European countries clash over sending troops to Ukraine – Financial Times
European countries clash over sending troops to Ukraine – Financial Times
European countries clash over sending troops to Ukraine Financial TimesEuropean leaders meet to discuss Ukraine as *** troop offer hardens regional resolve ReutersKeir Starmer Offers to Send U.K. Troops to Ukraine as Part of Peace Deal The New York TimesUK ‘ready’ to put troops in Ukraine to support Russia peace deal, PM says ABC NewsPotentially putting Britons in harm’s way is a huge responsibility – but we must be ready to do our bit for Europe The Telegraph
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Real Reason Marvel Rivals Made Its Most Controversial Gameplay Decision Affecting Thousands of PC Users
Real Reason Marvel Rivals Made Its Most Controversial Gameplay Decision Affecting Thousands of PC Users
Ever since its release, Marvel Rivals has become one of the most exciting and talked-about hero-shooter games. It has captivated everyone with its fast-paced gameplay that combines action, strategy, and the iconic Marvel universe. Whether it’s Doctor Strange’s portals or Bruce Banner hulking out, the excitement never stops.
The game offers a visually stunning and engaging experience. | Image Credit: NetEase Games
However, while it has generated excitement, there’s one significant issue holding it back for a portion of the player base: performance problems, especially on older-generation systems. This issue stems from Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), which requires a higher/newer spec system to run smoothly.
UE5 powers Marvel Rivals but with a trade-off
Set in the Marvel universe, Marvel Rivals allows players to experience the full power of their favorite superheroes. From Iron Man’s lasers to Spider-Man’s web-slinging and the Hulk’s earth-shaking power, players can use these iconic abilities in breathtaking detail.
This high level of immersion is possible thanks to UE5, which brings the game to life with stunning visuals and realistic physics. In an interview with UnrealEngine, Technical Lead Designer, Ruan Weikang, revealed that the game was initially going to be built on Unreal Engine 4 (UE4).
However, the development team quickly realized that UE4 wasn’t up to the task. The team wanted to offer more dynamic and interactive environments, something UE4 struggled with, particularly when it came to environmental destruction.
We encountered a significant technical hurdle: our core environmental destruction system consistently fell short of expectations.
This issue made the developers shift their focus to UE5. After the jump to UE5, instantly the difference was visible as the team saw improved production efficiency, better visual quality, and gameplay.
With the new engine, the team was able to create a more vibrant, destructible world with detailed lighting and realistic interactions, adding depth to every battle. Ultimately, this transition made the game look more impressive and immersive than ever before.
Players had to pay the price of progress
Players with older-gen specs suffer from performance issues. | Image Credit: NetEase Games
While the transition to UE5 brought a host of new benefits in terms of visual fidelity and gameplay depth, it also introduced a major drawback for players, particularly those with older-generation systems.
Unfortunately, older systems, whether they’re previous-gen PCs or lower-end hardware simply can’t keep up with the game’s highly intricate environments, complex abilities, and advanced lighting effects.
The game’s core experience relies on environmental destruction, high-quality lighting, and real-time interactions with characters’ superpowers. This heavy reliance, while visually impressive, leads to issues for those older systems, creating issues such as lag, crashes, and other disruptions that affect gameplay.
While the blame also falls on the developers’ shoulders, the sheer demands of UE5 make it difficult to point fingers at them. There is no denying that the decision to upgrade Marvel Rivals to UE5 was undoubtedly a step forward in terms of technical performance and visual quality.
However, this leap forward has come at the cost of accessibility. This leaves us with a question: Can the developers strike the right balance between cutting-edge visuals and performance optimization? Or will Marvel Rivals remain a challenging experience for players with older-generation systems?
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Google boosts enhanced security with AI-powered upgrade
Google boosts enhanced security with AI-powered upgrade
Google has strengthened Chrome’s security with AI-driven real-time protection, helping safeguard your PC from dangerous downloads, sites, and extensions, as spotted by Leo on X (via Bleeping Computer). Google tested the update for three months, but it’s now distributing it to all users on the stable channel.
The key change is the addition of AI-protection to the security feature, which is part of safe browsing, that’s been around for years. However, users should remember that browsing data is sent to Google when you enable Enhanced Protection. Google renamed the feature to highlight AI integration, but how the new version varies from the previous one is unclear.
If you’re not a fan of the Enhanced Protection feature, you’ll be happy to know that it’s off by default. However, if you want to turn it on, you can do so by going to Settings > Privacy and security > Security. Once you reach the last option, you see information about how the feature works and what to consider. For example, a column called “When on” tells you that when the feature is enabled, it warns you if you use a password compromised in a data breach. Additionally, Google may be using AI to perform in-depth scans for dangerous downloads, but it hasn’t provided full details yet.
This isn’t the first time Google has improved security on Chrome, and there is a good chance it won’t be the last. Google has previously added a security feature to Chrome that displays a full-page warning for suspicious files.
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Pizza oven was cause of fire
Pizza oven was cause of fire
A fire that tore through a luxury London hotel favoured by celebrities was caused by wood falling from a pizza oven.
The Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, which was due to host a post-Bafta Film Awards party on Sunday evening, was partially destroyed by the fire on 14 February.
The flames spread through the four-storey hotel in central London via ducting, damaging parts of the ground floor and half of the second floor and destroying the third floor and roof, London Fire Brigade said.
The fire service said the fire was starting accidentally “by burning wood falling from a pizza oven and igniting the void between the basement and ground floor”.
The five-star hotel in Marylebone was a former fire station, built in the 1880s.
London Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: “Crews worked incredibly hard for over eight hours in arduous conditions.
“Presented with a complex fire in a historically significant building, formerly Manchester Square Fire Station, firefighters successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties.”
Around 100 people were evacuated and no injuries were reported.
More than 120 firefighters and 20 fire engines were called to the scene.
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It’s not a trap! Star Wars: Dark Forces Turns 30
It’s not a trap! Star Wars: Dark Forces Turns 30
MadLad787d ago (Edited 787d ago )
Oh, I have.
One of the first things I bought was the Star Wars bundle they had on a ***** on Steam. Basically every legacy Star Wars game on PC, up to Kotor 2, was in it.
Not to mention I also got to play it on Xbox when I was at my cousin’s place as a kid.
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WADA defend different bans for Sinner and figure skater
WADA defend different bans for Sinner and figure skater
The World Anti-Doping Agency have stepped in with an explanation for why top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner received a much shorter doping ban than the six-year suspension they handed to a Spanish figure skater in a similar doping case.
Spanish media have been calling attention to the lengthy ban handed to local skater Laura Barquero after she tested positive for the anabolic Clostebol, the same substance that earned Sinner a three-month ban after a settlement reached between WADA and the Italian tennis player on Saturday.
The deal has also been roundly criticised by many of his fellow tennis professionals.
WADA said that while both cases involved the same substance, the specific facts related to Barquero’s case were “very different” to Sinner’s.
In an email sent to The Associated Press, WADA said: “The fundamental difference between the two cases is that Ms Barquero’s version of how the substance entered her system was unconvincing in light of the evidence, such that the circumstances remained unknown as far as WADA was concerned.
“In contrast, in the Sinner case, the evidence clearly confirmed the athlete’s explanation as outlined in the first instance decision.”
Barquero first tested positive for Clostebol during the 2022 Winter Olympics, then again in January 2023 in an out-of-competition test carried out by the International Skating Union.
WADA eventually entered into a “case resolution agreement” in which the athlete was suspended for six years. They said the agreement was accepted and signed by WADA, the ISU and the athlete herself.
“If Ms Barquero did not agree with the proposed sanction, she was not obliged to sign the case resolution agreement and was free to take the case forward for hearing at CAS,” WADA said.
The agency had sought to ban Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam champion, for at least one year. They had challenged a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what the ITIA judged was accidental contamination of the banned anabolic steroid last March.
WADA formally withdrew their appeal saying they accepted the athlete’s explanation for the cause of the violation, and that Sinner did not intend to cheat.
Sinner’s explanation was that trace amounts of Clostebol in his doping sample was due to a massage from a trainer who used the substance after cutting his own finger.
Barquero was expected to make a public comment later on Monday. Her Instagram account republished several stories calling attention to the discrepancy in the punishment given to her and to Sinner.
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AI is creating ‘drive-through of the future,’ Presto CEO says
AI is creating ‘drive-through of the future,’ Presto CEO says
Wendy’s (WEN) says it will expand artificial intelligence (AI) ordering at 500 restaurants in 2025. Gee Lefevre, CEO of Presto, a company that powers drive-through ordering with AI for Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, and other fast-food chains, joins Asking for a Trend with Julie Hyman to discuss the company’s work, reactions from restaurants and customers, how the tech is developing, and more.
Lefevre says the “biggest thing” that makes the company stand out from others is its specialization in the restaurant space.
“Presto has got 15 years of heritage in the restaurant space. We’re not just a technology company, and we actually understand how restaurants work. It’s all very well putting flashy technology into somebody’s drive-through, but if you don’t understand how to operate a drive-through or what matters in a drive-through, that’s going to become a problem quite quickly.”
To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Asking for a Trend here.
This post was written by Naomi Buchanan.
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What the key players want
What the key players want
Getty Images
This could prove a defining week for the war in Ukraine, with two sets of hastily arranged talks taking place in Paris and Riyadh.
European leaders are meeting in France as they scramble for a response to Donald Trump’s plane to open negotiations with Vladimir Putin for an end to the conflict.
On Tuesday Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are due to meet in the Saudi capital.
Ukraine is not attending either set of talks.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls more than a fifth of its territory, mainly in the south and east.
BBC correspondents analyse what the key powers hope will emerge from two days of intense diplomacy.
Monday: European leaders in Paris
The ***
By Harry Farley, Political Correspondent in London
Sir Keir Starmer is hoping to be a bridge between European leaders and Trump’s White House berating them about their defence spending.
Starmer’s offer to put *** troops on the ground in Ukraine is part of that role he wants to play.
The government used to say the terms of any peace deal was up to Ukraine. That has shifted with the new US administration signalling that a return to 2014 borders was “unrealistic”.
Instead Sir Keir will be hoping more European nations in Paris join him in offering their forces to secure a deal – and prevent Russia invading again.
But while the prime minister is in Paris, in Westminster the debate goes on about how much the country should spend on defence.
Labour has promised to “set out a path” to increase defence spending from 2.3% of GDP now to 2.5%. Defence sources say that would be a significant rise.
But there is no date for when that would happen – and many argue it is now urgent.
Germany
By Damien McGuinness, Germany correspondent in Berlin
It is a sign of how rattled ******* leaders are by Trump’s approach to Ukraine that just days before a national election Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also in Paris.
All mainstream parties have condemned American suggestions that a peace deal be brokered without Ukraine or the EU. Far-right and populist-left politicians welcome talks with Putin and want to stop arming Kyiv. But they will not get into power.
So, whatever the next ******* government looks like, Berlin’s support for Ukraine will remain strong. That is because Berlin’s political elite recognises that a bad deal – one that undermines Ukrainian sovereignty – would be disastrous for Germany.
But with Germany’s war-torn 20th century in mind, voters here are wary of militarisation.
Over the past three years the country has successfully pivoted away from Russian energy and massively upped defence spending. But this has hit the ******* economy hard and the subsequent budget rows sparked the collapse of the ******* government.
So politicians are trying to avoid public discussions of difficult issues, like higher Nato spending targets or ******* peacekeeping troops in Ukraine — at least until after the election.
Poland
By Sarah Rainsford, Eastern Europe correspondent in Warsaw
Poland has been a key supporter of Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and it is the key logistics hub for military and humanitarian aid entering the country.
It is also a loud voice arguing that Russia cannot be allowed to win the war it launched – because the whole of Europe’s security is at stake. So there is consternation that the US looks like it is conceding to Moscow’s key demands, even before talks begin, when Poland very clearly sees Russia as the aggressor and as dangerous.
Russia is why Poland spends big on its own military – up to almost 5% of GDP now – and agrees with the US that the rest of Europe should do the same.
On his way to the talks in Paris, Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X: “If we, Europeans, fail to spend big on defence now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more if we don’t prevent a wider war.”
On the question of whether to send Polish troops to Ukraine – to help enforce any eventual ceasefire – government officials have been cautious, ruling it out for now.
The Nordic and Baltic countries
By Nick Beake, Europe Correspondent in Copenhagen
Denmark will be the only Nordic nation at Monday’s meeting. But European diplomats say it will also be representing the interests of its Baltic neighbours to the east – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – all of whom border Russia and feel particularly vulnerable to any future Putin attack.
The shockwaves generated by the second Trump term have already been reverberating around Denmark.
Trump’s renewed desire to take over Greenland – an autonomous Danish dependent territory – propelled Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on a whistle-stop tour of European allies last month to shore up support.
On Monday in Paris, Frederiksen finds herself once again in a hastily-convened meeting to respond to Trump’s reshaping of the transatlantic security landscape.
Frederiksen has not yet followed in Starmer’s footsteps of pledging peacekeeping boots on the ground in Ukraine.
Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has been quoted by Danish media as saying he is not ruling it out – but that it is too early to talk about.
France
By Andrew Harding, Paris correspondent
French President Emmanuel Macron called Monday’s informal meeting – not a “summit,” his officials insisted – to help Europe coordinate a response both to Washington’s increasingly unsympathetic posture towards the continent, and to whatever emerges from the White House’s fast-paced negotiations with the Kremlin.
“The Europeans, as we speak, are not coordinated, but that may be the whole point of (this) summit in Paris, and that is the beginning of coordination… Are we ready? The answer is no. Can we get ready? The answer is yes,” said Francois Heisbourg, a veteran French military expert, commenting on the need for Europe to work together to prepare a possible peacekeeping force for Ukraine.
“There is a wind of unity blowing across Europe such as has not been seen since Covid,” said Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s most senior diplomat.
The mood in France – a nation always wary of American geopolitical manoeuvring – is particularly edgy right now, with newspaper headlines warning of a new “Trump-Putin axis” that will sideline or “abandon” Europe over the war in Ukraine.
“We should be in a Europe-wide state of emergency,” warned the former Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin at a recent news briefing, accusing an “arrogant” Trump of attempting to “rule the world without principles or respect.”
Tuesday: Russia and the US in Saudi Arabia
Russia
By Liza Fokht, BBC Russian in Paris
Since the summer, Putin has stated that his main conditions for starting negotiations to end the war are the recognition of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, the lifting of sanctions on Russia, and denial of Ukraine’s request to join Nato.
Most European countries categorically reject these demands. The US has been very cautious in discussing what concessions Russia might have to make, though both the White House and the Pentagon have said they expect compromises from “both sides”.
Moscow’s priority is clearly the meeting in Saudi Arabia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said he would “first and foremost like to listen” to the American proposals on ending the conflict in Ukraine.
As for Europe, Moscow sees no point in inviting it to the negotiating table.
It is no secret that for many years Putin has sought dialogue specifically with the US – a country he both blames for starting the war in Ukraine and considers the only power equal to Russia.
Moscow may take note of Starmer’s statements about being ready to send peacekeepers to the Ukraine – for the first time in a week, the discussion is about potential Russian, rather than Ukrainian, concessions.
But whether Russia is ready for any compromises remains an open question.
The US
By Bernd Debusmann Jr in Palm Beach
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will be the public face of the US team negotiating in Riyadh – but perhaps the main voice at the table is more than 7,400 miles (11,900km) away, in Palm Beach, Florida.
Despite Trump’s public engagements in recent days, it is clear that the negotiations with Russia over the fate of Ukraine have been his focus behind the scenes.
On Sunday, Trump told reporters he had been kept abreast of the latest developments and the talks are “moving along”.
His short-term goal is to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Longer term, he appears to want less American involvement, given that the US has sent tens of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Kyiv.
Trump has also pushed for access to rare minerals in Ukraine in return for aid, or even as compensation for the support the US has already provided.
But he has not yet said what a post-war Ukraine would look like, setting off alarm bells in Europe.
He also notably said that he expects Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky to be a part of the “conversation”, but not the talks in Riyadh. Rubio has said the talks in Saudi Arabia are only the start of a longer process that will “obviously” include Europe and Ukraine.
Those remarks are likely to provide little comfort for US allies who have been listening to Trump’s remarks over the last several days.
In response to a BBC question on Wednesday, Trump said he believes he is inclined to agree with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s assessment that a return to pre-2014 borders is unrealistic for Ukraine, although he expects Ukraine might get “some” of that land back.
So far, it appears that solution is not one that is palatable for Zelensky and the rest of Ukraine’s leadership.
Not at the talks: Ukraine
By Mariana Matveichuk, BBC Ukraine in Kyiv
The Ukrainian people feel their future is as uncertain as it was back in February 2022.
Ukrainians want peace – so as not to wake up to the sounds of sirens and not lose loved ones on the battlefield and in frontline cities.
Russia occupies almost 25% of Ukraine’s territory. Ukraine’s defence has cost tens of thousands of lives of its citizens.
The country has in the past insisted that any peace deal include the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. That includes not only areas Russia has seized in its full-scale offensive, but also the ****** Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed after 2014, and the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russia has backed separatists in fighting, also after 2014.
Ukrainians are scared of a peace agreement like the one in 2014 or 2015 – heavy fighting was stopped, but crossfire on the border continued to bring losses.
With no security guarantees, it would also mean a possibility of a new wave of war in a decade or so.
“Ukraine regards any talks about Ukraine without Ukraine as such that have no result, and we cannot recognise… agreements about us without us,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said about the US-Russia meeting.
Whatever form any peace talks take, Ukrainians want agency over their own future.
Many see previous peace arrangements with Russia as having simply paved the way for its full-scale invasion. So the Ukrainian fear is that any deal agreed over its head could lead to a third round of war.
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Spain debates linguistics of Bellingham’s foul language
Spain debates linguistics of Bellingham’s foul language
An unlikely debate about translation and cultural interpretations of English profanity has ignited in Spain after Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was sent off for verbally abusing a referee on Saturday.
Monday’s mainstream TV shows, radio phone-ins and the front pages of newspapers and major websites wrestled with the concept of Bellingham’s novel defence that he did not shout “f*** you” at the official, but merely “f*** off”.
Bellingham, 21, was shown a red card in Saturday’s 1-1 La Liga draw against Osasuna in Pamplona as referee Jose Munuera Montero believed the England forward directed the foul language at him. However, Bellingham and his coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said the official was mistaken.
“I’m an English player…and when I speak on the pitch it’s normal that I use expressions that come naturally to me in English,” Bellingham told reporters.
“There was no insult, you can see in the video right away, it was an expression to myself, I’m not even directing myself towards the referee. But obviously there was a misunderstanding. He’s believed I’ve said it to him.
“I’ve seen the video and it doesn’t match the (referee) report. I hope that the footage will be reviewed and see that it’s not the same as the report.”
Ancelotti, who managed in England with Chelsea and Everton, backed his player’s defence. “I think he (the referee) misunderstood Bellingham’s English. The translation is not the same and I don’t think it’s offensive at all,” he said.
“The red card comes out of the referee’s nervousness. Bellingham has done nothing to be sent off. Absolutely nothing.”
In the Premier League, players routinely use strong language when decisions go against them, and punishments are uncommon.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick took a different view when asked about the incident: “It is a lack of respect in any situation,” said the *******.
The forward could be facing a four to 12-game ban for “insulting, offending, or addressing the main referee, assistants, fourth official, directors, or sports authorities in offensive terms or attitudes”.
Bellingham added: “What you have to understand is that there is a lot of emotion on the pitch and these details can cost you games.
“That emotion may not give the best of you, but I don’t think that’s the case, I’ve been calm and you can see it with lip reading, it’s not what it says on the record.
“I’m calm, because I know I’ve only said an expression to myself that I’ve said since I was 16 or 17 years old.”
While many observers will be bemused by Bellingham’s defence, the player can point to a recent case that could work in his favour.
Last season, Getafe successfully overturned English striker Mason Greenwood’s sending off in a match against Rayo Vallecano for an almost identical misunderstanding.
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Snow, single digit temps in Memphis forecast this week
Snow, single digit temps in Memphis forecast this week
Winter is coming to the Mid-South again this week.
Memphians can expect to see frigid temperatures and snow starting 12 p.m. Tuesday and carrying into Wednesday, according to a forecast put out by National Weather Service Memphis.
Memphis could see snow totals of roughly 1 and a half inches, according to the NWS Memphis forecast. Areas north of Memphis, like Jackson, should expect more than 2 inches.
National Weather Service Memphis snow total estimates
Is there a Winter Storm Watch for Memphis?
The NWS Memphis issued a winter storm watch for Memphis and the surrounding areas on Feb. 16 starting at noon on Feb. 18 and continuing into the following day.
Memphis weather forecast
Monday, Memphians can expect no precipitation but will encounter below-freezing temperatures in the morning, according to the NWS Memphis forecast. The high for Monday will be in the lower 40s with sunny skies.
Tuesday, the high for the day will be 40 degrees and the low will be 22 degrees. Snow will move into the Memphis area Tuesday evening.
The chance of precipitation Tuesday night is 100%, according to the NWS Memphis forecast.
Wednesday will be cold, with the highs for the day being in the mid-twenties and the low being 9 degrees.
Memphis is expected to not be above 30 degrees until the weekend, with Saturday’s high being 43 degrees.
What does a winter storm warning mean?
A winter storm warning is issued normally 24 hours in advance of a storm and indicates the risk of winter weather has increased but the time, location or occurrence is still uncertain, according to the NWS.
A warning indicates there is at least a 50% chance of the storm happening.
How much snow is expected Tuesday?
Memphis and the surrounding areas can expect to see anywhere between 1 and 3 inches of snow on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Memphis weather radar
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis weather: Snow, freezing temperatures, expected this week
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The Land Ukraine Could Be Forced to Give Up to End the War
The Land Ukraine Could Be Forced to Give Up to End the War
President Trump has promised to bring a quick end to the war in Ukraine, suggesting that Russia could keep at least some of the Ukrainian territory it had captured. Andrew Kramer, the New York Times bureau chief in Kyiv, explains how this would leave Ukraine divided in two: one side with its government in Kyiv, and the other a battered Russian satellite to the east.
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Ukraine war: Who is attending Russia and US peace talks? – Sky News
Ukraine war: Who is attending Russia and US peace talks? – Sky News
Ukraine war: Who is attending Russia and US peace talks? Sky NewsTop Russian and American officials will hold talks on ending the Ukraine war without Kyiv The Associated PressRubio Lands in Saudi Arabia for Talks on Gaza and Ukraine The New York TimesVideo: Russia expert on ‘most important’ issue for US to raise during talks with Russia CNN
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Aust, ******** officials meet after mid-air incident
Aust, ******** officials meet after mid-air incident
*********** military officials have reportedly raised concerns with their ******** counterparts about a mid-air incident over the South China Sea, during senior official talks in Beijing.
A ******** fighter jet dropped flares above and in front of an *********** P-8A Poseidon on Tuesday last week, coming within 30m.
While no *********** Defence Force personnel were injured and the plane was not damaged, Defence Minister Richard Marles characterised it as an “unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre”.
Australia conveyed its concerns to China over the incident through representations in Canberra and Beijing last week.
On Monday, senior officials from both countries met in Beijing for the Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue – the first since 2019.
Heading up the *********** delegation was Defence Force Vice Chief, Air Marshal Robert Chipman and Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy and Industry Group, Hugh Jeffrey.
The *********** Defence Department’s statement after the talks hinted at the mid-air incident being discussed.
“Australia reiterated the importance of all countries in the region operating in a safe and professional manner at all times to avoid the risk of miscalculation or escalation,” the *********** Defence Department said.
“Both countries exchanged views on bilateral, global and regional security issues, as well as military transparency and communication.”
Australia affirmed the importance of “all countries acting in a manner that respects sovereignty and upholds peace, security and stability”.
China has so far publicly rejected Australia’s concerns, saying the RAAF plane had jeopardised its national security with a “deliberate intrusion” into its airspace.
Beijing accused Australia of deliberately provoking it with a maritime patrol in the disputed South China Sea and accused it of “spreading false narratives”.
Australia, and allies like the US and regional partners, routinely conduct freedom of navigation exercises through the South China Sea in accordance with international law.
The South China Sea contains some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
China claims large swathes of the South China Sea but there are competing claims from some South East Asian nations including the Philippines and Vietnam.
Australia underscored the importance of adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the *********** Defence Department said.
General Xu Qiling, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department, led China’s delegation.
The two countries had an “in-depth” exchange of views on bilateral and military relations, regional security and other issues of common concern, China’s defence ministry said in a statement released on Monday.
Both sides agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communication in defence, properly handle conflicts and differences, and carry out exchanges and cooperation, the statement said.
It’s not the first time an *********** plane has been targeted with flares.
A Seahawk helicopter had to take evasive action when a ******** jet dropped flares in front of it in May 2024.
with Reuters
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Top Russian and American officials will hold talks on ending the Ukraine war without Kyiv – The Associated Press
Top Russian and American officials will hold talks on ending the Ukraine war without Kyiv – The Associated Press
Top Russian and American officials will hold talks on ending the Ukraine war without Kyiv The Associated PressRubio Lands in Saudi Arabia for Talks on Gaza and Ukraine The New York TimesVideo: Russia expert on ‘most important’ issue for US to raise during talks with Russia CNN
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#Top #Russian #American #officials #hold #talks #Ukraine #war #Kyiv #Press
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Nvidia, SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron reportedly working on new SOCAMM memory standard for AI PCs
Nvidia, SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron reportedly working on new SOCAMM memory standard for AI PCs
Nvidia is reportedly teaming up with memory manufacturers SK hynix, Micron and Samsung to create a new memory standard that’s both small in size, but big on performance, according to a report via SEDaily.
The new standard, named System On Chip Advanced Memory Module (SOCAMM) is in the works with all three large scale memory makers. The report claims (via machine translation): ‘Nvidia and memory companies are currently exchanging SOCAMM prototypes to conduct performance tests’. We could also be seeing the new standard sooner rather than later, adding that ‘mass production could be possible as early as later this year’.
The SOCAMM module is suspected to be put into use for Nvidia’s next-generation successor to Nvidia’s Project Digits AI computers, announced at CES 2025. SOCAMM is expected to be a sizable upgrade over Low-Power Compression Attached Memory Modules (LPCAMM), and traditional DRAM, thanks to several factors.
Nvidia’s Project Digits AI PCs are expected to be available starting from May. (Image credit: Nvidia)
The first is that SOCAMM is set to be more cost-effective when compared to traditional DRAM that uses the SO-DIMM form-factor. The report further details that SOCAMM may place LPDDR5X memory directly onto the substrate, offering further power efficiency.
Secondly, SOCAMM is reported to feature a significant number of I/O ports when compared to LPCAMM and traditional DRAM modules. SOCAMM has up to 694 I/O ports, outshining LPCAMM’s 644, or traditional DRAM’s 260.
The new standard is also reported to possess a ‘detachable’ module, which may offer easy upgradability further down the line. When combined with its small hardware footprint (which SEDaily reports is around the size of adult’s middle finger), it is smaller than traditional DRAM modules, which could potentially enhance total capacity.
Finer details about SOCAMM are still firmly shrouded in mystery, as Nvidia appears to be developing the standard without any input from the Joint Electron Device Engineering council (JEDEC).
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This could end up being a big deal, as Nvidia is seemingly venturing out on its own to refine and create a new standard, with the key memory makers in tow. But, SO-DIMM’s time in the sun has been ticking for a while, as the CAMM Common Spec was set to supersede it.
The reason as to why that might be is down to the company’s focus on AI workloads. Running local AI models demand a large amount of DRAM, and Nvidia would be wise to push for more I/O, capacity and more configurability.
Jensen Huang made it clear at CES 2025 that making AI mainstream is a big focus for the company, though it’s not gone without criticism. While Nvidia’s initial Project Digits AI computers go on ***** in May this year, the advent of SOCAMM may be a good reason for many to wait.
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Argentina president accused of fraud over crypto ******
Argentina president accused of fraud over crypto ******
Argentine President Javier Milei is facing impeachment calls – and legal action accusing him of fraud – over his promotion of cryptocurrency on social media.
Milei posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the $LIBRA coin on Friday, which he said would help fund small businesses and start-ups.
He shared a link to buy it, causing its price to shoot up – but within a few hours he deleted his post, and the cryptocurrency nosedived in value, losing investors most of their money.
Some opposition members of Congress say they plan to start proceedings to impeach Milei. Meanwhile, lawyers filed complaints of fraud in the Argentina’s criminal court on Sunday.
Some people online have accused Milei of what is known as a “rug pull” – where promoters of a cryptocurrency draw in buyers, only to stop trading activity and make off with the money raised from sales. They pointed out that the link used to buy the coins referenced a phrase the president uses in his speeches.
But Argentina’s presidential office said on Saturday that the decision to remove the post was to avoid “speculation” following public reaction to the launch of the cryptocurrency.
It said Milei was not involved in the cryptocurrency’s development, and that the government’s Anti-Corruption Office would investigate and determine whether anyone had acted improperly, including the president himself.
Jonatan Baldiviezo, one of the plaintiffs who filed the legal action, told Associated Press “the crime of fraud was committed, in which the president’s actions were essential”.
Milei’s political opponents have jumped on the opportunity.
Former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is now in opposition, was heavily critical, calling him a “crypto scammer” in a post seen 6.4 million times.
Meanwhile the country’s main opposition coalition said it would file a request to impeach the president, calling it an “unprecedented scandal“.
Esteban Paulón, a member of the opposition Socialist Party, said in a post on X that he would also request the start of impeachment proceedings.
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Crunch time for borrowers as RBA unveils rate call
Crunch time for borrowers as RBA unveils rate call
The Reserve Bank of Australia is widely tipped to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Tuesday, potentially saving borrowers more than $1000 a year.
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South Korea pauses downloads of DeekSeek AI over privacy concerns
South Korea pauses downloads of DeekSeek AI over privacy concerns
DeepSeek, the ******** AI assistant, has been temporarily unavailable from app stores in South Korea since February 15. A from the country’s data protection authority, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), stated that downloads will resume once the ******** AI company complies with local data protection laws, while those with the app can still use it. DeepSeek is also on South Korean government and military devices.
DeepSeek only established a local presence in South Korea on February 10. The company also acknowledged that it didn’t fully consider South Korea’s data protection laws when launching the service globally. Fortunately for South Korean users, the new AI powerhouse intends to cooperate with the PIPC.
The PIPC says that inspecting DeepSeek will take some time. On-site inspections of six AI services from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft and others took around five months. This inspection should take less time because it only involves DeepSeek.
In a statement to , the PIPC revealed that it discovered DeepSeek was transferring Korean users’ data to ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Local users were warned against entering personal information into the app.
Last month, the Italian Data Protection Authority or Garante, sent DeepSeek an asking what type of data the models were trained on and several other questions. Other countries like and have also banned the app on government devices due to security concerns.
******** Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun to South Korea’s DeepSeek ban, claiming Beijing would never ask any company or individual to store or collect data illicitly.
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From headaches to tics, how mass nocebo effects spread real symptoms
From headaches to tics, how mass nocebo effects spread real symptoms
Centuries ago, witches and shamans would mutter curses with the intention of spreading illness. Today, certain social media feeds may serve the same purpose.
We aren’t talking about sharing dubious claims about quack treatments and fad diets, but rather information that exaggerates threats to our health. Through the power of suggestion, these posts can trigger real symptoms – ranging from Tourette’s-like tics to headaches, muscle pain, fainting fits and even cognitive impairment.
That negative expectations can influence our health is already well established – it is called the “nocebo effect” and there is increasing interest in how it can pass from person to person. Scientists have shown that the phenomenon can be highly transmissible, spreading through face-to-face conversations, blogs and – most worryingly – social media.
“Online information can spread nocebo effects faster and farther than has previously been possible,” says Kate Faasse at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. “This is quite scary, given how many people seek health information on the internet and through social media in particular.”
Contagious nocebo responses are so common that you may have experienced one yourself – ever witnessed someone vomit and then felt nauseous? Fortunately, recent research is offering new ways to protect ourselves from these mind viruses.
The placebo effect’s opposite
Even if you have never heard of the nocebo response, you will probably be familiar with its counterpart – the placebo effect. In many situations, this can lead to people feeling better as a result of the mere expectation of relief. Taking a sham pill presented as…
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Handheld gaming PCs will always be my favorite, but I can’t ignore these Presidents’ Day offers on Dell’s Alienware X16 R2 gaming laptop
Handheld gaming PCs will always be my favorite, but I can’t ignore these Presidents’ Day offers on Dell’s Alienware X16 R2 gaming laptop
If there’s ever a choice between a gaming laptop or a handheld gaming PC, I’m picking the latter – that’s not to say that gaming laptops aren’t capable of providing fantastic gaming experiences, but taking a smaller and more compact gaming device with me anywhere I want is far more appealing. Well – at least, that was how I felt before I saw these Presidents’ Day offers for an absolute powerhouse gaming laptop from Dell.
The Alienware X16 R2 RTX 4080 gaming laptop is now on ***** on Amazon for $2,499.99 (was $3,099.99), and its slightly weaker variant using the RTX 4070 is now available on Amazon for $1,799.99 (was 2,399.99).
Both gaming laptops utilize Intel’s Core Ultra Processors, providing the ideal level of processing power for great gaming experiences – I usually wouldn’t recommend gaming laptops when you could easily aim for an Asus ROG Ally X or Lenovo Legion Go for a more portable experience, but the performance you’ll have at your disposal at those prices can’t be ignored. If anything, a savvy PC gamer might want both – these Alienware laptops are easily powerful enough to serve as desktop replacement systems, meaning portability isn’t an issue if you’ve got a handheld to take with you on the go.
Not in the US? Scroll down to see the best Alienware X16 R2 gaming laptop deals in your region!
Today’s best Alienware X16 R2 gaming laptop deals in the US
Now, let me get one thing straight, handheld gaming PCs are still my favorite, and gaming laptops aren’t going to change that no matter how much more powerful they become. Despite this, an RTX 4000 series gaming laptop for as little as $1,799.99 is worth considering if you ask me – there are now new handheld gaming PCs that are stepping above the $900 price region, utilizing ridiculous 11-inch screen sizes like the Acer Nitro Blaze 11, so at that point why not consider a gaming laptop instead? At the end of the day, a high-end laptop is always going to beat a handheld in terms of performance.
Plus, access to performance-boosted features like DLSS 4 with Frame Generation is a genuine game changer, especially with some recent poorly optimized titles – it’s also worth noting that even if RTX 5000 series gaming laptops become available, there’s evidently a limited supply on Nvidia’s side and ongoing issues with scalping (can’t say I’m surprised about that one).
The main appeal (at least for me) with handheld gaming PCs, is the ease of use without the need of carrying a big rucksack for a gaming laptop. In the case that this isn’t much of a dealbreaker for you and you’re willing to spend some extra cash, a purchase between either the RTX 4080 or 4070 X16 R2 models is one I don’t think you’ll regret.
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As a personal finance expert, this is the worst savings advice I see on social media
As a personal finance expert, this is the worst savings advice I see on social media
As a personal finance writer, my social media feeds are flooded with content from personal finance influencers — or “finfluencers” — offering users the best tips for paying down debt, getting rich quick, and the like.
While some of this advice can be useful, I sometimes come across tips that make me do a double take. And not in a good way.
Here are some of the worst pieces of financial advice I’ve come across on my feeds — plus a few tips for avoiding bad money advice on social media.
Read more: Check kiting goes viral on social media. Is it bank fraud?
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There’s a good chance you’ve come across ads for payday loans on social media promising fast cash with no credit check. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), these ads often target younger users who may not understand the risks involved.
Sometimes referred to as a cash advance, payday loans are short-term loans, usually for around $500 or less, that must be paid back within a few weeks. You might opt for a payday loan if you’re stuck in a paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and need to cover an emergency expense.
The downside: Payday loan providers charge exorbitant fees and sky-high interest rates. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, payday loan fees can equate to an APR as high as 662% in certain states.
Although a payday loan can seem like a quick fix to a cash flow crunch, these short-term, high-interest loans lead to a vicious cycle of borrowing to stay afloat.
A better option: Ask your service providers if they’re willing to offer a payment extension or a more flexible repayment plan. Credit cards offering interest-free introductory periods can also provide a short-term solution with a bit more flexibility than a payday loan.
For a longer-term solution, prioritize building up an emergency fund to cover your expenses in a pinch.
Watch: 3 ways to avoid living paycheck to paycheck
Renting is a waste of time and money
Homeownership is often touted as one of the best ways to build long-term wealth — and it is. However, owning a home comes with many costs and challenges, and it isn’t for everyone.
Yet some TikTokers claim that renting a place to live is essentially throwing money away and urge viewers to jump on the property ladder as soon as possible.
While this may be a viable option for some, saving up enough money for a down payment on a home can take time. As of June 2024, the median down payment on a house in the U.S. was $67,500, according to real estate company Redfin.
If you’re not in a position to purchase a home, renting can buy you the time you need to save funds for a down payment and move-in costs. It can also give you some time to pay down debt and improve your credit score in order to secure a more favorable interest rate on a home.
Luckily, there are a few ways you can save on rental costs as you prepare to become a homeowner, such as signing a longer lease, negotiating your rent with your landlord, or splitting your monthly rent with roommates. And if you’re not interested in buying a home at all, that’s OK too.
Read more: Can you save for a down payment and emergency fund at the same time?
Credit cards often get a bad rap for leading to unmanageable, high-interest debt. That’s definitely the case for some people, but it doesn’t have to be for you. Credit cards can be a useful tool for building your credit score, financing larger purchases, and earning valuable rewards.
The key is to manage your credit card responsibly and strategically. You can put safeguards in place to keep credit card spending in check, such as setting account balance alerts, keeping your credit utilization low, and only charging what you can afford to pay off in full each month.
Of course, if you know you struggle with overspending or already have high-interest debt you’re working to pay off, a credit card may not be the best choice.
Read more: Strategies to pay down mounting credit card debt
Certain finfluencers on social media tout bankruptcy as a way to wipe the slate clean if you’re struggling with mounting debt. Although bankruptcy can help you start fresh, it also has serious long-term repercussions for your credit and finances.
Bankruptcy is a legal process allowing individuals and companies that can’t pay their debts to seek relief from some or all of those debts. This may sound like a great idea, but it isn’t a decision that should be made lightly. Bankruptcy can also cause a massive drop in your credit score, loss of assets, extra costs in the form of attorney fees, and more.
If you’re in a bind and can’t get a handle on your debt, see if there are ways to rework your budget so you can make extra payments toward your balances and wipe out your debt for good. If not, see if your credit card company or loan provider is willing to work with you on an alternative payment plan. Options such as consolidation, refinancing, or debt settlement could also be viable alternatives with less severe consequences.
Read more: Money Basics: What is bankruptcy?
For every nugget of wisdom on our social media feeds, there’s a plethora of bad advice. Before taking financial pointers from anyone on social media, make sure you do your homework:
Vet so-called experts and their credentials: Do some digging to figure out if the person offering you money advice has the background and experience to do so. Are they a certified financial planner or tax professional? Have they worked with clients in similar situations before? What makes them qualified to give you financial advice?
Look for shady disclosures: If a social media post promotes a certain financial product, read the fine print to determine if the product is being promoted because it’s genuinely a good product or because it’s a paid advertisement.
Know when to call in a pro: When in doubt, speaking with a professional debt counselor or financial advisor can help you get the guidance you need to make the most informed decision.
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CAR T-cells enable record-breaking 18-year nerve ******* remission
CAR T-cells enable record-breaking 18-year nerve ******* remission
A microscopic image of a neuroblastoma tumour
Simon Belcher/Alamy
A ******* therapy that uses genetically engineered immune cells, called CAR T-cells, has kept a person free of a potentially fatal nerve tumour for a record-breaking 18 years.
“This is, to my knowledge, the longest-lasting complete remission in a patient who received CAR T-cell therapy,” says Karin Straathof at University College London, who wasn’t involved in the treatment. “This patient is cured,” she says.
Doctors use CAR T-cell therapy to treat some kinds of blood *******, like leukaemia. To do this, they collect a sample of T-cells, which form part of the immune system, from a patient’s blood and genetically engineer them to target and kill ******* cells. They then infuse the modified cells back into the body. In 2022, a follow-up study found that this approach had put two people with leukaemia into remission for around 11 years, a record at the time.
But CAR T-cell therapy usually fails against solid tumours like neuroblastoma, which occurs when developing nerve cells in children turn cancerous, typically before age 5. Such tumours often strongly resist being attacked by the immune system, reducing the effectiveness of the modified T-cells.
This is why Cliona Rooney at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and her colleagues were surprised to find that a person who had neuroblastoma during childhood – who they had treated with CAR T-cell therapy as part of a trial in 2005 – remained *******-free more than 18 years later. “These results were amazing – to get complete responses in neuroblastomas with this approach is quite unusual,” says Rooney.
The person had received the treatment at age 4 after several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy failed to fully eradicate their *******. At the time, the team also treated 10 other people with the same condition whose ******* had also relapsed after standard treatment, and they all experienced virtually no side effects, says Rooney. One of these participants showed no signs of ******* nearly nine years later, before they dropped out of the study, making follow-up impossible. The remaining nine participants eventually died due to their *******, mostly within a few years of receiving the treatment.
It is unclear why some people responded so much better than others. “That’s the $1 million question, we really don’t know why,” says Rooney.
One reason could be that each individual’s T-cells behave slightly differently depending on their genetics, prior exposure to infections and various lifestyle factors, such as their diet, says Rooney. Indeed, the team found that CAR T-cells persisted in the blood for longer in participants who survived for longer.
Another explanation could be that some participants’ tumours were more immunosuppressive and resisted the CAR T-cells more strongly, says Rooney.
Rooney’s team is now exploring new ways to engineer the cells so that they can benefit more people. “We have to improve them and make them more potent, without increasing toxicities,” she says.
Such endeavours are likely to yield further success, says Straathof. “Now we’ve seen a glimpse of what is feasible.”
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