Jan 14, 2025Ravie LakshmananSurveillance / MalwareRussia-linked threat actors have been attributed to an ongoing cyber espionage campaign targeting Kazakhstan as part of the Kremlin's efforts to gather economic and political intelligence in Central Asia.The campaign has been assessed to be the work of an intrusion set dubbed UAC-0063, which likely shares overlap with APT28, a nation-state group affiliated with Russia's General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). It's also known as Blue Athena, BlueDelta, Fancy Bear, Fighting Ursa, Forest Blizzard, FROZENLAKE, Iron Twilight, ITG05, Pawn Storm, Sednit, Sofacy, and TA422.UAC-0063 was first documented by the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA) in early 2023, detailing its attacks on government entities using malware families tracked as HATVIBE, CHERRYSPY, and STILLARCH (aka DownEx). It's worth pointing out that the use of these malware strains has been exclusive to this group.Subsequent campaigns have been observed setting their sights on organizations in Central Asia, East Asia, and Europe, according to Recorded Future's Insikt Group, which assigned the activity cluster the name TAG-110."UAC-0063 targeting suggests a focus on intelligence collection in sectors such as government, including diplomacy, NGOs, academia, energy, and defence, with a geographic focus on Ukraine, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe," French cybersecurity company Sekoia said in a new analysis.The latest set of attacks involves using legitimate Microsoft Office documents originating from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan as spear-phishing lures to activate a multi-stage infection chain dubbed Double-Tap that drops the HATVIBE malware. It's currently not known how these documents were procured, although it's possible they were exfiltrated in a prior campaign.Specifically, the documents are laced with a malicious macro that, when run by the victims, is engineered to create a second blank document in the "C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Local\Temp\" location."This second document is automatically opened in a hidden Word instance by the initial macro, to drop and execute a malicious HTA (HTML Application) file embedding a VBS [Visual Basic Script] backdoor nicknamed 'HATVIBE,'" Sekoia researchers said.HATVIBE operates as a loader, receiving next-stage VBS modules for execution from a remote server, which ultimately paves the way for a sophisticated Python backdoor named CHERRYSPY. The HTA file containing HATVIBE is designed to run for four minutes by launching mshta.exe."What makes this Double-Tap infection chain quite unique is that it employs many tricks to bypass security solutions such as storing the real malicious macro code in the settings.xml file and creating a scheduled task without spawning schtasks.exe for the second document or using, for the first document, an anti-emulation trick aimed to see if the execution time has not been altered, otherwise the macro is stopped," the researchers said.Sekoia said the HATVIBE attack sequence demonstrates targeting and technical overlaps with APT28-related Zebrocy campaigns, allowing it to attribute the UAC-0063 cluster to the Russian hacking group with medium confidence."The theme of spear-phishing weaponized documents indicates a cyber espionage campaign focused on collecting strategic intelligence on diplomatic relations between Central Asia states, especially on Kazakhstan's foreign relations, by Russian intelligence," the company added.Russia's SORM platform Sold in Central Asia and Latin AmericaThe development comes as Recorded Future revealed that several countries in Central Asia and Latin America have purchased the System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM) wiretapping technology from at least eight Russian providers such as Citadel, Norsi-Trans, and Protei, potentially allowing Russian intelligence agencies to intercept communications.Russia's SORM is an electronic surveillance apparatus capable of intercepting a wide range of internet and telecommunications traffic by authorities without the knowledge of the service providers themselves. It enables the monitoring of landline and mobile communications, as well as internet traffic, Wi-Fi, and social media, all of which can be stored in a searchable database.It's been assessed that the former Soviet territories of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and the Latin American nations of Cuba and Nicaragua, have very likely acquired the technology to wiretap citizens."While these systems have legitimate security applications, the governments [...] have a history of misusing surveillance capabilities, including repression of political opposition, journalists, and activists, without effective or independent oversight," Insikt Group said."More broadly, the export of Russian surveillance technologies will likely continue to offer Moscow opportunities to expand its influence, particularly in areas it deems to be under its traditional sphere of the "near abroad."Found this article interesting? 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Lisa Morgan, Freelance WriterJanuary 14, 20257 Min ReadAleksandr Davydov via Alamy StockIts a tough time for organizations trying to hire and retain tech talent. Big Tech is poaching smaller company IT workers, and a lot of organizations cant compete with the compensation packages. However, what they can do is prioritize employee experience, so candidates are more willing to say, yes, and employees are more likely to stay. Employee experience is particularly important to younger generations.While organizations have long placed varying degrees of importance on employee experience, it is now re-emerging as a differentiator for many, Nikita McClain, founder of management firm for HR and organizational development strategies Hayes Street Consulting, says in an email interview. The pandemic fundamentally shifted workplace expectations with employees increasingly prioritizing flexibility, values alignment, and work-life balance. Additionally, skills gaps and talent shortages in critical sectors have given trained workers more leverage in demanding better experiences.Organizations focused on designing positive employee experiences can follow a 4-step process: commit through strategy, communicate through feedback loops, connect through analysis, and improve continuously.Making employee experience a strategic initiative ensures it can receive ongoing leadership evaluation and support needed to design, adapt, and sustain initiatives that resonate highly with employees, says McClain. Implementing accessible, real-time feedback channels can help proactively identify what matters most to employees. Organizations can promote ongoing feedback by demonstrating responsiveness and transparency in acting upon and communicating changes that result from received feedback.Related:Nikita McClain, Hayes Street ConsultingTo evaluate what does and does not work, organizations should identify KPIs that connect employees sentiments about experience to overall business outcomes. This becomes the business case for employee experience that validates its value amidst competing organizational priorities and budget constraints. Using insights from employee feedback and data analysis can help organizations refine employee experience over time, keeping it relevant.Finally, continuous improvement enables organizations to evolve with the times.One challenge for organizations embarking to improve employee experience is elevating it from a function of HR to a strategic initiative that defines the organizations employee value proposition, says McClain. Efforts to strengthen communication and accountability between HR and executive leadership may be needed to ensure all are working toward the same goal.Related:Middle managers play a vital role in employee perceptions of the workplace. Organizations should engage and educate middle management on how to effectively address matters, such as when employee and operational needs do not align. Notably, not all employees prioritize and value the same things. Among differing work styles, generations, and life stages it can be difficult to identify one-size-fits-all initiatives that work well for everyone.When possible, be flexible and consider how employee experience can be tailored to account for diversity of need among employees, says McClain. Above all, recognize that employee experience is a journey. The most effective initiatives are those that remain flexible and responsive to changing workforce needs while maintaining clear alignment with organizational goals and values.The Talent Shortage Is a Major FactorOne big deal breaker is a return to office (RTO) policy. Organizations that are clinging to pre-pandemic business as usual are finding that some candidates wont compromise and employees will complain, if not quit outright. The talent shortage just exacerbates the problem.Younger generations have many options and choose workplaces that meet their needs for pay, growth and flexibility. The current dissatisfaction with RTO policies is revealing, says Justina Raskauskiene, human resource team lead at omnichannel marketing platform Omnisend, in an email interview. At Omnisend, we see the value of in-person collaboration for creativity and teamwork but also recognize that flexibility is now non-negotiable for many employees. If RTO is implemented, the focus should be on making people want to come to the office by emphasizing the benefits of in-person interaction.Related:Justina Raskauskiene, OmnisendTo ensure a great employee experience, she says her company makes a point of listening to employees and acting on their feedback. The company also holds regular one-on-one meetings, so employees have a mechanism to share concerns.The biggest challenge for organizations, I think, is overcoming resistance to change. Many companies operate on a this is how weve always done it mindset, which makes implementing flexibility look daunting, says Raskauskiene. As flexibility varies for everyone, companies may struggle balancing individual needs and team goals. Equally important, employee experience isnt just about perks, its about ensuring the work itself is meaningful and engaging.Times Have ChangedIn the past, a good employee experience was synonymous with ping pong tables, and free snacks and drinks -- a stark departure from button-down Corporate America of yesteryear. Later, the pandemic reshaped expectations, challenging employees to seek work-life balance, joy and purpose.Katie Roland, chief human resources officer at KCSA Strategic Communications, says her company is trying to enable work-life balance with tailored PTO programs and wealth-building opportunities. However, along the way, it became clear that a one-size-fits-all benefits approach no longer worked.The pandemic brought into hyperfocus, that each employee was faced with different personal challenges at home. To address diverse employee needs, we adopted Overalls LifeConcierge, a service offering expert assistance with time-consuming personal tasks like finding healthcare specialists, navigating Medicare for aging parents, or scheduling home repairs, says Roland in an email interview. Overalls isnt just a perk, its a game-changing solution for helping employees achieve true work-life balance. Organizations should provide meaningful, flexible support that addresses the whole employee.Toward that end, KCSA focuses on initiatives that reduce stress, save time and address individuals needs. They include flexible work schedules, mental health days, a wide choice of benefits through a professional employer organization and partnering with providers.They arent just workers, theyre parents, caregivers, partners and more. Companies that acknowledge this and take steps to help employees succeed in every aspect of their lives will stand out in todays competitive talent market, says Roland. Creating a great employee experience starts with listening through surveys and conversations and responding with meaningful support to build trust. At KCSA, insights from employees led to initiatives like Overalls LifeConcierge and No Zoom Fridays, addressing both personal and professional needs.Apparently, KCSAs approach is working. In 2024, Newsweek ranked the company #34 on its Most Loved Places to Work list.The Tricky PartOne challenge is to balance employer and employee interests in a way that benefits both. For example, most workers view RTO as beneficial for the company and management, but not necessarily the employee.The best benefits are those that directly address employee pain points. Transparency and education also matter. Communicate why youre offering certain programs and how they support your teams overall well-being. When real life issues come up that a benefit you offer can assist with, make sure to help the employee utilize it. Authenticity builds trust, and trust builds loyalty, says Roland. Weve seen how investing in innovative, practical benefits fosters a culture of care and empowerment. When employees feel supported, theyre not only more engaged, theyre also more likely to stay and thrive. In todays workplace, thats not just an advantage, its a necessity.A Job Versus an ExperienceJohn Jackson, founder at click fraud protection platformHitprobe, says todays workers are not just looking for a job to pay the rent, they are looking for an experience.This particularly applies to the younger generations and their way of looking at the world is influencing their older colleagues, says Jackson in an email interview. While this change was already happening, it has been sped up by the Great Resignation and the ongoing debates around hybrid working and organizations changing policies on this post-COVID. I believe that the key to creating a great employee experience centers around authenticity and adaptability. Implementing trendy perks is easy, but to make yourself the employer of choice you [must] genuinely understand what your team needs and respond to it.Hitprobe implements anonymous feedback on a regular basisto find out what employees want. However, what they want often differs from initial assumptions.Also important is a commitment to act on the feedback. If the workforce knows we will listen, they will continue to talk to us and stay with us. Flexibility is key, says Jackson. What works for one team member may not work for another, and diverse teams have varying needs and expectations. Open communication channels, transparency, public acknowledgement and recognition, and providing clear growth opportunities all go a long way towards building a team that is committed and productive.About the AuthorLisa MorganFreelance WriterLisa Morgan is a freelance writer who covers business and IT strategy and emergingtechnology for InformationWeek. She has contributed articles, reports, and other types of content to many technology, business, and mainstream publications and sites including tech pubs, The Washington Post and The Economist Intelligence Unit. Frequent areas of coverage include AI, analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, software development, and emerging cultural issues affecting the C-suite.See more from Lisa MorganNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

In a time when some restaurants are thriving and others are closing, KFC is playing the long game and looking to slowly transform its entire brand across the board.According to Nation's Restaurant News,KFC U.S. President Tarun Lal says a brand transformation is underway, which is designed to grow both sales and transactions.Even though chicken is the most-consumed protein in America, according to Statista.com,KFC has had three negative quarters almost a year of declining revenue.Now, it looks like KFC's parent company, Yum!, is seeing what lies ahead and trying to steer the ship away from the iceberg, if you will.KFC locations are going to start improving the tools that are given to their employees, to help them focus on the customer experience more.KFCKFCloading...READ MORE: The Best Happy Meal Toys in HistoryLal says, The biggest enabler is team member experience. If we can provide team members with the right tools, they are able to deliver the right experience.The foundation is investing in the right training tools and investing in new tech. Shave hours off their time back of house, he explains. That enables them to focus on accuracy and taste and to help guests have a better experience.Another part of the KFC brand transformation is a newconcept called KFC Saucy.Saucy features chicken tenders and 11 sauce choices, as well as 11 beverage choices a nod to KFCs Original Recipe, which contains 11 herbs and spices.Reading between the lines, it appears as if KFC feels like the customer experience and personal human interaction have beensagging in its restaurants, and management sees the issue and are taking steps to solve it.Between that and them taking a risk by innovating and updating their menu, nobody can say KFC is going down without a fight.The Craziest Fast Food Menu Items EverFiled Under: Fast FoodCategories: Longform

OverviewCData Virtuality is a strong data integration and management solution and Product Unit of CData Software. We are known for our powerful data virtualization capabilities that enable companies to access, integrate, and manage data from multiple sources in real-time without the need for extensive data replication. CData Virtuality's platform supports a variety of data sources and formats, making it a powerful tool for organizations looking to streamline their data infrastructure and improve decision-making processes.The PositionJoin our team as a Software Support Engineer and become a pivotal part of a leading data virtualization software provider that is transforming the way businesses access and manage their data globally. With our innovative data virtualization solutions, we empower companies worldwide to make data-driven decisions efficiently. Your role will ensure optimal operation and seamless support for our diverse customer base, enhancing their experience with our software.Your Role and ImpactAs a Software Support Engineer, you will play a crucial role in both the proactive and reactive aspects of our service delivery. Your responsibilities will span across various support levels, monitoring, and operational tasks, including:SaaS Support: Handle customer inquiries through in-product Intercom, providing both 1st and 2nd level support.CData Virtuality Platform Support: Offer first-level support to EU and US customers, focusing on ticket-based troubleshooting and problem resolution.SaaS Monitoring: Utilize monitoring systems and tools to identify and address incidents proactively.Setup and Operations: Set up, configure, and use cloud management and monitoring tools, as well as manage cloud environments, perform software updates/upgrades on our customers' Windows and Linux machines (remote via RDP and SSH), and support the operation of our software and servers.What We're SeekingMust-have Requirements:Personal:Strong communication skills and fluency in English.Self-organized, highly motivated, and responsible.Empathic with an analytical approach.Exceptional problem-solving skills and an inquiring mindset.Professional:Understanding of database technology and Linux.Proficiency in SQL and ability to debug source code.Experience in software support/consulting or a comparable function.Skilled in troubleshooting and understanding documentation for desired behavior.Ability to simplify complex topics and work independently under pressure.Nice-to-have Requirements:Experience with SLA-bound operations and screen-sharing/phone support.Familiarity with bug trackers, Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure), and container platforms.Your AdvantagesJoining our team means you'll be at the forefront of the tech industry's latest trends, working with a group of dedicated professionals who are passionate about data virtualization. You'll have the opportunity to grow your skill set in a dynamic, supportive environment, and make a significant impact on our company's success and customer satisfaction. We offer a competitive salary, flexible working conditions, and the chance to be part of an exciting journey in a rapidly growing industry.Apply NowIf you're a technically inclined individual passionate about solving complex problems and eager to contribute to our team's success, we want to hear from you! Submit your application today and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us.What our amazing team worldwide loves about working with CData VirtualityA stable and reliable job with the freedom and flexibility of a freelancerWorking as a contractor worldwide or as an employee in GermanyFlexible working hours and workplacePaid vacation days and paid sick leavesFast and dependable monthly payment in EUR, USD, or Crypto, as you preferContributing to the success of a growing companyWorking with cutting-edge technologiesKnowledgeable and approachable C-LevelContinuity and growth potentialSmart, friendly, and international colleaguesFull integration into our teams and invitations for our team events worldwide-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. In December, our small but mighty AI reporting team was asked by our editors to make a prediction: Whats coming next for AI? In 2024, AI contributed both to Nobel Prizewinning chemistry breakthroughs and a mountain of cheaply made content that few people asked for but that nonetheless flooded the internet. Take AI-generated Shrimp Jesus images, among other examples. There was also a spike in greenhouse-gas emissions last year that can be attributed partly to the surge in energy-intensive AI. Our team got to thinking about how all of this will shake out in the year to come. As we look ahead, certain things are a given. We know that agentsAI models that do more than just converse with you and can actually go off and complete tasks for youare the focus of many AI companies right now. Building them will raise lots of privacy questions about how much of our data and preferences were willing to give up in exchange for tools that will (allegedly) save us time. Similarly, the need to make AI faster and more energy efficient is putting so-called small language models in the spotlight. We instead wanted to focus on less obvious predictions. Mine were about how AI companies that previously shunned work in defense and national security might be tempted this year by contracts from the Pentagon, and how Donald Trumps attitudes toward China could escalate the global race for the best semiconductors. Read the full list. Whats not evident in that story is that the other predictions were not so clear-cut. Arguments ensued about whether or not 2025 will be the year of intimate relationships with chatbots, AI throuples, or traumatic AI breakups. To witness the fallout from our teams lively debates (and hear more about what didnt make the list), you can join our upcoming LinkedIn Live this Thursday, January 16. Ill be talking it all over with Will Douglas Heaven, our senior editor for AI, and our news editor, Charlotte Jee. There are a couple other things Ill be watching closely in 2025. One is how little the major AI playersnamely OpenAI, Microsoft, and Googleare disclosing about the environmental burden of their models. Lots of evidence suggests that asking an AI model like ChatGPT about knowable facts, like the capital of Mexico, consumes much more energy (and releases far more emissions) than simply asking a search engine. Nonetheless, OpenAIs Sam Altman in recent interviews has spoken positively about the idea of ChatGPT replacing the googling that weve all learned to do in the past two decades. Its already happening, in fact. The environmental cost of all this will be top of mind for me in 2025, as will the possible cultural cost. We will go from searching for information by clicking links and (hopefully) evaluating sources to simply reading the responses that AI search engines serve up for us. As our editor in chief, Mat Honan, said in his piece on the subject, Who wants to have to learn when you can just know? Now read the rest of The Algorithm Deeper Learning Whats next for our privacy? The US Federal Trade Commission has taken a number of enforcement actions against data brokers, some of which have tracked and sold geolocation data from users at sensitive locations like churches, hospitals, and military installations without explicit consent. Though limited in nature, these actions may offer some new and improved protections for Americans personal information. Why it matters: A consensus is growing that Americans need better privacy protectionsand that the best way to deliver them would be for Congress to pass comprehensive federal privacy legislation. Unfortunately, thats not going to happen anytime soon. Enforcement actions from agencies like the FTC might be the next best thing in the meantime. Read more in Eileen Guos excellent story here. Bits and Bytes Meta trained its AI on a notorious piracy database New court records, Wired reports, reveal that Meta used a notorious so-called shadow library of pirated books that originated in Russia to train its generative AI models. (Wired) OpenAIs top reasoning model struggles with the NYT Connections game The game requires players to identify how groups of words are related. OpenAIs o1 reasoning model had a hard time. (Mind Matters) Anthropics chief scientist on 5 ways agents will be even better in 2025 The AI company Anthropic is now worth $60 billion. The companys cofounder and chief scientist, Jared Kaplan, shared how AI agents will develop in the coming year. (MIT Technology Review) A New York legislator attempts to regulate AI with a new bill This year, a high-profile bill in California to regulate the AI industry was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Now, a legislator in New York is trying to revive the effort in his own state. (MIT Technology Review)

Practice rakes in more than 27m from Middle East following string of luxury projectsSource: Zaha Hadid ArchitectsZaha Hadid Architects proposals for the Al Khuwair district in Muscat, the capital of OmanProfit at Zaha Hadid Architects rose by 38% last year with the practice more than doubling its income from the Middle East.The firm posted turnover of 77.2m in the 12 months to 30 April 2024, 11% more than the 69.4m it reported in the previous year, with its pre-tax profit rising from 658,000 to 907,000.Its earnings were significantly bolstered by booming workloads in the Middle East, where its revenues increased from just over 12m in 2023 to more than 27m in 2024.The practices major ongoing projects in the region include the USD $1.3bn Al Khuwair masterplan in Muscat, Oman, a 293-home luxury residential scheme in Qatar with a development value of nearly $1bn and a residential scheme called The Alba on Dubais Palm Jumeirah.The Far East remained its biggest market with revenues of 35.6m, although this was down from 42.2m it brought in from the region in 2023.In the UK, where the practice said it was facing very challenging competition for architectural contracts, its revenue remained mostly steady with a slight fall from 1.8m to 1.7m.Work in Europe, the firms third biggest market, also dipped from 11.7m in 2023 to 10.3m in 2024, while in North America it rose from 1.2m to 2.2m.The practice is still required to pay 6% of its annual net income to a charity set up by its founder Zaha Hadid in order to use the late architects name after losing a High Court case seeking to end the licensing agreement.Since 2018, the agreement has generated 21.4 million for the foundation, which manages Hadids estate and legacy.The practice claimed the royalties imposed an unfair financial burden, limiting its ability to operate competitively, although financial records presented to the court showed its revenues nearly doubled from 2013 to 2023.The firm is led by Patrik Schumacher and four other directors. It paid no dividends to directors during the year, according to the latest accounts.

Fires that spread through the Los Angeles suburbs of Palisades, Altadana, and Sylmar last week burned through more than 16,000ha of land, killing at least 24 people and displacing hundreds of families.Conservationist group the Los Angeles Conservancy said on Sunday (12 January) that more than 12,000 structures had been damaged or destroyed in the fires with further buildings threatened.The group said it understood that at least 30 historically significant structures some of architectural importance had been lost to the fires, which firefighters are still tackling.AdvertisementBuildings believed to have been destroyed include 19th-century, Brutalist and mid-20th-century homes.Among them is the Benedict and Nancy Freedman House in Palisades, a Modernist home completed in 1948, designed by Austrian-American architect Richard Neutra.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Save Iconic Architecture (@saveiconicarchitecture)The Palisades home was designed for the novelist couple as a writers sanctuary. According to the Neutra Institute, which promotes the architects work, the building featured a large patio dividing living and working spaces, clerestory windows and tall ceilings.Other reported losses include the Robert Bridges House, a Brutalist home designed by architect Robert Bridges, who was also a real estate professor at the USC Marshall School of Business, the Los Angeles Times reported.The concrete structure clad with redwood was completed in the 1970s with an overhang above Sunset Boulevard. Pictures shared on social media at the weekend showed the home reduced to its concrete base.AdvertisementAlso reported lost is the 1991 Keeler House, an example of the California post and beam style designed by architect Ray Kappe. The property had recently been on the market for $8 million, The New York Times reported.Kappe was the founder of the Southern California Institute of Architecture, or SCI-Arc. Real estate agent for architecturally significant homes Crosby Doe compared the cantilevered property to homes by Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry.Among those hit by the fire was Dan Meis, founder of New York practice MEIS architects and concept architect for the Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. Last week (9 January) he said he had lost his family home in Palisades.Meis wrote on Instagram: I am grateful that our family and pets are OK, but sadly we lost a lifetime collection of art and books that were irreplaceable. Even more devastating is that we are just one of dozens of close friends and hundreds of other families that suffered the same tragedy. It is surreal like the loss of a limb. We are very very sad but determined to start over.View this post on InstagramA post shared by dmeis (@dmeis)Among the buildings to narrowly avoid destruction was the Getty Villa, although pictures of the educational centre and art museum showed the Palisades fire on the boundaries of the estate.The Getty Villa was designed by architects Robert E Langdon Jr and Ernest C Wilson Jr, who modelled the grounds on the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, Italy. After opening in the 1970s, its most recent refurbishment took place in the 1990s, designed by Boston-based architects Machado Silvetti, who added a new entrance and outdoor 450-seat theatre.The Getty Centre, in nearby Brentwood, has meanwhile said it is closely monitoring the situation after evacuation orders were issued for the area, adding: Our galleries are safe and protected.The centre was designed by 1984 Pritzker Prize winner Richard Meier and was completed in 1997 . The Getty organisation describes the building as a marvel of anti-fire engineering due to its reinforced concrete walls and fire-resistant landscaping. Source:Mila ZED/ShutterstockThe Getty Centre, Los AngelesAlso unharmed was the Eames House, an iconic mid-20th century former residence built in 1949 in Palisades. The Eames Foundation, which now runs the former home of late designers Charles and Ray Eames, said the glass and steel rectangular box structure was unharmed.The foundation continued: The loss and displacement caused by the fires is staggering, and our thoughts are with everyone affected during this unprecedented time. Our hearts go out to the many who have lost loved ones, lives and livelihoods.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eames Foundation (@eameshouse)

China is reportedly exploring the possibility of selling TikTok's US operations to Elon Musk, Bloomberg reports.The move is said to be under consideration by China if TikTok is unable to avoid a potential ban in the US and can't sell the app to a US-approved buyer by this Sunday, Jan. 19. Lawmakers from both major parties have shared concerns that TikTok, which has more than 170 million American users, could be a threat to national security due to its ties to the Chinese government.The US Supreme Court is expected to rule this week on whether to uphold the law that calls for TikTok to become unavailable in the US if the company is not sold.Read more: Here's What You Need to Know if TikTok Does Get Banned in the USChina-owned ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, would prefer to keep ownership of the platform. But it's reportedly open to Musk acquiring it and integrating it with X, formerly known as Twitter, as part of a contingency plan, according to Bloomberg, which cites unnamed people familiar with the matter.A TikTok spokesperson told CNET: "We can't be expected to comment on pure fiction." It is also unclear whether ByteDance is aware of or involved in the reported discussions. X did not respond to a request for comment. The potential deal, said to only be in the preliminary consideration stages, could bring TikTok's millions of American users into Musk's domain, which might improve X's ability to attract advertisers. In addition, Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI which powers X's AI chatbot Grok could leverage data generated by TikTok to advance its efforts.The report suggests the Chinese government views a sale to Musk as part of a broader strategy to work on its relationship with the incoming Trump administration. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20 for a second term, initially was in favor of a TikTok ban during his first term but has since urged the Supreme Court to hit pause on the ban to give him time to find a resolution. Musk has been one of Trump's closest advisers during the transition and spent more than $250 billionto support Trump in his election campaign.TikTok's valuation is estimated between $40 billion and $50 billion.

Until Dawn movie teaser reveals how it's replaced the game's branching narrativeSlayStation.Image credit: Sony News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 14, 2025 Sony has released a video for its upcoming Until Dawn film, giving us our first tease at what horrors await those unsuspecting teens.One of the most interesting snippets to come from the trailer is how the film team is going to adapt the game's branching narrative. As those who have played Until Dawn will know, characters can die or survive depending on the different decisions made by the player. There will be a variation on this mechanic in the film.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Everything we learned this week about Switch 2Watch on YouTube"One of the creative things the game did is that people make different choices and die in different ways," explained Until Dawn's film director David F. Sandberg, adding: "The movie has this mechanic where things start over and they get to try again" (cue plenty of intense breathing).So, what does this actually mean for the film's characters? "Every time they come back to life, it's like they are in a new horror genre," said Sandberg. "To survive, they have to make it until dawn."Along with this news, the trailer features actor Peter Stromare, who is credited simply as Hill. "I'm very proud to be part of this evolution onto the screen," he says, before the video jumps to posters of missing teens, as an ominous ticking noise plays.You can check out the Until Dawn trailer below.UNTIL DAWN Film First Look. Watch on YouTubeThe upcoming Until Dawn adaptation features both a new cast of characters and a new story. It is set to arrive later this year, on 25th April, with another trailer promised before then.As for the game itself, the recently released PS5 remake introduced a new ending for Until Dawn, which hints towards a sequel.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe release of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was a massive success for not just developer Saber Interactive, but also franchise owner Games Workshop. Following the release of the action game, the company is actively looking for its next big video game success.Revealed in the companys 2025 earnings report, published on January 14, Games Workshop CEO Kevin Rountree touched on the success of the brands recent video game releases. While the executive is certain that not all games will be big, or even moderate, hits, the company wants to scout its next big AAA launch.Space Marine 2 sparks a new fire for Warhammer 40K gamesRountree explains that the last financial period saw two video game releases based on the Warhammer license: Space Marine 2 and Speed Freeks. The CEO explained that the formers success was huge for royalty income, but the company must still remain cautious when forecasting the success of future games.Established games continue to contribute, alongside royalty income earned following the success of Space Marine 2, the Warhammer CEO explained. We recognise that successes like these for Warhammer are not a given in the world of video games. Clearly we are looking for the next one. We remain cautious when forecasting royalty income.Clearly we are looking for the next one.GAMES WORKSHOP CEO Kevin RountreeWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 released to financial and critical acclaim and theres a host of updates coming to add new operations, more enemies and even new PvP opportunities. There have also been some rather successful Warhammer games in the past, including Vermintide, Darktide and the Total War spin-offs. However, there have also been plenty of games released to little fanfare.Nevertheless, it is very exciting that a future for AAA Warhammer titles is now a possibility again, especially with the arrival of a new Amazon 40K series on the horizon. Will we ever see a title with Naughty Dog levels of AAA pizzazz? Probably not, but it should be something special.Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):ActionRelated TopicsSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share