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LAS VEGAS — Players Era Festival organizers have done what so many other have tried — bet their fortunes in this city that a big payoff is coming. Such bet are usually bad ones, which is why so many massive casino-resorts have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard. But it doesn't mean the organizers are wrong. They're counting on the minimum of $1 million in guaranteed name, image and likeness money that will go to each of the eight teams competing in the neutral-site tournament that begins Tuesday will create a precedent for other such events. EverWonder Studios CEO Ian Orefice, who co-founded Players with former AND1 CEO Seth Berger, compared this event to last year's inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament that played its semifinals and final in Las Vegas by saying it "did really well to reinvigorate the fan base at the beginning of the year." "We're excited that we're able to really change the paradigm in college basketball on the economics," Orefice said. "But for us, it's about the long term. How do we use the momentum that is launching with the 2024 Players Era Festival and be the catalyst not to change one event, but to change college basketball for the future." Orefice and Berger didn't disclose financial details, but said the event will come close to breaking even this year and that revenue is in eight figures. Orefice said the bulk of the revenue will come from relationships with MGM, TNT Sports and Publicis Sport & Entertainment as well as sponsors that will be announced later. Both organizers said they are so bullish on the tournament's prospects that they already are planning ahead. Money made from this year's event, Orefice said, goes right back into the company. "We're really in this for the long haul," Orefice said. "So we're not looking at it on a one-year basis." Rick Giles is president of the Gazelle Group, which also operates several similar events, including the College Basketball Invitational. He was skeptical the financial numbers would work. Giles said in addition to more than $8 million going to the players, there were other expenses such as the guarantees to the teams. He said he didn't know if the tournament would make up the difference with ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship money. The top bowl of the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be curtained off. "The math is highly challenging," Giles said. "Attendance and ticket revenues are not going to come anywhere close to covering that. They haven't announced any sponsors that I'm aware of. So it all sort of rests with their media deal with Turner and how much capital they want to commit to it to get these players paid." David Carter, a University of Southern California adjunct professor who also runs the Sports Business Group consultancy, said even if the Players isn't a financial success this year, the question is whether there will be enough interest to move forward. "If there is bandwidth for another tournament and if the TV or the streaming ratings are going to be there and people are going to want to attend and companies are going to want to sponsor, then, yeah, it's probably going to work," Carter said. "But it may take them time to gain that traction." Both founders said they initially were met with skepticism about putting together such an event, especially from teams they were interested in inviting. Houston was the first school to commit, first offering an oral pledge early in the year and then signing a contract in April. That created momentum for others to join, and including the No. 6 Cougars, half the field is ranked. "We have the relationships to operate a great event," Berger said. "We had to get coaches over those hurdles, and once they knew that we were real, schools got on board really quickly." The founders worked with the NCAA to make sure the tournament abided by that organization's rules, so players must appear at ancillary events in order to receive NIL money. Strict pay for play is not allowed, though there are incentives for performance. The champion, for example, will receive $1.5 million in NIL money. Now the pressure is on to pull off the event and not create the kind of headlines that can dog it for years to come. "I think everybody in the marketplace is watching what's going to happen (this) week and, more importantly, what happens afterwards," Giles said. "Do the players get paid on a timely basis? And if they do, that means that Turner or somebody has paid way more than the market dictates? And the question will be: Can that continue?" CREIGHTON: P oint guard Steven Ashworth likely won’t play in the No. 21 Bluejays’ game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday and coach Greg McDermott said afterward he didn’t know how long he would be out. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said Friday that his government would submit legislation to repeal a law by former president Macky Sall granting amnesty for deadly political violence. The controversial amnesty was granted just before March 2024 elections as Sall sought to calm protests sparked by his last-minute postponement of presidential elections in the traditionally stable West African country. Critics say the move was to shield perpetrators of serious crimes, including homicides, committed during three years of political tensions between February 2021 and February 2024. But it also allowed Sonko, a popular opposition figure, to stand in the elections after court convictions had made him ineligible, as well as Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who eventually won the presidency. “In addition to putting compensation for victims into the budget, a draft law will be submitted to your august Assembly to repeal the March 6, 2024 amnesty so that light may be shed and responsibilities determined on whatever side they may lie,” Sonko said in a policy speech before lawmakers. Sonko’s government had pledged earlier this month to investigate dozens of deaths resulting from political violence between 2021 and 2024. “It’s not a witch hunt and even less vengeance... It’s justice, the foundation without which social peace cannot be built,” Sonko told lawmakers.Money, Gun Violence, Hate Crimes: Poll Reveals Top Worries at the End of 2024
By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.
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Ricoh Co Ltd has announced its inclusion in the Financial Times' "Best Employers: Asia-Pacific 2025" list, securing the 35th position among 500 selected companies. This prestigious recognition underscores Ricoh's unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive, innovative, and supportive workplace environment across the Asia-Pacific region. Ricoh ranked in the top 10% and 4th in the Technology Hardware and Equipment category. Compiled by the Financial Times and data provider Statista, the ranking surveyed more than 50,000 employees working in companies throughout the Asia-Pacific, asking how much they would recommend their own employer as a place to work, and which other companies in their sector they would recommend. Evaluation criteria included employee satisfaction, workplace culture, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and opportunities for professional growth. Countries and regions in scope of this ranking are Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Ricoh's placement in the top tier reflects its dedication to creating a dynamic and engaging work environment that empowers employees to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the company's success. "We are honored to be recognized among the Financial Times' 'Best Employers: Asia-Pacific 2025.' This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our employees, whose dedication and innovation drive our success. At Ricoh, we believe that an empowered and inclusive workplace is the foundation of sustainable growth and innovation. This recognition motivates us to continue promoting a culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to excel," said Ricoh Asia Pacific Managing Director Kei Uesugi. Ricoh's employee-centric initiatives include comprehensive training and development programs, flexible work arrangements, and a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. These efforts have been instrumental in attracting and retaining top talent, fostering a collaborative and innovative atmosphere, and driving the company's growth and success in the competitive Asia-Pacific market.No surprise — budgets are tight, and we’re all being a bit more intentional with our spending power. But with so many companies competing for our hard-earned cash, it can be hard to know which brands are worth the spend, if you’d like to support Canadian ones wherever possible! With that in mind, we’ve made a guide for you so you can put your $$$ towards homegrown companies. Whether you’re a plant parent, jewellery aficionado, or plan to make the swap to eco-friendly cleaning products, there’s bound to be a company on this list that’s up your alley. What used to take a trip to the nursery or your nearest garden centre can now be done right from your computer. That’s right: you can order PLANTS right to your house, thanks to Foli. The brand offers tons of greenery (big, small, and just right), and you can choose whether it comes in a pretty planter or a grow pot if you plan to re-plant upon arrival. They also offer and for those looking for gift options! Did you know that, on average, we spend a whopping third of our lives sleeping? By that logic, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t invest in quality bedding, and Silk & Snow is a great place to start. The brand specializes in , , hand-knitted , and even , though it has since dipped its toes into other textural home textiles (like , , and ). Though linen has been prized for centuries for both its durability and its comfort — it’s especially great for hot sleepers — those who find the fabric a wee bit scratchy will probably love the and options. It’s your one-stop shop for curated body care, fragrance, skincare, and bath goodies that you likely wouldn’t find anywhere else. Cult-fave brands like , , and call this boutique home, but you’ll also find undiscovered treasures like (whose Roma Heirloom Tomato products rival Loewe’s viral candle), , and that’ll bring a little luxury to your everyday routines. If the name didn’t already give it away, this brand’s all about handcare. And they take it seriously, offering everything from chic to to an all-in-one (a key product to keep hangnails and fungus at bay). To be more eco-friendly and sustainable, Paume uses acetate derived from wood pulp and even sells of its MVPs — to go with its , of course. This Montreal-based brand’s entire ethos is centred around the concept of buying less but buying . Its impeccably tailored products feature responsibly sourced materials, like , polished , and sustainable , with a special focus on the wearer’s lifestyle. That mentality translates to infinitely wearable (and timeless) pieces that’ll fit into your existing wardrobe. Though it’s still a fairly young company, Sundays has cemented itself as a force to be reckoned with in the (admittedly sometimes) barren furniture landscape in Canada. It’s famous for its impossibly squishy and snuggle-inducing , but its collection of , room , and is not to be missed. Unlike other brands whose style shifts depending on design trends, Sundays enthusiastically embraces its West Coast-meets-Scandinavia aesthetic that allows its pieces to become part of your interior design scheme (rather than overwhelming it). Hailing from Montreal, this spice brand is doing things differently — and the payoff is noticeable. Instead of focusing on “filler” ingredients, you can expect each spice blend to deliver on flavour in a big way, all while harnessing the unique profiles of each ingredient (and they’re certified organic wherever possible). It also forgoes traditional plastic packaging in favour of compostable and recyclable options. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend grabbing the to get a good idea of what you can expect. Not only is every piece made in Canada, but they’re made of eco-friendly fabrics, so you can both look and feel good about the pieces you’re putting on your body. You won’t find anything too trendy here, as the brand’s whole ethos is creating timeless silhouettes that are meant to last for years to come. That looks like cozy recycled , relaxed , , and you can wear to the gym, around the house, or paired with your favourite trousers on the weekend. 100% natural body care is the name of the game. You can expect richly scented , that’ll transport you to a luxe spa, and hydrating that’ll leave it looking (you guessed it!) dewy as hell. The core brand principle centres on aromatherapy, which translates to the best-smelling body products I’ve probably ever tried (my husband and I fight over the body wash every morning). The brand also offers , like dry brushes and gua sha, to complete your self-care ritual. Take your nose on an olfactory tour of Western Canada by snagging yourself one of the brand’s locally-inspired candles. Roam offers distinctly scented options from iconic locales, like , , , and , each one housed in a minimalist vessel and sporting an eco-friendly wooden wick. Once you’ve burned your favourites down to the bottom, you can keep the party going by copping a of your favourites — a clever idea that’ll save you from keeping a stash of empty vessels on hand (because the ceramic containers are too nice to throw out if you ask us). If you’re unsure of where to start building your collection, take a peek at the brand’s . Comfort is king for this brand that makes some of the most wearable bras and underwear around. Instead of forcing its customers to choose between looking and feeling good, Knix offers gorgeous , buttery-soft , and you can wear comfortably while on your period. The brand is also famous for its use of real bodies in its campaigns, showing not only its inclusive size range but also championing body positivity in the process. We love to see it!!! Toys for all ages, children’s books, AND apparel? You betcha. This is your one-stop shop for all things kid-related, making parenting just a bit easier. The brand is well-stocked with big-name brands, like , , and , and offers options for tots of all ages (including ). Mix, match, and play — that’s the vibe with each and every piece from Montreal-based MJ. No matter what you’re into, be it with a modern twist, to dress up your lobes, , or , there’s a piece to suit your fancy (and your budget). The brand also counts several big-name celebs as fans, including AJ Mclean of Backstreet Boys fame, Victoria Justice, and Nicky Hilton, among others. Any skin issue you have could likely be tackled by one of this brand’s hard-hitting formulas. Those with should probably get themselves a bottle of award-winning , while anyone trying to wrangle their under control could find their problems immensely soothed by the . A lot of its offerings are accepted by the National Eczema Association and quite a few are refillable, making them an eco-friendlier skincare option. Comfort is the name of the game, but not at the expense of style. Think chic , minimalist , and versatile that’ll take you from the Pilates studio to your next lunch date. If you’re planning any warm-weather vacations this year (or just want to get a head start on Summer 2025), make sure to take a peek at its , too. “Unique footwear” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Whimsical, , and colourful, JF shoes make a statement all on their own, blending fantastical elements with ingenious engineering. Fabrics are , , glossy, crinkled, and , with designs that stand out from endless seas of black, browns, and greys — no basic options here. Though footwear is its forte, JF has since ventured into accessories, applying the same principles of irreverence and fun to things like , , and even . Fine jewellery doesn’t have to feel impersonal or generic, which is why you’ll find chic and unusual bling whenever you shop at Bluboho. We’re talking one-of-a-kind (who says it has to be a diamond?!), polished sporting cabochon-style gemstones, and unique for creating your own custom, curated collection of high-end pieces. Big, small, dainty, statement-making — the choice is entirely up to you, and since each piece is designed to coordinate with every other piece, you’ll be able to easily create an interchangeable “jewelleryscape.” Cleaning products never looked so good — and don’t even get us started on the brand’s efficacy. Nellie’s offers powerful that skips filler additives (like water) in favour of hard-working ingredients that clean your clothes, zero-plastic , and genius innovations like all-natural (so you can skip the synthetic stuff), just to name a few. Perhaps most iconic, though, is the brand’s , a powerful — and effective — solid stain remover that’s garnered a near-cult following for its ability to lift and release even the trickiest stains. Vancouver-based Droplet is focused on everyday coziness, bringing touches of luxury and comfort to your daily routines. That means you can expect organic , hand-loomed designs, and big enough to swaddle the entire family, all while being easy to care for (because we’re leaving “dry-clean-only” materials behind in 2025). In an oversaturated beauty market, it’s hard to find the right product (and even harder to decipher endless ingredient lists). Both of the Vancouver-based brand’s and oils are simple, consisting of bio-active elements like rosehip seed oil, neroli, sweet almond oil, and natural, non-toxic mica — no fillers, synthetic additives, or toxins. As an added bonus, each one is also vegan and cruelty-free! Whether you’re looking to upgrade your , add some , or transform your home into a , you’ll find what you’re looking for with this home automation company. Truthfully, it’s all about peace of mind! The brand also champions its refurbished program, whereby all thoroughly inspected and are resold at lower prices — and still come with the same warranty as new ones. Montreal-based DL makes each historically-inspired piece by hand, whether it’s an organically-shaped , textural , or vintage-style . Modern are also on the menu, as well as gorgeous and delicate dotted with petite gemstones. Each piece takes inspiration from ancient cultures from across the globe, resulting in timeless jewellery that pays homage to its roots and the centuries of art and design that inspired it. Let’s make our entire homes smell delightful, shall we? That’s what you can expect from each and every piece from Soja & Co. Whether it’s or , you’ll be able to banish bad smells to another dimension entirely — and feel good about the fact that every formula is environmentally-friendly and non-toxic (not to mention biodegradable at the end of its life).
Farage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbers
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education is facing the usual attacks any conservative nominee with a deep business background could expect from Democrats and the legacy media. But Linda McMahon is well-suited to the task of serving as America’s last education secretary. She strikes a much-needed contrast with her soon-to-be predecessor. Nearly four years ago, Joe Biden selected an education secretary with a resume that checked all the usual boxes. Miguel Cardona was a former public-school teacher turned Connecticut education commissioner. Fawning press coverage lauded his conventional credentials and extolled him as an “easy pick.” But his tenure proved disastrous. The Education Department failed three consecutive audits and presided over a financial aid debacle that depressed freshman enrollment at colleges across the country. It proposed crippling cuts to high-performing charter schools while shoveling billions out the door in unconstitutional student loan forgiveness schemes. Federal bureaucrats dragged their feet on school reopening, then sat on their hands after school closures advocated by national teachers unions erased two decades of learning improvement. Cardona eagerly but selectively waded into culture wars. He openly feuded with conservative governors over parental rights and curriculum policies, but stood silent while antisemitism flared on college campuses. This should serve as a cautionary tale. Conventional education experience provides no assurance that an education secretary will be effective. In selecting McMahon as his nominee, Trump has shown he understands the assignment. Education has been a lifelong passion for McMahon. She earned a teaching credential in college before choosing a different career path, helping build her family’s successful sports entertainment business empire. In addition to decades as a trustee of Sacred Heart University, she served on the Connecticut Board of Education. As board chair for the America First Policy Institute, she has presided over an operation developing a conservative education agenda that will restore decision-making power to parents, take radical ideology out of schools, and remove barriers to middle-class careers. She is a champion of high-quality school options and training programs that will allow millions of American students to secure stable employment. Most importantly, McMahon will bring a badly needed skill set to a position that is largely managerial and administrative. As head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, she showed how much difference a capable businesswoman can make in government. During her first year in the job, three major hurricanes struck Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida. She retooled the agency to prioritize disaster relief, repurposing part of the agency’s Washington office into a call center for families and business owners trying to get back on their feet. The agency promptly processed more than 96,000 emergency loans. That’s the kind of nimble leadership that will be required to repurpose, and shrink, a federal education apparatus that has long outlived its usefulness. The Education Department made a hash of its largest function: serving as a bank for billions in federally backed student loans. The department is still in the process of fixing a botched overhaul of financial aid applications that created crippling roadblocks for would-be college goers across the country. In K-12, the department’s largest function is serving as a funding conduit for low-income students and students with disabilities. Once Trump takes office with a mandate to restore power to the states, the department’s defenders need to answer a simple question: What value do the American people get from inserting a federal middleman between students and taxpayers? Based on the department’s performance over the past four years, the answer is: not much. What it needs is a competent executive who can clean up the mess, return power and funding where it belongs, and then turn out the lights. Linda McMahon is the ideal candidate for the job. Erika Donalds is CEO of OptimaEd and a Visiting Fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency.Analysis: Assad was a brutal dictator. Will Syria's new leaders be any better?
Is Outlook down? Thousands of Microsoft 365 users report outage issuesUS to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of Microsoft 365 customers worldwide reported having issues with services like Outlook and Teams on Monday. In social media posts and comments on platforms like outage tracker Downdetector, some impacted said that they were having trouble seeing their emails, loading calendars or opening other Microsoft 365 applications such as Powerpoint. Microsoft acknowledged “an issue impacting users attempting to access Exchange Online or functionality within Microsoft Teams calendar” earlier in the day. In updates posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the company’s status page said it identified a “recent change” that it believed to be behind the problem — and was working to revert it. Microsoft shared that it was deploying a fix — which, as of shortly before noon E.T., it said had reached about 98% of “affected environments.” Still, the company’s status page later added , targeted restarts were “progressing slower than anticipated for the majority of affected users.” As of midday Monday, Downdetector showed thousands of outage reports from users of Microsoft 365 , particularly Outlook .
Syrians rejoice as Assad flees, ending brutal reign
PlayStation Portal launched in November 2023 as little more than a glorified second screen for PlayStation 5 . Now, a year on from release, it finally has some greater use as a gaming device in its own right, with Sony's announcement that dedicated game streaming is coming to the handheld. The question is, does this mark a tipping point for mainstream adoption of cloud gaming, or is it just a stepping stone to Sony fully reentering the handheld console market? The PlayStation Portal was always an odd piece of hardware—a DualSense controller chopped in half, with an 8-inch screen wedged in the middle. Unlike Sony's previous dedicated handhelds, the PlayStation Portable (or PSP) and PS Vita , Portal was merely a remote viewer, allowing players to stream games from their PS5 over a home network—useful to ease arguments over who got access to the TV or if you wanted to jump back into God of War without getting out of bed, but not really suited for anything else. The restrictions didn't end there—although the Portal could technically be used out of the house, it still required your PS5 being active at home, and there being a high-speed Wi-Fi connection wherever you were trying to play from. The Portal doesn't feature any cellular connectivity itself though, and it wasn't until June 2024 that it could connect to public networks (even then, only 2.4-Ghz ones; support for 5-Ghz came a month later)—so, before this, tethering to your phone and hoping your data package held up was your only option. Realistically, Portal was an at-home-only device in most use cases. Silver Linings Until now. Possibly as a result of the Portal being a surprise success for Sony, the gadget is being updated to support cloud gaming features, independent of a PS5. The update, rolling out across North America, Europe, and Japan, will allow subscribers to Sony's PlayStation Plus Premium service to access “over 120 PS5 games from the PS Plus Game Catalog,” including the likes of Ghost of Tsushima and Spider-Man: Miles Morales . As cloud streaming for Portal is in beta, there are a lot of missing features, though. Users won't be able to play “streaming games purchased on PS Store,”—only those included in the subscription-dependent Premium catalog—and it's restricted to PS5 titles. PS3 and PS4 games are explicitly excluded, which seems slightly odd. Game trials are also locked out, as are some system features, such as party voice chat, 3D audio support, or “in-game commerce.” That last one's probably a good thing to leave out for now—the last thing anyone wants is a dropped connection potentially messing up a DLC transaction involving real money. Sony says games can be streamed at up to 1080p full HD quality at 60 fps, with save data able to be transferred over the cloud, too. "Up to" is key though—you'll need a minimum 5 Mbps of up/download speeds to even establish a cloud gaming session, with 720p quality requiring a minimum 7 Mbps, and 1080p needing 13 Mbps. Realistically, based on similar game streaming services and the Portal's own performance even on an in-home network, expect to need even higher speeds for a viable experience. End of the Console Era? What's particularly interesting here is timing. Portal as it launched was essentially an evolution of the same Remote Play feature that Sony has been offering in various incarnations for decades—PSP used the earliest version of the tech to connect to PS3 back in 2006, followed by PS Vita pairing with PS3 and PS4. Nowadays, almost any device with a screen, an internet connection, and a paired controller can use Remote Play to stream a mirror of your PS5—Portal was just a dedicated bit of kit to do that on. The introduction of cloud gaming may make Portal that bit more feature-rich, but it may also point to a growing trend among console manufacturers to leave the console behind entirely. Take Sony's arch gaming rival Microsoft—its current marketing push is that almost anything “is an Xbox.” A large part of that hinges on accessing Xbox services “with the help of Cloud Gaming,” turning any device with a screen, an internet connection, and a paired controller (sound familiar?) into an Xbox. Nintendo, meanwhile, has allowed certain games to launch on the Switch as cloud-only titles, and although this is usually restricted to titles that are typically too demanding or too large for the Switch to run natively (such as Resident Evil Village or Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy ), it shows even the notoriously conservative Japanese company isn't averse to at least experimenting with games that only exist in the ether. If anything, Microsoft is leaning into the console-free approach even harder. To date, its cloud gaming offering resembled what Sony has just announced for Portal—a curated selection of titles available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. That's changing though, with the announcement that players will be able to stream select games that they own, even if they're not included in the current Game Pass line-up. It's a limited selection at present, and still requires a subscription to the highest tier of Game Pass to access the feature, but it means players could conceivably buy and play Xbox games without ever actually owning an Xbox console. Blue Sky Thinking We've been here before though—cloud gaming has been a pipe dream at least as far back as 2010, when OnLive took a stab at it. That never quite delivered, and even as internet connection speeds have increased, ostensibly making cloud gaming more viable, it's never really felt even close to taking off. Even now, in the case of Microsoft's "everything's an Xbox" approach, the reality is still far from ideal , with latency issues proving the need for dedicated hardware to run games on. Connection speeds and delivery technology aside, people like owning their games, too, even if it's just as a digital download locally installed on their machine rather than a physical disc or cartridge. It's a nut Google was never able to crack with Stadia , which asked players to purchase individual games at full price, on top of a subscription for 4K streaming quality. We all know what happened to Stadia . Although it eventually made good , refunding customers everything they spent on purchasing games or hardware such as controllers, it was a loud and embarrassing failure, not just for Google but for cloud gaming as a concept. But Stadia's collapse didn't kill the sector entirely—cloud gaming services such as Amazon Luna and Nvidia's GeForce Now still champion the idea, and Netflix continues to quietly push its gaming credentials, even if it's largely focused on mobile and indie games packaged with its core video streaming offering. Yet, if even Google, with as close to infinite money as it's possible to imagine, can't make cloud gaming take flight, it's tough to imagine how anyone can. Perhaps the new development for PlayStation Portal will be different. Google really never knew what it was doing with Stadia, Luna doesn't appear to have a clear direction beyond existing as part of the Amazon monolith, and Netflix shutters development studios before they can ever even announce a game . Conversely, after 30 years as a market leader, Sony more than has its priors when it comes to gaming; if it thinks cloud gaming's time has come, maybe players will finally show up. In the Back Pocket Then again, it may all be a stopgap measure. Bloomberg reports Sony is in early-days development on a new portable console that will play PS5 games, with the implication being that it would do so natively, rather than via cloud gaming. If true, there's a certain sense to the move. For one thing, there's the looming specter of Nintendo Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called). With the original Switch having racked up more than 143.4 million units sold (PS4's lifetime sales, for comparison, were " more than 117 million "), it's not a huge stretch to imagine Sony wanting a slice of that pie for its PlayStation business. Portability has been key to the Switch's success, and that's largely down to having games locally available—beyond those few aforementioned cloud gaming releases, most Switch games can be played anywhere, with or without an internet connection. The Portal, a black mirror unless it's online, can't hope to offer anything close to the same experience. Then there's the Steam Deck , which has been a game changer for portable gaming. Although manufacturer Valve has been quiet on exact numbers sold (saying only that it has sold "multiple millions" of units), the number of rival handheld gaming PCs such as the ASUS ROG Ally X or Lenovo Legion Go that have cropped up show there's a significant audience for high-end portable gaming. Even Microsoft has admitted its working on its own long-rumored handheld Xbox. While it's years away from release, and despite Microsoft's own big push for cloud gaming, the planned hardware likely won't be cloud-focused. Microsoft Gaming honcho Phil Spencer has said "I think being able to play games locally is really important." While the rumors of a new dedicated Sony handheld console are unconfirmed, it's hard to imagine it would be cloud-only when or if it did arrive. That makes the new direction for PlayStation Portal a whisper in favor of cloud gaming, rather than a full-throated endorsement of it. Note also how cautious this move is. Sony isn't going to risk “doing a Stadia” by going whole hog on cloud gaming—it remains merely an added extra, a bonus feature for those already most invested in the PlayStation ecosystem. For those players, it's likely a welcome move, giving them more to do with their second screen in a manner not too different to streaming from their PS5. Yet, just as the popularity of PlayStation Portal as a device blindsided Sony, so too could this baby step toward the cloud prove unexpectedly successful. Even with the litany of caveats in place—the limited selection of titles, the restricted functions, the always-online necessity—a $200/£200 Portal and a PS Plus Premium sub is still cheaper, short term, than an actual PS5 (let alone a PS5 Pro ), and could prove a gateway drug for many. If this expanded vision for PlayStation Portal finds its niche, the future of gaming could soon look very different.
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