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A colossal squid has been caught on camera for the first time in the deep sea by an international team of researchers steering a remotely operated submersible. The sighting was announced Tuesday by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. The squid filmed was a juvenile about 1 foot (30 centimeters) in length at a depth of 1,968 feet (600 meters) in the South Atlantic Ocean. Full-grown adult colossal squids, which scientists have uncovered from the bellies of whales and seabirds, can reach lengths up to 23 feet (7 meters) almost the size of a small fire truck. The squid was spied last month near the South Sandwich Islands during an expedition to search for new sea life. Researchers waited to verify the species identification with other independent scientists before releasing the footage. I really love that we have seen a young colossal squid first. This animal is so beautiful, said Kat Bolstad, a squid researcher at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, who helped confirm it. Researchers are testing different cameras in hopes of catching an adult colossal squid, Bolstad said. The young squid is almost entirely transparent, with thin arms. As adults, the squids lose this glassy appearance and become an opaque dark red or purple. When full grown, they are considered to be the world’s largest known invertebrates. Christina Larson, AP science writer AP video journalist Mustakim Hasnath contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Tesla‘s electric-vehicle registrations in California dropped 15.1% during the first quarter, industry data showed, signaling an accelerated decline and growing challenges for the Elon Musk-led automaker in its biggest U.S. market. In California, often viewed as a bellwether for EV trends, Tesla’s share has fallen to 43.9% from 55.5% a year earlier, while brands such as Honda, Ford and GM’s Chevrolet have grown their footprint, according to the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA). Overall zero-emission vehicle sales in the state also rose 7.3% during the same period. “An aging product lineup and backlash against Musk’s political initiatives are likely key factors for the decline in Tesla BEV market share,” the industry body said. The company reported earlier this month its first-quarter sales globally fell 13% to the lowest in nearly three years, hurt by pushback against Musk, rising competition and as customers wait for a refresh of its bestselling Model Y. The billionaire’s leadership of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency has sparked widespread protests across the United States, with activists demonstrating against his role in federal workforce cuts and the cancellation of contracts funding global humanitarian programs. Musk’s popularity has been declining among liberal voters, who have traditionally been more inclined to purchase electric vehicles, particularly in environmentally conscious markets such as California. California accounts for nearly a third of Tesla’s sales in the U.S., according to Reuters calculations based on data from Cox Automotive and the California New Car Dealers Association. The CNCDA also expects new vehicle registrations in the state to fall 2.3% from last year due to U.S. trade policies. Model Y snags While the Model Y remained the best-selling EV in the state, its sales plummeted about 30% in the first quarter, compared with a year earlier. Tesla said earlier this month that retooling production lines for the refreshed Model Y at four of its factories resulted in several weeks of lost production during the first quarter. Meanwhile, analysts attributed some of the drop in overall sales in the January-March period to customers waiting for cheaper versions of the refreshed Model Y crossover. Investors will be closely watching Tesla’s earnings report on Tuesday for indications of whether the company will maintain its annual growth forecast despite the challenging quarter. Akash Sriram, Reuters
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With stock market charts resembling the contours of a roller-coaster ride in recent days, many Americans could be forgiven for eyeing their 401(k)s with a little concern. Retirement savings are crucial to the financial well-being of millions of especially older people in the U.S., so the concern is understandable. But just how worried should people be by market fluctuations? And just how big a hit do 401(k)s take when markets fall? The Conversation turned to Western Governors Universitys Ronald Premuroso, an expert in this area, for answers. What is a 401(k)? Simply put, a 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan in which employees contribute a portion of their compensation on a tax-deferred basis. The employee is eligible at any age to contribute to a 401(k) plan and has the option to pay into these plans throughout their employment. Many employers match some or all of an employees contributions, making the plan even more attractive. What about withdrawals? Under Internal Revenue Service rules, someone with a 401(k) is required to start making monetary withdrawals from their plan when they reach age 73. Some people start withdrawing at an earlier age. Someone with a 401(k) can withdraw funds from the plan early, and at any time. But the money amounts withdrawn will typically be deemed taxable income. In addition, those age 59 and a half and under will likely face a 10% penalty on the withdrawal, unless the employers plan allows for hardship distributions, early withdrawals or loans from your plan account. The IRS has specific rules for these early withdrawals; if you find yourself in this situation, you should get help from a tax professional. All withdrawals starting at age 73, which tax professionals call RMDs, are then taxable in retirement presumably at a lower tax rate than the employee was subject to while employed and working. So these withdrawals starting at age 73 can be a very tax-efficient way of financial planning, including personal income tax planning, for later in life, especially in ones retirement years. Again, its important to get help from a tax professional to make sure you meet the IRS RMD dollar withdrawal requirements once you start withdrawing. In calendar-year 2025, the most that an employee can contribute to a tax-deferred 401(k) plan annually is US$23,500, including the employers match. Super catch-up contributions are allowed for employees over the age of 50 to their employers 401(k) plan each year indexed to inflation. In 2025, super catch-up contributions allow individuals age 50 and older to contribute an additional $7,500 beyond the standard limit, bringing their total annual contribution to $31,000. For those turning age 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2025, the SECURE Act 2.0 allows a higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250, resulting in a total allowable contribution of $34,750 in 2025. When and why did 401(k)s become popular? Before 1978, retirement savings options were limited. In 1935, Congress created the Social Security Retirement Plan. This was followed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, which created individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, as a way for employees to save tax-deferred money for their retirement. 401(k) plans became popular with the passage of the Revenue Act of 1978 by Congress. Congress saw 401(k) plans at that time as an alternative way to supplement Social Security benefits that all eligible Americans are entitled to receive upon retirement. In 1981, the IRS issued new rules and regulations allowing employees to fund their 401(k)s through payroll deductions. This significantly increased the number of employees contributing to their employers 401(k) plans. As of September 2024, Americans held $8.9 trillion in 401(k) plans, according to the Investment Company Institute. A study published by the Pension Rights Center toward the end of 2023 using data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics concluded that 56% of all workers including private sector and state and local government workers participate in a workplace retirement plan. That equates to 145 million full- and part-time workers. How are 401(k) plans affected by market rises and falls? Contributions to a 401(k) are typically invested in a variety of financial instruments, including in the stock market. Most 401(k) plans offer investment options with varying levels of risk, allowing employees to choose based on their personal comfort levels and financial goals. Employers typically outsource the management of these 401(k) plans to third parties. Some of the largest companies managing 401(k) funds on behalf of employers and employees include Fidelity Investments, T. Rowe Price and Charles Schwab, to name just a few. Because many of these investments are tied to the stock market, 401(k) balances can rise or fall with market fluctuations. Should I be worried about the stock market tanking my 401(k)? It depends on when you started making contributions, when you plan to retire and when you expect to start making withdrawals. Employees with 401(k) accounts should only be worried about falling stocks if they need the money right now either for retirement living expenses or for other emergency reasons. If you dont need to take money out soon, theres usually no reason to panic. History has shown that markets can rebound quickly; short-term drops often dont signal long-term trends. Over time, the stock market has experienced many periods of falling stock prices: the bursting of the internet bubble of 2000; the period after the events of 9/11; and the U.S. and global banking crisis of 2007-2010, to name but three. But overall, over time, stock market returns have averaged 9% from 1994 to 2024, and this includes the periods of falling stock prices mentioned above. So even if you are a baby boomer heading for retirement and your 401(k) has taken a hit in recent weeks, dont panic. Bear in mind the truism that stock markets can always go down as well as up. History suggests that in the long run, depending upon your plans and timing for retirement, working together with a trusted financial adviser strategically with regard to your 401(k) retirement savings is a good approach, especially during periods like we have seen in recent weeks in the stock market. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Consult with a qualified financial adviser before making financial decisions. Ronald Premuroso is an accounting instructor at the Western Governors University School of Business. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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