In conclusion, the rental market landscape in 2024 has been characterized by a decrease in rental prices in select cities around the world. Factors such as economic uncertainties, shifts in work patterns, oversupply of housing, and government interventions have all played a role in shaping the rental market dynamics. While this trend may signal more affordability for tenants, it also presents challenges for landlords and property owners. As the rental market continues to evolve, it is crucial for stakeholders to adapt to these changing conditions and explore innovative strategies to navigate the shifting landscape.
With the release of the major update for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, fans can expect to embark on new and thrilling adventures in the grim darkness of the far future. Whether battling on the front lines of war-torn planets or competing against fellow space marines in epic multiplayer showdowns, the game offers endless opportunities for excitement and camaraderie.
With backwards compatibility and new games like Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends Z-A on the horizon, the Nintendo Switch 2 already feels like it will be a success when it eventually makes its debut. However, it is starting to feel like Nintendo's inactivity on the Switch 2 front could lead to a few problems, especially if the company continues to dilly-dally and further delay the release date. Indeed, just days after Microsoft confirmed that a handheld Xbox is in the early stages of development, a new report suggests Sony is working on handheld device capable of natively running PS5 games. Sony's PlayStation Portal lets users access their PS5 library remotely via internet streaming, but doesn't let users download games directly to the device. It's a pretty decent console if you have a fast internet speeds, but you will experience connection issues and lag when WiFi cuts out or multiple devices are in use throughout the household. According to Bloomberg, Sony's new device is in the early stages of development, and will actually let you download and play your PS5 games directly from the device. This makes it much closer to something like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck in terms of functionality, just with a lot more power. Similar to the PlayStation Portal, the new Sony handheld would presumably come with all of the functionality that makes the PS5 such a popular console. It comes with a gorgeous 8-inch LCD screen, which can handle gameplay at 60 frames-per-second in 1080p. However, what makes the PlayStation Portal superior to similar remote play devices are the controls. the PlayStation Portal is essentially a DualSense controller with a screen in the middle. As such, it has all of the same functionality, including advanced haptic feedback, touchpad support (via the actual display), and adaptive triggers.As NVIDIA continues to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and address evolving challenges in the tech industry, its proactive approach to engaging with regulators will be crucial in maintaining trust and credibility with stakeholders. By upholding high standards of ethics and compliance, NVIDIA is setting a strong foundation for sustainable growth and long-term success.
This unique customization project was inspired by the mystical and enchanting world of the game "Path of the Goddess," a popular fantasy adventure game known for its intricate storyline and captivating characters. The custom XSX console and controller set pays homage to one of the game's most beloved characters, the Priestess Sibling, a powerful and wise guardian of the ancient goddess.MERIT — Thirty years ago, Bland basketball coach Bryan Clark started the Tigers’ annual basketball tournament. Bland observed the 30th anniversary on Thursday night by changing the tournament name from the Bland Invitational, to the Bryan Clark Invitational. Clark and his family were present for the ceremony including his wife, Norma, their children Cody and Meghan, plus Cody’s wife, Brionne, and their children Crew, Asher and Ensley, and Meghan’s husband, Rudolph, and their son Rudolph III. “Coach Clark was instrumental in creating this tournament 30 years ago,” said the master of ceremony, Rodney Godwin. “The last nine years Bland ISD and the coaching staff have continued to strive to keep this tournament something we could be proud of and a tournament other schools would want to be a part of.” Godwin said naming the tournament after Clark will “forever keep his legacy.” Clark served 29 years at the Bland ISD as a coach, principal and then superintendent. He coached the Tigers to 302 victory in 15 years as a head coach and served as superintended for 14 years before retiring in 2015. Both of Bland’s teams opened the tournament on Thursday with victories. The Tigers beat Boles 76-44 and the Community junior varsity 49-43. Weston Wigington pumped in 34 points to lead Bland to the win over Boles and Ashton Stepp fired in 15. Wigington led Bland against the Community JV with 22 points and Stepp banked in 15 points. Bland’s Lady Tigers beat Quinlan Ford 52-33 and then Como-Pickton 68-38. Sadie Soto fired in 14 points to lead Bland over Ford and Nicole Spencer added 11. Jaden Smith and Ashley Valderrama both tossed in nine points for Ford. Soto shot in 24 points to lead Bland over Como-Pickton, while Marley Frazier tossed in 12 points Spencer and Makila Watson both added 10. The tournament, which started with pool play on Thursday, is to wrap up on Saturday with the girls championship game at 4:30 p.m. and the boys finals at 5:45 p.m. 30th annual Bryan Clark Invitational Thursday’s results Boys games Bland 76, Boles 44 B: Efren Aguirre 6, Weston Wigington 34, Eli Ferrufino 4, Mateo Alvarez 6, Teagen Hurst 8, Isaac Oleru 6, Ashton Stepp 15. Bland 49, Community JV 43 B: Dakota Blankenship 2, Weston Wigington 22, Mateo Alvarez 5, Teagen Hurst 3, Isaac Oleru 4, Ashton Stepp 15. C: Andre Bragg 17, Chase Williams 10, Alex Kresska 10. Saltillo 67, Ector 40 S: Heston Peeples 13, Mason Stillwagoner 15, Colby Cook 12. E: Jayce Adams 17, Keithlen Miller 12. Yantis 66, Community JV 32 Y: C.J. Madison 19, Anthony Lopez 10. C: Chase Willliams 10 Joshua Summer 8. Yantis 63, Miller Grove 43 Y: C.J. Madison 36.Alex Lopez 11. MG: Ryker Haivala 12, Christian 11. Girls games Bland 68, Como-Pickton 38 B: Cami Fernandez 9, Nicole Spencer 10, Sadie Soto 24, Zoey Lawson 3, Makila Watson 10, Marley Frazier 12. CP: Shyann Wetzel 11, Kati Calvillo 9. Bland 52, Quinlan Ford 33 B: Nicole Spencer 11, Sadie Soto 14, Marley Frazier 8. QF: Jaden Smith 9, Ashley Valderrama 9. Blue Ridge 45, Boles 44 BR: Avery Wood 15, JoJo Liescheski 8, Kenzie Baker 8. B: Avery Gatson 9, Mia Nowlin 10, Olivia Neely 12.
In light of these developments, it is essential for policymakers, businesses, and individuals to adapt to the changing climate reality and prepare for potential disruptions. This may involve implementing strategies to mitigate the impact of shifting weather patterns, such as enhancing infrastructure resilience, investing in renewable energy sources, and promoting sustainable consumption practices. Additionally, increased research and monitoring of climate phenomena, such as the "failed cooling down" effect, are crucial for improving our understanding of climate change dynamics and informing effective responses.Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National ChampionshipA recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!
As the dust settles on this scandal, the online community is left to reflect on the ethics and responsibilities of content creators in the digital age. While the lure of internet fame and fortune may be strong, it is important to remember that the price of sacrificing integrity and decency for attention is a steep one that can have lasting consequences. Let this be a lesson to all who seek to make a name for themselves in the online world: true success comes from staying true to oneself and creating content that uplifts and inspires, rather than degrades and offends.WA’s Liberal party leader has thrown down the gauntlet to challengers after polling predicted the “immediate appointment” of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas as leader would allow the flailing party to gain back five seats at the election. Libby Mettam has labelled the polling, commissioned by a mystery Perth business person with links to the party, as ‘flawed and clearly biased’, and has challenged anyone who wishes to be leader to move a no confidence motion against her during a party meeting on Tuesday. Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam. Credit: WAtoday “Constant undermining of leaders, especially from the shadows within, is a sad reality in politics today,” she said. “But rather than weaken me it has made me stronger and more determined to succeed - not for myself - but for the people of Western Australia who deserve better. “I’m not a quitter, I’m a fighter.” The polling, published in The West Australian today, suggested another catastrophic election for the Liberals come election day in March. The party currently holds just three out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the polling predicting it’s gone backwards since the 2021 election, losing ground in 14 key metropolitan seats. Under Mettam, the party is predicted to suffer a 4 per cent drop in the Liberal primary vote to 31 per cent. On the flip-side, the polling suggests a 3 per cent swing towards the Liberal party under Zempilas’ leadership, and a 38 per cent primary vote. The research, carried out by Sodali and Co, said Zempilas’ leadership could deliver wins in Churchlands, Nedlands, Carine, Bateman and Scarborough. Mettam said she was aware of the polling, and it had been assessed by a reputable polling specialist who said it showed an obvious bias and was “as exercise loaded in favour of Zempilas, masquerading as genuine voter insight”. “Many elements of this ‘polling’, including the key ‘aided’ vote measure which is used to make the central argument regarding Zempilas does not adopt a statistically rigorous, transparent, or best practice approach and provides no meaningful insight into the intentions of the electorate,” she said. “Despite asking, I have no knowledge of the identity of those that commissioned, funded or supported the commissioning this “polling” – only that they were “businessmen”. “Rather than hide like gutless little cowards in the shadows – they should show some strength of character and be transparent as clearly their intentions are. “While this “polling” was designed and conducted by others to benefit Basil Zempilas, I welcome and thank Basil for publicly making his support for me and his position clear.” Zempilas is the Liberal candidate for the seat of Churchlands, but is not an elected member of Parliament. However, there is precedent for Liberal leaders to lead the party from the outside of the campaign. Campbell Newman lead the Liberals to victory at the 2012 state Queensland election as leader of the Liberals campaign party campaign. Mettam said if a motion of no confidence against her is passed, she will step down as leader.American Graphite Producers File Trade Case with U.S. Government Over Anticompetitive Graphite Prices on Chinese ExportsRecently, the tech investment landscape has been witnessing a wave of strategic investments in semiconductor and artificial intelligence companies. Leading the charge are major funds that have been making consecutive investments in prominent players such as Horizon Robotics and Semiconductors. Their approach has been defined by patience and a long-term vision, earning them the moniker of "patient capital."
Regardless of the reasons behind his laughter, the video of the released prisoner running and laughing sparked a wave of emotions across social media. Many praised his courage and resilience, while others expressed outrage at the conditions that led to his imprisonment in the first place.I’m A Celebrity’s Jane Moore bravely faces first Bushtucker Trial as her panicked campmates scream in terrorAfter a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is garble that can't be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won't be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here's a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you're an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there's a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption to all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal's encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp, so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger, which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels" but contrary to popular perception, it doesn't turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in France. Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding an IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed.