Apple Vision Pro to Support Several Streaming Services in the US; to Feature 3D Versions of Over 150 Movies

Apple Vision Pro is set to arrive next month and the Cupertino company has now revealed a list of streaming services that will be supported when its first mixed reality headset makes its debut in the US. Meanwhile, customers who want to watch content from other services can do so via Safari, according to Apple. The Vision Pro headset will allow wearers to watch both 2D and 3D movies and over 150 movies will be available on the headset when it is launched. The company has announced that the Apple Vision Pro will support several streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Discovery+, Disney+, ESPN, Fubo, IMAX, MLB, MUBI, Max, NBA, PGA Tour, Paramount+, Peacock, Pluto TV, Red Bull TV, TikTok, and Tubi. These platforms will allow users to download and stream TV shows and movies or watch sports content with their subscription. Streaming applications will also be able to take advantage of the immersive features offered by the Apple Vision Pro. Four 'environments' will be available on the headset — the El Capitan Theatre-inspired by Disney+ Theater, the Scare Floor from Monster's Inc, the cockpit of Luke Skywalker's landspeeder, and the view of downtown Manhattan from Marvel's Avengers Tower, according to the company.Meanwhile, the Apple Vision Pro will allow you to view movies in 2D and 3D with Spatial Audio — customers will have access to 150 3D movies including Avatar: The Way of Water, Dune, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Other 3D movies will also be available to rent or buy via the Apple TV app, according to the company.Scheduled to arrive in the US on February 2, the Apple Vision Pro is equipped with dual micro-OLED displays with a combined 23 million pixels. The headset is powered by the company's M2 chip for CPU, GPU, and NPU tasks, while another, new M2 based chip called R1 handles streaming to the display. Apple's headset is powered by an external battery pack that offers up to 2.5 hours of battery life.The device has an eye-watering $3,499 (roughly Rs. 2.9 lakh) price tag, while customers who wear spectacles will have to shell out more for Zeiss optical inserts. The company is yet to provide a timeline for the launch of the Apple Vision Pro in other markets — including India, but more information could be made available in the coming months.  

Google Chrome Incognito Mode Warning Updated After Long-Disputed Tracking Lawsuit

Google Chrome has been updated with an updated warning that is displayed when users open the built-in Incognito Mode, the private browsing feature that is designed to clear user data from the same session after the browser is closed. The new message displayed when Incognito Mode is opened informs users that websites can still collect user data, while other users on the device won't be able to see their activity. The change comes after a long-disputed tracking lawsuit that claimed Incognito Mode was not as private as advertised. MSPowerUser spotted a new warning on Google Chrome Canary 122.0.6251.0 that changes the message displayed when an Incognito Mode window is opened. The version of Google Chrome on the stable channel says “Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won't see your activity. However, downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved."The new message displayed by Google now says “Others who use this device won't see your activity, so you can browse more privately. This won't change how data is collected by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved." The warning clearly informs users that websites can still collect data on their browsing activity, even when Incognito Mode is enabled. The other details of items saved by Chrome locally on the device and visibility of personal information to third parties remains the same, according to the screenshot shared by the publication. The changes made to Chrome come a month after Google reportedly said it was ready to settle a class action lawsuit that began in 2020 and accused the company of "track, collect, and identify [users'] browsing data in real time" even when they had enabled Incognito Mode on their browser. The agreement is expected to be presented by the end of the month and approval could reportedly be granted in February. Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.  

US Supreme Court Rejects Appeals From Apple, Epic Games Over App Store Antitrust Ruling

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a challenge by Apple to a lower court's decision requiring changes to certain rules in its lucrative App Store, as the justices shunned the lengthy legal battle between the iPhone maker and Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite.The justices also turned away Epic's appeal of the lower court's ruling that Apple's App Store policies limiting how software is distributed and paid for do not violate federal antitrust laws. The justices gave no reasons for their decision to deny the appeals. Epic filed an antitrust lawsuit in 2020, accusing Apple of acting as an illegal monopolist by requiring consumers to get apps through its App Store and buy digital content inside an app using its own system. Apple charges up to a 30 percent commission for in-app purchases.US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in 2021 rejected Epic's antitrust claims against Apple. But the judge found that Apple violated California's unfair competition law by barring developers from "steering" users to make digital purchases that bypass Apple's in-app system, which Epic contends could save them money with lower commissions. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld much of Rogers' decision in 2023, finding that Epic had "failed to prove the existence of substantially less restrictive alternatives" to Apple's system.The judge's injunction requires Apple to let app developers provide links and buttons that direct consumers to other ways to pay for digital content that they use in their apps.In its appeal to the Supreme Court, Epic had said that the 9th Circuit's decision "guarantees severe anticompetitive harm and effectively insulates the most monopolistic tech-platform practices from antitrust scrutiny. "Sweeney wrote on his social media post: "As of today, developers can begin exercising their court-established right to tell US customers about better prices on the web."Apple had noted in its appeal that Epic did not file a class-action lawsuit and said the broad injunction imposed by Rogers exceeds the constitutional authority of federal courts, which typically should be limited to providing relief to the parties before them.    

“There Will Be Jobs”: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella On How AI Will Change Workplace

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered to be one of the key developments of 2023 as tech honchos highlighted the positive impact of the technology across society. However, several C-suite executives, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have hinted at job cuts, sugarcoating what’s to come.Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shared his take and just like his industry peers, he has also painted an optimistic picture, saying that there will be a reduction in jobs as we know but different types of jobs will be created that will require new sets of skills. “There will be jobs, the question is the shape of these jobs. If anything, these tools can be very helpful with getting us the skills for what is the new set of tasks,”Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered to be one of the key developments of 2023 as tech honchos highlighted the positive impact of the technology across society. However, several C-suite executives, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have hinted at job cuts, sugarcoating what’s to come. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shared his take and just like his industry peers, he has also painted an optimistic picture, saying that there will be a reduction in jobs as we know but different types of jobs will be created that will require new sets of skills.“There will be jobs, the question is the shape of these jobs. If anything, these tools can be very helpful with getting us the skills for what is the new set of tasks,” he said at London’s Chatham House, a day before heading to Davos for the World Economic Forum.“Everyone can become an expert in anything because they have an AI assistant,” he added.His comments came soon after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that AI is set to affect nearly 40% of all jobs, with IMF’s managing director Kristalina Georgieva adding that “in most scenarios, AI will likely worsen overall inequality”. Nadella on use cases of AINadella also said that generative AI products like ChatGPT should be welcomed as they disrupt how people get access to information.“Let’s face it, there’s a real aggregation power in a few places, right? Search is one. News feeds is another. Both of these things could be up for disruption,” Nadella said, adding that as a result, journalists and publishers “should welcome” generative AI, as per a report by Politico.Recently, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against both OpenAI and Microsoft accusing the companies of copyright infringement. It said that the outlet’s journalistic content was used to train models underlying the ChatGPT AI chatbot.  

MrBeast Posts His Video On X, Here’s What He Is Testing

It all started around two weeks ago when MrBeast said in a post that he had uploaded a video on his other social platforms and that users should go and watch it. Replying to his post, a user said that he should post videos on X to monetise them.“Yeah,” Musk said, joining the conversation. However, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, said, “My videos cost millions to make and even if they got a billion views on X it wouldn't fund a fraction of it.” “I'm down though to test stuff once monetization is really cranking!” added MrBeast, who said in an interview in 2022 that his video production has a massive budget. He said that he could be doing cheaper videos but he doesn't want to and “want to push the boundaries to go bigger, bigger.”The billionaire re-posted a video created by Jimmy Donaldson, better known to his 230 million-plus YouTube subscribers as MrBeast. That’s after a back-and-forth dating back years, during which the Tesla Inc. chief executive traded messages with the online celeb about X’s potential.Musk’s vision is to transform the social media platform he took over in 2022 into what he calls “the everything app,” or a collection of the services that users now turn to on their smartphones. Musk has mentioned his interest in making X more competitive with Google’s YouTube, the global leader in online video. This month, X announced a slate of new shows, including a partnership with former CNN anchor Don Lemon.But it still has only a fraction of the users on rival services such as Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook, and advertisers have migrated to other platforms. Ad revenue was on track to slump in 2023, in part because of brands’ concerns about changes to X’s content-moderation policies.  

Hyundai Creta 2024 facelift vs Kia Seltos vs Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs others: Price comparison

India Today was the first news organisation to confirm that Hyundai Motor India will launch the Hyundai Creta facelift in the country in 2024. We also maintained that the Hyundai Creta facelift price will range from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom). Well, it seems that we are bang on the target so far as the price of the vehicle is concerned.Among the other rivals, the Elevate's price ranges from Rs 11.58 lakh to Rs 16.40 lakh (ex-showroom), the Urban Cruiser Hyryder's price from Rs 11.14 lakh to Rs 20.19 lakh (ex-showroom), that of the Kushaq from Rs 11.89 lakh to Rs 20.49 lakh (ex-showroom), the price of the Taigun from Rs 11.70 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom) and the Astor from Rs 9.98 lakh to Rs 17.90 lakh (ex-showroom). In the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive industry, the SUV segment continues to witness fierce competition with manufacturers constantly upgrading their models to meet the changing preferences of consumers. In this comparison, we will focus on the recently launched Hyundai Creta 2024 facelift, the popular Kia Seltos, the established Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and a few other noteworthy contenders. Let’s delve into the key aspects, specifications, and prices to help you make an informed decision.The Hyundai Creta 2024 facelift arrives with refreshed aesthetics and upgraded features. Packed with cutting-edge technology, the Creta continues to be a strong contender in the compact SUV segment. The price for the base variant starts at $XX,XXX, making it a competitive option in its class.The Kia Seltos, known for its stylish design and feature-packed interior, remains a top choice for SUV enthusiasts. With a starting price of $XX,XXX, the Seltos offers a compelling mix of performance and comfort. Its diverse range of engine options and trim levels allows buyers to tailor their purchase according to their preferences.    

Paytm Credit Card on UPI enables effortless daily transactions like payments on grocery stores, chai shops

With just a smartphone, users can easily make UPI payments via credit cards on the Paytm app, powered by Paytm Payments Bank. The convenience of digital transactions have become a fundamental aspect of our daily lives in today’s fast paced world. One such transformative force in the digital payment landscape is the integration of UPI payments through credit cards on the Paytm app. Making small payments of ₹10 to ₹100 bucks through credit at your nearby Kirana stores or a local chai shop or even a chat shop has evolved into the ultimate and convenient payment method for users. This groundbreaking feature offers users the convenience of utilizing credit for routine payments, eliminating the need to rely solely on savings accounts and carrying the card everywhere. With just a smartphone, users can easily make UPI payments via credit cards on the Paytm app, powered by Paytm Payments Bank.   Users simply need to link their Rupay Credit Card to UPI through a straightforward process with quick and easy steps. The Credit Card on UPI feature allows users to scan merchant QR codes, allowing them to earn reward points with every transaction.With millions of merchants now accepting payments via credit cards on UPI, this can have a significant impact on the payment landscape.   This integration of RuPay Credit Cards on UPI not only expands credit card usage for customers but also supports merchants in the credit ecosystem through assets like QR codes. The increasing acceptance of RuPay credit cards on UPI contributes to financial inclusion, benefiting merchants and businesses across India.  Paytm Payments Bank remains at the forefront of innovation, driving the adoption of UPI payments with credit cards, and envisions a future where this technology reshapes the dynamics of the payment ecosystem in India.  

Removing layers: Sundar Pichai hints at more layoffs at Google in 2024

A day after laying off around 1,000 employees, Google chief executive officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai, on Wednesday, hinted towards more job cuts in the year ahead, The Verge reported. Terming it as part of a larger restructuring plan, Pichai, in an internal memo to Google employees, said, "We have ambitious goals and will be investing in our big priorities this year…the reality is that to create the capacity for this investment, we have to make tough choices."Referring to the "tough decisions", Pichai further said in the memo, "These role eliminations are not at the scale of last year's reductions and will not touch every team. His remark referenced Google's 2023 layoffs when the tech giant fired about 12,000 employees, the biggest layoff in the company's history in a single year.According to the report, Pichai said the layoffs this year were about "removing layers to simplify execution and drive velocity in some areas."Pichai's communication followed a day after Google handed pink slips to around 1,000 employees in the advertising sales team in the first layoff wave of 2024. The company said the eligible employees would receive severance pay. It also offered that the impacted employees may re-apply for open positions in other departments. However, it clarified that those unable to secure a position at the company would be required to exit by April. The developments followed about a week after Google had announced that it would lay off hundreds of people working on its voice-activated Google Assistant software and the company's Devices and Services team.Apart from Google, Jeff Bezos' Amazon also announced last week that it would fire several hundred employees in its streaming and studio operations.Neither company has specified the exact number of job role cuts they are planning in 2024.  

L&T Technology retains full-year forecast after all units post Q3 growth

Indian tech services provider L&T Technology Services retained its revenue growth forecast for the current financial year on Tuesday as all its five business verticals posted year-on-year growth for the third quarter.This comes as Infosys and HCLTech tightened their revenue guidance for the year last week citing no change in the demand environment for the year, marred by high inflation and clients cutting down on discretionary spending.However, better-than-feared numbers by the top four firms have triggered a rally in IT stocks this week, helping the country's benchmark indices hit fresh lifetime highs. L&T Technology's consolidated net profit rose 3.36 billion rupees ($40.43 million) from 2.97 billion rupees a year earlier, marginally above analysts' estimate of 3.31 billion rupees.Revenue from operations rose 12 per cent to 24.22 billion rupees, on the back of double-digit growth in telecom and medical devices verticals, below analysts' estimate of 24.45 billion rupees.Indian tech services provider L&T Technology Services retained its revenue growth forecast for the current financial year on Tuesday as all its five business verticals posted year-on-year growth for the third quarter.The Mumbai-based firm expects revenue for the current fiscal year ending March 31 to grow 17.5 per cent-18.5 per cent in constant currency."All five segments grew positively for the second quarter in a row giving us 1per cent sequential growth despite the seasonal softness," CEO Amit Chadha said in a statement.Two units - the industrial products segment and Europe region - have scaled a $200 million run-rate on annualised basis, he added. This comes as Infosys and HCLTech tightened their revenue guidance for the year last week citing no change in the demand environment for the year, marred by high inflation and clients cutting down on discretionary spending.However, better-than-feared numbers by the top four firms have triggered a rally in IT stocks this week, helping the country's benchmark indices hit fresh lifetime highs.Revenue from operations rose 12 per cent to 24.22 billion rupees, on the back of double-digit growth in telecom and medical devices verticals, below analysts' estimate of 24.45 billion rupees.The subsidiary of infra giant Larsen and Toubro won six deals that are more than $10 million each in size, it said in a filing. This included one deal each of sizes $40 million and $20 million.    

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Interim Budget 2024 Expectations: Govt to target fiscal deficit at 5.3% of GDP for FY2025, says ICRA

ICRA expects the fiscal deficit target for FY2025 to be set at 5.3 per cent of GDP, midway through the expected print of 6.0 per cent for FY2024 and the medium-term target of sub-4.5 per cent by FY2026.With the the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman all set to present the interim Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on February 1, 2024, an analysis by ICRA suggested that the government is likely to target fiscal deficit at 5.3 per cent of GDP for FY2025, entailing a reasonable degree of fiscal consolidation amid slower capex growth. The upcoming Budget will be an interim one and is said to have no major announcements as it is coinciding with the general elections year which is scheduled for this year. The full budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 will be presented after the formation of the new government following the general elections. The Budget is allotted for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from 1st April to 31st March of the next year.However, the expansion in the Government of India’s (GoI’s) capex and the extent of fiscal consolidation would be scrutinised closely, given the implications for growth and G-sec yields, respectively. ICRA expects the fiscal deficit target for FY2025 to be set at 5.3 per cent of GDP, midway through the expected print of 6.0 per cent for FY2024 and the medium-term target of sub-4.5 per cent by FY2026. “This, along with our projection of an appreciable dip in the revenue deficit, would allow for a capex target of Rs 10.2 trillion for FY2025, 10 per cent higher than the expected level for FY2024 vis-à-vis the 20 per cent-plus YoY expansion seen during FY2021-FY2024. A higher capex target would impinge on the GoI’s ability to bridge half the required fiscal consolidation in FY2025, thereby making the task of reaching medium-term fiscal deficit target by FY2026 even more challenging,” ICRA said in a report. Given the favourable macroeconomic backdrop and expectations of the benign domestic environment sustaining in the next fiscal, per the analysis by ICRA, the GoI is expected to continue on the fiscal consolidation path in the Union Budget for FY2025. However, it added that this is likely to entail a slower expansion in capex vis-à-vis that seen in the post-Covid years, which could weigh on the growth in economic activity. Additionally, with the upcoming Budget set to be an interim one for the purpose of a vote-on-account, major policy changes and announcements are unlikely at this juncture, it said.“We expect the GoI’s gross tax revenues (GTR) to grow by a healthy 11 per cent in FY2025, led by direct taxes and GST collections, even as the growth in excise and customs duty collections is likely to be subdued,” it said. The disinvestment target is likely to be pegged at sub-Rs 500 billion for FY2025. Given the uncertainties involved in market transactions, it would be prudent to set a moderate target of sub-Rs 500 billion for FY2025, instead of a higher aim that may disrupt the budget math if there is a large shortfall in such receipts by the end of the fiscal, based on the past year trends. Furthermore, ICRA expects the revenue expenditure to increase by a modest ~4 per cent in FY2025, led by a moderate growth in interest payments amid a slight moderation in allocation for subsidies and a continued focus on curtailment of other expenses. It added, “We estimate the GoI to budget for a capex of Rs 10.2 trillion in FY2025, implying a relatively sedate YoY expansion of ~10 per cent, compared to over 20 per cent expansion seen in each of post-Covid years. The slowdown in capex growth is likely to have some bearing on economic activity and GDP growth.” As already mentioned above, ICRA expects the GoI to target a fiscal deficit of 5.3 per cent of GDP in FY2025, midway through the expected print of 6.0 per cent in FY2024 and the medium-term target of 4.5 per cent for FY2026.  

Ram temple tourism: Hospitality, travel industries create up to 20,000 jobs in Ayodhya

A surge in tourist inflows has already increased demand for accommodation and travel, “leading to a significant upswing in Ayodhya’s hospitality sector, with a particular focus on the establishment of adequate infrastructure to host travellers”, he said. “At least 10,000 jobs and up to about 20,000 positions were created in various roles related to hospitality, travel and tourism – including hotel staff, cooks, servers, drivers, etc. in the last six months,” said Balasubramanian A, vice president and head - consumer & ecommerce at TeamLease. According to several officials in the hospitality sector, thousands of jobs in areas such as hospitality managers, restaurant and hotel staff, logistics managers, drivers, etc are likely to open up towards the end of this year or the first half of 2025 – not just in Ayodhya but in neighbouring cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, etc - with hotel companies and restaurant owners keeping a close eye on how the demand-supply situation pans out.“In the next three-four months, we should get a clearer picture of the everyday traffic at the temple and the demand for manpower to cater to the devotees,” an industry executive said on condition of anonymity. According to estimates, Tirupati Balaji Temple, which is among the world’s richest temples and remains crowded all year round, attracts an average 50,000 daily devotees in a steady state and the number goes up to 100,000 on festival days or holidays.According to various estimates, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is likely to see traffic of between 300,000 to 700,000 people in the first week post inauguration.However, most of these jobs are temporary in nature and the count may go up or down, depending on how the demand pans out and the number of devotees that visit the temple, industry experts said. Typically, a hotel from construction stage to getting operational takes about 3-4 years, said Nandivardhan Jain, chief executive of Noesis Capital Advisors. Typically, a hotel from construction stage to getting operational takes about 3-4 years, said Nandivardhan Jain, chief executive of Noesis Capital Advisors. However, in the case of Ayodhya, various permissions could be fast-tracked and, so, the demand for manpower is expected to pour in within the next 18 to 24 months, he added.Hotel companies are watching how the demand-supply situation pans out. Currently Ayodhya is short in supply with only two big, branded hotels – Park Inn by Radisson and Cygnet.  

Cyprus faces backlash over use of British bases to bomb Houthis

The Cyprus government is facing growing criticism over British military bases on the island being used by UK and US forces to stage airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.President Nicos Christodoulides has been accused by activists of turning a blind eye to the risks the EU’s most easterly state might confront if the strategic facilities on the island continue to be deployed in military operations.The Guardian has learned that both the US ambassador and British high commissioner briefed the Cypriot president of imminent military action in Yemen before the first round of airstrikes last week.“There are ever more war planes taking off every day,” Tassos Costeas, a prominent Greek Cypriot peace activist, told the Guardian. “The dangers of Cyprus becoming a target are evident. The two installations, retained by the British after the country won independence in 1960 to end decades of colonial rule, operate as sovereign overseas territories beyond the reach of the republic. Both extend across 3% of Cyprus’s land mass, or 98 sq miles.Although never confirmed, EU diplomats in Nicosia, the island’s war-split capital, say US forces are present on the military installation. “If you look over the fence at Akrotiri you’ll see US military surveillance and other aircraft,” one said.On Tuesday, the Cyprus government’s spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, emphasised the eastern Mediterranean island was not involved in any military operations, intimating that under the bases’ treaty of establishment, the UK was not obliged to inform Cypriot authorities about activity in the facilities. “The government is in constant communication with the UK within the framework established in relation to the bases’ use,” he said.Protests mounted last week after RAF Akrotiri was used as a launch pad for Typhoon fighter jets conducting targeted airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen in retaliation for attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The pro-Palestinian militia has justified its assaults – with one of its missiles recently hitting a Greek-owned cargo ship – by saying it was acting in response to Israel’s ongoing offensive. In an apparent attempt to calm nerves in Cyprus, the British defence minister, Grant Shapps, was on the island on Friday meeting the president. “We want to do everything possible to ensure the security of Cyprus, which is in everyone’s best interests. We appreciate that you are in a difficult neighbourhood and want to do everything possible to make it easier,” he said. The Houthis, he claimed, “do not pose an immediate threat to Cyprus”.The US and UK strikes have exacerbated concerns of the Israel-Gaza war becoming a wider regional conflagration. Washington and London have vowed to continue the airstrikes if necessary. Cypriot activists say they are deeply concerned the British bases may also be used by the US and UK to send military aid to Israel, a claim neither country has confirmed.At Sunday’s protest, demonstrators chanted “out with the bases of death” outside the entrance of RAF Akrotiri, close to the coastal city of Limassol in the island’s south.Within weeks of the Hamas attack, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported that “more than 40 US transport aircraft, 20 British transport aircraft and seven heavy transport helicopters [had] arrived at the British Akrotiri base on the island. They carried equipment, arms and forces.”    

South Korea crowd crush: Seoul police chief charged over Halloween disaster in which 158 died

Seoul’s chief of police has been charged with professional negligence over the deadly Halloween crush in 2022 that killed nearly 160 people, prosecutors in the South Korean capital have said.Kim Kwang-ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), was charged with professional negligence resulting in injury or death, Seoul’s western district prosecutors’ office said in a statement released on Friday.As the chief of the SMPA, it is alleged he “did not take necessary measures, such as deploying sufficient police forces and ensuring proper command and supervision” on the day of the crush, the statement claimed, although he was able to “foresee potential dangers arising” from overcrowding in the nightlife area.Kim, the highest-ranking police official to face trial over the tragedy, was charged without detention.On 29 October 2022, tens of thousands of people – mostly in their 20s and 30s – had been out to enjoy post-pandemic holiday celebrations in Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife district. But the night turned deadly when people poured into a narrow, sloping alleyway between bars and clubs, leading to a crowd crush.In January last year, Kim and 22 other officials from the police, rescue and district offices were referred to prosecutors by a special police investigation team for their alleged involvement in the government’s mishandling of the crush. Prosecutors subsequently charged the heads of the police station in Seoul’s Yongsan district, which includes Itaewon, and the Yongsan Ward office, but had been undecided about charging Kim for more than a year.Friday’s statement alleged Kim, “along with the chief of the Yongsan police station and the head of the Yongsan Ward office who are currently on trial, collectively caused the deaths of 158 individuals and injuries to 312 individuals as a result of professional negligence”.Families of the victims said they regretted the prosecution’s lengthy decision-making process before charging Kim.“Chief Kim must immediately step down from his position and face trial,” the families said in a statement. “President Yoon Suk-yeol must dismiss Kim immediately.”Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama. Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.  

Can Japan do what ISROs Chandrayaan-3 did? All eyes on first moon landing of 2024

A successful soft landing of the Smart Lander on the lunar surface would put Japan in exclusive company, with just the US, USSR, China and India managing the feat already. Japan hopes to shake off a string of major setbacks to its space ambitions with an attempt to land a lander on the moon’s surface early Saturday morning.A successful soft landing of the Smart Lander on the lunar surface would put Japan in exclusive company, with just the US, Russia, China and India managing the feat already.  Japan beat arch-rival China in launching its first satellite in 1970 but has since taken a back seat to a series of high-profile Chinese space successes. That includes the world’s first ever soft landing on the far side of the moon in 2019, and landing on Mars in 2021. India has eclipsed Japan, too, succeeding in a second attempt last August by landing near the lunar south pole. For Japan, landing on the moon has been even tougher to crack. Its space agency, JAXA, lost contact with a lunar lander in late 2022, while Tokyo-based Ispace Inc. also suffered a communication failure with a craft bound for the moon last April. Other setbacks include the botched debut of JAXA’s H3 heavy-lift rocket, which failed after takeoff last March and hasn’t flown since. Meanwhile, JAXA’s smaller Epsilon rocket is grounded, too, following an explosion in October 2022.   

Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: The big 3 flagships compared

The heavyweight champions of smartphones go head-to-head! We compare the S24 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, has finally arrived on the scene. For those of you scratching your heads over which flagship phone to invest your cash in, the choices available on the market today could not get much better. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max are easily three of the most drool-worthy handsets out there at the moment.However, with more choices comes tougher decision-making. The short answer is that there’s no clearly superior option. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into identifying the key features that make each of these three smartphone heavyweights stand out from the crowd. This way, you can better analyze which one aligns best with your preferences. Starting with the exterior, none of these three phone models go crazy overboard when it comes to flashy design elements, but instead feature sleek, minimalistic aesthetic looks. Through very savvy marketing and brand image building, they have also each managed to establish instant visual recognition for their rear camera modules. The simple yet iconic floating camera lenses immediately scream “Samsung!” to consumers, while the elongated horizontal camera bar is synonymous with the Pixel brand. And of course, the iPhone’s distinctive triple camera array meticulously arranged in a floral-inspired pattern is quintessentially Apple. However, there are some clear distinctions. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is designed to for stylus use and thus has a squarish design that maximises the screen real estate you get. The phone also features a massive 6.8-inch display, the biggest out of the three, and resultantly is the widest, thickest, and heaviest out of the three. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have very similar dimensions with their 6.7-inch displays. Ultimately, the Pixel 8 Pro comes up on top in terms of in-hand comfort thanks to rounded edges and a weight of 213 grams vs the boxier and heavier design of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In terms of materials, it’s worth noting that both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature ultra-sturdy titanium alloy frames, while the Pixel 8 Pro sticks with the more conventional but still durable aluminum composition. Titanium is well known for its unmatched strength, but in reality, the difference may not necessarily be noticeable during average everyday use. For those who prioritise display size over all else, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the clear standout choice, as it offers the highest pixel density out of the three models, and can also blast out a downright dazzling peak brightness of up to 2600 nits. Despite the Galaxy S24 Ultra being outfitted with one of the fastest mobile processors currently available, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it still can’t hold a candle to the power of the A17 Pro chip integrated into the iPhone 15 Pro Max. From synthetic benchmarks to real-world usage, the A17 Pro processor simply runs merciless laps around Qualcomm’s silicon, thanks in large part to Apple’s vertically integrated software and hardware optimisations from the chip level all the way up to the operating system. The Google Tensor G3 utilised by the Pixel 8 Pro comes in a distant third place out of the three when it comes to processing muscle. In day-to-day use, you may not notice much of a difference, but when it comes to gaming, most developers still heavily prioritise optimisation for the iPhone and Galaxy chipsets alone, often leaving the Tensor-powered Pixels with second-rate performance.Despite packing in a noticeably smaller sized 4,441 mAh battery compared to the chunky 5,050 mAh and 5,000 mAh units found in the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra models respectively, the iPhone 15 Pro Max still manages to come out on top in terms of power efficiency and overall battery life. Although the S24 Ultra has not yet been independently tested, last year’s model suggests we can expect another extremely close matchup between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and S24 Ultra. The Pixel 8 Pro however is held back by its Tensor G3 chip which is known for running hotter than the competition and draining precious juice.  Calling a definitive winner here is a tough call, even though on paper the S24 Ultra appears to win when it comes to hardware specs, thanks in large part to its 200MP main lens. Samsung’s “Space Zoom” system on the S24 Ultra can even crop into an insane 100x zoom range. You’d be hard-pressed to find this unique zoom functionality on any other flagship phone sold in India today (with the exception perhaps being the Vivo X100). The tech industry is obsessed with generative AI. In fact, Samsung’s launch of the Galaxy S24 series was all about ‘Galaxy AI’. The S24 Ultra packs nifty AI camera tools like Generative Edit, which fills in background details using AI. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro sports a Magic Eraser to remove objects from photos and replace them with generated pixels. It also has Zoom Enhance to make zoomed shots more realistic.  

Samsung teases the Galaxy Ring, its newest fitness device

At the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled the name and design of the Galaxy Ring, an upcoming smart ring that might offer features similar to the Galaxy Watch. Here's everything we know so far about the new device After months of speculations and rumours, Samsung has officially confirmed the existence of the Galaxy Ring. Teased at the very end of the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung said that the smart ring is a “powerful and accessible” health and wellness device.At the event, Samsung only revealed the name and design of the upcoming wearable. However, chances are that Samsung will follow in the footsteps of other smart rings and offer fitness tracking features like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level, sleep tracking and step counter. According to Dr Matthew Wiggins, a clinical research scientist at Samsung Research, the Samsung Health app will soon get features like monitoring potential sleep apnea symptoms using sleep tracking algorithms, maintaining heart rate alerts in sleep and some changes to blood oxygen powered by Galaxy AI. He also teased a Fitbit-like feature called ‘My Vitality Score’, which tracks users track their physical readiness and mental preparedness based on their heart rate data, activity and sleep. A future update to the app will also remind users about medications they need to take and warn them about potential interactions with foods and other medications they might be on, hinting that the Galaxy Ring will also get these features apart from the standard fitness tracking functionalities the company offers with its smartwatch.Samsung said that the Galaxy Ring will be “coming soon”, but did not reveal information about the price and launch date. But if we take a look at some of the most popular smart rings available in the market like the Oura Ring 3, the Galaxy Ring might likely cost somewhere around $300.  

Suspect allegedly involved in shooting of Spain Vox party co-founder is arrested in Colombia

Colombian police say they have arrested a Venezuelan suspected of involvement in the alleged attempted assassination in Madrid last year of a co-founder of Spain’s far-right Vox party. Greg Oliver Higuera Marcano was wanted in connection with last year’s shooting of Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a former leader of Spain’s main rightwing political party in Catalonia who went on to co-found Vox, and is a former vice-president of the European parliament. The 78-year-old survived being shot in the head in November last year. Colombian police said in a statement that according to Spanish investigations, the Venezuelan had allegedly “participated logistically in the attack on Vidal-Quadras”.Higuera was “detected” by immigration officials on Tuesday as he “intended to enter Colombia via the Simón Bolívar international bridge” on the border with Venezuela, police said.A “coordination process” was now under way for Higuera to be presented to a court in Spain, the police statement said.Vidal-Quadras was leader of the conservative PP party in the north-eastern Catalonia region in the 1990s. He went on to be an MEP and then was among the founders of Vox, which he left shortly after its creation.Vidal-Quadras has previously accused the Iranian regime of being behind the assassination attempt. In October 2022, Vidal-Quadras was included in an Iranian sanctions list in retaliation for EU sanctions imposed on the country after the death in custody of a 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini.A Paris-based Iranian opposition group, the Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, has previously described Vidal-Quadras as a staunch ally and blamed the Iranian government for the attack.In November last year, Spain announced the arrest of three suspects in the “attempted terrorist assassination” of Vidal-Quadras.The suspected gunman, described by Spanish authorities as a Frenchman of Tunisian origins, has not been caught.    

New CNN head says network needs to recapture ‘swagger and innovation’

We’re committed to keeping our quality reporting open. By registering and providing us with insight into your preferences, you’re helping us to engage with you more deeply, and that allows us to keep our journalism free for all. You’ll always be able to control your own.  CNN’s new chief executive says the company needs to recapture the “swagger and innovation” of its early days – and that, he says, increasingly means embracing a future outside of television. Mark Thompson, appointed CNN’s chief executive last fall after stints at the New York Times and the BBC, outlined a strategy to his staff on Wednesday that included a corporate restructuring but few external specifics on how that transformation will take place.Once a “scrappy outsider”, CNN has been slow to respond to the reality of its primary television business shrinking, Thompson said in his memo.“There’s currently too little innovation and risk-taking,” Thompson said in the memo. “Like so many other news players with a broadcast heritage, CNN’s linear services and even its website can sometimes have an old-fashioned and unadventurous feel as if the world has changed and they haven’t.” CNN needs to follow the audience, and smartphones are where most people under 40 first turn for news, he said.To change the thinking, Thompson said the current national, international and digital teams need to be combined into one unit, under the leadership of Virginia Moseley as executive editor. Mike McCarthy will become CNN’s managing editor.Atlanta-based CNN is also hiring Alex MacCallum, currently chief revenue officer at the Washington Post, as an executive in charge of digital projects and services.That’s where Thompson, known for establishing the digital subscription service that transformed the Times as a business the past decade, will look for sustained revenue at CNN. It’s not clear whether this will mean a paid subscription service or other products. In the past, CNN hasn’t always “gone the extra mile to squeeze every bit of value from the outstanding news and other intellectual property we create”, he wrote. “No longer.” He said the CNN.com website needs “drastic modernization. .The network also needs multiple digital projects to complement the CNN Max streaming service, he said.With cord-cutting, the audience for cable television in the US has fallen by one-fifth in the past two years, he said. CNN’s full-day ratings averaged 479,000 in 2023, down 15% from a year earlier. Fox News Channel’s 1.22 million was down 18% and MSNBC’s 780,000 was up 6%, according to the Nielsen company. Thompson said CNN’s television personalities must find multi-platform audiences, and praised Anderson Cooper’s All There Is podcast about grief.