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Alibaba launches AI search for small biz, says purchase intent jumps Alibaba launches AI search for small biz, says purchase intent jumps Alibaba International promotes its e-commerce platform for small businesses at the Canton Fair in Guangdong, China, on Oct. 16, 2024. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — ******** e-commerce giant Alibaba on Tuesday unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered search engine for small businesses in Europe and the Americas to source supplies. It’s an attempt to leverage ChatGPT-like tech to increase sales. Initial tests showed businesses’ purchase intent using the new tool increased by 40% versus traditional search engines, according to Kuo Zhang, president of Alibaba.com and vice president of Alibaba International. The product is called Accio, after the spell used in the Harry Potter fantasy series for summoning objects. The initial version is web-based and supports English, *******, French, Portuguese and Spanish, according to the company. With a few text or image prompts, businesses can use Accio to find wholesale products — including analysis on their popularity with consumers and projected profit, according to demos viewed by CNBC. Examples shown included helping a sports entrepreneur to build a line of pickleball products. At the end of the search, the tool lists a number of procurement options for the business to discuss directly with each supplier. The tech uses generative AI from Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen large language model, Zhang said, declining to confirm whether the product integrates AI from other companies. An LLM is an artificial intelligence model trained on large amounts of data. A model supports generative AI applications, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which generates human-like responses to user prompts. To be sure, several businesses are still in the experimentation phase with AI and many firms are yet to find a way of monetizing the technology. Accio uses data from 50 million businesses on Alibaba International’s platform, and publicly available industry information, Zhang said. He said the tool incorporates 1 billion product listings and documents covering industries across more than 100 markets from Alibaba.com, the company’s business-to-business platform which sells to companies outside China. Businesses based in Europe and North America are the largest group of buyers, the company said. Alibaba’s international arm in October announced an updated version of an AI translation tool to help merchants reach customers in other countries. The company claimed the tech’s translation capabilities beat that of Google, DeepL and ChatGPT. The international business has grown rapidly in recent years, but Alibaba’s main revenue driver ******** its domestic e-commerce platforms Taobao and Tmall. In August 2023, management told investors that “the Taobao app has the greatest potential to become a one stop smart portal for life and consumption enabled by AI.” During the weeks-long Singles Day shopping festival that wrapped up Monday, more than half of over 500 merchants selling on ******** e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba and JD.com used a generative AI-enabled tool, according to a survey by Bain & Company. Those features include AI for customer service and generating content. The survey found 56% of respondents said AI tools had “high positive impact” on improving productivity. Alibaba is scheduled to report quarterly results on Friday. —CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal contributed to this report. Source link #Alibaba #launches #search #small #biz #purchase #intent #jumps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Greek Violinist Leonidas Kavakos Nominated for Grammy Award Greek Violinist Leonidas Kavakos Nominated for Grammy Award Born in Athens, Leonidas Kavakos has won several international violin competition prizes. Credit: Leonidas Kavakos Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos is on the list of nominations for the Grammy Music Awards this year, following the well-received release of a Beethoven symphony work earlier this year. The Grammy Awards are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the ******* States to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant awards in the music industry worldwide. The “Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 4 And Op. 97, “Archduke” (Sony Classical) was recorded with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emmanuel Ax, is up for Best Chamber/Small Ensemble Performance. Released in March, the album has received particularly warm reviews. The three leading soloists presented their work at a concert in Herodeion in June, as part of the Athens-Epidavros Festival. The front cover of the latest album. Credit: Sony Classical Leonidas Kavakos carreer leads him to the Grammys Born in Athens, Leonidas Kavakos has won several international violin competition prizes, including the Sibelius, Paganini, Naumburg, and Indianapolis competitions. He is an Onassis Foundation scholar. He has also recorded for record labels such as Sony/BMG and BIS. As a conductor, he was an artistic director of the Camerata Salzburg and has been a guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2016 Kavakos, took to the stage of the Lincoln Center of Manhattan to conduct the New York Philharmonic. The last time a Greek musician stood at the podium of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra was in 1960 when Dimitris Mitropoulos took to the stage. The Beatles among the nominees for Grammy Awards The nominees for the 2025 Grammy Awards were revealed last Friday. Beyoncé added to her all-time record number of Grammy nominations with 11, followed by Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX and Billie Eilish with seven nods each. Beyoncé now has a career total 99 Grammy nominations – more than any other artist – but she’s not yet won the Recording Academy’s top prize, album of the year. The Beatles – “Now and Then” has been nominated as record of the year. The song was 45 years in the making. An original John Lennon recording was given to the then-surviving Beatles by Yoko Ono in the early 1990s as they assembled their Anthology project. While Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr completed recording on the Lennon songs ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love’, they abandoned work on ‘Now and Then’, in part because of the technical limitations of the time. After several hints over the years, the advances in de-mixing technology used during the Get Back documentary series meant that McCartney and Starr could finally finish off the song, which was finally heard on November 2, 2023. The song has been nominated in two categories at the 67th Grammy Awards, due to take place at the Crypto.com Arena in LA on February 2, 2025: Best Rock Performance and Record of the Year. Source link #Greek #Violinist #Leonidas #Kavakos #Nominated #Grammy #Award Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Presenter to stop hosting Match of the Day, BBC confirms Presenter to stop hosting Match of the Day, BBC confirms He will also front the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup 2025/2026. “The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup,” the BBC said, while confirming his Match of the Day tenure was ending. Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.” He will continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast and the BBC will also host the popular The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds. The presenter, whose contract was coming to an end, entered negotiations with the BBC’s new head of sport in October. BBC News understands that Lineker was open to staying on at Match of the Day, but the BBC did not offer him a new contract for the show. “With 33 million viewers last season across the Premier League and FA Cup, Match of the Day ******** part of the staple diet of football fans who still get a huge buzz from hearing that iconic theme tune on a Saturday night,” the BBC said. “The show continually evolves for changing viewing habits bringing its unique and unmatched analysis and commentary across all platforms. Future plans for Match of the Day will be announced in due course.” Source link #Presenter #stop #hosting #Match #Day #BBC #confirms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CERN’s BASE-STEP Successfully Transports Protons, Paving Way for Antimatter Transport CERN’s BASE-STEP Successfully Transports Protons, Paving Way for Antimatter Transport Physicists at CERN have made a significant step forward in the challenge of transporting antimatter. In a breakthrough experiment, the team demonstrated the ability to move unstable particles using a specially designed trap. This marks the first successful test of transporting particles across CERN’s facilities, which could lay the foundation for shipping antimatter to other research laboratories in the future. BASE-STEP Trap Used for First Test The experiment, conducted in late October, involved the movement of 70 protons – subatomic particles that share similar challenges to antimatter in terms of handling and storage. The study from CERN revealed that using the BASE-STEP trap, the particles were placed in a vacuum chamber and transported on a truck across CERN’s premises without being disrupted. The report further mentioned that the success of the test was seen as a promising indication that a similar approach could be applied to antiprotons, the antimatter counterpart to protons, which are notoriously difficult to contain due to their tendency to annihilate upon contact with matter. Future Plans for Antimatter Transport ********** Smorra, a CERN physicist leading the BASE-STEP project, stated in a statement that while the test was conducted with protons, the process is expected to work with antiprotons as well, though additional precautions will be needed. These include a more robust vacuum chamber to ensure the antimatter ******** stable during transport. Antimatter is typically produced at CERN’s Antiproton Decelerator (AD) facility and stored in magnetic fields to prevent it from touching matter. The BASE experiment has already proven capable of storing antimatter for extended periods, but transporting it to different labs has posed a significant challenge. With the development of BASE-STEP, physicists now have a portable version of this technology, designed to protect the particles from the jostling they would experience during transport. Looking Ahead to 2025 The next stage for CERN’s research team is to transport antiprotons in early 2025, with plans for further refinements to the technology. Smorra mentioned that the goal is to eventually enable antimatter transport across Europe to specialised laboratories, enhancing the precision of ongoing studies. The success of the trial has opened up the potential for even deeper investigations into the properties of antimatter, with scientists hoping to gain a clearer understanding of its fundamental nature. Source link #CERNs #BASESTEP #Successfully #Transports #Protons #Paving #Antimatter #Transport Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WBBL: Perth Scorchers have thumped Sydney Thunder to jump to second on table WBBL: Perth Scorchers have thumped Sydney Thunder to jump to second on table Perth Scorchers have stormed to a crucial away victory and shot to second on the WBBL table, producing their best bowling performance yet to beat Sydney Thunder. A revamp of the batting order, which included sliding captain Sophie Devine down to No.4, unlocked the Scorchers’ batting for the first time this season as they toppled the ladder-leaders by 74 runs at Drummoyne Oval on Tuesday night. Devine posted 48 from just 34 ****** and import Hemalatha Dayalan finally fired with 41 off just 26 in Perth’s 7-171, their best score of the campaign by 29 runs. Teen sensation Chloe Ainsworth then put the clamps on a loaded Thunder top-order, dismissing both openers Charmari Athapaththu and Georgia Voll, and going for just 15 runs from her four overs. The Thunder made just 97 and were bowled out with three ****** to spare. Fellow quick Ebony Hoskin took 2-10 from three, in a return to form after she was crunched as part of Lizelle Lee’s record score in the heavy defeat to Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday. The Hurricanes loss had slid the Scorchers down to sixth, but they now finish the two-game Sydney league of their mid-season road trip in second with a 4-2 record and behind the Thunder only on net run-rate. The Scorchers opened with veteran Chloe Piparo, the third spot she has batted in as many games. She made 17 at a run-a-ball but was involved in a mix-up that had Beth Mooney dismissed for seven. Camera Icon Amy Edgar of the Scorchers celebrates taking the wicket of Hannah Darlington. Credit: Matt King/Getty Images Perth were waiting for Hemalatha, who had taken some time to adjust to Australia wickets, to explode into the tournament. She did just that in an innings that featured four boundaries and a six. The Scorchers could go top of the table if they beat Thunder in a rare clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. They then play the Strikers in Adelaide and Sydney Sixers in Hobart. Source link #WBBL #Perth #Scorchers #thumped #Sydney #Thunder #jump #table Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Billionaire Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy Just Delivered Incredible News for Bitcoin Billionaire Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy Just Delivered Incredible News for Bitcoin Michael Saylor, founder and executive chairman of MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), is arguably one of the biggest Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) bulls on the planet. Ever since his company started aggressively buying Bitcoin in August 2020, he has predicted that the price of Bitcoin has nowhere to go but up. He now thinks that Bitcoin could hit a price of $13 million by 2045. At the end of October, he delivered more welcome news for Bitcoin investors: the launch of a spectacular $42 billion Bitcoin buying plan during the next three years. That’s roughly equivalent to 3% of all Bitcoin in circulation, and it could set off a huge Bitcoin rally for years to come. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » In a call with analysts, MicroStrategy said the next step in what it calls the “21/21 Plan,” is to raise $42 billion, then use it to buy more Bitcoin. Half of the funds, or $21 billion, would come from at-the-market offerings of new shares in the company. The other $21 billion would come from new fixed-income offerings, primarily in the form of convertible debt. To put this plan into perspective, MicroStrategy already has 252,200 Bitcoins on its balance sheet, worth more than $21 billion at today’s prices. So the plan is to double the company’s current Bitcoin holdings. Already, MicroStrategy has the largest Bitcoin holdings of any company in the world. In fact, MicroStrategy currently holds more Bitcoin than either the U.S. or the ******** governments. Image source: Getty Images. To call a $42 billion buying spree aggressive is an understatement. As Saylor sees it, though, we’re already in the midst of a decade-long Bitcoin “gold rush,” and he’s determined to transform his enterprise software company into something he’s now calling a “Bitcoin Treasury Company,” or BTC, as a way to capitalize on this. Already, a handful of companies have shown a willingness to follow MicroStrategy. For example, Semler Scientific (NASDAQ: SMLR) is now ratcheting up its Bitcoin buying plans as it increasingly transforms from a medical device company into a Bitcoin Treasury Company. And MARA Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA), the world’s largest publicly traded Bitcoin mining company, has said that it’s about to add a lot more Bitcoin to its balance sheet. Why are they doing this? The answer is simple: as long as the price of Bitcoin continues to rise, it makes sense from a purely financial and accounting perspective. In fact, MicroStrategy now uses a metric known as Bitcoin yield to guide its Bitcoin buying activity. Bitcoin yield is defined as the *******-to-******* percentage change of the ratio between the company’s Bitcoin holdings and its assumed diluted shares outstanding. Story Continues The markets certainly think MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin buying strategy makes sense. Consider that Bitcoin has almost doubled this year this year (as on Nov. 11), while MicroStrategy is up more than 360%. And as Saylor likes to point out, his company has outperformed every single company in the S&P 500 ever since he started buying Bitcoin in August 2020. Of course, Saylor’s plan to buy as much Bitcoin as possible, as quickly as possible, only makes sense if the price of Bitcoin heads ever higher. If Bitcoin really is on the path to $1 million, he’s going to look like a genius for buying Bitcoin now, while it’s still less than $100,000. But what if the price of Bitcoin doesn’t go parabolic? That might cause a serious deterioration in the value of MicroStrategy, which is risking everything to become a Bitcoin Treasury Company. The market value of MicroStrategy is now so closely tied to the price of Bitcoin that even a slight decline might prove disastrous. Already, analysts have weighed in on MicroStrategy’s plan, poking holes in some of its key assumptions. For example, MicroStrategy plans to raise $21 billion in low-interest debt. But what if there is no investor demand for that debt and the company is forced to issue high-interest debt to attract buyers? That might just ***** up the Bitcoin yield, not to mention the strain it might place on the company’s cash flow. The good news, of course, is that Donald Trump’s election win appears to pave the way for a rally in Bitcoin in 2025. Trump has already promised to improve the regulatory environment for crypto and to put more government resources into supporting Bitcoin. And, just like MicroStrategy, the U.S. government could go on a Bitcoin buying spree of its own next year. According to the latest vision for a strategic Bitcoin reserve, the U.S. could buy as many as 1 million Bitcoin in the near-term future. That would likely force other nations to follow suit to keep pace with the U.S. Thus, while a Bitcoin price above $1 million within just a few years might seem unfathomable to most people, just consider what might happen if every sovereign nation goes on a Bitcoin buying spree. That might just result in the kind of Bitcoin gold rush that Saylor predicted. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Amazon: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2010, you’d have $23,446!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $42,982!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $428,758!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 11, 2024 Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Semler Scientific. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Billionaire Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy Just Delivered Incredible News for Bitcoin was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Billionaire #Michael #Saylor #MicroStrategy #Delivered #Incredible #News #Bitcoin Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Journalist Dawit Isaak held in Eritrean jail for 23 years wins rights prize Journalist Dawit Isaak held in Eritrean jail for 23 years wins rights prize A journalist detained in Eritrean prison without trial for 23 years has won a Swedish human rights prize for his commitment to freedom of expression. Dawit Isaak, who holds dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, was given the Edelstam Prize “for his… exceptional courage”, the foundation behind the award said in a statement. Dawit, who holds dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, was one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper. He was detained in 2001 after his paper published letters demanding democratic reforms. Dawit was among a group of about two dozen individuals, including senior cabinet ministers, members of parliament and independent journalists, arrested in a government purge. Over the years, the Eritrean government has provided no information on his whereabouts or health, and many who were jailed alongside him are presumed *****. The Edelstam Prize, awarded for exceptional courage in defending human rights, will be presented on 19 November in Stockholm. Dawit’s daughter, Betlehem Isaak, will accept the prize on his behalf as he ******** imprisoned in Eritrea. His work with the Setit included criticism of the government and calls for democratic reform and free expression, actions that led to his arrest in a crackdown on dissent. The Edelstam Foundation has called for Dawit’s release, urging the Eritrean authorities to disclose his location and allow him legal representation. “Dawit Isaak is the longest detained journalist in the world. We are very concerned about his health and his whereabouts are unknown, he is not charged with a ******, and he has been denied access to his family, consular assistance, and the right to legal counsel – effectively, it is an enforced disappearance,” said Caroline Edelstam, the chair of the Edelstam Prize jury. His “indefatigable courage stands as a testament to the principle of freedom of expression.” The Edelstam Foundation also urged the international community to pressure Eritrea for Dawit’s release and to advocate for human rights reforms. The Edelstam Prize honours individuals who show exceptional bravery in defending human rights, in memory of Swedish diplomat Harald Edelstam. Eritrea is the only ******** country without privately owned media, having shut down its private press in 2001 under the pretext of “national security”. Dawit, who fled to Sweden in 1987 during Eritrea’s war for independence, returned after the country gained independence in 1993 after becoming a Swedish citizen. There have been no elections in Eritrea since its independence, and President Isaias Afwerki has held power for nearly 31 years. Source link #Journalist #Dawit #Isaak #held #Eritrean #jail #years #wins #rights #prize Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design Tipped to Feature 200-Megapixel Periscope Camera, 1.5K Display, More Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design Tipped to Feature 200-Megapixel Periscope Camera, 1.5K Display, More Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design will join the Honor Magic 7 series soon. As we await the formal launch of the handset, its key specifications have surfaced online. The Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design is tipped to feature a 6.8-inch display with 1.5K resolution and a triple rear camera unit comprising a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto sensor. The Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design will launch as a successor to the Honor Porsche Design Magic 6 RSR. Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design Details Leaked As per a report by GizmoChina, Tipster Digital Chat Station (translated from ********) shared alleged specifications of the Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design on Weibo. According to the report, it will come with a 6.8-inch LTPO display with a quad-curved design, 1.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design is said to feature a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 50-megapixel OmniVision OV50K main sensor with a 1/1.3-inch variable aperture and OIS support. The camera unit could also include a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 200-megapixel 3x periscope telephoto lens with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and OIS support. For selfies and video chats, the Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design is tipped to carry a 50-megapixel AON (Always-On) sensor and ToF 3D depth camera for facial recognition. It could run on Magic OS 9-based Android 15. It is said to support 100W wired and 80W wireless fast charging. As per past rumours, the Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design will have a 5,850mAh battery and IP68/IP69 rating for water and dust resistance. It is expected to offer dual satellite connectivity and pack up to 24GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. The Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design is confirmed to debut soon in China as a third entrant in the company’s Magic 7 series. The Honor Magic 7 and Magic 7 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC were launched in the ******** market last month. They feature triple rear camera units and 50-megapixel front cameras. They have IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance and support 100W wired and 80W wireless fast charging. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Honor #Magic #RSR #Porsche #Design #Tipped #Feature #200Megapixel #Periscope #Camera #1.5K #Display Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stephen Flynn aims to stand for SNP at Holyrood election Stephen Flynn aims to stand for SNP at Holyrood election PA Media Stephen Flynn says he would not accept two salaries if elected to Westminster and Holyrood SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn intends to stand at the 2026 Holyrood elections, he has announced. Flynn was re-elected as the MP for Aberdeen South in July’s general election. He said if elected to the Scottish Parliament he would aim to hold his Westminster seat until the next general election, due in 2029, but would not accept two salaries. Applications to stand as an SNP candidate in 2026 closed on Monday, though the formal selection process will not start until next year. BBC Scotland News understands that former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have submitted applications, but are both yet to decide on whether to stand for re-election. PA Media Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon are yet to confirm whether they will stand for another term at Holyrood Flynn, writing in the Press and Journal, confirmed he was throwing his “bonnet in the ring”. He said he hoped to win his party’s nomination for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat, currently held by Audrey Nicoll. The SNP Westminster leader added: “I don’t want to sit out the upcoming battles that our city, shire and country face in Holyrood. He also said he hoped to help the SNP build the case for independence. Selection battle Flynn told the Press and Journal it would not “fill him with any great delight” to go up against Nicoll for selection in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine. Nicoll, who was first elected to parliament at the 2021 election, said: “As a constituency MSP, my focus will remain to work tirelessly for constituents regardless of any internal party selection processes. “I look forward to any contest, where of course it will be for branch members to select those they wish to represent them in Holyrood in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.” Ahead of the 2021 Holyrood elections, the SNP changed internal rules to require MPs to resign their seat at Westminster to ****** for selection to Holyrood. This led to then-MP Joanna Cherry pulling out of the selection contest for the Edinburgh Central seat, claiming the rule change “hobbled” her in her selection bid. Health Secretary Neil Gray also had to resign as an MP before being elected to Holyrood in 2021. Flynn said he believed party rules were “election-specific”. In his column, he pointed to examples of SNP politicians who have held seats in both parliaments before, citing First Minister John Swinney and ex-First Minister Alex Salmond. PA Media Stephen Flynn says he believes John Swinney will remain as SNP leader for “many years” The party is yet to decide what its rules will be for candidates at the next election. Cherry – who lost her Westminster seat in July’s general election and has ruled out a bid for election to Holyrood in 2026 – said the SNP rule against dual mandates was “person specific”. Responding to Flynn’s column, she added in a post on X that the rule “served its purpose” and predicted it would not be in place for 2026. Flynn has been tipped as a future SNP leader, but he predicted there would not be a contest to replace Swinney for “very many years”, adding that he had full confidence in the first minister. He told the Press and Journal: “I appreciate the ******* that many people have to speculate in and around what my ambitions are or aren’t. “Of course I want to do everything I possibly can to help my party and help my country and that will never change.” The SNP previously criticised former Scottish ************* leader Douglas Ross for holding seats at Westminster and Holyrood, as well as being a professional football referee, branding him “three jobs”. In 2021, SNP MSP Karen Adam warned Ross that being either an MSP or an MP was “very much a full-time job”. She claimed he was “failing” his constituents “by thinking he can do both jobs properly”. Few who follow Scottish politics will be surprised by Stephen Flynn’s decision. He’s widely regarded as one of the SNP’s most talented politicians. And Holyrood offers opportunities for him that Westminster never will (such as being a government minister or – one day perhaps – first minister). But this is a controversial move in a number of ways. Even though other SNP politicians have sat previously at Westminster and Holyrood simultaneously, party rhetoric on “double jobbing” has hardened in recent years. The party previously claimed former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross was trying to “have his cake and eat it” by sitting in both parliaments. Flynn will now face the same accusation. Secondly, there’s already a sitting SNP MSP in the seat where Stephen Flynn aims to be a candidate. And she has not indicated that she plans to stand down. So it looks like an internal challenge is on. To sum it up, this is an expected move with some unexpected elements. Source link #Stephen #Flynn #aims #stand #SNP #Holyrood #election Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Valve is selling a limited edition white Steam Deck OLED next week Valve is selling a limited edition white Steam Deck OLED next week Valve has announced that it will be selling a special white edition of the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White will be available for ***** on November 18 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm GMT. According to Valve, the white edition will only be available in limited quantities, with “stock allocated proportionally across all regions”. Customers will be limited to one unit per account, and once all stock has been sold Valve will “not be making more of this particular design”. Other than appearance, the handheld will essentially be the same as a standard ******-********* 1TB Steam Deck OLED. “Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White has all the same specs as the Steam Deck OLED 1TB model, but in white and grey,” Valve says. “It also comes with an exclusive white carrying case and white microfiber cleaning cloth.” The only other difference the white version has over the standard ****** version is price. While the standard Steam Deck OLED 1TB costs $649 / £569, the Limited Edition White version will cost $679 / £599, meaning players will pay a $30 / £30 premium. Hello! We’re excited to announce that Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White will be available worldwide on November 18th, 2024 at 3PM PST. This model will cost $679 USD, and will be available in all Steam Deck shipping regions. Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White has all the… pic.twitter.com/ACKDwB6Sl7 — Steam Deck (@OnDeck) November 11, 2024 Valve announced the Steam Deck OLED roughly a year ago, on November 9, 2023. The updated model replaced the launch version’s 7″ LCD screen with a new 7.4″ OLED one, delivering brighter colours and darker ******* while also supporting HDR. It also improved other components, including a longer battery life, an upgrade from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6E, improved thermals and a larger fan, and weighs 30g less than the standard Steam Deck. However, at the time of its announcement Steam Deck product designer Lawrence Yang said the OLED is merely an upgraded version of the initial model, and that the team was still working on a ‘Steam Deck 2’, which will feature a “next-generation” upgrade in power, but still wouldn’t be available for “at least two or three years”. Source link #Valve #selling #limited #edition #white #Steam #Deck #OLED #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steam Deck OLED white model arrives on November 18 – but it’s limited edition, and once sold out, will be gone forever Steam Deck OLED white model arrives on November 18 – but it’s limited edition, and once sold out, will be gone forever Steam Deck OLED in white will be a limited edition available in all regions It’ll come with a matching white carry case and microfiber cleaning cloth The price of the new white model will be hiked by 5% Valve has announced a limited edition of the Steam Deck OLED which will come in white instead of the traditional ****** ****** scheme. That’s the main change with this Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White model, to give the handheld its full title, which is going to be released on November 18, 2024. Other than the white ****** – with grey trim – this limited edition model is the same as the existing Steam Deck OLED with 1TB storage, except the price has been jacked up a little bit. In the US, the new white Steam Deck is $679, which is $30 more than the standard ****** model, with price increases presumably in line with that 5% hike in other regions. Yes, the white Steam Deck is set to be available in all regions that already sell the device, including the US, ***, and Australia – in the latter country, the limited edition model will ship alongside the other Steam Decks that are only just arriving, on November 19. (Valve notes that Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong will be served via Komodo). The Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White comes with a white carry case, and a white microfiber cleaning cloth by way of matching accessories. Hello! We’re excited to announce that Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White will be available worldwide on November 18th, 2024 at 3PM PST. This model will cost $679 USD, and will be available in all Steam Deck shipping regions.Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White has all the… pic.twitter.com/ACKDwB6Sl7November 11, 2024 Analysis: Once it’s gone, it’s gone… If you’d rather have a white handheld, then this is your chance to grab one, with the caveat that it is a limited edition, so the new OLED flavor could sell out quite swiftly. Valve says it has “stock allocated proportionally across each region” but as ever, when that stock is gone, it’s gone. Valve has also clarified that it “will not be making more of this particular design” once it has sold through. In the interests of fair play, purchases are limited to one unit per Steam account to defend against potential scalpers (and you can’t just open a new account to grab a unit, either). Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. For those who miss out, or fancy a different ****** than either ****** or white, there’s always the option of custom backplates, or full skins, sold by all manner of third-party firms in all sorts of weird and wonderful shades. That’s not quite the same as the handheld being a different ****** natively, of course, but it’s a decent compromise, and one that offers a whole load of options for Steam Deck owners. We will, of course, get a whole new look with the Steam Deck 2, although the sequel to the portable isn’t expected until at least 2026 – but it promises to be a beefy upgrade. Via VideoCardz You might also like Source link #Steam #Deck #OLED #white #model #arrives #November #limited #edition #sold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US cannot be weak on Ukraine, ambassador declares as North Korea brings war closer to Australia US cannot be weak on Ukraine, ambassador declares as North Korea brings war closer to Australia The US cannot be seen as weak on Ukraine, the country’s ambassador to Australia believes, warning President-elect Donald Trump that Vladimir ****** only respected strength. On a trip to Perth this week, Ukrainian ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Vasyl Myroshnychenko told The West that North Korea’s involvement in the war brought the conflict closer to home. After Mr Trump’s election victory last week, the focus has turned to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the President-elect vowed during the campaign to end on “day one” of his administration. Camera IconAfter Mr Trump’s election victory last week, the focus has turned to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the President-elect vowed during the campaign to end on “day one” of his administration. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Mr Myroshnychenko’s comments came as Mr Trump was tipped to announce Florida senator Marco Rubio as his top diplomat. Senator Rubio has previously agreed with Mr Trump on withdrawing ********* support from the war. “We remain optimistic that the strategy and approach of Donald Trump to international affairs, which is communicated as peace through strength, is aligned with our victory plan and is aligned with what we are trying to achieve in forcing Russia into peace,” Mr Myroshnychenko said. “That is all built around the peace formula and plan that President Zelensky and the Ukrainian government have pursued for the past two years. “We will have to see what the team is going to be, what the strategy is going to be, and what the approach is going to be.” Despite Mr Trump’s commentary during the campaign that he would end the war quickly but raised the possibility of ceding land to the Russians, Mr Myroshnychenko urged America to remain strong. Camera IconNews. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Embassy of Ukraine Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand in Nedlands, Perth. Jackson Flindell Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West *********** “What is at stake just goes beyond party politics, especially the different statements during the campaign trail — but that was the campaign,” he said. “America cannot be seen as weak; Vladimir ****** only understands strength. We have to keep it in mind. “The outcomes of this war will define the global security architecture for many decades to come, and to ensure peace in Europe and beyond, we need to make sure that Russian aggression in Ukraine is not rewarded. “If Russia is allowed to change borders right, other countries will feel like they can also change borders.” Acknowledging the length of the war and conceding it was only human that Australians had turned out, Mr Myroshnychenko said recent news of North Korean soldiers assisting Russian forces brought the conflict closer to home. “Australians have a very good understanding of what’s happening, but now what we are seeing is how it is actually getting much closer to Australia now,” he said. “Now (North Korea) are actually deploying their troops on the ground; I think this must be of serious concern to Australia. “Given that your key trading partners, China, South Korea and Japan, are just there in the region, any war in that area will undermine your interests.” Source link #weak #Ukraine #ambassador #declares #North #Korea #brings #war #closer #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Illuminate leaks continue as third faction finally approaches Helldivers 2 Illuminate leaks continue as third faction finally approaches New Helldivers 2 leaks reveal more Illuminate details that tease the awaited arrival of the game’s third faction. Source link #Helldivers #Illuminate #leaks #continue #faction #finally #approaches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘World must pay up, or humanity will pay the price,’ Guterres warns COP29 climate summit ‘World must pay up, or humanity will pay the price,’ Guterres warns COP29 climate summit U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for ‘climate justice’ in his address to the ******* Nations annual climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. He told world leaders gathered in Baku that acting on climate change was not negotiable and that “time is running out.” Source link #World #pay #humanity #pay #price #Guterres #warns #COP29 #climate #summit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best Apple Watch in 2024 The best Apple Watch in 2024 Apple sells just three models of smartwatches — the Series 10, the Ultra 2 and the SE — and they fall pretty neatly into the categories of flagship, premium and budget, respectively. But if you’re wondering whether the adventure-ready features of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are worth the price bump, or if the just-the-basics tools of the Apple Watch SE will be enough, Engadget is here to help. We’ve been testing and reviewing Apple wearables since the beginning and we have lots to say about them. Ultimately we think the Apple Watch Series 10 is the best Apple Watch for most people — in fact, it’s our pick for the best smartwatch you can buy from any brand — but read on to ***** deeper into the chips, sensors, displays and fitness tracking features each Apple Watch model offers. What to look for in an Apple Watch Chips and sensors The new Apple Watch Series 10 has an S10 SiP (system in a package) chip with a four-core Neural Engine. The Ultra 2 was updated last September with Apple’s S9 SiP. Both chips allow for on-device processing of Siri requests as well as dictation, translation, automatic workout detection and the Double Tap gesture that lets you answer calls or stop an alarm by tapping your thumb and forefinger together twice. It also enables faster machine learning performance for interpreting sensor data, speech recognition and performing other “thinking” tasks. The Apple Watch SE still relies on the S8 SiP, which was also used in the Series 8 and the original Ultra. Both the Series 10 and Ultra 2 can take an ECG and have temperature sensors to help track ovulation and both support fall-detection and ******-detection as a safety feature. All three models have a compass and altimeter. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has an onboard **** siren, as well as ***** features like a depth gauge. Water features were added to the Apple Watch Series 10, but with a shallower depth rating (just six meters, as compared to 40 meters on the Ultra). The Ultra includes sensors to measure blood oxygen, but a recent patent dispute has forced Apple to disable that health feature on new models sold in the US and the hardware isn’t present in the new flagship model. All three models support near field communication (NFC), the chip that enables Apple Pay. Once you set it up using the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, you can pay for stuff at any store that accepts Apple Pay, even if you don’t have your phone with you. Displays and case sizes The wide-angle OLED display on the Apple Watch 10 lets you see the always-on display from more angles. The Ultra 2 also has an always-on display, but you’ll have to lift your wrist to tell time or read notifications on the SE. The SE can reach a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, the Series 10 can get as bright as 2,000 and the Ultra 2 hits 3,000 nits. Both higher-end screens can dim to a single nit, making them less distracting in the dark. The Apple Watch Series 10 came with a new finish and case material — a glossy anodized jet ****** finish on the aluminum model and the option for a titanium case. The Ultra 2 also got a new finish, satin ******, that utilizes a PVD (physical vapor deposition) process to apply the ******. As for case sizes, the SE is available in 40 or 44mm. The Series 10 increased in size from the prior generation and now has a choice of a 42 or 46mm case. The Ultra 2 comes in just one size measuring 49mm. You also get the opportunity to pick the length and style for watch bands. The SE and Series 10 come in small/medium or medium/large and the Ultra 2 gives you the choice of small, medium or large. Battery life Since it’s the largest wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 sports the biggest battery and can last for a claimed 36 hours on a charge. That number jumps up to 72 hours if you turn on low power mode. Both the Apple Watch 10 and the SE are rated by Apple to go for 18 hours before they need a visit to the charger, and longer when using battery saver mode. The Series 10 (left) and Series 9 (right). (Cherlynn Low for Engadget) Fitness features Believe it or not, all three Apple Watches have similar fitness tracker chops. The Activity app uses three “rings” to keep tabs on how much you’re moving in a day: The Move ring tracks your active calories; the Exercise ring monitors the minutes you’ve spent walking, running, doing yoga and so on; and the Stand ring tells you how many hours in a day you’ve stood up and moved around for at least one minute. Different internal sensors detect those activities, for example the accelerometer senses when you’re moving versus sitting still, and the optical heart rate sensor judges how hard you’re working out and how many calories you’ve burned. You can set your goals for each ring and you’ll earn badges and animations when you hit them. The Workout app lets you start and track an exercise session. The sensors can even auto-detect when you’re working out, tapping your wrist to suggest you track the activity. Apple Watches will integrate with Apple’s Fitness+ subscription, displaying real time heart rate and calorie ***** data on your iPhone, iPad or even Apple TV 4K as you take a class. Fitness+ also includes audio-guided walks and runs with just your watch and Bluetooth earbuds. All three models support the Activity and Workout apps for free. The Fitness+ app also works with all Apple Watches, but costs $10 per month. New features enabled with watchOS 11 include Training Load that gauges your body’s response to workouts over time, which could help athletes better prepare for events like marathons. Users can also now skip a day (or more) from fitness tracking metrics when they need to rest or aren’t feeling up to the challenge of closing their rings. Siri You can get the weather, start a workout, identify a song and dictate a text just by asking Siri. All Apple Watch models support the Raise to Speak feature that bypasses the need to say “Hey Siri” and will instead listen for your request when you lift your wrist near your mouth. Both the Series 10 and the Ultra 2 utilize onboard processing of Siri requests. That means executing simple requests like starting workouts and timers are quicker, as they won’t need to access external networks. However, requests like sending texts or getting weather forecasts still need to communicate with Wi-Fi or cellular, so you’ll need to have your phone nearby if you have a GPS-only model. Price There’s a $550 difference between the cheapest and most expensive Apple Watches. For $250, you can get the 40mm Apple Watch SE with GPS-only connectivity; adding cellular connectivity ups the price by $50. The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for the 42mm, non-cellular model in aluminum and goes as high as $749 for the 46mm titanium case (which is only available with GPS and cellular). The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has just one price: $799 for a titanium 49mm case with both GPS and cellular power. Best Apple Watch in 2024 Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Chip: S10 SiP | Sensors: ECG, heart rate, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/****** detection | Display: Always‑on Retina wide-angle OLED display, max 2,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 18 hours | Case size: 42mm or 46mm Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10 Last year, the big news for Apple’s flagship wearable was the new Double Tap gesture. This time, the most notable update for the Apple Watch Series 10 comes on the outside, with a ******* screen matched with a thinner overall design. Instead of 41 and 45mm case sizes, you can now get the watch in either 42mm or 46mm. And, thanks to a redesigned metal back that integrates the antenna into the housing, it’s now just 9.7mm thick, a full millimeter thinner than the Series 9. In her review, Engadget’s Cherlynn Low said the new watch was noticeably thinner and lighter, though that didn’t make a huge difference in comfort between the new version and its predecessor. The larger screen did make some things clearer, such as road names in Maps. The wide-angle OLED display also made it easier to read the face when not looking directly at it. The Series 10 delivers more powerful speaker output, too. Cherlynn noted that the speakers are probably not something you’ll want to rely on for extended listening, and they definitely work better in quiet environments. But if you need to hear a song or a bit of a podcast at some point, your watch will be better equipped to do so. Another hardware upgrade comes with the addition of a depth gauge. It’s not meant for diving, as the gauge is only rated to six meters, but it could give you insights when snorkeling or swimming. The watch now supports sleep apnea detection, a condition that’s seriously under-diagnosed. While it’s not intended for people who already know they have the disorder, it could help identify certain breathing patterns during sleep that should be checked out by a doctor. That feature will also be available on the Apple Watch Series 9 with watchOS 11. Battery life didn’t change drastically — Apple still promises an 18-hour stretch per charge — and that comparatively short span has always been our biggest complaint with the watch. The charging speed, however, did get a boost. You should now be able to get your watch up to 80 percent in just a half an hour using a fast-charge-certified charger. Of course, the new features aren’t the only reason to buy an Apple Watch Series 10. It just happens to be the best companion you can get for an iPhone. The watch will keep you on top of your notifications (presenting fewer distractions than your phone), while the activity tracking and fitness features can help keep you motivated, if that’s something you’re into. It can also remind you to take your meds, track your mood and log/predict your ******* depending on how you set things up. Ultimately, we think the Apple Watch Series 10 is a great buy for anyone with an iPhone who is either new to Apple Watches or coming from a Series 8 or older. If you’ve got a Series 9, you can probably wait on an upgrade. ***** Thinner and lighter build Potentially helpful sleep apnea detection The best companion for an iPhone Useful new water sports features ***** Still only has an 18-hour battery life $349 at Amazon Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Chip: S8 SiP | Sensors: Heart rate, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/****** detection | Display: Retina display, max 1,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 18 hours | Case size: 40mm or 44mm Read our full review of the Apple Watch SE Yet again, Apple didn’t come out with a new generation of the Apple Watch SE when it announced the Apple Watch 10 in September. A new plastic version is reportedly in the works, but for now, this $250 smartwatch is Apple’s budget option. Cherlynn also reviewed the SE when it came out in 2022, calling it “the best smartwatch for the money.” It uses the same chip as the original Ultra and the Series 8, and in our review of the new Series 9, Cherlynn “barely noticed a difference in performance” compared to the older Apple Watch. That said, there are some trade-offs. You won’t get an always-on display, blood oxygen monitoring or a temperature sensor. The SE also can’t support the new Double Tap feature and requires your phone to be nearby for Siri requests (if you don’t have a cellular-enabled model). Materials-wise, the SE face is covered in Ion-X glass, which is less robust than the sapphire crystal on either the stainless steel Series 9 or the Ultra 2. But the SE has more in common with its pricier sibling than not, including ****** detection, heart rate monitoring, emergency calling, and 50 meters of water resistance. Though the screen isn’t quite as bright as the pricier models, we thought it was crisp and easy to read, even in bright sunlight. The fitness tracking is accurate, the design is lightweight and comfortable and the processor is snappy. If you’re looking for a starter smartwatch and don’t mind the few missing features, the SE is still the way to go. ***** Affordable price Great health and fitness tracking Extends the utility of an iPhone ***** Lacks blood oxygen and temperature sensors Doesn’t support Double Tap No always-on display $149 at Amazon Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Chip: S9 SiP | Sensors: ECG, heart rate, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/****** detection, depth gauge | Display: Always-on Retina display, max 3,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 36 hours | Case size: 49mm Read our full review of the Apple Watch Ultra Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at the same as the Series 9 but, the following year, we did not get an Apple Watch Ultra 3. , Apple announced a new satin ****** colorway created with a “diamond-like carbon physical vapor deposition” process that you’ll sometimes find used on high-end ****** blades. Engadget’s Cherlynn Low took the previous model Ultra out on a hike to take advantage of its outdoor-specific features and the Backtrack function actually saved her and our video producer Brian from taking an unintended detour in the wrong direction. The function lives within the Compass app and lets you set waypoints such as marking the parking lot before you set out. There’s an onboard siren that’s loud enough to alert passersby or emergency personnel to your whereabouts if you should need it. For water-based activities, the Ultra 2 packs diving features that can measure water temperature, ***** duration and gauge up to 40 meters of depth. For workouts closer to home, the dual-frequency GPS gives you more accurate route tracking and pace calculations. And the action button can be programmed to start a workout, control the stopwatch, trigger the flashlight, set a waypoint and more. Just note that we found it pretty easy to accidentally trigger the action button when trying to press the crown, so it may take a little practice. The S9 SiP chip enables Double Tap and on-device Siri processing. The screen has been bumped up to 3,000 nits and while we didn’t get to take the new model on a hike, the original at 2,000 nits was plenty bright enough in direct sunlight. We like how the new Modular Ultra watch face makes great use of the oversized screen (though that’s also available on the original AWU.) The battery life ******** the same at 36 hours, and we got about three days of moderate use out of the Ultra before needing a recharge. The low power mode is particularly impressive, squeezing out many extra hours from a near-empty watch. ***** Robust build Specialized features for outdoor activities Large screen displays a lot of info ***** Expensive Large case can feel bulky on smaller wrists $799 at Amazon How we tested Apple Watches Engadget has been reviewing Apple Watches since the first one came out in 2015. Since then, we’ve tested every subsequent model Apple has released, including the Ultra and SE models, spending at least a few days or even a couple weeks with one strapped to our wrists. During that time, we run, hit the gym, go on hikes and wear it while sleeping, all the while gauging how it tracks various metrics, integrates with the iPhone and performs every other trick Apple claims its smartwatches can do. Since we also review smartwatches from other companies, such as Samsung and Google, our editors can compare Apple Watches not just to previous generations, but also to other wearables on the market. Source link #Apple #Watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former chief medical officer had nightmares after spy poisoning Former chief medical officer had nightmares after spy poisoning PA Media Dame Sally Davies said she had worried about someone picking up Novichok from the moment she knew “Russian agents had been involved” in the incident The former chief medical officer for England said she had experienced nightmares about someone picking up discarded nerve agent after the poisoning of a former spy. Sergei Skirpal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned by Novichok in Salisbury in March 2018. The attempted murders were followed by the ****** of Dawn Sturgess, 44, in July of that year, after she was exposed to the chemical ******* which was left in a discarded perfume bottle. The inquiry into Ms Sturgess’ ****** heard how Dame Sally Davies had worried about someone picking up Novichok from the moment she knew “Russian agents had been involved” in the incident. Dawn Sturgess ***** after being exposed to Novichok in July 2018 In her witness statement, read to the inquiry by Francesca Whitelaw KC, Dame Sally said she had been concerned “about the disposal by the foreign agents of any residual nerve agent”. She also said she had raised her concern during at least one meeting, before becoming reassured that the police were hunting for a discarded vial, including by the river in Salisbury, and by the Environment Agency, who would “monitor the unusual numbers of ***** fish appearing in the river”. “This led to me later saying publicly that no one should pick anything up which they had not dropped,” she added. Dame Sally said she had later attended a meeting where concerns about the statement and whether it would “panic the public” were raised. ‘No cover up’ She said the discussion had ended with the agreement that she was independent and experienced and could say what she felt mattered, but she added the only record of her making this statement is her own statement in September when she referred to advice she gave in March. However, the counsel for Ms Sturgess’ family, Jesse Nicholls, said Dame Sally had said she had given the advice publicly, “because that obviously should have happened but it didn’t”. She replied: “No, you are trying to suggest there was a cover-up, there was no cover-up.” The inquiry also discussed a letter, dated 16 March, from Dame Sally to Sir Jeremy Heywood which said that on March 7, at the request of No 10 and the Metropolitan Police, she had issued a statement alongside Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley announcing the risk to public health as a result of the incident was “low, based on the current evidence available”. The inquiry continues. Source link #chief #medical #officer #nightmares #spy #poisoning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vinyl and plush figure company Youtooz is teasing a PlayStation collaboration Vinyl and plush figure company Youtooz is teasing a PlayStation collaboration Youtooz, a brand known for making statues of popular online content creators, has released a teaser image of four upcoming PlayStation-themed statues featuring Kratos, Sly Cooper, Astro, and Ratchet. The images were teased in a social media post that shows the four characters back-lit by the four PlayStation controller symbols. “Live in your own world, play in ours @PlayStation,” read the post. The brand has collaborated with other gaming properties in recent years. A Baldur’s Gate 3 collection is now available for pre-order, with plush characters retailing for $29.99 and statues also costing $29.99. It seems that the PlayStation collaboration will feature just statues to begin with. No release details on the four characters are currently known. live in your own world, play in ours @PlayStation pic.twitter.com/xga25lrzlo — youtooz (@youtooz) November 8, 2024 Earlier this year, Sony released a new line of collectable PlayStation action figures featuring some of its biggest franchises. Created in collaboration with toy company Spin Master, The Shapes Collection is a line of collectibles based on PlayStation Studios franchises including **** of War, Horizon and Ghost of Tsushima. “The highly detailed figures deliver the interactive storytelling element of these titles in an all-new way, extending the gaming experience from digital to physical,” said Grace Chen, vice president, global marketing at PlayStation. A Nendoroid figure of Astro, which was originally released in 2021, is also being re-released next year. Source link #Vinyl #plush #figure #company #Youtooz #teasing #PlayStation #collaboration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Starving ballerina’s mum sobs telling neglect trial her own dad forced her and girl onto scales, mocking both Starving ballerina’s mum sobs telling neglect trial her own dad forced her and girl onto scales, mocking both The mother of a Floreat teenager hospitalised for severe malnourishment has broken down in court, revealing her own dad had lampooned them both while weighing them. Source link #Starving #ballerinas #mum #sobs #telling #neglect #trial #dad #forced #girl #scales #mocking Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Billionaire Ken Griffin Buys One and Sells the Other Billionaire Ken Griffin Buys One and Sells the Other Ken Griffin is the founder and CEO of Citadel, the most profitable hedge fund in history as measured by net gains since inception, according to LCH Investments. That makes him an excellent case study, and investors can track which stocks Citadel buys and sells using Forms 13F filed quarterly with the SEC. Interestingly, while Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) play important roles in the burgeoning artificial intelligence economy, Griffin bought one stock and sold the other throughout the first half of 2024, as detailed below. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » In the first quarter, Griffin sold 2.4 million shares of Nvidia, reducing his stake by 68%. He also bought 352,453 shares of Amazon, increasing his position by 6%. In the second quarter, Griffin sold 9.2 million shares of Nvidia, reducing his stake by 79%. He also bought 1.1 million shares of Amazon, increasing his position by 17%. Importantly, excluding options contracts and index funds, Amazon was the largest position in Citadel’s portfolio as June 30. So, Griffin clearly has a great deal of confidence in the company. Here’s what investors should know. Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) are the gold standard in data center accelerators, particularly where artificial intelligence (AI) is concerned. Indeed, Forrester Research recently wrote, “Without Nvidia’s GPUs, modern AI wouldn’t be possible.” But the company has a durable competitive moat because it pairs superior GPUs with an unparalleled ecosystem of software development tools. To elaborate, Nvidia in 2006 introduced CUDA, a programming model that enables developers to write GPU-accelerated applications. The ecosystem has since expanded to include over 400 code libraries and 600 pretrained models that simplify software development across domains ranging from data science and machine learning to scientific simulation and augmented reality. More recently, Nvidia has integrated CUDA into subscription software and cloud services. Its AI Enterprise platform lets software developers build, deploy, and manage AI applications that span recommender systems to autonomous robots. Likewise, DGX Cloud is a full-stack service that brings together the supercomputing infrastructure and software businesses need for AI development workflows. Nvidia looked strong in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended in July 2024. Sales increased 122% to $30 billion and non-GAAP net income jumped 152% to $0.68 per dilute share. Investors have good reason to believe that momentum will continue. The production ramp of Nvidia’s next-generation Blackwell GPU started in the current quarter, and demand is so strong that the chips are already sold out for 12 months. Story Continues On that note, Wall Street expects Nvidia’s adjusted earnings to row at 51% annually through fiscal 2026, which ends in January 2026. That makes the current valuation of 66.5 times adjusted earnings look reasonable, but not cheap. Despite Ken Griffin selling Nvidia stock, long-term investors should consider buying a position today, with the understanding that shares could move sharply when the company reports earnings on Nov. 20. Amazon has three important growth engines in e-commerce, digital advertising, and public cloud services. The company has a strong position in all three markets, and is using artificial intelligence to boost revenue and improve efficiency across its different businesses. For instance, as the most visited online marketplace, Amazon applies troves of data to machine learning models that optimize inventory levels and delivery routes. Additionally, the same marketplace data powers Amazon’s new shopping assistant Rufus, and it informs machine learning models that help advertisers reach consumers with relevant content. In fact, Amazon’s ability to engage shoppers and source data has made it the third-largest ad tech company worldwide, and its ad revenue is growing faster than that of industry leaders Alphabet and Meta Platforms. Beyond retail and advertising, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest public cloud. It accounted for 31% of cloud infrastructure and platform services spending last quarter, nearly as much as Microsoft and Alphabet combined. Moreover, AWS is well positioned to gain market share as AI makes cloud computing more popular. Consultancy Gartner has recognized its leadership in AI developer services and machine learning platforms. Amazon reported encouraging financial results in the third quarter, beating estimates on the top and bottom lines. Revenue increased 11% to $159 billion because of particularly strong sales growth in advertising and cloud services. Meanwhile, its operating margin expanded more than 3 percentage points and GAAP net income jumped 52% to $1.43 per diluted share. Going forward, Wall Street expects Amazon’s earnings to increase at 24% annually through 2025. That makes the current valuation of 44.5 times earnings look tolerable, though I would not call it cheap. Long-term investors should feel comfortable buying a small position today, with the understanding that the stock could easily fall 20% from its current level. However, such a pullback would likely be a buying opportunity. Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $904,692!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 11, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Amazon and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Nvidia Stock vs. Amazon Stock: Billionaire Ken Griffin Buys One and Sells the Other was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Billionaire #Ken #Griffin #Buys #Sells Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beleaguered Country Road Group blames struggling economy for sales tumble Beleaguered Country Road Group blames struggling economy for sales tumble Sales at Country Road Group have tumbled further, with the beleaguered fashion retailer blaming sustained effects of higher interest rates and elevated living costs. In its latest trading update to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the retailer’s South *******-based parent company, Woolworths Holdings, said operating conditions in Australia and New Zealand continued to prove more challenging than anticipated. Sales for Country Road Group — behind brands Mimco, Witchery, Politix, Trenery and the eponymous parent — declined 8.8 per cent in the 18 weeks ended November 3, and 13.8 per cent on same-store basis. This follows a 6.8 per cent fall in Country Road Group’s annual revenue for the 2024 financial year. Woolworths Holdings said the retail sector in Australia and New Zealand faced further declines in footfall, intense promotional activity and the shift of spend towards value brands. “Notwithstanding the challenging macroeconomic backdrop, the Country Road brand ******** resilient, and Trenery is delivering strong top-line growth, following the repositioning and re-branding of its offering,” the group said. “We remain focused on improving the positioning and performance of the other brands, particularly Witchery.” Country Road Group earlier this year was engulfed in ******* harassment and workplace bullying claims at its Melbourne headquarter. It commissioned an independent investigation in April after receiving feedback from team members about the handling of their complaints. Source link #Beleaguered #Country #Road #Group #blames #struggling #economy #sales #tumble Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump transition ‘already breaking the law’ Trump transition ‘already breaking the law’ Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said on Monday that President elect-Trump “and his transition team are already breaking” a law on presidential transition. “Donald Trump and his transition team are already breaking the law,” Warren said in a post on the social platform X. “I would know because I wrote the law. Incoming presidents are required to prevent conflicts of interest and sign an ethics agreement.” “This is what ******** *********** looks like,” she added. Warren was responding to a report from CNN on Saturday that said a conflict of interest pledge included in the Presidential Transition Act was, in part, keeping multiple transition agreements from being submitted by the president-elect’s team to the Biden administration. The Presidential Transition Act instructs candidates from major parties to join in memorandums of understanding with the current president as well as the General Services Administration (GSA) so staff may get their hands on relevant resources like facilities, documents, executive branch employees and national security information in the ******* between the election and the inauguration. Those agreements also feature an ethics plan. Last month, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) raised concerns in a letter to Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance over their campaign’s ******** to enter into presidential transition agreements with the federal government. Raskin warned that the delay could have an unfavorable impact on the transfer of power in the upcoming year. “Breaking the precedent set by every other presidential candidate since 2010, you have rejected these resources and refused to commit to a smooth transition,” Raskin wrote. “Your actions depart from well-established norms of the federal government and demonstrate a spectacular disregard for the successful continuation of the essential institutions of ********* democratic government,” he added. The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Trump, the White House and the GSA for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Trump #transition #breaking #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Consumer, businesses outlook improves on expectations of a rate cut Consumer, businesses outlook improves on expectations of a rate cut Aussie consumers and businesses are seeing through the high cost of living as sentiment and spending improve, new reports show. Source link #Consumer #businesses #outlook #improves #expectations #rate #cut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town It was dinnertime on October 30, 2024, when police handcuffed Brittany Patterson in front of three of her four children and drove her to the station in Fannin County, Georgia. She was then fingerprinted, photographed, and dressed in an orange jumpsuit. Hours earlier, around noon, Patterson had driven her eldest son to a medical appointment. Her youngest son, 11-year-old Soren, intended to come along but wasn’t around when it was time to leave. “I figured he was in the woods, or at grandma’s house,” says Patterson, who lives on 16 acres with her kids and her father. (Her husband works out of state). There is no shortage of family in the vicinity. Patterson’s mother and sisters live just two minutes away. Soren, however, was not playing in the woods. He had decided to walk to downtown Mineral Bluff, a town of just 370 people. It’s not quite a mile from his house. A woman who saw him walking alongside the road—speed limit: 25 in some places, 35 in others—asked him if he was OK. He said yes. Nevertheless, she called the police. A female sheriff picked up the boy and called Patterson. “She asked me if I knew he was downtown and I said no,” says Patterson. Patterson was upset that Soren had gone to town without letting anyone know, but says there was hardly reason to worry. “I was not panicking as I know the roads and know he is mature enough to walk there without incident,” she says. The sheriff disagreed. “She kept mentioning how he could have been run over, or kidnapped or ‘anything’ could have happened,” recalls Patterson. The sheriff drove Soren home and left him with his grandfather. After returning to the house, Patterson scolded her son—and that, she thought, was that. But at 6:30 p.m. that night, the sheriff returned with another officer. They told Patterson to turn around and put her hands behind her back. As three of her kids watched, Patterson was handcuffed. The sheriff took her purse and phone, put her in the cruiser, and hauled her off to jail. To Patterson, none of this made sense. She had grown up in the area with plenty of unsupervised time to wander and play and was raising her kids that way, too. “The mentality here is more Free-Range,” she says. Patterson was soon released on a $500 bail. The next day, a case manager from the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) came out for a home visit, and even went to interview Patterson’s oldest son at his school. The case manager told Patterson that everything seemed fine, but declined to comment to Reason. A few days later, DFCS presented Patterson with a “safety plan” for her to sign. It would require her to delegate a “safety person” to be a “knowing participant and guardian” and watch over the children whenever she leaves home. The plan would also require Patterson to download an app onto her son’s phone allowing for his location to be monitored. (The day when it will be ******** not to track one’s kids is rapidly approaching.) Patterson did not want to be compelled to track her son. Recalling a similar case, she contacted attorney David DeLugas. DeLugas is the head of ParentsUSA, a nonprofit that often provides pro bono legal help to parents wrongly arrested and prosecuted for child neglect. A GoFundMe has been established to help ParentsUSA cover the Pattersons’ legal expenses. As Patterson’s counsel, DeLugas called the assistant district attorney (ADA) to discuss the case. He recorded the conversation, which is legal in Georgia. The ADA told DeLugas that if Patterson would sign the safety plan, the ********* charges would be dropped. DeLugas responded that if Patterson had to sign a safety plan simply because her son walked someplace without her knowing his exact location, it would stop him from visiting friends or having any independence whatsoever. But the ADA maintained that Soren had been in danger, and thus a safety plan was necessary. The matter was left unsettled. With safety plans, the veiled threat is that if you don’t sign, your children could be taken away, says DeLugas. In this case, he says, the unspoken deal seems to be: Sign it and the state won’t prosecute. If the state does prosecute, Patterson could face a reckless conduct charge, a $1,000 fine, and a year in jail. DeLugas would like to see Georgia pass a law that permits the authorities to check up on kids and then leave them be as long as they aren’t hurt, in distress, or in actual, immediate danger from an identifiable source. Meanwhile, as if this case could not get weirder, DCFS just mailed Soren a birthday card signed by the case manager. Soren turned 11 over the weekend. Birthday greetings do not change the facts. Patterson knows that refusing to sign the safety plan could get her in trouble. But she is resolute. “I will not sign,” she says. The post Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town appeared first on Reason.com. Source link #Mom #Jailed #Letting #10YearOld #Walk #Town Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kratos Shouldn’t Have ******* This Tortured **** of War Character Kratos Shouldn’t Have ******* This Tortured **** of War Character The universe of **** of War has been intricately woven over the course of many years. There are multiple stories that one can track back from the latest addition, **** of War: Ragnarok, where Kratos is seen as a wiser version of himself. **** of War’s lore goes way too deep. Image Credit: Santa Monica Studios Among the many story arcs, there is one from **** of War: Ghost of Sparta that seems a little unnecessary at this point. There is one character from that game who should not have *****, as he would have made a great recurring character, adding more depth to the story. **** of War Should Not Have Let Go of Kratos’ Brother Deimos was captured by Aries and tortured by Thanatos for years on end. Image Credit: Santa Monica Studios **** of War: Ghost of Sparta reveals one of the most important aspects of Kratos. The game dives deep into his backstory and tells us all about what transpired for him to become this rogue and arrogant version of himself. The game is centered around Kratos’ journey to the underworld, where he finds his long-lost brother Deimos, who was abducted by Aries years ago. He sets out on a mission to ***** the **** of the underworld and bring his brother back from the land of shadows. However, during the last ****** between the brothers and Thanatos, Deimos gets *******, which fuels Kratos’ anger and turns him into a ******** machine. Some fans still wanted to see Deimos alive and the brothers reunited since many things could have been done with this aspect of the story. Comment byu/CancerTookMyLeftNut from discussion inGodofWar Comment byu/CancerTookMyLeftNut from discussion inGodofWar ******** Deimos was a convenient way of giving Kratos depth since it aligns perfectly with **** of War’s storyline. Everyone around Kratos seems to be ***** at this point, including his daughter and wife. We Could Have Seen More of Deimos Deimos had the potential to contribute a lot more to the story. Image Credit: Santa Monica Studios Deimos would have made an excellent recurring character who could appear time and again in various phases of Kratos’ life. There was a scope for building many storylines surrounding him, and he could even have had an amazing relationship with Atreus. He could have assisted Kratos in defeating the gods as well. It would have been cool to see the brothers reunited and ****** together once again. Having said that, it is also true that integrating him into the storyline would have made things a tad bit messier. It was important for Kratos to lose everyone to become a ****, and to let go of all the worldly attachments he was chained to within the mortal world. It was necessary for him to become a **** and then go on a ******** spree, avenging the deaths of his loved ones. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Kratos #Shouldnt #******* #Tortured #**** #War #Character Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Funding boost to tackle discarded needles and launch exchange program in Broome Funding boost to tackle discarded needles and launch exchange program in Broome Amid growing concerns surrounding discarded needles in WA’s North West, the State Government has announced funding for the shire of Broome to enhance clean-up efforts and establish a needle exchange program. Source link #Funding #boost #tackle #discarded #needles #launch #exchange #program #Broome Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]