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Eddie Jones has chip on shoulder: England’s Cipriani Eddie Jones has chip on shoulder: England’s Cipriani It is nearly two years since Eddie Jones was sacked by England but former players continue to bash the *********** coach who led them to three Six Nations titles and the 2019 World Cup final. Danny Cipriani is the latest, accusing Jones of an overly confrontational approach with “a chip on his shoulder” who is “always in a ******”. The comments made by Cipriani, who won two caps under Jones and was left out of the squad for the 2019 World Cup, echo similar accusations by Danny Care, who described a toxic environment akin to a “dictatorship” in his recent autobiography. Reflecting on his abridged international career under Jones, Cipriani said: “My experiences of Eddie are he probably felt that I would stand up to him too much and he didn’t feel like he could bully me, so he just didn’t bring me into the environment. “I’m not here to bash Eddie, (but) as an individual he’s not somebody that I’d want to lead my country, because of the way he carries himself. Cipriani, who had a spell with Melbourne Rebels, said: “That’s his experience of the world. I know he’s had a tough one and he’s got his chip on his shoulder and he leads with that everywhere he goes, and he’s always in a ******. “I don’t think he’s happy with the way he’s behaving and the way he is. I think it’s all he knows how to do, so I also have compassion for him.” Cipriani was widely credited with having saved Jones’ job in 2018 by setting up the try that secured a victory against South ******* in the final Test with the Springboks having already taken a 2-0 lead, in what was to be the last of his 16 appearances for England. Cipriani added: “You can win games in rugby doing whatever you want to do, because we’ve got so many good players, but I don’t really judge you as a coach on that. “It’s more how do you uplift a nation, how do you inspire players and get them play outside of themselves. When coaches do that then I’m listening. “I found Eddie difficult in that sense, because I was turning water into wine one season and he didn’t even pick me, so it was ****.” The 37-year-old Cipriani was speaking ahead of a charity match, his first outing in two years, blending the rugby codes to raise funds to research and support those living with Motor Neurone ********. Sunday’s match at Headingley was contrived by the late Rob Burrow and Cipriani’s former England team-mate Ed Slater, who was diagnosed in 2022. It is dubbed the ‘745 Game’ in honour of the shirt numbers worn by Burrow, Slater and Scotland union great Doddie Weir, and will be played under a series of unique cross-code rules. Source link #Eddie #Jones #chip #shoulder #Englands #Cipriani Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 are Tired of Asking for the Same ******* All Call of Duty Fans Enjoy and ****** the Sh*t Out of Helldivers 2 are Tired of Asking for the Same ******* All Call of Duty Fans Enjoy and ****** the Sh*t Out of When it comes to spreading managed democracy across the galaxy, Helldivers 2 players have access to an impressive arsenal of weapons and stratagems. From orbital strikes to laser cannons, Arrowhead has made sure that defenders of Super Earth are well-equipped for their mission. Yet, there’s one particular ******* that players have been clamoring for since launch—something that Call of Duty enthusiasts have been enjoying (and arguably abusing) for years. The community’s creativity and persistence in requesting this addition has spawned countless memes and fan concepts. The Juggernaut in Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6. | Image Credit: Activision As Helldivers 2 continues to evolve with each update, this particular omission becomes more noticeable, especially given how perfectly it would fit into the game’s “more dakka” philosophy of freedom distribution. The Most Requested Addition to Helldivers 2‘s Arsenal The community’s ******* for this particular ******* has reached new heights, with players designing detailed mockups of how it could work in-game: This concept art, clearly inspired by Call of Duty‘s infamous ****** Machine, has sparked renewed discussion about how such a ******* could be implemented. Some players are even willing to make “generous” offers to see it happen: Comment byu/Downtown-Menu7710 from discussion inHelldivers The recent updates, courtesy of the 60-day plan, have shown that Arrowhead listens to their community, evidently bringing many players back to the game. Some fans believe this would be the perfect next step: Comment byu/Downtown-Menu7710 from discussion inHelldivers The timing couldn’t be better for such an addition. With the game’s player base experiencing a significant resurgence thanks to recent updates, a Super Earth-sanctioned Gatling **** could be just the thing to bring even more democracy-loving patriots back into the fold. After all, nothing says “managed democracy” quite like a belt-fed freedom dispenser. Beyond Basic Bullet Democracy Bringing out the big guns. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTube Of course, the Helldivers 2 community isn’t just asking for a simple copy of what Call of Duty‘s Juggernaut has on offer—they’re imagining something that truly fits the game’s unique style and mechanics: Comment byu/Downtown-Menu7710 from discussion inHelldivers Of course, some players are already joking about the potential cost of such devastating firepower, drawing parallels to another beloved gaming classic: Comment byu/Downtown-Menu7710 from discussion inHelldivers While players patiently await official news about such an addition, the enthusiasm hasn’t dimmed: Comment byu/Downtown-Menu7710 from discussion inHelldivers The potential for this ******* goes beyond just mowing down bugs and bots. It could represent a new tactical option for teams, especially when combined with existing stratagems and support weapons. Imagine providing covering ***** while your teammates call in orbital strikes, or creating a wall of bullets to protect your squad during extraction. Whether Arrowhead will answer these calls ******** to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: the community’s creativity and passion continue to demonstrate why Helldivers 2 has become such a beloved game. What do you think about this potential addition to the Helldivers 2 arsenal? How would you implement it to maintain game balance while maximizing the fun factor? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Helldivers #Tired #******* #Call #Duty #Fans #Enjoy #****** #Sht Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘A phenomenon’: how World of Warcraft smashed out of geekdom and conquered gaming | World of Warcraft ‘A phenomenon’: how World of Warcraft smashed out of geekdom and conquered gaming | World of Warcraft In 2004, Holly Longdale was a game designer on EverQuest, then the champion of a new genre of video game that allowed for multiplayer role-playing on a huge scale. In these online fantasy worlds, players could quest together rather than alone, adding a fascinating new social – and competitive – dimension to the static, offline role-playing that Holly’s generation had grown up with. But whenever she could, Longdale would sneak in a few hours playing EverQuest’s main competitor instead. That game was World of Warcraft (WoW). “There were so many moments in WoW I was envious of,” she says, “and completely lost in. I remember running through Ashenvale as a Night Elf Hunter and the music and the ambience – there was a mood you couldn’t deny. Then I saw another player running in the opposite direction, a Druid who buffed me on their way by. That was when I knew I was going to be in this for the long-haul.” Twenty years later, Longdale is now WoW’s VP and executive producer at its developer, Blizzard, as well as one of millions who embraced the game as part of their lives. By 2021, players had collectively clocked up a total playtime of nearly 9m years For two decades, World of Warcraft has been emblematic of nerd culture, referenced everywhere from South Park to The Big Bang Theory to Family Guy. WoW became a useful shorthand not just for a certain type of gamer, but any and all geeky, nerdy and dorky subcultures. In the 00s, it was advertised by the likes of Ozzy Osborne, Chuck Norris and Mr T, with his infamous Night Elf Mohawk. It counts Henry Cavill, Mila Kunis and Vin Diesel among its fans, while a movie adaptation in 2016 grossed $439m, without being particularly good. In 2021, Blizzard revealed that players had collectively clocked up a total playtime of nearly 9m years. ‘WoW is more than a game’ … Holly Longdale at BlizzCon 2023. Photograph: Robert Paul/© Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. There were certainly other role-playing games prior to WoW’s release in 2004. But 3D graphics were still in their infancy. The likes of Star Wars Galaxies and Everquest had large, mostly barren worlds that relied on reams of in-game text for exposition, and clunky rules lifted from tabletop games. Then along came Blizzard – a developer that had made its name and a small fortune from superb online competitive strategy games such as StarCraft and Warcraft III. Unlike its competitors, WoW’s world of Azeroth felt lived-in, with gorgeous scenic vistas and vast numbers of animals and monsters prowling its landscapes. Iconic bright-yellow exclamation marks hovered above the heads of non-player characters, letting you know a quest awaited. And, of course, you’d see other players everywhere, taming beasts, taking down monsters for quests, drinking in inns, mining ore or just running by in high-level gear that filled you with jealousy as you struggled to tackle a pack of lowly Murlocs. It was the social side of the game that came to define early WoW. The world’s tightly curated zones encouraged players to stumble across other people as they quested through Azeroth. And when you created your character, you had to pick between two factions, Alliance and Horde, giving players an immediate sense of allegiance. Whether it was grouping up to tackle dungeons, rallying into 40-person bands to take down colossal raid-bosses, or even rushing the ****** capital as an army of low-level cannon-fodder, seemingly every player has a story about their time in Azeroth. A perfect storm is brewing … World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. Photograph: Blizzard Entertainment I still romanticise my role in sneaking up to the Alliance capital of Stormwind alongside a group of low-level Undead Rogues. What we’d imagined as a daring raid ended up with us running for our lives. Another time, I asked a better-geared passerby for help taking down a particularly tough monster in the Night Elf zone of Darkshore, only to end up chatting to him for hours. I messaged that same player for months after. WoW was quite simply a phenomenon. Blizzard had to more than double its headcount within a year, employing legions of people to answer players’ questions, solve their technical issues and keep servers up and running. WoW racked up staggering subscriber counts, boosted further by the release of two expansion packs: The Burning Crusade in 2007 and Wrath of the Lich King in 2008. By 2010, more than 12 million players had active monthly subscriptions. Some called themselves WoWaholics. Other players found WoW to be an escape from the limitations of real life, as evidenced by the touching story of Mats Steen, recently told in the Netflix documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin. Mats had muscular dystrophy before his untimely ****** at 25, but he was living a vibrant life inside WoW, a life of which his parents were totally unaware until his online friends sent long messages from all over Europe telling them how their son had touched their lives. Five members of Mats’ WoW guild went to Norway for his ********. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald’s weekly look at the world of gaming Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion The way we’re social on the internet has changed – and WoW is a reflection of that But no game can stay in the spotlight for ever. While WoW went from strength to strength in its first six years, as the game aged, so did its players. As then lead game designer, now game director, Ion Hazzikostas put it in 2014: “The person who picked up the game in 2004, who was a student with tons of free time, is now a career person with a family.” Blizzard had to attract a new generation, while keeping existing fans. For the 2010 Cataclysm expansion, a decision was made to shake up the game through a massive revamp of its world, with a new design philosophy suited to faster gameplay that it was thought modern gamers demanded. The changes are still controversial. Questing through Azeroth today is a scarcely recognisable experience compared to those early years. WoW has had several distinct eras: there’s the classic WoW era running up to Wrath of the Lich King (2004-8); the world revamp that defined Cataclysm (2010) through to Warlords of Draenor (2014); the pivot to a long endgame grind, where players could become endlessly more powerful in Legion (2016) through Shadowlands (2020); and WoW’s modern era, beginning with Dragonflight (2022) and continuing into the recently launched expansion The War Within (2024). These “eras” are so distinct that it feels as though the game reinvents itself every six or so years. The social aspect has also changed with the times. As Taliesin – one half of the husband and wife WoW YouTube duo Taliesin & Evitel – puts it: “The way we’re social on the internet has changed – and WoW is a reflection of that; 2004 was a time of message boards and forums and a more ‘underground’ internet. The internet today is much shorter and sharper. It’s TikTok, it’s all your social media focused on one or two megasites. What we do socially on the internet has changed, and so has WoW.” Anger … protesters in 2021. Photograph: David McNew/AFP/Getty Images It’s common to hear complaints that WoW has changed so much that its original spirit has been lost. Players have often been left confused about design decisions they felt were inconsistent with the traditional experience. Unfortunately for Blizzard, these reached their peak following the launch of Shadowlands in 2020, precisely when a perfect storm was brewing for the company. Not only was game development upended by Covid, but in 2021 Blizzard was hit with a lawsuit brought by California’s department of fair employment, accusing it of fostering a “frat boy” workplace culture, with ******* harassment and poor treatment of women. The lawsuit had wide-reaching implications for the company and the wider gaming industry. Several senior executives, including Blizzard’s president J Allen Brack, stood down, and the company agreed to pay millions to address gender discrimination and wage inequality concerns. The suit ultimately contributed to the formation of the first labour union at a major US gaming firm. Within WoW specifically, the suit led to rapid changes in-game. Characters named after accused abusers were renamed and many in-game assets deemed inappropriate in light of the allegations, such as sexualised depictions of women, were replaced or tweaked. Many of the changes were ridiculed by the playerbase, who urged Blizzard to combat toxicity, rather than “turning women into fruit bowls”. Showdown in Azeroth … a WoW battle. Photograph: Blizzard Entertainment Longdale had only just joined Blizzard in 2020 when the lawsuit kicked off. “It was heartbreaking,” she says. “I was only a few months in. To see the team just devastated, wondering what the future will be, was truly heartbreaking.” The fallout, combined with the already-present malaise about the state of the game, could easily have been the beginning of the end for WoW. But a commitment from both the WoW team and the new Blizzard leadership to build back better meant the game held on. “What I’m really proud of,” says Longdale, “is that the diversity of our team has grown significantly. There’s a lot more ‘voice’ in the content that we make now – and people are creating content that is very personal, based on their own experiences.” Every time WoW seemed at risk of losing relevance over the years, it has managed to reinvent itself and claw its way back. And while its cultural reach has lessened over time, the impact it’s had is undeniable. ountless fantasy roleplaying worlds and characters have been inspired by WoW’s pantheon of heroes. The game is in the DNA of every subsequent generation of video games that have been developed since 2004. While the WoW of today may not spark that same wonder that early players felt roaming the green hills of Stranglethorn or taking that first ship from Kalimdor to the Eastern Kingdoms back in 2004, the fact it’s still going, and still changing, is testament to the incredible foundations it ***** down 20 years ago. And as for WoW’s future? “My goal, and I think the team’s goal, is that WoW is more than a game,” says Longdale. “It’s essentially part of your lifestyle. It can be for your friends, it can be for parents playing with their kids. It’s a charming fantasy world that connects you with people.” Source link #phenomenon #World #Warcraft #smashed #geekdom #conquered #gaming #World #Warcraft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What to know about Sen. John Thune, the new *********** leader in the Senate What to know about Sen. John Thune, the new *********** leader in the Senate Thune elected Senate *********** leader John Thune elected Senate *********** leader as Mitch McConnell steps down 02:39 Washington — Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected Sen. John Thune as leader, anointing a new standard bearer to replace Mitch McConnell at the party’s helm in the upper chamber. The South Dakota *********** is set to lead the Senate as majority leader in the new Congress, after Republicans flipped the chamber in the 2024 elections. Who is John Thune? Thune, 63, currently serves as the GOP whip, the No. 2 *********** role. With a long history in leadership, he chaired the Senate *********** Policy Committee from 2009 to 2011, and served as conference chair from 2012 to 2018. The South Dakota *********** was first elected to the Senate in 2004, after representing South Dakota in the House. Before coming to Congress, Thune served in the Small Business Administration under former President Ronald Reagan and as executive director of the South Dakota *********** Party. Senate ********* Whip John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate *********** policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Thune is well respected in the conference and seen as a leader capable of taking the reins long held by McConnell. Thune’s history with Trump The South Dakota *********** hasn’t always had a strong relationship with the president-elect, and was critical of his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and the ******* on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Thune initially endorsed Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina in the *********** presidential primaries. But Thune has worked to mend the relationship in recent months, and pledged in the leadup to the leadership race to work with the president-elect to advance his priorities. “As Congress returns to Washington, we must prepare the Senate to advance President Trump’s agenda legislatively and ensure that the president-elect can hit the ground running with his appointees confirmed as soon as possible,” Thune said in a post on X on Tuesday. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Sen #John #Thune #*********** #leader #Senate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beirut ******** victims’ $1.68 billion Iran judgment overturned by US appeals court Beirut ******** victims’ $1.68 billion Iran judgment overturned by US appeals court By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday threw out a $1.68 billion judgment against Iran’s central bank that had been won by family members of troops ******* and injured in the 1983 ******** of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said a lower court judge should have addressed questions of state law before ruling against Bank Markazi and Luxembourg intermediary Clearstream Banking, a unit of Deutsche Boerse. In a 3-0 decision, the panel also rejected a claim that a 2019 federal law designed to make it easier to seize Iranian assets held outside the ******* States waived Bank Markazi’s sovereign immunity. That law “neither abrogates Bank Markazi’s jurisdictional immunity nor provides an independent grant of subject matter jurisdiction,” Circuit Judge Robert Sack wrote. The court returned the case to U.S. District Loretta Preska in Manhattan to address state law questions in the 11-year-old case, and whether the case can proceed at all in Bank Markazi’s absence. ******** victims sought to hold Iran liable for providing material support for the Oct. 23, 1983, ******** ******* that ******* 241 U.S. service members, by seizing bond proceeds held by Clearstream in a blocked account on Bank Markazi’s behalf. Bank Markazi claimed immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which generally shields foreign governments from liability in U.S. courts. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bank Markazi’s and Clearstream’s lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests. Iran, other U.S.-designated sponsors of terrorism, and banks accused of providing services to terrorists face thousands of claims in U.S. courts by victims and their families. It is often difficult for these claimants to collect judgments. In the Bank Markazi case, the plaintiffs sued in 2013 to partially satisfy a $2.65 billion default judgment they had won against Iran in 2007. Another judge dismissed the case in 2015, but the 2nd Circuit revived it in 2017. Then in 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a fresh review in light of the 2019 law, which then-President Donald Trump signed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The plaintiffs have said they hold more than $4 billion of judgments against Iran and have been unable to collect for decades. The case is Peterson et al v. Bank Markazi et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-690. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Source link #Beirut #******** #victims #billion #Iran #judgment #overturned #appeals #court Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

World War Z “Sin City Apocalypse” Update Arrives Dec. 5, and Here’s a Preview of What’s Incoming World War Z “Sin City Apocalypse” Update Arrives Dec. 5, and Here’s a Preview of What’s Incoming This looks like a great update. The deadliest ****** against the undead begins today! The new “Battle of Arizona” update is now available and free for all players in World War Z: Aftermath, the ultimate co-op zombie shooter from Saber Interactive inspired by Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster film. “Battle of Arizona” introduces a brand-new map for players. Source link #World #War #Sin #City #Apocalypse #Update #Arrives #Dec #Heres #Preview #Whats #Incoming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cooler Master launches a souped-up version of the Amazon Basics CPU cooler — Hyper 411 Nano hits the market for SFF builds Cooler Master launches a souped-up version of the Amazon Basics CPU cooler — Hyper 411 Nano hits the market for SFF builds Cooler Master launched the Hyper 411 Nano to rival the best CPU coolers. The Hyper 411 Nano is the successor to the Hyper 410R, which gave life to the Amazon Basics CPU Cooler. The Hyper 411 Nano is a single-tower air cooler with a single ****** fan, perfect for placing in small form factor PC builds. This little cooler is compatible with multiple generations of Intel and AMD processors, so you can pick this cooling solution whether you’re building a PC with the latest parts or just changing your current computer’s cooling solution. The 411 Nano has an all-****** aesthetic, although Cooler Master says it will launch an ARGB version in early 2025. The Hyper 411 Nano is Cooler Master’s latest addition to the Hyper series of air coolers, expanding its portfolio of small CPU coolers with an even smaller model that would fit the most compact CPU cases. This cooler has four heat pipes that directly contact the processor’s integrated heat spreader (IHS) for more efficient heat removal, while it uses a single 92mm fan that spins up to 2,500 RPM for airflow. Swipe to scroll horizontally Cooler Master Hyper 411 Nano RR-H410-25PK-R1 ****** ****** CPU Sockets Intel LGA 1861 / 1700 / 1200 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 and AMD AM5 / AM4 Dimensions (L x W x H) 102 x 85 x 136mm (4.0 x 3.2 x 5.3 inches) Heat Sink 4 Heat Pipes / Direct Contact / Aluminum Fins Number of Fans 1 Fan Size 92 x 92 x 25.4mm (3.6 x 3.6 x 1 inch) Fan Airflow 45.14 cubic feet per minute Fan Noise Level 30.04 dBA Fan Pressure 3.25mmH2O Fan Power Connector 4-Pin (PWM) Rated Voltage 12V DC Power Consumption 1.68W Warranty 2 years Compared with the iconic Hyper 212, the 411 Nano’s length is 23 mm shorter and 16 mm shorter. However, the Hyper 411 Nano makes up for these smaller dimensions with its thickness, adding 11mm more than the Hyper 212. Since the Hyper series all feature small fans, you can expect them to be noisier than larger air coolers like the Monster XX. Its noise level is 30.04 dBA, which is still within an acceptable range. Of course, if you want a quieter cooling solution, you should look at the larger MasterAir air cooler or even go for an AIO. However, the Hyper 411 Nano is a great option if interior space is a limitation. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Cooler Master) (Image credit: Cooler Master) (Image credit: Cooler Master) (Image credit: Cooler Master) So, if you’re planning a new SFF or compact PC, Cooler Master gives you a solution with the Hyper 411 Nano air cooler. Although Cooler Master didn’t provide the availability or pricing for the Hyper 411 Nano, some Hong Kong-based retailers have already listed the cooler. SE Computer Ltd and WCSL Mall have listed the Hyper 411 Nano for $17.86. These could be placeholders, so we’ll need to wait until the CPU cooler hits the market to ensure its pricing. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Cooler #Master #launches #soupedup #version #Amazon #Basics #CPU #cooler #Hyper #Nano #hits #market #SFF #builds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Live updates Stock market today: Live updates Traders work on the New York Stock Exchange floor on November 12, 2024 in New York City. Source: NYSE The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher Wednesday as investors look to keep a postelection rally going after a key inflation report was in line with expectations. The 30-stock Dow added 258 points, or 0.3%. The S&P 500 gained 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite ticked up 0.2%. The October consumer price index accelerated a tad to a 2.6% annual rate, matching the consensus estimate from economists polled by Dow Jones. Core prices, which exclude food and energy from the reading, rose 3.3% last month, which also matched estimates. After the inflation report, fed funds futures trading suggested a high likelihood that central bank policymakers would cut rates again in December, according to the CME FedWatch tool. “It’s time to stop worrying about the Fed and inflation,” said David Russell, global head of market strategy at TradeStation. “Stocks have been on autopilot since the election and today’s numbers do nothing to hurt the trend. December is still in play for a cut.” The major averages fell Tuesday as the market took a breather from its postelection rally. The 30-stock Dow fell about 382 points, or 0.9%. The S&P 500 declined 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite inched down 0.1%. These moves followed a rally on Wall Street after the election of Donald Trump last week that sent stocks to record highs. The Dow closed above 44,000 for the first time on Monday, while both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also earned fresh records. The gains also extended to cryptocurrencies, sending bitcoin above $90,000 on hopes that Trump will make good on a slew of promises to the industry. Other notable economic data releases later this week include the producer price index data and retail sales numbers, which will be announced Thursday and Friday, respectively. Source link #Stock #market #today #Live #updates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog additions for November include GTA V (again) and Dying Light 2 PlayStation Plus Game Catalog additions for November include GTA V (again) and Dying Light 2 Sony has the latest slate of PlayStation Plus Game Catalog additions for Extra and Premium members, and it’s a dang solid lineup this month. The biggest name, of course, is Grand Theft Auto V. That’s returning to the Game Catalog after Sony removed it in June. GTA V has now sold more than 205 million copies (not a typo), but if you’ve yet to ***** into the game or its perennially popular online mode, here’s your chance. GTA VI, meanwhile, is . In case you’re all GTA’d out for the time being, there are lots of other PS Plus additions to explore. One of those is the open-world zombie survival action RPG Dying Light 2: Stay Human, which I’ve been meaning to check out for a long time. Like A Dragon: Ishin (which, coincidentally, is this month) and Chivalry 2 are among the other big names on the list, but I’m especially happy to see make the cut. That’s a terrific bundle of both Overcooked games and all of the expansions. For years, I’ve been calling these games the perfect relationship test. Just, uh, maybe don’t play with your partner if you’re going through a rough patch. Elsewhere, The Sims 4 expansion pack Island Living is included. Naturally, you’ll need the free-to-play base game to access that. Moto GP 24, Digimon Survive, Stick ******: The Game, Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, the intriguing ******* Frequency and Hungry Shark World round out the newcomers to the PS Plus Game Catalog’s Extra tier. The Premium lineup is pretty exciting this month as well. I spent many hours playing the multiplayer modes of Resistance: Fall of Man in the PS3 era. Insomniac Games has been on an incredible run for the last six years, so it should be fun to hop back into that game and its sequel, Resistance 2, for a hit of nostalgia and to see how far the studio has come. Note, however, that these two games are streaming-only. Ahead of arriving next month, you can warm up by playing Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Blood Omen 2. Last but not least, there’s one PS VR2 addition to the lineup in the form of action shooter Synapse. PS Plus Premium and Extra subscribers can play these games at no extra cost starting on November 19. Source link #PlayStation #Game #Catalog #additions #November #include #GTA #Dying #Light Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Schools go smartphone-free to address online harms Schools go smartphone-free to address online harms As the ***’s Online Safety Act (OSA) approaches its first birthday, parents and teachers insist more must be done to protect young people and children from the various risks they are facing online. In particular, they cite the need for tighter measures around smartphone and social media use in schools, which led two parents to create the Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) group in February 2024. Since then, the group – which characterises itself as “a grassroots movement on a mission to challenge Big Tech’s colonisation of childhood” – has expanded massively, with 150,000 parent members across the *** at the time of publication. Their concerns cover a range of areas, including the increasing rates of depression, anxiety and ******** among children since smartphones were introduced, the pervasive effects of cyber bullying, the risk of children being exposed to harmful content via algorithms and messaging apps, and the “intentionally” addictive design choices of tech companies that are intended to harvest ever-increasing amounts of data for profit. While the *** is one of the first countries to attempt to regulate global social media platforms such as Meta, X, TikTok and YouTube – which from the start of 2025 can be prosecuted by online harms regulator Ofcom for failing to address ******** content, which includes the possibility of million-pound fines and ********* sanctions against high-ranking social media platform employees – parents and teachers say there is mounting evidence that, despite any good intentions, the online world continues to have a range of harmful effects on young people. An international study across 44 countries published last month, for example, revealed a growing rate of problematic internet use in children, revealing the dire need for safer platforms for young people. In the US, legal action against the biggest social media platforms is unfolding over their inaction on harmful content and ******** to protect children. In 2023, 42 attorney generals sued Meta, alleging addictive features that target children. Although the Online Safety Act is an important first step, it will only partly address the harms currently being inflicted on children through smartphones and social media Clare Fernyhough, Smartphone Free Childhood “Although the Online Safety Act is an important first step, it will only partly address the harms currently being inflicted on children through smartphones and social media,” says Clare Fernyhough, co-founder of SFC. “It’s not clear the act will address the ‘addictive by design’ nature of both smartphones and social media platforms, meaning tech companies will continue to make billions from keeping our children constantly online. With some children spending as much as nine hours a day on their phones, the opportunity cost these devices carry is enormous.” Given the ongoing concerns over the spread of online harms, and the role of smartphones in particular, the inception of SFC has prompted many schools to attempt going smartphone-free. In May 2024, for example, 20 primary schools across St Albans announced plans to ditch smartphones, and in September, Ormiston academies announced the decision to go smartphone-free across its 44 state schools. Schools go smartphone-free “We had a ‘phone switched off and in your bag’ policy for years. It was completely ineffective,” says Damien McBeath, head teacher at John Wallis Academy, which launched its own smartphone-free policy in January, shortly before the formation of SFC. “Since Covid, we have seen a real decline in socially acceptable behaviour – lots of TikTok trends, pupils bundling into ******* cubicles, incidents of online predators – sapping pupils’ attention.” In his 25 years as a head teacher, McBeath adds smartphones have been “a tidal wave of issues and disruption”. In October 2024, SFC also launched a formal Smartphone Free Schools campaign, which has already inspired a number of other schools to attempt the policy. SFC says the concerns McBeath has are echoed by other teachers, who have reached out to the group for guidance and support. “We have been inundated with stories from teachers grappling with the effects of smartphones, from distraction in lessons to cyber bullying and sharing of inappropriate content. This is an urgent situation that needs immediate government support,” says Fernyhough. Will Orr-Ewing, schools engagement lead for the Smartphone Free Schools campaign, adds: “The average child gets hundreds of notifications on their phone throughout the school day – a constant call on their attention, which leads them to check their phone whenever they are out of a teacher’s eyeline, especially in bathrooms and breaktimes. The average child gets hundreds of notifications on their phone throughout the school day – a constant call on their attention Will Orr-Ewing, Smartphone Free Schools campaign “That is why we recommend that schools devise ways to take the phone off the child’s person for the full seven hours of the school day – either by use of pouches or lockers, or by prohibiting children from bringing in a smartphone at all, and recommending brick phones for travel instead.” Since adopting the smartphone-free policy, John Wallis Academy claims it has seen immense benefits both for pupils and staff, including a 40% reduction in the number of detentions, an 80% reduction in the rate of in-school truancy, and a reduction in staff turnover from 30% to 17%. Campaigners and teachers believe broader support from the government could lead to nationwide change. Currently, just 11% of *** schools have effective smartphone restrictions in place. In an open letter to the Department for Education in October, head teachers, governing bodies and local councils urged the government to commit funding to support schools that aim to go smartphone-free. A new Online Safety Act needed? Aside from parents and teachers, the proposed implementation of the ***’s Online Safety Act has also been met with discontent from civil society groups, which have argued during the act’s ongoing consultation that there is a need for tougher laws around online safety. Digital safety charity 5Rights, for example, claims: “Ofcom’s proposals as currently drafted are light-touch and incomplete, and fail to meet the needs of children and the expectations of parliamentarians, civil society, parents and teachers.” Digital secretary Peter Kyle similarly told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that he was going to “close loopholes” in the ************* government-led Online Safety Act, adding that the tech sector is the “only sector … that can release products into society without proving they’re safe before release”. Support for more stringent legislation is also echoed by the public. Recent polling from the Molly Rose Foundation, for example, revealed overwhelming public and parental support for a new Online Safety Act, with 84% of parents and 80% of adults backing a new act to strengthen online safety measures. Labour MP Josh MacAlister has also recently launched a Private Members Bill, which could potentially lead to providing statutory guidance on smartphone use in schools, and increasing the age of internet adulthood from 13 to 16. The MP – and former teacher – was vocal on the importance of this policy for disadvantaged children in particular. The bill also aims to strengthen regulator Ofcom’s powers so that it can enforce a code of conduct to tackle the addictive-by-design nature of social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Concerns around addictive design models were echoed in a ****** agreement on online safety from the *** and US governments, stating: “Both countries acknowledge that risk-based and safety, privacy and inclusivity-by-design approaches throughout design, development and deployment are fundamental to children’s safety and well-being online, alongside increased transparency and accountability from online platforms.” Source link #Schools #smartphonefree #address #online #harms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Republicans elect John Thune Senate majority leader Republicans elect John Thune Senate majority leader Republicans elected Sen. John Thune of South Dakota to be the Senate majority leader on Wednesday. Thune defeated Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell as leader of the GOP caucus. “I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate,” Thune said in a statement. “This *********** team is ******* behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.” Thune is McConnell’s current lieutenant, and Cornyn previously held that post. Republicans are set to hold the majority in the Senate for the next two years, starting in early January. Democrats currently hold majority control of the chamber. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York congratulated Thune on his victory: “I look forward to working with him.” President-elect Donald Trump did not endorse a candidate in the contest for majority leader, but has long criticized McConnell, the Kentucky lawmaker who announced earlier this year he would not seek to retain the leadership post he has held for 18 years. And a number of Trump’s allies — Tesla CEO Elon Musk, ************* commentator Tucker Carlson, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — endorsed Scott. Thune and Cornyn have previously criticized Trump. Scott received the fewest votes of the three contenders and was eliminated in the first round of the closed-door ballot, which took place in the U.S. Capitol’s Old Senate Chamber. Thune defeated Cornyn in the second round, 29 to 24. The vote came a week after Republicans secured control of the chamber by gaining four seats in elections last week. Democrats do not plan to hold their leadership contests until early December. Source link #Republicans #elect #John #Thune #Senate #majority #leader Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Warcraft 1 And 2 Remastered Make Up A New Warcraft Battle Chest, Available Today Warcraft 1 And 2 Remastered Make Up A New Warcraft Battle Chest, Available Today Blizzard’s classic RTS titles Warcraft: Orcs and Humans and Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness are both getting the “remastered” treatment to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary, and they’ll be available separately or together alongside Warcraft 3: Reforged today in a new Warcraft Battle Chest. The news comes as part of Blizzard’s Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, where the developer kicked things off by paying homage to the games that started the franchise and diving into what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same, in Warcraft 1 and 2 Remastered. While players will have the option of playing each game with their original visuals (something that can be toggled on and off in real time) the remastered versions also include new, hand-drawn visuals that help make each game’s units more sharp and defined while still retaining their classic feel. Warcraft 1 and 2 Remastered each sport new hand-drawn visuals that can be toggled on or off. Warcraft 1’s controls have been updated to support modern-RTS staples like right click to move, box unit selection, and a faster game speed. Both games have received various UI and UX adjustments as well, like unit health bars, tooltips, increased unit selection, and a mission select. Warcraft 2 will still support multiplayer and all legacy custom maps will be fully compatible with this new version of the game. Warcraft 3: Reforged, the maligned remaster that released in 2020 to negative reviews and reportedly suffered from budget cuts and a rocky development, is also receiving a major 2.0 update today. The update improves the game’s environments and lighting, as well as overhauls its UI. It also adds hotkey customization and a revamped ladder system. Those who prefer playing Warcraft 3 with its original, non-remastered visuals will find the update adds high-rez versions for all the classic Warcraft 3 models as well, with players having the option of mixing and matching which assets, original or HD, they’d like to use. Gamers who grew up playing classic Blizzard titles may remember seeing the large Warcraft and Warcraft 3 Battle Chests on store shelves that gather multiple games or expansions all together in one package. For the first time in a long time, a new Battle Chest is now available, one that includes the remastered versions of all three Warcraft RTS titles. The Battle Chest will be $40, while standalone versions of Warcraft: Remastered and Warcraft 2: Remastered will be $10 and $15 respectively. For those who don’t need all the new bells and whistles included in the remasters, the original versions of Warcraft 1 and 2 are available together on GOG for $15. Source link #Warcraft #Remastered #Warcraft #Battle #Chest #Today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Discover How Math Helps Skateboarders Optimise Half-Pipe Speed and Height Discover How Math Helps Skateboarders Optimise Half-Pipe Speed and Height A recent study reveals how skateboarders can use mathematical insights to increase their speed and height on half-pipes. Florian Kogelbauer, a mathematician from ETH Zurich, and his research team have examined how specific movements impact a skateboarder’s performance on U-shaped ramps. By alternating between crouching and standing in certain areas, skaters can generate extra momentum, leading to higher jumps and faster speeds. This research, published in Physical Review Research, could lead to more efficient techniques for skaters aiming to improve their skills. Modelling Momentum on Half-Pipes The research was published in ********* Physical Society Journal. The technique of “pumping,” or alternating between crouching and standing, is essential for building speed on half-pipes. Kogelbauer’s team created a model to show how the body’s centre of mass affects movement on a ramp, much like the mechanics of a swing. In their calculations, they found that crouching while moving downhill and standing while moving uphill helps skaters gain height more effectively. This rhythm, the team suggests, could help skaters reach higher elevations on the ramp in fewer motions. Testing the Theory with Real Skaters To test the model’s validity, researchers observed two skateboarders as they navigated a half-pipe. They were asked to reach a specific height as quickly as possible. Video analysis revealed that the more experienced skater naturally followed the model’s suggested pattern, reaching the target height with fewer motions. The less experienced skater, who did not follow the pattern as precisely, required more time to reach the same height. This contrast suggests that experienced skaters intuitively apply these principles for better performance. Broader Applications Beyond Skateboarding According to Sorina Lupu, an engineer at the California Institute of Technology, this simplified model may also have applications in robotics. By demonstrating how minimal adjustments in body position can impact speed and height, this study offers insights that could make robotic movement more efficient. For engineers, this research indicates that straightforward models of human movement could be used to enhance robotic performance, providing an alternative to complex machine-learning models often used in robotics. Source link #Discover #Math #Helps #Skateboarders #Optimise #HalfPipe #Speed #Height Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Company to 4% of workforce, or about 1,000 employees Company to 4% of workforce, or about 1,000 employees AMD CEO Lisa Su makes the opening speech at COMPUTEX forum in Taipei, Taiwan June 3, 2024. Ann Wang | Reuters AMD said on Wednesday that it will lay off 4% of its global staff, as the longtime CPU maker seeks to gain a stronger foothold in the growing artificial intelligence chip space dominated by Nvidia. “As a part of aligning our resources with our largest growth opportunities, we are taking a number of targeted steps that will unfortunately result in reducing our global workforce by approximately 4%,” an AMD representative said in a statement. “We are committed to treating impacted employees with respect and helping them through this transition.” AMD had 26,000 employees at the end of last year, according to an SEC filing. AMD is the second-biggest producer of graphics processors, or GPUs, behind Nvidia. The company has said AI represents one of its largest growth opportunities. AMD stock is down 5% in 2024 while Nvidia shares are up 200%, making it the most valuable publicly traded company in the world. AMD produces powerful AI accelerators for data centers, including the MI300X, which companies like Meta and Microsoft purchase as an alternative to Nvidia-based systems. But Nvidia dominates the market for powerful AI chips, with over 80% market share, partially because it developed the core software that AI engineers use to develop programs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. AMD said in October it expects $5 billion in AI chip sales this year, about a fifth of the $25.7 billion in total sales FactSet projects for AMD’s 2024. AMD believes the total market for AI chips will be $500 billion by 2028 — but its total sales are currently dwarfed by Nvidia, which FactSet expects to post $125.9 billion in revenue for calendar 2024. GPUs were originally developed for gaming, which is lagging at AMD. AMD’s gaming segment is expected to decline 59% in 2024 to $2.57 billion in revenue, according to FactSet. AMD also makes processor chips for laptops, desktops, and servers, competing primarily with Intel. Its share of server CPU sales rose nearly 3% on an annual basis in the third quarter to 34%, according to Mercury Research. Source link #Company #workforce #employees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A big-cap tech has been surprisingly lagging the software stock breakout. That may be about to change A big-cap tech has been surprisingly lagging the software stock breakout. That may be about to change The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) has been getting a lot of attention, and rightly so. Since May 2024, the ETF has notably outperformed the greater SPDR Technology Trust ETF (XLK) : +23% vs. +10%. Things have recently accelerated in November, and Tuesday, the IGV Software ETF was one of just three ETFs we track to make new all-time highs. Overall, IGV has 118 components, but many of them are tiny. In fact, 80 holdings have index weightings less than 0.5% (source: koyfin ). Thus, the true leaders over the last three months have been these eight. Again, some of the very small names have had strong gains, too, but these are the stocks that have moved the needle and literally have pulled IGV to never-before-seen price levels. But there’s a big one missing. Microsoft (MSFT) is the third biggest holding in both the S & P 500 and the NASDAQ 100 and by far the largest software stock in both indices. Within the IGV Software ETF, it also has the third biggest weighting, but it’s behind both CRM and ORCL. More importantly, MSFT has been noticeably lagging the IGV ETF across various time frames. Over the last three months, for example, MSFT is +3%. Breaking down the Microsoft charts MSFT last made a new high back on July 5, when it hit $468 and promptly rolled over. Since then, it has traded in a volatile range. The good news is that dips have been bought, but rallies have been sold, which creates a messy short-term picture. Three of its key moving averages (20, 50 and 200-DMAs) are trading within a point of each other. That rarely happens and connotes the kind of directionless trend that MSFT has endured for over the last three-plus months. Needless to say, the daily chart is not bullish, at least not yet. Zooming out to the weekly presents a different, and more encouraging, viewpoint. Indeed, MSFT ******** inside of a large symmetrical triangle pattern, thus, it has more work to do before it attempts a breakout. The constructive part is that we’ve seen MSFT withstand similar multi-week trading ranges in recent years before finally breaking out. This happened near key lows (early 2023) and also near all-time highs (2020, 2021 and twice prior in 2024). While every time is different, consolidation phases that happen in long-term uptrends have the tendency to resolve higher. Last, and certainly not least, MSFT’s recent weakness combined with IGV’s strong advance has caused the MSFT/IGV relative line to decline rather harshly. Here’s the weekly chart. In fact, it’s now produced just the third weekly MSFT/IGV relative oversold reading in the last 10 years. The potential good news is that: 1. the ratio line ******** in a long-term uptrend and 2. the last two oversold conditions happened near major relative trading lows. In other words, if history serves as any guide, then MSFT’s relative weakness vs. its group may be ready to reverse course once more. I f that happens, the stock will become a big part of IGV’s potential next up leg. Not only has ETF hit new all-time highs, it has done so by breaking out from a multi-year bullish pattern. DISCLOSURES: (None) All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL’S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer. Source link #bigcap #tech #surprisingly #lagging #software #stock #breakout #change Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech Life: The fall of a global chip maker Tech Life: The fall of a global chip maker Intel was once unrivalled as the world’s chip maker. Now it’s fallen behind its rivals. Source link #Tech #Life #fall #global #chip #maker Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Arc Raiders Still Free to Play? Pricing Guide Is Arc Raiders Still Free to Play? Pricing Guide You likely remember when Arc Raiders was initially announced as a free-to-play PvE game, with massive robotic mechs wandering post-apocalyptic battlefields in which scavengers would venture to the surface and ******. Well, that game evolved. It’s now a PvE and PvP extraction shooter, but is Arc Raiders still free to play? Will Arc Raiders Launch Free to Play? Unfortunately, sometime during that quiet *******, developer Embark Studios went silent, working on the game in the background and turning it into an extraction shooter, which removed the free-to-play aspect of the game. It’ll now launch with a price tag, though don’t expect to pay $70 for Arc Raiders. Related: How to Sign Up for the Arc Raiders Playtest How Much Will Arc Raiders Cost? While it’s undoubtedly rough news to hear a game you were excited to play and expect to enjoy for free is no longer going that route, at least it’s not an “AAAA” price tag. Arc Raiders will launch at a $40 price tag, making it more accessible than most new releases but still out of reach for some players who were previously on board. When Does Arc Raiders Come Out? While we don’t currently have a release date beyond “2025,” which is a rather large year with approximately 12 months, the extraction shooter may launch somewhere between January and December, if I had to guess. For now, you can sign up for the game’s playtest on Steam. There’s no guarantee you’ll receive access, but the studio seems to host regular playtests, with the most recent ending in late October. Will the price tag for Arc Raiders ***** your hype for the game? Let us know your thoughts on the upcoming extraction shooter—and the genre as a whole—on our community forums! If you need more big-name shooters in your life, you might like to hear about recent claims pointing toward Halo, *****, and Gears of War collabs coming to ****** Ops 6! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Arc #Raiders #Free #Play #Pricing #Guide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Refutes Health Concerns, Shares Fitness Routine from Space NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Refutes Health Concerns, Shares Fitness Routine from Space NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has recently addressed speculations surrounding her health condition while on the International Space Station (ISS), discarding recent claims made by media outlets regarding her wellbeing. In response to reports that suggested she appeared “gaunt” due to an extended stay on the ISS, Williams clarified her status during a video interview on November 12, explaining that her weight has remained unchanged since her arrival in orbit. Routine Exercise and Physical Adaptations Williams, who commands Expedition 72 aboard the ISS, responded to health concerns publicly, indicating that any changes in her physical appearance are the result of rigorous exercise routines rather than health deterioration. Like all astronauts on extended missions, she has been following an intense workout regimen designed to counteract the muscle and bone density loss commonly associated with prolonged microgravity exposure. Williams stated that her routine includes running on a treadmill, riding an exercise bike and lifting weights. It is a form of exercise that has led to increased muscle mass, particularly in her thighs and glutes, while her overall weight ******** consistent. NASA’s Statement on Crew Health NASA had previously denied the reports, emphasising that Williams and her fellow crew members, including NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, are in good health. Williams and Wilmore, who arrived at the ISS on June 6 aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, were initially scheduled for a ten-day mission under the Crew Flight Test programme. Technical issues with Starliner’s thrusters led NASA to extend their stay on the ISS until early 2025, when they are expected to return with SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission astronauts. Current ISS Crew Status The current ISS team, led by Williams, includes three NASA astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts, all working collaboratively despite recent media scrutiny. Williams assured viewers that her health and morale remain robust as the crew carries out essential research and maintenance tasks on the orbiting laboratory showing NASA’s confidence in their well-being during extended missions. Source link #NASA #Astronaut #Sunita #Williams #Refutes #Health #Concerns #Shares #Fitness #Routine #Space Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Global Fossil CO2 Emissions Hit Record High in 2024: Here’s What You Need to Know Global Fossil CO2 Emissions Hit Record High in 2024: Here’s What You Need to Know Global carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion have reached an unprecedented peak in 2024, with the Global Carbon Project reporting a projected 37.4 billion tonnes of fossil CO2 emissions, a 0.8% increase from 2023. The report underscores an urgent call for emissions reduction as the world’s annual output of CO2 from fossil fuels and land-use changes collectively approaches 41.6 billion tonnes. Despite increased efforts to mitigate climate impacts, there are no clear signs of a peak in global fossil CO2 emissions, heightening the risk of surpassing critical climate thresholds. Sector-Specific Emissions and Regional Insights As per a report by University of Exeter, emissions from fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, are anticipated to rise in 2024, accounting for 41 percent, 32 percent, and 21 percent of fossil CO2 emissions, respectively. Coal emissions are expected to increase by 0.2 percent, oil by 0.9 percent, and natural gas by 2.4 percent. On a regional level, China, responsible for 32 percent of global emissions, is projected to see a slight increase of 0.2 percent, while emissions in the ******* States are expected to fall by 0.6 percent. The ********* Union’s emissions are forecasted to decrease by 3.8 percent, whereas India, contributing 8 percent of global emissions, is projected to experience a 4.6 percent rise. Emissions from aviation and shipping sectors are also set to increase by 7.8 percent this year, though they remain below pre-pandemic levels. Carbon Budget and Climate Warnings According to Professor Pierre Friedlingstein from the University of Exeter, who led the study, the absence of a peak in fossil CO2 emissions further reduces the remaining carbon budget needed to keep warming below the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree Celsius target. At the current emission rate, a 50 percent probability exists of surpassing this threshold within the next six years. Meanwhile, Professor Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia acknowledged ongoing efforts in renewable energy deployment and reduced deforestation but stressed that substantial emissions reductions are still essential. Urgency for Accelerated Action The report emphasises that while some nations demonstrate progress in emissions reduction, these efforts have not been sufficient to reverse the overall global trend. Dr Glen Peters from the CICERO Center for International Climate Research noted that global climate action ******** “a collective challenge,” with gradual declines in emissions in certain regions counterbalanced by increases elsewhere. Source link #Global #Fossil #CO2 #Emissions #Hit #Record #High #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 3 best cheap air fryer deals in Ninja’s official ****** Friday ***** The 3 best cheap air fryer deals in Ninja’s official ****** Friday ***** If you’re looking for a cheap air fryer this ****** Friday, you’re in luck – the Ninja ****** Friday ***** has just started, with huge savings on some of the company’s most popular appliances. To save you time, I’ve rounded up all the best offers for you right here, along with details of ****** Friday deals from other retailers like Currys, Argos, and Amazon, in the cases where you can save even more by opting for a different colourway. My favorite deal is the Ninja Deluxe Double Stack XL Air Fryer for £219 (was £269.99). Our reviewer gave the original Ninja Double Stack five stars thanks to its innovative design, and this extra large version gives you even more cooking space to work with (with virtually no heat leakage between the two baskets). It’s one of the best air fryers you can buy today, and at this price it’s even easier to recommend. Today’s best Ninja air fryer deals Ninja is one of the biggest names in air fryers, but it’s not your only option. If you can’t see an air fryer that fits your needs or budget here, take a look at our roundup of all the best ****** Friday air fryer deals, which includes offers from other big brands including Cosori, Tefal, and Tower. If you happen to have come across this page from the US then you’ll need to wait a bit longer for Ninja’s ****** Friday ***** to start, but you can sign up for VIP access as soon as it does. More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the *** Amazon: up to 68% off toothbrushes and TVs AO: savings on games consoles and appliances Argos: up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs and gifts Boots: up to 50% off Dyson, *****-B and Philips Currys: early deals on TVs, appliances, laptops Dell: laptops, desktops, monitors from £299 Dyson: up to £150 off Ebay: up to 50% off refurbished tech EE: up to £600 off Samsung and Apple John Lewis: up to £300 off appliances and TVs LG: £1,000 or more off TVs and appliances Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and tablets Very: up to 30% off phones, appliances & clothing Source link #cheap #air #fryer #deals #Ninjas #official #****** #Friday #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inflation report shows market could have a ‘recipe for disaster’ heading into new year, says economist Inflation report shows market could have a ‘recipe for disaster’ heading into new year, says economist So far on Wednesday, the stock market was largely ignoring the morning’s inflation report because the main CPI reading was as economists expected. But a look deeper into the report spells trouble for a stock market (and President elect) that are going to want the Federal Reserve to keep cutting rates throughout next year to keep fueling the bull market. “The economy is not slowing down and core inflation is not cooling down, and with the threat of import tariffs from the new administration in the year ahead, this is a recipe for disaster where the deflation trend in core commodities prices could turn around in a heartbeat,” wrote Chris Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS. The October consumer price index released Wednesday morning suggested the battle against inflation is far from over, just nearly one week after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expressed confidence that pricing pressures is heading toward the central bank’s 2% target. The problem ***** with core inflation, a measure that excludes volatile food and energy prices, that the Fed has historically put more emphasis on as it is a better indicator of long-term trends. However, in recent months, policy makers have focused more on the headline number, saying shelter costs, which have an outsized influence on core CPI, will come down. But core inflation has remained unusually stubborn, suggesting the Fed may have to hold rates higher than investors were previously anticipating. Core CPI showed a third straight monthly increase of 0.3%, bringing the annual rate to 3.3%. “Three months in a row for 0.3% core monthly CPI changes cannot be music to Fed officials’ ears because it shows the job is not done yet,” wrote Rupkey to clients after the report. Complicating the picture is the return of Donald Trump to the White House, as tariffs and other fiscal policies the president-elect promised on the campaign trail are expected to support growth but also exacerbate inflation. Markets are now pricing in less than four quarter percentage point rate cuts over the next year, though a December quarter-point cut ******** on the table, according to the CME FedWatch Tool . If stubborn inflation causes the Fed to halt its rate-cutting campaign, it could cause a lot of indigestion on Wall Street and in Washington D.C. — CNBC’s Jeff Cox contributed to this report. Source link #Inflation #report #shows #market #recipe #disaster #heading #year #economist Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Moment Trump and Biden meet at the White House Moment Trump and Biden meet at the White House US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have met at the White House. Biden invited Trump to meet with him as part of a long-standing tradition signifying the transfer of power as the government changes hands. It’s the first time the pair have met since their presidential debate in late June, before Biden decided to end his re-election campaign. In 2020, Trump refused to invite Joe Biden because he falsely claimed that he had not lost the election. Source link #Moment #Trump #Biden #meet #White #House Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

“Looks Better Than Some of the Existing Ones” A Fan-Made Map Elicits Jokes in ****** Ops 6 Community “Looks Better Than Some of the Existing Ones” A Fan-Made Map Elicits Jokes in ****** Ops 6 Community gold_drake7h ago AMEDAMA (PS5, Xbox, Switch) – 7/7/7/7 [28/40] Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 (PS5, Xbox, PS4, Xbox) 8/8/9/9 [34/40] Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (PS5, Xbox, Switch) – 8/9/9/9 [35/40] (It takes about 35 hours to clear the game, or 60 to 70 hours with side activities) Source link #Existing #FanMade #Map #Elicits #Jokes #****** #Ops #Community Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exquisite bird fossil provides clues to the evolution of avian brains Exquisite bird fossil provides clues to the evolution of avian brains The skeleton of Navaornis hestiae, an 80-million-year-old bird fossil S. Abramowicz/Dinosaur Institute/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County An 80-million-year-old fossil bird has been discovered with a skull so exquisitely preserved that scientists have been able to study the detailed structure of its brain. In both age and evolutionary development, the new species, named Navaornis hestiae, is almost midway between the earliest known bird-like dinosaur, Archaeopteryx, which lived 150 million years ago, and modern birds. It lived in the Cretaceous ******* alongside dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. The fossil, which bears a superficial resemblance to a pigeon, was found near Presidente Prudente, Brazil, in 2016 and was immediately recognised as significant because of the rarity of a full bird skeleton, particularly one of that age. But Daniel Field at the University of Cambridge says it wasn’t until 2022 that he and his colleagues realised the skull was so intact that they could possibly scan it and create a 3D model of its brain. High-resolution CT scanning allows palaeontologists to peer inside fossils. “This involves careful ‘digital dissection’: separating out each individual component of the skull and then reassembling them into a complete, undeformed three-dimensional reconstruction,” says Field. “The new fossil provides unprecedented insight into the pattern and timing by which the specialised features of the brain of living birds evolved.” Based on the team’s reconstruction of the brain, Field says the cognitive abilities and flying capacity of Navaornis were probably inferior to those of most living birds. Artist’s impression of Navaornis hestiae J. d’Oliveira The portions of the brain responsible for complex cognition and spatial orientation aren’t as enlarged as those of modern birds, he says. “Although the cerebrum of Navaornis is greatly expanded relative to the condition in a more archaic bird relative like Archaeopteryx, it is not as expanded as what we see in living birds.” The enlarged brains of modern birds support a huge range of complex behaviours, says Field, but understanding how their brains evolved has been challenging due to a lack of adequately complete and well-preserved fossil bird skulls from early bird relatives. “Navaornis fills a roughly 70-million-year-long gap in our understanding of how the distinctive brains of modern birds evolved.” Topics: Source link #Exquisite #bird #fossil #clues #evolution #avian #brains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Softbank once offered Jensen Huang a loan to buy Nvidia entirely — Nvidia CEO regrets not taking the loan Softbank once offered Jensen Huang a loan to buy Nvidia entirely — Nvidia CEO regrets not taking the loan At Nvidia’s AI Summit in Tokyo this week, Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, and Masayoshi Son, the head of SoftBank, expressed regrets that the former did not privatize Nvidia a decade ago when the latter offered him money to do so. As a result, the two companies have ******* to merge and create an AI and supercomputer giant with CPU and GPU prowess, reports Fortune. At the event, the two executives discussed three critical attempts to strengthen ties, from privatization to a potential merger with Arm, which regulators stopped. “Masa said, ‘Jensen, the market doesn’t understand the value of Nvidia. Your future is incredible,” said Huang. “‘Your journey of suffering will continue for some time, so let me give you the money to buy Nvidia.’ He wanted to lend me money to buy Nvidia, all of it. Now I regret not taking it.” Masayoshi Son remembered that this happened one month after he acquired Arm sometime in 2016. Apparently, this is when Huang and Son talked about combining the two companies into a powerhouse that could address virtually everything from smartphones to PCs and from mainstream servers to AI machines and supercomputers. Buying Nvidia stock on the open market in 2016 would be much ******* than buying the same stock in 2014 – 2015. According to CompaniesMarketCap.com, the company’s capitalization in 2014 was $10.89 billion, grew to $17.73 billion in 2015, and skyrocketed to $57.53 billion in 2016. Jensen Huang also reminded Masayoshi Son that he bought Nvidia stock on the open market after 2016 but sold his shares before Nvidia’s stock skyrocketed in 2023 – 2024. Today, Nvidia’s market capitalization is $3.606 trillion, making it the most valuable company in the world by market cap. The conversation captures their mixed emotions — nostalgia for the bold ideas they once entertained and a sense of loss as they see what might have been achieved. Jensen’s teasing highlights how Nvidia’s explosive growth has made these missed opportunities even more poignant, emphasizing how foresight and timing are crucial in the fast-moving tech industry. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Softbank #offered #Jensen #Huang #loan #buy #Nvidia #Nvidia #CEO #regrets #loan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]