Ecstatic Gathering

Microsoft is making a big move into portable gaming , officially unveiling its new console, the ROG Xbox Ally , after years of rumors and speculation.

The new portable device, created in partnership with Asus , promises to bring the Xbox experience and Game Pass subscription to the palm of your hand, with two versions, Windows support, and access to hundreds of titles - both natively and via cloud or remote play. Its release is expected in late 2025 , but the price has not yet been announced.

Speculation about Microsoft building a portable Xbox has been widespread for more than a decade, with the company launching and rejecting various attempts over the years.

Microsoft's announcement comes just three days after the launch of the Switch 2 .

Like its predecessor, the Switch 2 is a hybrid gaming device—meaning it can be played both on the go and connected to a TV.

Its success likely led to the design of Valve's Steam Deck, a portable computer that gives gamers access to their entire library of titles they've purchased through the Steam game distribution service—though not all games work on the device.

This means Microsoft can be accused of being slightly late to the game when there are already rivals in the space, but the advantage of native Game Pass support will likely address many concerns for its 34 million subscribers .
Two versions

As reported by the BBC , Microsoft's new portable device will be released in two versions , the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X.

“Whether you’re at home or on the go, your favorite games should follow you,” said Xbox head of gaming devices, Roanne Sones.

"Both portable devices allow gamers to play natively, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console in another room."

The two versions both share a 7-inch display with 1080p resolution .

The base version has 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, while the “X” version has 24GB of memory and double the storage .

The more powerful version of the mobile device also features a larger battery and a more powerful processor.

In both cases, Xbox will hope to convince gamers that it offers something its competitors don't - Microsoft's operating system .

“Because these portable devices run Windows, you have access to games you can’t find elsewhere, so you can enjoy the full freedom and flexibility of PC gaming,” said Ms. Sones.

In other words, gamers can leave the Xbox app and launch other gaming platforms—like Steam and EA Play—through the device.

However, all these features come at a cost in terms of weight.

At 670g and 715g respectively, the base and X versions of the Xbox Ally may be heavier than what handheld gamers are used to - with Nintendo's new Switch 2 weighing considerably less, at 534g .

And one big unanswered question remains - the price.

Microsoft decided not to reveal how much its new portable device will cost , but it goes without saying that the more powerful X version will also be more expensive.

The Switch 2, which has a similar screen, is sold in the UK for €465, while the Steam Deck costs between €410 and €675 depending on specifications.
Games revealed

Part of Game Pass' success is that many highly anticipated new releases appear on the service on launch day , meaning players can save money on their subscription—though you do lose access to a game if you cancel your subscription.

At the launch event where it unveiled the new handheld, Microsoft announced several new games—including the reveal that 17 new titles will be coming to Game Pass PC & Ultimate on day one .

Many of these are highly anticipated games, such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Outer Worlds 2.

It also includes the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 when it releases - likely later this year.

The new game will be the sequel to Black Ops 2, which has received rave reviews and was first released in 2012.

Interestingly, while the game was confirmed for several consoles, there was no mention of the Switch 2 at the event - despite Nintendo previously signing a 10-year deal to bring the series to its consoles in 2022.

But there's something else that many gaming fans would be excited to finally see revealed.

The long-awaited remake of Persona 4, subtitled Revival, is set to be remade 17 years after its first release on PlayStation 2 .

The original game, in which a group of friends investigate a series of murders in the Japanese countryside, is considered a classic.

But fans of the series will have to wait, as Sega and Atlus did not share a release date for the remake.

At a time when the global climate debate is focused on global warming, a new scientific study is coming to… stir things up. The collapse of the critical Atlantic Ocean marine circulation system, known as the Atlantic Meridian Overturning Circulation (AMOC), could cause extreme cooling in Europe and drastic changes in global climate.

The study, published in the prestigious scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters, used a modern and sophisticated climate model for the first time and the results, as CNN reports, are impressive and worrying: Europe, and especially its northern regions, could experience a “little ice age”, with winter temperatures reaching as low as -48°C, heavy snowfall and extensive ice reaching as far as Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

The same study reveals a paradox: while Europe will freeze, the US will continue to warm. Specifically, the study predicts that in London the temperature could drop to -19°C, while in Oslo it could reach -48°C, with almost half the months of the year having temperatures below zero.
What is AMOC

AMOC is one of the most basic circulation systems on the planet. It functions as a huge "convection belt" that brings warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic. There, the water cools and sinks, continuing its cycle towards the south.

This system of currents keeps Europe warmer than other regions at the same latitude. Its weakening, which has already begun according to many studies, threatens to overturn Europe's climate as we know it.
Polar cold in winter, heatwave in summer

This will not neutralize the remaining effects of climate change. Summer temperatures will continue to rise, causing more intense and deadly heatwaves. The contrast between polar cold in winter and heatwaves in summer will create new challenges for societies.

"Societies are not prepared for such extreme events," notes René van Westen, one of the authors of the study. "Crops will not withstand, food security will be at risk and infrastructure will be severely tested."

What if the temperature rises even further?

The study also examines a scenario in which the average global temperature rises by 4°C. In this case, the heat will be so intense that it will “overcome” the cooling caused by the AMOC collapse, even in Europe. “Warming is prevailing,” said van Westen.

However, the effects are not limited to temperatures. Sea level rise will accelerate, especially on the east coast of the US, causing severe flooding. Scientists warn that the cost of inaction could be catastrophic.
“Avoid this collapse at all costs”

Although the study is based on a single model and cannot predict with certainty when or if the AMOC will collapse, the warning is clear: even the possibility of such a scenario requires immediate and continuous monitoring of the oceans.

“A collapse of the AMOC would be catastrophic for society. "We want to avoid it at all costs," van Westen points out.

Meta is taking a big step toward the next generation of artificial intelligence, unveiling V-JEPA 2, a new “world model” designed to help machines understand, predict and act in the natural world.

Unlike the language models that dominate today, this new system focuses on understanding the motion, interaction and logic of the 3D environment – a critical development for applications such as robotics and autonomous vehicles.

The tech giant, which owns popular social networking apps Facebook and Instagram, said that the new open-source AI model V-JEPA 2 can understand, predict and plan in the natural world. Known as a world model, these systems draw on the logic of the physical world to create an internal simulation of reality, allowing AI to learn, plan, and make decisions in a way that more closely resembles human-like behavior.

For example, in the case of Meta’s new model, V-JEPA 2 can recognize that a ball rolling off a table will fall or that an object hidden from view has not simply disappeared.

Artificial intelligence is a strategic priority for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg as the company steps up its efforts to compete with giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google.

As CNBC reports , Meta is set to invest $14 billion in AI firm Scale AI and hire its CEO Alexandr Wang to bolster its AI strategy.

Meta demonstrated the capabilities of its new V-JEPA 2 model in applications such as delivery robots and self-driving vehicles, which require real-time understanding of their environment in order to navigate safely and accurately in the physical world.

Unlike other models that rely on vast amounts of labeled data or video, V-JEPA 2 operates within a simplified “latency” space, where it analyzes and understands how objects move, interact and react, according to Meta.

“Allowing machines to understand the physical world is very different from allowing them to understand language,” said Yann LeCunn, Meta’s chief artificial intelligence scientist.

"A world model is something like an abstract digital twin of reality, which an artificial intelligence can refer to to understand the world and predict the consequences of its actions and therefore be able to plan a course of action to accomplish a given task," he added.
The next big thing in AI?

World models have garnered a lot of attention in the AI research community, as scientists look beyond big language models—like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini—to ways to understand and simulate the natural world.

In September of last year, top AI researcher Fei-Fei Li raised $230 million for a new startup called World Labs, which aims to create what it calls “big world models” that can better understand the structure of the natural world.

Meanwhile, Google’s DeepMind unit is developing its own world model called Genie, which it says can simulate games and 3D environments in real time.

OpenAI is preparing to transform ChatGPT from a simple chat tool into a complete artificial intelligence “super assistant,” capable of deeply understanding the user and supporting them in every aspect of their daily lives.

According to an internal company strategy document, and as reported by The Verge, ChatGPT will become a personal digital companion that can answer questions, organize the day, help with work, but also offer emotional support - whether at home, on the go, or in the workplace.

This new vision from OpenAI brings artificial intelligence closer than ever to our lives, creating a dynamic relationship that will change the way we live, work, and communicate.

“In the first half of next year, we will begin to evolve ChatGPT into a super-assistant: one that knows you, understands what you care about, and helps you with any task that a smart, reliable, emotionally intelligent human computer could do,” the document states from late 2024.

“The timing is right. Models like 02 and 03 are finally smart enough to reliably perform agent-like tasks, tools like computer use can enhance ChatGPT’s ability to take action, and interaction paradigms like multimodality and generative UI allow both ChatGPT and users to express themselves in the best way for the task.”

The document goes on to describe a “super-assistant” as “an intelligent entity with T-shaped skills,” for both broadly applicable and specialized tasks. “The broad part is about making life easier: answering a question, finding a house, contacting a lawyer, signing up for a gym, planning a vacation, buying gifts, managing calendars, tracking todos, sending emails.” He cites coding as an early example of a more specialized task.

Despite the corrections and annotations, it’s clear that OpenAI sees this material as fundamental to its future, and aims for users to see ChatGPT not just as a tool, but as a true companion. This approach is consistent with Sam Altman’s recent statement, describing ChatGPT as a “life advisor” for the new generation.

“Today, ChatGPT is in our lives through existing form factors—the website, the phone, and the office apps,” another part of the strategy document states.

“But our vision for ChatGPT is to help you throughout your life, wherever you are. At home, it should help you answer questions, play music, and recommend recipes. On the go, it should help you get to places, find the best restaurants, or catch up with friends. At work, it should help you take notes in meetings or prepare for that big presentation. And on solo walks, it should help you think and relax.”

At the same time, OpenAI is in a precarious position. Its infrastructure is unable to handle ChatGPT’s growing use, which explains Altman’s focus on building data centers. In a section of the document describing the AI chatbot competition, the company writes that “we are pioneers here, but we cannot rest on our laurels” and that “growth and revenue will not align forever.”

OpenAI acknowledges the existence of “strong incumbents who will leverage their distribution networks to promote their own products” and says it will support regulations that would force other platforms to allow users to set ChatGPT as their default assistant.

Fyropotamo, Milos

In the northern part of Milos , Firopotamos is a seaside settlement with a few houses at one end of the homonymous beach that function as a "shelter" for fishermen's boats. Also known as "wires", they are located right on the point where the waves break and every winter they host fishermen's boats that "rest" for the summer season. Back then, they would come out of the wires and fall into the sea to catch the coveted fish. Today, these beautiful buildings have been transformed into holiday homes or tasteful shops.

Small, white buildings of simple architecture with colorful details, usually on the doors and shutters, create a wonderful, picturesque setting that is difficult to forget.

The beach of the settlement is quite wide, with sand and tamarisk trees that offer soothing shade to bathers, while there are also a few umbrellas with sun loungers. The dreamy waters of the Aegean, with various shades of blue-green and a rich seabed, invite you to refreshing dips.

Xeronisos, Sifnos

In a wild and dry, imposing landscape, the picturesque fishing village of Cherronisos – for many the secret paradise of Sifnos – is located 15 km from Apollonia, “hidden” in one of the safest natural harbors in the Mediterranean, which immediately wins over the visitor with the simplicity, tranquility and serenity it exudes. The toponym Cherronisos means a part of the land that is washed by the sea and connected to the land on only one side.

The small settlement has a sandy beach, which has never "experienced" the fury of the sea, while traditional fishing trawlers "rock" in its calm blue-green waters.

The setting of unspeakable natural beauty, still untouched by mass tourism, is complemented by a few fish taverns literally on the sea, as well as a small pottery shop where one can purchase the famous Sifnian ceramics. At the edge of the beach, the picturesque monastery of Agios Polykarpos is impressive, where one of the largest festivals in Sifnos takes place, on the beach of the settlement.

Diafani, Karpathos

The beautiful, small fishing village in the northwestern part of Karpathos , which is essentially the port of the mountainous village of Olympos - famous for the women's rule that prevails there and the traditions, customs and customs that have been preserved and applied with respect to this day over the course of time - is a unique place that exudes peace and tranquility.

Diafani enchants everyone with its simple and unassuming, yet beautiful environment and of course its simple but hospitable residents. A few tavernas along its coastal promenade offer moments of enjoyment with fresh seafood meze, a trademark of the local cuisine, overlooking the vast blue sea.

It is a fact that a large part of the Earth's surface is covered by water. More specifically, the Earth, in addition to continents, is also divided into oceans. There are five oceans, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Arctic and the Antarctic Oceans. In percentage terms, they cover 71% of its surface, while containing 97% of the water. In today's article, we will analyze the importance and the problems they face, resulting in a landmark treaty for their protection. Have things changed a lot since it was signed? Let's find out...
Why are the oceans important?

The oceans are fundamental to our lives. Almost all elements of people's everyday lives have a direct or indirect relationship with the sea. From the drinking water that reaches our homes, after treatment, to the food we consume. In addition, the oceans are a place for animals, plants and microorganisms to live, while at the same time supporting basic natural processes that are critical for the existence of life.

A typical example of these processes is the production of oxygen by phytoplankton, a microorganism that lives in the oceans and is responsible for approximately 50% of the oxygen in the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton converts carbon dioxide (CO2) into glucose and oxygen, with the help of solar energy (light) and nutrients found in the oceans. Its preservation is therefore crucial for us.

They are also considered climate regulators, because they absorb and transfer heat and solar energy to the atmosphere, affecting weather conditions. In addition, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in water, reducing its concentration in it, thus contributing to addressing the greenhouse effect.

In addition to their physical utility, the oceans play a central role in the economy, tourism and employment growth, as a workforce works in industries centered on shipping, a promising sector today. At the same time, they contribute to the strengthening of trade, because a large part of transport is carried out by sea.

Finally, in the health sector, several treatments for diseases, such as cancer and dementia, come from marine resources.
Problems encountered in the oceans and their consequences

However, despite the fundamental importance of marine ecosystems, we find that there are serious problems and "indifference" to them. In particular, we live in the Anthropocene era, where the human footprint on the marine environment is devastating.

Pollution from plastics, garbage, bags, bottle caps, cigarette butts, etc. is widespread. Research reveals the existence of 470-540 thousand tons of garbage and 150 million tons of plastic on the surface of the sea. These are ingested by fish, often leading to injuries, while at the same time, due to the toxic substances they contain, they can also lead to death. These toxic substances are then transferred to us humans when we consume the fish, causing health issues.

Of course, the negatives do not stop there, as climate change intensifies problems in the oceans. For example, the increase in temperature, as observed in the North Atlantic, leads to the migration of fish to colder waters, affecting marine biocommunities and the food chain within them. Also, the increase in temperature increases water vapor in the atmosphere, causing high humidity levels.

Furthermore, we must not forget that fossil fuel emissions, such as carbon dioxide, cause acidification and a decrease in the pH of seawater, which has devastating consequences for marine organisms including shellfish.

Finally, increased fishing activity, which is supported by subsidies, has led to the extinction of species and, by extension, problems in the food chain and the continuation of life in marine ecosystems.
United Nations and Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 14 - Life Below Water

The United Nations is sounding the alarm about the need to protect the oceans immediately. One of their initiatives is the 2030 Agenda, which was adopted in September 2015 and includes 17 goals, with 169 sub-goals. One of them is goal 14, which refers to the protection of the oceans. Specifically, it includes the following actions: reduction of marine pollution, sustainable use of marine and coastal ecosystems, scientific cooperation to minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, ending overfishing, effective regulation of fisheries harvest, banning fisheries subsidies, developing research and transferring marine technology.
How did we arrive at the Treaty on the High Seas and what does it provide?

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), signed in 1982 and entered into force in 1984. It provides the legal framework, defining the rights and obligations of states within their territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, which is the sea area where states conduct research activity and exploit natural resources. However, UNCLOS does not clarify the procedures for the areas beyond the borders of states, where 2/3 of the oceans belong and are called the high seas. These areas are the common property of humanity and do not belong to any state, but countries carry out maritime activities and scientific research there.

Only 1% of the high seas is protected. That is why the need arose to sign an agreement to protect biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

After years of negotiations, the time has come… In March 2023, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty) was signed. Its goal is the sustainable use of the oceans and the enjoyment of the benefits from marine resources without pollution.

To achieve this, it is necessary to create extensive protected areas (sanctuaries), to set boundaries, to avoid illegal activities by states such as overfishing. In addition, it is important that governments submit periodic reports on their progress.

The BBNJ Treaty was characterized by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, as a historic success. Although more than 90 states have signed it, only 8 have ratified it: Palau, Chile, Belize, Seychelles, Monaco, Mauritius, the Federated States of Micronesia and Cuba.
But is there actually any progress?

The European Union, through its oceans programme, has sent 40 million euros to developing countries to help them. The “Our Ocean Conference” was organized in Greece on April 16-17, 2024, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The 9th International Ocean Conference was a forum for dialogue between governments, non-governmental organizations and private entities, with the aim of reducing pollution, strengthening green shipping, emphasizing the directions of the above agreement. Our country committed to completing its ratification process immediately, and other states followed suit, guided by international cooperation.

Nevertheless, the problems, as we see, still exist. A typical example is the situation in the North Atlantic Ocean. Although the main catch there is swordfish, due to both the reduction of its stock and the destructive fishing method used, the killing of a large number of species, such as sharks, is observed.

It remains to be seen whether things will change for the better soon and whether all countries will actually keep their commitments or will remain in a series of empty promises, jeopardizing the restoration of biodiversity and the health of marine ecosystems. Therefore, international cooperation and substantial actions are imperative to ensure a sustainable future for our oceans.

Retreating glaciers threaten the food and water supply of 2 billion people around the world, the UN has warned, as current “unprecedented” rates of melting will have unpredictable consequences.

Two-thirds of all irrigated agriculture in the world is likely to be affected in some way by receding glaciers and dwindling snowfall in mountain regions, driven by the climate crisis, according to a Unesco report.

More than 1 billion people live in mountainous regions and, of those in developing countries, up to half are already experiencing food insecurity. That is likely to worsen, as food production in such regions is dependent on mountain waters, melting snow, and glaciers, according to the World Water Development Report 2025.

Developed countries are also at risk: in the US, for example, the Colorado River basin has been in drought since 2000, and higher temperatures mean more of the precipitation is falling as rain, which runs off more quickly than mountain snow, exacerbating drought conditions.

Audrey Azoulay, the director general of Unesco, said: “Regardless of where we live, we all depend in some way on mountains and glaciers. But these natural water towers are facing imminent peril. This report demonstrates the urgent need for action.”

The rate of change of glaciers is the worst on record, according to separate research from the World Meteorological Organisation, which published its annual State of the Climate report this week. The largest three-year loss of glacier mass on record occurred in the past three years, the study found, with Norway, Sweden, Svalbard and the tropical Andes among the worst-affected areas.

Eastern Africa has lost 80% of its glaciers in places and, in the Andes, between a third and a half of glaciers have melted since 1998. Glaciers in the Alps and the Pyrenees, the worst affected in Europe, have shrunk by about 40% over roughly the same period.

The decline of glaciers has had a further impact, added Abou Amani, director of water sciences at Unesco, in that the loss of ice replaces a reflective surface with dark soil that absorbs heat. “Glaciers melting have an impact on the reflectivity of [solar] radiation and that will impact the whole climate system,” he warned.

More avalanches will also result, as rain falling on snow is a major factor behind avalanche formation. Pooling water from melting glaciers can also be released, causing sudden floods in valleys or to people living further down the slopes. Permafrost is also melting, releasing methane from the mountain soils that melting glaciers are uncovering.

A previous study, published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Nature, found that half of global glacier mass would be lost by the end of the century, if global heating was not halted. Alex Brisbourne, a glacier geophysicist at the British Antarctic Survey, said: “Mountain glaciers contain some of the largest freshwater reservoirs on Earth. Meltwater released in the summer provides the water supply to a billion people and sustains an enormous amount of industry and agriculture. The impact [of such melting] will be felt way beyond those immediately downstream of the glaciers.”

These impacts are coming at a time when many food sources are already under strain. Alvaro Lario, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) and chair of UN-Water, called for more support for people who live in afflicted mountain regions. “Water flows downhill, but food insecurity rises uphill. Mountains provide 60% of our freshwater, but the communities that safeguard these vital resources are among the most food insecure,” he said.

“We must invest in their resilience to protect glaciers, rivers, and a shared future for all of us.”

Translate

Get new posts by email:

For the category of PLEASURE

Search This Blog

Featured Post

Xbox goes portable

Contact Form

Labels

Euronews

Supported Sites