Looking for help with today's NYT Mini Crossword puzzle? Here are some hints and answers for the ... [+] puzzle.Credit: NYTIn case you missed Saturdays NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you can find the answers here:The last Lazy Sunday of the year is upon us, and I recommend you take full advantage of it. Hell, I recommend you take Monday off and just keep the weekend rolling straight through New Years Day. Schools out for winter. Stay home and play games, watch some of the great movies and TV shows that are out this weekend, and eat way too much food. You can get back to all your healthy, productive stuff on Thursday. But first, lets solve todays Mini Crossword!The NYT Mini is a smaller, quicker, more digestible, bite-sized version of the larger and more challenging NYT Crossword, and unlike its larger sibling, its free-to-play without a subscription to The New York Times. You can play it on the web or the app, though youll need the app to tackle the archive.Answers to todays Mini Crossword below . . . .Spoilers ahead!MORE FOR YOUACROSS1 Getting closer, so to speak WARM5 First-string crew ATEAM7 ___ journalism, style associated with Hunter S. Thompson GONZO8 Prized "activity" for new parents SLEEP9 Opposite of more LESSDOWN1 Moves like an excited dog's tail WAGS2 Ring-shaped reef ATOLL3 Zellweger of "Bridget Jones's Diary" RENEE4 Puzzles in a children's coloring book MAZES6 Cleans the floor MOPSToday's NYT Mini CrosswordCredit: Erik KainThis was a pretty quick Mini even if a couple of the words were a bit trickier than others. I actually skipped 1 and 5 ACROSS and went straight to 7GONZOand then 9LESS. I kept thinking NAPS for 8-ACROSS but it ended up being SLEEP. Close enough! I had to think a bit before I came up with ATOLL for 2-DOWN but the rest were pretty obvious. Todays Mini took me 1 minute and 11 seconds.How did you do? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.If you also play Wordle, I write guides about that as well. You can find those and all my TV guides, reviews and much more here on my blog. Thanks for reading!

When the Guinness World Records (GWR) book was launched in 1955, the idea was to compile facts and figures that could finally settle often endless arguments in the U.K.s many pubs.It quickly evolved into a yearly compilation of world records, big and small, including last years largest grilled cheese sandwich in the world.Recommended VideosThings got a little bit more serious for Hyundai this year: With the GWRs 2024 theme being the Blue Planet and an emphasis on the natural world, the South Korean automaker decided to set a new world record for the greatest altitude change experienced by an electric vehicle (EV).Please enable Javascript to view this contentTo achieve the record this December, Hyundai had an Ioniq 5 EV descend 19,035 feet during a more than 3,000-mile journey across the Indian peninsula. Last year, the record was set by Chinas Changan Nevo A07 EV, which experienced an altitude change of 18,766 feet while traveling nearly 1,500 miles through Tibet.RelatedThe Ioniq 5s journey started in the Himalayas at Indias highest drivable point in Umling La in Leh Ladakh, located 19,025 feet above sea level. The trip finished in Kuttanad, Kerala, which is 9.8 feet below sea level.During two weeks, the Hyundai EV traveled through harsh terrain and extreme weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and steep mountain passes, as well as humid coastal regions.This achievement is a testament to Hyundais unwavering commitment to innovation, technological excellence, and sustainability, said Unsoo Kim, managing director of Hyundai Motor India, in a statement. The Ioniq 5s performance in such extreme conditions reflects its engineering prowess and durability.The Ioniq 5 is equipped with a 72.6 kWh battery, providing a driving range of over 300 miles.The record was set just as the 2025 Ioniq 5 started being delivered in the U.S. The new model will be the first to feature a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port. Using a Tesla SuperCharger, the basic Ioniq 5 model can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in 24 minutes.Editors Recommendations

Europe is worried that Russia could attack countries beyond Ukraine.At the same time, Trump has suggested the US would be less involved in helping its NATO allies.Without US support, Europe lacks a key capability needed in a conflict with Russia, experts told BI.If President-elect Donald Trump cuts US military cooperation with Europe, its NATO allies there would lose a key capability needed to resist Russian aggression.Europe relies heavily on the US for the use of aircraft and weaponry to target air defense systems, known as suppression of enemy air defenses, or SEAD.If a military can't execute this critical mission, its aircraft are hindered and vulnerable, unable to strike or protect, leaving its ground forces much more exposed and less effective."One of the most crucial things that Europe is lacking is SEAD," Tim Robinson, a military aviation specialist at the UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, told BI. He described SEAD as "a crucial role," but one Europe has let "wither the vine."Reliance on the USThere are few dedicated SEAD platforms on the continent. Germany and Italy's Tornado aircraft carry the AGM-88 HARM munition for targeting radars and are equipped with the needed Emitter Location System, but those are set to be retired next year.Other NATO partners operate F-16s, which can have a SEAD role, but only US Air Force Fighting Falcons are equipped with the HARM Targeting System for better SEAD.US allies in Europe are increasingly looking to replace older aircraft with F-35s, but only a few are also acquiring AGM-88 missiles.(These missiles are highly capable for SEAD missions and were delivered to the Ukrainian air force for this purpose, but less so for the destruction of enemy air defenses, or DEAD, missions.)"The F-35 was designed specifically to be able to operate against modern SAM systems in both the penetrating strike and SEAD/DEAD roles," Justin Bronk, an air power expert at the Royal United Services Institute, wrote early last year.He highlighted the fifth-generation jet's advanced stealth, electronic warfare, and active and passive sensor suite for detecting enemy surface-to-air missile systems."Despite these very impressive capabilities, simply fielding the F-35 is not sufficient as an answer to European NATO's SEAD/ DEAD problem in itself," he said.This situation has left Europe heavily dependent on the US, less than ideal amid questions about US reliability and as Russia's war in Ukraine has shown how important defeating enemy air-defense batteries is in modern conflict.In Ukraine, neither side has been able to conduct successful SEAD operations, leaving both air forces hugely hampered and forcing ground units into grinding battles with heavy casualties.Mattias Eken, a missile defense expert at the RAND Corporation, said an important lesson from the Ukraine war has been that "air forces must be able to find, suppress, and destroy" mobile surface-to-air missiles to achieve air superiority "against even moderately equipped state opponents." An American-made Patriot air defense system fires a missile. SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images Eken added that no other Western air force except the US has significant SEAD capabilities. All other NATO forces "have limited penetrating assets, munitions stocks, and experience in operating large, mixed strike packages."American SEAD might and a lack of European capabilityRetired US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon "Skip" Davis, who served as NATO's deputy assistant secretary-general for its defense-investment division, said "the vast majority of the SEAD aircraft, in the event of aggression, would be provided by the US."Davis told BI that the US has the stealth aircraft, including penetrating bombers, needed to locate and destroy Russian air defenses, and US aircraft have intelligence capabilities "that NATO would have great difficulty in replacing."He warned that without better SEAD capabilities or US support, NATO "would be hard-pressed to be effective in a large Russian aggression."Warfare experts at the US Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote in April 2023 that "NATO is now wholly dependent on the United States for SEAD capabilities."A key example was the large-scale NATO air campaign over Libya in 2011, where the US provided almost all of the alliance's SEAD capabilities despite having planned to only play a supporting role in that situation. A rocket launches from a S-400 missile system at the Ashuluk military base in Southern Russia. Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images Looking ahead, Europe may not be able to count on the US. Trump has been a strong critic of NATO and, in his first term,threatened to withdraw from the military allianceif other nations didn't spend more on their defense.European countries have dramatically increased their defense spending since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, and some now spend more on defense than the US as a percentage of GDP. (Warfare experts say that's a response to Russian aggression, not Trump's pressure.)But Europe is acutely aware of Trump's threats, and military experts warn that the continent's increased expenditure is not enough to support Ukraine and prepare for Russia's threats alone. It still needs the US.Thinking about the Russian threatRussia has repeatedly threatened to attack elsewhere in Europe, and many countries have warned that it could happen in the next few years, especially if Moscow emerges victorious in Ukraine.It's unclear if the US would or even could withdraw its support, especially for allies who already spend a lot on defense. US forces are now so integrated in Europe that, if something happens soon, "they're automatically involved" unless the US makes a major policy shift to return forces to the US, Gordon said.Europe is nevertheless taking actions to address its deficiencies, like a pan-European defense company now developing a new SPEAR-EW missile. A Pantsir-S1 and an S-400 at a Russian base in Syria. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service "I think the penny has dropped," said Robinson, but he added that not enough was happening. "It's taking time, I think, for European capitals and maybe multinational organizations to get the momentum going."Michael Bohnert, a warfare expert at the RAND Corporation, said that it could take years to reconstitute a supply chain for necessary missiles. That means "there really aren't any good options" to cover a deficit in the short term if the US pulls back,Robinson said Europe has an advanced industrial base, but "the difficulty is it's all fragmented."Some cooperation has taken place, including four European nations agreeing to operate their jets as a single fleet.Jan Kallberg, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis and a fellow at the Army Cyber Institute at West Point, said "acquisition, cooperation, and collaboration are essential."He said countries should buy assets together and "operate jointly as a multinational force," especially given how large Europe is and how much land may need to be defended.Fixing Europe's SEAD deficits will take time, during which it will be more vulnerable to attacks. But Russia has demonstrated an inability to effectively use its own assets a flaw that could ultimately aid Europe."Europe will lack enough SEAD capabilities for the next 10 to 15 years," said Kallberg, but "the Russian air force and air defenses can't get their intelligence, command, and control to act together, and lack resources for broad modernization.""If there is a war," he said, "it is not Europe's abilities that save the day. It is the Russian inability."

Wilam Ngarrang Residence / Kennedy Nolan ArchitectsSave this picture! Eve WilsonMelbourne, AustraliaArchitects: Kennedy Nolan ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:702 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Eve WilsonManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: AVJ Ceramics, About Space, CERES Fairwood, Laminex, Premium Floors Australia, Vic Water Tanks More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The key intention of this project is to create a financially replicable model of a low environmental impact retrofit that reduces operating costs for inhabitants. More broadly, the project is a prototype to explore and investigate the social and financial benefits of retrofitting existing apartment blocks in Melbourne's inner city.Save this picture!The completed project is a minimal-intervention retrofit of a 1970s apartment block in Fitzroy concentrating on improving thermal performance, extending the lifespan of the building and increasing amenities for tenants. Importantly, there is also an emphasis on creating a sense of domestic comfort, on making places for people which are warm, welcoming and beautiful, in their own modest way. The design of the project was a partnership between Kennedy Nolan and Finding Infinity, regular collaborators on a diverse range of projects.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Wilam Ngarrang is a modest construction project with an emphasis on retaining and re-using existing fabric. In the end, only the doors and windows were replaced but when combined with an airtight lime-based paint, this allowed us to massively improve air-tightness. Other initiatives included rooftop rainwater collection, roof and wall insulation, the implementation of efficient water fittings and fixtures and the installation of a 33kW solar system on the rooftop of the building. A heat recovery ventilation unit was also installed in each of the apartments. It is estimated that the reduction in bills for tenants as a result of these inclusions will be 80% or more.Save this picture!Our work also includes elements to support a sense of community within the building and even contribute to wider society. On the site, the landscape was privileged and augmented and included a shared vegetable plot and composting for the building. The communal laundry was elevated into a social space, and a large shared table provided an armature for being together which provided an opportunity to build fellowship amongst the predominantly single-person households. Wurundjeri artist Alex Kerr has painted a mural that leads residents down to this communal space.Save this picture!The building was named Wilam Ngarrang by the Wuundjeri Land Council and is "Paying the Rent" to first nations organizations and through partnering with the organization Home Ground, two of the apartments are being rented out at below-market rates to assist those who are struggling to enter the rental market.Save this picture!Wilam Ngarrang represents a cost-effective solution to making major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions with the important additional benefits of low embodied energy, speed of delivery, minimal disruption to existing neighborhoods and is cheaper than an equivalent new building with similar performance. When these benefits are combined with positive social outcomes and a committed design approach, it is possible to see how existing buildings can have a new life functionally and aesthetically combining a significant reduction in energy consumption with good quality, even beautiful domestic space. It is hoped that this project demonstrates how Architects can make a positive impact in new ways by deploying their unique understanding of the possibilities in all buildings and how modest intervention can make a big impact.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialsWoodBrickMaterials and TagsPublished on December 29, 2024Cite: "Wilam Ngarrang Residence / Kennedy Nolan Architects" 28 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024111/wilam-ngarrang-residence-kennedy-nolan-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

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen Manga.

With dozens and dozens of fish and seafood species, Disney Dreamlight Valley is undoubtedly a paradise for fishing fans. The recent Storybook Vale expansion has added plenty of more fish species across its three new biomes. Among them is Hippocampus.

A Fortnite player has shared a hilarious clip highlighting one way the game's new movement system has killed them. Since its release in 2017, Epic Games has been improving the movement in Fortnite, but some recent changes may not be ideal.

Designed by the architectural studio Clemens Kirsch, this lovely house in the Viennese hills is called the Villa Minimale. The home is a remarkable and impressive structure, designed for a family of four. It is a wooden retreat that efficiently utilizes space, creating a peaceful sanctuary for relaxation, socialization, and the love of gardening. The home serves as a calming oasis, a space that nurtures familial connections, allowing family members and friends to interact and engage with one another in a peaceful atmosphere.Designer: Clemens Kirsch ArchitekturThe home occupies a maximum floor area of 35 sqm and a height limit of 5 meters, constrained by strict building regulations. The architects are inspired by the iconic Villa Rotonda and the Kings Road House. The end result is a home that feels timeless and contemporary, creating a mesmerizing effect. In a world where modern homes with no personality seem to reign supreme, the evergreen and subtle Villa Minimale is a welcomed escape. It serves as a heartwarming and serene space with charm and passion amidst the tsunami of cold and drab homes that seem to have taken over.The ground floor of the Villa Minimale includes a central dining area, a well-equipped kitchen, a bathroom, a WC, and a cozy alcove. The upper level includes three bunks, which mimics the experience of camping, allowing the residents to admire the sky from the vantage point. The home was constructed using prefabricated timber elements, while the exterior features light-glazed timber battens and a copper roof.The interior is a warm and inviting space, on account of the use of veneered marine pine blackboards. A copper roof crowns this timber structure. Inside, the combination of soft-toned furniture and paint creates a serene atmosphere. Large square and oval windows and doors allow fresh air and natural light to fill the space. At the heart of Villa Minimales design is a cozy alcove that serves as a striking focal point.Villa Minimale is made up of four identical wooden boxes with shed roofs, that have been arranged in a windmill-like configuration, placed around a central oculus. The circular air space in the center offers natural ventilation, while also maintaining a connection to the surrounding landscape.The home beautifully blurs the boundaries between the interior and the exterior. It seamlessly merges with the surrounding landscape, offering access to lovely views from all directions. Nature and architecture harmoniously play with one another to create a living experience that feels free-flowing, unique, and inspired.The post This Space Efficient Tiny Home Gives Us A Masterclass On Maximizing Storage first appeared on Yanko Design.

Metas software update issue has been breaking Quest headsets for weeksMetas software update issue has been breaking Quest headsets for weeks / Meta says its working on an update to address bricked Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest 3S headsets, but it isnt available yet.By Wes Davis, a weekend editor who covers the latest in tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech journalist since 2020. Dec 28, 2024, 11:08 PM UTCShare this storyA Meta Quest 3 on a charging dock. Photo by David Pierce / The VergeMeta updated a note on the top of its Quest support site to say that a software update issue has been bricking Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest 3S headsets. The company writes that while most people can now use their headsets normally, its actively working on resolving the issue for all users. That Meta is now saying its working on a fix for all users may be good news for Quest 2 and 3 owners whove reported that Meta wouldnt fix or replace their headsets because they were out of warranty. Some Reddit users say the company has emailed a confirmation that they were getting out-of-warranty service for the issue, and a Meta support forum community manager wrote in an update yesterday that Metas customer support should have new directions on how to support users now. Meta posted on December 6th that there were software update issues affecting some new Quest 3S devices, but didnt mention Quest 2 or 3 headsets or what software version was involved, either then or in an earlier version of the new support site message that UploadVR reported this week. The company announced on December 9th that it was rolling out its most recent update, Meta Quest v71, adding features like a revamped virtual desktop display connection method and keyboard passthrough support in virtual environments. Most PopularMost Popular

Agentic AI systems have revolutionized industries by enabling complex workflows through specialized agents working in collaboration. These systems streamline operations, automate decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency across various domains, including market research, healthcare, and enterprise management. However, their optimization remains a persistent challenge, as traditional methods rely heavily on manual adjustments, limiting scalability and adaptability.A critical challenge in optimizing Agentic AI systems is their dependence on manual configurations, which introduce inefficiencies and inconsistencies. These systems must evolve continuously to align with dynamic objectives and address complexities in agent interactions. Current approaches often fail to provide mechanisms for autonomous improvement, resulting in bottlenecks that hinder performance and scalability. This highlights the need for robust frameworks capable of iterative refinement without human intervention.Existing tools for optimizing Agentic AI systems focus primarily on evaluating performance benchmarks or modular designs. While frameworks like MLA-gentBench evaluate agent performance across tasks, they do not address the broader need for continuous, end-to-end optimization. Similarly, modular approaches enhance individual components but lack the holistic adaptability required for dynamic industries. These limitations underscore the demand for systems that autonomously improve workflows through iterative feedback and refinement.Researchers aiXplain Inc. introduced a novel framework leveraging large language models (LLMs), particularly Llama 3.2-3B, to optimize Agentic AI systems autonomously. The framework integrates specialized agents for evaluation, hypothesis generation, modification, and execution. It employs iterative feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement, significantly reducing the reliance on human oversight. This system is designed for broad applicability across industries, addressing domain-specific challenges while maintaining adaptability and scalability.The framework operates through a structured process of synthesis and evaluation. A baseline Agentic AI configuration is initially deployed, with specific tasks and workflows assigned to agents. Evaluation metrics, both qualitative (clarity, relevance) and quantitative (execution time, success rates), guide the refinement process. Specialized agents, such as Hypothesis and Modification Agents, iteratively propose and implement changes to enhance performance. The system continues refining configurations until predefined goals are achieved or performance improvements plateau.The transformative potential of this framework is demonstrated through several case studies across diverse domains. Each case highlights the challenges faced by the original systems, the modifications introduced, and the resultant improvements in performance metrics:Market Research Agent: The initial system struggled with inadequate market analysis depth and poor alignment with user needs, scoring 0.6 in clarity and relevance. Refinements introduced specialized agents like Market Research Analyst and Data Analyst, enhancing data-driven decision-making and prioritizing user-centered design. Post-refinement, the system achieved scores of 0.9 in alignment and relevance, significantly improving its ability to deliver actionable insights.Medical Imaging Architect Agent: This system faced challenges in regulatory compliance, patient engagement, and explainability. Specialized agents such as Regulatory Compliance Specialist and Patient Advocate were added, along with transparency frameworks for improved explainability. The refined system achieved scores of 0.9 in regulatory compliance and 0.8 in patient-centered design, addressing critical healthcare demands effectively.Career Transition Agent: The initial system, designed to assist software engineers transitioning into AI roles, lacked clarity and alignment with industry standards. By incorporating agents like Domain Specialist and Skill Developer, the refined system provided detailed timelines and structured outputs, increasing communication clarity scores from 0.6 to 0.9. This improved the systems ability to facilitate effective career transitions.Supply Chain Outreach Agent: Initially limited in scope, the outreach agent system for supply chain management struggled to address operational complexities. Five specialized roles were introduced to enhance the focus on supply chain analysis, optimization, and sustainability. These modifications led to significant improvements in clarity, accuracy, and actionability, positioning the system as a valuable tool for e-commerce companies.LinkedIn Content Agent: The original system, designed to generate LinkedIn posts on generative AI trends, struggled with engagement and credibility. Specialized roles like Audience Engagement Specialist were introduced, emphasizing metrics and adaptability. After refinement, the system achieved marked improvements in audience interaction and relevance, enhancing its utility as a content-creation tool.Meeting Facilitation Agent: Developed for AI-powered drug discovery, this system fell short in alignment with industry trends and analytical depth. By integrating roles like AI Industry Expert and Regulatory Compliance Lead, the refined system achieved scores of 0.9 or higher in all evaluation categories, making it more relevant and actionable for pharmaceutical stakeholders.Lead Generation Agent: Focused on the AI for Personalized Learning platform, this system initially struggled with data accuracy and business alignment. Specialized agents such as Market Analyst and Business Development Specialists were introduced, resulting in improved lead qualification processes. Post-refinement, the system achieved scores of 0.91 in alignment with business objectives and 0.90 in data accuracy, highlighting the impact of targeted modifications.Across these cases, the iterative feedback loop mechanism proved pivotal in enhancing clarity, relevance, and actionability. For example, the market research and medical imaging systems saw their performance metrics rise by over 30% post-refinement. Variability in outputs was significantly reduced, ensuring consistent and reliable performance.The research provides several key takeaways:The framework scales across diverse industries effectively, maintaining adaptability without compromising domain-specific requirements.Key metrics such as execution time, clarity, and relevance improved by an average of 30% across case studies.Introducing domain-specific roles addressed unique challenges effectively, as seen in the market research and medical imaging cases.The iterative feedback loop mechanism minimized human intervention, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing refinement cycles.Variability in outputs was reduced significantly, ensuring reliable performance in dynamic environments.Enhanced outputs were aligned with user needs and industry objectives, providing actionable insights across domains.In conclusion, aiXplain Inc.s innovative framework optimizes Agentic AI systems by addressing the limitations of traditional, manual refinement processes. The framework achieves continuous, autonomous improvements across diverse domains by integrating LLM-powered agents and iterative feedback loops. Case studies demonstrate its scalability, adaptability, and consistent enhancement of performance metrics such as clarity, relevance, and actionability, with scores exceeding 0.9 in many instances. This approach reduces variability and aligns outputs with industry-specific demands.Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Aswin Ak+ postsAswin AK is a consulting intern at MarkTechPost. He is pursuing his Dual Degree at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is passionate about data science and machine learning, bringing a strong academic background and hands-on experience in solving real-life cross-domain challenges. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)