In the 1950s, Tunisian couturier Azzedine Alaa moved to Paris to enter the world of fashion. After design stints at Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, he opened his first atelier in 1979. Run out of his Parisian apartment, the clothes he designed for the likes of Greta Garbo were synonymous with exquisite tailoring that accented the female form.Almost 50 years later, Paris remains the capital of couture, and Maison Alaa is still one of its key players. Its only fitting for the houses new flagship would be located at 15 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honor, a winding strip in the citys 8th arrondissement affiliated with high style, which also hosts Herms, Bottega Veneta, and Alexander McQueen stores.A sculpture reminiscent of dentistry crowns a Ron Arad table.15 Faubourg Saint Honor completes a trilogy of sorts, with each of Alaas three Parisian boutiques representing a distinct facet of the brand. In collaboration with Alaas creative director Pieter Mulier, the latest store was designed by architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of Japanese architecture firm SANAA. This past year, the studio known for Grace Farms and other bold works won the prestigious 2025 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand, an honor recognizing their visionary contributions to modern architecture and design. We are honored to have had the opportunity to work with Alaa on the design of this new boutique, the duo tells AD. It is a space of soft boundaries and gentle reflections that wraps and unravels around visitors like a second skin, dissolving into a field of objects as people move up through the layers of the project.Tubular rooms in tongue-pink tones punctuate the interior.The idea of second skina barrier, a shield, something intimate, indecent, or familialis integral to Alaa, a key part of the houses design language. Soft, sculptural forms and signature curves define the couture created since the 80s. The new flagships interior evokes this concept through tongue-pink tones and other nudes in the houses repertoire of colors. On the ground floor, four transparent tubular rooms are each dedicated to a distinct range of clothes and accessories. In these glass rooms, time stands still, and products become a sort of specimen. Visitors peek in and feel almost indiscretethey are now involved in an exhibitionist display.

C-Beams - 1 Year of Development By JohnLogostini on January 21, 2025 Games C-Beams is a Space Action RPG made using Unreal and Blender.You can publicly follow its development from the team's weekly devlog videos. John Logostini reports on the project.After our first year of development, the new Distant Light Games team has finally announced our first project, C-Beams a new Space Action RPG being developed in Unreal Engine for PC SteamDeck and Linux, with more platforms yet to be decided.We have been developing C-Beams for the past year, with the project's founder, Charlie Goldberg (aka LevelCap), creating weekly dev logs. This has resulted in significant community contributions to the project even I joined as a contributor.Blender has been the primary DCC used for the project. Personally, I have been using Blender my entire life.All sculpting for the project was done in Blender, including the custom asteroid bases. These were blocked out using basic primitives, remeshed, and then detailed with custom brushes. Afterward, they were retopologized using the Exoside Quad Remesher addon. UVs were created manually and packed with UV Packmaster. While external addons were utilized, its incredible that the entire processing workflow for an asset can be completed directly within Blender. However, since the following video was posted, our workflow has evolved slightly. This video covers the primary workflow used for creating custom sculpted assets.As for other models, while not documented in as much detail, we used Blender for nearly all of the models in the game from blackout to UVs, and final game-resolution assets. Everything was done in Blender. Some data required for the engine was generated in Houdini; however, the final meshes were completed in Blender.Link C-Beams on Steam (wishlist) Dev logs playlist:

Tears and disappointment flowed Monday after newly sworn-in President Donald Trump cut off a mobile app that allowed migrants to apply to enter the U.S. legally as asylum-seekers. All pending appointments made with the app have been canceled, too. The CBP One app was set up under the Biden administration as a way to curb people crossing the southwest border illegally to request asylum. Once it went into effect, it was the only way for people to get an appointment to request asylum.Monday afternoon, Customs and Border Protection posted on its website that the app was no longer available for that purpose and existing appointments have been canceled. Some 280,000 people werelogging into the appdaily to secure an appointment as of Jan. 7, according to Reuters.In Jurez, Mexico, a woman cried, Oh God! as she wailed against a post at the border fence, Noticias Telemundo reported. Another migrant, Julio Alberto Hernndez, originally from El Salvador and waiting in Tijuana, told Noticias Telemundo that his appointment was three or four days away.I was so happy because I was going to get to enter to support my children," Hernndez said in Spanish. "But with this, were left sad because they erased it." The news was delivered to CBP One users through pop-up notifications in different languages saying CBP One appointments are no longer valid. CBP said that in December, it processed about 44,000 asylum-seekers through information submitted through the app. From January 2023 to December 2024, more than 936,500 people had scheduled appointments, CBP said.Trump had previously telegraphed his plans to end migrants use of the app. The Biden administration said the app helped organize a chaotic asylum process, marked by numerous people crossing the border illegally and surrendering to Border Patrol agents. But the app also was criticized for technical glitches and the long waits for initial screenings to determine if migrants qualified to apply for asylum. Trump and others also disliked the number of people granted entry. Christian Martinez, of Honduras, said he had sent an application and just gotten a response that applications were no longer being accepted. Right now Im feeling a sentiment as if something just vanished. That hope that I could enter legally, that just got cut off, and its very difficult, Martinez said.The wait has been a year and a half long for Melanie Mendoza, who called the cancellations unfair. "Now they tell us, 'No, your appointments are not valid," she said wiping away tears. In Matamoros, Mexico, a group of migrants from the central Mexican state of Zacatecas arrived at a legalbordercrossing at midday, but were turned back byborderauthorities who said all appointments were now void, they told Reuters.Honduran Denia Mendez, sitting in the courtyard of a migrant shelter in Piedras Negras, Mexico across from Eagle Pass,Texas stared at an email for several minutes, before her eyes welled with tears.They canceled my appointment, she said.

So, would you?Nintendo formally announced the Switch 2 last week and while some developers appear to have already locked in their support, other studios are still gauging whether or not to release certain titles on the Switch's successor.One of these developers happens to be Moon Studios, with the CEO Thomas Mahler asking on social media if fans of the studio (as well as Ori games and Nintendo platforms) would be interested in the team's new release, No Rest for the Wicked on Switch 2.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

In BriefPosted:4:53 PM PST January 20, 2025Image Credits:Michael M. Santiago / Getty ImagesPresident Trump repeals Bidens AI executive orderDuring his first day in office, President Donald Trump revoked a 2023 executive order signed by former President Joe Biden that sought to reduce the potential risks AI poses to consumers, workers, and national security.Bidens executive order directed the Commerce Departments National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to author guidance that helps companies identify and correct for flaws in models, includingbiases. The executive order also required developers of AI systems to share the results of safety tests with the U.S. government before they were released to the public. Critics allied with Trump argued that the executive orders reporting requirements were onerous and effectively forced companies to disclose their trade secrets. During his campaign, Trump promised policies that would support AI development rooted in free speech and human flourishing but declined to go into detail.Topics

Hey everyone! Ive always wanted to participate in one of these, and since I recently finished my portfolio feels like the perfect time. Although like I only really have around a week, I wont put too much pressure on myself and Ill do my best!I started thinking about ideas a few days ago and Im thinking something like ice punch from Pokemon with an asset like Iceborn gauntlet from League of Legends? Anyways for now heres a concept I quickly sketched out yesterday and Ill post more tomorrow so stay tuned!

Asylum seekers residing in a Greek refugee camp funded by the European Union (EU) are subjected to invasive phone confiscations and legally dubious monitoring by artificial intelligence (AI)-driven surveillance systems, a report has revealed.Published by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) I Have Rights (IHR) and the Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN), the findings detail privacy violations and questionable data practices that underscore growing concerns over the role of technology in migration management.As the EU increases its reliance on technology for migration management, Greeces refugee camps have become experimentation sites for AI-driven solutions. But the findings which centre on the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC), Greeces flagship EU-funded refugee camp raise critical questions about the cost to fundamental rights and privacy in the name of border control.This scrutiny follows a 175,000 fine issued last year to Greeces Ministry of Migration and Asylum by the Greek Data Protection Authority (DPA) for violations of data protection laws, adding further weight to concerns over the legality of the countrys surveillance practices.According to the report, 88% of asylum seekers interviewed said their mobile phones were confiscated upon arrival in Samos. Devices were taken without explanation, with many individuals coerced into unlocking them or providing passcodes. Upon return, some phones showed evidence of tampering, such as accessed applications, deleted photos, or altered battery levels.The legal basis for these actions remains unclear. While Greek authorities deny the practice, Frontex, the EU border agency, confirmed in correspondence with IHR that phone removal is included in confidential operational plans. Legal experts argue that such practices likely violate EU data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).You could not say no [to the police], one asylum seeker told researchers. When they arrived, they were screaming and giving orders, as if we were arrested.Another said: I felt like a prisoner, I was thinking this is the punishment for having come illegally.Computer Weekly has independently gathered testimonies from asylum seekers who report that their mobile phones were confiscated upon arrival on Samos, as well as other Greek islands and the mainland.It remains unclear whether data is extracted from mobile devices and how officials use it. Still, the possibility has raised concerns about its potential impact on asylum procedures.Frontex spokesperson Chris Borowski told Computer Weekly via email that the agency operates strictly within the boundaries of EU law and fundamental rights are at the core of all our activities.He added: Frontex does not have the authority to confiscate personal devices or access private data. These are matters handled by national authorities, and we expect any such actions to comply fully with national and EU laws.The Greek police did not respond to Computer Weeklys request for comment by the publication deadline.The report also highlights the deployment of Centaur and Hyperion, two EU-funded surveillance systems that rely on artificial intelligence and biometric data. Centaur uses CCTV cameras, drones and AI-based motion analytics to automatically flag threats in the camp and its vicinity, with data monitored remotely by the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum in Athens and officials on several islands. Hyperion, meanwhile, relies on biometric data to control access to the facility.The pervasive surveillance has turned the Samos CCAC into what many describe as a high-tech prison-like structure. The NGO report highlights evidence that cameras appear to have been placed in areas where privacy would be expected, such as inside corridors and containers where people sleep.At any moment, you are being watched, one respondent told researchers.The vast majority (92%) of Samos CCAC residents interviewed reported not being informed by authorities about CCTV monitoring, with 85% stating they had not seen any signs indicating camera usage.Likewise, all camp workers interviewed confirmed they had received no information from authorities about the cameras and could not recall seeing any signage indicating the facility was under surveillance. Almost all respondents reported they did not recall consenting to their data being processed.The IHR report combined multiple methods, including analysing publicly available documents and freedom of information requests. It is based on interviews with 59 camp residents, seven workers, and nine experts between December 2023 and December 2024.Additionally, researchers collaborated with residents affected by the technology to file data subject access requests (DSARs), a legal tool that lets individuals access personal data held by companies, organisations, or government agencies. This effort represents the first publicly known success in investigating these systems through DSARs.The resulting report offers the most detailed and comprehensive account to date of the phone extraction practices at the Samos CCAC and the impact of other tech-driven practices on asylum seekers.The Centaur and Hyperion systems have been developed with the participation of both Greek and Israeli technology companies. According to the report, two Israeli firms, Viisights and Octopus, play key roles in the surveillance infrastructure.Viisights specialises in behavioural recognition video analytics and has provided AI software advertised as capable of detecting threats. The report noted that video footage from the Samos CCAC obtained via DSARs was watermarked with Viisights branding, confirming its involvement.Computer Weekly has learned that Viisights is undergoing insolvency proceedings, casting uncertainty over its future involvement in Greek camp operations.Octopus, another Israeli firm, supplies security solutions that integrate data from multiple surveillance technologies, such as cameras and drones, into a centralised control system, as seen at the Athens control room. The Octopus platform is also used by Israels Ministry of Defence and the private company Coca-Cola, according to the companys website.Some consider the involvement of Israeli firms in refugee camps controversial, with critics accusing them of using marginalised populations to trial surveillance technologies that could later be applied in militarised settings.Neither Viisights nor Octopus responded to Computer Weeklys request for comment by the publication deadline.At least three Greek companies are also involved in the Centaur and Hyperion projects. They include ESA Security Solutions, Space Hellas and ADAPTIT.The Greek DPAs investigation into the surveillance systems, which concluded last year, uncovered significant shortcomings in the implementation of the Centaur and Hyperion systems, including incomplete and inadequate data protection impact assessments (DPIAs).A Computer Weekly investigation last year revealed that Greek authorities appeared to retroactively attempt GDPR compliance only after implementing the systems, a violation of data protection laws. This investigation also highlighted several issues later cited in the DPAs decision.Alongside the record fine, the Greek Ministry of Migration was instructed to align the security programmes with GDPR requirements. However, it remains unclear whether any corrective actions have been taken.Computer Weekly contacted the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum for comment but did not receive a response.The Samos CCAC is part of a broader EU initiative to modernise migration management. However, critics warn that the facilitys high-tech infrastructure may serve as a model for replicating invasive surveillance across Europe under the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The EU and Greek authorities promised that the CCAC would be a model, humane facility. Yet reports both from people on the move and workers attest to the inhumanity of the structure and its panoptic surveillance architecture Ella Dodd, I Have RightsElla Dodd, advocacy and strategy coordinator at IHR on Samos, said: People seeking safety on our island are not criminals. The EU and Greek authorities promised that the CCAC would be a model, humane facility. Yet reports both from people on the move and workers attest to the inhumanity of the structure and its panoptic surveillance architecture.Report correspondents identified phone removal as the most invasive and distressing use of technology in the camp. Still, most of the asylum seekers interviewed placed more importance on immediate concerns such as overcrowding, poor living conditions, inadequate medical care and the stress of navigating asylum applications over the camps surveillance systems and phone seizure practices.Some even expressed indifference or resignation toward these technologies and their use, viewing them as less pressing than other hardships.The NGO report urges immediate action, including halting phone removals, replacing biometric systems with less invasive alternatives and ensuring transparency in the deployment of surveillance technologies.The Greek migration ministry did not respond to a request for comment regarding the reports findings.Read more about technology and migrationInterview: Petra Molnar, author of The walls have eyes: Refugee lawyer and author Petra Molnar speaks to Computer Weekly about the extreme violence people on the move face at borders across the world, and how increasingly hostile anti-immigrant politics is being enabled and reinforced by a lucrative panopticon of surveillance technologies.Starmer announces tech-enabled crackdown on people smuggling: The UK government has announced a further 75m of funding for its Border Security Command, meaning it will now have 150m over two years to spend on new technologies and staff.English Channel surveillance used to deter and punish migrants: Instead of opening safe and legal routes to the UK, the countrys border control ecosystem is deploying surveillance technologies in the English Channel to deter migrant crossings, it is claimed.

Tourists crowd Trevi Fountain in Rome. Elsewhere in Italy, cities and landmarks like Venice and ... [+] Pompeii tighten their restrictions.gettyEurope remains a dream destination for U.S. travelers, drawing over 20 million Americans in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration.Despite this impressive number, North American tourists represent just 7% of all international visitors to the European Union. Intra-European travel dominates at 85%, exerting significant pressure on the region's most iconic destinations.In 2025, European countries continue to prioritize tourist taxes, visitor caps and short-term rental bans as key measures to address overtourism. Still, these actions underscore a united effort to safeguard cultural heritage and support local communities amid rising travel demand.Amsterdam's Sustainability Reset Amid A Milestone AnniversaryCanal tour in Amsterdam, Holland an area which soon will be an emission-free zone. gettyAmsterdam is celebrating its 750th anniversary in 2025 with a packed calendar of events, but the city's bold sustainability initiatives are stealing the spotlight.MORE FOR YOUIn 2024, the Dutch capital already implemented one of Europe's highest tourist tax, levying 12.5% on accommodation costs. Other measures include banning buses over 7.5 tons from the city center, increasing cruise passenger taxes to 14.50 per person and freezing permits for new hotels and bed-and-breakfasts in key districts.Aiming for a greener future, Amsterdam introduced emission-free zones as of January 1, 2025, prohibiting scooters, mopeds and snorkels within urban areas.By April, the city's inland waterways will also transition to emission-free passenger and pleasure boating. While these changes may raise prices in the short term if canal tour operators pass the cost of this transition onto their customers, they align with Amsterdam's long-term sustainability goals.Venice Doubles Down On Tourism RegulationsThousands of people are gathering along the Grand Canal to celebrate the Venetian Carnival, but what ... [+] will the new regulations bring in 2025LightRocket via Getty ImagesVenice is not backing down. After introducing a 5 access tax for day-trippers in 2024, the city is increasing the number of taxed days to 54 in 2025, 19 of which fall on weekends. Visitors who fail to pay the tax at least four days before arrival will face a double fee of 10.The initiativecriticized for not reducing overcrowding but praised for generating 2.2 million in revenuesignals Venice's commitment to balancing tourism with local needs.The city has also tightened regulations for short-term rentals. Hosts can now rent their properties for only 120 days annually unless they meet stricter requirements, such as using labeled garbage bags to track waste and greeting guests personally instead of relying on key boxes. These measures aim to address housing shortages and ensure better management of tourist accommodations.Pompeii Caps Visitors To Manage Millions Of TouristsVisitors at the Pompeii Archaeological Park, near Naples, Italy will now counted towards a daily ... [+] cap.AFP via Getty ImagesPompeii is another Italian landmark stepping up efforts to combat overtourism, prompted partly by the influx of 4 million visitors in 2024.On November 15, 2024, the Pompeii Archaeological Park announced a daily cap of 20,000 visitors, with further restrictions during peak season. From April 1 to October 31, 2025, the Park will limit morning entries to 15,000 and afternoon entries to 5,000.The Park now requires tickets to be purchased online in advance, linked to specific time slots and visitors' names.This strategy mirrors similar efforts at other European heritage sites like the Acropolis Museum in Athens and the Louvre in Paris, which have long implemented visitor caps to protect their cultural and historical integrity.Greece Takes A Multi-Pronged Approach To OvertourismTourists in Mykonos island during the magic hour of the sunset. Will the new measures for cruise ... [+] ships help with overtourism?NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGreece has introduced sweeping measures to address overtourism and climate resilience. Starting in 2025, the Climate Resilience Tax will range from 1.50 for 1-star hotels to 15 for 5-star accommodations during peak season, a significant jump from the 4 cap for 5-star hotels in 2023. Off-season rates will remain lower to encourage year-round tourism.Additionally, Greece will impose a 20 levy on cruise passengers visiting Mykonos and Santorini during peak summer months. Mykonos alone hosted 768 cruise arrivals in 2024, bringing 1.29 million passengers to an island with only 10,000 permanent residents.To ease overcrowding, the Hellenic Port Authority shared a statement from Athanasios Kousathanas-Mega, President of the Port Fund of Mykonos, in which he emphasized the efforts made in 2024 to extend the 2025 cruise season from February to Decemberbeyond the traditional summer months. It aims to distribute the numbers and thus mitigating the pressure on the island.In Athens, a ban on new short-term rental licenses took effect on January 1, 2025, targeting three central districts. The move, announced by Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, aims to address housing shortages and mitigate the strain on local infrastructure. The ban may be extended beyond its initial one-year term.The U.K. Introduces Pre-Arrival Tourist Tax With ETAPassengers queue to check-in at terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport. Will ETA streamline travel in 2025?Getty ImagesThe United Kingdom is modernizing its borders with the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. Starting January 8, 2025, eligible non-European travelers will need an ETA, while eligible Europeans will follow suit on April 2, 2025.The 10 fee, linked digitally to passports, permits multiple entries for up to six months over two years, effectively functioning as a tourist tax. This initiative enhances security while streamlining travel for millions of visitors annually.Complementing the ETA, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 empowers local Scottish councils to set tourist tax rates. While none have implemented it yet, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Highland Council have proposed a 5% levy. However, its enforcement remains uncertain for 2025.Meanwhile, Wales is also considering a visitor levy, with a bill under review by the Senedd in 2025.Portugal's Growing Tourism CostsTourists wait in line to enter a tram at Camoes square in Lisbon, Portugal. Will this change since ... [+] the tourist tax will double in 2025?AFP via Getty ImagesPortugal is following suit with higher visitor levies. According to the Portuguese News Agency (LUSA), 40 of Portugal's 308 municipalities now levy a tourist tax.Lisbon doubled its Overnight Tourist Tax to 4 per person for hotel guests as of January 1, 2025, while maintaining its 2 Maritime Arrival Tax for cruise passengers.Meanwhile, Porto also raised its tourist tax to 3 per person.Recent additions include six municipalities in the Azores (Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Lagoa, Vila Franca do Campo, Povoao and Nordeste) and three in Madeira (Cmara de Lobos, So Vicente and Porto Santo), highlighting the country's growing reliance on these levies to manage tourism and support local development.The Question RemainsOvertourism forces Europe to confront pressing questions like: Can global travel continue to expand without compromising heritage and local quality of life? Will tourist taxes, visitor caps and short-term rental bans be enough to manage the negative side effects of an increasingly crowded world? What else can be done to ensure European hot spots succeed in balancing economic growth with cultural preservation?

The U.S. tech giants fourth-quarter iPhone sales fell 18% in the worlds largest smartphone market.

Ruth Goldberg Jaskow is 101 and does fitness classes every day.She shared her tips for staying happy and healthy into your 100s with Business Insider.These include staying active and eating what you like.101-year-old Ruth Goldberg Jaskow has an unusual fitness goal: she wants to live to 103 to "beat" her husband.Goldberg Jaskow, who lives in New York City and worked as a teacher, has always been determined when she was younger, her family gave her the nickname "Wouldn't Budge."She was married to Lou Jaskow, a sailor who served in World War II, from 1943 until he died in 2023.Although she believes that "age is just a number," Goldberg Jaskow now wants to stay fit to live longer than her husband.Centenarians' longevity is partly determined by genetics and luck, but lifestyle factors also play a role. Goldberg Jaskow shared the things she does that she thinks are helping her stay active at 101.Keep movingGoldberg Jaskow has always been active. She studied under Martha Graham, an influential modern dancer and choreographer, and played tennis when she was younger.Now, at 101, she still does a workout class every day. She has tried every class available at the upscale New York senior living community where she lives, Atria Rye Brook. Options there include yoga, Zumba, and tai chi.Her advice to younger people is: "you just need to keep moving."Exercising is great for longevity one 2022 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that of the 99,713 participants aged between 55 to 74, those who did regular aerobic exercise and strength training were 41% less likely to die from any cause in the 7-10 years after. Goldberg Jaskow said younger people need to keep moving if they want to live as long as her. Atria Rye Brook Eat what you wantGoldberg Jaskow has no special diet and eats everything she wants because she loves food. While this approach works for her, dietitians recommend the "80/20" method for people wanting to start eating healthily. This involves eating nutritious food 80% of the time and allow yourself to eat what you like the other 20%.Nichola Ludlam-Raine previously told Business Insider that the 80/20 rule can make it easier to stick to a healthy diet because it doesn't involve any restrictions.Jennifer Aniston uses it, as well as Tom Brady.Enjoy your lifeGoldberg Jaskow also recommended that people try to enjoy life if they want to prolong it. She sees her family every week and makes jewelry, which makes her happy.According to a small 2023 study of 19 people aged between 100 and 107 published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, common traits among centenarians included looking for silver linings, nurturing relationships, and being grateful for the positives in their lives.106-year-old Katie MacRae previously told BI that her biggest advice for longevity is "just smile, be happy, and enjoy life."