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In the ever-evolving intersection of technology and gaming, EPAM Systems Inc. is rapidly emerging as a crucial player. Known primarily for its IT services and consulting, EPAM has garnered attention with its recent investments in cutting-edge gaming technologies, sparking speculation and excitement among industry insiders and investors alike. Founded in 1993, EPAM has built its reputation on the back of digital platform engineering and development services. However, its strategic focus has recently shifted to encompass the burgeoning world of gaming technology. By leveraging its expertise in cloud computing, AI, and blockchain, EPAM is poised to drive revolutionary changes within the gaming sector. This move represents not just a diversification of its portfolio but a calculated expansion into a market ripe for innovation. Why EPAM’s strategic shift should interest the gaming community is clear. The company’s involvement in advanced gaming tech could lead to more immersive, efficient, and sustainable gaming experiences. With the potential to reduce latency through enhanced cloud solutions and pioneer AI-driven game development tools, EPAM’s initiatives promise to transform the gaming landscape. For future-focused investors, EPAM’s stock is becoming an attractive option, hinting at significant growth potential as gaming becomes a core part of its business portfolio. Furthermore, EPAM’s approach aligns with the increasing consumer demand for more personalized and engaging gaming experiences. As the lines between gaming and emerging technologies blur, EPAM’s evolving strategy invites stakeholders to reimagine the future of gaming, encouraging all eyes to focus on its journey into this dynamic arena. EPAM’s Game-Changing Innovations in the Gaming Industry In the dynamic convergence of technology and gaming, EPAM Systems Inc. is staking a significant claim, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the gaming world. While EPAM is renowned for IT services and consulting, its strategic investment in gaming technology is ushering in a new era of potential transformative impacts within the industry. Innovative Features and Use Cases EPAM’s focus on cutting-edge gaming technologies is not limited to mere improvements in gameplay; it encompasses the integration of advanced technologies like cloud computing, AI, and blockchain to enhance gaming experiences. Here are the pioneering features and potential use cases driving this transformation: – AI-Driven Game Development Tools : EPAM is developing tools that utilize artificial intelligence to create more responsive and adaptive gaming environments. This innovation promises to revolutionize game design by allowing more personalized and dynamic experiences catered to individual players’ preferences. – Advanced Cloud Solutions : By leveraging cloud computing, EPAM aims to minimize latency, a common issue that hinders smooth gameplay. These solutions will greatly improve multiplayer online gaming, where real-time responses are crucial. – Blockchain Implementations : Security and transparency in transactions are becoming increasingly significant in the gaming sector. EPAM’s blockchain initiatives provide a secure framework for in-game asset management, ensuring authenticity and ownership. Market Trends and Insights The gaming industry is currently experiencing rapid growth, and EPAM’s strategic shift is aligned with this burgeoning trend. The integration of these innovative technologies highlights: – Significant Growth Potential : EPAM’s involvement in gaming is poised to attract investors as the company becomes a pivotal player in a rapidly expanding market, reflecting broader trends towards immersive digital experiences. – Demand for Personalization : As consumers demand more tailored interactions, EPAM’s tech solutions cater to this need, setting new standards for interactive entertainment. Limitations and Challenges While the potential applications of these technologies are vast, there are challenges to consider: – Technical Adaptation : Integrating sophisticated technologies like blockchain and AI requires overcoming significant technical hurdles, including scalability and interoperability between different gaming systems. – Market Competition : The gaming technology landscape is highly competitive, with numerous established players. EPAM needs to maintain consistent innovation to secure a lasting foothold. Future Predictions and Sustainability EPAM’s diverse approach could redefine how games are developed and played, promoting sustainability within the industry by reducing waste associated with traditional gaming models through digital distribution and efficient development practices. It positions EPAM as a frontrunner in creating environmentally friendly gaming ecosystems. Conclusion EPAM Systems Inc. is not just entering the gaming industry; it’s catalyzing change through technological innovation. By bridging emerging technologies with consumer demands, EPAM provides invaluable insights into the future of gaming. Industry stakeholders and investors should watch closely as EPAM continues to redefine the standards and experiences within this vibrant sector.
BY MELISSA GOLDIN Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, falsely claiming that it’s proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Related Articles National News | OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment National News | Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case National News | Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine National News | US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say National News | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report’s finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That’s false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau’s informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day’s events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterterrorism division told the inspector general’s office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report’s findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!” reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray’s resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.”Jesús Navas: ‘I’m Stopping because I Have To. I’m Happy with What I’ve Achieved’
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A video of Mr Harris being challenged by the worker, Charlotte Fallon, in Kanturk last Friday evening went viral online. Mr Harris has rejected suggestions that contact made by Fine Gael with RTÉ was an attempt to influence how the broadcaster handled the controversial clip. However, the Taoiseach and Fine Gael have come under mounting pressure to provide more detail on who contacted RTÉ, and to provide a full account of interactions between Mr Harris’s team and the national broadcaster on the matter. On Wednesday reporters pressed Mr Harris about remarks he made during Monday night’s televised debate where he said he didn’t believe that Fine Gael had requested RTÉ not to broadcast the video from Kanturk . He was also asked about allegations that Fine Gael had suggested to RTÉ that Ms Fallon was a member of Sinn Féin. “Yeah, I’ve asked that question and I don’t believe that was the case,” he said. Pressed as to whether he didn’t believe it to be the case or knew it to be the case, Mr Harris twice repeated: “I’ve asked that question and I do not believe it to be the case”. The main opposition party Sinn Féin has seized on the issue, calling on RTÉ to publish details of any correspondence with Mr Harris’s party. Its director of elections, Matt Carthy, argued that Fine Gael has “refused to come clean on this issue which goes right to the heart of the democratic process. In the interests of transparency and to assure the public that the national broadcaster is not facing undue pressure by government parties, RTÉ needs to publish details of the correspondence with Fine Gael in relation to the Kanturk incident.” RTÉ declined to comment. Mr Harris said there was constant engagement between all parties and RTÉ – and with other media outlets – and that he was satisfied that there was nothing inappropriate about any contacts. Mr Harris added that his party – unlike the Sinn Féin leader – was not suing RTÉ or proposing to review RTÉ. Asked if he would encourage RTÉ to publish the nature of the representations from Fine Gael, Mr Harris said that RTÉ had already commented on the issue, and said it received regular contacts from parties. Elsewhere, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said he was not aware of who made any representations from Fine Gael to RTÉ about the Kanturk video, but has satisfied himself that they were entirely appropriate. Cormac McQuinn is a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times Pat Leahy is Political Editor of The Irish Times
Brendan Rodgers praises Celtic and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ mentalityNoneEven New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers thinks it's amusing that owner Woody Johnson's teenage sons could have a say in his future with the franchise. "I've never been released before," Rodgers said Monday on "The Pat McAfee Show." "Being released would be a first. Being released by a teenager would also be a first. ... I find the comedy in all of it. If that happens, it would be a great story." Is that a Brick Johnson decision #PMSLive https://t.co/NAYixvQYwR pic.twitter.com/HpUumfgI8f Rodgers was probably referring to a recent report by The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Michael Silver and Zack Rosenblatt. The report revealed Johnson's sons, Jack and Brick, likely influence roster decisions. For example, the 77-year-old owner reportedly nixed a trade for then-Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy because his rating in the "Madden NFL" video game was too low. That has looked like a foolish choice. Jeudy has career highs in receptions (72) and receiving yards (1,072) through 15 games with the Cleveland Browns. Whether Johnson's sons support the decision or not, the Jets will likely move on from Rodgers this offseason. Through 15 starts, the 41-year-old is 4-11 and has completed a below-average 62.8% of his passes for 3,511 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has also tossed eight interceptions. Per Spotrac, the Jets would incur $49M in dead cap in 2025 and 2026 if they release Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation. While it would be expensive, Rodgers' comments suggest it's possible. They also signal that his relationship with the franchise could be souring. Until then, the Jets will try to win their last two games. On Sunday, they face the Buffalo Bills (12-3) in a road game at 1:00 p.m. ET. Ending the season on a positive note will be challenging, especially as questions about who is running the team linger.