By a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court handed a largely symbolic, but still politically significant, loss to President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday evening. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both Republicans, voted with all three of the Courts Democrats.The case, known as Trump v. New York, involves Trumps felony convictions for falsifying business records related to hush money payments Trump made to an adult actress. Trump was convicted on 34 felony charges last May, but he is not scheduled to be sentenced until Friday. Trump asked the Supreme Court to halt that sentencing hearing, at least until higher courts hear his appeals claiming that his conviction violates a legal doctrine, newly established by the Supreme Courts recent immunity ruling in favor of Trump, which gives former presidents broad-but-not-limitless immunity from prosecution.The actual stakes in this Supreme Court dispute were fairly low. Though Trump is about to be sentenced, the judge presiding over his criminal trial signaled that he will sentence Trump to unconditional discharge, meaning that Trump would not be punished with imprisonment, a fine, or probation even though he was found guilty. Still, Trump sought to halt the proceeding where he would have received this sentence.In claiming such immunity, Trump relied heavily on the Courts July decision in Trump v. United States (2024). In that case, the six Republican justices held that Trump enjoys broad immunity from being prosecuted for any crimes he committed (or commits in the future) using the powers of the presidency.The newer case, by contrast, involves criminal activity that Trump engaged in before he was elected president. Nevertheless, Trump claimed that the July decision required the courts to halt the sentencing hearing -- among other things, Trumps lawyers argued that his New York convictions are invalid because the trial included testimony from some of Trumps former presidential aides, and arguably involved official business.In ruling against Trump, the five justices in the majority emphasized that they were doing so in large part because the stakes in the New York case are so low. In a single-paragraph order, the Court revealed that it decided to say out of the case for now because the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal, and because Trump faces a minimal burden because the trial judge intends to give him such a light sentence.Nothing in the Courts order prevents it from getting involved in this case after it is heard by other appeals courts. The Supreme Court is merely staying its hand for the time being.It is notable, however, that even in this low-stakes dispute, four justices dissented. That suggests that there is strong support within the Court for reading the July immunity decision very broadly. And, of course, if any one of the five justices in the majority should flip their vote, Trump will prevail the next time this dispute arrives on the Supreme Courts doorstep.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Will there be a new Mario Kart this year? (Nintendo)The Friday letters page is more confused than ever about Xboxs multiformat policy, as one reader fears for the future of Assassins Creed and Ubisoft.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukEducated guessThe Nintendo Switch 2 reveal has surely got to be just days away at this point, but we still know nothing about any of the games, not even a blatantly fake rumour. I do think its fairly easy to guess though, or at least it would be if Nintendo were a normal company.As GC has pointed out before, Mario Kart 9 is well overdue at this point and a perfect launch title. At the same time, we know Metroid Prime 4 for Switch 1 is due out this year and that seems a no-brainer for a cross-gen release.So, a super popular sequel thats very casual friendly and a long-awaited one that the hardcore crowd will eat up sound like the perfect line-up to me. Add in a Zelda remaster and a smaller title or two and youve got perfect launch conditions, I would say.Of course, you cant predict Nintendo, so itll probably end up being 1-2-3-Switch and a Devil World sequel, but in terms of sensible guesses I think thats the best you can make.OnibeeDirect contradictionsGlad to hear that Microsoft has another new game to announce at their next Direct. Theyve had a really good stream of games lately, even if none of them have been big hitters. Looking at the line-up for this one though and their multiformat policy seems even more strange.Doom: The Dark Ages is multiformat, we knew that already, but for some reason South Of Midnight isnt. Avowed isnt either, which is weird because I would say those two games were probably not going to be big sellers. Shouldnt Microsoft be making them multiformat too, to have any chance of making their money back?Or have they given up on that chance already (these games wouldve been greenlit years ago, before the current problems) and just want them for the kudos of having possibly highly rated exclusives on the Xbox? And yet Microsoft keeps saying it doesnt like exclusives? The whole thing is a mass of contradictions and random decisions.ClooneySticking to the planI know a lot of them have come from CES but I really cant put up with weeks more of Switch 2 leaks. Not because they might not be true but because they clearly are real. I get that no big secrets have been spoiled yet (the whole mystery button issue still seems unsolved to me) but I really think Nintendo should put an end to the uncertainty.On the other hand, I admire the fact that, as usual, they dont seem to care what anyone else does or thinks and are just carrying on with their original plan. And if the games they unveil look good nobodys really going to care. This whole period of leak after leak is going to be instantly forgotten once we get an official reveal, even though it seems to be going on forever.GrackleEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukIconic stragglerInterested to hear what Xboxs new game is but Im a bit concerned that Fable is not part of the line-up. Theyve said its 2025 but not with any conviction and I think theres a very good chance its going to be delayed into next year.Weve waited this long, so it doesnt really matter, but I think these problems are part of what has killed Xbox as a hardware format. First they had a bunch of duds in Halo Infinite, Redfall, and Starfield and then it just took too long to make anything else.Im sure Microsoft is hoping Fable can be their equivalent of Zelda of The Last Of Us, not in terms of gameplay necessary but in terms of being a system-selling iconic game. But its just going to arrive too late. They put their bets on the wrong horses and now the race is over. Its unfortunate, because we need strong competition but time was a factor here and theyve blown it.KriegShort but sweetIn a few reviews Ive seen GC put a short runtime down as a con, like with Antonblast.But with triple-A bloat and so many games releasing many see a sub-10 hours runtime as a positive. We had a feature recently where the author had taken the rather extreme decision to skip games over 10 hours.Im curious as why to you GC feel a short runtime is a con in a game like Antonblast.Im guessing that GC doesnt feel a short runtime is a con in isolation and your just balancing runtime with other factors like cost.SimundoGC: Because we wanted more of it?Familiar problemI hate to say it, but I have to join the doomsters when it comes to Ubisoft. If their future depends on Assassins Creed Shadows then I dont think theyre going to live to see 2026, not as an independent company anyway. They haven no one to blame but themselves, with too much reliance on aging franchises, most of which have basically the same gameplay.They also completely failed to prepare for games costing too much and taking too long to make. While at the same time theyve obsessed about live service games, none of which have worked out for them.Problem is you could say the same for almost every other publisher too. The only difference for Ubisoft is that spread themselves too thin. People mock them for making a dozen Assassins Creed games at a time, but at least those usually sell. If theyd made more, and not stuff like Star Wars Outlaws and the Avatar games, then theyd probably be in a better position.I actually prefer that they tried to do other things, but it wasnt the smart business decision. Activision basically makes only one game and if Call Of Duty ever went out of fashion theyd be done. But they wont be because playing soldiers is something people will want to do forever. Nothing Ubisoft makes, with the possible exception of Rainbow Six Siege, is anything like that.If Shadows sinks Assassins Creed as a guaranteed hit, and they havent got something soon to make up for it, I fear the worst.GildowerGlass ceilingIn response to Anons letter in the Thursday Inbox, I dont think that anyone believes weve actually reached the graphical limits. Its just that weve begun to reach the point where its not commercially viable to increase them further.As you say, even aside from the costs, you run the risk of uncanny valley and debates on overly realistic violence.Matt (he_who_runs_away PSN ID)GC: Exactly, there are multiple reasons why it wont happen anytime soon, with serious practical, monetary, and ethical concerns.Its true, all of itIt seems that the Switch 2 rumours are the talk of the town at the moment and to be fair all this new information youre providing us with in your news everyday does look ultra convincing to me now. If its not true, then theyve got the best of us fooled by these recently leaked pictures, because its convinced me that this is now the real thing were looking at.The Switch 2 is a good name for it I feel, its natural progression and has always worked for the PlayStation brand. This would definitely help any past Wii into Wii U mistakes with the naming of the console, that we had in the past.My only worry about the new machine is convincing your non-gaming parents, buying the next gen machine for their kids, that this is a next gen console. They really need to differentiate it from the current gen Switch. Like the Lite version of the current Switch, that is pretty much the same thing, just a bit more bare bones and smaller. They need to advertise this thing heavily to get people to know its the all-singing and all-dancing new product.Without knowing tech specs of the new hardware, as Ive not seen any leaks for that yet, I hope its got HDR, because thats really been a game changer for me with this gen of consoles. I run my current Switch on an OLED TV and you can really see how washed out the colours are compared to an Xbox Series X.Im a big Nintendo fan and the whole thing looks promising. The Switch is a fantastic console and a high spec upgrade is the right way to go I feel. Im intrigued to see what more information you can pass to us over the coming weeks. I feel a full reveal is imminent now.Currently playing Broforce on Switch, in its final form. Excellent game for the just over 2 that I paid for it.Nick The GreekGC: The specs havent leaked but images of the motherboard have, suggesting the console is equivalent to a souped up PlayStation 4 in portable form.Inbox also-ransI see you managed to invoke some reverse Inbox magic with wanting a Transformers game, with the one Splash Damage were working on being cancelled. I thought it already had been, but even so its a shame.AldeiGC: It never works for us, only readers.Looks like Nintendo has finally announced their new console, only its made out of Lego. Is this another troll because announcing Lego 10 months before its going to come out seems a bit weird.Dougalhttps://twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/1877400405329449266Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukMore TrendingThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. 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Best new mobile games on iOS and Android January 2025 round-upNick GillettNick GillettPublished January 10, 2025 1:00am GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition a console game on your phone (Feral Interactive)Political satire, a triple-A racing game, and a host of intriguing new puzzle games are amongst the most intriguing new smartphone games this month.Theres a puzzle theme to this months collection of new mobile gaming apps, from Boggle to Wobble, but the most interesting new releases include the portable version of Codemasters GRID Legends, a lavish new tower defence game, and the very short but very timely The Undeclaration Of Human Rights.Number SaladiOS & Android, free (Bleppo Games)Join sets of numbers together to equal a series of target totals, the twist being some numbers are positive, some negative, while others act as multipliers. Also, you can only connect adjacent values, so forethought is needed.If all that sounds like going back to school, you may well find the long-dormant parts of your brain those associated with mental arithmetic getting booted back to life, which feels like the puzzle-solving version of going to the gym for the first time in 20 years.The game has no sound effects and youll need to watch ads to get fresh hints (which you absolutely will need) but for puzzle fans with a light mathematical inclination this will be catnip.Score: 6/10The Undeclaration Of Human RightsiOS & Android, Free (Planet Jone)Youre recruited by the General as his head of Human Rights Violations, to help get rid of those irksome, boring UN articles that get in the way of real progress.Each one comes with its own simple mini-game, so trampling rights to justice, equality, and the ban on slavery happen with a pithy interaction spurred by some cynical words from the General until hes also deposed.Its about 10 minutes worth of light interaction that also craftily gets you to read the simply stated and utterly reasonable Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Or at least the first few, because it ends promising more episodes will be coming soon. While undoubtedly a timely piece of satire and a polished mobile app, it might be a bit of a stretch to call it a game.Score: N/ANightfall: Kingdom Frontier TDiOS & Android, free (Fansipan)With a simple but polished art style, Nightfall is a tower defence game where instead of just building turrets, youll also be manoeuvring a hero around the map, attacking mobs, and rallying freshly spawned troops.As is traditional for the genre, enemies come in waves, giving you time to build and shore up your arsenal in anticipation of the next onslaught. You can also spend gold on upgrading your HQ, defensive turrets, buildings that generate more income, and barracks to train soldiers.Despite its high production values its hamstrung by a free-to-play structure that ensures youll either have to keep paying or watch at least one ad after every level to stay competitive, in a process that swiftly becomes more exhausting than fun.Score: 5/10Boggle: Arcade EditioniOS, included with Apple Arcade subscription (Apple)Based on the popular board game, Boggle presents you with a randomised four by four grid of letters, from which you need to make as many words as possible in three minutes.Its lacklustre single-player modes offer no perceptible increase in difficulty, making them feel a bit dull and formless, but multiplayers asynchronous matchmaking is addictive.On a purely petty note, the fact that after each match it says TIMES UP with a missing apostrophe rankles every single time, and spotting endless sequences of RAT, RATS, ART, TAR, STAR does eventually get repetitious. But in a community where theres always someone better to beat, those might well be tolerable downsides.Score: 6/10 Wobble wants you to play every day (Daniel Earle)Wobble: Daily Word PuzzleiOS & Android, free with no IAP (Daniel Earle)More word puzzling, this time of an entirely more thoughtful variety. Wobble gives you a daily puzzle in the form of a small, blank crossword layout, and the ability to use each letter of the alphabet only once.With Scrabble-style scoring that makes hard-to-use Q and Z more valuable than E or I, youre incentivised to find solutions that include as many tricky but high scoring letters as you can.Theres no time limit and its all completely free. If you enjoy wordplay Wobbles daily challenges are a neat mobile conundrum to be unpicked at your leisure, your results rated from beginner to legendary.Score: 6/10GRID Legends: Deluxe EditioniOS & Android, 9.99 (Feral Interactive)At close to 10GB, if you want high resolution textures, GRID Legends demands either a high-end phone or iPad to make it viable. But provided youve got the hardware and the storage for it, this is a fully featured triple-A racing game on your phone.More TrendingReal, rather than CGI actors, feature in its cut scenes and do a solid job, elevating moments that could easily have been toe-curling, although obviously what happens on the track is more important. Originally developed by Codemasters, GRIDs handling model and vehicle physics are never less than spot-on, favouring a very slightly arcade-y feel.The on-screen controls work okay in a pinch, and you can also drive by tilting your phone like a steering wheel, a system weve never found all that comfortable. As ever, its best with a controller.Like its console older brother, the nemesis inter-driver rivalry system doesnt quite come off as intended, and it does drop the odd frame, but the port to mobile is another remarkable achievement for Feral Interactive.Score: 7/10Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

When actor Ray Stevenson passed in 2023, it was before the full scope of his new Star Wars character had been explored. Now, with season two of Ahsoka getting ready to roll, creator Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm may have found the man wholl be stepping into Baylan Skolls sinister shoes. Rory McCann, best known to audiences as the Hound on Game of Thrones, will reportedly be taking over the role of Baylan Skoll on Star Wars: Ahsoka when it returns to Disney+, possibly in 2026. The InSneider first reported the news and io9 has reached out to Lucasfilm for confirmation. It has yet to respond as of publication and well update this post if or when we hear back. When audiences last saw Skoll, he was stranded on the planet Peridea(along with Ahsoka, Sabine, and his former apprentice Shin Hati) on a quest to explore some deep mysteries in the Force. It was clear that Filoni had much more in store for the evil former Jedi. However, when Stevenson passed, audiences debated whether or not the show should continue that story. It seems though that Stevensons family has approved the casting, according to the initial report.As for McCann, though hes best known for his friend-of-Arya, kind-of-a-hero character on Game of Thrones, you may also know him as a General in Gladiator II and for playing Lurch in Hot Fuzz (the Yarp guy). Hes an imposing physical presence with a lot of powerful personality. A great choice.Theres no official work on when Ahsoka will be returning, only that Filoni has been hard at work writing it. As it stands, it might be the next Star Wars show to arrive on Disney+ after Andor. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Tram House / HO StudioSave this picture! Nguyn Thi ThchHousesVinh, VietnamArchitects: HO StudioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:420 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Nguyn Thi Thch Lead Architect: H Vn Cng More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Located within the expanded roadway area as part of Vinh City's new urban plan, the client's plot has been downsized and now intersects with a 40-degree diagonal to a new sidewalk, which is slated for development in the coming years. When we surveyed the site in 2023, the existing one-story house was quite enclosed, having been in use for over twenty years and built on a very low foundation. Standing on the roof of the old house with the guests, we immediately felt the refreshing coolness of the area due to the constant breeze, and the surrounding landscape was wide open, with urban voids on three sides. It was clear that this location had significant potential for a home that would enjoy expansive views, while also maximizing the flow of cool air throughout the interior spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Positioned near two high-rise apartment buildings, one 15 stories and the other 23 stories, the house is conceived as a solid white tower. Diagonal lines and chamfered edges are used to create distinctive features in the building's exterior design.Save this picture!Save this picture!The house includes a ground floor for business purposes and four upper floors for family living, designed for the parents and two daughters. The solid tower is located on the west side, containing areas for circulation (elevator, stairs, hallways) and enclosed restrooms. The remaining space is allocated for various functional areas, with maximum openness extending from the front to the rear of the house. Internal walls are minimized, and entirely enclosed rooms are avoided. Voids and skylights are strategically integrated throughout to enhance spatial flow.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Natural light pours into the house through the building's form, the cuts, skylights, and large glass openings. Greenery will cover all three stepped balconies (of varying sizes), creating hanging garden-like terraces at the front of the house. The vegetation is anchored against the solid mass on the west side, improving the quality of life for the adjacent spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The primary living area for the family is located on the second floor, offering expansive views of the tree canopies both at the front and rear. Here, a high void of over 5 meters opens up an unobstructed view of the sky, allowing the family to experience the changing light and atmosphere throughout the day.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on January 10, 2025Cite: "Tram House / HO Studio" 09 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025435/tram-house-ho-studio&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

Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08407-8A meta-analysis of biodiversity effects on plant productivity found that complementarity effects increased over time whereas selection effects decreased, and both remained consistent across global variations in climate.

Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08266-3Left- and right-handed snub cubes show photocontrollable elasticity and hardness, in addition to the ability to encapsulate different small molecules in distinct compartments simultaneously, with potential applications in the development of advanced biomimetic materials.

Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08379-9A family of host-derived bile acidmethylcysteamine conjugates functions as FXR antagonists, forming part of a microbiota-dependent metabolic network that regulates FXR-dependent physiology.

Palworld developer Pocketpair has launched a new game on Nintendo Switch despite the fact that it's currently being sued by The Pokemon Company and Nintendo.The game is called Overdungeon, which combines card game, tower defense, and roguelike elements. It has real-time gameplay with cards featuring various animals like cats, dogs, and alpacas. It was first released in 2019 for PC before its surprise launch on Switch today, January 9. The Pokemon Company sued Pocketpair last year, alleging that the Pocketpair engaged in infringement on The Pokemon Company's patents. Pocketpair revealed that the three Japanese patents were centered around the mechanics of throwing balls at creatures to catch them, riding characters in the game, and shooting at targets.Continue Reading at GameSpot

In Path of Exile 2, the Double Herald setup is a tech that allows for Herald of Thunder and Herald of Ice to proc off each other simultaneously, triggering a chain reaction that can clear entire screens with one hit.