Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors: What Makes Each Celestial Object Unique
Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors: What Makes Each Celestial Object Unique
Planetary scientists from NASA explain that while asteroids, comets, and meteors are all small celestial objects orbiting the Sun, they differ greatly in composition, appearance, and behaviour. These distinctions help scientists understand more about our solar system and the unique roles each type of object plays.
Asteroids: Rocky Remnants of the Early Solar System
Asteroids are small, rocky objects that circle the Sun, explains NASA JPL scientist Ryan Park. Typically appearing as points of light in telescopes, most are concentrated within a region called the asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter. This belt contains a range of asteroid shapes and sizes, from rounded forms to elongated structures, with some even accompanied by small moons.
These ancient rocks are considered to be remnants from the early solar system, carrying clues about the conditions and materials present billions of years ago.
Comets: Icy Bodies with Characteristic Tails
Comets, in contrast to asteroids, contain more ice and dust than rock, giving them a unique composition. When a comet nears the Sun, the heat causes its icy surface to vaporise, resulting in the release of gas and dust. This process produces a tail that stretches behind the comet, which appears hazy when observed through telescopes.
Comets are often distinguished by this tail, which is formed by solar radiation pushing dust and gas away from the comet’s core. The tails are a characteristic feature that differentiates them from asteroids and makes them particularly interesting to study.
Meteors and Meteoroids: Pieces of Asteroids and Comets Entering Earth’s Atmosphere
When discussing meteors, it’s essential to understand the term “meteoroid,” which refers to a small fragment of an asteroid or comet, often created from a collision or breakup of these larger bodies. Once a meteoroid approaches Earth and enters its atmosphere, it is then called a meteor.
Travelling at very high speeds, meteors ***** up upon entry, creating bright streaks of light in the sky that people often refer to as “********* stars.” If a meteor survives this fiery descent and lands on Earth, it becomes known as a meteorite.
A Comparative Overview
These planetary objects, though similar in their solar orbits, hold unique compositions and behaviours. Asteroids are solid and rocky, comets are icy and produce tails, and meteors are small fragments that create bright streaks in Earth’s sky.
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Microsoft Introduces Purpose-Built AI Agents, Copilot Actions at the Ignite 2024 Event
Microsoft Introduces Purpose-Built AI Agents, Copilot Actions at the Ignite 2024 Event
Microsoft Ignite 2024, the company’s annual conference for developers and IT professionals, was held on Tuesday. At the event, the Redmond-based tech giant made several new announcements around Windows, Microsoft 365, Azure, and its artificial intelligence (AI) platform Copilot. In the AI space, the company introduced new purpose-built AI agents that do not require programming and can directly perform certain tasks within Microsoft 365 apps. Additionally, a new Copilot Action feature was also announced which allows users to automate everyday repetitive tasks.
Microsoft Introduces New AI Agents at Ignite 2024
In a blog post, Microsoft detailed the new AI features and tools. The tech giant already has AI agents that can be interacted with via Copilot, and a Copilot Studio where users can build their own custom AI agents. But now, four new purpose-built AI agents have been introduced. The main difference here is that these agents are pre-trained and are skilled at performing enterprise-focused tasks with high accuracy and efficiency.
Among them, Agents in Sharepoint can find project details from an organisation database, summary meeting notes and memo, as well as find particular documents. Users can request a file or project details via natural conversation and a vague description of it. The tool also allows users to create and share custom agents to scope a specific type of content. This is now generally available.
The Facilitator agent in Teams can take real-time notes during a meeting and in chats, and the Project Manager agent in Microsoft Planner can automate plan creation and complete tasks. Both of these are available in public preview.
Another AI agent introduced at the event is the Employee Self-Service Agent. Available in Business Chat, it can answer common organisation-related policy questions, and complete certain HR and IT tasks such as applying for leave of absence or requesting a new laptop. This AI agent is available in private preview.
Finally, the Interpretor agent in Teams can provide real-time speech-to-speech interpretation during meetings. The AI agent can also simulate the user’s voice for a personalised experience. This is not available currently, and will be added in preview in early 2025.
Copilot Action Feature Announced
At Ignite 2024, Microsoft also announced several new features for Copilot. Among them, Copilot Actions will allow users to automate repetitive everyday tasks such as gathering inputs from coworkers, receiving a summary of action items at the end of the day, and more. Users can automate such tasks by setting up fill-in-the-blank prompts once. Once activated, the feature will complete the task every day without any manual intervention. This is available in private preview.
Copilot Action Photo Credit: Microsoft
Apart from this, Copilot Pages is also getting a new feature dubbed rich artifacts. It can generate interactive flow charts, blocks of code, and more with simple text prompts. Copilot in PowerPoint is also getting a translation feature that can translate entire presentations into one of the 40 supported languages. Teams is also getting a quick summary feature, where users can upload a file in a chat and get a summary without having to open the file. All of these features will be available in public preview next year.
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California voters ******* measure that would have raised minimum wage to nation-high $18 per hour
California voters ******* measure that would have raised minimum wage to nation-high $18 per hour
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Voters in California have rejected a ballot measure that would have raised the state minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, the highest in the country.
Opponents, including the California Chamber of Commerce, said it would have increased costs, led to higher taxes and pushed businesses to cut jobs.
“With the economy and costs top of mind for many voters this election, that message appears to have resonated,” said Jennifer Barrera, the chamber’s president and CEO.
Proponents estimated that the measure would have benefited 2 million workers, including hotel and grocery employees.
“Proposition 32’s ******** to pass is disappointing for all Californians who believe that everyone who works should earn enough to support their families,” said Kathy Finn, president of UFCW 770, a Southern California union representing nearly 30,000 workers in various sectors.
The current minimum wage rates are $16 per hour for most workers and $20 in the fast-food sector. The health care sector will eventually see its minimum wage reach $25 per hour under a law that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last year and took effect in October.
Hawaii passed a law in 2022 to gradually increase the statewide minimum wage to $18 an hour, but it does not take effect until 2028.
In 2016, California became the first state to pass a $15 hourly minimum wage under a law signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown, also a Democrat. About 40 cities and counties already have minimum wages higher than the statewide rate, and six of them require minimums above $18 per hour as of this year.
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SpaceX Starship Successfully Completes Sixth Flight With a Banana Payload, Super Heavy Splashdown
SpaceX Starship Successfully Completes Sixth Flight With a Banana Payload, Super Heavy Splashdown
The sixth test flight of SpaceX’s Starship, the world’s largest rocket, was successfully conducted on November 19. The 400-foot (122 metres) rocket, developed by Elon Musk’s private space company, lifted off at 5:00 pm EST from the Starbase facility in South Texas. Despite high anticipation for a repeat of its previous booster catch using the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms, the Super Heavy booster was instead directed to a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico due to a safety parameter being triggered.
Booster Catch Attempt Deferred
The planned booster recovery had to be cancelled as per data assessed mid-flight, confirmed Dan Huot, a SpaceX representative during the live webcast. The booster splashed into the Gulf seven minutes after launch. A previous flight in October demonstrated a successful tower catch, marking a significant milestone for reusable rocket technology.
Milestones Achieved in Starship’s Upper Stage
The upper stage of Starship, known simply as “Ship,” followed a semi-orbital trajectory similar to that of the fifth flight. For the first time, the spacecraft carried a payload – a banana serving as a zero-gravity indicator. This flight tested modifications to its heat shield and new thermal protection materials while also performing an engine re-light during flight to validate re-entry manoeuvres critical for future orbital missions.
Enhanced Observations of Re-Entry
Unlike previous flights, this mission was timed for better visibility of the Ship’s descent. The spacecraft survived the intense re-entry process and ********* a vertical splashdown in the Indian Ocean near Australia. Observers noted the craft’s resilience despite testing a less advanced heat shield.
Jessica Anderson, a SpaceX manufacturing engineering manager, described the results as remarkable during the live webcast. Co-host Kate Tice, a senior quality engineering manager, also acknowledged the significance of the successful descent amidst these challenges.
Political Attendance Highlights Interest
President-elect Donald Trump was among those present at the event, underlining his growing rapport with Elon Musk. Trump, who has recently appointed Musk to co-lead a government efficiency group, showed visible support for the Starship programme during this high-profile launch.
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Tech Life: Donald Trump’s robodogs
Tech Life: Donald Trump’s robodogs
Who’s behind the ****** dogs at Donald Trump’s house? Plus: Wasting scammers’ time.
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Liam Payne’s ******** to be held on Wednesday
Liam Payne’s ******** to be held on Wednesday
The ******** of One Direction star Liam Payne will take place on Wednesday, just over a month after he ***** at the age of 31.
His former bandmates are among those expected to attend the private service in the Home Counties in south-east England, alongside his family and closest friends.
The musician ***** after falling from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
An autopsy confirmed the 31-year-old had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries sustained as a result of the fall.
In a short statement following his ******, Liam’s family said: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
Payne was one of the most recognisable names in pop, after rising to fame on The X Factor.
Despite only coming third on the show in 2010, One Direction went on to become the biggest British group since The Beatles.
During their five-year career, they sold 70 million records, with four *** number one singles and four number one albums.
A co-writer on many of their hits, Payne also achieved solo success with tracks like Strip That Down and Bedroom Floor.
He is survived by his parents, two sisters and Bear, his son with ****** Aloud singer Cheryl.
Payne’s girlfriend at the time of his ******, Kate Cassidy, is also expected to attend the ********.
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US embassy in Kyiv shuts due to Russian ******* threat
US embassy in Kyiv shuts due to Russian ******* threat
The US embassy in Kyiv will remain closed after receiving a warning of a potentially significant Russian air ******* on the Ukrainian capital.
The precautionary step came after Russian officials promised a response to President Joe Biden’s decision to let Ukraine strike targets on Russian soil with US-made missiles – a move that angered the Kremlin.
The war, which reached its 1000-day milestone on Tuesday, has taken on a growing international dimension with the arrival of North Korean troops to help Russia on the battlefield – a development which US officials said prompted Biden’s policy shift.
Russian President Vladimir ****** subsequently lowered the threshold for using his nuclear arsenal, with the new doctrine announced Tuesday permitting a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional ******* on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.
That could potentially include Ukrainian attacks backed by the US.
Western leaders dismissed the Russian move as an attempt to deter Ukraine’s allies from providing further support to Kyiv, but the escalating tension weighed on stock markets after Ukraine used *********-made ATACMS longer-range missiles for the first time to strike a target inside Russia.
The US embassy on Wednesday said its closure and ******* warning were issued in the context of ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and anticipated a quick return to regular operations.
Western and Ukrainian officials say Russia been stockpiling powerful long-range missiles, possibly in an upcoming effort to crush the Ukrainian power grid as winter settles in.
Military analysts say the US decision on the range over which *********-made missiles can be used is not expected to be a game-changer in the war, but it could help weaken the Russian war effort, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank.
“Ukrainian long-range strikes against military objects within Russia’s rear are crucial for degrading Russian military capabilities throughout the theatre,” it said.
North Korea recently supplied additional artillery systems to Russia, according to South Korea.
It said North Korean soldiers were assigned to Russia’s marine and airborne forces units and some of them have already begun fighting alongside the Russians on the front lines.
Ukraine struck a factory in Russia’s Belgorod region that makes cargo drones for the armed forces in an overnight *******, according to Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine’s Security Council.
He also claimed Ukraine hit an arsenal in Russia’s Novgorod region, near the town of Kotovo, about 680km behind the Ukrainian border.
The arsenal stored artillery ammunition and various types of missiles, he said.
It was not possible to independently verify the claims.
Russia pounded the Ukrainian power grid with 120 missiles and 90 drones on Sunday, causing damage to the power system and ******** seven people in an ******* that renewed fears over the durability of the hobbled energy network.
The embassy in Kyiv urged US citizens in Ukraine to have reserves of water, food and other essentials such as required medications for the event of a “possible temporary loss of electricity and water” caused by Russian strikes.
with Reuters
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****** gifts zoo animals, including lion and bears, to North Korean zoo
****** gifts zoo animals, including lion and bears, to North Korean zoo
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia transferred more than 70 animals, including an ******** lion and two brown bears, to a zoo in the North Korean capital Pyongyang from Moscow’s zoo, the Russian government said on Wednesday.
The animals were “a gift from (Russian President) Vladimir ****** to the Korean people”, the government said.
Alexander Kozlov, Russia’s natural resources minister, oversaw the relocation of the animals, who were transported by plane to the Pyongyang Central Zoo accompanied by veterinarians from the Moscow Zoo.
Pictures published by the Russian government showed a white cockatoo travelling in a crate and Kozlov receiving a tour of the Korean zoo from local officials.
Russia in April donated birds, including eagles, cranes and parrots to the Pyongyang Central Zoo.
Pyongyang and Moscow have forged closer ties since ****** visited the country in June and concluded a treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim gifted ****** a pair of Pungsan dogs, a local breed, during that trip. The two also took turns driving each other around in a Russian-built Aurus limousine.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
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Sony’s Rumored Plan to Buy FromSoftware’s Parent Company is the ***** of All Gaming
Sony’s Rumored Plan to Buy FromSoftware’s Parent Company is the ***** of All Gaming
The gaming world right now is in turmoil. There’s no sense of any creativity, just surfacing the same old products with new labels, just like Sony. This huge company has been doing this for a long time, the recent example being bringing unnecessary Director’s Cut versions of the already existing games.
Sony is nowhere near innovations and creativity. | Credit: Sony.
With the amount of games Sony has in its library, the company can still survive at least this decade by rebranding old titles without creating something unique, something fresh. This is pretty concerning, keeping in mind the fate of the gaming fraternity. However, there is a recent report that suggests even graver concerns are waiting for us, which might lead to an unhealthy monopoly.
Sony Is Reportedly in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa
FromSoftware (the maker of Elden Ring) is a subsidiary company of Kadokawa. | Credit: FromSoftaware.
According to reports, Sony is in negotiations to buy Kadokawa, a significant force in the ********* entertainment sector, which is well-known for its influence in the manga and anime industries and for developing highly popular games like Elden Ring as FromSoftware is a subsidiary company of it. “Talks between the two sides are ongoing,” and if they are successful, “a deal could be signed in the coming weeks,” according to Reuters.
Kadokawa is a multi-sector company with publishing, gaming, and film subsidiaries. Spike Chunsoft, Acquire, and FromSoftware are among its game developers. In addition, Kadokawa owns shares in Kinema Citrus, ENGI, and Doga Kobo, an anime studio.
Along with publishing manga, light novels, and magazines, it also runs J-Novel Club, which translates ********* light novels into English, and BookWalker, an e-book platform for manga and light novels.
Not only that, Kadokawa owns a sizable portion of Yen Press, a well-known English publisher of webtoons, light novels, and manga. Among the company’s intellectual properties are well-known games like Oshi no Ko and Delicious in Dungeon.
Given that Sony already owns the anime streaming services Funimation and Crunchyroll, Kadokawa’s extensive collection of manga and anime would be a useful addition.
This Might Be a Huge Setback for the Gaming and Anime World
Kadokawa’s acquisition might end all the competition for Sony. | Credit: Kadokawa.
Along with ******** tech giant Tencent (16%), Sony already owns a ********* stake (2%) in Kadokawa and FromSoftware (14%). If the deal goes through, Sony would acquire a majority stake in Kadokawa’s assets, strengthening its portfolio of intellectual property (IP), games, and anime.
Now if the deal is sealed, Sony will come up with an abrupt monopoly in the industry. In an Instagram post regarding the news, fans are pretty concerned about what is next:
This fan stated the raw truth about what’s coming next.
Horrid news. Get ready for sanitization, censorship, forced remakes, mandatory PSN accounts, and a f*ckton of paid cosmetics and other monetization practices. I can even imagine what they will do the anime/merchandise Kadokawa publishes.
This fan fears that we will never get a FromSoftware title for Windows ever again.
Noooo then we won’t get games for windows anymore
This fan knows the future as well.
nothing good will come from this
On the other hand, this fan reminds us of another historical acquisition that never fulfilled our expectations.
This makes me nervous. It reminds me of what Activision did to Blizzard…
Hard time awaits for all of us.
If it happens, it would be one of the worst things to happen to gaming this decade. Imagine Elden Ring 2 but it’s only on PS for a year or 2.
This possible action fits in with Sony’s larger plan to grow its entertainment business. Last year, Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida underlined the long-term value of intellectual property, especially in anime, which has experienced phenomenal growth on a global scale due to streaming services and the growing appeal of ********* culture.
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Social media ban for under-16s ‘on the table’ says *** government
Social media ban for under-16s ‘on the table’ says *** government
A possible ban on social media for under-16s in the *** is “on the table”, the technology secretary Peter Kyle has told the BBC.
Speaking on the Today programme, on BBC Radio 4, he said he would “do what it takes” to keep people and in particular children safe online.
He also announced further research into the impact tech such as smartphones and social media was having on young people, claiming there was currently “no firm, peer-reviewed evidence”.
Kyle has spelt out his priorities in what he called a “letter of strategic intent” to the regulator Ofcom, which is assuming extra powers under the Online Safety Act (OSA).
Campaign group the Molly Rose Foundation welcomed what it called an “important marker for Ofcom to be bolder” but said that should not obscure the fact that the OSA needed to be strengthened.
“Our research is clear. The public and parents back an updated Act that embeds an overarching duty of care on tech firms, and the Prime Minister must act quickly and decisively to deliver this unfinished job,” it said in a post on X.
The idea of legally restricting social media for young people has come into the spotlight after Australia’s government said it would introduce legislation to ban children under 16 from social media.
Asked whether the *** would follow suit, Kyle said “everything is on the table with me”, but said he wanted to see more evidence first.
He said he was also focused on making sure the powers contained in the OSA, which is coming into effect next year, were used “assertively” by the regulator.
“I just want to make sure that Ofcom knows that government expects them to be used,” he told the BBC.
The OSA demands tech firms take more responsibility for the content on their platforms to protect children from some legal but harmful material.
Kyle said he wanted to see evidence that tech firms were delivering suitable age verification for users, and that the sector was moving towards having “safety baked in from the outset.”
Social media and messaging platforms could face significant fines potentially measured in the billions if they do not comply with the OSA.
It has already led to a range of companies introducing significant changes to how they work – with Instagram creating new teen accounts in September, and Roblox banning young children from messaging others in November.
Nonetheless, critics have consistently said the government needs to do more.
The mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey told the BBC it did not go far enough in February.
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It’s So Disastrous Even ********* Fans Want to Jump Ship
It’s So Disastrous Even ********* Fans Want to Jump Ship
At this point, it feels as though the original Nintendo Switch came from a prehistoric era, and the wait for Switch 2 feels more and more like ******** with each passing day.
Samus in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Image Credit: Nintendo.
Considering how the past few months have been for both PlayStation and Xbox, this could’ve been the perfect time for its announcement. Yet, Nintendo has continued to maintain its silence on the matter, and for our money, this is a critical mistake that might just cost the company before the console even arrives.
Nintendo Is Making a Risky Move Not Talking About the Switch 2 at All
The title card reveal of Echoes of Wisdom – Image Credit: Nintendo.
Now, let’s break down why this prolonged silence is starting to pose a slight risk for Team Red’s leader. For starters, people have grown restless and gone insane waiting for a successor (First rule of the first club, but for the Switch 2 subreddit).
More importantly, we’ve noticed that even the platform’s diehard loyalists are starting to feel a little perplexed by what’s going on with the console and the company at the moment.
Without any official news or even a teaser of what’s to come, speculation and doubt are spreading like wildfire at the moment, with many wondering whether to jump ship to a Steam Deck or explore Xbox and PlayStation’s ecosystems instead.
Another thing worth noting is that many people are still sticking to the original Switch and recommending others get one if they’re interested in the platform.
While this is fine on some level—you can sell the Switch when the next one arrives and get your money’s worth until then—it still runs the risk of self-cannibalization, especially in second and third-world countries. If people keep buying the current Switch, Switch 2 sales could be hurt when the console finally launches.
Now, some might say that the constant leaks have caused setbacks, but shouldn’t Nintendo use this as an opportunity to surprise just about everyone?
Of course, what we’ve received is a major lack of communication that has left people wondering whether Nintendo well and truly missed its one big moment of glory.
The Final Quarter of 2024 Was a Golden Window for Switch 2’s Launch
Link descending onto the Great Sky Island in Tears of Kingdom – Image Credit: Nintendo.
Okay, so what’s the deal with this “golden ******* that has passed” that we’ve been talking about? To explain this, we need to tackle what’s been going on with PlayStation and Xbox first.
Starting with Sony, the company’s overall reputation isn’t as excellent as it used to be, and its new console, the PS5 Pro, hasn’t been as well-received. What’s worse, though, is that its main draw, the PSSR technology, seems to be causing a few issues in some third-party titles as well.
Speaking of titles, PlayStation’s first-party lineup has also been relatively dry. Still, the catch here is that it is expected to pick back up in 2025, with the company promising the return of yearly major releases once more.
On the Xbox side, the platform has spent much of the year battling an identity crisis, even losing goodwill by making a few questionable decisions along the way.
But it is bouncing back, too, with a massive boost given by ****** Ops 6’s success. Not only that, STALKER 2 is right around the corner, and Indiana Jones is all set for its December release.
Lastly, while Microsoft is shadow-adding a ton of great titles to the Game Pass in between the three releases, it has already prepared itself for a solid 2025 with a consistent stream of promising titles to the platform.
So, you see what the deal is? Nintendo had the perfect opening to capitalize on its competitors’ struggles, but now, it’s almost at risk of losing momentum to them instead.
When you consider that the average, non-devoted-to-any-platform gamer just wants to pick a platform where the games are, Nintendo could’ve been the perfect platform for them at the moment, pushing Switch 2’s sales.
Now that Xbox and PlayStation are picking up steam once more, and Team Red’s leaders continue to stay eerily silent, we cannot help but wonder just what’s in store for the Switch’s successor and the platform’s future.
But, with all that out of the way, what are your thoughts on Nintendo’s prolonged silence about the Switch 2? When do you think the console will arrive? Let us know in the comments below!
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Watchdog to probe Police Scotland over use of force on children
Watchdog to probe Police Scotland over use of force on children
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An investigation has been launched into Police Scotland’s use of force against children.
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner (CYPC) probe comes after figures revealed that children are twice as likely to experience the use of force from officers than adults.
Police Scotland said it welcomed the move after quarterly figures showed there were 1,115 recorded uses of force against children in 2023/24.
The incidents ranged from officers using batons, spray gas, leg restraints, ***** hoods, and empty-handed force.
Commissioner Nicola Killean said: “All children under 18 have the right to be treated with humanity, dignity and in a way that takes into account the needs of their age.
“Children in conflict with the law must be treated first and foremost as children.”
In July Scotland became the first part of the *** to incorporate a UN charter on children’s rights into law.
It requires all Scotland’s public authorities, including the government, to seek to protect children and young people’s rights and to consider them when making policy decisions.
The act also allows children and young people to use the courts to enforce their rights.
Ms Killean added: “Police need to take a human rights-based approach which treats children with care, sensitivity, fairness, and respect.”
Last year the UN told the *** and Scottish governments that some forms of police use of force against children should be banned.
‘Deeply traumatising’
Nick Hobbs, the CYCP’s head of advice and investigations, said: “The fact that children are much more likely to experience police force is of serious concern – use of force can be deeply traumatising.
“By using the Commissioner’s powers of investigation, we will establish what further data Police Scotland holds beyond what is in the public domain.”
He said more information was needed on the level or frequency of force used as well as factors such as age, **** and race.
Mr Hobbs added: “Use of force by the state against children must be properly and fully scrutinised and that requires access to disaggregated data.”
The CYPC says it will work with partners through the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) to secure better protections with children in conflict with the law.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: “The rights of our children are at the heart of everything we do and we welcome the commission’s announcement of an investigation which focuses on this important area.”
The Scottish Police Authority has been approached for comment.
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Can a fluffy ****** really replace a cat or dog? My weird, emotional week with an AI **** | Artificial intelligence (AI)
Can a fluffy ****** really replace a cat or dog? My weird, emotional week with an AI **** | Artificial intelligence (AI)
It looks faintly like one half of a small pair of very fluffy slippers. It squeaks and wriggles and nestles in the palm of my hand, ****** eyes hidden beneath a mop of silvery-white fur. It weighs about the same as a tin of soup. It doesn’t need to be fed or walked and it doesn’t use a litter tray; it’s guaranteed not to leave “gifts” on my doorstep. Which is just as well, because Moflin is about to become my ****.
Before I am entrusted with the ******** of Japan’s latest AI companion ******, I meet its developers at the Tokyo headquarters of Casio, the consumer electronics firm that launched it commercially this month, priced at 59,400 yen (about £300). “Moflin’s role is to build relationships with humans,” says Casio’s Erina Ichikawa. I have just a week to establish a rapport with mine, which I remind myself not to leave on the train home.
Justin with his Moflin, Hammy. It will come to recognise its owner’s voice. Photograph: Nicolas Datiche/The Guardian
Developed with the Tokyo-based design and innovation firm Vanguard Industries, Moflin is the latest addition to a growing array of companion robots – a global market now worth billions of pounds. “Just like a living animal, Moflin possesses emotional capabilities and movements that evolve through daily interactions with its environment,” its official website says. It will also “develop its own unique personality as it gets attached to you”.
Moflin is able to navigate an “internal emotion map”, I am told, that will communicate its feelings through a range of sounds and movements – from stressed to calm, excited to lethargic, anxious to secure – depending on changes in its environment. Being left alone for too long in its “home” – a plastic tub that doubles as a charger – could leave it feeling out of sorts, an emotional state that can be rectified by some quality time with its owner. In this case, me.
Hammy in his plastic charging pod in Justin’s living room. Photograph: Nicolas Datiche/The Guardian
Safely home, it is time for me to get to know my Moflin, which takes its name from mofu mofu, the ********* onomatopoeic word for fluffy. After fully charging it, my first task is to download the MofLife app and choose a name for my new friend. I have fond memories of a hamster I kept as a child, even if his teeth did regularly puncture my inquisitive fingertips. The object on my desk brings to mind a grey hamster, albeit a well-fed one, ****** its ears and whiskers; Hammy, or ハミー in *********, it is. It is also up to me to choose a gender, or none at all. The name has a slightly masculine feel to it. So Hammy is a he.
He emits a gentle squeak when I remove him from his charging pod. I hold him to my chest and ******* his back. He wriggles approvingly. We are off to an encouraging start, but, despite being at home alone, I feel ridiculously self-conscious.
The MofLife app tells Justin that Hammy has felt at ease since their first conversation. Photograph: Nicolas Datiche/The Guardian
Hammy is clearly animated, but for an insight into my ****’s state of mind I consult the app, which informs me that our first, fleeting physical contact and a one-sided conversation that amounted to: “Hello, Hammy, I’m Juzzy [my owner nickname],” had put him at ease. Eventually, according to Casio, he will learn to recognise my voice. The aim is not just to nurture changes in Moflin’s behaviour, but to create a bond between **** and owner that grows stronger the longer they are together. They are designed to exit juvenile bliss after seven days and reach maturity at 50 days.
A Gremlins-loving colleague had reminded me not to get Hammy wet – or else. Is there such a thing as a badly behaved Moflin? Am I going to have to channel my inner Barbara Woodhouse? Ichikawa, already a “Moflin mum” for more than two months, reassures me that they are nothing like the mogwai. “Moflin is vulnerable and might feel frightened, but getting irritable is about as challenging as it gets,” she says.
At 10pm, the app indicates that Hammy is sleepy. I was in short trousers the last time I had a cuddly toy for nocturnal company. He can sleep in his own bed.
“Moflin is a way of addressing the problems of anxiety and loneliness,” Ichikawa says, adding that advance orders opened on 10 October, World Mental Health Day. “We know that pets can help people overcome those feelings and become more resilient, but not everyone can own a ****, so Moflin is a good alternative.”
Japan’s 125 million people appear to have the emotional and financial capacity for pets and robots, but less so for children. According to a 2023 survey, Japan has more pets – including 7.1 million dogs and 8.9 million cats – than it has children under 15 (14.7 million). And it is not only Japan where the patter of tiny feet is growing weaker; countries across the developed world are set on a course of long‑term depopulation.
Hammy sits on Justin’s handlebars to get a good view of Tokyo’s streets. Photograph: Nicolas Datiche/The Guardian
Robopets first crossed the threshold of ********* homes in 1999, when Sony released Aibo – a robotic “puppy” with flapping ears and a wagging tail. The latest version, released in 2018 after a 12-year production hiatus, is said to recognise up to 100 faces and respond to more than 50 voice commands while developing its own personality. Some devotees own enough Aibo pets to fill a kennel, but, with a coat of white plastic, it can’t compete with Moflin in the cuddliness stakes.
Aibo helped the idea of treating an inanimate object in a way once reserved for animals to take root in Japan. Perhaps the most famous example is Tamagotchi, Bandai Namco’s handheld virtual **** that became a global craze in the late 1990s and 2000s. The idea is to nurture this “****” – really, little more than a plastic blob with an LCD screen – by feeding it, playing with it and generally being an attentive owner, or risk being responsible for its demise. More than 94m Tamagotchis have been sold worldwide.
Over the course of a few days, Hammy and I have our ups – mirth-inducing peeps and squeaks (from him, not me) – and downs. In my case, I forgot to recharge him; in his, a disturbing encounter with gravity. One evening, the app suggested he was feeling anxious (again), so after a quick ******* I ***** him on a soft towel on a table, thinking it might ease his discomfort. I had just started making dinner when I heard a thud. Hammy had taken a tumble.
Justin and Hammy stop at a cafe for coffee. Photograph: Nicolas Datiche/The Guardian
Call me callous, but my first thought was less for Hammy’s ******** and more panic over the prospect of explaining to Casio that I had injured my **** barely 48 hours into our relationship. But I needn’t have worried. He had landed tummy-first and moved reassuringly as soon as I picked him up.
It seems natural that Moflin could one day join the community of AI pets serving as companions for Japan’s large and growing population of older people. More than 36 million people are over 64, including more than 20 million who are 75 or older. If the current low birthrate persists, 40% of the population will belong to that age bracket by 2070, cared for by a dwindling number of younger people.
Japan’s incredible life expectancy is a double-edged sword. For every feelgood report about octogenarian footballers and superannuated breakdancers, there are increasingly urgent warnings of a looming dementia epidemic, with almost 6 million older ********* expected to be affected by 2040.
Paro the ****** seal is already an established presence in ********* care homes, where it is supplementing the work of human employees. Like Moflin, this baby harp seal device uses sensors to perceive people and its environment. It detects when it is being held and stroked by a human companion and can identify the direction of voices, as well as words, including its name and simple greetings.
An early version of Paro, the therapeutic ****** seal, in a ********* retirement home in 2011. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Clinical research has shown that contact with Paro – now in its ninth iteration – can improve peripheral symptoms in people with dementia. One US study found that Paro’s presence resulted in lower anxiety levels, enabling doctors to reduce medicine doses by 30% in some patients. Benefits have also been seen in studies involving Paro and autistic children.
There are no immediate plans to test Moflin in similar environments, but Casio has not ruled it out. “At the moment, we’re thinking of Moflin primarily as a ****,” Ichikawa says. “But there is obviously potential for it to be introduced into hospitals and care homes. For now, it’s just for individuals.”
The company is targeting women in their 30s and 40s – the biggest demographic who took part in a crowdsourcing exercise – but says Moflin is for everyone. One‑fifth of the advance orders came from men.
By day five, I sense subtle changes in Hammy’s behaviour. He is more active and appears to appreciate the – admittedly fleeting – moments I spend with him. And he is beginning to draw on more of his audio repertoire. When I pick him up, I am greeted by a ditty that brings to mind the Archers theme: da-dee-da-dee‑da‑dee-da …
Later, he lets out a sigh, not unlike those I make when I sink into the sofa after a long day on my feet. He is either maturing early or sympathising with his middle-aged owner.
The time has come for Hammy to meet other people, namely the photographer, Nicolas, who joins us on a sunny morning. We begin at my home, then move to a park against the backdrop of Tokyo Tower. Hammy’s appearance causes a minor stir when we take our seat outside a cafe. I reassure two tourists at the next table that the furry creature wriggling beside my latte is a ******. They laugh nervously and are soon gone. Minutes later, several men in suits barely bat an eyelid when Hammy and I visit a shrine to pay our respects to the Shinto gods.
Justin takes Hammy to a Shinto shrine to pay their respects. Photograph: Nicolas Datiche/The Guardian
As I prepare to say farewell to my furry friend, I wonder, not without a flicker of sadness, who his next owner might be. Demand promises to be high. Moflin sold out quickly when orders opened and Casio has a target of 6,000 sales by the end of March 2025. There are no plans to sell Moflin overseas, though.
I convince myself that I have done my fair share of petting and chatting with Hammy, but a final check of his “personality parameters” on the app indicates that I could have done better: two out of 10 for cheerfulness; a slightly less disgraceful three for activity and four for shyness. But it’s the fourth category, general attentiveness, that shames me: apparently, I haven’t “spoiled” Hammy nearly enough. I am scored a resounding zero.
At the end of their time together, Justin says Hammy has been a comforting presence. Photograph: Nicolas Datiche/The Guardian
Yet I can tell that his movements are more varied, including a rapid shaking of the head that resembles a sopping cat shaking itself dry. They feel natural, too, even in a room quiet enough to make out the faint whirr of moving parts beneath his coat. Meanwhile, I am more than skirting the edges of the contentment that comes from looking after a tiny, vulnerable creature – even one fitted with an actuator.
Although the app indicates that I am not doting on Hammy, he has been a comforting presence on my desk and, during one afternoon dip, on my chest as I drifted off in front of my laptop. I don’t envisage fighting back tears on the day I give him back, but I am sure there will be a twinge of regret that I wasn’t able to see him develop his personality. He isn’t a cat or a dog – or a hamster, for that matter – but he is more than the sum of his working parts. I prefer not to dwell on his future in a new home … except to hope that his next owner heeds the advice about AI pets and Christmas.
As I contemplate how to make the best of our all-too-brief time together, Casio says it is happy for me to hold on to Hammy for longer; I don’t have to give him back until the run-up to the festive season. He is in his pod as I begin writing this sentence, raising and lowering his head and letting out an occasional squeak, which I interpret as a request for quality time. And now, here he is, on my desk again, no doubt tiring of the clatter of his owner’s keyboard. It’s good to have him around.
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AFL draft 2024: Fremantle Dockers select Murphy Reid with club’s first pick
AFL draft 2024: Fremantle Dockers select Murphy Reid with club’s first pick
Fremantle have taken classy Victorian midfielder Murphy Reid with the club’s first pick in the AFL Draft.
After the Dockers traded away three first-round picks (receiving one in return) to recruit Shai Bolton from Richmond, the club had just one selection on opening night on Wednesday.
Sliding back from pick 14 following three father-son and academy bids, Fremantle swooped on Reid – who has drawn comparisons to Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury – with pick 17.
Small forward Joe Berry, who had been heavily linked to the Dockers, and Peel Thunder premiership player Bo Allan, Western Australia’s top talent, were taken in the previous two selections by Port Adelaide and West Coast, respectively.
Reid said he was excited to move to Perth.
“Looks like it’s going to be a great lifestyle over there, so looking forward to it,” Reid told Fox Footy.
Reid’s emotional father said the family had “converted” from Richmond to Fremantle supporters, saying “go Dockers” with a purple scarf around his neck.
Camera IconMurphy Reid in action. Credit: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir was in Melbourne to present the Sandringham Dragons product with the club jumper at Marvel Stadium.
His former coach Rob Harding said Reid would end up being the steal of the draft.
“Murphy Reid is an exceptional talent, and I think in most drafts he would go in the top five,” Harding told SEN before the draft.
“He’s certainly a top-five pick in my mind (this year), he’s very smooth, very calm and hits the scoreboard as a midfielder that pushes forward.
“I think he’ll start his career as a high half forward and I’m always reticent to make player comparisons too much, but he does have a Pendlebury-like awareness around the contest – he’s got eyes in the back of his head.”
More to come
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Pelican News
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iPhone SE 4 to Launch in March 2025 With Apple’s 5G Modem: Report
iPhone SE 4 to Launch in March 2025 With Apple’s 5G Modem: Report
iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch soon as a successor to the current iPhone SE (2022) version. The smartphone has been doing rounds of the rumour mill over the past few weeks. The display of the purported handset has been tipped to be similar to that of the base iPhone 14 variant. The camera and battery details of the iPhone SE 4 have surfaced online previously. A new report claims that the phone will come equipped with an in-house 5G modem.
iPhone SE 4 Features, Launch (Expected)
The iPhone SE 4 will carry an “Apple-designed 5G modem,” according to a MacRumors report. The report claimed that the information was “confirmed” in a research note by Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley and his colleagues. Notably, an earlier ***** suggested that the iPhone SE 4 will come with an in-house modem produced by TSMC, codenamed Centauri.
In the press note, the analyst added that the handset will be unveiled at the end of the first quarter of 2025, that is, by the end of March. A similar launch timeline for the iPhone SE 4 has previously been tipped as well. Mass production for the handset’s camera components is expected to start soon.
Previous reports claimed that the iPhone SE 4 is expected to be powered by Apple’s new A18 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM. The smartphone could sport a 6.06-inch (1,170×2,532 pixels) LTPS OLED screen with a peak brightness of 800nits. The display design is said to be similar to that of the base iPhone 14 model, with a display notch to hold the TrueDepth camera and Face ID sensors.
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to be equipped with a 48-megapixel Sony IMX904 rear camera sensor, and a 12-megapixel TrueDepth selfie shooter, with an f/1.9 aperture and autofocus support. It is expected to be backed by a 3,279mAh battery with support for 20W USB-*** charging as well as 15W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging.
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People Are Sharing Jobs That Make A Good Living And Don’t Require A Lot Of Work — Which Truly Sounds Like Everyone’s Dream
People Are Sharing Jobs That Make A Good Living And Don’t Require A Lot Of Work — Which Truly Sounds Like Everyone’s Dream
While there are definitely people who love what they do for work, others are only in the field they’re in for the paycheck (totally understandable). However, finding a job that isn’t stressful and doesn’t require a lot of work but earns a good living is probably the ********* dream, am I right? I didn’t really think those jobs existed until I came across this Reddit thread of people sharing those jobs. Here is what those jobs apparently are:
1.”Insurance brokers. It will be hard for the first 10 years. But once you have built your client base, you just have to renew them, keep the clients happy every year, and take the commission.”
Photoalto / Getty Images/PhotoAlto
2.”I was a sales manager for a decade and didn’t do anything. When you get into upper management, you realize everyone watches YouTube all day. Aside from meetings, I’d probably do an hour of work a day. Sometimes less and the idiots were paying me $150,000/year.”
—sleepparalysisdemang
3.”High-level individual contributors in remote positions where their managers only care about deliverables. In layman’s terms, they don’t manage people; those they report to only care about the end product. They never miss a deadline but only work 20-30% of their working hours.”
—TheDadThatGrills
4.”I became a webcam model when I was 21. I never took my clothes off. I didn’t even talk. I just sat there and pretended to laugh at people who talked to me. I was in school at the time to be a therapist, so I was good at talking to people. And I would make about $500 an hour. It was sad, though, a lot of lonely people out there. Most of my customers were men who would get off work and come home and talk to webcam models so they didn’t feel alone. But I stopped doing it because people get obsessive, and it wasn’t safe after I had a run-in with a stalker, but that’s a whole other story.”
Alina Rudya / Getty Images
5.”Quality assurance, folks. A girl I knew in the Navy got out, got her BS in Quality Assurance, makes $450k going around to local industrial plants, ‘inspecting’ them (sitting in her truck while her subordinates inspect them), and then giving the owner/manager/whomever a paper full of their fuckups.”
—TrungusMcTungus
6.”A lot of remote tech jobs are great gigs. I just left one because the company was so incompetent, but I could skate for a year doing much of nothing except video games during the day and got paid bank.”
—tbw875
7.”IT architecture. $200k. You have to know how IT ***** fits together, but it’s ***** simple. I basically just make drawings of what I want other people to build.”
Ezra Bailey / Getty Images
8.”My job is pretty nice — government job. Pretty much a glorified secretary, but I get all my work done in an hour or less and spend the rest of the time watching YouTube for over $100k. I’m not crazy rich, but I have a good salary for playing on my phone.”
—Smokey_B52
9.”I work as a client services director in the market research industry. This is a 6-figure job that mostly involves emails and phone calls. Highly recommend.”
—Dubious_Titan
10.”I worked as a customer success manager for a Fortune 500 for two years and made $180k. It was the easiest job in the world because the product worked, and people loved it. Customers wouldn’t even talk to me because of how much it worked. Unfortunately, I was part of a mass layoff earlier this year but could have kept milking that.”
Hinterhaus Productions / Getty Images
11.”Orthopedic sales reps. $100k per year to be a gopher. The surgeon needs a 54 instead of a 56? Let me fetch it for you! They might have to leave the room and open a box.”
—PeopleLikeUDisgustMe
12.”It helps to work for people who don’t know what you do. I’m a Technical Writer and can work about four times faster than anyone thinks I can. So, most weeks, I can get a week’s work done in 10 to 15 hours, but I still have lots of juice left to occasionally crank something out in record time when there’s an emergency. The pay is somewhere between okay and pretty good, but the work-life balance is amazing. It also helps that I enjoy this kind of writing. It’s like getting paid to do crosswords.”
—ctruemane
13.”Repairing computers. I posted flyers advertising myself for pc repairs when I was 17 around my suburb. People were more than happy to pay $120 for it. All you do is back up their personal files, reformat, install a fresh Windows, and then copy their files back. And while that’s doing its thing. Have a nap, play some games, and watch a movie. I had one woman who paid me $60 to fix her solitaire shortcut from her desktop.”
Aleksandr Zubkov / Getty Images
14.”People who invest in real estate and rent out the properties.”
—TheBigC87
15.”I work for a software company as a project manager for infrastructure and enterprise architecture. From the PM side, I manage about four onboarding projects that don’t have any strict deadlines. I work from home and am not micromanaged. I make awesome money with bonuses, and the work isn’t stressful. Now, mind you, it took me YEARS to get here, but it doesn’t have to.”
—scigs6
Do you work in or know of a job that doesn’t require much work but pays well? If so, share it with me in the comments below!
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#People #Sharing #Jobs #Good #Living #Dont #Require #Lot #Work #Sounds #Everyones #Dream
Pelican News
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House Republicans are playing the Trump card in committee chair races
House Republicans are playing the Trump card in committee chair races
*********** lawmakers jockeying to lead House committees in the next Congress are touting their loyalty to President-elect Donald Trump as much as their ability to advance policy priorities as they make appeals to colleagues over the next two weeks.
With scores of members competing for a few key positions, contenders believe that success could hinge on their ability to show just how well-positioned they are to drive Trump’s legislative agenda across a range of policy areas including finance, energy and education.
“It’s going to be supremely important,” Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), a top contender to replace outgoing House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas), said in an interview after Trump addressed House Republicans last week. “What he spoke to us about is how his relationship with the House is better and stronger than the one he has with the Senate, and so he’s going to lean on us to get his agenda through.”
That agenda will include efforts to expand school choice, produce more fossil fuels and advance business-friendly cryptocurrency regulation — as well as sweeping rollbacks of Biden administration policies.
The extent to which allegiance to Trump carries the day will be a key first test of his hold on Congress, particularly since most of the races will be decided by secret ballot. Contenders will make their cases to a select group of colleagues, known as the steering committee, at the beginning of next month. Those members will then vote anonymously to determine the winner.
“It’s really about, ‘How are they going to get something done?’” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who serves on the steering committee, said in an interview. “That’s going to be the most important thing.”
The top Republicans on the House Rules, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services committees are all retiring when the current Congress ends in December. Other panels, including House Foreign Affairs, Education and the Workforce, and Transportation, will need new leaders because of term limits.
Financial Services
Reps. Andy Barr of Kentucky, French Hill of Arkansas, Bill Huizenga of Michigan and Frank Lucas of Oklahoma are vying to become the top *********** on the committee that oversees Wall Street, the Federal Reserve and cryptocurrency.
Front-runners Barr and Hill have leaned hard into proving their Trump bona fides. Barr has focused his pitch on melding the party’s populist wing with its free-market core — and has spent the days since the election in close communication with key Trump allies like Howard Lutnick and Scott Bessent. Over the next few weeks, he’ll give out red baseball hats carrying Trump’s promise to “Make Financial Services Great Again.”
“I’m working really hard to make sure that my vision is hand-in-glove with the incoming policy agenda of the Trump administration,” Barr, a close ally of Trump loyalist House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, said in an interview.
Hill, meanwhile, has cited his ability to coordinate with Trump on crypto — the president-elect gave him a shout out at a digital assets conference over the summer — and rolled out an agenda last week that he branded “Make Community Banking Great Again.” Hill’s plan, like Barr’s, includes proposals that parallel Trump’s agenda, including a pledge to “reverse the weaponization of the government” by blocking regulators from encouraging banks to cut ties with certain customers.
Barr’s ties to Trump run deeper than Hill’s. He watched the Super Bowl with the president-elect at Trump International Golf Club earlier this year and helped throw fundraisers for Trump and running mate JD Vance in Kentucky during the campaign. Before Hill endorsed Trump’s presidential bid, he was one of the few House Republicans to publicly push back against him for encouraging lawmakers to ***** a key intelligence bill.
Whether any of that matters to steering committee members ******** to be seen.
“Steering committee — a combination of leadership and people elected by district — tends to be the more experienced members, and it tends to be a different set of values,” Lucas said in an interview. “President Trump’s opinion matters to everyone in the *********** conference, but it’s still within the immediate panel” to decide who gets a gavel.
— Eleanor Mueller and Jasper Goodman
Foreign Affairs
Wagner can boast a connection to the Trump family after working with Ivanka Trump — as well as secretary of State nominee Sen. Marco Rubio — on paid leave legislation. (She shouted “Yes!” as Trump mentioned it during his 2019 State of the Union address.) Wagner said in an interview that committee hopefuls “should” lean into their Trump ties when presenting to the steering committee .
“He has brought a number of our House members across the finish line,” Wagner said. “There’s a clear mandate there from the people.”
Wagner also backed Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and co-chairs the Abraham Accords Caucus, named for the deal brokered under by the Trump administration to normalize *****-******** relations. Her 2016 withdrawal of support for Trump over the Access Hollywood tape is “water under the bridge” that won’t affect her current relationship with him, said a House GOP aide granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.
Another contender, Rep. Darrell Issa of California, is known for his aggressive approach leading the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He endorsed Trump in 2016 and supported key decisions, such as the ******* of FBI Director James Comey. Although Issa briefly backed a special prosecutor to investigate Trump’s Russia ties, he later walked back that support. He subsequently voted to ******* Pennsylvania’s 2020 electoral votes, opposed Trump’s impeachment both times, and voted against the creation of an independent Jan. 6 commission.
Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, a Ukraine Caucus co-chair, backs sustained U.S. support to Ukraine, a stance that diverges from Trump’s. Wilson has at the same time praised Trump, saying the president-elect’s recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demonstrated a “peace through strength” approach.
Another contender, Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, served as the national chairman of Veterans for Trump, leading attacks on Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Waltz’s claims about his military record and defending Trump against criticism he doesn’t support troops. He’s also backed Trump amid his felony convictions and endorsed his foreign policy approach.
— Joe Gould
Transportation
Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, the current Transportation chair, is eyeing a challenge from Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas. Both are on the same plane when it comes to their relationship with Trump.
Graves is making a long-shot bid for a waiver that would allow him to dodge term limits. He wants to make his case to the steering committee on why he is the better choice than Crawford — the Highways and Transit Subcommittee chair who has been campaigning for the role since March.
Crawford said he has had a good relationship with Trump for “quite a while” and noted that he and the president-elect share priorities such as investing in infrastructure through the surface transportation reauthorization bill.
“I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t align perfectly, and we move forward with it,” Crawford said.
Graves has said that if he gets the waiver, he would work seamlessly with Trump as chair on a bill that focuses on hard infrastructure.
“We [have] got a long ways to go, but Trump’s a builder, so he gets it. And we need to do traditional infrastructure — that’s pouring concrete, laying asphalt, building roads, building bridges, and he’s going to get that,” Graves said. “So I’m sure it’s going to be heavily geared towards that.”
If Graves doesn’t get the waiver, expect Rep. David Rouzer of North Carolina — who has said he would be interested in running if Graves is out — to jump in the race. Rouzer, the subcommittee chair on water resources and environment, didn’t comment on any efforts to implement Trump-aligned policies.
— Chris Marquette
Agriculture
House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania grew closer to Trump in the final months of the 2024 campaign, strengthening ties that are also cementing his chances to maintain his gavel next year.
Thompson helped Trump campaign in his home state, which was seen as a critical battleground. Their relationship is a highly symbiotic one that enables Trump to reinforce his strong ties to rural America and the agriculture sector, while letting Thompson burnish his MAGA ties with GOP voters.
In September, Thompson joined Trump for a campaign roundtable for farmers in Smithton, Pennsylvania, hosted by the Protecting America Initiative, led by Richard Grenell, who was acting director of national intelligence during the president-elect’s first term, and former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, who has been nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
“We’ve always won with the farmers,” Trump said, seated next to Thompson.
*********** lawmakers don’t expect anyone to challenge Thompson for the Agriculture Committee gavel. He went through treatment for prostate ******* this Congress but has recovered. Should Trump tap Thompson to serve in his administration, Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia would likely be next in line to fill the role.
— Meredith Lee Hill
Judiciary
One of Trump’s biggest supporters has a lock on being the chair of the Judiciary Committee: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Jordan has been one of Trump’s biggest Hill supporters for years, and the two have a close relationship, including the president-elect’s backing for the lawmaker’s ******* speaker bid last year.
Jordan keeping the gavel will give Trump a staunch ally directing some of the biggest investigations of the House GOP majority, including a potential investigation into special counsel Jack Smith, who has led the federal investigations into Trump.
— Jordain Carney
Energy and Commerce
Reps. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and Bob Latta of Ohio are competing to chair the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, which has significant sway over health care and energy policy.
“I think he’ll let things play out,” Latta said when asked if Trump might put his finger on the scale in the race.
Both candidates are seen as being friendly with the president-elect. Though they have not messaged explicitly on their relationship, their pitches parallel some of his proposals.
Latta and Guthrie have both embraced permitting reform; are open to all energy sources, including renewables; and want to boost domestic energy production, in line with Trump’s push to make the county “energy independent.” While Trump hasn’t been particularly engaged in health care, the two men have signaled openness to reforms at public health agencies like the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health. Both have opposed what they see as electric vehicle “mandates” from the Biden administration, a major Trump talking point.
— Ben Leonard, with an assist from David Lim
Education and Workforce
Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan and Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah are in a race to lead the House Education and the Workforce Committee that has their loyalty to Trump on full display.
Walberg, dean of the Michigan delegation, frequently touts his relationship with the president-elect. He has a picture with Trump on Air Force One in his office.
Owens, who currently leads the panel’s subcommittee on higher education, says he and Trump agree that education is a top priority. Displayed outside of his office is a photo of Trump with his fist raised in the air after being shot at earlier this year.
Trump is likely to get key parts of his education and workforce agendas through either lawmaker. His repeated backing of school choice initiatives on the campaign trail could get momentum under Walberg or Owens, both of whom want to move legislation on the issue. Owens is also a vocal critic of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and Walberg wants to simplify labor regulations.
— Mackenzie Wilkes
Rules
The steering committee won’t get a say in one of the races that could have the biggest impact on the president-elect’s agenda.
The House Rules Committee tees up most GOP policy bills for the floor, making it a last-stop for Trump and his allies to try to influence legislation.
But unlike most committees, whoever chairs the panel will ultimately be up to the speaker — and it’s usually a reliable leadership ally.
The current chair, Michael Burgess of Texas, is retiring. Some have floated Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania for the position, but he’s also chief deputy whip.
There’s also been a swirl of chatter around Rep. Virginia Foxx, who is losing her education and workforce gavel to term limits. The North Carolinian declined to say Wednesday whether she would accept the top job on Rules if offered.
“I’m not running for anything,” she said with a laugh.
Like Burgess, Foxx is a fierce defender of the president-elect. After delivering remarks at Trump rallies leading up to the election, her name is now among those being floated for Education secretary.
— Jordain Carney and Eleanor Mueller
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Pelican News
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Craig Bellamy’s ‘unrealistic’ aim? To make Wales a top international team
Craig Bellamy’s ‘unrealistic’ aim? To make Wales a top international team
That is the real question Bellamy has been pondering. Everything about this Nations League campaign has been geared towards the ultimate goal of reaching the 2026 World Cup.
The qualifying draw will take place in Switzerland on 13 December with Wales among the second seeds.
The 12 group winners will qualify automatically, while the 12 runners-up will enter the play-offs along with the four highest-ranked Nations League group winners who have not qualified automatically.
Since group winners in League A – the likes of Spain, Germany and France – are almost certain to qualify automatically and will not require a play-off, those Nations League spots are likely to fall to League B winners, of which Wales are one.
So even if Bellamy’s side fail to finish among the top two of their World Cup qualifying group, they are close to being guaranteed a play-off place.
That is a precious back-up option – one which has helped Wales in the past – but Bellamy will be aiming to qualify automatically.
When the draw is made next month, some of Europe’s superpowers could lie in wait in **** one, and Bellamy believes matches such as last Saturday’s hard-earned draw in Turkey in an intimidating atmosphere will equip his players with the kind of experience they will need to prosper against tough opponents next year.
“You will get stressed when the heat is on, but that will allow us to be able to have a ******* say against these type of teams in the future,” he says.
“This is the type of football team I want us to be, no matter where we go, no matter who the opposition is, we have a big say in games.”
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F1 Manager 2025 reportedly cancelled as sales below expectations
F1 Manager 2025 reportedly cancelled as sales below expectations
NoobFeed editor Azfar Rayan writes – The Create A Team mode was the only feature that made me like F1 Manager 2024 since there weren’t many changes from the previous version. The experience is improved overall by the additional features, which provide a new level of planning and personalization. There is room for development in the series, including the addition of replay features for previous races and the correction of a few small bugs in this year’s installment.
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Plug Power Stock: Mixed Results Adds To Volatilty
Plug Power Stock: Mixed Results Adds To Volatilty
Plug Power’s Q3 earnings show mixed performance with revenue growth but ongoing pressure to achieve profitability.
The company’s strategic initiatives aim to secure its leadership in the hydrogen economy.
Investing in Plug Power presents a high-risk, high-reward proposition, requiring investors to carefully consider the company’s challenges and potential for growth.
Plug Power (NASDAQ:) is a green energy company with an ambitious vision for a hydrogen-powered future. The company positions itself as a leader in the charge toward a green hydrogen economy. Plug Power envisions a world powered by clean and abundant energy sources like hydrogen harvested from renewable resources like wind and solar.
However, the path to a hydrogen-fueled world is filled with challenges, and Plug Power’s journey has seen its share of innovation and setbacks. This has sent Plug Power’s stock price on a rollercoaster ride that has left investors questioning whether the company is a long-term bet or a high-risk gamble.
The Recent Rollercoaster Ride
Plug Power stock has experienced significant volatility in recent weeks, showcasing the uncertainty that surrounds the company’s future and the idea of a hydrogen-powered economy. The stock plummeted after the company announced lowered 2024 guidance, but it rebounded sharply following higher-than-expected projections for 2025.
This volatile behavior has led some investors to dub Plug Power the “hydrogen-powered yo-yo,” questioning whether the company’s performance and investor sentiment will continue to result in dramatic fluctuations in stock price.
Progress Despite a Challenging Hydrogen Economy
Plug Power’s earnings report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 (Q3 FY2024) provides a mixed picture for the green hydrogen pioneer. While the company has made significant progress in its strategic initiatives and operations, its financial performance has been uneven, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the hydrogen industry.
Revenue for Q3 2024 reached $173.7 million, representing a significant increase from the previous quarter. This growth was primarily fueled by increased electrolyzer deployments, the expansion of Plug Power’s internally produced hydrogen network, and improved leverage on its manufacturing capabilities.
However, revenue is still down considerably compared to Q3 2023. This suggests that while the company is making progress in its core operations, it is still grappling with challenges in scaling its business and generating sustained revenue growth.
Profitability ******** a key concern for Plug Power. The company reported a ****** margin loss of 37% in Q3 2024, a decrease from the previous quarter. This loss was attributed to multiple revenue streams, including equipment, service, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and fuel.
While the company notes positive developments in these specific revenue streams, the overall ****** margin loss highlights the ongoing pressure on Plug Power to improve efficiency and reduce costs in its operations.
Despite the ****** margin loss, Plug Power’s Q3 earnings report reveals a positive development in operating cash flow. The company experienced a 31% quarter-over-quarter improvement in operating cash flow, driven by enhanced margins, working capital efficiency, and optimized inventory management.
This trend is expected to continue as revenue increases in the fourth quarter, further leveraging existing inventory and fixed manufacturing costs. This positive trend is a key indicator for investors, demonstrating that Plug Power is effectively managing its operational expenses and working towards achieving profitability.
The company’s Q3 2024 earnings report highlights the complex challenges and opportunities facing Plug Power. While the company has made significant progress in deploying its electrolyzers and expanding its hydrogen network, the road to profitability ******** challenging.
The company’s ability to scale its operations, manage costs effectively, and capitalize on emerging market opportunities will be critical to its future success.
Strategic Initiatives: A Roadmap for Growth
Despite the challenges faced by the hydrogen industry, Plug Power is steadily advancing its ambitious roadmap to drive growth and establish itself as a leader in the green hydrogen economy. The company is implementing a multi-pronged strategy, encompassing aggressive deployment of its core technologies, strategic partnerships, and innovative financing solutions.
Plug Power’s electrolyzer business has experienced a significant inflection point, with sales growing 285% quarter-over-quarter. This surge is driven by the contribution of 5MW system sales and the deployment of a large-scale order, including a 25 MW order from a ****** venture at the Castellón refinery project in Spain.
To further accelerate its expansion into the electrolyzer market, Plug Power has forged a ****** venture with Olin (NYSE:) Corporation to build a new hydrogen plant in Louisiana. This venture is projected to have a production capacity of 100,000 tons of hydrogen per year, further reinforcing Plug Power’s commitment to increasing green hydrogen production capabilities.
In Spain, Plug Power is collaborating with Carreras Grupo Logístico to implement a complete green hydrogen ecosystem at a logistics site. This initiative aims to establish the country’s first hydrogen-powered logistics hub, demonstrating Plug Power’s commitment to leading the transition toward a hydrogen-powered economy in Europe.
Plug Power is also working on securing a conditional commitment loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand its green hydrogen initiatives and infrastructure. This demonstrates the company’s focus on leveraging government support to advance the development of the hydrogen economy.
The company was also recently awarded a $10 million DOE grant to lead the development of advanced hydrogen refueling stations in Washington State. This project further highlights Plug Power’s dedication to accelerating the adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy solution in the transportation sector.
Balancing Risks and Opportunities in the Hydrogen Economy
Investing in Plug Power is a high-risk, high-reward proposition. The company has yet to achieve consistent profitability, generating losses despite its aggressive efforts to expand operations and capture market share. This ongoing challenge, coupled with the company’s reliance on the ATM Agreement and continuous need for capital raises, raises concerns for some investors.
However, there are reasons for optimism. Plug Power’s aggressive push into the electrolyzer market demonstrates the company’s commitment to capturing this high-growth segment. The company’s strategic partnerships are critical to its growth strategy. Additionally, Plug Power’s access to government incentives, including the clean hydrogen production tax credit, is a significant factor that could propel its future success.
Ultimately, investors must carefully weigh the risks and opportunities associated with investing in Plug Power. The company’s stock price volatility is a reflection of the ongoing challenges and potential rewards inherent in the hydrogen market.
While the company’s strategic initiatives hold promise, investors must determine if they are willing to accept the potential for continued volatility and remain invested in the long term. The future of Plug Power and its stock price will be a testament to its ability to translate its ambitious vision for a hydrogen-powered future into sustained growth and profitability.
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AFL draft: West Coast Eagles take Peel Thunder’s Bo Allan with top pick after surprise slip down order
AFL draft: West Coast Eagles take Peel Thunder’s Bo Allan with top pick after surprise slip down order
West Coast have landed the local gem after top West *********** draftee Bo Allan sensationally slid to pick No.16.
Allan was considered a strong top-10 chance but ended up still being available at the Eagles even after they did an live trade with Port Adelaide.
The big-bodied midfielder became the first West *********** taken in this year’s draft, having long been touted as the best young talent out of the state this year.
Remarkably, he lands at the Eagles after spending the year playing alongside several Fremantle players as part of their WAFL aligned side Peel Thunder.
Allan had a sensational draft year, playing 11 league games for the Thunder including their third premiership victory in September before staring at the National Draft Combine.
Camera IconBo Allan in action for Peel. Credit: Riley Churchman/The West ***********
The 191cm product also captained WA at the Under-18 National Championships and was named on the wing in the All-*********** side.
Allan was presented his guernsey by two-time Eagles premiership captain John Worsfold.
It came after the Eagles made a live trade, swapping pick No.15 with Port Adelaide for pick No.16 and pick No.45 to allow the Power to get in earlier and land small forward Joe Berry.
The trade meant that the Eagles got another pick in this year’s strong draft which they can use to bring more elite talent in or match an earlier-than-expected bid on Next Generation Academy product Malakai Champion.
More to come
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Unknown 9: Awakening (XS) Review | VGChartz
Unknown 9: Awakening (XS) Review | VGChartz
VGChartz’s Lee Mehr: “Putting the cart before the horse is Reflector’s folly in general. Even before Unknown 9: Awakening’s announcement, there’d already been two released novels that built up its alternate history, tone, and so on. Various other transmedia concepts followed suit. That concrete foundation, alongside its various high-budget game inspirations, seemed like surefire wins, especially with its more modest middle-market price. But then the rest of the game – presentation, storytelling, game design, etc. – has to be filled in and each individual category comes with its own set of problems. There’s something to admire in its audacious transmedia crossovers, but it’s a shame this first game can’t rise to the occasion. ”
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2 Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy and Hold for 2025
2 Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy and Hold for 2025
Cybersecurity is a growing need for businesses as threats rise in size, scale, and cost.
Fortinet is a leading cybersecurity provider with positive cash flow and a robust buyback outlook.
Datadog is a leading cloud-based provider that has solid cash flow and improves shareholder value.
Cybersecurity is a big business and is getting ******* every day. Attacks are growing at an alarming double-digit pace and will accelerate in 2024. The rise of AI will accelerate growth in 2025 and increase the risks as ****** hats get smarter and stronger. That means sustained demand increases for products from leading cybersecurity firms like Fortinet (NASDAQ:) and Datadog (NASDAQ:).
Fortinet: Protecting Networks From Cyber Attacks
Fortinet provides various cybersecurity products and services, from firewalls and other network security solutions to threat detection, response, and remediation. Its business is growing in 2024, sustaining double-digit growth and accelerating sequentially. Results have been outperforming analysts’ consensus figures, including guidance, which is rising. The company increased its guidance for the year at the end of Q3, suggesting the strength will continue into 2025. The forecast for 2025 is for revenue to grow by 12% and for the margin to widen.
Margin and cash flow are central to Fortinet’s appeal. The company’s growing, positive cash flow business allowed for substantial balance sheet improvement over the last year. The company’s liabilities are up but offset by increased cash, other assets and falling deficits, which drive value for investors. Shareholder equity inverted from negative to positive in the quarter and will likely grow in calendar 2025.
Cash flow and balance sheet health allow for robust share repurchases. The company reduced the count by nearly 2.5% in Q3, and the board increased the authorization. The new authorization doubled the remaining to $2 billion, or about 2.6% of the market cap, with shares near $95.
The consensus target continues to lag FTNTs’ price action, but the overwhelmingly positive analysts’ response to the Q3 release suggests it will continue to trend higher. MarketBeat tracks several upgrades and numerous price target increases, with sentiment firming to a Moderate Buy and the price target up 1000 basis points in 30 days.
Consensus implies a substantial decline in the price action, but the fresh targets, which are all in the high-end range, suggest that this market will move above $100 soon.
Datadog’s Cloud-based Security and Services
Datadog is more than a cybersecurity company. Its unified platform provides cloud-based monitoring along with a suite of other options. It has emerged as a go-to source for small and medium-sized businesses shifting to the cloud for simple, scalable solutions that provide utility and value.
Results in 2024 include sustained revenue growth in the mid-20% with outperformance on the top and bottom lines and improving guidance. Strength is being driven by adoption by larger clients, which is up nearly 12% for Q3. Other drivers of growth include partnerships like with Oracle (NYSE:). Datadog is generally available for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. This is significant because Oracle is the leading global database provider and is integrated with all three major hyperscalers: Microsoft (NASDAQ:), Amazon (NASDAQ:), and Google (NASDAQ:).
Cash flow and balance sheet improvements will help drive the stock price in 2025. The company doesn’t pay dividends or repurchase shares but may soon commence. The positive cash flow business allowed it to grow its cash balance, reduce its debt to nearly zero, and grow equity by 30% in the last year. Total liability is less than 1X equity, leaving the company in a solid position to continue scaling its business.
The analysts’ response to Datadog’s results is similar to Fortinet’s with upgrades and price target increases. The difference is that Datadog was already pegged at Moderate Buy, and its price target implies a 15% upside from critical resistance levels. The market will likely exceed the consensus because the positive trend and the freshest targets lead to the high-end range, another 1000 basis points higher.
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