for around 40 million *** customers, which would mean a payout of about £70 (about $90) for each British person who has used iCloud services since October 1, 2015. Even for a company of Apple’s size and wealth, that would be a sizable payout.
Analysis: We’ve been here before
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Primakov)
The argument from Which? is essentially that Apple is unlawfully steering users towards its own services instead of giving them a choice.
Apple has found itself in hot water over similar issues in the past, having been sued by Epic Games for, among other things, preventing developers from directing customers to other services that might save them money. In that case, the judge found against Apple and forced it to change its anti-steering practices, so Which? might be hopeful of a similar ruling in its own lawsuit.
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Apple will likely say that it prevents some essential files from being backed up to competitors’ services because they contain important information whose security Apple cannot guarantee if they fall outside its control. Whether that argument is enough to win the case against Which? ******** to be seen.
Apple could easily allay consumer discontent by offering more than a measly 5GB of iCloud storage for free. Granted, upgrading to the next iCloud tier (50GB) is cheap at $0.99 a month, but with many of the best phones and computers offering much more in the way of free storage, Apple fans shouldn’t have to pay to get more than 5GB of online drive space.
Ultimately, though, Apple is not forcing anyone to upgrade to more expensive iCloud tiers – you can buy a device with more storage space or perform a full back up using a desktop app like iMazing, for example. But if the lawsuit from Which? compels Apple to be more generous with its free iCloud offering, that itself would be a win for consumers.
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When will it snow? How many days ahead the Met Office can give accurate forecast
When will it snow? How many days ahead the Met Office can give accurate forecast
The Met Office has suggested swathes of the *** could be set for a cold snap next week, with many areas also told to prepare for the possibility of waking up to a dusting of snow.
But while the official long-range forecast has warned of “wintry showers” – including snow – predicting Britain’s weather is rarely a straightforward affair.
Here, Yahoo News *** tries to make sense of things.
How accurately can the Met Office forecast snow?
Snow forecasting for anyone, even the Met Office, can be pretty tricky – just one degree warmer or colder can be the difference between a washout and a winter wonderland.
Location can also make a difference. The same type of weather front might lead to snow somewhere in a higher altitude, but cause rain in low-lying areas.
The Met Office says that the ***’s specific location makes it particularly difficult to accurately predict snow too far ahead, especially compared to some other countries where snow can be quite reliably forecast “days or weeks in advance”. PArt of this is down to the fact the *** is surrounded by water.
Some media reports forecasting snow weeks or months ahead will often be based on a single predictive model. However, official forecasts will compare several models before giving a judgement – and even that will be couched in terms referring to the relative likelihood of a given weather event.
“It only takes very small temperature changes to determine whether it’s impactful snow that reaches the ground or just brushes the tops of the mountains,” Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon says.
“What meteorologists look for includes where the air is coming from – is it from a colder region that could mean a chance of snow generation?
“Where warm air meets colder air in the winter months – these fronts meeting can introduce moisture, which can allow snow to fall. But it’s often a fine line between who can see snow and who can see rain more than a few days’ ahead.”
The *** has had a relatively dry November so far. (Alamy Live News)
Is it possible to forecast an ‘exact date’ of snow?
There’s a reason the Met Office presents its long-range forecasts for the *** as a whole – there’s not much point trying to be any more precise.
Even short-term daily predictions for the next five days can change at short notice due to small fluctuations in air pressure, temperature or wind direction.
“Forecasts are quite tricky to do in the ***, where we have competing air masses,” says Dixon.
“What those excitable headlines don’t quite capture is the uncertainty forecasts get the further ahead you look. When you’re looking a week or two ahead, a date for a particular set of conditions is not really how it works.
“Meteorologists will talk about the degree of certainty they have in competing scenarios that could happen – or not.”
How should I prepare for the Great British weather?
Probably pack a big coat (just in case).
What about ‘Arctic blasts’, ‘snow ******’ and ‘Beasts from the East’?
The Met Office is becoming less shy about criticising some of the more “excitable” weather headlines which appear in some media.
In September, it even went so far as to label one story claiming the *** was due to be “pummelled by rain” as “utter rubbish”.
While not strictly averse to some favoured media labels, the forecaster says its priority is that they should accurately reflect the expected conditions.
So while a ‘****** from the East’ or ‘Arctic blast’ could reasonably refer to a particular weather front originating from a specific region, terms like ‘snow *****’ should probably be avoided (unless it genuinely does possess explosive qualities).
Dixon says: “It’s not for me to dictate how some of those headlines are written, but what’s important for us as an organisation is that the language reflects the forecast.
“‘****** from the East’ could refer to the conditions, but if it’s not reflective of the current outlook [it should be avoided] and that rings true for other terms.
“It’s important people understand the forecast they’re getting and we need to reflect the uncertainty they’re getting – particularly when forecasting snow at longer ranges. It can be a communications challenge.”
If the conditions are just right, snow can cause chaos on Britain’s roads.
What is the long-range forecast and how reliable is it?
The Met Office’s long-range forecast is split into two parts, covering consecutive 10-day and a 15-day periods.
While the shorter five-day forecast can offer breakdowns by area and even indications of what time families in a given area should expect wind, rain, sunshine or snow, the long-range forecasts cannot offer the same level of detail.
Instead, they offer a general view for the whole of the ***.
The forecaster makes clear the reason for this on its own website, pointing out “small events currently over the Atlantic can have potentially significant impacts on our weather in the *** in several days’ time”.
“As we’ve got this colder air, it means there’s an ongoing chance of more of these weather hazards and icy conditions as well,” says Dixon, reflecting on the current long-range forecast.
“But at this stage it’s too difficult to put that in any detail in terms of how that could look going into next week.”
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Bugsnax Gets Surprise New VR Update for November 2024
Bugsnax Gets Surprise New VR Update for November 2024
A new update for Bugsnax is now available, and it gives Steam players a brand-new way to experience the acclaimed adventure game in VR.
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*** government accelerates 4G roll-out in rural Wales
*** government accelerates 4G roll-out in rural Wales
Following a noticeable recent momentum in its rural mobile enhancement programme, the *** government is now focusing on rural towns and villages across Wales with its Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, as seven 4G mast upgrades in North, South West and West Wales have gone live, bringing reliable connectivity to local businesses and community organisations.
To date, a large number of rural communities and businesses can still face constant buffering and slow download speeds when performing basic tasks online due to outdated mobile connectivity networks, holding back regional economic growth and widening the digital divide between urban and rural communities.
The SRN upgrades to existing mobile masts in Wales, with parts of Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park and Bontgoch, will help close this gap, boosting productivity for local businesses, breaking down barriers to opportunities and boosting economic growth.
Launched in 2020, the £1.3bn SRN programme is a ****** initiative between the ***’s four mobile network operators – EE, ******* Media O2 (VMO2), Three and Vodafone – and the *** government to extend 4G connectivity to 95% of the ***’s landmass by the end of 2025.
The founding principle is that through both public and private investment, new and existing phone masts will be built or upgraded across the *** to close down so-called rural mobile notspots.
Under the scheme, the four operators have committed to improving 4G coverage and levelling up connectivity across the ***, which has seen them invest in a shared network of new and existing phone masts, overseen by a jointly owned company called Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited. The operators’ £532m investment is being complemented by more than £501m in government funding.
A total of 20 of the *** government’s SRN upgrades have been based in Wales, and more are planned in the coming months. In addition, in August 2024, the government signed an agreement with leading fixed broadband provider Openreach to make around £170m of investment available to deliver gigabit-capable connectivity for around 70,000 Welsh hard-to-reach premises, including some in the most remote parts of the country, from the South Wales Valleys to the Llyn Peninsula.
The *** government is investing £184m to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts to provide coverage from all four mobile operators. Currently, commercial coverage from EAS masts is only available from EE – the operator responsible for the Emergency Services Network.
“Powered by *** government investment, seven new sites in Wales now have fast and reliable mobile internet access in areas where many would previously struggle to even send a text message,” said Jo Stevens, the *** government’s Welsh secretary.
“Connectivity is critical for everything in day-to-day life in rural Wales – from business to tourism, and particularly to ensure that emergency services can be contacted quickly and efficiently when they are needed,” she said. “This is an important step forward in our mission to kickstart the economy and unlock opportunity in rural areas across Wales.”
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Zopa sees profit doubling as it eyes 2025 current account launch
Zopa sees profit doubling as it eyes 2025 current account launch
Jaidev Janardana, CEO of U.K. digital bank Zopa.
Zopa
LISBON, Portugal — British online lender Zopa is on track to double profits and increase annual revenue by more than a third this year amid bumper demand for its banking services, the company’s CEO told CNBC.
Zopa posted revenues of £222 million ($281.7 million) in 2023 and is expecting to cross the £300 million revenue milestone this year — that would mark a 35% annual jump.
The 2024 estimates are based on unaudited internal figures.
The firm also says it is on track to increase pre-tax profits twofold in 2024, after hitting £15.8 million last year.
Zopa, a regulated bank that is backed by ********* giant SoftBank, has plans to venture into the world of current accounts next year as it looks to focus more on new products.
The company currently offers credit cards, personal loans and savings accounts that it offers through a mobile app — similar to other digital banks such as Monzo and Revolut which don’t operate physical branches.
“The business is doing really well. In 2024, we’ve hit or exceeded the plans across all metrics,” CEO Jaidev Janardana told CNBC in an interview Wednesday.
He said the strong performance is coming off the back of gradually improving sentiment in the U.K. economy, where Zopa operates exclusively.
Commenting on Britain’s macroeconomic conditions, Janardana said, “While it has been a rough few years, in terms of consumers, they have continued to feel the pain slightly less this year than last year.”
The market is “still tight,” he noted, adding that fintech offerings such as Zopa’s — which typically provide higher savings rates than high-street banks — become “more important” during such times.
“The proposition has become more relevant, and while it’s tight for customers, we have had to be much more constrained in terms of who we can lend to,” he said, adding that Zopa has still been able to grow despite that.
A big priority for the business going forward is product, Janardana said. The firm is developing a current account product which would allow users to spend and manage their money more easily, in a similar fashion to mainstream banking providers like HSBC and Barclays, as well as fintech upstarts such as Monzo.
“We believe that there is more that the consumer can have in the current account space,” Janardana said. “We expect that we will launch our current account with the general public sometime next year.”
Janardana said consumers can expect a “slick” experience from Zopa’s current account offering, including the ability to view and manage multiple account bank accounts from one interface and access to competitive savings rates.
IPO ‘not top of mind’
Zopa is one of many fintech companies that has been viewed as a potential IPO candidate. Around two years ago, the firm said that it was planning to go public, but later decided to put those plans on ice, as high interest rates battered technology stocks and the IPO market froze over in 2022.
Janardana said he doesn’t envision a public listing as an immediate priority, but noted he sees signs pointing toward a more favorable U.S. IPO market next year.
That should mean that Europe becomes more open to IPOs happening later in 2026, according to Janardana. He didn’t disclose where Zopa would end up going public.
“To be honest, it’s not the top of mind for me,” Janardana told CNBC. “I think we continue to be lucky to have supportive and long-term shareholders who support future growth as well.”
Last year, Zopa made two senior hires, appointing Peter Donlon, ex-chief technology officer at online card retailer Moonpig, as its own CTO. The firm also hired Kate Erb, a chartered accountant from KPMG, as its chief operating officer.
The company raised $300 million in a funding round led by ********* tech investor SoftBank in 2021 and was last valued by investors at $1 billion.
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You can now search for products inside Google Maps
You can now search for products inside Google Maps
Google is adding a handful of new features to Maps in time for the holidays, including the ability to search for specific products within the app itself. If you need a sweater for your annual ugly sweater party, new clothes or some last-minute gifts, for instance, you can type the item in Maps’ search bar to bring up nearby stores where you may be able to find what you’re looking for. From the results that pop up, you can select one of the options and then look up directions. Google says you can search for a wide variety of items from Maps, such as electronics, home goods and even grocery items.
The company has also updated Maps to allow you to report and see delays impacting your transit lines, as well as to show more details, such as alternate transit routes and subway station entrances. Maps will show reports for weather disruptions like unplowed or flooded roads and low visibility areas, as well. In addition, Google is adding the ability enter your vehicle’s dimensions in its built-in Maps app to show routes that don’t have bridges or tunnels you can’t clear. For now, though, those routes are only available on the 2024 Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban and GMC Yukon. The company says it will expand the feature’s capability to more vehicle models in the future.
If you’re driving an EV and look up routes with charging stops on your phone, you can now send the route you’ve decided on to your car with built-in Google Maps. Finally, if you want to avoid crowds when you go out, you can look at Maps’ Popular Times info to see traffic trends at specific times.
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Piper Sandler upgrades Campbell Soup to buy, highlights sauces brand Rao’s
Piper Sandler upgrades Campbell Soup to buy, highlights sauces brand Rao’s
Campbell Soup has a promising long-term growth outlook thanks to Rao’s, its popular sauces brand, according to Piper Sandler. Analyst Michael Lavery upgraded shares to overweight from neutral. He also raised his price target to $56 from $47, indicating 26.6% upside potential from Wednesday’s close. The company completed its acquisition of Rao’s parent company Sovos Brands earlier this year for approximately $2.7 billion. Although Rao’s retail sales growth slowed slightly to 18.7% in the fiscal first quarter from 23.9% in the prior quarter, Lavery said further gains lie ahead as the brand enters new markets and expands its white sauce offerings. The stock is also down more than 10% over the past three months, indicating a good entry point for investors, the analyst added. “We consider CPB one of the better-positioned large cap food names,” Lavery wrote in a Tuesday note. “Continued strong growth [is] expected” for the Rao’s brand, he added. To be sure, Lavery added that potential steel tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration could present headwinds to Campbell Soup, which uses steel for its soup cans. Steel accounts for around 4% of the company’s costs of goods and services, per Lavery. However, the company has already secured its 2025 annual steel contract and steel prices remain depressed. “Further, roughly 75% of steel used in the US is produced in the US, which obviously would have no tariffs applied to it, helping mitigate any potential tariff risk from steel,” said Lavery. “While Rao’s tomato sauces are imported from Italy, we continue to expect tariff risk on food to be low,” the analyst continued. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with 12 of 21 covering the stock rating it as a hold, LSEG data shows. The average analyst price target signals a gain of 16%.
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Central_Committee’s $100K Threat and Ban Drama Explained
Central_Committee’s $100K Threat and Ban Drama Explained
In news that shocks no one, the Twitch streaming community is in the middle of yet another controversy. What’s even less shocking is that Asmongold has a part in it. The streamer is one of the platform’s biggest creators and is threatening to expose its alleged “extremely biased” moderation system.
Asmongold is ready to add fuel to the *****. | Image Credit: asmongold/YouTube
The whole thing started when a clip surfaced of Central_Committee, also known as Mike from PA, allegedly making a threatening statement about political commentator Destiny. Central_Committee was banned for a mere three days which caused the streamer to demand stricter enforcement. Now he has pledged to “expose” the platform’s biased policies.
Asmongold Has Had Enough of Twitch Being “Extremely Biased“
The platform just seems to be in the middle of controversy after controversy lately. | Image Credit: Twitch
On November 8, 2024, a clip of Central_Committee, also known as Mike from PA, was shared on social media. It involved Destiny, a fellow political streamer known for his takes on various issues, including the ongoing *******-Palestine conflict.
MikeFromPA Banned After Asmongold Threatened Twitch by Bringing on Dan Saltman and Exposing Everything pic.twitter.com/ruOyAYj4ho
— Bestfriend (@BestfriendKick) November 9, 2024
In the video, Mike appeared to sarcastically offer $100,000 to anyone from Florida, Destiny’s state of residence, which was widely perceived as an incitement to *********.
Twitch Partner “Central_Committee” has been banned! [Hidden Content] #ban #fourthban #partner #twitchpartner
— StreamerBans (@StreamerBans) November 9, 2024
Despite Central_Committee’s subsequent ban, which lasted only three days, Asmongold declared it insufficient, citing the moderation team’s ******** to adequately enforce its guidelines as a serious lapse in judgment.
In response, the streamer set a deadline for the platform to ban Central_Committee for at least two weeks. After seeing that Central_Committee was only banned for three days, he accused the platform of being “extremely biased“
Asmongold plans to do a stream exposing Twitch and its biased moderation team and says that if he gets banned for the expose, he’ll move to Rumble or Kick pic.twitter.com/glMsSghAzk
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) November 13, 2024
The former OTK member insists that Twitch’s responses often lack proportionality, with some users facing harsh penalties for minor infractions while others receive lenient treatment for more serious behavior.
He has vowed to expose what he sees as inconsistent and unfair enforcement on the platform, bringing along Dan Saltman, also known as Dancantstream, to discuss wider accusations, including allegations of antisemitism within the platform.
The Former OTK Member is Ready To ***** Bridges
Asmon himself hasn’t been without his own controversies. | Image Credit: asmongold/YouTube
The planned exposé, Asmongold claimed, would shed light on deeper problems within Twitch, including allegations of selective enforcement and tolerance of harmful content. He warned that the most damaging information is yet to come.
“all of the information that’s going to come out has not come out and in fact some of the most damaging information has not come out yet.” pic.twitter.com/hFENtZ9JXR
— Bestfriend (@BestfriendKick) November 13, 2024
If the platform bans him at any point before, during or after the expose, the streamer has indicated that he will simply move to rival platforms like Kick and Rumble. Considering his own recent controversies, it’s real likely.
Central_Committee, for his part, has acknowledged his suspension and admitted that his attempt at a “shock joke” *******. While some see his statement as a poorly ********* joke, others, including Asmongold, view it as a serious breach of Twitch’s guidelines.
Twitch has yet to respond directly to Asmongold’s statements or the allegations about its biased moderation. However, recent comments from CEO Dan Clancy indicated the platform’s intent to stand against hate and harassment.
What do you think will be the result of this situation? Let us know in the comments!
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Vivo V40e Review: Easy on the Eyes
Vivo V40e Review: Easy on the Eyes
The Vivo V40e was launched in India towards the end of September and is the most affordable option in the lineup, which also includes the standard V40 and the V40 Pro. Therefore, I believe that the ‘e’ in the name stands for ‘economical’, but I bet Vivo would not agree with me. The V40e is a mid-range smartphone whose main selling point is its design and a claim that it’s the slimmest smartphone with a 5,500mAh battery. Vivo also states that the phone is a pro at taking portrait photos thanks to the Aura light.
At a starting price of Rs. 28,999, the Vivo V40e sounds like a good deal for something specifically looking for a phone with a large battery, slim design, and taking plenty of portrait photos. Is it, though? Read on to find out.
Vivo V40e Design: Visually pleasing
Dimensions – 163.7 ×75 ×7.49mm
Weight – 183g
Colours – Mint Green, Royal Bronze
You do get a sleek and stylish phone as advertised. The Vivo V40e is just 7.49mm thin and feels slimmer thanks to the curved edges on the front and back. The corners are rounded, and you get a glossy plastic frame. The top and bottom are flattened, though. You’ll also find the pill/keyhole-shaped camera module with the top oval protruding out and the lower unit sitting flush with the Aura Light LED at the back. We reviewed the Royal Bronze unit, which has a matte finish rear plastic panel and doesn’t have any patterns. The panel is prone to fingerprints and scratches, though, so it’s best to protect the phone with a case.
The phone is just 7.49mm thick despite having a 5,500mAh battery
The phone has the right amount of weight, and it feels like it costs more than it does. The right edge houses the volume and power buttons. There’s a microphone, loudspeaker, SIM tray, and a USB Type-C port at the bottom, whereas the top houses another microphone. The V40e also gets an IP64 rating, and I did find a rubber seal inside the SIM card tray.
Vivo V40e Display: Big and curvy
Size – 6.77-inch, full-HD+ resolution
Type – AMOLED, 120Hz
Protection – SCHOTT Xensation Up glass
On the front, the phone has a large display with curved sides. Other than making the phone feel slimmer than it actually is, the curved sides also make the side bezels appear thinner. The bezels are also uniform on the top and bottom. The panel is plenty bright for indoor use, and it’s also usable outdoors, as long as it’s not a super bright day.
The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate
As for refresh rate, the display gets up to 120Hz support with a Smart Switch option available as well. You can switch between 60Hz or 120Hz as well. The display supports HDR10+ and offers three colour modes – Standard, Professional, and Bright. There’s also an SGS low blue light certification available on the phone. All of the above make the display on the Vivo V40e an excellent option for watching content and playing games.
The in-display fingerprint scanner sits low
The display also offers an in-display fingerprint scanner, which, apart from a few ******* attempts, was fast and worked well during my time with the phone.
Vivo V40e Software: Smooth but bloated
OS – Android 14
UI – Funtouch OS 14
Latest security patch – October 1
The Vivo V40e runs Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14 out of the box, and I received several updates during the review *******. Vivo has promised to provide three years of OS updates and four years of security patches. The software experience is like most other mid-range smartphones from Vivo. You get a lot of third-party apps from the get-go, but luckily, these can be uninstalled. There’s also the Vivo V-Appstore and a few other Vivo apps, such as the Browser, that keep sending notifications and can’t be removed.
The Aura Light at the back can be used for notifications
However, you will find some useful features on the phone. An AI eraser tool is present in the Gallery app, and it works decently. You also get an AI Photo enhancement feature that is claimed to unblur, beautify, and reduce noise. However, it did an okay job in reality. You also get features such as a Smart sidebar to make use of the curved display, Dynamic light that uses the Aura light to show notifications, Ambient light effect that uses edge lighting for notifications and acts as a light show when playing music, and more.
The software experience on the phone is mostly smooth, but the unwanted notifications from the built-in apps are quite annoying.
Vivo V40e Performance: Good enough
SoC – MediaTek Dimensity 7300
RAM – 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage – Up to 256GB UFS 2.2
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 on the V40e is an octa-core 4nm chipset that is paired with the MediaTek NPU 655 and an Arm Mali-G615 GPU. When it comes to regular usage, I did not notice any lag. Apps open fast, multitasking isn’t a task, and animations throughout the UI are smooth. The camera app also works flawlessly, and there’s no major shutter lag. Overall, this phone is easy to recommend for day-to-day tasks.
Gaming isn’t a problem on the phone, and it doesn’t heat up a lot either
I ran a couple of benchmarks to compare it with phones in a similar price bracket, and the numbers showed that the Vivo V40e offered lower performance in most cases. Of course, you must keep in mind that these benchmarks shouldn’t be taken at face value, as real word usage will vary.
Benchmark
Vivo V40e
OnePlus Nord 4
Infinix Zero 40
Nothing Phone 2a Plus
Geekbench 6 Single
1,030
929
1,096
1,204
Geekbench 6 Multi
2,886
3,817
3,601
2,658
AnTuTu v10
693,086
1,074,178
956,927
762,955
PCMark Work 3.0
10,454
12,336
15,466
12,663
3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL
5,090
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
3DM Slingshot
6,492
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
7,243
3DM Wild Life
3,140
Maxed Out
6,362
4,779
3DM Wild Life Unlimited
3,154
11,588
6,454
5,038
GFXBench T-Rex
94
60
144
60
GFXBench Manhattan 3.1
51
60
92
58
GFXBench Car Chase
29
60
52
35
The phone also performed decently when playing games and didn’t overheat even after a 45-minute session of BGMI. I played BGMI with HDR graphics and Ultra frame rate and did not notice any major lag. I also played Genshin Impact and COD with medium settings, and they worked fine mostly.
The phone has a dual speaker setup, which is good enough for indoor use. It doesn’t offer a lot of bass, but there is a volume booster mode that does increase the sound output. Calls and connectivity are also pretty good. Audio from the microphone and ear speaker was clear on both ends, and I didn’t notice any major network issues in my area.
Vivo V40e Cameras: Not the Pro it’s claimed to be
Main rear – 50-megapixel, OIS, Sony IMX882 sensor, f/1.79 aperture
Secondary – 8-megapixel ultrawide, f/2.2, 116-degree FoV
Selfie – 50-megapixel, auto-focus, f/2.0, 92 degree FoV
You get two rear cameras on the V40e and two different types of LED flash. The Aura light is mainly meant for portrait photos, but you can use it in creative ways as a fill light.
There are two different LED options available on the phone
The primary camera is good for daylight photos but can produce decent night results. Photos offer good details, colours, and white balance. Even low-light photos with enough lighting offer good details, albeit with some noise.
The secondary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide, is okay for daylight photos, but you’ll see colour inaccuracy between the two rear sensors. Low-light photos with the ultrawide camera are blurry and have a watercolour-like effect.
I’m not sure why Vivo markets this as a pro camera for Portraits, as the phone doesn’t even have a depth sensor. It uses the primary camera, and you get to choose between a 1x or 2x crop. However, the results are somewhat nice, and you get a decent blur effect, but the edge detection could’ve been better. The Aura light also helps take nice portrait photos at night.
Portrait shot with Aura Light enabled
Switching over to the front, the 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 sensor with autofocus does a good job with selfies. The skin colours are mostly accurate, the colours are nice, and there’s a good amount of detail. Selfies in low-light conditions aren’t that great, though.
Moving on to video, you can record at 4K 30fps from the main rear and the front cameras. There is stabilisation available as well, which does a decent job of removing shakiness, but panning is janky. Video quality is decent when there’s a lot of light, with slightly boosted colours. However, I did notice that the dynamic range and white balance are all over the place.
Vivo V40e Battery: Impressive
Capacity – 5,500mAh
Charging speed – 80W
Charger – 80W in the box
The battery performance of the Vivo V40e, as I’ve mentioned in the subheading, is impressive. The 5,500mAh battery easily lasts a day and more with regular usage. In our HD video loop test, the phone managed to last over 32 hours on a single charge. This was with the refresh rate set to 120Hz. Not a lot of phones in this price segment can manage that.
Charging is a quick affair
Charging is quite fast, thanks to the included 80W charger. A full charge from 0 to 100 percent took about an hour. It also doesn’t heat much when charging.
Vivo V40e Verdict
While the Vivo V40e is definitely not the one to get if you’re after Portrait photography, it is something I’d recommend if you want amazing battery life and a good-looking design. The Royal Bronze option is nice to look at, and the curved edges make the phone easy to hold. The phone also has a large, bright display for most conditions. Sound output is decent, the primary rear camera and the front camera are good during the day, and performance is also pretty decent.
As for alternatives, you can go for the Nothing Phone 2a Plus (Review) if you want a more unique design and better performance. The OnePlus Nord 4 (Review) is also an excellent choice if you prefer better cameras and much higher performance. There’s also the Infinix Zero 40 (Review), which offers much better performance and a good main rear camera.
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Man suspected of supplying small boats to smugglers arrested
Man suspected of supplying small boats to smugglers arrested
A man suspected of being a significant supplier of small boats equipment to people smugglers has been arrested.
The man is suspected of supplying engines and boats to smugglers in northern France, according to the ***’s National ****** Agency (NCA).
The Turkish national, 44, was arrested at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam on Wednesday, as part of an operation involving the NCA and Dutch and Belgian partners.
He will be extradited to Belgium to face charges of human smuggling.
Authorities said the man, who has not been named, shipped supplies from Turkey, stored them in Germany, then transported them to northern France.
He was arrested after authorities learned he was travelling from Turkey to the Netherlands.
NCA director general for operations Rob Jones said the man is thought to be a “major supplier” of “highly dangerous” boats and engines to smugglers operating in Belgium and northern France.
He called the arrest a milestone in one of the agency’s “most significant investigations into organised immigration ******”.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the investigation showed the importance of working “with our international partners to get results”.
“We will stop at nothing to root out ********* networks wherever we find them.”
More than 50 people have ***** trying to cross the English Channel in 2024.
Over 32,000 people have made the crossing in 2024 so far – more than the total figure of 29,437 for 2023.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an extra £75m to police the ***’s borders in November, vowing to “treat people smugglers like terrorists”.
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Rather Than a Nostalgia Trip, Overwatch Classic Has Divided The Fans Into Two Starkly Opposing Camps
Rather Than a Nostalgia Trip, Overwatch Classic Has Divided The Fans Into Two Starkly Opposing Camps
Overwatch Classic seems to be getting a lot of attention again lately, ever since it has been included in Overwatch 2 as a game mode. Some are having a great time due to the nostalgic appeal of the game, while others do not seem to be too taken away by it all.
Overwatch 2 Classic edition seems to have opened up to a mixed response. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Fans are of the opinion that the game should have won the game of the year award back in 2016 when it was released since it single-handedly destroyed all competition and glided towards success.
Overwatch Classic Seems To Have Divided Fans Into Two Opposing Camps
Overwatch is one of the most successful video game franchise. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard decided to introduce Overwatch Classic back into the game to give players a taste of the golden era of the game and bring back some of the traditional gameplay mechanics that made people fall in love with the game in the first place.
However, there are people who are of the opinion that the introduction of Overwatch Classic with old mechanics and abilities is a step backward. They feel that the game should evolve while moving forward with time rather than backwards. Nevertheless, people who have been a part of the Overwatch community since the initial days loved to see their favourite game come back.
Blizzard’s attempt to reintroduce stems from the need to rekindle the game’s spark amongst players based on the community feedback and the element of nostalgia attached to it.
Many players are also of the opinion that it should have been given the award of game of the year in 2016 since it redefined the way people look at online hero shooters.
Comment byu/Few-Doughnut6957 from discussion inOverwatch
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Comment byu/Few-Doughnut6957 from discussion inOverwatch
Bringing back Overwatch Classic might have been a response to some players’ dissatisfaction with some of the changes introduced in the recent updates. This might be Blizzard’s attempt to bring back fans of the original game.
A Nostalgia Trip For Some, A Disappointment For Others
The divide amongst fans question a more traditional approach as opposed to moving forward with time. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Fans are divided into two different sections; one side puts the nostalgic element above evolution while the other side is of the opposite opinion. Bringing back the gameplay elements of the first game is an attempt to make fans feel nostalgic about it and attract more people.
People feel that taking a step backwards hinders the evolution of a game since it restricts innovations and leaves little scope for new things to persist and flourish.
The introduction of the classic version might divide fans further into two sects, with some players sticking to the classic experience while others enjoy the current version. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.
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#Nostalgia #Trip #Overwatch #Classic #Divided #Fans #Starkly #Opposing #Camps
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Zopa sees profit doubling as it eyes 2025 current account launch
Zopa sees profit doubling as it eyes 2025 current account launch
Jaidev Janardana, CEO of U.K. digital bank Zopa.
Zopa
LISBON, Portugal — British online lender Zopa is on track to double profits and increase annual revenue by more than a third this year amid bumper demand for its banking services, the company’s CEO told CNBC.
Zopa posted revenues of £222 million ($281.7 million) in 2023 and is expecting to cross the £300 million revenue milestone this year — that would mark a 35% annual jump.
The 2024 estimates are based on unaudited internal figures.
The firm also says it is on track to increase pre-tax profits twofold in 2024, after hitting £15.8 million last year.
Zopa, a regulated bank that is backed by ********* giant SoftBank, has plans to venture into the world of current accounts next year as it looks to focus more on new products.
The company currently offers credit cards, personal loans and savings accounts that it offers through a mobile app — similar to other digital banks such as Monzo and Revolut which don’t operate physical branches.
“The business is doing really well. In 2024, we’ve hit or exceeded the plans across all metrics,” CEO Jaidev Janardana told CNBC in an interview Wednesday.
He said the strong performance is coming off the back of gradually improving sentiment in the U.K. economy, where Zopa operates exclusively.
Commenting on Britain’s macroeconomic conditions, Janardana said, “While it has been a rough few years, in terms of consumers, they have continued to feel the pain slightly less this year than last year.”
The market is “still tight,” he noted, adding that fintech offerings such as Zopa’s — which typically provide higher savings rates than high-street banks — become “more important” during such times.
“The proposition has become more relevant, and while it’s tight for customers, we have had to be much more constrained in terms of who we can lend to,” he said, adding that Zopa has still been able to grow despite that.
A big priority for the business going forward is product, Janardana said. The firm is developing a current account product which would allow users to spend and manage their money more easily, in a similar fashion to mainstream banking providers like HSBC and Barclays, as well as fintech upstarts such as Monzo.
“We believe that there is more that the consumer can have in the current account space,” Janardana said. “We expect that we will launch our current account with the general public sometime next year.”
Janardana said consumers can expect a “slick” experience from Zopa’s current account offering, including the ability to view and manage multiple account bank accounts from one interface and access to competitive savings rates.
IPO ‘not top of mind’
Zopa is one of many fintech companies that has been viewed as a potential IPO candidate. Around two years ago, the firm said that it was planning to go public, but later decided to put those plans on ice, as high interest rates battered technology stocks and the IPO market froze over in 2022.
Janardana said he doesn’t envision a public listing as an immediate priority, but noted he sees signs pointing toward a more favorable U.S. IPO market next year.
That should mean that Europe becomes more open to IPOs happening later in 2026, according to Janardana. He didn’t disclose where Zopa would end up going public.
“To be honest, it’s not the top of mind for me,” Janardana told CNBC. “I think we continue to be lucky to have supportive and long-term shareholders who support future growth as well.”
Last year, Zopa made two senior hires, appointing Peter Donlon, ex-chief technology officer at online card retailer Moonpig, as its own CTO. The firm also hired Kate Erb, a chartered accountant from KPMG, as its chief operating officer.
The company raised $300 million in a funding round led by ********* tech investor SoftBank in 2021 and was last valued by investors at $1 billion.
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Limits on size of campaign donation spending aims to end political arms race in Australia
Limits on size of campaign donation spending aims to end political arms race in Australia
A crackdown to end the big-money arms race in *********** politics will impose limits on the size of donations and restrict campaign spending to a maximum of $90 million across the country.
Special Minister of State Don Farrell has struck an in-principle deal with the Coalition to pass the new laws in the next fortnight, although they won’t come into effect until mid-2026.
The overhauled regime he will unveil on Friday means parties cannot spend more than $90m in a year, or at most $800,000 on any individual electorate.
Unions, third parties like GetUp and Advance, and associated entities who also want to campaign will have lower spending limits of about $11m nationally.
Fears about the influence of big money peaked in the 2022 election, when Clive Palmer’s ******* Australia party spent more than $120m and the individual-candidate spend topped more than $1m in several of the seats teal independents won from Liberals.
The Liberals and Nationals spent a combined $131m while Labor branches spent $116m.
The Government’s aim is to knock out the big-spending outliers while setting the caps high enough to withstand legal challenges.
Mr Palmer has already indicated he’ll take any limits on campaign funding to the High Court.
The spending caps come with new restraints on donations, both on the giving and receiving ends.
Candidates or party branches cannot receive more than $20,000 from a single source in one year while donors cannot give more than $600,000.
That means, for example, one person couldn’t give $20,000 to Madeleine King and a further $20,000 to her colleague Anne Aly — they could only give one $20,000 to WA Labor.
However, if a person wanted to donate to multiple independent candidates, they could do so up to the maximum of $600,000.
A new disclosure regime requires any donation above $1000 be declared — dropping the threshold from $16,900 — and parties must reveal their funding sources monthly.
The tempo of transparency would increase during elections, with weekly disclosures during the first part of a campaign and daily in the week on either side of polling day.
Tighter rules around what has to be revealed about money raised from business forums and fundraising dinners will also come into effect.
Senator Farrell said years of inquiries and evidence from multiple elections had shown the influence of big money was the biggest weakness in our political system.
“Over the last decade we have seen billionaires repeatedly attempt to sway our elections, not through policy or participation, but through money and misinformation,” he said.
To help compensate for the restrictions on donations, public funding lifts from $3.346 to $5 per vote received and every elected party or independent would get “administrative funding” of $30,000 per MP and $15,000 per senator to comply with the new rules.
The Coalition is yet to see the final version of the legislation but believed it was unlikely to need further committee scrutiny unless there were any major surprises.
The changes will still need the tick-off from its party room meetings on Tuesday.
The Government will put a truth in political advertising bill up at the same time but acknowledges it doesn’t have the support to pass at this stage.
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Helldivers Are Getting Tired of the Constant “Game of Tug-Of-War” in the Name of Democracy, Without True Victory in Sight
Helldivers Are Getting Tired of the Constant “Game of Tug-Of-War” in the Name of Democracy, Without True Victory in Sight
In the world of Helldivers 2, players are tasked with spreading democracy across various hostile alien worlds. The thrill of combat and strategy is undeniable as they battle against the dangerous bugs and relentless automatons. The game continuously offers intense, action-packed missions that have made it a beloved title for fans of cooperative gameplay.
Players are feeling frustrated with the game’s narrative as it has been still for too long. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios
However, even after several months of completing Major Orders, many have started to feel frustrated by a recurring issue: the feeling of being stuck in a never-ending cycle of “tug-of-war” gameplay, where no true progress is made. The root cause of this stagnation is the limited selection of planets to defend, leaving the stakes of the Galactic War feeling flat and unchanging.
Helldivers 2 Promising an Illusion of Choice in a Stagnant War
At its core, Helldivers 2 wants players to experience the thrill of fighting for the fate of Super Earth where they will go against various increasingly hostile alien factions. However, the current structure of the game feels more like a series of disjointed battles rather than a grand narrative arc that is truly advancing the ****** for democracy.
Usually, Major Orders (MOs) form the backbone of the game’s progression, as these missions are critical and mark the progression players have made in the story by liberating new planets. The battle for liberation is hard fought by players as they require strategy, and high-stakes operations against the game’s alien factions.
However, for the last few months, players have been encountering the same group of planets over and over again. They are feeling frustrated grinding through the same environments without seeing much substantial change. Instead of advancing toward a larger victory or progressing toward new, more dangerous planets, the experience has become repetitive and frustrating.
Players are slowly getting annoyed and this can be seen on social media platforms and gaming forums, where they are expressing their disappointment with the progress. Even comparing the current MOs with what was happening in Helldivers 1, where players were winning or losing the battle and not just remaining stagnant.
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This thread, along with many others, is filled with players expressing their frustration and suggesting potential solutions. Among the most requested changes is the introduction of new factions, specifically the Illuminate, along with a more dynamic, evolving narrative.
It’s Time for Arrowhead to Implement Change and Break the Cycle
Arrowhead needs to start introducing meaning progression in the Major Orders to keep players enthusiastic. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios
Helldivers 2 has regained some momentum recently, sparking renewed excitement among its player base. However, to continue this momentum, it needs to start introducing meaningful changes. The biggest need is the introduction of a third faction. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the Illuminate but something new and different is crucial to break the current stagnation.
Another key improvement could be to expand the story’s progression and provide more meaningful consequences for players’ actions. Instead of constantly going back and forth between the same planets, perhaps the game could offer a more dynamic campaign where players’ victories and defeats actually alter the course of the war.
While Helldivers 2 ******** a fun and engaging game for many, the current state of the Major Order’s progression has left a sizable portion of its player base feeling frustrated. The tug-of-war gameplay is starting to feel more like a chore with little incentive for completing these missions.
In the end, it is clear that Arrowhead is putting in great efforts to keep the game fun and engaging but for players who want to see progression in the game’s narrative, it has lacked the resolve. To avoid creating more frustration in the community, some sense of purpose needs to be restored when spreading democracy.
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Apple just gave Final Cut Pro for the Mac and iPad some big upgrades, including a new AI captions tool
Apple just gave Final Cut Pro for the Mac and iPad some big upgrades, including a new AI captions tool
Final Cut Pro 11 for Mac and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1 are available now
The anticipated auto captions features is now on the Mac
Upgrades include AI boosts plus a new version of Final Cut Camera
Alongside brand new versions of Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad – and a few weeks after Apple dropped new Macs and teased a forthcoming version of its pro video editor – the technology giant has officially dropped Final Cut Pro 11, Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1, plus some major updates to Final Cut Camera.
Much like Logic Pro for iPad’s major update in May 2024 and the rollout of Apple Intelligence, these latest updates circle around AI. Well, AI and delivering on many features requested from users. We have a hunch that many of these will make Final Cut Pro fans – either on the Mac or iPad – plenty happy.
Final Cut Pro 11 on the Mac is ushering in a number of AI-powered features that use Apple’s own on-device language model and the Neural Engine of M1, M2, M3, and M4-powered Macs.
One of the most anticipated after a tease when Apple unveiled the Mac mini is Transcribe to Captions, which, as the name suggests, lets you automatically create accurate captions in an instant. Closed captions will appear after processing the video, and Final Cut Pro does this on-device with Apple’s language model.
(Image credit: Apple)
Transcribe to Captions joins Magic Mask, which can automatically select and highlight people or objects. This might eliminate the need for rotoscoping or setting up a green screen, among other more time-consuming edits like ****** correction.
If you have an Apple Vision Pro or dream of producing a film for the wearable spatial computer, Final Cut Pro can now edit spatial videos. While this was first teased back at WWDC 2024, the ability to edit and create Spatial Videos for playback on Apple Vision Pro is now shipping with Final Cut Pro 11.
You’ll be able to import footage from an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as a Canon EOS R7 with Canon’s RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
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On the iPad, Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1 brings four new tools to one of the most unique experiences for the touch-first video editing solution. Live Drawing, which lets you easily create video animations with an Apple Pencil, has new watercolor, crayon, fountain, and monoline pen options to express yourself better. Additionally, like on the Mac, there are new transitions, title cards, ****** presets, sound effects, and video effects within Final Cut.
When adding clips to the timeline or browsing it, you can now pinch-to-zoom with your fingers to adjust the clip height. With an Apple Pencil Pro, you’ll now feel haptics based on whatever you’re adjusting – this is long-awaited, especially if you invested in Apple’s flagship stylus.
Last but not least, Final Cut Camera is getting some long-request features. For starters, it now has a level with roll and tilt indicators to ensure you get the best shot possible from any angle. Plus, if you’re using this to capture footage on an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max, you can now record at up to 4K resolution at 120 frames per second.
(Image credit: Apple)
This latest update also allows you to record Log-encoded HEVC video when ********* with just one or multiple devices, and you can enable a LUT – lookup table – preview simultaneously.
While not a complete redesign or major change to Final Cut Pro, these updates across Final Cut Pro for Mac and iPad and Final Cut Camera for iPhone will likely make a big difference. They seek to help folks speed up workflows and edits and answer the call for some directly requested features.
You’ll get these updates for free if you already have Final Cut Pro for Mac or iPad. However, if you’re new, you must pay or subscribe. Final Cut Pro 11 for the Mac is $299; on the iPad, it’s $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year. Final Cut Camera is still a free app for the iPhone.
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Parliament calls for an EU crackdown on Russia’s ’shadow fleet’ | News
Parliament calls for an EU crackdown on Russia’s ’shadow fleet’ | News
Russia uses old tankers, often uninsured and with unclear ownership, to export its crude oil and petroleum products abroad, despite EU, G7 and international sanctions. These activities have also raised fears over the risk of environmental disasters, including severe oil spills. As part of systematic efforts to undermine EU restrictive measures, the ‘shadow fleet’ provides a key financial lifeline for Russia in its ******** and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the ********* Parliament calls for more targeted measures against these vessels in the next EU sanctions packages, including all individual ships as well as their owners, operators, managers, accounts, banks and insurance companies. It also demands the systematic sanctioning of vessels sailing through EU waters without known insurance and urges the EU to enhance its surveillance capabilities, especially drone and satellite monitoring, and to conduct targeted inspections at sea. MEPs want EU member states to designate ports capable of handling sanctioned vessels carrying crude oil and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and to seize ******** cargo without compensation.
End EU imports of Russian fossil fuels
The resolution further calls on G7 countries to better enforce the price cap imposed on Russian seaborne oil, to substantially decrease the oil price cap and to ****** down on the loopholes used by Russia to repackage and sell its oil and oil products at market prices. Stressing that the impact of existing sanctions and the financial and military support to Ukraine will continue to be undermined as long as the EU imports Russian fossil fuels, MEPs urge the EU and its member states to ban all imports of Russian fossil fuels, including LNG. Pointing towards the need for much stricter enforcement of current EU sanctions, the text also states that the EU should seriously reassess its bilateral cooperation with third countries that are helping Russia circumvent EU restrictive measures in place, if diplomatic efforts are unsuccessful.
For all the details, the full resolution will be available here (14.11.2024). It was approved by show of hands.
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Expect rates to stay high
Expect rates to stay high
Mortgage rates are a bit unsteady today. According to Zillow, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has increased by three basis points to 6.55%, the 15-year fixed rate is holding steady at 5.91%, and the 5/1 ARM rate is down by three basis points to 6.70%.
Yesterday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the October Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key measure of inflation. The report showed that inflation has followed expectations, meaning the Federal Reserve will likely cut the federal funds rate again at its December meeting. Even so, mortgage rates will probably remain high due to speculation about what policies Trump will enact once he becomes president. As far as interest rates go, today could be as good a time as any to buy in the next few months.
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Dig deeper: Mortgage rates are increasing — Is it still a good time to buy a house?
Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data:
30-year fixed: 6.55%
20-year fixed: 6.35%
15-year fixed: 5.91%
5/1 ARM: 6.70%
7/1 ARM: 6.69%
30-year VA: 5.91%
15-year VA: 5.43%
5/1 VA: 6.24%
30-year FHA: 5.61%
15-year FHA: 5.59%
5/1 FHA: 4.86%
Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Learn more: 5 strategies to get the lowest mortgage rates
Here are today’s mortgage refinance interest rates, according to the latest Zillow data:
30-year fixed: 6.67%
20-year fixed: 6.67%
15-year fixed: 5.99%
5/1 ARM: 6.63%
7/1 ARM: 6.34%
30-year VA: 5.95%
15-year VA: 5.55%
5/1 VA: 5.51%
As with the purchase mortgage rates, these are national averages we’ve rounded to the nearest hundredth. Keep in mind that refinance rates are usually higher than purchase mortgage rates.
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Yahoo Finance has a free mortgage payment calculator to help you see how various mortgage rates will impact your monthly payments.
Our calculator goes even deeper by including factors like homeowners insurance and property taxes in your calculation. You can even add private mortgage insurance costs and HOA dues if they apply to you. These monthly expenses, along with your mortgage principal and interest rate, will give you a realistic idea of what your monthly payment could be.
A mortgage interest rate is a fee for borrowing money from your lender, expressed as a percentage. There are two basic types of mortgage rates: fixed and adjustable rates.
A fixed-rate mortgage locks in your rate for the entire life of your loan. For example, if you get a 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate, your rate will stay at 6% for the entire 30 years. (Unless you refinance or sell the home.)
An adjustable-rate mortgage keeps your rate the same for the first few years, then changes it periodically. Let’s say you get a 5/1 ARM with an introductory rate of 6%. Your rate would be 6% for the first five years and then the rate would increase or decrease once per year for the last 25 years of your term. Whether your rate goes up or down depends on several factors, such as the economy and U.S. housing market.
At the beginning of your mortgage term, most of your monthly payment goes toward interest. As time passes, less of your payment goes toward interest, and more goes toward the mortgage principal or the amount you originally borrowed.
Dig deeper: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage — Which should you choose?
Two categories determine mortgage rates: ones you can control and ones you cannot control.
What factors can you control? First, you can compare the best mortgage lenders to find the one that gives you the lowest rate and fees.
Second, lenders typically extend lower rates to people with higher credit scores, lower debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, and considerable down payments. If you can save more or pay down debt before securing a mortgage, a lender will probably give you a better interest rate.
What factors can you not control? In short, the economy.
The list of ways the economy impacts mortgage rates is long, but here are the basic details. If the economy — think employment rates, for example — is struggling, mortgage rates go down to encourage borrowing, which helps boost the economy. If the economy is strong, mortgage rates go up to temper spending.
With all other things being equal, mortgage refinance rates are usually a little higher than purchase rates. So don’t be surprised if your refinance rate is higher than you may have expected.
Two of the most common mortgage terms are 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Both lock in your rate for the entire loan term.
A 30-year mortgage is popular because it has relatively low monthly payments. But it comes with a higher interest rate than shorter terms, and because you’re accumulating interest for three decades, you’ll pay a lot of interest in the long run.
A 15-year mortgage can be great because it has a lower rate than you’ll get with longer terms, so you’ll pay less in interest over the years. You’ll also pay off your mortgage much faster. But your monthly payments will be higher because you’re paying off the same loan amount in half the time.
Basically, 30-year mortgages are more affordable from month to month, while 15-year mortgages are cheaper in the long run.
According to 2023 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, some of the banks with the lowest median mortgage rates are Citibank, Wells Fargo, and USAA. However, it’s a good idea to shop around for the best rate with not just banks, but also credit unions and companies specializing in mortgage lending.
Yes, 2.75% is a fantastic mortgage rate. You’re unlikely to get a 2.75% rate in today’s market unless you take on an assumable mortgage from a seller who locked in this rate in 2020 or 2021, when rates were at all-time lows.
According to Freddie Mac, the lowest-ever 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 2.65%. This was the national average in January 2021. It is extremely unlikely that rates will dip this low again anytime soon.
Some experts say it’s worth refinancing when you can lock in a rate that’s 2% less than your current mortgage rate. Others say 1% is the magic number. It all depends on what your financial goals are when refinancing and when your break-even point would be after paying refinance closing costs.
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Australopithecines May Have Used Tools Over 3 Million Years Ago, Reveals New Study
Australopithecines May Have Used Tools Over 3 Million Years Ago, Reveals New Study
New research on australopithecine hand anatomy suggests that Lucy, one of the oldest known ancestors to humans, and her species might have engaged in tool-related activities over 3 million years ago. This revelation, based on muscle attachment studies, implies that some early hominins may have manipulated objects long before the ***** genus emerged.
The study, published in Journal of Human Evolution, was led by paleoanthropologist Fotios Alexandros Karakostis from the University of Tübingen, Germany. Researchers analysed hand muscle attachment sites, known as entheses, in three different australopithecine species and compared them with human and ape hand bones. It was observed that muscle attachment points on these ancient hand bones suggest frequent use of grasping and manipulation similar to human tool use. “While there is no direct evidence that these hominins created tools, their hand structures show they likely performed activities involving precise grip and object manipulation,” explained Karakostis.
Evolving Dexterity in Early Hominins
The study, which was published in the November issue of the Journal of Human Evolution, indicate that australopithecines, particularly Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus sediba, may have possessed dexterity akin to modern humans. The recent species among these, A. sediba, had a more humanlike hand compared to its earlier relatives, which retained both ape and human traits in their hand structure. The study further reveals that the placement and adaptation of muscle attachment sites in these species highlight how their hands might have been used to manage tasks such as food preparation, grasping, and perhaps even using primitive tools.
Jana Kunze, a paleoanthropologist also from the University of Tübingen, noted that the development of the first dorsal interosseus muscle between the thumb and index finger might have supported a precise grip. This feature, coupled with adaptations in the pinky finger, would have enhanced the species’ ability to manipulate objects effectively, providing essential functionality that may have led to technological advancements among early hominins.
Although ***** habilis, known as “handyman” due to its association with early stone tools, is traditionally credited as the first toolmaker, this study challenges the assumption that australopithecines lacked the anatomical ability for tool creation. Tracy Kivell, Director of Human Origins at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, observed that each australopithecine species may have developed unique hand adaptations, potentially using their dexterity for both tool use and climbing.
This analysis adds evidence to the hypothesis that certain humanlike traits in dexterity emerged before the evolution of the ***** genus, pushing back the timeline of possible tool use to australopithecines over 3 million years ago.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a press release)
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