All change for GmailNurPhoto via Getty ImagesRepublished on January 10 following new headlines into a Google setting that must be changed to keep Gmail inboxes secure.You are not ready for the threat landscape in 2025. None of us are. This new world is one in which attackers can scrape social media and target us with the familiar tone and content from those we know in ways we cant detect. And it can do so on an industrial scale, automatically and instantly, all through AI. There is one thing you can do to secure your account before its too late.Google is advancing its own AI defenses to combat these threats but it cant succeed, not entirely. And while the company says it now detects more than 99.9% of spam, phishing and malware in Gmail blocking unwanted and potentially dangerous messages before they even reached inboxes, much of this relies on what we have seen beforepatterns and trends. This new world changes everything, AI can tweak every email, polish copy, clinically match imagery, and even adapt on the fly.Gmail is the worlds largest email platform, with some 2.5 billion users it says. As such its the worlds biggest email threat. Successfully attack Gmail and you open a world of opportunity. As McAfee warns for 2025, the risks to trust and safety online have never been greater Thats why its more important than ever for consumers to stay informed about these emerging threats.But as sophisticated as these advances might be, to succeed they rely on each of us making a mistake within our own ecosystems. Downloading and opening an attachment, clicking a link, entering information into a malicious website not checking carefully and letting our guards down. And the one mistake we have all already made is being much too casual in providing our personal contact details.MORE FOR YOUSlashNexts 2024 State of Phishing report painted exactly this picture, with an unprecedented surge in attack volume, the research team detected a 202% increase in phishing messages in the second half of 2024, and credential phishing attacks rising 703% in the same period.In practical terms this means every inbox attacked every week, with novel threats coming constantly. Our analysis shows that 80% of malicious links in attacks are previously unknown zero-day threats, demonstrating that traditional threat intelligence and signature-based detection methods are increasingly ineffective against modern, AI-powered attack campaigns.And just as McAfee, Check Point and others now warn, the prospects for 2025 are much worse. We expect this rapid evolution to accelerate, with AI-generated attacks becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect, SlashNext says.The state of the problem has been perfectly illustrated this week in Netskopes latest report, which warns that over the past year, the number of users clicking on phishing links has increased by nearly triple, from 2.9 in 2023 to 8.4 out of every 1,000 users in the average organization clicking on a phishing link each month. This increase comes despite most organizations requiring users to undergo security awareness training to avoid phishing attacks.There are two types of attacks you need to worry about. The first is highly targeted, and will usually hit you at work. This is where the really powerful AI is being deployed, with attackers mapping organizations and conducting sophisticated operations to steal money or data or both. Successful detection requires user training, strict adherence to rules and IT security. But as The Financial TimesNetskope also flags cognitive fatigue as a major factor driving the worsening threat landscape, with users constantly being bombarded with phishing attempts) as well as the the creativity and adaptability of the attackers in delivering harder-to-detect baits. And while Google account credentials are prized, the consistently top target for credential theft is Microsoft. This is understandable given the enterprise honeypots its credentials open and the drag we have seen in MFA compliance cross the ecosystem. Netskope warns that attackers are targeting [both] Microsoft Live and 365 credentials... As a result, the percentage of users clicking on links targeting Microsoft credentials is closer to 75%. Microsofts popularity as a phishing target is unsurprising because Microsoft 365 is the most popular productivity suite by a large margin.Its little surprise, then, that Microsoft is on a mission to to fully eradicate passwords as an entry mechanism into its ecosystem. It has now stated publicly that its intent is not only to push its entire user base (if it can) to passkeys or other hardware-linked login systems, but also to delete the passwords even as a secondary means of account access.The good news for Gmail users if one can put it that way is that attackers are now finding that other means of pushing phishing links have become more effective than email. We have seen this trend coming for some time, not only is it easier to trick a user into clicking a link in a social media message or post, but its also easier to make it seem that the message or post has come from a trusted source is also more likely to be opened on a mobile device, where the small screen makes it much easier to hide the usual telltale signs of a fake message that are more apparent in email.Beyond messaging, the other new trend is compromised search results, either directly targeting search engine optiimization or by pushing out targeted attacks through specialist sites and forums. The top referrer was search engines, Netskope says, where attackers run malicious ads or use SEO poisoning techniques to get the phishing pages listed at the top of the search engine results for specific terms. Other top referrers included shopping, technology, business, and entertainment sites, where the referrals come from comments, malicious ads, and infected sites. The variety of phishing sources illustrates some creative social engineering by attackers. They know their victims may be wary of inbound emails (where they are repeatedly taught not to click on links) but will much more freely click on links in search engine results.I have reported on this SEO poisoning before, and it was a major theme as attacks surged during the holidays season from Black Friday through Cyber Monday and into the end-of-year holiday break.The second type of attack is more hit and hope, but its where AI will have a wider impact. Mass attacks targeting thousands of even hundreds of thousands of addresses at a time will change. Most of the fraudulent or malicious emails hooked by Google or hitting your Gmail inbox still remain detectable. Enhancing the quality and the look and feel of such phishing lures, and even combining them with calls or other messages from seemingly trusted sources will trick millions of users.But outside of work, those attackers need an address to target. Your Gmail addresses will be found on countless lists and in multiple leaks. You can be certain of that. This is why Googles new shielded email addresses are so critical. Expected to come in a 2025 upgrade, these will enable you to stop giving out your real Gmail address to people or companies that ask for them. You can use aliases linking back to your real address, and then switch those off if you find theyre being targeted. Apples similar system is a sure fire way of drastically reducing phishing mails.Gmail didnt get off to a good start on the security and privacy front, but its much better now and its new upgrades make it an account worth keeping. But only if you use the new security upgrades and common sense to ensure you dont lose your Gmail account (and those it leads to) to hackers or simply through lack of use.Last month, I advised Apple users to run a Safety Check on their accounts, available through iPhones Security & Privacy settings. Google users should do the same. This will show you who youre sharing data with, the apps accessing your information, devices linked to your account and which can access your phone.Google says that to protect your Google Account, it strongly recommends using its account security checkup regularly. Its very easy to do so. Just sign into your Google Account, tap or click on your profile picture, and then select recommended actions. The results are even color-coded. Blue for security tips, yellow for important steps and red for urgent ones. A green shield with a check mark means your account is healthy and no immediate action is needed.All that said, its still much easier for an attacker to get hold of your email address than your cell number, and the simplicity of email phishing outplays all other options. The question for 2025 is whether the new optionality provided by AI enhancement changes any of these trends, as attacks land on target more often.And just to keep minds fully focused, the stats are already alarming per StationXs most recent data:Phishing is the single most common form of cyber crime. An estimated 3.4 billion emails a day are sent by cyber criminals, designed to look like they come from trusted senders; this is over a trillion phishing emails per year.Email impersonation accounts for an estimated 1.2% of all email traffic globally.Around 36% of all data breaches involve phishing.3% of employees will click on a malicious link within a phishing email.Remote workers may be more likely to be targeted than office-based employees. 80% of infosec professionals say theyve seen increased security threats since the shift to remote working. 62% said that phishing attacks had increased more than any other type of threat.Google does offer a big red button to better secure your accountits Advanced Protection Program. But just as I advised Apple users, this is not for you unless youre a journalist, activist, or someone else at risk of targeted online attacks. Dont be lulled into opting in, thinking you need the ultimate level of protection if you dont. It will stop many of your devices and services working as youd expect them to.Adhering to Googles critical recommendations around passwords and MFA, the use of passkeys, and safe browsing will go a long way to keeping you safe. But none of that replaces the need to adhere to basic rules. No apps from outside official stores, no links, no attachments, and no sharing your primary email address when shielded email becomes available. You might also consider a new account and address if yours has been around a while and is already a honeypot for spam and phishing.The other thing you must do to ensure you dont lose your account is to keep using it of course. Its a bit obvious, but if you allow accounts to run stale through lack of use, then Google will delete them. If you do have accounts you dont use but want to keep, just make sure you log into them once in a while. Details here but currently the timeline is set at two-years, so little chance of a surprise.Gmail users have been inundated with security headlines through 2024, which while unsurprising given the size of the platforms user base will be a concern nonetheless. And 2025 shows no signs of being a different, even though its barely a week old.The latest security issue to make headlines relates to Check Points recent warning that Google Calendar invites have been maliciously doctored to trick users into clicking where they shouldnt, introducing malware onto their devices.Headlines over the last 24-hours include millions of Gmail users placed on red alert and told to switch on Google setting now and use Gmail you must adjust one setting NOW to avoid scam targeting thousands of Google users.So, whats behind these headlines? Ahead of issuing its report last month, Check Point explained to me that Google Calendar has been exploited in a new phishing campaign targeting 300 brands. Cyber criminals are manipulating Google Calendar to bypass email security and deliver phishing emails that appear legitimate.This is just another example of a devious phishing lure to trick users into clicking, abusing the casual user instinct to click a calendar invite by dressing it up with the familiar look and feel of a known brand. Ultimately, the goal is to plant a threat in your Gmail inbox and have you click it without thinking. While this wasnt specifically an attack on Gmail, the tight Workspace linkage between Google Calendar and Gmail makes this first and foremost a Gmail threat. On that note, the headlines are right.Attackers have modified email sender headers to impersonate legitimate users and employ deceptive links, Check Point told me, tricking victims into disclosing sensitive information [including] Stolen personal and corporate data used for financial scams, such as unauthorized transactions or credit card fraud, leaving victims vulnerable to long-term consequences.Googles advice per Check Point is to enable the known senders setting in Google Calendar. This setting helps defend against this type of phishing by alerting the user when they receive an invitation from someone not in their contact list and/or they have not interacted with from their email address in the past. And its that advice that has prompted the headlines were still seeing now.Check Points other recommended actions in its report are similar to those you should be doing anyway to stay safe from the wider phishing threat:Remain wary of fake event invites. Does the invite have unexpected information on it or request that you complete unusual steps (i.e., CAPTCHA)? If so, avoid engaging.Carefully examine incoming content. Think before you click. Hover over links and then type the URL into Google for the purpose of accessing the website a safer approach than otherwise.Enable two-factor authentication. For Google accounts and other repositories of sensitive information, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If your credentials are compromised, 2FA can prevent criminals from accessing a given account.Check Point warned in its report that due to Google Calendars popularity and efficiency in everyday tasks, it is no wonder it has become a target for cyber criminals. Cyber security researchers at Check Point, have observed cyber criminal manipulation of dedicated Google tools namely Google Calendar and Google Drawings. Many of the emails appear legitimate because they appear to directly originate from Google Calendar.Last month, I reported on new warnings from the FBI as the email threat landscape worsens. Their advice distills drills down to three key checks for every unsolicited email that hits your inbox before you click or open anything: Check the senders email address; check any URL before you click or certainly before you engage; and check the spelling and grammar of the email itself, as well as the URL.And notwithstanding that the emerging AI threat makes detection of malicious emails through poor spelling and grammar and low quality imagery more difficult, the FBIs advice on keeping your inbox safe hasnt changed:Remember that companies generally dont contact you to ask for your username or password.Dont click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message. Look up the companys phone number on your own (dont use the one a potential scammer is providing), and call the company to ask if the request is legitimate.Carefully examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence. Scammers use slight differences to trick your eye and gain your trust.Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you dont know and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you.Set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it, and never disable it.Be careful with what information you share online or on social media. By openly sharing things like pet names, schools you attended, family members, and your birthday, you can give a scammer all the information they need to guess your password or answer your security questions.Googles Gmail team provided its own updated advice just ahead of the holidays which is broadly the same, warning that since mid-November, weve seen a massive surge in email traffic compared to previous months, making protecting inboxes an even greater challenge than normal:Slow it down. Scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency, and often use terms like urgent, immediate, deactivate, unauthorized, etc. Take time to ask questions and think it through.Spot check. Do your research to double-check the details of an email. Does what its saying make sense? Can you validate the email address of the sender?Stop! Dont send. No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment or your personal information on the spot.Report it. If you see something suspicious, mark it as spam. Youll be making your Inbox cleaner and helping billions of others too.Gmail is becoming safer and is deploying all the wiles Google can muster to take the fight to the scammers and cybercriminals, blocking more than 99.9% of spam, phishing and malware targeting it platform. But ultimately, too many threats still get through. That 1% if thats the right number is an unimaginable volume of threats making their way onto users phones, tablets, laptops and desktops.All too often, were still seeing blatantly fraudulent emails getting through all those defenses that the platforms have put in place. But a quick check should have been enough to stop them. My personal bugbear is an email pretending to be from a brand, but with an obviously mismatched sender address that should have been stopped.The best way to combat the new threat coming from AI is to deploy AI, and the emerging technology trend to deploy on-device defenses should be the future. This can leverage the new AI processing in the latest upgrades, and while it will take time to be available for all, it should be hinted now.I would like to see the same kind of advances that are coming to malware protection on Android coming to Gmail and other messaging protection as well not relying on central filters or user flags. The behavioral patterns being these attacks will be harder to hide than the form of the threats themselves.Meanwhile, your credentials still remain a firm target for criminals and scammers. And your Gmail address is almost certainly in their possession. Just make sure you dont give anything away and come to regret it later.

SpaceX is making final preparations for the seventh launch of the Starship, the most powerful rocket ever to fly.The upcoming flight test will launch a new generation ship with significant upgrades, attempt Starships first payload deployment test, fly multiple reentry experiments geared towards ship catch and reuse, and launch and return the Super Heavy booster, the Elon Musk-led spaceflight company said in a post on its website.Recommended VideosA live stream will show not only the launch of the 120-meter-tall rocket as it emits a colossal 17 million pounds of thrust during liftoff, but also an attempt to catch the first-stage Super Heavy booster as it returns SpaceXs Starbase launch site near Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX achieved the spectacular feat at the first attempt during the fifth test flight in October, but was unable to repeat the process on its sixth test a month later.Please enable Javascript to view this contentOnce the Starship has been fully tested and licensed, NASA and SpaceX want to use the megarocket for crew and cargo missions to the moon, with trips to Mars also a distinct possibility.SpaceX is targeting Monday, January 13, for the seventh launch test flight of the Starship megarocket from its Starbase facility.The launch window will open at 4 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT).A live webcast of the Starships seventh flight test will begin about 35 minutes before liftoff. You can watch the full coverage on SpaceXs website or via its X account.As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule could change at any time due to technical issues or inclement weather conditions. Well update here if and when any changes are announced.Editors Recommendations

The sun sets on a hot day in London in July 2024Guy Corbishley/AlamyHopes of keeping global warming below 1.5C above pre-industrial levels have been all but extinguished after new data confirmed 2024 was the first calendar year to see average temperatures breach that critical threshold.Last year was the hottest ever recorded in human history, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will declare later today, in the latest stark warning that humanity is pushing Earths climate into uncharted territory. AdvertisementThe average global temperature for the year exceeded 1.5C above the pre-industrial baseline for the first time, the agency will also confirm, breaching the threshold set by the Paris Agreement.The WMOs assessment is calculated using the average global temperature across six datasets, with the period of 1850 to 1900 used to provide a pre-industrial baseline. Temperature datasets collected by various agencies and institutions around the world vary slightly, mainly due to differences in how ocean temperatures have been measured and analysed over the decades. Some of those datasets will come in just below the 1.5C mark, New Scientist understands, but others are well above.The UKs Met Office weather service puts 2024s average temperature at 1.53C above pre-industrial levels, with a margin of error of 0.08C. That is 0.07C above 2023, the previous warmest year on record. Meanwhile, the European Unions climate change service Copernicus has 2024 temperatures at 1.6C above pre-industrial levels, 0.12C above 2023s record. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterScientists agree that the surge in temperature was caused mostly by the continuation of human-caused climate change and an El Nio weather pattern, which tends to push up global temperatures. But the scale and persistence of the heat has shocked many experts, who expected temperatures to subside once El Nio ended in May 2024. Instead, they remained at record levels throughout the rest of the year.The worlds oceans have been most affected, with sea surface temperatures staying at record levels for most of 2024, playing havoc with marine ecosystems. The year also brought no shortage of extreme weather on land, with fierce heatwaves, sharp declines in polar ice, deadly flooding and uncontrollable wildfires. This was a year when the impacts of climate change are right across the planet, says David King, former chief scientific adviser to the UK government and founder of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group.Technically, the Paris Agreement target of limiting warming to below 1.5C is calculated using a 20-year average, so a single year above the threshold doesnt signal a formal breach of the target. But given the pace of warming in recent years, many scientists say the long-term Paris goal is now out of reach.In a briefing on 9 January, Samantha Burgess at Copernicus told reporters that the Paris Agreement target was now probably impossible to achieve. Theres an extremely high likelihood that we will overshoot the long-term average of 1.5C and the Paris Agreement limit, she said.Duo Chan at the University of Southampton, UK, has helped develop a new global dataset, DCENT, which he says uses state-of-the-art technology to produce a more accurate historical baseline for warming levels. This new dataset suggests the global average temperature for 2024 was 1.66C above pre-industrial levels, he says, although it isnt included in the WMOs calculations.As a result, Chan also believes the 1.5C goal is now probably out of reach. We need to get prepared for a wider range of futures, and 1.5C is not the only target we should be aiming for, he says. But he stressed this should also be a critical moment to be more ambitious in cutting emissions. Its too early to give up, he says.The outlook for 2025 is still unclear. There are early signs that global sea surface temperatures have finally started to cool to expected levels. Thats a good sign that the heat is dissipating from the surface of the ocean at least, said Burgess.Meanwhile, after months of expectation, a La Nia phase has finally developed in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which should dampen global temperatures into 2025.But Chan warns that the world may have experienced a step change in warming if temperatures follow the pattern of previous El Nio events. Every time that we see a large El Nio event global warming is basically brought up to a new level, he says, suggesting that 2024 could be the first of many years where average temperatures exceed 1.5C.Topics:climate change

Wildfires are rampaging across Los Angeles County this week.Hundreds of thousands of people are under evacuation orders or warnings.Insured losses could top $20 billion, JPMorgan analysts estimated the most-ever in California.The Los Angeles area battled a series of massive wildfires Thursday that continued to rip through its picturesque mountains and hillsides creating a hellscape of burned-out neighborhoods and livelihoods that could end up being the most costly fire disaster in California history. JPMorgan analysts said the blazes tearing through the region could lead to more than $20 billion in insured losses and around $50 billion in total economic losses. That would make these conflagrations "significantly more severe" than the Camp Fires that struck the state in 2018 and racked up $10 billion in insured losses, the current record.As of Thursday morning local time, an additional 200,000 people had been placed under evacuation warnings with officials advising them to get ready to leave their homes if the fires raging near their residences got closer.Thick bands of smoke could be seen in several directions from the city's downtown core with at least five fires burning throughout the 4,000 square-mile county that's home to nearly 10 million people.More than 29,000 acres have burned so far and at least 10 deaths have been reported as of 9 p.m. local time on Thursday.And at least 10,000 homes and other structures have been destroyed so far, per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Los Angeles downtown skyline in the distance was surrounded by smoke and haze on Thursday morning. Mario Tama/Getty Images Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the scene in LA as apocalyptic."Not since the 1990s, when Los Angeles was hit with the fires, the flood, the earthquake, and the riots, have I seen such disaster occur here in our city," Hochman said at the briefing, referring to the Northridge Earthquake and the disturbances in the wake of the Rodney King verdict.The National Weather Service predicted the "red flag warning" that signals high fire danger will persist for LA County and nearby Ventura County through Friday.But there was some brightening on the horizon: Officials said weather conditions are beginning to turn favorably for firefighters. Signs warn of potential fire danger beneath the Hollywood sign on Thursday. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes Meanwhile, 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of looting in areas affected by the fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at Thursday's briefing.And he issued a stern warning to the public: Anyone who remains in areas under mandatory evacuation orders is guilty of a misdemeanor, and his officers will begin enforcing that. Beyond that, crimes like looting could reach the felony level, he said.As for people still in their homes, around 95,000 power customers remain in the dark, Janisse Quiones, the CEO and chief engineer of the city's Department of Water and Power, said. Satellite images of the LA fires showed the destruction left in their wake.Here's a look at the latest happenings in the main fires spreading throughout the area:Palisades Fire Beachfront homes are destroyed by the Palisades Fire. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area north of Santa Monica was the first fire to strike the region on Tuesday morning. It has spread to nearly 20,000 acres, making it one of the worst natural disasters in LA history, officials said Thursday.Data from state agency CalFire early on Friday showed that the fire was 6% contained.The blaze has reduced thousands of structures to rubble, but exact numbers are not yet known, the officials said.Wind gusts in the area have tamed down some since their Tuesday highs of nearly 100 mph but remain up to 60 mph. They were expected to continue through Thursday.Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley would not confirm reports that the fire started in a resident's garden, saying the origin is still under investigation.Some celebrities have lost homes in the blaze, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal.Eaton Fire A man walks past a fire-ravaged business after the Eaton Fire swept through on Wednesday. AP Photo/Ethan Swope The second-largest fire in Los Angeles County is the Eaton Fire, which started on Tuesday evening in the Pasadena-Altadena area at the foothills of the Angeles National Forest.The blaze has spread to over 13,000 acres and reduced at least 1,000 homes to ash as of Thursday, officials said. As of early Friday, it was zero percent contained, according to CalFire.Still, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire's growth has been "significantly stopped," and the cause remains unknown.Hurst Fire The Hurst fire burned in the hills above the Sylmar area of Los Angeles on Wednesday. Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The Hurst Fire, which began late on Tuesday night in the northern part of the San Fernando Valley, spread to around 855 acres, according to data from CalFire, a state agency.CalFire data estimated it was 37% contained early on Friday.LAFD's Crowley said firefighters have been able to hold the fire within a containment area and have established a perimeter.Sunset Fire and others Firefighters stopped the forward progress of the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The Sunset Fire broke out in the Runyon Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, quickly spreading to scorch over 40 acres and threaten major LA landmarks.As of Thursday morning, firefighters were able to stop the fire's forward progress, Crowley said. Crews are still working to "put out spot fires within the perimeters to keep the wind from spreading any additional embers," she said.All evacuation orders related to the Sunset Fire were lifted as of 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Crowley said.Meanwhile, a large structure fire broke out nearby, consuming two large homes in the Studio City area. Still, firefighters were able to stop its forward growth at just one acre and prevent another brushfire, Crowley said.Another fire, the Kenneth Fire, started on Thursday afternoon near Calabasas and Hidden Hills, north of the Palisades Fire. The fire quickly grew from 50 acres to 1,000 acres in less than a few hours, according to Cal Fire.A mandatory evacuation order was issued for several neighborhoods near the fire.An evacuation notice intended for residents impacted by the Kenneth Fire was mistakenly sent out across LA county due to a "technical error," County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in an X post.Yet another fire, the Lidia Fire, started Wednesday afternoon in Acton near the Antelope Valley, about 20 miles northeast of the San Fernando Valley. It spread to consume 348 acres but has been 60% contained, per CalFire.One of this week's fires has been 100% contained. The Woodley Fire, which began Wednesday morning in the southern part of the San Fernando Valley, has been suppressed and there are no current threats, Crowley said. Patrols were monitoring the area for any flare-ups, she said.Events canceled and landmarks closed as smoke chokes LAMajor and minor events alike have been canceled or postponed across the LA area as the city battles the fires.The 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, set for Sunday night, were rescheduled for January 26. A National Hockey League game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames, scheduled for Wednesday night at Crypto.com arena, was postponed. The LA Lakers rescheduled Thursday night's game.Music venues across the city were also canceling or postponing their shows, including The Troubadour, The Wiltern, The Echo, the Kia Forum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and others.Flights into and out of LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Ontario International Airport, and Santa Ana's John Wayne Airport were also experiencing delays and cancellations.The fires are also shuttering tourist attractions in and around Los Angeles, which attracts nearly 50 million visitors a year.The fires forced some Los Angeles-area landmarks to close, including the Hollywood sign, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Broad Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, the Getty Villa and Getty Center, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk, and the Griffith Observatory.Airbnb told CNN that it would be allowing refunds for bookings in areas affected by the wildfires, following a viral social media post from a customer who said the company refused to offer her a refund.California already struggled with an insurance crisisThe devastating fires this week will likely only worsen California's ongoing insurance crisis, where many homebuyers already struggle to get approved for loans, home insurance, and fire insurance even in areas outside the typical risk zones.In recent years, some insurance companies, like State Farm, have stopped accepting new home insurance policies in the state entirely, aswildfire risks have only increased.Experts told Business Insider that prices are likely to continue rising for those who can still get insurance."I've seen numbers go up 200%, 300%, even 500% in a year," Nick Ramirez, the owner of a California insurance agency, told BI.And as the fires' estimated damages already climb into the billions of dollars, some homeowners will have to rebuild without the help of insurance payouts."These fires will likely be the costliest in history, not the deadliest, and that is the only silver lining right now," Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA, told LAist.This a developing story. 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Blackstone encourages junior staff to speak at deal meetings, fostering open dialogue.It can be "scary," said Jon Gray, the firm's president, on a recent podcast.A former intern told BI last year that a senior leader said to him "rank doesn't matter here."Blackstone's president said that senior executives often ask the"We'll go around in many of these committees and ask the most junior people in the room, 'hey what do you think?' We want them to articulate why they have conviction," Jon Gray said on a recent podcast hosted by Norges Bank Investment Management. Norway's sovereign wealth fund has invested hundreds of millions of dollars with Blackstone.The 54-year-old, who started his career at the firm, said that it can be "scary" for a young person, and that the committee is "not the most patient group of people."Gray added that meetings get into questions immediately, with people"What we try to do is make sure a lot of please and thank you's and be appreciative to the group, but there's really sort of a truth-telling exercise," Gray said.Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager, with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. The firm has 12,700 real estate assets and 240 portfolio companies as of June, according to the company's website.Last year, an associate who interned twicejuniors were encouraged to make their presence known."Senior leaders were constantly coming out to the bullpen and asking the most junior person on the team what they thought about the deals that we were currently in process with, what they thought about up-and-coming trends," said Marshall Plumlee, who was a US Army infantry officer before his Harvard MBA. He's now working at Blackstone full time.Plumlee said that one senior leader explained it to him this way: "Rank doesn't matter here; your thoughts are just as valuable as the next guy."Blackstone had 4,735 employees as of December 2023.Talent development initiativesThe private equity firm has made other commitments to developing talent, too.In 2020, it launched Career Pathways, a program to help portfolio companies solve talent problems by creating internal trainings. Last year, it started a data program to find and train people to fill specialized technical positions. In September, the company said the portfolio companies that took part in the program have hired over 10,500 people from underrepresented groups."We put it inside of our portfolio operations side of the business," Gray said at the time. "It's not a charitable effort. It's designed to drive talent to companies."'The executive is also known for being in charge of the iconic Blackstone holiday videos, which started in 2018 when the firm had grown too large to hostpreviously reported that Gray is usually the first person to come up with the idea for the holiday video a comical sketch sometimes filmed in the style of the television show "The Office" or with other pop-culture bents.

Drew Barrymore says her female friendships have kept her "anchored" through the years.Research has shown that having strong friendships is as important as exercise for longevity.However, it can be difficult to make and maintain friendships in adulthood.Drew Barrymore, 49, is grateful that she has supportive female friends to rely on.During Wednesday's episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," which featured guest Julianne Moore, the talk show host spoke about the strong friendships she shares with the women in her life."I think female friendship has been the thing that probably anchored my life the most," Barrymore said."Most of my friends I've had for 30 and 40 years I'm going to be 50 so it's like my whole life I've known these people," she said. "I trust them implicitly."The "Never Been Kissed" star had a troubled childhood: She was 13 when she entered a youth rehab center for drug use, and she was 14 when she was legally emancipated from her mother.Barrymore said her friends are "very honest" with her and know what she's been through."I feel like not having had traditional family, everything is possible through my female friendships," Barrymore said, adding that they help her get through her heartbreaks "much easier.""Every time I've ever been dumped, my first phone call is my girlfriends. They make it so much better," Barrymore said.In particular, Barrymore has been open about her friendships with her "Charlie's Angels" costars, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu.The three of them have made public appearances together over the years, including the premiere episode of Barrymore's talk show in 2020.Barrymore revealed in a 2021 Instagram Live that she was friends with Diaz long before they shared a screen."We met when I was 14 and she was 16. I was working at a coffee house and she was a junior model. She's still my bestie," Barrymore said.There are plenty of celebrity best friends in Hollywood, including Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, who became friends after a snowstorm in 1976, and Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who have known each other since meeting on set in 1980.Research has found that having good friendships could be as important as exercise and diet for living longer.However, adult friendships can be tricky to form and maintain, Dr. Frederick Smith, a psychologist, told Business Insider previously."As adults, we have many obligations," Dr. Smith said. "We may have responsibilities to our job, family, children, or education. We spend a lot of time doing these things, so we may not have enough time to devote to going out and developing friendships."However, there are ways for people to improve their friendships, he said. This includes practicing healthy boundaries, communicating clearly, and actively working to keep the relationship alive."Both people have to work to maintain it," he said. "Friendship should not be one-sided. If you only call me when you need something, or you only call me when you're going through some type of turmoil, and then I never hear from you, then that's a problem."A representative for Barrymore did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.

A-Building / LIFE ArchitectsSave this picture! Kyungsub ShinArchitects: LIFE ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:356 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2021 PhotographsPhotographs:Kyungsub Shin Lead Architects: Jeeyoung Han, Sooyong Hwang More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. A-Building explores the architectural possibilities of acute-angled sites by reflecting the sharp geometry of the land onto its faade. This design approach creates fragmented in-between spaces that express the building's internal programs and establish connections with the surrounding urban fabric.Save this picture!Save this picture!Located in Sungsudong 1, the building is a neighborhood living facility comprising one basement level and ten floors above ground. While the site area is suitable for constructing a small-scale building, its irregular acute-angled shape posed a significant design challenge. The primary goal was to maximize the site's efficiency while addressing the client's desire for a functional and effective use of the unique plot.Save this picture!Save this picture!With a floor area ratio of 400%, parking presented a critical issue. To resolve this, various mechanical parking systems were analyzed to find the optimal solution. By redesigning the original CIP (Cast In Place Pile) layout, additional width was secured to accommodate parking. The parking entrance, whimsically referred to as the "Boa Snake," seemingly consumes vehicles, leading to a functional sequence of ramps and stair landings that integrate parking with the first-floor space. This floor, currently used as a showroom for a fashion company and a venue for pop-up events, demonstrates a creative adaptation of spatial constraints.Save this picture!The acute angles of the site, while visually striking, could have resulted in unusable interior spaces. Extending the faade to align with these angles not only emphasized the building's dynamic form but also provided a rational solution that balanced aesthetics with functionality. Positioned strategically, the building offers urban views that reflect the passage of time, reinforcing its connection to the cityscape.Save this picture!Save this picture!The faade design employs vertical and horizontal elements that follow the site's diagonal geometry and the alignment of adjacent roads. The interplay of depth and shadow creates a dynamic faade that shifts in appearance throughout the day, offering a unique visual experience depending on the time and angle of observation.Save this picture!Laminated ceramic tiles were chosen for their ability to cover large areas with a single, seamless layer. This material not only enhances the faade's sleek aesthetic but also adds texture and character, especially when juxtaposed with the floor heights.Save this picture!Prior to construction, part of the site was encroached upon by adjacent roads. To minimize disruption, the stair faade and columns were carefully adjusted, with portions of the faade removed to improve accessibility. Structural integrity was maintained by suspending the staircases using tension rods, resulting in a seamless and functional integration of urban and architectural elements. Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Seongdong-gu, South KoreaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on January 10, 2025Cite: "A-Building / LIFE Architects" 10 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025381/a-building-life-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

Project Files: https://www.patreon.com/posts/119692293 .In this episodes of the top down shooter series, I am going to implement a way to rotate/orbit camera around. So player will be able to rotate the camera to a desired direction while playing the game. This method will work on both perspective and orthographic/isometric projection modes. CodeLikeMe Top Down shooter series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou4pEFizUOVzcM5roBFYa1oN CodeLikeMe Third-Person shooter series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou4HL7SAyIQoCqJRJ5QeQAl8 // ! https://www.patreon.com/codelikeme Patrons will have access to project files of all the stuff I do in the channel and other extra benefitsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6Jh9EBV7a_Nm52Ipll_Q/join Like my facebook page for more content : https://www.facebook.com/gamedevelopersclub/ Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/CodeLikeMe2 Follow me on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/user/codelikeme #CodeLikeMe #unrealengine #ue5 #indiegamedev

Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08292-1We find that if the thickness of a polycrystalline piezoceramic is reduced such that a large fraction of the grains are in the triaxialbiaxal crossover regime, the longitudinal strain is enhanced and the piezoceramic bends.

Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08349-1CRISPRCas9-based saturation genome editing in a humanized mouse embryonic stem cell line was used for comprehensive functional characterization of single nucleotide variants in a region of BRCA2, and shows good agreement with existing variant classifications and high predictive power.