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Goldman Sachs Raises Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) Price Target to $41, Cites 2024 Momentum in AI Solutions but Maintains Neutral Rating Goldman Sachs Raises Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) Price Target to $41, Cites 2024 Momentum in AI Solutions but Maintains Neutral Rating We recently compiled a list of the 10 AI News and Ratings Investors Should Not Miss. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) stands against the other AI stocks in the news. As demand for AI-powered applications grows, major tech firms are investing in alternative eneergy solutions to support data center requirements. Amazon, for instance, has committed to nuclear energy projects with X-energy and Dominion Energy, focusing on building small modular reactors (SMRs) to meet the intensive energy needs of its data centers while striving for carbon neutrality. This shift to nuclear energy is expected to help the AWS parent reach its net-zero goals by 2040 while managing the escalating power demands driven by AI and cloud services. Read more about these developments by accessing 10 Best AI Data Center Stocks and 10 Buzzing AI Stocks According to Goldman Sachs. Meanwhile, Apple has previewed several AI enhancements, including integration with ChatGPT for more advanced on-device tasks, such as text generation and question-answering in iOS 18.1. This addition aligns with its approach to cautiously integrate AI, emphasizing user experience improvements while enhancing privacy through device-based processing. The company’s developments aim to increase iPhone appeal and could impact the smartphone market by encouraging upgrades for new AI capabilities. Read more about these developments by accessing 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock and Beyond the Tech Giants: 35 Non-Tech AI Opportunities. For this article, we selected AI stocks by combing through news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. These stocks are also popular among hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). A software engineer manipulating a vast network of code on virtual monitors. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44 Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) is an ********* company that specializes in software platforms for big data analytics. On November 6, Goldman Sachs analyst Gabriela Borges raised the price target on Palantir to $41 from $16 but kept a Neutral rating on the shares. The advisory has underestimated the significant momentum Palantir would see in 2024 as it applied its core technology competencies – data stitching, ontology building – to solving custom AI software challenges across enterprise customers, Goldman analysts told investors in a research note. The note added, however, that the neutral stance reflects the stock that is already pricing in significant success with AIP as it looks to do further work to better understand the durability of Palantir’s competitive advantage. Story Continues Overall PLTR ranks 9th on our list of the AI stocks you should not miss. While we acknowledge the potential of PLTR as an investment, our conviction ***** in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PLTR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Source link #Goldman #Sachs #Raises #Palantir #Technologies #PLTR #Price #Target #Cites #Momentum #Solutions #Maintains #Neutral #Rating Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Singapore’s DBS eyes Malaysian bank stakes in expansion push, Reuters reports Singapore’s DBS eyes Malaysian bank stakes in expansion push, Reuters reports DBS Group Holdings in the central business district of Singapore. Nicky Loh | Bloomberg | Getty Images Singapore’s biggest lender DBS Group Holdings Ltd is exploring expanding into Malaysia with potential acquisitions of stakes in banks in its Southeast ****** neighbor, including in one of Malaysia’s smallest banks by assets, two sources said. DBS is exploring a purchase of Singapore state investor Temasek’s 29.1% stake in Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd, said the two sources with knowledge of the matter, a slice currently valued at about $460 million. Temasek is biggest shareholder in DBS with a 28.9% stake, according to LSEG data. Other options for expanding into Malaysia include buying Kuwait Finance House’s Malaysian retail banking assets, worth more than $500 million and which have been put up for *****, one of the sources said. Deliberations are in very early stages, however, the sources said, and any formal negotiations for an acquisition of a stake in a Malaysian bank would need approval from the Malaysian central bank, or Bank Negara Malaysia. The two sources declined to be named as talks on the possible acquisitions were confidential. “We do not comment on market rumors and speculation,” said a spokesperson for DBS, Southeast Asia’s biggest lender by assets. Temasek declined to comment. Alliance Bank, the second smallest listed bank in Malaysia by total assets, and Bank Negara Malaysia did not respond to requests for comment after business hours on Friday. Kuwait Finance House said the process for selling its retail banking portfolio in Malaysia was in preliminary stages, and that it was not able to share additional information. DBS is the only Singaporean bank without a retail banking presence in Malaysia. Local rivals Oversea-******** Banking Corporation and ******* Overseas Bank both have retail banking operations in Malaysia. DBS’ plan to foray into Malaysia comes amid improving economic prospects for the Southeast ****** nation, with new infrastructure projects and investments expected to result in a surge in credit growth. In the second quarter, Malaysia’s economy expanded by an annual 5.9%, its fastest in 18 months, on higher household spending, exports and investment. Its monetary unit, the ringgit, is Southeast Asia’s best-performing currency this year. DBS emerged as a regional banking powerhouse under outgoing Chief Executive Piyush Gupta’s 15-year tenure, bolstered by acquisitions that established significant presences in markets including China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan. DBS completed the acquisition of Citigroup’s consumer banking business in Taiwan in August last year. In July, Gupta said DBS was looking for bolt-on acquisitions that would support further strategic expansion in the region. Tan Su Shan, who heads up DBS’ institutional banking group and is deputy CEO, will take over from Gupta in March next year, making her the first woman to lead the bank. On Thursday, DBS posted its highest ever quarterly net profit for July-September on record fee income. DBS last attempted to buy Temasek’s stake in Alliance Bank in 2012. Those plans did not go through because of regulatory hurdles, according to sources at the time. The current Malaysian government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been more forthcoming and open to ideas and investments with an aim to boost economic growth, said the sources with knowledge of DBS’ plan for Malaysia. Source link #Singapores #DBS #eyes #Malaysian #bank #stakes #expansion #push #Reuters #reports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Despite Borderlands Movie Flop, Series Saw Boost in Sales; Take-Two to Be Selective on Licensing IPs Despite Borderlands Movie Flop, Series Saw Boost in Sales; Take-Two to Be Selective on Licensing IPs Take-Two admits the Borderlands movie was disappointing, though it still contributed to the game catalog’s sales. Source link #Borderlands #Movie #Flop #Series #Boost #Sales #TakeTwo #Selective #Licensing #IPs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kate’s ‘solemn duty’ and PM to hold talks with Macron Kate’s ‘solemn duty’ and PM to hold talks with Macron BBC The Telegraph and several other papers carry an image of the Princess of Wales at the Cenotaph on Sunday, as she returns to public duties after undergoing ******* treatment earlier this year. Elsewhere, the Telegraph reports that Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will hold talks on whether US President Joe Biden can be persuaded to give Ukraine permission to ***** Storm Shadow missiles into Russia. The paper describes the meeting as a “last-ditch attempt” to stop President-Elect Donald Trump’s efforts to scale back US support for Ukraine. Downing Street says the talks between Starmer and Macron would “reflect on the close bonds between the two countries, many forged and cemented by the sacrifice of British and French soldiers on the frontline”, according to the Guardian. The *** PM will be in Paris to mark Armistice Day with Macron. The Times says ******* has warned its citizens to avoid sports events in Britain and other ********* countries after attacks against ******** football fans in Amsterdam last week. The Daily Mail says Labour faced backlash after Treasury minister Darren Jones did not confirm that the government will raise defence funding to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the current Parliament. “Solemn duty” is the headline on the front page of the Metro. The paper describes Catherine’s appearance at the Cenotaph as the “biggest day yet of her return to duties”. The paper also features an image of King Charles at the event. The i leads with a warning from civil servants who say the government’s plans to tackle ********* gangs will have little impact on Channel crossings and reducing ******** migration to the ***. Insiders tell the paper “nobody” understands how the new Border Security Command will work. And lastly, the Financial Times reports that Bitcoin hit $80,000 for the first time on Sunday, as Donald Trump recorded US election victories in Nevada and Arizona. The paper says the crypto industry is anticipating a shift in policy and the attitudes of US regulators towards digital currencies under Trump’s incoming administration. Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. Related Internet Links Daily Express Daily Mail Daily Mirror Daily Star Daily Telegraph Financial Times Guardian Independent Metro Sun The i Times Source link #Kates #solemn #duty #hold #talks #Macron Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump turns attention to transition after election win Trump turns attention to transition after election win Trump turns attention to transition after election win – CBS News Watch CBS News President-elect Donald Trump is turning his focus to the presidential transition following his victory. Democrats, meanwhile, are left wondering what led to his comeback. Natalie Brand has more. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Trump #turns #attention #transition #election #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shane Woewodin returns to East Fremantle as interim CEO Adrian Bromage takes over full-time Shane Woewodin returns to East Fremantle as interim CEO Adrian Bromage takes over full-time Brownlow medallist Shane Woewodin has been appointed head of football at East Fremantle after his predecessor Adrian Bromage was appointed CEO. Source link #Shane #Woewodin #returns #East #Fremantle #interim #CEO #Adrian #Bromage #takes #fulltime Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ken Fisher’s Bet on a Pharma Giant’s Growth Potential Ken Fisher’s Bet on a Pharma Giant’s Growth Potential We recently published a list of 10 Best Stocks to Buy According to Billionaire Ken Fisher. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) stands against other best stocks to buy according to Billionaire Ken Fisher. Ken Fisher is a prominent ********* investor and financial analyst, known for founding Fisher Investments in 1979. Born in San Francisco in 1950, he is the son of influential stock investor Philip A. Fisher. Fisher graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in economics in 1972. He began his career in investment management and quickly made a name for himself through innovative approaches to investment theory. Under Fisher’s leadership, the firm has been recognized for its investment strategies and has consistently ranked among the top investment advisers in the U.S. For several years, Fisher Investments has been included in the Financial Times’ list of top Registered Investment Advisors. Fisher is also a best-selling author, having written multiple books on investment strategies, and he is known for popularizing concepts like the Price-to-Sales ratio as a tool for stock analysis Ken Fisher talked about the markets in a September 2024 video that was posted on his firm’s YouTube channel, Fisher Investments, and mentioned that he frequently gets asked about which sectors he believes will outperform or underperform over the next 18 months. He currently sees the market in the later stages, though not at the end, of a somewhat unusual bull market shaped by the unique challenges since COVID-19 began. As this bull market nears its two-year mark in October, he observes that while major trends may not shift significantly in the immediate future, technology stocks have consistently outperformed non-tech stocks since the market began to recover from the pandemic. Fisher noted that, when the market sees substantial movement, up or down by half a percent or more, technology stocks tend to follow that trend more intensely. Thus, if the market is expected to rise, tech stocks will likely perform well; conversely, they often lag during market downturns. Ken Fisher noted that as 2024 progressed, he expected value stocks to begin outperforming growth stocks more than they had in the past. While this expectation did not materialize in the first and second quarters, he observed that the trend started to emerge in the third quarter. However, he was surprised to see that energy stocks continued to underperform compared to most value stocks. Story Continues “As 2024 progressed, and as I said in prior videos early in the year, I expected value to start doing better relative to growth than it had been before. And that didn’t really much happen in the first and second quarters. But in the third quarter of 2024, that’s largely happened, with the exception of the fact that energy, and I was completely wrong about this, energy has continued to do worse than most value.” Additionally, Fisher said that initially when the Fed began raising rates in 2022, many thought this would negatively impact growth stocks, a narrative he consistently disagreed with. Now, the sentiment is shifting again, suggesting that central bank rate cuts will benefit value stocks while adversely affecting growth stocks. This shift is logical because value stocks are more reliant on bank financing compared to growth stocks, which have various funding sources. As short-term interest rates decline relative to long-term rates and banks become more willing to lend, this scenario favors value stocks. Consequently, Fisher anticipates that the trend of value stocks narrowing the gap with growth stocks, seen in the third quarter, will continue into the fourth quarter and throughout much of the next year. This article explores the top ten stock holdings of Fisher Asset Management, based on 13F filings as of Q2 2024. The stocks are arranged in ascending order according to the stake of Fisher Asset Management, as of June 30, 2024. At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). Eli Lilly and Company (LLY): Ken Fisher’s Bet on a Pharma Giant’s Growth Potential An array of pharmaceutical pills with the company’s logo on the bottle. Total Number of Shares Owned: 4,888,710 Total Value of Shares Owned: $4,426,141,743 Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 100 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), a pharmaceutical leader in treatments for diabetes, *******, and other serious conditions, is well-positioned for growth with a robust pipeline targeting diabetes, *******, and neurodegenerative *********. The success of Mounjaro solidifies Eli Lilly’s leadership in diabetes care and positions it to capitalize on the rising demand for obesity management, a rapidly expanding area with limited competition. Additionally, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) has multiple promising therapies in late-stage clinical trials, which could further accelerate growth. Strategic partnerships with biotech firms enhance Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)’s research capabilities and expedite the development of innovative therapies, keeping it at the forefront of medical advancements. As healthcare systems increasingly prioritize effective chronic ******** treatments, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)’s product portfolio aligns well with this trend toward health and wellness. In Q3 2024, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reported a normalized EPS of $1.18, missing estimates by $0.29, and GAAP EPS of $1.07, falling short by $0.47. Revenue reached $11.44 billion, underperforming forecasts by $679.5 million. Looking ahead, analysts anticipate a significant rebound in Q4, with a projected normalized EPS of $5.48 and revenue of $14.00 billion. Over the last 90 days, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) has received 19 upward EPS revisions, signaling increased confidence in its strong future performance. PGIM Jennison Health Sciences Fund stated the following regarding Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in its Q2 2024 investor letter: “Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a diversified biopharmaceutical company with core franchises in Diabetes, Obesity, Immunology, Neurodegeneration, and Oncology. The company is one of the two global leaders in diabetes with blockbuster products in Trulicity and recently launched Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to serve this large underserved market. To date, the Mounjaro launch is the strongest for any diabetes ***** ever launched, which we attribute to off label usage in the obesity indication as well as on label use in diabetes. Overall, LLY ranks 7th on our list of best stocks to buy according to Billionaire Ken Fisher. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY, our conviction ***** in the belief that under the radar AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LLY but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Source link #Ken #Fishers #Bet #Pharma #Giants #Growth #Potential Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2 Good 2 Bad: Timber's bizarre throw-in fail and a goal of the season? 2 Good 2 Bad: Timber's bizarre throw-in fail and a goal of the season? A bizarre throw in from Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber, and a goal of the season contender from Brentford’s Yoane Wissa feature in this week’s ‘2 Good, 2 Bad’ from Match of the Day 2. Source link #Good #Bad #Timber039s #bizarre #throwin #fail #goal #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coalition offers swift passage for Labor’s social media ban plan for children under 16 Coalition offers swift passage for Labor’s social media ban plan for children under 16 A ban on children using social media could become law before the end of the month after Peter Dutton wrote to the Prime Minister offering to help the Government to move swiftly to ‘protect *********** children’. Source link #Coalition #offers #swift #passage #Labors #social #media #ban #plan #children Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

25 monkeys recaptured, 18 still on the loose after escaping research lab in SC 25 monkeys recaptured, 18 still on the loose after escaping research lab in SC 25 monkeys recaptured, 18 still on the loose after escaping research lab in SC Source link #monkeys #recaptured #loose #escaping #research #lab Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin tops record $80,000 as Trump nears sweep of US Congress Bitcoin tops record $80,000 as Trump nears sweep of US Congress The price of bitcoin has risen above $80,000 (£62,000) for the first time ever, after Donald Trump’s decisive victory in the US election last week. It comes as the Republicans are edging closer to overall control of Congress after having already secured the presidency and a majority in the Senate. On the campaign trail the president-elect pledged to make the US “the crypto capital of the planet”. The value of world’s biggest cryptocurrency has now risen by more than 80% this year. Other cryptocurrencies, including dogecoin – which has been promoted by high-profile Trump supporter Elon Musk – are also making gains. In the run-up to the election Trump said he would create a strategic Bitcoin stockpile and appoint digital asset-friendly financial regulators. Trump has said one of his first actions as president would be to sack the current chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler. Mr Gensler, who was appointed Joe Biden in 2021, has led the SEC’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Trump’s broader agenda, which includes cutting taxes and reducing regulations on businesses, has also driven a surge in other investments since he won the election. Major stock indexes, the dollar and US bonds have all made gains in recent days. Source link #Bitcoin #tops #record #Trump #nears #sweep #Congress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Children’s book cut over First Nations portrayal Children’s book cut over First Nations portrayal Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has pulled his new children’s book from the shelves after complaints that it stereotyped Indigenous Australians. The 400-page fantasy novel Billy and the Epic Escape, which was published earlier this year, features an Aboriginal girl with mystical powers living in foster care who is abducted from her home in central Australia. Some First Nations leaders have called the book “offensive”, saying it contains language errors and contributes to the “erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences”. Oliver – who is currently in Australia promoting his newest cookbook – has apologised and said he is “devastated” to have caused hurt. “It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue,” he said in a statement. The book’s publisher, Penguin Random House ***, said Oliver had requested Indigenous Australians be consulted over the book, but an “editorial oversight” meant that did not happen. Among the complaints is that the character is given the ability to read people’s minds and communicate with animals and plants because “that’s the Indigenous way”, which Sharon Davis from the national First Nations’ education body said reduces “complex and diverse belief systems” to “magic”. The girl is also at the centre of an abduction plot – something community leader Sue-Anne Hunter called a “particularly insensitive choice”, given the “painful historical context” of the Stolen Generations. For decades in Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids were removed from their families as part of an assimilation policy from successive governments. The girl, who is from Mparntwe or Alice Springs, also uses vocabulary from the Gamilaraay people of NSW and Queensland, which Ms Davis said showed “complete disregard for the vast differences among First Nations languages, cultures, and practices”. “There is no space in *********** publishing (or elsewhere) for our stories to be told through a colonial lens, by authors who have little if any connection to the people and place they are writing about,” Dr Anita Heiss, a Wiradyuri author and publisher told the Guardian Australia. Oliver said he and his publishers had decided to withdraw the book from ***** around the world. A statement from Penguin Random House *** added: “It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion, and we must learn from that.” Source link #Childrens #book #cut #Nations #portrayal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Worker ******* by fallen turbine blade at wind farm Worker ******* by fallen turbine blade at wind farm Victoria’s work safety watchdog is investigating after a man was ******* by a falling wind turbine blade while working on a wind farm in Victoria. Source link #Worker #******* #fallen #turbine #blade #wind #farm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dyson’s new Supersonic Nural blew us away and it gets its first discount ahead of ****** Friday Dyson’s new Supersonic Nural blew us away and it gets its first discount ahead of ****** Friday With Click Frenzy and ****** Friday on the horizon, it’s safe to expect deals here, there and everywhere across a wide range of consumer tech. Today, one of the best discounts we’ve spotted is on Dyson’s high-tech Supersonic Nural hair dryer, which has received an AU$170 price drop directly from the maker. Dyson, a company widely known for making some of the best vacuums and the best fans on the market, is also a big player in the hair-dryer space. The Supersonic Nural in particular is our favourite premium hair dryer on our list of the best hair dryers, and this year the gadget was the recipient of TechRadar’s Home Tech of the Year award. It truly blew us away and although it’s quite expensive, the Supersonic Nural is a very powerful hairdressing tool that’s ideal for fast drying without heat damage. In our Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer review, we praised the gadget for how quickly and effectively it was able to dry a head of hair, with an innovative scalp protecting mode and a lightweight design. When you put the hair dryer down, the device drops to a low-power mode, producing less noise, saving energy and reducing the risk of heat damage. We also loved the five attachments that are purpose-built for different hair types, and each one fits magnetically onto the wand to making the whole package really easy to use. Though the hair dryer received a TechRadar Recommends seal of approval, we did note that it has quite a short handle and its capabilities as a hair dryer may be a bit overkill for many users. Obviously we also weren’t too thrilled about the high price, but this deal alleviates that criticism nicely. Just keep in mind that we may yet see an even cheaper deal during the gigantic ****** Friday sales event at the end of the month. While this appears to be the cheapest listing online in Australia for the Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer at the time of writing, it’s uncertain how long this deal will last or if another retailer will swoop in with a lower price. Source link #Dysons #Supersonic #Nural #blew #discount #ahead #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

***** at New Jersey-New York border still uncontrolled after burning over 2,500 acres ***** at New Jersey-New York border still uncontrolled after burning over 2,500 acres Rain was falling across the Northeast on Sunday afternoon, bringing a much-needed assist to firefighters battling a major wildfire straddling the border of New Jersey and New York. But the blaze evaded their control and grew to more than 2,500 acres on Sunday, threatening several structures — including a historic site dating back to the Revolutionary War, officials said. PHOTO: Burnt and smoldering trees sit along a highway as firefighters battle a series of brush fires on Nov. 09, 2024 outside of Pompton Lakes, N.J. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) While Saturday marked 42 days without any measurable rainfall in the city of Philadelphia, and the driest streak in New York City history, many cities throughout the Northeast were expecting to see measurable rainfall on Sunday. The forecast was welcome news to ***** crews battling the so-called Jennings Creek ***** that broke out Saturday and burned wildland throughout West Milford in New Jersey’s Passaic County and Orange County, New York. But the flames remained 0% contained on Sunday afternoon, Chief Bill Donnelly of the New Jersey Forest ***** Service said at a news conference. And although more rainfall was yet to come, he didn’t seem optimistic that it would change the outcome. “Make no mistake, though precipitation is forecasted, that’s not going to solve the problem that we have here with this wildfire,” Donnelly said. “It’s inevitable that this ***** is going to continue to ***** up until it reaches our control line.” Donnelly estimated that it might take crews until the end of this week to extinguish the blaze. Since Oct. 1, New Jersey firefighters have responded to 537 wildfires that have consumed 4,500 acres, including about 40 fires that ignited between Friday and Saturday, according to Donnelly. Forest Ranger Jeremy Oldroyd, of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, said New York ***** crews have battled 60 wildfires since Oct. 1, and they have burned 2,100 acres. A New York State Parks and Recreation aid was ******* on Saturday helping the battle the Jennings Creek *****, which is burning in the Sterling Forest State Park, officials said. The deceased parks employee was identified Sunday by the New York State Police as 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez. “I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers and his bravery on the front lines,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said of Vasquez. “My prayers go out to his family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time.” MORE: Firefighters continue battling blaze that left 18-year-old ***** The rain heading into the Northeast is associated with what was left of a storm system that has been sweeping east this weekend after hitting parts of the Rockies with very heavy snow and the South with torrential rain. While the rain is expected to put a dent in the extremely dry conditions, some areas in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will remain under red flag ***** danger warnings, officials said. As the Jennings Creek ***** continued to grow Sunday, Donnelly said the ***** was threatening several structures in the area, including eight in New Jersey’s Long Pond Ironworks State Park, a historic 175-acre village where iron was produced during the Revolutionary War. The cause of the ***** ******** under investigation. PHOTO: Firefighters take a break from battling a series of brush fires on Nov. 09, 2024 outside of Pompton Lakes, N.J. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The ***** came amid blustery winds and drought conditions in New York and New Jersey, which hasn’t had any rain in more than a month, officials said. At one point over the weekend, New Jersey firefighters were battling at least six brush fires that ignited across the state, including a second wildfire in Passaic County that was threatening structures Sunday. The “Cannonball 3” ***** began on Friday afternoon near Passaic County’s Pompton Lake and grew to 175 acres, according to Donnelly. As of Sunday afternoon, the ***** was still threatening 55 structures, but was 75% contained, according to the ***** service. Another wildfire in New Jersey — the “Shotgun *****” — started Wednesday and burned 350 acres of the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jackson Township before firefighters gained control of the blaze, officials said. Officials said the cause of the ***** was arson. The Shotgun ***** had broke out around noon on Wednesday, near the Central Jersey Rifle Range on Stump Tavern Road, ***** officials said. Investigators concluded that the ***** began behind a berm at the rifle club and was caused by magnesium shards of a “Dragon’s Breath” 12-gauge shotgun round, which ignited materials on the berm. ******* incendiary or tracer ammunition is ******** in New Jersey, authorities said. Richard Shashaty, 37, of Brick Township, surrendered to the police on Saturday. He was charged with arson and violation of regulatory provisions relating to firearms, officials said Saturday. PHOTO: Burnt and smoldering trees sit along a highway as firefighters battle a series of brush fires on Nov. 09, 2024 outside of Pompton Lakes, N.J. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Air quality alerts remained in effect Sunday in the New York City area. As of Sunday morning, New York City’s Office of Emergency Management said the Air Quality Index was at 105, a level “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” On Saturday evening, the AQI in some monitors reached 201, indicating “very unhealthy” air quality, officials said. Several brush fires have erupted in New York City in recent days, including one on Friday evening that swept through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, burning at least two acres before more than 120 firefighters brought it under control Saturday morning. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday that at least 120 brush fires had broken out in the city within the last two weeks. The fires follow the driest October in New York City history. MORE: Wildfires erupt in New Jersey, fueled by dry, windy conditions Meanwhile, firefighters in Southern California continued to battle the Mountain ***** in Ventura County. As of Sunday, the blaze, which started on Wednesday morning and was fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, had grown to 20,640 acres. The California Department of Forestry and ***** Protection said Sunday that winds had ***** down overnight, enabling ***** crews to make significant progress by upping containment lines to 26%. ***** at New Jersey-New York border still uncontrolled after burning over 2,500 acres originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source link #***** #JerseyNew #York #border #uncontrolled #burning #acres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump juiced markets. His policies could stall rally Trump juiced markets. His policies could stall rally Trader Walter Lundon shows off his shirt featuring US President-elect Donald Trump, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City on November 6, 2024. Timothy A. Clary | Afp | Getty Images This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. What you need to know today Milestones for U.S. indexes All major U.S. indexes rose on Friday. During the trading session, the S&P 500 briefly traded above 6,000 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 44,000, new milestones for both. Europe’s regional Stoxx 600 fell 0.65%. The index was weighed down by mining stocks, which dropped 4.2%, and losses in shares of luxury companies, like Richemont, Kering and Burberry. China inflation and support package China’s consumer price index for October rose 0.3% from a year earlier, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. A Reuters poll of economists had expected prices to increase by 0.4%, the same rate as September’s figure. On Friday, China announced a five-year, 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) package to tackle local government debt problems. New record for bitcoin Bitcoin rose 5.4% to trade at $80,398.24, according to Coin Metrics. That’s the first time the cryptocurrency has broken the $80,000 barrier. Traders think bitcoin will soar even higher. They piled more than $2.8 billion into the options market, ******** that bitcoin’s price will go beyond $90,000. $1 trillion market cap for Tesla Tesla’s market capitalization surpassed $1 trillion on Friday after an electrifying rally last week, ignited by Donald Trump’s victory, that pushed up its shares 29%. It’s now up 30% year to date. Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk endorsed the idea, raised by Sen. Mike Lee, of allowing presidents to intervene in Federal Reserve policy. [PRO] Eyes on inflation data After a hot week in the stock market, spurred by the election of Trump as the next U.S. president and the Federal Reserve cutting rates by 25 basis points, inflation prints this week will determine if the buoyance in markets can continue. CNBC Pro’s Sarah Min gives a recap of what happened last week and what to look forward to this week. The bottom line When the numbers are this good, you’ve got to start with them. For the week, the S&P 500 climbed 4.66%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.61% and the Nasdaq Composite popped 5.74%. If that’s impressive, consider this: The small-cap Russell 2000 surged 8.57%. The markets have Trump to thank for that. “Equities are eager to price in Trump’s domestic growth policies,” Barclays strategist Venu Krishna said in a note to clients. That’s most evident in the outsized bump in the Russell 2000 compared with other indexes. Smaller companies tend to be more tied to the domestic economy, which is the focus of Trump’s pledges. Small-cap companies also have more floating rate debt. With the Fed’s 25 basis point rate cut on Thursday, the debt burden on small caps will be reduced, leading to higher profits. The road ahead, however, might not be as smooth. Of the S&P companies that reported this earnings season, 84% beat expectations on profit. But their revenue “is more subdued, where the proportion of companies beating sales estimates has stayed weak,” JPMorgan Strategist Mislav Matejka wrote in a Friday note. And earnings, fundamentally, are what drive the stock market. The economy could experience some speed bumps too. Policies proposed by Trump, such as higher tariffs and stricter immigration, might decrease growth and increase inflation, or at least slow down the pace of disinflation, said Barclays. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari is also wary of inflation persisting. If tariffs become “**** for tat,” Kashkari said in an interview on Sunday, “that’s where it becomes more concerning.” The Fed, in response to that, could space out its rate cuts even more. While the Trump rally has gotten off to a roaring good start, it ******** to be seen when — and more importantly, how — it’ll end. — CNBC’s Sean Conlon, Yun Li, Jesse Pound and Hakyung Kim contributed to this report. Source link #Trump #juiced #markets #policies #stall #rally Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I was moderating hundreds of horrific and traumatising videos’ ‘I was moderating hundreds of horrific and traumatising videos’ Getty Images Social media moderators check for distressing or ******** photos and videos which they then remove Over the past few months the BBC has been exploring a dark, hidden world – a world where the very worst, most horrifying, distressing, and in many cases, ******** online content ends up. Beheadings, mass killings, child ******, hate speech – all of it ends up in the inboxes of a global army of content moderators. You don’t often see or hear from them – but these are the people whose job it is to review and then, when necessary, delete content that either gets reported by other users, or is automatically flagged by tech tools. The issue of online safety has become increasingly prominent, with tech firms under more pressure to swiftly remove harmful material. And despite a lot of research and investment pouring into tech solutions to help, ultimately for now, it’s still largely human moderators who have the final say. Moderators are often employed by third-party companies, but they work on content posted directly on to the big social networks including Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. They are based around the world. The people I spoke to while making our series The Moderators for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds, were largely living in East *******, and all had since left the industry. Their stories were harrowing. Some of what we recorded was too brutal to broadcast. Sometimes my producer Tom Woolfenden and I would finish a recording and just sit in silence. “If you take your phone and then go to TikTok, you will see a lot of activities, dancing, you know, happy things,” says Mojez, a former Nairobi-based moderator who worked on TikTok content. “But in the background, I personally was moderating, in the hundreds, horrific and traumatising videos. “I took it upon myself. Let my mental health take the punch so that general users can continue going about their activities on the platform.” There are currently multiple ongoing legal claims that the work has destroyed the mental health of such moderators. Some of the former workers in East ******* have come together to form a union. “Really, the only thing that’s between me logging onto a social media platform and watching a beheading, is somebody sitting in an office somewhere, and watching that content for me, and reviewing it so I don’t have to,” says Martha Dark who runs Foxglove, a campaign group supporting the legal action. Mojez, who used to remove harmful content on TikTok, says his mental health was affected In 2020, Meta then known as Facebook, agreed to pay a settlement of $52m (£40m) to moderators who had developed mental health issues because of their jobs. The legal action was initiated by a former moderator in the US called Selena Scola. She described moderators as the “keepers of souls”, because of the amount of footage they see containing the final moments of people’s lives. The ex-moderators I spoke to all used the word “trauma” in describing the impact the work had on them. Some had difficulty sleeping and eating. One described how hearing a baby cry had made a colleague panic. Another said he found it difficult to interact with his wife and children because of the child ****** he had witnessed. I was expecting them to say that this work was so emotionally and mentally gruelling, that no human should have to do it – I thought they would fully support the entire industry becoming automated, with AI tools evolving to scale up to the job. But they didn’t. What came across, very powerfully, was the immense pride the moderators had in the roles they had played in protecting the world from online harm. They saw themselves as a vital emergency service. One says he wanted a uniform and a badge, comparing himself to a paramedic or firefighter. “Not even one second was wasted,” says someone who we called David. He asked to remain anonymous, but he had worked on material that was used to train the viral AI chatbot ChatGPT, so that it was programmed not to regurgitate horrific material. “I am proud of the individuals who trained this model to be what it is today.” Martha Dark Martha Dark campaigns in support of social media moderators But the very tool David had helped to train, might one day compete with him. Dave Willner is former head of trust and safety at OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. He says his team built a rudimentary moderation tool, based on the chatbot’s tech, which managed to identify harmful content with an accuracy rate of around 90%. “When I sort of fully realised, ‘oh, this is gonna work’, I honestly choked up a little bit,” he says. “[AI tools] don’t get bored. And they don’t get tired and they don’t get shocked…. they are indefatigable.” Not everyone, however, is confident that AI is a silver bullet for the troubled moderation sector. “I think it’s problematic,” says Dr Paul Reilly, senior lecturer in media and democracy at the University of Glasgow. “Clearly AI can be a quite blunt, binary way of moderating content. “It can lead to over-blocking freedom of speech issues, and of course it may miss nuance human moderators would be able to identify. Human moderation is essential to platforms,” he adds. “The problem is there’s not enough of them, and the job is incredibly harmful to those who do it.” We also approached the tech companies mentioned in the series. A TikTok spokesperson says the firm knows content moderation is not an easy task, and it strives to promote a caring working environment for employees. This includes offering clinical support, and creating programs that support moderators’ wellbeing. They add that videos are initially reviewed by automated tech, which they say removes a large volume of harmful content. Meanwhile, Open AI – the company behind Chat GPT – says it’s grateful for the important and sometimes challenging work that human workers do to train the AI to spot such photos and videos. A spokesperson adds that, with its partners, Open AI enforces policies to protect the wellbeing of these teams. And Meta – which owns Instagram and Facebook – says it requires all companies it works with to provide 24-hour on-site support with trained professionals. It adds that moderators are able to customise their reviewing tools to blur graphic content. The Moderators is on BBC Radio 4 at 13:45 GMT, Monday 11, November to Friday 15, November, and on BBC Sounds. Read more global business stories Source link #moderating #hundreds #horrific #traumatising #videos Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chris Hoy cycle training pushed me to ‘absolute limits’ Chris Hoy cycle training pushed me to ‘absolute limits’ BBC/PA Wire BBC presenter Paddy McGuinness will start his ultra-endurance challenge later TV presenter Paddy McGuinness has said Sir Chris Hoy pushed him to his “absolute limits” when they trained together ahead of his ultra-endurance cycling challenge for BBC Children in Need. McGuinness, 51, is set to ride nearly 300 miles (483km) when he sets off from Wrexham in Wales later, before aiming to arrive at the finish line on Friday in Glasgow, Scotland. “Chris Hoy has been absolutely, as you can imagine with someone like him, outstanding, first class, brilliant with his advice,” McGuinness said. “When I go on a bike ride with Chris, I really know about it, because he pushes me to my absolute limits,” he added. Getty Images Paddy McGuinness said Sir Chris Hoy had been “brilliant with his advice” McGuinness, who hosts a Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 2, will cycle through three nations and eight counties on a modified Raleigh Chopper bike. The Bolton-native said he was motivated to take on the challenge by the people he had met who benefitted from projects funded by BBC Children in Need. “When you meet these people… that’s what spurs you on, and when you see the work that’s being done in and around it, and again, when you’re out and about, just people stopping me,” he said. Sir Chris, 48, announced last month he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate *******. The Olympic gold medallist told BBC Breakfast the news of his diagnosis came “completely out the blue”, adding it had been the “toughest year of our lives so far by some stretch”. Sarah Jeynes/BBC McGuinness is cycling from Wrexham to Glasgow in the ultra-endurance challenge for BBC Children in Need He said chemotherapy had been “one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced and gone through”. But Sir Chris added he had tried to focus on the positives and see it as “a good thing, we’re here to try and to start punching back”. This year’s televised Children in Need appeal will take place on Friday, the day McGuinness hopes to complete his cycling challenge, at 19:00 GMT on BBC One. Source link #Chris #Hoy #cycle #training #pushed #absolute #limits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Leo Thompson wants NRL future sorted before round one Leo Thompson wants NRL future sorted before round one Leo Thompson wants to have signed his next NRL contract before the season starts and his brother’s arrival at Newcastle won’t necessarily sway the Knights prop. Thompson has gone from strength to strength in three years at the Knights, starting at prop in all 23 of his appearances this year. Without a contract beyond 2025, Thompson scored the go-ahead try for New Zealand in Sunday’s 54-12 mauling of Papua New Guinea as the latest reminder of his potential value on the open market. The 24-year-old has already been linked with a move to Canterbury, while Wests Tigers and Parramatta are also in need of extra starch in the middle as they look to bounce back to finals contention. “I’m hoping it gets sorted before the start of next season so I can just fully focus on that season,” Thompson said after the Kiwis’ win. “Since I’ve been in camp I’ve kind of put all of that on hold. All my focus has been here.” Thompson will link up with twin brother Tyrone when he returns to the Knights for pre-season after the former Super Rugby forward signed a development deal with Newcastle for 2025. The pair were inseparable growing up in New Zealand, but were forced apart when Leo joined Canberra’s junior system as a teenager. “Probably the hardest thing for me moving over to Aussie was moving away from him,” the Knights prop said. “We’ve been talking for years about linking back up, whether that was for me to go to union or him to come here. I’m doing pretty well for myself at least so he wants to come and join me.” Tyrone is already training with the Knights and has been staying at Leo’s place during the Pacific Championships. The idea of playing together in 2025 is at the front of Leo’s mind, and appears a realistic goal after Tyrone made 22 appearances for the Super Rugby’s Chiefs across three years. But Leo says he won’t stay in Newcastle beyond 2025 with the sole aim of being close to his brother. “Hopefully he debuts at the Knights and we can get some games together,” Thompson said. “I’d love to play with my brother, but at the end of the day, he’s his own man. I want him to create something off the back of his own name.” Source link #Leo #Thompson #NRL #future #sorted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Daily Habit May Cut Your Dementia Risk by 12%, According to Study This Daily Habit May Cut Your Dementia Risk by 12%, According to Study While dementia is a seriously scary word—and understandably so—people can cut their risk of cognitive decline with small, everyday habits. Neurologists have long said that a healthy lifestyle overall is key to brain health, and diet is a huge part of that. Now, there’s evidence that one specific daily dietary habit can keep your brain healthy for longer. SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week This Daily Habit May Cut Your Dementia Risk by 12% Case in point: According to a recent study in Geroscience, eating nuts daily is associated with a lower risk of all-cause dementia in adults. Here’s how the study worked: The researchers assessed data from the U.K. Biobank, a huge health database. Then, they selected 50,386 participants who were between 40 and 70 years old, and looked at their nut consumption (as well as several other factors). In short, the researchers found that people with a regular nut intake had a 12% lower risk of dementia—even after accounting for those other factors, like age, ****, education, lifestyle and more. Additionally, they found that women, older adults, non-smokers and individuals who engaged in other health-promoting behaviors seemed to benefit most from eating nuts regularly. That’s great news—but how can something as random as nuts potentially have such a big impact on the brain? Related: This Is the Best Nut for Brain Health, According to a Neurologist and Alzheimer’s Expert How Nuts Can Lower Dementia Risk Nuts are actually packed with nutrients and benefits. If you’re looking for a brain-healthy snack, look no further. “Nuts are known to contain high levels of healthy fats, antioxidants, fiber and anti-inflammatory compounds, which can support brain health and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress,” says Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, a board-certified neurologist and 6x New York Times bestselling author. “In addition, nut consumption is known to have a positive effect on the gut microbiome, and this influences brain health as well.” He explains that these factors may prevent neurodegeneration, promote better cognitive performance, and improve both cardiovascular and metabolic health—the latter which are crucial for reducing dementia risk. From another point of view, Sheri Gaw, RDN, CDCES, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Sheri the Plant Strong Dietitian, LLC, has a similar take. “Nuts are rich in healthy fats and vitamins, especially vitamin E, which supports brain and blood vessel health and lowers blood pressure and bodily inflammation,” she says. Anti-inflammatory foods are generally regarded as great for brain health as a whole. Related: A New Study Finds Women Who Were the Happiest Had the Lowest Levels of These Gut Bacteria Does the Type, Amount or Frequency of Nut-Snacking Matter? The type of nut does matter, according to Dr. Perlmutter, but hey—he also says many of them count, so you’ve got options. He shares the benefits of various nuts: Walnuts: Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for brain health (though FYI, walnuts are not great for people with kidney ********!). Some neurologists praise walnuts as the best of the bunch and snack on them daily to protect their own brain health, so take that for what it’s worth, too! Almonds and hazelnuts: Both hazelnuts and almonds have high levels of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects brain cells. Pistachios, pecans and cashews: Cashews, pecans and pistachios all have various antioxidants and nutrients that can support metabolic and cognitive functions. Related: A Food You Already Have In Your Fridge Could Prevent Cognitive Decline in Women, Says New Study “Overall, a variety of nuts may be most beneficial for a balanced intake of nutrients,” he said. He’s onto something: Another recent study showed that a varied diet was great for brain health, too. (Those are two good reason to add mixed nuts to your grocery list!) Additionally, both Gaw and the study recommend unsalted nuts in particular (like almonds and cashews) for an extra brain boost. Both experts also recommend eating a small handful of nuts—around an ounce worth—per day. (They’re pretty calorie-dense, so it’s easy to overdo it if you’re not careful!) “Beyond the amount of nuts you eat, it’s important to consider that regular, daily consumption appears to be more beneficial for long-term brain and heart health,” Dr. Perlmutter added. Related: 11 Types of Nuts to Add to All Your Meals (and Get a Little Nutty!) Other Foods That Can Lower Dementia Risk While your brain loves nuts, it loves many other foods, too. Dr. Perlmutter says that in addition to nuts, these are great for your brain health: Berries Leafy greens like kale, spinach, collard greens, mustard greens, Swiss chard and more Fatty fish (like salmon) Olive oil Dark chocolate Whole, gluten-free grains “These foods collectively contribute to a diet that supports brain and metabolic health, which is crucial for reducing the risk of dementia,” he noted. But back to nuts. Let’s end with this: If you’d rather have them as a part of a recipe, may we suggest cinnamon rolls with salted caramel nuts? (We already know the answer!) Next up: Related: Adding This Delicious Staple to Your Diet Could Lower Your Risk of Dying from Dementia by 28%, According to New Research Sources Source link #Daily #Habit #Cut #Dementia #Risk #Study Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Will new battery-powered trains replace diesel, and are they safe? Will new battery-powered trains replace diesel, and are they safe? Inside a test model of Hitachi’s battery-powered train Soon battery-powered trains could be coming to a station near you. As the ***’s fleet of diesel engines approaches retirement, manufacturers are looking to replace them with environmentally-friendly alternatives. Trains currently draw power from overhead electrified wires or, on lines without these wires, from onboard diesel generators. Many trains are capable of running from both power sources and switch between the two. Battery-powered trains would save rail operators the cost of installing overhead wires on unelectrified tracks, which are found throughout the ***. At Hitachi’s factory in Newton Aycliffe, north-east England, testing has just finished on a new “tri-mode” train, in which one diesel generator has been swapped for lithium batteries. This allows it to use up to 50% less fuel when running on lines with no overhead wires. Based on this trial, the company is also planning a train model with no diesel generators at all, which it hopes will be capable of travelling up to 90km (56 miles) on unelectrified stretches of track – with a view to the entire rail network going diesel-free. Siemens is also developing its own battery-only trains at its factory in Goole, Yorkshire. The company says it is anticipating orders for more than 600 trains from operators including ScotRail, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Transport for Wales. GWR also tested its own battery train earlier this year. Solely battery-powered trains are already operating in Japan and Germany, but *** experts say they could pose unique ***** safety challenges. Hitachi engineers tell the BBC, though, that it has done extensive testing on the batteries to ensure passengers would be safe in an emergency. How do battery-powered trains work? Current diesel-electric trains are designed to draw their power from overhead lines on electrified sections of track. Elsewhere, they use diesel generators housed underneath their carriages. Hitachi’s new train replaces one of these diesel generator units with 16 batteries, like those found in electric vehicles (EVs). It says the trains can switch between power sources automatically, and that the tri-mode version would primarily use its batteries in stations and urban areas. Hitachi says these batteries can recharge while the train is travelling on electrified tracks, or in 10-15 minutes while stationary. The company says existing diesel-electric trains could also be retrofitted with batteries to save money. Why now? The first train to rely solely on batteries went into service in 2016 in Japan – so why are they only now being developed in the ***? Koji Agatsuma, Hitachi Rail’s technical chief, who oversaw the company’s battery train project, says there is now interest in the *** thanks to a mix of technological improvement and a change in political climate. He says the new government’s vision is for trains to be “cheaper, greener, more reliable”, while batteries are getting smaller and more powerful. Yet even now, limitations remain. Hitachi designed the tri-mode train because its batteries were not yet able to last long enough to cover all sections of unelectrified track in the ***. More areas of railway can be electrified, but this is costly: in 2020, Network Rail estimated electrification would cost £1m-£2.5m per kilometre of track. Siemens says to run its battery-powered trains on the ***’s rail network, small sections of track would need to be electrified, and fast-charging points placed along train routes. Hitachi’s test train was able to travel 70km (44 miles) using its batteries alone. This would work for services between London and Oxford or Hull, due to the amount of electrified rail on these routes, but it would be unable to run the full length of the line between Crewe and Holyhead, for example. Hitachi Rail Hitachi Rail’s test model of the “tri-mode” train And though it was able to travel 135km (84 miles) using diesel as well as batteries, this was on relatively flat testing track. Routes such as those served by TransPennine – which leant Hitachi the test Class 802 train – have inclines which require more energy, shortening the overall distance it could travel unaided. Jim Brewin, Hitachi Rail’s *** and Ireland chief, says the government’s aim to cut the country’s carbon dioxide emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050 means fully battery-powered trains are the direction the industry is moving in, with hybrid trains a stepping stone on the way. He says that as cells get lighter and more powerful, the company can swap them out for newer models to improve performance. Its recent testing demonstrated existing trains could also be modified to go full or part battery-powered. Are there safety risks? Experts in lithium batteries say that, when used in road vehicles, EV batteries are at least 20 times less likely to catch ***** than diesel or petrol cars. Hitachi’s train uses Nissan Leaf cells, which have been involved in 16 fires in the 14 years they have been used in road vehicles, according to EV ***** Safe, which gathers data on battery fires around the world. This is out of more than 500,000 cells that have been sold worldwide. “Managed properly, lithium batteries are very safe,” says Jon Simpson, a former firefighter turned ***** safety consultant. But when lithium batteries are corrupted, they can experience thermal runaway – meaning a cell undergoes uncontrollable temperature rises, making a ***** hard to control and extinguish. The kind of “catastrophic event” that could cause something like this would be a ****** or a derailment in which a cell is damaged, says Jon Hughes, managing director of *** ***** Training. But Euan McTurk, a consultant battery electrochemist, says Nissan Leaf cells are “far more robust than people give them credit for”. For them to catch *****, he says “it would take some spectacular lancing of the actual cells themselves, which would mean going through a very strong external structure”. Part of Hitachi’s testing was to deliberately destabilise a cell, including piercing it and overheating it, says Chris Dautel, senior electrical engineer at the manufacturer. He adds that Hitachi has placed a heat shield around each cell to prevent the issue spreading to other cells, meaning “no danger to passengers in [a] case of thermal runaway”. The train is also fitted with a cooling unit on the roof to regulate the batteries’ temperature, and the company has developed software that monitors and regulates the cells. The urgent response to a lithium battery ***** is to flood the cell with as much water as possible to cool it down, says ***** safety consultant Mr Simpson, which may not be viable depending on where the ***** occurs. “Tunnels are probably the riskiest area in a rail environment,” says Graham Kenyon, an electrical engineering consultant. “If you get a *****, probably the worst things to deal with when you’re evacuating people are smoke and fumes, vapours, gases that are toxic.” In some cases, it is safer for the ***** brigade to leave the battery to ***** itself out. But leaving a train on the track could pose a major disruption. Dautel says that a carriage with a battery ***** could still be moved out of the way, even while burning, such was the effectiveness of the ***** barrier around the cells. “In the case of incidents, we would evacuate the passengers, but they wouldn’t see anything,” he says. As each unit operates independently, he adds, the train would still be able to move itself using batteries on other carriages – or be pulled by another train. Source link #batterypowered #trains #replace #diesel #safe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Port Adelaide to clash with Hawthorn in final match of AFL Gather Round in 2025 Port Adelaide to clash with Hawthorn in final match of AFL Gather Round in 2025 The AFL’s Gather Round in 2025 will end with a bang after confirmation Port Adelaide will take on Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval in a rematch of last season’s fiery semi-final that ended with Port coach Ken Hinkley $20,000 poorer. Hinkley was fined $20,000 for conduct unbecoming after singling out Hawk antagonist Jack Ginnivan, who had posted a “see u in 14 days” message on Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy’s Instagram post before the semi-final against Port. After his team’s win, Hinkley allegedly yelled “you aren’t flying anywhere, Jack” to Ginnivan, sparking a verbal exchange with Hawthorn captain James Sicily and condemnation for the Port coach who later apologised. But the AFL has opted to renew the rivalry in a Sunday night clash to round out Gather Round, which will for the first time feature a match in the Barossa Valley with North Melbourne to take on the Gold Coast. Gather Round will run from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 13. Hometown team Adelaide will open Gather Round in a Thursday night clash with Geelong, while Collingwood will take on Sydney in the prime-time Friday night slot. Camera IconKen Hinkley exchanges words with Hawthorn players after the 2024 AFL Second Semi Final. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images “Gather Round is the best of our game, a celebration of footy like no other,” AFL boss Andrew Dillon said. “South Australia really turns it on, and we are excited to bring fans a ******* and better experience in 2025 with some great match-ups and a new venue at Barossa Park. “The Barossa celebrates some of the best of South Australia and we are excited about all the opportunities that will be on offer for our fans to take in while visiting the region, outside of the two incredible games that will be played at the new Barossa Park in Lyndoch. “On behalf of the AFL I want to thank the SA government, led by Premier Malinauskas, who has been committed wholeheartedly to the success of the concept since 2023. Camera IconPort and Hawthorn players post final. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos “Gather Round has a unique feel of a grand final week, from the footy festival and the zip line over the Torrens River to the community engagement activities and all the open training sessions the clubs hold around the town … it has been just an incredibly fun atmosphere which we are looking to top next season.” In the other matches for the festival of footy in Adelaide, Essendon will play Melbourne, Carlton will clash with West Coast, the Western Bulldogs will take on premiers Brisbane, Richmond will play Fremantle and GWS will clash with St Kilda FULL GATHER ROUND FIXTURE Thursday April 10 Adelaide Crows vs Geelong (AO) 7.40pm AEST, 7.10pm local Friday April 11 Collingwood vs Sydney (AO) 7.40pm AEST, 7.10pm local Saturday April 12 North Melbourne vs Gold Coast (Barossa) 12.35pm AEST, 12.05pm local Carlton vs West Coast (AO) 1.20pm AEST, 12.50pm local Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane Lions (Norwood) 4.15pm AEST, 3.45pm local Melbourne vs Essendon (AO) 7.35pm AEST, 7.05pm local Sunday April 13 Richmond vs Fremantle (Barossa) 12.35pm AEST, 12.05pm local St Kilda vs GWS (Norwood) 3.20pm AEST, 2.50pm local Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn (AO) 7.20pm AEST, 6.50pm local Source link #Port #Adelaide #clash #Hawthorn #final #match #AFL #Gather Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

While many U.S. voters welcome Trump’s tougher border policies, his win puts migrants on edge While many U.S. voters welcome Trump’s tougher border policies, his win puts migrants on edge Nogales, Mexico — Ivan Castro Santos, his wife and their four children, including 1-year-old triplets, have been living in a crowded room over the past four months, waiting for an opportunity to enter the U.S. The young family traveled from southern Mexico to the House of Mercy and All Nations shelter in the northern ******** border city of Nogales, joining other migrants from across ****** America. Half of them are children. All of them have one objective: finding work and safety in the U.S. Castro Santos, 22, said he and his wife, Fatima Gonzalez Hernandez, 19, decided to leave Guerrero, Mexico, because of “the ****** and the risk to the children” there. “To protect them,” he added in Spanish, looking at his young children. Tens of thousands of migrants are estimated to be in Mexico, hoping to enter America, including through a program that allows them to use a smartphone app to request a time to be vetted, processed and admitted by ********* border officials. The system was established by the Biden administration to dissuade migrants from crossing the border illegally, but many are now worried that President-elect Donald Trump will make it much ******* for them to make it into the U.S. at all. Migrant children in a classroom await a chance to enter the ******* States. CBS News Castro Santos said he’s worried about Trump “canceling the appointments” offered by the U.S. government app, known as CBP One. “We don’t want to run that risk of going back and putting them at risk,” he said, referring to his children. If allowed into the U.S., he said his family would like to settle in Houston, where his sister lives. He said he would like to learn how to cook and work in a restaurant. Trump made tackling ******** immigration a central theme of his campaign, running on a platform of mass deportations, harsher asylum rules and a reversal of the Biden administration’s border policies, including the app-powered entry system used by migrants in Mexico. His immigration promises appealed to many ********* voters, polls show, including those living near the southern border. Anna Parada, who was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona, just miles away from the border with Mexico, said the “main” reason she voted for Trump was because of his stance on immigration. “I really saw the Biden administration being a little bit too lax on immigration,” Parada said. “And having Trump back in office, I believe it’s going to be a difference again.” On the ******** side of the border, the reaction to Trump winning was dramatically different. Luz Angela, a migrant from Bolivia, said she felt “scared” when she learned ********* voters had elected Trump. “I felt scared because he promised in his speeches that they would deport all the migrants,” Angela said in Spanish. “And that he would close the CBP One application.” Luz Angela and her son both hope to enter the ******* States, but President-elect Donald Trump’s win has Angela worried the CBP One app, which migrants use to schedule appointments with immigration officials, will no longer be available. CBS News A doctor by trade, Angela said she and her 9-year-old son, Matias, fled political persecution in Bolivia. She said she was targeted by the government there after complaining about *********** in the hospital where she worked. Angela and her son have been waiting for a CBP One appointment for nearly 7 months since arriving in Nogales, Mexico. During her wait, she has volunteered as a doctor at the House of Mercy and All Nations shelter, treating fellow migrants. “What we’re looking for is for an opportunity to improve our lives but also perhaps improve the health care system over there,” she said. “I really like helping people who don’t have easy access to healthcare.” U.S. officials worry that Trump’s election will end the months-long lull in ******** border crossings, which plunged this year following an aggressive effort by ******** officials to interdict migrants and President Biden’s move in June to make most of those crossing into the country illegally ineligible for asylum. Larger numbers of migrants, officials have said, could be incentivized to cross into the U.S. unlawfully in the coming weeks, before Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Alba Jaramillo, a Tucson-based immigration attorney, said Trump’s win and the potential end to the CBP One system, could prompt more migrants to cross the southern border without authorization, including along dangerous parts of the Arizona desert where some perish trying to make it into the U.S. “They’re desperate,” said Jaramillo, the co-executive director of the Immigration Law and Justice Network, a pro-immigrant organization. “I mean they have given up everything to come to the north.” Anjali Patil contributed reporting. More Camilo Montoya-Galvez Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. Source link #U.S #voters #Trumps #tougher #border #policies #win #puts #migrants #edge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s J-35A stealth fighter is ‘****** box’ despite splashy debut China’s J-35A stealth fighter is ‘****** box’ despite splashy debut By Gerry Doyle SINGAPORE (Reuters) – China’s much-anticipated J-35A stealth aircraft, centrepiece of this week’s Zhuhai air show, has been more than a decade in the making, but experts say little is known about its capabilities. The first public appearance of the land-based J-35A will take place on Tuesday, a day after the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), and will include a flying display. Another variant, the J-35, is designed for use with China’s aircraft carriers. Even as it takes to the skies more than 10 years after its progenitor, the J-31, made its first flight, few details are public about the J-35’s performance or stealthiness, military analysts say. “Because of the ****** box typically surrounding PLA miltech developments, we won’t be too certain of the J-35’s performance,” said Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. “PRC scientists … have carried out over the years various STEM and advanced studies related to fighter jet tech, including stealth, so I’ll suggest not joining sceptics to dismiss the aircraft outright,” Koh said. The J-35 and J-35A are designed and built by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a unit of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The state-controlled People’s Daily news outlet said ahead of the air show the J-35A “mainly carries out the task of seizing and maintaining air supremacy”. Both J-35 variants are considerably smaller than China’s other stealth aircraft, the land-based J-20 fighter. An estimated 200 J-20s are operational with the PLAAF. The J-35A is superficially similar to the Lockheed Martin F-35, whose shape – from fuselage to control surfaces – is designed to minimise how large it appears on radar. It is not publicly known if the J-35 models have special radar-absorbent coatings, as the F-35 does, or communications and radar systems that are difficult to detect. China has struggled with high-performance turbofan jet engine design, relying on Russian technology for early versions of its domestic fighters. But the J-31 used ********-designed WS-13 engines and the J-35A could be fitted with the more advanced WS-19, analysts say, which is potentially up to 10% more powerful. Engine technology is critical for advanced fighters, as efficiency entails more range, the ability to carry more gear and weapons, and higher speeds. “Never too sure about much except the shape of the airframe from these air shows,” said Peter Layton, a defence and aviation expert at the Griffith Asia Institute. “The engines used are always a question.” Foreign military attaches and security analysts are closely watching the evolution of J-35 variants, given their importance to Beijing’s aircraft carrier programme. Although China’s three aircraft carriers remain in training and development mode and have yet to stage long-range operations beyond East Asia, a successful J-35 variant is expected to form a key part of the PLA Navy’s ability to project power beyond its home waters in coming years. The six-day China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition takes place in Zhuhai from Nov. 12-17. (Reporting by Gerry Doyle in Singapore; Additional reporting by Greg Torode in Hong Kong and Sophie Yu in Zhuhai; Editing by Nicholas Yong and Tom Hogue) Source link #Chinas #J35A #stealth #fighter #****** #box #splashy #debut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BBC on set with show’s director BBC on set with show’s director Netflix The dystopian Korean drama Squid Game became a global sensation when it was first released in 2021 When I ask the creator of the hit Korean drama Squid Game about reports that he was so stressed while ********* the first series he lost six teeth, he quickly corrects me. “It was eight or nine,” he laughs. Hwang *****-hyuk is speaking to me on set as he films the second series of his dystopian Netflix thriller, which sees hundreds of debt-laden contestants ****** it out for a whopping cash prize, by playing a string of life-or-****** children’s games. But another series was not always on the cards. At one point, he swore against making one. Given the stress it has caused him, I ask what changed his mind. “Money,” he answers, without hesitation. “Even though the first series was such a huge global success, honestly I didn’t make much,” he tells me. “So doing the second series will help compensate me for the success of the first one too.” “And I didn’t fully finish the story,” he adds. The first series was Netflix’s most successful show to date, thrusting South Korea and its home-grown television dramas into the spotlight. Its dark commentary on wealth inequality touched a nerve with audiences around the globe. But having ******* off almost every character, Hwang has had to start from scratch, with a new cast and set of games, and this time audience expectations are sky high. “The stress I feel now is much greater,” he says. Three years after the first series aired, Hwang is even more pessimistic about the state of the world. He points to current wars, climate change and a widening global wealth gap. Conflicts are no longer confined between the rich and poor, they are playing out intensely between different generations, genders and political camps, he says. “New lines are being drawn. We’re in an era of us vs them. Who’s right and who’s wrong?” Netflix The creators of the series say the second season will see more factionalism and fights among the contestants As I toured the show’s playful set, with its distinctive brightly-********* staircase, I picked up a few clues as to how the director’s despair will be reflected this time around. In this series, the previous winner, Gi-hun, re-enters the game on a quest to bring it down and save the latest round of contestants. According to Lee Jung-jae, who plays the leading character, he is “more desperate and determined” than before. The floor of the dormitory, where the contestants sleep at night, has been divided in two. One half is branded with a giant red neon X symbol, the other with a blue circle. Now, after every game, the players must pick a side, depending on whether they want to end the contest early and survive, or keep playing, in the knowledge all but one of them will ****. The majority decision rules. This, I am told, will lead to more factionalism and fights. It is part of director Hwang’s plan to expose the dangers of living in an increasingly tribal world. Forcing people to pick sides, he believes, is fuelling conflict. For all those who were captivated by the shocking storytelling of Squid Game, there were others who found it gratuitously violent and difficult to watch. But it is clear from talking to Hwang, that the ********* is fully thought out. He is a man who thinks and cares deeply about the world and is motivated by a mounting unease. “When making this series, I constantly asked myself ‘do we humans have what it takes to steer the world off this downhill path?’. Honestly, I don’t know,” he says. While viewers of the second series might not get the answers to these big life questions, they can at least be comforted that some plot holes will be filled in – like why the game exists, and what is motivating the masked Front Man running it. “People will see more of the Front Man’s past, his story and his emotions,” reveals the actor Lee Byung-hun, who plays the mysterious role. “I don’t think this will make viewers warm to him, but it may help them better understand his choices.” As one of South Korea’s most famous actors, Lee admits that having his face and eyes covered and his voice distorted throughout the first series, was “a little bit dissatisfying”. This series he has relished having scenes without a mask, in which he can fully express himself – a chance he nearly did not get. Getty Images Director Hwang *****-hyuk says Netflix only paid him a modest upfront amount for the show, which is estimated to have made £650m off Squid Game Hwang tried for 10 years to get Squid Game made, taking out large loans to support his family, before Netflix swooped in. They paid him a modest upfront amount, leaving him unable to cash in on the whopping £650m it is estimated to have made the platform. This explains the love-hate relationship South Korea’s film and television creators currently have with international streaming platforms. Over the past few years, Netflix has stormed the Korean market with billions of dollars of investment, bringing the industry global recognition and love, but leaving creators feeling short-changed. They accuse the platform of forcing them to relinquish their copyright when they sign contracts – and with it, their claim to profit. This is a worldwide problem. In the past, creators could rely on getting a cut of box office sales or TV re-runs, but this model has not been adopted by streaming giants. The issue is compounded in South Korea, creators say, due to its outdated copyright law, which does not protect them. This summer, actors, writers, directors and producers teamed up to form a collective, to ****** the system together. “In Korea, being a movie director is just a job title, it’s not a way to earn a living,” the vice-president of the Korean Film Directors Guild, Oh Ki-hwan, tells the audience at an event in Seoul. Some of his director friends, he says, work part-time in warehouses and as taxi drivers. Park Hae-young is a writer at the event. When Netflix bought her show, ‘My Liberation Notes’, it became a global hit. “I’ve been writing my whole life. So, to get global recognition when competing with creators from across the world, has been a joyful experience,” she tells me. But Park says the current streaming model has left her reluctant to “pour her all” into her next series. “Usually, I’ll spend four or five years making a drama in the belief that, if it’s successful, it could somewhat secure my future, that I’ll get my fair share of compensation. Without that, what’s the point of working so hard?” She and other creators are pushing the South Korean government to change its copyright law to force production companies to share their profits. In a statement, the South Korean government told the BBC that while it recognised the compensation system needed to change, it was up to the industry to resolve the issue. A spokesperson for Netflix told us it offers “competitive” compensation, and guarantees creators “solid compensation, regardless of the success or ******** of their shows”. Squid Game’s Hwang hopes his candor over his own pay struggles will initiate that change. He has certainly sparked the fair pay conversation, and this second series will surely give the industry another bump. But when we catch up after filming has wrapped, he tells me his teeth are aching again. “I haven’t seen my dentist yet, but I’ll probably have to pull out a few more very soon.” The second series of Squid Game will be released on Netflix on 26 December 2024. Source link #BBC #set #shows #director Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]