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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 PA Media 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. Source link #Watchdog #probe #Police #Scotland #force #children Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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. Source link #fluffy #****** #replace #cat #dog #weird #emotional #week #**** #Artificial #intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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 Source link #AFL #draft #Fremantle #Dockers #select #Murphy #Reid #clubs #pick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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. Source link #iPhone #Launch #March #Apples #Modem #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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! Source link #People #Sharing #Jobs #Good #Living #Dont #Require #Lot #Work #Sounds #Everyones #Dream Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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 Source link #House #Republicans #playing #Trump #card #committee #chair #races Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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.” Source link #Craig #Bellamys #unrealistic #aim #Wales #top #international #team Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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. Source link #Manager #reportedly #cancelled #sales #expectations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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. Original Post Source link #Plug #Power #Stock #Mixed #Results #Adds #Volatilty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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 Source link #AFL #draft #West #Coast #Eagles #Peel #Thunders #Allan #top #pick #surprise #slip #order Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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. ” Source link #Unknown #Awakening #Review #VGChartz Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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. Original Post Source link #Cybersecurity #Stocks #Buy #Hold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Mind-blowing’ dark energy instrument results show Einstein was right about gravity — again ‘Mind-blowing’ dark energy instrument results show Einstein was right about gravity — again When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An artistic celebration of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) year-one data, showing a slice of the larger 3D map that DESI is constructing during its five-year survey. | Credit: DESI Collaboration/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Horálek/R. Proctor General relativity has passed one of its most precise tests ever thanks to observations of the past 11 billion years of cosmic evolution collected by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, or DESI. Albert Einstein’s 1915 theory, general relativity, has remained humanity’s best description of gravity for the past 100 years. Cosmologists have used general relativity to model how the cosmos has evolved — from its earliest moments to its current state — and shown how gravity brought together tiny clumps of matter to form vast galaxies as well as clusters of those galaxies. Yet, while general relativity has passed every test applied to it on relatively small scales, few tests have challenged it on very large scales. Scientists have now performed one such large-scale test by using DESI. They observed almost 6 million galaxies and quasars, which are bright hearts of galaxies powered by feeding supermassive ****** holes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this test, which has traced the evolution of the universe since it was around 3 billion years old, has once again shown general relativity to be the right “recipe” for gravity. “General relativity has been very well tested at the scale of solar systems, but we also needed to test that our assumption works at much larger scales,” study co-leader and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) cosmologist Pauline Zarrouk said in a statement. “Studying the rate at which galaxies formed lets us directly test our theories and, so far, we’re lining up with what general relativity predicts at cosmological scales.” Mounted on Kitt Peak National Observatory’s Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope, DESI is a state-of-the-art instrument composed of 5,000 “robotic eyes.” The experiment is now in the fourth year of its five-year sky surveying project, which will eventually see it observe roughly 40 million galaxies and quasars. Th sky-survey data could be essential for understanding dark energy and dark matter, the mysterious substance that outweighs particles of “everyday matter” that compose stars, planets, moons and everything we see around us on a day-to-day basis, but ******** effectively invisible. Collectively described as the “dark universe,” dark energy and dark matter suggests that everything we understand in the cosmos accounts for just 5% of its contents. A ****** circle divided into three sections by white radial lines “Dark matter makes up about a quarter of the universe, and dark energy makes up another 70 percent, and we don’t really know what either one is,” team member Mark Maus, a PhD student at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley, said in the statement. “The idea that we can take pictures of the universe and tackle these big, fundamental questions is mind-blowing.” Weighing cosmic ghosts General relativity may be the best description of gravity we have, but it can’t explain every single element of the universe that we currently observe, particularly the accelerating expansion of space and the gravitational effect of dark matter. The acceleration of space’s expansion is currently attributed to a “placeholder” force called dark energy, which escapes description by cosmological models founded on general relativity. This ******** to account for dark energy has led some scientists to posit alternatives to general relativity that are based on adjustments to Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity, which Einstein’s magnum opus theory superseded. These theories are generally referred to as “modified theories of gravity,” and they explain observations of the universe without the need to introduce an unknown, like dark energy. In addition to helping to validate the leading model of the universe based on general relativity, the Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) model, the DESI findings have also helped to rule out some theories of modified gravity. A warped white cone against a ****** background Additionally, the same results from DESI have helped to place an upper limit on the mass of so-called “ghost particles,” or neutrinos. Neutrinos get their reputation as the phantoms of the particle zoo because of their lack of electric charge and the fact they are virtually massless. As you read this sentence, trillions of these particles have streamed through your body at near-light speed, remaining undetected. Neutrinos are the only fundamental particles we have discovered whose masses have not been precisely defined by scientists. While previous experiments defined neutrinos’ lower mass, the DESI results set an upper limit, giving researchers a more well-defined mass range within which neutrinos should dwell. Red and orange threads meeting in nodes against a ****** background The new results come from an extended analysis of the first year of DESI data, released in April 2024. This data formed the largest 3D map of the universe created to date. These results were already remarkable because they seemed to show that the strength of dark energy is changing over time. The April DESI results focused on a factor of galaxy clustering called baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) oscillations in matter density that allow large-scale structures to grow. This new examination of these results included what researchers call a “full shape analysis,” which further examined how galaxies and matter are distributed on different scales throughout space. Related Stories: — Colliding neutron stars hint at new physics that could explain dark matter — ‘Impossible’ neutron stars could explain strange flashes — How neutron star collisions flooded Earth with gold and other precious metals Further results from the second and third years of DESI operations are expected to be released in Spring 2025. “Both our BAO results and the full-shape analysis are spectacular,” research co-leader Dragan Huterer from the University of Michigan said in the statement. “This is the first time that DESI has looked at the growth of cosmic structure. We’re showing a tremendous new ability to probe modified gravity and improve constraints on models of dark energy. And it’s only the tip of the iceberg.” The DESI results are described in several papers which were published on the research repository site arXiv on Tuesday (Nov. 19). Source link #Mindblowing #dark #energy #instrument #results #show #Einstein #gravity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stalker 2 is almost here and people are ‘warming up’ on the original trilogy Stalker 2 is almost here and people are ‘warming up’ on the original trilogy “For a game that came out on PC almost two decades ago, it looks great on Nintendo’s console. Resolution is stable when docked and handheld, with motion smoothing that makes rapid camera movement fluid. Options are plentiful, with copious sliders for controller sensitivity. There’s only a gamma slider for visuals, though, and it would have been helpful to enlarge the tiny text, a strain to read on a large screen.” – Ken Talbot | NintendoLife Source link #Stalker #people #warming #original #trilogy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rafael Nadal retires: What the 22-time Grand Slam champion means to Spain Rafael Nadal retires: What the 22-time Grand Slam champion means to Spain When travelling along the motorway past Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes this week, it was impossible not to spot the ginormous canvas paying tribute to the retiring Rafael Nadal. The middle of the banner has a cartoonish depiction of Nadal in a familiar pose. Biceps bulging out of a sleeveless shirt, sweaty scalp wrapped in a white bandana, plastered fingers on his left hand gripping a racquet. The caricature is sandwiched between two words: “Gracias Rafa.” A simple message, which evokes a multitude of memories for almost an entire nation, neatly summed up what Nadal means to Spain. “Gracias is the first word which comes to mind when you reflect on everything we have witnessed over the past 20 years, watching Rafa play,” Feliciano Lopez, Nadal’s former Davis Cup team-mate and a close friend for more than 20 years, told BBC Sport. “We can only be thankful to him, to experience and live what he has achieved. “Nobody in Spain could have ever imagined before him that we would have someone who could achieve so much on a tennis court.” The achievements have to be seen in writing to be believed: 22 Grand Slam titles, 92 ATP Tour titles, two Olympic gold medals, four Davis Cup final triumphs, 209 weeks as world number one, 912 consecutive weeks in the top 10. No wonder the fans flocked to Malaga on Tuesday – at varying costs – for what proved to the final match of his career after he lost in Spain’s defeat by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. They cheered. They cried. They even celebrated missed first serves by the Dutch in a football-style atmosphere. Source link #Rafael #Nadal #retires #22time #Grand #Slam #champion #means #Spain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Ignite: AI capabilities double every six months Microsoft Ignite: AI capabilities double every six months During his keynote presentation at the start of Microsoft’s annual Ignite conference in Chicago, CEO Satya Nadella discussed artificial intelligence (AI) scaling, through which the capabilities of the tech is doubling every six months. “Just like Moore’s Law, we saw the doubling in performance every 18 months with AI. We have now started to see that doubling every six months or so,” he said. He believes a new scaling law will emerge for AI based on the amount of computational time needed to run AI inference. This ability to scale is leading to three major shifts in technological development, according to Nadella. The first is what he describes as a universal multimodal interface universal interface, which supports speech, images, videos, for both input and output. Second, he said: “We have new reasoning and planning capabilities, essentially neural algebra to help solve complex problems and can detect patterns involving people, places and things. You can even find relationships between people, places and things using this new algebra.” The third is what Nadella calls support for “long term memory-rich context”, adding: “If you put all these things together, you can build a very rich agentic world defined by this tapestry of AI agents, which can act on our behalf across our work and life across teams, business processes, as well as organisations.” The company kicked off the Ignite event announcing previews of new AI capabilities. Among these is Copilot Actions, now in private preview, which is designed to enable anyone to automate everyday tasks in Microsoft 365 using simple prompts. Microsoft also unveiled new agents in Microsoft 365, including a natural language AI assistant for Sharepoint for finding and querying content more quickly, and a new Teams agent provides what Microsoft describes as “real-time, speech-to-speech interpretation in meetings”. According to Microsoft, meeting participants will also have the option to have the agent simulate their personal voice. Another new agent is for employee self-service. Available on Microsoft 365 Copilot Business Chat in private preview, this can be used to expedite answers for common policy-related questions and, according to Microsoft, simplifies action-taking on key HR and IT-related tasks, such as helping employees to understand their benefits or request a new laptop. The agent can be customised in Copilot Studio to meet an organisation’s unique needs. Other agents in public preview take real-time meeting notes in Teams and automate project management from start to finish in Planner. On the developer support side, Microsoft has introduced Azure AI Foundry, which it said gives customers access to all existing Azure AI services and tooling, plus new capabilities. Among these is the Azure AI Foundry software developer’s kit. Available in preview, this provides what Microsoft calls “a unified toolchain for designing, customising and managing AI apps and agents”. According to Microsoft, the Azure AI Foundry provides enterprise-grade control and customisation. It offers 25 prebuilt app templates and can be accessed from familiar tools such as GitHub, Visual Studio and Copilot Studio. Source link #Microsoft #Ignite #capabilities #double #months Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eight Magnificent Ancient Greek Works of Art Found in Foreign Museums Eight Magnificent Ancient Greek Works of Art Found in Foreign Museums Besides Parthenon Sculptures, many other equally magnificent pieces of ancient Greek art are displayed in various museums around the world. Credit: Public Domain The Parthenon Marbles, currently held at the British Museum, are by far the most famous of all the ancient Greek works of art displayed in museums outside the country and are surely the most controversial. But many other equally magnificent pieces of ancient Greek art are displayed in various museums around the world, and sometimes these priceless treasures are overshadowed by our focus on the lost Marbles. Ancient Greek Statue of Venus de Milo or Aphrodite of Milos, Louvre, Paris. Credit: Bradley N Weber/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY 2.0 The Venus de Milo, a Greek goddess at the Louvre Discovered on the island of Milos in 1820, the Venus de Milo is one of the most exquisite examples of ancient Greek sculpture. Immediately recognizable by her missing arms, the iconic sculpture ******** shrouded in mystery. Her arms have never been discovered to this day, and there is a healthy debate about who the sculpture portrays. Is it Aphrodite, who was often shown half-******, or the sea goddess Amphitrite, who was venerated on Milos? Meidias Hydria. Credit: British Museum/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The stunning ancient Greek Meidias Hydria in the British Museum This vase, known as the Meidias Hydria, is the finest object in the first collection of Greek vases assembled by Sir William Hamilton and sold to the British Museum in 1772. The figures depicted on the vase are divided into two zones. The upper zone illustrates the abduction of the daughters of Leukippos by Castor and Polydeukes with Aphrodite conniving in the abduction while the lower zone depicts Herakles performing his final labor. Discophoros at the Louvre. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Public domain Discophoros at the Louvre Museum This discus thrower is a reproduction of a lost bronze original created by the Greek sculptor Naucydes at the beginning of the fourth century BC. The athlete is portrayed adjusting his position at the very instant before the throw. This statue was part of the collection of antiquities at the Villa Borghese in Rome, where it stood with three other athletes around “The Gladiator,” which also entered the Louvre at the same *******. This occurred in 1808, when Napoleon Bonaparte purchased the collection from his brother-in-law, Prince Camillo Borghese. Winged Victory of Samothrace. Credit: Lyokoï88 /Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0 The Nike of Samothrace, a masterpiece of ancient Greek art The Winged Victory of Samothrace is widely considered to be one of the most celebrated sculptures in the entire world. Unearthed in 1863 on the small, beautiful island of Samothrace in the northwest Aegean, it is one of the Louvre’s most visited sculptures. However, you can find a faithful replica of the sculpture on the island today. The “******** Amphora.” Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public domain The amphora that depicts Achilles and Ajax playing dice Widely regarded as Exekias’ masterpiece, this famous amphora depicts Achilles and Ajax seated and playing dice; and you can read out the points won—four and three, respectively. This is indicated by the inscriptions that emerge from the figures’ mouths, as if in a comic strip. The two are portrayed fully dressed for battle with spears and body armor. This intimate view of life in antiquity makes the amphora a unique work of Greek art. Resting Satyr. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain The Resting Satyr, a common figure in Greek art, at the Capitoline Museum in Rome The Resting Satyr, or Leaning Satyr, is attributed to the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles. In ancient Greek Mythology, satyrs are male companions to Dionysus and are known for their love of wine, women, and playing music on their pipes or flutes. There are 115 similar sculptures of satyrs featured at museums around the world, making it a very common theme in Greek art, but the very best example of this subject can be found at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Apollo the Python *******, Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain The Cleveland Apollo, or the Python Slayer, a rare bronze work of Greek art This life-sized bronze sculpture, a depiction of a youthful Apollo, is engulfed in controversy about who its actual creator was. The sculpture is currently considered to be a product of Praxiteles’ workshop and may be one of the only large Greek bronze statues which can be attributed to a Greek sculptor. As rumors have circulated that the statue was looted from Greece, the country has made repeated attempts to have the priceless masterpiece of Greek art returned to its home. Limestone Herakles from Cyprus. Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art/ Public Domain Limestone Herakles, at the Metropolitan Museum of New York, USA Thought to have been sculpted in 530 B.C. – 520 B.C., this statue of Herakles (Hercules), from Cyprus, was created during the Archaic *******. Despite excessive, extreme restoration in the nineteenth century, which unfortunately altered many of its original features, this figure is evidence that Cypriot sculptors were working on a large scale as early as the beginning of the sixth century B.C.. Source link #Magnificent #Ancient #Greek #Works #Art #Foreign #Museums Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GreenTech secures funding for WA Whundo drilling GreenTech secures funding for WA Whundo drilling GreenTech Metals has secured firm commitments for $2.3 million via a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors with the funds to be allocated towards a staged drilling program at the company’s Whundo project in WA. The funds will be raised via the placement of 28,750,000 million new, fully paid ordinary shares at an issue price of $0.08 per share. Following the appointment of experienced mining executive Julian Hanna as technical advisor, GreenTech has ramped up its copper-zinc-gold hunt at the promising Whundo project in WA’s Pilbara region. A new drilling program is set to be to be released next week, with drilling expected to kick off in December. GreenTech is pleased to have received strong support for the placement, including from existing major shareholders. Combined funds raised from the placement, the drill-for-equity agreement and the EIS grant will be used to progress exploration at the rapidly growing Whundo Copper project. The placement will be undertaken in two tranches, with 10,000,000 shares allocated in the first tranche using the company’s existing placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1. The company says the remaining 18,750,000 shares will be issued in the second tranche upon shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), on a date yet to be confirmed by the company. CPS Capital Group, which acted as lead manager to the placement, will receive 15,000,000 options with an exercise price of 12 cents per share with an expiry date three years after issue of the options, subject to shareholder approval at the EGM. GreenTech will look towards an ASX application to list the options with the proceeds to be applied predominantly to additional exploration at GreenTech’s 100 per cent owned Whundo ground. The funds will also be applied to minor works at the company’s 100 per cent-owned Ruth Well project and its Osborne JV lithium pegmatite projects in which it holds a 51 per cent stake, along with other company projects and for general working capital. The company has received an additional $140,000 courtesy of the WA Government’s exploration incentive scheme, which it plans to put towards further development at its Shelby target, in the centre of the north-south Whundo trend. GreenTech has also entered into a drill-for-equity agreement with leading drilling services company Topdrill, under which the company will issue Topdrill fully paid ordinary shares in lieu of a part cash payment for drilling services rendered. The maximum number of contractor shares which GreenTech may issue is up to 35 per cent of the total invoice value for direct drilling services, up to a maximum value of $1,000,000. Together, the successful completion of all three funding streams suggest the company has strong investor backing in its continued development of the Whundo project, which is worth keeping an eye on. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #GreenTech #secures #funding #Whundo #drilling Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US Embassy in Kyiv shuts down after receiving warning of ‘significant’ Russian air ******* US Embassy in Kyiv shuts down after receiving warning of ‘significant’ Russian air ******* KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv said it has received warning of a potentially significant Russian air ******* on Wednesday and would be closed as a precaution. In a statement, the embassy also instructed employees to shelter in place and also recommended that U.S. citizens in Kyiv be prepared to immediately shelter in the event of an air alert. The warning was unusual for its specificity as Russian air attacks have become a common, near-daily occurrence in Ukraine. But it comes one day after Moscow said U.S.-made longer range missiles had been used in a Ukrainian ******* that struck a weapons warehouse in the Bryansk region after U.S. President Joe Biden authorized their use. Russian President Vladimir ****** said in September that if Western countries allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with their longer-rage weapons, “it will mean that NATO countries, the U.S., ********* countries are at war with Russia.” “And if it is the case, then, bearing in mind the change of the very essence of the conflict, we will be making appropriate decisions based on threats that will be posed to us,” ****** said. Russia has recently escalated air attacks, launching complex combined drone and missile barrages to target energy infrastructure this week as temperatures begin to drop. ___ Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at Source link #Embassy #Kyiv #shuts #receiving #warning #significant #Russian #air #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Euro-dollar parity is back in focus as Trump win sparks trade jitters Euro-dollar parity is back in focus as Trump win sparks trade jitters The prospect of the U.S. introducing a swathe of new tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump has led economists to say the euro could return to parity with the U.S. dollar in their 2025 outlooks. Since Trump’s decisive victory in the Nov. 5 election, which also handed the *********** party control of both houses of Congress, the U.S. dollar index — which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies — has soared to its highest level in a year. The euro has declined rapidly, meanwhile, briefly dipping below $1.05 on Nov. 14 for the first time since October 2023. Just two months ago, it was trading around $1.17. A proposed 10% universal tariff on all imports and a 60% tariff on goods from China — along with Trump’s plans to cut taxes and curtail immigration — are broadly expected to drive inflationary pressures in the U.S. That would cause the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates at a slower pace than expected, and to exercise more caution in the short-term. Higher interest rates generally support a currency. “The euro has suffered more than most in the wake of Trump’s victory and we doubt that will let up anytime soon,” James Reilly, Capital Economics’ senior markets economist, said in a note last week, forecasting the euro will hit equality with the dollar by the end of 2025. Just as the Federal Reserve may proceed with rate cuts more slowly and boost the dollar, the ********* Central Bank may now ease monetary policy even more than it otherwise would have amid the “economic ***** of slowing exports,” Reilly observed. A number of uncertainties remain, the economist added — including whether the tariffs can be legally implemented, whether they would simply be a negotiation tool or semi-permanent, and whether certain countries or goods will be exempted. 10% tariffs George Saravelos, global head of FX Research at Deutsche Bank, also said uncertainty was high and the key factors would be the “scale and speed of policy shifts.” “If the Trump agenda is implemented in full force and quickly without a countervailing policy response from Europe or China, we could see [euro-U.S. dollar] drop through parity to 0.95 cents or even below,” Saravelos said in a note, adding that this overshoot would take the trade-weighted dollar to a record high. A “more balanced approach” by Trump — still seeing a 10% universal tariff with a 2-year implementation *******, but with a lower 30% rate on China and less extreme policies on deregulation and immigration — would see the euro hitting $1, Saravelos said, matching the dollar’s historic record high but not exceeding it. Modeling by Barclays’ economists shows the euro hitting dollar parity with a 10% tariff on ********* products and subsequent retaliation. The same outcome was cited as a possibility in Goldman Sachs’ 2025 FX outlook. The bank said the prospect of Trump tariffs and fiscal reforms had caused it to revise its view that the dollar would gradually decline through the year, instead seeing the U.S. currency “stronger for longer.” At the same time, it revised its euro forecasts lower, stating that its economists “no longer see an economic outlook that is conducive to a gradual Euro recovery” — with factors including the ********* Union’s vulnerability to global trade uncertainty, and the ECB continuing to cut rates while the Fed takes its foot off the gas. However, Goldman also said the euro could surprise to the upside if trade policy ends up being “more benign,” or real rates in the euro area — which are adjusted for inflation — stay higher than expected. Russia tensions mount The euro was last worth less than $1 in the fall of 2022, when recession fears, the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war and an energy crisis weighed on the ********* outlook. The greenback was meanwhile boosted by rapid Federal Reserve rate hikes and a broader market move into so-called safe-haven assets. Before that, the euro had traded above the dollar for two decades. Since hitting a low in September 2022, the euro has been comfortably back above parity even if below its long-range average. One of those 2022 factors roared back into focus this week, weighing broadly on ********* assets: the threat of escalating tensions with Russia. Global markets were rocked after Russian President Vladimir ****** on Tuesday said the country had expanded the circumstances under which it will consider nuclear retaliation. It came as the Kremlin accused Ukraine of ******* controversial U.S.-made long-range missiles into its territory, following approval by U.S. President Joe Biden. A surge in demand for safe-haven assets boosted the ********* yen and Swiss franc, while also supporting the U.S. dollar, Jane Foley, head of FX strategy at Rabobank, told CNBC. “If sustained, the spike in tensions surrounding the Russian/Ukraine war has the potential to accelerate the downside potential in EUR/USD and increase the chances of a break below parity,” Foley said. — CNBC’s Ganesh Rao contributed to this story Source link #Eurodollar #parity #focus #Trump #win #sparks #trade #jitters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

No Supersayian Form of Goku May be Enough to Win the Mighty War Against Sun Wukong But ******** Soccer Fans Have Tasted Defeat at FIFA 2026 No Supersayian Form of Goku May be Enough to Win the Mighty War Against Sun Wukong But ******** Soccer Fans Have Tasted Defeat at FIFA 2026 None of Goku’s supersayian forms are going to work in a battle against the mighty Sun Wukong. The latter is far superior in battle, which makes even Goku look like an ant. Goku looks like a **** in front of Sun Wukong. Image Credit: Spike Chunsoft Fifa 2026 chose to design a poster for the ****** Qualifier between Japan and China with Goku and Wukong facing each other on the field, ready to battle one another. Goku represents Japan, and Wukong represents China. Japan overpowers China in soccer and takes an easy win over them by scoring 3 goals, while the latter only managed to score 1. Goku Stands No Chance Against Wukong Outside The Soccer Field The battle between these two will even shake the heavens. Image Credit: Spike Chunsoft If we were to make these imaginary characters from different worlds ******, there is a high chance that Goku will suffer a massive defeat because Sun Wukong is just a much more fierce and experienced warrior with a wide range of skills as opposed to Goku’s single-beam strikes and predictable hand-to-hand combat. It is fair to say that although Sun Wukong is bound to have an upper hand, the battle between the two is still going to be a spectacle to witness. Both characters stem from similar lore but have evolved in vastly different worlds. FIFA 2026 World Cup made Goku VS Wukong as a promo for Japan VS China Football ****** Qualifiers! pic.twitter.com/8lhrqKT6Mn — SLO (@SLOplays) November 19, 2024 Goku wouldn’t win that ****** that’s for sure — ****** ReaperKai (@Black_ReaperKai) November 19, 2024 Imagine wukong collab with db wukong with goku gi would be cool pic.twitter.com/HIa89qCHhe — Maicon (@Maicon75458987) November 19, 2024 Amazing art but if we actually take Goku vs wukong seriously. Goku is NOT winning. Sun wukong in the novel makes Goku look like an ant. — ドゥワン (@Duwang___) November 19, 2024 Both the characters had their games released this year. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero was released a while ago and became an instant hit with fans, whereas ****** Myth: Wukong is by far the strongest contender for being the Game of the Year. This Is By Far The Coolest Poster Design By Fifa Sun Wukong is a far more superior warrior than Goku. Image Credit: Game Science Japan is known for its anime and gaming culture, whereas China is slowly catching up to the same. It was very smart of Fifa to put two of the most popular pop culture phenomena on the poster of the match itself to show a deep respect for the country’s culture and attract many more people to the match. The poster opened up the stadium doors to a wider audience who came to see a ****** between Goku (Japan) and Sun Wukong (China). There was soccer being played in front of their eyes, but their imaginations made them see things differently. The poster in itself has become a pop culture phenomenon. In the recent battle, Goku managed to emerge victorious; let’s see what the future holds for him. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below Source link #Supersayian #Form #Goku #Win #Mighty #War #Sun #Wukong #******** #Soccer #Fans #Tasted #Defeat #FIFA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX Launches Starship Rocket as US President-Elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk Look On SpaceX Launches Starship Rocket as US President-Elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk Look On SpaceX achieved new feats during the sixth major test launch of its Starship system but nixed an eagerly anticipated midair “catch” of the rocket’s booster as President-elect Donald Trump looked on in South Texas. SpaceX’s launch system, comprised of the booster and Starship upper spacecraft, cleared the tower shortly after 4 p.m. local time on Tuesday. But minutes into the flight, SpaceX scrapped plans to attempt to catch the booster with giant mechanical arms — referred to as “chopsticks” — which the company completed during its previous flight. The booster, dubbed Super Heavy, was still able to perform a controlled landing in the ocean. “It was pretty epic on attempt one, but the safety of the teams and the public and the pad itself are paramount,” SpaceX engineer Kate Tice said on a live broadcast. “So we are accepting compromises.” After Super Heavy landed in the Gulf of Mexico, Starship continued its voyage through space. At one point, it successfully reignited one of its Raptor engines — the first time SpaceX was able to do so during these flight tests. Starship will need to reignite its engines in order to control its descent to Earth and maneuver through space. Starship then circled most of the globe before plunging through the atmosphere about 45 minutes into the mission, its body engulfed in the reddish orange glow of plasma as its upgraded heat shield endured intense temperatures while hurtling back to Earth. Starship appeared to survive the reentry, moving its exterior flaps to help guide its descent, though some showed signs of ***** and slight damage. Then, as Starship fell through clouds, it flipped itself and reignited its engines to turn upright and softly splash into the Indian Ocean shortly after 6 p.m. New York time. It then appeared to catch on *****. “Turns out the vehicle had more capability than our calculations predicted, and that is why we test like we fly,” Tice said. The largest and most powerful rocket ever developed, Starship is under contract to function as a lunar lander that NASA will use to put people back on the moon for the first time in half a century. It’s the centerpiece of Musk’s ambition to start a settlement on Mars. The vehicle is also meant to revolutionise SpaceX’s business plan. Designed to be fully reusable, Starship will be much cheaper to fly than any other rocket, according to SpaceX, and will eventually replace the company’s industry-leading Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. But to meet that promise of delivering a fully reusable rocket, SpaceX must refine its technique for recovering all of the pieces of Starship after launch. Successful ocean landing of Starship! We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower. [Hidden Content] — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 20, 2024 Around the time SpaceX aborted the booster catch, Trump and Musk left to visit the Starfactory courtyard for a visual tour of the factory bays and rockets. Trump had arrived at a launch viewing location with Musk about an hour before liftoff. Trump, wearing a blue suit and red MAGA hat, stood flanked by allies, including Texas *********** Senator Ted Cruz and Donald Trump Jr., as the group peppered Musk with questions on how the launch works. It was Trump’s first visit to a Starship launch. It follows several appearances with Musk, who has spent a significant amount of time at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, joining in on transition meetings and phone calls with foreign leaders. The billionaire, who campaigned on behalf of Trump in crucial swing state Pennsylvania, will lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, an entity that will recommend federal spending cuts, alongside former *********** presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk, who has been a near-constant fixture of Trump’s inner circle since the Nov. 5 election, has maintained that overregulation, especially surrounding Starship, factored into his decision to support the ***********. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said on Friday that as many as 400 Starship flights were possible over the next four years. That frequency can only happen if SpaceX perfects its landing strategy, so the company can quickly turn around the rockets for their next flights. Shotwell described the process as similar to the way airlines drive down the cost of owning and operating commercial jetliners. During the October test, the booster came very close to crashing near the tower, Musk said in a video on his X platform. SpaceX will need to address that issue as well as a laundry list of other things, such as refueling the vehicle in space, before Starship lives up to the full scope of Musk’s plans. © 2024 Bloomberg LP (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source link #SpaceX #Launches #Starship #Rocket #PresidentElect #Donald #Trump #Elon #Musk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pep Guardiola: Lewandowski, Puyol & Foden on playing under him Pep Guardiola: Lewandowski, Puyol & Foden on playing under him What is it like to play for a notoriously demanding coach? Players from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona reflect on working under Pep Guardiola. Watch Pep Guardiola: Chasing Perfection on BBC iPlayer and you can delve deeper with an accompanying four-part podcast series on BBC Sounds – ‘Sporting Giants’. Source link #Pep #Guardiola #Lewandowski #Puyol #Foden #playing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oppo Find X8 Pro ********* Price Tipped Ahead of Launch on November 21 Oppo Find X8 Pro ********* Price Tipped Ahead of Launch on November 21 Oppo Find X8 Pro is all set to launch in global markets including India on November 21 alongside the Oppo Find X8. As we wait for the arrival of these handsets, a tipster has leaked the ********* price of the Pro model. Oppo introduced the Find X8 series in China in October. The duo is equipped with MediaTek’s latest 3nm Dimensity 9400 chipset, along with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of inbuilt storage. The Oppo Find X8 Pro boast a Hasselblad-tuned quad rear camera system and is backed by a 5,910mAh battery with 80W wired charging support. Tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) leaked the ********* pricing of Oppo Find X8 Pro in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The upcoming Find X series phone will cost EUR 1,199 (roughly Rs. 1,06,900) for the 16GB+512GB RAM and storage variant, according to the tipster. This pricing is considerably higher than the price of the phone in China. For comparison, the handset is priced at CNY 5,999 (roughly Rs. 70,800) in China for the same RAM and storage model. Earlier this month, Oppo announced that the launch of Find X8 series will take place in Bali on November 21 at 10:30am IST. The India release will also happen on the same day. The phones are currently up for pre-booking now and are confirmed to be available for purchase via Flipkart in India country. Oppo Find X8 Pro Specifications The Oppo Find X8 Pro debuted in China in October last week with a price tag of CNY 5,299 (roughly Rs. 62,600) for the base 12GB RAM 256GB model. It runs on Android 15 with ColorOS 15 and sports a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. The phone has MediaTek Dimensity 9400 SoC at the helm. For optics, the Oppo Find X8 Pro has a quad rear camera setup comprising four 50-megapixel sensors. On the front, it has a 32-megapixel front camera. It houses a 5,910 mAh battery with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging support. Source link #Oppo #Find #Pro #********* #Price #Tipped #Ahead #Launch #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missing teen's final hours caught on CCTV: police Missing teen's final hours caught on CCTV: police CCTV footage showing inside the apartment of missing Melbourne teen Isla Bell’s alleged ******* has captured her final hours, according to police. Source link #Missing #teen039s #final #hours #caught #CCTV #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]