Special counsel Jack Smith and his team to resign before Trump takes office
Special counsel Jack Smith and his team to resign before Trump takes office
Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to members of the media at the US Department of Justice building in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2023.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith and his team plan to resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, a source familiar with the matter said.
Smith’s office has been evaluating the best path for winding down its work on the two outstanding federal ********* cases against Trump, as the Justice Department’s longstanding position is that it cannot charge a sitting president with a ******.
The New York Times first reported Smith will step down.
The looming question in the weeks ahead is whether Smith’s final report, detailing his charging decisions, will be made public before Inauguration Day. The special counsel’s office is required under Justice Department regulations to provide a confidential report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who can choose to make it public.
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In late October, Trump said in a radio interview that he would immediately ***** Smith as special counsel if re-elected. “It’s so easy — I would ***** him within two seconds,” Trump said, adding that he got “immunity at the Supreme Court.” The next attorney general could decide not to release Smith’s final report as well.
Before Trump’s re-election last week, Smith and his team had continued moving forward in their election interference case against Trump. After Trump’s victory, however, a federal judge overseeing the case agreed to give the special counsel’s office until Dec. 2 to decide how to proceed.
The Justice Department indicted Trump last year for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. But Smith’s case was hampered early on by appeals from Trump’s legal team and then in July of this year by the Supreme Court’s ruling that he has immunity for some acts he took as president. In August, Smith’s team re-tooled the indictment — stripping it of certain evidence the high court said was off limits and a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment in the case.
The Justice Department had also charged Trump in Florida with allegedly hoarding classified documents after he left office and then refusing to give them back. But a federal judge dismissed the case in July, saying Smith’s appointment was ********. That case ******** on appeal.
When the former president was first indicted, Smith said he would move quickly to trial, but Trump’s legal team successfully sought to delay in both cases while then-candidate Trump routinely lambasted Smith at his rallies and online.
The election-interference case in Washington was narrowly focused on Trump, but an open question ******** as to whether any unnamed co-conspirators referenced in the indictments face future legal jeopardy.
There’s no Justice Department norm for alleged ********* conspirators to avoid being prosecuted because they are connected to an incoming president, or because that future president is likely to pardon them.
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PUBG Mobile Update 3.5 Patch Notes Include Icemire Frontier
PUBG Mobile Update 3.5 Patch Notes Include Icemire Frontier
The PUBG Mobile update 3.5 patch notes include the Frostheim map and Icemire Frontier mode, along with a new Metro Royale season.
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Pharmacies vote to reduce services in first protest action
Pharmacies vote to reduce services in first protest action
MARK MARLOW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
This is the first time pharmacists have voted to take action in their history
Pharmacy owners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted in favour of cutting opening hours and stopping home deliveries for the first time, in a protest over government funding.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which ran the ballot, is calling for an annual £1.7bn funding increase to plug the “financial *****”.
The NPA represents 6,500 of the ***’s community pharmacies – that’s around half of them. It says 99% of those that responded to the vote said they were willing to limit their services unless funding was improved.
The Department of Health in England says it wants all pharmacists to work with it to achieve a service fit for the future.
Some 3,339 independent community pharmacies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland took part in the unprecedented ballot, which is a turnout of 64%.
The vote comes after the Budget saw increases in National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage.
The government has not committed to supporting pharmacies to cover these costs, the NPA says, unlike other parts of the NHS.
The pharmacies’ body, which isn’t a trade union, says 700 pharmacies have shut in England in the last two years alone – the equivalent of seven a week – because of workloads and budget cuts.
It adds that core government pharmacy funding in England has fallen by 40% since 2015-16, after adjusting for inflation.
The NPA says it will be left with no choice but to recommend pharmacies withdraw services from as early as the new year, if funding isn’t increased.
Pharmacy owner and member of the NPA, Ashely Cohen, told BBC Breakfast that 90% of pharmacy funding was “static” – decided by a contract with government to supply the NHS.
“We are unable to put our prices up like traditional businesses,” he said, yet other costs to cover staffing and rents had gone up.
He said: “I’m in the business to help and support patients, and that’s why we’ve had to do this ballot.”
What could change?
Pharmacies could decide:
not to open beyond 40 hours a week, into evenings and at weekendsto stop providing free home deliveries of medicines which are not fundednot to offer emergency contraception, substance misuse and smoking support servicesto refuse to co-operate with certain data requeststo stop supplying free monitored dose systems (medicine packs), other than those covered by the Disability Discrimination Act
‘Something has got to give’
NPA chairman Nick Kaye said the ballot result “overwhelmingly shows the sheer anger and frustration of pharmacy owners at a decade of cuts that is forcing dedicated health professionals to shut their doors for good”.
He said he cared deeply about his patients – like other pharmacy teams – but he has never experienced a situation as desperate as this.
“Pharmacy owners are not a ******** bunch. We have never proposed action like this before, but after a decade of underfunding and record closures, something simply has got to give,” Kaye said.
PA
This action could affect services available under the Pharmacy First scheme.
The Pharmacy First service, launched in January in England, extended the range of services chemists can provide, including treatment of sinusitis, earache and shingles.
Members are not being asked to pull out of the scheme, the NPA said, but a reduction in opening hours and the stopping of locally commissioned services would affect it.
The NPA says urgent funding talks with the government are needed to guarantee patient safety and services for vulnerable people.
Pharmacy funding is set by devolved governments but the medicine funding arrangements – known as the ***** tariff – are decided by Westminster for pharmacies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scottish pharmacies have a separate system, and are not involved in the current ballot.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said: “The community pharmacy sector is in an escalating crisis with a £1.7 billion shortfall in its funding. This has got worse by the hike in the employers’ National Insurance, resulting in £12,000 extra costs annually for our members.
“As healthcare professionals, we believe that patients must not be caused suffering by any withdrawals of our members’ valuable and vital professional services.
“The government must urgently raise pharmacy funding to prevent further closures of community pharmacies.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Community pharmacy has a vital role to play as we move the focus of care from hospital to the community under the fundamental reforms in our 10 Year Health Plan.
“Unfortunately, we inherited a system that has been neglected for too long and is no longer supporting the pharmacists we need to deliver for patients at a local level.”
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Nexon States That There Are No Immediate Plans to Nerf Freyna in The First Descendant
Nexon States That There Are No Immediate Plans to Nerf Freyna in The First Descendant
In one of the older trailers, the one from July 2024, there is a part where Ajax is charging at a shield-carrying Volgus, wielding a huge hammer. It is a known fact that a lot of stuff from those older trailers is not included in the final, official release of the game, but it begs the question: why were melee weapons left out?
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AFL Draft 2024: Every West ***********-based player who has nominated ahead of November 20-21
AFL Draft 2024: Every West ***********-based player who has nominated ahead of November 20-21
Over 100 hopefuls from Western Australia have nominated for the 2024 draft, including dozens of young prospects and former AFL players. SEE THE FULL LIST.
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Early ****** Friday gaming keyboard deals 2024: Logitech, Asus, more
Early ****** Friday gaming keyboard deals 2024: Logitech, Asus, more
If you’ve been checking out the best early Alienware ****** Friday deals for a sweet new gaming rig, you also need to make sure your accessories are up to the task too. That’s why we’ve picked out the best early ****** Friday gaming keyboard deals so you can enjoy a better experience while you game. These are just some of the early ****** Friday deals happening right now, with many more guaranteed to help kit you out for superior gaming.
We also have some early ****** Friday 4K monitor deals, which are perfect if you have a high-end gaming rig and want to get the best visual experience from it. Besides picking out the best early ****** Friday gaming keyboard deals, we also have some key buying advice so that you know what to consider before buying one. Read on while we take you through everything.
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL Gaming Keyboard — $35 $45 22% off
SteelSeries
SteelSeries makes some great gaming keyboards, with the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL Gaming Keyboard the more affordable option. It’s a tenkeyless design with whisper quiet switches and anti-ghosting technology, so it’s accurate and feels great to use. It also has dedicated multimedia buttons for any downtime away from games.
HyperX Alloy Origins 65 — $50 $100 50% off
HyperX
The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 is teeny and cute and kind of perfect for hooking up to a games console rather than PC. It uses mechanical key switches to ensure better responsiveness and a longer lifespan. It’s wired, so it’s easy to swap between devices. Plus, its RGB lighting looks cool.
Logitech G915 TKL Wireless Keyboard — $150 $230 35% off
Logitech
As sleek as a laptop keyboard, the Logitech G915 TKL Wireless Keyboard has low profile mechanical switches that are smooth to use and super accurate. The keyboard is gorgeous, boasting good lighting, 40 hours of battery life, and dedicated media controls. It works well across multiple devices too.
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 $157 $180 13% off
ASUS
Topping our look at the best gaming keyboards, the ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 has hot-swappable switches with the pre-lubed NX Snow linear switches and ROG NX Storm clicky switches for the most satisfying experience. It means better stability and less friction, while there’s sound-dampening foam for quietening down the experience. It’s easy to connect to multiple devices wirelessly too.
Asus ROG Azoth 75% Gaming Keyboard — $198 $250 21% off
Asus
If you want to be able to customize your keyboard as and when needed, check out the Asus ROG Azoth 75% Gaming Keyboard. It comes with a DIY Switch lube kit for swapping out the switches with pre-lubed switches for smoother clicks and less bounce, while there are ROG-tuned force curves for greater keystroke feel. It also has a unique gasket mount design with three layers of dampening foam.
How to choose a gaming keyboard on ****** Friday
While you can just head straight to our roundup of the best gaming keyboards and go from there, it’s useful to know exactly what you’re looking for. One key thing is how committed you are to having the best gaming hardware. Are you looking for esports or pro streaming level of tech? In that case, budget to spend in the $100-$150 mark and possibly more than that. However, if you’re more casual and an occasional gamer, this will be overkill. Aim to spend under $100 with $50 being the sweet spot during sales.
Look for if you need a full-size keyboard or if a smaller build without the numeric keypad (like many laptops) will suffice. Two different types of switch are also available: mechanical and linear. Mechanical keys are louder and more expensive, but feel great and are highly responsive. Linear may suit your budget better or your situation if you need something quiet. Finally, check for an ergonomic design that works best for your joints and how your desk is ***** out.
How we chose these gaming keyboard ****** Friday deals
When it comes to seeking out gaming keyboard deals, we don’t just do so during sales events like ****** Friday. We do this all year around which helps us spot the very best deals on gaming keyboards during times like these. We get that the cheapest gaming keyboard isn’t necessarily the one you want. Instead, you need the keyboard to be a good price but also something that’s worth owning. That’s why we use our expert knowledge on gaming keyboards to ensure we only feature the accessories that are actually worth using and owning. Few gaming keyboards are genuinely cheap so you want to invest in something which is built to last. That way, you get the best value. Alongside that, we tend to steer away from incremental discounts and focus on the genuinely big discounts around so that you reap the biggest savings. We also focus on the best brands so you pick up something which is built to last.
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Boeing delivers layoff notices to 17,000 workers amid financial struggles
Boeing delivers layoff notices to 17,000 workers amid financial struggles
Boeing started issuing layoff notices this week to 17,000 employees, or 10% of its workforce, in an effort to cut costs amid financial struggles. The aerospace giant also announced it will delay delivery of its 777X to 2026. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Nov. 13 (UPI) — Boeing started issuing layoff notices Wednesday to 17,000 employees to cut 10% of its workforce in an effort to shore up the aerospace giant’s shaky finances.
The layoff notifications, which will be handed out through Friday, are being issued the same week 33,000 Boeing machinists in the Seattle area returned to work following their seven-week strike.
“Our business is in a difficult position, and it is hard to overstate the challenges we face together,” Boeing chief executive officer Kelly Ortberg told staff in a memo last month as he announced the cuts.
“Restoring our company requires tough decisions, and we will have to make structural changes to ensure we can stay competitive and deliver for our customers over the long term,” Ortberg added.
The layoffs will impact executives, managers and employees, but workers who build the aircraft are not expected to be cut. Those who receive notifications are expected to leave the company by Jan. 17.
“We must reset our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and to a more focused set of priorities,” Ortberg said, adding that Boeing will “maintain our steadfast focus on safety, quality and delivering for our customers.”
In addition to the layoffs, Boeing will delay its first delivery of the 777X to 2026 and conclude production of its 767 Freighters in 2027. Production of the KC-46A Tanker will continue.
The cuts at Boeing follow billions of lost revenue over the past five years and a number of crises, including two 737 Max 8 crashes over a six-month ******* with the first occurring in October 2018, which was the last year Boeing turned a profit. This year, a door panel blew off a 737 Max jet mid-flight, as regulators investigated Boeing’s safety protocols and Max production stalled with the machinists’ strike.
“We need to be clear-eyed about the work we face and realistic about the time it will take to achieve key milestones on the path to recovery,” Ortberg said.
“We also need to focus our resources on performing and innovating in the areas that are core to who we are, rather than spreading ourselves across too many efforts that can often result in underperformance and underinvestment.”
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*****, Friendship and the Channel Tunnel
*****, Friendship and the Channel Tunnel
At 8.23am on the morning of 14 November 1994, crowds cheered as the first Eurostar train carrying fare-paying passengers under the English Channel left London’s Waterloo Station. Its journey was punctuated by cheers from those on board as the train entered the tunnel at Folkestone, more cheers when it emerged 18 minutes later near Calais and by spontaneous applause when it arrived into Paris two minutes ahead of schedule at 11.21am. Passengers would later describe the ‘party atmosphere’ in every carriage, although the day’s newspapers also reported the ‘******* awful’ coffee and lack of champagne in the buffet. Many of those who travelled on Eurostar’s maiden voyage had booked their tickets years in advance, and among them were those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, a 90-year-old ********* former railway worker who had crossed the Atlantic to travel on the first train, author Jeffrey Archer, television presenter Jeremy Beadle and two great-grandsons of the engineer William Low, who had proposed his own Channel tunnel scheme in the 1860s.
The celebrations were underpinned by a sense of history; the train was travelling through the longest undersea tunnel on Earth, which that year had been elected by the ********* Society of Civil Engineers as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. References to the historic importance of the journey were rooted not simply in technological achievement, however: they also pointed to the political symbolism of forging a connection between Britain and the rest of Europe. Britain was, according to a headline in the Guardian earlier that year, ‘no longer an island’. This end to insularity was welcomed in some quarters, as adverts for Eurostar promised the possibility of jumping on a train to enjoy dinner or a shopping trip in Paris. Elsewhere, newspaper headlines exposed underlying fears, whether of rabies, as ‘Rabid foxes replace the ghost of Napoleon’ (the Scotsman) or of terrorism, as the Guardian revealed that ‘Travellers ***** Chunnel ******* *******’. A survey in November 1993 found that ‘75 per cent of Britons would not use the Channel Tunnel’, and the following year, The Times described the entire venture as ‘Dogged by *****’. Such different interpretations of what the tunnel would mean for Britain reflected a long history of proposals, rejections and false starts. As Low’s great-grandson John remarked in 1994, the train was brilliant – but more than 100 years late.
Digging in wartime
The first scheme for a tunnel under the Channel was proposed by the French mining engineer Albert Mathieu-Favier to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 during a pause in the Revolutionary Wars. Mathieu’s tunnel would be lit by oil lamps and wide enough for a horse and carriage. Napoleon liked the idea and discussed it with the British ******** Charles James Fox while the latter visited Paris during the Peace of Amiens. The two agreed that it represented a ‘great thing that we can do together’ – but Mathieu’s scheme was hastily abandoned when war broke out again the following year. Nonetheless, its very proposal represented an important moment as the first of more than 100 schemes for a fixed link that would follow in the centuries ahead.
Engineering progress meant that developments moved swiftly. The construction of tunnels under the Thames in 1843 and through the Alps at Mont Cenis in 1871 demonstrated the potential of tunnelling technology to dig quickly through different types of rock, as well as underwater. Meanwhile, a series of dives conducted by the French engineer Aimé Thomé de Gamond in 1855 revealed that the same type of chalk made up the seabed across the Strait of Dover. De Gamond’s own tunnel schemes fell by the wayside with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, but after Franco-British relations stabilised the two governments agreed on a protocol for a tunnel and granted permission for private companies to start digging. Work began separately on both coasts in 1880 with two companies digging in Britain and one in France. In 1881 Sir Edward Watkin, the director of the South Eastern Railway, which led the more successful British dig, announced that if work continued at its current pace the pilot tunnel would be completed within five years.
‘England’s nightmare. The Great Britain Gulliver overpowered and made helpless by French pygmies while asleep’, by Friedrich Graetz, for Puck magazine, 15 March 1882. Library of Congress. Public Domain.
In France the news was met with enthusiasm but the response in Britain was mixed. While politicians including the prime minister William Gladstone, military leaders such as Sir John Adye of the Ordnance Board and manufacturers including Wedgwood argued in favour of the economic and political benefits that a tunnel would bring, others, notably the adjutant general Sir Garnet Wolseley, raised concerns over the invasion risk it represented. In an effort to drum up publicity for the scheme, Watkin hosted tours of the tunnel for invited dignitaries including Gladstone, the prince of Wales and the archbishop of Canterbury. Visitors donned overalls to descend into the shaft at Dover where they observed the boring machine and toasted the venture with champagne, before attending celebratory banquets in a dining room decked out in tricolour and Union flags. But, in 1882, inspectors from the Board of Trade visited the dig site in Kent and ordered an immediate stop to works as they had determined that the tunnel shaft extended further than permitted. The following year a parliamentary Commission created to discuss the tunnel question expressed the view that no further digs should be permitted, and a tunnel bill was withdrawn from Parliament in July 1883, primarily due to fears that a tunnel might facilitate an invasion.
Making peace
Talk of a tunnel continued as Britain and France fought as allies during the First World War. At the end of the conflict, Supreme Allied Commander Maréchal Ferdinand Foch remarked that, had the tunnel been completed before the war, it would have shortened the length of the conflict by two years. In 1919 British prime minister David Lloyd George proposed a tunnel during the discussions at the Versailles Peace Conference and it was discussed during the 1920s by the League of Nations. Engineers from across the globe proposed different types of schemes. The ********* engineer Allan C. Rush suggested a bridge, which was to be constructed from melted down war materiel as a ‘beacon of peace’. In France, stable peace was understood to rely upon the maintenance of the wartime Franco-British alliance. In 1919, when the prospect of the tunnel was posed as a question in the final exam for French students sitting the brevet qualification, one candidate wrote that a tunnel might spell the end of tariffs and checks between Britain and France, while for another ‘in getting to know each other better we would get to like one another better’.
When war broke out again in 1939, rumours swirled that the ******* army was making use of the shaft at Calais abandoned in the 1880s to tunnel under the Channel and invade Britain. In response, the RAF flew reconnaissance missions in search of signs of digging or of soil discharge in the water and, in 1941, a group of Royal Engineers took listening equipment into the deserted 1880s shaft in Dover. There, they attempted to detect sounds of digging, but neither they, nor the RAF, found anything unusual.
In the aftermath of the war, plans began again for a tunnel and by this stage the connection was envisaged in international terms and planned to accommodate the growth of the automobile industry – one suggestion was for a six-lane motorway bridge across the Channel. Impetus increased with Britain’s entry into the Common Market in 1973, but after its election victory in 1974, Harold Wilson’s government cancelled the scheme due to escalating costs in January 1975.
When Margaret Thatcher became prime minister in 1979 the discussions were renewed. Thatcher’s preference was for a road tunnel for motorists, but the Treaty of Canterbury, signed in February 1986, paved the way for a rail tunnel to be constructed by private companies that would carry passengers between London, Paris and Brussels, and cars between Dover and Calais.
Only connect
By the time the first passengers travelled in November 1994, commentators were already expressing hopes that the tunnel would spell the end of British insularity; in the words of a 1993 Eurotunnel advert: ‘The island race is no more.’ The first trains coincided with the arrival of low-cost air travel and the idea of the ‘city break’; it was suggested that night trains should run from Scotland, Wales and the north of England to destinations across Europe, as well as for short trips between Kent and the Pas-de-Calais that would allow commuting between Britain and France for work. None of these hopes materialised, as the need to recoup the high costs of construction meant that long distance night trains would be unable to compete with low-cost flights. It was only in 2013 that passenger numbers finally reached the target figure of ten million per year.
As we arrive at the 30th anniversary of the first passengers travelling between London and Paris on Eurostar, the experience has recently changed again. New Brexit rules mean longer wait times for passport checks, while some routes have been cut; trains no longer stop at Calais or Ashford. The tunnel did not live up to the expectations of 1994, yet the strong opinions it has provoked throughout its history remind us that even ******* attempts brought Britain and France closer together.
Alison Carrol is Reader in ********* History at Brunel, University of London and the author of The Return of Alsace to France, 1918-1939 (Oxford University Press, 2018).
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Helldivers 2 Players Have to ****** Both Bugs and Bots to Secure E-710 for DSS in Latest Major Order
Helldivers 2 Players Have to ****** Both Bugs and Bots to Secure E-710 for DSS in Latest Major Order
In the final efforts to finish the DSS, Helldivers 2 players will have to complete one more Major Order. Will you join them?
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Fewer rate cuts on the horizon?
Fewer rate cuts on the horizon?
View of the Federal Reserve building in Washington on Oct. 3, 2024.
Valerie Plesch | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here.
What you need to know today
U.S. inflation picks upThe headline inflation rate in the U.S. came in at 2.6% for October, in line with market expectations. Core inflation — which strips out prices of food and energy — held steady at 3.3%. The headline reading is higher than the Federal Reserve’s target, which might complicate the Fed’s easing path.
Markets mixed after inflation dataU.S. markets were mostly rangebound after the October inflation reading, with the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising just 0.02% and 0.11%, respectively. The Nasdaq Composite ended the day with a 0.26% decline. In Asia, markets traded mixed, with Hong Kong shares dropping more than 1%.
******** AI startup takes aim at OpenAI Beijing-based Shengshu Technology said its text-to-video tool Vidu will now be able to generate videos by combining images, expanding on its existing functionality of creating 8-second clips based on written prompts. While OpenAI — the maker of ChatGPT — said in February that its AI model Sora could generate one-minute videos from text, it has yet to release the product publicly.
AMD announces layoffsChipmaker AMD will lay off 4% of its staff, or about 1,000 workers, as it tries to strengthen its position in the artificial intelligence chip space currently dominated by Nvidia. The firm had 26,000 employees at the end of last year, according to a U.S. SEC filing. AMD is the second-biggest producer of graphics processing units, or GPUs, behind Nvidia.
[PRO] Wells Fargo urges caution on Trump trade Wall Street has been pumping money into the so called “Trump trade,” investing into companies and stocks tied to Trump’s campaign promises, but that doesn’t mean those bets will pay off, according to the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.
The bottom line
Shakespeare famously said: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” With October’s inflation reading coming in line with expectations, the stage seems set for a final rate cut in December, bringing the Fed Funds rate to the central bank’s target of 4.25%- 4.5% that it had set in its so called “dot plot” released in September. It is important to note that the October reading is the first-time headline inflation has risen since March, and the 2.6% figure is higher compared to the Fed’s target of 2%. As such, the path now is less clear for 2025. U.S. President Joe Biden will make his exit from the Oval Office on Jan. 20, and President-elect Donald Trump will make his entrance, with all his promises of tariffs and tax cuts. The one man then, that has to play many parts will be Fed President Jerome Powell. Going back to the “dot plot,” the Fed in September had expected that rates will be cut by another 100 basis points by the end of 2025, and another 50 bps by the end of 2026. However, as economists have said, Trump’s policies — if followed through — are likely to be inflationary, and with a projected *********** trifecta — control of presidency, Senate and House — the possibility that he will be able to enact what he promised is increasingly possible. What this means then, is that the Fed may be forced to slow or halt its easing path, if inflation ticks up again in a second Trump term. In short, the term “higher for longer” may rear its head, once again.
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This white Steam Deck OLED is testing our self-control
This white Steam Deck OLED is testing our self-control
Valve
It’s not a Steam Deck 2, but Valve announced that you can soon buy a new Steam Deck. The company is releasing a limited-edition white Steam Deck OLED just ahead of the holidays.
Valve revealed the new $679 handheld Monday night. Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but it only costs $30 more than the equivalent Steam Deck OLED 1TB model. Valve says it’ll have all the same specs as the top-tier 1TB version, with up to a 90Hz refresh rate, an HDR OLED display, and a 50 watt-hour battery. The only difference is that it comes in a new ******. It even comes with its own white carrying case and white microfiber cloth.
The Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White will go on ***** at 3 p.m. PT on November 18 in all regions where the Steam Deck currently ships. The only restrictions will be that you can only buy one per account and you need to have made a Steam purchase with your account before November. Valve will only be manufacturing limited quantities, so this buying ******* will be the only chance to get the Steam Deck OLED in white. If it sells out, it’s gone forever.
Valve told Eurogamer, however, that depending on feedback, this experiment might “inform future decisions about any potential new ****** variants down the line.”
This marks the second time that Valve has strayed beyond the Steam Deck’s original design. It’s good for what it is — large, but surprisingly practical with a decently sized screen — but the ****** ****** is bland. There are skins out there and even a couple cases you can use to change things up, but in the end, you’re just playing PC games with a clunky ****** box.
The white is just nice too. It has this gray tint that keeps things subtle, but also evokes a more nostalgic console design, like the recent PlayStation 5 Pro.
Valve also released a limited-edition translucent 1TB Steam Deck OLED last year (almost exactly a year ago, actually) that also sells for $679.
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India’s central bank chief warns over growing global inflation risks
India’s central bank chief warns over growing global inflation risks
Shaktikanta Das, governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), during an event at the Peterson Institute of Economics (PIIE) during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Central banks have managed to engineer a soft landing through a ******* of “continual and unprecedented shocks,” but there is still a risk of global inflation returning and of economic growth slowing down, according to India’s central bank chief.
Speaking Thursday in Mumbai, India, at CNBC-TV18’s Global Leadership Summit, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said monetary policy from global central banks had largely “performed well” in recent years despite conflicts, geopolitical tensions and higher volatility.
“A soft landing has been ensured but risks of inflation — as I speak to you here today — risks of inflation coming back and growth slowing down do remain,” Das said.
“The headwinds from the geopolitical conflicts, geoeconomic fragmentation, commodity price volatility and climate change continue to grow.”
Das pointed to several contradictions in global markets to underline his view, including the appreciation of the U.S. dollar, even as the Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the currency against six top counterparts including the euro and yen, added 0.2% to 106.71 as of 8:45 a.m. London time on Thursday, briefly notching its highest level since November last year.
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon
U.S. dollar index over the last 12 months.
It comes as investors and economists scrutinize what President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House could mean for U.S. interest rates.
The prospect of higher trade tariffs and tighter immigration policy under a second Trump presidential term is expected to fuel inflation, which could in turn put the brakes on the Fed’s rate-cutting cycle over the longer term.
The Fed delivered its second consecutive interest rate cut earlier in the month, in line with expectations, and traders see a decent chance of another trim in December.
Divergent themes in global markets
“Government bond yields are rising even as many advanced economies have embarked upon an easing path through rate cuts, underscoring the fact that Treasury markets are influenced by a host of global and domestic factors that are much beyond mere policy adjustments,” Das said.
“Second, undeterred by the strong U.S. dollar and high bond yields, prices of gold and oil, the two commodities that typically move in tandem, are showing sharp divergence,” he continued.
“Third, an interesting contrast is also emerging between rising geopolitical risks and financial market volatility, while geopolitical tensions have escalated steadily in recent years, financial markets have shown considerable resilience in the face of mounting uncertainties.”
Das noted that global trade is projected to remain higher this year compared to 2023, notwithstanding the challenges posed by tariffs, sanctions, import duties, cross-border restrictions and supply chain disruptions.
Turning to India’s economy, Das said the country’s growth rate ******** resilient and predicted that inflation would moderate “despite periodic humps.”
He added, “The Indian economy has sailed very well through the prolonged ******* of turbulence, and it exhibits resilience in the face of constantly emerging new challenges.”
A laborer loads consumer goods onto a supply cart at a wholesale market in Kolkata, India, on November 11, 2024.
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images
Speaking during a separate session at CNBC-TV18’s Global Leadership Summit, Piyush Goyal, India’s Union Minister of Commerce called on the country’s central bank to ease monetary policy to boost economic growth.
Asked whether the RBI should trim interest rates next month, Goyal replied, “I certainly believe they should cut interest rates. Growth needs a further impetus. We are the fastest growing economy in the world [but] we can do even better.”
The RBI held the key interest rate steady at 6.5% in October, while changing its policy stance to “neutral”, bolstering hopes the central bank may soon be prepared to lower borrowing costs.
RBI’s Das said he would refrain from any comments on a December rate move.
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Sony is Using the Same Trick for Ghost of Tsushima That Todd Howard Used for a Massive Spike in Fallout Player Count
Sony is Using the Same Trick for Ghost of Tsushima That Todd Howard Used for a Massive Spike in Fallout Player Count
Sony is all set to use the same tricks to reignite Ghost of Tsushima’s relevance in the market that Todd Howard masterfully used for Fallout. Howard managed to generate a massive spike in plyer count after the release of Fallout’s TV series on Amazon.
A movie based on this game will have to extremely beautiful in order to do justice to it. Image Credit: ******* Punch
Sony is all set to do the same for Ghost of Tsushima following the successful run of the game. A spiritual sequel to the game has already been announced, which is all set to debut on PlayStation 5 next year.
Sony Will Do Everything To Juice Out Ghost of Tsushima’s Potential
Sony still wants to juice out all it can from Ghost of Tsushima. Image Credit: ******* Punch
Ghost of Tsushima is an extremely cinematic game that is inspired by movies from master director Akira Kurosawa. The game even has a dedicated Kurosawa mode that enables players to experience what the game would feel like inside Kurosawa’s imagination.
The game was extremely well received and managed to grab a lot of fame and attention. However, Sony is still not done juicing out its potential, as it feels there is still more that can be done with it. Similarly, Fallout is a long-running franchise with some amazing fans, but a TV adaptation managed to help it secure a special place in the global space by expanding its world to people beyond the gaming world.
Hermen Hulst, the chief executive of Sony’s studio business group, is of the opinion that expanding IPs across entertainment platforms helps reignite the original game’s relevance. He said:
From a business perspective it makes a lot of sense, When a television series or movie comes out, people are inspired to play again or make friends to play.
This is exactly what Sony plans to do with Ghost of Tsushima. It believes that a film or TV adaptation of the game will help reignite its relevance in the market and even attract a lot more people to the game, including some old players who will feel compelled to try their hand at the game again. Movies have the potential to do that.
A Movie Based On Ghost of Tsushima Will Be A Great Watch
People are eagerly waiting to see a movie based on it. Image Credit: ******* Punch
Given that the game itself is inspired by the films of Kurosawa, a movie based on the game will follow in the footsteps of the master director. A movie based on the game is speculated to be in the works with John Wick’s director Chad Stahelski, but nothing more about it has been revealed yet.
Ghost of Tsushima deserves a film that does justice to the cinematic brilliance of it and brings to life the journey of Jin Sakai as he begins his quest to restore order to his island while battling with the concept of honor that makes him a part of the world he is trying to restore.
The game has the emotional depth that can be reflected in the film if that is ever to materialize. It will not only do the game good but will also expand its appeal to many more people. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.
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Even the Doomed Defense Missions Contribute to the Major Order Helldivers 2 Community Issues a PSA
Even the Doomed Defense Missions Contribute to the Major Order Helldivers 2 Community Issues a PSA
Helldivers 2 players mustn’t give up on the defense missions during this Major Order. Players explain why you have to give your best.
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Fortnite ***** shows unique map change coming with Chapter 6
Fortnite ***** shows unique map change coming with Chapter 6
Fortnite writes: “Our next update v32.10 will now release on Wednesday November 13th. This includes new features and cosmetics previously announced to launch on Nov 12 like Reload Map Rotation and Kicks.
We’ll announce exact downtimes early next week!”
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Spotify for Podcasters Evolves Into a New Platform for Creators With Monetisation, Analytics and More
Spotify for Podcasters Evolves Into a New Platform for Creators With Monetisation, Analytics and More
Spotify for Podcasters – the all-in-one podcasting platform – introduced one of its biggest updates ever at its Now Playing event on Wednesday. It brings a new partner program which lets users monetise video podcasts, rolls out more tools for growing the audience, and offers improved analytics. Furthermore, the app has been renamed and revamped and is now called Spotify for Creators. This development comes after the company conducted a fan survey which revealed an 88 percent growth in the number of users who consumed video podcasts in the previous year.
Spotify for Creators
In a blog post, Spotify announced that its Spotify for Podcasters app has evolved into Spotify for Creators, in line with its mission of providing more tools to both audio and video creators. On this platform, creators can upload their content in audio, video, or both formats, interact with their audience, and access improved analytics.
It has introduced a new Partner Program in Australia, Canada, the *** and the US which lets creators earn a revenue share on ads played on or off Spotify. Meanwhile, they will also earn revenue based on the duration of their video content streamed by Premium subscribers and actual engagement.
To drive audiences across social media platforms, it brings new custom video thumbnails and podcast clips features. Following its rollout, creators will be able to upload short-form content directly on Spotify. These clips will be surfaced across the app, enabling viewers to migrate their audiences from short-form content to full-length episodes. There’s also a new Following Feed which lets viewers find their preferred content more easily. Furthermore, Spotify Premium users will be able to stream video podcasts without ads.
Improved analytics with more access to data have also been introduced on Spotify, with options to get a combined overview of the consumed hours, growth in followers, and total streams, in addition to the same metrics for individual episodes. The rollout of these features is aimed at improving audience engagement and retention, along with the monetisation revenue.
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Trucking Stocks Led the Pack Last Week: Can They Keep Rolling?
Trucking Stocks Led the Pack Last Week: Can They Keep Rolling?
Trucking stocks led the price action in the industrial sector, signaling where the market thinks the next opportunity may be hidden.
Three names stand out because institutional buyers have been boosting their positions in the companies by double-digit rates.
Then, there is the bearish capitulation spotted in the declines in short interest for these stocks, which means there is more bullish evidence to back them.
Price action can be one of the best indicators for investors to keep track of when figuring out where the market is trying to go in the coming quarters. As it turns out, most – if not all – asset classes rose tremendously the morning after the ******* States presidential elections, and as Warren Buffett says, all boats will do well on a rising tide.
Buffett also likes to say that when the tide goes out, investors will know who was swimming fully clothed or not. As it relates to price action, this concept is the key to figuring out what might be headed for the U.S. economy in the coming quarters. All roads lead to a single common trend. By spotting and riding with it, investors have a better-than-average chance of beating the market.
The trend has been spotted in transportation stocks, particularly those involved in trucking. Shares of Saia (NASDAQ:), JB Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:), and even XPO (NYSE:) are the subject of discussion after the industry delivered one of the top-performing rallies during the week of the election. The implications point to a trend investors should not only be aware of today but also consider following for their own gain.
Will Analysts Revise SAIA Stock Targets Amid Surging Demand?
The answer is they likely will, as the stock blew past the consensus price target of $492. Wall Street analysts might go into the new week under pressure to update their valuations and price targets on SAIA stock. However, the technical price action is not the only reason they should consider this; there are other fundamental factors at play in this view.
By outperforming all the other industrial niches of the economy for the week, trucking stocks have sent a very strong message for every investor to consider: that business activity within the ******* States might take on a new uptrend.
After contracting by as many as 24 months consecutively, the manufacturing PMI index now poses as a potential underwater volleyball ready to ****** out of the water, blowing past any other peers and industries for those willing to get behind the message markets just sent.
This might be why Allspring Global Investments Holdings decided to allocate up to 64.6% more of their capital into SAIA stock as of October 2024, bringing their net institutional positioning to a high of $109.6 million today. At the same time, this action amplifies the bullish evidence for the company today.
Then, there is the 12.5% collapse in short interest for SAIA stock over the past month, signaling a significant amount of bearish capitulation and opening the way for a new potential rally in the stock.
Why XPO Stock Justifies Its Premium Valuation Among Peers
While the rest of the transportation sector trades at an average price-to-earnings ratio of only 14.8x today, XPO stock calls for a significant premium by trading at a much higher valuation of 48.7x today.
While some may call this expensive, investors must remember that stocks with a better-perceived future will always trade at premium valuations.
XPO is no exception to this trend. Like its close peer SAIA, XPO stock saw an up to 10.8% decline in its short interest over the past month, opening some room for bulls to replace the bears who were forced to ditch their short positions in the face of the accumulating bullish evidence in XPO.
Investors can see this happening by the 11.3% boost in holdings coming from those at Clearbridge Investments LLC, who now hold up to $264.1 million worth of XPO stock, representing an ownership rate of as much as 2.1% today. After the stock rallied by over 15.6% in a single week, the message is that the ceiling for this stock might be much higher, considering the fundamental tailwinds at play here.
Institutional Investors ***** Into J.B. Hunt Stock After U.S. Election Results
Only a few days after the election results were out, and the price action made it clear that trucking stocks would be a potential favorite for the market in the coming quarters, those at Parnassus Investments LLC decided to increase their exposure to J.B. Hunt stock by as much as 14.1%.
This new allocation brought their net holdings to a high of $129.8 million today, adding to the wave of institutional buying sprees surrounding these stocks. These buying sprees reflect a bullish future view for the industry.
While not by much, daily trading volume increased for J.B. Hunt stock the morning after the election; up to 1.5 million shares were traded for the day, nearly double the average volume of only 880,000. Institutional buyers looking to get a piece of the action in trucking stocks might have aided the renewed trading interest for the coming months.
Now that the landscape has been made clear, there are more ***** than ***** for investors to consider putting on long positions in these names ahead of what’s coming to them.
Original Post
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Storm threat delays Gabba T20 series opener
Storm threat delays Gabba T20 series opener
The threat of lightning has delayed the start of Australia’s Twenty20 series opener against Pakistan at the Gabba.
Dark clouds and distant lightning delayed Thursday’s toss in Brisbane, where heaving afternoon storms have been constant all week.
Pakistan enter full of confidence after back-to-back thumpings of Australia clinched their three-game one-day international series 2-1.
Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is set to captain Australia, who are without a host of stars ahead of the Test series against India starting next Friday.
Games in Sydney on Saturday, and Hobart on Monday will follow the Brisbane clash.
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I don’t usually enjoy Soulslikes, but Void Sols won me over
I don’t usually enjoy Soulslikes, but Void Sols won me over
I have a love-hate relationship with Soulslike games. Well, more hate than love.
I’ve played almost all of FromSoftware’s Souls games, from ******’s Souls to Elden Ring, but have bounced off them hard. Outside of those games, I occasionally find one I enjoy on the indie scene, like Another Crab’s Treasure, but even then, those both had downsides that prevented me from saying I’ve ever truly loved a Soulslike. That’s finally changing with Void Sols, a self-prescribed “minimalist Soulslike.”
Void Sols | Launch Date Trailer
We’re entering a minimalist moment for some well-trodden video game genres. Earlier this year, SoulGame Studios’ Minishoot’ Adventures combined twin-stick shooters with The Legend of Zelda’s formula to create something special. Now, Finite Reflection Studios and Modern Wolf have done the same, but with the Soulslike genre. By removing a lot of the noise that can surround Souslikes, boiling down the genre to its basics, and including some helpful gameplay-modifying options, Void Sols has become one of my favorite Soulslike games.
Going minimalist
Void Sols begins with me breaking out of their prison cell. I ****** my way out of that and then through the surrounding forest, village, mountain, mine, and more. Combat is stamina-based, so methodically dodging ****** attacks before striking with a flurry of my own is critical to staying alive. I obtain “Sols” after ******** enemies but drop them when I ****. I’ll lose them forever if I **** before getting them back and redeeming them for a level-up at a Light Spark, Void Sols’ version of a campfire.
If you’ve played a Soulslike before, that will all sound incredibly familiar to you. The twist with Void Sols is that there’s barely any story or lore, the player and ****** are simple geometric shapes, and the whole thing is played from a top-down perspective like Asteroids. As long as I make sure the triangle I’m playing as isn’t hit by ****** attacks in between strikes of my own, I’m golden. This pivot toward minimalism and some other design choices removed much of the fluff and overstimulation that typically makes me not want to play Souslikes.
Modern Wolf
Simply put, I’m not very good at combat in most Soulslike games. I prefer action to be faster, so I play series like Bayonetta, ****** May Cry, or Yakuza a lot more. That’s probably why Sekiro: Shadows **** Twice is my favorite FromSoftware game. Seeing combat from a new perspective and worrying less about the surrounding environment, a frustrating camera, or oddly telegraphed attacks makes Void Sols much more enjoyable for me than your typical Soulslikes. While games that look like it typically function like ******-’em-ups, Void Sols‘ melee combat is surprisingly approachable thanks to its clear animations and simplistic controls.
Void Sols understands what works the best in Souslikes, namely how interconnected the world can feel and how rewarding slowly exploring can be. It replicates those elements as well as it can in its minimalist style. Each area feels like a maze weaving in and out of itself; strong sound design and visual flourishes give different areas a distinct identity, and there are lots of helpful items to find and pick up for those who explore.
Enemies test my skills in different ways, while bosses are significantly tougher challenges that require me to find and “solve” their weaknesses. As for leveling up and customizing my character, Void Sols keeps things simple with four primary stats. I have the ability to set up loadouts for different playstyles; I used the basic sword and scythe the most.
Modern Wolf
On top of that, there are difficulty options that let me customize how much damage I deal and receive, which help in particularly troubling spots. I’m all for accessibility options in Soulslikes, so I’m glad that Finite Reflection Studios is as well. As an outsider, it often feels like Soulslikes can get caught up in themselves, overcomplicating things to pay homage to FromSoftware or designing a certain way because that’s how Dark Souls and Elden Ring did it.
By going the minimalist route, Void Sols retains what makes Soulslikes great while cutting out a lot of the overwhelming junk that typically comes with that subgenre. Void Sols is significantly more engaging for me as a result. If you’re in the same Soulslike boat as me or just curious about how a minimalist one works in action, I’d highly recommend checking Void Sols out.
Void Sols is available now on PC, and there’s a free demo to try out as well.
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Oura plans international expansion, tests nutrition and AI features
Oura plans international expansion, tests nutrition and AI features
The Oura Ring 4
Courtesy: Oura
LISBON — Samsung’s foray into smart rings isn’t concerning the boss of the product category’s pioneer, Oura — in fact, Tom Hale says he’s seeing a boost in business.
“I’m sure that a major tech company making an announcement saying: ‘Hey, this is a category that matters. It’s going to be something that’s big.’ I think it’s probably helpful,” Hale told CNBC in an interview this week.
“In terms of the impact on our business, it has made zero impact. If anything, our business has gotten stronger since their announcement.”
In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC at the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Hale discussed Oura’s plans for new areas of insight it wants to give users, how he is thinking about new devices and the company’s intentions for international expansion.
Oura’s flagship product is the Oura Ring 4, a device known as a smart ring. It is packed with sensors that can track some health metrics, allowing Oura app users to learn more about the quality of their sleep or how ready they are to tackle the day ahead.
Founded in Finland in 2013, the company has been called a pioneer by analysts in the smart ring space. Oura said it has sold more than 2.5 million of its rings since it launched its first product. CCS Insight forecasts Oura will end the year with a 49% market share in smart rings.
Competition is starting to rear its head in the space. The world’s largest smartphone maker Samsung made its first venture into smart rings this year with the Galaxy Ring, which some analysts say has put the device category on the map and popularized it with a broader audience.
Hale is keen to position Oura as a “health company and a science company from the get-go,” with the aim of its product being “clinical grade.” Oura is seeking approval from the U.S. Food and ***** Administration (FDA) for its ring to be used for diagnostics, although Hale declined to provide too many further details.
He did say that Oura’s focus on health and science is what sets it apart from competitors.
“If you’re actually thinking [of] yourself as a healthcare company, it is very different in many ways and different postures you might take towards data privacy. … So instead of being like a tech company where data is some sort of oil to be extracted and then used to create some kind of advantage of network effects, we’re really a healthcare company where your data is sacrosanct,” Hale said.
Oura’s business model relies on selling the hardware, as well as on a $5.99 monthly subscription service that allows users to get the insights from their ring. Oura says it has nearly 2 million subscribers.
“We look more like a software company than we do look like a hardware company. And I think that’s a function of the business model, and the fact that it’s working. Our subscribers are continuing to pay,” Hale said.
Oura eyes nutrition as next ‘pillar’
Oura takes the data gathered by the ring to provide insight to its users, focused on a person’s levels of sleep, activity and readiness to take on the day.
Hale said the company is now testing out nutrition, with users able to take a picture of their meal and log it into the Oura app. Also in the nutrition space, he highlighted Oura’s recent acquisition of Veri, a metabolic health startup that can take data from continuous glucose monitors — small devices inserted into a person’s arm — to give insight into someone’s blood sugar levels. Hale says that this, combined with Oura’s food tracking feature, could tell a user how certain meals affect their glucose levels.
Many glucose monitors today are invasive and need to be inserted into the skin. Some observers see a non-invasive glucose monitor on wearable gear as something that could be transformative — but Hale warns this is a difficult goal to achieve.
“The idea that a wearable [device] will get there, I think, has definitely been a Holy Grail, and like the Holy Grail, they may never find it, because it’s a very difficult problem to solve with any kind of accuracy,” Hale said.
“Never say never. Certainly, technology continues to advance and all the capabilities continue to advance,” he added.
New hardware and AI
While Oura only sells rings currently, Hale sees the company developing new products in the future. He declined to elaborate.
“I think we’ll undoubtedly see other Oura-branded products, beyond the ring,” he promised.
He also said the company hopes to work with other devices as well, even if they are not Oura’s own hardware.
Like many hardware companies, such as Apple and Samsung, Oura is looking at ways it can use the advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence to give users more personalized insights. Smartphone makers have spoken about so-called “AI agents,” which they see as assistants that are able to anticipate what a user wants.
Oura is testing out an AI product called Oura Advisor in a similar vein.
“Think of it as the doctor in your pocket that knows all the data about you,” Hale said.
International push
Hale‘s presence at the Web Summit in Lisbon underscores his push to raise Oura’s brand awareness in markets outside of the U.S., especially as more people learn about smart rings.
“I think the point about the category being something that people are learning about, the unique benefits of that maturity, is in our favor. We’re expanding internationally,” Hale said.
He said he is particularly “excited” about venturing into Western Europe, including in countries like the U.K., Germany, France and Italy. Looking even further forward, Hale said an initial public offering for the business is not currently on the table, adding that operating as a private company gives Oura more “freedom.”
“I really enjoy the freedom that we get as a private company. We’re accountable to our investors and our shareholders, but they’re willing to let us operate with a lot license,” he said. “And if we decided we wanted to turn unprofitable because we wanted to invest in owning some category of healthcare software, it’ll be fine. They would be happy for that.”
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Sinkhole Swallows Motorcycles in Madrid After Water Pipe Breaks
Sinkhole Swallows Motorcycles in Madrid After Water Pipe Breaks
A sinkhole caused by a burst water pipe forced a partial road closure in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday, November 13.
Footage released by Madrid’s Emergency Information Office, Emergencias Madrid, shows the pavement partially collapsed along Toreros Avenue.
El Mundo cited authorities as saying the sinkhole reached around 25-30 square meters (269-322 sq ft) in size and six meters (19 ft) deep.
Two motorcycles and “multiple containers” were removed from the sinkhole and “repair work” had begun, Emergencias Madrid said. There were no reports of injuries. Credit: Emergencias Madrid via Storyful
Video Transcript
Informacin no.
Y se la y entonces por la el clavo de la rueda trasera.
Y intento, sabes, en diagonal tres.
Bueno, da igual, pero favorecemos que salga levantando la cabeza cuando vamos a ponernos aqu las ligas levantamos, se va a levantar y se va, va a salir.
Hacemos que ah que yo creo que va a salir a por la levantamos atrs y estaba porque, mmm.
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#Sinkhole #Swallows #Motorcycles #Madrid #Water #Pipe #Breaks
Pelican News
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Oura plans international expansion, tests nutrition and AI features
Oura plans international expansion, tests nutrition and AI features
The Oura Ring 4
Courtesy: Oura
LISBON — Samsung’s foray into smart rings isn’t concerning the boss of the product category’s pioneer, Oura — in fact, Tom Hale says he’s seeing a boost in business.
“I’m sure that a major tech company making an announcement saying: ‘Hey, this is a category that matters. It’s going to be something that’s big.’ I think it’s probably helpful,” Hale told CNBC in an interview this week.
“In terms of the impact on our business, it has made zero impact. If anything, our business has gotten stronger since their announcement.”
In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC at the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Hale discussed Oura’s plans for new areas of insight it wants to give users, how he is thinking about new devices and the company’s intentions for international expansion.
Oura’s flagship product is the Oura Ring 4, a device known as a smart ring. It is packed with sensors that can track some health metrics, allowing Oura app users to learn more about the quality of their sleep or how ready they are to tackle the day ahead.
Founded in Finland in 2013, the company has been called a pioneer by analysts in the smart ring space. Oura said it has sold more than 2.5 million of its rings since it launched its first product. CCS Insight forecasts Oura will end the year with a 49% market share in smart rings.
Competition is starting to rear its head in the space. The world’s largest smartphone maker Samsung made its first venture into smart rings this year with the Galaxy Ring, which some analysts say has put the device category on the map and popularized it with a broader audience.
Hale is keen to position Oura as a “health company and a science company from the get-go,” with the aim of its product being “clinical grade.” Oura is seeking approval from the U.S. Food and ***** Administration (FDA) for its ring to be used for diagnostics, although Hale declined to provide too many further details.
He did say that Oura’s focus on health and science is what sets it apart from competitors.
“If you’re actually thinking [of] yourself as a healthcare company, it is very different in many ways and different postures you might take towards data privacy. … So instead of being like a tech company where data is some sort of oil to be extracted and then used to create some kind of advantage of network effects, we’re really a healthcare company where your data is sacrosanct,” Hale said.
Oura’s business model relies on selling the hardware, as well as on a $5.99 monthly subscription service that allows users to get the insights from their ring. Oura says it has nearly 2 million subscribers.
“We look more like a software company than we do look like a hardware company. And I think that’s a function of the business model, and the fact that it’s working. Our subscribers are continuing to pay,” Hale said.
Oura eyes nutrition as next ‘pillar’
Oura takes the data gathered by the ring to provide insight to its users, focused on a person’s levels of sleep, activity and readiness to take on the day.
Hale said the company is now testing out nutrition, with users able to take a picture of their meal and log it into the Oura app. Also in the nutrition space, he highlighted Oura’s recent acquisition of Veri, a metabolic health startup that can take data from continuous glucose monitors — small devices inserted into a person’s arm — to give insight into someone’s blood sugar levels. Hale says that this, combined with Oura’s food tracking feature, could tell a user how certain meals affect their glucose levels.
Many glucose monitors today are invasive and need to be inserted into the skin. Some observers see a non-invasive glucose monitor on wearable gear as something that could be transformative — but Hale warns this is a difficult goal to achieve.
“The idea that a wearable [device] will get there, I think, has definitely been a Holy Grail, and like the Holy Grail, they may never find it, because it’s a very difficult problem to solve with any kind of accuracy,” Hale said.
“Never say never. Certainly, technology continues to advance and all the capabilities continue to advance,” he added.
New hardware and AI
While Oura only sells rings currently, Hale sees the company developing new products in the future. He declined to elaborate.
“I think we’ll undoubtedly see other Oura-branded products, beyond the ring,” he promised.
He also said the company hopes to work with other devices as well, even if they are not Oura’s own hardware.
Like many hardware companies, such as Apple and Samsung, Oura is looking at ways it can use the advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence to give users more personalized insights. Smartphone makers have spoken about so-called “AI agents,” which they see as assistants that are able to anticipate what a user wants.
Oura is testing out an AI product called Oura Advisor in a similar vein.
“Think of it as the doctor in your pocket that knows all the data about you,” Hale said.
International push
Hale‘s presence at the Web Summit in Lisbon underscores his push to raise Oura’s brand awareness in markets outside of the U.S., especially as more people learn about smart rings.
“I think the point about the category being something that people are learning about, the unique benefits of that maturity, is in our favor. We’re expanding internationally,” Hale said.
He said he is particularly “excited” about venturing into Western Europe, including in countries like the U.K., Germany, France and Italy. Looking even further forward, Hale said an initial public offering for the business is not currently on the table, adding that operating as a private company gives Oura more “freedom.”
“I really enjoy the freedom that we get as a private company. We’re accountable to our investors and our shareholders, but they’re willing to let us operate with a lot license,” he said. “And if we decided we wanted to turn unprofitable because we wanted to invest in owning some category of healthcare software, it’ll be fine. They would be happy for that.”
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#Oura #plans #international #expansion #tests #nutrition #features
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
EP TODAY | News | ********* Parliament
EP TODAY | News | ********* Parliament
EU preparedness in an uncertain world: MEPs discuss the Niinistö report
At 9.00, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö will present his report on how the EU can take a more proactive approach to preparedness and comprehensive security instead of merely reacting to shock events, as the world becomes more crisis-prone and less predictable. Mr Niinistö’s address will be followed by a debate between MEPs.
Janne OJAMO
(+32) 470 89 21 92
EP_Justice
EU deforestation law: vote on postponing its application
At 11.00, MEPs will decide whether to delay provisions of the EU deforestation law, which aims to ensure products sold in the EU are not sourced from deforested land anywhere in the world. Several amendments have been proposed by political groups, including the creation of a new category of countries posing “no risk” on deforestation, which would come with less stringent requirements.
Thomas HAAHR (+32) 470 88 09 87
EP_Environment
Votes
COP29. Parliament will vote on its demands for the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference COP29 at 11.00. In the draft text, MEPs want all countries to agree on a new post-2025 collective goal on climate finance and to phase out all direct and indirect fossil fuels subsidies as soon as possible, reallocating these resources towards climate action.
Russia. At 11.00, MEPs will vote on a resolution on how the EU should confront the problem of Russia’s shadow fleet transporting crude oil,, including through the enforcement of sanctions. The draft text calls for more targeted measures against these vessels as well as more inspections and the systematic sanctioning of ships sailing through EU waters without known insurance.
Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.
For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter.
All information regarding plenary, can be found here.
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Pelican News
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Oura plans international expansion, tests nutrition and AI features
Oura plans international expansion, tests nutrition and AI features
The Oura Ring 4
Courtesy: Oura
LISBON — Samsung’s foray into smart rings isn’t concerning the boss of the product category’s pioneer, Oura — in fact, Tom Hale says he’s seeing a boost in business.
“I’m sure that a major tech company making an announcement saying: ‘Hey, this is a category that matters. It’s going to be something that’s big.’ I think it’s probably helpful,” Hale told CNBC in an interview this week.
“In terms of the impact on our business, it has made zero impact. If anything, our business has gotten stronger since their announcement.”
In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC at the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Hale discussed Oura’s plans for new areas of insight it wants to give users, how he is thinking about new devices and the company’s intentions for international expansion.
Oura’s flagship product is the Oura Ring 4, a device known as a smart ring. It is packed with sensors that can track some health metrics, allowing Oura app users to learn more about the quality of their sleep or how ready they are to tackle the day ahead.
Founded in Finland in 2013, the company has been called a pioneer by analysts in the smart ring space. Oura said it has sold more than 2.5 million of its rings since it launched its first product. CCS Insight forecasts Oura will end the year with a 49% market share in smart rings.
Competition is starting to rear its head in the space. The world’s largest smartphone maker Samsung made its first venture into smart rings this year with the Galaxy Ring, which some analysts say has put the device category on the map and popularized it with a broader audience.
Hale is keen to position Oura as a “health company and a science company from the get-go,” with the aim of its product being “clinical grade.” Oura is seeking approval from the U.S. Food and ***** Administration (FDA) for its ring to be used for diagnostics, although Hale declined to provide too many further details.
He did say that Oura’s focus on health and science is what sets it apart from competitors.
“If you’re actually thinking [of] yourself as a healthcare company, it is very different in many ways and different postures you might take towards data privacy. … So instead of being like a tech company where data is some sort of oil to be extracted and then used to create some kind of advantage of network effects, we’re really a healthcare company where your data is sacrosanct,” Hale said.
Oura’s business model relies on selling the hardware, as well as on a $5.99 monthly subscription service that allows users to get the insights from their ring. Oura says it has nearly 2 million subscribers.
“We look more like a software company than we do look like a hardware company. And I think that’s a function of the business model, and the fact that it’s working. Our subscribers are continuing to pay,” Hale said.
Oura eyes nutrition as next ‘pillar’
Oura takes the data gathered by the ring to provide insight to its users, focused on a person’s levels of sleep, activity and readiness to take on the day.
Hale said the company is now testing out nutrition, with users able to take a picture of their meal and log it into the Oura app. Also in the nutrition space, he highlighted Oura’s recent acquisition of Veri, a metabolic health startup that can take data from continuous glucose monitors — small devices inserted into a person’s arm — to give insight into someone’s blood sugar levels. Hale says that this, combined with Oura’s food tracking feature, could tell a user how certain meals affect their glucose levels.
Many glucose monitors today are invasive and need to be inserted into the skin. Some observers see a non-invasive glucose monitor on wearable gear as something that could be transformative — but Hale warns this is a difficult goal to achieve.
“The idea that a wearable [device] will get there, I think, has definitely been a Holy Grail, and like the Holy Grail, they may never find it, because it’s a very difficult problem to solve with any kind of accuracy,” Hale said.
“Never say never. Certainly, technology continues to advance and all the capabilities continue to advance,” he added.
New hardware and AI
While Oura only sells rings currently, Hale sees the company developing new products in the future. He declined to elaborate.
“I think we’ll undoubtedly see other Oura-branded products, beyond the ring,” he promised.
He also said the company hopes to work with other devices as well, even if they are not Oura’s own hardware.
Like many hardware companies, such as Apple and Samsung, Oura is looking at ways it can use the advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence to give users more personalized insights. Smartphone makers have spoken about so-called “AI agents,” which they see as assistants that are able to anticipate what a user wants.
Oura is testing out an AI product called Oura Advisor in a similar vein.
“Think of it as the doctor in your pocket that knows all the data about you,” Hale said.
International push
Hale’s presence at the Web Summit in Lisbon underscores his push to raise Oura’s brand awareness in markets outside of the U.S., especially as more people learn about smart rings.
“I think the point about the category being something that people are learning about, the unique benefits of that maturity, is in our favor. We’re expanding internationally,” Hale said.
He said he is particularly “excited” about venturing into Western Europe, including in countries like the U.K., Germany, France and Italy. Looking even further forward, Hale said an initial public offering for the business is not currently on the table, adding that operating as a private company gives Oura more “freedom.”
“I really enjoy the freedom that we get as a private company. We’re accountable to our investors and our shareholders, but they’re willing to let us operate with a lot license,” he said. “And if we decided we wanted to turn unprofitable because we wanted to invest in owning some category of healthcare software, it’ll be fine. They would be happy for that.”
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