Ireland's Aer Lingus is the second airline to receive the new Airbus A321XLR.The plane opens new long-haul opportunities, including Dublin to Indianapolis and Nashville.Other airlines, including Iberia, United, Qantas, and American are also planning new routes.The Airbus A321XLR is the European planemaker's latest narrow-body jet, and it's already changing how people fly long-haul.On Thursday, Ireland's Aer Lingus became the second airline to receive the A321XLR, with Airbus delivering two of the carrier's six that are on order.Spanish flag carrier Iberia became the plane's first operator in November.The jet's extra-long-haul capabilities mean Aer Lingus can now operate flights deeper into the US. Two new routes are already scheduled: Flights between Dublin and Nashville will begin in April, and flights between Dublin and Indianapolis will launch in May.Iberia and Aer Lingus are just the beginning for Airbus's new plane, which has tallied up more than 550 global orders.American Airlines, Australian flag carrier Qantas, and Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air all expect to receive the jet next year, followed by United Airlines in early 2026.And all are expected to launch never-before-flown narrow-body routes across oceans and continents.Airbus' new A321XLR jet is set to open new route optionsThe A321XLR is uniquely equipped for long-haul flying, thanks to an extra rear center fuel tank that helps the narrow-body aircraft fly up to 5,400 miles, or 11 hours, nonstop.That's about 800 miles farther than its Airbus A321LR predecessor. That opens new routes to places previously unreachable with older narrowbodies or that were unprofitable with a widebody.Iberia plans to begin a new service using the A321XLR between Madrid and Washington Dulles on January 15. Wizz Air also plans to launch A321XLR routes between London and Saudi Arabia and Milan and Abu Dhabi in 2025. The A321XLR boasts a 30% reduced fuel burn compared with competing previous-generation aircraft. Taylor Rains/Business Insider In March, American Airlines' managing director of global network planning, Jason Reisinger, said the A321XLR was desirable because it would let the airline serve "routes that cannot support a 787 but where we still have a nice onboard product."American has since said it plans to launch the A321XLRs on transcontinental routes now served by its A321T.And the airline's senior vice president of network planning, Brian Znotins, told The Points Guy in November that it plans to also fly its A321XLR fleet to Europe and possibly South America.Qantas plans to use the A321XLR to fly farther into Asia and the Pacific. Potential A321XLR routes for Qantas. The airline has not made any official route announcements. Qantas United Airlines previously told Business Insider that the A321XLR would replace its aging Boeing 757s and open new routes to places like Northern Italy and West Africa.Icelandair is also using the A321XLR to replace the 757 and fly farther into North America and Europe from 2029. Boeing never built another version of the popular narrow-body, which ceased production in 2004.The A321XLR will have varying cabin experiencesCustomers can expect varying cabin experiences on board these new versatile single-aisle planes.Iberia offers lie-flat business class on its A321XLRs, which is typical of what customers find on long-haul widebody flights. Iberia's A321XLR has no sliding doors in business class. Taylor Rains/Business Insider Aer Lingus will also have lie-flat business class seats similar to what it already flies on its A321LRs, but some rows won't have direct aisle access.American plans to install its new Flagship suites on its A321XLRs, while United is also planning a lie-flat business cabin. Qantas will have large reclining loungers in business class.Wizz will have the least posh cabin. Its no-frills A321XLRs will have cramped seats, no in-flight entertainment, and no freebies like snacks and water.Its CEO said the experience is something passengers will have to "suffer" through for seven hours for the cheap ticket.

Generative AI can be a powerful tool in the hands of a creator. It can expand creativity by working as a partner in brainstorming, ideation, and execution, and it has the ability to help creators produce their best work quicker.But since the technology climbed into public consciousness, creators have, understandably, had their guard up. Uncertainty abounds about its potential impact on creators livelihoods. Theres been little transparency around how companies are training their AI and whose content theyre using.Adobe has set out to solve for this uncertainty with Adobe Firefly, its family of creative generative AI models built to bring out the best in human creativity while granting creators the transparency and choice they deserve. Designed to be safe for commercial use, Adobe aims to make Firefly the most creator-friendly generative AI solution on the market, delivering on the promise of generative AI responsibly.Generative AI that creators can trustA creative identity is an amalgamation of many things the creators vision, their experiences, their personality, the content theyve consumed, and so much more. Its a unique style and expression thats honed over years of practice.A concern with generative AI is whether it will make it easier for bad actors to mimic a creators style without credit. So, Adobe is taking seriously its commitment to constructing a better environment for creators. The company only trains Firefly on content it has the permission and rights to use, such as licensed material from Adobe Stock and public domain content never customer content. Unlike many other companies, Adobe doesnt train Firefly with content mined from the web without permission. In addition, Firefly is designed so that it does not generate content that infringes on copyright or intellectual property rights. Adobe deploys safeguards at each step prior to training, during generation, when the engine is prompted, and when the engine creates an output.When contributors add their work to Stock, they do so with transparency that it may be used to train Firefly. And Adobe has provided bonus payments to Stock Contributors whose work was used in training Firefly.Putting human creativity on super driveCreators know that their boundless imagination sometimes outpaces the time available to bring their ideas to life. Integrated seamlessly in popular Adobe apps that creators know and love like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Premier Pro, and Adobe Express, Firefly aims to close that gap with generative AI features that speed up and expand the creative process.For instance, creators can make quick edits or create variations of their existing content while maintaining brand standards. In Photoshop, the Firefly-powered Generative Expand feature helps creators broaden the frame of a photograph, while Generative Extend in Premiere Pro can add frames to videos for a smoother overall edit. In Lightroom, Generative Remove allows photographers from hobbyists to pros to easily and quickly remove unwanted objects and distractions even on complex backgrounds. In Adobe Express, creators can use Firefly-powered Generate Image and Text Effects to generate unique videos or create standout social posts and stories. These tools all help maintain the integrity of the creative process while freeing creators from tedious and time-consuming tasks so that they can efficiently summon their best work. Firefly generative AI models are powerful and, critically in the age of AI, developed responsibly.Protecting creators and driving trustAdobes efforts, however, dont stop at the level of its own AI. The company is an advocate for responsible innovation and creator rights across industries, even within legislation.Adobe is a founding member of the Content Authenticity Initiative, a massive collaboration of some of the most recognizable names in media, technology, and civil society that aims to restore trust and transparency in the digital ecosystem. In an age in which deepfakes can deceive even the trained eye, the Initiatives Content Credentials which act as a nutrition label for digital content have emerged as the global standard for content provenance, providing a peek into the contents origin and creation process. The tamper-evident metadata can be attached to digital content to show information like who made it and how it was created including whether AI played a role. This information not only gives creators recognition for their work, but also protects them from anyone looking to repurpose their work without giving proper credit.Content Credentials are already supported in Adobe apps like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe Express. Theyre also gaining significant momentum across the industry, with implementation spreading to, among other companies, Google, Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, and OpenAI.Beyond technical solutions, Adobe believes that theres also work to do at the policy level. With some generative AI, it takes just a few clicks for a bad actor to impersonate a specific creator in the marketplace. Its crucial that we institute regulations and protections to help guard creators rights. Adobe is advocating for a federal anti-impersonation right that can help protect creators style and work in the age of AI.By putting creators at the center, Adobe is setting an example that the entire industry can follow. To learn more about Adobes approach to generative AI with Firefly, visit Adobes website.

On a recent Sunday afternoon in an upmarket neighbourhood of Nairobi, Daniel Badu was rapidly pressing the screen of his mobile phone, headphones wrapped around his head, his elbows resting on a pillow.Badu and his four teammates in the Aura 233 team, all decked in black-and-yellow kits and representing Ghana, were taking on Kenyas Delta eSports in the finals of the inaugural Carry1st Africa Cup, a continental tournament for the first-person shooter video game Call of Duty: Mobile.Esport events are on the rise in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa, driven in part by increased access to the internet and devices such as smartphones, PCs and consoles. Popular titles include EA Sports FC, Call of Duty and Tekken.Daniel Badu aka Ruin of Ghanas Aura 233 team at the Carry1st Africa Cup finals. Photograph: Edwin Ndeke/The GuardianProfessional teams, university leagues, national federations and competitions such as the Carry1st Africa Cup have been set up to cater to burgeoning interest.The trend is part of a growing interest in video games in general in Africa, the continent with the youngest population. A 2021 report said the number of video game consumers on the continent rose from 77 million to 186 million from 2015-21.Some of those have now transitioned to professional gaming. Badu, better known by his gaming alias Ruin, started playing Call of Duty: Mobile in 2019 after playing console games for years.Ive been playing video games for as long as I can remember, said the 19-year-old. Badu began his journey to becoming a professional by joining various low-tier teams to gain experience, showcase his skill and get his name out. Last year, he was scouted by Ace Gamers Esports, a professional esports organisation based in Accra, which signed him after a trial.Ace Gamers also recruits, trains and manages players of EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, Mortal Kombat and other games. Badu said being signed has given him a chance to improve his game by playing with people with the same mindset, as well as get access to tournaments. Ive been playing the game, grinding the game, and weve got it to this point. So, Im able to compete among the best in Africa, he said.Spectators watch the Carry1st Africa Cup finals at the Nairobi Game Development Center on 24 November. Photograph: Edwin Ndeke/The GuardianAt the event in Nairobi, a production crew sat behind large monitors, selecting shots for a livestream. One floor below, spectators cheered and shouted while watching the action unfold on TV screens.Six teams made it to the two-day Carry1st Africa Cup finals, which followed seven months of qualifying events in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa involving more than 100 teams, and was eventually won by South Africas Noxious Gaming (NxG).Esports events at a high scale are a great way to synergise the attention of all gamers and also grow the interest of new gamers, said Dominion Eromosele, senior community manager and events lead at Carry1st, an Africa-wide game publisher headquartered in Cape Town.The organisation has hosted more than 400 tournaments mostly through universities since it was founded in 2018. Its online network, Tribe, has attracted hundreds of thousands of gamers from across the continent.Grassroots, national and continental tournaments are becoming an important way to spot talent, sharpen players skills and increase the popularity of esports. Other events organised this year include the IESF African Esports Championship, held in Casablanca in August, and the women-only Kongo Esports Championship for Tekken in Kinshasa in November.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionMembers of South Africas Noxious Gaming (NxG) team, which won the inaugural Carry1st Africa Cup. Photograph: Edwin Ndeke/The GuardianTournaments bring life to the ecosystem, said Magdaline Mumbi, who represented Kenya at the Kinshasa tournament and came fourth. Mumbi, whose gaming moniker is Bambino, was a casual PlayStation gamer until six years ago when she entered a Tekken tournament at a university event and came second.From that point, she started playing several games competitively while seeking mentors in Kenyas esports community. She got her breakthrough in 2022 when she was selected to join the national team to play the Dota 2 battle arena game in the Global Esports Games in Turkey. 2022 allowed me to see the bigger picture of what esports looks like, said Mumbi. I can actually make money from this.Magdaline Mumbi aka Bambino at the Kongo Esports Championship in Kinshasa in November. Photograph: Magdaline MumbiIn order to grow further and compete in the global billion-dollar esports industry, the African scene will need to overcome challenges around technology and finances.Underdeveloped internet infrastructure often leads to poor connectivity. And because servers for most games are hosted outside Africa, there are often delays between playing devices and servers a problem known as high ping which makes intercontinental matches and matches between players in different African countriesA good amount of esports is rooted in online multiplayer games and Africa doesnt exactly have the best infrastructure [for this], said Badu. [African players] are at a heavy disadvantage.Carry1st is working to address that. In the past two years, it has partnered with game developers to help launch servers in Africa for Call of Duty: Mobile and the tactical shooter game Valorant.On the financial front, player sponsorships are hard to come by and top, big-money tournaments are few and far between. The total prize pool for the Nairobi tournament was $15,000. Limited funding and sponsorship is really taking a toll on the scene, said Mumbi, who is also a chess instructor.Eromosele said: If were able to prove just how entertaining esports is and how many people watch it, people will put money behind it.

Sony is now the largest shareholder of Kadokawa - the parent company of From Software - the famed developer behind Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Dark Souls and many moreTech11:54, 20 Dec 2024Is it time to return to Yharnam?(Image: FromSoftware)Bloodborne's fans, there could be change on the air.The game has been stuck on PS4 since launching in 2015, but ahead of its tenth year anniversary next year there's been a surprising development.While it didn't appear at The Game Awards this month, with From Software revealing a new Elden Ring title called Nightreign instead, there are reasons to be optimistic heading into 2025.Bloodborne's twisted world is full of surprises(Image: Liverpool Echo)Sony, the company behind PlayStation, has reportedly held interest in acquiring Kadokawa, From Software's parent company, and this week became the company's largest shareholder.In a press release, Sony says it's looking to discuss specific initiatives for collaboration, such as initiatives to adapt Kadokawas IP into live-action films and TV dramas globally, co-produce anime works, expand global distribution of Kadokawa anime works through the Sony Group, further expand publishing of Kadokawa games, and develop human resources to promote and expand virtual production.Kadokawa is referring to the arrangement as a "capital and business alliance agreement", with fans hoping the Bloodborne IP may be given the chance to expand beyond the single game and DLC we have so far.This alliance is expected to not only further strengthen our IP creation capabilities, but also increase our IP media mix options with Sonys support for global expansion, allowing us to deliver our IP to more users around the world," the company's CEO, Takeshi Natsuno said.Article continues belowIf you're wondering why the original game is so revered, be sure to check out our full explainer.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Steam's Winter Sale is here, and between AAA and indie gems there's a huge number of titles worthy of you cash here are the best games you can buy right now at a discountTech11:53, 20 Dec 2024The Steam Winter Sale is here, and packed with discountsThe Steam Autumn Sale feels like it was mere weeks ago (it was) but now the Winter Sale is here.While PC storefront rival Epic Games is handing out free games every week, Steam's discounts are legendary whether you have a PC or a Steam Deck, and this sale event is no different.From phenomenal Game of the Year winners, to forgotten classics and indie darlings, there are even discounts on this year's biggest titles.Here are the best deals you'll find in the Steam Winter sale, with games 'Verified' or 'Playable' on Steam Deck in bold.Helldivers 2 kickstarted 2024 in style(Image: Arrowhead Game Studios)Here are the best new games that came out this year and are already discounted.Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Was 49.99, now 32.49 (35% off)Call of Duty Black Ops 6 - Was 69.99, now 52./49 (25% off)Shadows of Doubt - Was 19.99, now 11.99 (40% off)Frostpunk 2 - Was 37.99, now 30.39 (20% off)Helldivers 2 - Was 34.99, now 27.99 (20% off)Elden Ring is one of the greatest games of all time(Image: Steam)Here are some of the biggest and best games you should have in your library from recent years.Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - Was 59.99, now 14.99 (75% off)Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition - Was 74.99, 39.08 (48% off)Diablo 4 - Was 41.99, now 25.19 (40% off)Baldur's Gate 3 - Was 49.99, now 39.99 (20% off)Elden Ring - Was 49.99, now 29.99 (40% off)Content cannot be displayed without consentHere are our picks for some of the best indie games around, whether they launched this year or not, and some of the best games from smaller development teams.Animal Well - Was 20.99, now 16.79 (20% off)Dredge - Was 21.99, now 10.99 (50% off)Balatro - Was 12.79, now 11.51 (10% off)Hades 2 (Early Access) - Was 24.99, now 22.49 (10% off)Manor Lords - Was 34.99, now 24.49 (30% off)The Witcher 3 was many players' first introduction to Geralt(Image: Steam)Not only are these games cheap as chips, they're some of the best Steam has to offer.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Was 34.99, now 6.99 (80% off)Hitman: World of Assassination Part One - Was 24.99, now 2.49 (90% off)Dishonored 2 - Was 24.99, now 2.49 (90% off)Vampire Survivors - Was 3.99, now 2.79 (30% off) (Note: this is free on Epic Games this week)XCOM 2 - Was 24.99, now 1.74 (95% off)Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

That all-important arrives before Christmas tag is getting harder and harder to find in your online shopping excursions, and its going to vanish entirely in the next few days. But there are still great tech deals to be found at Amazon before the clock runs out, and heres one of the best: the Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-cancelling headphones for just $170.See at AmazonThe Studio Pros are the best of the Beats, with personalized spatial audio, compatibility with both Apple and Android devices, great noise cancelling, and a huge 40-hour battery life per charge. The Beats Studio Pro headphones normally run for $350, so finding them for over half off just days before Christmas is a real score.Only the Sound You WantWith fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency modes, you get to decide how much or how little of the outside world you want to let in while youre listening to music, podcasts, or other digital content. In ANC mode, the Beats monitor the noise around you and intelligently create a precise filter to cancel it out at 48,000 times per second.When you really want to get lost in the tunes, hardwire the Beats via USB-C or an Apple Lightning-to-3.5mm jack to hear lossless audio audio in a compressed file that retains all of the information and nuance of the original recording.The Beats Studio Pros are customizable, allowing you to create up to 3 listening profiles with personalized spatial audio so what comes out of the headphones is intelligently engineered for your specific hearing tastes.More Than MusicAs headphones for non-musical purposes, the Beats Studio Pros have voice-targeting microphones that filter out background noise so you come through loud and clear on phone calls, even when youre taking a call while outdoors. The voice on the other end of the call is delivered via an updated driver and refined micro-venting which reduce distortion by up to 80%.And pairing your Beats Studio Pros to Apple or Android devices is a simple one-touch operation. With either type of device, the Beats have Class 1 Bluetooth with extended range and fewer dropouts, and while that great connection and 40-hour battery life make lengthy listening sessions possible, the upgraded UltraPlush over-ear cushions make them comfortable.Hit Amazon now for this huge 51% price drop on the Beats Studio Pro wireless over-ear headphones and youll have them either under the tree for someone special or on your own head in time for Christmas, and youll save $180 in the process.See at Amazon

We are getting so close to the holidays, giving us practically no more time to shop for gifts for our family, friends, and loved ones. Typically in the lead up to Christmas and Hanukkah, your best bet to save some cash on your gift purchases will be during Black Friday or Cyber Week. Well, were well past that now. However, you can still find a good deal. This Anker Solix C1000 portable power station is down over half off. The 53% discount equates to a savings of $569. That brings the price down from $1,068 to just $499the power stations lowest price ever.The Anker Solix C1000 delivers 2,400W of output which can enable 99% of appliances to receive the power they need to function. With 11 versatile ports, this makes for a perfect backup power source during an emergency or just as a handy tool to take along with you to any camping trip or tailgate party. Its even got a built-in light for night time. Plus, it comes with a handy carrying case to make travel with it easy.See at AmazonFrom 100% capacity, youll be able to charge an iPhone 92 times over. A projector can last nearly a full 24 hours. For those emergency blackout, youll be able to provide your Wi-Fi router with power for 52.1 hours, lights for 50 hours, or your refrigerator for 14 hours.If you ever find yourself having forgotten to charge your Anker Solix C1000 power staiton before a big trip, dont worry just yet. You can achieve 80% battery capacity from zero after just 43 minutes of charging thanks to its UltraFast recharging tech. Reaching a full 100% remarkably takes less than one hour.The Anker Solix C1000 offers reliable power you can trust for a decade. The longevity of the battery is designed to last for 3,000 charging cycles. That works out to over 10 years of use.Harness the Suns EnergyPair your Anker Solix C1000 with a compatible solar panel. This way you can have practically unlimited power on any long outdoor camping escapade.The portable power station can be connected to the Anker app on your smartphone. Through it, you can customize charging speeds, view battery life, gain real-time insights, all over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.For a limited time, the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station along with the bonus carrying bag has been slashed down to its lowest price ever. Right now, you can save over 50% on your power station, paying only $499. Thats a savings of $569.See at Amazon

The post-pandemic world has undergone transformations in various aspects, including urban tourism and new modes of travel. With the rise of remote and freelance work, many people now have the freedom to move between cities without needing to establish a permanent residence. This has turned bars, restaurants, and cafs into more than just spaces for consumption: they are now temporary offices and, in many cases, settings for a variety of activities.

Lyon Confluence Mixed-Use Quarter / David Chipperfield ArchitectsSave this picture! Simon MengesLyon, FranceArchitects: David Chipperfield ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:30000 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Simon Menges More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The centre of Lyon is located on a peninsula created by the Rhne and Sane rivers as they converge. The southern tip La Confluence has largely been used for industry although, over the last ten years, it has begun to be redeveloped. David Chipperfield Architects was appointed to coordinate three blocks with eleven buildings within a masterplan by Herzog & de Meuron for the second phase of the city centre's extension into La Confluence. This role entailed adapting the wider masterplan to the specific site and proposed programme as well as developing strategies for the landscape and the general massing, organisation and faade design of the buildings. The process involved mediating between and coordinating with the city, clients, sustainability consultants, landscape architects and the other architects involved in the site. Regular collaborative workshops were held to test and develop the proposals.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The ambition is to create a mixed-use quarter with a focus on social and environmental sustainability. Containing a range of housing tenures, offices and a health centre, the buildings are architecturally coherent in material quality but individual in character. Within each block the buildings are grouped to define garden courtyards. Transparent and permeable ground-floors give access to the gardens from the street and, together with the strategic positioning of communal spaces and retail units, help to animate the surrounding public spaces.Save this picture!As well as coordinating this quarter, the practice was appointed to design three individual buildings, one within each of the blocks. These include a social housing building, a mixed-use tower and an office building. All three are shaped by their structure and defined by their simple rectilinear forms yet react to their specific location in different ways.Save this picture!The social housing building is made from cross laminated timber wrapped externally in a precast concrete faade of alternating bands of profiled and smooth panels. Deep recesses in two of its faades create loggias for the apartments facing a public square to the south and the garden to the east. The entrance hall provides a link from street to garden while a caf opens towards the public square.Save this picture!The mixed-use tower contains offices on the lower floors and apartments above. Together with a second tower by Aires Mateus it creates an entrance gesture for the new quarter. In reaction to its dense context, the building has large windows at its corners on the office levels with corresponding balconies in the apartments, offering views over the city and river. The in-situ concrete faade with its continuous board marked texture emphasises the sculptural quality of the building.Save this picture!The office building is prominently located on the river front and is designed for flexibility and a potential future conversion into apartments, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the building. Balconies run along the two principal faades, facing the river and garden respectively. These are articulated by in-situ concrete columns that stand proud of a recessed timber faade. A central hall links to an open staircase, expressed in the west faade, that connects the building to the garden.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Lyon, FranceLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on December 20, 2024Cite: "Lyon Confluence Mixed-Use Quarter / David Chipperfield Architects" 20 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024956/lyon-confluence-mixed-use-quarter-david-chipperfield-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Our new Master Compositing in Blender course just launched NOW!This course is the closest thing to having a make beautiful button inside Blender.You can enroll with an early bird 20% discount using the coupon code EARLYBIRD20, at cgboost.com/compositing