Looking to play some of your Switch 1 games on Nintendo's new console? Then you'll be pleased to know that 12 games will get free updates, including Pokemon Scarlet and VioletTech10:31, 16 May 2025Updated 10:31, 16 May 2025Switch 2 is just weeks away(Image: AFP via Getty Images)The Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World are 20 days away, meaning in three weeks we'll (hopefully) have one in our hands.While reports have suggested outlets like ours won't be able to offer detailed reviews before launch, one of the things we're most excited for (other than our dream Switch 2 ports) is playing Switch 1 games at higher resolution and with a smoother frame rate.‌Thankfully, while some games will require paid updates, Nintendo has promised free patches for some of our favourite Switch titles. Now, as we approach launch, the company has finally revealed what we can expect from each, and it's likely to be big news for anyone looking to pick up Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.‌Scarlet and Violet disappointed at launch because of performance issues(Image: The Pokemon Company)Twelve games will see free improvements released via downloadable patches."By connecting your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet and performing a system update, you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for features such as GameShare," Nintendo explains.Article continues below"The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game."Thankfully, the company has revealed what we can expect from each. While some games will gain HDR support or the option to share experiences with other players locally via GameShare, some are getting improved resolution and frame rates.These include ARMS, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and, perhaps most significantly, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.‌Both games launched in pretty rough shape, clearly butting up against the limitations of the first Switch hardware, but the idea of it performing better could mean it's almost like a new game–not bad for a free update.We've put the full list of updates Nintendo has confirmed below.ARMS‌Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityFrame rate: optimised for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even when playing with three or more players)HDR supportBig Brain Academy: Brain vs BrainGameShare support:‌Up to four people can play in Party Mode.Share locally or share online via GameChat.Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is cute, but surprisingly challenging(Image: Nintendo)Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker‌Visuals: Optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportGameShare support:Two people can play all of the courses.Share locally or share online via GameChat‌Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide ClassicsGameShare support:Up to four people can play 34 gamesShare locally or share online via GameChat‌Game Builder GarageVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualitySupports Joy-Con 2 mouse controlsNew Super Mario Bros U Deluxe‌Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityPokémon Scarlet & Pokémon VioletVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityFrame rate: improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2‌Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s FuryVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityFrame rate: improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2 (including Bowser’s Fury)HDR supportGameShare compatibility:‌Up to four people can play Super Mario 3D World. In Bowser’s Fury, two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Bowser Jr. Share locally or share online via GameChatIt's high time we got another 3D Mario titleSuper Mario Odyssey‌Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportGameShare support:Two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy.Share locally or share online via GameChat.‌The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s AwakeningArticle continues belowVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

Suspended Grace: A sleeping sperm whale and her calfPaul Nicklen With a full belly – look closely and you can see the tentacles of the deep-sea squid she has just feasted on, dangling from her mouth – this mother sperm whale sleeps, her calf nearby. This photograph, named Suspended Grace, was taken by photographer Paul Nicklen and is one of a host of images displayed at the photography fair Photo London this week. It exudes peace, but Nicklen was feeling a real mix of emotions when he took it in Dominica in 2019. “Even as my lungs burned and my brain tried to induce panic to take a breath from the surface that was 15 metres away, I had to stay calm,” he says. “In that moment, I focused on breathing, framing and floating still. I wasn’t disconnected from fear, but I was focused.”Advertisement As he centred himself, a sense of “awe mixed with something quieter” came over him. “There was a kind of joy to it—being accepted into their rhythm for even a few moments,” says Nicklen. “Over time, that joy has deepened into something heavier. I think about the risks [whales] face now – the rising noise levels in the ocean, plastic, ship strikes, nets, warming seas. When I revisit these images, I see a lineage that may not survive unless we change. And still, I feel lucky. Lucky to have been let in. Lucky to carry their story.” Photo London is taking place at Somerset House from 15 to 18 May. Nicklen’s work is being displayed by Hilton Contemporary, which is also showing the photography of marine biologist Cristina Mittermeier – including this evocative shot from Berenty, Madagascar, in 2008, called Laundry on the Mandare. As bright clothes dry on the cracked earth, two emaciated cows stand nearby on the dry bed of the Mandare River. Laundry on the Mandare: The dry bed of the Mandare River in MadagascarCristina Mittermeier Seventeen years on, Mittermeier remembers that her thoughts on taking the shot were clouded at the time. “Not just by illness – a tropical fever – but by guilt. Not guilt for being there, but for leaving,” she says. “The families in this village had no way to escape the drought. There are no backups, no alternate routes, no tap to turn. The Mandare dries up, and everything with it.” Today, those feelings have morphed into “a kind of respect” for the endurance of the local people there “and a deep unease that this scene is becoming more common, more permanent”, she says. “I think of the resilience in that curve of fabric, bright against the dust, and how survival here is patched together one garment, one meal, one cup of water at a time,” says Mittermeier. “It’s a record of drought, yes, but also of decisions made far away that shaped who suffers and who escapes.” Below is Nicklen’s shot, Ephemeral Palace, taken in the Antarctic Peninsula in 2012. A vast iceberg is pictured as it drifts along, destined to melt as it makes its way out to sea. Ephemeral Palace: An iceberg on the Antarctic Peninsula in 2012Paul Nicklen An unexpected visitor is shown in this final shot from Nicklen, Face to Face, taken in Svalbard, Norway, in 2008. Nicklen, winner of awards including BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, said that although they are labelled “problem bears” in Canada’s Arctic, he has encountered over 2000 polar bears in the wild in his time as a photographer and he has never had to take a life in self-defence. Face to Face: A close encounter with a polar bear in NorwayPaul Nicklen Topics:

What just happened? TP-Link, the most popular router brand in the US, could be banned in the country. The ongoing saga over the firm's alleged links to China and anti-competitive behavior has led Republican lawmakers to urge the Commerce Department to ban sales of the company's products. The seventeen senators and representatives wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick this week to support the ongoing investigations into TP-Link. The company is being investigated by the Commerce, Defense, and Justice Departments over whether its China ties pose a security threat and whether the firm engaged in predatory pricing to undercut competitors and dominate the US market. The group essentially claims that TP-Link's cheap prices have helped it become the number one router brand in the US, thereby allowing the Chinese government to launch cyberattacks and surveillance programs against the United States using the devices. The letter also urges Lutnick to prohibit further sales of TP-Link networking products in the United States. The group goes on to accuse TP-Link of having a close association with the Chinese Communist Party, using predatory pricing to eliminate "trusted" US alternatives, and embedding foreign surveillance and destructive capabilities into US networks, all of which make it a "clear and present danger." The letter states that Chinese state actors have exploited TP-Link small and home office (SOHO) networking devices to wage cyberwarfare against the United States. It's also claimed that TP-Link is the only router company that refuses to engage in industry efforts to remediate Chinese state-sponsored bots. // Related Stories "Each day we fail to act, the CCP wins while American competitors suffer, and American security remains at risk," wrote the lawmakers. In a statement responding to the letter, TP-Link told PCMag, "The allegations are categorically false, and we look forward to setting the record straight about our company." "To be clear, TP-Link is not a state-sponsored company, has no 'deep ties' to, and is completely independent from, the Chinese Communist Party." Nine of sixteen best-selling routers on Amazon are TP-Link brands, including the top three models. It's estimated that 60-65% of homes and small businesses in the US use the routers, whose cheap prices help make them so popular. In October 2024, Microsoft exposed "CovertNetwork-1658," a Chinese-run botnet siphoning credentials from Azure since August 2023 via password-spray attacks. The network marshalled 16,000 hijacked SOHO routers, cameras and other IoT nodes – chiefly TP-Link models. The company's routers have a history of vulnerabilities: a CVSS-10 flaw hit the Archer C5400X in May 2024, and 2023 reports tied Chinese state actors to custom malware installed on TP-Link routers. The latter incident arrived soon after the US government said Mirai Botnet operators were using TP-Link routers for DDoS attacks. TP-Link, founded in 1996 by brothers Zhao Jianjun and Zhao Jiaxing, established its US arm in 2008 to handle marketing and support in North America, though ownership and operations remained tied to its Shenzhen-based parent. In 2024, TP-Link USA merged with the company's non-Chinese operations to form TP-Link Systems Inc., headquartered in Irvine, California – a move intended to create an "organizational separation," with distinct ownership, governance, R&D, and supply chains on each side.

The Parachute Memorial Day sale is almost as good as the long weekend itself, offering the perfect opportunity to stock up on their signature breezy home essentials and coastal classics just in time for summer. From now through May 28, you can score a solid 30% off everything sitewide and up to 75% off the clearance section. To sweeten the deal, shoppers get a free gift up to $249 in value for orders over $1,000.This is one of the best sales we’ve seen in a while, so if you’re due for a bedroom refresh and are ready for some luxurious sheets or a relaxed bedspread, the time to buy is now. It’s no secret that we love bath must-haves, decor, and, of course, mattress deals, and Parachute’s Memorial Day sale is no exception. To help you shop smarter, we’ve pulled a selection of AD-approved Parachute sale items worth shopping. Don’t delay: These dreamy discounts won’t last long.Our Top Picks for the Best Parachute Memorial Day Sale Deals:A brezy sheet set: Parachute Heirloom TENCEL Linen Sheet Set, $359 $252Best mattress deal: Parachute Eco Mattress, $1,500 $1,050For side sleepers: Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow, $160 $112A spa-inspired robe: Parachute Waffle Robe, $149 $105Best mattress topper: Parachute Down Mattress Topper, $390 $273Photo: Rachel FletcherParachute Waffle Bath TowelsYou can’t go wrong with a classic waffle bath towel, and this Parachute version is the proof. Commerce director Rachel Fletcher says the brand’s set is both soft and absorbent—with a drying time of just about five minutes. “These honeycomb weave, 100% long-staple Turkish cotton towels are really exceptional in terms of craftsmanship, which is immediately evident in the feel,” she adds. “I have very sensitive skin and a rough towel never does me well, but the Parachute towels feel great against the skin.”Parachute Linen Duvet CoverA duvet cover set we’re thrilled to see on sale, this linen find is perfect for spring and summer. A warm weather classic for a reason, linen is light and antimicrobial, in case you’re prone to getting a little warmer this season. Contributor Lila Allen seconds these sentiments. “I was pleasantly surprised at how soft this cover was—again, with linen, sometimes it can be a roll of the dice,” she says. “This set had the best of both worlds: super supple but still casually elevated.”Parachute Eco MattressWhile Parachute is one of our go-to bedding brands, it’s also a reliable retailer when it comes to mattresses-in-a-box. The brand offers a hybrid mattress that landed itself in our list of favorites thanks to a Goldilocks combination of tempered steel and six layers of pure New Zealand wool and organic cotton.Photo: Nashia BakerParachute Heirloom TENCEL Linen Sheet SetWhen it comes to Parachute sheets, AD writers are huge fans of the linen category—including senior commerce editor Nashia Baker. She has the heirloom Tencel bundle in her bedroom, and unlike with her crisp percale sheet set, she loves the lightly wrinkled design of these for a relaxed, less-buttoned-up look. She also notes that their “soft and breathable feel” makes them the perfect cooling sheets to stay comfortable during hot summer nights.Parachute Waffle RobeFluffy, textured, and cozy, this stylish robe might make it hard to get your day going. Made of organic cotton, it’s one of Parachute’s bestsellers—meaning it’s the perfect gift for anyone who needs a good pampering. The square shape and 100% European flax linen relaxed fabric make for a structured yet casual look that emulates a day at the spa.Parachute Down Side Sleeper PillowCommerce editor Audrey Lee personally recommends this pillow from Parachute. “Designed with a 3.5-inch gusset to take the strain off your neck and shoulders, this is a great hotel-style pillow option that feels luxuriously lightweight but still densely filled,” she says.Julia HarrisonJulia HarrisonParachute Down Mattress Topper“This mattress topper is made from 750 feather fill and premium European white down, which, for those who don’t know their down, means this is the real deal,” says commerce writer Julia Harrison. “I would say this is solidly an inch and a half of down that makes for a plush experience no actual mattress can rival.” She recommends that anyone who prefers soft mattresses shop this indulgence over Memorial Day weekend.Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Tub MatChances are your old bath mat is looking a little grubby, so why not upgrade to this luxe, earthy Parachute option made from Turkish cotton? “I was a little concerned that something so dense might be constantly damp or take forever to dry but I’ve found it to be quite the opposite after using it for more than a year,” Fletcher says. “I absolutely love Parachute’s waffle towels (they’re the only ones I’ll use!) so I was pleased that their bath mat was a high quality option too.”Parachute Matelasse CoverletAlso tucked away in Parachute Home’s Memorial Day deals is this comfy cotton coverlet. Not only is it lightweight enough to keep hot sleepers at ease, but the added details push it into must-have territory. “Its oatmealy color is a nice, natural neutral, but its stitched details are the true hero attribute,” says contributor Madeleine Luckel.

May 16, 2025Ravie LakshmananHardware Security / Vulnerability Researchers at ETH Zürich have discovered yet another security flaw that they say impacts all modern Intel CPUs and causes them to leak sensitive data from memory, showing that the vulnerability known as Spectre continues to haunt computer systems after more than seven years. The vulnerability, referred to as Branch Privilege Injection (BPI), "can be exploited to misuse the prediction calculations of the CPU (central processing unit) in order to gain unauthorized access to information from other processor users," ETH Zurich said. Kaveh Razavi, head of the Computer Security Group (COMSEC) and one of the authors of the study, said the shortcoming affects all Intel processors, potentially enabling bad actors to read the contents of the processor's cache and the working memory of another user of the same CPU. The attack leverages what's called Branch Predictor Race Conditions (BPRC) that emerge when a processor switches between prediction calculations for two users with different permissions, opening the door to a scenario where an unprivileged hacker could exploit it to bypass security barriers and access confidential information from a privileged process. Intel has issued microcode patches to address the vulnerability, which has been assigned the CVE identifier CVE-2024-45332 (CVSS v4 score: 5.7). "Exposure of sensitive information caused by shared microarchitectural predictor state that influences transient execution in the indirect branch predictors for some Intel Processors may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access," Intel said in an advisory released on May 13. The disclosure comes as researchers from the Systems and Network Security Group (VUSec) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam detailed a category of self-training Spectre v2 attacks codenamed Training Solo. "Attackers can speculatively hijack control flow within the same domain (e.g., kernel) and leak secrets across privilege boundaries, re-enabling classic Spectre v2 scenarios without relying on powerful sandboxed environments like eBPF," VUSec said. The hardware exploits, tracked as CVE-2024-28956 and CVE-2025-24495, can be used against Intel CPUs to leak kernel memory at up to 17 Kb/s, with the study finding that they could "completely break the domain isolation and re-enable traditional user-user, guest-guest, and even guest-host Spectre-v2 attacks." CVE-2024-28956 (CVSS v4 score: 5.7) - Indirect Target Selection (ITS), which affects Intel Core 9th-11th, and Intel Xeon 2nd-3rd, among others. CVE-2025-24495 (CVSS v4 score: 6.8) - Lion Cove BPU issue, which affects Intel CPUs with Lion Cove core While Intel has shipped microcode updates for these defects, AMD said it has revised its existing guidance on Spectre and Meltdown to explicitly highlight the risk from the use of classic Berkeley Packet Filter (cBPF). Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

Fortnite is no longer available from the iOS Epic Games Store in the EU. Fortnite maker Epic Games has announced that Apple has blocked the game’s return to iOS. Following the rejection, Fortnite is no longer available on iPhones and iPads even in the European Union, where it had previously been available to download through the Epic Games Store. “Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union,” the company posted on the official Fortnite X account. “Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.” The Verge has confirmed that the game is no longer available to download on iOS from the Epic Games Store or the alternative marketplace AltStore PAL in the EU, where it had previously been available. It’s not yet clear if Apple blocked the game’s availability through those stores, or if Epic itself chose to make it unavailable. We’ve reached out to both Apple and Epic for comment. Fortnite returned to iOS in the EU last year, but only through those two storefronts, and not Apple’s App Store. The return was made possible by the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which required Apple to allow third-party app stores on iOS. Epic had resubmitted Fortnite to the US App Store this month following a recent ruling in Epic’s lawsuit against Apple. That ruling prohibited Apple from restricting developers’ ability to link to external payment systems, one of the issues that had started their long-running legal battle. Epic was forced to use its EU developer account to resubmit the game, as its US account was terminated in 2020 when it first broke Apple’s rules by introducing its own in-app payments to the game. This week Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced that the company had pulled its previous Fortnite submission and submitted a new version that included an update due to release today, noting that “all platforms must update simultaneously.” Developing…

These 15 Mind-Bending Murals Turn the Mundane Into the Memorable See 15 images of superb street art from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Text by Tracy Scott Forson Photographs selected by Quentin Nardi May 16, 2025 6:00 a.m. There are many ways to explore a town or neighborhood, but one sure route to discovery is just taking a walk around and enjoying the street art. Community members and local governments often determine what and how the otherwise empty walls of a district will be decorated. Will the artwork honor a hometown hero, reflect the area’s commitment to education or the environment, depict a beloved park or historic building, or just offer bold, bright hues to lift visitors’ spirits? No matter what’s on the wall, it’s worth talking a look. See for yourself. A pedestrian walks by a mural depicting various tropical fruits in the Old Havana neighborhood of the Cuban capital. Adriano Contreras, Cuba, 2016 A hidden mural of a face overlooks a parking lot in the Wynwood neighborhood in downtown Miami. The striking scale stands in stark contrast to the surrounding structures and plants. Sandra Frankel, Florida, 2017 From the vantage point of the High Line in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, this mural serves as a nice example of art in the city. Michael Boyce, New York, 2015 Colorful, abstract artwork covers the walls of a building in New York City. Natalie Dietterich, New York, 2017 A pedestrian in a red coat seems to seamlessly insert herself into a Toronto mural featuring a wintry scene. Sylvia Lorico, Canada, 2019 The community of Vincennes pays homage to Emmy winner Red Skelton, a native who hosted his own comedy show from 1951 to 1971. Stephen Torain, Indiana, 2011 Seventy-year-old cylindrical silos served as the canvas—complete with steel panels, rivets and seams—for this colorful artwork. Elizabeth Szabo, Michigan, 2024 A mural in Phoenix evokes Day of the Dead imagery. Katharine P. Britt, Arizona, 2012 Which came first, the postcard or the mural? This popular Austin art has been featured on souvenirs and used as a logo. Pam Edwards, Texas, 2015 In Tehran, a woman stands in front of an intricate mural that features a small landscape surrounded by a larger painting of flowers and swirls. Joyce Le Mesurier, Iran, 2016 Artwork of a black-and-white pig is juxtaposed against a kaleidoscope of colorful shapes. Jill Moskowitz, New York, 2009 Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum in Miami with giant murals. Agnieszka Wieczorek, Florida, 2024 This Bob Dylan mural in downtown Minneapolis, a major city in his home state, features lyrics from the artist’s 1964 track and album of the same name: “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” Lisa Drew, Minnesota, 2021 A worker and her reflection at the Hanoi airport finish sweeping near a wall-length floral mural. Olga Leskiw-Suzuki, Vietnam, 2020 Get the latest Travel & Culture stories in your inbox.

Following the latest Title Update, Star Wars Outlaws’ second story DLC, A Pirate’s Fortune, is now available on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. The story follows Kay Vess as she teams with Hondo Ohnaka to hunt for treasure. Of course, the journey is far from easy, as they must explore Kephi Tomb and deal with the Rokana Raiders and their leader, Stinger Tash. The DLC introduces new quests in the Khepi System, the Miyuki Trade League (which offers rewards for the Trailblazer upon smuggling cargo), and much more. Even without the DLC, Title Update 1.6 is worth checking out since it added new passive systems with gameplay-enhancing benefits for the Trailblazer, free-aiming when on a Speeder, and several improvements to combat and enemy AI. You can also claim a free cosmetic set based on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. For more details on Star Wars Outlaws, check out our review. You can also read our thoughts on the first story DLC, Wild Card. Star Wars™ Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune is available now! Team up with legendary pirate Hondo Ohnaka and face off against Stinger Tash and her Rokana Raiders as you infiltrate the Khepi Tomb to uncover the secrets and hidden treasures it holds. pic.twitter.com/94tvfy1K57— Star Wars Outlaws (@StarWarsOutlaws) May 15, 2025

European Union App Store users are being shown warnings in the App Store about apps that let users make payments directly to developers — despite this being a clear violation of the Digital Markets Act.Apple has already been fined $570 million for anticompetitive practices under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), although it is appealing. Now it at least appears to be asking for a further fine, because it has added warnings expressly designed to dissuade users from buying apps with alternative payment processes.It's actually in the recent US ruling that Apple was explicitly forbidden to use what are called "scare screens". The EU has not as yet ruled against that specific technique, although in March 2024 it was alerted to Apple's plans by rivals including Epic Games.Nonetheless, the EU has focused on Apple's alleged anticompetitive practices. In its announcement of its ruling in April 2025, the EU said that it "ordered Apple to remove the technical and commercial restrictions on steering and to refrain from perpetuating the non-compliant conduct in the future, which includes adopting conduct with an equivalent object or effect." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums