Pelican Press

New York judge expected to issue crucial presidential immunity ruling in Trump “hush money” case New York judge expected to issue crucial presidential immunity ruling in Trump “hush money” case The judge who presided over President-elect Donald Trump’s ********* trial, Juan Merchan, is expected to issue a ruling Tuesday that could either turn the case on its head or put Trump on a collision course with sentencing. The long-awaited ruling, on whether evidence shown at trial should have been shielded from jurors, due to presidential immunity, could have profound consequences for the case. Trump was the first former president ever to be convicted of *******. On Nov. 5, he also became the first person with a ********* record ever to be elected president. Trump’s lawyers vowed the day a unanimous jury found him guilty of felonies in May to ****** his conviction. They were given an extraordinary opportunity not long after when the Supreme Court ruled former presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts. The decision said evidence related to Trump’s work as president could not be used at trial. Trump’s legal team, which is led by Todd Blanche, seized on the landmark ruling, demanding Trump’s conviction be set aside, and his sentencing canceled. They argued jurors should never have heard testimony related to Trump’s communications with former White House communications director Hope Hicks, or his former executive assistant and director of White House Operations Madeleine Westerhout. Prosecutors argued in response that the Supreme Court ruling didn’t apply to evidence shown at trial. They also said the material protested by Trump’s lawyers were “a sliver of the mountains” of evidence the jury considered. The jury ultimately concluded that Trump committed 34 felonies in signing off on a scheme to cover-up reimbursements to Michael Cohen, his former attorney and fixer. Cohen had paid $130,000 to ****** film star Stormy Daniels, days before the 2016 presidential election, to buy her silence about an alleged ******* encounter with Trump years early. The agreement has often been referred to as a “hush money” deal. Trump insists he is not guilty of falsifying business records — the charge he was convicted on — and has vehemently denied Daniels’ story. The Supreme Court’s decision in July was the latest curveball in a case that dates back to 2018, when the Manhattan District Attorney’s office first began investigating the “hush money” deal. Trump, amid his first term as president, fought the investigation as it expanded into a wide-ranging probe of his finances. The case’s first landmark Supreme Court ruling came in 2020, when the nation’s highest court ruled the Constitution does not preclude a state ********* subpoena of a sitting president. The ruling allowed the Manhattan District Attorney, then Cyrus Vance Jr., access to Trump’s tax returns. The borough’s next district attorney, Alvin Bragg, took up the case but narrowed its focus, bringing it back to the “hush money” deal. On March 31, 2023, a grand jury made Trump the first ever former, and future, president indicted for *******. Trump’s seven-week trial began just more than a year later, on April 15. The jury returned his conviction after a day and a half of deliberations. Trump, sullen but defiant, walked out of the courtroom and in front of cameras just steps away immediately returned to his campaign for the presidency. Trump Investigations More More Graham Kates Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering ********* justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at *****@*****.tld or *****@*****.tld Source link #York #judge #expected #issue #crucial #presidential #immunity #ruling #Trump #hush #money #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian cricket superstars land in Perth, take over iconic WACA Ground Indian cricket superstars land in Perth, take over iconic WACA Ground Western Australia’s traditional home of cricket is in lockdown as it is taken over by India for a top-secret training camp in Perth ahead of The West Test. India and its superstars, including Virat Kohli, touched down in Australia in groups between Sunday and Tuesday, escaping fierce scrutiny from their home country in the wake of an historic clean-sweep by New Zealand on the subcontinent. Their guard is up in Perth like never before as they ramp up preparations for a blockbuster five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The WACA Ground nets, normally open for viewing by the public, have been covered in ****** tarps so they are not visible from the street. The West *********** understands WA Cricket staff members have been banned from using their mobile phones outside their offices, filming inside the ground and from using certain areas of the precinct. A training session was cancelled on Tuesday morning, with further sessions set for the WACA Ground nets on Wednesday and Thursday. A three-day intra-squad warm up match scheduled to be played from Friday to Sunday is now closed to the public after the squad’s governing body, the Board for Cricket Control in India, intervened. Even Cricket Australia officials were left in the dark about the arrival of the Indian team ahead of the first of five Tests which begins on Friday week at Optus Stadium. It’s the highest level of security around a visiting sporting squad since English Premier League giant Manchester ******* toured in 2022. “There’s been a lot of work in the background to make sure we were ready for them,” new WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson told The West. “We’ll have staff on hand to ensure we ******** it well, and we’re looking forward to hosting the three days behind closed doors.” India put in place similar security measures when they were based in Perth ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, but they did make two practice games against a WA invitational team open to the public on that tour. On that trip, Crown Perth stood down a contractor after an employee allegedly filmed themselves in Kohli’s hotel room. Kohli posted the video alongside a long statement expressing his outrage at the “fanaticism and absolute invasion of privacy”. Camera IconThe India Cricket Team arrive at the WACA ground to train. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West *********** The batting star, likely on his final Test tour of Australia is among his country’s biggest celebrity figures and is adored to the point where his movements are limited by loitering fans. The lockdown comes just days after Kohli vented his frustration with photographers in Mumbai, asking them not to take pictures of his children with his wife, Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma. Video footage shows Kohli telling the paparazzi: “Udhar camera nahi karna (Don’t point your cameras there).” Adding to the tension around the first Test is a war of words between new India coach Gautam Gambhir and *********** legend Ricky Ponting. The batting great put the heat on Kohli to return to form in this series and said he was staggered by his poor recent record. The call left Gambhir furious and the former Indian opener hit back. Camera IconThe Indian cricket team practising in the nets at The WACA. Rishabh Pant. Credit: Ian Munro/The West *********** “What does Ricky Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? He should be talking about Australia,” he said. “Look, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still passionate about the game and want to achieve more. “They are hungry for success and have done exceptionally well for the country over the years.” On Tuesday night, Ponting told 7NEWS he would shake Gambhir’s hand “if he came my way” in Perth, but said the pair “have history” that dates back to their playing days. The group training in Perth this week does not include Test captain Rohit Sharma, who has remained in India as he awaits the birth of his child. Sharma is in doubt for The West Test at Optus Stadium from November 22. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah would captain in his absence. Camera IconRishabh Pant (left) and Shubman Gill. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West *********** But the call for the veteran batter to stay home has sparked a call from Indian legend and Channel 7 expert Sunil Gavaskar for him to be stripped of the leadership. “It is important for the captain to play the first Test match,” Gavaskar told Indian media. “It’s different if he is injured, but if he is not available, then the deputy leader will be under a lot of pressure. “I have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series. “I feel that in that case the selection committee should appoint Jasprit Bumrah the captain of the side for the entire Australia tour, and tell Rohit Sharma that you will participate as a player in this series.” Source link #Indian #cricket #superstars #land #Perth #iconic #WACA #Ground Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Thank you Sakurai!’ – Smash Bros creator teaches cosplayer how to properly unsheathe Link’s sword ‘Thank you Sakurai!’ – Smash Bros creator teaches cosplayer how to properly unsheathe Link’s sword Kirby and Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai recently helped a cosplayer who was struggling to use Link’s sword properly. As reported by Automaton, ********* cosplayer Sakigake posted a video of himself dressed as Link in Breath of the Wild. In the video, Sakigake attempts to unsheathe his sword, but because of the length of the sword and the position of the scabbard on his back, he can’t stretch his arm out far enough to take the sword out. “I can’t do it,” Sakigake wrote on X. “I will practice”. 無理でした練習します pic.twitter.com/I2W1Ka0UXq — サキガケ (@sakigake_cos) November 11, 2024 Noticing the video, Sakurai offered his advice by sharing a tip that he noticed Sakigake wasn’t doing. Sakurai explained that in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, the development team added an animation where Link pulls the scabbard down with his other hand, giving him enough room to sheathe the sword in it. “In Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Link pulls the scabbard down when sheathing his sword,” Sakurai explained. “That alone wasn’t quite enough to reach the desired position, but I think that’s about as far as we can go when it comes to matching the action and equipment from the original.” When Link sheathes his sword in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, he pulls the scabbard down with his other hand so it can fit in. In other Zelda games, where he doesn’t pull it down, Link’s wrist twists at an impossible angle to fit the sword in. “Thank you Sakurai-san”, Sakigake replied. “I’ll use Smash Bros Ultimate as a reference next time and try to make it look cool.” “I reacted to your post because of my experience considering a solution to the same problem,” Sakurai added. “Great cosplay!” Sakurai recently ended his YouTube channel after two years of publishing in-depth videos explaining how game development works. In the final normal episode of his YouTube series, Sakurai posted a tribute to his former boss, the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. Source link #Sakurai #Smash #Bros #creator #teaches #cosplayer #properly #unsheathe #Links #sword Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With 60% off, this Philips Hue bundle is one of Amazon’s best early ****** Friday deals ever With 60% off, this Philips Hue bundle is one of Amazon’s best early ****** Friday deals ever Amazon has launched its first batch of early ****** Friday deals, and this is easily one of the best – especially if you’ve been thinking of starting a Philips Hue smart lighting setup. For a limited time, you can get two Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) speakers and a Philips Hue bulb for only £48.98 (was £123.97). To put that into context, you would pay £49.99 for just one Echo Dot right now. The Echo Dot (5th Gen) currently holds the number one spot in our guide to the best smart speakers, and the Hue system takes our award for the best smart lights, making this package a great starting point for a new smart home setup. Adding more devices in future will be a piece of cake, and the two speakers will allow you to control them with simple voice commands from anywhere in your home. Today’s best Philips Hue/Amazon Echo deal The Philips Hue light you’re getting in this bundle is a B22 (bayonet fitting) warm white bulb. Unlike some Hue bulbs, this can’t be set to different colours, but it does support remote control and smooth dimming. You don’t need a Philips Hue Bridge connectivity hub to use it, either – the Philips Hue Bluetooth app allows you to control it from your phone or (most importantly) with your new Echo speakers. For more details, take a look at our guide to Philips Hue Bridge: what is it and how important is it for your Hue smart lights. If you want to expand your smart home setup even further, our roundup of the best ****** Friday Ring doorbell deals will help you find all the best discounts on the whole range of Ring devices, including cameras and sensors. More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the *** Amazon: up to 68% off toothbrushes and TVs AO: savings on games consoles and appliances Argos: up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs and gifts Boots: up to 50% off Dyson, *****-B and Philips Currys: early deals on TVs, appliances, laptops Dell: laptops, desktops, monitors from £299 Dyson: up to £150 off Ebay: up to 50% off refurbished tech EE: up to £600 off Samsung and Apple John Lewis: up to £300 off appliances and TVs LG: £1,000 or more off TVs and appliances Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and tablets Very: up to 30% off phones, appliances & clothing Source link #Philips #Hue #bundle #Amazons #early #****** #Friday #deals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 “Made in America” Stocks to Benefit From the Trump Presidency 3 “Made in America” Stocks to Benefit From the Trump Presidency Donald Trump’s return to the White House has pre-emptively bolstered “Made in the USA” stocks, while ******** stocks collapsed in anticipation of more import tariffs to come. The Trump administration will seek to bolster the U.S. supply chain for steel, semiconductors, and automobiles. Critics argue that imposing more tariffs will end up costing U.S. consumers more for products, driving up inflation. The return of the Trump administration to the White House in 2025 has caused many U.S. stocks to surge pre-emptively on positive sentiment, while ******** stocks collapsed on fears of more trade tensions and tariffs to come. During his reelection campaign, Trump suggested imposing a 60% tariff on goods produced in China and 20% on everything else. Trump even threatened farming machinery giant Deere & Company (NYSE:) with 200% tariffs on anything they produce in Mexico to force them to keep its production in the U.S. As the markets try to anticipate his actions based on his previous administration’s policies, stocks that fit certain themes are already seeing the early money flow. The core theme of the Trump administration has been and will continue to be “Made in America,” which focuses on bolstering U.S. manufacturing and creating jobs. Here are three stocks spread across the auto/tires/trucks, computer and technology, and basic materials sectors that are already benefiting from the Trump presidency. 1. General Motors: Automobiles Made in the U.S.A. and Protected By Tariffs The country’s largest car manufacturer, General Motors (NYSE:), saw its stock surge 7% to 52-week highs after a Trump victory was called. Trump has had a firm stance on protecting U.S. automakers from foreign competition, especially cheaper foreign-made vehicles from China, which already face a 100% tariff on electric vehicle (EV) exports. Import tariffs on vehicles and auto parts end up making non-********* vehicles more expensive for consumers, creating a more favorable market for General Motors’s products and its top four ********* brands: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. General Motors is outperforming U.S. competitors like Ford Motor (NYSE:), who are just starting to regain some footing after finally beating its Q3 EPS estimates by 2 cents. General Motors crushed its latest third quarter of 2024, reporting EPS of $2.96, beating analyst estimates by 58 cents. This marks the third consecutive quarter of 35 cents+ EPS beats. Revenues grew 10.5% YoY to $48.76 billion, crushing analyst estimates for $44.67 billion by an eye-watering $4.09 billion. General Motors raised the lower end of its full-year 2025 EPS estimates to a range of $10.00 to $10.50, up from $9.50 to $10.50 versus $9.97 consensus estimates. Automotive free cash flow was raised to the $12.5 billion to $13.5 billion range, up from $9.5 billion to $11.5 billion. 2. Intel: Semiconductors Made in the U.S.A. Supported by the CHIPS Act ********* semiconductor giant Intel (NASDAQ:) has been suffering for several years now as competitors like NVIDIA (NASDAQ:) dominate the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market. While major chip makers like NVIDIA, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:), Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:) outsource their chip production overseas to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:), Intel continues to produce them in their domestic fabrication (fabs) foundries. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 seeks to bolster the domestic semiconductor supply chain to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for national security and economic competitiveness. It includes $52 billion in subsidies and incentives for chip makers to build and expand fabs in the U.S. Intel was awarded up to an additional $3 billion under the CHIPS Act to construct four foundries in the ******* States. This was in addition to the $8.5 billion awarded in March of 2024. Payments are expected to start at the end of the year. Intel needs all the help it can get as it continues to struggle. The company lost 46 cents per share in its third quarter of 2024. Revenues continued to contract as they fell 6.3% YoY to $13.3 billion. ****** margin fell 27.8 points to 18%. The company is undergoing a $10 billion cost reduction plan, which includes reducing headcount by over 15% of its workforce or 15,000 jobs. However, the company did provide some upside guidance for Q4 as it expects a positive EPS of 12 cents versus 8 cents, consensus estimates, and a non-GAAP ****** margin improvement of 39.5%. Shareholders are looking forward to the spin-off of its foundry business in 2025. 3. Nucor: Galvanizing the *********-Made Steel Supply Chain As one of the largest domestic steel producers, Nucor (NYSE:) was a major benefactor of Trump’s previous administration policies. The imposition of 25% tariffs on imported steel was a boon to the company as it made foreign steel more expensive, reducing competition. Critics argue that this enabled U.S. steel manufacturers to bump their prices without competition. This fanned the flames of inflation, driving up higher prices for the U.S. consumer, from construction to appliances and vehicles. While major trading partners like Mexico were able to gain exemptions, their status may face more scrutiny with the new Trump administration. Nucor is also a direct beneficiary of domestic infrastructure spending, which has bipartisan support for rebuilding America’s infrastructure. Bridges, highways, and construction projects all bolster the demand for steel. Not all domestic steelmakers will benefit from Trump’s return to the White House. The proposed acquisition of ******* States Steel (NYSE:) by Japan’s Nippon Steel Co. would almost certainly be blocked by Trump. Trump wants to ensure a 100% ********* supply chain for all essential goods. Original Post Source link #America #Stocks #Benefit #Trump #Presidency Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hearing of Executive Vice-President-designate Raffaele Fitto | News Hearing of Executive Vice-President-designate Raffaele Fitto | News In his opening remarks, Mr Fitto stated his intention to respond to demographic challenges and to give opportunities to everyone, and in particular young people, so they can stay and thrive in their home regions. He committed to using the so-called “place-based approach” to better address local needs and to working closer together with local authorities. Answering MEP questions on the future of cohesion policy, Mr Fitto said that it needs to be simplified and more flexible, and that the administrative burden must be reduced. For the first time, the Commission has a dedicated portfolio for simplification, he added. However, simplification cannot mean reduced transparency or scrutiny, Mr Fitto argued. He underlined the important work of the ********* Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the ********* Anti-****** Office OLAF in making sure that EU funds go where they are supposed to. Strong role for local authorities Discussing the future of cohesion policy, MEPs quizzed Mr Fitto on whether simplification would mean centralisation. They asked if he will defend “cohesion policy as we know it”, where people and regions have a strong role. Mr Fitto committed to advancing solutions that leverage the specialised knowledge of local actors, and are flexible enough to accommodate different local needs. At the same time, he wants to develop targeted approaches to local industrial policy and leverage the potential of tourism. In response to questions about efforts to strengthen rural regions suffering from depopulation and brain drain, Mr Fitto underlined the importance of high quality work, local administrative capacity, infrastructure – including digital – and public services in every region. He further committed to supporting talent development and employment opportunities and to accelerating the implementation of the Just Transition Fund. Solutions for island regions and cities On support for islands, Mr Fitto pointed to his record working on the topic as an MEP, and said that coordinated efforts involving transport, agriculture, fisheries and tourism policy will be needed. Mr Fitto also announced his intention to develop a comprehensive policy agenda for cities, including housing, digitalisation and social inclusion. Citizens who live in the EU’s eastern border regions also need the EU’s maximum support, he said. MEPs also raised the issue of the rule of law and Mr Fitto’s previous record on Article 7 votes. Mr Fitto committed to respecting the rule of law as a fundamental EU principle, and said he has already contributed to the EU’s rule of law dialogue in his previous role as an EU Affairs Minister. Press point At the end of the hearing, the Chair of the Committee on Regional Development held a press point outside the meeting room: watch it here. Next steps The committee chair and political group coordinators will meet without delay after the hearing to assess the performance and qualification of the Commissioner-designate. Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group chairs) is set to conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. Once the Conference of Presidents declares all hearings closed, the evaluation letters will be published. The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast, by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg. Source link #Hearing #Executive #VicePresidentdesignate #Raffaele #Fitto #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shell wins appeal against landmark ruling to cut emissions Shell wins appeal against landmark ruling to cut emissions STORY: Shell has won an appeal against a landmark climate order for it to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The appeals court in The Hague dismissed the 2021 ruling that Shell must cut its absolute carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, relative to 2019 levels. That included emissions caused by the use of its products. The case had been brought Friends of the Earth Netherlands, known as Milieudefensie. But presiding judge Carla Joustra said Shell was already on its way to meet required targets for its own emissions. “Shell has set a specific reduction target for scope 1 and 2 that means its scope 1 and 2 emissions will be reduced by 50% by 2030 compared to 2016. Furthermore, it follows from the documents provided by Shell that it had already achieved a 31% reduction by 2023. So Shell is already doing what Milieudefensie is claiming from it. Milieudefensie’s claim regarding scope 1 and 2 is therefore not admissible.” The Dutch court did say, however, that the oil giant has a responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect people from global warming. It said Shell was already on its way to meet required targets for its own emissions. And it said that it was unclear if demands to reduce emissions caused by the use of its products would help the ****** against climate change. The ruling coincides with the COP29 U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. On the agenda is a continuation of last year’s talks about transitioning away from fossil fuels. Shell Chief Executive Officer Wael Sawan welcomed the decision, saying Shell believed it was “the right one for the global energy transition, the Netherlands and our company.” Milieudefensie said it was disappointed about Shell’s victory and would continue its ****** against large polluters. “This really touches me. This should have been the moment of a real breakthrough in the ****** against dangerous climate change. That didn’t happen today, but the ****** against dangerous climate change is a marathon, not a sprint, and the race has only just begun.” Source link #Shell #wins #appeal #landmark #ruling #cut #emissions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

My Nintendo Store Reveals Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Pre-Order Bonuses & Bundle (***) My Nintendo Store Reveals Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Pre-Order Bonuses & Bundle (***) Donkey Kong Country Returns HD’s 16th January 2025 release date might still feel like a long way off, but the new year is rapidly approaching and Nintendo is getting the hype train a-moving with a first look at some pre-order bonuses. Source link #Nintendo #Store #Reveals #Donkey #Kong #Country #Returns #PreOrder #Bonuses #amp #Bundle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ultrawide monitors will be some of the hottest products this ****** Friday – and MSI has just launched one with cutting-edge OLED tech Ultrawide monitors will be some of the hottest products this ****** Friday – and MSI has just launched one with cutting-edge OLED tech The new monitor was first announced in August, after its predecessor’s launch in 2024 MSI’s MGP 491CQPX includes a range of improvements, notably its refresh rate and ClearMR certification Its previous model (MGP 491CQP) is now on ***** ahead of ****** Friday MSI launched an impressive super ultrawide gaming monitor earlier this year, which we delve deeper into in our MPG 491CQP review, opening the gateway for more competition among the best ultrawide monitors on the market this ****** Friday. Now, we have more good news: an enhanced version of this has just launched, the brand-new MPG 491CQPX QD-OLED Super Ultrawide Gaming Monitor, which comes with a host of upgrades across the board. While it maintains the 49-inch display size and 5120×1440 resolution, the advantages over the previous CQP model include a 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms GtG response time, HDMI 2.1 ports, 98W *** (power delivery), and a superior ClearMR 13000 motion clarity certification from VESA, the display industry standards body. With 49 inches of ultrawide screen real estate, the MPG 491CQPX is as luxurious as it gets for PC gamers. (Image credit: MSI) OLEDs may be great at providing the best image quality for displays, but this doesn’t stop the possibility of unwanted blur, especially in fast-paced games. The aforementioned CQP 144Hz model offered a ClearMR 8000 certification, but with this improvement to VESA’s 13000 rating, blurry pixels in-game will be reduced significantly. The next-gen QD-OLED panel from MSI (which was used in the 491CQPX’s predecessor) promises enhanced ‘sub-pixel arrangement’ which should produce sharper images and better text (a notable point of contention for some people with OLED monitors). QD-OLEDs are well-known for their ability to provide the best contrast and deep ****** levels, all while utilizing a wider ****** gamut compared to LCD displays, so this combination is a huge benefit for users. So, what about *****-in? How much will it cost? Whilst we currently have no info on its cost, looking at the MPG 491CQP’s price ($1099/ £1098.95 / AU$1,699), it’s fair to say that it will be priced close within its range. The good news is if you’re in the ***, you can get your hands on the previous model for just £799 at Scan thanks to the ****** Friday ***** – a pretty good deal, right? Both the old and new models utilize MSI’s OLED Care 2.0 software – it’s no secret that OLEDs are prone to *****-in, which can quickly become frustrating. Similar to the display care tools found in Dell’s Alienware AW3423DWF gaming monitor, OLED Care 2.0 sends you a pop-up to shift and refresh pixels on your display after about four hours of continuous use to protect your monitor from *****-in. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Despite its necessity, this sort of automated maintenance is one of the biggest downsides of owning an OLED display, but the benefits easily outweigh this. If you’re willing to take this in stride (or just don’t use your PC for more than four hours at a time), the CQPX will ultimately take your gaming experience to new heights. You might also like… Source link #Ultrawide #monitors #hottest #products #****** #Friday #MSI #launched #cuttingedge #OLED #tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EPA to hit oil and gas companies with “methane fee” for drilling waste — but will it last? EPA to hit oil and gas companies with “methane fee” for drilling waste — but will it last? Washington — Oil and natural gas companies for the first time will have to pay a federal fee if they emit dangerous methane above certain levels under a rule being made final by the Biden administration. The Environmental Protection Agency rule follows through on a directive from Congress included in the 2022 climate law. The new fee is intended to encourage industry to adopt best practices that reduce emissions of methane – the primary component of natural gas – and thereby avoid paying. Methane is a climate “super pollutant” that is far more potent in the short term than carbon dioxide and is responsible for about one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. The oil and natural gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the ******* States, and advocates say reduction of methane emissions is a crucial way to slow climate change. The rule, set to be announced Tuesday at an international climate conference in Azerbaijan, comes hours after President-elect Donald Trump named former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to head the agency in Trump’s second term. If confirmed by the Senate, Zeldin is expected to move to reverse or loosen dozens of environmental regulations approved under President Biden as Trump seeks to establish U.S. “energy dominance″ worldwide. Trump is likely to target the methane fee amid a flurry of expected actions he has promised to deregulate the oil and gas industry. As outlined by the EPA, excess methane produced in 2024 could result in a fee of $900 per ton, with fees rising to $1,200 per ton in 2025 and $1,500 per ton by 2026. Industry groups are likely to challenge the rule, including any effort to impose a retroactive fee. The rule wouldn’t become final until early next year, following publication in the Federal Register. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement that the rule will work in tandem with a new EPA rule on methane emissions imposed this year. The rule targets the U.S. oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as Mr. Biden seeks to secure his legacy on fighting climate change. The fee, formally known as the Waste Emissions Charge, will encourage early deployment of available technologies to reduce methane emissions and other harmful air pollutants, Regan said. The fee “is the latest in a series of actions under President Biden’s methane strategy to improve efficiency in the oil and gas sector, support ********* jobs, protect clean air and reinforce U.S. leadership on the global stage,” he said. Industry groups and ***********-led states have challenged the earlier methane rule in court, but lost a bid for the Supreme Court to block the rule while the case continues before lower-level judges. Opponents argue that the EPA overstepped its authority and set unattainable standards with the new regulations. The EPA, though, said the rules are squarely within its legal responsibilities and would protect the public. Many large oil and gas companies already meet or exceed methane-performance levels set by Congress under the climate law, meaning they are unlikely to be forced to pay the new fee, Regan and other officials said. Even so, the EPA estimates that the rule will result in cumulative emissions reductions of 1.2 million metric tons of methane (the equivalent of 34 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide) through 2035. That figure is similar to clean-air gains from taking nearly 8 million gas-powered cars off the road for a year, the EPA said. Cumulative climate benefits could total as much $2 billion, the agency said. Like the earlier methane rule, the new fee faces a near-certain legal challenge from industry groups. The ********* Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry’s largest lobbying group, called a fee proposed earlier this year a “punitive tax increase” that “undermines America’s energy advantage.” The API said it looks forward to working with Congress to repeal the “misguided new tax on ********* energy.” Environmental groups, for their part, have hailed the impending methane fee, saying oil and gas companies should be held accountable for pollution that contributes to global warming. Oil and gas companies routinely calculate that it’s cheaper to waste methane through flaring and other techniques than to make necessary upgrades to prevent leaks, they said. The EPA said it expects that over time, fewer oil and gas companies will be charged for excess methane as they reduce emissions in compliance with the rule. ClimateWatch: Climate Change News & Features More More Source link #EPA #hit #oil #gas #companies #methane #fee #drilling #waste Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Megan Fox and Machine **** Kelly expecting first child Megan Fox and Machine **** Kelly expecting first child Getty Images Megan Fox has announced she and US rapper Machine **** Kelly are expecting their first child together. The Transformers actress tagged the musician in a photo which showed her kneeling, covered in a ****** substance and cradling a baby bump. Fox, who last year revealed that a previous pregnancy had ended in a miscarriage, also posted a picture of a positive pregnancy test alongside the portrait. The actress, who has been dating Kelly since 2020, captioned the images with: “Nothing is ever really lost. welcome back”. Getty Images Fox previously spoke about her miscarriage on ABC’s Good Morning America. She said: “I’ve never been through anything like that before in my life. It was very difficult for both of us. “It sent us on a very wild journey together and separately – trying to navigate what does this mean and why did this happen?” She also shared her experiences in her book, Pretty Boys are Poisonous, through two poems. In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily Fox also revealed that she’d experienced an ectopic pregnancy on a different occasion. This is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. The ********* actress has three children, and Machine **** Kelly has a daughter from a previous relationship. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here. Source link #Megan #Fox #Machine #**** #Kelly #expecting #child Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘An exciting new chapter’ – ****** May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma director returns with new AAA studio ‘An exciting new chapter’ – ****** May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma director returns with new AAA studio Capcom veteran Hideaki Itsuno has returned to development, leading a new studio owned by Tencent subsidiary LightSpeed Studios. Itusno will lead Lightspeed Japan Studio, which will operate across two offices in Tokyo and Osaka, it announced on Tuesday. Itsuno’s career at Capcom spanned over three decades. In that time he served as the director of classic games such as Power Stone, ****** May Cry 3, 4 and 5, Dragon’s Dogma 1 and 2, as well as producing several other Capcom projects. His latest release, Dragon’s Dogma 2, was met with critical acclaim. VGC’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 review called it “the most vital action RPG since Elden Ring.” “Joining LightSpeed Studios is an exciting new chapter for me,” Itsuno said in a statement. “With LightSpeed’s strong development capability and global network, I look forward to creating original AAA action game titles together with the amazing team, and building aesthetic and innovative experiences for the global player community. “We welcome all talented and passionate game creators from the world over to join our vision.” LightSpeed Studios president Jerry Chen added: “It is our great honor to have Hideaki Itsuno join LightSpeed Studios. The establishment of LightSpeed Japan Studio is a significant step in LightSpeed Studios’ expansion and demonstrates our commitment to bringing the best possible games to our players.” @__Lightspeed___で新章がスタートします！素晴らしいチームとともに新作AAAタイトルを制作し、世界中のプレイヤーに美しく革新的な体験をお届けできることに興奮しています。グローバル人材募集が始まりました！ぜひご参加ください！” [Hidden Content] — Hideaki Itsuno (@tomqe) November 12, 2024 Itsuno announced in August that he would be leaving Capcom after more than 30 years. “At the end of August 2024, I will be leaving Capcom after 30 years and 5 months,” he wrote at the time. “Thank you for your long-term support of the games and characters I have been responsible for. I hope you will continue to support Capcom’s games and characters. “From September, I will start developing a new game in a new environment. I hope to create fun, beautiful games that are as memorable as, or even more memorable than, the ones I have created so far. Please stay tuned for my next creation.” Source link #exciting #chapter #****** #Cry #Dragons #Dogma #director #returns #AAA #studio Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hearing of High Representative/Vice President-designate Kaja Kallas | News Hearing of High Representative/Vice President-designate Kaja Kallas | News In her introductory statement, Ms Kallas pledged to work on strengthening the EU’s position in the world and safeguarding its geopolitical and economic security. She also called for more investment in defence and stressed the importance of cooperating with international partners. Aid for Ukraine and results on enlargement in the next five years Ms Kallas warned that Russia, Iran, North Korea, and – more covertly – China, want to change the rules-based world order. She called on the EU to respond to this threat alongside its closest allies and partners “without losing an inch of who we are”. On Russia’s war against Ukraine, she said that Ukraine’s victory is a priority for the EU, which has to provide as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as is needed. Ms Kallas argued in favour of Ukraine’s accession to the EU and stressed that enlargement to neighbouring countries is a geostrategic investment that is in the EU´s own interest: “In the next five years we need clear results here.” On migration, Ms Kallas said that in order to protect freedom of movement, the EU must protect its external borders. It has to prevent the loss of life, while addressing the root causes of migration in the best way possible. On China, she said that the country is increasingly a competitor and a systemic rival, highlighting that “our dependency towards China in key sectors is a real vulnerability. We need to de-risk.” Regarding defence policy, Ms Kallas warned that Russia, North Korea and Iran produce more equipment and ammunition than the Euro-Atlantic community. Europe needs to invest more in defence and shoulder more responsibility, she said, stressing that the transatlantic partnership has brought prosperity and security to both sides of the Atlantic. As with all relationships, we must build on what works best for both sides, she added. New US administration, defence, sanctions MEPs questioned Ms Kallas on how she would engage with the incoming U.S. administration to ensure continued support for Ukraine. She responded that, if confirmed, she will seek connections with the new ********* leadership because “what I see globally is that we are the strongest of allies and we have to keep sticking together”. She also said that the U.S. cannot afford to focus exclusively on China at the expense of Ukraine, while China also needs to “feel a cost” for its support of Russia’s war of aggression. Referring to Europe’s “significant underinvestment” in defence, she said that stepping up Europe’s defence capabilities would act as a strong deterrent: “It would tell Russia, don’t even think about it, because we will ****** back”. MEPs also asked her about the EU’s sanctions policy and EU complementarity with NATO. Ms Kallas was firm in her belief that the EU does not need separate military powers to NATO, saying that the EU’s role is to boost the defence industry and produce ammunition, with NATO being the lead military organisation. Pressed on whether the EU should make its sanctions on Russia permanent, instead of having to renew them every six months, Ms Kallas expressed support for the idea, while admitting that for the moment she does not see unity around the Council table or this issue. On ******* and Palestine, Ms Kallas said the EU would continue to strive for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid, continuing its firm support for work on a long-term two-state solution. Press point At the end of the hearing, Committee Chair David McAllister held a press point outside the meeting room: watch it here Next steps The committee chair and political group coordinators will meet without delay after the hearing to assess the performance and qualification of the Commissioner-designate. Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group chairs) is set to conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. Once the Conference of Presidents declares all hearings closed, the evaluation letters will be published. The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast, by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg. Source link #Hearing #High #RepresentativeVice #Presidentdesignate #Kaja #Kallas #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scotland call up Stuart Armstrong as Che Adams & Lewis Morgan drop out Scotland call up Stuart Armstrong as Che Adams & Lewis Morgan drop out Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon, Robby McCrorie, Cieran Slicker. Defenders: Nicky Devlin, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Ryan Porteous, Anthony Ralston, Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Greg Taylor. Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong, Connor Barron, Ryan Christie, Ben Doak, Ryan Gauld, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay. Forwards: Tommy Conway, Lyndon Dykes, Lawrence Shankland. Source link #Scotland #call #Stuart #Armstrong #Che #Adams #Lewis #Morgan #drop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LightSpeed Studios Launches Japan Game Development Studio Led By Hideaki Itsuno LightSpeed Studios Launches Japan Game Development Studio Led By Hideaki Itsuno LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS Launches Japan Game Development Studio Led By Hideaki Itsuno Source link #LightSpeed #Studios #Launches #Japan #Game #Development #Studio #Led #Hideaki #Itsuno Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beat the winter chill with a huge 37% off this Google Nest Learning Thermostat for ****** Friday Beat the winter chill with a huge 37% off this Google Nest Learning Thermostat for ****** Friday The winter chill is definitely starting to set in, so this is the perfect time to think about investing in a smart thermostat to keep the temperature in your home just right – and we’ve found a deal that will make it super affordable too. Right now, you can get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) for only £139 at Amazon (was £219). That’s the cheapest it’s been this year, and one of the best ****** Friday deals we’ve seen so far on smart home tech. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) currently holds the number one spot in our roundup of the best smart thermostats thanks to its ability to create a personalised heating schedule automatically based on how you use it. Usually the only real drawback is its price, but thanks to this early ****** Friday deal, that’s no longer an issue. Today’s best Google Nest Learning Thermostat (Gen 3) deal Our reviewers gave the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (Gen 3) a score of four stars out of five thanks to its ease of use, smart design, and potential for real energy savings. We originally estimated that it would take about three years for the cash savings to offset the initial price, but with this deal it could pay for itself much sooner. You can also use the 37% saving to offset the cost of having the thermostat fitted professionally if you’re not confident doing it yourself. Having installed one recently, TechRadar’s Managing Editor of Core Tech Matt Hanson recommends this to save time and effort. ****** Friday is a great time to stock up on smart home tech, with big discounts on everything from lights to locks. We’re already seeing some particularly good ****** Friday Ring doorbell deals and ****** Friday ****** vacuum deals, so stick with TechRadar and let us do the hard work of hunting down the best offers for you. More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the *** Amazon: up to 68% off toothbrushes and TVs AO: savings on games consoles and appliances Argos: up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs and gifts Boots: up to 50% off Dyson, *****-B and Philips Currys: early deals on TVs, appliances, laptops Dell: laptops, desktops, monitors from £299 Dyson: up to £150 off Ebay: up to 50% off refurbished tech EE: up to £600 off Samsung and Apple John Lewis: up to £300 off appliances and TVs LG: £1,000 or more off TVs and appliances Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and tablets Very: up to 30% off phones, appliances & clothing Source link #Beat #winter #chill #huge #Google #Nest #Learning #Thermostat #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Buy Nvidia as AI adoption is still in the early stages, Redburn Atlantic says Buy Nvidia as AI adoption is still in the early stages, Redburn Atlantic says Nvidia ‘s still in early growth stages as artificial intelligence capabilities continue to progress, according to Redburn Atlantic. Analyst Timm Schulze-Melander initiated the stock with a buy rating and a price target of $178, which implies upside of 22.5%. Looking ahead, the analyst sees the AI powerhouse boasting 65% EBIT margin expansion and compound annual earnings growth of 38% between 2024 and 2030. “Such growth over a six-year ******* is aligned with prior adoption cycles. Our analysis finds that 18 years is the average duration of the ‘adoption phase’ growth for new technologies,” he said. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia performance this year. “Nvidia has exploded into the public consciousness. However, given the stellar share price performance, questions have emerged regarding the durability of the AI market as well as the technological sustainability of Nvidia’s position and financial returns,” the analyst wrote in a note to clients. “We see two primary growth engines that the market underestimates.” The first growth driver is in accelerated computing, which aims to make AI data processing more efficient, Schulze-Melander said. The chipmaker has the largest installed base of graphic processing units, a dominant software interface and the largest installed base of application libraries — the latter which gives the company a strong competitive position with it products and customers, according to the analyst. The second factor behind Nvidia’s growth case is the market’s underestimation of demand for the company’s products and services — even as rivals try to curb the chipmaker’s dominance. “These customers are committed to Nvidia’s Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) software and rely more heavily on Nvidia’s system-level solutions. The CUDA software moat, with integrated applications libraries and a 12-month innovation cycle, means that Nvidia’s rivals are unlikely to usurp its market dominance,” Schulze-Melander said. Nvidia has been on a tear, up 193.3% year to date. That makes it the third-best performing S & P 500 stock of 2024. Source link #Buy #Nvidia #adoption #early #stages #Redburn #Atlantic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Treasurer Jim Chalmers announces $900m National Fund to boost lagging productivity Treasurer Jim Chalmers announces $900m National Fund to boost lagging productivity The new $900m fund will pitch state against state in an effort to boost Australia’s sagging productivity levels. Source link #Treasurer #Jim #Chalmers #announces #900m #National #Fund #boost #lagging #productivity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Every Perk & Wildcard in Warzone x ****** Ops 6 Every Perk & Wildcard in Warzone x ****** Ops 6 Perks are a staple of Call of Duty games, and they’re extremely important for a successful loadout in Warzone. With the ****** Ops 6 Season 1 integration, the battle royale title is getting a major overhaul, which includes a new map, guns, Perks, and the introduction of Wildcards. Speaking of the latter, if you’re wondering how the system will work in Warzone and all the Perks and Wildcards that will be available in Warzone x ****** Ops 6 Season 1, here’s everything you need to know. All Perks in Warzone & how to unlock Perk & Slot Unlock Requirement Perk 1: Reflexes Season 1 Reloaded Reward Perk 1: Veteran Season 1 Reward Perk 1: Grenadier Available Immediately Perk 1: Dexterity Level 20 Perk 1: Scavenger Level 26 Perk 1: Survivor Level 47 Perk 2: Quartermaster Available Immediately Perk 2: ***** Squad Level 8 Perk 2: Tracker Level 29 Perk 2: Sprinter Level 32 Perk 2: Cold-Blooded Level 41 Perk 2: Quick Fix Level 50 Perk 3: Gung-*** Available Immediately Perk 3: Resolute Level 5 Perk 3: Ghost Level 17 Perk 3: Birdseye Level 23 Perk 3: Tempered Level 35 Perk 3: Alertness Level 44 Perk (Loot): Shrouded In-game only Perk (Loot): Irradiated In-game only These are all the available Perks in Warzone x ****** Ops 6 Season 1 according to the CoD blog. All Wildcards in Warzone & unlock requirements Wildcard Unlock Requirement Overkill Player Level 24 Bandolier Player Level 15 Gunfighter Player Level 33 Battle Ready Player Level 38 Credit to Activision. How do Perks and Wildcards work in Warzone? Warzone has a “Pick 3 System,” which means you can pick one Perk from each category (blue, red, and yellow.) You can then pick one Wildcard to compliment your loadout. These Perks will drop on the floor so that they can be looted again upon ******. Players will need to choose one Perk for each slot to make a combination of 3. Most of the Perks can be unlocked through leveling up, while the new ones added in Season 1 (Veteran and Reflexes) are unlocked via Season 1 event rewards. There’s no Combat Specialty. Wildcards are also earned through leveling. There are also lootable Perks in Warzone that players can find to further fortify their loadout. These include four options from the Pick 3 System and two that are exclusive to loot – Shrouded and Irradiated. Lootable Perks will vanish upon ******. Can you get Specialist Perk Package in Warzone? Yes, Specialist Perk Package is back in Warzone x ****** Ops 6, and it can be found as a rare loot drop or via the Care Package Killstreak. It will give the player all 18 Perks plus the two bootable Perks for a total of 20. Upon ******, the Specialist Perk Package will drop and can be looted by anyone. That was everything you need to know about Perks and Wildcards in Warzone. For more, check out our guide on the new Ransack mode in BO6 multiplayer, and the best ARs to use. Be sure to sign up for the Insider Gaming weekly newsletter to stay updated on all things Call of Duty. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Perk #Wildcard #Warzone #****** #Ops Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Post Office requested four-year Horizon extension, as Fujitsu boss arrived at public inquiry Post Office requested four-year Horizon extension, as Fujitsu boss arrived at public inquiry The Post Office requested a four-year extension of its controversial Fujitsu Horizon system contract as the IT supplier’s ********* boss arrived to give evidence at the public inquiry examining the system’s role in the widest miscarriage of justice in *** history. Paul Patterson, Fujitsu’s head of Europe, told the Post Office scandal public inquiry that any Horizon contract extension must be as short as possible and said he does not trust the Post Office. At the inquiry hearing yesterday (11 November), Patterson’s second appearance, he was asked about the anticipated extension to the Horizon contract between Fujitsu and the Post Office. He said the first request, for a five-year extension, came in December 2023, and there have been various requests since. “This morning, as I walked into this building, I had another request, which was for four years. So this continues to move around,” he told the public inquiry. In April 2021, the Post Office announced that it was preparing for the end of the Horizon agreement with Fujitsu, adding an extra year to support its transition to a new system. In May 2023, it set 2025 as the target date for the completion of the project. But in April this year, Computer Weekly revealed that a further extension of the Horizon contract was inevitable. Patterson told the inquiry he is “encouraged by” the new leadership at the Post Office who, he said, “appear to be getting more understanding and clarity on what the actual business requirements from the Horizon system will be”. But he said he has major concerns about the continued use of the Horizon system, which has reached its “end of life”, adding that long extensions might not be possible. He said some parts of Horizon are so old Fujitsu doesn’t want to turn them off as it is uncertain what would happen if it did. “I am very worried about it. [The extension] needs to be for the shortest possible time because this system is not meant to be continuing and it has not had any material investment for the last four years while the intention has been on the New Branch IT (NBIT) system or versions of NBIT,” said Patterson. “It is difficult to know if three, four or five years will be possible.” Computer Weekly revealed in May this year that a review by government project management experts at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority rated the NBIT project as “currently unachievable”, with budgets ballooning from £180m to £1.1bn and implementation being delayed by as much as five years. Last month, Computer Weekly revealed that the Post Office’s new leadership is now reviewing its project to build the NBIT software in-house and could opt for an off-the-shelf alternative. Escher is said to be the option that came out top during the bidding process, although it was rejected in favour of the in-house build option. One major controversial aspect of the contract is about to end. In February 2025, the organisations will complete the migration of all Horizon data, including historic data, from Fujitsu to in-house Post Office systems. This means the Post Office will not need to ask Fujitsu for data to support investigations into subpostmasters with unexplained account shortfalls. The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is now in its seventh and final phase, focusing on the Post Office’s current practice and procedure, as well as recommendations for the future. Computer Weekly first exposed the scandal in 2009, revealing the stories of seven subpostmasters and the problems they suffered due to Horizon accounting software, which led to the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history (see below timeline of Computer Weekly articles about the scandal since 2009). Source link #Post #Office #requested #fouryear #Horizon #extension #Fujitsu #boss #arrived #public #inquiry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FEMA overwhelmed by calls after Hurricane Milton, funding shortfall hinders response compared to Hurricane Helene FEMA overwhelmed by calls after Hurricane Milton, funding shortfall hinders response compared to Hurricane Helene More than 80% of Floridians don’t have flood insurance and FEMA was unprepared for the deluge of assistance calls after Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida on October 9, according to agency data. CBS News reported that at least 24 people ***** in the wake of the hurricane. Following an October 11 emergency declaration, Floridians made over 135,000 calls to FEMA that required inspection. However, only 46% of those calls were answered, leaving more than 68,000 disaster response inspections pending. The volume of calls in Florida was so overwhelming that FEMA could respond to only 39 out of 106 emergency calls for a separate disaster in Alaska on October 16. The agency’s slow response to Hurricane Milton stands in stark contrast to its response to Hurricane Helene. Just over two weeks earlier, FEMA responded to 76% of Floridians’ calls during Hurricane Helene and answered 67% of calls in North Carolina and 78% in South Carolina. Over 230 people across six states ***** in the storm, ABC News reported. While FEMA left 54,000 inspections pending across three states following the September 28 emergency declaration, its overall response rate during Hurricane Helene was markedly better than for Hurricane Milton. FEMA responses have ranged between 85% and 99% for half of all disasters in 2024. So why was Hurricane Milton different? On October 2, days after the Hurricane Helene disaster declaration, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that FEMA had exhausted its funds to handle hurricanes. “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season,” Secretary Mayorkas told reporters aboard Air Force One. The hurricane season, which typically lasts until November 30, was predicted to be above-average in activity, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. FEMA was already short on hurricane response funds when Hurricane Milton hit. On October 11, President Biden said that Congress needed to pass increased funding for FEMA, but it was not scheduled to sit again until November 12. Neither Mayorkas nor Biden specified the exact funding amount FEMA required. Story Continues As of October 31, FEMA has spent a total of $1 billion helping Florida recover from Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and Debby. Insurance firms have estimated hurricane damage costs between $20 and $200 billion. Hurricane Helene was water damage, and because most Americans don’t have flood insurance, that means damage from the storm will largely go uninsured. Hurricane Milton was largely a wind damage event, however, meaning insurers will indemnify more of the devastation. Read more: 5 ways to boost your net worth now — easily up your money game without altering your day-to-day life Standard homeowners insurance typically doesn’t cover flood damage resulting from bad weather. While it will pay for issues like burst pipes, it won’t pay out anything for flood damage caused by storms like Hurricane Helene. Homeowners in flood zones can buy separate flood insurance, often required by mortgage lenders. Most of these policies come from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program​ (NFIP) and cover the building, foundation, electrical system, HVAC, flooring, appliances and debris removal. If FEMA declares a disaster in your region, you may be eligible for individual disaster assistance. Currently, FEMA has declared 30 counties in Florida as disasters areas. “FEMA grants a maximum of $33,000 a household for repairs,” according to home repair service Advanta Clean. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers loans for personal property losses, even for non-business owners. Following the back-to-back impacts of hurricanes Helene and Milton, many Florida homeowners are selling their flood-damaged properties under terms like “as is,” “cash only” and “for investors.” The Tampa Bay market has seen a surge in such listings from homeowners desperate to get rid of houses that have become financial liabilities. One homeowner, Linville, decided to “cut her losses.” After purchasing her home in 2021 for $575,000, it has flooded three times in two years and it has been stripped down to the studs again.The home is now listed for $425,000, reflecting the estimated cost of remaining flood repairs. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #FEMA #overwhelmed #calls #Hurricane #Milton #funding #shortfall #hinders #response #compared #Hurricane #Helene Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Item Duplication Scam is Rife in Diablo 4 and Players Demand That Blizzard Start Swinging the Ban Hammer Again New Item Duplication Scam is Rife in Diablo 4 and Players Demand That Blizzard Start Swinging the Ban Hammer Again Scammers have found a way to penetrate Diablo 4‘s market through a unique way of scamming by duplicating items and selling them for real money instead of in-game currency. Diablo 4 gets attacked by spammers asking for money. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard needs to come to the players’ rescue as soon as possible and start swinging the ban hammer again, with more force this time. This scam has hampered a lot of in-game purchases, hindering the market. Diablo 4 Players Get Scammed While Purchasing Items Blizzard needs to react as soon as possible. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment Players are having a difficult time spotting the scams that are currently active in Diablo’s market space. One of the scams is pretty straightforward; it asks for money upfront in exchange for items. Do not fall for anything of the sort while surfing the market, as it will most likely be a scam. The other one is a little difficult to spot since it only gets revealed once you submit an offer. The scammers will then ask you to pay a sum of $25. Even reporting these scams is not proving to be beneficial. Reporting one results in more popping up, just like a virus infecting your system. Comment byu/LordofDarkChocolate from discussion indiablo4 Comment byu/LordofDarkChocolate from discussion indiablo4 Comment byu/LordofDarkChocolate from discussion indiablo4 Blizzard needs to take these issues into account and prepare a plan to counter these conmen to restore order within Diablo 4’s community. People are extremely worried about these scams and the potential damage they can do to the game. Live-service games require regular checkups and updates that make the game feel fresh and bug-free. With more updates, the developer eradicated threats that might hinder the experience of playing the game. It is very important for Blizzard to take immediate action against these scammers. Blizzard Needs To Come To Players’ Rescue As Soon As Possible Live-service games need regular maintenance. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment It is not going to do the game any good to keep getting hit with scams like these. The game has a huge online community, and Blizzard needs to keep that into account and come up with a fix as soon as possible. If these issues persist, it’s going to force many players to leave the game completely. Any live-service game developer’s biggest nightmare is players losing interest or getting frustrated with irregular updates and now scams like these. Blizzard needs to take all these into account and release a statement to give players some reassurance that it is working on a fix and it is not long before the game becomes completely scammer-free. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Item #Duplication #Scam #Rife #Diablo #Players #Demand #Blizzard #Start #Swinging #Ban #Hammer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Home Depot (HD) earnings Q3 2024 Home Depot (HD) earnings Q3 2024 Home Depot’s quarterly sales rose more than 6% year over year, as it folded in a newly acquired business and hurricane-related repairs and better weather in many parts of the country boosted demand for home improvement supplies, the company said Tuesday. The retailer also raised its full-year outlook to reflect its better-than-expected results. It now expects total sales to increase about 4%, including the impact of acquiring SRS Distribution. It previously expected total sales to rise by between 2.5% and 3.5% for the year. Both of those outlooks include a lift from a 53rd week in the fiscal year and an approximately $6.4 billion contribution from SRS, which sells supplies to professionals in the roofing, landscaping and pool businesses. The retailer expects comparable sales to decline about 2.5% for the 52-week *******. Home Depot previously projected that industry metric, which includes the company’s website and stores open for more than a year, would drop by 3% to 4% compared with the prior fiscal year. In an interview with CNBC, Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail said the retailer’s forecast reflects the stronger results in the past quarter. But he said consumers are still deferring purchases as they wait for lower mortgage rates and borrowing costs and express caution about the economy. “There is pent up demand for projects,” he said. “Our customers tell us that their lives are changing. Their families are growing. They’re upsizing, they’re downsizing. They need to move for a job. There is demand for remodeling, and they are putting it on hold until they see a more favorable financing environment. And so the demand is there, the question is, when it’s unlocked.” Home Depot customers have continued to put off projects, even though they’re in good financial shape, he said. About 90% of the company’s do-it-yourself customers own their homes. Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street expected for the three-month ******* that ended Oct. 27, according to a survey of analysts by LSEG: Earnings per share: $3.67 vs. $3.64 per share expectedRevenue: $40.22 billion vs. $39.32 billion expected Home Depot shares rose more than 2% in premarket trading. Home Depot’s sales have gotten hit by economic factors, as higher interest rates slow housing turnover and more than two years of high inflation makes homeowners less willing to spring for discretionary purchases and do-it-yourself projects. The company had cut its full-year forecast for comparable sales in August, citing consumer uncertainty. Those dynamics persisted in recent months, McPhail said. Home Depot’s net income for the fiscal third quarter dropped to $3.65 billion, or $3.67 per share, from $3.81 billion, or $3.81 per share, in the year-ago *******. Revenue climbed 6.6% from $37.71 billion in the year-ago *******. Comparable sales fell 1.3% in the quarter across the business. That’s better than the 3.3% drop that analysts expected, according to StreetAccount. The metric fell by 1.2% in the U.S. It marked the eighth consecutive quarter of negative comparable sales at Home Depot, though the smallest drop since the string of declines began. That performance has not weighed on the stock this year. As of Monday’s close, Home Depot’s shares are up about 18% this year, trailing the approximately 26% gains of the S&P 500. The company’s stock closed Monday at $408.29 a share, bringing its market value to $405.55 billion. Shoppers visited Home Depot’s stores and shopped online about as much as they did in the year-ago *******. On average, customers spent $88.65 during those transactions, almost the same as the $89.36 average ticket in the year-ago quarter. Those numbers do not include the SRS acquisition and new stores, which contributed to the company’s total sales gains. Home Depot expects to open about 12 new stores this fiscal year, which ends in early February. Weather had a short-term benefit for Home Depot in the quarter, McPhail said. As warmer and dryer weather extended the summer season, customers bought outdoor items like grills or bought paint for projects, he said. Sales related to Hurricanes Helene and Milton contributed about one half a percentage point of sales growth to the quarter. Customers bought items to prepare, such as generators, batteries and plywood, and then bought items for repairs, such as building materials. Even as Home Depot reports modest growth, some investors have bet the company will see stronger sales in the near future. The Federal Reserve approved its second consecutive interest rate cut last week, a move that shapes what banks charge for consumer debt – such as mortgage rates and the loan a homeowner might take out for a remodeling project. Housing prices remain high and the age of U.S. housing stock continues to drive repair and maintenance projects. Plus, Home Depot has chased ******* business from home professionals, such as contractors and roofers, to drive sales. Earlier this year, Home Depot acquired SRS Distribution, a Texas-based company, in a $18.25 billion deal, the largest acquisition in the home improvement retailer’s history. Still, McPhail added, it is difficult to predict when consumers’ mindset will change and spark higher housing turnover. And he noted mortgage rates have actually increased since the September meeting where the Fed cut rates for the first time since the early days of the Covid pandemic. “The good news is housing turnover may not be able to get any worse,” he said. “The worst of the decline in housing turnover is probably behind us. Now, the question is, ‘What unfreezes it and at what point will that happen?'” The coming year could also bring price pressures for Home Depot, just as inflation cools. It would be among the retailers that could face higher costs if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on plans for tariffs on imported goods, especially those from China. McPhail declined to say what percentage of Home Depot’s goods come from China, but he said most of its supply comes from North America. He said Mexico is “a great source of goods for us.” “We do source from several ****** countries, so we’re watching it closely,” he said. “We’ve been focused on diversifying sourcing for years, and we’ll continue to assess sourcing decisions going forward.” Some retail leaders, including the CEO of E.l.f. Beauty, have said they may have to raise prices because of tariffs. Footwear maker Steve Madden said it will reduce the goods it imports from China by as much as 45% over the next year. Along with weather, the holiday season has fueled sales for Home Depot. It sells a wide range of decor, including many different artificial Christmas trees. Since the company’s 12-foot skeleton, Skelly, became a viral sensation over Halloween, Home Depot has debuted other eye-catching – and often oversized – decor, including an 8-foot Santa Claus and a large animated reindeer. “I don’t think there are many neighborhoods in the U.S. that don’t have our Home Depot giant outdoor decor,” he said. “So we’re coming to your neighbor’s front yard, and you don’t want to be outdone.” Source link #Home #Depot #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hands On: The Last of Us 2 Marries Visuals and Frame Rate in PS5 Pro Game Changer Hands On: The Last of Us 2 Marries Visuals and Frame Rate in PS5 Pro Game Changer pwnmaster3000104d ago (Edited 104d ago ) ***** gods gift to us what. I said it would have been a massive hit not a perfect game. It’s a good game get over it. And this is why I said what I said. “ But i know no matter what i post or prove people love there nerfed spiderman or playing as a ****** person for 5 hours then mary jane shehulk for another 12hours.” And you’re still proving me right. **** forbid people like a certain game. And BS about me on every sony article defending them. I like games and praised every games I “ But now i am a child? what because i used logic again this site you throw facts at people they cry to the admins to get me off here again or play the victim card.” Your opinions are not facts and the fact you think they are is sad. Step off video games for awhile. Source link #Hands #Marries #Visuals #Frame #Rate #PS5 #Pro #Game #Changer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk’s influence on Trump could lead to tougher AI standards, says scientist | Artificial intelligence (AI) Musk’s influence on Trump could lead to tougher AI standards, says scientist | Artificial intelligence (AI) Elon Musk’s influence on a Donald Trump administration could lead to tougher safety standards for artificial intelligence, according to a leading scientist who has worked closely with the world’s richest person on addressing AI’s dangers. Max Tegmark said Musk’s support for a ******* AI bill in California underlined the billionaire’s continued concern over an issue that did not feature prominently in Trump’s campaign. However, Musk has warned regularly that unrestrained development of AI – broadly, computer systems performing tasks that typically require human intelligence – could be catastrophic for humanity. Last year, he was one of more than 30,000 signatories to a letter calling for a pause in work on powerful AI technology. Speaking to the Guardian at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Tegmark said Musk, who is expected to be heavily influential in the president-elect’s administration, could persuade Trump to introduce standards that prevent the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), the term for AI systems that match or exceed human levels of intelligence. “I do think that if Elon manages to get Trump’s ear on AI issues we’re more likely to get some form of safety standards, something that prevents AGI,” he said. Tegmark, a professor specialising in AI at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, added: “He might help Trump understand that an AGI race is a ******** race.” Tegmark said Musk’s support for the SB 1047 bill in California, in the face of opposition from many of his tech peers, was a positive sign for AI safety campaigners. The bill, which required companies to stress-test large AI models before releasing them, was vetoed by the California governor, Gavin Newsom, after he said it could drive AI businesses from the state and hinder innovation. “Elon Musk came out and said I’m for it, I want the regulation. I do think it’s not completely implausible he could persuade Trump that AI needs to be controlled,” Tegmark said. Musk was an early supporter and financial backer of Tegmark’s Future of Life Institute, which campaigns for safer use of cutting-edge technology. The Tesla chief executive and owner of X’s personal fortune has swelled significantly since Trump’s victory last week. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Musk launched his own AI startup last year and said the world needed to worry about a “Terminator future” in order to head off the worst-case scenario of AI systems evading human control. Other AI professionals have argued that focusing on apocalyptic concerns distracts from focusing on short-term problems with AI systems, such as manipulated and misleading content. Trump has vowed to repeal a Biden administration executive order on AI safety; the *********** party’s election platform described it as a set of restrictions that “imposes ******** leftwing ideas on the development of this technology”. The order includes requiring companies developing high-risk systems – AI models that pose a threat to national security, economic security or health and safety – to share their safety test results with the government. Source link #Musks #influence #Trump #lead #tougher #standards #scientist #Artificial #intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]