Pelican Press

Australia ‘ready’ to deal with Trump White House, Rudd says Australia ‘ready’ to deal with Trump White House, Rudd says Kevin Rudd says Australia is “ready” to deal with Donald Trump amid questions over the former Labor prime minister’s future as Australia’s ambassador in Washington. In a prerecorded address to a forum in Sydney on Wednesday, the envoy said Mr Trump’s historic second White House win was “important for Australia” and that the embassy in Washington had been “working hard” to prepare for it. “The election of the president of the ******* States is an important moment for the world,” Mr Rudd told the Sydney International Strategy Forum. “It’s important for our region. It’s important for Australia. “Here at the embassy, we’ve been working hard through the course of the last year to ensure that we were well prepared for this moment. And the bottom line is, we’re ready.” Camera IconKevin Rudd says Australia is ‘ready’ to deal with Donald Trump amid questions over the *********** envoy’s future. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Rudd said Australia’s relationship with the US “has gone from strength to strength” across the board, from defence co-operation and strategic alignment to trade ties and technology sharing. “This is no accident,” he said. “Our nations have worked together to ensure our partnership ******** strong into the future and continues to build prosperity, avert conflict and sustain the peace.” Australia, along with other Western allies, have been wondering where they fit into Mr Trump’s America first agenda. With threats of tariffs on foreign imports looming, diplomats have been working overtime trying to position their countries favourably with the US president-elect. But Mr Rudd’s past criticisms of the Mr Trump have sparked questions about his viability as Australia’s top representative in Washington. He has said Mr Trump was a “village ******”, “nuts”, the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”. Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham says the Coalition wants to see Kevin Rudd “succeed” as *********** Ambassador to the US. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asserted *********** Ambassador to the ******* States Kevin Rudd will remain in Washington for a year or more despite recent speculation about his position. “He has done a good job on a number of fronts to date,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “Only really Kevin Rudd and Anthony Albanese who put him there, can make the proper assessment as to whether he is getting and will get the access and have the influence that Australia needs.” Meanwhile, Mr Trump has called Mr Rudd “******” and “not the brightest bulb”. “If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long,” the incoming president said in an interview earlier this year. A top Trump aide also suggested Mr Rudd’s time was running out, publicly sending him GIF of an hourglass on social media. Though, Mr Trump is no stranger to criticism, with even his vice presidential pick, JD Vance, once likening him to Adolf *******. The Albanese government has stood by Mr Rudd, crediting him with much of the diplomatic legwork around AUKUS and Australia-US trade. The Coalition has also officially thrown its support behind Mr Rudd. Source link #Australia #ready #deal #Trump #White #House #Rudd Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring' Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring' Sony is in talks to acquire Kadokawa, the ********* media powerhouse behind the Elden Ring game, two sources familiar with the matter said, as the technology giant looks to add to its entertainment portfolio. Source link #Exclusive #Sony #talks #buy #media #powerhouse #039Elden #Ring039 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The dark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say The dark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say NEW YORK (AP) — Distant, ancient galaxies are giving scientists more hints that a mysterious force called dark energy may not be what they thought. Astronomers know that the universe is being pushed apart at an accelerating rate and they have puzzled for decades over what could possibly be speeding everything up. They theorize that a powerful, constant force is at play, one that fits nicely with the main mathematical model that describes how the universe behaves. But they can’t see it and they don’t know where it comes from, so they call it dark energy. It is so vast it is thought to make up nearly 70% of the universe — while ordinary matter like all the stars and planets and people make up just 5%. But findings published earlier this year by an international research collaboration of more than 900 scientists from around the globe yielded a major surprise. As the scientists analyzed how galaxies move they found that the force pushing or pulling them around did not seem to be constant. And the same group published a new, broader set of analyses Tuesday that yielded a similar answer. “I did not think that such a result would happen in my lifetime,” said Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, a cosmologist at the University of Texas at Dallas who is part of the collaboration. Called the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, it uses a telescope based in Tucson, Arizona to create a three-dimensional map of the universe’s 11-billion-year history to see how galaxies have clustered throughout time and across space. That gives scientists information about how the universe evolved, and where it might be heading. The map they are building would not make sense if dark energy were a constant force, as it is theorized. Instead, the energy appears to be changing or weakening over time. If that is indeed the case, it would upend astronomers’ standard cosmological model. It could mean that dark energy is very different than what scientists thought — or that there may be something else altogether going on. “It’s a time of great excitement, and also some head-scratching and confusion,” said Bhuvnesh Jain, a cosmologist at the University of Pennsylvania who is not involved with the research. The collaboration’s latest finding points to a possible explanation from an older theory: that across billions of years of cosmic history, the universe expanded and galaxies clustered as Einstein’s general relativity predicted. The new findings aren’t definitive. Astronomers say they need more data to overturn a theory that seemed to fit together so well. They hope observations from other telescopes and new analyses of the new data over the next few years will determine whether the current view of dark energy stands or falls. “The significance of this result right now is tantalizing,” said Robert Caldwell, a physicist at Dartmouth College who is not involved with the research, “but it’s not like a gold-plated measurement.” There’s a lot riding on the answer. Because dark energy is the biggest component of the universe, its behavior determines the universe’s fate, explained David Spergel, an astrophysicist and president of the Simons Foundation. If dark energy is constant, the universe will continue to expand, forever getting colder and emptier. If it’s growing in strength, the universe will expand so speedily that it’ll ******** itself in what astronomers call the Big Rip. “Not to panic. If this is what’s going on, it won’t happen for billions of years,” he said. “But we’d like to know about it.” ___ Associated Press video journalist Mary Conlon reported from New York. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Source link #dark #energy #pushing #universe #scientists Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indie Game Awards reveals it first slate of nominees Indie Game Awards reveals it first slate of nominees The Indie Game Awards Nominee Announcement The Indie Awards, a new ceremony created to recognize independent games, has announced its first slate of nominees. Balatro, Animal Well, 1000xResist and more will compete for Game of the Year, while several smaller games are represented in categories such as Solo Development and *****-Sized Game. The new show is being run by Six One Indie, a collective built to spotlight intendent games through showcases. This is the group’s first stab at an awards show, which will air on YouTube and IGN. The show debuts at 4 p.m. ET on December 19 (one week after The Game Awards). Its nominees were determined by a jury made up of publications and creators focused on indie game coverage. The inaugural nominee list has a bit of crossover with Game Awards nominations. Balatro will compete for Game of the Year at both shows, and mainstream critical darlings like Neva and Animal Well are represented by both. The list includes much deeper cuts, though, with Arco, Nine Sols, Mouthwashing, and more padding out an impressive Game of the Year list that also features all five of the Game Awards Best Independent Game nominees. Other categories honor much smaller projects that didn’t land nominations at The Game Awards. The nominees for *****-Sized Game includes Buckshot Roulette and Clickolding, while Cryptmaster and Oddada are up for the show’s Innovation award. Here’s the full list of nominees. Game of the Year 1000xResist Animal Well Arco Balatro Crypt Custodian Lorlei and the Laser Eyes Mouthwashing Neva Nine Sols UFO 50 Solo Development Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield Animal Well Children of the Sun Crypt Custodian Knuckle Sandwich Magical Delicacy Women-led Game Gourdlets Keylocker Love, Ghostie Mexico, 1921. A Deep Slumber Nightmare Kart The Crimson Diamond Narrative 1000xResist Arco Caravan SandWitch ***** The Spotlight Last Time I Saw You Mouthwashing Gameplay Design Balatro Grunn Minishoot’ Adventures Nine Sols Tiny Glade Victory Heat Rally Emotional Impact In Stars and Time Kind Words 2 (Lofi City Pop) Neva Selfloss Thirsty Suitors Until Then Innovation Cryptmaster KarmaZoo Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Oddada Rusty’s Retirement UFO 50 *****-Sized Game Buckshot Roulette Clickolding Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Minami Lane Please Touch the Artwork 2 Thank Goodness You’re Here Visual Design Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus Crow Country Harold Halibut Hauntii The Plucky Squire Ultros Music Core Keeper Flock Pacific Drive The Cub Thrasher Wild Bastards Notable Achievement in Accessibility Another Crab’s Treasure Elsie Periphery Synthetic Pine Hearts Steamworld Heist II Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure Debut Game Arranger: A Role Puzzling Adventure Lil’ Guardsman Little Kitty, Big City Loddlenaut Mullet Madjack Worldless Community Management Aggro Crab ****** Tabby Games LocalThunk Massive Monster NPC Studio Pounce Light Source link #Indie #Game #Awards #reveals #slate #nominees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Japan trade data, China lending rates Japan trade data, China lending rates The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) building in Beijing, China, on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Bloomberg | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were mostly lower Wednesday, following a mixed day on Wall Street amid mounting geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia. Investors assessed October trade data out of Japan. Export growth came in at 3.1% year over year, topping estimates by economists polled by Reuters and up from a 1.7% drop in September. Import growth also beat estimates at 0.4% but was down from 2.1% the prior month. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.25% in choppy trading, while the Topix lost 0.20%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was flat, while Mainland China’s CSI 300 was down 0.40%. China’s central bank left its benchmark lending rates unchanged on Wednesday after cutting them in October. South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.4% while the Kosdaq Index rose 0.35%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.30%. Overnight in the U.S., the Nasdaq popped 1.04% to finish at 18,987.47, while the S&P 500 gained 0.4% to end at 5,916.98. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 120.66 points, or 0.28%, to settle at 43,268.94. The market pressure began overnight after Russian President Vladimir ****** warned the U.S. that the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons had lowered, a new stance coming after President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia. Losses then accelerated on reports that Ukraine hit the Russian border region Bryansk with U.S.-made missiles. — CNBC’s Samantha Subin and Pia Singh contributed to this report. Source link #Japan #trade #data #China #lending #rates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Veilguard is beautiful in every way The Veilguard is beautiful in every way I can’t stop staring at Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Whether I’m exploring the game’s home base in the dream-like Fade, or a forest shimmering with golden leaves and wild magical energy, the game simply looks gorgeous. And, if you’ve got the graphical horsepower to see it, it also delivers some of the most sumptuous ray tracing I’ve ever seen. There’s a level of polish across every aspect of the game, including its new action-oriented approach to combat, that’s simply glorious to behold. Veilguard continues the story of the decade-old Dragon Age Inquisition, which was most notable for the shocking ending of its DLC. It turned out that Solas, one of your more cantankerous companions, was actually an Elven **** hellbent on destroying the Veil, a boundary he created to separate the real world from the spirit-filled Fade. Oh, and that’s where he also trapped even more evil Elven gods. Solas considered himself a hero, but then again, so did Marvel’s Thanos. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. This time around, you play as Rook, a new recruit enlisted by series regular Varric to track down Solas before he tears down the Veil. That happens sooner than you’d think — your team finds him and stops his magical ritual in your first mission. But doing so unleashes two very ******* off Elven gods, who proceed to wreak havoc across Thedas. BioWare wastes no time showing off its new aesthetic for Dragon Age. The game’s characters are more stylized than in Inquisition, but I didn’t mind the slight loss in realism. If anything, it makes this entry feel more distinct from previous Dragon Age titles. The sense of style carries over to every environment, as well. The Lighthouse, your base of operations, is a stunning series of medieval buildings floating in the middle of a dreamy, magical storm. I’d often find myself just staring off into the distance of the Fade, imagining what else lay beyond the horizon. That’s something I found myself doing in every new location, the detail in the world hints at thousands of untold stories. BioWare For a game that was , and suffered some (including losing its original creative director, Mike Laidlaw), Dragon Age: The Veilguard is surprisingly well-constructed. And throughout my twenty hours with the game (so far), it’s that level of craft and quality I appreciate the most. While the storyline isn’t exactly groundbreaking, I haven’t been able to put down Dragon Age: The Veilguard because it’s such a joy to play. The new combat system is more action-oriented than before (think of the difference between Mass Effect 1 and 2), with counters and special moves reminiscent of the recent **** of War. You can’t directly control your companions, but you can have them deploy special abilities that can either aid you or ******* your enemies. It’s a well-balanced system that makes small encounters feel genuinely fun, and it allows for some epic boss fights (some of which have lasted nearly 10 minutes and left my controller a sweaty mess). BioWare As you level up, you can tweak your character to your liking with Veilgaurd’s massive skill tree. I’ve honed my Rook to be a lightning-fast dual-sword wielding Rogue who isn’t afraid to whip out her bow for the occasional headshot. (You can also choose from Warrior and Mage classes early on, which should be pretty self-explanatory.) Each skill tree has three specializations: Rogues, for example, can choose to be Veil Rangers (an archery emphasis), Saboteurs (specializing in traps and poison) or Duelists. Personally, I’m a ******* for the Duelist’s double sword action. Battles can get hectic, and thankfully Dragon Age: The Veilguard performs well enough to keep up. While playing on a PC powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super GPU, the game managed to stay well above 100fps while playing in 4K with DLSS, “Ultra” graphics and ray tracing settings. If you have the hardware to support it, this will likely become a new showpiece for the possibilities of ray tracing: Lighting from the sun and magical elements realistically hits characters and the environment, and shadows across the board look more natural. BioWare But I was also surprised to find that Veilguard was also still very playable on my Steam Deck, albeit with low graphics settings (definitely no ray tracing) and a basic 30-to-40fps. That’s certainly not the ideal way to play, but it’s helpful for dealing with side missions in bed, or on the go. Given how well it performs on a mere handheld, I’d bet the game would play well on low-end and mid-range GPUs, as well as consoles, without much of a sweat. (And if you want to revel in advanced ray tracing features from your couch, there’s for the .) Beyond merely looking great, Veilguard kept me hooked because of BioWare’s attention to its characters. I enjoyed strolling through Docktown with Neve, who warmed up to my character (also a fellow Shadow Dragon) while discussing how much she loved her rundown neighborhood. I helped Davrin come to terms with his new role raising one of the last Griffons in the world, and I learned about the trauma behind Bella’s typically warm demeanor. As usual, you can romance any of your companions (how can you not love Neve?), and there’s still plenty of fun to be had trying to set up those relationships. BioWare I’ll admit, it simply felt good to pour some hours leading a group of ragtag do-gooders to save the world against relentless odds. That’s pretty much every RPG and adventure story, sure, but who can deny the pleasure of ******** a few evil gods? (Bringing on the combined talents of composers Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe to score the game likely also made me a bit more emotional.) After Baldur’s Gate 3 ******* to grab me (I’ll get back to it, I swear!), I feared that Dragon Age: The Veilguard would be another letdown. But it turned out to be exactly the sort of spectacle I needed: It’s beautiful to behold, fun to play and I genuinely enjoyed the new batch of characters. It’s BioWare at its best – I’m just hoping they can do the same for the . Source link #Veilguard #beautiful Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China keeps benchmark lending rates steady as Beijing assesses stimulus measures China keeps benchmark lending rates steady as Beijing assesses stimulus measures The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) building in Beijing on Dec. 15, 2022. Bloomberg | Getty Images China’s central bank on Wednesday kept major benchmark lending rates unchanged, as Beijing assesses the effects of its recent stimulus measures. The People’s Bank of China said it would keep the 1-year loan prime rate at 3.1%, and the 5-year LPR at 3.6%. Market watchers polled by Reuters had expected PBOC to keep the lending rates unchanged this month. There was “no immediate need to adjust the LPR this month,” said Bruce Pang, chief economist and head of research for Greater China at JLL, adding that the ******** leaders were likely still assessing the impact of recent measures aimed at boosting the economy. The record-low net interest margins at ******** commercial banks have limited their ability to support lower lending rates, Pang said, “while another policy rate cut before the end of the year seems unlikely, there ******** potential for interest rate cuts in 2025.” The 1-year LPR affects corporate and most household loans in China, while the 5-year LPR acts as a benchmark for mortgage rates. The rate decision came after a cut of 25 basis points to both the 1-year and 5-year LPRs last month, and followed China’s October economic data that underscored lackluster momentum in the economy, despite the recent barrage of stimulus announcements. In October, China reported slower-than-expected industrial production and fixed asset investment growth. The annual decline of real estate investment from January to October also steepened from a year ago. Only retail sales beat expectations, with a 4.8% year-on-year increase, indicating that recent stimulus had started seeping into certain sectors of the economy. Since late September, ******** authorities have ramped up stimulus announcements to spur economic growth, which has been dragged down by a prolonged property crisis as well as weak consumer and business sentiment. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance unveiled a 5-year fiscal package totaling 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) to tackle local government debt problems, while signaling more economic support could come next year. China’s central bank also planned to maintain supportive monetary policy, said Governor Pan Gongsheng, who had indicated in October that there was still room to cut several key policy rates by end of the year. Morgan Stanley expects China’s growth to slow to around 4% in each of the next two years, and has downgraded ******** equities to “slight underweight” in a note dated Sunday, naming a deflationary environment and rising trade tensions as risks. “We see a low limited chance that ******** government will front-load enough fiscal stimulus to target consumption and housing,” the analysts said. Goldman Sachs also estimated that China’s GDP growth could decelerate to 4.5% in 2025, from 4.9% this year, according to the bank’s note on Monday. Goldman, however, maintained “overweight” stance on China equities, forecasting a 13% upside to the benchmark CSI 300 index next year. Donald Trump’s election victory, which is likely to bring higher tariffs on ******** exports, has added to the uncertainty over China’s export-heavy economy. Source link #China #benchmark #lending #rates #steady #Beijing #assesses #stimulus #measures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How To Farm Exotic Ciphers In Destiny 2, Including The New Tonics Option How To Farm Exotic Ciphers In Destiny 2, Including The New Tonics Option Destiny 2’s Exotic ciphers continue to be a rare currency to get your hands in a consistent manner. Whether you’re looking to stock up on past Exotic items or upgrade your current armor past the full masterwork state, knowing the best method to get Exotic ciphers is key to maximizing your time. This guide will detail all available Exotic cipher sources in Destiny 2, as well as a farming method that has become available with the release of Act II of Destiny 2: Revenant episode on November 19, 2024. How to Farm Exotic Ciphers in Destiny 2: Revenant As reported by YouTube user Marshix, the addition of enriching tonics to Destiny 2 has paved the way for an Exotic cipher farming method. First, you need to be able to purchase purple tonics at the Tonic Table in the Last City. For this, you’ll need to craft as many tonics as you can until you gain access to higher tiers. We have a dedicated guide explaining how to get more tonic recipes and fieldwork in detail. Once you’re set, go ahead and purchase as many purple tonics as you can. There’s a chance of getting Exotic tonics, which can be used to get Exotic ciphers, as well as Ascendant Shards and Ascendant Alloys. Unlike the other existing methods, you’re not limited by weekly quests or reputation ranks for this one. It will still require some patience, however, as you’re dependent on chance–and it’s worth remembering that you can only hold five Exotic ciphers at any given time–but it’s good to have another option. The Tonic Table in the Last City. While Marshix uses the Tonic of Bitter/Sweet (Onslaught) Inert Enriching Tonics as an example for the video, people in the comments have shared that they’ve been lucky with Tonics of Glimmering as well. As long as they’re of legendary rarity (purple ******), you’ll have a chance to get an Exotic variant. How to Get Exotic Ciphers in Destiny 2 Alongside the tonic method outlined above, there are other existing Exotic cipher sources that are worth keeping in mind. As with everything else in Destiny 2, multitasking is key, so you’re best knowing all possible pathways to obtain the currency before jumping into activities. Below are the current sources to get Exotic ciphers in Destiny 2: Completing Xur’s weekly quest “Xenology” grants you one Exotic cipher: This usually involves completing Vanguard or Exotic playlist activities, as well as winning matches in Gambit or Crucible. Make you to always grab this quest on weekly resets so you’re not missing out on progress. Resetting Master Rahool’s rank: Whenever you reach rank 16 with Master Rahool, you’ll reset his reputation. This can take a while, as you’ll have to either turn in or focus engrams. Season pass rewards: If you’re diligent with your season pass, Exotic ciphers are available as rewards on occasion. Yes, the methods can be quite time-consuming–another Destiny 2 characteristic–so I recommend picking up Xur’s quest every week and keeping up to date with the season pass to claim the eventual Exotic cipher reward. As a reminder, you can spend Exotic ciphers in the Exotic Kiosk in the Tower to purchase old raid and quest Exotics, or use it to upgrade masterworked Exotic armor to gain an artifice mod slot. Master Rahool also offers rolls of Exotic armor pieces as well as the option to novel focusing, which is done to obtain pieces that were previously locked in higher difficulty Lost Sectors. Source link #Farm #Exotic #Ciphers #Destiny #Including #Tonics #Option Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*********** moves to bar trans colleague from women’s bathrooms *********** moves to bar trans colleague from women’s bathrooms Getty Images South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace introduced the measure on Monday A *********** congresswoman has introduced a bill to ban transgender women from using female bathrooms in the US Capitol, just weeks after the first-ever openly transgender lawmaker was elected to the House of Representatives. On Tuesday, South Carolina’s Nancy Mace said her resolution was “absolutely” a response to the election of Sarah McBride, who will be sworn into office in January. McBride called the move “a blatant attempt from far-right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing”. Republicans campaigned heavily on opposing transgender rights during the election. At a closing rally, Donald Trump said he would keep “transgender insanity the ***** out of our schools… and men out of women’s sports”. The resolution introduced on Monday does not specifically mention McBride, but Mace told reporters on Tuesday, that “it’s 100 percent because of McBride”, according to the Washington Post. “This is about women and our right to privacy, our right to safety,” Mace said. “I’m not going to allow biological men into women’s private spaces. It is the height of hypocrisy.” On Monday, McBride responded to the measure, posting on X: “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.” House Democrats strongly condemned the resolution and accused Mace of bullying a fellow member of Congress. “This is your priority, that you want to bully a member of Congress, as opposed to welcoming her to join this body so all of us can work together to get things done and deliver real results for the ********* people?” Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. It is unclear when the measure may be taken up by Congress for a vote. It is expected to part of the House rules package that members vote on after being sworn in. *********** Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Tuesday declined to say that it would be part of the rules package, telling reporters that lawmakers would seek consensus as they approach the “unprecedented” issue. “We’re going to do that in a deliberate fashion with members’ consensus on it, and we will accommodate the needs of every single person,” Johnson said. “We treat everybody with dignity,” he added. “We’ll provide appropriate accommodation for every member of Congress.” Getty Images Sarah McBride is the first openly transgender member of the US Congress It comes as Republicans in Washington DC and in state capitols have focused sharply on transgender issues, including seeking to limit access to gender-related surgery for minors and to bar transgender athletes from female-only sports categories. During his 2016 campaign, Donald Trump said transgender students should be allowed to use whichever bathroom “they feel is appropriate”, but he reversed his stance after facing *********** criticism. Source link #*********** #moves #bar #trans #colleague #womens #bathrooms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fortnite reveals important details regarding return of older Battle Passes Fortnite reveals important details regarding return of older Battle Passes Many Fortnite players would love to see older Battle Passes return, and here’s what Epic Games has to say about it. Source link #Fortnite #reveals #important #details #return #older #Battle #Passes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fearless for *******: British Evangelist Slashed, Imprisoned, Threatened with ******, Keeps Going Fearless for *******: British Evangelist Slashed, Imprisoned, Threatened with ******, Keeps Going LONDON – An ex-******* turned ********** evangelist has been beaten, chased by ****** mobs, unlawfully jailed and even stabbed, all for the sake of the Gospel. This is not in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. It is officially happening in ********** Britain. Her name is Hatun Tash, and what has been done to her has even caught the attention of the British media. Tash grew up in Turkey as a ******* and became a ********** after moving to England. And being an ex-******* speaking out against Islam has made her a target. She told us she has changed residences more than 50 times in the past four years because she knows Muslims are looking for her in order to ***** her. One man has already been sentenced to 24 years in prison for trying. Because of this ongoing danger, she asked that we interview her from a secret location. Tash told us her conversion to ******* began when she learned the truth about Islam and Mohammed. “As I read (Muhammed’s) biography, it was very disturbing to me. So, the man you grew up to love and honor suddenly turns out to be like, yeah, not good, not good. And I decided, I can’t be *******.” Then she learned about a very different **** than the one of Islam, telling us, “As you dig into it, you get to meet with a **** who is not silent or far or distant from you, but you meet with a **** who loves you, who pours out himself on you. And not only that, He just puts himself on the cross and then says, ‘I love you from everlasting to everlasting, Come to me.'” ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly ********** perspective.*** Tash began sharing this message to Muslims at Speakers Corner, in London’s Hyde Park, where speakers climb atop stepladders and vigorous debates ensue, often between Muslims and Christians. Her preaching and criticism of Islam has sometimes enraged Muslims, and three years ago a man slashed her face with a ******. He has never been caught. She however has been arrested unlawfully more than once. The London Police have twice paid her damages for wrongful arrests, including two years ago when she refused to leave the area where she was preaching. Tash was forcibly marched through Hyde Park, followed by Muslims celebrating her arrest. She was placed in a police van, strip-searched, and jailed. This has not stopped Tash from going to mosques and sharing the Gospel daily. “I would simply stand in front of the mosques, and I’d say ‘Muhammad is a false prophet. ****** ******* is the Son of ****. Tell me, what is your objections?’ Hundreds of Muslims just stop and then they want to talk to you. Sometimes you get harmed, sometimes it gets dangerous. Sometimes you end up in hospitals, sometimes you end up in people’s homes for a cup of tea,” Tash said. “I don’t care whether people ******* me or not. They need to hear the gospel,” she said. ********** Concern’s ********** Legal Centre has defended Tash. ********** Concern’s Andrea Williams told us, “The truth is that those that have attempted to ***** her have been caught on camera. The police know who they are, but they have not been arrested. She is feared by and targeted by ******* groups because she is fearless for the gospel. She loves ****** so much that nothing will halt her.” Tash says she will continue to preach and continue to challenge Islam. “Things are dangerous. Should I choose to stay silent? Like when people are spending 5,000 Pounds to buy a ****, to ****** you and ****** your loved ones? The Gospel is so glorious, I cannot be silent. And the Lord is the giver of life. So, when it’s my time, He will take me home. But until He gives me breath, we continue to preach.” Source link #Fearless #******* #British #Evangelist #Slashed #Imprisoned #Threatened #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to preregister for Infinity Nikki and all milestone rewards How to preregister for Infinity Nikki and all milestone rewards Papergames Anyone who loves the idea of free rewards will want to preregister for Infinity Nikki in preparation for its December 5 release date. The Nikki games are a franchise of dress-up games that first launched in 2012 and have a devoted fan base. Infinity Nikki is the first open-world gacha title in the series, and it will release on PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile. A commonality between gacha game releases is preregistrations with milestones. If enough players preregister to play the free game, then everyone will receive certain rewards once the game drops. If you want to receive the same rewards as everyone else will on launch, you’ll have to learn how to preregister for Infinity Nikki. How to sign up for Infinity Nikki preregistration Preregistering for Infinity Nikki is much easier than you may think. You just need to know about the correct website to start with. Step 1: Either on your mobile phone or computer, go to the official Infinity Nikki website. From its home page, find and select the brown Preregister button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Digital Trends Step 2: Enter the email you want associated with your Infinity Nikki account into the empty space. Above this, you should also select which system you plan to play Infinity Nikki on, whether it’s iOS, Android, PC, or console (PlayStation 5). Once you’re done, select the red Preregister Now button. Papergames Step 3: If preregistration was successful, you will get a pop-up with a green checkmark saying Registered. If this does not appear, try preregistering again with the same email or try a different email. Papergames Papergames All pre-egistration rewards in Infinity Nikki Fortunately, Infinity Nikki has already reached all of its preregistration milestones, with over 30 million users preregistered to play this game. On launch, if you have signed in with the same email you preregistered with, you should receive these rewards in your in-game inbox. 5,000,000: x50,000 Bling 7,250,000: x300 Threads of Purity 12,060,000: x3 Resonite Crystal 20,000,000: x1 Far and Away (4-Star Outfit) 25,000,000: x7 Resonite Crystal 30,000,000: x10 Resonite Crystal As a separate reward, if Infinity Nikki’s social media accounts reach at least 5 million global followers, the game will also give out an extra 120 Diamonds. Source link #preregister #Infinity #Nikki #milestone #rewards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sabrina Carpenter music video leads to New York priest losing job Sabrina Carpenter music video leads to New York priest losing job A New York priest who let popstar Sabrina Carpenter film provocative scenes for a music video inside his ******* has been accused of mismanagement and stripped of his duties. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello was relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” at the *******, the Roman ********* Diocese of Brooklyn said in a statement. ******* officials launched an investigation after the October 2023 music video release for Carpenter’****** song Feather, filmed inside the Our Lady of Mount Carmel *******. The Diocese said the investigation found other instances of mismanagement beyond the music video that appalled some, including unapproved financial transfers. “I am saddened to share that investigations conducted by Alvarez & Marsal and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP have uncovered evidence of serious violations of Diocesan policies and protocols,” Bishop Robert Brennan said in the statement, according to the BBC’s media partner CBS News. A replacement was installed and Mr Gigantiello was removed from his responsibilities, the statement read. Mr Gigantiello’s administrative powers had been revoked last November shortly after the criticism of Carpenter’s video. He was also removed from fundraising duties as vicar of development for the diocese. Images from Carpenter’s video show a crucifix with profanity printed on it and also Carpenter dancing on the altar in a short ****** dress. The diocese at the time said it was “appalled” and that proper procedures for filming had not been followed, the Associated Press reported. In a letter to parishioners last year, Mr Gigantiello said allowing Carpenter to film inside the ******* was a “lapse in judgment”. He has not responded to the allegations that led to his dismissal. On Monday, Bishop Brennan said a larger review under the investigation detected other instances of administrative impropriety, including Mr Gigantiello using a credit card for personal expenses. Bishop Brennan also said that, from 2019 to 2021, Mr Gigantiello transferred nearly $2m (£1.5M) in ******* funds to bank accounts affiliated with a former staff member of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams was indicted in September on five counts of ********* offences, including bribery, wire ****** and soliciting ******** foreign campaign donations. A number of investigations have centred on Adams and those in his orbit – leading to subpoenas, law enforcement raids and a flurry of resignations of top officials who help lead New York City. Source link #Sabrina #Carpenter #music #video #leads #York #priest #losing #job Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Oura Ring Gen 3 drops to a record low of $249 for ****** Friday The Oura Ring Gen 3 drops to a record low of $249 for ****** Friday The winter months can be a tough time for keeping up with health and wellbeing as colder, darker weather sets in. For anyone looking for a gadget to help them manage their sleep, activity and other health stats, now could be the right time to look into a wearable. The basic finishes of the are on ***** for $249 ahead of ****** Friday. That’s a $50 savings for the ****** or silver finish, which is the biggest discount we’ve seen to date on this wearable. You can also snag the luxe finishes for less than usual right now. The brushed titanium and stealth materials are on ***** for $279, down from the usual of $349, while the gold and rose gold options are selling for $349 instead of their typical $449 price tag. Oura Save $50 on the ****** or silver finishes of this wearable. $249 at Amazon The company did just release the , so this deal won’t give you the most cutting edge developments in sensors and design. But for someone who wants a less intrusive approach to a wearable, the Gen 3 still has a lot to offer. Our by Daniel Cooper pointed out that the Oura Ring offers impressively accurate readings even though all its sensors are packed into a much smaller form factor than a smartwatch. While he felt the design of the ring is a little bulky, in practice it was easy to forget that he had it on. Keep in mind that unless you’re upgrading from another Oura product, you’ll want to buy the size guide to make sure your new ring fits correctly. When you do buy a sizing kit for the Gen 3, you’ll get $10 towards the purchase of the actual wearable. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Oura #Ring #Gen #drops #record #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA’s economic growth falls to 0.5 per cent as farming and mining slow WA’s economic growth falls to 0.5 per cent as farming and mining slow WA’s economy grew at the slowest pace of any State or Territory in the year to June as two key industries cooled down following white hot runs. Source link #economic #growth #falls #cent #farming #mining #slow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Several Of The Best Marvel Board Games Have Supersized Discounts For ****** Friday Several Of The Best Marvel Board Games Have Supersized Discounts For ****** Friday Amazon has excellent deals on hundreds of board games ahead of ****** Friday, including a wide assortment of tabletop adventures starring superheroes and villains from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel Champions: The Card Game is available for only $37.33, over 50% off the strategy card game’s $80 list price. You can also save big on several campaign expansion sets for Marvel Champions. If you like miniatures games, Marvel: Crisis Protocol is definitely worth checking out for $59.49 (was $100). Other highlights include Marvel Villainous for only $14.69 and Marvel Splendor for $35. We’ve rounded up the best Marvel ****** Friday board game deals below. Some of these Marvel games are eligible for Amazon’s Buy Two, Get One Free Board Game *****, which we’ve noted next to the price. $37.33 (was $80) with coupon Marvel Champions is a cooperative strategy game for up to four players. The base game includes 350-plus cards, 100 tokens, five hit point counters, status cards, and movable dials to track stats throughout each run. Champions is designed for Marvel fans ages 14 and up, and each game, on average, takes anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. Though designed as a cooperative experience, Marvel Champions is known for being an excellent single-player game. Several Marvel Champions campaign expansion sets are on ***** for steep discounts, too. The Galaxy’s Most Wanted, a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed campaign, is available for only $20.66 (was $45); the X-Men-focused Mutant Genesis campaign is down to $28 (was $45); and The **** Titan’s Shadow starring Thanos is up for grabs for $16.66. $59.49 (was $100) Marvel: Crisis Protocol is a two-player tactical strategy game featuring an ensemble cast of heroes and villains. You and your opponent create squads of miniatures and race to see who can complete missions the fastest. Each game lasts roughly 90 minutes. The Core Set comes 10 miniatures and display stands for each character, various terrain pieces, cards, tokens, dice, and more. Here are the characters you get with the Crisis Protocol Core Set: Spider-Man Iron Man Captain America ****** Widow Captain Marvel Ultron Crossbones Baron Zemo Doctor Octopus Red Skull You can expand your roster of heroes and villains with character packs, several of which are on *****, too: More Marvel Board Game ****** Friday Deals Marvel Zombies Board Game Deals More Marvel Board Game Deals Source link #Marvel #Board #Games #Supersized #Discounts #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Satellite Shows Powerful Storm System Angling for Northwestern US Satellite Shows Powerful Storm System Angling for Northwestern US “Captivating” satellite imagery shows a low-pressure system heading for the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, November 19. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the “powerful” system would produce “significant high wind impacts and heavy mountain snow across the Northwest, while a strong atmospheric river takes aim at Northern California by Wednesday.” Satellite imagery provided by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the storm, which by Tuesday afternoon had produced sustained winds of 56 mph, the NWS said. Credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Storyful Source link #Satellite #Shows #Powerful #Storm #System #Angling #Northwestern Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A new trailer for the Minecraft live-action movie has been released A new trailer for the Minecraft live-action movie has been released Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have released the second trailer for the Minecraft live-action movie, which is viewable above. Following the release of a teaser trailer in September, the new trailer offers a longer look at the film, which will be released on April 2, 2025 internationally, and on April 4 in the US. Helmed by Jared Hess, who previously directed Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, the film’s headline stars are Jack ****** and Jason Momoa. They’re joined by Emma Myers (Wednesday), Danielle Brooks (The ****** Purple), Sebastian Eugene Hansen (Just Mercy) and Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus), among others. “Four misfits—Garrett ‘The Garbage Man’ Garrison (Momoa), Henry (Hansen), Natalie (Myers) and Dawn (Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination,” reads an official synopsis. “To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (******). “Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative… the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.” It was revealed this week that Merlin Entertainments, the group behind Alton Towers, Peppa Pig World, Madame Tussauds and Legoland, has acquired the global theme park rights to Minecraft. As part of the deal, two attractions are planned to open in the *** and the US in 2026 and 2027 respectively. These first attractions won’t be full-scale Minecraft theme parks, but will instead be included as themed areas in existing Merlin locations. Source link #trailer #Minecraft #liveaction #movie #released Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Comcast will announce the spinoff of cable networks Wednesday, sources say Comcast will announce the spinoff of cable networks Wednesday, sources say The Comcast NBC logo is shown on a building in Los Angeles, California, June 13, 2018. Mike Blake | Reuters Comcast is moving forward with the spinoff of its cable network channels, people familiar with the matter told CNBC on Tuesday. The separation is expected to take about a year, and an announcement from the company could come as early as Wednesday, the people said. The new entity will be led by Mark Lazarus, the current chairman of NBCUniversal’s media group, one of the people said. NBCUniversal’s Chief Financial Officer Anand Kini, will serve as the CFO and operating chief of the new entity, the person said. Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts will maintain a voting position in the company, but will not serve as an officer or on the board of directors, the person added. By separating the cable networks, it will give them the optionality to merge with other networks, or potentially be sold to private equity, one of the people said. The spinoff will be tax free and the share structure of the new entity will mirror that of Comcast’s, according to the person. At NBCUniversal, Donna Langley, the current chief content officer, will become chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios, while Matt Strauss, the current head of the direct-to-consumer unit, will be chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, overseeing sports, ad sales and distribution, the person said. Cesar Conde will remain as NBCUniversal News Group’s chairman, including oversight of NBC News Group, while Executive Vice President Adam Miller will become NBCUniversal’s Chief Operating Officer, they said. The company had announced during its quarterly earnings call in October it was considering a split of the cable networks. Comcast President Mike Cavanagh had said the company was exploring creating “a new, well-capitalized company owned by our shareholders and comprised of our strong portfolio of cable networks.” Comcast is moving forward with the decision as millions of customers exit the traditional pay TV bundle in favor of streaming. The company has been beefing up NBCUniversal’s streaming platform Peacock in recent years. Comcast shares were up more than 2% in after hours trading. The networks that are part of the spinoff also include E!, Syfy, Golf Channel, USA and Oxygen, a person close to the matter said. Bravo will remain part of Comcast’s NBCUniversal since its content is heavily featured on Peacock, one of the people said. Cavanagh had said in October that NBCUniversal’s broadcast network NBC and Peacock would remain with Comcast. Although cord cutting has impacted the business, traditional TV networks remain cash cows for media businesses. Comcast reported in October that third quarter revenue for its media segment, which is mainly comprised of the TV networks, was up nearly 37% to $8.23 billion, largely due to the Olympics. Without the Summer Games, revenue was up almost 5%. The spinoff will take roughly a year as the company figures out whether licensing agreements need to be put in place, and whether MSNBC and CNBC will continue to work with NBC News, two of the people said. Formal discussions have yet to take place between CNBC and MSNBC and NBC News, one of the people said. The spinoff was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. — CNBC’s Julia Boorstin contributed to this article. Disclosure: Comcast owns NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC. Source link #Comcast #announce #spinoff #cable #networks #Wednesday #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

When is Travis Scott coming back to Fortnite? All we know When is Travis Scott coming back to Fortnite? All we know With the Chapter 2 Remix season ending soon, Fortnite players are wondering if Travis Scott will return to the game. Source link #Travis #Scott #coming #Fortnite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Japan exports rise more than expected, rebounding from 43-month low Japan exports rise more than expected, rebounding from 43-month low A line of trucks parked outside a shipping terminal in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan’s exports posted a 3.1% rise in October compared to a year ago, rebounding from a fall in September that marked a 43-month low. The climb beat expectations of a 2.2% rise from economists polled by Reuters, and is a reversal from the 1.7% fall in September. Government data showed that ********* exports increased the most to the Middle East region, recording a 35.4% rise, compared to the same ******* a year ago. Imports to Asia’s second largest economy by GDP rose 0.4%, compared to expectations of a 0.3% fall from the Reuters poll. As such, Japan’s trade deficit expanded to 461.2 billion yen ($2.98 billion), wider than the Reuters poll expectations of 360.4 billion and compared to September’s revised figure of 294.1 billion yen. In a Nov. 19 note, Daniel Hurley, who is global equities portfolio specialist at T. Rowe Price, said that the key area to monitor for Japan equities would be U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for tariffs and trade relationships with partners. Tariffs are clearly the biggest risk for an open and exporting economy like Japan’s, he said, while also pointing out that the country has a very close relationship with the U.S., and Trump in particular. He added: “Any escalation of tensions between the U.S. and China on tariffs and trade is likely to weigh upon global trade and global growth. Japan, as an open and cyclical economy, will be impacted by any deterioration in global trade and the global economy.” Source link #Japan #exports #rise #expected #rebounding #43month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to get Juice WRLD skin in Fortnite How to get Juice WRLD skin in Fortnite Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix is entering its final two weeks as three hip-hop artists have taken over the island as bosses and dropped mythic loot for players to claim. They are Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Ice Spice, all three of which have their own Icon skin in the Item Shop right now. Apart from the already existing lineup of hip-hop icons, one more is coming soon to the island: the late iconic apper Juice WRLD, who Fortnite players have been waiting for a long time. Now that the time has finally arrived, Epic has released information on how players can get their hands on the Juice WRLD skin in the game. If you’re looking for the easiest ways to cop the Juice WRLD skin in Fortnite, we’ve got you covered right here. Juice WRLD Fortnite skins and how to get them According to Epic, there will be two Juice WRLD skins that will be released with the artists’ collab. One of the skins that will be released is the classic shirt and jacket style fans saw in the Remix trailer during the season’s launch. That outfit will be launched in the Fortnite Item Shop with the next update on November 21, 2024. The price and bundle items for the same are yet to be revealed by Epic. Juice WRLD The Slayer Juice WRLD outfit will be granted to players for free, according to an announcement by Fortnite. Epic said the following in their Chapter 2 Remix blog: “To honor Juice’s legacy and love for Fortnite, all players who log in between 1 a.m. ET on November 30 and 1 a.m. ET on December 1 will receive the cel-shaded Slayer Juice WRLD Outfit. Stay tuned for more details on celebrating Juice WRLD and Remix: The Finale later this month.” It was also mentioned that the Slayer Juice WRLD Outfit will be available for purchase in the Shop at a later date if you can’t make the event or log in during the applicable window. More leaks have also hinted that the cosmetic set will consist of two contrails, both of which will play a portion of popular Juice WRLD tracks in the game. If you’re still tuning in to Fortnite Remix, check out the best places to land in a Battle Royale match for a guaranteed shot at Victory Royale. Source link #Juice #WRLD #skin #Fortnite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CVS, UnitedHealth, Cigna sue to block FTC case over insulin prices CVS, UnitedHealth, Cigna sue to block FTC case over insulin prices CVS Pharmacy logo is seen in Washington DC, ******* States on July 9, 2024. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group and Cigna sued the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, claiming that the agency’s case against ***** supply chain middlemen over high insulin prices in the U.S. is unconstitutional. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, is the latest move in a bitter legal ****** between the three largest pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, in the U.S. and the FTC. The FTC in September sued CVS’s Caremark, Cigna’s Express Scripts and UnitedHealth’s Optum Rx in the agency’s administrative court, accusing those PBMs and other ***** middlemen of using a “perverse” rebate system to boost their profits while inflating insulin costs for Americans. The FTC’s in-house administrative process initiates a proceeding before an administrative judge who would hear the case. FTC commissioners then vote on that opinion. The Tuesday complaint argues that the FTC’s process violates the companies’ due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. The companies also allege that the FTC’s claims involve private rights that must be litigated in federal court rather than in the agency’s in-house administrative court. The companies called that process “fundamentally unfair,” noting that commissioners and an administrative law judge are “unconstitutionally insulated from removal by the President and thus are insulated from democratic accountability.” “This sweeping attempt to reshape an entire industry via law enforcement would never pass muster in a US district court,” the complaint said. In a statement Tuesday, FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said “it has become fashionable for corporate giants to argue that a 110-year-old federal agency is unconstitutional to distract from business practices that we allege, in the case of PBMS, harm ***** patients by forcing them to pay huge sums for life saving medicine. It will not work.” PBMs sit at the center of the ***** supply chain in the U.S. They negotiate rebates with ***** manufacturers on behalf of health plans, reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions and create lists of medications covered by insurance. The complaint comes a month after CVS, UnitedHealth Group and Cigna demanded FTC Chair Lina Khan and two other commissioners recuse themselves from the agency’s in-house suit. In separate motions, the companies argued that all three commissioners have an extensive track record of making public statements that indicate allegedly serious bias against the PBMs. Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum Rx are all owned by or connected to health insurers and collectively administer about 80% of the nation’s prescriptions, according to the FTC. Source link #CVS #UnitedHealth #Cigna #sue #block #FTC #case #insulin #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 6 best air fryers for 2024, tested and reviewed The 6 best air fryers for 2024, tested and reviewed You’ve probably been tempted to jump on the air-fryer bandwagon in recent months and, if you have not yet taken the plunge, we’re here to help. Like the ubiquitous Instant **** that came before it, air fryers have surged in popularity as of late, promising extra crispy foods of all kinds without the mess and danger of a big vat of hot oil. These small appliances come in all shapes and sizes now and they can be a versatile addition to your kitchen, so long as you know what they are (and aren’t) capable of. For those who are still deciding on which air fryer is right for them, our guide can demystify the space for you and highlight some of the best air fryers you can get right now. Table of contents What does an air fryer do? Let’s clear one thing up first: it’s not frying. Not really. Air fryers are more like smaller convection ovens, ones that are often pod-shaped. Most work by combining a heating element and fan, which means the hot air can usually better crisp the outside of food than other methods. They often reach higher top temperatures than toaster ovens – which is part of the appeal. For most recipes, a thin layer of oil (usually sprayed) helps to replicate that fried look and feel better. However, it will rarely taste precisely like the deep-fried version when it comes out of the air fryer basket. Don’t let that put you off, though, because the air fryer, in its many forms, combines some of the best parts of other cooking processes and brings them together into an energy-efficient way of cooking dinner. Or breakfast. Or lunch. Read more: We’ve also rounded up the best pizza ovens and the best sous vide machines. Best air fryers for 2024 Instant **** Capacity: 6-quart | Type: Pod-shaped | Cooking functions: Fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate | Weight: 16.19 lb | Power consumption: 1700W | Depth: 14.92” | Height: 12.83” | Width: 12.36” You probably know the “Instant” brand from the line of very popular Instant **** pressure cookers, but did you know that the company makes great air fryers too? We’re especially impressed by the Instant Vortex Plus with ClearCook and OdorErase, which features a clear viewing window so you can see the air fryer basket while your food is cooking, plus an odor-removing filter. In our testing, we found that it didn’t completely eliminate smells, so if you’re whipping up an air fryer salmon it might be obvious, but it seemed significantly less smoky when compared to our Breville Smart Oven Air. We love its ease of use, intuitive controls, the easy-to-clean nonstick drawer basket, plus the roomy interior – it’s big enough to fit four chicken thighs. Plus, this top pick heats up very quickly with virtually no preheating time. A slightly more affordable option is its predecessor, the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart. It lacks the viewing window and the odor-removing filters, but it still has the same intuitive control panel and roomy nonstick interior, so you can easily cook a chicken ******* or smaller meals from your favorite cookbooks. If you want an even ******* option, Instant also offers Instant Vortex Plus in a 10-quart model that has a viewing window and a rotisserie feature. ***** ClearCook window lets you see your food as it cooks Intuitive controls Easy to clean drawer basket ***** Can’t cook very large foods $128 at Amazon COSORI Capacity: 6-quart | Type: Pod-shaped | Cooking functions: Air fry, broil, roast, frozen, bake, reheat, preheat, dry, proof, warm | Weight: 13 lb | Power consumption: 1725W | Depth: 14.4” | Height: 11.9” | Width: 11.8” We’ve tested a few Cosori small kitchen appliances in the past and have generally liked them, and the six-quart 9-in-1 air fryer is no different. While Instant’s Vortex has the upper hand mostly thanks to its ClearCook window, those who don’t mind peeking inside the machine to check out their food should consider Cosori’s machine. Its six-quart capacity is great for side dishes like brussel sprouts and onion rings, but it’s also large enough to have quite a few chicken wings and a whole block of tofu without too much overlap. The rounded-square basket is one of the roomiest I’ve seen on a device with as (relatively) small of a footprint as Cosori’s air fryer. Overall, this Cosori air fryer crisped up foods nicely regardless of if they started off raw, frozen or fridge-cool. The nine preset cooking modes include a preheat option for starting things off right at the precise temperature, a proof option for bakers and a dedicated frozen setting for premade appetizers and snacks. Most people will likely use the standard air fry mode the most, but it’s convenient to have so many other options, including the basics like broil, bake and roast. After testing a number of air fryers over the past few years, I appreciate the small features this Cosori model has like an easy to use touchscreen, a basket release button (a good safety feature, since you must press it to remove the basket from the main unit) and the auto-pause feature that turns the cooking element off when you release the basket (it’ll turn right back on, though, if you just opened it up for a quick look). ***** Spacious cooking basket Nine preset cooking modes Handy basket-release button ***** A little on the wide side $120 at Amazon Ninja Capacity: Up to 10-quart | Type: Pod-shaped | Cooking functions: Fry, broil, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate | Weight: 19.80 lb | Power consumption: 1690W | Depth: 17.1” | Height: 12.8” | Width: 13.9” Most machines can make one thing at a time, but Ninja’s Dual Zone digital air fryer can handle two totally different foods simultaneously, making it a top air fryer by our standards. Available in 8- and 10-quart capacities, this dual-basket air fryer isn’t compact, so it won’t be a good option for those with small kitchens. However, if you have the counter space, it could be the best air fryer to invest in especially if you cook for a large family. You can prep two totally different foods, like a chicken ******* and brownies, at the same time with totally different cooking modes, or use Match Cook to prepare foods in the dual baskets the same way. The heating zones are independent, so if you only want to fill up one side with french fries and leave the other empty, you can do that as well. We appreciate how quickly the Ninja air fryer heats up (there’s little to no preheating time at all) and how it runs relatively quietly. It also has a feature called Smart Finish that will automatically adjust cooking times so that your fried chicken thighs in the first chamber and asparagus in the second will finish at the same time, so you don’t have to wait for one part of your meal to be ready while the other gets cold. In general, dual-zone air frying capabilities aren’t necessary for most people, but those who cook often will get a lot of use out of machines like the Ninja Foodi. ***** Two separate chambers for cooking different foods Smart Finish feature adjusts cooking times so foods finish simultaneously $196 at Amazon Instant **** Capacity: 2-quart | Type: Pod-shaped | Cooking functions: Fry, bake, roast, reheat | Weight: 7.28 lb | Power consumption: 1300W | Depth: 11.26” | Height: 11.73” | Width: 9.02” Not only is the Instant Vortex Mini budget-friendly with a $60 price tag (and you can often find it on ***** for less), but it’s also the best small air fryer on this list. Most air fryers will take up a lot of precious countertop space, but this two-quart model is great for those who don’t have a lot to spare and are looking for something that’s particularly user-friendly. The Vortex Mini can air fry, bake, roast and reheat, and you can control the temperature and cook time using the dial sitting in the middle of its touchscreen. Unlike some of the other, more expensive air fryers we tested, which have a variety of modes and settings, the Vortex Mini is ***** simple to use. Just plug it in, press the preset cooking method of your choice, customize the temperature and cook time and press Start. The machine will beep about halfway through the cycle to let you know when to flip your food, and it’ll chime again once it’s finished. Arguably the biggest caveat to the Vortex Mini is also its biggest strength. It’s so compact that cooking more than one thing, or a lot of one thing, won’t be easy. But I was able to cook a whole block of tofu cut into cubes (with a bit of overlap) and reheat (and re-crisp) leftovers in it for myself and my fiancé with no problems. Overall, this compact air fryer will be hard to beat for those with tight budgets and tiny kitchens. ***** Affordable Easy to use touchscreen and dial $60 at Amazon Breville Capacity: 1 cubic foot | Type: Convection oven | Cooking functions: Toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, proof, fry, reheat, cookies, slow cook, dehydrate | Weight: 38.9 lb | Power consumption: 1800W | Depth: 17.5” | Height: 21.5” | Width: 12.7” Listen, most people don’t need the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro. But if you love to cook, have a large family or throw a bunch of parties, you’ll likely get a ton of use out of this machine. This stainless steel countertop oven is a ******, measuring one cubic foot, so be prepared to carve out some space in your kitchen for it. But its size allows it to cook an entire 14-pound turkey and fit things like a five-quart dutch oven and a 9 x 13 pan inside of it. This large air fryer basically acts like a second oven, or even a primary one if your main oven is out of commission. As the best air fryer toaster oven on this list, it’s quite capable and its size helps since you can spread your food out to ensure things are as crispy as possible. It also helps that you can cook a lot of servings at once, which will make it easier if you’re preparing snacks like bagels for brunch, appetizers for a party or a side dish for a family dinner. In addition to air frying, it has a number of other cooking modes including toast, broil, bake, pizza, dehydrate, slow cook and proof. Despite the “smart” moniker, this model doesn’t have app connectivity – but you can get that feature if you upgrade to the Joule. That’ll allow you to get push notifications when your food’s ready, and the companion app also has guided recipes which you can follow along with. Unsurprisingly, like most Breville gadgets, both the Joule and the standard Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro are quite expensive, coming in at $500 and $400, respectively. But if you’re looking to add the versatility of a multi-use machine to your kitchen, Breville has you covered. ***** Can cook an entire 14-pound turkey Versatile with 13 cooking modes $300 at Amazon Ninja Capacity: 5.5-quart | Type: Pod-shaped | Cooking functions: Air fry, air roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate | Weight: 11.7 lb | Power consumption: 1750W | Depth: 11” | Height: 14.75” | Width: 14” Ninja’s 5.5-quart Air Fryer XL could be considered a decent alternative budget option considering it’s frequently on ***** for between $90 and $110. While that’s still at least $30 more than our main budget pick, Ninja’s machine more than doubles the capacity and adds a handy dehydrate preset for anyone that likes to make their own fruit or veggie chips. Some will appreciate the slightly raised buttons on Ninja’s air fryer for providing a bit more tactile feedback when adjusting cooking time and temperatures, and the fact that it’s tall rather than wide, taking advantage of likely unused vertical space in between your counter and cabinets. The biggest issue for me with this Ninja air fryer was its pod shape. While pretty standard in the world of air fryers, I found its circular cooking basket to feel much more cramped than the rounded square basket of our Cosori top pick. Nevertheless, Ninja’s machine cooked raw and frozen foods well and is another easy-to-use option that only requires a couple of button presses to get started. ***** Tactile raised buttons Includes dehydrate setting Uses vertical space on your countertop ***** Slightly cramped, circular cooking basket $147 at Amazon Buying guide for air fryers Convection ovens You can separate most air fryers into two types and each has different ***** and *****. Convection ovens are usually ovens with air fryer functions and features. They might have higher temperature settings to ensure that food crisps and cooks more like actually fried food. Most convection ovens are larger than dedicated air fryers, defeating some of the purpose of those looking to shrink cooking appliance surface area. Still, they are often more versatile with multiple cooking functions, and most have finer controls for temperatures, timings and even fan speed. You may never need a built-in oven if you have a decent convection oven. They often have the volume to handle roasts, entire chickens or tray bakes, and simply cook more, capacity-wise, making them more versatile than the pod-shaped competition. The flip side of that is that you’ll need counter space in the kitchen to house them. It also means you can use traditional oven accessories, like baking trays or cake tins, that you might already own. Pod-shaped air fryers Pod-shaped air fryers are what you imagine when you think “air fryer.” They look like a cool, space-age kitchen gadget, ******* than a kettle but smaller than a toaster oven. Many use a drawer to hold ingredients while cooking, usually a mesh sheet or a more solid, non-stick tray with holes to allow the hot air to circulate. With a few exceptions, most require you to open the drawer while things cook and flip or shake half-cooked items to ensure the even distribution of heat and airflow to everything. That’s one of a few caveats. Most pod-shaped air fryers – there are a few exceptions – don’t have a window to see how things are cooking, so you’ll need to closely scrutinize things as they cook, opening the device to check progress. Basket-style air fryers also generally use less energy – there’s less space to heat – and many have parts that can be put directly into a dishwasher. Some of the larger pod-shaped air fryers offer two separate compartments, which is especially useful for anyone planning to cook an entire meal with the appliance. You could cook a couple of tasty chicken wings or tenders while simultaneously rustling up enough frozen fries or veggies for everyone. Naturally, those options take up more space, and they’re usually heavy enough to stop you from storing them in cupboards or shelves elsewhere. As mentioned earlier, you might have to buy extra things to make these pod fryers work the way you want them to. Some of the ******* manufacturers, like Philips and Ninja, offer convenient additions, but you’ll have to pay for them. Air fryer ***** and ***** Beyond the strengths and weaknesses of individual models, air fryers are pretty easy to use from the outset. Most models come with a convenient cooking time booklet covering most of the major foods you’ll be air frying, so even beginners can master these machines. One of the early selling points is the ability to cook fries, wings, frozen foods and other delights with less **** than other methods like deep frying, which gets foods the crispiest. As air fryers work by circulating heated air, the trays and cooking plates have holes that can also let oil and **** drain out of meats, meaning less **** and crisper food when you finally plate things up. For most cooking situations, you will likely need to lightly spray food with vegetable oil. If you don’t, there’s the chance that things will ***** or char. The oil will keep things moist on the surface, and we advise refreshing things with a dash of oil spray when you turn items during cooking. Most air fryers are easy to clean – especially in comparison to a shallow or deep fryer. We’ll get into cleaning guidance a little later. With a smaller space to heat, air fryers are generally more energy-efficient for cooking food than larger appliances like ovens. And if you don’t have an oven, air fryers are much more affordable – especially the pod options. There are, however, some drawbacks. While air fryers are easy enough to use, they take time to master. You will adjust cooking times for even the simplest types of food – like chicken nuggets, frozen French fries or brussels sprouts. If you’re the kind of person that loves to find inspiration from the internet, in our experience, you can pretty much throw their timings out of the window. There are a lot of air fryer options, and factors like how fast they heat and how well distributed that heat is can – and will – affect cooking. There’s also a space limitation to air fryers. This is not a TARDIS – there’s simply less space than most traditional ovens and many deep **** fryers. If you have a ******* family, you’ll probably want to go for a large capacity air fryer – possibly one that has multiple cooking areas. You also might want to consider a different kitchen appliance, like a multicooker, sous vide or slow cooker to meet your specific cooking needs. You may also struggle to cook many items through as the heat settings will cook the surface of dishes long before it’s cooked right through. If you’re planning to cook a whole chicken or a roast, please get a meat thermometer! Best air fryer accessories Beyond official accessories from the manufacturer, try to pick up silicone-tipped tools. Tongs are ideal, as is a silicon spatula to gently loosen food that might get stuck on the sides of the air fryer. These silicone mats will also help stop things from sticking to the wire racks on some air fryers. They have holes to ensure the heated air is still able to circulate around the food. Silicone trivets are also useful for resting any cooked food on while you sort out the rest of the meal. And if you find yourself needing oil spray, but don’t feel like repeatedly buying tiny bottles, you can decant your favorite vegetable oil into a permanent mister like this. How to clean an air fryer We’re keeping clean up simple here. Yes, you could use power cleaners from the grocery store, they could damage the surface of your air fryer. Likewise, metal scourers or brushes could strip away the non-stick coating. Remember to unplug the device and let it cool completely. Remove the trays, baskets and everything else from inside. If the manufacturer says the parts are dishwasher safe – and you have a dishwasher – the job is pretty much done. Otherwise, hand wash each part in a mixture of warm water, with a splash of Dawn or another strong dish soap. Use a soft-bristled brush to pull away any crumbs, greasy deposits or bits of food stuck to any surfaces. Remember to rinse everything. Otherwise, your next batch of wings could have a mild Dawn aftertaste. Trust us. Take a microfiber cloth and tackle the outer parts and handles that might also get a little messy after repeated uses. This is especially useful for oven-style air fryers – use the cloth to wipe down the inner sides. If Dawn isn’t shifting oily stains, try mixing a small amount of baking soda with enough water to make a paste, and apply that so that it doesn’t seep into any electrical parts or the heating element. Leave it to work for a few seconds before using a damp cloth to pull any greasy spots away. Rinse out the cloth and wipe everything down again, and you should be ready for the next time you need to air fry. How to find air fryer recipes Beyond fries, nuggets and – a revelation – frozen gyoza, there are a few ways to find recipes for air-fried foods. First, we found that the air fryer instruction manuals often have cooking guides and recipe suggestions for you to test out in your new kitchen gadget. The good thing with these is that they were made for your air fryer model, meaning success should be all but guaranteed. They are often a little unimaginative, however. Many of the top recipe sites and portals have no shortage of air fryer recipes, and there’s no harm in googling your favorite cuisine and adding the words “air fryer” on the end of the search string. We’ve picked up some reliable options from Delish, which also has a handy air fryer time converter for changing oven and traditional fryer recipes. BBC Good Food is also worth browsing for some simple ideas, as is NYT Cooking, with the ability to directly search for air fryer suggestions. Aside from that, you can also grab plenty of cookbooks from your local bookshop with lots of recipes that you can use in your favorite air fryer. And if you have a ******* recipe or unique use for your air fryer, let us know in the comments. What’s the air fryer equivalent of the Instant **** cheesecake? We’re ready to try it. Source link #air #fryers #tested #reviewed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump joins Musk for rocket launch as he continues staffing up administration Trump joins Musk for rocket launch as he continues staffing up administration Trump joins Musk for rocket launch as he continues staffing up administration – CBS News Watch CBS News President-elect Donald Trump continued announcing picks for Cabinet positions and administrative roles, including tapping banking CEO Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department. Trump also joined Elon Musk in Texas on Tuesday for a SpaceX rocket launch. Caitlin-Huey Burns and Nikole Killion have more on the transition. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Trump #joins #Musk #rocket #launch #continues #staffing #administration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]