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old super ace Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. The initial response from customers and American employees “has exceeded our expectations,” Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery, said in a statement. She added that the airline is “thrilled” to have the technology up and running ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. American got lots of attention when it unveiled its gate-control testing last month. Analysts say that isn’t surprising. It’s no secret that line cutting in airports hits a nerve. Whether intentional or not, just about every air traveler has witnessed it, noted Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. It can add to frustrations in what can already be a tense environment, with particular anxiety around passengers wanting to sit together or rushing for some overhead bin space. Harteveldt doesn’t see American’s recent move as “shaming” customers who cut the line. “What it is intended to do is bring order out of chaos,” he said. “And I hope it will defuse any potential flare ups of anger (from) people who simply think they’re entitled to board out of turn .... It’s just not fair.” Harteveldt added that he thinks this change will enhance the experiences of both customers and gate agents. Others say more time will tell. Seth Miller, editor and founder of air travel experience analysis site PaxEx.aero, said he can see the benefits of more orderly and universal gate-control enforcement, particularly for airlines. But he said he isn’t “100% convinced this is perfect for passengers” just yet. Families, for example, might be booked on several different reservations across more than one group, he said. Airlines typically have workarounds for that, and American noted Wednesday that customers traveling with a companion in an earlier group can simply have a gate agent “override the alert” to continue boarding. Still, Miller said, “you have to go through the extra hoops.” And a difficult customer still might choose to hold up the line and argue when they’re not allowed to board, he added. Another question is whether customers who encounter a beep will walk away feeling embarrassed. But Harteveldt said he was happy to learn that American’s alert is “not a bellowing sound that can be heard throughout the terminal,” or accompanied by your name read over a loudspeaker, noting that this is important to avoid feelings of shame. Expanding this technology just a week before peak Thanksgiving travel could be “both good and bad,” Harteveldt adds. On one hand, the tech could help significantly improve the boarding process during such a busy time, he said, but airport employees might also have appreciated more time to prepare. Both Miller and Harteveldt said they wouldn’t be surprised if other carriers soon follow American’s lead. Headaches over airport line cutting are far from new. While maybe not to the extent of American’s new tech, Miller noted he’s seen gate agents from other airlines ask people to leave a line and wait for their group. Harteveldt added that he’s been to some airports in Asia and Europe with “sliding doors” that ensure passengers are in the right group before boarding a plane. The more than 100 airports that American is now using its gate-control technology in are all spoke, or non-hub, locations — including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airline says it expects to further expand to its hubs and other airports in the coming months. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.Putin apologizes for crash but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot downShoppers bemused as Easter eggs hit shop shelves before New Year’s Eve

Australian Environment Minister Disappointed as UN Members Fail to Reach Agreement on Plastic Pollution

Creating a passive-income stream with payouts might sound challenging, especially if you aim at $600 a month, or $7,200 each year. Yet through exchange-traded fund (ETF) ( ), this can be a go-to strategy, especially for many Canadian investors seeking stable returns with minimal active management. HDIV is designed to provide enhanced income by focusing on covered calls and selling call options on assets to generate income while holding a diverse portfolio primarily in financials, technology, and communication services. This fund’s diversified sector mix and income-focused strategy are ideal for investors aiming for consistent monthly cash flow without the hassle of individual stock picking. The fund HDIV’s top holdings reveal a well-balanced asset mix, with significant investments in financial services, a sector that accounts for over 55% of the fund’s composition. This sector weighting reflects a strategic approach, as Canadian financial institutions tend to offer steady and are known for resilience, This can help balance the ETF’s monthly distributions. Other sectors, like technology and communication services, diversify the portfolio. HDIV’s impressive year-to-date (YTD) return of around 24.74% highlights its performance in a positive market environment. Yet this ETF is particularly attractive because of its substantial yield, currently around 10.86%. This translates to regular monthly payouts for investors. This high yield is a result of HDIV’s covered call strategy, where the fund earns premiums from selling options, thereby adding income beyond traditional dividends. Future outlooks for HDIV and similar covered call ETFs depend largely on market volatility and interest rates. In times of low volatility, income from options may decrease, impacting overall returns. But in higher-volatility markets, covered call strategies can thrive by offering attractive premiums, thereby allowing HDIV to continue distributing monthly income to investors. Making the cash The management fees of HDIV, like with many actively managed ETFs, tend to be higher due to the option strategies and frequent adjustments required. However, for investors prioritizing monthly income and passive gains over capital growth, these fees may be justifiable, especially when compared to the returns generated by the fund’s strategy. So, how much would you need to invest to create that $600 per month? For that, you need to consider the returns as well as dividend income. This is what investors might bring in then within the next year based on past performance. This investment would, therefore, bring in $5,074.70 in returns and $2,180.90 in dividends, totalling $7,198.10 annually, or $599.84 monthly. Bottom line Investing in an ETF like HDIV can be a convenient way to generate monthly passive income, especially for those looking to complement other income sources. Its design and focus on covered calls make it unique in the ETF space, offering a blend of income and exposure to key sectors in the Canadian economy. As with any financial decision, understanding the strategy, performance, and risks involved is essential for maximizing benefits, making HDIV work effectively as part of a broader passive income strategy.Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”

‘Let’s not panic’: Canada picks up the pieces after Latvia loss at world juniorsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels — and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.By JILL COLVIN NEW YORK — He’s making threats, traveling abroad and negotiating with world leaders. Donald Trump has more than a month and a half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the Republican president-elect is already moving aggressively not just to fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but to achieve those priorities . Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, prompting emergency calls and a visit from Canada’s prime minister that resulted in what Trump claimed were commitments from both U.S. allies on new border security measures. The incoming president has warned there will be “ALL HELL TO PAY” if, before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, Hamas does not release the hostages being held in Gaza . He has threatened to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company, warning “Buyer Beware!!!” And this weekend, Trump was returning to the global stage, joining a host of other foreign leaders for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral five years after it was ravaged by a fire. On Saturday, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron — joined at the last minute by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and had plans to see Britain’s Prince William also in Paris. Absent in Paris: lame duck President Joe Biden, who has largely disappeared from headlines, except when he issued a pardon of his son , Hunter, who was facing sentencing for gun crimes and tax evasion. First lady Jill Biden is attending in his place. “I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years. And we’re not even there yet,” Trump said in an over-the-top boast at an awards ceremony Thursday night . For all of Trump’s bold talk, though, it is unclear how many of his efforts will bear fruit. Breaking precedent The pre-inauguration threats and deal-making are highly unusual, like so much of what Trump does, said Julian Zelizer, a political historian at Princeton University. “Transitions are always a little complicated in this way. Even though we talk about one president at a time,” he said, “the reality is one president plus. And that plus can act assertively sometimes.” Zelizer said that is particularly true of Trump, who was president previously and already has relationships with many foreign leaders such as Macron, who invited both Trump and Biden to Paris this weekend as part of the Notre Dame celebration. “Right now he’s sort of governing even though he’s not the president yet. He’s having these public meetings with foreign leaders, which aren’t simply introductions. He’s staking out policy and negotiating things from drug trafficking to tariffs,” Zelizer said. Foreign leader meetings Trump already has met with several foreign leaders, in addition to a long list of calls. He hosted Argentinian President Javier Milei in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago club in November. After the tariff threat, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago for a three-hour dinner meeting. Canadian officials later said the country is ready to make new investments in border security, with plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers. Last Sunday, Trump dined with Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Israeli prime minister. Incoming Trump aides have also been meeting with their future foreign counterparts. On Wednesday, several members of Trump’s team, including incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, met with Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelenskyy, in Washington, as Ukraine tries to win support for its ongoing efforts to defend itself from Russian invasion, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Yermak also met with Trump officials in Florida, he wrote on X . That comes after Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Qatar and Israel for high-level talks about a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to a U.S official familiar with the efforts, meeting with the prime ministers of both countries. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. One president, two voices There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise impact current U.S. policy. Trump aides were said to be especially cognizant of potential conflicts given their experience in 2016, when interactions between Trump allies and Russian officials came under scrutiny. That included a phone call in which Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, discussed new sanctions with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting things would improve after Trump became president. Flynn was later charged with lying to the FBI about the conversation. Trump’s incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, “All transition officials have followed applicable laws in their interactions with foreign nationals.” She added: “World leaders recognize that President Trump is returning to power and will lead with strength to put the best interests of the United States of America first again. That is why many foreign leaders and officials have reached out to correspond with President Trump and his incoming team.” Such efforts can nonetheless cause complications. If, say, Biden is having productive conversations on a thorny foreign policy issue and Trump weighs in, that could make it harder for Biden “because people are hearing two different voices” that may be in conflict, Zelizer said. Leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu may also anticipate a more favorable incoming administration and wait Biden out, hoping for more a better deal. Coordination between incoming and outgoing administrations It also remains unclear how extensively the Biden administration has been kept apprised of Trump transition efforts. Although there is no requirement that an incoming administration coordinate calls and meetings with foreign officials with the State Department or National Security Council, that has long been considered standard practice. That is, in part, because transition teams, particularly in their early days and weeks, do not always have the latest information about the state of relations with foreign nations and may not have the resources, including interpretation and logistical ability, to handle such meetings efficiently. Still, the Biden and Trump teams have been talking, particularly on the Middle East, with the incoming and outgoing administrations having agreed to work together on efforts to free hostages who remain in held in Gaza, according to a U.S. official, who, like others, was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. That includes conversations between Witkoff and Biden’s foreign policy team as well as Waltz and Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Last month, Biden administration officials said they had kept Trump’s team closely apprised of efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border. “I just want to be clear to all of our adversaries, they can’t play the incoming Trump administration off of the Biden administration. I’m regularly talking to the Biden people. And so, this is not a moment of opportunity or wedges for them,” Waltz said Friday in a Fox Business interview. But when it comes to immigration, Biden administration officials haven’t been entirely in the loop on discussions around how to execute on Trump’s pledge to deport millions of migrants, according to four administration officials with knowledge of the transition who spoke on condition of anonymity. That’s not terribly surprising given how differently the teams view migration. Taking credit already Trump’s team, meanwhile, is already claiming credit for everything from gains in the stock and cryptocurrency markets to a decision by Walmart to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies Trump opposes. “Promises Kept — And President Trump Hasn’t Even Been Inaugurated Yet,” read one press release that claimed, in part, that both Canada and Mexico have already pledged “immediate action” to help “stem the flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and deadly drugs entering the United States.” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stopped short of saying Trump mischaracterized their call in late November. But she said Friday that Trump “has his own way of communicating, like when we had the phone call and he wrote that we were going to close the border. That was never talked about in the phone call.” Earlier this week, Mexico carried out what it claimed was its largest seizure of fentanyl pills ever. Seizures over the summer had been as little as 50 grams per week, and after the Trump call, they seized more than a ton. Security analyst David Saucedo said that “under the pressure by Donald Trump, it appears President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is willing to increase the capture of drug traffickers and drug seizures that Washington is demanding.” Biden, too, tried to take credit for the seizure in a statement Friday night. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Trump appears to side with Musk, tech allies in debate over foreign workers roiling his supportersFed up voters will dish out some justice of their own if Shabana Mahmood doesn’t get a grip of justice system crisis

Putin apologizes for crash but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot down

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — CJ Donaldson had two short rushing touchdowns and West Virginia became bowl eligible with a 31-21 victory over UCF on Saturday. Garrett Greene threw a TD pass in his final home game and Jahiem White added a short rushing score for the Mountaineers (6-5, 5-3 Big 12). West Virginia avoided losing for the fifth time at home, which hasn’t happened since 1990. Whether the win was enough for embattled coach Neal Brown to keep his job remains to be seen. UCF (4-7, 2-6) is assured of its second straight losing season under coach Gus Malzahn. Donaldson, averaging 53 rushing yards per game, finished with 96 yards. He came out determined with 56 yards on his first four carries, including a 1-yard run on West Virginia's opening series. West Virginia cornerback Dontez Fagan then recovered a fumble by UCF quarterback Dylan Rizk, and Donaldson ran for 28 more yards on the next series that was capped by White’s 3-yard TD run. Greene struggled in the passing game for most of the first half, then went 4 of 6 for 65 yards just before halftime, hitting Rodney Gallagher with a 12-yard TD toss for a 21-7 lead. Rizk went 11 of 21 for 172 yards, including a 45-yard scoring strike to Kobe Hudson. RJ Harvey, the Big 12’s leading rusher, ran for 130 yards and two scores, including a 9-yard TD run that brought UCF within 31-21 with 5:20 left. But the ensuing onside kick didn't go the required 10 yards. Greene then converted a pair of fourth-down passes and West Virginia ran out the clock. Greene finished 13 of 21 for 118 yards. UCF: The Knights outgained West Virginia 348 yards to 318 but now have lost seven of eight games following a 3-0 start. West Virginia: The Mountaineers won despite being stuck in many third-and-long situations on offense against a solid effort from UCF's defensive front. UCF: Hosts Utah on Friday night. West Virginia: Finishes the regular season at Texas Tech next Saturday. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Rich countries’ promise of $300 billion a year in climate finance brought fury at talks in Baku from poor nations that found it too paltry, but it also shows a shift in global political realities. The two-week marathon COP29 climate conference opened days after the decisive victory in the US presidential election of Donald Trump, a sceptic both of climate change and foreign aid. In the new year, Germany, Canada and Australia all hold elections in which conservatives less supportive of green policies stand chances of victory. Britain is an exception, with the new Labour government putting climate high back on the agenda, but in much of the West, concerns about inflation and budgetary shocks from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have dented enthusiasm for aggressive climate measures. At COP29, Germany and the European Union maintained their roles championing climate but also advocated a noticeably practical approach on how much money historical polluters should give poorer countries. “We live in a time of truly challenging geopolitics, and we should simply not have the illusion” otherwise, European climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra told bleary-eyed delegates at COP29’s pre-dawn closing session Sunday, as activists in the back loudly coughed to drown him out. But he vowed leadership by Europe, hailing COP29 as “the start of a new era for climate finance”. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, a Green party member and longtime climate advocate, called for flexibility on ways to provide funding. Europe should “live up to its responsibilities, but in a way that it doesn’t make promises it can’t keep”, she said. Avinash Persaud, special advisor on climate change to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank, called the final deal “the boundary between what is politically achievable today in developed countries and what would make a difference in developing countries”. Activists say that climate funding is a duty, not choice, for wealthy nations whose decades of greenhouse gas emissions most contributed to the crisis that most hits the poorest. This year is again set to be the hottest on record on the planet. Just since COP29, deadly storms have battered the Philippines and Honduras, and Ecuador declared a national emergency due to drought and forest fires. – ‘Creative accounting’? – Wealthy historic emitters’ promise of $300 billion a year by 2035 is a step up from an expiring commitment of $100 billion annually, but all sides acknowledge it is not enough. The COP29 agreement cites the need for $1.3 trillion per year, meaning a whopping $1 trillion a year needs to come from elsewhere. Even within the $300 billion commitment, some activists see too much wiggle room. “It is, to some extent, almost an empty promise,” said Mariana Paoli, the global advocacy lead at London-based development group Christian Aid. She described the target as “creative accounting”, saying there was not enough clarity on how much money would come from public funds and in grants rather than loans. She acknowledged the politics of the moment but said that wealthy nations had options such as taxation on fossil fuel companies. “There is a backlash because there is no political will,” she said. – Role for multinational banks – In one closely scrutinised part of the Baku deal, countries will be able to count climate finance through international financial institutions toward the $300 billion goal. The text states that it is “voluntary” — potentially opening the way to include China, which is the world’s largest emitter but refuses to have requirements like long-developed countries. In a joint statement at COP29, multilateral development banks led by the Washington-based World Bank Group but also including the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank — which has long faced US criticism — expected that they together can provide $120 billion annually in climate financing and mobilise another $65 billion from the private sector by 2030. Melanie Robinson, director of the global climate program at the World Resources Institute, said there were good reasons to rely on multinational development banks, including how much capital they can leverage and their tools to advance green policies. “They are the most effective way to turn each dollar of finance into impact on the ground,” she said. She agreed that the $300 billion was insufficient but added, “It’s a down payment on what we need.” Beyond the debate on dollar figures, she pointed to an initiative within the G20 by Brazil, which holds COP30 next year, to reform financial institutions so as to incorporate debtor nations as well as climate concerns. “There is really a much bigger opportunity for us — which is shifting the whole financial system,” she said. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

Gaming laptops aren’t built for the same heavy use as desktops, and their lifespan can be even shorter without proper maintenance. This guide details how I have kept my gaming laptop running at peak performance for years – and how you can too. Hardware degradation over time is inevitable, but heat can significantly speed up the process – or even cause the components to fail. I don’t just mean overheating issues , as you should try to minimize heat as much as possible. Try to always keep the temperature below 176°F (or 80°C) for both the CPU and GPU. Use dedicated apps to check the CPU and GPU temperatures . Although there are many ways to decrease PC temperature , using a cooling pad and regularly renewing thermal paste has done wonders for me. Cooling pads are often recommended for overheating issues, but I believe they are also beneficial for regular use with gaming laptops. Gaming laptops commonly hit temperatures over 160°F (71°C). Although these temperatures are considered safe, they still contribute to overall component degradation. Cooling pads help further bring down the temperature for even safer use. They also offer great support for the laptop by elevating it from the surface, allowing even better airflow compared to using it on a table. You can easily use it on your lap without any discomfort from heat. You don’t need anything fancy, as a quiet cooling pad, like the Kootek Cooling Pad , is enough. Don’t wait for the laptop to start showing overheating signs – renew thermal paste on the CPU and GPU on a set schedule. Recommended laptop maintenance suggests changing the thermal paste every two to three years. However, I prefer to renew it within two years to not risk the laptop running for even a short period without proper thermal transfer. In fact, I have renewed thermal paste four times in the last seven years – most recently this week. Renewing thermal paste is an easy process that many people can do on their own. You can bring it to a PC repair shop and have them to help you change the thermal paste for a low fee too. Both the laptop’s external body and internal components collect dust, crumbs, and grime. Not only are they bad for aesthetics, but they can also lead to heating issues and even short circuits in rare cases. Follow this maintenance routine to ensure your laptop stays clean both inside and out: Weekly Cleaning Routine First, tilt your laptop upside down, and gently shake (lightly pat on the back if needed) to remove loose crumbs/debris. A microfiber or a soft lint-free cloth is all you need to clean the laptop . Use the cloth to clean the exterior of the laptop, including the keyboard and the screen. Avoid pressure when cleaning the screen, and clean in a circular motion. This is just some light weekly cleaning, so there is no need to worry about hard-to-reach spots – just clear the visible dirt to prevent it from building up over time. Monthly Cleaning Routine You’ll need a can of compressed air with a fine nozzle for this. Once a month, use the compressed air to blow bursts onto the keyboard and fan vents. Also, use a soft-bristled brush to clean around the vents and eliminate any debris on the keyboard. A soft paintbrush works, but I prefer makeup brushes, as they are softer and more puffy to clean quickly. If you are following the weekly routine, you won’t need to do anything special for the screen. However, if there are any stubborn smudges, lightly dampen the microfiber cloth in distilled water to clean it. Yearly Cleaning Routine You can do this every six months, but yearly works fine for me, as I strictly follow the weekly and monthly routines. Furthermore, if you are not comfortable with messing around with laptop internals, you can utilize the cleaning service from a PC repair shop. You’ll need to open the laptop to get access to all the internals. I recommend following our step-by-step guide on fixing an overheating laptop from the internals . It has all the info to both open and clean the laptop. Personally, I only clean what is visible in front, so there is no need to unscrew and access hidden components. Keep your focus on the fan blades and any dirt on the motherboard. Just because your laptop can, doesn’t mean you need to run everything at max performance. This will just put extra strain on components, decreasing overall life. Try to optimize your setup with these suggestions to only use the resources you need. Balanced performance is enough for most games and will save resources while running most games that should be capable on your laptop. Go to Windows Settings -> System -> Power & battery , and select Balanced next to Power mode . You should also make sure your game FPS matches the laptop screen refresh rate . Your laptop screen can’t show the FPS beyond its refresh rate, so the extra FPS goes to waste while still using resources. You can use V-Sync or G-Sync /FreeSync (if supported) to force the laptop to sync FPS and the refresh rate. For less CPU-demanding games, I like to disable the turbo boost technology, reducing much of the unnecessary stress on the CPU. Although it can be done from BIOS, I prefer using the Throttlestop app to enable/disable it quickly. Just check the Disable Turbo option. You can also check out how to improve the gaming experience on laptops to find more ways to reduce strain on your laptop components for a longer life. The laptop component with the shortest life is the battery, and there is a good chance you’ll have to replace it at least once before other components start showing their age. However, you can still increase the laptop battery’s lifespan with careful maintenance. If your laptop supports smart charging that stops charging at 80%, take advantage of it. Access the BIOS and enable it under battery configuration settings, or use the laptop manufacturer’s software. If your laptop doesn’t have a smart charging feature, try to keep it between 20% and 80% when not gaming by unplugging it manually. Additionally, don’t let the battery frequently drop to 0%, as it can affect overall battery health. As mentioned before, heat is bad for your laptop, especially the battery, as it speeds up the chemical reactions within the battery cells. Make sure you follow the above steps to keep heat to a minimum. If you prioritize your laptop’s lifespan over performance, don’t do experimental stuff that the laptop isn’t meant to do. Yes, I am talking about overclocking , whether you are overclocking the CPU , RAM , or GPU . Overclocking is especially a problem on laptops, due to the limited options to get rid of the extra heat that is generated. On desktops, you can just get some new fans , but that won’t work for laptops. Not only will the overclocking process stress the components, but the extra heat generation will surely speed up the degradation process. Furthermore, even gaming laptops aren’t built to handle continuous use, unlike desktops. I usually have two- to three-hour gaming sessions, with occasional four- to six-hour sessions. Try to take breaks between sessions, even if it means closing the game and doing light web browsing. These maintenance methods will surely extend your gaming laptop’s life and ensure it keeps giving peak performance. Read on to learn about optimizing Windows for gaming performance , as freeing up resources reduces component stress and slows down wear and tear. Image credit: Vecteezy . All screenshots by Karrar Haider. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Karrar is drenched in technology and always fiddles with new tech opportunities. He has a bad habit of calling technology “Killer”, and doesn't feel bad about spending too much time in front of the PC. If he is not writing about technology, you will find him spending quality time with his little family.China Media Group (CMG) on Saturday released the top 10 military news stories from China and the world in 2024. Here is the roundup: Top 10 China military news: 1. Third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee stresses deepening national defense, military reform The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its third plenary session from July 15 to 18 with a communique issued . On national defense, the communique urged maintaining the Party's absolute leadership over the people's armed forces and fully implementing the strategy of strengthening the military through reform to provide a strong guarantee for realizing the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and achieving basic modernization of national defense and the armed forces. 2. Xi stresses enhancing political loyalty in the military Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the armed forces' political loyalty as a crucial meeting on the political work in the military was held in Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), demanded efforts to ensure a solid political guarantee for building a strong military as he addressed the CMC Political Work Conference, held from June 17 to 19. Xi highlighted key work to enhance political loyalty in the military, urging efforts to arm the military with the Party's new theories and improve the leadership of Party organizations, as well as their capabilities of organization and implementation. 3. Book of Xi's discourses on law-based governance of military published A compilation of discourses by Xi on governing the military in accordance with the law was published. The discourses were excerpted from speeches and written works by Xi between November 2012 and June 2024. The CMC urged military officers and soldiers at all levels to thoroughly study the book and especially required senior officers to play an exemplary role in respecting, learning about, observing and applying laws. 4. PLA sets up information support force The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) set up an information support force on April 19. Speaking at the establishment ceremony , Xi stressed solid efforts to build a strong and modernized information support force. Xi stressed that the information support force is a new, strategic branch of the military and a key pillar in coordinating the construction and application of the network information system. It will play a crucial role in advancing the Chinese military's high-quality development and competitiveness in modern warfare, he added. 5. PLA launches intercontinental ballistic missile in Pacific Ocean The Chinese PLA Rocket Force launched an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead into the high seas in the Pacific Ocean on September 25. The missile fell into expected sea areas, said the Ministry of National Defense, adding that this was a routine arrangement in the annual training plan and relevant countries had been notified in advance. 6. PLA conducts joint military drills surrounding Taiwan island The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese PLA has organized its troops of army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct "Joint Sword-2024A" and "Joint Sword-2024B" drills in the Taiwan Straits and the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan. The drills involve vessels and planes closing in on the island from multiple directions and assaults by joint forces. The drills are a powerful deterrent to the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" elements and are legitimate and necessary actions to safeguard national sovereignty and national unity, said Li Xi, spokesperson for the theater command. 7. China releases baselines of territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao The Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, which is a natural step to lawfully strengthen marine management and is consistent with international law and common practices, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on November 10. The ministry said that Huangyan Dao has always been China's territory. In accordance with international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao. The Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command on November 28 conducted combat readiness patrols in the surrounding areas and the airspace over the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao. 8. China makes leap-forward progress in building aircraft carriers In 2024, all three aircraft carriers of the Chinese PLA Navy – Shandong, Liaoning and Fujian – made tremendous achievements. Since entering active service, the Shandong has been rapidly integrated into joint operations and long-range maritime combat systems, with the carrier strike group's operational capabilities steadily advancing. In October 2024, the formations of aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong carried out a dual-carrier formation exercise for the first time in the South China Sea. During the drill, J-15 fighters flew in a wedge formation over the two-carrier groups. The Fujian completed its first sea trials in May 2024, with further trials planned as construction continues. 9. China issues regulations for settlement of veterans China's State Council and the Central Military Commission issued a set of regulations for the settlement of veterans, aiming to better protect their rights and interests. The document, which took effect on September 1, outlines the settlement procedure for veterans and clarifies that the location for veterans' settlement should be determined according to their needs for work and the locations of their families, with their contributions during their period of military service taken into consideration. 10. New arms, equipment make debut at Airshow China The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China , was held in Zhuhai from November 12 to 17. Some star products at the event this year include the J-35A stealth fighter jet, the J-15T fighter jet and the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile weapon system. The cargo hold of the Y-20 aircraft and the Chang'e-6 mission lunar samples, collected from the far side of the moon, were displayed to the public. Top 10 world military news: 1. New round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues with more parties involved In 2024, the Middle East once again finds itself at the epicenter of global turbulence. Escalating tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Sudan, coupled with the ongoing Red Sea crisis, have severely impacted regional and global security. These challenges have also heightened the desire for peace among the people of the region. 2. Russia-Ukraine conflict drags on with increasing tensions On August 6, 2024, Ukraine launched an attack on Russia's Kursk Oblast. In November, the U.S., the UK and France authorized Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Russia then updated the Fundamentals of State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence, lowered the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons, and used the Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile to strike targets in Ukraine. Read more: Expert: Russia-Ukraine conflict edges closer to a nuclear stage 3. NATO holds largest military drills in decades The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in January kicked off "Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024," its largest military drills in decades. According to NATO, the drills took place in several locations, with associated exercises running until May 31. "It will show that NATO can conduct and sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometers, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, and in any conditions." 4. U.S., Canada, Australia and the Philippines hold joint exercise in South China Sea The Philippines, Canada, the United States and Australia held their first joint military exercise in August in the South China Sea. 5. Sweden officially joins NATO Sweden had its national flag rise at the headquarters of NATO in Brussels, marking its position as the military alliance's 32nd member. Read more: Hungary ratifies Sweden's NATO bid in historic move 6. Japan adopts new security strategy The Japanese government has approved three updated documents on its security and defense policies, vowing to acquire the military power to actively attack its enemy and largely increase its military expenditure for the next five years. A cabinet meeting has updated the nation's key security documents, including the new National Security Strategy, or the top-level strategy document of Japan's national security, which was revised for the first time since it was issued in 2013. Read more: Japan's new security strategy eclipses pacifism, raises concern 7. Rising tensions on Korean Peninsula The current situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense with growing antagonism and confrontation, with increasing risks of bloc confrontation. Read more: China opposes acts that exacerbate Korean Peninsula tensions 8. Several countries accelerate development of unmanned combat forces In February 2024, the U.S. Air Force announced plans to establish an unmanned wingman fleet. In May, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces was established. In September, the U.S. Navy conducted a mixed fleet experiment to test the integrated combat capabilities of unmanned platforms and manned ships in various combat domains. In December, Russia announced that it would establish an unmanned system force. An unmanned combat system is highly deployable and can be equipped with intelligent modules to improve combat effectiveness. It is expected to have a profound impact on future warfare patterns. 9. U.S. launches 'Joint Warfare' concept to prepare for intelligent warfare On January 29, 2024, the U.S. military established the "Joint Warfare" concept in the form of a strategic guidance document to guide the development of intelligent warfare capabilities. In February, the Coalition Joint All-Domain Command and Control system, a key project of the concept, achieved initial operational capability. The U.S. established an artificial intelligence task force in the same month. 10. EU presents first-ever defense industrial strategy In March, the European Union (EU) presented its "first-ever" European Defense Industrial Strategy at the EU level in response to security concerns. "To increase European defence industrial readiness, Member States need to invest more, better, together, and European," said the European Commission (EC) in a press release, adding that the strategy presented by the Commission "sets a clear, long-term vision to achieve defense industrial readiness in the EU." The EC said that the program will mobilize 1.5 billion euros (about $1.63 billion) of the EU budget over the period 2025-2027 to continue enhancing the competitiveness of the European Defense Technological and Industrial Base.

Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada’s hotel. The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country’s under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier. “You only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?” Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning. “Is that how this works?” That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament. Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians. The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight. “We’re certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water,” said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. “We’ve got to be really careful.” Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front. There were, of course, desperate spurts — especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime — but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects. “We played really, really hard,” Anholt said in defending his players. “We controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good ... 99 times out of 100 we win that game.” Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year’s Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players. Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia’s net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area. “Tough blow for the kid,” Anholt said. “The way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed.” Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday’s ugly result in the nation’s capital. “We’re good,” said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. “Everyone’s lost a hockey game before.” But not like that — or to that opponent on that stage. “Bit of a (crappy) feeling,” said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. “We all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard. “We’ll bounce back.” Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team’s overall roster construction. “We’re not really worried about it,” defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year’s team, said of the outside noise. “We know we didn’t play well.” Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there’s a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee. The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League. “Great player,” Cowan said. “He finds ways.” Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments. “Let’s not panic,” he said. “The world hasn’t fallen in. It’s hard, but we’ll learn from it.” It’s something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny. “People are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you,” said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. “Gotta keep doing you.” Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn’t getting 2024 vibes from this year’s group. “Not even in any way, shape or form,” he said. “We’ve just got to take care of business.” They get a first shot at redemption Sunday.

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Passive Income: How Much Do You Need to Invest to Make $600 Per Month?Eric Venker Sells 100,000 Shares of Roivant Sciences Ltd. (NASDAQ:ROIV) StockTHE smiling face of Ruben Amorim and the promise of a bright new future is supposed to be giving everyone at Manchester United a lift. Unfortunately, the public face of the Red Devils hides a very different story behind the scenes. One which could have the new boss pining for Lisbon before he knows it. The ramifications of a disastrous summer for the club under new leadership are still being felt. Not least among the rank-and-file staff, who are seeing their positions eroded and, in the worst-case scenario, extinguished altogether with 250 redundancies. They understandably wonder if they are collateral damage of decisions by the ex-manager and woeful recruitment. Even Sir Alex Ferguson has not been safe with his £2million-a-year ambassadorial role axed. Those who championed new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival as having put a spring in everyone’s step have lost their bounce. He took control of 27.7 per cent of the club from the Glazer family last February, with the mandate to run the football operation while the American owners sat back and continued to milk the cash cow. He brought in trusted wingman Sir Dave Brailsford although, to this day, nobody at the club knows quite what his skills are or what he does, rather than telling everyone what is wrong. FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS One of his first complaints was the state of the IT department’s office at the training ground, which he did not realise was actually an MUTV studio. The handling of former gaffer Erik ten Hag has leapt to the top of the charts regarding bungling in 11 years since Fergie retired and the bar is already pretty high. To cut a long story short, they wanted him out, couldn’t find anyone to replace him, asked him to stay, extended his contract, spent millions on a new coaching team at the Theatre of Dreams and then spent another £172.1MILLION in the transfer market. Just 11 games into the new season, the hierarchy decided they would once again return to square one at great expense, with pay-offs for all those going out and a release clause fee for the new bloke coming in. Now, questions are being asked internally at the highest level about how they got to this position, with fingers metaphorically pointed across the boardroom table. Sir Jim has effectively washed his hands of it all, having claimed when questions about Ten Hag’s future intensified, that it wasn’t on him to provide the answers as they had a new senior management team in place to do all that. That team includes Omar Berrada, the CEO poached from rivals Manchester City , who were not exactly tying him to the Etihad’s gates to stop him from going, and Dan Ashworth , the sporting director, who was good lower down the league on a budget. Then there is Jason Wilcox, the technical director, who is supposed to influence how United play now. If he’s already had input, goodness knows what he has been saying. By Charlie Wyett RUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title. Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional. Sporting won 3-1 thanks to second-half goals by captain Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two. Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional. The stadium will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford. Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola. Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39, could not turn down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night. There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through. Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020. Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups. And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout. So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy. This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two. They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort. In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night. Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench. There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave. While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three. It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the coming months. But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change. All will undoubtedly have had a significant influence on the summer spending splurge, which failed to raise the team’s performance. The most bizarre transfer was the £36.5m paid to Bologna for Joshua Zirkzee . Ten Hag didn’t want him. He arrived a stone overweight and has scored ONE goal. Apparently a metatarsal problem showed up on Leny Yoro’s medical ahead of a £42m spend. Lo and behold, in his second game of pre-season , he got a metatarsal injury and has only just started training during the current international break. Then the question is why would Bayern Munich let go of defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui at a combined total of £51.3m up front, rising to a possible £59.5m, if they were that good? Only Manuel Ugarte , the £42.2m signing from Paris Saint-Germain, is looking close to being a United player, yet even he does not look a step up from Scott McTominay, who left for Napoli and is ripping it up. The spending means Amorim’s ability to do anything in the next transfer window will be restricted unless he can shift players, but who is going to buy anyone from Old Trafford right now? All this time behind the scenes, the ship is far from happy, with staff unceremoniously thrown overboard in a penny-pinching purge. It has even led to chefs pulling their hair out to try to cover matchday hospitality on reduced budgets and staffing levels. Long-standing employees feel like they have been cast aside like rubbish. The most alarming story came when a staff member with 25 years at the club behind him was told he was being given a commemorative watch for his service. He was then told to pick it up at main reception, where a security guard handed it to him in a polythene bag. That’s a picture to show the grandkids in the future . An award-winning journalist is currently tasked with shadowing Sir Jim and his new regime for a book on how they turned United around. It may end up being a work of fiction. WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies . Optimism and hope was at an all-time low. But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals. Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term. He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival. And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford. Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up. Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”. United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won't be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.” And yet, you cannot help but compare the two. For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.