Hi all! ICYMI, I introduced myself a couple weeks ago. I am the new water and cropping systems Extension Instructor for Dawson, Buffalo, and Hall counties. I aim to serve farmers and agricultural specialists to improve farm operations and profitability. Some ways for me to do this are to host pesticide training programs, answer any questions relating to agriculture and cropping systems, and provide additional programs that are of interest to farmers in the area. Talon Mues Some areas of interest to me include water quality and quantity (chemigation), pest management and drone technology. However, my main interest is addressing questions and concerns that you may have. This week I would like to talk about pesticide training. As an Extension Instructor, it is my responsibility that growers and applicators know how to properly prepare, apply, store and manage pesticides. Those who apply chemicals for private use, which does not include commercial, noncommercial or chemigation applications, will be required to renew their license every three years. Private pesticide training includes laws and regulations, pesticide label information, pesticide safety, environmental protection, integrated pest management and more. Training dates and times for private pesticide license renewal can be found online at the Nebraska Extension Pesticide Safety Training Program website at https://pested.unl.edu/ . Also, training dates, times and locations will be mailed to each applicator in need of license renewal. This letter will come from your local Extension Office with all the information for the pesticide trainings; please keep an eye out for this letter. Another letter or re-certification form will come from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The letter from NDA contains a barcode you will need to bring to your training session. To register for any of these trainings hosted by Nebraska Extension, call your local extension office. The office can also address any complications or concerns you may have with pesticide trainings. If you cannot attend an in-person training other options are available. There are online/self-study training options available as well as crop production clinics that have additional resources for farming operations with a built-in re-certification for private applicators. Additional information on these options for private pesticide renewal can be found in the letter sent out by your local Nebraska Extension Office. Other trainings are also available for commercial and noncommercial applicators. These trainings are different from the trainings already mentioned. If you are looking to get your initial or recertification for a commercial/noncommercial license, information can be found at the Nebraska Extension Pesticide Safety Training Program website ( https://pested.unl.edu/ ) as well. Remember to attend a meeting with the proper categories. These categories are important and required depending on the type of pesticide application planned. Some examples of commercial/noncommercial categories include agricultural pest control (01), ornamental and turf pest control (04), non-soil and structural fumigation (11), aerial pest control (12), and more. A full list of categories is provided on the Nebraska Pesticide Safety Education Program website. Registration for in-person trainings started Dec 16. The final pesticide trainings provided by Nebraska Extension are chemigation trainings. These trainings provide information on proper irrigation system requirements, chemigation practices, and instruction for needed calculations. A chemigation license must be renewed every four years and requires passing the chemigation license exam. If your chemigation license is expired, you must complete training and the exam before you chemigate in 2025. Online training is available and requires completion of modules in order for the certification exam to appear. If you register for online training in 2024, it must be completed by Dec. 31 to receive certification credit. Starting Jan. 1, chemigation training will become available for 2025. I am looking forward to seeing those who need pesticide certifications. Talon Mues is a Nebraska Extension Instructor for Dawson, Buffalo and Hall counties, focusing on water and cropping systems. Contact him at 308-324-5501 or tmues3@unl.edu Get local news delivered to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. People are also reading... New director transitioning to role at community food pantry Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Gage County says board had authority to deny permit for broadband provider Meyn, charged in death of 4-month-old, has case continued to March Sex offender arrested for not reporting change in employment Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team At the courthouse, Dec. 14, 2024 Main Street welcomes new director Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park As Brenda Lee turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple Milke pre-trial hearing in Beatrice shooting death continued to March Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Lost Luggage Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: Alert the airline, both in person and in writing, of any missing bags. Remember, the clock starts ticking immediately. After 21 days, the baggage is considered lost and the airline is liable for it and its contents. Contact the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or Canadian Transportation Agency , who will query the airline on your behalf and give them a 30-day deadline to respond. Usually, the airline will resolve the issue, but if it doesn't, or if you're unsatisfied with the offer, the next level is mediation. Beyond that, the case could move to adjudication, a court-like process with a panel deciding on the outcome. On international flights, you have up to two years to file litigation. If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Delayed/Cancelled Flights Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Flight Compensation in the U.S. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." Flight Compensation in Canada The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: A plane must return to its gate after three hours on the tarmac. Minimum requirements will be set for procuring food, drink, lavatories, ventilation, and access to electronic communications during the delay. For larger airlines, payouts will range from $400 for a 3-6 hour delay, to $700 for 6-9 hours, and $1,000 for more than nine hours. For smaller carriers, the compensation would be $125, $250, and $500, respectively. Here's the loophole: If the delay is related to the air carrier's maintenance problems, no compensation is required. The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Bumped Off the Flight Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Time for Europe to redefine its ties with Africa

As the countdown to the release of GTA6 continues, the gaming industry remains on high alert, with all eyes on Rockstar Games for any hints or announcements regarding the game's launch date. The careful dance of scheduling and strategic planning plays out behind the scenes, as developers and publishers strive to position their releases for maximum impact and success. While the shadow of GTA6 looms large, industry peers are rising to the challenge, determined to navigate the crowded marketplace and emerge unscathed from the inevitable clash of titans.

One of the regions that could feel the immediate impact of these developments is the Taiwan Strait. With tensions already running high between Taiwan and China, the US's renewed strength and assertiveness could prompt Beijing to take a more aggressive stance towards the self-governing island. The potential for increased military posturing and brinkmanship in the Taiwan Strait is a cause for concern, as any escalation in this volatile region could have devastating consequences.

Title: New Recruits' Parents Witness Their Children's "Rite of Passage" in the Military: Over a Thousand New Soldiers Receive Titles and Take Oaths to Embark on a New JourneyGENEVA (AP) — Netflix has secured the U.S. broadcasting rights to the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031 as the streaming giant continues its push into live sports. The deal announced Friday is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament. The value was not given, though international competitions in women’s soccer have struggled to draw high-value offers. “Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix isn’t just about streaming matches,” its chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. “It’s also about celebrating the players, the culture and the passion driving the global rise of women’s sport.” Netflix dipped into live sports last month with more than 60 million households watching a heavily hyped boxing match between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul. Some viewers reported streaming problems , however. Netflix also will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. That’s part of a three-year deal announced in May. World Cups are typically broadcast on free-to-air public networks to reach the biggest audiences, and the last women's edition in 2023 earned FIFA less than 10% of the men's 2022 World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had publicly criticized public broadcasters , especially in Europe, for undervaluing offers to broadcast the 2023 tournament that was played in Australia and New Zealand. That tournament was broadcast by Fox in the U.S. “This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” Infantino said. The World Cup rights mark another major step in Netflix’s push into live programming. It’s recipe that Netflix has cooked up to help sell more advertising, a top priority for the company since it introduced a low-priced version of its streaming service that includes commercials two years ago. The ad-supported version is now the fastest growing part of Netflix’s service, although most of its 283 million worldwide subscribers till pay for higher-priced options without commercial. But Netflix is still trying to sell more ads to boost its revenue, which is expected to be about $30 billion. Netflix executives have predicted it might take two or three years before its ad sales become a major part of its revenue. Netflix expects to spend about $17 billion on programming this year — a budget that the Los Gatos, California, company once funneled almost entirely into scripted TV series and movies. But Netflix is now allocating a significant chunk of that money to sports and live events, a shift that has made it a formidable competitor to traditional media bidding for the same rights. FIFA will likely use the Netflix deal to drive talks with European broadcasters that likely will be hardball negotiations. Soccer finance expert Kieran Maguire, a co-host of The Price of Football podcast, suggested the deal was “a bit of a gamble" for FIFA and “saber-rattling” by Infantino. “(Netflix) get experience of football broadcasting, FIFA can say, ‘we are now partnering with a blue chip organization, so watch out you nasty Europeans,’” Maguire, an academic at the University of Liverpool, said in a telephone interview. FIFA and Infantino also want to raise the price of broadcast deals to help fund increased prize money and close the gender pay gap on the men’s World Cup. At the men’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 32 team federations shared $440 million in prize money. For the women’s 2023 tournament , FIFA had a $152 million total fund for prize money, contributions to teams’ preparation costs and payments to players’ clubs. In FIFA’s financial accounts for 2023 , the soccer body reported total broadcasting revenue of $244 million. In the year of the men’s 2022 World Cup it was almost $2.9 billion. The next Women's World Cup will be a 32-team, 64-game tournament in 2027, played in Brazil from June 24-July 25. The U.S. originally bid jointly with Mexico. The 2031 host has not been decided, though the U.S. likely will bid for a tournament which FIFA is expected to try to expand to 48 teams. That would match the size of the 104-game format of the men's World Cup that debuts in 2026 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Spain won the 2023 Women's World Cup after the U.S. won the two previous titles — in France in 2019 and Canada in 2015. More than 25 million viewers in the U.S. watched the 2015 World Cup final, a 5-2 win over Japan, played in Vancouver, Canada, in a time zone similarly favorable to Brazil. FIFA tried to sign Apple+ to an exclusive global deal to broadcast the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup which is being played in 11 U.S. cities next June and July. Broadcast networks showed little interest in the FIFA club event that will now be broadcast for free on streaming service DAZN, which is building closer business ties to Saudi Arabia. Ahead of the next Women's World Cup, Netflix will "produce exclusive documentary series in the lead-up to both tournaments, spotlighting the world’s top players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football,” FIFA said. AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerThe upcoming AI big model shuffle is expected to bring about several key changes in the market dynamics. Firstly, we are likely to see increased competition and collaboration among different players in the AI ecosystem. Smaller companies and startups with innovative ideas and niche expertise may challenge the dominance of established tech giants by offering unique solutions and services. Collaborations between academia, industry, and government institutions may also drive the development of more diverse and inclusive AI models.

The news of Phelan's appointment has been met with excitement and anticipation from fans and pundits alike, with many believing that his experience and expertise will help take Plymouth Argyle to new heights. His proven track record of working with top players and guiding teams to success will undoubtedly be invaluable as the club aims to achieve its goals and aspirations.Elephant Robotics to Exhibit at CES 2025: Featuring Cutting-Edge Innovative Robotics Solutions and AI Bionic Robots Debut

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

One of the key highlights of this commercial deployment is the implementation of high-precision positioning capabilities enabled by Huawei's EasyMacro technology. With the integration of advanced positioning algorithms and sophisticated radio frequency technologies, the system can provide accurate positioning data for mobile devices in real-time, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted connectivity for passengers navigating through complex underground networks.

Comfort is key when it comes to choosing the right pair of headphones, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Series excels in this aspect. With a lightweight, ergonomic design and multiple ear tip options, these earbuds provide a secure and comfortable fit for extended wear. The sleek and stylish design of the Galaxy Buds3 Series adds a touch of sophistication to your look, whether you're working out at the gym, commuting to work, or simply relaxing at home.Kolkata: A recently surfaced report of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), on the ghastly rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises, has suggested further research to be exactly sure whether the crime was accomplished by only one person or there were other accused too. As per the contents of the report, while the possibility of involvement of just one accused cannot be ruled out, further research, based on different past scientific reports by experts in similar cases, can lead to the final conclusion on whether more than one person was involved in the crime. Till now Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed just one charge sheet in the case where civic volunteer Sanjay Roy has been identified as the “sole prime accused” in the crime of rape and murder. In such a situation, the CSFL findings, suggesting further research in the matter, have raised fresh questions about whether any initiative for further research will be initiated or not. In the report, the CFSL has mentioned that the time frame between midnight on August 8 and 6 a.m. on August 9 was the time of the “rape & murder”. Already, one finding in the CSFL report has raised questions about the actual “scene of crime” in the case. On the morning of August 9 this year, the body of the victim was spotted at the seminar hall within the hospital premises. Accordingly, first, the Kolkata Police and subsequently, the CBI carried out the investigation, considering the seminar hall as the scene of crime. However, the report of the CFSL, which was submitted to the CBI, clearly stated that there was no evident sign of a scuffle within the seminar room. At the same time, the CFSL report has clearly stated that most of the wounds that were traced on the body of the victim were the result of her attempts to resist the rape.

India's Vision: Balancing Tradition and Modernity in a Multi-Polar World

Sony continues to dominate console gaming and if nothing else 2024 showed that even in a relatively quiet year, PlayStation can just keep on trucking. We didn’t get a whole heap of exclusives, but the ones we got were meaningful additions to the publisher’s portfolio (except that one), and while the new hardware still feels a little superfluous, it sets up an exciting 2025 for the likes of Ghost of Yotei . The brand also celebrated its 30th Anniversary, with hardware variants and fan-favorite themes thanking players for their part in its journey - and with such a comfortable lead over Xbox, it feels it’ll continue ever onwards. Did we need the new hardware? The PS5 remains a very capable console that, while not as strong as the Xbox Series X on paper, certainly doesn’t feel like it needed a hardware revision - but that’s what we got. The PS5 Pro is a tougher sell than the PS4 Pro , though. That console promised 4K , which made sense at the time given the surge in 4K TV adoption. The PS5 Pro offers new graphical modes in some games, and while it’s largely been successful in finding a balance when having to choose between 4K resolution and 60fps fluidity, it’s really in developers’ hands now. On the one hand, that means the likes of Insomniac can get even more out of 2023’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 , but equally Bungie hasn’t released any PS5 Pro enhancements for Destiny 2 - despite being a Sony first-party studio now. More developers are adding PS5 Pro patches, but at such a high asking price, it makes it a tough sell right now. As games start to see upgrades and new releases like Monster Hunter Wilds arrive, expect adoption to pick up, but for now the PS5 Pro is a “nice to have” rather than a “must have”. Sticking with hardware, PSVR 2 added some fresh features and PC compatibility, but it remains a niche product that feels like Sony has begun to move away from already. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. We also saw the release of the new PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, which we dubbed “the next evolution of official PS5 headsets” in our review. It’s pricey and hefty, but it offers fantastic sound quality and comes with a really interesting development in gaming headsets in the form of planar magnetic drivers. Finally, Sony celebrated its 30th Anniversary in style. Besides the nostalgic themes that cover PlayStation’s history from 1994 onward, the company released PS5 consoles, controllers, and a hardware bundle in the iconic grey of the PlayStation 1 - albeit in limited numbers which have proved incredibly popular and hard to get hold of, selling out each time stock appeared. An unlikely hero On the first-party side of things, Sony’s games-as-a-service push saw polarized fortunes (more on that shortly), while the company tied up deals for the likes of Stellar Blade , Rise of the Ronin , and Black Myth: Wukong - all of which were great games, if not system sellers by themselves. That put pressure on first-party exclusives to deliver, and while it’d be fair to say Lego Horizon Adventures is fun enough and the Until Dawn Remake still feels somewhat unwarranted, Astro Bot handily offered some of the most fun you can have on PS5. The little robot has grown from starring in tech demos to becoming a bona fide PlayStation mascot in a world where those things don’t seem to exist as much, offering a fantastic, imaginative platformer that’s right up there with Nintendo’s best. Sure, it’s not a genre that sees much love on the system (or on Xbox, for that matter), but if Sony has finally realized the power the diminutive droid has, we could be seeing a lot more of him. Especially after Astro Bot took home Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024 . Games as a service stumbles Has a publisher ever had two titles with such conflicting responses in the same year before, released within similar genres? Helldivers 2 caught many off guard in the best way. A sleeper hit that spread like wildfire through word of mouth, the fascism-lampooning PvE shooter became that rare title that captured the imagination of players worldwide as they dropped, dropped, and dropped again on console and PC. And, while Sony almost killed its golden goose by shifting the goalposts as far as PSN account requirements for PC play were concerned, it proved Sony’s shift to live-service titles wasn’t as foolhardy as some have suspected... at least for a few months. Concord demonstrated the other side of the coin. A game seemingly developed in a vacuum, it launched in August following a tepid reception to its beta, with promises of weekly story content and excruciatingly detailed cutscenes for players willing to log in. Then, after just two weeks, Sony pulled the plug on the entire game and proceeded to shutter developer Firewalk Studios in October. It casts doubts on titles like FairGame$ and Marathon , the latter of which comes from Bungie which laid off over 200 employees in August - despite Destiny 2 ’s latest expansion, The Final Shape , being a critical success. Elsewhere, with The Last Of Us ’ multiplayer title being canceled, we didn't know what flagship studio Naughty Dog was up to until The Game Awards on December 12th . Days Gone ’s Bend Studio has been quiet for some time, while Bluepoint’s next project, remake or otherwise, is still unknown. Perhaps most exciting is the future of Insomniac and Housemarque. While the former’s Marvel’s Wolverine game is surely getting closer to a full reveal, the latter has been quiet since 2021’s excellent Returnal - here’s hoping we hear more from each in due course. Sony’s year has been relatively quiet, but its new hardware sets up an exciting 2025. Still, its commitment to live-service titles feels like it’ll be under further scrutiny - for every Helldivers 2 , there is likely to be more than one Concord , and it remains to be seen whether the publisher will stay the course set by outgoing CEO Jim Ryan. The best PS5 games to play right now The best PS4 games to go for if you're still rocking the last-gen PlayStation PS5 Pro vs PS5 : comparing specs, design, dimensions, features, and more

With an impressive tally of goals in the recently concluded Premier League campaign, the winger has proven himself as one of the most lethal goal-scorers in European football. His ability to create chances, dribble past defenders, and deliver precise crosses makes him a valuable asset for any top club, and Barcelona is no exception. Koeman, who has been vocal about his desire to strengthen the squad with quality signings, sees the winger as a perfect fit for his tactical system and playing style.In conclusion, the juxtaposition of OpenAI's Sora launch, Lei Jun's YU7 reveal, and Apple's stance on AGI serves as a testament to the diverse and multifaceted nature of the tech industry. Each development brings its own set of implications, challenges, and opportunities, ultimately shaping the trajectory of technological innovation in the years to come. Stay tuned as the tech world continues to unfold its endless possibilities and surprises, driving us towards a future defined by innovation and transformation.An Affiliate of Balmoral Funds LLC Acquires R.H. Sheppard Co., Inc.