Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2025
Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2025
While wireless earbuds are popular, there are still plenty of reasons to love over-ear headphones. Features like improved noise cancelation, built-in ***** mics and better overall frequency response are unique to the sound quality of headphones that fully cover your ear. I’ve also included a handful of wired-only over-ear headphones for audio purists looking for that extra level of clarity. Note that this list is regularly updated as more over-ear headphones hit the market, with the most recent addition being the Noble Fokus Apollo.
What are the best over-ear headphones right now?
If you’re looking for the best sound and have the budget for it, you can go for options like the Focal Bathys, Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Noble Fokus Apollo. All of them deliver outstanding sound quality. As for a budget pick, we think the Earfun Wave Pro is among the better values. Excellent mid-range models include the flagship Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (seen at the top of this list) or the Sony WH-100XM5s (seen just below the Bose QCs). When testing and evaluating over-ear headphones, we consider factors like build quality, comfort and sound quality, as well as noise-canceling and voice-calling performance. I’ll be sure to add more models as I test them in 2025.
Best over-ear headphones of 2025Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
We were fans of Beyerdynamic’s earlier DT 770 Pro headphones. The new DT 700 X is easier to drive than the 770 Pro, thanks to the company’s new Stellar.45 sound transducer with an impedance of 48 ohms, so it plays better with smartphones, tablets and laptops without requiring a headphone amp.
These headphones are targeted at content creators who want accurate audio reproduction, but it’s a bit more dynamic sounding and less bass-shy than many studio headphones, which tend to restrain the bass and hew toward a very neutral sound profile. The DT 700 X are revealing, clean-sounding headphones that offer invitingly open sound (particularly for closed-back headphones) and make you realize what you’re missing after listening to similarly priced Bluetooth headphones.
Unlike the earlier DT 770 Pro, which is being sold at a nice discount (around $160), the DT 700 X comes with two interchangeable (detachable) straight cables in different lengths, and the DT 700 X arguably has a little cleaner look than their predecessor.
Solidly built — they weigh 350 grams — they’re quite comfortable, featuring upgraded soft, velour-covered memory foam earpads that offer decent passive noise isolation. The earpads and the headphones’ other parts are replaceable, Beyerdynamic says.
Beyerdynamic also sells the open-back DT 900 X for $30 less. That model should provide slightly more open, airy sound, but the big drawback is people around you can hear whatever you’re listening to — and sound also leaks in. This closed-back version is more versatile.
David Carnoy/CNET
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Sony MDR7506
Introduced way back in 1991, the Sony MDR-7506 has long been the favorite headphones of recording engineers and other sound professionals (yes, these are wired headphones). The origins of its design date even further back, since the MDR-7506 headphones are, in fact, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 that rolled out in 1985. Both models were designed for the pro sound market but remain hugely popular with consumers.
The two models have the same design and are very comfortable, but they don’t sound identical. Both offer very well-balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices — and both are great overall values. The MDR-V6 headphones make a little more bass and sound more laid-back and mellow, while the 7506 headphones are leaner with a more accentuated treble range, which makes the sound a little crisper and livelier.
Sony MDR7506
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Factors to consider when buying over-ear headphonesBudget
Before anything else, you’ll want to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on new over-ear headphones. The quality of value-priced headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable headphones for less than $100. The premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost $300 or more — sometimes much more, upwards of $650.
Noise canceling: Yes or no?
The majority of over-ear headphones feature active noise canceling. It does slightly affect sound quality, so if you’re an audio purist, you may want to go with a model that doesn’t have noise canceling. You can also sometimes save some money by getting non-ANC headphones, although noise canceling is becoming a fairly standard feature.
Wired or wireless
Most headphones these days are Bluetooth wireless headphones. You still tend to get the best sound going the wired route. Many wireless headphones also come with a headphone cable for wired listening (and some offer USB-C Audio using a USB-C cable). We have a few headphones on this list that are wired-only.
Fit, aka comfort
It’s key that the headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that’s snug yet not too snug. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear over a day with minimal breaks.
Durability
You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Maximize performance and features for your budget
You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise canceling, call quality and features for whatever you’re able to spend.
Return policy
It’s critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer’s remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days and then return one.
How we test over-ear headphones
We test over-ear headphones based on six key criteria: design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
Design
We assess not only how comfortably the headphones fit (their ergonomics) but also their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. With over-ear headphones, we’ll note if they’re water-resistant, but only a few over-ear headphones have water- and dust-resistance ratings.
Sound quality
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
Noise-canceling performance
If the headphones we’re testing feature active noise canceling, we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out onto city streets to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they muffle not only street noise but also people’s voices.
Extra features
Some great-sounding headphones aren’t loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is.
Voice-calling
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls on noisy city streets and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices.
Value
We determine value after considering the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they’re able to deliver compared with other models in their price class.
Other over-ear headphones we tested
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: A lot of us liked Shure’s original Aonic 50 headphones, but they had pretty middling noise cancellation. Well, the 2nd-gen version addresses that issue — the noise canceling is much improved — and Shure has more than doubled the the battery life to around 45 hours (they now have a quick-charge feature) and also shrunk the headphone’s carry case a bit, although it’s still not that compact. Those upgrades make the Aonic 50 Gen 2 a top noise-canceling headphone. The Aonic 50 Gen 2s are pretty heavy at 334 grams, they’re built sturdily and are also comfortable to wear, with nicely padded ear cups. They feature excellent sound quality with very good clarity and well-defined bass. Shure calls them a “studio headphone,” so the sound profile is fairly neutral, but you can add more bass in the EQ settings in Shure’s companion app for iOS and Android (engaging the Spatializer setting in the app expands the soundstage slightly but doesn’t make a big difference).
Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay HX: Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay HX headphones are the successor to the company’s H9 series headphones (the X is the Roman numeral for 10) and, like those earlier H9 models, the HX headphones carry a list price of $599 (some colors are discounted at Amazon). That price makes it a direct competitor of Apple’s AirPods Max, which is heavier at 385 grams versus the HX’s 285 grams. I don’t know if the HX headphones are more comfortable than the AirPods Max, but I found the two models pretty equal in the comfort department over longer listening sessions, and these do feature the usual swanky B&O lambskin-covered memory foam earpads. Their sound measures up well to the AirPods Max’s sound — overall, it’s well-balanced, with deep, well-defined bass, natural-sounding mids (where vocals live) and inviting detail in the treble.
V-Moda M-200: V-Moda’s M-200 is one of the few wired headphones on this list. Released in late 2019, these clean- and detailed-sounding over-ear headphones have excellent bass response, and the cushy earcups mean they’re also comfortable to wear. Featuring 50mm drivers with neodymium magnets, CCAW voice coils and fine-tuning by Roland engineers — yes, V-Moda is now owned by Roland — the M‑200 is Hi‑Res Audio-certified by the Japan Audio Society. Other V-Moda headphones tend to push the bass a little, but this set has the more neutral profile that you’d expect from studio monitor headphones. They come with two cords, one of which has a built-in microphone for making calls. It would be nice if V-Moda offered Lightning or USB-C cables for phones without headphone jacks. Note that last year V-Moda released the ($350), a wireless version of these headphones that includes active noise canceling. They also sound great, but their noise cancellation, call quality and overall feature set don’t match those of the AirPods Max.
Mark Levinson No. 5909 (Currently on backorder): These are premium audio brand Mark Levinson’s first headphones and, yes, they’re really expensive at $999. They’re also really good. They have a sturdy design without managing to feel hefty on your head (read: they’re substantial but not too heavy) and they’re comfortable to wear over long periods, thanks to their nicely padded and replaceable leather-covered earcups and headband. Read our Mark Levinson No. 5909 hands-on.
OneOdio A10: The OneOdio A10s deliver more than you’d expect for their relatively modest price, which is why they’re featured on several of our best lists. They’re built better than you think they would be for around $90 and are pretty comfortable to wear. They have a dual-hinge design and feel sturdy, weighing in at 395 grams, making them perfect headphones for a workout. They sound surprisingly decent and have reasonably good noise canceling with a transparency mode (which has a slight audible hiss). The headphones also have very good battery life. No, they’re not as comfortable as Bose’s and Sony’s models (they do feel a tad heavy) and their sound lacks that extra bit of clarity, bass definition and depth that more premium headphones tend to deliver. They did exceed my expectations and come with a decent carrying case, even if the OneOdio logo splayed across it is a bit garish.
Technics EAH-A800: There’s a bit of an old-school vibe to the Technics EAH-A800 — and it’s not just the Technics brand, which Panasonic resurrected in the last few years. Their design is something of a throwback, but these headphones are comfortable and both fold up and fold flat. They feature a big, energetic sound with powerful bass and good detail, although they take a day or two to break in.
Over-ear headphones FAQDo over-ear headphones sound better than on-ear headphones?
Usually but not always. Over-ear headphones tend to have ******* speaker drivers (******* isn’t always better when it comes to speaker drivers, but it can be), which can lead to better sound. Also, the way over-ear headphones cover your entire ear can create better acoustics and help passively seal out more ambient noise. It’s also worth noting that over-ear headphones tend to be more comfortable than on-ear headphones, although in warmer environments over-ear headphones will steam up your ears more than on-ear headphones.
Are over-ear headphones bad for your hearing?
Only if you play them too loud for long periods. It’s best to keep volume levels in the 50% to 70% range.
What makes over-ear headphones comfortable?
Lighter headphones tend to be more comfortable, and companies like Sony and Bose have made an effort to shave as much weight as they can off their premium over-ear noise-canceling headphones. You also want headphones that have soft earpads and a comfortable headband, with high-quality memory foam and good padding. Heavier headphones, like Apple’s AirPods Max, can be comfortable, but the weight distribution has to be good, along with the cushioning on the headband at the top where it meets the crown of your head.
Is it ‘noise-canceling’ or ‘noise-cancelling’?
Short answer: both. Either spelling is correct, as “canceling” is more common in American English, while “cancelling” is more common in British English. CNET uses “noise-canceling” since the company is based in the US, but the noise is canceled just the same, regardless of spelling. If you’re looking to see what different noise-impacting technology is out there for headphones, check out our article on noise-canceling versus noise-isolating headphones, which highlights differences in function (and not just a difference in spelling).
Can I connect over-ear headphones to my TV?
In short, yes. Wireless over-ear headphones can be connected via Bluetooth if supported by your television. Otherwise, you’re likely able to connect your over-ear headphones to your TV through an AUX cable or included wire with the appropriate dongle attachment. If you’re really looking for the best sound from your TV, we recommend investing in a great soundbar or home theater system to bring the movie magic to life.
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MLB The Show 25 is coming in March, but it won’t be on Game Pass or last-gen consoles
MLB The Show 25 is coming in March, but it won’t be on Game Pass or last-gen consoles
Sony has unveiled MLB The Show 25, ahead of the game’s release on March 18, 2025.
The game will be released for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, with early access available from March 14 for players who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition.
This year’s series entry will be the first not to launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one since the franchise debuted on Microsoft consoles with MLB The Show 21. It also marks the end of support for PS4 and Xbox One.
Sony previously said the decision to put its internally-developed baseball series on Game Pass was made by license holder the MLB.
In a series first, the box of this year’s game will feature three cover stars. They are Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson.
The first MLB The Show 25 gameplay trailer will be released on February 4, which is also when pre-orders for the title will open.
Sony said it’s planning weekly feature reveals in the run-up to launch, including trailer deep dives with MLB Network host Robert Flores, and the return of feature premieres from the development team at San Diego Studio.
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AI haters build tarpits to trap and trick AI scrapers that ignore robots.txt – Ars Technica
AI haters build tarpits to trap and trick AI scrapers that ignore robots.txt – Ars Technica
AI haters build tarpits to trap and trick AI scrapers that ignore robots.txt Ars TechnicaDeveloper Creates Infinite Maze That Traps AI Training Bots 404 MediaDeveloper Created Tarpit to Trap AI Training Bots 80.lv’Nepenthes’ is developed to trap crawlers that collect data for AI training in an infinitely generated maze GIGAZINE（ギガジン）Coder creates an ‘infinite maze’ to snare AI bots in an act of ‘sheer unadulterated rage at how things are going’ on the content-scraped web PC Gamer
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide Is Discounted At Amazon
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide Is Discounted At Amazon
Assassin’s Creed fans can add multiple new books to their collection when Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches this March. An official strategy guide will be published alongside the game on March 20, and Dark Horse’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows art book will arrive on March 25. Each book has standard and collector’s variants and are available to preorder at Amazon, and two of the books are discounted. You can preorder the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition Guide for a 10% discount, dropping the price to $40.49. Preorders for The Art of Assassin’s Creed Shadows are steeply discounted, allowing fans to save nearly $20 on the upcoming hardcover book.
If you haven’t preordered a copy of the game itself, check out our comprehensive Assassin’s Creed Shadows preorder guide for details on all editions and bonuses.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Strategy Guides + Art Books
$40.49 (was $45) | Releases March 20
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition strategy guide is a premium hardcover book with a striking red background the game’s logo in the center.
Beyond a hardcover binding, the main perk of this edition is the extra 32-page section, which brings the page count up to 448. It’s unclear what to expect in the bonus section, but previous Assassin’s Creed collector’s edition guides included chapters with exclusive artwork.
The guide’s publisher Piggyback has a long history with Assassin’s Creed, as it has created strategy guides for a bunch AC games dating all the way back to Assassin’s Creed II in 2009.
Like its previous Assassin’s Creed guides, Piggyback’s AC Shadows guidebook is an exhaustive tome of information that aims to cover every aspect of the game’s open world. Here’s a list of the core sections in the guide:
Companion Chapter – Overview of all story missions with a flowchart to contextualize your progression through the game.
Complete Walkthrough – Step-by-step guide for all of the game’s missions, including mainline quests and optional content.
Atlas – A series of world maps with detailed annotations identifying all points of interest.
Inventory – Every weapon, piece of gear, resources, and items are collected in a comprehensive catalog.
Mastery – This section fully explains the game’s skill system and upgrade trees while offering tips on combinations of skills to create your ideal build.
$30.49 (was $50) | Releases March 25
Releasing five days after the game, The Art of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is up for preorder for only $30.49 at Amazon. This is a 39% discount from its $50 retail price, so now’s a good time to secure your preorder.
Published by Dark Horse, the official 256-page hardcover art book details the development of Assassin’s Creed Shadows with a plethora of concept art featuring the dual protagonists, the feudal Japan landscapes, and the gear you’ll use throughout the adventure.
$100
At $100, The Art of Assassin’s Creed Shadows Deluxe Edition is significantly more expensive than the standard hardcover–especially when you consider Amazon’s discount on the standard version. The Deluxe Edition has an exclusive cover that with a minimalistic aesthetic that’s similar to the Collector’s Edition guide.
The Deluxe Edition has the same interior content, but it also comes with an exclusive slipcase and a portfolio containing a gallery-caliber art print for display.
Piggyback’s Nintendo Books
In recent years, Piggyback is best known for its pair of The Legend of Zelda strategy guides, both of which are on ***** for big price cuts at Amazon. Piggyback is also publishing a retrospective on the Metroid Prime Trilogy this year, and you can preorder Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective for $45 at Amazon.
Strategy guide collectors will also want to check out the upcoming 592-page strategy guide for Metaphor: ReFantazio, Atlus’ superb 2024 role-playing game. Created by Future Press and releasing February 28, the Metaphor: ReFantazio Official Strategy Guide is available to preorder for $49.49 (was $55) at Amazon.
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There’s still value for Nvidia despite DeepSeek threat, says strategist Jay Woods
There’s still value for Nvidia despite DeepSeek threat, says strategist Jay Woods
There’s more gains ahead for shares of Nvidia despite the emergence of AI startup DeepSeek, according to Jay Woods, chief global strategist of Freedom Capital Markets. Woods joined CNBC’s ” Power Lunch ” on Tuesday to share his take on the AI chipmaker. Here’s what he had to say during the segment’s “Three-Stock Lunch.” Nvidia Nvidia shares plunged 17% on Monday after ******** startup DeepSeek raised concerns over the amount of money big tech has been investing in AI models and data centers. The stock shed $600 billion in market capitalization, marking the biggest one-day loss for a U.S. company. But the stock made a comeback on Tuesday, ending the day with a 9% gain. Shares of Nvidia are still down 4% on the month but have risen 111% in the last twelve months. Woods said that the setup for traders was optimistic. “Long term, I still think it’s great. This story out of China with DeepSeek — we shot first, we’re asking questions now,” the strategist said. “I have more questions than answers. So I think this is a buying opportunity.” General Motors Despite posting a fourth-quarter earnings and revenue beat , shares of General Motors ended Tuesday with a 9% decline. Investors sent the stock lower as concerns grew around the automaker’s preparation for new changes under the second Trump administration, such as the impact of potential tariffs and policy changes on vehicle production and electric vehicle sales. The stock’s Tuesday decline now provides a good entry point for investors, according to Woods. “I think it’s an opportunity to buy the stock. The quarter was pretty solid. People were concerned about 25% tariffs that weren’t mentioned in their guidance” he said. “You buy here, you get out and embrace the 200-day moving average.” Shares of General Motors are currently on pace to end the month 6% lower, although the stock is still up 42% in the last twelve months. RTX Shares of RTX , formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, ended Tuesday nearly 3% higher on the back of better-than-expected fourth-quarter results. The aerospace and defense firm posted adjusted earnings of $1.54 per share on revenue of $21.62 billion, exceeding the $1.38 per share on $20.54 billion in revenue analysts had expected. Woods said that RTX’s rosy outlook makes the stock look attractive. The strategist added that the sector is strong, and RTX is currently outperforming competitor Lockheed Martin . “Trump wants this American Iron Dome, and guess who helped with the Israeli Iron Dome? Raytheon. So if this does come to pass, expect Raytheon to be okay,” Woods said. “The headwind there is DOGE. But technically, it’s breaking out. It has solid price action. I think it’s a great long-term buy-and-hold.” Shares of RTX are now up 11% in January and up 42% in the last 12 months.
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Children being ****** and abused in hotels, police data reveals
Children being ****** and abused in hotels, police data reveals
Watch: Police bodycam footage shows the moment a man is arrested following a 999 call made by hotel staff
Police have received hundreds of reports of child ******* abuse in high street hotel chains, data shared exclusively with BBC News shows.
Of the 504 offences recorded in hotels in 2023, 92% (464) involved physical contact with a child, while 40% (203) were recorded as *****.
The figures, provided by the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), reveal where specific hotels were recorded most were budget chain hotels.
Offences in hotels made up less than 1% of the total number of recorded ******* crimes against children in England and Wales in 2023. However, police say the crime is under reported and the real figures are likely to be higher.
The NPCC says police forces are “working with hotels to try and raise awareness of child ******* exploitation”.
Under the name Operation Makesafe, hotel staff have been trained to identify signs of ******* exploitation and told how to report issues to the police.
A female victim of child ******* abuse – who was often taken to hotels by her abuser – told the BBC the data is unsurprising.
“You can put a Do not disturb sign on the door and then they can do whatever they want with nobody wondering what’s going on,” she says.
“I can’t even stay in a hotel now without thinking about what happened to me.”
Trade body *** Hospitality, which represents more than 130,000 venues, says it is “doubling down to tackle this abhorrent crime”.
The NPCC says where specific hotels were recorded by police many were in major towns and cities, with transport links such as train stations and motorways nearby making it easy for perpetrators to meet victims.
Many budget hotels also have self-service kiosks rather than manned reception desks, allowing perpetrators to check-in with young people without any questions being asked, police chiefs say.
“Once you’re behind that hotel bedroom door, there’s a degree of privacy that perpetrators often don’t find elsewhere when they commit abuse,” says Phil Ashford, from the NPCC child ******* exploitation taskforce.
“We’re talking about some of the most serious contact offending imaginable – the ***** and serious ******* abuse of children.”
Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs from the NPCC says Operation Makesafe also aims to highlight the positive work being done by hotels. She said the impact of the partnership “cannot be overestimated”.
What to look out for
The perpetrator might:
• insist on paying cash
• be reticent to provide any ID
• specifically request an isolated room
• specifically request a double room
• make clear there are no familial links between the pair, if asked
The child may:
• look unhappy and nervous
• consistently defer to the adult to answer on their behalf
• fail to engage
• show no identification
Source: Operation Makesafe
Sergeant Ian Haselden, from Greater Manchester Police, conducts operations during which officers pretend to be an abuser and travel to a hotel with a child acting as a victim. They then attempt to book a room while displaying signs of suspicious behaviour.
“We’d rather they be safe than sorry, because this is an extremely serious crime and we don’t want them to worry about making the wrong call,” he says.
“If hotels are suspicious the gold standard response is to call the police,” he adds.
Although the recent data shows most of the incidents took place in cheaper hotels, he says child ******* abuse and exploitation (CSAE) offences can take place anywhere.
“This happens in luxury hotels and in low budget chains – it would be wrong to assume it’s just going on in one part of the market – it’s happening everywhere.”
The latest figures reveal 26% of victims in the 504 reported offences were aged 15, 18% were aged 16, and 17% were aged 17. Almost all suspects (92%) were men, and the average age of suspects was 28. The victims were predominantly female (84%).
The NPCC says the age of victims of abuse in hotels tend to be higher than across all CSAE offences.
Just 4% (21) of the reported crimes were identified as group based, where two or more suspects were recorded. But victims have told the BBC even though perpetrators often turn up alone, they could belong to a grooming gang where children are swapped between abusers.
Police chiefs calculated the data by identifying keywords such as “hotel” among the 115,489 CSAE offences recorded in 2023.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of *** Hospitality, told the BBC: “We are working closely with the Home Office and police to support Operation Makesafe. We provide hospitality businesses with police guidance on what the signs of child ******* exploitation are, how to spot them, what to do if you think an incident is taking place and measures hotels can implement to deter incidents.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.
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Elon Musk’s X inks deal with Visa to launch digital wallet, peer-to-peer payments on social media platform
Elon Musk’s X inks deal with Visa to launch digital wallet, peer-to-peer payments on social media platform
Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Tuesday announced the launch of a digital wallet and peer-to-peer payment services provided by Visa.
X struck a deal with Visa, the largest US credit card network, to be the first partner for what it is calling the X Money Account, chief executive Linda Yaccarino announced in a post on the platform.
Visa will enable X users to move funds between traditional bank accounts and their digital wallet and make instant peer-to-peer payments, Ms Yaccarino said, like with Zelle or Venmo, both popular in the US.
It’s the first concrete move from X to create a financial ecosystem for the social media site, which was called Twitter before Mr Musk purchased it in 2022. At the time, Mr Musk, who’s also chief executive of Tesla, said the $44 billion acquisition was a way to create an “everything app.”
He later said the platform would enable users to conduct their “entire financial world” on it.
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In 2021 while Jack Dorsey was at the helm of Twitter, the company launched a bitcoin tipping feature that allowed users to add their crypto wallet addresses and receive payments in the world’s largest digital token.
But attaining status as a money service business in the US required navigating a far more complex regulatory landscape.
For over a year, Mr Musk has been applying for these licenses for X. According to its website, X Payments LLC is licensed in 41 states and registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN.
The X Money service is expected to launch in the first quarter, and deals with more financial partners are likely, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
One of the first use cases for X Money is to allow creators on the site to accept payments and store funds without external institutions, said this person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.
In November 2022, Mr Musk suggested to the platform’s advertisers in a meeting publicly broadcast on Spaces that its coming payments product might ultimately offer certain banking features, such as a high-yield money market account.
Representatives of Visa declined to comment on the matter.
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Helicopters loaded with Gaza aid packages from Jordan land in Israel
Helicopters loaded with Gaza aid packages from Jordan land in Israel
Helicopters loaded with Gaza aid packages from Jordan land in Israel
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Special election for Minnesota Senate District 60: See live results here
Special election for Minnesota Senate District 60: See live results here
CBS News Minnesota
Live
MINNEAPOLIS — A special election is being held Tuesday for Minnesota Senate District 60, which was earlier vacated due to the death of former DFL Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic.
The special election pits Democratic Party candidate Doron Clark against Republican Party candidate Abigail Wolters. The district covers northeastern parts of Minneapolis and usually favors Democratic candidates.
Dziedzic died following a battle with ovarian ******* at 62 years old. She was first diagnosed with ******* in early 2023 and stepped down as the Minnesota Senate Majority leader last February after learning her ******* had returned.
The balance of power in the Minnesota Senate currently stands at a 33-33 tie.
The Minnesota House of Representatives, on the other hand, remains locked in a power struggle as DFL representatives are continuing to boycott the session. Republicans have been unable to do anything official after the state Supreme Court ruled late last week that, since there are 134 seats, a quorum is reached once a single party has 68. The parties were tied 67-67 on Election Day, but a judge nullified one DFL candidate’s victory, giving the GOP a one-seat edge but not the quorum required to get business done.
Follow the live results of the special election below.
Caroline Cummings and
Maria Lisignoli
contributed to this report.
WCCO Staff
The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.
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Mouse With Two Male Parents Survives to Adulthood – Neuroscience News
Mouse With Two Male Parents Survives to Adulthood – Neuroscience News
Mouse With Two Male Parents Survives to Adulthood Neuroscience NewsMice with two dads have been created using CRISPR MIT Technology ReviewMice born with two fathers – but don’t expect the same for people New ScientistScientists use genetic engineering to create mice with two male parents MSNFirst mouse with two biological FATHERS reaches adulthood – in breakthrough that could pave the way for gay me Daily Mail
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All VALORANT Champions Winners – Insider Gaming
All VALORANT Champions Winners – Insider Gaming
Every year, the best VALORANT team at the world is crowned at VALORANT Champions, which serves as the world championship for Riot Games’ agent-filled tactical shooter. Over time, the event has drawn larger audiences as the game expands its global reach, and that reach is exemplified in all the different regions that have claimed the trophy at VALORANT Champions.
VALORANT may have a shorter history than several other esports titles, but that just makes the hall of Champions winners that much more exclusive.
All VALORANT Champions Winners, In Order
There have been four VALORANT Champions winners so far, beginning with the inaugural tournament in 2021.
Acend – 2021
Image via Jianhua Chen for Riot Games
Acend’s story has somewhat of a sad ending, as the organization didn’t acquire partnership in the VCT international leagues, and was forced to close its doors in 2024 due to unsustainability. But the organization and its players still hold the distinction of being the first ever VALORANT Champions winners, defeating a Gambit team that had dominated the scene for virtually the entire year in a thrilling five-map series in the grand finals.
Santeri “BONECOLD” Sassi
Mehmet “cNed” İpek
Vladyslav “Kiles” Shvets
Patryk “starxo” Kopczyński
Aleksander “zeek” Zygmunt
Laurynas “Nbs” Kisielius (coach)
LOUD – 2022
Brazilian organization LOUD entered VALORANT at the start of 2022, and finished the year with a world championship. LOUD pulled the best talent from Brazil together under one electric green banner, and found a rival wearing green themselves in OpTic Gaming. The two teams faced each other six times during the 2022 season, but LOUD got the last laugh in the upper bracket final and the grand final of Champions 2023.
Bryan “pANcada” Luna
Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi
Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro
Erick “aspas” Santos
Felipe “Less” Basso
Matheus “bzkA” Tarasconi (coach)
Evil Geniuses – 2023
Image via Colin Young-Wolff for Riot Games
Evil Geniuses’ championship run in 2023 is considered one of the miraculous runs in the history of esports. Coach Christine “potter” Chi started with a roster of lowly regarded players and added a completely unknown player from an open tryout mid-season. The North American team stunned the international audience with a grand finals run at Masters Tokyo, then knocked off Champions contenders like DRX, LOUD, and finally Paper Rex to win the world championship in front of a Los Angeles home crowd.
Kelden “Boostio” Pupello
Ethan “Ethan” Arnold
Alexander “jawgemo” Mor
Corbin “C0M” Lee
Max “Demon1” Mazanov
Christine “potter” Chi (coach)
EDward Gaming – 2024
Image via Colin Young-Wolff for Riot Games
Riot Games’ expansion of the international VALORANT esports ecosystem into China couldn’t have gone any better for the region. EDward Gaming, after dominating the ******** scene again but falling short on the international stage, finally had their moment at Champions 2024. In Seoul, EDG went undefeated in playoffs, defeating Team Heretics in an amazing grand final, cementing Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang as the top star of ******** VALORANT.
Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi
Wang “nobody” Senxu
Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang
Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao
Hsieh “S1Mon” Meng-hsun
***** “Muggle” Shijun (coach)
Across these four years of VALORANT, no team has accomplished the feat of winning both a Masters event and Champions. Only one player has accomplished this: Sacy, who won Champions 2022 with LOUD and Masters Madrid 2024 with Sentinels.
Who do you think will lift the Champions trophy in 2025? Let us know in the Insider Gaming forum.
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Keep assisted dying laws simple, says Whitty
Keep assisted dying laws simple, says Whitty
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England’s chief medical officer Prof Sir Chris Whitty has urged MPs to not overly complicate assisted dying laws if they are to introduce it.
Giving evidence to a committee of MPs, he said the best safeguards were the simple ones and said there was a risk patients could end up in a “bureaucratic thicket” at the end of life if there was too much to navigate.
Under the bill proposed and being looked at by the cross-party group of MPs, terminally-ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live would be allowed to end their lives if two doctors and a High Court judge agree.
But other doctors giving evidence said they had concerns about whether the safeguards were enough.
Dr Sarah Cox, of the Association of Palliative Medicine, which represents doctors providing end of life care and opposes changing the law, said: “Me and my colleagues have concerns.”
She said accurately assessing how long someone has to live is “incredibly difficult”, while identifying when someone was being coerced was not always possible, particularly when it was subtle.
‘Impossible’
She was speaking after Sir Chris appeared before MPs on Tuesday morning – the first day the committee scrutinising the assisted dying bill has sat. Around 50 witnesses are due to give evidence this week.
MPs voted in favour of the bill in November, but that was just the first stage and it will now go through months of scrutiny and further votes.
Sir Chris told MPs that doctors were accustomed to assessing mental capacity in patients and while determining exactly how long someone has to live was not a “precise science”, in most cases doctors could take a “reasonable central view”.
He went on to say: “What we don’t want is a system which is very difficult for them to navigate so they spent their entire last six months – if this bill is passed and they choose to take account of it, which is a ********* – essentially stuck in a bureaucratic thicket.
“We do need to keep this simple and my view is the best safeguards are simple safeguards.”
Meanwhile, Retired High Court judge Nicholas Mostyn said he thought it would be “impossible” for the High Court to rule in every assisted dying case.
“The High Court, trust me I’ve just come from there, has not got the capacity.”
MPs were also told there should be a separate service set up to provide assisted dying.
Dr Andrew Green, of the British Medical Association, which is neutral on the law change, said: “We do believe it should not be part of any doctors’ normal job. It should be set up as a separate service. It would reassure patients that it is not part of their normal care.”
Sir Chris said MPs may even want to debate whether such a service should be entirely separate from the NHS and he warned setting it up would take some time.
He said the two years factored in by the bill was a “reasonable starting point”, but added some things may take longer than that.
And he also pointed out that it was important to recognise palliative care was still not of a high enough standards as “we would hope for”.
He said while changing the law should not make the situation “better or worse”, improving end of life care should also be looked at.
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Eternal Strands Review (PC) – Make Way for a New Challenger | The Outerhaven
Eternal Strands Review (PC) – Make Way for a New Challenger | The Outerhaven
NoobFeed editor Faviyan writes – Eternal Strands is a bold title that challenges you to dream big. With its changing environment, new gaming methodologies, and mixed systems, it stands out in a sea of crowded action-adventure titles. For all its weaknesses, such as floaty fighting and shallow variety in its enemies, its strengths dominate its faults.
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What is Spyware? | Definition from TechTarget
What is Spyware? | Definition from TechTarget
Spyware is a type of malicious software (malware) that is installed on a computing device without the end user’s knowledge. It invades the device, steals sensitive information and internet usage data, and relays it to advertisers, data firms or external users.
Any software can be classified as spyware if it is downloaded without the user’s authorization. Spyware is controversial because, even when it is installed for relatively innocuous reasons, it can violate the end user’s privacy and has the potential to be abused.
Spyware is one of the most common threats to internet users. Once installed, it monitors internet activity, tracks login credentials and spies on sensitive information. The primary goal of spyware is usually to obtain credit card numbers, banking information and passwords.
But spyware can also be used to track a person’s location, as is the case with stalkerware. Often installed secretly on mobile phones by jealous spouses, ex-partners and even concerned parents, this type of spyware can track the physical location of the victim, intercept their emails and texts, eavesdrop on their phone calls and record conversations, and access personal data, such as photos and videos.
Spyware can be difficult to detect; often, the first indication a user has that a computing device has been infected with spyware is a noticeable reduction in processor or network connection speeds and — in the case of mobile devices — data usage and battery life. Antispyware tools can be used to prevent or remove spyware. They can either provide real-time protection by scanning network data and blocking malicious data, or they can execute scans to detect and remove spyware already on a system.
Modern spyware also targets businesses, aiming to access proprietary information, trade secrets and employee credentials, making it a significant corporate security threat.
How does spyware work?
Spyware can make its way onto a device without the end user’s knowledge via an app install package, file attachment or malicious website. In its least damaging form, spyware exists as an application that starts up as soon as the device is turned on and continues to run in the background.
At its most damaging, spyware tracks web browsing history, passwords and other private information, such as email addresses, credit card numbers, personal identification numbers or banking records. All this information can be gathered and used for identity theft or sold to third parties. Information can be collected using keyloggers and screen captures.
Advanced spyware often employs techniques such as encrypting stolen data before transmission, obfuscating its presence to avoid detection by antivirus software and modifying system files to disable security programs.
How do spyware infections occur?
Spyware infections can affect any PC, Mac, iOS or Android device. Some of the most common ways for computers to become infected are the following:
Downloading materials from unknown sources.
Accepting pop-up advertisements.
Opening email attachments from unknown senders.
Clicking on phishing links embedded in emails or ads.
Using outdated software, which often contains vulnerabilities that spyware exploits.
Spyware is most commonly distributed by getting potential victims to click on a link. The link can be in an email, pop-up window or ad. Malicious code can also be embedded on legitimate websites as an advertisement. Other ways for spyware to infect a machine include via drive-by download — where spyware is downloaded just by visiting a website or viewing an HTML email message — phishing links or physical devices.
Even legitimate websites can become a threat if compromised by hackers who insert malicious scripts into ads or downloadable content.
Phishing emails, a common source of spyware, often appear to come from credible sources and contain a link to click on and an urgent request for the user to respond quickly.
Types of spyware
Spyware is not just one type of program. It is an entire category of malware that includes adware, keyboard loggers, Trojans and mobile information-stealing programs.
Adware
Malicious adware is often bundled with free software, shareware programs and utilities downloaded from the internet or surreptitiously installed onto a user’s device when the user visits an infected website. Many internet users were first introduced to spyware in 1999 when a popular freeware game called Elf Bowling came bundled with tracking software. Adware is often flagged by antimalware programs as to whether the program in question is malicious or not.
Cookies that track and record users’ personally identifiable information (PII) and internet browsing habits are one of the most common types of adware. An advertiser might use tracking cookies to track what webpages a user visits to target advertising in a contextual marketing campaign.
For example, an advertiser could track a user’s browser history and downloads with the intent to display pop-up or banner advertisements to lure the user into making a purchase. Because data collected by spyware is often sold to third parties, regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation have been enacted to protect the PII of website visitors.
Keyboard loggers
Keyloggers are a type of system monitor that cybercriminals often use to steal PII, login credentials and sensitive enterprise data. Employers may also use keyloggers to observe employees’ computer activities; parents to supervise their children’s internet usage; device owners to track possible unauthorized activity on their devices; or law enforcement agencies to analyze incidents involving computer use.
Hardware keyloggers resemble a USB flash drive and serve as a physical connector between the computer keyboard and the computer, while software keylogging programs do not require physical access to the user’s computer for installation. Software keyloggers can be downloaded on purpose by someone who wants to monitor activity on a particular computer, or they can be downloaded unwittingly and executed as part of a rootkit or remote access *******.
Trojans
Trojans are typically malware programs that are disguised as legitimate software. A victim of a ******* attack could unknowingly install a file posing as an official program, enabling the ******* to access the computer. The ******* can then delete files, encrypt files for ransom or enable other malicious actors to have access to the user’s information.
Mobile spyware
Mobile spyware is dangerous because it can be transferred through Short Message Service or Multimedia Messaging Service texts and typically does not require user interaction to execute commands. When a smartphone or tablet gets infected with mobile spyware that is sideloaded with a third-party app, the phone’s camera and microphone can be used to spy on nearby activity, record phone calls, and log browsing activity and keystrokes. The device owner’s location can also be monitored through the Global Positioning System (GPS) or the mobile computing device’s accelerometer.
This chart describes four different types of spyware.
How do you prevent spyware?
Maintaining strict cybersecurity practices is the best way to prevent spyware. Some best practices are the following:
Only downloading software from trusted sources.
Reading all disclosures when installing software.
Avoiding interactions with pop-up ads.
Staying current with updates and patches for browser, operating system (OS) and application software.
Not opening email attachments or clicking on links from unknown senders.
Using only trusted antivirus software and reputable spyware tools.
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.
To further reduce the probability of infection, network administrators should practice the principle of least privilege and require remote workers to access network resources over a virtual private network that runs a security scan before granting access privileges.
Two-factor authentication involves two of three potential authentication factors.
Using a pop-up blocker or ad blocker also helps avoid spyware. Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome have built-in pop-up blockers, and ad blockers can be added as a browser extension.
Mobile users should avoid downloading applications from outside their respective app stores and avoid jailbreaking their phones, if possible. Since both make it easier for spyware to infect mobile devices.
IPhone users can enable 2FA at no charge to protect all the data on their smartphones and prevent mobile spyware attacks. 2FA can also be used in a variety of other common services, including PayPal, Google, Dropbox and Microsoft 365, as well as in social networking sites, such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X, formerly Twitter. Most major banks have also started implementing 2FA in their websites and mobile apps. Some services have even increased their authentication process to three-factor and four-factor authentication.
How do you remove spyware?
In order to remove spyware, device owners must first identify that the spyware exists in their system. There are several symptoms to look for that can signify the presence of an attack. Indicators include the following:
The device runs slower than normal.
The device consistently crashes.
Pop-up ads appear whether the user is online or offline.
The device starts running out of hard drive space.
If users determine that spyware has infected the system, they should perform the following steps:
Disconnect the internet connection.
Check the device’s programs list to see if the unwanted software is listed. If it is, choose to remove it from the device. After uninstalling the program, reboot the entire system.
If the above step does not work, run a scan of the system using a reputable antivirus software. The scan should find suspicious programs and ask the user to either clean, quarantine or delete the software.
The user can also download a virus removal tool or antispyware tool and allow it to run through the system.
If none of the above steps work, then the user has to access the device’s hard drive in safe mode. However, this requires a tool that enables the user to access the spyware folders and manually delete them. While this sounds complicated, the process should only take a few minutes.
Spyware on mobile devices can also be scanned for using security programs. Mobile device owners can also back their data up and then reset the device to its factory settings.
Antispyware tools
Some antispyware tools only perform when the scan is manually started, while others are continuously running and monitoring computer activity to ensure spyware cannot record the user’s information. Users should be cautious when downloading antispyware tools and only download tools from reputable sites. Product reviews can also help users determine which tools are safest.
Some antispyware tools are the following:
Malwarebytes is an antimalware and spyware tool that can remove spyware from Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android and iOS. Malwarebytes can scan through registry files, running programs, hard drives and individual files. Once a spyware program is detected, a user can quarantine and delete it. However, users cannot set up automatic scanning schedules.
Microsoft Defender is a Microsoft antimalware product that is included in Windows. The software is a lightweight antimalware tool that protects against threats such as spyware, adware and viruses. Defender includes features such as protection against phishing sites, real-time threat detection and parental controls. Defender users can set automatic quick and full scans, as well as set alerts for low, medium, high and severe priority items.
Trend Micro HouseCall is another antispyware tool that does not require user installation, so it uses minimal processor and memory resources and disk space. However, like Malwarebytes, users cannot set automatic scans.
What are common examples of spyware?
Well-known examples of spyware are the following:
CoolWebSearch uses security vulnerabilities found in web browsers to take control, change settings and send browsing information to spyware authors.
DarkHotel is a targeted spear phishing spyware that selectively attacks business hotel visitors through the hotel’s Wi-Fi network.
Pegasus is advanced spyware used to exploit zero-day vulnerabilities in smartphones, capable of intercepting calls, reading encrypted messages and activating cameras or microphones.
Emotet was one of the most prevalent threats in the 2010s. It acted as a ******* that stole banking credentials from its victims.
In addition, smartphone spy apps enable different people to track the phone user’s activity. While most of these tools were created with the intent of letting parents monitor their child’s phone use, their abilities have been grossly abused.
These apps act as mobile spyware and enable external users to access the phone’s microphone and camera to view their surroundings, listen in on phone calls and access the phone’s GPS location, passwords and mobile apps. Some well-known spy apps are Spyera, FlexiSPY and TheOneSpy.
Emerging spyware threats
The evolution of spyware has introduced advanced threats that pose significant challenges to users and organizations. As cybercriminals develop increasingly sophisticated techniques, the landscape of spyware is shifting, making detection and prevention more complex.
Stealth spyware
Stealth malware in the form of spyware programs are designed to operate undetected by traditional antivirus software. By embedding themselves deep within system files or disguising their processes as legitimate system operations, stealth spyware can avoid detection for extended periods. This type of spyware is often used to monitor user activity continuously, capturing sensitive data, like login credentials, emails and browsing history. It can also alter or disable security settings to prevent its removal. For example, rootkit-based spyware has been known to hide within system kernels, making it nearly invisible to standard security tools.
AI-driven spyware
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing spyware capabilities. AI-enabled spyware can analyze user behavior, adapt its operations to mimic legitimate processes, and evade detection by recognizing and bypassing specific security protocols. One notable advancement is AI-powered keyloggers, which can identify critical information, such as banking passwords, even if users employ advanced security measures, like virtual keyboards. Additionally, AI-driven spyware can dynamically modify its code to avoid signature-based detection methods used by antivirus programs.
Spyware as a service
The rise of the dark web has facilitated the emergence of spyware as a service, a type of malware as a service. This business model enables cybercriminals to sell prepackaged spyware tools to individuals with minimal technical expertise. For a fee, users can access spyware kits equipped with user-friendly interfaces, making it easier than ever to deploy spyware campaigns. These kits often include features like remote installation, real-time data extraction and even customer support for purchasers. Spyware as a service has democratized spyware deployment, increasing the prevalence of attacks and lowering the barrier to entry for cybercriminals.
The need for more advanced countermeasures
The growing sophistication of spyware necessitates the use of advanced detection and prevention tools. Behavioral analysis tools, for instance, can identify unusual system activity that may indicate the presence of spyware. Endpoint detection and response systems provide real-time monitoring and automated responses to potential threats.
Furthermore, educating users about the risks of spyware and encouraging proactive cybersecurity practices, such as regular software updates and the use of strong, unique passwords, is critical. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits and invest in next-generation antivirus solutions equipped with AI and machine learning capabilities to counter evolving spyware threats.
The continuous evolution of spyware underscores the importance of staying vigilant and adopting comprehensive security strategies to protect personal and organizational data from this ever-growing threat.
Learn more on how to prevent spyware through best practices, including using a layered defense or content filtering. See how to protect against malware as a service. Also, protecting your endpoints is critical for maintaining security. Learn why endpoint detection and response technologies are essential for endpoint protection. Explore how to protect, detect and remove malware from mobile devices.
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Energy giant fined $1.6m for DV privacy, debt breaches
Energy giant fined $1.6m for DV privacy, debt breaches
One of the Australia’s largest energy retailers has been slapped with $1.6 million in fines for their treatment of family violence-affected customers.
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Eternal Strands Review – Duuro
Eternal Strands Review – Duuro
NoobFeed editor Faviyan writes – Eternal Strands is a bold title that challenges you to dream big. With its changing environment, new gaming methodologies, and mixed systems, it stands out in a sea of crowded action-adventure titles. For all its weaknesses, such as floaty fighting and shallow variety in its enemies, its strengths dominate its faults.
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Over 40 journalists and lawyers submit evidence to PSNI surveillance inquiry
Over 40 journalists and lawyers submit evidence to PSNI surveillance inquiry
Over 40 journalists and lawyers have submitted evidence to an independent review into allegations that the Police Service of Northern Ireland unlawfully spied on journalists and members of the legal profession.
The review, commissioned by the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland Jon Boutcher, is inquiring into allegations that the PSNI collected the phone data of lawyers, journalists and NGOs, breaching journalists’ confidential sources and legal privilege between lawyers and clients.
The inquiry follows disclosures by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that the PSNI and the Metropolitan Police had unlawfully carried out surveillance operations against journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney. It comes as MPs in the Northern Ireland Affairs select committee are preparing to take evidence next week from the two journalists as part of a one-day hearing into press freedom in Northern Ireland.
Angus McCullough KC, who is leading the review into allegations of PSNI surveillance over 14 years between January 2011 and December 2024, disclosed in a progress report today that 50 individuals and two organisations have submitted evidence to the review. Some 80% of the responses came from journalists and lawyers. A small number, representing 5%, raised issues that fell outside McCullough’s terms of reference.
There was a presumption, he wrote in a progress report, that individuals who were subject to improper or unlawful surveillance would be informed “subject to legal constraints”.
McCullough, assisted by Matthew Hill, who took part in the Post Office Horizon inquiry, and Rajkiran Arhestey, said he was confident that the review team had been given unrestricted and unsupervised access to PSNI documents and computer systems.
According to the progress report, investigators said they were keen to understand what scope there may be for police officers to bypass the proper statutory processes and whether there was a likelihood of “off the books surveillance”.
McCullough said that surveillance need not be targeted directly against journalists or lawyers for it to have a tendency to reveal legally privileged or journalistic material, including journalistic sources.
The review team has been able to use information in submitted evidence to identify keywords or specific names and contact details to conduct searches of PSNI computer systems to identify cases of surveillance.
“We have also taken steps to ensure, so far as it is possible, that the PSNI are not able to see what we have been searching for,” the report states, in order to guarantee the anonymity of people who have submitted evidence to the review.
Searches of the PSNI systems were “considerably more time consuming” than predicted. Legislation on surveillance and the PSNI’s systems and processes, and repositories for storing data had changed considerably over 14 years.
McCullough said that he rejected proposals to expand the review to assess the PSNI’s monitoring of its own police officers and staff, and could not consider surveillance by MI5, the British Military, or other police forces.
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal found in December 2025 that a former chief constable of the PSNI, George Hamilton, acted unlawfully by signing off on a directed surveillance operation to identify the suspected source of the two Northern Ireland journalists.
Birney and McCaffrey were unlawfully arrested and their property seized after they produced a film exposing police collusion with a paramilitary group that killed 6 innocent people in Loughinisland, County Down, in 1994.
Court received 60 complaints on PSNI in 3 years
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been referred in complaints ***’s surveillance court, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) nearly 60 times between 2022 and 2024.
The tribunal has ordered the PSNI to disclose internal documents 28 times, and has made 4 adjudications in cases involving the PSNI over the same *******, according to figures disclosed by the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Chief constable, Jon Boucher, admitted in a report published during the course of the legal proceedings that it had placed over 500 lawyers and 300 journalists under surveillance. Those targeted included more than a dozen journalists working for the BBC.
The IPT is considering a claim that the PSNI unlawfully spied against former BBC journalist, Vincent Kearney, during his work on a 2011 Spotlight documentary investigating the independence of the police watchdog in Northern Ireland.
Campaigners have claimed the McCullough review does not go far enough and have called for the government to set up a public inquiry into police surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland and the rest of the ***.
Computer Weekly has submitted evidence to the McCullough review.
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Little Rock police release name of woman killed in Park Plaza Mall shooting
Little Rock police release name of woman killed in Park Plaza Mall shooting
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock police have released the identity of a woman who died after being shot in the parking lot of Park Plaza Mall Monday evening.
Officials with the Little Rock Police Department confirmed Tuesday that the victim was 47-year-old Cynthia Gregory.
Woman dead after being found shot in Park Plaza Mall parking lot
According to LRPD, officers responded shortly after 6 p.m. to the mall at 6000 West Markham Street. After arriving on the scene, officers said they found Gregory after she had been shot.
Officers said she was taken to a local hospital where she later died.
Investigators have not released information on a suspect.
Little Rock police investigating shooting after child found dead in vehicle
Officials with Park Plaza Mall released a statement saying they are cooperating with law enforcement during their investigation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Child sex abuse victims in Glasgow ‘failed’, says minister
Child sex abuse victims in Glasgow ‘failed’, says minister
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Children’s minister Natalie Don-Innes faced criticism in the Scottish Parliament
The victims of one of Scotland’s biggest child sex abuse rings were “failed”, the Scottish government has said.
The seven members of the gang were given life-long sentences after three victims under the age of 13 were subjected to ******* abuse and violence in Glasgow over a seven-year *******.
Children’s minister Natalie Don-Innes described the case as “horrifying” and said the government was working to ensure “nothing like this ever happens again”.
Opposition MSPs accused the government of failing to take urgent action.
‘Learn lessons’
Don-Innes told MSPs: “This case absolutely horrifies me and there is no getting away from the fact that these children were failed.”
However, the SNP-run government was already working to acting to protect children, she added
“Keeping children safe is an utmost priority and ministers are working closely with partners to prevent child ******* abuse and exploitation in all forms and support victims and their families,” the minister said.
She welcomed an independent review of the Glasgow Child Protection Committee which she said would help improve safeguarding across the country.
“I’m confident we will learn lessons from the failings here and what we can do to protect children in the future,” Don-Innes said.
She told MSPs the government had set up the National Child ******* Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group, as well as a taskforce to tackle online harms.
She also pointed to work to fulfil The Promise, a flagship scheme under Nicola Sturgeon’s government to improve the lives of care-experienced children and young people.
The minister added that she was happy to look into what urgent action could be taken “over and above” the steps she had outlined.
Police Scotland/Spindrift
The people who were found guilty were (clockwise, from the centre): Iain Owens, Elaine Lannery, Scott Forbes, Paul Brannan, Lesley Williams, Barry Watson and John Clark
Her comments came in response to criticism from opposition MSPs.
Alba’s Ash Regan, asking an urgent question in parliament, said the case “reeks of institutional failures”.
She said the children were “failed” despite being on the child protection register, being absent from school and showing “blatant” signs of neglect.
“The Scottish government has presided over this catastrophic failure at every single level,” Regan added.
She called for urgent action to address “serious safeguarding failures”.
Labour MSP Pauline McNeill questioned why the abuse was not detected earlier, adding: “Surely the minister is not satisfied simply to leave it to a case-led review to give us some answers to that key question.”
Conservative Douglas Ross said there was “nothing urgent” about the government’s response.
“We have an independent review that doesn’t have a chair, that we don’t know when they will report.”
‘Beastie house’
Gang members Iain Owens, 46; Elaine Lannery, 40; Lesley Williams, 43; Paul Brannan, 42; Scott Forbes, 51; Barry Watson, 48, and John Clark, 49, were jailed for between eight and 20 years and handed orders for lifelong restriction on Monday.
They subjected their victims to what police called “unimaginable abuse” in a Glasgow drug den dubbed “the beastie house”.
The lifelong orders are reserved for the most serious court cases in Scotland which do not involve *******, and mean the individual will either be in prison or on parole for the rest of their life.
Judge Lord Beckett told the gang, whose jail sentences totalled more than 93 years, that they may never be released from prison.
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Jack Dorsey’s Block has an AI agent too
Jack Dorsey’s Block has an AI agent too
Jack Dorsey’s Block has created its own open-source AI agent. Called “,” the tool allows users to complete tasks using popular large language models.
“You can think of Goose as an assistant that is ready to take your instructions, and do the work for you,” Block explains in a . According to the company, the agent can autonomously complete engineering tasks like looking for bugs or making code changes.
Users can configure goose to run on their preferred LLM. Iit supports Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI and , though the company says it “works best” with Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI’s o1 model. It’s also compatible with extensions, which allows it to plug into popular developer tools, like GitHub and Google Drive,
Block is, of course, known for its financial apps, Square and Cash App, as well as the music streaming service Tidal, which it acquired in 2021. Those may not be industries you immediately associate with AI development, but Block founder Jack Dorsey is a longtime advocate for open-source software. The company also notes that goose could eventually extend to “non-engineering use cases” as well. Block engineer Brad Axen ZDNET that the company envisions more “creative’ uses for goose, like music generation.
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Robert F Kennedy Jr's cousin warns he's a 'predator'
Robert F Kennedy Jr's cousin warns he's a 'predator'
Caroline Kennedy has etched a damning sketch of the her cousin, Robert Kennedy Jr, saying he “preys on the desperation of parents of sick children”.
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#Robert #Kennedy #Jr039s #cousin #warns #he039s #039predator039
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Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Sold a Boatload of Nvidia Stock Right Before It Was Eviscerated by ******** Startup
Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Sold a Boatload of Nvidia Stock Right Before It Was Eviscerated by ******** Startup
In the age of trading apps and Wall Street fervor, who among us hasn’t dreamed of striking it rich on a well-timed hunch?
Apparently that dream isn’t just for us nine-to-fivers. US Representative Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi has cashed in to the tune of $38 million thanks to some very smart investments, with some alleging that the centi-millionaire couple might be making their own luck.
On New Years Eve, recent SEC filings show Mr. Pelosi had sold off roughly $24 million in Apple stocks and about $5 million in Nvidia. Weeks later, the venture capitalist placed a bevy of call options — an agreement that grants the right but not obligation to buy stocks at a predefined price — on companies including tech startup Tempus AI, energy company Vistra Corp, and known tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Nvidia.
Both transactions were disclosed on a joint filing made on January 17, three days before Trump was sworn in, and the final day before the long-awaited TikTok ban was scheduled to go into effect. Altogether the filing represents $38 million in total transactions, swelling the couple’s already nine-digit net worth.
This comes on the back of the much-discussed Nvidia blowout, which saw over $1 trillion in overhyped stock value disintegrate into thin air yesterday.
“Speaker Pelosi does not own any stocks,” her spokesperson told Fox of the trades, “and she has no prior knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions.”
That’s an almost comical excuse, of course — she might not have personally made the trades, but her husband, with whom she lives and has nine grandchildren, did. Though the Pelosis can’t technically make trades based on insider data, there’s nothing prohibiting the couple from buying or selling stocks, and the dubious timing is drawing scrutiny from all sides of the political spectrum.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example, has publicly blasted “congressional insider trading,” albeit without calling out her party head by name.
“Do you really think that [everyday] people don’t see this *****?” the New York congresswoman railed on Jon Stewart’s “Weekly Show” podcast. “You’re doing this on public trust, on tax-payer financed public facilities.”
“You’re regulating the market that you’re trading on,” Stewart chimed in. “You’re running the casino!”
Unfortunately for anyone who favors democracy over plutocracy, trades like this are nothing new. The gamblers have been running the casino for decades.
In 2017, it came to light that Tom Price, Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, made dozens of trades involving Health sector securities while serving on the Ways and Means Committee. In early 2020, a bipartisan group of representatives dumped their stocks following a confidential COVID-19 briefing. Then in 2022, a bombshell analysis by the New York Times found that at least 97 lawmakers or their family members made trades in industries which could be directly impacted by their legislative work.
Story Continues
Though there are technically safeguards in place to regulate congressional trading under the 2012 STOCK Act, its compliance is notoriously difficult to enforce, and the lead time on trade filings is exceedingly generous. Notably, no legislative official has been ever been charged via the law.
Even ignoring insider trading based on secret data — which often feels like a semantic argument over what’s happening right in the open — lawmakers have a massive effect on the direction our markets take, with speeches, announcements, bills, and — yes — trade filings pushing and pulling stock prices in favorable directions.
“Just in: The Pelosi affect is officially real,” writes Christopher Joseph, who manages the Nancy Pelosi Stock Tracker on X-formerly-Twitter. “Yesterday news broke that she opened a brand new ~$100K position in Tempus AI… today it’s up 30 percent. Literally from the news that Nancy Pelosi is bullish.”
Given the win-win position lawmakers enjoy, many have given up on the legislative body ever regulating itself. Instead, they follow the congresspeople closely on platforms like Autopilot, which allows users to automatically mirror the Pelosi’s trades in a high-risk, high-reward game of chicken.
Literally called “Politician Portfolios,” these investment moves can really pay off. “It’s already up 13 percent since her filing and has made her an estimated $100k,” wrote Joseph regarding Pelosi’s Vistra Energy buy. “Congrats to those on Autopilot who got in.”
And maybe that’s the only takeaway here. The 84-year-old DNC chair’s ballooning net worth places her well above the average wealth of the top .01% of Americans. You know what they say: if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
More on the stock market: What the Company With the Highest Stock Gain From AI Actually Does Is Extremely Grim
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Steve Cohen says the stock market may top out over the next few months, if it hasn’t already
Steve Cohen says the stock market may top out over the next few months, if it hasn’t already
MIAMI BEACH, FL. — Point72’s Steve Cohen believes the bull market could see a tougher ride in the second half of 2025 as President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade and immigration policies may slow down economic growth. “The irony is, and this is interesting, that … if he implements tariffs, specifically tariffs and immigration, it will actually slow growth, not increase growth, in 2025,” Cohen said at iConnections Global Alts conference Tuesday. The prominent hedge fund investor, who also owns the New York Mets, said tariffs would stoke inflationary pressures and hinder consumer spending, while an immigration crackdown could slow the supply of workers and cause the employment rate to go down. Cohen believes these negative effects could offset or even erase the benefits from tax cuts and deregulation. “I don’t think that’s a great backdrop in 2025,” Cohen said. “I would expect the markets to top over the next couple months, if it hasn’t already topped already, and I would expect the second half to be a little tougher.” Despite his cautious view on the overall market near term, Cohen remains optimistic about investing around artificial intelligence in the decades ahead. Cohen expects inflation to stay sticky around the 2.6% level, and he sees the U.S. economy growing at 1.5% in the second half of 2025, slower than the 2.5% expected growth in the first half of the year. “The second half, we actually think things are going to slow,” Cohen said. “We think the employment rate will go down because the flow of immigration, supply of labor is being constrained, and so we think it’s going to be hard for the Fed to hit their inflation target.” The S & P 500 just scored a second consecutive annual gain above 20%, spurred by confidence over lower interest rates, economic strength and profits from artificial intelligence. The equity benchmark is up 3% year to date.
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Senate Democrats block bill to sanction International Criminal Court
Senate Democrats block bill to sanction International Criminal Court
Washington — Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a Republican-led measure that would sanction the International Criminal Court, arguing that the bill as written would backfire on U.S. allies and companies.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans to advance the legislation. In a 54 to 45 vote, the bill fell short of the 60 votes needed to move it forward.
“The bill before us is poorly drafted and deeply problematic. It will have many unintended consequences that undermine its primary goal,” Senate ********* Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said ahead of the vote.
Earlier this year, the House passed the legislation that would punish the ICC over the decision to seek the arrests of top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over alleged war crimes.
The measure passed the lower chamber last June with the support of 42 Democrats, further exposing Democratic divisions over the war in Gaza. The bill was ignored by the Senate, which was then controlled by Democrats.
Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican, and Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reintroduced the bill earlier this month, arguing that the “illegitimate” court “represents a massive threat to U.S. sovereignty.”
This time, 45 House Democrats voted in favor.
The legislation seeks to sanction those involved in “any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies.” The sanctions include revoking U.S. visas held by ICC officials, blocking their entry into the U.S. and preventing them from property transactions.
Though Democrats have criticized the court for attempting to punish Israeli officials, those opposed to the bill have argued that the measure is too broad and could lead to consequences penalizing those it does not intend to target, such as U.S. technology companies who provide services to the ICC but have no role in making investigative or prosecutorial decisions.
“These sanctions will make it almost impossible to engage the court on other issues in our national interest,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said Tuesday in a floor speech, adding that it could harden the court’s position.
Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said she unsuccessfully tried to negotiate changes to the bill with Sen. Tom Cotton, the Arkansas Republican who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee. Cotton said the concerns were unfounded.
Caitlin Yilek
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
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