The VPN removal orders appear to be the first enactment of the controversial 2022 India's data retention law. Here's what we know so far.

Windows 11s rumored dynamic wallpapers look seriously smart but theyll never brighten your desktop sadly.

LG adds to its lifestyle AV portfolio

U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) stock was down more than 5% in midday trading Friday, after President Joe Biden blocked a nearly $15 billion takeover bid by Japans Nippon Steel (NISTF), arguing foreign ownership over one of Americas largest steel producers posed a threat to national security.U.S. Steels stock plunged more than 7% in the late morning following the announcement.The move by Biden marks a bold use of executive authority in the final days of his presidency.A strong domestically owned and operated steel industry represents an essential national security priority and is critical for resilient supply chains, Biden said in a statement. That is because steel powers our country: our infrastructure, our auto industry, and our defense industrial base.Biden added that U.S. steel companies have faced unfair trade practices as foreign companies dumped steel on global markets at artificially low prices, leading to job losses and factory closures in America, and said it was his responsibility to block foreign ownership of this vital American company.Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel jointly condemned the decision, saying the move reflects a clear violation of due process and the law and was meant to support Bidens political agenda. Biden had previously promised to prevent the acquisition.Meanwhile, United Steelworkers International President David McCall praised the move, calling Nippon a serial trade cheater that for decades worked to undermine our domestic industry by dumping its products into our market.The botched deal puts a spotlight on trade tariffs and policies of protectionism, likely to be important issues in the next four years during President Trumps second term. Trump, who also said he would block Japans Nippon Steel from buying U.S. Steel, has pledged to slap a 10% to 20% tariff on all imports, with a 60% to 100% tariff on imports from China, which experts say could greatly drive up prices in the U.S.Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, the nations second-largest steel manufacturer, now employs a reported 21,803 workers, which is a fraction of its former workforce, a fact that highlights the American steel industrys longtime struggle.

U.S. new-car sales in 2024 continued to rise from their pandemic lows, bolstered by replenished inventories and higher incentives, analysts estimated.Sales are expected to top 15.8 million, the highest level since 2019, with General Motors defending its 2023 sales crown, they said.Its been a volatile year for the new-vehicle market, but it is expected to finish on a high note, said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive.Those strong sales have been supported by what GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson called a remarkably resilient consumer. The Detroit automakers sales are near 2.7 million for the year, Cox analysts estimated.Automakers will report their final sales tallies throughout the day on Friday.It was a good year for most major automakers, except for Jeep-maker Stellantis and electric vehicle giant Tesla which did not notch year-over-year sales gains like the others.Stellantis had a particularly rocky 2024, with sales of its popular Ram, Jeep, and Dodge brands all decreasing, third-quarter company reports show. The French-Italian automaker grappled with fallout from an aggressive pricing strategy that ultimately led to former CEO Carlos Tavaress abrupt departure.Tesla has faced slowing sales as its lineup grows stale, and competition in China intensifies, eating into an important market for the company run by Elon Musk.U.S. sales of electric vehicles are expected to approach 1.3 million, or about 8% of all new vehicles purchased, Cox said. Buyers willingness to go electric crept up slightly from 2023, when U.S. drivers bought 1.2 million EVs, comprising 7.6% of all sales, Cox said.Customers may have flocked to these battery-powered models more in the fourth quarter as they scrambled to take advantage of EV tax credits, which could disappear under Republican President-elect Donald Trump.The Trump administrations plans would likely affect auto sales in 2025 and beyond, if the incoming president makes good on plans to roll back Democratic President Joe Bidens EV policies, as well as increase tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada.EASING STICKER SHOCKShoppers found more vehicle discounts this winter, J.D. Power found. The average incentive spend per vehicle is expected to grow 30.7% from December 2023 to December 2024, on track to reach $3,442, the firm found.That holiday shopping energy will likely carry into the new year, analysts said.As the positive trends of 2024 continue into 2025, improved overall inventory and greater availability of affordable vehicles are expected to sustain sales momentum, Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power, said in a statement.Cox analysts expect new-vehicle sales to grow about 3% in 2025.Nora Eckert, Reuters

If youre taking on Dry January or simply rethinking your drinking habits, a new advisory from the U.S. surgeon general might give you even more reason to pause before reaching for your next alcoholic beverage. The advisory, released today, draws a direct connection between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer.Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United Statesgreater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S.yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohols cancer risk and minimize harm.The report reveals that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity,and is responsible for around 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually.The cancers most strongly linked to alcohol include:Breast CancerColorectal CancerEsophageal CancerLiver CancerMouth (Oral Cavity) CancerThroat (Pharynx) CancerVoice Box (Larynx) CancerHHS.govFor breast cancer, the numbers are particularly striking: 16.4% of total cases are attributed to alcohol consumption. And the risk isnt limited to heavy drinkersevidence shows that even drinking one drink a day can increase the likelihood of developing cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, and other areas.The surgeon generals advisory calls for urgent public health action, including clearer warning labels on alcoholic beverages and a reassessment of safe drinking guidelines. Despite growing scientific evidence of alcohols cancer risks, less than half of Americans are aware of this connection. The advisory urges healthcare professionals to discuss these risks with patients, empowering individuals to make more informed choices about their drinking habits.

New year, new gear! And although were kickstarting this year with CES in Vegas, why not indulge in some wishful thinking to imagine what tech later this year might look like? From folding iPhones to Samsung VR headsets, weve got our rumors and leaks locked and loaded, but adding to that is this new Pixel 10 Pro concept from 4RMD. With an absolutely new vertical bar design, the Pixel 10 Pro looks different but still well-rooted within Googles product family. It has a bigger screen, smaller bezels, a better camera, and the new Tensor G5 chip.Up until this time last year, I was an Android diehard. I loved Googles phones, but after a major flip-flop on tech and them abandoning some promising products like the Chromebook and Stadia, I decided to take the iPhone route. However, the Nexus 5 and Pixel 2 were easily my favorite daily drivers. The Pixel, some would say, didnt come into its own until the Pixel 6. That horizontal camera bar, the Tensor chip, these are what defined Googles Pixel lineup something thats due for a change after all these years.Designer: 4RMDJust outwardly, theres one very visible change that dominates the Pixel 10 Pro that camera layout. Google pioneered the horizontal camera belt with the original Nexus 6P, and then the Pixel series starting with the Pixel 6. Personally, I like this vertical layout objectively (it reminds me of the OnePlus 8 Pro I used before switching to the iPhone) but just as a design evolution, I dont think its necessarily better than the horizontal camera bar.The vertical camera layout presents two distinct problems aside from the camera wobble when kept flat on a table, the long camera bar also very clearly cuts into the phones wireless charging zone, interfering with not just charging but also the ability to attach Qi2 accessories which Im sure Google will try to implement with the Pixel 10 Pro. However, given that leaks show the iPhone 17 moving to a horizontal camera bar, this design refresh may be an opportune moment for Google.Overall, the phone is slick, comes with larger 6.9 and 6.4 displays (matching the iPhone 16), and is available across multiple color variants. The bezels are thinner, the hole-punch camera smaller, and the display boasts 4000 nits of brightness while being covered by a GorillaGlass Victus 2 protective glass panel.The camera layout sees some major upgrades the concept comes equipped with three powerful 64MP shooters. A wide-angle, an ultrawide, and a telephoto all combine to help you master computational photography while the Tensor G5 chip works hard to make every photo look great. The Pro line also has that temperature sensor beside the flash something that Pixel 9 Pro users still havent really explored to its full potential.Other features include a larger 5,300mAh battery (outshining even the Pixel Fold 2s 5,000mAh battery). Paired with the Tensor chips battery optimization skills, you could possibly pull nearly 2 days of moderate use on a full charge something that not many flagship phones can boast of. The USB-C port provides 45W of fast charging, going beyond the 37W limit on the Pixel 9 Pro.Were still months away from Google dropping the Pixel 10 series, so a lot of this is pure conjecture at this point. The Pixel 9a is slated to debut in mid-March, while the series 10 usually drops in September, a month after Googles I/O event. Lets see what Google has in store for this year. Hopefully, the company makes some meaningful design upgrades to their phones beyond the run-of-the-mill AI integration that often promises the world but usually doesnt deliver.The post Google Pixel 10 Pro Concept Teases a Vertical Camera Bump, Larger Displays, and a Tensor G5 Chip first appeared on Yanko Design.

While CES 2025 is going to be all the rage, Toyota on the other face of the planet is going to set the Tokyo Auto Salon ablaze with its upcoming concept. This is the RAV4 Dark Side Performance concept all set to make a bold appearance at the auto show. The Japanese automotive giant wants to have a renewed outlook for the popular SUV with this remake, taking a detour from the rugged nature of the vehicle.Toyota is poised to explore the limits of design and innovation with this futuristic concept vehicle still shrouded in mystery. The alternate identity for the SUV is as unique as its namesake: the Dark Side Performance and Toyota is taking an out-of-the-box aggressive approach with the aesthetics as seen in the teaser trailer.Designer: ToyotaThe street-focused concept can be seen draped in large fender flares, angular intakes, and a cool lighting system surrounding the closed-off grille to hone the sci-fi element. In the teaser reveal, Toyota shows a different side of the RAV4, and that is very much evident from the sharp exteriors. We are certain, the interiors will carry even more of that futuristic vibe, as the automaker in a press release said, It recreates the mobility that appears in the world of science fiction such as movies, anime, and games in the real world.Toyota has a few off-road targeted versions of the SUV, but its the first one ever to have street-focused performance elements. Expect the ride to have tons of torque for quick acceleration from a standing start and enhanced traction control with ABS and stability control thatll excite street racers. Will it be able to hold its ground against the highly tuned performance racers from acclaimed tuning shops around the world? Only time will tell.It is safe to assume that the vehicle will be an electric trim or at least a hybrid version. In addition to this reveal, Toyota also disclosed the presence of an Outdoor Lifestyle Package for the RAV4. Based on the promo shot it is clear, that the package has unique graphics on the front, roof rack, all-terrain tires and fender flares. That means, even if the mysterious RAV4 Dark Side Performance never makes it past the concept stage into production, the package will keep outdoorsy enthusiasts interested in the SUV.Both the RAV4 Dark Side Performance and Outdoor Lifestyle Package will be on show at the Tokyo Auto Salon from January 10 at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center.The post Toyotas RAV4 Dark Side Performance is a mysterious performance concept set to debut at Tokyo Auto Salon first appeared on Yanko Design.

Short and sweet with a full stop.

The agency imposed penalties on a company it blamed for supporting the Chinese hacking group Flax Typhoon in a 2022-23 infiltration.