-Nightmare

As President Trump commences his second term in office, he faces a far more contested geopolitical environment than during his first term. From an unresolved war in Ukraine to the war in Gaza, many items will be on Trump’s foreign policy agenda whether he likes it or not. How could he seek to end the war in Ukraine? What level of priority should be placed on relations with China? What should allies and partners do to work with this new administration on foreign policy priorities? Heino Klinck joined the USSC Briefing Room podcast to discuss these questions with USSC Director of Impact and Engagement Mari Koeck. Heino is a global strategist, business executive, retired US Army colonel and defence policy expert. Importantly, he served in the first Trump administration. NB: This episode was recorded before the Israel-Hamas ceasefire was announced. If you enjoyed this discussion, you may also want to watch the recordings of Heino at USSC’s Sydney International Strategy Forum 2024: What we need to know about the new Trump administration How do we approach the security challenges of 2025? Subscribe to the USSC Briefing Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Produced by: Elliott Brennan Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat Link: https://www.ussc.edu.au/podcasts/ussc-briefing-room/ussc-briefing-room-trumps-foreign-policy-agenda-like-it-or-not

The milestone comes after the department’s capture of 12 gray wolves in northern California last month, who were collared and released back into the wild. “The captures exceeded our expectations and will enhance our ability to monitor our wolf po[CENSORED]tion both for conservation and recovery and also to help mitigate conflict with livestock,” Axel Hunnicutt, CDFW’s Statewide Gray Wolf Coordinator, said in a statement. A contracted aircraft and an expert capture crew were required to capture the 12 wolves, who came from a variety of packs including the Beyem Seyo pack in Sierra County, the Harvey pack in Lassen County, and the Whaleback pack in Siskiyou County. “Having multiple collars in each of these packs, especially those on younger wolves, will not only aid current studies looking at diet and land-use preferences, but also will provide data on when and where they disperse when leaving their packs,” Hunnicutt said. During their capture, biologists also recorded biometric data from the wolves along with body measurements and samples including DNA and blood, which allows the CDFW to monitor the animals for diseases and evaluate the relatedness of individuals and packs. After being collared, the wolves, seven females and five males, were then released back at their initial capture locations. According to the CDFW, satellite-collaring gray wolves is an important management and research tool to also help monitor po[CENSORED]tions and minimize livestock conflicts. While the collars do not provide real-time data, they transmit wolf locations to the CDFW several times a day. The batteries in the collar are expected to last about two to three years, and are programmed to drop off the animal before the battery is depleted. Currently there are seven wolf packs in California. Nine were reported in the fall of 2024. The sudden drop is not unusual or immediately concerning however, as the CDFW say wolf packs are “fluid”, and point out an example of how the Beyem Seyo and Antelope packs recently merged. Anti-predator hysteria and misinformation could decimate America’s gray wolf po[CENSORED]tion if this important native species is not protected. Add your name to the Species Unite petition to Secretary Burgum urging him to relist wolves under the Endangered Species Act. At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help. We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year. Link: https://www.speciesunite.com/news-stories/conserving-wolves-there-are-now-more-satellite-collared-wolves-in-california-than-ever-before-wildlife-department-says

Mazda is aiming to become an entry-level luxury brand, and the 2025 CX-30 has shown that goal is within reach. Among subcompact crossovers, its upscale styling and interior quality are hard to beat. Thankfully, this luxury-adjacent direction doesn't come at the expense of one of Mazda's best attributes: sporty driving dynamics. The CX-30 is easily one of the most entertaining choices in its class, though for the full performance potential you'll want to upgrade to the more powerful turbocharged engine. It is held back by a comparably small cargo capacity, so for utility-minded shoppers, the Volkswagen Taos and Chevrolet Trailblazer provide more space. In the top trim, the CX-30 is a more affordable alternative to the BMW X1, Audi Q3, or Mercedes-Benz GLA. As one of our favorites in its segment, the Mazda CX-30 has also earned a spot on our Editors' Choice list for 2025. While that optional 250-hp turbocharged engine is alluring, it unfortunately only comes on the most expensive trims. We think most people will find the standard engine fine, so we'd recommend that those buyers stick with that powertrain and select the Preferred trim. The Preferred trim includes an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory settings, a power sunroof, silver-painted 18-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and keyless entry. All nonturbo trim levels come with the same 191-hp 2.5-liter engine, and all-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. The CX-30's standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower. This engine is paired with a six-speed automatic which chooses gears wisely based on driving conditions. A turbocharged 2.5-liter engine is optional and provides 250 horsepower. If you're a fan of the Mazda 3 hatchback, which we are, you'll find the CX-30 just as nimble, athletic, and fun to drive. Its crisp steering and fluid body movements make it a pleasure to pilot on a twisty road and provide a sense of stability when cruising. Link: https://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/cx-30

Novak Djokovic used a dizzying array of drop shots to make short work of Karen Khachanov at the Dubai Open on Thursday, reaching the semi-finals with a dominant 6-2 6-2 win over the Russian seventh seed. The victory extended the Serbian world number one’s unbeaten start to the season to 16 matches and took his winning streak to 19 matches in a row stretching back to the ATP Finals in November. In all, Djokovic sent down 19 winners to Khachanov’s nine, won 89% of his first-serve points, nine of 11 forays to the net, and wrapped up the one-sided affair in just 66 minutes. Time and again he bamboozled his hapless opponent with delicate, wonderfully disguised drop shots, leaving the Russian either flat-footed at the back of the court or sprinting frantically to the net in vain. Khachanov was 5-2 down in the second set and trailing 30-15 when he finally managed to win a point after chasing down a Djokovic drop shot. The 23-year-old celebrated like he had won the match, raising his fists in the air, much to the delight of the crowd. “Tough match for Karen,” the Serb said in an on-court interview. “I think he can do much better than he has done tonight. It wasn’t his day, but on my side I think I played a very solid match.” The 32-year-old will next face the winner of the all-French duel between Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet. Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas bounced back from losing the first set to Jan-Lennard Struff to claim his spot in the semis with a 4-6 6-4 6-4 victory over the hard-hitting German. The Greek will face Dan Evans for a place in Saturday’s final. Evans, the British No. 1 and world No. 37, beat Russia’s Andrey Rublev 6-2 7-6(9) earlier in the day to record his fifth victory of the year over a top-20 player as he reached the first ATP 500 semi-final of his career. “It sounds a cliché but it stays in there and I knew I’d get my chances,” Evans said. “I’m very happy how I played. Staying calm is key to everything really. Getting the balance, you can’t be calm and dull, you’ve got to be aggressive… and stay cool as well.” Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/tennis/novak-djokovic-karen-khachanov-drop-shots-dubai-6290572/

11 February 2025 Share Save Yuna Ku BBC Korean Reporting fromSeoul Hyuk is set to debut as a K-pop boyband member this year Yu Hyuk was just nine years old when he started begging on the streets of North Hamgyong, one of the poorest provinces in North Korea, nestled along the northern border with China and Russia. Besides begging, he ran errands for soldiers and sold foraged mushrooms. Sometimes he stole food out of sheer hunger: once he snatched a lunchbox that sat unattended at an underground station. Inside was a scoop of spoiled rice. This was just "part of everyday life" for many North Koreans, he says, adding that his own life was so consumed with survival that it left little room for dreams. But dream he did. Later on this year, the 25-year-old will debut in the US as a member of a K-pop boy band. 1Verse (pronounced "universe") is made up of five members: Hyuk, Seok who is also from North Korea, Aito from Japan, and Asian Americans Kenny and Nathan - all prefer to go by their first names. They are set to make history as the first K-pop boy band to debut with North Korean defectors. From scraps to rap Hyuk was born in a seaside village in Kyongsong county and raised by his father and grandmother, after his parents broke up when he was just four. Later, his mother fled the North to settle in the South and reached out to him in an attempt to get him to join her. But he refused as he was close to his father and did not want to leave him. Hyuk says his family was "not extremely poor" to begin with, but the situation quickly deteriorated after his parents separated. His father didn't want to work and his grandmother was too old, so Hyuk was left to his own devices to survive. Eventually, his father persuaded him to join his mother, and in 2013 Hyuk escaped from North Korea. It took months for him to arrive in the South, after going through several countries. He has chosen not to reveal specifics of the route, as he fears putting other future defectors at risk. Hyuk lived in North Hamgyong Province Once in the South, he lived with his mother for just a year, before moving to a boarding school with his mum's financial support. However, he struggled to cope with South Korea’s fiercely competitive education system, as Hyuk had barely finished primary school before his defection. Writing was the one thing he found solace in, he says. He started with short poems alluding to his past life in North Korea. “I couldn’t openly share what I’d been through, but I still wanted to make a record of it.” At first, Hyuk believed his story couldn’t be understood by others, but was encouraged by friends and teachers in his school's music club - and eventually found his passion in rap. Growing up, music had been a luxury, let alone K-pop which was something he had barely heard of. But now, he channelled his thoughts of feeling lonely and of missing his father into music, referring to himself as “the loneliest of the loners” - a line in Ordinary Person, a rap song he composed as a part of a pre-debut project. Hyuk graduated from high school aged 20. Afterwards, he worked part-time at restaurants and factories to support himself. But it was in 2018 when he was featured in an educational TV programme that his luck changed. His unique background and rapping talent caught the eye of music producer Michelle Cho, who was formerly from SM Entertainment, the agency behind some of K-pop's biggest acts. She offered him a spot in her agency, Singing Beetle. "I didn't trust Michelle for about a year because I thought she was cheating me," Hyuk says, adding that defectors are often targeted by scams in the South. But gradually he realised that Ms Cho was "investing way too much time and money" for it to be anything but genuine. Hyuk (top), Aito (bottom left), Seok (middle), and Kenny (right) - Nathan (not pictured) joined later 'I thought North Koreans might be scary' Kim Seok, 24, also defected and arrived in the South in 2019, though his experience was vastly different to that of Seok's. Coming from a relatively better-off family, Seok lived close to the border with China and had access to K-pop and K-drama through smuggled USBs and SD cards. Due to safety reasons, we are unable to reveal much more about his life in the North and how he came to the South. Both boys were described by Ms Cho as "blank canvases", adding that she had never encountered trainees quite like them. Unlike Aito and Kenny, who had been immersed in music and dance from an early age, Hyuk and Seok were complete beginners. “They had absolutely no grasp of pop culture," she said. But their ability to “endure physical challenges” astonished Ms Cho. They pushed through gruelling hours of dance practice with such determination that she was worried they were “overdoing it”. Apart from music and dance lessons, their training also covered etiquette and engaging in discussions, to prepare them for media interviews. “I don’t think they were used to questioning things or expressing their opinion,” says Ms Cho. “At first, when a trainer asked the reasoning behind their thoughts, the only response was, ‘Because you said so last time'.” But after more than three years, Hyuk has made remarkable progress, she says. "Now, Hyuk questions many things. For example, if I ask him to do something, he'll reply 'Why? Why is it necessary?' Sometimes, I regret what I've done," says Ms Cho chuckling. But what do the other two boys think of their bandmates? “I was kind of afraid at first because North Korea has a hostile relationship with Japan. I thought North Koreans would be scary, but that turned out not to be true,” says Aito, who at 20 is the youngest of the four. Kenny, who spent much of his life in the US, adds that there were also small cultural differences that have taken him time to get used to. "Korean culture is very [communal] in that you eat together... that was a culture shock [to me]", he said. "I usually don't like eating with people, I prefer Netflix in my ear. But their joy comes from being collective." Late last year, the band added a fifth member, Nathan, an American of mixed Laotian and Thai heritage to the group. They aim to debut in the US later this year - a decision that the label hopes could attract more American fans. Hyuk (C) had to learn singing and dancing from scratch Playing one day - in North Korea? Dozens of K-pop groups make their debut each year and only a few, typically those managed by major labels, become po[CENSORED]r. So it's still too early to say if 1Verse will go on to resonate with audiences. But Hyuk has big dreams, hoping that it might be possible one day for his fellow North Koreans to listen to his songs. With human rights activists often sending leaflets and USBs containing K-culture content via balloons and bottles towards the North, this may prove to be less of a pipe dream than it sounds, though Hyuk also has his worries. To avoid being seen as a vocal critic of North Korea, he refers to his homeland as “the upper side” in interviews and avoids mentioning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Kim has in recent years been ratcheting up his crackdown on the inflow of K-culture. Since 2020, the consumption and distribution of such content has become a crime punishable by death. A rare video obtained by BBC Korean last year, believed to be filmed in 2022, shows two teenage boys publicly sentenced to 12 years of hard labour for watching and distributing K-dramas. One academic says it would cause a "stir" in North Korea should 1Verse's music become a hit. "If a North Korean defector openly embraced their identity and went on to become a world-class activist, I think that would cause a stir in the North," said Ha Seung-hee, an academic specialising in music and media at Dongguk University's Institute of North Korean Studies. But his main motivation, Hyuk says, is to prove that defectors can be a success. “Many defectors see an insurmountable gap between themselves and K-pop idols. It is hardly a career option for us," said Hyuk. “So if I succeed, other defectors might be encouraged [to] have even bigger dreams. That’s why I am trying my hardest.” Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99vxpg55zmo

The Asus Zenbook series has always been the pinnacle of innovations and premium features. The company has a great lineup of Zenbook series with both Intel and AMD chipsets. Now, the brand has also added the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processors to strengthen its position in the premium segment further. Meet the latest Asus Zenbook A14 that brings the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X and Snapdragon X Elite processor to the masses. The brand's all-new laptop offers many premium features, including a sleek and lightweight design, a crisp OLED display, the latest Snapdragon X platform chipsets, and more. But does it make sense to go for this new machine from Asus? I have some time to spend with the device, and this is what you need to know. Asus Zenbook A14 Design: Classy and Sassy Dimension - 310.7 x 213.9 x 13.4mm Weight - 980 grams Colours - Iceland Gray and Zabriskie Beige One of the most interesting aspects of the Zenbook A14 has to be the design. The latest laptop from the brand is one of the lightest laptops that I have reviewed in a while. The laptop weighs just 980 grams, which is possible due to the new Ceraluminum material used by the brand. The new material is an alloy that combines aluminium, magnesium, and ceramic elements. This material is not only lighter than traditional aluminium but also stronger and more versatile. While previous Zenbook models have featured Ceraluminum only on the lid, this iteration extends it to the entire chassis. Although you might feel a bit weird at first to touch the Ceraluminum, once you get used to it, you will definitely love its smooth texture. The Zenbook A14 is available in two colour options, Iceland Gray and Zabriskie Beige. I got the latter for review, and I must admit it surely looks unique and premium. The subtle Asus Zenbook logo on the lid looks minimalistic, while the Beige colour is surely a head-turner. It also comes with US MIL-STD 810H certification, making it a reliable and durable machine. Moreover, the ergonomics are nearly perfect, with well-rounded edges, grippy rubber feet, and a sturdy hinge design. The lid can lean back further than before but doesn't fully extend to 180 degrees due to vent placement at the rear. As for the ports, the laptop offers a decent amount of ports for everyday usage. You get a USB Type-A port on the right side. On the left, there are multiple ports, including an HDMI 2.1 port, one Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. That said, the Zenbook A14 sets a benchmark for thin and light laptops without compromising on the connectivity options. Coming to the display, the Asus Zenbook A14 packs a decent display in a compact form factor. The device is loaded with Asus' Luminous OLED panel that delivers solid blacks and contrast coupled with beautiful colours. The text appears to be crisp, and the dynamic range looks good. Link: https://www.gadgets360.com/laptops/reviews/asus-zenbook-a14-review-7906893#pfrom=indepth

has sent a proposal to the Office of Science and Technology Policy that calls on the US government to ban the use of DeepSeek in governments, military, and intelligence services. Mentioning the Chinese AI by name, the proposal calls DeepSeek “state-subsidized” and “state-controlled”. The letter, available on its website and signed by Chris Lehane, the Vice President of, Global Affairs at OpenAI, also proposes “banning the use of PRC-produced equipment (e.g., Huawei Ascend chips) and models that violate user privacy and create security risks such as the risk of IP theft” among what it called Tier 1 countries. The letter says “As America’s world-leading AI sector approaches artificial general intelligence (AGI), with a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) determined to overtake us by 2030, the Trump Administration’s new AI Action Plan can ensure that American-led AI built on democratic principles continues to prevail over CCP-built autocratic, authoritarian AI.” DeepSeek recently caused a shockwave in the AI industry by providing similar results to the ChatGPT o1 reasoning model with its DeepSeek-R1 model, but at a much lower price for developers and free for web browser use. Stock prices for companies heavily invested in AI saw an immediate drop, although the market has since returned to previous levels. Many have questioned whether DeekSeek's rapid progress was truly down to an innovative new training methodology or whether it had “distilled” some training data from OpenAI against its terms and conditions. In fact, as we noticed on TechRadar, DeepSeek would sometimes mistake itself for ChatGPT when asked who it was. “As with Huawei, there is significant risk in building on top of DeepSeek models in critical infrastructure and other high-risk use cases given the potential that DeepSeek could be compelled by the CCP to mani[CENSORED]te its models to cause harm.” There is no direct evidence to suggest that DeepSeek, which is owned and controlled by the Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, is controlled by the Chinese government, however it's been noted that you cannot get the DeepSeek-R1 chatbot to answer questions about political topics sensitive to the PRC like the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. OpenAI clearly sees humanity as being on the doorstep to artificial general intelligence (AGI), which describes systems that possess human-like general intelligence. AGI is something that OpenAI has been working towards since its creation as a company, and the proposal also attacks the “overly burdensome state laws” that are holding it back. “As our CEO Sam Altman has written, we are at the doorstep of the next leap in prosperity: the Intelligence Age. But we must ensure that people have freedom of intelligence, by which we mean the freedom to access and benefit from AGI, protected from both autocratic powers that would take people’s freedoms away, and layers of laws and bureaucracy that would prevent our realizing them.” Link: https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/openai-calls-on-us-government-to-ban-deepseek-calling-it-state-subsidized-and-state-controlled

Unless Microsoft changes its mind at the last minute, Windows 10 will stop receiving free security updates this coming October. For those who can upgrade to Windows 11, the solution is obvious: Run the new OS even if you don’t like it. But there are hundreds of millions – by one estimate 240 million – PCs that don’t meet Microsoft’s stringent Windows 11 hardware requirements. If you’re a consumer or a business, Microsoft and the PC industry would very much like you to toss these systems in the trash and buy new computers to take their place. But forgotten in this capitalist crush are all the charities that refurbish older computers and give them to people who can’t afford to purchase one. These non-profits are sitting on a plethora of still-working computers that can’t run Microsoft’s latest OS. Do they give clients a soon-to-be-insecure Windows 10 computer, send older computers to an ewaste recycler, toss them in the trash or try to install some form of Linux? Sponsored Links If you have a mouse, you will never turn off your computer again. Panzer.Quest And Windows 11-ineligible PCs can be pretty recent and powerful. Microsoft’s list of system requirements for Windows 11 seem basic at first glance. You need a 1-GHz or faster CPU with at least two cores, you need 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, Secure Boot capability and TPM 2.0 compatibility. However, Microsoft’s supported Intel CPU list for Windows 11 only goes back as far as 8th Gen chips (Coffee Lake), which first came out in 2017, and its AMD CPU list only incorporates Ryzen 2000 series (from 2018) and above. That means computers which came out in 2017, 2018 or maybe even 2019 (with a last-gen chip for the time) are ineligible. They could have 16GB of RAM and a 500GB SSD and still not make the cut. Some of these ineligible computers will continue to run old Windows, others will be loaded with a different OS entirely. Some will end up in ewaste recycling where most of the parts can be reclaimed. However, a good chunk will end up in landfills. According to one estimate, only 14 to 40 percent of U.S. ewaste gets recycled at all. My 12 year old son and I recently joined a local computer refurbishment charity where we live on Long Island. The folks who run our organization are still installing Windows 10 on non-Windows 11-eligible computers because they don’t want to give our clients an unfamiliar user experience. Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/operating-systems/linux-or-landfill-end-of-windows-10-leaves-pc-charities-with-tough-choice

It seems only fitting that as Spring brings new hope, Diablo Immortal's roadmap spells out doom for adventurers headed into 2025. With the newest chapter, Epoch of Madness, being unveiled it promises terrifying sights to behold and threats to face. And what's with that wandering fey, and that mysterious prophet that reminds you of a certain character called Albrecht... Epoch of Madness is, like previous roadmaps, split into four parts. The Writing Wilds covers January and March, which introduced a new quest, crafting system, PvP update and Battlegrounds map. Meanwhile, the upcoming Prince of Freedom taking place from April to June will see another new quest, gear, a marketplace update and a brand-new Helliquary boss. July and September, meanwhile, will see the Flesh Harvest arrive; and it's about here that we start to see certain elements on the roadmap carefully obscured with more details to be revealed in future. What we do know is that Flesh Harvest will bring a new quest and zone called the Carnival Wilds, while its successor The First & Last King will see another additional quest and zone. While Diablo Immortal's initial launch may have been met with a wave of scepticism, it's weathered the storm and managed to come out being a fairly decent addition to the franchise by all accounts. The constant addition of new content probably has something to do with that, and the updates to aspects like the marketplace as well as crossover events promise to keep things as fresh as possible. Either way, with a whole host of updates coming in 2025 maybe this is the time that you want to go ahead and dig into Diablo Immortal? But why not also check out what other Diablo likes are out there? We've collated them all into Link: https://www.pocketgamer.com/tower-of-god-new-world/po-bidau-hugo-update/

He announced this while addressing a press conference alongside Additional Secretary for Religious Affairs. “The government is making efforts to offer the best facilities for Hajj pilgrims,” Salik said, adding that the cost of Hajj this year has not been raised. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign annual Hajj agreement 2025 The minister highlighted that Pakistan provides the most cost-effective Hajj package globally, especially considering the current dollar exchange rate. The Additional Secretary elaborated on the refund details, noting that the amount varies based on individual circumstances. A small percentage (3%) of pilgrims will receive Rs140,000, while a larger group (23%) will get Rs75,000. Additionally, Rs3,000 pilgrims will be refunded Rs50,000. The Additional Secretary assured that the refunds will start being deposited into pilgrims’ accounts by Friday. Hussain also clarified that this year’s Hajj package costs between Rs1,050,000 and Rs1,175,000, which is Rs25,000 less per person compared to last year’s initial rates. He mentioned that the government’s Hajj quota is now fully booked and no further applications will be accepted, though the hardship quota remains open. The minister also expressed gratitude for the cooperation extended by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. Link: https://www.brecorder.com/news/40346273/govt-announces-hajj-refunds-for-last-years-pilgrims

The Shannon Hills Fire Department has received a donation that will help firefighters save beloved family pets and other animals in emergency situations. The Project Breathe program is a pet oxygen mask donation program created by Invisible Fence. The company, known for its line of electric dog fences, created the program to help equip fire departments with the emergency tools needed to resuscitate and save pets. The SHFD received three sets of oxygen masks, one for each emergency vehicle, which will be used to save animals that are having respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation. “Many years ago, we responded to a fire where there were animals in the house,” said SHFD Capt. Kevin Riedinger. “We had no way of administering oxygen to the animals.” Although situations like the one the department faced do not happen frequently, Riedinger said that when the department began to discuss ways to improve. The suggestion was made to look into acquiring oxygen masks for pets. In researching the subject, the SHFD found out about Project Breathe. “They donated a couple of oxygen masks to us,” Riedinger said. “As our district is growing a bit, we contacted them again for a few more masks for our additional trucks and they provided those.” According to Invisible Fence, although the U.S. Fire Administration does not keep an official statistic, industry sources estimate 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires with most succumbing to smoke inhalation. In most states, emergency responders lack the equipment to resuscitate and save pets. Each donated kit contains a small, medium and large mask. Since the program’s inception, more than 25,170 masks have been donated and at least 201 pets have been saved from fire and smoke inhalation. The SHFD is continuing to look into other ways to improve their department. Some of their other needs include thermal imaging cameras and AEDs. “The thing we need most is volunteers,” Riedinger said. “People who are willing to help out not only our community, but people in surrounding communities when they need it." With the Project Breathe donation, the department is grateful that it has another way to keep all members of the family, including the four-legged kind, a little safer. “We would like to thank the Invisible Fence brand and Project Breathe for donating this equipment to our department,” said Assistant Chief T. Meyers in a social media post. “Just one of the many ways your fire department is dedicated to serving you and your fur babies.” Link: https://www.bentoncourier.com/news/shannon-hills-fd-receives-pet-oxygen-mask-donation/article_a82754ae-d27d-11ea-a9fc-57f25b72b026.html#tncms-source=block-behavioral

We're just a few days away from the new year, which means nearly all 2025-model-year vehicles have already made their way onto dealer lots. Unfortunately, that also marks the end of the line for nearly three dozen cars, trucks, and SUVs that won't live to see the new year. For many of these cars, it’s been a long time coming. Jaguar is killing its entire lineup as the company prepares for its electrified era. Nissan, now under new management, is killing off some of its less-than-beloved vehicles. And Maserati is finally parting ways with its dated luxury cars. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we'll be sad to see some of these vehicles go. The iconic Nissan GT-R will finally ride off into the sunset, Ram has already replaced the raucous TRX, and the Bugatti Chiron meets its maker as it makes way for the new Tourbillon. Rust in peace. Link: https://www.motor1.com/features/709419/discontinued-cars-2025/

The semi-final between Argentina and Croatia in Qatar will give rise to a duel between two legends who are playing in their last World Cup: Luka Modric and Lionel Messi. Duel at the top. Like a tale from One Thousand and One Nights, Argentina-Croatia opposes, Tuesday, December 13, two football geniuses, Lionel Messi and Luka Modric, eager to go to the end of their unfinished history with the World Cup during a first half -final of the Mondial-2022 which has everything to become legendary. At the Lusail stadium, it will not be Messi's 1001st night , but the 1002nd match of his immense career (790 goals), crowned with all possible trophies... except the planetary title. The seven-time Ballon d'Or, finalist in 2014, will find on his way to Qatar another legend of this game, himself Ballon d'Or (in 2018) and himself a finalist, four years ago: Modric. A very tough game For the sesame of Sunday's final to open in front of one, the other will necessarily have to go by the wayside. Which will come out of the lamp? Which will get to face either France or Morocco, opposed Wednesday in the other semi-final? image.gif.75d73eb82b2f82b6caa5bd911d2e5733.gif "It's going to be a very tough game," Messi said. "Croatia have proven to be very good (...) and we have seen that, if we let them play, they have very good players who know how to take the ball, especially in midfield". Argentina is playing at home under the gilded Lusail stadium, where it is playing its fourth match, carried by its thousands of supporters, and where it hopes to return on Sunday for the final (4:00 p.m.). But to achieve this, Messi, N.10 of the Albiceleste, must dominate Modric, N.10 of the Vatreni. Messi "has always been a winner and a proud man," coach Lionel Scaloni said on Monday. "As for Modric, it's a pleasure to see him play. (...) When you love football, you are happy to see these players on the pitch." Revenge on his detractors Between these two giants who culminate at 1.70 m, there have been many hot meetings over the course of their respective careers, in particular the FC Barcelona-Real Madrid clasicos when the Argentine striker from Paris SG still wore the blaugrana jersey. . In the World Cup, in their only confrontation, Croatia had largely beaten Argentina in the group stage in 2018 (3-0). Link: https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20221213-mondial-messi-contre-modric-demi-finale-de-légendes

TOKYO, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Visitors can step back in time to Japan's samurai era in an new Tokyo exhibition that uses cutting-edge technology to bring to life the work of iconic artist Hokusai. "Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo" marks the latest in a series of immersive attractions that have sprung up in the capital, as well as growing interest in Japan's cultural past as record numbers of tourists flood into the country. The exhibition, tucked into a downtown shopping mall, invites patrons to step into scenes of nature and village life depicted by the master of Edo Period woodblock art. Technical wizardry from digital imagery firm Ars Techne reproduces the washi paper texture of his prints. Haptic plates in the floor, developed by Sony PCL, give the feel that one is walking on a beach, ice or across a rickety bridge. "The concept is not just to see something, but to have an experience that goes beyond the real thing, to let you feel the scenery that Hokusai saw," said Hiroki Inokuchi, a visual artist with Red Geek Pictures, which helped develop the exhibition. Born in 1760, Katsushika Hokusai took the medium known as ukiyo-e to new artistic heights and po[CENSORED]rity through his unique use of colour and dynamic composition. Hokusai's depictions of Mount Fuji have become emblematic of Japan, with his masterpiece "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" now gracing the back of the nation's 1,000 yen note. His prints became a hit in Europe after his death in 1849, kindling the Japonisme movement in art and inspiring painters such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. The Hokusai exhibition, which runs from Saturday to June 1 at Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, follows other tech-driven, immersive art showcases in Tokyo that have proven to be draws among residents and overseas visitors. The digital art collective teamLab has two interactive museums in the capital that have set Guinness World Records for attendance. Mariko Fukumizu, 42, said her 4-year-old daughter loved stepping on and cracking make-believe ice in a rendering of one of Hokusai's winter scenes. "I like looking at art, but it's difficult with kids, so it's good to be able to go and experience things together," said Fukumizu. Japan is experiencing a tourism boom fuelled by the weak yen, while cultural exports from manga to movies are seeing unprecedented po[CENSORED]rity. Last year's period epic "Shogun" swept major awards at both the Emmys and Golden Globes. Ethem Sonmez, a 22-year-old visitor from Turkey, said Japanese animation and comics are rising in po[CENSORED]rity in his country. He said an exhibit room that simulates wind rushing through a Hokusai landscape nearly brought him to tears. "It was like the moment I first saw Fuji in the Shinkansen" bullet train, Sonmez said. "It was mesmerizing and I felt it again here. Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/japan/high-tech-spin-samurai-era-ukiyo-e-artist-hokusai-tokyo-exhibit-2025-02-01/

A man is reported to have been killed by security forces in northern Iran, as anti-government protesters publicly celebrated the national football team's elimination from the World Cup. Activists said Mehran Samak was shot in the head after he honked his car's horn in Bandar Anzali on Tuesday night. Videos from other cities showed crowds cheering and dancing in the streets. Many Iranians refused to support their football team in Qatar, seeing it as a representation of the Islamic Republic. State-affiliated media blamed hostile forces both inside and outside Iran for putting unfair pressure on the players following their 1-0 loss to the USA in the final group game. The players did not sing the national anthem before their first game, a 6-2 defeat by England, in an apparent expression of solidarity with the protesters. But they did sing at the Wales game, which they won 2-0, and at the politically-charged showdown against the USA. Some protesters saw that as a betrayal of their cause even though there were reports that the team came under intense pressure from Iranian authorities. Pulisic winner sends USA through as Iran go out Iranian anti-government football fans protest in Qatar 'Iran is my country but I can't support them' The unrest started 10 weeks ago following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab. Authorities have responded to what they have portrayed as foreign-backed "riots" with a violent crackdown in which the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights says at least 448 people have been killed, including 60 children. More than 18,000 others are reported to have been arrested. Iran Human Rights reported that security personnel shot and killed Mehran Samak, 27, when he honked his car's horn in the Caspian Sea city of Bandar Anzali on Tuesday night to celebrate the Iranian football team's defeat. BBC Persian obtained a video that showed Mr Samak's burial on Wednesday morning. The mourners can be heard chanting "You are the filth, you are the immoral, I am a free woman" - a slogan frequently used during the protests. Iranian security forces have denied killing peaceful protesters. However, the opposition activist collective 1500tasvir posted videos that it said showed security forces opening fire at people in the south-western city of Behbahan overnight and beating a woman in Qazvin, south of Bandar Anzali. Other videos showed men and women celebrating the World Cup elimination in Tehran and a number of cities in the predominantly Kurdish north-west of the country. Dozens of protesters have reportedly been killed in recent weeks there as security forces intensified their crackdown. In footage from Mahsa Amini's home city of Saqqez, dozens of people could be seen cheering and waving scarves in a main square before fireworks are set off. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63805284

Nick movie: Introducing Battlefield Labs | Battlefield Studios Time: 3, 2025 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: Netflix Duration of the movie: 5m 5sec Trailer:

Video title: KENDRICK LAMAR Wins Record Of The Year For "NOT LIKE US" | 2025 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speech Content creator ( Youtuber ) : Recording Academy / GRAMMYs Official YT video:

Music title: KASIMOFF - Somebody Else (Original Mix) Signer: KASIMOFF Release date: 29, 2025 Official YouTube link:

The report mentions that Nintendo has already sent out development kits for its upcoming console to ‘key partner studios.’ Nintendo's next mainline console is reportedly set to launch in the second half of 2024. As per VGC's sources, development kits for the next gaming console have been sent out to ‘key partner studios,' adding that it can be used in portable mode akin to the current Nintendo Switch. It's common for console manufacturers like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo to provide test units to developers, way ahead of launch, so they can start making, testing, and optimising games for the said platform. No pricing details were mentioned, but for comparison, the Nintendo Switch was launched at $299.99 (about Rs. 24,684) in the US. The report also claims that Nintendo is planning to debut the new console with an LCD screen instead of the premium OLEDs, as a cost-cutting measure. Instead, the cost could be dedicated more towards storage, as games increase in fidelity, taking the current-gen PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X AAA titles upwards of 100GB. By default, the standard Switch edition comes with 32GB of in-built storage, with newer first-party games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom taking up more than half of it — 18.2GB. Not to mention, games from third-party publishers are even larger. It also appears as if the Japanese gaming giant isn't putting an end to physical media either, with the new console allegedly primed with a cartridge slot to read games. For now, Nintendo hasn't officially commented on these reports, but a report from May alluded that the company won't be releasing a new console at least until April 2024. While the Nintendo Switch has sold over 125 million units globally, the overall sales this year have gone down, which aligns perfectly with a 2024 launch for the next generation. Let's not forget the Nintendo Direct event from June either, which revealed a pantheon of new games — including Super Mario Bros. Wonder — which would extend the Switch's life cycle into the first half of next year. While backwards compatibility on the new unnamed console will be a blessing for customers, the VGC report suggests that certain third-party publishers have tried pushing back against the feature, claiming that it would prevent them from reselling older games on the new hardware. Earlier this month, the European Union adopted a new regulation to implement sustainability for batteries, which implied that handheld gaming consoles would be required to house replaceable batteries by 2027. It feels like the four-year-long period is sufficient time for manufacturers to redesign their upcoming products to suit their ruling, which states that customers should be able to remove and replace portable batteries using commercially available tools or specialised ones that are included in the package — free of charge. Currently, it's unclear whether Nintendo's upcoming console will stick to the proposed rules for its EU market or if the heavy opposition from console manufacturers will prevent it altogether. link: https://www.gadgets360.com/games/news/nintendo-switch-2-console-successor-2024-launch-backwards-compatible-lcd-screen-cartridge-4259870

In 2021, Mark Zuckerberg said it was too risky to let Trump on his platform. But he's now cutting a check to stay in Trump's good graces and settle a lawsuit over his ban, the WSJ reports. Jibin Joseph By Jibin Joseph Jan 31, 2025 Following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, Facebook imposed a 24-hour ban on Trump's account for "two policy violations" on posts in which Trump sympathized with those who were, at the time, terrorizing the Capitol. One post included a video that concluded with Trump telling them, "We love you, you’re very special." A day later, Trump was banned from Facebook and Instagram "indefinitely." "We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at the time. Twitter (now X) and YouTube imposed similar bans. Elon Musk reinstated Trump's Twitter account in November 2022; YouTube did the same a few months later. In summer 2021, Trump filed a class-action suit against Facebook, Google, Twitter and their respective CEOs for banning him. The First Amendment protects people from government censorship, but private companies like Facebook, Google, and Twitter are largely free to police their own platforms and ban those who violate their terms of service. Trump, however, argued that protection awarded under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act—which holds that internet companies are not liable for the content their users post provided they make a good faith effort to remove it should it violate copyrights or other terms—means they are not private companies, which is not true. The lawsuit had seen little activity since the fall of 2023, but serious talks began after Zuckerberg visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in November last year, sources tell the Journal. Trump told Zuckerberg that he had to settle the lawsuit if Zuckerberg wanted a place in his “tent.” Come January, Zuckerberg got a sweet spot at Trump’s inauguration ceremony alongside fellow tech billionaires Musk, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichai. Meta also donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and announced sweeping changes to its content-moderation policies, ditching fact-checkers for Community Notes and lifting restrictions on numerous topics. On a Wednesday earnings call, Zuckerberg said 2025 will be "a big year for redefining our relationship with governments. We now have a US administration that is proud of our leading companies, prioritizes American technology winning, and that will defend our values and interests abroad. And I'm optimistic about the progress and innovation this is can unlock." Trump recently signed an executive order intended to stop the government from reaching out to tech companies about harmful content on their platforms. Another EO pardoned and freed everyone who was involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. A $25 million check isn't a huge lift for Meta, but will it have a chilling effect on companies or media outlets who don't have the resources to fight back against the US president? ABC recently agreed to give $15 million to Trump's library after host George Stephanopoulos said Trump had been “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim of that rape" during a live interview. Trump was instead found liable of sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll; he sued and ABC opted not to fight the case in court. All eyes are on CBS, which is also facing a Trump lawsuit over edits to a 60 Minutes interview with former VP Kamala Harris. Link: https://me.pcmag.com/en/social-media-1/28181/after-jan-6-facebook-banned-trump-now-its-giving-him-25-million

A clearly Korea-sourced Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card has been spotted for sale on an online Chinese marketplace. Korean PC tech fan @Harukaze5719 highlighted the listing and seemed exasperated by its presence. Perhaps the 'OMG' was due to the difficulty in obtaining one of these new Nvidia graphics cards in South Korea. We are pretty sure this Korean product in the China marketplace won't be an isolated case. Earlier in the week we saw comments that some of the chaotic crowd at the PC Studio Akihabara store had visited from China. Moreover, Taiwan's computer stores were similarly targeted by folk who had flown in from China for the RTX 50 release day. Above you can see the headlining Chinese reseller listing, featuring a Zotac-branded GeForce RTX 5090 Solid OC graphics card. A yellow and black sticker on the box highlights the three-year warranty and other details in Korean text. We have no way of knowing how the China marketplace seller got hold of this RTX 5090 – a SKU that isn't available in China, where the RTX 5090D is the halo product. We can only speculate that the seller recently traveled to South Korea (or knows someone who did) for a shopping trip. You might also be interested to know that the Chinese Yuan asking price is equivalent to approximately US$4,175 at the current exchange rate. Nevertheless, this card may have already been sold... Chinese RTX 50 series shoppers interviewed in Taiwan Evidence that Chinese citizens visited Taiwan's computer malls to pick up some freshly launched Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards seems much stronger. On Friday, January 31, Taiwan's SET News channel reported from the long queues outside a computer mall in the high-tech country. Some people had waited for days, with beds and chairs in evidence outside. In Taiwan, RTX 5090 retail pricing ranges from approx NT72,000 to NT$90,000 (from approx US$2,200 including tax). However, the buyers from China talked about sellers on the mainland asking for the equivalent of NT$200,000 or more for an RTX 5090 card. Two Chinese visitors were interviewed in the above news clip, starting at 1.03mins. The first one said he arrived the day before and didn't want a cut-down RTX 5090D. The second visitor said he didn't want to pay China scalper prices (double or more), and thought he had a chance to get an RTX 5090 at retail price in Taiwan. The chances of buying an RTX 5090 on the night were pretty low, though. According to a map shared by SET (embedded below), Taipei and surrounding regions only had 20 RTX 5090 cards for the customers queuing up, with 30 more for pre-orders. Central and South-Western cities had even tighter supplies, with just four – yes four – cards available when the doors opened, and 30 available for pre-order. RTX 5080 cards were rather more plentiful, but still far from sufficient. Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/korean-retail-rtx-5090-spotted-for-sale-in-china-chinese-shoppers-plunder-japan-and-taiwan-too

Path of Exile dev Grinding Gear Games bit off more than it could chew when it promised to maintain Path of Exile just like it had always done, even while it was dealing with the Path of Exile 2 launch. But reality is a killjoy and the studio has been reassessing things, resulting in a PoE1 expansion delay, which hasn't gone down well with the original game's stalwarts. The current plan is to delay PoE 3.26 until after the release of PoE2 0.2.0, but there's no date for it yet. "I'm really sorry for how this went down," said Path of Exile 2 director Jonathan Rogers. "Honestly I should have predicted the fact that taking the PoE team off PoE1 would lead to this outcome." Unsurprisingly, this announcement led to a lot of drama, with some players going so far as to call GGG's promise to support both games a "scam" just because an expansion has been delayed. But the studio is still planning to give PoE1 some love, in the form of a one-month event. GGG says it will feature "some of our whacky ideas that never quite made it off the brainstorm board". This will include some weird changes to Ascendency classes—advanced classes with their own skill trees—it says. "What does Path of Exile 1 look like when the 19 Ascendancy classes you know and are familiar with are all of a sudden replaced by a different 19? What does Path of Exile 1 look like when you get to play a Witch and ascend to become a Harbinger? These are the questions our design team asked each other and in this event will provide you with some of our answers." GGG promises more details about the event soon, and that it's "really looking forward to seeing how the community reacts to some of our more unhinged ideas". Maintaining the original game's update cadence while GGG was also dealing with PoE2's early access issues was always going to be a tall order, but clearly the studio is still very invested in PoE1. And while it's not the same as an expansion, this event sounds like it could be a good time, keeping players busy while they wait for 3.26. Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog. Link: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/since-path-of-exiles-expansion-has-been-delayed-players-are-instead-getting-a-month-long-event-featuring-whacky-ideas-that-never-quite-made-it-off-the-brainstorm-board/

Nick: @Profesoruツ Real name: Ahmed How old are you?: 22 year Which Games you play? and for how long?(each of them): Only Cs.16 Where are you from?(country and city): Egypt Describe yourself(at least 50 words): I am a really hard working person i can be active on this platform consistently. I am also a very friendly person, i talk to my friends alot. My best friends Note some of your qualities: It is beautiful and life is serious and wonderful Tell us some of your defects: My only drawback is that the electricity only cuts off Had you before any kind of responsabilities(describe it): Yes , i'm Admin in newlifezm And in my personal life, I am very good On which category/categories have you been active lately?(describe your activity): in server Newlifezm and Project Vgr's and Journlaists and Devil Harmony Which category/project you want to care off?: journalists / Vgr's well you speak english?(and other languages): I am 80 out of 100 in English aga Do you use TS3? Do you have an active microphone?: N/A For how long can you be active after you get accepted?(days, weeks, months, years): I Promise to be active as much as i can on forum on my projects Contact methods: facebook / Discord / Forum / Instgram Last request: Enter in Accepted and you will see my last request