Pelican Press

El Paso police arrest intruder suspected of entering houses in East Side neighborhood El Paso police arrest intruder suspected of entering houses in East Side neighborhood Residents got an unpleasant surprise when an accused intruder was wandering around entering homes in an East Side neighborhood last week. El Paso police arrested Leroy Quintana, 29, on home burglary, trespassing and *****-related charges on Friday afternoon, Nov. 8, in the Vista de Oro neighborhood next to Yarbrough Drive, according to jail records. ******: El Paso sidewalk stalker case documents reveal disturbing encounters near UTEP, Downtown “All five cases in the same day, going into a couple of homes in a neighborhood where he basically has no business in these homes,” Assistant District Attorney John Briggs said during a Sunday teleconference bond hearing. Leroy Quintana was arrested by El Paso police on burglary, trespassing and *****-related charges after allegedly entering homes in an East Side neighborhood on Nov. 8, 2024. At the hearing, Magistrate Judge Antonio Aun refused to lower Quintana’s bond citing the safety of the community and prior noncompliance with release stipulations in past cases. Quintana, who resides at a homeless shelter, ******** incarcerated under a total bond of $60,000 at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown. Women find intruder inside homes in East Side neighborhood During the hearing, Briggs gave a summary describing encounters between homeowners and an intruder identified as Quintana. It was not specified if doors to the houses had been left unlocked. ∎ A woman found Quintana inside her home garage in the 10600 block of Sombra Verde Drive, Briggs said. The woman thought it was her husband making noise. When she went to go look, she found Quintana in the garage. She ordered him to leave and he did. ∎ A street over, a woman was overseeing remodeling being done at a home in the 10600 block of Vista Alegre Drive when she saw who at first she thought might be one of the workers, Briggs said. After the woman verified no work was being done that day, she found Quintana had allegedly wandered in with a blanket and was trying to sleep inside the house. She ordered him to leave and he did. ∎ A woman was in an upstairs bedroom when she heard someone enter and was wandering around in her home in the 1300 block of Vista de Oro Drive. Quintana allegedly went into the master bedroom and put on a pair of women’s jean shorts, Briggs said. The resident ordered him to leave and he did. Police officers found and arrested Quintana in the driveway of the house across the street. ***** allegedly found on burglary suspect Officers found Quintana allegedly had four grams of methamphetamine in his pocket, the prosecutor said. Later that afternoon at a police station, Quintana allegedly shattered a glass pipe used to smoke drugs that he had concealed on his person by throwing it into a *******. Quintana was booked into jail on two counts of ********* trespassing, burglary of habitation, possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence for trying to get rid of the glass pipe. More: New Mexico ***** trafficker tied to Sinaloa cartel, woman’s ******* gets life sentence El Paso County Jail records show that Quintana had been released on Sept. 19 after spending a month in jail on a probation violations on a half dozen charges, including ***** possession, theft, evading arrest in a vehicle and aggravated ******** against a public ********. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police arrest East Side serial home intruder suspect Source link #Paso #police #arrest #intruder #suspected #entering #houses #East #Side #neighborhood Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ubisoft Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over The Crew Shutdown Ubisoft Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over The Crew Shutdown fan_of_gaming214d ago I appreciate your article, – “If this isn’t considered both a “WTF” moment and setting a dangerous precedent, I don’t know what else it would be” – “it could also signal other publishers that removing games from our accounts would be okay” – “Maybe those firmly against this digital future have a point after all” – “This. Is. *******. Up.” As someone against an only-digital/streaming future for entertainment content (movies/TV shows/games/books), it feels like talking into a void about the points above on this website, or on Twitter, or with my friends, etc. People don’t get it. I’m strongly contemplating whether this will be my last generation of PlayStation & Xbox consoles (I’m confident enough that Nintendo’s next system will still support physical media and that their 1st-party games won’t have online-required installation or usage restrictions). Source link #Ubisoft #Faces #Class #Action #Lawsuit #Crew #Shutdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Morgan Stanley fund manager picks 3 stocks to buy following Trump’s win Morgan Stanley fund manager picks 3 stocks to buy following Trump’s win U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s election win has sent shock waves through the stock market and left investors scrambling to work out which sectors — and stocks — are set to benefit. Aaron Dunn, portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley’s U.S. Value Fund , noted the “great deal of volatility” in markets following the election result, as markets reprice “what had been a 50/50 election.” Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Tuesday, Dunn, who’s also co-head of value equity at Morgan Stanley, identified three stocks he is ******** on following the election result. UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group – which offers health insurance plans and services – is on Dunn’s list. The value investor noted that Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates had been “under pressure in the Biden Administration.” Reimbursement rates determine how much insurers can charge for monthly premiums and plan benefits. “So with Trump in now … that is being viewed very positively for managed care, because reimbursement rates are going to … be better,” Dunn explained. He also likes UnitedHealth’s earnings growth, and health insurance, prescriptions and health care services businesses. Year-to-date, its shares are up around 17%. “In our opinion, you’ve got a stock that’s become quite a bit cheaper … It’s a diversified play in this, [that] you’re getting it for just above the market multiple, with a solid runway of growth,” Dunn added. According to FactSet data, of 30 analysts covering the stock, 26 give it a buy or overweight rating. Analyst’ average price target is $626.44, which implies a potential upside of around 2%. Mid-America Apartment Communities Dunn’s pick to play the real estate sector in the U.S. is Mid-America Apartment Communities “[The] majority of real estate traded off immediately after the election (in-line with other rate-sensitive sectors). However, MAA offers a solution to the housing supply problem in the U.S,” he said. Year-to-date, however, shares in MAA are up 19%. Ten of the 25 analysts covering the stock give it a buy or overweight rating, according to FactSet data, while 13 have a hold rating and two have a sell call. The analysts’ average target price of $163.26 gives the stock 2% upside potential. NextEra Energy In the energy space, Dunn is ******** on NextEra Energy , which — as the “largest global developer of renewable projects” — sold off following the election result. Trump has vowed to curtail renewable energy subsidies and favors the oil and gas sector, but Dunn indicated that the market may be overestimating how much Trump will change when it comes to Inflation Reduction Act and renewable initiatives. Year-to-date, shares in NextEra Energy are up around 22% and the stock is trading at around 22 times price-to-earnings. “Here’s a company that is going to grow earnings in the high-single-digits at least the next couple years,” Dunn said. “They’re a leader in the space from a technology perspective.” He added that the company should increase its long-term growth rate guidance, given the growth in AI data centers. Of 24 analysts covering the stock, 15 give it a buy or overweight rating at an average price of $88.28, according to FactSet data. This gives it upside potential of around 19%. Source link #Morgan #Stanley #fund #manager #picks #stocks #buy #Trumps #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Did the Egyptian Masons Put Down Tools on the Largest Obelisk Ever? Why Did the Egyptian Masons Put Down Tools on the Largest Obelisk Ever? The Unfinished Obelisk is an ancient Egyptian obelisk located in Aswan. This obelisk is known for its massive size, as well as for the fact that the work that was carried out on it was never finished. Had the Unfinished Obelisk been completed, it would have been the largest obelisk ever constructed by the ancient Egyptians. Nevertheless, its unfinished state has allowed us to gain some insights as to the way the ancient Egyptians were producing their obelisks. Egyptian Granite Obelisks The word ‘obelisk’ means ‘*****’ (a long rod used to skewer food for cooking) in ancient Greek and was used by the ancient historian Herodotus to describe these monuments. The ancient Egyptians called these monoliths ‘tekhenu’, which translates as ‘to pierce the sky’. As many will already know, ancient Egyptian obelisks are tapering four-sided rectangular pillars with a pyramidon on the top. These were set on bases and were typically constructed to commemorate an individual or an event, or to honor the gods. The Massive Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan, Egypt (Public Domain) The ancient Egyptians carved their obelisks from a single block of stone, almost always red granite. This type of rock is most notably found in Aswan, in the southern part of Egypt. In the granite quarries of Aswan, obelisks would be carved out of the bedrock, and then transported on the waters of the Nile River to their destinations, where they would then be erected. Obelisk of Aswan Abandoned One of the areas in Aswan where granite was being quarried was the Northern Quarries, which is located not far from the modern city of Aswan. It was here that the Unfinished Obelisk was discovered. The construction of this obelisk was commissioned by Hatshepsut (who reigned during the 15 th century BC), one of the most important and formidable pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. It has been speculated that the queen had planned to have the Unfinished Obelisk raised at Karnak. It was at this place that another obelisk, known today as the Lateran Obelisk, was set up by Hatshepsut, and the queen may have wanted the Unfinished Obelisk to complement it. The Unfinished Obelisk was thought to be a fallen Monument until it was fully uncovered (Underwood & Underwood/CC BY-SA 2.5) The Unfinished Obelisk shows how the stone was carved out of the bedrock (Olaf Tausch/CC BY-SA 3.0) Unfortunately, the massive obelisk was never completed. At some point of time during its construction, the workmen discovered cracks in the stone, and therefore decided to abandon the job. The Unfinished Obelisk has remained where it was ever since. Had the obelisk been completed, it would have had a height of 42 meters (138 ft) and would have weighed about 1323 ton (1200 metric tons), which would make it the largest obelisk ever created by the ancient Egyptians. Fresh Insights to Egyptian Construction The abandonment of the Unfinished Obelisk provides us with some new information about how these monuments were made by the ancient Egyptians. For instance, the workers would begin their work by separating the stone which would become the obelisk from the rest of the bedrock. Based on the marks left on the Unfinished Obelisk, this was probably achieved by chiseling holes into the rock, after which wooden wedges were forced into them. The wedges would then be soaked with water, which would cause them to swell, thus splitting the rock. After this, the obelisk could be chiseled out, and then transported to its destination. The Unfinished Obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan. (Ad Meskens/CC BY-SA 3.0) According to a report written in 2007, a deep trench at least 2.5 m (8 ft) deep was discovered by the Aswan Office of the Supreme Council of Antiquities as they were preparing the site for tourists. Further investigations revealed that there had been a canal connecting the quarry to the Nile. This meant that once the obelisks were completed, they could be brought to the canal and allowed to float by themselves down to the river, where they would then be loaded onto barges. The presence of this ancient canal is also a threat to the site, including the Unfinished Obelisk, as it may allow salts from the groundwater to seep into the rock. This could cause much damage, especially to the marks on the Unfinished Obelisk which have been so vital in adding to our understanding of the way the ancient Egyptians created these amazing monuments. Top image: A photo of the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan. Source: Ad Meskens/CC BY 3.0 By Wu Mingren Source link #Egyptian #Masons #Put #Tools #Largest #Obelisk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PS5 exclusive Stellar Blade is coming to PC PS5 exclusive Stellar Blade is coming to PC This year’s action RPG Stellar Blade has been a solid win for Sony as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Developer Shift Up revealed in a recent quarterly earnings that sales “have remained steady even as the initial surge has calmed” following its spring launch. But there may be a second boost coming for the game, because the studio is planning a PC port of Stellar Blade some time next year. “Given recent trends like Steam’s growing presence in the AAA games market and the global success of ****** Myth: Wukong, we are expecting the PC version to perform even better than the console version,” the Korean company when asked about their PC plans during the presentation. The title referenced, ****** Myth: Wukong, was able to for concurrent players in a single-player game on Steam when it launched on the platform in August. That’s a lofty goal for any game to reach, so we’ll have to see how successful Shift Up can be in reaching an international audience on PC. Source link #PS5 #exclusive #Stellar #Blade #coming Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

RFK Jr. site crowdsources Trump administration appointees RFK Jr. site crowdsources Trump administration appointees Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and *********** presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump attend a campaign event sponsored by ************* group Turning Point USA, in Duluth, Georgia, U.S., October 23, 2024. Carlos Barria | Reuters Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn’t just want a top health-care position in the Trump administration, he wants your suggestions for more than 4,000 posts to be appointed by President-elect Donald Trump across the U.S. government. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy” webpage is seeking recommendations for appointees “across the future Trump administration,” and allows users to “read, comment and vote” on those people. The page titled “Nominees for the People!” says “President Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr want your help nominating people of integrity and courage.” Categories for appointees include “Government Efficiency,” “Economy,” “America’s Health,” “Peace at Home,” “Peace Abroad,” “Food and Agriculture,” “Technology,” “Labor,” “Education,” and “Energy and Infrastructure.” Read more CNBC politics coverage Spokespeople for the Trump transition team did not immediately reply to CNBC when asked whether the president-elect had authorized Kennedy’s initiative, and whether the team would consider the responses to the website in staffing the future administration. A spokeswoman for Kennedy did not immediately reply when asked for comment. Kennedy, who is a vaccine skeptic and *********** theorist, campaigned for president as an independent but suspended his campaign in August and endorsed Trump. The president-elect at a rally in New York in October said that if he won the presidential race he would let Kennedy “go wild on health.” Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes an announcement on the future of his campaign in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. August 23, 2024. Thomas Machowicz | Reuters Kennedy is the most-recommended person under the category “America’s Health” on his site, with more than 3,200 votes. He was followed in votes by Dr. Charlie Fagenholz, whose website says he is a “holistic physician trained in chiropractic, frequency and functional medicine,” and Sherri Tenpenny, a doctor of osteopathy who told Ohio state legislators that Covid-19 vaccines made people magnetic. Under the “Peace Abroad” category, which includes “State, Defense and Intelligence” agencies, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, received the most votes. Gabbard, co-chair of Trump’s transition team, reportedly is vying to be nominated for secretary of Defense. Retired Army Lt. General Michael Flynn received the second-most votes after Gabbard. Flynn briefly served as Trump’s first national security advisor before being fired by Trump for lying to then-Vice President Mike Pence about conversations Flynn had with Russia’s ambassador to the ******* States. Trump later pardoned Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about those conversations. Charlie Kirk, the ************* activist, is the top vote-getter under “Education,” while former Texas congressman Ron Paul was by far the leading suggestion under the “Economy” section of Kennedy’s web site. While the top voter-getters received 1,000 votes or more, many other people named as potential nominees have very few, if any votes on the site. Kennedy last week told NBC News that Trump has said he wants him to have a role in improving U.S. government health agencies in three primary areas: “clean up *********** at those agencies;” return those agencies to the gold standard, science;” and “make America health again” by reducing the “chronic ******** epidemic.” Asked if Trump would appoint him secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees a sprawling arrange of health agencies, Kennedy said, “I don’t know if that’s the post that I want.” “I might be more effective in the White House as health czar or something like that, but we don’t know,” he said. He also said Trump “absolutely” has “asked me to” take a leadership role in improving national health and policy. Over the weekend, at an event in Arizona, Kennedy reportedly indicated he would ***** 600 workers at the National Institutes of Health and replace them. “We need to act fast, and we want to have those people in place on Jan. 20, so that on Jan. 21, 600 people are going to walk into offices at NIH and 600 people are going to leave,” ABC News reported, citing a YouTube video of Kennedy’s remarks. Source link #RFK #site #crowdsources #Trump #administration #appointees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man Throws Baby Against Wall In Anger While Playing NBA 2K, Charged With Two Felonies Man Throws Baby Against Wall In Anger While Playing NBA 2K, Charged With Two Felonies This article contains details some may find distressing. 20-year-old Milwaukee resident Jalin White has been charged with two felonies after allegedly throwing an infant against a wall in a rage brought on by his poor performance in a video game. Local police say they became involved with the incident on November 5, when they received a ********* complaint filed by Children’s Wisconsin, a local pediatric hospital. “The defendant was playing NBA 2K and the game was competitive,” the complaint states, later noting that White “became frustrated while holding [the baby], ultimately throwing [the child] against the wall.” White was later charged with one count of felony child ****** and one count of felony child neglect. The young victim–whose relationship to White is currently unknown–is said to be about eight months old. The child suffered severe injuries to the skull and brain, had to undergo multiple rounds of CPR, and is not expected to live. Medical professionals treating the victim also discovered other injuries–including a broken clavicle–in various states of healing, suggesting the child may have been physically abused prior to White’s outburst over the game. Per the complaint, White told detectives several differing versions of events, but when confronted with evidence of the child’s injure, he confirmed he had thrown the child, allegedly telling police, “I heard the impact of the wall after I tossed him.” According to the complaint, White’s rage stemmed from his performance in the game. He was reportedly down two points in the fourth quarter of the game when he inflicted life-threatening injuries on the unnamed infant. White is currently being held on a $100,000 cash bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 15. Source link #Man #Throws #Baby #Wall #Anger #Playing #NBA #Charged #Felonies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jets of liquid bounce off hot surfaces without ever touching them Jets of liquid bounce off hot surfaces without ever touching them If you cook with stainless steel pans, you are probably familiar with the Leidenfrost effect Franck Celestini A jet of liquid can bounce off of a hot plate without ever touching it. This extension of the Leidenfrost effect – the phenomenon that allows beads of water to skitter across a scorching pan – could help improve cooling processes, like those used in things ranging from nuclear reactors to firefighting. Though first described nearly 300 years ago, the Leidenfrost effect has only been tested with fluid droplets, not squirts of liquid. Until… Source link #Jets #liquid #bounce #hot #surfaces #touching Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

British author Samantha Harvey wins with Orbital British author Samantha Harvey wins with Orbital PA Media Samantha Harvey is the first woman to win the award since 2019 British author Samantha Harvey has won the 2024 Booker Prize award with her novel Orbital, the first book set in space to win the prize. Orbital contemplates the world from a different viewpoint as it follows a team of astronauts in the International Space Station. It’s the biggest-selling book on the shortlist in the ***, and has also outsold the past three Booker winners combined, up to the eve of their success. Harvey, the first woman to win the award since 2019, was announced as winner at a ceremony in London’s Old Billingsgate, and will take home £50,000. She dedicated the prize to “all the people who speak for and not against the earth and work for and not against peace”. She said she questioned herself while writing the book: “Why would anybody want to hear from a woman at her desk in Wiltshire writing about space when people have actually been there?” “I lost my nerve with it and I thought I didn’t have the authority to write it.” Speaking to BBC News, Harvey said she was “in complete shock and very overwhelmed”. She added that the award would change her life. Asked how she would spend the £50,000 prize money, she said: “I need to buy myself a new bike, and it’s going to be a good bike.” ‘Beauty and ambition’ Chair of the judges, Edmund de Waal, described Orbital as a “book about a wounded world”. He said the judges all recognised its “beauty and ambition” and praised her “language of lyricism”. Writing it, Harvey said she “thought of it as a space pastoral – a kind of nature writing about the beauty of space”. The 136-page long story, which is Harvey’s fifth novel, takes place over a single day in the life of six astronauts and cosmonauts. During those 24 hours they observe 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets over their silent blue planet, spinning past continents and cycling past seasons, taking in glaciers and deserts, the peaks of mountains and the swells of oceans. It is the second-shortest book to win the prize, and covers the briefest timeframe of any book on the shortlist. The shortest winning novel in the history of the prize was 1979’s Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald, at 132 pages. Harvey previously told BBC Radio 4’s Front Row programme she wrote Orbital over the course of successive lockdowns. “I was writing about six people trapped in a tin can. It felt like there was something resonant about that and our experience of lockdown, of not being able to escape each other and also not being able to get to other people.” Harvey previously made the longlist for the Booker Prize in 2009 with her debut novel, The Wilderness. PA Media The shortlisted authors met with the Queen during a reception for the Booker Prize Foundation at Clarence House This year’s shortlist had five women on its six-strong shortlist – the largest number of women represented in its 55-year history. The other nominees were: James – Percival Everett (US)Creation Lake – Rachel Kushner (US)Held – Anne Michaels (Canada)The Safekeep – Yael van der Wouden (Netherlands)Stone Yard Devotion – Charlotte Wood (Australia) The prestigious prize is open to works of fiction written in English by authors anywhere in the world and published in the *** or Ireland. Previous winning authors include Margaret Atwood, Hilary Mantel, Bernardine Evaristo and Salman Rushdie. Source link #British #author #Samantha #Harvey #wins #Orbital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rockstar has given Grand Theft Auto Trilogy a big graphical update Rockstar has given Grand Theft Auto Trilogy a big graphical update Three years after its troubled launch, Rockstar has released a significant update for the current-gen console and PC versions of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive edition. Released in 2021, GTA Trilogy DE – which is made up of GTA3, Vice City, and San Andreas – received significant criticism for its disappointing presentation and visuals. However, Tuesday’s surprise update seems to have made big improvements. Patch notes simply note that a classic lighting mode – previously added to the mobile versions last year – has been added to consoles. By itself, this appears to have improved the Trilogy’s visuals significantly, but fans have noted there are more changes than Rockstar has mentioned. X user Besk has extensively detailed improvements they’ve discovered so far in The Trilogy, most notably new *****, rain, fog, and glass-breaking effects, new and fixed animations, extra bloom and lighting effects, and more. Players can also now run while aiming certain weapons, pause cutscenes, see date/time information on game saves, view their correct position on the world map, and more. I can’t believe I’m saying this but with the new Classic Lightning and the GTA Trilogy DE Patch I’m on Vice City and it looks absolutely gorgeous. pic.twitter.com/EjI4YRqE07 — Besk (@BeskInfinity) November 12, 2024 GTA DE New Patch has FINALLY fixed the aiming running animations across all guns in GTA 3 and VC DE which used to be extremely broken. This is by far the best fix for me. Left Old Right New pic.twitter.com/PnG6LJX7m8 — Besk (@BeskInfinity) November 12, 2024 At launch the remasters were heavily criticised for a significant number of technical issues, as well as “unintended” documents found within game files such as unlicensed music and developer notes, resulting in the PC version being pulled temporarily. Despite the launch issues, sales figures shared shortly after launch suggested the title had sold as many as 10 million copies following its release. Take-Two hasn’t confirmed exact sales figures for GTA: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition, but CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed last year that the collection had performed “great” since its release. Source link #Rockstar #Grand #Theft #Auto #Trilogy #big #graphical #update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2024 Booker prize goes to Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbital, set over 24 hours on the ISS 2024 Booker prize goes to Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbital, set over 24 hours on the ISS The International Space Station MSFC/NASA Samantha Harvey, who has won the ***’s top fiction award, the Booker prize, for her novel Orbital, has created a new genre: nature writing about space. “I see it as a kind of space pastoral,” Harvey told the New Scientist podcast earlier in the year. “I wanted to see what you could do with words in a painterly way to try to conjure up that rapturous, joyful, extraordinary and also now somewhat grief-stricken view of the Earth.” Orbital takes place over 24 hours on the International Space Station (ISS). There are six… Source link #Booker #prize #Samantha #Harveys #Orbital #set #hours #ISS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More hints of Nvidia’s RTX 50 series reveal are here – next-generation GPUs are now rumored to be in production More hints of Nvidia’s RTX 50 series reveal are here – next-generation GPUs are now rumored to be in production Nvidia’s production focus has reportedly shifted to RTX 5000 series GPUs RTX 4000 series GPUs could be close to discontinuation This is a huge indication that Nvidia’s reveal could be sooner than anticipated Nvidia’s RTX 4000 series has been the focal point of the GPU market ever since its 2022 launch – its flagship GPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, ******** the king of all GPUs – often considered overkill for gaming, especially at resolutions below 4K. Now, if a new rumor holds any truth, Team Green’s production of RTX 5000 series GPUs could already be underway. This comes after months of speculation including rumors and leaks, some of which address the RTX 5000 series’ flagship GPU (the hotly anticipated RTX 5090) and its specifications along with its eye-watering purported price of $2,500. This latest rumor stems from Board Channels (a ******** forum) as spotted by VideoCardz – the post states that Team Green has shifted its focus from RTX 4000 series production to the upcoming RTX 5000 series GPUs. While this doesn’t mean Nvidia’s current-gen GPUs have been officially discontinued, the post claims that there is an ongoing transition to the next-gen GPUs within Nvidia’s main production line – the 4000 series is reportedly within its ‘final stage of inventory clearance’, as Team Green’s AD106 chip production line (which powers the RTX 4060) has halted entirely. (Image credit: Konstantin Savusia / Shutterstock) What does this mean for RTX 4000 series buyers? With the RTX 5000 series’ reveal edging closer, this month and December could be some of the last opportunities to get your hands on Nvidia’s 4000 series GPUs (aside from second-hand models, which can be a risky endeavor). Considering the raw power of the RTX 4090 and 4080, it wouldn’t be surprising to see scalping become a prominent issue once again – it may take a while for stock to run out, but scalpers will always be quick to act (AMD’s Ryzen 9800X3D CPU is the latest victim). Third-party AIC (Add-in-Card) brands that have partnered with Nvidia to manufacture RTX cards could see a decrease in supply for the 4000 series leading into 2025 – this is already evident over at Team Green’s key rival, AMD, with its flagship GPU (the Radeon RX 7900 XTX) now heavily discounted or sold as refurbished at multiple retailers in the ***, like eBuyer. We’ve seen this happen during the ******* of the 4000 series launch – the high MSRP price and shortages throughout the series’ lifetime led to scalpers reselling at obscene prices in various marketplaces. If Nvidia’s new GPUs are set to launch earlier than we anticipated, there’s no better time than now to make a move on the current-gen cards while they are still available – after all, if you pick up an RTX 4000 GPU now, it’ll still last you for years to come. You might also like… Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Source link #hints #Nvidias #RTX #series #reveal #nextgeneration #GPUs #rumored #production Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Canada, U.S. should eye own trade deal if no ******** tariffs on China: Ford Canada, U.S. should eye own trade deal if no ******** tariffs on China: Ford Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Tuesday suggested Mexico “shouldn’t have a seat at the table” in upcoming North ********* free trade talks if it doesn’t match ********* and ********* tariffs on ******** imports — and that Canada and the U.S. should focus on a new, bilateral deal instead. Ford’s statement comes as North America braces for the return of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to the White House and a scheduled review in 2026 of the Canada-******* States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which replaced NAFTA during Trump’s first term. Trump, and now Ford, have accused Mexico of allowing ******** companies to bypass CUSMA rules and export vehicles and parts into the U.S. and Canada through ********-built manufacturing plants. “If Mexico won’t ****** transshipment by, at the very least, matching ********* and ********* tariffs on ******** imports, they shouldn’t have a seat at the table or enjoy access to the largest economy in the world,” Ford said in the statement issued by his office. Story continues below advertisement “Instead, we must prioritize the closest economic partnership on earth by directly negotiating a bilateral U.S.-Canada free trade agreement that puts U.S. and ********* workers first.” 1:33 ‘We’ve been here before’: Trudeau says Canada is prepared to renegotiate CUSMA Canada joined the U.S. earlier this year in slapping 100 per cent tariffs on ******** imported electric vehicles and 25 per cent levies on ******** steel and aluminum. Ottawa is undergoing further consultations on whether to expand the tariffs to other ******** imports. Mexico has not followed suit. ******** automakers such as BYD — one of the largest in the world — are seeking to build manufacturing plants in Mexico, where a number of ********* companies are already building their vehicles at a lower cost. The ***** is that those ******** companies can then take advantage of CUSMA’s duty-free import rules and flood the North ********* market with ******** cars while avoiding the U.S. and ********* tariffs. Story continues below advertisement CUSMA’s rules of origin clause requires higher levels of North ********* parts in vehicles sold in the three countries compared with NAFTA, which Trump has said China is also trying to exploit. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Speaking to reporters at an unrelated press conference in Barrie on Tuesday, Ford expanded on his statement and pointed to a trade imbalance between Ontario and Mexico, which he claimed exports the vast majority of $40 billion in annual two-way trade with his province. “If Mexico wants a bilateral trade deal with Canada, **** bless them,” Ford said. “But I’m not going to be drawn down with these cheap imports, taking men and women’s jobs from hard-working Ontarians.” Asked about Ford’s comments during a press conference alongside New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there has been “varying degrees of concern” about ******** overcapacity and unfair trade practices, and suggested continued cooperation is the best way to confront it. “We’re going to continue to work with partners like the ******* States, and hopefully Mexico as well, to make sure that we are ******* in our ******* to protect good jobs” as well as environmental and labour concerns, he said. 2:01 With Trump administration incoming, what will happen to Canada’s EV plan? Canada has sought to follow the Americans’ lead on trade issues when it comes to China, particularly ******** EVs. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said that unified stance will give Canada a “firm foundation” in upcoming U.S. trade negotiations. Trending Now RCMP report reveals new details on GTA man and his ‘camel-toe’ fake toonies From 300 lbs to 100K races: How this mom of 4 took up ultramarathons Story continues below advertisement It could also help make the case for Canada to avoid Trump’s promise of a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all foreign imports to the U.S. Trump has taken aim at ******** imports in particular over the ******** auto issue, as well as immigration. At a rally in North Carolina earlier this month, Trump said he will impose a 25 per cent tariff on everything imported from Mexico “if they don’t stop this onslaught of ********** and drugs coming into our country.” Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard suggested on Monday that the ******** government would “have to” retaliate with its own tariffs on ********* goods if Trump follows through, which he said would bring “a gigantic cost for the North ********* economy.” 0:46 Mexico pauses relations with U.S., ********* embassies in judicial reform spat Last month, Trump vowed to impose tariffs of at least 200 per cent or more on all vehicles imported from Mexico — which would hurt ********* automakers in the short term — and said he could levy ******** companies who operate in Mexico and bypass CUSMA rules as high as 1,000 per cent. Story continues below advertisement Trump would likely not need Congress to impose these tariffs, as was clear in 2018, when he imposed them on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and other countries without going through lawmakers by citing Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. That law, according to the Congressional Research Service, gives a president the power to adjust tariffs on imports that could affect U.S. national security, an argument Trump has made. Much of Trump’s ire toward CUSMA has been focused on protecting the ********* auto industry and ensuring China can’t exploit its rules of origin clause and benefits for North ********* imports. But Mexico could further threaten its place within CUSMA if ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum pushes through her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s policies aimed at eliminating independent regulatory and oversight bodies, and laws the U.S. government says could reduce the independence of the judiciary — both of which are required under the trade agreement. López Obrador paused relations with the U.S. and ********* embassies in Mexico after both countries criticized the judicial reforms. More on Politics More videos &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Canada #U.S #eye #trade #deal #******** #tariffs #China #Ford Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Critical PC and Console Feature Coming to GTA Trilogy That Mobile Users Had Since Years is Rockstar’s Final Hail Mary Critical PC and Console Feature Coming to GTA Trilogy That Mobile Users Had Since Years is Rockstar’s Final Hail Mary Rockstar Games has finally updated the GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition on PC and consoles with features previously exclusive to its mobile port. The update introduces the Classic Lighting mode, restoring the original games’ vibrant lighting and visual clarity. But why were they exclusive to mobile? Only took a year for a mobile feature to be ported. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games Released in 2021, the remastered trilogy faced widespread criticism for its bugs, poor graphics, and lack of features compared to the original titles. The mobile version was a lot better but it’s taken Rockstar a whole year to bring these upgrades over to PC and console. The GTA Trilogy Just Became Truly Definitive When Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition launched on consoles and PC, fans were excited to revisit iconic titles like GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. But upon release, players were shocked by its subpar graphics, broken animations, and poor performance. Comment byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion inGames To make matters worse, when the trilogy was ported to mobile devices last December, the mobile version came with some big visual upgrades. Comment byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion inGames These included the Classic Lighting mode, better shadows, and improved reflections, which were missing from the PC and console editions. The backlash was intense, with many fans feeling that the so-called “Definitive Edition” was anything but. While the mobile versions, released in December 2023, successfully addressed many of these issues, it’s taken Rockstar nearly a year to transfer these improvements to the console and PC versions. The #GTA Definitive Editions just got an update which added the classic lighting option. Not gonna lie, it actually looks nice on a screen ******* than a phone. I’ll test now to see if the same problems still exist with it though like they did on mobile a year ago… pic.twitter.com/Qv5J68hYos — TJGM (@TJGM_) November 12, 2024 The Classic Lighting mode was a major feature requested by fans, restoring the original sky and lighting effects that were missing in the Definitive Edition. The mode is now available on all platforms, with the setting turned on by default. PC and Console Rise Back To The Top Again Image Credit: Rockstar Games These updates come after a particularly harsh three-year ******* for the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition on consoles and PC. Rockstar’s initial apology in 2021 and subsequent attempts at patching the games did little to placate fans since the bugs stayed. Comment byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion inGames Grove Street Games, the developers behind the original PC and console remasters were notably absent from this update, with all mentions of the studio removed. Grove Street Games, named after the iconic street in San Andreas, was heavily criticized following the Definitive Edition’s release for its handling of the remasters. Comment byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion inGames Following the studio’s departure from the project, Video Games Deluxe, the team behind the L.A. Noire VR Case Files, took on the mobile ports and now seems to have inspired many of the updates coming to other platforms. Despite this, the legacy of the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition ******** mixed. The disastrous 2021 launch prompted numerous refunds, and Rockstar had to pull the game from online stores temporarily to fix even more bugs. These upgrades could bring more attention to Definitive Edition and encourage new players to give it a try. With GTA 6 expected to launch in 2025, Rockstar appears to be making one final effort to satisfy the trilogy’s fans before shifting its focus entirely to the next entry in the franchise. Will you give the Definitive Edition another try with this new update? Let us know in the comments! Source link #Critical #Console #Feature #Coming #GTA #Trilogy #Mobile #Users #Years #Rockstars #Final #Hail #Mary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Windows 10 users: Microsoft wants you to use Windows 11, changing up its Settings app reminder banner to make sure you don’t forget Windows 10 users: Microsoft wants you to use Windows 11, changing up its Settings app reminder banner to make sure you don’t forget A new banner in the Windows Update menu will prompt users to upgrade to Windows 11 Users will be able to choose to stay with Windows 10 – for now Support for Windows 10 will officially end on October 14 next year This year’s major Windows 11 feature update, 24H2, has arrived, and Microsoft wants you to know it… especially if you’re a Windows 10 user. The tech giant has been hounding people clinging to Windows 10 with persistent, prominent, and sometimes full-screen reminders to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 24H2 as the best version of Windows 11, bringing plenty of new features, especially for the newly introduced Copilot+ PCs. Its design is also being improved continuously, with Microsoft trying to make it feel polished and contemporary, and it wants to use this to try and convince Windows 10 users to embrace the newer operating system. Adding to the steady stream of reminders we saw before the rollout of 24H2, Microsoft is now trying to convince Windows 10 users to get a ‘free upgrade’ to Windows 11 on all eligible PCs. Also, with Windows 10’s end-of-support date coming up in less than a year (October 14, 2025), Microsoft is using this as an opportunity to remind Windows 10 users once again, in the hope that they will upgrade to Windows 11. Windows Latest has shared a screenshot of a banner that appears on the Windows Update page in the Settings app in Windows 10. Before, this page would urge people to upgrade to Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, but now when you click the ‘Download and install’ button in the banner, it begins downloading Windows 11 24H2 on your device. The banner also features a less prominently shown option to ‘Stay on Windows 10 for now.’ That said, Microsoft confirmed to Windows Latest that this was a deliberate banner change in Windows 10, and the inclusion of ‘for now’ suggests this is going to be a recurring notification, especially as Windows 10’s deprecation date draws closer. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Why saying goodbye to Windows 10 might be tough – so what choices are there? Many people find Windows 10’s overall look and features more polished than those of Windows 11, a common example being File Explorer and how it performs noticeably slower in Windows 11 than in Windows 10. It does look like Microsoft is making a solid effort to keep patching up troublesome parts of Windows 11, which has struggled to gain users at the same rate Windows 10 managed. Microsoft is especially keen to steer Windows 10 users to Windows 11 (and this is what it wants Windows 10 users to do), and we’ll see what these users do when Windows 10 is no longer supported. Apparently, it’s also looking to add in Windows Intelligence, Microsoft’s new catch-all umbrella brand and term for AI in Windows (which is rumored to replace Copilot). Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. If you are determined to continue using Windows 10 for at least one more year, Microsoft will offer a service providing extended security updates after October 14, 2025, for $30 per device. Not all versions of Windows 10 will lose support after October 14, 2025, however, and there’s a more specific breakdown provided by Windows Latest that shows exactly what plans Microsoft has in store for each version. If you don’t fancy paying to keep using Windows 10, then I would recommend that you move on to Windows 11 so that you can continue to receive Microsoft’s most recent updates and security patches. This will be a tough choice for many people as Windows 10 ******** incredibly popular. Despite a rocky start with multiple faulty updates of its own, Windows 10 has become a reliable favorite, and it ******** to be seen if Windows 11 will win users over, by voluntary upgrade or otherwise. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE… Source link #Windows #users #Microsoft #Windows #changing #Settings #app #reminder #banner #dont #forget Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Priestman done as Canada coach in wake of drone scandal Priestman done as Canada coach in wake of drone scandal Bev Priestman will not return as head coach of the ********* women’s soccer team following an independent report into the use of drones to spy on an opponent at this year’s Paris Olympics. Priestman and two other team officials were previously banned by FIFA from any soccer-related activity for one year after New Zealand complained ********* staff flew drones over their training sessions before their opening match in Paris. But following an independent review commissioned by Canada Soccer, the national governing body said Priestman and the other two individuals currently suspended by FIFA would not return and a search for a new head coach would commence shortly. In July, Priestman apologised and said that, as the leader of the team, she accepted accountability and planned to cooperate fully with the investigation. Canada Soccer released only a redacted copy of the summary report but acknowledged the Paris drone incident was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams. “The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the incident itself was a symptom of a difficult and unacceptable past culture within the national teams,” Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue and president Peter Augruso said on Tuesday. “Quite simply, while players on the national teams performed admirably, cultural standards and management of the programs dating back several years fell short of expectations.” Among the report’s findings, Priestman and an assistant coach “directed, approved and condoned” the use of a drone by a third member of the coaching staff to film an opposing team’s training session at the Paris Games. The report also determined that the Paris drone footage was not viewed by the national team players whose bid to defend the gold medal Canada won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ended with a quarter-final loss to Germany. With the investigation now concluded, Canada Soccer is in the process of taking disciplinary steps which will be private. Source link #Priestman #Canada #coach #wake #drone #scandal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Yakuza Creator Toshihiro Nagoshi Says Game Size Will Soon Stop Being Important to Players Yakuza Creator Toshihiro Nagoshi Says Game Size Will Soon Stop Being Important to Players Explore the fascinating journey of Brian Fargo, a visionary figure in the gaming industry who founded Interplay Entertainment and has left an indelible mark on RPGs. From his early inspirations rooted in science fiction and fantasy to pioneering iconic games like Fallout, Fargo’s career spans decades of innovation and adaptation in the ever-evolving landscape of video games. Discover his insights into game development challenges, his pioneering use of crowdfunding for Wasteland 2, and his upcoming project, Clockwork Revolution. Source link #Yakuza #Creator #Toshihiro #Nagoshi #Game #Size #Stop #Important #Players Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft fixes 89 CVEs on penultimate Patch Tuesday of 2024 Microsoft fixes 89 CVEs on penultimate Patch Tuesday of 2024 Microsoft has issued fixes addressing a total of 89 new Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) – 92 including third-party disclosures – to mark the penultimate Patch Tuesday of 2024, including four critical issues and a number of flaws that could be considered zero-days. Of these issues, one meets the full traditional definition of a full zero-day, a vulnerability that is both public and known to be exploited. This is CVE-2024-43451, a spoofing vulnerability in New Technology LAN Manager (NTLM) Hash. NTLM is a set of security protocols used to authenticate users’ identities. It dates back years and has been largely supplanted by vastly more secure protocols – Microsoft has not recommended its use in over a decade, but since it was used in Internet Explorer, it ******** supported to some extent and continues to cause problems, not least because at this stage, it is incredibly insecure. In this instance, successful exploitation of this issue could lead to “total loss of confidentiality”, according to Microsoft, as it discloses a user’s NTLMv2 hash to an attacker who could then use it to authenticate as the user – if the victim can be tricked into minimal interaction with a malicious file, which could include merely selecting or clicking it, not even opening it. This may make it considerably more dangerous than its comparatively low severity score may indicate. Mike Walters, president and co-founder of Action1, explained: “This issue arises from the mechanism where NTLM authentication credentials, specifically NTLMv2 hashes, are improperly exposed via a maliciously crafted file. “The root cause of this vulnerability ***** in improperly handling file interactions within systems, potentially allowing attackers to extract NTLMv2 hashes without requiring complete file **********,” he told Computer Weekly in emailed commentary. All supported versions of Microsoft Windows are vulnerable to this issue, said Walters, especially if they use applications reliant on MSHTML and EdgeHTML platforms, while risk is further increased across different system environments thanks to the involvement of other scripting engines. Walters said the main concern with CVE-2024-43451 is the disclosure of NTLMv2 hashes that can be used to authenticate as the user and leveraged in pass-the-hash attacks, enabling further lateral movement for a canny threat actor. “This vulnerability is particularly effective in phishing scenarios, where users might be deceived into interacting with malicious files. Once NTLM hashes are obtained, attackers can combine them with other network vulnerabilities to extend their access and compromise additional systems,” he said. “Organisations that heavily use Windows in environments with substantial network file sharing or legacy applications dependent on Internet Explorer and related platforms face heightened risk. Those lacking robust user training and monitoring systems to detect unusual file interactions may be more susceptible to exploitation.” Also on the list is CVE-2024-49309, which is exploited but not yet public. This is an elevation of privilege (EoP) vulnerability in Windows Task Scheduler. This stems from an issue where authentication tokens or credentials are improperly managed and could allow a low-privileged attacker to gain deeper access if they can ******** a malicious application designed for the purpose. It impacts multiple versions of Windows that incorporate Task Scheduler as part of their routine task automation processes, and it is thought that environments with shared or multiple-user setups may be particularly vulnerable to it. “This vulnerability serves as a potential entry point for attackers who have already accessed a system with low privilege. Once privileges are escalated, these attackers can utilise this foothold for further lateral movement within a network or to exploit other vulnerabilities that necessitate higher access levels,” said Walters. “The nature of this vulnerability is especially concerning in corporate settings where individual users possess specific task automation privileges that could be exploited to gain unauthorised access.” Not yet exploited Four further vulnerabilities have been made public but as of yet have seen no exploitation, according to Microsoft, and one of these, CVE-2024-5535, a remote code ********** issue in OpenSSL, is among the three third-party disclosures incorporated into this month’s drop. The other three are CVE-2024-43498, a remote code ********** (RCE) vulnerability in .NET and Visual Studio, CVE-2024-49019, an EoP vulnerability in Active Directory Certificate Services, and CVE-2024-49040, a spoofing vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server. Chris Goettl, vice president of security products at Ivanti, shared further thoughts on both the Active Directory and Microsoft Exchange Server issues, and urged defenders to treat them as higher priorities than the official guidance might imply. “[CVE-2024-49019] … is rated Important and has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8…. If exploited, the attacker could gain domain administrator privileges. The vulnerability does provide additional mitigations including removing overly broad enrol or auto-enrol permissions, removing unused templates from certificate authorities, and securing templates that allow you to specify the subject in the request,” said Goettl. “The vulnerability affects Windows Server 2008 and later Server OS editions. From a risk-based perspective, a public disclosure puts this vulnerability at a higher risk of being exploited and may warrant treating the vulnerability as a higher severity.” Goettl continued: “[CVE-2024-49040] is rated Important and has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5…. The vulnerability exists in the P2 From header verification. Microsoft Exchange Server is often targeted by threat actors who specialise in Exchange exploits. From a risk-based prioritisation perspective, the public disclosure and availably of PoC level exploit code warrants treating this vulnerability as Critical.” Finally, three other Critical issues are listed as, CVE-2024-43625, an EoP vulnerability in Microsoft Windows VMSwitch; CVE-2024-43639, an RCE vulnerability in Windows Kerberos; and CVE-2024-49056, an EoP vulnerability in Airlift.microsoft.com. In each of these instances, no proof of concept has yet been made public and no exploitation in the wild has been observed. Source link #Microsoft #fixes #CVEs #penultimate #Patch #Tuesday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department is suing to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys, citing concerns the combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The antitrust complaint, filed in Maryland by the Justice Department and four states’ attorneys general Tuesday, argues that a potential merger is ******** because the two companies are “such large competitors” already — and the deal would give UnitedHealth too much control in many local markets. That would mean less choice for patients looking for affordable care, the suit alleges, as well as fewer employment options for nurses seeking competitive pay and benefits. “********* healthcare is unwell,” Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, said in a prepared statement. “Unless this $3.3 billion transaction is stopped, UnitedHealth Group will further extend its grip to home health and hospice care, threatening seniors, their families and nurses.” Tuesday’s lawsuit follows UnitedHealth’s acquisition of LHC Group Inc., another home health and hospice provider. Since that transaction’s completion last year, the Justice Department said, UnitedHealth and Amedisys have emerged as two of the largest providers of home health and hospice care in the country. The complaint alleges that UnitedHealth’s plan to acquire Amedisys is the result of “an intentional, sustained strategy of acquiring, rather than beating, competition.” After completing the LHC acquisition, the suit says UnitedHealth prevented Amedisys’ 2023 plans to merge with infusion provider OptionCare by paying a “breakup fee” — and then separately made its own acquisition offer, which Amedisys eventually accepted. UnitedHealth is seeking to add Amedisys to Optum, its subsidiary that provides care as well as pharmacy and technology services. In a response Tuesday to the antitrust suit, Optum said the transaction “would be pro-competitive and further innovation.” It said it plans to “vigorously defend (itself) against the DOJ’s overreaching interpretation of the antitrust laws.” Amedisys added that it also ******** committed to the deal, which it believes “will create more opportunities to deliver quality, compassionate and value-based care to patients and their families.” Beyond its Optum unit, UnitedHealth Group also runs one of the nation’s largest health insurers, UnitedHealthcare. The Minnesota-based healthcare giant reported third-quarter net income of $6.06 billion on revenue of $100.82 billion. Story Continues Louisiana-based Amedisys reported third-quarter earnings of $16.9 million and a revenue of $587.7 million for the *******. Tuesday’s lawsuit arrives in the final months of the Biden administration, which has been particularly aggressive in antitrust enforcement. In recent years, the Justice Department has also targeted companies accused of engaging in ******** monopolies and driving up prices across industries like entertainment, travel and tech. The four states’ attorneys general joining Tuesday’s suit against UnitedHealth and Amedisys are from Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and New York. Source link #Justice #Department #sues #block #UnitedHealth #Groups #billion #purchase #Amedisys Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple could launch a smart home control center next year Apple could launch a smart home control center next year Apple is rumored to be working on a new smart home product. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg that the company is developing a wall-mounted display for controlling appliances, interacting with Siri and videoconferencing. The tablet is said to look “like a square iPad” with “a roughly 6-inch screen.” It would have a camera at the top as well as internal speakers and a built-in rechargeable battery. His sources said this smart home display could be officially announced as soon as March following three years in development. This description sounds a lot like the , which came out in 2018, or the , which is already up to its eighth iteration. If Apple wants to be a serious competitor in this smart home space, it’ll have to prove to customers that it has something to offer that these more established brands and products don’t. Right now, the only distinguishing feature is likely , which finally began rolling out to users in late October, and the upcoming system for controlling software programs with AI. But Apple may be looking farther ahead toward something more extravagant than just a smart device control panel. Gurman reported that Apple is already working on a version with a robotic arm that could move the tablet around. It should be interesting to see exactly what Apple does formally launch and when. Source link #Apple #launch #smart #home #control #center #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Spotify shares pop on better-than-expected profit forecast Spotify shares pop on better-than-expected profit forecast The Spotify logo is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Dec. 4, 2023. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Spotify shares rose in extended trading on Tuesday after the music streaming company issued a profit forecast for the fourth quarter that topped estimates. Here’s how the company did, compared to what analysts expected: Earnings per share: 1.45 euros vs. 1.72 euros expected by LSEG Revenue: 3.99 billion euros vs. 4.02 billion euros expected by LSEG Monthly active users (MAUs): 640 million vs. 639 million expected by StreetAccount While the Swedish company’s earnings and revenue for the third quarter trailed estimates, investors focused instead on guidance for the current *******. Spotify said operating income in the fourth quarter will come in at 481 million euros, exceeding the average analyst estimate of 432.7 million euros, according to StreetAccount. MAUs will increase to 665 million, while analysts were expecting 659.3 million, based on a StreetAccount estimate. Still, revenue guidance trailed estimates. The company said sales will reach 4.1 billion euros, below the average analyst estimate of 4.26 billion euros, according to LSEG. Subscribers to Spotify Premium, the company’s ad-free membership service that allows users to select songs on an unlimited basis, increased 12% year over year to 252 million, slightly ahead of estimates. Spotify shares rose about 8% following the report to $452.35 after rising 2.2% in regular trading. The stock has more than doubled in value this year. WATCH: Spotify is platform for artists who want to break globally Source link #Spotify #shares #pop #betterthanexpected #profit #forecast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s tariff threats send lobbyists scrambling to find loopholes Trump’s tariff threats send lobbyists scrambling to find loopholes In the days since President-elect Donald Trump won the presidential race, Nicole Bivens Collinson’s phone has barely stopped ringing. Collinson, who helps lead the international trade and government relations division at the lobbying firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, said she is fielding “dozens and dozens and dozens” of calls from anxious U.S. companies looking to protect themselves from Trump’s hardline tariff plans by finding loopholes and exemptions. “Absolutely everyone is calling,” Collinson told CNBC. “It is nonstop.” Over the course of the 2024 campaign, Trump made universal tariffs a core tenet of his economic platform, floating a 20% tax on all imports from all countries with a specifically harsh 60% rate for ******** goods. That hyper-protectionist trade approach sent chills up the spines of economists, Wall Street analysts and industry leaders who warned that across-the-board tariffs could make production — and in turn, consumer prices — more expensive, just as they were recovering from pandemic-era inflation spikes. “The threat of tariffs has alarmed retailers and a wide range of other U.S. businesses,” David French, senior vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation, told CNBC. “Our members have been working on contingency plans since President Trump secured the nomination.” Ron Sorini, a principal at the lobbying firm Sorini, Samet & Associates, echoed that sentiment, noting that he takes at least two to three calls a day to field companies’ concerns about the proposed tariff ramp-up, especially in China. “[Companies] question where they should go, and how do they get the components out [of China]? How do they get the whole supply chain out?” Sorini said. When Trump unleashed his first set of China tariffs in 2018, securing an exemption became a golden ticket in corporate America, a way to safeguard a company’s China-based supply chains rather than paying the hefty price of relocation. And to obtain that golden ticket, it paid to know the right people. A 2021 research study found that applications for Trump’s first-term tariff exemptions were more likely to be approved when they came from lobbying firms whose employees had made political contributions to the *********** Party. Now, with Trump set to retake the White House in a matter of weeks, tariff escalation is becoming a more likely reality. And in corporate America, the race is on to find the right lobbyists to help companies rub shoulders with the right people, to give them an advantage in securing tariff loopholes. “Firms are prepared,” SUNY Buffalo finance professor Veljko Fotak, one of the authors of the 2021 study, told CNBC. “The real winners of this process are going to be the lawyers and lobbyists.” What tariffs will look like in the next Trump administration, and whether exemptions will be available at all, are both unknown. “Until that clarity comes, businesses will have to plan for a variety of scenarios,” Tiffany Smith, vice president of global trade policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, told CNBC. Read more CNBC politics coverage In response to CNBC’s request for comment about the Trump team’s plan for exemptions and companies’ concerns about the tariff proposals, Trump transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt doubled down on the president-elect’s campaign promises. “The ********* people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver,” Leavitt told CNBC in a statement. In the meantime, companies have been trying to set up defenses against Trump’s more aggressive trade approach. These include stockpiling goods in the short run, readying price hikes so they can pass the cost of import duties on to customers, and trying to move their production out of China. On Thursday, Steve Madden pledged to reduce its ******** imports by 45% over the next year in anticipation of Trump’s tariff plans. But exiting China is a significant undertaking for many U.S. companies, especially small businesses that may not have the buying clout or leverage to move production so easily. “What I would urge is that folks look at the impact on small businesses. Those are the people that are really getting hurt. There’s got to be some way to help companies like that,” Sorini told CNBC. “Because they really can’t do it on their own.” Source link #Trumps #tariff #threats #send #lobbyists #scrambling #find #loopholes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley out again Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley out again By Staff The ********* Press Posted November 12, 2024 5:27 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Immanuel Quickley is hurt once again. The Toronto Raptors announced on Tuesday that their starting point guard has a partial ligament tear in his left elbow. Quickley’s ulnar collateral ligament will be re-evaluated in a week. He was hurt during the fourth quarter of Toronto’s 123-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Related Videos 1:32 Toronto Raptors players surprise students in Kahnawake Previous Video Next Video Story continues below advertisement Quickley already missed eight games this season with a right pelvic contusion after taking a hard fall on his tailbone in the home opener on Oct. 23. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. He is averaging 15.3 points, four assists and two rebounds over three games this season — but he left two of them early due to injury. Quickley was traded by the New York Knicks to Toronto on Dec. 30 along with swingman RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont. Trending Now Canada Post issues lockout notice after union’s strike warning Former B.C. premier John Horgan ***** following battle with ******* He re-signed on a five-year, US$175 million contract to remain with the Raptors on July 8. The Raptors (2-9) announced Quickley’s injury hours before they were set to face the Bucks in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. This report by The ********* Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024. More on Sports More videos &copy 2024 The ********* Press Source link #Raptors #Immanuel #Quickley Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars Chewbacca Lego Set Gets Nice Discount At Target Star Wars Chewbacca Lego Set Gets Nice Discount At Target Target’s Deal Days promotion doesn’t include as many notable Lego deals as last week’s early ****** Friday *****, but there are still some gems, including the 2,139-piece Chewbacca building set for $160, down from $200. This set has only been discounted a few times since its release last year, and Target’s deal ends tomorrow, November 12. The end result of this large-scale build is a detailed 18-inch model of the Wookie hero with his iconic Bowcaster Rifle and bandolier. Like many Lego Star Wars model sets designed for adults, it comes with a display plaque with key details about Chewie and a minifigure. Chewbacca was one of the marquee Lego Star Wars sets released for Return of the Jedi’s 40th anniversary. Chewbacca Lego Set Chewbacca is just one of the notable Star Wars Lego deals at Target. Another one of the highlights is the 2024 Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar for only $28.79. Amazon matched this deal but quickly sold out, so snag it from Walmart before it’s gone. Star Wars Lego Deals at Target Star Wars Lego Deals at Amazon Amazon is sold out of Chewbacca and several other sets that Target has in stock, but you can still save on a wide variety of Star Wars Lego kits at Amazon. Some of the highlights include Ahsoka’s Ghost & Phantom II Starships set for $140 (click the coupon box), Phantom Menace’s Mos Espa Podrace Diorama for $60, its lowest price ever, and the Emperor’s Throne Room from Return of the Jedi for $80. For the ambitious and dedicated Star Wars fan, The Ultimate Collector Series Mandalorian set featuring a 6,187-piece model of The Razor Crest is $85 off. If you’re looking for a gift for a young Star Wars fan this holiday, Walmart has restocked its exclusive Lego Star Wars 3-in-1 Gift Set. This unique package comes with three popular playsets that are normally sold separately for only $50 total, which saves you $35 overall. $50 Here’s what you get with this Walmart-exclusive Lego Star Wars gift set: The Clone Wars: Yoda’s Jedi Starfighter (253 pieces) — $35 value Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Jedi Starfighter (282 pieces) — $30 value 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack (119 pieces) — $20 value All told, the gift set includes two buildable starships, an AV-7 anti-vehicle cannon, seven minifigures , and two droids. Source link #Star #Wars #Chewbacca #Lego #Set #Nice #Discount #Target Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rivian-Volkswagen ****** venture up deal to up to $5.8 billion Rivian-Volkswagen ****** venture up deal to up to $5.8 billion A provided image of Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group and RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, as the companies announce ****** venture plans on June 25, 2024. Courtesy: Business Wire Volkswagen Group has increased its planned investment in an announced ****** venture with electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive ahead of the operations launching Wednesday. The companies in a ****** press release Tuesday said the size of the deal is now up to $5.8 billion — an increase from an initial investment of up to $5 billion — with the first VW models to use Rivian’s software and electrical architecture arriving as early as 2027. VW Group CEO Oliver Blume during a press conference Tuesday said the ******* automaker expects to use Rivian’s technologies across a wide range of price points, international markets and brands. The integration of Rivian’s software is expected to start with the Volkswagen brand, followed by Audi as well as VW’s forthcoming Scout brand, Blume said. He also mentioned “sports cars” could be included but did not specify what brand. VW’s brands also include Bentley, Porsche and Lamborghini, among others. “We’re thrilled to see our technology being integrated in vehicles outside of Rivian, and we’re excited for the future,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said in a statement. Both Scaringe and Blume said any further plans such as battery modules, ****** production of vehicles or sharing other hardware components would need to be in addition to the announced ****** venture deal. The name of the ****** venture, which was expected to close during the fourth quarter, is “Rivian and VW Group Technology, LLC.” Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Stock of Rivian Automotive and Volkswagen Group VW has already made an initial investment of $1 billion in the form of a convertible note, the companies said. At the closing of the ****** venture, VW will invest about $1.3 billion “as consideration for background IP licenses and a 50% equity stake in the ****** venture.” The remaining investment of up to $3.5 billion is expected to come by 2027 “in the form of equity, convertible notes, and debt at future dates and based on clearly defined milestones,” according to the companies. Officials did not specifically detail why there was an increase in VW’s investment to up to $5.8 billion. The ****** venture deal was initially announced in June, and came as Rivian sought to raise additional capital as it launches its redesigned models and prepares for production of new “R2” vehicles in early 2026. Scaringe previously said the capital from VW is expected to carry the company through the production ramp-up of its smaller R2 SUVs at its plant in Normal, Illinois, starting in 2026, as well as production of a midsize EV platform at a plant in Georgia, where Rivian paused construction earlier this year. The ****** venture will be headed by Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid and VW Group Chief Technical Engineer Carsten Helbing. The companies said developers and software engineers from both companies will join the ****** venture. Teams will be based in Palo Alto, California, initially, and three other sites are in development in North America and Europe. Source link #RivianVolkswagen #****** #venture #deal #billion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]