Priestman done as Canada coach in wake of drone scandal
Priestman done as Canada coach in wake of drone scandal
Bev Priestman will not return as head coach of the ********* women’s soccer team following an independent report into the use of drones to spy on an opponent at this year’s Paris Olympics.
Priestman and two other team officials were previously banned by FIFA from any soccer-related activity for one year after New Zealand complained ********* staff flew drones over their training sessions before their opening match in Paris.
But following an independent review commissioned by Canada Soccer, the national governing body said Priestman and the other two individuals currently suspended by FIFA would not return and a search for a new head coach would commence shortly.
In July, Priestman apologised and said that, as the leader of the team, she accepted accountability and planned to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Canada Soccer released only a redacted copy of the summary report but acknowledged the Paris drone incident was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams.
“The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the incident itself was a symptom of a difficult and unacceptable past culture within the national teams,” Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue and president Peter Augruso said on Tuesday.
“Quite simply, while players on the national teams performed admirably, cultural standards and management of the programs dating back several years fell short of expectations.”
Among the report’s findings, Priestman and an assistant coach “directed, approved and condoned” the use of a drone by a third member of the coaching staff to film an opposing team’s training session at the Paris Games.
The report also determined that the Paris drone footage was not viewed by the national team players whose bid to defend the gold medal Canada won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ended with a quarter-final loss to Germany.
With the investigation now concluded, Canada Soccer is in the process of taking disciplinary steps which will be private.
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Yakuza Creator Toshihiro Nagoshi Says Game Size Will Soon Stop Being Important to Players
Yakuza Creator Toshihiro Nagoshi Says Game Size Will Soon Stop Being Important to Players
Explore the fascinating journey of Brian Fargo, a visionary figure in the gaming industry who founded Interplay Entertainment and has left an indelible mark on RPGs. From his early inspirations rooted in science fiction and fantasy to pioneering iconic games like Fallout, Fargo’s career spans decades of innovation and adaptation in the ever-evolving landscape of video games. Discover his insights into game development challenges, his pioneering use of crowdfunding for Wasteland 2, and his upcoming project, Clockwork Revolution.
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Microsoft fixes 89 CVEs on penultimate Patch Tuesday of 2024
Microsoft fixes 89 CVEs on penultimate Patch Tuesday of 2024
Microsoft has issued fixes addressing a total of 89 new Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) – 92 including third-party disclosures – to mark the penultimate Patch Tuesday of 2024, including four critical issues and a number of flaws that could be considered zero-days.
Of these issues, one meets the full traditional definition of a full zero-day, a vulnerability that is both public and known to be exploited. This is CVE-2024-43451, a spoofing vulnerability in New Technology LAN Manager (NTLM) Hash.
NTLM is a set of security protocols used to authenticate users’ identities. It dates back years and has been largely supplanted by vastly more secure protocols – Microsoft has not recommended its use in over a decade, but since it was used in Internet Explorer, it ******** supported to some extent and continues to cause problems, not least because at this stage, it is incredibly insecure.
In this instance, successful exploitation of this issue could lead to “total loss of confidentiality”, according to Microsoft, as it discloses a user’s NTLMv2 hash to an attacker who could then use it to authenticate as the user – if the victim can be tricked into minimal interaction with a malicious file, which could include merely selecting or clicking it, not even opening it. This may make it considerably more dangerous than its comparatively low severity score may indicate.
Mike Walters, president and co-founder of Action1, explained: “This issue arises from the mechanism where NTLM authentication credentials, specifically NTLMv2 hashes, are improperly exposed via a maliciously crafted file.
“The root cause of this vulnerability ***** in improperly handling file interactions within systems, potentially allowing attackers to extract NTLMv2 hashes without requiring complete file **********,” he told Computer Weekly in emailed commentary.
All supported versions of Microsoft Windows are vulnerable to this issue, said Walters, especially if they use applications reliant on MSHTML and EdgeHTML platforms, while risk is further increased across different system environments thanks to the involvement of other scripting engines.
Walters said the main concern with CVE-2024-43451 is the disclosure of NTLMv2 hashes that can be used to authenticate as the user and leveraged in pass-the-hash attacks, enabling further lateral movement for a canny threat actor.
“This vulnerability is particularly effective in phishing scenarios, where users might be deceived into interacting with malicious files. Once NTLM hashes are obtained, attackers can combine them with other network vulnerabilities to extend their access and compromise additional systems,” he said.
“Organisations that heavily use Windows in environments with substantial network file sharing or legacy applications dependent on Internet Explorer and related platforms face heightened risk. Those lacking robust user training and monitoring systems to detect unusual file interactions may be more susceptible to exploitation.”
Also on the list is CVE-2024-49309, which is exploited but not yet public. This is an elevation of privilege (EoP) vulnerability in Windows Task Scheduler.
This stems from an issue where authentication tokens or credentials are improperly managed and could allow a low-privileged attacker to gain deeper access if they can ******** a malicious application designed for the purpose. It impacts multiple versions of Windows that incorporate Task Scheduler as part of their routine task automation processes, and it is thought that environments with shared or multiple-user setups may be particularly vulnerable to it.
“This vulnerability serves as a potential entry point for attackers who have already accessed a system with low privilege. Once privileges are escalated, these attackers can utilise this foothold for further lateral movement within a network or to exploit other vulnerabilities that necessitate higher access levels,” said Walters.
“The nature of this vulnerability is especially concerning in corporate settings where individual users possess specific task automation privileges that could be exploited to gain unauthorised access.”
Not yet exploited
Four further vulnerabilities have been made public but as of yet have seen no exploitation, according to Microsoft, and one of these, CVE-2024-5535, a remote code ********** issue in OpenSSL, is among the three third-party disclosures incorporated into this month’s drop.
The other three are CVE-2024-43498, a remote code ********** (RCE) vulnerability in .NET and Visual Studio, CVE-2024-49019, an EoP vulnerability in Active Directory Certificate Services, and CVE-2024-49040, a spoofing vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server.
Chris Goettl, vice president of security products at Ivanti, shared further thoughts on both the Active Directory and Microsoft Exchange Server issues, and urged defenders to treat them as higher priorities than the official guidance might imply.
“[CVE-2024-49019] … is rated Important and has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8…. If exploited, the attacker could gain domain administrator privileges. The vulnerability does provide additional mitigations including removing overly broad enrol or auto-enrol permissions, removing unused templates from certificate authorities, and securing templates that allow you to specify the subject in the request,” said Goettl.
“The vulnerability affects Windows Server 2008 and later Server OS editions. From a risk-based perspective, a public disclosure puts this vulnerability at a higher risk of being exploited and may warrant treating the vulnerability as a higher severity.”
Goettl continued: “[CVE-2024-49040] is rated Important and has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5…. The vulnerability exists in the P2 From header verification. Microsoft Exchange Server is often targeted by threat actors who specialise in Exchange exploits. From a risk-based prioritisation perspective, the public disclosure and availably of PoC level exploit code warrants treating this vulnerability as Critical.”
Finally, three other Critical issues are listed as, CVE-2024-43625, an EoP vulnerability in Microsoft Windows VMSwitch; CVE-2024-43639, an RCE vulnerability in Windows Kerberos; and CVE-2024-49056, an EoP vulnerability in Airlift.microsoft.com. In each of these instances, no proof of concept has yet been made public and no exploitation in the wild has been observed.
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Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys
Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys
NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department is suing to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys, citing concerns the combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S.
The antitrust complaint, filed in Maryland by the Justice Department and four states’ attorneys general Tuesday, argues that a potential merger is ******** because the two companies are “such large competitors” already — and the deal would give UnitedHealth too much control in many local markets.
That would mean less choice for patients looking for affordable care, the suit alleges, as well as fewer employment options for nurses seeking competitive pay and benefits.
“********* healthcare is unwell,” Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, said in a prepared statement. “Unless this $3.3 billion transaction is stopped, UnitedHealth Group will further extend its grip to home health and hospice care, threatening seniors, their families and nurses.”
Tuesday’s lawsuit follows UnitedHealth’s acquisition of LHC Group Inc., another home health and hospice provider. Since that transaction’s completion last year, the Justice Department said, UnitedHealth and Amedisys have emerged as two of the largest providers of home health and hospice care in the country.
The complaint alleges that UnitedHealth’s plan to acquire Amedisys is the result of “an intentional, sustained strategy of acquiring, rather than beating, competition.” After completing the LHC acquisition, the suit says UnitedHealth prevented Amedisys’ 2023 plans to merge with infusion provider OptionCare by paying a “breakup fee” — and then separately made its own acquisition offer, which Amedisys eventually accepted.
UnitedHealth is seeking to add Amedisys to Optum, its subsidiary that provides care as well as pharmacy and technology services. In a response Tuesday to the antitrust suit, Optum said the transaction “would be pro-competitive and further innovation.” It said it plans to “vigorously defend (itself) against the DOJ’s overreaching interpretation of the antitrust laws.”
Amedisys added that it also ******** committed to the deal, which it believes “will create more opportunities to deliver quality, compassionate and value-based care to patients and their families.”
Beyond its Optum unit, UnitedHealth Group also runs one of the nation’s largest health insurers, UnitedHealthcare. The Minnesota-based healthcare giant reported third-quarter net income of $6.06 billion on revenue of $100.82 billion.
Story Continues
Louisiana-based Amedisys reported third-quarter earnings of $16.9 million and a revenue of $587.7 million for the *******.
Tuesday’s lawsuit arrives in the final months of the Biden administration, which has been particularly aggressive in antitrust enforcement. In recent years, the Justice Department has also targeted companies accused of engaging in ******** monopolies and driving up prices across industries like entertainment, travel and tech.
The four states’ attorneys general joining Tuesday’s suit against UnitedHealth and Amedisys are from Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and New York.
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Apple could launch a smart home control center next year
Apple could launch a smart home control center next year
Apple is rumored to be working on a new smart home product. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg that the company is developing a wall-mounted display for controlling appliances, interacting with Siri and videoconferencing. The tablet is said to look “like a square iPad” with “a roughly 6-inch screen.” It would have a camera at the top as well as internal speakers and a built-in rechargeable battery. His sources said this smart home display could be officially announced as soon as March following three years in development.
This description sounds a lot like the , which came out in 2018, or the , which is already up to its eighth iteration. If Apple wants to be a serious competitor in this smart home space, it’ll have to prove to customers that it has something to offer that these more established brands and products don’t.
Right now, the only distinguishing feature is likely , which finally began rolling out to users in late October, and the upcoming system for controlling software programs with AI. But Apple may be looking farther ahead toward something more extravagant than just a smart device control panel. Gurman reported that Apple is already working on a version with a robotic arm that could move the tablet around. It should be interesting to see exactly what Apple does formally launch and when.
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Spotify shares pop on better-than-expected profit forecast
Spotify shares pop on better-than-expected profit forecast
The Spotify logo is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Dec. 4, 2023.
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters
Spotify shares rose in extended trading on Tuesday after the music streaming company issued a profit forecast for the fourth quarter that topped estimates.
Here’s how the company did, compared to what analysts expected:
Earnings per share: 1.45 euros vs. 1.72 euros expected by LSEG
Revenue: 3.99 billion euros vs. 4.02 billion euros expected by LSEG
Monthly active users (MAUs): 640 million vs. 639 million expected by StreetAccount
While the Swedish company’s earnings and revenue for the third quarter trailed estimates, investors focused instead on guidance for the current *******.
Spotify said operating income in the fourth quarter will come in at 481 million euros, exceeding the average analyst estimate of 432.7 million euros, according to StreetAccount. MAUs will increase to 665 million, while analysts were expecting 659.3 million, based on a StreetAccount estimate.
Still, revenue guidance trailed estimates. The company said sales will reach 4.1 billion euros, below the average analyst estimate of 4.26 billion euros, according to LSEG.
Subscribers to Spotify Premium, the company’s ad-free membership service that allows users to select songs on an unlimited basis, increased 12% year over year to 252 million, slightly ahead of estimates.
Spotify shares rose about 8% following the report to $452.35 after rising 2.2% in regular trading. The stock has more than doubled in value this year.
WATCH: Spotify is platform for artists who want to break globally
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Trump’s tariff threats send lobbyists scrambling to find loopholes
Trump’s tariff threats send lobbyists scrambling to find loopholes
In the days since President-elect Donald Trump won the presidential race, Nicole Bivens Collinson’s phone has barely stopped ringing.
Collinson, who helps lead the international trade and government relations division at the lobbying firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, said she is fielding “dozens and dozens and dozens” of calls from anxious U.S. companies looking to protect themselves from Trump’s hardline tariff plans by finding loopholes and exemptions.
“Absolutely everyone is calling,” Collinson told CNBC. “It is nonstop.”
Over the course of the 2024 campaign, Trump made universal tariffs a core tenet of his economic platform, floating a 20% tax on all imports from all countries with a specifically harsh 60% rate for ******** goods.
That hyper-protectionist trade approach sent chills up the spines of economists, Wall Street analysts and industry leaders who warned that across-the-board tariffs could make production — and in turn, consumer prices — more expensive, just as they were recovering from pandemic-era inflation spikes.
“The threat of tariffs has alarmed retailers and a wide range of other U.S. businesses,” David French, senior vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation, told CNBC. “Our members have been working on contingency plans since President Trump secured the nomination.”
Ron Sorini, a principal at the lobbying firm Sorini, Samet & Associates, echoed that sentiment, noting that he takes at least two to three calls a day to field companies’ concerns about the proposed tariff ramp-up, especially in China.
“[Companies] question where they should go, and how do they get the components out [of China]? How do they get the whole supply chain out?” Sorini said.
When Trump unleashed his first set of China tariffs in 2018, securing an exemption became a golden ticket in corporate America, a way to safeguard a company’s China-based supply chains rather than paying the hefty price of relocation.
And to obtain that golden ticket, it paid to know the right people.
A 2021 research study found that applications for Trump’s first-term tariff exemptions were more likely to be approved when they came from lobbying firms whose employees had made political contributions to the *********** Party.
Now, with Trump set to retake the White House in a matter of weeks, tariff escalation is becoming a more likely reality.
And in corporate America, the race is on to find the right lobbyists to help companies rub shoulders with the right people, to give them an advantage in securing tariff loopholes.
“Firms are prepared,” SUNY Buffalo finance professor Veljko Fotak, one of the authors of the 2021 study, told CNBC. “The real winners of this process are going to be the lawyers and lobbyists.”
What tariffs will look like in the next Trump administration, and whether exemptions will be available at all, are both unknown.
“Until that clarity comes, businesses will have to plan for a variety of scenarios,” Tiffany Smith, vice president of global trade policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, told CNBC.
Read more CNBC politics coverage
In response to CNBC’s request for comment about the Trump team’s plan for exemptions and companies’ concerns about the tariff proposals, Trump transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt doubled down on the president-elect’s campaign promises.
“The ********* people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver,” Leavitt told CNBC in a statement.
In the meantime, companies have been trying to set up defenses against Trump’s more aggressive trade approach. These include stockpiling goods in the short run, readying price hikes so they can pass the cost of import duties on to customers, and trying to move their production out of China.
On Thursday, Steve Madden pledged to reduce its ******** imports by 45% over the next year in anticipation of Trump’s tariff plans.
But exiting China is a significant undertaking for many U.S. companies, especially small businesses that may not have the buying clout or leverage to move production so easily.
“What I would urge is that folks look at the impact on small businesses. Those are the people that are really getting hurt. There’s got to be some way to help companies like that,” Sorini told CNBC. “Because they really can’t do it on their own.”
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Star Wars Chewbacca Lego Set Gets Nice Discount At Target
Star Wars Chewbacca Lego Set Gets Nice Discount At Target
Target’s Deal Days promotion doesn’t include as many notable Lego deals as last week’s early ****** Friday *****, but there are still some gems, including the 2,139-piece Chewbacca building set for $160, down from $200. This set has only been discounted a few times since its release last year, and Target’s deal ends tomorrow, November 12.
The end result of this large-scale build is a detailed 18-inch model of the Wookie hero with his iconic Bowcaster Rifle and bandolier. Like many Lego Star Wars model sets designed for adults, it comes with a display plaque with key details about Chewie and a minifigure. Chewbacca was one of the marquee Lego Star Wars sets released for Return of the Jedi’s 40th anniversary.
Chewbacca Lego Set
Chewbacca is just one of the notable Star Wars Lego deals at Target. Another one of the highlights is the 2024 Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar for only $28.79. Amazon matched this deal but quickly sold out, so snag it from Walmart before it’s gone.
Star Wars Lego Deals at Target
Star Wars Lego Deals at Amazon
Amazon is sold out of Chewbacca and several other sets that Target has in stock, but you can still save on a wide variety of Star Wars Lego kits at Amazon. Some of the highlights include Ahsoka’s Ghost & Phantom II Starships set for $140 (click the coupon box), Phantom Menace’s Mos Espa Podrace Diorama for $60, its lowest price ever, and the Emperor’s Throne Room from Return of the Jedi for $80. For the ambitious and dedicated Star Wars fan, The Ultimate Collector Series Mandalorian set featuring a 6,187-piece model of The Razor Crest is $85 off.
If you’re looking for a gift for a young Star Wars fan this holiday, Walmart has restocked its exclusive Lego Star Wars 3-in-1 Gift Set. This unique package comes with three popular playsets that are normally sold separately for only $50 total, which saves you $35 overall.
$50
Here’s what you get with this Walmart-exclusive Lego Star Wars gift set:
The Clone Wars: Yoda’s Jedi Starfighter (253 pieces) — $35 value
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Jedi Starfighter (282 pieces) — $30 value
501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack (119 pieces) — $20 value
All told, the gift set includes two buildable starships, an AV-7 anti-vehicle cannon, seven minifigures , and two droids.
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Rivian-Volkswagen ****** venture up deal to up to $5.8 billion
Rivian-Volkswagen ****** venture up deal to up to $5.8 billion
A provided image of Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group and RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, as the companies announce ****** venture plans on June 25, 2024.
Courtesy: Business Wire
Volkswagen Group has increased its planned investment in an announced ****** venture with electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive ahead of the operations launching Wednesday.
The companies in a ****** press release Tuesday said the size of the deal is now up to $5.8 billion — an increase from an initial investment of up to $5 billion — with the first VW models to use Rivian’s software and electrical architecture arriving as early as 2027.
VW Group CEO Oliver Blume during a press conference Tuesday said the ******* automaker expects to use Rivian’s technologies across a wide range of price points, international markets and brands.
The integration of Rivian’s software is expected to start with the Volkswagen brand, followed by Audi as well as VW’s forthcoming Scout brand, Blume said. He also mentioned “sports cars” could be included but did not specify what brand. VW’s brands also include Bentley, Porsche and Lamborghini, among others.
“We’re thrilled to see our technology being integrated in vehicles outside of Rivian, and we’re excited for the future,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said in a statement.
Both Scaringe and Blume said any further plans such as battery modules, ****** production of vehicles or sharing other hardware components would need to be in addition to the announced ****** venture deal.
The name of the ****** venture, which was expected to close during the fourth quarter, is “Rivian and VW Group Technology, LLC.”
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon
Stock of Rivian Automotive and Volkswagen Group
VW has already made an initial investment of $1 billion in the form of a convertible note, the companies said. At the closing of the ****** venture, VW will invest about $1.3 billion “as consideration for background IP licenses and a 50% equity stake in the ****** venture.”
The remaining investment of up to $3.5 billion is expected to come by 2027 “in the form of equity, convertible notes, and debt at future dates and based on clearly defined milestones,” according to the companies.
Officials did not specifically detail why there was an increase in VW’s investment to up to $5.8 billion.
The ****** venture deal was initially announced in June, and came as Rivian sought to raise additional capital as it launches its redesigned models and prepares for production of new “R2” vehicles in early 2026.
Scaringe previously said the capital from VW is expected to carry the company through the production ramp-up of its smaller R2 SUVs at its plant in Normal, Illinois, starting in 2026, as well as production of a midsize EV platform at a plant in Georgia, where Rivian paused construction earlier this year.
The ****** venture will be headed by Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid and VW Group Chief Technical Engineer Carsten Helbing.
The companies said developers and software engineers from both companies will join the ****** venture. Teams will be based in Palo Alto, California, initially, and three other sites are in development in North America and Europe.
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Call of Duty League 2025 Season Details Revealed by Activision
Call of Duty League 2025 Season Details Revealed by Activision
The speculation regarding the 2025 CDL season can finally end – Activision has unveiled the entire thing. In a series of posts on social media, the team revealed what the upcoming season of the Call of Duty League looks like, from the confirmed Majors to the structure of the many Minor events that’ll run throughout the year.
It all begins on December 6 – are you ready?
COD League 2025 Season Announcement
Activision has lifted the lid off everything you need to know about the upcoming Call of Duty League season.
Here’s the schedule for the year ahead:
Major I: Dec 6 – Jan 26
Madrid Major (Toronto Ultra): Jan 30 – Feb 2
Major II: Feb 14 – Mar 16
Dallas Major (OpTic Texas): Mar 20 – 23
Major III: Apr 4 – Apr 20
Ft. Lauderdale Major (Miami Heretics): Apr 24 – 27
Major IV: May 2 – May 18
Major IV: Details coming soon
It hasn’t been confirmed, but the expectation is still that 2025’s Call of Duty League Championship will take place in Toronto. The fact that the season starts in Madrid is fantastic – this is the first EU Major to be held since the Call of Duty League era began in 2020.
It was also outlined how Minor tournaments will work. They’ll be mid-season stopping points to split up the competitive play between the regular matches and the Major events. Each Minor will have a $20,000 one-shot prize, plus the winning team will get 30 CDL points (second place 20, third place 10).
They’ll unravel across a three-day window with a single-elimination bracket, and seeding will be based on the CDL standings leading up to the event.
Are you excited to see the new season kick-off? The first match will be LAG vs. Minnesota Rokkor, but following that fans of the tournament will see OpTic Texas, the reigning world champions, take to the (virtual) stage.
For more Insider Gaming esports, check out the reveal of the CDL 2025 team skins
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US airman sentenced to 15 years in prison
US airman sentenced to 15 years in prison
Jack Teixeira, a US Air National Guardsman, who leaked Pentagon documents last year in one of the highest-profile intelligence cases in recent years, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Teixeira, 22, pleaded guilty to the willful retention and transmission of national defence information in March.
While he worked at an Air National Guard base, Teixeira obtained materials including maps, satellite images and intelligence on US allies, and then posted those documents to an online platform popular with gamers.
Among the documents he shared was confidential information about the war in Ukraine.
Prosecutors asked US District Court Judge Indira Talwani to impose a 16 and a half-year sentence on Teixeira, while his defence lawyers asked for an 11-year sentence.
In their request for lenient sentence, Teixeira’s lawyers argued in court filings that the airman was the target of bullying while in high school and his military unit.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have argued for a longer sentence, saying that the airman “perpetrated one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in ********* history.”
“Teixeira understood the risk to his country and did it anyways,” prosecutors told Judge Talwani on Tuesday.
Teixeira began with a small group of **** and military enthusiasts on a Discord server, or chatroom, in late 2022. While the documents stayed in that chatroom initially, the information was later re-shared on more public channels.
The documents were later picked up by pro-Kremlin Telegram channels and military bloggers.
Teixeira enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, a reserve of the US Air Force, in 2019. In that role, he had top-secret security clearance.
In order to get this clearance, Teixeira signed a “lifetime binding non-disclosure agreement” acknowledging that the “unauthorized disclosure of protected information could result in ********* charges”, according to court documents.
Teixeira’s ***** prompted the Pentagon to examine its systems for handling classified information.
This is a developing story and will be updated
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 requires a lot of free storage
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 requires a lot of free storage
Be prepared to free up a ton of space for GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl as this survival horror takes up over 100GB. Oh yeah, and its pre-load is available.
As pointed out by Pure Xbox, the game’s file size looks to be pretty massive, clocking in at 147.6GB, which puts it among the largest file sizes on Xbox. That said, if you’re a Game Pass subscriber, you’ll be able to pick this title up free of charge and if space is an issue, you could always deal with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Frankly, the immense file size isn’t too shocking, game file sizes have been ballooning lately, so as long as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl warrants it, it’s fine.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl releases November 20 on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
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US jury awards $42m to ex-detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib
US jury awards $42m to ex-detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib
A US jury has awarded $42m (£33m) to three former detainees of Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison, holding a Virginia-based defence contractor responsible for contributing to their ****** two decades ago.
The verdict against CACI Premier Technology comes from the second trial of this case. The first ended in a mistrial in spring after a jury was unable to reach a decision.
The court heard directly from plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili and Asa’ad Al-Zubae, who first filed the case in 2008.
They described beatings, ******* ******, forced nudity and other cruel treatment at the hands of their jailers.
CACI supplied interrogators to the US Army at the prison west of Baghdad. In court, lawyers for the contractor argued that its employees were not directly involved in the ******, which was carried out by military police.
But the jury sided with the plaintiffs and their claims that CACI was still liable, because the interrogators they supplied had instructed the military police to “soften up” the detainees.
CACI said in a statement that it had been made a scapegoat.
“To be clear: no CACI employee has ever been charged – criminally, civilly, or administratively – in this matter,” the company said.
The landmark verdict reportedly marks the first time a civilian contractor has been held legally responsible for the degrading treatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib.
The jury awarded plaintiffs Mr al-Shimari, a middle school headmaster, Mr al-Ejaili, a journalist, and Mr al-Zubae, a fruit vendor, $3m each in compensatory damages and $11m each in punitive damages.
“I’ve waited a long time for this day,” Mr al-Ejaili said in a statement after the verdict. “This victory is a shining light for everyone who has been oppressed and a strong warning to any company or contractor practising different forms of ******** and ******.”
Hundreds of men were arrested and held at Abu Ghraib by US forces after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In 2004, disturbing images from the prison were leaked, including one showing a soldier pulling a ****** inmate on a dog leash. The photographs incited widespread condemnation.
Eleven US soldiers were convicted of breaking military laws, but many received sentences of a just a few years. The last remaining soldier in prison convicted in the case was released in August 2011.
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Shift Up is considering releasing Stellar Blade for PC in 2025
Shift Up is considering releasing Stellar Blade for PC in 2025
Shift Up has said it’s considering releasing Stellar Blade for PC in 2025.
The company discussed plans to bring the game to PC in a Q&A session accompanying its quarterly financial results.
“The release is being considered within 2025,” it said. “Considering recent trends such as Steam‘s expanding market share in the AAA game sector and the global success of ****** Myth: Wukong, we expect the performance on PC to exceed that on consoles.”
Published by Sony, Stellar Blade was released as a PS5 exclusive in April.
“To enhance the IP value and maintain momentum, we have been consistently releasing content patches and updates, which has helped sustain the game’s popularity,” Shift Up said in the Q&A.
“With the addition of the Nier: Automata DLC and ongoing marketing activities, we plan to maintain the IP’s popularity until the platform expansion.”
Stellar Blade will add Nier Automata DLC and a photo mode next week as part of a major title update.
Earlier this year the South Korean company confirmed it was exploring the possibility of developing a Stellar Blade sequel.
During its earnings Q&A, Shift Up also touched on its next new IP, which it has reportedly likened to Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Fate/Grand Order.
Codenamed Project Witches, it’s planned to launch globally across console, PC and mobile with cross-play.
“We are currently developing Project Witches with the goal of launching it after 2027,” Shift Up said. “We are considering communicating with users and the market in the first half of next year to share specific details about Project Witches.”
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#Shift #releasing #Stellar #Blade
Pelican News
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Amgen stock falls on weight loss *****’s bone density loss data
Amgen stock falls on weight loss *****’s bone density loss data
Omar Marques | Lightrocket | Getty Images
Shares of Amgen fell more than 7% Tuesday as analysts chewed over bone density loss data from an early-stage trial on its experimental weight loss injection, MariTide.
One analyst said the additional data suggests a new potential safety risk tied to the *****. But others said the share move was an overreaction, and that more data on a larger group of patients is needed.
Amgen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the data
The ***** is a promising potential competitor in the weight loss ***** market. It is designed to be taken monthly, rather than once a week like existing injections from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, and promotes weight loss differently.
Wall Street is waiting for crucial phase two trial results on MariTide, which are set to be released before the end of the year.
Analysts on Tuesday cited additional publicly available data from a phase one study showing that the highest dose of MariTide – 420 milligrams – was linked to roughly 4% loss of bone mineral density over 12 weeks. A decrease in bone mineral density refers to when bones lose calcium and other minerals, making them weaker and more likely to break.
In a research note, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Olivia Brayer called the data a “big unknown” and suggested it could be a potential risk associated with drugs like MariTide, which work by using so-called GIPR antagonism. Amgen’s injection works by blocking a gut hormone receptor called GIP but also activates another appetite-suppressing hormone called GLP-1.
That’s unlike Eli Lilly’s obesity *****, Zepbound, which activates GIP and GLP-1. Wegovy activates GLP-1 but does not target GIP, which may also affect how the body breaks down sugar and ****.
“On one hand, patients could naturally lose bone mineral density during weight loss treatment,” Brayer wrote.
But Brayer said, “on the other hand, this could be a non-starter because there seems to be a dose-dependent increase” in bone mineral density loss. That means patients appear to lose more bone mineral density the higher the dose they take.
Meanwhile, Jefferies analyst Michael Yee wrote in a note that the additional MariTide data seems to be a “non-issue.” Yee acknowledged that people on the highest dose of the ***** had declines in bone density, but said “the data is all over the place.”
For example, he pointed to data on a lower dose of the ***** showing that bone density actually increased by 1% before normalizing. Yee added that bone mineral density “changes” are a known side effect of weight loss drugs in the first one to three months of use because people lose significant weight quickly.
Amgen is also aware of the “hypothetical concern” of bone mineral density loss, Yee said, citing the firm’s discussions with management.
“While obviously not saying there is zero effect, we are saying we don’t think there is a concern, significant [bone mineral density] drop sustained over time, or clinical risk or concern,” Jefferies said. “Overall we don’t believe there is an issue and the effect is normalized over time.”
BMO analyst Evan Seigerman wrote in a note Tuesday that “We’d be cautious about making an overarching judgment on the safety profile of MariTide with this data.”
He added that “we’d be more comfortable judging the safety profile from a larger cohort of patients.” There may not be a clear answer until Amgen releases full phase two trial data on the *****.
“Our view on MariTide hasn’t changed with this and if anything we see the selling as overdone,” Seigerman wrote.
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Pelican News
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Hearing of Executive Vice-President-designate Henna Virkkunen | News
Hearing of Executive Vice-President-designate Henna Virkkunen | News
In her introductory statement, Henna Virkkunen said she would work to strengthen the EU’s digital independence, make critical digital infrastructure more secure and increase competitiveness. She presented her plans to boost innovation and investment in frontier technologies, ensure security and a fair online space, close the digital skills gap, cut bureaucracy and increase investment in research.
Technological sovereignty and security
The Commissioner-designate committed to supporting investment and innovation in cyber-defence and to protect the EU’s critical infrastructure from hybrid attacks. Ms Virkkunen supported the idea of building a true defence union and stressed the importance of ****** investments, with more details expected in an upcoming defence white paper. She said an action plan on cybersecurity will be presented soon and insisted that member states need to fully apply existing cybersecurity rules and do more to make critical infrastructure more secure.
Answering questions on increasing the EU’s tech independence, including on cloud services, Ms Virkkunen committed to attracting researchers to Europe, increasing private investment and upskilling experts. As a part of a broader strategy to meet the EU’s digital decade targets and ensure secure and fast connectivity, she said the digital networks act will help reduce bureaucracy and ensure high-speed connectivity for all, while the cloud and AI development act will help boost investment in cloud capacity for businesses. Other priorities she mentioned included boosting EU semiconductor production, the EU Space industrial strategy, and quantum computing.
Supporting the digital transformation
On artificial intelligence, Ms Virkkunen committed to swiftly implementing the AI Act. For Europe to become “the AI continent” that can attract the best talent, she will present an AI factories initiative in the first 100 days in office and prepare a cloud and AI development act to promote energy efficient computing solutions, increase capacity for businesses, and stimulate innovation. Boosting industrial uses of AI will be a priority, she said in response to questions on AI’s potential to improve services, like healthcare.
Several MEPs asked about the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), more specifically on the harmful effects of social media, protecting freedom of speech online and the ***** of ******** products from third countries. Ms Virkkunen said protecting children online is one of her priorities and committed to presenting an action plan on cyberbullying as well as to look into systemic risks, such as addictive algorithms. She explained that the DSA is about removing ******** content and actually empowers users to defend their rights online. She highlighted the need to work with likeminded partners on digital policy, while stressing that digital rules apply to all companies that want to operate in the EU.
Ms Virkkunen also answered MEPs’ questions on freedom of speech and fundamental rights, highlighting the upcoming Democracy Shield initiative, the need to ****** against foreign interference and disinformation, and the importance of a pluralistic media environment.
You can watch the video recording of the full hearing here. After the hearing, Ms Virkkunen held a press point outside the meeting room: you can watch it here.
Next steps
The chairs and political group coordinators of both committees will meet without delay to assess the performance and qualification of the Executive Vice-President-designate.
Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group chairs) is set to conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. Once the Conference of Presidents declares all hearings closed, the evaluation letters will be published.
The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast, by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg.
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Victor Marx Takes High-Risk Mission to Haiti to Protect Vulnerable Communities Amid Gang *********
Victor Marx Takes High-Risk Mission to Haiti to Protect Vulnerable Communities Amid Gang *********
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – In the midst of escalating gang ********* and political upheaval, Victor Marx of All Things Possible Ministries (ATP) recently traveled to Haiti, risking his safety to meet with some of the country’s most notorious gang leaders. Known for his work in dangerous regions across the globe, Marx’s mission was clear: negotiate for the protection of orphanages, missionaries, and children – the most vulnerable groups amid Haiti’s spiraling unrest.
For months, the capital city of Port-au-Prince has been gripped by lawlessness as gangs tighten their control over the city, holding 85% of it under their sway. The political situation has deteriorated, with gunfire recently closing down Haiti’s main airport and a new prime minister, businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, being sworn in under highly contested circumstances.
As power shifts continue and a fragile ruling council attempts to establish order, ********* is rising, and Victor Marx’s mission has become all the more urgent.
Joined by CBN News correspondent Chuck Holton, Marx embarked on this high-stakes trip at the invitation of Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a feared gang leader and head of the G9 gang federation. Known for his brutal tactics, Chérizier, like many Haitian gang leaders, casts himself as a defender of the people, filling the void left by a crippled government. Chérizier allowed Marx and Holton into his stronghold in one of Port-au-Prince’s most dangerous neighborhoods, sharing his view of the crisis with the team.
“I’m walking around one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in all of Haiti,” Holton explained, “and the only way I can do this is because of this guy right here, Jimmy Chérizier. The world says he’s the most notorious gang leader in all of Haiti… but he brought us here and wanted us to tell his side of the story.”
While Chérizier claims to represent the interests of everyday Haitians, Marx sought to reach other gang leaders in Haiti to widen his mission’s impact. After meeting with Chérizier, he and his team turned to the infamous 400 Mawozo gang, which has displaced entire communities. Led by Lanmo San Jou, the gang controls regions in and around Ganthier, where they recently forced 30,000 residents from their homes in a brutal display of power.
“Western media… will have you look at him as a very, very evil person… he’s steeped in ****** magic and voodoo,” said Zeke Petrie, a translator for the team, noting the cultural and spiritual influence leaders like San Jou wield.
In Haiti, spiritual practices blend with gang allegiances, complicating the power structures that Marx sought to engage.
Ganthier now stands as a near ghost town, with residents displaced by *********. “This is the town of Ganthier, taken over by gangs about two months ago,” Holton explained. “They drove 30,000 people out of their homes, ******* many. And now we’re here to meet with that very gang, the 400 Mawozo gang, to see if we can get them to allow the people to come back to their homes.”
As Marx approached San Jou’s base, the importance of dialogue became paramount. ATP’s missions across the globe are marked by these high-risk negotiations, where Marx often leverages the common ground of helping those in need to open lines of communication, even with dangerous individuals.
“Victor is trying to do… something the international community can’t or won’t do,” Petrie explained. “They’re coming to sit and have dialogue with these gang leaders.”
The negotiation was challenging, but Marx pressed San Jou on the need to spare civilians. Holton asked, “Are you going to trust him? Because a lot of you say, no way, he’s been ********. But what is the alternative? If the government and the Haitian National Police can’t come and control this area… then you’re going to stay stuck.”
Marx, who has conducted missions in conflict zones around the world, from Iraq to Central America, is committed to safeguarding vulnerable populations, including women and children, from the effects of ********* and exploitation. Through All Things Possible Ministries, he seeks to reach those beyond the reach of traditional aid, often stepping into high-conflict zones that others deem too dangerous. For many, this approach has brought hope and support where none existed before.
Reflecting on the risks of his mission, Marx stated, “If you’re afraid to be *******, well, everybody ***** sooner or later, but I came up with my team at great risk… If there’s not dialogue, there’s only ******.”
While the outcome of his negotiations ******** uncertain, the mission of All Things Possible Ministries in Haiti underscores a commitment to addressing human suffering, even in the world’s most dangerous corners. Through bold action and the willingness to engage even the most feared individuals, Marx continues his ****** to provide hope, safety, and support to those who need it most.
***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly ********** perspective.***
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Yakuza Creator’s Next Game Has Already Taken Steps to Not Repeat a Mistake Todd Howard Did With Starfield and Rockstar With GTA V
Yakuza Creator’s Next Game Has Already Taken Steps to Not Repeat a Mistake Todd Howard Did With Starfield and Rockstar With GTA V
There’s no doubt that it genuinely feels like a nightmare to play every single game you’re interested in. Some of the industry’s biggest titles right now, such as GTA V, Starfield, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, just can’t be completed in quick succession.
Yakuza’s creator has big plans for his next project. (Image via *****)
That’s all because these games have huge worlds and maps, and even going through everything one title offers can set you back by hundreds of hours. It’s truly frustrating if you’re someone who looks to keep up with recent releases. However, Yakuza‘s creator, Toshihiro Nagoshi, has vowed that his next project wouldn’t follow this awful path.
Yakuza‘s Creator Promises to Push Smaller and Meaningful Maps
Toshihiro Nagoshi is focussing is shrinking the map for his studio’s debut title. (Image via *****)
While chatting with Famitsu, Yakuza‘s creator, Toshihiro Nagoshi, opened up about his new studio’s debut game, which is set to be an action-adventure title. In the interview, Nagoshi explained that he wants his title to be “fun to play” and not a big hassle.
Nagoshi explains that there are so many games out there that it’s impossible to play through them all, making a gamer’s living *****. He believes that this era of modern gaming, where the title’s volume is the primary selling point, is going to meet its end.
Later in the interview, Naogishi touched upon the big map sizes in all recent releases. While they’re quite incredible to experience, Nagoshi is trying to make the world map in his next project much smaller.
This time, while researching existing games, we started by making a fairly large map with roads and highways. Now we are gradually shrinking it down and exploring the best balance for the game.
Nagoshi is well aware of the fact that huge maps in any title can be a nuance for players as it divers attention. If the map brings no value to the table, it can cause the entire game to be a repetitive cycle that causes fatigue and frustration among players.
He wants his next project to be a success, unlike Todd Howard’s shallow Starfield. So, it’s understandable that the Yakuza creator is looking to bring a more dense world in his studio’s first game, which we’re still rather light on details about. Let’s hope that we soon get to hear more from him on the game.
Where’s The Next Yakuza Game?
The next spin-off in the iconic franchise is right around the corner. (Image via *****)
There’s no doubt that Nagoshi’s Yakuza franchise has had quite a few exciting spin-offs in recent years. The previous, Like a Dragon: Ishin, took Kiryu back to ancient times.
However, this time around, the franchise is heading to a Majima-focussed spin-off, which will see our patch-wearing gang member take the lead as a captain on a pirate ship.
The title is set to take place six months after the events of the first mainline title in the series, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It’s set in Hawaii, which is known to be featured in previous titles.
Gamers will take on ****** pirate crews on oceans and shores alike and will get the chance to build a crew and ship. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is all set to drop on 28th February 2025 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
With that said, are you excited to see smaller maps in Yakuza Creator’s next title? Let us know in the comments below.
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Netgear Nighthawk RS200 review: Netgear’s latest Wi-Fi 7 router is competitively priced – but makes compromises to get there
Netgear Nighthawk RS200 review: Netgear’s latest Wi-Fi 7 router is competitively priced – but makes compromises to get there
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: One-minute review
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
Netgear has always been happy to sit up at the more expensive end of the networking market but, following a management shake-up earlier this year, we’re pleased to see that it finally seems to be taking a more competitive approach with its pricing. The new Nighthawk RS200 is certainly the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 router that it’s released so far – although that low price does mean that it lacks some key features that most of its Wi-Fi 7 rivals take for granted.
Most notably, the RS200 is a dual-band router, which transmits a Wi-Fi signal on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands – whereas most Wi-Fi 7 routers are ‘tri-band’ devices that can also transmit on the 6.0GHz band as well (as do previous generation routers with Wi-Fi 6E too). Some people might argue that this omission means that the RS200 doesn’t even qualify as a true Wi-Fi 7 router at all, but there are other technical features within Wi-Fi 7 that enable the RS200 to squeeze better performance out of the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. This ensures that it can outperform many of the older dual-band routers that are still in use in many homes, so it may be worth considering as an upgrade for people who are still using an old Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 router that was provided by their ISP.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $229.99/£199.99/AU$449.00
When is it available? Now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, ***, Australia
A price of $229.99/£199.99/AU$449.00 means that the RS200 is one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 routers we’ve seen so far – although, of course, Netgear had to omit support for the high-speed 6.0GHz band in order to achieve that price. However, its top speed of 6.5Gbps should still be adequate for most domestic broadband services. Netgear also states that it can connect to 80 different devices at the same time, and can cover homes up to 2,500sq.ft in size (although regions outside the US may quote that figure at 2,000sq.ft due to differences in national regulations).
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Netgear Nighthawk RS200 Specs
Wi-Fi:
Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4GHz, 5.0GHz)
Wi-Fi Speed:
6.5Gbps
Ports:
1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 3x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0)
Processor:
Quad-core @ 2.0GHz
Memory:
2GB RAM
Storage:
512MB NAND Flash
Dimensions:
249 x 150 x 101mm, 0.68kg
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Design
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
Tower design provides 360-degree Wi-Fi
4x Ethernet ports for wired connections
USB for network storage
I still miss the streamlined design of the original Nighthawk routers, with folding wings that made it look like Darth Vader’s shuttle craft. But, like other new Nighthawk models since the introduction of Wi-Fi 7, the Nighthawk RS200 has a more upright design, looking like a tall, ****** obelisk that stands a full 249mm high. You’ll need to give it plenty of room when first setting it up, but this design does allow the router’s four internal antennae to more effectively transmit the Wi-Fi signal through 360-degrees all around, in order to achieve the high speeds that are provided by Wi-Fi 7.
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
And, despite the low price, the RS200 provides wired good connectivity too, with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for a high-speed fibre or cable broadband connection. There’s another 2.5Gbps port to provide a wired connection for a PC or games console, and three Gigabit Ethernet ports for additional connections. It’s also possible to ‘aggregate’ – or combine – two of those Ethernet ports to provide a faster connection if required. There’s even a USB-A (3.0) port that will allow you to connect a USB storage device to your network, so that you can share files with other people at home or in an office.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Features
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
There’s no getting around the fact that omitting the 6.0GHz frequency band is an odd decision for a Wi-Fi 7 router, as anyone who has a shiny new PC or smartphone that supports Wi-Fi 7 will want all the speed they can get from it. However, a speed of 6.5Gbps is still more than adequate for most home users, and many business users too, and the RS200 does include Wi-Fi 7 features – such as reduced latency – that still give it an edge over older dual-band routers.
The Nighthawk app is well designed too, and makes it easy to set up your new network in just a few minutes. There’s a QR code printed on top of the router, and you can just scan this code and then leave the app to set everything up for you automatically. You can simply use the default network name and password if you want, but the app allows you to create a new name and password for extra security. The only thing that slows you down is the need to create a Netgear account in order to keep using the app after the initial installation.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
To keep things as simple as possible, the Nighthawk app combines the two frequency bands into a single network and automatically connects your computers and other devices to the fastest band available in that particular location within your home or office. But while the app is very easy to use, it doesn’t offer many additional features.
You can create a guest network, and there are tools for running a speed check and monitoring network traffic to ensure that everything is working properly. However, the app’s parental controls are very basic, simply allowing you to pause Internet access for individual devices. There are no weekly scheduling controls, or content filters to block web sites that might be unsuitable for children.
If you do want those additional features then you’ll need to pay a subscription fee for Netgear’s Smart Parental Controls service. There’s a 30-day free trial available, but once the trial ends you’ll need to pay $7.99/month or $69.99/year to continue the service. The same thing applies to Netgear’s Armor security service, which also provides a 30-day trial, but then costs $99.99 per year.
As we’ve said – many a time in the past – there are rival routers that provide better parental controls free of charge, so parents that do need these features may want to consider alternative routers.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Performance
6.5Gbps speed
Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4GHz/5.0GHz)
4 internal antennae
The lack of support for the 6.0GHz frequency band is clearly disappointing – and for some users it may well be a deal-breaker. Even so, the improved performance of the Nighthawk RS200 still allows it to beat the aging dual-band router in our office, which was provided by our ISP.
Our office broadband runs at 150Mbps, but our old router can normally only manage a top speed of 120Mbps even when connecting to devices that are close by in the same room.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Benchmarks
BENCHMARKS:
Ookla Speed Test – Single merged network (download/upload)
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps
20GB Steam Download – Single merged network
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps
We also have an office at the back of the building that our old router struggles to reach at all, forcing us to rely on PowerLine adaptors to provide a wired network connection instead. In contrast, the RS200 immediately hit the full 150Mbps speed that was available when connecting to devices in the same room for both the Ookla Speed Test and for large file downloads on Steam.
That speed did dip slightly as I picked up my laptop and wandered along the hall to the back office, but the RS200 took just a few seconds to roll up its sleeves and bump the speed back up to 150Mbps once more, and eliminate the need for those PowerLine adaptors. If you already own an expensive laptop or iPhone 16 that has full support for tri-band Wi-Fi 7 then it probably doesn’t make much sense to compromise on an entry-level router such as the RS200 that doesn’t support the 6.0GHz band. However, the RS200 can still provide a fast, reliable upgrade for people who are using an older dual-band router that is past its sell-by date.
Should you buy the Netgear Nighthawk RS200?
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Value:
The lower price of the Nighthawk RS200 is certainly welcome. However, it’s an entry-level dual-band router, and lacks the high-speed 6.0GHz band found in many of its rivals.
3.5 / 5
Design:
Tall, dark and handsome, the RS200 is also well connected, with 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports for your broadband connection, and a wired network.
4 / 5
Features:
It gets the basics right, but the lack of 6.0GHz support and limited parental controls may deter some users.
3.5 / 5
Performance:
To be fair, the RS200 does perform well for a basic dual-band router, and will make a good upgrade for people who still rely on an aging dual-band router provided by their ISP.
4 / 5
Average Score:
It may be one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 routers currently available, but the lack of support for 6.0GHz Wi-Fi and Netgear’s hard-sell on subscriptions are disappointing.
3.5 / 5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 – Cell 0
Netgear Nighthawk RS200
Netgear Nighthawk RS300
Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98
Price (as reviewed)
$229.99/£199.99/AU$449.00
$329.99/£299.99/AU$1497.00
$749.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,499
Wi-Fi
Dual-band Wi-Fi 7
Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
Quad-band Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi Speed
6.5Gbps
9.3Gbps
24.4Gbps
Connectivity
1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 3x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0)
1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 2x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 2x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0)
1x 10Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 10Gb Ethernet (LAN), 3x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0), 1x USB-A (2.0)
Processor
Quad-core 2.0GHz
Quad-core 2.0GHz
Quad-core 2.6GHz
Memory
2GB RAM
2GB RAM
2GB RAM
Storage
512MB Flash
512MB Flash
256MB Flash
Dimensions
249 x 150 x 102mm
249 x 150 x 102mm
350 x 350 x 221mm
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First sighting of Belarusian political prisoner in 600 days
First sighting of Belarusian political prisoner in 600 days
@Tsihanouskaya
“I cannot believe it!” wrote Maria Kolesnikova’s sister on X
After more than 600 days of denied visits, calls and correspondence, the jailed Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has been allowed to see her father in prison.
A photo, published on social media, shows the activist in what appears to be a prison housecoat hugging her father.
On her face is the smile she became famous for as one of the leaders of a wave of giant protests in 2020 that put the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko under unprecedented pressure.
It survived by responding with mass arrests, police beatings and ******** – all thoroughly documented, but still flatly denied by officials.
A peaceful protester, Maria Kolesnikova was sentenced to 11 years for extremism and supposedly plotting to overthrow the government.
In September, her sister, Tatsiana, told the BBC that she was worried the Belarusian regime was “******** Maria slowly” in jail, where she had been kept in punishing conditions since March 2023, and was not allowed any contact with relatives or lawyers.
Tatsiana called then for more international pressure to secure her sister’s release, and the freedom of the many other political prisoners in Belarus.
Now, she has posted the new prison photo on X with the line: “I cannot believe it!”
The family have not yet shared any information about her health.
In an odd twist the photo was first published on Telegram by the former opposition journalist Roman Protasevich, who was arrested when his Ryanair flight over Belarus was forcibly grounded. He now cooperates with the authorities, after a presidential pardon and early release.
Mr Protasevich has given no details about the picture of Maria and her father, or the circumstances.
Alexander Lukashenko, in power since the early 1990s, has called another presidential election in January in which no genuine opposition candidates will be allowed to take part.
Recently, perhaps hoping to improve his image, he began pardoning small groups of prisoners.
More than 70 have been set free since summer, including people jailed for participating in the 2020 protests, but most were close to the end of their sentence or *****.
An announcement last week stated that another group jailed for “extremism” would be pardoned. It promised “big news”, and said two women were on the list.
But Tatsiana told the BBC that she did not believe the sudden reappearance of her sister for a prison visit meant she was about to be set free.
Getty Images
Maria Kolesnikova, shown here in 2020, rallied crowds in nationwide protests after Lukashenko claimed yet another landslide election win
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, now in exile after running for election against Lukashenko, sent a short video on Telegram with greetings for “Masha”, as she called Maria affectionately, and expressed “joy” to see her reunited with her father.
“How happy I am to see the smile that captivated us in 2020 and stays the same despite all you’ve been through,” Tikhanovskaya said.
Writing on X she added: “Now, we must keep up the pressure to break the isolation of other political prisoners & free them all!”
Tikhanovskaya’s husband, Sergei, is one of those still in prison and has also been kept incommunicado for many months, as have other political prisoners including Viktor Babaryko – another would-be presidential candidate locked up in 2020.
Franak Viacorka, an adviser to Tikhanovskaya, told the BBC that Lukashenko’s gesture to Maria was tokenism.
“Lukashenko is afraid right now to make any big moves and changes before his sham election – his self-reappointment. Just showing Maria doesn’t threaten him, but he wants to show it as a big gesture of humanity – which it’s not of course,” Mr Viacorka believes.
He put the gesture down to a recent increase in international attention and pressure.
Lukashenko has been an international pariah for many years, with the ********* Union condemning the 2020 election results as “falsified”.
As for others still held, Mr Viacorka said: “I dream of the moment my friends and colleagues are released. But I am a realist.”
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'Nintendo Music' Update Adds Wii Sports Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
'Nintendo Music' Update Adds Wii Sports Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
Relive the glory days of Wii.
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U.S. flights to Haiti barred for 30 days after planes struck by gunfire – National
U.S. flights to Haiti barred for 30 days after planes struck by gunfire – National
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it will bar U.S. airlines from operating in Haiti for 30 days after two commercial jetliners were struck by gunfire on Monday.
The FAA issued a Notice to Air Mission prohibiting U.S. civil aviation operations in the territory and airspace of Haiti below 10,000 feet for 30 days.
On Monday, a Spirit Airlines flight destined for the Haitian capital was struck by gunfire, forcing it to be diverted to the neighboring Dominican Republic, while a JetBlue Airways flight returning from Port-au-Prince was discovered with bullet damage after arriving in New York.
It was part of a wave of ********* that erupted in Haiti as the country swore in its new prime minister after a politically tumultuous process.
2:49
Haiti crisis: Gang massacre ****** at least 70, forces 6,000 civilians to flee
Neither the former interim prime minister, Garry Conille, nor the newly inaugurated Alix Didier Fils-Aimé commented on the *********.
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But Luis Abinader, who as president of the neighboring Dominican Republic has cracked down on Haitian migration, called ******* on the Spirit Airlines plane terrorism.
“This was a ********** act; the countries that are following and helping Haiti should declare these armed gangs as ********** groups,” Abinader said in a news conference.
On Tuesday, heavily armed police in armored cars outside the airport checked trucks used for public transportation passing by.
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Schools were closed, as were banks and government offices. Streets, where just a day before gangs and police were locked in a fierce firefight, were eerily empty, with few driving by other than a motorcycle with a man who had been shot clinging to the back.
0:38
Haiti’s main international airport reopens after gang ********* prompted closure
The sounds of heavy gunfire still echoed through the streets in the afternoon — a reminder that despite political maneuvering by Haiti’s elites and a strong push by the international community to restore peace, the country’s toxic slate of gangs kept its firm hold on much of the Caribbean nation.
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The ******* Nations estimates that gangs control 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police to quell gang ********* struggles with a lack of funding and personnel, prompting calls for a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
The ********* comes after a transitional council, tasked with restoring democratic order to Haiti, which hasn’t held elections since 2016, decided to ***** Conille, who often was at odds with the council during his six months in office. The council rapidly swore in businessman Fils-Aimé as the new interim prime minister.
Conille originally called the move ********, but on Tuesday acknowledged Fils-Aimé’s appointment in a post on the social media platform X.
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“(I) wish him success in fulfilling this mission. At this crucial moment, unity and solidarity are essential for our country. Long live Haiti!” he wrote.
Fils-Aimé promised to work with international partners to restore peace and hold long awaited elections, a vow also made by his predecessor.
1:48
Trudeau calls for ‘global effort’ to support Haiti’s humanitarian needs
But many Haitians, like 43-year-old Martha Jean-Pierre, have little taste for the political fighting, which experts say only give gangs more freedom to continue expanding their control as Haiti teeters on the brink of famine.
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Jean-Pierre was among those to brave the streets of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to sell the plantains, carrots, cabbage and potatoes she carried in a basket on her head. She had no choice, she said — selling was the only way she could feed her children.
“What good is a new prime minister if there’s no security, if I can’t move freely and sell my goods,” she said, nodding to her basket of vegetables. “This is my bank account, this is what my family depend on.”
It was a frustration that appeared to be international players that have pushed for a peaceful resolution in Haiti like the U.N. and the U.S.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department lamented that Conille and the council “were unable to move forward in a constructive manner” and called on Fils-Aimé and the council to provide a clear action plan outlining a ****** vision on how to decrease ********* and pave the path for elections to be held to “prevent further gridlock.”
“The acute and immediate needs of the Haitian people mandate that the transitional government prioritize governance over the competing personal interests of political actors,” it wrote in a statement.
—With files from the Associated Press
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Fortnite will turn back the clock (again) on December 6
Fortnite will turn back the clock (again) on December 6
Is Fortnite old enough to elicit nostalgia? Last year’s trial run of bringing back the battle royale game’s original map, weapons and early seasons would suggest so — at least for folks of a certain age. That test led to record-breaking player counts, topping 44.7 million in October 2023. Epic Games said on Tuesday that the OG Fortnite rewind is coming back again, and this time, it’s for good.
OG Fortnite will let you play the original map, along with the loot and seasons as they were in 2017. In addition to the nostalgia factor, many players appreciate that era’s simpler gameplay mechanics, map designs, weapons and items. It was also before expansion updates that added new game modes (it was Battle Royale only) and vehicles like cars, boats and helicopters.
Old-school Fortnite fans have less than a month to wait. The OG version returns to the game on December 6.
Blizzard must have seen something it liked in the 2023 trial. It borrowed a page from Epic and brought back Overwatch in its original form for a three-week event starting today.
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******* not in violation of U.S. law, Gaza aid will be monitored: State Dept.
******* not in violation of U.S. law, Gaza aid will be monitored: State Dept.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses a press conference in Tel Aviv on January 9, 2024, during his week-long trip aimed at calming tensions across the Middle East, amid continuing battles between ******* and the ************ militant group ****** in Gaza.
Alberto Pizzoli | AFP | Getty Images
The ******* States announced Tuesday that there will be no significant policy shift towards *******, at the conclusion of a 30-day U.S. deadline for improvement in humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.
“We, at this time, have not made an assessment that the Israelis are in violation of the US law,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing in Washington.
“We have seen some progress being made, we’d like to see some more changes happen. We believe that, had it not been for U.S. intervention, these changes may not have ever taken place,” said Patel.
The demands and the deadline were ***** out in a ****** letter from Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, delivered Oct. 13. If ******* wants to continue to qualify for foreign military financing under U.S. law, Blinken and Austin wrote, at least 350 trucks per day of aid must be allowed to enter the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
The letter also called on ******* to provide heightened security for humanitarian sites, and an increase in the number of humanitarian pauses to its military operations.
One month later, a daily average of just over 30 trucks a day are being let into Gaza, according to Philippe Lazarini, commissioner general of the ******* Nations agency assisting ************ refugees, UNRWA.
Palestinians, including children, wait to receive food distributed by an aid organization in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on November 10, 2024.
Ashraf Amra | Anadolu | Getty Images
Patel defended the decision not to change the U.S. posture towards *******, which has come under intense scrutiny both at home and abroad.
“We want to see the totality of the humanitarian situation improve, and we think some of these steps will allow the conditions for that to continue to progress,” Patel said.
Meanwhile, international organizations continue to sound the alarm on the humanitarian toll of *******’s war in Gaza. A consortium of humanitarian aid groups recently assessed that ******* has not made significant progress on any of the U.S. demands.
More than 43,000 people have been ******* in Gaza since the conflict began in Oct. 2023, triggered by a surprise ****** ******* on ******* that claimed more than 1,000 lives.
The lion’s share of those ******* in Gaza have been women and children who ***** in strikes on residential buildings, the ******* Nations Human Rights Office said in a release earlier this month.
Outgoing President Joe Biden has been steadfast in his support for *******, which he reaffirmed to be “ironclad” following a meeting with ******** President Isaac Herzog in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
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