England Test side will ‘shoot for the stars’ in marquee year – head coach Brendon McCullum
England Test side will ‘shoot for the stars’ in marquee year – head coach Brendon McCullum
Under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, England have delivered often thrilling cricket and secured landmark series wins away in Pakistan and New Zealand.
However, they failed to regain the Ashes in 2023, having gone 2-0 behind against Australia before surging back to draw the series, while they were also heavily beaten in India and lost in Pakistan last year.
After securing the series win in New Zealand in December, they lost the third and final Test in feeble fashion.
McCullum said he and his side wants England fans to feel an “attachment” to them, liking them both as players and their style of cricket, while also winning series.
“There’s no greater opportunity than playing in big series against the best opposition on the biggest stage under the brightest lights to be able to test that,” he added.
Stokes said he hated the word “ruthless” when asked about England trying to seal a 3-0 sweep in New Zealand.
But McCullum said the all-rounder is “the most ruthless” sportsperson he has ever met.
“He is unbelievably driven, to push himself, to push his team-mates, to win at all costs,” he said.
“We’re very lucky to have him in the chair because he’s going to be very strong about trying to push this team to the next level.”
Despite the obvious focus on the five-Test series against India and the Ashes down under, McCullum said England will not underestimate Zimbabwe in the four-day Test at Trent Bridge.
“We want to be where our feet are,” he said.
“This game has an amazing ability to bring you back down to earth if you don’t have the respect for the game or the respect for the opposition.
“We go into it as favourites so we need to make sure we’re rock hard fit and ready to go and make good decisions under pressure.”
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Denzel Washington nabs honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes
Denzel Washington nabs honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes
US actor Denzel Washington has received a surprise honorary Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival in recognition of his outstanding career.
Washington, 70, was in southern France for the premiere of Spike Lee’s latest film Highest 2 Lowest, an adaptation of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, which also celebrated its premiere on Monday.
Washington, who was joined by co-stars A$AP Rocky and Jeffrey Wright on the red carpet, stars as David King in the crime thriller that marks the fifth time he and Lee have worked together.
The two-time Oscar winner’s movie roles have ranged from ****** activist Malcolm X, to a drunk but heroic pilot in Flight.
His turn as a rogue detective in Training Day earned him his second Oscar in 2002 following his first win in 1990 for Glory.
He also directed and starred in the 2007 film The Great Debaters about a professor who coached a debate team from a ****** US college to national glory, and produced and starred in the drama Antwone Fisher.
Robert De Niro received a Palme d’Or honorary award for lifetime achievement, announced in advance, at the festival’s opening ceremony last week, where he used his acceptance speech to call for protests against US President Donald Trump.
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Doctor Who S2, E6: The Insterstellar Song Contest Review
Doctor Who S2, E6: The Insterstellar Song Contest Review
Major spoilers ahead!
This week Doctor Who has another first, a bit of a tie-in episode to the Eurovision Song Contest, the finals for the 69th Eurovision airing in the *** immediately after this episode.
Last week’s episode broke new ground by taking The Doctor to Africa and including African folklore and culture in a great episode about the power of stories. This week takes the show back to an element it has come to be renowned for – a campy fun time.
Honestly, I don’t think you could expect anything less for an episode themed around Eurovision, but the episode does a fantastic job of balancing that with darker elements particularly surrounding The Doctor in this episode.
Welcome to the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest!
The episode starts with the Doctor and Belinda arriving in a space station to take the final reading needed on the Vindicator, the device the Doctor has been using to allow the TARDIS to land on Earth and return Belinda home.
It doesn’t take long for things to go wrong though. We get an introduction to the song contest through a cryogenically frozen Rylan Clarke, a beloved television host in the ***, and though we get the start of the first song, it’s interrupted by a young couple who take over the station and vent the crowd into space.
It’s a huge juxtaposition of tone from the campy excitement of Eurovision, but it’s a juxtaposition that works throughout the episode and the balance strengthens both elements and prevents the show from being too silly to be taken seriously. In part, this is helped by the show treating the scene seriously too. It’s easy, particularly in a family show like this, to play a scene like this off with a healthy dose of humor but it’s not done here. Sure, there’s a little bit of humor with a one-liner from Clarke to cap it off, but the scene itself is a strikingly dark and beautiful image as the crowd, Doctor and TARDIS included, are pulled out of the station and into space.
Picture Shows: Rylan Clark and Sabine (Julie Dray) James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf
Our villain of the episode Kidd is a Hellion, a species persecuted throughout the galaxy due to their horns giving them a ******-like look and wide-spread misinformation about their world and culture driving widespread hatred and derision from other species. Kidd seeks revenge on The Corporation, who bought the planet and the people in order to use the planet’s native poppies as flavoring for their honey.
The episode invites a conversation about the role of corporations in the destruction of communities in order to access resources, The Corporation standing in for real life companies like Nestle who have faced a number of controversies over exploitation of several markets. It’s through one of the side characters that Kidd’s motivation is revealed to us. It’s a moving and compelling bit of back story for that character, but as it ties so heavily into the motivation of the villain of the narrative it effectively sidelines Kidd completely.
The conversation the episode prompts is a worthwhile one and the contrast between it and the Interstellar Song Contest as a continuation of the Eurovision Song Contests, which is often seen as having a mission of bringing people together. Ultimately, the themes of the episode far exceed the villain in terms of interest. Kidd ends up more as a vessel to trigger The Doctor’s trauma and bring out his worst than a compelling villain by himself, and is then further upstaged by reveals later in the episode.
Picture Shows: Kid (Freddie Fox) Wynn (Iona Anderson) James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf
Kidd intends to use the broadcast of the song contest to transmit a Delta Wave that will kill the three trillion life forms watching live. Eagle-eyed viewers may recognize the Delta Wave as the method by which Christopher Ecclestone’s 9th Doctor intended to kill a newly reborn Dalek Empire, and the human race with it, in his regeneration episode in 2005.
At this point, assuming Belinda to have perished when the crowd was vented into space, this Doctor is enraged by Kidd’s plan, culminating in a scene that allows Ncuti to absolutely shine, once again, in his performance as the Doctor. A vital aspect of the characterization of The Doctor, and something that has been missing up to his point in Ncuti’s performance is the fury of a Time Lord.
In The Doctor’s rage, he uses a hard-light hologram to inflict immense pain on Kidd, vowing to do so for each of the three trillion lifeforms Kidd planned to kill. I sense that in this scene we are supposed to pity Kidd, but the emotional tie the audience has to his story and background is tied to another side character and so it’s hard to see him as anything other than fodder for The Doctor to rage on, the realization from the Doctor that he had taken things too therefore far doesn’t really have the resonance it should.
The Doctor is only ever one heartbreak away from being an unstoppable villain in his own right, and Ncuti encapsulates this in a truly terrifying performance. Ncuti has put on an absolute masterclass this season knocking performance after performance out of the park.
Thankfully, there are solid performances all around, with side characters being both memorable, well-acted and actually contributing to the episode. It hadn’t really been so noticeable to me up until this episode that many of the side characters in Ncuti’s run have been quite passive in their role in the episode, but here, the Doctor utilizes the skills of pretty much all of the characters around him in order to enact a solution and save the day, rather than just being there to be saved.
Picture Shows: Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) Len (Akemnji Ndifornyen) Dan Fearon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf
One day, I shall come back…
With only the two-part finale left for the season, it was safe to say there was an expectation of some kind of twist or reveal in the episode — and it certainly didn’t disappoint. In fact, the reveals, yes reveals plural, were so big that not only do they naturally boost the quality of the episode but they also massively overshadow it too.
I went back and forth about how much detail this review should give away. I always try to avoid giving away too much of the episode and its twists but ultimately, this episode will never be separated from its two long-awaited, fan-favorite reveals.
It’s fairly early in the episode that we get the first. When The Doctor is blown into space along with the crowd of the song contest, he is saved from the brink of death by a vision that spurs him to find his way back to the station. A vision of his granddaughter, Susan. Susan’s return has been long awaited by fans of the show, with calls for her return not only since the beginning of the revived era of the show in 2005, but back in the classic era too. For the uninitiated, Susan Foreman was the show’s first-ever companion, traveling with William Hartnell’s 1st Doctor and two of her schoolteachers from the beginning of the show in 1963.
She is the template from which all future companions are in one way or another based on. The Doctor’s lauded goodbye speech to her in 1964’s The Dalek Invasion of Earth is to this day one of the show’s most memorable and most quoted speeches, but The Doctor’s infamous promise of “One day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back.” is one that has yet to be followed through on. Until now.
Last season’s finale included some pretty heavy teasing of Susan, prompting many to suspect her return was due, but whether this is to be resolved this season, or is perhaps merely set up for the next season remains to be seen. With another big return set for this season, my money is that this is probably the start of set up for the next season.
Bye, Bye, ***-generation
It’s at the end of the episode that we get our second big reveal. The culmination of the episode sees the TARDIS breached by an explosion and a cut to credits. We almost immediately cut to a mid-credits scene that sees one final person rescued from being blown into space and revived, the mysterious Mrs. Flood who has been popping up in numerous cameos for the whole of the season. She reveals that her double brain stem had frozen while in space, damage unfortunately deadly… for a Time Lady, revealing herself to be long-awaited to return villain, The Rani.
We then get our second instance of ***-generation in the show. Another caveat for those unfamiliar with the show or new for this season, when a Time Lord or Lady dies, they have the ability to cheat death and regenerate into a new body. It’s the main mechanism for the show surviving 60 years and changing the lead actor 14 times. In the 60th anniversary, the walls between myth and legend, and reality were broken down causing the 14th Doctor to ***-generate, where instead of the new body regenerating into a new one, the new incarnation of the Time Lord splits from the old and the two continue on as separate entities.
I don’t like it. I didn’t like it when I heard the leaks that this was going to happen in the specials, but I ultimately felt it worked for the narrative and as a one off. I particularly didn’t like the suggestion by the show’s showrunner, that ***-generation retroactively happened to every Doctor in order to try and justify how they could have old Doctors return despite having aged, and I really didn’t like it here. It’s a ridiculous concept that just complicates the show unnecessarily.
With The Doctor’s ***-generation Doctor Who now encounters the same issue solo Marvel films encounter. Any episode set on modern day earth just begs the question, why doesn’t the other Doctor left over from the ***-generation come to help out? particularly when the last season finale involved a God of Death basically wiping out all life throughout all of space and time.
This is less of an issue for The Rani’s ***-generation, particularly as it adds an interesting twist to the dynamic between Mrs. Flood and the newly ***-generated Rani, with the former taking on a subservient role to the new incarnation, but ***-generation is still a big issue. One that I’m not sure how they’re going to fix if they continue to use it in place of regeneration.
The Rani will be an interesting villain for The Doctor to face in the upcoming final two episodes. Where the Doctor’s more common Time Lord foe, The Master, is the conqueror bent on bending the universe, and particularly Earth to his will, The Rani is the mad scientist setting traps and crafting plots, all in the aid of a ******* twisted scientific experiment. It’s a different kind of evil for the Doctor to face and an avenue for the show.
Archie Panjabi as the newly ***-generated Rani, and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood.
Nul points
The Interstellar Song Contest is, for the most part, a strong episode. It’s an episode that has a powerful message but is ultimately held back by forgettable villain and its premise as a tie-in to the Eurovision Song Contest that it could have done more with. While there are number of standout characters, performances and writing on display in this episode it is all inevitably swallowed up, for now at least, in the excitement of its two shocking reveals.
While there is a lot I really enjoyed about this episode, I think it really needed a stronger villain to really set itself apart and stand on its own two feet shrouded by less of the shadow of the return of a fan-favorite companion and villain. In the end, I think the episode is good. It could have been great, but it just needed to give me a little bit more from the villain.
Ben Newton Contributor
Ben is a big nerd, and has been gaming for as long as he can remember. His earliest memories being of playing DOOM with his Dad in the late 90’s and he has recently been enjoying rediscovering all of the games he couldn’t afford as a kid. His passion for gaming is shared with a passion for writing that he hopes to share by contributing to Smash Jump.
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Orphan Pleaded to Be Adopted in 2013. Now He Shares ‘Trauma’ He Endured in Foster Care — and Finding Love with a Family
Orphan Pleaded to Be Adopted in 2013. Now He Shares ‘Trauma’ He Endured in Foster Care — and Finding Love with a Family
In 2013, Davion Only made national headlines when he pleaded to be adopted in front of a church in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Born in a prison hospital, Davion spent most of his life in foster care, which he recounts in a powerful new documentary, The Davion Effect
Despite the hardships he faced, Davion found love with adoptive mom Connie Going and wants to help other kids by speaking out
When 13-year-old Davion Only Going spoke up in front of a church service in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2013 and asked for someone — anyone — to adopt him, he didn’t expect to become a media sensation.
More than a decade later, the young man who was born in a prison hospital and spent most of his childhood in foster care is using his platform to change the system.
“No kids should have to go through this,” he tells PEOPLE.
Now 27 and a private chef, Davion is the subject of a new documentary, The Davion Effect, which premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival last month. It’s a haunting look at the years he spent bouncing between foster and group homes, the abuse he experienced and the overmedication he was subjected to — a misguided effort to fix what wasn’t broken, which the doc depicts as a systemic problem for vulnerable children trying to process anger, grief and trauma.
In 2022, more than 368,000 kids were in the U.S. foster care system on any given day, according to the nonprofit Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. That same year, more than 18,000 young people aged out of the system, the majority of whom “left without the emotional and financial support necessary to succeed in life that other children can receive within a family.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mental and behavioral health is the largest unmet health issue for children in foster care. And while certain kids with mental health diagnoses in the system do benefit from psychotropic medication, “coercion (both subtle and blatant) to take psychotropic medication occurs all the time,” the AAP has found.
Something Else Films
Davion (right) discussed his time in foster care with his mentor in the new film.
Davion says that many kids have had similar experiences to his, which is why he’s speaking out. As he’s gotten older, it’s become easier to talk about what he endured.
“My trauma and everything I’ve been through in the past, it’s a good feeling to be able to talk about it,” he says.
It also means he’s gone through the stages of grief he needs to be in a healthy way, he says: “Knowing that [the documentary] is going to help and shed light on the problems, it makes me feel 10 times better about sharing things.” (In the documentary, Davion says he was also abused by another child in his first foster home.)
His former case worker Connie Going, who has known him since he was 7, adopted him in 2015. She’s advocating for change, too, but her main purpose is to be there for Davion in his journey.
“You were forgotten,” she tells Davion during their joint interview with PEOPLE. She wants to help prevent kids from aging out in the system like her son.
“We have to do something, because kids are lingering,” says Connie, a single mom of four. “To have a permanently committed adult in your life in every way will make a difference.”
She supported Davion’s decision to go in front of the 300 parishioners at St. Mark Missionary ******** Church in St. Petersburg in 2013.
“I know God hasn’t given up on me,” the teenager said that life-changing day. “So I’m not giving up either.”
More than 10,000 people responded to his plea, and Davion made the move from Florida to Ohio to be with an adoptive family.
In The Davion Effect, he revisits the short time he spent in that new home before he moved back. The adoption failed, but Davion says he doesn’t “blame” the family.
“I think they weren’t ready, but … they were still loving,” says Davion, who shares in the film that he struggled with anger issues when he was a teenager because of the constant change and sense of abandonment he experienced. “They accepted me. I learned a lot.”
Davion says one lesson from a pastor who baptized him has stayed with him ever since.
Something Else Films
‘The Davion Effect’ premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival last month.
“Remember your past, but don’t live in your past,” Davion remembers the pastor telling him. “Because if you live in your past, your past is going to define you.”
Davion has spent the past 10 years as part of the Going family, alongside Connie’s three other children: daughters Carley and Sidney and son Taylor — the latter of whom Davion met while they were both in foster care.
“The bottom line is we’re family. The love is unconditional,” Connie says. “The acceptance is unconditional.”
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Davion agrees. The name for his catering company, OG Kitchens, is a combination of his two last names.
After graduating from Pinellas Technical College and the Culinary Institute of America, where he was on a scholarship, he dreams of teaching children in foster care cooking skills so they’re better prepared when they enter the workforce.
He doesn’t regret stepping to the front of the church 12 years ago, or the attention that followed. He used his voice and he changed his life.
“If I can go back and talk to myself, I’ll be like, ‘Yeah, do it,’ ” Davion says. “‘This is what you need to do.’ ”
Read the original article on People
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Nihilistic writings of suspect in California fertility clinic bombing being analyzed – Politico
Nihilistic writings of suspect in California fertility clinic bombing being analyzed – Politico
Nihilistic writings of suspect in California fertility clinic bombing being analyzed PoliticoSuspect in Palm Springs IVF clinic explosion identified, confirmed deceased KTLABombing at IVF clinic should be a security wake-up call for fertility centers, experts say NBC NewsFringe theories, a friend’s death and massive explosives: Portrait emerges of Palm Springs bombing suspect Los Angeles TimesFertility Clinic Bombing Suspect’s Father Breaks Down in Tears: ‘He Just Changed’ Yahoo
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The end of the Nintendo Switch era closes a long chapter in my own life
The end of the Nintendo Switch era closes a long chapter in my own life
My first memory of the Nintendo Switch is about as mundane as it gets. I don’t recall unboxing it, powering it on for the first time, or bringing it to a rooftop party. Instead, I see myself sitting in my ex’s living room on a random weekday. As they cooked, I sat quietly as I climbed atop of my first Divine Beast in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
I don’t remember this because it was a triumphant achievement that showed off what kind of spectacle my new next-gen console could pull off; I remember it because I was very depressed.
While Nintendo was starting a meteoric rise in March 2017, I was hurtling towards the ground faster than Link with a depleted stamina wheel. I had just come off a stressful election year marred by a wave of beloved celebrity deaths. The world felt like it was coming to an end, an alarmist thought that especially felt true as a new administration wreaked havoc on the United States come March. My personal life wasn’t going much better. My ambitions were non-existent and I was locked into a day job career that I never wanted. I was becoming more despondent by the day and I could sense that a breakup was imminent. It would be months until I’d go to therapy for the first time in my life, so all of this pent up anxiety that I tried to keep quiet bled into my Joy-cons as I gripped onto them for dear life.
Nintendo
I find myself reflecting on this small moment now as the Nintendo Switch 2’s June 5 release date looms. For the first time in eight years, I’ll unbox a brand new Nintendo console on that day. Its internal storage will be empty. My Samus avatar won’t greet me when I boot it up because I won’t have logged into my account yet. The tablet will be a blank canvas that I will fill over the next eight years of my life one download at a time. And though it’s an arbitrary moment in time born from cold boardroom meetings and clinical earnings calls, I see the start of a new console era as an opportunity to reinvent myself too.
If I look back through my life, I can map my development by the video game hardware I’ve owned. My ***** Genesis takes me back to the early days of my childhood spent playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with my brother before he got wrapped up in his own teenage angst. The GameCube conjures countless memories of the formative high school years that I spent bonding with my close friends over rounds of Super Smash Bros. Melee. I’m back in college when I think about the Wii, navigating physicality for the first time in both my relationships at the time and the video games I was playing. Each console, each handheld tells countless stories about where I have been and how I have evolved alongside the tech that followed me there.
That now weighs on me as I prepare to power down my Switch for what could be the final time in just a few weeks. My instinct has been to process that moment with a retrospective about the system, reflecting on the games that made it one of the best video game consoles of all time. Instead, I’ve found myself more and more focused on mapping my own generation. Who was I during this eight-year Switch era? What will be the snapshot I see when I think back to Super Mario Odyssey or Fire Emblem: Three Houses?
Nintendo
The answer doesn’t feel as simple as it once was when I was younger and console generations were shorter. I began that journey at rock bottom, hopeless and floundering amid societal collapse. The Switch would follow me through multiple breakups, several jobs, three apartments, the death of a close friend, and unprecedented moments in history that chipped away at my mental health. Just as the Switch is inseparable from a pandemic that defined its power, I can’t untangle those eight years from the waves of pain and uncertainty that washed over me between new game releases. If the Nintendo Switch 2 had launched in 2020, I’d be able to tell you with relative certainty that the Switch represented the worst years of my life.
But eight years is a very long time, much longer than these hardware time capsules usually hang around. A ******* that long is bound to bring arcs, both for the console and its players. Nintendo kept steady while riding a wave of momentum shifts due to a changing landscape around it, but my ride was different. While I started at the bottom, playing Breath of the Wild as an escape from the world around me, I began to rise. I started therapy and got a better job months after the Switch released, just when everything was at its most hopeless. I made a more serious career pivot in 2020, landing a dream job that put me on the path to a career in video game writing I’d always thought was unobtainable. I eventually landed here at Digital Trends and made a name for myself writing work that I’m proud of. I stumbled my way through relationships only to land into something more secure and healthy. I hit a peak alongside the Switch in 2023, the same year it would release the double whammy of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
When I look into my Switch’s display now, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the ****** screen, I see an era of rebuilding. These were eight years that threw the challenges of adulthood at me and dared me to overcome them. It felt impossible in the moment, but I’m still here. Maybe I’m just looking too closely to find patterns, but I see a direct parallel to that story and Nintendo’s own. Like me, Nintendo was listless in its Wii U era. It had no idea where to go after the Wii’s success, just as I didn’t know how to turn the creative fulfillment of my college days into something sustainable in adulthood. It too was at rock bottom when the Switch released, in desperate need of a second act. Nintendo got one, and so did I.
If this is the start of a new era for Nintendo, who’s to say it can’t be another beginning for myself as well?
But our lives don’t stay the same for very long. Ahead of the Switch 2’s launch, I find myself in a similar low to the one I was in back in 2017. History has repeated itself as a mentally taxing election year has yielded the same president that made my life hell for the Switch’s first four years on the market. The career I built for myself is one strong wind away from tilting over as games media endures an intense ******* of contraction, one that destroyed Polygon, the website that gave me the dream job that catapulted me to success in 2020. Some days, I’m every bit as distant and despondent as I was back then. When I turn on my Switch 2 for the first time in a few weeks, it will feel cyclical in a way that’s bound to leave me overlooking just how much I’ve accomplished between launches.
But I’m trying to approach it with a bit more hope this time. If this is the start of a new era for Nintendo, who’s to say it can’t be another beginning for myself as well? I know that I’m capable of climbing out of despair, even as the biggest forces in the world fight against me. There will be change. I will undoubtedly pack my things into 50+ boxes again in between playing levels of the latest Mario game. I will fall out of touch with some friends and gain some new ones. Perhaps I’ll miss Nintendo’s big Switch 3 reveal in 2033 because I’ll be too busy nursing an injured pigeon during my shift at a bird rehabilitation center. Maybe the Switch 3 won’t happen at all as Nintendo moves on to its next bright idea after a disappointing generation that calls for a creative overhaul.
I can’t possibly know who I will be the moment I power my Switch 2 down for the last time. All I know is that Mario will probably be there at the finish line, looking not one day older than he does now while I greet him with a grayer beard. I’ll try not to be jealous of his eternal youth — some Italians just age better than others. Instead, I’ll embrace those differences, as grumpy as I no doubt will be in my middle age, as every change will be a sign that I’ve made it through another leg of an ongoing relay race. I’ll be ready to pass the controller to whichever version of me is up next when I get there.
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You Asked: Best OLED for PS5, straight talk for oldies, and GTA 6 weigh-in
You Asked: Best OLED for PS5, straight talk for oldies, and GTA 6 weigh-in
On today’s You Asked: We’re all in mourning after another delay to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, but we answer your questions in anticipation. And, in a world of so many OLED TV choices, which one pairs well with a PlayStation 5?
New OLED jitters
TCL QM7 TCL
@LunaQueeniemon asks: My four-year-old LG CX 55-inch TV just went this past weekend. It does reboot loops and a long beep sound – because of this I’m afraid of getting a new OLED TV. So I’m stuck between LG B4 48-inch or a TCL QM7 55-inch TV. Which one should I choose?
I think the first question you need to answer is: What’s more important: size or OLED-level picture quality?
If your space is set up for a 55-inch TV and your own viewing preferences lean toward that slightly larger size, I’d suggest the 55-inch TCL QM7 over the 48-inch LG B4. The QM7 is a great looking TV. And while you will lose out on contrast compared to the B4, not having the perfect ******* of OLED, you will have a significant leg up in terms of SDR and HDR brightness on the QM7. So in terms of HDR performance, there’s still plenty of wow factor there. If price is weighing into the decision, we have seen the 55-inch LG B4 drop to $800 before. You may have to wait for that price to come around again, but if it puts the OLED more into the strike zone, it’s probably worth the wait to get the ideal picture and size you like.
You also mention being afraid of getting a new OLED TV since you just had an issue with your previous CX. Something going wrong with a product can push you away from purchasing another – I get it – but, as you likely know yourself, in the world of electronics, sometimes things just happen.
LG OLEDs, especially newer and higher tier models, are pretty reliable. And other factors, like how hard you push your TV, can factor into the equation as well. So, in this case, try not to let that keep you from purchasing a B4 if OLED quality tops your priority list over size.
Best OLED for gaming?
Zeke Jones / Digital Trends
@adiddy911 writes: I want an OLED, but there are so many makes and models. It’s too complicated – I don’t know what to go with anymore. Any recommendations? Which one goes well with the PS5? The C4? The G4? I need answers.
Answers we have, and it sounds like you’ve already got your eyes set on a few.
Lucky for you, the LG C4 and G4 are 2024 models, so if you haven’t yet made a purchase you can probably get one of them at a solid discount this time of year.
Technically they are both excellent with the PlayStation 5. Both have four HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 4K resolution with a 144 Hertz refresh rate and VRR. Both have low input lag, which is great for first person shooters where you want that quick response. And both look fantastic with rich, vibrant colors.
LG G4 OLED Zeke Jones / Digital Trends
Personally, I’ve always admired LG’s C series OLED TVs – I’ve spent time with a few of them now. They deliver an incredible picture at a price that’s a little easier to stomach. If the TV will be used primarily for gaming, say in an office or game room, and doesn’t need to be 65 inches – what I prefer in a living room space – a smaller size can really be a great deal. The LG C4 is available at 42 and 48 inches, while the G4 starts at 55 inches (at a significantly higher price).
To answer your question and provide a little clarity on the differences, several report that in its Game Optimizer mode, the HDR Brightness with the C4 is dimmer than the G4. We did not test that side-by-side, so I can’t confirm definitively how big a difference there is, but wanted to point that out. However, if you only put eyes on the C4 and didn’t have anything side-by-side to compare it to, do you think you would notice? If the answer is no, I’d go with the C4. But if you want that extra bit of brightness, not just for gaming, but SDR and HDR content viewing as well, then I think it’s the G4.
A plea from the “oldies”
2024 TCL QM8 John Higgins / Digital Trends
Kathy writes: I’ve been watching your videos and at 75 years old, I don’t have a clue what you are talking about – or I’m just very confused. I’m sure this will be close to our last TV. We want one for watching movies, Netflix, Hulu, Prime, etc. Our seats are 75 inches from the TV. From what you said, I think we need to get an OLED to have a great picture and maybe 55 or 65 inches. We would like to keep it under $1,500 with a sound bar since we just don’t hear as well as we used to – hence, subtitles on everything. You seem to like Sony the best. Would you please do a video for us oldies? Leave out the technical and just tell us what to buy. Make it very simple and make it plain. There are thousands of us out here that would watch that video because we need major help. We all would appreciate it.
I appreciate this question because I agree: Sometimes, we just need to shut up and get to the point, right?
I’ll do my best. 75 inches is almost exactly how far I am from my own 65-inch TV at home. So I would recommend a 65-inch TV. It’s the perfect blend between giving you a nice, big screen to enjoy your favorite shows without being too big.
However, with a $1,500 dollar budget, including a soundbar, an OLED might be a little tough to pull off. Some of the less expensive models might not be bright enough to satisfy you.
If you must go OLED, I’d recommend the LG B4 at around $1,200 dollars. Once again, there will be a slight step back in brightness, but it’s OLED, and in a dark room, it’s going to look great.
John Higgins / Digital Trends
For a potentially better bang for your buck, consider some mini-LED options. They have beautiful image quality, and are generally a bit brighter than OLED. I think you will love the experience. Also, mini-LEDs tend to be less expensive.
I suggest the 65-inch TCL QM851G. The 2024 model comes in around $900. At the time of publishing, the 65-inch TCL QM7K (2025 model) is on ***** for $1,100 dollars.
I’d also recommend the Hisense U8N, another 2024 model that’s a direct competitor to TCL’s QM8 and with similarly strong high performance.
I recommend these options from Hisense and TCL because, in addition to great picture quality, they both use the Google TV operating system, which I find is easiest to work with. It’s a clear layout for all the apps, the remotes are simple, and the setup isn’t too difficult either.
Yes, I provided four options and most of them are not OLED, but like you said, let’s keep it simple. These are excellent TVs. For soundbars in the $300-$500 price range we recommend the Bose Smart Soundbar, Yamaha YAS-209 and Klipsch Flexus Core 200, among others. If you need more options check out our Best Soundbars video and our list of soundbars under $500.
Best MacBook Pro for photography?
Digital Trends
@rachmartinmedia writes: I’m a professional photographer. I edit a lot, and mainly wedding imagery, so it’s high volume. What current MacBook Pro would you recommend?
Great question, and one I can relate to. I do a bit of photography on the side, and for event shoots, yes, lots of editing can really start taxing your computer. I do my work on a MacBook Pro M2 Max, usually in Lightroom, sometimes popping into Photoshop at the same time, and often with too many Google Chrome tabs open. The M2 Max certainly handles that workload, but if I start to open a lot of files in Photoshop at the same time, I need to close a few tabs or other programs to keep things snappy.
All that to say, I’d recommend going with an M3 Max or M4 Max option. The latter will ensure you’re future-proof, however, with my M2 Max, I feel no need to upgrade anytime soon. I think you’re good with the M3 Max if you want to save some money. If you use an external monitor for editing, don’t be afraid to go with a 14-inch MacBook Pro. It’s still powerful, but more portable for work on the go.
If you do save some money with the M3 Max option, consider spending it on some extra SSD space. (I have a 1 TB drive, but I wish I had more.) Lightroom and PhotoShop cache files and previews are stored on the internal drive, so you’ll need a little extra space there to keep things running smoothly.
Grand Theft Auto VI: An update
Now we have the latest on Grand Theft Auto VI with Senior Gaming Editor Giovanni Colantonio.
Why are we talking about GTA 6? Because it’s been a surprisingly busy month for a game that’s not coming out for a while. In case you missed the news: Grand Theft Auto VI is no longer coming out in 2025 as originally planned. It’s now slated for a May 26, 2026 release date.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if you hadn’t heard that yet, but here’s some good news — we at least got a new trailer. It’s the first look at GTA VI we’ve had since December 2023, and it was a much-needed and impressive update. The trailer has racked up millions of views across social media and sparked a lot of conversation – including from you, our community. Here are some of those comments:
Too realistic?
Rockstar Games
@ineedabreak_rip writes: As a pureblood Florida man, this game got me smiling from ear to ear, bruh. James Moses writes: Way too realistic. I had a trauma response because it reminded me of family reunions back in the day.
James, I totally get that: I have family in Florida and been to Miami a lot, and this trailer really captures something specific about that area.
That’s a big takeaway: While we didn’t learn much about gameplay, we got a better idea of what the game looks like. Honestly, it really does look next-gen. This isn’t just GTA V scaled up. Rockstar seems to have gone all out. The level of visual detail is incredible – it looks like a real city, and not a bunch of copied-and-pasted assets.
Of course, we’re seeing a very directed slice of the game, but the effort on display is clear. What stood out to me more than the photorealistic characters or detailed spaces was the lighting. Florida has a very specific quality of light – it is the Sunshine State, after all – and this trailer nails that warm, golden-hour tone. It’s something I don’t see often in games.
That kind of tone gets me really excited. It’s unique. Maybe something like South of Midnight captures that vibe, but this one has a grounded, cinematic feel that really pops.
Tone in general is something I’m excited about with this trailer, and a lot of you noticed it too.
Great grit and grunginess
Rockstar Games
Noah Sessler writes: I really love the grunginess of it. To me, GTA V got a bit too clean and glitzy too fast.
I totally agree. There’s a grit and a sexiness to this trailer – almost like a Michael Mann movie.
You never know what kind of tone a GTA game is going to take. Going into this, I wondered if it would be jokey and irreverent or grounded and gritty. I love that they’re dialing into that crime-thriller vibe.
Here’s the thing: I’ve been excited for GTA VI for a while, like everyone else. But I’m not sight-unseen excited for any game. I need a reason. You can’t just say “It’s GTA VI” and expect me to be hyped. That first trailer? Sure, it looked cool, but it didn’t give me much. This one? It gives me a reason. I get the tone. I get the cinematic crime feel they’re aiming for. That’s something I’m genuinely excited about.
The goods on gameplay
Rockstar Games
But there’s still a lot we don’t know. A lot of your questions brought that up too.
Two big ones came up:
Alex writes: Is that actual gameplay or just video fillers? Andy followed up with: When do we get to see gameplay?
This trailer is definitely more cinematic. Rockstar clarified afterward that it’s a mix of cinematic and gameplay footage. It was captured on a PlayStation 5, but it’s hard to tell what is actual gameplay versus cinematic camera work.
So yes, technically some of it is gameplay – or at least in-engine – but we still don’t know what it’s like to play the game. What does it feel like to drive around? What’s the structure of the missions? What does a story beat actually look like?
Rockstar Games
That leads into another good question we received, asking whether the map is all connected or if you have to load into each location. The blog post that came with the trailer mentioned several distinct Florida locations, but Rockstar hasn’t said how it works. We can guess that it’s mostly one interconnected open world – that’s how GTA usually works – but who knows? There could be fast-travel segments or separate mission areas like in Red Dead Redemption 2.
We just don’t know. And that’s what’s going to make this wait until May 26, 2026, a little tough. We want to see how it plays. We want gameplay. We want to know how the world functions. But even with all that uncertainty, I actually feel like this trailer gave me something to latch onto. I like the tone. I like the visuals. I’m excited to meet the characters and explore this Bonnie and Clyde-style story.
And based on your comments, it seems like a lot of you are too.
So we’ll all wait together for May 26, 2026.
Hold on everybody – it’s coming. Just another year… hopefully. Let’s not jinx it.
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Alphabet Waymo approval to expand driverless ride-hailing to San Jose
Alphabet Waymo approval to expand driverless ride-hailing to San Jose
A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Alphabet’s Waymo unit has received approval to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose.
In March, the company submitted a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to gain approval for its latest passenger safety plan, a key step in gaining permission to operate driverless vehicles across a broader area. On Monday, the proposed expansion was approved, allowing for Waymo’s driverless coverage to extend from San Francisco down through the Peninsula.
“We’re very excited to share that the CPUC has approved our application to operate our fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and nearly all of San Jose!” the company wrote in a post on X on Monday. “While this won’t change our operations in the near-term, we’re looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future.”
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Why we need ‘revolutionary’ cooling tech
Why we need ‘revolutionary’ cooling tech
Christine Ro
Technology Reporter
Getty Images
Climate change is making staying cool more challenging
Sneha Sachar, who spent half her life in Delhi and now lives in California, is used to heat. But her hometown feels much hotter now than when she was growing up.
Even commuting by car is so uncomfortable in certain months, says Ms Sachar, who works for the Clean Cooling Collaborative, a philanthropic initiative focused on improved cooling.
Rising temperatures are even worse for outdoor workers. “This is really impacting the ability of people to continue to earn their livelihoods,” Ms Sachar says.
She says that there are a number of low-tech ways to keep buildings cool, such as designing for air flow.
For outdoor workers, even a 20-minute break from the heat and humidity, such as in well-designed cooling stations, can make a difference.
But beyond this, active cooling will become increasingly critical as temperatures continue to rise due to climate change.
Morgan Stanley is predicting that the annual growth rate of the cooling market, already worth $235bn (£180bn) a year, could more than double by 2030.
Getty Images
Traditional cooling uses refrigerants which can leak
Yet existing cooling devices have serious drawbacks. One issue the refrigerant – the fluid that transitions back and forth from liquid to gas, in a process that transfers heat.
It’s common for them to leak from standard systems, harming both efficiency and potentially health.
The refrigerants typically used in cooling today are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a group of synthetic gases with high global warming potential. HFCs are much more potent than carbon dioxide.
So one option is to replace the refrigerants with more climate-friendly versions. But the candidates with the lower global warming potential, also have problems.
For instance, propane is highly flammable. Ammonia is toxic. Carbon dioxide works at high pressures, requiring specialised equipment.
But as many places phase down HFCs, alternative refrigerants will remain important.
Ms Sachar says that we still need refrigerants because for home cooling, “A/Cs as we know them today will continue to be the solution, at least for the next decade or so”.
Tati van Thiel Photography
Lindsay Rasmussen says cooling without refrigerants will be “revolutionary”
In the longer term, some scientists are looking toward cooling devices that don’t need liquid refrigerants at all.
Lindsay Rasmussen, who manages building and land-use projects at the energy non-profit RMI, calls these “revolutionary technologies”.
A major set of revolutionary cooling tech is solid-state cooling. This uses solid materials and some sort of additional force to induce temperature changes. That extra force could be pressure, voltage, magnets or mechanical stress.
Ms Rasmussen says that solid-state devices can go further than incremental improvements because “not only do they eliminate those super-polluting refrigerants, but they can also offer improved efficiency to the systems”.
RMI has identified between 10 and 20 start-ups working on early versions of solid-state cooling devices.
One of those startups is the ******* company Magnotherm, which uses magnets. Certain materials change temperature when exposed to magnetic fields.
“With our technology, it’s inherently safe because it’s not toxic, it’s a metal, and we operate at very low pressures,” according to Timur Sirman, the CEO and cofounder of Magnotherm.
The idea of magnetocaloric cooling has been around for years, but commercialising it is relatively new. Magnotherm has built about 40 beverage coolers, and about five refrigerators, in what is so far a manual and in-house process.
The permanent magnets are the most expensive part of the technology, Mr Sirman reports. “But it never breaks, so we can always reuse this quite cost-intensive component.”
The company is seeking out alternative sources of magnetic fields, as well as optimising materials, as they aim to dramatically increase the cooling capacity of their devices.
Mr Sirman believes that if you account for the efficiency and health issues of refrigerants, like leakages, Magnotherm products can compete on price. “We are not targeting customers who are only looking at initial cost.”
He acknowledges that for now the company’s beverage coolers are quite pricey. Their customers tend to be early adopters of new technologies.
Phonic
Phonic’s cooling systems are used to chill food without refrigerants
Another technology under development is thermoelectric cooling.
This involves moving heat between two sides of a device. With the application of electrical energy, heat is transferred in the direction of the current.
A notable thermoelectric start-up is Phononic, which is based in the US and has an additional manufacturing facility in Thailand.
Millions of Phononic cooling devices are now in use, including in data centres, supermarkets and other buildings.
Their cooling devices are built in a similar way to computer chips, using semiconducting materials to transfer the heat.
“Our chips are really thin, really small, but they get really cold. They consume a small amount of electricity in generating that coldness, but they pack one hell of a punch,” says Tony Atti, the CEO of Phononic.
He says that, to work at their best, traditional fridges need to be run all the time.
But thermoelectric devices can be easily switched on off. This helps to reduce the costs, energy use and space requirements.
“We like to present the coolness on demand where you need it,” says Mr Atti.
Another advantage is that thermoelectric cooling can operate silently. “That’s because there’s zero moving parts,” Ms Rasmussen explains. “The heat is occurring because of the reaction in the material level.”
In contrast, standard vapour compression systems contain pumps, condensers and expanders for refrigerant, which all generate much of the noise.
A different type of solid-state cooling is elastocaloric cooling. This achieves temperature changes through mechanical stress to elastocaloric materials, which can cool down or heat up with the application of stress.
Researchers in four European countries are collaborating on SMACool, an elastocaloric air conditioner that uses metal tubes made from specific metallic alloys.
At the moment, elastocaloric prototypes have much lower cooling capacity than commercial air conditioning. And the maximum possible efficiency of SMACool is still lower than that of conventional air conditioning, although the aim is to beat the energy efficiency of A/C.
However, progress is continuing. A team led by Hong Kong researchers recently created an A/C alternative that achieved a cooling power of 1,284W—the first time an elastocaloric device surpassed the 1,000W mark. One innovation was using graphene nanofluid rather than distilled water to transfer the heat.
Overall, Ms Rasmussen says, solid-state devices are generally not yet as powerful as conventional vapour-compression air conditioning. But she expects performance improvements over time.
She also expects improvements in affordability. So far solid-state cooling has mainly been deployed in wealthy countries.
A key question, Ms Rasmussen says, is “Can these technologies scale up to where they could be affordable for those who need it the most and where the greatest demand for cooling is coming from?”
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The most common travel scams in 9 global cities
The most common travel scams in 9 global cities
The travel industry is one of the sectors most susceptible to fraud, with scams rising 18% during the summer peak season and 28% in the winter peak season in 2024, according to a new report.
The report, published last Tuesday by the Mastercard Economics Institute, showed that fraud related to travel agency and tour company bookings is more than four times higher than the fraud average of other industries.
“Once paid, the tour may either never occur or be drastically different from what was promised,” it said.
However, scam risks vary significantly from city to city, said David Mann, chief economist at the Asia-Pacific division of the Mastercard Economics Institute.
“In certain destinations, you can end up seeing a lot more of the fraud coming from the travel and the tour company side. In other cities, it can even be in things like food services. So a good example, over in Los Angeles, [food is] the biggest portion of where we see some of the fraud,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Friday.
According to Mastercard’s data, tourists reported the lowest rates of fraud in:
San Francisco, U.S.
Dublin, Ireland
Seoul, South Korea
Budapest, Czech Republic
Edinburgh, Scotland
However, travelers to these cities reported higher levels of fraud:
Cancun, Mexico
Hanoi, Vietnam
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangkok, Thailand
The type of scams commonly reported in cities also varies, with taxi and car rental problems comprising just 2% of reported fraud cases in Hong Kong and Barcelona, but 66% in Jakarta, Indonesia, the report showed.
Fraud in food services is more prominent in the U.S. and Middle East, comprising 63% of reported cases in New York City, it showed. That includes restaurants that overcharge for food, add unauthorized tips, or that steal travelers’ credit card details, according to a Mastercard representative.
Before the trip begins
Beyond peak seasons, travel fraud is also on the rise during the booking stage, Mann said.
Trip planning fraud rose more than 12% last year, the report stated, be it via doctored photographs, malicious “confirmation” links that expose banking details, or other forms of trickery.
Travelers should watch out for unusually low prices and summer rates that are “too good to be true,” especially in popular tourist destinations that attract large crowds, the report stated.
To protect themselves against fraudulent activity, travelers can set up digital wallets, buy travel insurance or book trips using a credit card with fraud protection, it said.
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NYT Crossword: answers | Digital Trends
NYT Crossword: answers | Digital Trends
The New York Times has plenty of word games on its roster today — with Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the Mini Crossword, there’s something for everyone — but the newspaper’s standard crossword puzzle still reigns supreme. The daily crossword is full of interesting trivia, helps improve mental flexibility and, of course, gives you some bragging rights if you manage to finish it every day.
While the NYT puzzle might feel like an impossible task some days, solving a crossword is a skill and it takes practice — don’t get discouraged if you can’t get every single word in a puzzle.
If you’re having trouble completing today’s NYT Crossword, we’re here to help. We’ve got all the answers for today’s clues down below.
NYT Crossword answers today
New York Times
Across
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Every macOS version in order: from the first public beta to macOS 15
Every macOS version in order: from the first public beta to macOS 15
Apple’s macOS operating system has changed a lot over the last 25 years, with new features and designs coming and going as the decades have passed. Even the name has been adjusted, starting out as Mac OS X before shortening to OS X and eventually settling on macOS. The world the original version inhabited back in 2000 is very different to today.
Including the initial public beta, Apple has released 22 versions of the Mac operating system so far, with new launches becoming an annual occurrence. But it wasn’t always this way, and there have been some fascinating updates and developments in the time since the first version appeared. Let’s see how macOS has changed over the years.
Mac OS X Public Beta (2000)
Blake Patterson / Flickr
The world’s first glimpse of what was then called Mac OS X came in 2000 with the launch of the Mac OS X Public Beta. Codenamed Kodiak, this preview version cost $29.95 and was intended to gather feedback from users.
The biggest advance over previous Mac-based operating systems was the introduction of the famous blue-and-gray Aqua user interface, which Steve Jobs touted as looking so good you wanted to lick it. Aside from that, it introduced the Dock, the menu bar, and protected memory, as well as a host of apps still in use today, such as Mail, Preview, QuickTime, Terminal, and TextEdit.
Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah (2001)
DavzTheEditGuy / Wikimedia
The Mac OS X Public Beta only lasted six months, with Apple launching the first version of its new operating system – Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah – in spring 2001. Given that it was a full release and not a beta, Cheetah cost $129. It continued to use the Aqua interface, and its bubbly blue buttons and translucent menus instantly became iconic.
Yet it was riddled with issues, including poor performance (even on machines that met the minimum spec), freezes, kernel panics, and more. There was a disappointing lack of third-party Mac apps, and some people complained that those shiny new interfaces were hard to use.
That all coalesced into a feeling that Cheetah was simply undercooked and not ready for prime time. While its visual style was a revelation and created the playbook for future OS X releases, it probably needed a little more time in the oven before launching.
Mac OS X 10.1 Puma (2001)
Apple
Another six months later, Mac OS X 10.1 (codenamed Puma internally at Apple) was released. This came with a number of features that were missing from Mac OS X 10.10, including DVD playback, greater support for third-party printers, an Image Capture app for exporting pictures from digital cameras and scanners, and more.
There were also plenty of performance enhancements. This included faster 3D output, a more capable version of AppleScript, and more user-friendly file handling. Performance was also improved across the entire operating system.
Although Puma cost $129 to new users, it was released as a free update for anyone who had purchased Cheetah. In January 2002, Apple announced it would be the default Mac operating system, replacing Mac OS 9.
Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar (2002)
Apple
Although past versions of Mac OS X had used codenames (like Cheetah and Puma), those titles were intended for internal use only. Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, on the other hand, was the first to use its codename publicly, giving users a much easier way to remember its name than a string of numbers.
Arriving a year after Puma, Jaguar added a slew of quality-of-life features. The Finder gained a search box, Quartz Extreme improved responsiveness by offloading graphics compositing to your Mac’s graphics card, while the introduction of Universal Access made the system much more usable for disabled customers.
Although Jaguar remained a $129 purchase for general users, Apple gave it away for free to all US K-12 teachers.
Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (2003)
Apple
When Mac OS X 10.3 Panther came out in October 2003, its main focus was on performance. Here, Apple improved Preview’s PDF rendering abilities, brought quicker compile times to Xcode, added FileVault for on-the-fly encryption and decryption, and more. The update also came with better compatibility with Microsoft Windows apps and features.
But there was more to it than that. It also featured the most extensive user interface update since the first version of Mac OS X. Finder was revamped with a new brushed-metal look and a customizable sidebar, the Exposé window manager was added, as was fast user switching and built-in fax support.
Mac OS X 10.3 Panther lasted a full 18 months until it was replaced, giving it a more significant shelf life than previous Mac OS X releases.
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (2005)
Wylve / Wikimedia
Apple boasted that Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger came with over 200 new features when it launched in April 2005, and it brought with it several tools and apps that are still used by Mac fans today.
That includes Spotlight, Smart Folders, Smart Mailboxes in the Mail app, VoiceOver, and Automator. Among the other important new features was the Dashboard, which lasted 12 years until it was discontinued.
Tiger was also the first Mac operating system to work with Intel processors, as Apple announced the transition from PowerPC chips to Intel processors during its lifetime. To facilitate the move, Apple included the Rosetta compatibility layer in Tiger, which allowed PowerPC apps to run on Intel hardware. Apple continued to use Intel chips until the debut of the M1 chip in 2020, which heralded the start of the Apple silicon era.
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard (2007)
Apple
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard was promoted by Apple as “the largest update of Mac OS X,” and this was due to its inclusion of over 300 new features. Among them were a new visual appearance with skeuomorphic icons and reflective aspects, fresh features in Mail, Finder and iChat, plus plenty of security patches. Apple also pre-loaded Time Machine, desktop Spaces and Boot Camp with compatible Macs.
Existing apps like Photo Booth, Safari, Spotlight and Front Row were reworked and improved. And there were other new features, such as the Quick Look file preview framework and Back to My Mac, which allowed MobileMe users to access the files on their home computer while away from their desk.
Leopard had support for both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs, and was the last release to run on PowerPC chips. After that, Apple went all-in on Intel, marking the start of a new era for the Mac.
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (2009)
FHKE / Flickr
When Apple brought those 300 changes to Leopard in 2007, there was a sense that the company had overstretched itself, with many of the features working poorly and requiring fixes. To put things right, Apple launched Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard in 2009 as a “no new features” update, with the sole focus on improving what came before.
To that end, Apple made plenty of small-but-significant adjustments. For instance, clean installs would leave much more free space compared to Leopard, Time Machine backups took less time to complete, and Finder was more responsive thanks to being extensively rewritten. The overall system was made faster and more reliable compared to its predecessor, too, while the Mac OS X 10.6.6 update introduced the Mac App Store for the first time.
In terms of hardware, Snow Leopard could support greater amounts of memory, dual-core processor compatibility was improved, and GPU performance was stepped up.
OS X 10.7 Lion (2011)
Tony Nguyen / Flickr
Ever use the Launchpad to view your installed apps in macOS? If so, you can thank OS X 10.7 Lion for that, as it was the operating system version that introduced that feature. It also expanded the use of multi-touch gestures on the Mac, and added Mission Control, which combined the previously separate Dashboard, Spaces, Exposé, and fullscreen apps.
Aside from what was actually in its software, Lion had a few other notable changes. It dropped the “Mac” from its name, becoming simply OS X 10.7 Lion. It was also the first OS X version to not support 32-bit processors, and it also ended support for PowerPC chips by coming without the Rosetta translation layer.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (2012)
Masaru Kamikura / Flickr
Like Snow Leopard, Mountain Lion was another “refinement” release that aimed to improve on its predecessor and ramp up the usability of the operating system. And it succeeded in a big way, almost immediately being recognized as a major enhancement over OS X 10.7 Lion.f
Compared to Lion, Mountain Lion was far more stable and pleasant to use. But it didn’t just put right past mistakes — it added a boatload of new features. Notification Center was the most prominent addition, but Messages and Notes came across from iOS, while system features like Power Nap and AirPlay Mirroring also made their debuts.
Mountain Lion showed that Apple could refine its operating systems and add new features, and that combination proved to be a winner at the time.
OS X 10.9 Mavericks (2013)
Apple
With OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Apple stopped naming its Mac operating system updates after big cats and instead switched to locations in its native California. Notably, it was also a free upgrade for anyone running Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or later on a Mac with a 64-bit Intel chip.
As with Mountain Lion, Mavericks brought across more features from iOS, including the Maps and iBooks apps. Tabs were added to Finder, and Safari was sped up thanks to better JavaScript performance. There were also improvements to multi-monitor setups and performance under the hood.
At the time, Mavericks was seen as a gradual evolution of the Mac operating system, although it wasn’t without its critics. However, some of the biggest praise went to its price tag: it was totally free, marking a trend that continues to this day.
OS X 10.10 Yosemite (2014)
Apple
OS X 10.10 Yosemite featured the first major visual overhaul of the Mac operating system in years. Gone were the skeuomorphic apps of the Steve Jobs era, replaced by flat icons and translucent design elements that are still in use today (albeit with some alterations). That followed the moves made by iOS 7 in 2013, which also dropped its skeuomorphic touches.
It also enabled Apple to show off the tight integration of its iPhone and Mac products with a new feature called Handoff. With this enabled, you could answer an iPhone call on your Mac, or start editing a document on one device and then finish it on another.
A change that was less well received was the replacement of the iPhoto and Aperture apps with Photos. The former two apps had loyal followings, and even today you’ll find Apple users who lament their demise.
OS X 10.11 El Capitan (2015)
Digital Trends
As we’ve seen, every now and then Apple releases a “refinement” update to the Mac operating system, and OS X 10.11 El Capitan was one such case. That meant a plethora of small fixes and improvements, including a better user interface in the Notes app, . System Integrity Protection was also brought in for stronger security.
But El Capitan wasn’t totally devoid of new features. You could now get public transport directions in the Maps app, there were new window-management features, and Mission Control was tweaked and enhanced. The Metal API was also added from iOS 8 to enhance performance in games and pro apps.
All these small adjustments resulted in a positive reception for El Capitan, with praise offered for its stability and functionality.
macOS 10.12 Sierra (2016)
Digital Trends
When you think back to macOS 10.12 Sierra, perhaps the most obvious thing you’ll remember is the name. It was the first time Apple used the “macOS” branding, dropping OS X and bringing its Mac naming style in line with that of its other systems (such as iOS and tvOS).
But that’s not what made it a great release. Sierra is one of the best versions of macOS because of what it introduced. That includes Siri on the Mac, Auto Unlock to unlock your Mac using an Apple Watch, and Night Shift, which automatically reduced blue light late at night. There was Picture in Picture and the Universal Clipboard, plus the first look at the APFS file system that modernized Mac storage.
Sierra was an important release both on the surface and under the hood, with a bunch of features that are still well-loved today. It was an impressive way to kick off the macOS era.
macOS 10.13 High Sierra (2017)
Jayce Wagner / Digital Trends
In 2017, macOS 10.13 High Sierra was released with the intention of polishing much of what arrived a year earlier in Sierra. To that end, Apple put the emphasis on speeding up performance and solidifying the system’s stability, although there were a handful of new features in apps like Photos, Mail and Safari.
Unfortunately, High Sierra was affected by a number of serious security issues that dented its reputation. There was the infamous “root” problem, for example, which let anyone enter the username “root” on the login screen, then log in to the all-powerful root account without even requiring a password. Other issues included problems with external monitor connections and lagging animations likely caused by a last-minute Metal 2 update.
macOS 10.14 Mojave (2018)
Digital Trends
While macOS Sierra was the start of a new era, macOS 10.14 Mojave was the last of its kind. It was the final version of macOS to support 32-bit apps, and as such is cherished by a small subset of users who could not or would not update their apps to run on 64-bit operating systems.
There was much more to Mojave than that, though. It was the first version to feature Dark Mode, which people still love today. Huge piles of files on your desktop could be grouped into Stacks, making things appear much neater (even if they actually weren’t). The App Store was totally remade and got editorial content, while a handful of apps were transferred from iOS to the Mac (although they were far from perfect at the time).
Mojave was one of those editions that never really screamed and shouted to get attention, yet its consistency and thoughtful, incremental changes made it a firm favorite. As the old Steve Jobs adage went, “It just works.” Sometimes, that’s just what you’re looking for.
macOS 10.15 Catalina (2019)
Digital Trends
Released in 2019, macOS Catalina wasn’t a terrible launch for Apple. It had plenty of positives, including the introduction of Sidecar and Find My, better security features, and more. But if you’ve used Catalina, there’s one thing that probably makes all that seem irrelevant: its incredibly annoying pop-ups.
Let’s say you’ve got an app that you’ve told to open a file on your desktop. Catalina would insist you needed to grant it permission first, then did the same for every single other app that wanted to do the same. The alerts would often appear even when the app didn’t seem to be trying to do anything at all. They were a constant barrage of irritating distractions, akin to Windows’ much-mocked User Account Control pop-ups. Just trying to use your Mac in a normal way became annoying.
Apple has always prided itself on the security of its Macs, but this was one case where it swung wildly away from convenience and too far into security territory. Fortunately, it seems to have found a much better balance these days.
macOS 11 Big Sur (2020)
Digital Trends
Six years after Yosemite, macOS 11 Big Sur introduced another major design overhaul, with a new look that featured major changes to first-party apps, design elements like windows and the Dock, and remade system sounds. It also changed the macOS naming convention to drop the incremental 10.x style and instead use full integers.
Big Sur wasn’t just about the visuals, though. Time Machine was revamped, Control Center was added, and the Notification Center was redesigned. Big Sur was also the first version of macOS to support Apple silicon chips, a significant alteration in the Mac’s history.
macOS 12 Monterey (2021)
Digital Trends
Big Sur was always going to be a tough act to follow, but macOS 12 Monterey acquitted itself well. It added features like Universal Control (which lets you control multiple devices using a single mouse and keyboard) and Focus modes that are much loved today. It also ported the Shortcuts app across from iOS and iPadOS, giving far more power to users to create automated workflows.
That’s not all. Live Text let you highlight words and phrases in images, while Low Power Mode helped save your MacBook’s battery and extend its life. SharePlay, Portrait mode and noise cancelation were all added to FaceTime, Visual Look Up let you identify plants and animals in photos, and AirPlay was tweaked with better streaming options for iOS and iPadOS content.
Overall, then, there was a lot to like about macOS Monterey.
macOS 13 Ventura (2022)
Digital Trends
Apple likes its whizzy demos, and following the wow factor that came with macOS Monterey’s Universal Control, the company needed a follow-up. It delivered that in macOS 13 Ventura in the form of Continuity Camera, which lets you mount an iPhone on your Mac’s display and use it as a webcam, no extra steps required.
But there was more to Ventura than just a cool video-calling feature. System Preferences was renamed to System Settings and given a more logical design, Stage Manager was introduced (to a mixed reception), and native Freeform, Weather and Clock apps were added. It was a solid update with new features that are still well-regarded today.
macOS 14 Sonoma (2023)
Digital Trends
Apple had long had an issue with Mac widgets – since the demise of the Dashboard, it hadn’t found a way to do them justice. In macOS 14 Sonoma, Apple found the solution in the form of widgets that could be placed anywhere on your desktop and interacted with, all without needing to open their companion apps.
Sonoma also introduced Game Mode for enhanced gaming performance, added animated wallpapers and screen savers in a variety of styles, and the Lock Screen was redesigned to take on a similar appearance to iOS. It wasn’t the most feature-packed update, but it had enough going for it to be a solid upgrade.
macOS 15 Sequoia (2024)
Digital Trends
With macOS 15 Sequoia came one of Apple’s biggest new features yet: Apple Intelligence. The artificial intelligence (AI) system was meant to revolutionize the way you used your Mac, although its initial rollout was marred by delayed features and subpar performance compared to rivals.
Still, there were more positive changes elsewhere, like the introduction of the Passwords app for managing your logins, an iPhone Mirroring feature that lets you directly use your Apple phone on your Mac, and the debut of Math Notes, which can automatically calculate sums and formulae for you in the Notes app.
Other new features comprised window tiling, a redesigned Calculator app, the second version of the Game Porting Toolkit, and more.
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Hundreds of victims to get compensation
Hundreds of victims to get compensation
The Post Office has agreed compensation for hundreds of former sub-postmasters after accidentally leaking their names and addresses on its corporate website.
The data breach was revealed in June last year when it emerged the personal details of 555 victims of the Horizon IT scandal had been published.
The company has now confirmed individual payouts of up to £5,000 with the potential for higher sums for those who want to pursue a further claim.
The Post Office has already apologised and said it was working in “full co-operation” with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The sub-postmasters’ details were published in a document on its website.
At the time, then-Post Office chief executive Nick Read said the leak was a “truly terrible error”.
The law firm Freeths, which acted for the 555 sub-postmasters when they sued the Post Office in a landmark High Court case in 2017, said it had secured the payouts on behalf of all those affected and their legal representatives.
Of the 420 victims Freeths represents in the ongoing and separate battle for compensation from the scandal, 348 have already received payouts for the breach.
Former sub-postmaster Chris Head welcomed the Post Office admitting the data breach mistake, but said they took “far too long to right this wrong”.
“We cannot underestimate the level of pain, anxiety, stress and worry that so many people have had to suffer through this new episode. Post Office did not seem to understand how much this impacted those people. They appeared unwilling to engage in genuine discussions until further action was on the table.
“The impact on myself and my family has been profound on top of an already traumatic past 10 years due to the Horizon scandal.”
The Post Office said victims would be paid either £5,000 or £3,500, depending on whether the individual was also living at the address at the time.
In a statement it also confirmed it would consider any special cases if individuals believe they are entitled to further amounts.
“We have written to all named individuals either directly, or via their solicitors. If there are any individuals whose name was impacted by last year’s breach, but who have not received information about the payment for some reason, they can contact us or ask their solicitors if they have legal representation,” it said.
The lawyer who led the case on behalf of the sub-postmasters said the agreement was struck without the need for any claims to be submitted but also allowed victims the opportunity to pursue further action.
“We welcome the progress we have made with this case but there is still a long way to go to recognise the devastating impact of this breach for those affected,” said Will Richmond-Coggan, Freeths’ partner specialising in data breach litigation.
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NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Monday, May 19
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Monday, May 19
Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle.
Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below.
How to play Strands
You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable.
If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it.
Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once.
Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow.
The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s theme is “Taking the bait.”
Here’s a hint that might help you: cast a line.
Today’s Strand answers
NYT
Today’s spanagram
We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own:
Today’s Strands answers
TROUT
SALMON
HALIBUT
MACKEREL
SNAPPER
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I tested Microsoft’s controversial Recall tool. It evolved Windows for me.
I tested Microsoft’s controversial Recall tool. It evolved Windows for me.
Imagine a tool that takes an image of whatever appears on your computer’s screen, saves it locally, and lets you access it all like a time machine. A magical looking glass for the computing past. That’s essentially what Microsoft’s Recall is all about. Yet, when it was first introduced, it stirred up a security storm.
Microsoft pulled its release plans, fortified the security guardrails, and relaunched it a few weeks ago. This time around, Recall got a minor-but-amazingly practical upgrade. The best part? Instead of having you scrub through a long timeline of pictures, you can simply search through the entire activity history with words.
All those perks come at a steep processing price, both in terms of system resources and AI chops. So much that the only machines that support Recall need a Copilot+ branding and a processor launched within the past year, or so. The experience, however, is shockingly good.
What is Recall?
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
In Microsoft’s words, Recall lets you “quickly find and jump back into what you have seen before on your PC.” But before any of that happens, do keep in mind that it’s an opt-in process, and when you enable it, you need to biometrically verify your identity (face unlock or fingerprint scan) to access the history.
Next, your PC must meet the system requirements, too. For recall, you need a Copilot+ PC that has a dedicated AI chip offering over 40 TOPS output, 16GB of RAM, 256GB storage (of which 50GB must be free at the very minimum), active device encryption, and Windows Hello sign-in enabled.
Recall is also tied deeply to your web browsing activity, and as such, it needs a compatible browser. Broadly, it works with Chromium-based options, such as Edge, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. But why are browsers important when Recall is essentially saving your entire screen activity?
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
First, it doesn’t log screenshots of your incognito or private mode browsing. More importantly, you can limit it from saving screenshots of certain websites, using a system of filters. Think of your banking activities or secure communications.
Likewise, you can also exclude certain apps from getting visually cataloged into a digital ledger. Those exceptions are extremely important, especially for folks who think the idea of a “snapshot everything” tool is too risky.
For the sake of privacy, I disabled Recall for WhatsApp to protect my personal chats and Adobe Reader, because I regularly handle confidential papers. You can choose to pause/resume Recall’s snapshot gathering — briefly or permanently – from a dedicated shortcut in the system tray.
How does it help me?
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Microsoft is selling the idea of Recall as a photographic memory for your PC. The idea is almost loathsome for any normal person who despises the concept of all their computing activity being recorded in the form of crisp snapshots. AI skeptics would absolutely run away from it.
I, a man of forgetful ways and critic of poorly-designed apps, love this. My daily routine entails reading and writing words. Lots and lots of them. From long articles in Docs and notes in a tiny scratchpad to detailed pitches in email and daily chat with work colleagues, most of my waking time revolves around words.
I believe I have a decent memory of events, but not so much with exact terms like “Embargoed until May 16, 6AM PT / 9AM CET” or “Microsoft meeting with John scheduled for April 9. Does 6AM ET or 5PM ET sound good?” It’s not scientifically possible either to remember it all, even though I have a vague recollection of the main event.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
This is where Windows Recall and its image recognition come to the rescue in a very controlled fashion. I remember having a brief chat with a source named John, but couldn’t quite remember where the transcripts were saved. I went back to Recall, looked up the name, and found just what I was looking for.
From the looks of the snapshot, it was a browser tab, but I no longer had it active. This is where Recall offered two routes to recover it. First, it offered an outbound URL button to open the webpage in a browser. Alternatively, the Click To Do system lets me copy-paste the conversation directly from the saved snapshot.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
It even pulled information from a diagnostic test and directly guided me to Microsoft’s official Get Help dashboard with a single click. That’s impressive stuff.
Depending on the content you have selected in a Recall snapshot, you will also see contextual actions such as summarizing or rewriting the text passage. You can directly choose to open it in Notepad, or pick from any app of your choice.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
For example, I was recently looking up a recipe and forgot to bookmark it. With Recall, I recovered it and directly moved the wall of text to Copilot, where it was neatly rewritten across headings and bullet points, like a cookbook.
These impressive capabilities are driven by Optical Character Recognition (OCR), powered by the AI accelerator chip on a Windows machine. Everything you search in Recall is processed contextually, and the results you are shown are divided across text and images.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
The safety protocols
Microsoft has also built a set of safety features around sensitive information. For example, it won’t save details such as license, credit card, account, personal identification, tax filing, citizen registration, and license numbers.
I tried two of my banking operators and a government website where my national identity card copies are accessible, and they didn’t appear in the Recall snapshots. The list covers a healthy bunch of documents used across North America, Europe, and Asian countries, but it’s not all-encompassing.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
For the sake of added precaution, you can open such web portals in incognito mode or private windows. Alternatively, you can simply set those websites within Recall’s filters, and their snapshots will never be saved in the first place.
Furthermore, the Recall app will give you an option to delete all images belonging to a certain website or app, in one go. Finally, there is an auto-delete function, where you can set the erase all snapshots at a cadence of 30, 60, 90, and 180 days. Of course, you can wipe the slate clean at your own discretion.
Another huge respite for me? The poor search system in apps. From Slack to Google Drive, the search system in these platforms often leaves me frustrated. Plus, if you don’t pay for a premium, the free user limits mean you lose your chat data due to the auto-delete protocols.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Recall offers a fantastic way to not just overcome the poor search system in virtually any app that runs on your computer, but also does a much better job at it. It fared better at helping me find the right Docs file in a list of thousands that I have hoarded over the years and refuse to delete.
Contextual understanding is a huge benefit here. For example, if you work across different apps, the search results at the top will let you narrow down the results. For example, you can only look for an item in Outlook if a match is found in the email client, among a bunch of other apps. This approach saves a lot of time.
Why are experts spooked?
Security experts are skeptical about the idea, and rightfully so. Nick Hyatt, Director of Threat Intelligence at Blackpoint Cyber, told me that Recall is a great idea, but also an awful one for a lot of reasons.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
He pointed out how the feature logs every single aspect of your digital life, from personal communications to files and what you look up on the web. The stakes are even higher for situations such as domestic abuse.
“A categorized, searchable database of every activity conducted by a user could literally result in people dying should attempts to get help be discovered,” Hyatt pointed out. Plus, the cyber threat ecosystem is an ever-evolving field, so the risks persist.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
“Recall will be heavily targeted by attackers because of the goldmine of user data it contains,” Nate Warfield, Director of Threat Research & Intelligence at Eclypsium, told Digital Trends. “The repercussions of being able to steal what is essentially a complete history of what a user does on their machine are near impossible to comprehend.”
Jeff Williams, co-founder and CTO at Contrast Security, expressed confidence in the kind of security protections Microsoft has put in place for Recall. It is encrypted and lives behind biometric authentication.
Even if you are running it in the background and randomly pull up the dashboard, you will only be able to see the timeline after going through the security check. “For now, I don’t see how this is much more risky than log files stored locally,” Williams pointed out, adding that only extensive penetration testing will reveal the real picture of Recall.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
For an average user like me, I believe Recall is a deeply rewarding feature. And yes, every layer of security that is added to the system is a welcome change. The risk of infostealers and malware with OCR capabilities will persist, but going past the Recall guardrails won’t be easy, especially with safety features such as just-in-time decryption.
You can always stay a step ahead and block Recall from logging your activity across specific websites and apps to be on the safe side. You can go with the auto-delete protocol, or even batch delete all snapshots from a certain website or app from Recall, in case you didn’t already filter it out.
In the wake of my tests, I found Recall to be one of the most practically rewarding AI features, right up there with Deep Research. What it really needs is to bring down the access walls (read: price), or wait for Copilot+ PCs to get a bit cheaper. The new 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro is a great start, but more brands need to follow suit.
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Head of US broadcaster resigns amid Trump tension
Head of US broadcaster resigns amid Trump tension
US broadcaster CBS News has lost another prominent figure amid its dispute with US President Donald Trump.
Chief executive Wendy McMahon announced her resignation on Monday, according to several US media outlets, citing a memo to staff.
In the memo, McMahon described the past few months as “challenging”, according to a report in the Washington Post.
She said it had become clear that she and the company had different views on the future direction of the broadcaster.
“The company and I do not agree on a path forward.”
Last month, 60 Minutes veteran executive producer Bill Owens, left CBS News after Trump launched a billion-dollar lawsuit against the news magazine.
Trump accuses 60 Minutes of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent in last year’s election campaign, allegedly swaying voter sentiment.
The New York Times reported that lawyers doubt the lawsuit’s chances of success, but Shari Redstone, controlling shareholder of CBS News’ parent company Paramount Global, is still seeking a settlement with the president.
This could also be due to Paramount’s planned merger with Skydance Media, as authorities still have to approve the billion-dollar deal.
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I hope Rockstar makes us wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 Online
I hope Rockstar makes us wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 Online
It is funny how quickly the mood around Grand Theft Auto 6 shifted after getting delayed into 2026 with a single trailer. No doubt this was a strategic play by Rockstar, and the result shows just how ferocious gamers’ appetite for the upcoming game has become. As a trailer, this felt like Rockstar finally turning the key on the marketing engine for what is shaping up to be the most important launch of the decade, but there’s been one major component missing from all the trailers and marketing material that will need to be addressed sooner or later.
GTA Online 2 — or whatever name it goes by in GTA 6 — is the real product most people are buying in for, but Rockstar hasn’t made its plans clear on how it will roll it out. If history is to be repeated, then we should expect Online to arrive a month or two post-initial release. This, as well as the delay in a PC release, is sure to ruffle more than a few feathers. While I won’t argue in favor of staggering the PC release beyond giving Rockstar the benefit of the doubt in needing more time for the port, I do feel there’s a strong case for why making us wait for GTA Online is a benefit.
Stealing its own thunder
We’ve had a ton of different reports and rumors on how much time and money have gone into GTA 6, but it feels safe to say this is going to be one of the most expensive games ever developed. As many copies as the game is sure to sell at launch, it’s no secret that Online is the real moneymaker. This is going to be what lives on for a decade or more with updates, cosmetics, modes, guns, cars, story content, and perhaps even entirely new regions.
It’s also the first thing most people will want to do. As we’ve seen, people are willing to spend years racing, shooting, role playing, and just hanging out in Rockstar’s worlds. But rather than lean into stoking the excitement for Online, there’s a clear push here on that single player experience that is indicative of how much pride Rockstar has in its narrative. The second trailer was entirely focused on building up the relationship between our two leads, introducing some of the supporting cast, and hinting at some of the set piece moments we will be experiencing. While we will need to wait to pass final judgment on the campaign, Rockstar has proven time and time again that its writers are masters of thoughtful storytelling and fully realizing strong and dynamic personalities. This isn’t just an afterthought to Online.
Rockstar Games
Just look at Rockstar’s two previous releases: Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. Both titles opted, whether by choice or technical necessity, to delay their online launches until a month or so after release. In the case of GTA 5, that might be the sole reason the internet fell in love with Lamar and made memes out of Trevor’s demented antics. RDR2‘s online never caught on like GTA Online, but it is a testament to the writing and acting that it was able to be such a touching and engaging narrative despite being a prequel and the outcome already known to us. I have to wonder how many people would’ve skipped most, if not all, of GTA 5‘s campaign with the siren call of Online luring them away from the start.
Every game is a labor of love. As an effort, GTA 6 is the culmination of millions of hours of writing, coding, modeling, testing, acting, and so much more. No one is obligated to buy or play a game just because teams worked hard on it, but those teams shouldn’t give players an excuse to miss it. That’s what launching GTA Online would feel like — giving us our dinner and dessert at the same time and expecting us to not go right for the cake.
Should the two modes launch together, some may come back around to the single player, but many may never bother when there’s always levels to grind, money to earn, missions to run, and friends to pull off heists with. GTA 6 Online is going to be built with even more hooks than GTA 5, so even those who would want to split their time between the two modes would have that FOMO lingering in their minds as their friends burn through all that content without them. If GTA 5 is anything to go by, then we can also expect a constant feed of new content injected into Online to keep players perpetually engaged. Giving GTA 6‘s story its own time in the spotlight will ensure that it isn’t caught in the shadow of its own online mode.
We’ve heard the depressing statistics around how few people actually finish any given game for 15 years or more at this point. And back then there were far fewer distractions. Games launching today have to compete with so many sources of quick dopamine hits from every angle. GTA 6 is the current boogyman for the industry no other game wants to compete with, but it should fear just as much for its single player as much as any other game would.
Rockstar Games
This choice would be disappointing for those who are buying the game just for Online, but out of respect for the years of work that countless people have put into it, it just feels wrong to let it all sit in GTA Online’s shadow at launch. It is akin to launching two products at once; no matter what, people are going to have to make a choice. I would rather Rockstar allow players the freedom to enjoy as much or as little of the single player with no distractions. I don’t want to feel rushed or like I’m missing out on fun with my friends while going through this story. GTA games are so much more than just power fantasy sandboxes, and have never been mere “******* simulators” as some pass them off as. The proof will be in the pudding, but if Rockstar can give us something on the level of RDR2 here, it would be a disservice to the ones who poured their heart, souls, and lives into it, only to encourage people to rush or outright skip it.
We live in a world with endless distractions and products fighting for our attention. The new GTA Online will be engineered to be the most powerful attention magnet possible to compete not just with other games, but also with our phones and every other media out there. At the very least, I hope Rockstar keeps its own single player out of that blast radius.
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I tested Gemini Advanced, ChatGPT, and Copilot Pro. Here’s which AI searched best
I tested Gemini Advanced, ChatGPT, and Copilot Pro. Here’s which AI searched best
With AI chatbots now built into search engines, browsers, and even your desktop, it’s easy to assume they all do the same thing. But when it comes to getting useful search results, some outperform the rest.
I wanted to test Gemini Advanced, ChatGPT, and Copilot Pro head-to-head to see which one helps you get answers faster and more accurately. These are the paid versions, all promising live web access, smarter context, and fewer hallucinations.
So, I gave each AI the same set of prompts—from current events to deep-dive research queries—and judged them on five fronts: accuracy, depth, follow-up quality, mistakes, and usability. Here’s how they stacked up.
Test 1: Accuracy and real-time info
Judy Sanhz / Di
To start things off, I asked all three AIs a current events question that needed real-time knowledge, not just general facts. I asked: “Who won the latest NBA playoff game?” Gemini Advanced only showed me a scoreboard with the teams and the final scores, with no extra context, highlights, or player stats. It also pulled scores from May 10 – two days earlier than expected – which is a bit outdated for a real-time query.
ChatGPT Plus gave me a more detailed answer with extra data, such as the Timberwolves taking a 3-1 series lead over the Warriors. It also mentioned how Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards combined for 61 points—Randle with 31 and Edwards with 30. It also included source links under each paragraph (that worked when testing this), making it easy to double-check the info. I also liked that when the cursor hovered over the source link, it would highlight the text it got from that source. My only complaint? It buried the answer under too many details. A quick summary up top would’ve helped.
On the other hand, Copilot Pro gave me a more concise answer from the get-go and asked if I wanted additional information. I have to give this round to Copilot Pro—it nailed the direct answer and even offered a follow-up.
Test 2: Depth of response
Google
For the second test, I asked a broader question that required more than just a quick fact: How can I create a strong password? Gemini Advanced gave me more tips than ChatGPT and provided source links below each tip for easy double-checking. It also used longer sentences, which made the whole response feel more readable without too much scrolling, unlike ChatGPT, which gave fewer tips and didn’t include any source links. However, it did ask if the conversation was helpful, something Gemini didn’t do.
Copilot Pro also gave less information and no source links. Still, it did show a few relevant follow-up questions, such as: Why is a strong password important for security? Can you give me an example of a strong password? How does a password manager keep my information safe? I also found the emojis alongside each tip were a fun touch.
Test 3: Follow-up flexibility
Judy Sanhz / Digital Trends
For this test, I asked each AI a follow-up question after its original response, something that built on the conversation naturally. I wanted to see how well it handled context and whether it actually understood what I was asking. I followed up with, “Can you explain why using personal information in passwords is bad?”
ChatGPT gave me three main points, a couple of extra security tips to follow, plus a bottom-line summary that wrapped it all up. Copilot Pro gave me three tips and a few sentences on how to stay safe. Gemini, however, was the only one that didn’t include specific safety tips at the end. It gave a few more reasons why using personal info is bad and added a bit more information.
I must admit that Copilot Pro and ChatGPT took this prize and gave Gemini something to improve on. This time, none of the three included source links, which felt like a missed opportunity.
Test 4: Mistakes and hallucinations
Microsoft
One of the biggest risks with any AI assistant is its tendency to say things that aren’t true confidently. They hallucinate and say things that are sometimes funny and other times alarming. So, I gave each chatbot a few fact-based prompts to see how accurate they were and whether they flagged uncertainties, something they all passed with flying colors.
I started with a simple one and asked when Microsoft was founded, and Gemini Advanced answered with a one-liner: “Microsoft was founded in 1975.” ChatGPT, on the other hand, went into a bit more detail, saying, “Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.” Copilot Pro gave a longer answer: “Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It started as a small software company, but it quickly grew into one of the world’s largest and most influential tech companies. Quite the success story, right?” I like how Copilot struck a balance, giving me enough context without overwhelming me and even suggesting three clickable follow-up questions. I have to admit that the answer I liked best was from Copilot Pro.
Next, I asked all three AI assistants,” Which is the best AI assistant available?” Gemini gave a solid overview of the top AI assistants, including a quick rundown of what each can do. It even added a section called “Other notable AI assistants” with less popular options.
What I really liked, though, was the part where it explained which assistant might be the better pick, like choosing Gemini if you prioritize certain features, or going with ChatGPT or Copilot Pro if you rely more on other things. That side-by-side comparison is actually helpful.
ChatGPT said there is no single best option, depending on why you need it. Copilot Pro said several options are available, each with specific strengths.
Test 5: Usability and interface experience
Google
A great AI answer is only half the story; the other half is how easy it is to read the information it gives you. So, I spent time using each AI assistant’s interface to see how smooth, intuitive, and helpful the overall experience felt.
Copilot Pro stood out by giving me just enough information to answer my question clearly, without overwhelming me or leaving me confused about what it meant. I also like how it blends into Microsoft Edge and Windows 11 since it results in fewer mouse movements to open it. It was also good to see those relevant follow-up questions that saved me from typing out the question.
If there’s one area where Copilot Pro fell short, it was with shopping links. It provided them, but only after asking twice. And, in some cases, the link led to the wrong places. I also found the main Copilot page a little too cluttered, with buttons and suggestions all squeezed together. I get that it’s trying to be helpful, but sometimes less is more.
Gemini Advanced heavily relies on the Google ecosystem. The side panel works well across Gmail, Drive, and Docs, and it’s handy for pulling in context from whatever you’re working on. Visually, it looks clean and modern, with a color scheme that gives it a polished, almost elegant feel.
I also liked how Gemini gives more detailed responses than the others. That’s great if you’re looking for depth, though if you prefer shorter replies, you can ask it to simplify things. It handled product searches well when I asked it to provide links.
ChatGPT keeps things minimal but in a good way. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, and I liked that the input box is at the top of the screen, which feels more natural to use. However, when I tried using it to find links for products, it struggled. Some responses didn’t include links at all, and when they did, they weren’t always clickable or useful.
Final thoughts
Hatice Baran / Pexels
After testing all three assistants across different scenarios, one thing became clear: no single AI does everything perfectly. Each one has strengths and quirks that make it better suited for certain tasks or users.
ChatGPT is still the most consistent when it comes to natural, well-written responses. It’s easy to use, but it would be nice if it fixed the link issue mentioned earlier. Gemini Advanced gives you the most information upfront, sometimes too much, but its integration with Google tools is a real advantage when you want to add more files to your search.
Copilot Pro is the one I’d be least likely to stick with, even though I liked how it handled response length and follow-up suggestions. But the cluttered interface and unreliable links made it harder to trust on a daily basis—and for me, that’s a deal-breaker. At the end of the day, the best AI chatbots really depends on what you value the most: clarity, depth, or usability.
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Boy, 14, arrested on gun charges after fleeing police at Peoria Civic Center
Boy, 14, arrested on gun charges after fleeing police at Peoria Civic Center
A 14-year-old boy was arrested Saturday on multiple gun charges prior to Richwoods High School’s graduation ceremony at the Peoria Civic Center.
Police said officers were helping with crowd control at the graduation ceremonies around 2:40 p.m. when a boy exited the line upon seeing metal detectors and approached a group of males.
Police then observed a second group of males with masks on, approaching the first group. To prevent a confrontation, police stopped the group wearing masks. One of the boys immediately ran away, police said.
A brief foot chase led to the apprehension of the 14-year-old, who had run inside a vehicle. Officers also located a handgun inside the vehicle.
The teenager was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a FOID card, possession of a handgun while under the age of 21 and resisting police. He is currently being held at the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.
More: After Richwoods HS graduation, fight at Peoria Civic Center leads to 7 arrests
The altercation at the Civic Center was the first of two incidents to occur Saturday near the Richwoods graduation. Police arrested seven teenagers following a fight at a concession stand shortly after the conclusion of the graduation.
Anyone with further information on the incidents is asked to contact Peoria police at (309) 673-4521 or provide an anonymous tip through their Tip411 service. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000.
More than 900 students from Peoria High School, Manual High School and Richwoods High School celebrated their graduations at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria police arrest teen on gun charges as officers worked graduation
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Anno 117: Pax Romana awakened the city building fanatic in me
Anno 117: Pax Romana awakened the city building fanatic in me
For the 110 people working on Anno 117: Pax Romana, the upcoming city-builder from Ubisoft Mainz, every game in the franchise has led to its Winter 2025 release.
The Anno series has had some hits and misses — its most recent game, 2019’s 1800, is widely considered one of its best, while future-focused titles 2205 and 2070 had mixed results. But Pax Romana has something for die-hard tactics players, beauty builders, and even newcomers like me: the franchise’s first-ever simultaneous release on PC and console, the reintroduction of land combat, the promise of finally bringing Anno to Rome, and major updates to existing game systems.
Some team members have worked on the series for 10, 15, or 20 years, know exactly what diehard Anno fans want (prettier palettes that take advantage of improved graphics, a greater variety of choice, more robust gameplay systems, and diegetic moments of hilarious catastrophe), and are determined to deliver.
I travelled to Rome to be one of the first people in the world to go hands-on with Anno 117: Pax Romana and chat with creative director Manuel Reinher and game director Jan Dungel, emerging from the experience thoroughly jet-lagged and with a newfound appreciation for the series and the genre. Andiamo!
A new Anno
Anno 117: Pax Romana is the first game in the series since the beloved 1800, which was set during the Industrial Revolution. It’s also the series’ biggest historical leap backwards. The team didn’t want to set the next Anno game during the bloody, war-fueled throes of the Roman Empire, but during the height of a 200-year-long ******* of peace and prosperity.
“Our fans have asked for this for a very long time,” Reinher tells Digital Trends. “The power of Rome, it’s a very appealing setting, but we struggled because with Rome there’s a certain fantasy that is well-delivered, and delivered so often people have a certain expectation … We found Pax Romana is the playground for us, it ticked all the boxes. It’s almost 200 years of stability in the empire, peak growth … and it’s a good fit because conflict is not the core of the Anno experience.”
U
In Anno 117, you’ll play as a freshly appointed Roman governor in Latium, a province close to the center of the Empire, tasked with upholding that aforementioned peace and prosperity. Will you govern with an iron fist and hope that fear keeps the peace, or show empathy and kindness and pray to one of your chosen Gods that rival governors don’t step on your exposed toes?
And then there’s Albion, the fog-covered Celtic lands where no “civilized” Roman dares tread lest they face the ire of the strange, savage locales. You can go there, as well (though I didn’t get to that during my hands-on), and decide what to do with the land and its people.
Anno 117: Pax Romana hopes to offer players deeper, more meaningful choices than any other game in the franchise. A massive discovery tree, with over 150 “discoveries” divided into three main categories (economy, civic, and military), will help “soften the linearity” players may have felt in previous titles.
Researching improved storage capacities can help you store more product to trade with neighboring provinces, while civic research allows you to explore different religions, or build new public buildings. And you won’t be locked to a certain branch on this discovery tree, you’re free to research paved roads, or learn Latin, or beef up your military presence.
Like any Anno game, 117: Pax Romana is centered around economic simulation with some traditional city builder mechanics and 4X strategy features sprinkled in. But 117 is bringing back a controversial feature players haven’t seen in the franchise in a very long time: land combat.
Ub
The team is pretty close-lipped about it during our preview, but confirmed Anno 117: Pax Romana will have both land and naval combat, with more depth when it comes to integrating the two, and the promise that only big, powerful cities can have a thriving military. But don’t fret — Anno is not a war sim franchise, and the team considers land combat to be “another choice, another tool.” Diplomacy could be your vibe, rather than wielding steel.
Aside from gameplay features, the team wants 117 to be the “most beautiful builder gamer, *******.” There’s a new day and night cycle that elicits some big “ooohh” moments, like when the flickering fires of the lucernae come alive as the sun sets, or when burgeoning cities are cut through with gorgeous lavender fields. The added ability to create curved roads allows for more freedom in city layouts, and the team’s attention to detail can be found in every pixel, from the waves breaking around a sailing ship to grain crops shifting softly in the wind.
Ubisoft is excited to show people how multicultural ancient Rome was, how it pulled inspiration and even religions from Celtic and Egyptian lands, and how the expansion of the empire led to cultural exchange. “Religious ideas, technologies, resources, they travel from one province to the other,” Reinher explains.
This ancient melting pot helped stabilize the empire. “People are surprised by that fact … This happened 2,000 years ago. Ideas travelled like this, and it’s a fascinating story that breaks the boundaries of what we all have in our minds when we think about such an economic empire.”
Roman onboarding
Ubisoft Mainz promises Anno: 117 Pax Romana’s gameplay experience is for both newcomers and old heads alike, thanks to an improved onboarding system.
“Anno can be quite complex, but it’s rewarding step-by-step,” Dungel says. “You don’t need to completely understand the universe to enjoy [the games].”
To describe sitting down to play an Anno game for the first time while surrounded by the cold stone walls of an ancient Romane estate as “surreal” wouldn’t do it justice. Overwhelmed by the game’s systems and in awe of the Horti Sallustiani (the gardens of Sallust), I worry I won’t be able to create an Empire my ancestors would be proud of. I consider lingering around the craft services table and eat as much olive bread (a staple of the Romane diet) to avoid embarrassing myself. But I have a job to do, and gawking at the marble structure soaring overhead won’t do me any good.
So I sit down, load in, and am immediately tasked with placing my governor’s villa somewhere on this newfound island that’s far enough inland to avoid getting attacked by coastal invaders, but central enough that it can easily connect to warehouses and other important commerce buildings.
Ubi
An in-game pop-up urges me to ensure that my villa is connected to another important building, but fails to tell me I have to build that second structure. I glance around, helpless, until someone comes over and walks me through it, just for me to immediately get stuck again because I can’t see a missing pixel of road that means the buildings were technically still not connected.
I let out a grunt of frustration. I am jetlagged and my brain is functioning at its lowest possible capacity. I need more olive bread.
Soon enough, my Italian ancestors smile upon me. I start to get the hang of things after my little roadblock (teehee). I build a sawmill in the center of a forest to ensure we have a steady supply of wood, and place a collection of houses for my lowest class working folks probably a bit too close to the governor’s house for a man of his stature’s liking (I believe in solidarity across classes in my ancient Rome). I ring the workers’ homes with purple wildflowers, place a tavern and a market close enough to their quarters so that they buff everyone who lives there (which helps you earn more money faster), and send my sole ship out to treaty with a neighboring isle.
“[Building Anno 117] was a little bit challenging, because we have very different audiences,” Dungel admits. “Some people want to collaborate, they are super hardcore, they want to value share and network, but some people are more casual. For the first time, we decided we would try to find a way to please both of these groups, not make it less deep and less complex, but give an option for people who want to go more casual. That’s why you don’t have to deliver all the needs [requirements for every population tier that must be filled in order to progress] … you don’t have to immediately go to another province.”
Ub
Though I stumble at first, after about 1.5 hours of playtime, I have a tier 3 city sprawling out before my eyes, complete with soap production, ship-building, tunic and sandal makers, tilers, and a temple to worship our chosen goddess, Ceres, who helps boost our farms’ output. There’s a plethora of emergency services, including doctors, Vigiles Urbani (basically Rome’s NYPD), and firefighters, the last of whom successfully snuff out a fire that starts near my sheep pasture. I even have a massive new ship that can carry far more cargo than the one I started with.
But my city is net negative, and losing money fast. I get a loan, then another, then another, and then I start to panic. Despite my efforts, there just aren’t enough people to produce my much-needed products (the pretty lady on a neighboring island really wants tunics), or enough raw material for the people to form into something usable for the empire. I need to build more homes to get more able-bodied workers, but I don’t have enough lumber, and my island is looking more and more like a desert every minute.
Even the Anno experts next to me are struggling with their financials. “I can’t take another loan,” one player bemoans.
Before I can right my ship, the hands-on is over. I had just gotten my negative income out of the triple digits and was in the process of conquering another island that had some crucial resources (olives, mackerel), when we were given a times-up signal.
“I was getting the hang of it!” I protest. “I just need more plebeians!” The Ubisoft dev who pulled me from the depths of dirt road despair two hours earlier laughs. He has just seen a new city builder player be born before his eyes.
Anno 117: Pax Romana releases later this year for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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The Dell XPS 13 is an excellent Copilot+ laptop, and it’s on ***** at $400 off
The Dell XPS 13 is an excellent Copilot+ laptop, and it’s on ***** at $400 off
The Dell XPS 13 (9345) is a device that’s designed for Microsoft’s powerful AI assistant, and you can currently buy it with a $400 discount from Dell itself. From its original price of $1,560, it’s down to just $1,160, but the offer may expire at any moment. If you’re interested in taking advantage of this offer, we highly recommend doing so right now because there’s high demand for laptop deals like this one — tomorrow may already be too late to access the savings.
Why you should buy the Dell XPS 13 (9345) laptop
The Dell XPS 13 (9345) is the Copilot+ version of the Dell XPS 13, which means it’s built to maximize the capabilities of Microsoft’s Copilot. It’s actually featured in our list of the best Copilot+ laptops because of the performance provided by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, which is paired with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU and 32GB of RAM that’s recommended by our laptop buying guide for running intensive apps or engaging in any kind of content creation.
The 13.4-inch Full HD+ screen of the Dell XPS 13 (9345) maintains the portability of the laptop, which offer fantastic build quality while staying thin and light so it will be easy to carry with you wherever you go. The device also features a seamless glass trackpad that blends into the palm rests and a row of capacitive touch buttons that replace the row of function keys at the top of the keyboard. The Dell XPS 13 (9345) also comes with a 1TB SSD for ample storage space for all of your software and files, and of course, it ships with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed.
For a laptop that’s powerful and dependable, you can’t go wrong with the Dell XPS 13 (9345). It actually already provides amazing value at its original price of $1,560, so it’s an even better purchase at its discounted price of $1,160 from Dell. The savings of $400 isn’t going to last forever though as Dell XPS deals always attract a lot of attention, so you should push forward with your purchase immediately. Add the Dell XPS 13 (9345) laptop to your cart and finish the checkout process as fast as you can!
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US Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protection for Venezuelans – Reuters
US Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protection for Venezuelans – Reuters
US Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protection for Venezuelans ReutersSupreme Court Lets Trump Lift Deportation Protections for Venezuelans The New York TimesLocal Venezuelans fear returning home following Supreme Court ruling WPLG Local 10Supreme Court allows Trump to revoke protected status for thousands of Venezuelans NBC NewsExplainer: Trump is targeting Temporary Protected Status. What is it? Reuters
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Trump-Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks
Trump-Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks
Last year, Donald Trump promised he would end the Ukraine War in “24 hours”.
Last week, he said that it would not be resolved until he and Russian President Vladimir Putin could “get together” and hash it out in person.
On Monday, the ground shifted again.
After a two-hour phone call with Putin, he said that the conditions of a peace deal could only be negotiated between Russia and Ukraine – and maybe with the help of the Pope.
Still, the US president has not lost his sense of optimism about the prospect for peace, posting on social media that the combatants would “immediately start” negotiations for a ceasefire and an end to the war.
That sentiment was a somewhat at odds with the Russian view. Putin only said that his country is ready to work with Ukraine to craft a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement”.
Talks about memorandums and a “possible future” of peace hardly seems the kind of solid ground on which lasting deals can be quickly built.
Putin again emphasised that any resolution would have to address the “root causes” of the war – which Russia has claimed in past to be Ukraine’s desire for closer ties to Europe.
There is a possibility that Trump’s latest take on the war in Ukraine could be a sign that the US will ultimately abandon the negotiating table.
“Big egos involved, but I think something’s going to happen,” Trump said on Monday afternoon. “And if it doesn’t, I’ll just back away and they’ll have to keep going.”
Such a move, however, comes with its own set of questions – and risks.
If the US washes its hands of the war, as Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have also threatened, does it mean the US would also end any military and intelligence support for Ukraine?
And if that is the case, then it may be a development that Russia, with its greater resources compared to a Ukraine cut off from American backing, would welcome.
That prospect is enough to have Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky concerned.
“It’s crucial for all of us that the United States does not distance itself from the talks and the pursuit of peace,” he said on Monday after the Trump-Putin call.
Putting aside Monday’s rhetoric, it appears that Ukraine and Russia are set to continue some kind of talks – and talking in any form is progress after nearly three years of war. Still to be determined is whether the Russian team will be more than the low-level delegation that travelled to Istanbul to meet with the Ukrainians last Friday.
Trump is holding out the promise of reduced sanctions on Russia – and new trade deals and economic investment – as the enticement that will move Putin toward a peace agreement. He mentioned that again in his post-call comments. Not discussed, on the other hand, were any negative consequences, such as new sanctions on Russian banking and energy exports.
The US president last month warned that he would not tolerate Putin “tapping me along” and said that Russia should not target civilian areas. But yesterday, Russia launched its largest drone strike of the war on Ukrainian cities, and Monday’s call between the two world leaders makes clear that any ceasefire or peace deal still seems well over the horizon.
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Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey to be honoured at Cannes Film Festival despite new ******* misconduct claims
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey to be honoured at Cannes Film Festival despite new ******* misconduct claims
Controversial actor Kevin Spacey is set to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival despite being hit with new ******* misconduct claims.
Spacey, who is also visiting the world’s biggest film festival to help find buyers for his new film The Awakening, will be recognised for his “artistic brilliance” and “impact on cinema and arts.”
The disgraced actor will receive the Award for Excellence in Film and Television by the Better World Fund on Tuesday at the Fund’s 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner.
While the event is not directly associated with the film festival, the celebrations will take place at the Carlton Hotel, which is one of the main sites of festival activity.
“We are truly privileged to welcome Kevin Spacey as our Guest of Honour and Honouree at the Better World Fund Gala,” President & Founder of the Better World Fund, Manuel Collas De La Roche, said in a statement.
“Kevin’s extraordinary contributions to the art of cinema have left a mark on audiences and filmmakers alike. His talent, depth, and commitment to storytelling exemplify the transformative power of film. It is with great excitement that we celebrate his legacy and presence at this meaningful gathering.”
The Awakening will be one of Spacey’s first projects since his career collapsed in the wake of multiple allegations of ******* misconduct.
Last year in the ***, the scandal-plagued actor was acquitted of nine cases of alleged ******* offences. He was also previously cleared of ******* assault charges in a 2022 civil lawsuit in New York. However, the actor still remains a controversial figure linked with the #MeToo movement.
Earlier this month, new claims of inappropriate ******* behaviour emerged in a British documentary, Spacey Unmasked.
10 men who were not involved in the 2024 *** court case accused Spacey of behaving inappropriately towards them.
But the House of Cards actor denied any wrongdoing.
There’s been speculation that Spacey could make an appearance on the red carpet at Cannes, however the festival is yet to confirm this.
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