Ubisoft just delayed Assassin's Creed: Shadows by another month, amid a time of troubled financials, continued cost cuts, and ongoing rumors the company was preparing for a sale to gaming giant Tencent. In an emergency conference call today, investors grilled CEO Yves Guillemot and CFO Frederick Duguet for answers on all of the above - but their responses didn't provide much reassurance.Ubisoft's call today came alongside not just the delay announcement, but a seeming confirmation of sorts that Ubisoft is preparing to sell, or at least strongly considering it. Per the press release, the company has "appointed leading advisors to review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders. This process will be overseen by the independent members of the Board of Directors. Ubisoft will inform the market in accordance with applicable regulations if and once a transaction materializes."PlayIGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250Back in October, Bloomberg reported that Ubisoft's founding Guillemot family and shareholder Tencent were in discussions to take the company private following a number of high-profile flops, game cancellations, and the collapse of the company's share price. At the time, the talks were merely exploratory, and Ubisoft told IGN it would "inform the market if and when appropriate." Today's update seems to suggest that such talks, either with Tencent or in some other capacity, have moved forward in some way.But it's unclear exactly how, and Ubisoft's shareholders understandably wanted more details during the conference call today. But Guillemot and Duguet weren't biting. First, they were asked directly by a Morgan Stanley representative: "On the various transformation strategic and capitalistic options, it's a bit of a vague phrase if you don't mind me saying. Could you perhaps elaborate on the kind of things you're talking about? And perhaps particularly, there were press reports of detailed discussions with Tencent that were reported on in December. Should we read that there is now some sort of proposal which the independent board members are going to review against other options? Or is that not what you mean by that?"Duguet replied:The objective of this process is to unlock the best value potential of our assets to the benefit of our stakeholders, and to foster the best conditions to create great games in the fast-evolving market. That's the overall objective, so that's why we mentioned that we appointed leading advisors. So we are currently actively exploring different options. And we can't say more. Of course we won't comment on specific rumors we have seen in the market, but we are convinced there are several potential paths to generate value from Ubisoft assets and franchises. We will inform the market if and when a transaction materializes.That...doesn't really clarify anything! And the Morgan Stanley guy seemed to feel the same, because he followed up by acknowledging Ubisoft didn't want to say what the different options were, but asked if they could say "whether there are any concrete courses of action or scenarios that are being considered, or is this more of an exploratory kind of process?" elaborating that he wanted to know what was different about this announcement as opposed to past statements by Ubisoft about such exploration.Duguet's response was short. "We are limited with what we can say today, but we've started a process." Then, seemingly realizing this could be interpreted as a too-specific confirmation, added, "with advisors."The other shareholders didn't let Ubisoft off the hook here. A Barclays representative pointed out to Guillemot and Duguet that Tencent had recently been designated as a Chinese military company by the U.S., and wanted to know if that would hinder it becoming the majority owner of Ubisoft. Guillemot declined to comment. A representative from HSBC asked "what stage" the advisors were at, and when Guillemot could expect to get some initial findings. Guillemot would only say they "have started working" and that they could expect "good progress" in the coming months.Admittedly, there's only so much Guillemot and Duguet can say about a potential acquisition without throwing it into legal and negotiational jeopardy, but that doesn't mean the skepticism around the board's alleged plans wasn't warranted. A number of other questions went unanswered during the call, such as a question about how many AAA games Ubisoft expected to release in the coming fiscal year ("you'll know more by May") and what specific sort of feedback Ubisoft got that sparked the month-long delay of Assassin's Creed: Shadows (Duguet and Guillemot tag-teamed an answer about positive community sentiment that did not address the investor's actual question at all).Overall, the tone of the discussion was one of significant concern for the health of Ubisoft and the shareholders' investments, and it's no surprise why. For several years now, Ubisoft has seemed to be in a strange, slow downward spiral, with a number of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, game cancellations, and delay after delay after delay.Meanwhile, rumors continue to spin about what exact proposals the board is considering, with some media outlets floating the idea that Tencent is increasingly reluctant to embrace Ubisoft due to the Guillemot family's insistance on retaining a significant amount of control. Sans Tencent, there are few other companies big enough and rich enough to spend the cash needed to save the albatross Ubisoft has grown into.Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Many streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and even Apple TV+ already provide support for the HDR10+ standard. Soon, Disney+ will also join this list of platforms offering content in this high dynamic range format.HDR10+ video coming to Disney+The announcement was made at CES 2025 by Marc Finer of Communication Research Inc. on behalf of the group that certifies and manages HDR10+ technology. According to Finer, HDR10+ content will soon be available on Disney+, so that owners of compatible devices can benefit from higher dynamic range when watching movies and shows.For those unfamiliar, HDR10+ is a high dynamic range video technology that competes with Dolby Vision. Both technologies include HDR metadata for each frame of video, so that the display settings change in real time to give the image richer contrast and more brightness.HDR10+ dynamic metadata provides a number of benefits, including improved brightness and contrast, robust standardization, ease of implementation, global certification, and no licensing fees, MediaPlayNews explains. The technology was developed in partnership with Samsung and Panasonic, and is now present in more than 13,000 compatible devices such as the latest generation Apple TV 4K.Despite the announcement, there are no details on when exactly the first HDR10+ content will be available on Disney+. Of course, you need HDR10+ compatible devices to take advantage of the technology.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

After Tim Cook announced that Apple is donating to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, the company has just confirmed that Apple Card users living in the impacted regions will also get some relief. These people can temporarily postpone their Apple Card payments without interest.Apple and Goldman Sachs announce temporary relief for Apple Card owners in LAAs noted by Bloombergs Mark Gurman, the company has been notifying users registered at an address declared a natural disaster zone. Apple says that these users may be eligible for assistance with Apple Card payments. Among the benefits, Apple Card owners in the regions affected by the Los Angeles wildfires can skip the next months payment without worrying about interest.In addition to the interest exemption, users in affected regions who need to skip payments wont have their accounts blocked. Here are all the benefits provided by the Disaster Relief Program:You can skip the payment due in the month you enroll.No interest in the month you enroll. Your standard purchase APR will apply in the following month.If your account is in good standing, it will remain current while enrolled.If your account is past due, it will not go further past due while enrolled. It will remain past due until all past due payments are made.If your spending was restricted, it may continue to be restricted.Affected customers must contact Apple Card Support via Messages. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app and tap Apple Card. Tapthe More button, then tapAccount Details. Tap the Message button, then enter something like, I would like to learn more about payment assistance plan options.The fires in Los Angeles are still raging out of control. A BBC News report reveals that, despite the efforts of firefighters, the situation is still very chaotic and at least five deaths have already been confirmed. Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes without their belongings.Apple CEO Tim Cooktweetedin response, while announcing a donation to Apple.The devastation caused by the fires in Los Angeles is heartbreaking. Thank you to the incredible firefighters, first responders, and all those assisting for your heroic efforts. Apple will be donating to support the victims and recovery efforts on the ground.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

They were reassigned to work on the Model Y instead.CyberSlumpTesla is moving workers away from Cybertruck production at its Austin factory to focus on the Model Y instead, with three workers at the plant telling Business Insider that they were being reassigned to work on the best-selling SUV.The Elon Musk-led EV maker has been grappling with dropping overall sales. Earlier this month, Tesla announced the first year-over-year drop in the number of deliveries in over a decade, a notable shift highlighting weakening consumer demand and a likely sign that Trump's anti-EV push could further exacerbate its woes.The Cybertruck in particular has proven highly controversial. Despite becoming a political lightning rod, the truck became the best-selling EV pickup in the US in October, outpacing the Ford F-150 Lightning but read further, because in absolute terms, it's barely moving the needle.While it's unclear how the recent slump in sales affected the number of Cybertrucks sold Tesla doesn't publicize specific sales numbers for the vehicle the most recent worker reassignments could be an early warning sign that the divisive truck's popularity is waning.Reassign of the TimesAccording to BI's sources, some workers on the Cybertruck team were "forced to switch over" to work on the Model Y, despite wanting to stay on. One worker who spoke with the publication suggested the shift could be due to higher profit margins for the SUV.Last month, an internal memo obtained by BI revealed that workers at the company's Austin factory were told to take the next three days off, while still receiving eight hours of pay, likely due to production imbalances and a lack of working batteries.Meanwhile, Tesla is trying to push up demand for the pickup by lowering leasing prices.Besides possibly weakening demand, the Cybertruck has made headlines for repeatedly being recalled, suffering from major structural issues and puzzling design decisions.Whether Tesla will be able to ward off increasing competition in 2025, especially given a slowing demand for EVs overall, remains to be seen.In the grand scheme of things, the Cybertruck will likely remain more of a distraction and a rounding error in the company's overall sales. Tesla sold somewhere north of 27,000 trucks since it started deliveries in late 2023, in comparison to a whopping 1.7 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles last year.More on the Cybertruck: Cybertruck Bomber Used ChatGPT to Plan His AttackShare This Article

"Nobody had ever thought about using wood for rocket science before."Here We GoThe world's first wooden satellite has officially been deployed.Built by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the timber-clad device was sent to International Space Station last November.Now, NASA says that the tiny satellite, dubbed LignoSat, was finally released into the wild last month, in an experiment that will explore the viability of using wood in space which if fruitful, could offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional metal components."With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever," Takao Doi, a former JAXA astronaut who studies human space activities at Kyoto University, toldReuters last year.Lumber WhyLignoSat, named after the Latin word for wood, is a type of CubeSat a small, box shaped satellite that can typically be held in one hand.Compact as it is, it's a meticulously crafted device. It uses no screws, nails, or glue. Instead, using a Japanese woodworking technique called "sashimono," the wooden components are held together by an intricate marrying of complex joints, fashioned and assembled by master carpenters in Kyoto, per The New York Times.The wood's source was also carefully chosen after a nearly year-long experiment aboard the ISS: honoki, a type of magnolia tree whose wood is traditionally used for sword sheaths, according to Reuters."Nobody had ever thought about using wood for rocket science before," Koji Murata, a forest science professor at Kyoto University told the NYT. "Many engineers thought wood was old technology and couldn't be applied to cutting-edge technology."Tree Fallin'The hope is that in space, wood will have several advantages. It won't deteriorate like it does on Earth, because there's no water or oxygen that would rot or inflame the material, Murata explained to Reuters.Moreover, using wood to construct satellites theoretically makes them safer to decommission. Right now, metal satellites are deorbited by re-entering the atmosphere, where they are supposed to burn up completely.But this isn't always the case, with large chunks of spacecraft often surviving and dangerously crashing down to Earth. In the long run, tiny shards and particles of metal, some of which may be toxic, can also pollute the atmosphere. With wood, though, there's no risk of dangerous debris, the scientists argue it burns completely."Metal satellites might be banned in the future," Doi told Reuters. "If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk's SpaceX."And perhaps in the distant future, offworld outposts could sustain themselves by planting their own trees, providing an endless supply of construction material.Now that it's been deployed, the plan is for LignoSat to stay in orbit for six months. Onboard sensors will monitor how the wood weathers the conditions of space, including its extremely cold temperatures, and how well the material shields its electronic components from ever present radiation, emitted by the Sun and from deep space.Share This Article

Narwal may not be a robovac company as well known as Eufy, Eureka, Dreame and Ecovacs, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a compelling robovac lineup to showcase at CES 2025. The lineup includes the Narwal Flow Series, Freo Z10, Freo Pro and S30, which come loaded with features that Narwal touts as all-in-one cleaning solutions.Here's what's new with Narwal at CES.Narwal Flow Series Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. To start with, Narwhal is showcasing its Flow Series, which it claims is the most advanced all-in-one cleaning solution for robovacs, including mopping and vacuuming, among other features. In terms of navigation, the Narwal Flow features dual RGB cameras and an AI chip that can detect and categorize over 200 objects.The robovac has the FlowWash mopping system and EdgeReach technology, meaning it adapts in real-time self-cleaning methods. It has a track mop and dual water tanks so it can always apply fresh water while extracting dirty water. The Narwal Flow base station can go for 120 days before needing to be emptied. NarwalOn the vacuuming side, the robovac has counter-directional movement, with an adaptive brush cover designed to extract deeply embedded dirt and hair from carpets. It sounds very attractive to me personally as the owner of three cats that love to shed. Narwhal claims this doubles the dust pickup rate compared to other devices. There's also a dynamic side brush that directs hair to a floating roller to help with detangling and reduces blockages with up to 99.9% efficiency. To tackle corners, there's an extendable edge brush that can adjust its direction. The Biggest Tech Show on Earth Just Wrapped. Here's Are 23 Cool Home Gadgets We Saw See all photos Finally, the Narwal Flow has an 8-in-1 multifunction base station that has automatic dust emptying, mop washing, hot-air drying and water tank refilling. It can last up to 120 days before requiring any emptying or maintenance on your part. The Flow is expected to launch in mid-2025, with a price to be announced soon. The Flow comes with FlowWash mopping and EdgeReach technology. NarwalNarwal Freo Z10The Freo Z10 is Narwal's premium all-in-one robovac. Like the Flow, it does both vacuuming and mopping and comes with easy maintenance features. The robovac has a mop extension that can apply 8 newtons of downward pressure, and its mop pad rotates at a rapid 180 rotations per minute. For mop cleaning, there is an AI adaptive hot water mop washing feature that can automatically adjust water temperature from 113 degrees Fahrenheit to 167 degrees Fahrenheit. The Freo Z10 features AI adaptive hot water mopping. NarwalThe brush is also designed to prevent hair tangles as with the Narwal Flow. It has a 7-in-1 self-emptying base station that includes silver ion sterilization and automatic mop maintenance. It can also go for 120 days before needing to be emptied.The Freo Z10 will launch in April at a $1,099 price point. The Z10 can apply 8 newtons of downward pressure with its mop pad. NarwalNarwal Freo ProThe Freo Pro is the more cost-effective model in the lineup. It's designed for quiet operation, has tangle-free technology like other models in the lineup and comes with 8,500 Pa of suction power. It also handles mopping with 12 newtons of pressure. The 7-in-1 base station includes automated mop washing and drying and can go seven weeks before it needs to be emptied.The Freo Pro will launch in March and will cost $699. The Freo Pro has a tangle-free brush roller. NarwalNarwal S30The Narwal S30 isn't a robovac; it's a cordless stick vacuum loaded with smart features. As a successor to the S20, it has a 180-degree flat-lying design and comes with an interactive LCD panel and responds to voice prompts, letting you interact with it hands-free. It supports vacuuming and mopping in a single pass and comes with automatic brush-hair cutting and detangling. This cordless vacuum has six cleaning modes to handle different messes and flooring. NarwalSelf-washing and smart iron drying reach a temperature of 194 degrees Fahrenheit, helping prevent odors, mold and bacteria. The S30 has six cleaning modes, letting you customize for different floor types and mess levels.The Narwal S30 will launch in the second quarter of this year and cost $649.

Honda's full-electric 0 Series concepts graduate to become prototypes, arriving with the automaker's newly announced Asimo OS onboard.

Robovacs and robotic moppers are a great labor saving tools for homeowners, but their ability to clean comprehensively can be a mixed bag. Ecovacs is aiming to change that at CES 2025 with its new lineup. There's the Deebot X8 Pro Omni, which can both vacuum and mop and comes with advanced navigation, the Deebot T50 with powerful suction in a slim design and the Goat A3000 LiDAR, the flagship in a series of robotic lawn mowers and finally, the Winbot, a window cleaning robot.Here's what's new from Ecovacs, with more details about pricing and availability to follow after CES.Deebot X8 Pro Omni Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. The X8 Pro Omni is Ecovacs' new flagship robovac and mop combo. It comes with Ozmo technology for robotic mopping. Previous Deebot models included features like simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, dual oscillating mop pads, automatic mop-raising, hot water cleaning, and hot air drying. The X8 Pro Omni now adds Ozmo Roller self-washing. The X8 Pro comes with a self-emptying base station and can both vacuum and mop. EcovacsAs it sounds, the new tech helps minimize cross-contamination during mopping. Created in collaboration with Tineco, an intelligent home appliance brand, the technology continuously cleans the mop roller while the robot works. According to Ecovacs, this minimizes streaks across all floor types, reduces maintenance and requires minimal user intervention. The X8 Pro Omni also comes with improved edge and corner cleaning with the adaptive mop and side brush extensions, which allow for closer contact with walls and baseboards.It's a neat feature and may help address one of the main issues we have with robot mopping. Regarding other capabilities, the X8 Pro mopping has 4,000 Pa of pressure and 200 rotations per minute to put elbow grease into removing stains. The vacuum has 18,000 Pa of suction power and ZeroTangle 2.0 to reduce the number of brushes caught. CES 2025 Proves It's Still Deeply Weird With These Bonkers Gadgets See all photos Finally, navigation is also improved. The X8 Pro uses an embedded laser LiDAR system along with a TruEdge 3D edge sensor, which creates a real-time 3D map of the environment. This should minimize, if not eliminate, collisions. Naturally, like every other robovac being showcased at CES, Ecovacs is incorporating AI into the robot to help with object recognition. The X8 Pro should be able to better differentiate between things like shoes and cables. It can also adapt to surroundings in real time by combining 3D structured light sensors with visual and language recognition. It even comes with YIKO-GPT voice interactions, meaning you can give it voice commands. The X8 Pro can self clean its roller while mopping. EcovacsDeebot T50 Max and T50 Pro OmniThe Deebot T50 is only a robovac, but it has plenty of improvements. Ecovacs has gotten rid of the top-mounted mechanical LiDAR in favor of a sleeker, front-mounted solid state LiDAR. This makes the design more compact and less prone to getting stuck under couches and other low furniture.In terms of technology, you're looking at the same ones on the X8 Pro, with TruEdge Adaptive Edge Clening, 3D mapping and ZeroTangle 2.0 for the brushes. There's 18,500 Pa of suction and, according to Deebot, this boosts the T50 Max large particles pick-up rate by 100% and carpet dust cleaning by 93%.The T50 Pro Omni is also part of the lineup. It is the slimmest robovac in Ecovac's lineup, measuring just 81 millimeters thick (3.2 inches), allowing it to clean under sofas and beds. It's also certified by TV Rheinland for edge and corner cleaning. The A3000 features a dual-plate cutting system. EcovacsGoat A3000 LiDAR and Goat O FamilyEcovacs isn't just limiting itself to indoor cleaning. The Goat A Family and O Family are robot lawnmowersaimed at homeowners with yards that need upkeep. The A3000 has dual LiDAR, 360-degree top-mounted scanning and 3D laser imaging to help with mowing and obstacle avoidance. There's also a dual-plate cutting system for more coverage in a single pass. The O Family is designed for smaller, more intricate lawns. It's more maneuverable in tight spaces and can handle more complex garden layouts. The O Family is more maneuverable for more complex gardens. EcovacsWinbot W2 Pro Omni and Winbot MiniEcovacs is also tackling window cleaning with the Winbot W2 Pro Omni. It comes with enhanced edge-cleaning, optimized spray coverage and intelligent path planning to reduce streaks. A portable docking station includes charging, letting the Wibot charge while cleaning without needing to be plugged into an outlet. It can even be used outdoors.Also part of the lineup is the Winbot Mini, a slimmer model that weighs 2.9 pounds. The more compact size is targeted toward apartment residents who have limited space.

January 9, 20254 min readLos Angeles Fires Could Push Californias Insurance System to the BrinkDamages from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area could overwhelm Californias already stressed insurer of last resortA cyclist pedals along Pacific Coast Highway past burning homes in Malibu, CA on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. High winds escalated the spread of several blazes across Southern California. David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | LOS ANGELES Wednesday's firestorm in a wealthy area of Los Angeles could be the final straw that breaks California's insurance market.The state's insurance market has been teetering on the edge of insolvency for years thanks to catastrophic wildfires that have driven many insurers to stop writing new policies and drop existing ones. Wednesday's wind-driven wildfires in a part of Los Angeles packed with multimillion-dollar homes could accelerate its collapse.Its obviously going to be bad, said Rep. Brad Sherman, the Democrat who represents the neighborhood between Malibu and Santa Monica where the Palisades Fire one of six burning uncontained across the region had destroyed more than 1,000 buildings as of Wednesday afternoon. Weve already seen big increases. And weve seen these increases not only in houses that are close to the brush, but in areas where youre surrounded by other homes.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.President-elect Donald Trump called out the issue Wednesday as he bashed Democrats for the deadly, wind-fueled conflagrations that forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. The fires in Los Angeles may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country, he wrote on Truth Social. In many circles, theyre doubting whether insurance companies will even have enough money to pay for this catastrophe.The states insurer of last resort, known as the FAIR Plan, predicted that it would be able to pay out. We are aware of misinformation being posted online regarding the FAIR Plans ability to pay claims, spokesperson Hilary McLean said in a statement on behalf of the FAIR Plan. It is too early to provide loss estimates as claims are just beginning to be submitted and processed, McLean wrote, noting the plan was prepared for this kind of a disaster and has payment mechanisms including reinsurance, to cover claims.But California faces a double-barreled threat: Private insurers could continue to drop policies and decline to write new ones, as they've been increasingly doing since a series of severe fires beginning in 2017 with the Tubbs Fire in Northern California. And the FAIR plan, which has been absorbing the shrinking private market, could run out of money to pay its claims.That wouldnt mean going bankrupt, as McLean noted. Instead, it would draw from primary insurers to recoup its costs under state law, raising rates across all private policies and sending rates skyrocketing across the state.This is sort of what everybody's been preparing for, said Karl Susman, an insurance broker in West Los Angeles who's filing dozens of claims on behalf of clients. This is why rates are going up. This is why carriers are freaking out.State Farm dropped nearly 70 percent of its policies in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood last year, according to a state filing more than any other ZIP code in the state in a sign it saw the neighborhood as risky. That forced more people onto the FAIR Plan, which was originally created in the 1960s to insure riot-scarred Los Angeles neighborhoods but has since found more demand in rural and suburban fire-prone regions.In Pacific Palisades alone, the FAIR plan insures nearly $6 billion worth of property, according to September figures more than all but four communities in California. Across the state, the total value of FAIR-insured properties was $458 billion, triple the total insured value in 2020, according to FAIR Plan data.The damages, which AccuWeather estimated Wednesday at $52 billion-$57 billion, could continue to rise as hurricane-force winds forecast through Wednesday and Thursday put thousands more homes at risk."Should a large number of additional structures be burned in the coming days, it may become the worst wildfire in modern California history," AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement.State officials who have been trying to stanch insurers' exodus said they were prepared to limit the impact, including by passing a temporary year-long moratorium on nonrenewals in areas recently burned."Insurance companies are pledging their commitment to California, and we will hold them accountable for the promises they have made," Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement.Susman called the fires a proving ground for rules Lara finalized just weeks ago to entice property insurers back to the market and force them to write more in fire-prone areas.The rules gave insurance companies permission to pass along the costs of reinsurance to customers and use forward-looking so-called catastrophic models that take into account the likelihood of the type of climate-fueled fires raging in Los Angeles to raise rates, in exchange for meeting a certain quota of policies in disaster-prone areas. Insurers like Allstate have promised to return to the market following the changes.If they hadnt gone into effect in December, I could see the carriers literally saying, OK, we're leaving. We're done, Susman said about the rules. Now, because they can properly underwrite, because they can offer certain types of discounts, and they can be more granular in how they're coming up with rates and underwriting, they can find a path back into the market.But that might be optimistic. Michael Wara, director of Stanford's Climate and Energy Policy program and consultant to the states Public Utilities Commission on wildfire issues, said the new rules may not be enough to keep insurers around if the insurance payouts get too high.We may have crossed a threshold now where we need larger measures in order to essentially create a solvent insurance system, he said. And those measures are going to be politically difficult. They may create substantial risk for the balance sheet of the state of California.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

If your outdoor furniture could use a refresh, you dont have to wait until warmer temperatures come back around or shop in-store to save big. The winter (a.k.a. the off-season for outdoor furniture for most of us) is an ideal time to shop must-haves for your patio, deck, or backyard at a discount. And even better, some of the best outdoor furniture stores are hosting winter sales now on some of their most highly coveted collections.What types of items are on sale, you ask? Patio umbrellas, dining sets, sofas, and daybeds are all in the mix. Even essentials like fire pits and weather-resistant furniture covers are available at huge markdowns to help you enjoy the great outdoors and protect your furniture when its not in use. Without further ado, scroll below to find the best outdoor furniture sales and get a head start on revamping your backyard oasis.Our Top Picks:Best Sofa Set: Outer Brown Wicker Outdoor Sofa with Armless Chairs, $6,950 $4,170Best Fire Pit: Tiki Smokeless Fire Pit, $395 $295Best Bistro Set: Corrigan Studio 3-Piece Patio Bistro Set, $195 $160Best Lounge Chair: Knoll Risom Outdoor Lounge Chair, $1,655 $1,324Best Dining Set: Castlery Sorrento Outdoor Dining Table Set, $1,598 $1,519Best Sectional: Crate & Barrel Batten 5-Piece Teak Outdoor Sectional, $9,590 $5,895Outer: Up to 50% OffThanks to their sustainably made furniture and ease of delivery and assembly, Outer has long been an AD-favorite outdoor furniture brand. From patio furniture sets with deep seating to spacious ottomans and furniture covers, you can nab up to half off the brands open box, overstock, and clearance items during the sale. Plus, save 20% on orders of $12,000 or more with code OUTERYARD at checkout.Outer Brown Wicker Outdoor Sofa with Armless ChairsOuter Teak Outdoor OttomanAmazon: Up to 40% OffHidden in Amazons many storefronts is its winter sale with up to 40% off cozy must-haves like adirondack chairs. An outdoor living space during the cold weather months is hardly complete without heaters or fire pits to keep warm. When it comes to the latter, this Tiki fire pit offers a smokeless design and a durable metal frame built to last.Tiki Smokeless Patio Fire PitSerwall Foldable Adirondack ChairSerena & Lily: 20% Off SitewideWelcome coastal chic design to your outdoor space with Serena & Lily. We love the brand for its beach-inspired furniture and outdoor decor. With code NEWFINDS, take 20% off everything you add to cart.Serena & Lily Outdoor Riviera Dining ChairSerena & Lily Blithedale Dining TableWayfair: Up to 45% OffWayfair is a key destination for some of the biggest furniture sales youll find year-round (like the aptly named Way Day that takes place in May), but the brands daily sales page isnt one to overlook. Youll find outdoor bestsellers like rattan bistro sets and whimsical outdoor umbrellas up to 45% off right now.Corrigan Studio 3-Piece Bistro Rattan ChairBirch Lane Iago Outdoor UmbrellaDesign Within Reach: Up to 20% OffIf you want to create a high-end, design-forward space, look no further than Design Within Reach. Save big and add a sophisticated touch to your homes exteriors with 20% off during the brands New Years Sale event. Pull out your credit card to shop our favorite finds like a stylish outdoor chair and outdoor chaise lounge to relax poolside this summer.Knoll Risom Outdoor Lounge ChairDesign Within Reach Terassi ChaiseCastlery: Up to $470 OffCalling all minimalists: Castlery brings an elevated, cozy feel to the outdoors with clean lines and weather-resistant materials. (Think teak lounge chairs with an included end table and wicker dining table sets.) Right now, snag $400 off sitewide and an extra $70 off when you spend above $2,000 with promo code WINTVX while supplies last.Castlery Sierra Outdoor Dining Table and Chair SetCastlery Rio Outdoor Lounge Chair and Table SetWest Elm: Up to 50% OffFor a contemporary touch to your outdoor furniture, dont skip West Elms offerings. At this moment, you can take advantage of the brands outdoor furniture sale for 50% off au courant furniture and decor, like a ceramic planter or expandable dining table.West Elm Marta Ceramic PlanterWest Elm Hargrove Outdoor Expandable Dining TableCrate & Barrel: Up to 60% OffDuring Crate & Barrels End of Year Warehouse Sale (which, yes, is still running), you can score outdoor furniture for up to 60% off to outfit your space. Another brand with contemporary, traditional picks, youll find nature-inspired seating like outdoor teak sectionals. Plus, picks with functionality like a kitchen island that can double as an outdoor bar.Crate & Barrel Batten 5-Piece Teak Outdoor SectionalCrate & Barrel Batten Teak Outdoor Kitchen IslandCB2: Up to 60% OffA modern spin on items youll see at Crate & Barrel, sister site CB2s End of Year Warehouse Sale also includes 60% markdowns. Were eyeing the brands collection of unique armchairs and teak planters to incorporate in any avant-garde outdoor area.CB2 Ferrat Teak Outdoor PlanterCB2 Cabra Teak Outdoor Corner ChairRove Concepts: Up to 25% Off and 20% Back in Vouchers for MembersWith modular silhouettes and furniture materials like concrete, Rove Concepts is one of our top picks for modern outdoor furniture designed to withstand inclement weather. Shop the site for up to 25% off items like coffee tables and sectionals and 20% back in vouchers for members while the sale lasts.Rove Concepts Maria Coffee TableRove Concepts Dresden Outdoor Modular Sectional