k go ktv

k go ktv After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey , U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office. Schumer’s calls come amid growing public concern that the federal government hasn’t offered clear explanations as to who is operating the drones, and has not stopped them. National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference. “There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday. “The answer ‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.” President-elect Donald Trump posted on social media last week: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.” Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said, without saying exactly how. The drones don’t appear to be linked to foreign governments, Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter,” Mayorkas said. Last year, federal aviation rules began requiring certain drones to broadcast their identities. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is operating the drones swarming locations in New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t immediately respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability. Schumer is calling for recently declassified radar technology to be used to help determine whether an object is a drone or a bird, identify its electronic registration, and follow it back to its landing place. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday said federal officials were sending a drone detection system to the state. “This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details, including where the system will be deployed. Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility and over Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.Infielder Ehire Adrianza retires at 35 after 12 major league seasons

ST. LOUIS — Robert Thomas scored twice, Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Nashville Predators 7-4 on Friday night. Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues, and defenseman Cam Fowler added a goal and two assists. Zack Bolduc, Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko also scored for St. Louis. Dylan Holloway had two assists. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault each had a goal and an assist for Nashville. Mark Jankowski and Nick Blankenburg also scored. Predators goalie Juuse Saros was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Thomas scored the first goal of the game and got another one on a power play at 15:10 of the third period off assists from Kyrou and Fowler to make it 6-4. Parayko added an empty-netter with 1:15 remaining. Nashville Predators' Jeremy Lauzon (3) and St. Louis Blues' Tyler Tucker (75) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane St. Louis scored on its first two shots. Thomas got an unassisted goal 1:20 into the game when he picked off a pass by Gustav Nyquist and scored with a wrist shot. Bolduc then fired in a slap shot from the right circle at 2:47. Takeaways Predators: Saros was pulled after he poked the puck directly to Broberg, who scored unassisted from the left circle at 15:29 of the second to make it 5-3. Justus Annunen replaced Saros and made 12 saves on 13 shots. Blues: Hofer improved to 5-0-1 in his last seven appearances. He is 8-3-1 this season. Key moment Fowler gave St. Louis a 4-2 lead at 18:05 of the first with a slap shot from inside the blue line for his first goal of the season. St. Louis acquired him from Anaheim in a Dec. 14 trade. St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane Key stat Thomas has 18 points in his last 12 games (six goals, 12 assists). Up next The Predators play Monday at Winnipeg. The Blues host Buffalo on Sunday.

Microsoft outage affects Outlook, Teams, other apps

( MENAFN - Newsfile Corp) Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2024) - In a significant move for Cryptocurrency enthusiasts, LBank Exchange, a premier global digital asset trading platform, has announced the listing of UP (UP Networkcoin) on December 14, 2024. The UP/USDT trading pair ( ) is available to users of LBank Exchange. UP (UP Networkcoin) Listing Banner To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: The cryptocurrency market is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by innovations in decentralized finance (DeFi), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and blockchain-based gaming. As digital assets continue to gain traction across various sectors, the gaming industry has emerged as one of the most dynamic areas for growth, attracting both investors and enthusiasts. In this evolving landscape, UP Network (UP) stands out by merging meme culture, NFTs, and GameFi, offering a decentralized platform on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) that provides a fresh and exciting gaming experience while empowering players. UP Network: Revolutionizing Blockchain Gaming with NFTs, Meme Culture, and GameFi on BSC UP Network is a decentralized token that integrates elements of meme culture, NFTs, and GameFi into a unified ecosystem. Built on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), UP Network aims to provide an innovative and engaging experience for both gamers and collectors by merging classic animated characters with the latest in blockchain technology. UP Network offers players a decentralized platform where they can participate in a range of fun activities. At the heart of UP Network is its iconic IP, which is brought to life through the creation of NFT cards. These cards serve as blind box physical equity certificates, offering holders exclusive access to various in-game features. Developed by a global team of blockchain and NFT experts, the UP Network aims to provide a decentralized network that fosters a seamless ecosystem for trading and interacting with digital assets. Players can burn UP tokens to acquire blind boxes, which open up opportunities to mint new characters, like Sphinx pets, or stake their tokens within the ecosystem. This system of token burning and NFT minting plays a crucial role in enhancing the platform's appeal, combining the best aspects of collectible art and blockchain gaming. The UP Network ecosystem is designed to be highly interactive, with a range of mini-games housed within the Sphinx playland. These games are lightweight, fast, and easy to access via a simple web interface, making them ideal for casual gamers and blockchain newcomers alike. Mini-games such as gem collecting, pet training, and power enhancement create an engaging environment where players can continuously explore new gameplay dynamics. Additionally, game developers are encouraged to contribute to the ecosystem by releasing innovative content, further enriching the experience and growing the overall gaming ecosystem within the UP Network. Furthermore, UP Network plans to make its platform as user-friendly as possible, lowering the barrier to entry by allowing players to start without the need for complex crypto processes, such as wallet creation or token transfers, thus making it an appealing option for mainstream gamers. UP Tokenomics The tokenomics of UP Network are strategically designed to ensure long-term sustainability and broad community involvement. With a total supply of 7,900,000,000,000,000,000 UP tokens, the project prioritizes accessibility and widespread distribution. The majority of tokens - 65% - are allocated to the community, empowering users to participate actively in the ecosystem. A further 25% is reserved for the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), ensuring governance and decision-making are in the hands of the community. The team and marketing efforts are each allocated 5%, supporting the project's development and growth. This token distribution model fosters a healthy, decentralized ecosystem where most tokens remain in circulation, driving increased engagement, liquidity, and long-term value creation for all participants. Learn More about UP Network: Website: X: About LBank Founded in 2015, LBank is a top crypto exchange offering financial derivatives, asset management, and secure trading. With over 15 million users across 210+ regions, LBank ranks in the top 20 for spot trading and top 15 for derivatives trading globally, ensuring fund integrity and supporting global crypto adoption. Start Trading Now: lbank Community & Social Media: Telegram Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Press contact: ... Business Contact: LBK Blockchain Co. Limited LBank Exchange ... ... To view the source version of this press release, please visit SOURCE: LBank MENAFN15122024004218003983ID1108995478 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Doing things a little differently this time round as I have three controllers to cover and a whole range of features and specs to compare, so a head-to-head seemed the best way to capture what each one has to offer and whether there is a lemon in the bunch. I most recently reviewed the , the world's first TMR stick controller to hit the market. TMR sticks continue the same magnetic sensor tech that hall effect sensors use but go several steps further with higher resolution, lower latency and lower power consumption. PB Tails has been very receptive to review and customer feedback: we have seen several updates to the Defender in recent times, the latest enabling a 1000Hz polling rate over the 2.4GHz dongle, which I can confirm works well. I say this because at least one of the controllers in this head-to-head supports 2000Hz polling over wireless. It seems various brands are jumping on the high polling rate wagon, which is great to see; many are now coming out of the box with 1000Hz wired and wireless. The three controllers are: : : : In this feature, I will examine whether the respective polling rate numbers alone can help improve the gaming experience or if they are just improving benchmark measurements. Some of my findings were surprising. The BEITONG is the first controller I have used with a 2000Hz polling rate, for example, and whilst I appreciate that all three are priced and specced differently, they all market themselves as high-tier game controllers. If their model names were not enough to give that away anyway with the use of Pro and Master, etc. So then, price is not the only factor in a buying decision here. Features, performance, and feel in the hands all matter, too. However, it does help that whilst all three of these controllers offer different features that may appeal to different people, they are not a world apart in price, so someone looking specifically for a controller that doubles up to Nintendo and PC gaming combined may prefer the Tarantula Pro at £60 vs. the NYXI P1 at £50 which does not offer the convenience features that GameSir offers. One lucky Neowin reader also stands a chance to win a GameSir Tarantula Pro. Instructions on how to enter are at the end of the review. Whilst GameSir has kindly offered up shipping to the lucky winner, all my findings in this review have been presented without pre-screening by any controller manufacturer. I tell it like I find it! All three controllers are entirely plastic with a subtle texture finish to them. The underside of the grips has a more coarse texturing, with the NYXI P1 being the only one that has rubberised grip faces, which actually feels rather nice. The BEITONG Asura has a pearl white colourway that glistens as any light bounces off the surface. I really like this theme and beats the usually boring plain black we see all too often, kudos for doing something different there. I also like the clear ABXY face buttons, these are not removable, but they do look and feel nice enough, although compared to the other two, and all other controllers I have used, the button spacing is rather wide which can feel odd at times. Nevertheless, these are very short-throw mechanical switches that are very easy to spam, almost too easy. In fact, as I realised, I was actuating them just by gently resting a finger on top, sometimes in the heat of the moment during gameplay. My personal preference is am medium throw button with a solid tactile feedback, membrane or mechanical doesn't matter too much, it's the feedback that is important. This is where the NYXI does a better job. The sound isn't as nice as on the BEITONG due to being membrane face buttons, but the positive is that they are medium-throw and offer Button spacing on the P1 is semi-wide, somewhere in between the GameSir and the BEITONG. The Tarantula Pro is the most premium in design, features and feel. Imagine a PlayStation 4 Dual-Shock controller but re-imagined for the modern gamer. This is it. The ABXY face buttons are membrane but custom tactile with a medium throw. A more satisfying level of tactility than most other controllers I have used in the last 18 months. I would liken the actuation force needed to press them to slightly higher than the PB Tails Crush Defender, another controller with what I think are excellent feeling ABXY buttons. Apart from the ABXY buttons, all the other face buttons on the Tarantula Pro are microswitch/mechanical, with the shoulder buttons being membrane tactile, with physical lockouts on the triggers for hair-trigger mode, which actuates Kailh micro-switches, just like on the D-pad, which is nicely oversized. A nice touch on the Asura is that on the underside is a little cubby tray where the USB dongle can be stowed away when traveling with the controller or when it is not in use. This is the first time I have seen such a convenient feature on a controller, though it is basic and requires longer nails to pinch the dongle to eject it. Each controller features remappable back buttons, though only the Tarantula Pro offers fully featured customisation through the use of the software on the Microsoft Store or . The joysticks between all three have a different feel, which may appeal to different types of gamers. My own preference much prefers the higher quality and grippy feel of the Tarantula Pro's stick caps. They feel just like those found on first-party controllers from Sony and others, meanwhile, the P1 and Asura sticks have a lower-quality silicone/rubber material that I found felt too slippery In fact, the additional cost of the Tarantula Pro is more justified by the inclusion of some unique features, and I don't mean the TMR sticks or the symmetrical stick layout. I am on about the included stand if opting for that version: It's not just the stand, though, the software side of things is superior to most other controllers, more on that shortly. The comfort and feel of the Tarantula sit firmly alongside the metal PB Tails Defender for me. It feels like what it costs; though it doesn't have the metal weight and heft of the Defender, it does have the rigidity, and the HD Rumble haptic motors trump every other controller mentioned here today, as well as essentially all controllers I have handled to date that don't have an official PlayStation Dual Sense name in the title. The Connect software allows full control over essentially every button on the Tarantula Pro. However, it only offers one profile to use for this controller, whereas the newer Cyclone 2 controller has up to four profiles available. Slightly annoying! You can even remap the buttons to keyboard commands and shortcuts, and these are stored on-board NYXI do not have any software, everything is barebones and has to be done via button press combos. Meanwhile, BEITONG does have a similar piece of software to GameSir called the BEITONG Gamepad Assistant, though to my surprise and wary mind, it's just a zip file download with a 500MB package inside, and as I do with anything I download from an unknown URL, a VirusTotal scan resulted in the following: This did not inspire me with confidence. I double-checked the source website that linked to the zip file, and it was indeed from BEITONG, and they do state this in the user manual: Again, not really confidence-inspiring. I emailed BEITONG about this and asked why the software was not on either app store. The only answer I got was that the software was safe and that I should not worry about it. Needless to say, I did not run the software, so I have not been able to fully test all features of the Asura as a result of this. It could well be a set of false positives, but 7 flags, with one of them being Google, does make my eyebrows rise. The downside to this, too, is that the Asura's 2.4GHz Nearlink connection offering 2000Hz polling rates cannot be used without the software to toggle it on. By default, it is set to 1000Hz over wireless, whilst 2000Hz worked OK when wired, which averaged 1400Hz in my testing. With no reasonable answer given to me by BEITONG as to why the software is not available on a recognised storefront or why the zip package flags up these hits, I only tested the out-of-the-box performance of the controller. None of the customisable features are possible without the software, so none of these were tested due to this issue. This may be acceptable to some, but I regard security and software integrity quite highly, it is important that such things are easily accessible from a source that is recognised and has its own internal security policy being enforced on app developers. Only one controller here has a true ace up its sleeve. The Tarantula Pro has a motorised gear system that converts the ABXY buttons to the Nintendo layout. Not only is it visibly cool looking in action, but it has a cool sound to it as well, take a look: The physical shift to Nintendo layout also adapts the mapping of the buttons accordingly, so there's no need to remap buttons in your game or Steam or emulator/Switch. Questions have been raised as to the longevity of this mechanism, anything with moving parts is sure to eventually fail, this of course remains to be seen and only time will tell. All I can say is I did have to open one of my Tarantula Pros for another purpose and had a brief look at the mechanism. Nothing stood out as flimsy, so I have every confidence it will last many years, probably even beyond the typical recharge cycle life of the battery anyway. Though credit where due for the price, the NYXI Master P1 offers decent value for what you get, even if the feature extensions are cut down, such as only 500Hz polling in wired mode, slower in wireless, no software to customise things, reduced customisation on-board and cheaper feeling materials around the joysticks and membrane tactility. This is one area that divides people in the gaming community. I have seen plenty of people hate the oversized mechanical D-pad on the Tarantula Pro as they find it unusable for certain games, yet I have no issues with the same games. Everyone has a different preference, and not everyone has the same hand or finger size. Hell, not everyone holds a controller the same way! So how a button layout, the size of the d-pad feel, and the feedback the tactility provides are hugely important. With that in mind, and with my experience now using countless controllers with various sizes of the d-pad, from a mechanical switch to a membrane, my current favorite is the Tarantula Pro, thanks to how the cross is sized and how the micro switches are fenced off. What I mean by that is that when you press down on one cross direction and wiggle that direction, you do not actuate by accident another cross direction, leading to activation of a diagonal when you don't want to. This often leads to a forward or backward jump in fighting games, for example. when holding just left or right. As an example, to demonstrate the issue, the Asura does not have a decently fenced-off d-pad, so the problem is clearly seen above where I am holding the left button and wiggling it, which then activates up and down. The Master P1 fares better here, although it is still not completely fenced. The button sounds are important to many gamers, too, sometimes just as important as the feel and feedback. Take a listen to each controller: Gone are the days where there was a noticeable difference in stick performance during actual gameplay, now hall effect and the recent release TMR stick controllers are so good, most sporting at least 1000Hz polling rates, that you'd have to have used several controllers to tell subtle differences apart. That's not to say that there are no real differences between these three controllers because there are plenty, but what matters most is the stick filtering or processing. A lot of controller makers still apply filtering to stick movement, which then results in a latency delay that can be observed in fast gaming situations and can also be captured with a phone camera in slow-motion mode. I have shown this before with other controllers, and it is an easy way to see where the subtle differences are and how much filtering a particular controller is applying. In all my testing, only TMR stick controllers seem to have the lowest amount of filtering, which results in a more natural response in the form of feedback to gradual and twitch movements on the sticks. The following response latency tests were done using a 240fps camera capturing a 240Hz OLED display, which has a 0.0xms pixel response time. These slow-motion captures are useful for visualizing what the most sensitive of gamers may be able to notice. UIsing the Tarantula Pro as the reference point, here are the results: Now let's look at how the BEITONG performs: Notice the latency during snap-back? how about the Master P1: The Tarantula Pro and Asura both pull at high polling rates in these tests, whilst the Master P1 hits up to 500Hz but mostly averages 188Hz. With TMR sticks, the polling rate doesn't seem to make a huge difference to this test, whereas it does on Hall Effect sticks. Before the update, the PB Tails Defender at 125Hz had a similar response to the above test as it now does in 1000Hz mode, the same as the Tarantula Pro. What I mean by this is that the TMR sticks at a lower polling rate respond as good as, if not better than, Hall Effect sticks at higher polling rates. Can this difference be noticed in regular games? The short answer is no, for the casual gamers playing games that aren't Call of Duty or similar, all these controllers will feel quick, but the most natural feeling, as if it's an extension of the thumbs is definitely one with TMR sticks. Having said that, some new stick technology will very soon be announced and released, with even higher bit-depth resolution, lower power consumption, and reduced magnetic interference potential. Stay tuned for details on this in an upcoming review :) Another area of importance is whether you can enable raw mode for the sticks and defeat the fake circle filtering. Usually, this can be done with a simple button combo or by using the controller's software/app. What this does is make use of the full sensor square to extend the operating range in each corner, which is useful for many games and preferred by many gamers. It's like enabling mouse raw input in a game's settings in a way. First up, the Tarantula Pro: Here we see some inner deadzone by default as each axis rests at the same value, this is fine as the deadzone can be customised in the software, not that it's needed since it's so precise anyway. An average error rate in the raw mode of 9% is perfect and what I'd expect to see from a well-calibrated stick at the factory in this mode. Next, the Asura: I can't enable raw mode as the software is needed for that, so by default, the BEITONG uses filtered circles, as shown by the 0.1% error rate. This is fairly common across the board. It's rare to find a controller that has raw mode out of the box, but not being able to toggle it with a button combo and being forced to use the software is annoying. Finally, the Master P1: Heavy filtering here on this controller, and no way to turn it off since there is no software, and NYXI does not have button combos either. A shame. I continued testing with various games across platforms and found that the d-pad on the Asura genuinely felt the worst. The size of the pad is too small to feel good, and the finishing material is rather cheap, the type of plastic that rubs away, leaving the primer underneath after some time, or at least it feels that way anyway. The D-pad on the Master P1 isn't much different in size, but it feels considerably nicer to use thanks to its better shape and concave recess, with the Tarantula Pro, of course, feeling the nicest out of all of them. All three controllers have their own set of USPs, although to the detriment of BEITONG's reliance on the software suite to change anything functional on the controller. Many of the customisations should also be available as button combos, but they are not. The Asura should also be 2000Hz out of the box, but again, you need the software to enable it. The Tarantula Pro comes in with a controller that feels familiar in the hands (PS4 gamers will know what's up), whilst adding a whole bunch of customisations that are easy to tailor to your individual needs. It's a shame that you can only have one profile, as having a set of button mappings for PC, another for Switch, and so on would have been useful. That's really the only negative aspect of the controller. The price is justified by the suite of features and the high-end performance on the table. Meanwhile, the NYXI Master P1 makes a commendable effort, although only being a bit cheaper means it falls short by lacking any real customisation. The trigger lockouts to enable hair trigger mode also feel much less robust than that on the Tarantula Pro, whilst the BEITONG has no lockout at all. GameSir's new Cyclone 2 may be an alternative option, too, my review of that is coming soon so stay tuned. The Cyclone 2 has the same TMR sticks and tactility as the Tarantula Pro but is much closer to the Master P1's price. As for this trio, my recommendation goes to the Tarantula Pro. It's a jack of all trades, and that mechanised ABXY switching system is ingenious. The stand version is more expensive but offers the convenience of never having to plug it in. I can't really recommend the BEITONG due to all the issues mentioned, but once they get the software situation sorted out, then this can be re-visited. I can see the potential with BEITONG, absolutely, but with so much being restricted by a software decision means it doesn't quite cut it for me, especially when the competition has better offerings with one of those issues. My ultimate recommendation would have to be the Tarantula Pro out of these three. Yes it's a little more expensive with the stand, but you get so much more controller for the money and the fully remappable buttons have been hugely convenient given they are stored onboard and don't need the software to be running to work. For those of you looking for alternative controllers with TMR sticks, the PB Tails edition is competitively priced and offers all the performance and internal features of the Defender limited edition, as well as GameSir's own which I will have a review of very soon.

Nicholas Hoult gifted Bill Skarsgard's prosthetic penis from Nosferatu and has it 'framed'

Legal hurdles ahead for Google's forced sale of Chrome

HALIFAX - A Nova Scotia charity is serving at least 600 free traditional dinners over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spread a little bit of holiday cheer. The Souls Harbour Rescue Mission is offering a sit-down turkey dinner with all the fixings for people who need “food or friends” at mission locations across the province. It’s the first time the group is serving the meals over the holidays since it started providing community service in 2010. Michelle Porter, the CEO, says the charity has been raising funds for Christmas festivities since November and estimates the cost for events during the holiday season is around $1 million. Meals will differ slightly at mission locations across the province, but Porter says all plates will have turkey, potatoes, cranberry, gravy and some vegetables. People who attend will also get a Christmas stocking that includes a mini hygiene set and a few treats like chocolate, gloves and socks. About 400 people will eat today in Lower Sackville, Bridgewater, Truro and Sydney Mines, while Porter estimates 200 people will share a meal together in Halifax on Christmas Day.Police recover hostages without paying ransom in Rahimyar Khan Police force kidnappers to flee via use of modern weapons, armoured vehicles and night vision technology, A representational image showing Punjab Police personnel during an operation in this image released on August 15, 2024. — Facebook/Police Department Rahim Yar khan RAHIMYAR KHAN: In a daring operation, Punjab Police successfully rescued two hostages, Usman Maqbool, a prominent baker from Sadiqabad, and Badshah Ji, a Hindu youth, without paying ransom. Acting on a tip-off, police teams, led by DPO Rizwan Umar Gondal, intercepted the kidnappers in the border area of Sindh during an attempted transfer of the hostages. Utilizing modern weapons, armoured vehicles, and night vision technology, the police forced the kidnappers to flee, eaving the victims tied up but unharmed. The operation was met with widespread public praise, as citizens welcomed the police with rallies and slogans of “Long live Punjab Police.” DPO Gondal reaffirmed the police’s commitment to eradicating crime and ensuring public safety. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); });

Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner’s support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter’s core mechanic. That’s unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky’s growth trajectory — with a user base that more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who flocked to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil. “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users, such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta’s platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that attracted users who grew tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users began reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots’ messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he initiallydetected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted this month that it quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. Get local news delivered to your inbox!PPA Asia and MLP Asia Set to Launch, Bringing World-Class Pro Pickleball to the World’s Most Populous Continent

Web3 is intended to shift control from centralized entities to users and to enable secure, decentralized operations. Where Web2 requires intermediaries, Web3 relies on blockchain technology to provide direct, trustless interactions. Examples in this space are Chainlink and Polkadot. Chainlink introduces a decentralized oracles where smart contracts will safely interact with external data. Polkadot develops cross-chain interoperability: several blockchains can talk to one another and allow asset transfers. These are very crucial for infrastructure and primarily are applications based on technical functionality rather than end-user applications. Web3Bay differentiates itself here. As a decentralized e-commerce platform, it offers a secure trading space for digital assets, integrating blockchain's transparency with effective e-commerce functionalities. Distinctively, Web3Bay focuses on user interaction and inclusivity, accommodating crypto and conventional payments, such as PayPal. Web3Bay enhances user empowerment through community governance and incentivizes involvement with its 3BAY token, presenting a more adaptable, user-oriented approach within the Web3 domain. Chainlink: Reliable Data Feeds for Smart Contracts Chainlink offers decentralized oracles that connect blockchain networks with real-world data. In a decentralized setting, smart contracts require external data to work properly, such as price feeds, weather information, or other essential data. Chainlink addresses this need through decentralized oracles that gather data from multiple sources, ensuring its accuracy and security from tampering. Chainlink is crucial in the DeFi (Decentralized Finance) sector, where precise data is key for functions like lending, borrowing, and trading protocols. Yet, Chainlink mainly focuses on providing data feeds, which makes it less flexible for uses like e-commerce and user-centric platforms. Its applications are mostly confined to boosting smart contract operations rather than meeting wider market needs like customer interaction and digital commerce. Dependable decentralized oracles. Accurate data feeds for smart contracts. Limited use beyond smart contract data. Mainly targets DeFi, not consumer markets. Polkadot: Boosting Blockchain Interoperability Polkadot tackles a major issue in blockchain technology: interoperability. Its network of multiple chains (parachains) allows different blockchains to communicate and share data securely. By linking various chains, Polkadot improves scalability and lets projects utilize features from different blockchains smoothly. Its collective security model ensures that all parachains have the same security level while allowing them to tailor their governance. Polkadot excels in supporting cross-chain DeFi applications and solutions that need interoperability. However, its emphasis on blockchain infrastructure means it is less effective in directly engaging consumer-focused sectors like e-commerce. For developers aiming to create dApps or DeFi protocols that require cross-chain capabilities, Polkadot provides a solid base. Still, it lacks direct integrations with payment systems or consumer platforms, restricting its practical use for everyday consumers. Promotes interoperability and scalability. Strong security with its shared relay chain. Focuses mainly on infrastructure and cross-chain initiatives. Not tailored for consumer interaction or ease of use. Web3Bay: A New Era in Online Shopping with Blockchain Web3Bay approaches the e-commerce sector with a decentralized model, allowing users to securely buy, sell, and trade digital assets while controlling their data. It runs on a robust Layer-1 blockchain, offering a scalable and transparent system for online deals. Unlike conventional platforms that depend on central servers, Web3Bay uses decentralized storage through IPFS, which greatly reduces the risk of data breaches. What distinguishes Web3Bay is its emphasis on rewarding users and community-based decision-making. Its own currency, 3BAY, is used for transactions, rewards for participation, and for voting on platform matters. Users enjoy a 5% discount when using 3BAY tokens and participate in governance through decentralized voting. Currently, during its first presale phase, 3BAY tokens are available at just $0.003 each, with prices set to rise by 15% in future presales. Web3Bay also incorporates common payment methods like PayPal and supports cross-chain interactions with Ethereum and BNB Chain, positioning it as a link between standard e-commerce and the decentralized Web3 domain. This opens it up to both those familiar with crypto and newcomers to blockchain tech. Decentralized online marketplace with secure data handling. User-driven governance enhances engagement. Accepts both cryptocurrency and traditional payment methods. Promising presale terms for early backers. It is a fresh project, still in its initial phases. Not yet fully embraced by the market. Why Web3Bay Outperforms Others? Whereas Chainlink is known for reliable data feeds and Polkadot to improve blockchain interoperability, Web3Bay is making headway by providing a decentralized platform specifically for e-commerce. It combines blockchain's safety, incentives for users, and frictionless payment options to deal with the constraints of traditional online marketplaces. The main appeal of Web3Bay is the user empowerment approach. It gives secure transactions and empowers the users to take control over its governance. Currently, it is in Presale Stage 1. Here, early investors can buy tokens at just $0.003 per token. It provides a great investment opportunity since prices are going to shoot up in the subsequent stages. For those who are looking to join the Web3 revolution, Web3Bay brings a holistic and applied approach by combining blockchain's advantages with the ease of traditional e-commerce processes. Its dedication to the engagement of users, reward systems, and decentralized power makes it a versatile and influential project in comparison to Chainlink and Polkadot. Presale: https://web3bay.io/buy Website: https://web3bay.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/web3bayofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/web3bayofficial/ Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.If you haven't been on Elon Musk's X platform lately, you may have missed some of the most heated - and most frank - public debate in recent memory by incoming Trump administration officials and other conservatives on the value of the highly coveted H-1B foreign worker visas. President-elect Donald Trump has yet to weigh in, but his advisers and supporters appear to have very conflicting opinions on whether the H-1B visas are indeed "making America great again". According to the Department of Labor, the H-1B program is designed for "nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations... of distinguished merit and ability". A specialty occupation must include "the attainment of at least a bachelor's degree", and the programme is meant to "help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the US workforce". A large portion of Trump's base is passionately opposed to greater immigration to the US, even if that means skilled labour, but some of Trump's most high-profile appointees to his incoming administration are staunchly in favour of it, deeming it a necessity, and want to increase its volume. The current debate began last week when the president-elect appointed Indian-American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as senior policy adviser for artificial intelligence on the incoming White House team. Krishnan previously worked at Microsoft and was one of the founders of Windows Azure. Just before Christmas, one of Krishnan's earlier on X resurfaced, calling for an increase in skilled immigration - a reference to the H-1B program. He hoped Musk would tackle the issue in his new role. DOGE, Krishnan said, should do "anything to remove country caps for green cards / unlock skilled immigration". DOGE is the so-called Department of Government Efficiency initiated by the incoming Trump administration and will be c0-headed by South African immigrant, billionaire and Tesla CEO Musk, as well as Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential contender and first-generation Indian immigrant. Krishnan was met with racist backlash from hundreds of Trump supporters, particularly after he was announced for the White House role. But both Musk and Ramaswamy lent him their support, agreeing that more foreign talent is necessary to fill what they feel are glaring gaps in US companies - and to keep the US the most competitive in the world. "The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low," Musk wrote on his social media platform. "If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win." He that he is "referring to bringing in via legal immigration the top ~0.1% of engineering talent as being essential for America to keep winning". Ramaswamy took the argument a step further, American society itself. "Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer). That doesn't start in college, it starts YOUNG," he wrote on X. "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers," he added. "I know *multiple* sets of immigrant parents in the 90s who actively limited how much their kids could watch those TV shows precisely because they promoted mediocrity... and their kids went on to become wildly successful STEM graduates," referring to Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics degrees. "'Normalcy' doesn't cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. And if we pretend like it does, we'll have our asses handed to us by China," he added. The backlash was swift from Trump supporters. "Turns out the 'waste' that DOGE wanted to cut from America was Americans," Auron MacIntyre, a columnist at the conservative news site The Blaze. Another user writing under a pseudonym said, "I'm still waiting on how this strategy benefits current Americans that worked to put [Ramaswamy] in this position." The post also triggered a wave of rampant racism directed primarily at Indians, coming from Trump supporters and opponents of immigration. Other notable figures also weighed in. Political analyst and founder of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer, : "It's hard to win over Americans on attracting the best and the brightest from abroad when so many feel their own elected leaders haven't invested in them at home. Prioritize that, walk the talk, you (eventually) get more support for legal immigration." But it was the remarks from far-right political commentator and Trump loyalist Laura Loomer that may have been the most inflammatory, as she called Indians "third world invaders" and that "the average IQ in India is 76". Replying to another user who said they wouldn't want to live in India, she "you'd likely get raped on arrival". Loomer has 1.4 million followers on X. Citing an H-1B salary database for tech workers, she wrote that "nobody can afford to live off $70,000 in today's America," suggesting that tech CEOs prefer foreign workers because they could pay them less. Loomer's account on X was then suspended for 12 hours. As X users watched the feud play out over the holiday period, a self-described Democrat named Carlos Turnbull posted: "Loomer is noticeably not saying anything about Trump also bringing in H-1B workers to staff his clubs and Trump Vineyards. Probably just an oversight." The American Immigration Council says only 65,000 H-1B visas are awarded yearly, with 20,000 more going to people whose postgraduate studies were at US institutions. Most of these workers are in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, otherwise known as STEM. The H-1B visa lasts three years and can be extended for six. The employer must petition the government for it on a prospective worker's behalf, and if successful, the employer can also later choose to sponsor that worker for a Green Card: a permanent US residency. Currently, some 700,000 people work in the US under H-1B status. Over 85 percent of H-1B petitions received go to people of Indian (75 percent) and Chinese (12 percent) origin with Canada, South Korea and the Philippines rounding out the . The demand for H1-B visas far outstrips the supply and studies have shown that the programme fills employment gaps. Trump's first administration denied a larger portion of H1-B petitions compared to President Barack Obama's administration. The cities with the highest number of H1-B workers are in New York, San Jose, San Francisco and Dallas.

Rahul Vadisetty: Harnessing AI to revolutionize predictive healthcare

India News | CM Dhami Remembers Indramani Badon's Contributions in Uttarakhand Statehood MovementNFL Insider: Ben Johnson 'Wants to Make Sure He Can Succeed' as HC If He Leaves Lions