Ukraine's new attack in Kursk is featuring some impressive drone jamming, Russian military bloggers said.The bloggers reported that Ukrainian forces were able to break through because of "powerful electronic warfare."it's made it difficult for Russian drone operators to work in the area, they wrote.Ukraine launched a renewed offensive in Russia's Kursk region on Sunday, where Russian pro-war bloggers say Kyiv's drone jammers have been working exceptionally well.The "Operation Z" channel, a collection of dispatches from Russian war correspondents, wrote that the attack had focused on the Bolshesoldatsky district, to the northeast of the Ukrainian-held pocket in Kursk."In order to break through, the Ukrainian Armed Forces covered the area with powerful electronic warfare systems, making it difficult for our UAVs to operate," wrote the Telegram channel, which has over 1.6 million subscribers.Razvedos Advanced Gear & Equipment, a Russian military news Telegram channel with over 152,000 subscribers, echoed those comments in a post on Sunday."It cannot be said that they were not expected in this direction, but they managed to VERY effectively use electronic warfare," it wrote of the fighting in Bolshesoldatsky.Roman Alekhine, a military blogger with about 218,000 subscribers, wrote on his channel: "The enemy has covered the attack area with electronic warfare, so many drones are useless."Alekhine later posted that some Russian drone operators were still able to switch to unjammed frequencies.Sergei Kolyasnikov, another military blogger with about 498,000 subscribers, reported that about 10 Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles had entered the Bolshesoldatsky region."The area is covered with some powerful electronic warfare, nothing is flying at all," he wrote.The specifics of Ukraine's new push this week into Russian territory are still unclear. Kyiv initially launched a surprise counteroffensive into Kursk in August, where it took an estimated 480 square miles of Russian land but has been slowly pushed back since.Ukraine has stayed mostly silent on the matter. But Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation run by Ukraine's national security and defense council, alluded to an assault on Sunday by posting that Russian troops in Kursk "were attacked from several directions and it came as a surprise to them."Andriy Yermak, chief of staff for Ukraine's president, also hinted at an attack by writing on his Telegram channel that Russia was "getting what it deserves" in Kursk.Meanwhile, Russia has outright declared that Ukraine had attacked again."On January 5, at about 09:00 Moscow time, in order to stop the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy launched a counterattack with an assault group consisting of two tanks, a barrier vehicle, and 12 combat armored vehicles with troops in the direction of the Berdin farm," its defense ministry told state media.As reports of Ukraine's jamming efforts emerged, the defense ministry published a video of a Russian drone operator coordinating a tank strike on an unknown target in a forested area, saying he was working in Kursk.The Ukrainian and Russian Defense Ministries did not respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.Electronic warfare has increasingly been key on the battlefield as both Russia and Ukraine turn to cheap drones for reconnaissance, loitering munitions, and close-range bombing runs.One development has seen both sides deploywired drones.These use long fiber optic cables unfurled from a spool as the aerial system takes flight, allowing it to bypass jamming systems.Should they become mainstream, they may pose yet another challenge for militaries that are already spending big on preparing against drone threats. The US, for example, is paying some $250 million to Anduril, Palmer Luckey's defense startup, for 500 drones and an electronic warfare system called Pulsar.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government and a big bank to work with China on AI.Russia has been seeking tech alternatives post-Ukraine invasion due to Western sanctions.A Russia-China AI partnership could raise concerns over censorship, among other issues.Russian President Vladimir Putin continues seeking to expand his challenge of the West's order this time in tech.The Russian leader has ordered his government and Russian banking giant Sberbank to work with China on artificial intelligence, according to a December 30 post on the Kremlin's website.Putin instructed his government and Sberbank to "ensure further cooperation with the People's Republic of China in conducting technological research and development in the field of artificial intelligence," according to the Kremlin's post. It was published three weeks after Putin announced a BRICS AI Alliance Network.Putin delegated Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Sberbank CEORussia's building parallel systems to the WestPutin's instructions came 34 months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which triggered sweeping Western sanctions against his regime.The trade restrictions have hit Russia's access to financial paymentsparallel imports and domestic substitutes.Russia has also been setting up alternative systems to process payments transactions and ship sanctioned oil around the world.However, finding tech alternatives to Western products has not been easy.A former top Russian finance official told Reuters in September 2022 that Russia would be using second-grade tech for years and spending "huge resources" to recreate what already exists. Goods heavily impacted by Western sanctions include semiconductor chips, aviation parts, and medical products.Sberbank CEO Gref said in April 2023 that graphics cards for AI and supercomputers were the hardest to substitute.The US has restricted sales of advanced computer chips to Russia since 2022 and further tightened restrictions onthird-party chip exportsto Russia last year.Alexander Vedyakhin, the first deputy CEO of Sberbank, told Reuters last month that Russia was six to nine months behind the US and China in AI in a range of parameters.Vedyakhin told the news agency that Russia would focus on developing large language modelsA potential Russia-China partnership in AI could cause concerns beyond sanctions skirting.China's foray into AI is raising concernsChinese officials have tested Chinese large language models to ensure they embody "core socialist values," according to a Financial Times report in July.

Viewpoint Garden at the Alcazaba-Fortress of Vlez-Mlaga / Terral ArquitectosSave this picture! Fernando Gmez MateosPublic Space, ParkVlez-Mlaga, SpainArchitects: Terral ArquitectosAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:2285 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Fernando Gmez Mateos Lead Architect: Beatriz Prez Doncel More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. This project is drafted at the request of the Vlez-Mlaga City Council and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The purpose of the action is to recover a degraded green area located in the vicinity of the Alcazaba-Fortress, which, due to its orographic characteristics, is a perfect place to observe the city and its relationship with the surrounding territory.Save this picture!The recovery of the green area is linked to the recirculation of rainwater that currently flows down the street adjacent to the site and runs off during precipitation. The project redirects this rainwater to a reservoir located beneath one of the viewpoints to irrigate the hillside garden during drier periods.Save this picture!The location of the project is at the highest point of the city, in the heart of the La Villa neighborhood, included within the scope of the BIC Historic Center of Vlez-Mlaga, within the execution unit UE-Pepri 1 "La Fortaleza," and with Type B archaeological protection. It is an area with significant historical-artistic value, but like many historic centers, it is an area facing social issues and depopulation that needs revitalization.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The objectives of the project are:Save this picture!1 Improvement of the connection between Palafrenero Street and Fortaleza Street, with the construction of a staircase between the two, in a safe manner that is integrated into the environment. (Palafrenero Staircase).2 - New sidewalk on Fortaleza Street, from the previously described staircase to the end of the plot, delineating the area of action and providing access to the square proposed as an anteroom to the existing green area on the hillside.3 Paving of the flat part of the plot, as a continuation of the previously described sidewalk, creating a square that serves as access to the proposed viewpoints, with areas for relaxation. (Fortaleza Square).4 Creation of viewpoints for observing the city and its relationship with the territory, as well as the most emblematic architectural heritage.5 Landscape recovery of the existing hillside, with respect for native species and installation of an irrigation system.6 Scheduled drip irrigation system, with the recovery of water from rainwater accumulated in the reservoir built beneath one of the viewpoints.Save this picture!For the paving of the entire new urbanized area, a material that is manufactured in the city itself is used: the fired clay from the tile factories of Vlez-Mlaga. This is a manually crafted material that is fired in Moorish-origin kilns, heated with biomass (almond shells or avocado wood from local plantations). A very artisanal local industry that has been on the verge of disappearing.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Vlez-Mlaga, SpainLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeTerral ArquitectosOfficePublished on January 06, 2025Cite: "Viewpoint Garden at the Alcazaba-Fortress of Vlez-Mlaga / Terral Arquitectos" [Jardn Mirador en Alcazaba-Fortaleza de Vlez-Mlaga / Terral Arquitectos] 06 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025331/viewpoint-garden-at-the-alcazaba-fortress-of-velez-malaga-terral-arquitectos&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

Kite-Shaped House / Shuji YamadaSave this picture! Kenta HasegawaHousesKamakura, JapanArchitects: Shuji YamadaAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:92 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Kenta HasegawaManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: KYOEI LUMBER Lead Architects: Shuji Yamada More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Kite-Shaped House Reflecting Site Conditions - Built on an irregular plot in Kamakura, this house features a distinctive kite-shaped floor plan. It strikes a balance between privacy and openness by using walls and approaches to blur the boundaries of the site, creating rhythm in the surrounding streetscape. Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The sustainable Itakura construction method, which allows for easy relocation and reuse of materials, is integral to the design.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Triangular shoji screens, aligned with the roofline, transform the space: when open, they divide the rooms while allowing natural light to flow in; when closed, they connect the spaces, blocking light and enhancing the spatial experience. This design seamlessly combines functionality, beauty, and adaptability to its environment.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeShuji YamadaOfficeMaterialsWoodConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 06, 2025Cite: "Kite-Shaped House / Shuji Yamada" 06 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025335/kite-shaped-house-shuji-yamada&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

Strands has yet another difficult puzzle to ponder over today. In order to win, you will need to figure out the theme, then find all eight hidden items in the letter grid. And the NYT has not made this one easy for you.

Yummy Games' Project Tower is a third-person bullet hell shooter that stands out with its unique morphing ability. Take a look at the launch trailer here.

Throughout the God of War series, bloodshed, vengeance, an iconic story, and savage weaponry are expected and beloved by fans for many years. Among fans of the series, the weaponry aspects are often cited as one of their favorite things about God of War, especially certain overpowered items.

Regardless of what kind of exercise youre into, if youre working out, youll want a pair of wireless workout headphones. They allow you to be free and untethered during a serious weight-lifting session, a 5K run, an hour at the skate park and everywhere in between where youre moving and sweating a ton. There are dozens of great wireless headphones and wireless earbud options out there, but for exercise in particular, there are additional factors to consider before picking one up like water resistance, battery life and overall comfort.At Engadget, weve tested a bunch of fitness-ready headphones and earbuds to come up with our top picks, plus some advice to consider before you pick up a pair. All of our top picks below will work in and out of the gym, so you can invest in just one pair and make those your daily driver. If youre primarily a runner, check out our list of best headphones for running. What to look for in workout headphones Design Before diving in, its worth mentioning that this guide focuses on wireless earbuds. While you could wear over-ear or on-ear headphones during a workout, most of the best headphones available now do not have the same level of durability. Water and dust resistance, particularly the former, is important for any audio gear you plan on sweating with or taking outdoors, and thats more prevalent in the wireless earbuds world. Most earbuds have one of three designs: in-ear, in-ear with hook or open-ear. The first two are the most popular. In-ears are arguably the most common, while those with hooks promise better security and fit since they have an appendage that curls around the top of your ear. Open-ear designs dont stick into your ear canal, but rather sit just outside of it. This makes it easier to hear the world around you while also listening to audio, and could be more comfortable for those who dont like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds. Water resistance and dust protection Even if a pair of headphones for working out arent marketed specifically as exercise headphones, a sturdy, water-resistant design will, by default, make them suitable for exercise. To avoid repetition, heres a quick primer on durability, or ingression protection (IP) ratings. The first digit youll see after the IP refers to protection from dust and other potential intrusions, measured on a scale from 1 to 6. The second refers to water resistance or even waterproofing, in the best cases. The ratings for water resistance are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9; higher numbers mean more protection, while the letter X means the device is not rated for protection in that regard. All of the earbuds we tested for this guide have at least an IPX4 rating, which means theres no dust protection, but the buds can withstand splashes from any direction and are sweat resistant, but probably shouldn't be submerged. For a detailed breakdown of all the possible permutations, check out this guide published by a supplier called The Enclosure Company. Active noise cancellation and transparency mode Active noise cancellation (ANC) is becoming standard on wireless earbuds, at least those above a certain price point. If youre looking for a pair of buds that can be your workout companion and serve you outside of the gym, too, noise cancelation is a good feature to have. It makes the buds more versatile, allowing you to block out the dull roar of your home or office so you can focus, or give you some solitude during a busy commute. But an earbuds ability to block out the world goes hand-in-hand with its ability to open things back up should you need it. Many ANC earbuds also support some sort of transparency mode, or various levels of noise reduction. This is important for running headphones because exercising outdoors, alongside busy streets, can be dangerous. You probably dont want to be totally oblivious to whats going on around you when youre running outside; adjusting noise cancelation levels to increase your awareness will help with that. Stronger noise cancelation might be more appealing to those doing more indoor training if they want to block out the dull roar of a gym or the guy exaggeratingly lifting weights next to you. Battery life All of the Bluetooth earbuds we tested have a battery life of six to eight hours. In general, thats what you can expect from this space, with a few outliers that can get up to 15 hours of life on a charge. Even the low end of the spectrum should be good enough for most athletes and gym junkies, but itll be handy to keep the buds charging case on you if you think youll get close to using up all their juice during a single session. Youll get an average of 20 to 28 extra hours of battery out of most charging cases and all of the earbuds we tested had holders that provided at least an extra 15 hours. This will dictate how often you actually have to charge the device as in physically connect the case with earbuds inside to a charging cable, or set it on a wireless charger to power up. How we test workout headphones In testing wireless workout headphones, I wear them during every bit of exercise I do be it a casual walk around the block, a brisk morning run or a challenging weight-lifting session. Im looking for comfort arguably most of all, because you should never be fussing with your earbuds when you should be focusing on working out. In the same vein, Im cognizant of if they get loose during fast movements or slippery when Im sweating. I also use the earbuds when not exercising to take calls and listen to music throughout the day. Many people will want just one pair of earbuds that they can use while exercising and just doing everyday things, so I evaluate each pair on their ability to be comfortable and provide a good listening experience in multiple different activities. While I am also evaluating sound quality, Im admittedly not an audio expert. My colleague Billy Steele holds that title at Engadget, and youll find much more detailed information about audio quality for some of our top picks in his reviews and buying guides. With these headphones for working out, however, I will make note of related issues if they stood out (i.e. if a pair of earbuds had noticeably strong bass out of the box, weak highs, etc). Most of the wireless workout headphones we tested work with companion apps that have adjustable EQ settings, so youll be able to tweak sound profiles to your liking in most cases. A note about Jabra headphones Jabra announced it will exit the consumer earbuds business, which is disappointing considering the company has made excellent headphones for working out. Our top picks include two Jabra models and we feel comfortable recommending them still because Jabra plans to support its current earbuds for "several years." However, we're constantly testing new buds and reassessing our top picks, so we'll update this list accordingly in the future. Best workout headphones for 2025 Others wireless workout headphones we tested Apple AirPods Pro The Apple AirPods Pro have an IP54 rating, which protects them from brief encounters with dust and splashes. While thats more dust protection than many other earbuds we tested, its the same level of water resistance that most exercise-specific competitors have. We generally like the AirPods Pro, but the Beats Fit Pro offer many of the same features and conveniences (namely good transparency mode and the H1 chip), with a design thats more appropriate for working out. Beats Powerbeats Pro The Powerbeats Pro are a good alternative to the Beats Fit Pro if youre a stickler for a hook design. However, they cost $50 more than the Fit Pro (although they often hover around $180) and dont offer any significant upgrades or additional features aside from their design. Theyre also quite old at this point (launched in 2019) and it appears Beats is putting more effort into upgrading and updating its newer models rather than this model. Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro The Soundcore AeroFit Pro is Ankers version of the Shokz OpenFit, but I found it to be less secure and not as comfortable as the latter. The actual earbuds on the AeroFit Pro are noticeably bulkier than those on the OpenFit, which caused them to shift and move much more when I was wearing them during exercise. They never fell off my ears completely, but I spent more time adjusting them than I did enjoying them. JBL Endurance Peak 3 The most noteworthy thing about the Endurance Peak 3 is that they have the same IP68-rating that the Jabra Elite 8 Active do, but they only cost $100. But, while you get the same protection here, youll have to sacrifice in other areas. The Endurance Peak 3 didnt blow me away when it came to sound quality or comfort (the hook is more rigid than those on my favorite buds of a similar style) and their charging case is massive compared to most competitors.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-wireless-workout-headphones-191517835.html?src=rss

If you've ever been confused about the vast array of skincare products on the market and exactly which ones are right for you, LOral claims to have the answer. For CES 2025, the company introduced a gadget called the Cell BioPrint that can biochemically analyze your skin and provide advice on how to make it look younger.The company partnered with a startup called NanoEntek, a Korean manufacturer that develops microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology. To use the system, you place a facial strip on your cheek, then transfer it over to a buffer solution. That is then loaded into a Cell BioPrint cartridge, which is in turn inserted into the machine for analysis. While that's being processed, the device also takes images of your face and has you fill out a short questionnaire around skin concerns and aging. All of that takes just five minutes, the company says.In an interview with Engadget, Loreal's Guive Balooch said that the skin strip can be applied near the jawline, and that even if someone has sunscreen on, it won't affect the results.Once the data is crunched using something LOral calls proteomics, Cell BioPrint can provide advice on how to improve your skin's appearance. It can suggest how well you may respond to certain ingredients like retinol, and predict potential cosmetic issues like dark spots or enlarged pores before they become visible.It all sounds good and reasonably science-based, but LOral didn't cite any peer-reviewed studies that may prove the machine's efficacy. Still, it seems like a good time for such a product as skincare awareness has blown up of late thanks in part to Covid, influencers and Sephora. That has generated in a lot of new information (and misinformation), allowing LOral to come in and save the day using science to hypothetically fix your issues.In any case, the BioPrint machine won't be available for consumers just yet, and to be clear, the first iteration of the device isn't meant for at-home use. It's slated to start pilot tests in stores in Asia sometime in 2025, but so far, there's no firm launch date or price. Balooch indicated it would follow a similar rollout pattern to the company's other tech launches in the past, by appearing first at the counters in flagship stores for one of LOral's luxury brands. Over time, it may make its way to more mainstream segments.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/loreals-latest-device-promises-to-help-find-out-how-well-your-skin-responds-to-ingredients-like-retinol-090300942.html?src=rss