AI is really popular Only 5 percent of US car buyers want an EV, according to survey Almost two thirds of US consumers want internal combustion for their next vehicle. Jonathan M. Gitlin Jan 10, 2025 10:51 am | 43 Credit: Getty Images Credit: Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOnly 5 percent of US consumers want their next vehicle to be a battery electric vehicle, according to a new survey by Deloitte. The consulting company gathered data from more than 31,000 people across 30 countries as part of its 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study, and some of the results are rather interesting, as they pertain to technologies like new powertrains, connectivity, and artificial intelligence.Among US consumers, internal combustion engines (ICE) remain number one, with 62 percent indicating that their next car will not be electrified. Another one in five would like a hybrid for their next vehicle, with a further six percent desiring a plug-in hybrid. (The remaining survey respondents either did not know or wanted some other powertrain option.)By contrast, only 38 percent of Chinese consumers want to stick with ICE; meanwhile, 27 percent of them want a BEV next. That's a far higher percentage than in other large nationsin Germany, only 14 percent want a BEV; in the UK and Canada, only eight percent are BEV-bound; and in Japan, the number is a mere 3 percent.Meanwhile, hybrids are far more attractive to consumers in most countries. While only 16 percent of Chinese and 12 percent of German consumers indicated this preference, 23 percent of Canadians, 24 percent of UK consumers, and 35 percent of Japanese consumers replied that they were looking for a hybrid for their next car.Deloitte suspects that some of this reticence toward BEVs "could be due, in part, to lingering affordability concerns." The hoped-for parity in the cost of a BEV powertrain and an ICE powertrain has still not arrived, and fully 45 percent of US consumers said they did not want to pay more than $34,999 for their next car (11 percent said less than $15,000, 9 percent said $15,000$19,999, and the remaining 25 percent said $20,000$34,999.)Why the reticence?Despite popular sentiment, there are actually quite a few electric vehicles available for much less than the average new vehicle price of $47,000. But other than the Nissan Leaf, all of them have prices starting with a "3." (Meanwhile, 75 percent of car buyers in the US buy used cars, and the transition to electrification will not change that underlying reality.)In fact, rangeor the perceived lack thereofremains a greater problem for EV adoption than purchase prices. Just 49 percent of US consumers listed range as an impediment, with 46 percent indicating charging times and 44 percent listing price. (Survey respondents could give more than one reason.) Similarly, UK consumers were slightly more concerned about range (52 percent) than price (49 percent), with similar results in Germany (54 percent range, 45 percent price).Interestingly, the price of an EV was not one of the more commonly cited deterrents in China (22 percent) or Korea (24 percent); in both these countries, cold-weather performance and the reduction in range in cold temperatures was cited as more important (China, 37 percent; Korea, 38 percent).Why an EV?Deloitte also surveyed consumers about their reasons for wanting or not wanting an EV. In the US, "lower fuel costs" was the number one reason for wanting an EV at 56 percent. Forty-four percent are also motivated by concern for the environment and 36 percent by the driving experience. Indeed, the easiest way to convert someone to wanting an EV is by giving them a short test drive, where the advantages of electric propulsion become apparent.Those three reasons were pretty consistent across most of the countries in which Deloitte conducted the survey, albeit with slightly different splits. Environmental concerns and lower fuel costs were major factors in every country. Only Germany, where government subsidies just edged out the driving experience, and Korea, where the need for reduced maintenance came third, differed from the herd.A big concern for non-EV drivers pondering or worrying about changing powertrains is the state of public charging infrastructure. This is understandable, if misguidedif one only has experience of vehicles that require refueling with liquid hydrocarbons at a specialized refueling center (i.e., a gas station), it's easy to see how they can't think outside that paradigm.On the other hand, as virtually every EV driver knows, the entire point is to plug in at the end of each day and recharge slowly with cheap electricity, waking up to a fully charged battery. Actually, the people surveyed by Deloitte mostly appear to grasp this concept: 79 percent of US consumers expect to charge an EV at home most often, with just 11 percent expecting to charge at work and only one in 10 indicating public chargers. The splits were basically identical for the UK, although 20 percent of Germans expect to use public charging infrastructure.In Asia, meanwhile, many fewer consumers expect to charge at homeonly 63 percent in China, 62 percent in Southeast Asia, and 61 percent in Korea.Among those who plan to charge at home, many more of them currently have access to a dedicated charger in China (77 percent) than those in the US (40 percent), Germany (37 percent), the UK (33 percent), South-East Asia (32 percent), or Korea, where just 19 percent have access to a dedicated charger (although 50 percent of Korean respondents indicated they had access to a charger shared with neighbors).AI is way more popular than you thinkDeloitte also surveyed consumers on their attitudes toward connected cars and AI, among other new technologies, and the results for US consumers will probably come as a shock to most Ars readers. For example, 45 percent of US consumers indicated that adding AI to a vehicle system was beneficial, with another 29 percent having no particular opinion.And more than one in two US consumers is prepared to pay extra for connected vehicle services if they include warranty or recall notices (51 percent), insurance discounts based on driving data (52 percent), anti-theft tracking (60 percent), automatic detection of vehicles and pedestrians (60 percent), and emergency assistance (62 percent).However, there is little trust among consumers that car companies, car dealers, insurance providers, or connectivity providers deserve their trust when it comes to managing datawith good reason.Jonathan M. GitlinAutomotive EditorJonathan M. GitlinAutomotive Editor Jonathan is the Automotive Editor at Ars Technica. He has a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology. In 2014 he decided to indulge his lifelong passion for the car by leaving the National Human Genome Research Institute and launching Ars Technica's automotive coverage. He lives in Washington, DC. 43 Comments

I've been following the Mediterranean diet for years, and I've learned a lot of simple recipes.Lamb souvlaki, baked salmon, and creamy chicken pasta are all in my dinner rotation.For breakfast, I love shakshuka, and orange, avocado, and shrimp salad is a great lighter meal.I learned to cook for the Mediterranean diet at university over five years ago. Since then, I've tried various recipes and even developed some of my own.I take a minimalist approach to my diet and often only use a few ingredients in my meals. I bulk out the more expensive ingredients, like fresh fish and poultry, with whole grains, mixed beans, and vegetables.My favorite recipes take about 10 to 30 minutes to prepare and don't require any specialist equipment.I've discovered a love for orange, avocado, and shrimp saladI wasn't initially convinced that orange, mustard, and shrimp went together. It felt unnatural to make a salad without traditional ingredients like cucumber and tomato.However, the sweetness of the orange sharpens the buttery avocado and perfectly complements the shrimp.Start by tearing half of an orange into segments. Squeeze the juice from the other half and put it to the side. Dice an avocado, slice half a red onion, and rip up some romaine lettuce. Add all of the components to a bowl with a few pieces of shrimp on top I like to buy the precooked kind for convenience.To make the dressing, combine the orange juice with a splash of olive oil, a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard, and a little salt and pepper.Zucchini fritters with tzatziki make a wonderful lunch Fried zucchini fritters. instacruising/Shutterstock Vegetable fritters are one of my favorite snack foods to batch-cook and freeze for busy weekday lunches.Grate one zucchini and half an onion into a sieve. Add a little salt and squeeze out the excess water with a spoon.Then, grate a handful of Parmesan into a bowl with a cup of all-purpose flour, a splash of milk, and one egg. Combine the grated vegetables and batter.Add a generous amount of olive oil to a pan and fry small dollops of batter until golden. Press the fritters flat to make sure they're cooked all the way through.For the tzatziki dip, mix Greek yogurt, two crushed garlic cloves, a sprig of fresh mint, and a dash of olive oil.Smoked mackerel pt is an indulgent treatInstead of sweets and chocolate, I like to indulge in cheeses, smoked meats, and pts.To make that fit into my Mediterranean diet, I combine precooked and shredded smoked mackerel, light cream cheese, and a squeeze of lemon juice.Season the pt with salt and pepper, and serve it spread on sourdough toast.Shakshuka is the ultimate weekend brunch dish Baked shakshuka in a skillet. DebashisK/Shuttershock If I fancy a Mediterranean breakfast on the weekend, I go for shakshuka.Saut diced red pepper, green pepper, and onion with two crushed garlic cloves. Add a sprinkle of cumin, paprika, coriander, and red-chili flakes before pouring in some chopped tomatoes.Place three eggs in the mixture, cover the pan, and let them simmer on low heat.Remove from the heat once your eggs are cooked to your liking and finish with fresh chopped parsley and mint.On special occasions, I'll whip up a lamb souvlakiAs a young journalist, lamb is a little out of my price range, so I reserve it for special occasions.I opt for a good-quality lamb shoulder and season it with garlic, oregano, lemon juice, and olive oil for a few hours.Add chunks of lamb to a wooden skewer and throw them on the grill. I often bulk out my kebabs with bell peppers and onions.Finish the meal with tzatziki and Greek potatoes.Salmon with veggies is an easy weeknight meal Baked salmon on a bed of greens and rice. Nigel O'Neil/Getty Images If I've spent my evening at a spin class or late-night meeting, salmon is my go-to dish.Season some fillets with garlic and herbs and wrap them in aluminum foil. Cook them in the oven for about 15 minutes and pair them with roasted asparagus and broccoli.I've concocted a Mediterranean version of a make-your-own pizzaIf you have an at-home dinner date coming up, make some puff-pastry pizza together.Roll out a premade puff-pastry sheet, add pesto and tomato paste for the base, and cook for five minutes.Once it's out, top with crumbled feta, spinach, and onions for a veggie-style pizza. You could also use some shredded salmon for a little extra protein.Put it back in the oven until the cheese starts to brown and melt.To balance out my lighter meals, I like to make a 1-pot creamy-chicken pasta Creamy fettuccine pasta. Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images We all need cheesy carb-filled dinners from time to time the Mediterranean diet is all about balance and moderation.Chop up a few chicken breasts, fry them in a pan until golden, and remove.Saut a few cloves of garlic and combine with chicken stock, heavy cream, and fettuccine pasta in the pan. The measurements will depend on how much you like garlic and cream.Once the sauce has thickened, sprinkle in some Parmesan, olives, and lemon slices and pop the cooked chicken back in.Chorizo and butter-bean stew is a cozy mealOn colder days, I like to cozy up with a stew.Slice up some chorizo and fry in a pan for a few minutes. Crank your extractor fan onto its highest setting to avoid the smoke alarm going off I speak from experience.Toss in cans of butter beans and chopped tomatoes and let everything sizzle.Add a big spoonful of pesto for a garlicky twist and serve.I like to make frittata when it's time to clean out the fridge Baked veggie frittata in a skillet. Monkey Business Images/Getty Images When I don't know what to make, eggs are always a great option.Mix a few eggs, a handful of sun-dried tomatoes, and some crumbled feta cheese together.Finely dice half an onion and fry with crushed garlic for a few minutes. Saut some spinach in the onion mixture and pour the egg concoction on top.Bake in the oven until the egg is fully cooked and garnish with fresh parsley and your seasonings of choice.Whenever I need a little extra protein, I turn to tofuIf I find myself in a bit of a food rut, I mix things up with meat alternatives.I've only recently discovered tofu, and I've been enjoying adding it to salads and grain bowls for a protein boost.I marinate the tofu cubes in lemon, garlic, and rosemary overnight and then fry them in olive oil for a crispy texture.This story was originally published on May 17, 2022, and most recently updated on January 10, 2025.

Insurance companies hire private businesses to protect properties from wildfires proactively.The CEO of one company told BI that actions range from using fire-blocking gel to cleaning gutters.He said companies like his can help solve the insurance crisis, as they focus only on economic loss.Insurance companies are hiring private firms to protect customer properties before wildfires roll in by taking measures like applying protective gels and removing combustibles to try to fire-proof structures.David Torgerson is the CEO of Wildfire Defense Systems, a private company that contracts with insurance carriers to protect homes and businesses from flames like those ripping through Southern California. As a qualified insurance resource, he said that Wildfire Defense Systems works exclusively with insurers, partnering with dozens of carriers across 22 states to protect structures."We are typically working hours in advance, or days in advance of the fire passing over a property, and we call that the pre-suppression," he told Business Insider. "We're preparing the property to survive the amount of time that the fire is in proximity to the structure, and then we quickly come back in after the fire is passed to secure the property."Still, he said that his employees who, unlike first responders, are not focused on saving lives or containing the blaze are "actively working" to help battle the fires in Southern California.In addition to applying the fire-blocking gels and getting rid of flammable materials, Wildfire Defense System's strategies include cleaning gutters and operating sprinkler systems, according to a fact sheet shared with BI. The famed Getty Villa has so far survived this week's blaze in part because of similar fire-mitigation efforts.Once a fire passes through a neighborhood, company personnel will return to insured homes to put out any simmering spot fires and other risks, Torgerson said. By law, he said, his company can only protect homes covered by insurance policies that include his services.In recent years, insurance companies have cut back on coverage in California, largely due to wildfire risk. In 2023, State Farm said it was no longer accepting new homeowner insurance applications in the state. It also ended coverage for 72,000 homes and apartments last year, including some in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood devastated by the most recent blaze.Preliminary estimates have put insured losses at more than $20 billion, a record high for California. Real estate and insurance experts previously told BI that the current wildfires will likely exacerbate the state's insurance crisis.Torgerson said that qualified insurance resources like his are part of the solution to coverage woes because they mainly try to mitigate the economic cost of a fire."Our job really is to help policyholders and insurance carriers keep insurance available in the marketplace," he said. "If wildfires are going to get steadily more intense and more frequent, the scale of our operations have increased."With some of the nation's wealthiest zip codes on fire in Pacific Palisades, for example, the average home price is $4.5 million, per Realtor.com controversy has erupted around who has access to fire safety resources. When a Los Angeles-based investor and self-described entrepreneur posted on his X account about how to hire private firefighters for his home, many responded with outrage in the comments. The user, Keith Wasserman, has since suspended his X account.Torgerson told BI that his services are very different from private firefighters, whom he said comprise a tiny sliver of the market. Wildfire Defense Systems does not have contact with individual homeowners and protects properties based on risk, not home value. He also said that his employees meet all training required by the National Wildlife Coordinating Group and are members of the firefighters union."It only really comes up when the fires are occurring in Southern California, the LA basin," he said of private firefighters, whom he said are not subject to the same training. Torgerson said its services are part of standard insurance policies with the affiliated companies, though he declined to disclose which insurers use his services.In 2021, State Farm said in a press release that it was partnering with Wildfire Defense Systems and that the perk was added to all non-tenant homeowner policies in California, Arizona, and Washington. Chubb also partners with Wildfire Defense Systems in California and other states, according to its website, and says that policyholders can opt to enroll in the protective services.Representatives from State Farm and Chubb did not respond to a request for comment from BI.

At the Kohl's store I visited in Clifton, New Jersey, Sephora was prominently advertised with its own branded entrance.Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Kohl's has more than 1,150 locations in 49 states. While there are Kohl's stores in the greater New York City area, including in Brooklyn and Yonkers, there aren't any in Manhattan.Kohl's announced its partnership with Sephora in 2020. By 2023, 910 Kohl's locations had added Sephora stores, and the retail chain built 140 more Sephora stores at Kohl's in 2024.In 2023, Sephora sales at Kohl's totaled $1.4 billion, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Sales are projected to hit $2 billion by 2025.A sign advertised an ongoing customer appreciation event with extra sales.Sales at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Kohl's Rewards members and Kohl's cardholders received extra discounts. The entrance I chose led me into the juniors section, which was strategically located right in front of Sephora.The junior's section at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The juniors section sold flared leggings, bralettes, and other styles popular with Gen Z.Sephora seemed to serve as the centerpiece of the store with prominent placement in the middle of the aisles.A Sephora location at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The Sephora was constructed like a store within a store, similar to smaller shops located in a mall. With celebrity beauty brands laid out in colorful displays under bright lighting, I felt drawn into the small-format Sephora like a moth to a flame.Inside the Sephora at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The aisles were full of makeup brands like Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. An assortment of fine jewelry with lab-grown diamonds was displayed around the corner from Sephora.Jewelry at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider On a June earnings call, Kingsbury said the retailer had removed some jewelry from stores to make room for Sephora locations since jewelry sales had been steadily declining.He said Kohl's planned to add more accessories like jewelry back into stores in time for the holidays and place them near Sephora in an effort to boost sales. There were also cheaper jewelry options nearby, such as Lauren Conrad's LC line.Lauren Conrad's jewelry line at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The items ranged between $7 and $15, while most of the fine jewelry items displayed nearby cost around $100. I was impressed by the wide selection of dresses at Kohl's, ranging from office looks to black-tie gowns.Dresses at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Kingsbury told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in September that Kohl's locations with more space for dresses were "performing better" than other locations.To me, the black-tie dresses in particular made Kohl's feel more like a department store than a big-box retailer. Kohl's featured inclusive sizing, with sections for women's plus size, women's petite, and men's big and tall.The big and tall men's section at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Kohl's also carries a line of adaptive clothing designed for accessibility. I appreciated how the store catered to a wide customer base.However, much of the store felt understated in comparison to Sephora.Flannel shirts at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Women's flannel shirts were on sale for $24.99 the same as they cost at Target, but more expensive than Walmart, where similar shirts cost between $5 and $15. I also didn't find the clothing displays particularly engaging compared to Sephora's luminous shelves and eye-catching photos. The selection of home decor at Kohl's didn't seem as large as I've seen at big-box retailers like Walmart and Target.Home decor at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The items were organized by color, which I found visually appealing. I also enjoyed the wooden roof displayed over the home decor section, which made it easy to spot and identify from a distance.Kohl's Q3 earnings report found that home decor was a "key growth area" that experienced a "strong collective performance" despite the overall slump.I was puzzled by a housewares section that featured aisles of slow cookers, vacuums, and suitcases next to each other.Housewares at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Centering the juniors and jewelry sections around Sephora's beauty products made sense to me, but these items all seemed like they belonged in different parts of the store. Perhaps it was a space issue, or maybe Kohl's is still playing around with store layouts that drive more sales. Kohl's hopes to replicate the success of its Sephora partnership through another partnership with Babies "R" Us.The Babies "R" Us baby registry at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider In October, Kohl's launched a digital baby registry service through Babies "R" Us to boost sales of baby gear, which has been a top seller.On the Q3 earnings call, Kingsbury said that while Kohl's had "benefited" from opening Babies "R" Us shops in 200 stores, these additions were still "unable to offset the declines in our core business."In a section titled "The Toy Box," boxes of Hot Wheels tracks, Lego sets, and Mr. Potato Heads were piled on the floor.Toys at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider This could have been a stylistic choice, but it did make me think of Business Insider senior correspondent Emily Stewart's story about how store aisles crowded with boxes are a sign of the retail apocalypse. As I headed toward the checkout counters, I saw a self-pickup section full of orders another method of increasing sales.Self-pickup at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Kohl's launched self-pickup in all of its locations in 2022.The line for staffed checkout counters was about 10 customers deep, but there was no line for self-checkout.The checkout line at Kohl's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The staffed checkout counters may have had a longer line because of people making returns. It remains to be seen if Kohl's strategies will help the brand avoid further decline and closures.Kohl's trading post at the New York Stock Exchange. Richard Drew/AP By leaning into partnerships with Sephora and Babies "R" Us and thinking strategically about store layouts, Kohl's hopes to drive enough business to sustain its core brand and reverse its sales slump.

As devastating wildfires continue to burn through Los Angeles, so far killing at least 10 people and forcing well over 100,000 people to evacuate, or try to, President-elect Donald Trump has decided to point his ire toward a fish. Not the severe Santa Ana winds that fueled the fires. Not the unusually dry weather. Not the steady march of home development into fire-prone areas.A fish.In a post Wednesday morning on Truth Social, Trump blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, for depriving the LA region of water because he wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt. Trump chided Newsom for not approving a water restoration declaration that doesnt exist, per Newsoms office. He also implied that protections for the delta smelt a small fish species found only in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an expansive wetland in Northern California caused some fire hydrants to run dry in parts of LA. (Earlier this week, fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood ran dry, not because the city had no water but because of water pressure and other infrastructure issues.)This isnt the first time that Trump has bad-mouthed this fish. For nearly a decade now, the incoming president has claimed that he can solve Californias incredibly complex water problems by simply undoing regulations designed to help the delta smelt skirt extinction, as E&E Newss Jennifer Yachnin has reported. Those problems are not rooted in drought, Trump claims, but in Democratic rules that restrain private interests. In reality, rising temperatures have made Californias droughts even dryer.RelatedOther GOP leaders and conservative hosts have also targeted the smelt, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. In a 2011 speech, she blamed delta smelt protections for destroying peoples lives in the Central Valley. A faceless government is taking away their lifeline, water, all because of a 3-inch fish, Palin said. Where I come from, a 3-inch fish, we call that bait.A few years before, right-wing commentator Sean Hannity dedicated a full episode of his primetime show to the delta smelt. In front of a crowd in the Central Valley, he told his audience that farms in this once fertile area have dried up all because the government has put the interest of a 2-inch minnow before all the great people that you see out here tonight.Why do right-wing leaders have so much beef with this humble little fish?The delta smelt is basically extinctThe delta smelt is no polar bear or tiger. It looks like every other nondescript small fish. But worthless? Thats not only rude but inaccurate.Silver and slender, the delta smelt is endemic to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, meaning its found nowhere else on Earth. And for most of its time on our planet likely thousands of years it was a linchpin in the delta ecosystem, according to Andrew Rypel, an aquatic ecologist at the University of California Davis.Everything ate it, he said, from salmon, to sharks, to people. The species, historically, had a tremendous value. It provisioned energy for the whole food web.The smelt used to be one of the most common species in the estuary, Rypel said. But starting around the mid-20th century, the fish began a perilous decline, in step with the broader faltering health of the delta. Invasive clams and mussels were introduced and competed with the fish for food. Runoff from farmland polluted the water. And billions of gallons of water were and continue to be pumped out of the delta and delivered to farms and cities, including San Francisco.Delta smelt bred at the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Lab in Byron, California. Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty ImagesThese fish can get killed directly by the water pumps, Rypel said, if they get sucked in or stuck on the intake filter. More importantly, decades of pumping and diverting water have changed the levels, temperature, and salinity of the water, dramatically altering the habitat to which smelt have adapted.We are putting the ecosystem in a perpetual state of drought through water extraction, and increasingly also with climate change, said Rypel. The droughts are longer and more sustained. The smelt just cant handle that.Their populations have mostly perished.In the 90s, the delta smelt was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act and under state law. In 2009, California upgraded the fishs status to endangered, and their numbers appear to have only dwindled since then. While these fish can be difficult to detect, wildlife surveys in the estuary have failed to turn up a single delta smelt in recent years. Thats why experts like Rypel describe them as functionally extinct meaning theyre so rare they effectively provide no function in their ecosystem, such as feeding predators. Rypel guesses there are less than 100 of them left in the wild. (As a last-ditch effort to save the species, UC Davis breeds the fish in captivity on land.)In an effort to stave off extinction, the delta smelt is protected under both state and federal law. Those protections limit to a small extent when and how much water can be pumped from the delta, in order to provide the fish with adequate freshwater and reduce impingement when fish get trapped against intake valves. Under these rules, more water flows out to sea. Much bigger pumping restrictions, however, have more to do with ensuring that saltwater doesnt move upstream and make the water unusable for cities and farms, according to UC Davis law professor Karrigan Brk.Farmers dont love these restrictions, especially during times of drought. Rules crafted to help the fish can limit how much water farmers receive to irrigate their crops (though things like drought and efforts to limit salinity have a far greater impact on how much water flows to California farmland). Hoping to gain more political support, Trump and other right-wing leaders have over the years criticized the regulations, blaming them and, in turn, the fish for the hardship felt by farmers, a key part of their political base. This makes sense. The modern Republican Party has a history of criticizing the Endangered Species Act. Trump, for his part, won the election for presidency on a platform that promised deregulation, especially as it pertains to environmental protections.A distributary of the San Joaquin river in Tracy, California. George Rose/Getty ImagesUltimately, Trumps hostility toward this fish is not actually about a fish. Its about boosting the perspective that regulations are bad for everyday Americans. As Tufts University sociologist Caleb Scoville put it this summer, Statements about the Delta Smelt are made politically powerful through links to partisan positions that have little, if anything, to do with water.It is hardly surprising then that Trump blamed a powerful Democratic governor and regulations as reasons that LA is burning.To be clear, they are not.Regulations to prevent the delta smelt from going extinct have nothing to do with LAs catastrophic fires. For one, the problem wasnt a lack of water. Plus, most of the citys water doesnt even come from Northern California, as Alastair Bland reported in CalMatters. Right now, the Metropolitan Water District, one of the sources that supplies LA, has the most water stored in its system in the history of the agency, Mark Gold, water scarcity director for the Natural Resources Defense Council and a board member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, told Bland.The delta smelt is a red herring. What is a legitimate question, however, is why should California and the federal government protect a species thats essentially extinct? The fish is still hanging on, Rypel suspects. So improving the health of the estuary can help the existing individuals survive it could stave off extinction. It also makes ongoing efforts to reintroduce captive-bred smelt more likely to succeed.Increased freshwater flow benefits other species, too, including the highly valued Chinook salmon and the related longfin smelt, both of which are in decline. In July, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the San Francisco delta population of longfin smelt as endangered. And again, outflow from the delta also prevents saltwater from spreading inland and threatening drinking water and crops.In California, 83 percent of our native fishes are at risk of extinction, Rypel said. All of these native California species are going the way of the delta smelt. Its just that the smelt is happening faster. Indeed, the delta smelt is just one part of a much broader trend. A new study in the journal Nature found that one in four freshwater species are at risk of extinction globally. Weve actually been very effective at engineering water and getting more efficient with water use, Rypel told me. Its just we havent figured out how to have ecosystems at the same time.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:

It is an interesting quirk of video game history that one of the greatest ever horror titles debuted on the Nintendo GameCube, a toylike console better known for the cutest titles in the Zelda series and Animal Crossing. But in 2002, Capcom revealed five exclusives to boost the beleaguered platform and among them was Resident Evil 4, technically the 13th title in the franchise, which on its release three years later would be considered its zenith. It was an exciting new lease of life for the survival horror genre.Not that youd guess all this from the games extraordinarily pedestrian setup. Six years after the fall of the Umbrella Corporation smouldering cop Leon Kennedy has been dispatched on a mission to retrieve the US presidents kidnapped daughter, who has been spotted in a tiny village in rural Spain. For some reason best known to the Secret Service, hes going in alone.Yet from this B-movie premise, it radically challenged the conventions of the Resident Evil series and the survival horror genre itself. By moving the action away from the grim, rainy midwest of Raccoon City and into the Spanish countryside, Capcom thrust Resi fans (and Leon himself) into utterly unfamiliar surroundings. This sense of dislocation continued when the traditional lumbering zombies (clearly inspired by George A Romeros Night of the Living Dead trilogy) were replaced by brutishly fast, axe-wielding country folk, infected with parasites by evil aristocrats in a gothic castle. These sprightly creatures were much more in line with the infected maniacs depicted in Danny Boyles modern take on the zombie flick, 28 Days Later, surely an influence on Resi 4 director Shinji Mikami. Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the obscure Lovecraftian horror Dagon, which is actually set in Spain, have also been put forward by fans as potential inspirations.The action feels frighteningly close Resident Evil 4 (2005). Photograph: CapcomIn interviews, producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi said that theme of the game was fear of groups. Throwing swarms of Ganados at the player rather than small groups of zombies ramped up the pressure, and prompted many moments of sheer panic. The games rudimentary AI allowed foes to circle behind the player rather than stumbling brainlessly straight at them.But most importantly, Resi 4 yanked the players eye-line downwards from a floating third-person perspective to an intense over-the-shoulder viewpoint. This made it easier to aim at enemies compared with the frustratingly obtuse early Resident Evil games, but more importantly, it accentuated the sense of embodiment and proximity. The action feels raw, the teeth and axe blades frighteningly close. Mikami has since said that he never realised this would be such a revolutionary feature, but it inspired a whole generation of brawling adventures including Gears of War (and the 2018 reboot of God of War).Elsewhere, Dead Space designer Ben Wanat has referred to EAs cosmic horror shooter as Resident Evil 4 in space, and The Last of Us designer Ricky Cambierhas spoken about his ambition to recreate the tension of Resi 4. And when you look at it now, the sense of interdependence between Leon and Ashley certainly foreshadows the vulnerable relationship between Joel and Ellie.The new shoulder camera, with a heightened emphasis on action and gunfights, altered the whole tempo of the Resi experience. There were still tense minutes of quiet as you explored dank, carcass-strewn farmyards and castle grounds. But then there were bloody sieges as waves of monstrous warriors came at you through the muddy lanes and murky industrial tunnels. The set-piece encounters have become the stuff of legend from the rabid dogs lurking in the ornate garden maze to the giant serpent beast in the lake, the game has a thrilling menagerie of boss enemies to contend with. Amazingly, even the inventory management is fondly recalled, with players obsessively repacking their attache case to fit in more goodies bought from the shadowy trader.In 2023, Capcom released a wonderful updated version, which introduced a new generation to its thrilling, Grand Guignol pleasures. But go back to the original and it still works. Once in a while, a video game comes along that fans love, but that game designers love more and these games end up altering the approach of the entire industry. Super Mario 64 was one, Doom was another. To that list we must surely add Resident Evil 4.

Destiny 2's Exotic vendor, Xur, is back again this week here's how to find him, what he's selling, and whether we recommend his offerings before he vanishes againTech16:45, 10 Jan 2025Updated 17:04, 10 Jan 2025What is Xur selling this week?(Image: Charleen Bougourd/Bungie Inc.)Destiny 2 is seeing declining player numbers, but at least Act 3 of the second post-Final Shape Episode is here.I's Friday, and that means we're off to take our strange coins to Xur to buy exotic weapons and armour for our Guardians to tear through the new Slayer's Fang Exotic Mission with.This year's Final Shape expansion mixed things up for the tentacle-faced NPC, meaning Xur can now sell a much more varied list of items, and he's only ever found in one spot. Luckily for you, we'll cover where he is, and what he has, for December 10 - 14.Here's what Xur is offering for Guardians this week in Destiny 2(Image: Bungie Inc.)While Xur used to appear in multiple places, hopping between planets, he can now be found at Destiny 2's main social space, The Tower.Head to Cayde's ramen shop, and down the alley next to it to find Xur. He only appears from 5PM GMT/ 10AM PDT/ 1PM EDT on Friday to 5PM BST/ 10AM PDT/ 1PM EDT on Tuesday .Struggling to find him? Check out our screenshot below for his exact location on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.Here's where Xur can be found post-Final ShapeAs of 5PM GMT/ 10AM PDT/ 1PM EDT, Xur is selling:Acrius Catalyst - 71 Strange CoinsTrinity Ghoul Catalyst - 71 Strange CoinsMechaneer's Tricksleeves (Hunter) - 41 Strange CoinsAn Insurmountable Skullfort (Titan) - 41 Strange CoinsChromatic Fire (Warlock) - 41 Strange CoinsExotic Class Item - 41 Strange CoinsThe Xurfboard (Skimmer/Sparrow) - 97 Strange CoinsHe was also selling these weapons:Hawkmoon (with Snapshot Sights) - 23 Strange CoinsThe Huckleberry - 23 Strange CoinsSunshot - 23 Strange CoinsThe Wardcliff Coil - 23 Strange CoinsDestiny 2's famous exotic seller, Xur, is back again.(Image: Bungie Inc.)Xur will also sell materials, including Engrams, via the More Strange Offers section, while he also has the following Legendary Weapons which cost 17 Strange Coins each.Ignition Code (Grenade Launcher)Scathelocke (Auto Rifle)Stochastic Variable (SMG)Contingency Plan (Scout Rifle)Sailspy Pitchglass (Linear Fusion Rifle)Eleatic Principle (Machine Gun)Quickfang/Crown-Splitter/Eternity's Edge (Class Swords)As of the Final Shape expansion, Xur has his own reputation system, similar to what you've likely seen with the Gunsmith and other vendors.By ranking up his reputation rank, you can earn the following from him:Rank 4: Enhancement Core x 7Rank 7: Enhancement Prism x 3Rank 10: Exotic Engram x 2Rank 13: Ascendant ShardRank 16: Ascendant AlloyReset Rank: Exotic CipherOnce you've reset the rank, these change to the following:Rank 4: Enhancement Core x 3Rank 7: Enhancement PrismRank 10: Exotic Engram x 2Rank 13: Enhancement Core x 5Rank 16: Enhancement Prism x 2Reset Rank: Exotic CipherArticle continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

Nintendo has finally spoken about the Nintendo Switch 2, confirming prior leaks from accessory manufacturer Genki are "not official" as speculation about a reveal date intensifiesTech14:34, 10 Jan 2025Is this the Nintendo Switch 2?(Image: @KirPinkFury/X)The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to launch this year, but the highly anticipated console has been featured in a swathe of leaks in recent leaks.Reports have suggested it'll use AI upscaling for 4K visuals and have magnetic Joy-Con controllers, while earlier today we heard it could have an OLED display, too.Perhaps the most surprising leak of all came from gaming peripheral manufacturer Genki, which reportedly told at least one journalist at CES this week that they have seen, and have, a Switch 2 even showing off a dummy unit of the console.After staying quiet for a few days, however, Nintendo has fired back.More Switch 2 leaks are emerging(Image: @KirPinkFury/X)As spotted by VGC, Nintendo has released a statement to Japanese site Sankei.It's short and sweet, simply saying "these images and videos are not official," but it gets the point across. Still, Genki's console mock-up, while not "official", isn't the only render on the internet.As we covered today with the OLED rumours, designers have built 360-degree mockups of the system based on leaked information, including a mystery button.Some had speculated that Nintendo was looking to avoid getting caught up in the CES news cycle, and now a Microsoft event is locked in for January, the company is running out of available dates to reveal its new console.With suggestions it could have PS4 Pro levels of power when docked, and run a AAA title from a couple of years ago, we're excited for the company to clear up the rumours.For more on handheld consoles, be sure to check out why your next system should be a Steam Deck OLED.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Despite earlier reports suggesting the Nintendo Switch 2 would come with an LCD display, a new leak 'confirms' it'll have an OLED panel after all, and gives another look at the systemTech13:49, 10 Jan 2025More Switch 2 leaks are emerging(Image: @KirPinkFury/X)A new console is always reason to be excited, but the Nintendo' Switch 2 is one of the most anticipated new pieces of hardware in history.While we've seen rumours that it'll leverage NVIDIA's AI upscaling for 4K visuals and use new magnetic Joy-Con controllers, we've also heard it'll revert to an LCD display.That left some fans cold, given the clear step forward of the Switch OLED, but now a new report has suggested it could have an OLED screen after all.As seen in the video above from 91mobiles, Switch 2 is expected to have a much larger 8.4-inch screen but mostly keep a similar form factor to the original.91mobiles' and OnLeaks accompanying report says "According to OnLeaks, the new Switch 2 console will be a lot bigger than the current offerings, namely the Switch OLED and the standard Switch.""The new console is expected to feature a larger 8.4-inch panel. However, while it wasnt mentioned which panel would be used, it will most likely be an OLED panel."It's not conclusive, but it would feel surprising to have an LCD display on a console in 2025, especially as OLED has become democratised by cheaper mobile phones.OLED offers a brighter screen, better contrast levels, and deeper black levels. It also lends itself to better battery life, all of which sound like key considerations for a handheld console.Still, there's some mystery about an additional button. Some early renders showed a button below the Switch 2's Home button, while this report suggests it'll be above it. Whether it appears in either spot, we don't know what it'll do, either.For more on handheld consoles, be sure to check out why your next system should be a Steam Deck OLED.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

New PlayStation studio making groundbreaking AAA game with COD Zombies creatorAdam StarkeyPublished January 10, 2025 4:13pmUpdated January 10, 2025 4:13pm PlayStation is working on a secret AAA project (Sony Interactive Entertainment)A job listing has outed a new PlayStation studio in L.A., which appears to be led by a former Call Of Duty veteran.Sony has closed down several developers over the past year, including Concord developer Firewalk Studios and London Studio, but it seems the company has been secretly creating new ones as well.A job listing has appeared at PlayStation for a project senior producer at a newly established AAA studio based in Los Angeles, which is driven by a team of seasoned industry leaders and experienced game developers. The project is described as a groundbreaking AAA original IP.Its unclear who exactly is working at the studio, or what its called, but all signs point to it being led by Call Of Duty Zombies creator Jason Blundell.After leaving Call Of Duty developer Treyarch, Blundell co-founded L.A. based studio Deviation Games with Dave Anthony in 2020, which had partnered with Sony to make an original IP. Blundell left two years later, and the studio was officially shut down in March last year, before it had even released a single game.According to subsequent reports, Sony had formed a new studio with ex-Deviation Games employees. While this was never officially announced by Sony, a former employee at Deviation, JC Farmer, posted on X in December 2023 that they had joined PlayStation Studios as a junior game designer, and that he works for Blundell.All this context has been highlighted in connection with the new job listing on ResetEra, and while theres a chance it is unrelated (a bunch of Bungie employees were recently integrated into Sony as well), all the information seems to match up.Interestingly, a rumour from August claimed Blundell and his new studio had partnered with Destiny 2 developer Bungie for an action game set in a brand new science-fantasy universe something Bungie was apparently working on already. None of this, however, has been officially annouced.If it is Blundells new studio, the dynamics of the whole situation is somewhat odd. Devation Games was an independent studio, which had only teamed-up with PlayStation to publish its first game. Its unclear what happened for the studio to essentially shut down and re-emerge under Sonys wing, but a former employee at Deviation previously described issues with certain members of management in a LinkedIn post.This isnt the only mysterious studio weve heard about at Sony in recent years. In 2022, a job listing appeared for an internship at a new studio in San Diego, which was said to be working with Naughty Dog on a beloved franchise.That seemed to imply a new Uncharted game, but neither it nor the studio itself has ever been officially announced.More TrendingAs for what is officially announced from Sony, Naughty Dog recently revealed its next game as Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, while Insomniac is currently working on Marvels Wolverine. The only other confirmed projects are Ghost of Ytei from Sucker Punch Productions, Fairgame$ from Haven, and Bungies Marathon. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is Naughty Dogs next game (Sony Interactive Entertainment)Emailgamecentral@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