Pelican Press

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. Source link #TODAY #News #********* #Parliament Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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.” Source link #Oura #plans #international #expansion #tests #nutrition #features Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Escape from Tarkov is Getting a New Matchmaking System Escape from Tarkov is Getting a New Matchmaking System Battlestate Games has revealed that it’s testing a new matchmaking system as a major quality-of-life improvement in Escape from Tarkov – and EFT: Arena. This testing is taking place on the ETS server, which is an early-access test environment restricted to a specific user base. It hasn’t been made clear when these changes will hit the wider audience, but they sound solid at first blush. Much Needed Changes Escape from Tarkov’s matchmaking system has long been a thorn in the side of gamers worldwide. For instance, around an Escape from Tarkov wipe, which is the ***-annual global reset event, queues to get into a match can be dragged out monumentally, often hitting ten, fifteen, or more minutes to raid. Many users have dealt with random disconnects and glitches during the matchmaking process over the years. One issue that surfaced this year was a problem with ‘Scav raids’, with players hitting never-ending loading screens during the matchmaking process. In a post on social media, Battlestate Games revealed: The main goal of the new system is to reduce the raid search time in Escape from Tarkov and matchmaking in EFT:Arena, as well as to reduce the number of errors and disconnects during matchmaking. Beyond matchmaking, another concern for users is the amount of time it takes to load the map and loot pools and to connect with other players before finally entering a raid. This is one of the reasons why so many people moved to Escape from Tarkov’s PvE ecosystem, as loading into a PvE raid can take as little as 20 or 30 seconds all-in. Do you welcome these matchmaking changes from Battlestate Games? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum or in the comments. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Horizon Online could be released in 2025 Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Escape #Tarkov #Matchmaking #System Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung Galaxy A36 Tipped to Arrive With Upgraded Front Camera Samsung Galaxy A36 Tipped to Arrive With Upgraded Front Camera Samsung Galaxy A36 is said to be in the works as a successor to Galaxy A35. While Samsung has not confirmed the exact launch date of this new Galaxy A series device, early leaks suggest that it will come with a notable upgrade to its front camera. On the rear, the Galaxy A36 is expected to retain the 50-megapixel primary sensor from its predecessor. The Galaxy A36 is likely to debut in March 2025 with a Snapdragon chipset. Samsung Galaxy A36’s New Selfie Camera As per a report by Galaxy Club (Dutch), the unannounced Galaxy A36 features a 12-megapixel sensor on the front. This front camera sensor will not be the same as the Galaxy A56’s rumoured 12-megapixel sensor. Samsung is said to maintain a certain difference in camera quality between the upcoming Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56. Further, the report states that Samsung will continue to use the 50-megapixel main camera from the current Galaxy A35 phone for the Galaxy A36. Like the predecessor, the camera setup could also include a 5-megapixel macro sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera. A recent Geekbench listing suggested that the Galaxy A36 will be powered either by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC or the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, paired with 6GB of RAM in one configuration. It could run on Android 15. Early renders of the Galaxy A36 hinted at a ***** punch display design and a redesigned camera island with three vertically arranged cameras inside a pill-shaped module. It is likely to include an in-display fingerprint sensor. The handset is rumoured to launch in March next year. It is said to come with a thin body with 162.6 x 77.9x 7.4mm dimensions. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta 2 for Phone 2 and Phone 2a Rolling Out: What’s New AMD to Cut Four Percent of Global Workforce as it Focusses on AI Chip Development Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #A36 #Tipped #Arrive #Upgraded #Front #Camera Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025-26 FAFSA will open on Dec. 1 — Here’s how to prepare 2025-26 FAFSA will open on Dec. 1 — Here’s how to prepare The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2025-26 will be available for all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1, the Education Department says. Typically, students have access to the coming academic year’s form in October, but this year’s delayed release follows a “phased rollout” meant to address reported issues from the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle. Last year’s new, simplified form was plagued with problems at the outset, some of which are still outstanding. More from Personal Finance:Top 10 colleges for financial aidMore of the nation’s top colleges roll out no-loan policiesSome families pay $500,000 for Ivy League admissions consulting Although the extended testing ******* for the 2025-26 FAFSA is important, another delayed start “creates a compressed timeline for students and families to submit their financial information, which can lead to missed opportunities for aid,” Beth Maglione, interim president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said in a statement. How to prepare for the 2025-26 FAFSA “I would encourage families to start gathering their financial documents and information now, so they’re ready to apply as soon as the application becomes available,” Maglione said. “Taking these steps early will help ensure they don’t miss out on vital financial support for college.” According to Maglione, there are five key moves that students and parents can make now to prepare for their application as soon as it becomes available. Here is her best advice: Set up a studentaid.gov account: Before the new form opens, students and their parents (if the student is a dependent) can set up a username and password, commonly called the FSA ID, to access and complete the FAFSA electronically. Gather personal information: Students should have their Social Security number on hand (as should parents, if the student is a dependent, or student spouses, if applicable). However, if a student spouse, parent or stepparent does not have an SSN, they can still register for an FSA ID. The form may also ask for your driver’s license or state identification number. Non-citizens should have their Alien Registration number handy.Federal tax information: Applicants will need tax information from the prior-prior tax year. In this case, that means students should have 2023 tax returns for the 2025-26 FAFSA.Financial records: The FAFSA requires records of the student’s (and the parents’, if applicable) bank accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate (not including the family home) and other investments. Any records of untaxed income, such as child support or government benefits, should be documented as well.List of schools: Finally, FAFSA applicants should have a list of schools the student is applying to or attending, which will need to be listed on the FAFSA application.Why the FAFSA is so important For many students, financial aid is crucial when it comes to covering the cost of college. Higher education already costs more than most families can afford, and college costs are still rising. Tuition and fees plus room and board for a four-year private college averaged $58,600 in the 2024-25 school year, up from $56,390 a year earlier. At four-year, in-state public colleges, it was $24,920, up from $24,080, the College Board found. The FAFSA serves as the gateway to all federal aid money, including federal student loans, work-study and especially grants — which have become the most crucial kind of assistance because they typically do not need to be repaid. Submitting a FAFSA is also one of the best predictors of whether a high school senior will go on to college, according to the National College Attainment Network. Seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in college directly after high school, according to an NCAN study of 2013 data. How FAFSA failures have impacted students After last year’s FAFSA complications, it became clear how much financial aid weighed heavily on decisions about college. In part because of issues with the new form, the number of new first-year college students sank 5% this fall compared with last year, according to an analysis of early data by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The declines in first-year student enrollment were most significant at four-year colleges that serve low-income students, the report also found. At four-year colleges where large shares of students receive Pell Grants, first-year student enrollment dropped more than 10%. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Source link #FAFSA #open #Dec #Heres #prepare Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA: The Definitive Edition trilogy gets surprise update GTA: The Definitive Edition trilogy gets surprise update Rockstar Games The controversial Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition got a surprise update on Tuesday that brought some welcome and much-needed changes to the game — and it only took three years. As reported by Rockstar Intel, the “definitive” versions of Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One got a slew of fixes and updates, including one that fixes a huge sticking point with the release: lighting. Much of the criticism surrounding the PC and console versions involved the lighting when they launched in 2021. Each game had a distinctive look, a lot of which came down to some broad hues. For example, GTA: San Andreas famously has an orange tint. However, each of these hues was removed for the Definitive Edition, leaving the games looking more bland. Lighting across the board was lackluster, either looking too bright or being removed altogether. This Reddit thread shows how a lot of the environmental lighting had been either toned down or removed. The games just generally felt like a downgrade in terms of graphics, with strange-looking character models, and no clouds in the sky. That’s not even taking into account all the technical issues users reported at launch, like crashes and other bugs. It was so bad that Rockstar Games had to issue an apology and release the classic PC versions of those three games back to the Rockstar Store, offering them up for free for users who bought the Definitive Edition. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Trailer A lot of these issues were fixed when Netflix released the trilogy on its platform in late 2023. It featured a classic lighting option that brought back the games’ respective classic tints, fixes to water and clothing, and more general lighting fixes to things like streetlights. It appears that a lot of these have now been brought to PC and console in the new update. Looks like mentions of Grove Street Games and their logos have been removed from the splash screen and main menu of the #GTA Definitive Editions as well. pic.twitter.com/ZmXpccyiyS — TJGM (@TJGM_) November 12, 2024 However, as Grand Theft Auto YouTuber TJGM noted on X, mentions of Grove Street Games, the studio behind the original Definitive Edition, have been removed in the new update. The GTA Trilogy wasn’t well received, but it seems like an odd choice regardless of the reasoning. Source link #GTA #Definitive #Edition #trilogy #surprise #update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I'm not going to lose, did you hear me? – Tyson I'm not going to lose, did you hear me? – Tyson Watch the most notable moments from the press conference before the ****** between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul on Friday night. Source link #I039m #lose #hear #Tyson Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arcade1Up’s Game Board With 100-Plus Games Is $50 Off At Amazon Arcade1Up’s Game Board With 100-Plus Games Is $50 Off At Amazon Amazon has a great deal on Arcade1Up’s Infinity Game Board that drops the price from $500 to $450. To get the full $50 discount, make sure to click the coupon box on the Amazon store page. The digital board game tablet includes over 100 games and activities and has a built-in shop where you can purchase additional games. The Game Board is a lap-sized device with a built-in 18.5-inch HD touchscreen and offers space for up to six people to play. It comes with over 100 board games and activities like Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and more; plus you can always purchase and download more games from the online storefront. There’s even online play using its built-in Wi-Fi functionality, and with a full-HD resolution, you’re getting a sharp picture for your sessions. Arcade1Up Game Board and Game Table Arcade1Up also makes a coffee table version dubbed Infinity Game Table. It comes with a 32-inch screen and detachable legs, which makes it more suitable for multiplayer. The Infinity Game Table, however, retails for double the cost of the Game Board. Amazon currently has the Infinity Game Table in stock for $993. Source link #Arcade1Ups #Game #Board #100Plus #Games #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Somerville police chase: 21y/o man charged after Audi ‘rammed three police cars’, cops ‘narrowly’ avoid injury Somerville police chase: 21y/o man charged after Audi ‘rammed three police cars’, cops ‘narrowly’ avoid injury A dramatic car chase through Kalgoorlie ended in a resident’s front garden after several police cars were allegedly rammed and officers ‘narrowly’ avoided being run down overnight. Source link #Somerville #police #chase #21yo #man #charged #Audi #rammed #police #cars #cops #narrowly #avoid #injury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Horizon Online Could Launch in 2025, Job Listing Suggests Horizon Online Could Launch in 2025, Job Listing Suggests Since 2022, PlayStation fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a Horizon multiplayer game – and LEGO Horizon isn’t about to fill that gap anytime soon. It was claimed in September that Horizon’s multiplayer project is the next Guerrilla Games deliverable, not a ‘Horizon 3’. Per a recent job listing, it looks as though the team will be preparing to release this live-service Horizon title in at least some form next year. Into the Wild It has been at least two years since the first reports of ‘Horizon Online’ surfaced. Since then, almost nothing has been divulged by either Guerrilla Games or insiders close to the project. In March 2024, Jason Schreier suggested that the game hadn’t been shelved amid a restructuring effort at PlayStation, and in September, he outright claimed that Guerrilla’s next game is this multiplayer title. In January, leaks revealed alpha footage from a multiplayer-based Horizon title, along with a little key concept art. This content revealed a unique direction for the game, which many claimed ‘looked like Fortnite’. Eagle-eyed users recently dug up a job listing for a ‘Release QA Intern’ at Guerrilla Games. In this listing, it’s mentioned that the successful candidate will be working on an ‘online project’ and that they’ll need to be available in ‘the first half of 2025’. In the listing’s description, it’s stated that they’ll help ‘to ensure the game is prepared for launch’. If we assume that the QA ******* takes a fair bit of time to complete, we could be looking at a release window – or at least an early access window – of H2 2025. We almost know that this is a live-service multiplayer title, and it’s not uncommon that they’re released in an ‘unfinished’ or beta state. Are you looking forward to a potential Horizon multiplayer game? Let us know in the comments. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news about Embracer Group’s $1.2 billion divestiture Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Horizon #Online #Launch #Job #Listing #Suggests Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

First-Ever Amber Discovered in Antarctica Shows Rainforest Existed Near South Pole First-Ever Amber Discovered in Antarctica Shows Rainforest Existed Near South Pole Imagine a time machine that could whisk you back to the age of the dinosaurs. Suddenly, you find yourself in a dense, swampy forest, with insects buzzing between flowers, ferns, and conifers. Believe it or not, you’re standing in West Antarctica. Scientists in Germany and the *** have now discovered amber there for the first time – the fossilized ‘blood’ of ancient coniferous trees that once grew on Earth’s southernmost continent between 83 and 92 million years ago. Along with fossils of roots, pollen, and spores, the amber provides some of the best evidence yet that a mid-Cretaceous, swampy rainforest existed near the South Pole, and that this prehistoric environment was “dominated by conifers“, similar to forests in New Zealand and Patagonia today. The unearthing of amber in Antarctica pulls back the continent’s current icy exterior to reveal an ancient habitat once warm and wet enough to host resin-producing trees. In the mid-Cretaceous, those trees would have had to survive through months of total darkness over winter. But survive, they clearly did. Even if they had to go dormant for long chunks of time. Before this discovery, scientists had only found Cretaceous amber deposits as far south as the Otway Basin in Australia and the Tupuangi Formation in New Zealand. “It was very exciting to realize that, at some point in their history, all seven continents had climatic conditions allowing resin-producing trees to survive,” says marine geologist Johann Klages from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany. “Our goal now is to learn more about the forest ecosystem – if it burned down, if we can find traces of life included in the amber. This discovery allows a journey to the past in yet another more direct way.” A slice of the Antarctic amber, showing signs of intruding bark from a Cretaceous-era tree. (Klages et al., Antarctic Research, 2024) Scientists have unearthed fossilized wood and leaves in Antarctica since the early 19th century, but many of these discoveries date back hundreds of millions of years to when the southern supercontinent Gondwana existed. As Antarctica drifted away from Australia and South America toward the south pole, it’s not entirely clear what happened to its forests. In 2017, researchers drilled into the seafloor near West Antarctica and pulled up exceptionally well-preserved evidence of these long-lost habitats. After several years of analysis, Klages and a team of researchers announced in 2020 that they had found a web of fossilized roots that dated back to the mid-Cretaceous. Under the microscope, they also identified evidence of pollen and spores. That same drilling has now offered up concrete proof that resin-producing trees once existed in Antarctica. In a 3-meter (10-foot) long layer of mudstone, Klagen and a new team have described several tiny slices of translucent amber, just 0.5 to 1.0 millimeters in size. Each hosts a variation of yellow to orange colors with typical scalloped fractures on the surface. This is a sign of resin flow, which occurs when sap leaks out of a tree to seal the bark against injuries from fires or insects. The Cretaceous was one of the warmest periods in Earth’s history, and volcanic deposits found on Antarctica and nearby islands show evidence of frequent forest fires during this time. The drill sample from Antarctica contained remnants of amber and possible intrusions of bark, seen in the red square. (Klages et al., Antarctic Research, 2024) The amber was probably preserved and fossilized because high water levels quickly covered the tree resin, protecting it from ultraviolet radiation and oxidation. It even looks like the amber contains some tiny bits of tree bark, but further analysis is needed to confirm that. Piece by miniscule piece, scientists are gradually putting together a picture of what Antarctica’s forests once used to look like and how they functioned 90 million years ago. The study was published in Antarctic Research. Related News Source link #FirstEver #Amber #Discovered #Antarctica #Shows #Rainforest #Existed #South #Pole Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is It Too Late For Microsoft to Make Xbox Handheld to Compete With Steam Deck and Switch Is It Too Late For Microsoft to Make Xbox Handheld to Compete With Steam Deck and Switch In recent years, the gaming industry has seen a major resurgence in handheld consoles. This has been driven largely by the success of the Nintendo Switch and, more recently, the release of the Steam Deck. And it looks like Microsoft and Xbox want in on the action. Microsoft may be too late with its handheld. | Image Credit: Xbox Xbox head Phil Spencer recently confirmed that a handheld Xbox is in the works. However, the market has already been dominated by the Steam Deck and Switch. And there are already competitors from ASUS and Lenovo. So can Xbox compete, or is this an uphill battle to capture market share? Microsoft’s Announcement May Be Too Little Too Late The Nintendo Switch made handheld gaming great again. | Image Credit: Nintendo In an interview with Bloomberg, Phil Spencer confirmed that an Xbox handheld is in the works. He highlighted that the Xbox team is experimenting with prototypes but doesn’t expect to launch the device for several years. This might suggest that Microsoft is studying what the handheld market wants before rushing into production. The Nintendo Switch has been a game-changer since 2017, providing the ability to play console-quality games anywhere. Then the Steam Deck was released in 2022 and gave gamers a way to play PC games on the go. These two set the standard, but there is always competition. This would have hit 10 years ago — Uzi Obi (@ObiUzi) November 13, 2024 By the time Microsoft releases its own handheld console, it could face competition not only from these titans but also from emerging rivals like ASUS’s ROG Ally and Lenovo’s Legion Go. One factor that could differentiate Xbox’s future handheld from others is Microsoft’s substantial cloud gaming infrastructure, which could allow the device to stream console-quality games without needing high-end hardware. Steamdeck already has access to gamepass and the windows store so I feel like this is an uphill battle to gain market share. — Nasdorachi (@Nasdorachi) November 13, 2024 If Xbox takes the cloud-based route, it may offer a more affordable alternative for players wanting high-quality gaming on the go without the premium price tag. Cloud gaming does require strong internet connections, which may limit its appeal in areas with less reliable connectivity. The Company Still Has a Chance If It Does It Right Other companies have already taken advantage of the hype. | Image Credit: Valve Microsoft is also committed to improving the Xbox app experience on existing devices. This will offer valuable feedback for the handheld’s final design. Spencer acknowledged the app’s limitations and the ******* to improve it on devices like ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. By making updates to the app to perform optimally on various handhelds, Microsoft can gather essential user feedback on what works well and what doesn’t. This will ultimately let the company know what’s best. Xbox wants to first understand the market’s demands, and then build. I think their biggest hurdle is trying to make a handheld friendly ui. The problem with handheld pcs aren’t the hardware but mostly the software. Windows just isn’t suited for mobile use. — GrimKaiser808 (@GKaiser808) November 13, 2024 Xbox faces an uphill battle in timing. The device’s projected release is still several years out, with Spencer estimating that a launch may not occur until the next Xbox console generation, which is likely in 2028. Comment byu/Arthur_Morgan44469 from discussion inpcgaming By the time Xbox finally releases its handheld, there may be too much competition, both new and old. Nintendo is already planning to release the Switch 2 within the first half of 2025, and Valve could also improve on the Steam Deck. To counter this, Xbox is focusing on other parts of the gaming ecosystem, with growth in cloud and PC gaming. Spencer has highlighted the “healthy future” of the Xbox business, citing increased engagement and Game Pass’s success as critical factors for long-term success. Source link #Late #Microsoft #Xbox #Handheld #Compete #Steam #Deck #Switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Explosions Go Off Near Brazil’s Government Offices Explosions Go Off Near Brazil’s Government Offices Emergency responders worked to extinguish fires, as ***** squads swept the area. Source link #Explosions #Brazils #Government #Offices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG: everything we know so far Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG: everything we know so far There have been several games based on the hit Nickelodeon show Avatar: The Last Airbender, but never one that managed to live up to the source material’s legacy. After The Legend of Korra in 2014, we haven’t had any new games that let us experience the world of elemental bending. That’s all about to change now that Paramount Games and Saber Interactive have announced that a new Avatar AAA RPG is in the works. We’ve mastered all four elements to bring you as much information about this new chapter in the Avatar saga as possible. Release date speculation This new Avatar: The Last Airbender game is so early in development that we don’t even know what its official title is yet. All we know is that the game is in its very early stages and is poised to be “the biggest video game in franchise history.” If this will indeed be a AAA game, we could be waiting four or more years for this game to come to fruition. We’ll keep you updated on the timeline as we get more information. Platforms Avatar: The Last Airbender Nickelodeon No platforms were confirmed for this new Avatar game. Saber Interactive typically releases all its games on every platform, so we would assume it will come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and perhaps even whatever the Switch 2 ends up being. Trailers We have no footage, screenshots, or even concept art for the Avatar game. However, we do know what direction the team is going with the world and story. With the announcement, we learned that this game will feature an “all-new, never-before-seen Avatar” who exists thousands of years before the events of the first series. We will be playing as this unknown Avatar and “can expect to be immersed in a vibrant world, master all four elements, engage in dynamic combat alongside companions, and experience the challenges and decisions that come with being the keeper of balance in the world.” Besides the goal of learning all the elements, there’s not much else we can predict since it will be set so far back in the timeline. Gameplay Nickelodeon This Avatar game is described as a AAA action RPG. Now, action RPGs can take many forms, so how gameplay will function is hard to pin down. Since we will be playing as an Avatar, though, we expect to learn and use all four elements during combat. The mention of companions implies a party of some sort, which could also add new layers to the action. Preorder Sorry, Avatar fans, but this unnamed project is still quite a ways away. As soon as we know when you can preorder it, we will update this page, so stay tuned. Source link #Avatar #Airbender #RPG Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

stocks, news, data and earnings stocks, news, data and earnings ********* markets were heading for a mixed open on Thursday as traders assessed the global inflation outlook and the possible trajectory of central bank rate cuts. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 24 points higher at 8,041, Germany’s DAX 1 point higher at 18,975, France’s CAC up 12 points at 7,223 and Italy’s FTSE MIB down 19 points at 33,404, according to IG data. It’s another busy day of earnings with Siemens, Bilfinger, Merck, Fincantieri, Geox, Generali, Veon, Swiss Re, Burberry, Metro Bank, Aviva and Deutsche Telekom among those reporting during the session. ********* employment figures will also be published on the data front. Investors are assessing the likelihood of another interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve in December after the latest U.S. inflation data. The October consumer price index came in as expected on Wednesday, but signaled that the Federal Reserve’s ****** against inflation is yet to be won. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.3% for a third straight month, with the 12-month rate at 3.3%. Investors are also deliberating whether a post-election rally following Donald Trump’s decisive victory last week still has legs after propelling U.S. major averages to new highs. U.S. stock futures were little changed Wednesday night, and Asia-Pacific markets traded in mixed territory. Source link #stocks #news #data #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is laying off 325 more workers NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is laying off 325 more workers The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA’s research center responsible for robotic space missions, will lay off more workers before the year ends due to budget constraints. JPL Director Laurie Leshin has announced in a memo addressed to employees that the reduction will affect 325 people, or about five percent of its whole workforce. Leshin explained that the lab took various measures to meet its budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year and to minimize the adverse effects of a limited budget on its workers. In the end, though, JPL “reached the difficult decision” to make “one further workforce reduction.” The lab already cut 530 employees and cut over 100 contractors from its roster earlier this year because of uncertainty over the final budget that the Congress will give NASA for 2024. It also froze hiring in response to the dilemma. The main reason why the lab had to implement those measures was because the Mars Sample Return Program was allocated a much smaller budget than it needed. NASA had requested $950 million for the mission, but only $300 million was allocated for it. NASA’s original plan was to bring home the samples collected by the mission in 2040. But its budget ballooned from $7 billion to $11 billion, and as The Washington Post notes, the government found the return date “unacceptable.” For the 2025 fiscal year, NASA only requested $200 million for the project that could go through significant changes. The agency is now looking for ways to alter the mission and is even considering proposals from private companies. Leshin said that the layoffs will affect all areas of the lab, including its technical, business and support divisions. “[W]e had to tighten our belts across the board, and you will see that reflected in the layoff impacts,” she said. JPL’s director also said that the US presidential election results have nothing to do with the reduction that the “action would be happening regardless” of its outcome. Source link #NASAs #Jet #Propulsion #Laboratory #laying #workers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI to present plans for U.S. AI strategy and an alliance to compete with China OpenAI to present plans for U.S. AI strategy and an alliance to compete with China In this photo illustration, the OpenAI logo is displayed on a mobile phone screen with a photo of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Didem Mente | Anadolu | Getty Images OpenAI’s official “blueprint for U.S. AI infrastructure” involves artificial intelligence economic zones, tapping the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power experience and government projects funded by private investors, according to a document viewed by CNBC, which the company plans to present on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The blueprint also outlines a North ********* AI alliance to compete with China’s initiatives and a National Transmission Highway Act “as ambitious as the 1956 National Interstate and Defense Highways Act.” In the document, OpenAI outlines a rosy future for AI, calling it “as foundational a technology as electricity, and promising similarly distributed access and benefits.” The company wrote that investment in U.S. AI will lead to tens of thousands of jobs, GDP growth, a modernized grid that includes nuclear power, a new group of chip manufacturing facilities and billions of dollars in investment from global funds. Now that Donald Trump is President-elect, OpenAI has made clear its plans to work with the new administration on AI policy, and the company’s Wednesday presentation outlines its plans. Trump plans to repeal President Biden’s executive order on AI, according to his campaign platform, stating that it “hinders AI Innovation, and imposes ******** Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology” and that “in its place, Republicans support AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” OpenAI’s presentation outlines AI economic zones co-created by state and federal governments “to give states incentives to speed up permitting and approvals for AI infrastructure.” The company envisions building new solar arrays and wind farms and getting unused nuclear reactors cleared for use. “States that provide subsidies or other support for companies launching infrastructure projects could require that a share of the new compute be made available to their public universities to create AI research labs and developer hubs aligned with their key commercial sectors,” OpenAI wrote. OpenAI also wrote that it foresees a “National Transmission Highway Act” that could expand power, fiber connectivity and natural gas pipeline construction. The company wrote it needs “new authority and funding to unblock the planning, permitting, and payment for transmission,” and that existing procedures aren’t keeping pace with AI-driven demand. The blueprints say, “The government can encourage private investors to fund high-cost energy infrastructure projects by committing to purchase energy and other means that lessen credit risk.” A North ********* AI Alliance and investment in more U.S. data centers OpenAI also foresees a North ********* AI alliance of Western countries that could eventually expand to a global network, such as a “Gulf Cooperation Council with the UAE and others in that region.” The company also outlined its vision for nuclear power, writing that although China “has built as much nuclear power capacity in 10 years as the US built in 40,” the U.S. Navy operates about 100 small modular reactors (SMRs) to power naval submarines, and leveraging the Navy’s expertise could lead to building more civilian SMRs. OpenAI’s infrastructure blueprint aligns with what Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s head of global policy, told CNBC in a recent interview. He sees the Midwest and Southwest as potential core areas for AI investment. “Parts of the country that have been ‘left behind,’ as we enter the digital age, where so much of the economics and particularly economic benefits flow to the two coasts… Areas like the midwest and the southwest are going to be the types of places where you have the land and ability to do wind farms and to do solar facilities, and potentially to do some part of the energy transition — potentially do nuclear facilities,” Lehane said. The infrastructure, Lehane explained, is contingent on the U.S. maintaining a lead over China in AI. “[In] Kansas and Iowa, which sits on top of an enormous amount of agricultural data, think about standing up a data center,” Lehane said. “One gigawatt, which is a lot, taking, you know, 200-250 megawatts, a quarter of that, and doing something with their public university systems to create an agricultural-based LLM or inference model that would really serve their community but also make them a center of agricultural AI.” Lehane cited an estimate that the US will need 50 gigawatts of energy by 2030 to support the AI ​​industry’s needs and to compete against China, especially when the country approved 20 nuclear reactors over the past two years and 11 more for next year. “We don’t have a choice,” Lehane said. “We do have to compete with that.” WATCH: OpenAI launches ChatGPT search Source link #OpenAI #present #plans #U.S #strategy #alliance #compete #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kids Wants Video Games More Than Money For The Holidays, Study Finds Kids Wants Video Games More Than Money For The Holidays, Study Finds It’s not a big surprise, but a lot of children want video games for the holidays. The Entertainment Software Association, which represents the US video game industry’s interests in Washington D.C., has released the results of a study that says kids aged 10-17 overwhelmingly want video games for Christmas and the holiday season in general. A survey found that 76% of kids plan to ask their parents or caregiver for video games, outpacing money (67%), clothes (66%), and general tech items like phones and smartwatches (62%). Both ****** (67%) and boys (87%) said they planned to ask for video games this holiday season. Breaking things down further, the top five game-related items that children want are consoles (47%), subscription services (43%), console games (41%), game gear (41%), and in-game currency (38%). The survey also looked into the spending predictions for US adults and found that those who are planning to buy video game gifts said they planned to spend $312 on average for themselves or others. The Financial Times reported this week about what is expected to be a challenging holiday shopping season for video game hardware. The publication cited Gareth Sutcliffe, an analyst for Enders Analysis, saying, “It would be difficult to imagine a holiday season that is less exciting than this one when it comes to gaming hardware.” Sutcliffe added, “It’s fairly grim this year.” Video game hardware sales are trending down across the board, with Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch sales falling year-over-year, a trend that’s expected to continue when Circana releases its latest monthly report for October later this month. Sony just released the PS5 Pro, but the console is aimed at a very small tech-enthusiast market rather than the general consumer. To help spur sales, Microsoft temporarily cut the price of the Xbox Series X by $50. A trailer from Sony showed a $20 discount for the digital edition of the PS5 Slim until Christmas Eve, but the company has since edited that trailer to remove mention of the discount without explanation. Nintendo, meanwhile, just announced its own set of ****** Friday deals, including discounts on Switch bundles. Nintendo is expected to announce the Switch 2 in the next few months. As for the ESA, it lobbies lawmakers in Washington to help convince them to keep regulations at bay. The ESA wants to see the video game industry self-regulate as opposed to having the government step in. The ESA recently congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his victory, extending praise also to the senators and representatives who make up the 119th Congress. “We look forward to working with the Trump administration and the incoming Congress in support of policies that help to ensure that we can continue to captivate and engage the more than 190 million Americans that play video games regularly,” the ESA said. Source link #Kids #Video #Games #Money #Holidays #Study #Finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: Disinterested Tyson agitates Paul at odd news conference Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: Disinterested Tyson agitates Paul at odd news conference Mike Tyson spoke just a few words, Jake Paul made crude references and Briton Tony Bellew was escorted out of the arena by security at a baffling news conference in Texas. Former world heavyweight champion Tyson, 58, will face YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul, 27, at Dallas’ AT&T Stadium on Friday. Tyson has not fought as a professional in 19 years and appeared disinterested as Paul dominated the microphone. Paul tried to goad Tyson by asking him about comments made in a documentary where the former champion described himself as “natural born *******”. Tyson refused to play ball. “That’s what I said,” he replied. Perhaps the most bizarre moment at Wednesday’s event at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving came when Liverpool’s Bellew inaudibly shouted into a microphone – which he had brought along – from the press area. The chaos was quite fitting for an event criticised by many boxing purists, but it was given some credibility by the presence of pound-for-pound greats Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Light-welterweight champion Taylor edged her rival to win by split decision in an all-time classic in 2022. The pair – who will compete for the undisputed title in the chief support – conducted themselves appropriately to build up to the richest ****** in female boxing. Source link #Mike #Tyson #Jake #Paul #Disinterested #Tyson #agitates #Paul #odd #news #conference Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LEGO Horizon Adventures Review | The Vault Reviews LEGO Horizon Adventures Review | The Vault Reviews “Clocking in at a fairly short six-to-eight hours, Lego Horizon Adventures offers up frequent, brief bursts of fun with its excellent combat encounters. However, this is wrapped up in an experience that feels way too shallow and repetitive to recommend to anyone other than the most enthusiastic Horizon and Lego fans. It’s clear that the intention is to woo new, younger gamers to Sony’s flagship franchise, but if you already own Zero Dawn and Forbidden West on PlayStation, we can’t see any reason why you’d want to check this one out. Mind you, if all you’ve got is a Switch, then this endearingly light-hearted introduction will have to do for now. It could have been so much more, though.” – Ollie Reynolds | NintendoLife Source link #LEGO #Horizon #Adventures #Review #Vault #Reviews Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD to Cut Four Percent of Global Workforce as it Focusses on AI Chip Development AMD to Cut Four Percent of Global Workforce as it Focusses on AI Chip Development Advanced Micro Devices is laying off four percent of its global workforce, or about 1,000 employees, as it directs efforts towards developing AI chips in a bid to compete against industry bellwether Nvidia. AMD is regarded as the closest rival to Nvidia in the lucrative market for chips that form the brains of complex data centers that can process the large mounds of data used by generative AI technology like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. “As a part of aligning our resources with our largest growth opportunities, we are taking a number of targeted steps,” an AMD spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday. Revenue in AMD’s data center segment, which houses its AI graphics processors, jumped more than two-fold in the September quarter. On the other hand, the personal computer segment grew 29%, while sales in its gaming unit slumped about 69 percent during the *******. Analysts expect the data center unit to grow 98 percent in 2024, outpacing expected total revenue growth of 13 percent, according to an average of estimates compiled by LSEG. The company has been investing heavily to develop AI chips which command high selling prices and are in high demand among so-called hyperscalers like Microsoft. AMD plans to start mass production of a new version of its artificial-intelligence chip called the MI325X in the fourth quarter of the year. Ramping up production of AI chips is an expensive undertaking due to constrained manufacturing capacity. The company’s research and development costs jumped close to nine percent in the third quarter, while its total cost of sales rose by 11 percent. Shares of AMD have dropped more than three percent so far this year, as the company struggles to live up to investors’ high expectations after Wall Street drove a two-fold surge in its shares last year, ******** on the returns linked with AI technology. © Thomson Reuters 2024 (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source link #AMD #Cut #Percent #Global #Workforce #Focusses #Chip #Development Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Emil ‘Bill’ Petrov trial: Slain mum Cindy Crossthwaite ‘repositioned’ after *********, court told Emil ‘Bill’ Petrov trial: Slain mum Cindy Crossthwaite ‘repositioned’ after *********, court told The trial of a man accused of the “horrific” ******* of his estranged wife has been told her body was repositioned and covered with a pink blanket. Source link #Emil #Bill #Petrov #trial #Slain #mum #Cindy #Crossthwaite #repositioned #********* #court #told Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The PlayStation 5 just got a discount in time for the holidays The PlayStation 5 just got a discount in time for the holidays PlayStation announced its big holiday deal on Tuesday, discounting the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition by $70 from now until December 24, 2024. The of the console will start at $380, down from its standard $450 price. That’s a pretty sizable discount on the latest version of the base edition PS5. This deal is clearly targeted at holiday shoppers. ****** Friday is coming up, so this also serves as PlayStation hardware’s big savings for later this month. After Christmas, it’ll be back up to its regular price. While getting a mainline console for under $400 these days is always worth checking out, the discount isn’t as drastic as it seems on the surface. For one, the vertical stand is sold separately. As this is the digital version, it also doesn’t come with a disc drive, which can also be bought separately. If you want the ability to play physical games or have flexibility in setting up the PS5, you’re out of luck unless you don’t mind spending $80 on a (currently out of stock on the PlayStation Direct store) or $30 for the . Also, $380 is only $20 less than the $400 the PS5 Digital Edition cost at launch in 2020. Put together, this ***** is still less expensive than the PS5 Slim with a built-in disc drive. This version hasn’t been discounted for the holidays and still costs $500 — and the vertical stand is sold separately, a fact that seems to be quickly becoming a meme if the comments on the YouTube video above are any indication. The PS5 Slim replaced the infamously chunky PS5 Sony released in 2020. It doesn’t change much about the launch console, but it’s thinner and has slightly more storage. There also aren’t any differences between the Digital Edition and regular edition besides the disc drive. If you have the money to spare this holiday and need the best frame rates possible, there’s also the PS5 Pro, which launched earlier this month for $700 (disc drive and vertical stand sold separately). Source link #PlayStation #discount #time #holidays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi AI Glasses Reportedly in Development With Goertek; to Compete With Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Xiaomi AI Glasses Reportedly in Development With Goertek; to Compete With Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Xiaomi is working on a pair of smart glasses that offer support for features backed by artificial intelligence (AI) in collaboration with Apple supplier Goertek, according to a report. Other firms like Meta, Snap, and Baidu have either launched or unveiled glasses equipped with cameras, and Xiaomi’s purported wearable is also expected to offer similar functionality. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun reportedly expects the company to ship over 300,000 units of the product, which could be launched next year. Xiaomi AI Glasses Launch Timeline (Expected) According to an IT Home report (in ********), Xiaomi is developing a pair of AI glasses in partnership with Goertek. This device has reportedly been designed to offer AI features. It is said to have been in development for a few months, and the company could unveil it in China in Q2 2025, as a Xiaomi-branded wearable. The purported AI glasses from Xiaomi will reportedly offer features found on similar devices, such as the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Review), which were recently updated with support for AI functionality. Xiaomi plans to equip the AI glasses with camera and audio modules, as per the report. The publication claims that Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun expects the company to ship “above 300,000 units” of the AI glasses. It is currently unclear whether the device will be launched in markets outside China, including India. Xiaomi’s AI glasses are expected to compete with the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which are yet to make their debut in India. Earlier this week, Baidu unveiled the Xiaodu AI Glasses its first smart glasses equipped with a 16-megapixel camera and a four-microphone array. The ******** search giant’s wearable is designed to work with its native large language models (LLMs), and it can answer a user’s queries in real time, according to the company. While Meta already sells a pair of smart glasses, the company recently showed off a prototype called Meta Orion, that is capable of displaying information on the glasses, providing a form of heads up display to a user. However, these AR glasses are unlikely to be launched until 2027, the company revealed while announcing the device. Source link #Xiaomi #Glasses #Reportedly #Development #Goertek #Compete #RayBan #Meta #Smart #Glasses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What has Marco Rubio said about China, Iran, ******* and Ukraine? What has Marco Rubio said about China, Iran, ******* and Ukraine? *********** presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) react during a campaign event at Dorton Arena, in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. November 4, 2024. Jonathan Drake | Reuters President-Elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, arguably the world’s most important diplomat, could change the dial when it comes to the U.S.’ relationship with both its enemies and its allies. Rubio, considered a foreign policy hawk, has been intensely critical of China and Iran, which are considered the U.S.’ top economic and geopolitical adversaries, but has also been ambivalent about ongoing support for Ukraine, echoing Trump’s stance that the war with Russia must come to an end. Serving as the vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio was officially tapped to be secretary of state by Trump late Wednesday as he appointed his top team for the White House following his decisive election win last week. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform. Rubio’s nomination, along with his assertive position on foreign policy matters and criticism of America’s rivals, could ease concerns among U.S. allies that the world’s most powerful economy retreat from the global stage, given Trump’s “America First” policy. Ahead of his nomination, and after Trump’s election win, Rubio told CNN that the U.S. was entering “an era of pragmatic foreign policy.” “The world is rapidly changing. You know, adversaries are uniting — in North Korea, Iran, China, Russia — [and] increasingly coordinating,” Rubio said. “It is going to require us to be very pragmatic and wise in how we invest overseas and what we do.” The relationship between Trump and Rubio has not always been easy. Both men ran for president in 2016, bitterly clashing as they campaigned for the *********** nomination with Trump describing Rubio as “Little Marco,” and Rubio making fun of Trump’s “small hands.” At that time, Rubio was critical of Trump’s isolationist foreign policy stance. Back in 2016 he said “the world without ********* engagement is a world none of us wants to live with,” arguing against Trump’s position that the U.S. gives more than it gets from its interactions with the international community. US Senator Marco Rubio speaks during a campaign rally for former US President and *********** presidential candidate Donald Trump in Doral, Florida, on July 9, 2024. Giorgio Viera | AFP | Getty Images Rubio has since made peace with the president-elect, however, backing him in his presidential campaign. Rubio’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to his new role, but here’s a snapshot of the 53-year-old politician’s comments on some of the U.S.’ biggest foreign policy challenges, signaling what we might expect from the incoming secretary of state: China JIUJIANG, CHINA – JUNE 17: A worker manufactures seamless steel gas cylinders for export at the workshop of Sinoma Science & Technology (Jiujiang) Co., Ltd. on June 17, 2024 in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province of China. Wei Dongsheng | Visual China Group | Getty Images “This report should serve as a wakeup call to lawmakers, CEOs, and investors,” Rubio said, calling for “a whole-of-society effort to rebuild our country, overcome the China challenge, and keep the torch of freedom lit for generations to come.” There’s no love lost for Rubio in Beijing. In 2020, Rubio and other top U.S. officials were sanctioned by China during a round of ****-for-tat sanctions by Beijing and Washington. Iran and ******* It’s uncertain how a Trump administration, and future Secretary of State Rubio, will approach Iran with both Republicans giving off mixed signals when it comes to a punitive or more pragmatic policy stance. Trump caused international consternation in his first term in office by ripping up the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposing biting sanctions on Iran, with critics warning that Iran’s nuclear weapons capability would be achieved sooner rather than later, as a result. Ahead of his election win last week, Trump signaled he was open to reaching a new nuclear agreement with Iran, however, telling reporters in New York, “sure, I would do that.” “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal,” he said, in comments reported by Politico. U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order imposing new sanctions on Iran, in the Oval Office at the White House on June 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson | Getty Images For its part, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that the country “will have to deal with the U.S. in the regional and international arena,” Reuters reported, signaling Iran could also be open to talks. A new nuclear deal might not go down well in *******, however, a country Trump cast himself as a “protector” of during his election campaign. Rubio too has been a vocal critic of Iran and a staunch supporter of ******* as it continues its attacks on Iranian proxies, the militant groups ****** and Hezbollah, in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively. In late September, Rubio gave his backing to the ******** airstrike that ******* Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, telling NBC News that “******* has no choice but to defend itself. Wiping out not just Nasrallah, but the senior leadership of this evil organization, I think, is a service to humanity.” He also said Iran’s goal in the Middle East was to “seek to drive America out of the region and then ******** *******.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, *********** of Florida, greets former U.S. President and *********** presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on October 29, 2024. Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images Rubio has not ruled out taking a pragmatic approach to Tehran either, telling NBC News that “if the Iranian regime tomorrow said, ‘We’re going to stop trying to become the regional power, we’re going to stop our nuclear weapons, we’re going to stop sponsoring terrorism, we’re going to stop trying to ***** you —which is what they’re trying to do with Donald Trump — we’re going to stop all of these things,’ theoretically, yes. Of course, you could work something like that out.” Still, he added that the scenario was “unlikely because that’s the very driving mission and purpose of the regime.” Iran has denied U.S. charges that Tehran was linked to an alleged plot to ***** Trump. Ukraine It’s widely agreed that the incoming Trump administration will be far more hostile toward granting Ukraine more military aid, significantly inhibiting its ability to continue to ****** back against Russia. It’s also seen as likely that a *********** administration will push Kyiv into peace talks with Russia in which it will be forced to concede occupied land to its neighbor as part of a peace deal. Rubio has insisted he is “not on Russia’s side” but he told NBC News in late September that “unfortunately the reality of it is that the way the war in Ukraine is going to end is with a negotiated settlement.” “We hope that when that time comes, there is more leverage on the Ukrainian side than on the Russian side. That really is the goal here, in my mind. And I think that’s what [former President] Donald Trump is trying to say,” Rubio said. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks on Day 2 of the *********** National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters The senator was initially a vocal supporter of Ukraine but his, and other Republicans’ backing has waned as the funding bill has racked up after 32 months of war, and as domestic issues remain unresolved. Rubio was among a small group of hardline Republicans that voted in April against a $95 billion aid package to help Ukraine, Taiwan and *******, saying he opposed the bill because the U.S. was not doing enough to tackle its own domestic challenges, such as border security and immigration. Source link #Marco #Rubio #China #Iran #******* #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]