Towana Looney, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, has become the third living person to receive a kidney transplant from a gene-edited pig. Looney, who donated one of her kidneys to her mother back in 1999, developed kidney failure several years later following a pregnancy complication that caused high blood pressure. She started dialysis treatment in December of 2016 and was put on a waiting list for a kidney transplant soon after, in early 2017. But it was difficult to find a match. So Looneys doctors recommended the experimental pig organ as an alternative. After eight years on the waiting list, Looney was authorized to receive the kidney under the US Food and Drug Administrations expanded access program, which allows people with serious or life-threatening conditions to try experimental treatments. The pig in question was developed by Revivicor, a United Therapeutics company. The companys technique involves making 10 gene edits to a pig cell. The edits are made to prevent too much organ growth, curb inflammation, and, importantly, stop the recipients immune system from rejecting the organ. The edited pig cell is then placed into a pig egg cell that has had its nucleus removed, and the egg is transferred to the uterus of a sow, which eventually gives birth to a gene-edited piglet. JOE CARROTTA FOR NYU LANGONE HEALTH In theory, once the piglet has grown, its organs can be used for human transplantation. Pig organs are similar in size to human ones, after all. A few years ago, David Bennett Sr. became the first person to receive a heart transplant from such a pig. He died two months after the operation, and the heart was later found to have been infected with a pig virus. Richard Slayman was the first person to get a gene-edited pig kidney, which he received in early 2024. He died two months after his surgery, although the hospital treating him said in a statement that it had no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant. In April, Lisa Pisano was reported to be the second person to receive such an organ. Pisano also received a heart pump alongside her kidney transplant. Her kidney failed because of an inadequate blood supply and was removed the following month. She died in July. Looney received her pig kidney during a seven-hour operation that took place at NYU Langone Health in New York City on November 25. The surgery was led by Jayme Locke of the US Health Resources & Services Administration and Robert Montgomery of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. Looney was discharged from the hospital 11 days after her surgery, to an apartment in New York City. Shell stay in New York for another three months so she can check in with doctors at the hospital for evaluations. Its a blessing, Looney said in a statement. I feel like Ive been given another chance at life. I cannot wait to be able to travel again and spend more quality time with my family and grandchildren. Looneys doctors are hopeful that her kidney will last longer than those of her predecessors. For a start, Looney was in better health to begin withshe had chronic kidney disease and required dialysis, but unlike previous recipients, she was not close to death, Montgomery said in a briefing. He and his colleagues plan to start clinical trials within the next year. There is a huge unmet need for organs. In the US alone, there more than 100,000 people are waiting for one, and 17 people on the waiting list die every day. Researchers hope that gene-edited animals might provide a new source of organs for such individuals. Revivicor isnt the only company working on this. Rival company eGenesis, which has a different approach to gene editing, has used CRISPR to create pigs with around 70 gene edits. Transplant is one of the few therapies that can cure a complex disease overnight, yet there are too few organs to provide a cure for all in need, Locke said in a statement. The thought that we may now have a solution to the organ shortage crisis for others who have languished on our waiting lists invokes the most welcome of feelings: pure joy! Today, Looney is the only person living with a pig organ. I am full of energy. I got an appetite Ive never had in eight years, she said at a briefing. I can put my hand on this kidney and feel it buzzing. This story has been updated with additional information after a press briefing.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. The 8 worst technology failures of 2024 They say you learn more from failure than success. If so, this is the story for you: MIT Technology Reviews annual roll call of the biggest flops, flimflams, and fiascos in all domains of technology. Some of the foul-ups were funny, like the "woke AI which got Google in trouble after it drew Black Nazis. Some caused lawsuits, like a computer error by CrowdStrike that left thousands of Delta passengers stranded. And we also reaped failures among startups that raced to expand from 2020 to 2022, a period of ultra-low interest rates. Check out what made our list of this years biggest technology failures. Antonio Regalado Antonio will be discussing this years worst failures with our executive editor Niall Firth in a subscriber-exclusive online Roundtable event today at 12.00 ET. Register here to make sure you dont miss outf you havent already, subscribe! AIs search for more energy is growing more urgent If you drove by one of the 2,990 data centers in the United States, youd probably think little more than Huh, thats a boring-looking building. You might not even notice it at all. However, these facilities underpin our entire digital world, and they are responsible for tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. New research shows just how much those emissions have skyrocketed during the AI boom. That leaves a big problem for the worlds leading AI companies, which are caught between pressure to meet their own sustainability goals and the relentless competition in AI thats leading them to build bigger models requiring tons of energy. And the trend toward ever more energy-intensive new AI models will only send those numbers higher. Read the full story.James O'Donnell This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 TikTok has asked the US Supreme Court for a lifeline Its asked lawmakers to intervene before the proposed ban kicks in on January 19. (WP $)+ TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew reportedly met with Donald Trump yesterday. (NBC News)+ Trump will take office the following day, on January 20. (WSJ $)+ Meanwhile, the EU is investigating TikToks role in Romanias election. (Politico)2 Waymos autonomous cars are heading to Tokyo In the first overseas venture for the firms vehicles. (The Verge)+ The cars will require human safety drivers initially. (CNBC)+ Whats next for robotaxis in 2024. (MIT Technology Review)3 Chinas tech workers are still keen to work in the US But securing the right to work there is much tougher than it used to be. (Rest of World)4 Digital license plates are vulnerable to hacking And theyre already legal to buy in multiple US states. (Wired $) 5 Were all slaves to the algorithmsFrom the mundane (Spotify) to the essential (housing applications.) (The Atlantic $) + How a group of tenants took on screening systemsand won. (The Guardian)+ The coming war on the hidden algorithms that trap people in poverty. (MIT Technology Review)6 How to build an undetectable submarine The race is on to stay hidden from the competition. (IEEE Spectrum)+ How underwater drones could shape a potential Taiwan-China conflict. (MIT Technology Review)7 How Empower became a viable rival to UberIts refusal to cooperate with authorities is straight out of Ubers early playbook. (NYT $) 8 Even airlines are using AirTags to find lost luggage Bloomberg $) + Heres how to keep tabs on your suitcase as you travel. (Forbes $)9 Youre reading your blood pressure all wrong Keep your feet flat on the floor and ditch your phone, for a start. (WSJ $)10 The rise and rise of the group chat Expressing yourself publicly on social media is so last year. (Insider $)+ How to fix the internet. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the day Where are the adults in the room? Francesca Marano, a long-time contributor to WordPress, lambasts the platforms decision to require users to check a box reading Pineapple is delicious on pizza to log in, 404 Media reports. The big story Responsible AI has a burnout problem October 2022 Margaret Mitchell had been working at Google for two years before she realized she needed a break. Only after she spoke with a therapist did she understand the problem: she was burnt out. Mitchell, who now works as chief ethics scientist at the AI startup Hugging Face, is far from alone in her experience. Burnout is becoming increasingly common in responsible AI teams. All the practitioners MIT Technology Review interviewed spoke enthusiastically about their work: it is fueled by passion, a sense of urgency, and the satisfaction of building solutions for real problems. But that sense of mission can be overwhelming without the right support. Read the full story. Melissa Heikkil We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + This timelapse of a pine tree growing from a tiny pinecone is pretty special + Shaboozeys A Bar Song (Tipsy) is one of 2024s biggest hits. But why has it struck such a chord?+ All hail Londons campest Christmas tree!+ Stay vigilant, Oregons googly eye bandit has struck again

Submitted by WA ContentsMecanoo designs Americas "only purpose-built new dance theater" at in the Berkshires United States Architecture News - Dec 17, 2024 - 15:49 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Dutch architecture practice Mecanoo has unveiled design for a new theatre at at Massachusetts, which will be Americas "only purpose-built new dance theater" at in the Berkshires, United States.Called Doris Duke Theatre, the new theatre is located on Jacobs Pillows beautiful destination campus in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Currently under construction at site, the new dance venue is set to open in 2025.The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre occupies the site of the former studio theater from 1990, destroyed by fire in November 2020.Aerial rendering of the Jacobs Pillow campus with the new Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and Marvel"One of the most technologically advanced dance venues"By providing a makerspace for artists looking to include robotics, extended reality, artificial intelligence, and immersive platforms into live performances, the new theater hopes to become "one of the most technologically advanced dance venues" in the world.A spatial audio system, infrared camera tracking of artists for interactive video content, and live performance interactions with recorded/projected dance content are just a few of the features that the Doris Duke Theatre will include.Rendering of the garden of the Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering Marvel; courtesy of Jacobs Pillow"At the heart of the new Doris Duke Theatre lies a celebration of movement, space, and connection. Inspired by Mecanoos core values of people, place, purpose, and poetry, the new theater captures the essence of dance, not only as an art form but as a deeply human experience intertwined with the landscape and community," said Francine Houben, Mecanoos Creative Director and Founding Partner."Rooted in the rolling hills of the Berkshires, the theater honors the rich heritage of Jacobs Pillow while pushing the frontiers of the performing arts.""The design draws on the rhythms of nature, mirroring the fluidity and grace of dancers," Houben added.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre Artist Quad. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelThe former Duke's footprint was about 8,500 square feet (790 square meters), whereas the renovated Doris Duke Theatre will be about 20,000 square feet (1,858 square meters).The building can accommodate performances, events, residencies, and more, often all at once, according to the design's versatility in terms of many uses. With a variety of seating and stage arrangements, the theater can accommodate up to 220400 people in the main performance area.Thermally treated wood, which is intended to age elegantly over time, covers the theater's mass timber construction. As the seasons change, the building's natural elements convey a tale of light and shadow, time and change, an organic record of nature's dance.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre performance space. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelIn a subtle gesture of balance between sustainability and design, rainwater is collected for later use, and the spacious veranda offers natural shade.The new Doris Duke Theatre is an enduring tribute to the force of dance, nature, and human creativity combined; it embraces the poetry of location through its form, purpose, and connection to the earth.Marvel's landscape design for the new Doris Duke Theatre, which was inspired by the area's natural beauty, blends in with its surroundings and reflects the Berkshires' rich local biodiversity. In addition to celebrating the region's Indigenous past, this design fosters a strong bond between the performing arts and the natural world.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre performance space. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelIn order to greet dancers and guests and to give areas for relaxation, practice, and celebration, the landscape design to the west of the theater forms a central quad that is framed by a sculpture known as a "scramble" formed of stone that is sourced locally.With a garden and a communal fire pit that honor the land's cultural traditions and acknowledge the original occupants who shape Jacob's Pillow and its vital identity, the landscapes created by Indigenous artists to the east showcase Indigenous knowledge.The principal architect of the project is Mecanoo, a Netherlands-based firm headed by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben.Rendering of the quad lobby at the Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelMarvel, a New York-based architecture practice, is working as the local architect and landscape architect for the project. For the project, Charcoalblue is theater and acoustics design consultant. Jeffrey Gibson, Choctaw/Cherokee, is serving as a consultant on the buildings relationship to the site and Indigenous values, a key element of the buildings design.Numerous communities and stories that have influenced and defined Jacob's Pillow will come on stage during the Doris Duke Theatre's inaugural celebration week, which will be marked by a ribbon-cutting and premiere performances on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Mecanoo transformed and revitalized the Perth's former City Hallwith bronze and meticulously-designed details throughout the interior space. In addition, Mecanooand Meng Architects, together with Lola Landscape Architectswere selected as the winners of a highly competitive international design competition for the Shenzhen Guangming Scientist Valley in China.Top image in the article: Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre East Entrance. Rendering by Marvel; courtesy of Jacobs Pillow.All images courtesy of Mecanoo and Marvel.> via Mecanoo

Submitted by WA ContentsDeborah Berke wins the 2025 AIA Gold Medal United States Architecture News - Dec 17, 2024 - 15:01 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Architect and academician Deborah Berke has been awarded the 2025 AIA Gold Medal by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the award honors "an individual or pair whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."Described as "a transformative figure in architecture whose career spans over four decades", Berke was praised for combining design excellence, academic leadership, and a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.Her career is an outstanding example of "innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability", starting with the establishment of Deborah Berke Partners (now TenBerke) in 1982 and culminating in her appointment as the first female dean of Yale School of Architecture.As summed up in her seminal book, Architecture of the Everyday, Berke's approach to design embraces the extraordinary within the ordinary. This philosophy is reflected in her projects, which range from small residences like East Hampton's Tiny House to iconic adaptive reuse projects like New Haven's NXTHVN, an arts incubator repurposing old factory buildings.Deborahs award-winning adaptive reuse project, the Richardson Olmsted Complex, offers a compelling example of how vast structures can be repurposed and contribute to their surrounding communities. Image Christopher Payne/EstoHer varied portfolio demonstrates how design may enhance everyday living while promoting community and care by striking a balance between contemporary aesthetics and vernacular sensitivity."Berke's commitment to sustainable design is evident in projects such as the Dickinson College High Street Residence Hall, which achieved LEED Platinum certification, and the Brown University Brook Street Residence Halls, contributing to the university's net-zero carbon goals," said the AIA in its press release."Her work not only integrates environmentally conscious strategies but also emphasizes the social dimension of sustainability, creating spaces that promote equity and inclusivity."The AIA stated that "As an educator, Berke has profoundly influenced architectural pedagogy. At Yale, she has advanced financial aid initiatives, increased accessibility, and championed interdisciplinary programs, making architecture education more inclusive.""Her tenure as dean has been recognized with the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion, the highest honor for architectural education, reflecting her role in shaping future generations of architects," the AIA added.Deborah is known for designing flexible and welcome learning spaces like the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia. Image Chris CooperBerke has demonstrated the ability of architecture to transform people's lives and communities throughout her career. She has left a lasting impression on the field and inspired a more inclusive and sustainable architectural future through her work, teaching, and activism, all of which highlight a deep belief in design as a tool for social good.Deborah Berke is the jury member of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Academic Council of the Norman Foster Institute.The 2025 Advisory Jury 2025 is composed of Anne Hicks Harney, FAIA, Chair, Long Green Specs, Manasquan, N.J., Kjell M. Anderson, FAIA, LMN Architects, Seattle, Ung-Joo Scott Lee, AIA, Morphosis Architects, New York City, Amy Slattery, AIA, Odimo, Kansas City, Mo., Megumi Tamanaha, AIA, ARO, New York City, Roderic Walton, AIA, Moody Nolan, Chicago, Korey White, AIA, DLR Group, Quincy, Ill., Taryn Williams, SGH, Washington, D.C.The AIA Gold Medal is recognized as the AIAs highest individual honor. Famous architects including Denise Scott Brown & Robert Venturi, Paul Revere Williams, Julia Morgan, Angela Brooks, and Lawrence Scarpa have all been honored with the Gold Medal, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the field of architecture.Top image: Deborah Berke Winnie Au.> via The AIA

More than 36,000 military homes were sold in 1996 by MoDThe government is planning major redevelopment of military homes after a 6bn repurchase of stock from a private owner, the chief of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation has said.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced this morning that it had bought back the 36,347 military homes which comprise the married quarters estate, reversing a sale undertaken by the government in 1996.Source: ShutterstockThe purchase by the MoD, supported by UK Government Investments, will bring to an end a legal dispute between the government and the estates previous owner Annington.Billionaire Guy Hands, whose private equity company Terra Firma owns Annington, had taken the government to court over its leasehold reforms earlier this year.Around 55,000 houses were sold in 1996 to Annington for an average of just 27,000 each, with the government renting them back at a discount.Despite this, the government has estimated that taxpayers are 8bn worse off as a result of the 1996 deal.It said that, when not subject to leases, the estate is now valued at 10.1bn.The deal that had passed ownership to Annington also prevented the MoD from being able to demolish properties or build additional homes for service families.The announcement comes in advance of a new military housing strategy, which will be published next year.Mike Green, chief executive at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, told Building Designs sister title Housing Today it is the intention to invest significant amounts of money in the estate.Its not because we want to be a developer. Its because we want great houses for armed forces families, he said.Green described the 1996 sale as a very bad deal and said its reversal brought numerous opportunities.First off, we can hopefully turn military housing from tolerable to aspirational, he said, citing damp and mould as persistent issues.He said around two-third of the estate needed rebuilding and said the existing lack of density meant there could be room for up to 150,000 additional houses.There isnt one solution. MoD may want to sell some land to generate some money to develop other bit, he added.We may want to use private finance. We may want to work with builders to build houses. We may be doing swaps.It will be a whole mixture of how we get this done. We may well sell some sites, we may well do some partnerships. We may well develop some ourselves.The government already has plans to submit applications for 265 new houses and apartments at RAF Brize Norton in Oxforshire and further plans, to be submitted in the spring, for around 300 new houses at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

Workload expectations fall in all regions as hopes of recovery fade, RIBA survey findsLast months RIBA Future Trends survey found confidence in the architecture sector plummeted to the lowest level in a yearOptimism in the architecture profession has taken a sharp downturn with practices now expecting workloads to slump over the next few months, according to RIBA.The institutes latest Future Trends survey found the index for future workload expectations plummeted by 11 points last month to -9, the lowest since December 2023 and the steepest fall for more than 18 months.Any index figure below zero indicates practices which responded to the survey, when taken as a whole, expect their workloads to fall over the following three months.The survey found just 17% of practices expect more work to come in over the winter, with 26% expecting workloads to dwindle.The findings come after eight months of relatively stable optimism levels in the sector with the index hovering just above zero since March.But RIBA said the outlook had deteriorated across the country in November, with all but one region reporting falling confidence and none reporting overall optimism about future work.Wales and the West, the least optimistic region, has seen its workload index plunge by 32 points, while the North of England, previously the most positive region, has fallen by 24 points to zero.Workload confidence in all four monitored work sectors has also fallen back, with private housing slumping six points to -11, the commercial sector falling four points to -2, the public sector slipping four points to -8 and the community sector worsening by four points to -8.> Also read:Is an oversupply of architects driving down fees?> Also read:Labour must deliver on its promised planning reforms to drive economic growthThe survey comes in the wake of the governments tax-raising autumn Budget, which resulted in the Office for Budget Responsibility downgrading its growth forecast for most of the rest of this Parliament.RIBA head of economic research and analysis Adrian Malleson said the growing optimism of the second half of the year has now dissipated.The recent budget has not brought market confidence. Commentary received from practices in November describes a tough market. Planning delays continue to hinder project progress, fee competition remains intense, and some clients are paying late for services. These combined challenges weigh down on practice profitability.Some practices report concerns that, following the budget, inflation and interest rates will be higher than was expected. Nevertheless, some practices strike a more positive note, describing an increase in enquiries and expectation of new work secured for 2025, as interest rates further fall.Current workloads for practices are now an average of 11% lower than they were 12 months ago, although RIBA said the pessimism is mostly contained within smaller practices, with practices employing more than 11 staff remaining largely positive.

The winning team will draw up a strategic vision for the estate of South Staffordshire College which was founded in 2009 following the merger of Cannock Chase Technical College, Rodbaston College, Lichfield College and the two campuses of Tamworth College.The estimated 50,000 commission will look at ways to introduce new ways of learning and working and deliver welcoming and inspirational spaces across the colleges mix of urban and rural sites in the South of Staffordshire.According to the brief: The property strategy will emerge from a process of engagement with college stakeholders such as board members, delivery and support staff, students, partners and customers.AdvertisementTo support the delivery of our property strategy, a property strategy support partner is required to manage the production of the strategy itself, plus any subsequent projects that the college chooses to implement from the strategy.South Staffordshire College provides further education courses to around 10,000 learners and also offers higher education in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Staffordshire. The organisation has an annual turnover of 33 million.The team selected for the estimated 50,000 contract will consult with stakeholders and draw up a strategy for how the colleges estate can meet growing student numbers and the requirements of new learning technologies. Proposals must also support an ambition to cut CO2 emissions across the estate by 30 per cent by 2030.Competition detailsProject title Property Strategic SupportClientContract value TbcFirst round deadline Midday, 27 January 2025Restrictions TbcMore information https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/db97db1f-a9a1-4109-83f1-88c186e78543

The proposals, set out in an English Devolution White Paper published by the ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) yesterday (16 December), will give mayors a more direct role in plans for their areas than ever before.The proposals for future legislation would be delivered via an English Devolution Bill expected next year, which will equip mayors to heavily influence planning, housing, transport and skills provision.The policy document outlines how mayors across the regions will be given new development management powers similar to those those exercised by the Mayor of London, including the ability to call in planning applications of strategic importance.AdvertisementThey will also be able to charge developers a Mayoral Levy to ensure that new developments come with the necessary associated infrastructure similar to the levy used to help fund Londons Elizabeth line in 2012.Major cash boosts will help to drive the changes. According to the policy document, mayors in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and the North East will be the first to receive the new integrated funding settlements, covering housing, regeneration, local growth, transport, skills, retrofit and employment support.MHCLG said its ambitious new devolution framework had aims of hardwiring mayors into the fabric of government. It also sets out a strong preference to see mayors in place across the whole of England making it the default status for regions across England.A government Devolution Priority Programme aims to deliver inaugural mayoral elections in May 2026, with authorities including Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, and others already earmarked for the programme. MHCLG says it has had productive discussions with these authorities and will confirm places on the programme in January.The White Paper also laid out the governments plans to rebuild local government after 14 years of mismanagement and decline, including multi-year financial settlements for authorities according to local need and the reorganisation of local government to create simpler and more stable structures which improve accountability and outcomes.AdvertisementDeputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said the devolution plans were about giving local leaders the tools and the trust they need to forge their areas futures.Rayner said the plans would raise living standards, improve public services, and enable the homes we so desperately need.She insisted: We have an economy that hoards potential and a politics that hoards power. So our devolution revolution will deliver the greatest transfer of power from Whitehall to our communities in a generation, empowering those communities to realise their potential. And nobody is more excited about it than I am.Housing and planningNew housing and planning powers outlined for Mayors and Authorities in the White Paper, which the government insists are integral to delivering the 1.5m homes promised in this parliament:All areas - with or without a Strategic Authority - will have to produce a Spatial Development Strategy, to be adopted with support from a majority of constituents.Mayors to be given new development management powers 'similar to those those exercised by the Mayor of London' including the ability to call in planning applications.Mayors will be able to charge developers a 'Mayoral Levy' to ensure that new developments come with the necessary associated infrastructure. Such a levy was used to help fund Londons Elizabeth Line in 2012.Homes England will have a stronger partnership with established Mayoral Strategic Authorities and increased accountability to mayors to help them deliver on their plans. As part of this, the government says it will move Homes England to a more regionalised model over time, so that the agency is even more responsive to the economic plan of an area.Mayors will be given the funding they need to deliver on their housing ambitions, with control of grant funding for regeneration and housing delivery.Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will be given the power to set out the strategic direction of any future affordable housing programme.2024-12-17Anna Highfieldcomment and share

The holidays are just about here, and if you're still looking for some holiday sales to treat those nearest and dearest, there are still some deals out there. Those looking for high quality audio gear shouldn't pass over theBose holiday sale. It's well worth a look and one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers is discounted by 25%. The Bose SoundLink Max portable Bluetooth usually costs $399, but is $100 off right now. That's the same record-low price we saw during recent Black Friday sales, but it likely won't return for a while after the holiday season is done. And you can get free 2-day shipping with Bose and Amazon Prime, ensuring it arrives by Christmas.See at AmazonSee at BoseAvailable in black or blue dusk color designs, the Bose SoundLink Max is one of our favorite speakers. It has a battery life of up to 20 hours for reliable sound during long holiday get-togethers or even camping and outdoor travels. It sounds great with Bose's signature sound engineering for crisp bass and immersive sound. You can customize your sound experience using the Bose app, so you can enjoy your favorite audio on your own terms. Want to listen to music outdoors or near water? The Bose SoundLink Max is IP67 rated, making it waterproof and dustproof so you won't have to worry about beach parties, a splash of water or even some light rain.Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.The speaker has a rope handle at the top for easy transport. It also has an auxiliary input, which lets you play your favorite songs from MP3 players, CD players and even turntables. You can use this speaker to charge devices with the included USB-C input so your phone won't lose power while you stream your favorite playlist.Why this deal mattersBose is featured across the majority of our audio-related best lists and we're big fans of its devices. However, its wares are not on the cheap end, so buying when there's savings available is wise. With 25% off, you're saving a huge chunk on this speaker and getting it for its best-ever price. Looking for a new Bluetooth speaker but not sure if this one is for you? Check out our list of the best Bluetooth speaker deals for more options. We've also got a roundup of the best tech gifts in general, in case you're feeling generous. More shopping deals from CNET CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on theCNET Deals page, and sign up for theCNET Deals Textto get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the freeCNET Shopping extensionto your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse ourgift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more. See at CNET

Back in 2018, 29 million Facebook users around the world were affected by a security breach that exposed their personal data. Six years later, the Irish Data Protection Commission, which regulates Facebook's parent company Meta in the European Union, has finally issued the company with a fine for the breach.The DPC announced on Tuesday it was fining Meta 251 million euros ($263.5 million) for failing to prevent cyberattackers from exploiting a vulnerability in Facebook's code. The exploit allowed them to use the site's "View As" feature to see people's private profile information. This included full names, email addresses, phone numbers, locations, places of work, dates of birth, religions, genders, posts on timelines, groups of which people were members and children's personal data."This enforcement action highlights how the failure to build in data protection requirements throughout the design and development cycle can expose individuals to very serious risks and harms, including a risk to the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals," said DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle in a statement. "Facebook profiles can, and often do, contain information about matters such as religious or political beliefs, sexual life or orientation, and similar matters that a user may wish to disclose only in particular circumstances."Read more:Best Identity Theft Protection Services for 2024Around 3 million people affected by the breach live in the EU, where strict rules,known as the General Data Protection Regulation, provide citizens with protections if their privacy is violated. The GDPR has served as a model for many other pieces of privacy legislation around the world, including California's privacy rules. It requires companies to self-report privacy breaches and can result in fines of up to 20 million euros or 4% of global revenue, whichever is higher. Meta has been fined almost $3 billion in total for various breaches.The company said on Tuesday that it plans to appeal the DPC's decision."This decision relates to an incident from 2018," a spokesperson for Meta said in a statement. "We took immediate action to fix the problem as soon as it was identified, and we proactively informed people impacted as well as the Irish Data Protection Commission."