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The silent rise of veterans at Wipro's top decksMake sure you carve out some time for yourself amongst all the Christmas chaos. The festive season often involves more social activities, shopping and travel, which can disrupt regular routines and lead to burnout. Advertisement Having a jam-packed diary of work drinks, Christmas dos and dinner parties might seem like a fun idea, but could quickly lead to fatigue if you don’t take some time for yourself. But what is social burnout? And how can we prevent ourselves from becoming physically and mentally drained amongst all the festivities in the run up to Christmas? What is burnout? “Burnout is often used to describe a chronic build-up of stress without break,” explains Dr Sandi Mann, senior psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire. “This can lead us to ‘burnout’, like a wire that has had too much electricity running through it.” Advertisement This can have both mental and physical consequences. “Signs of social burnout can include physical and mental fatigue, a sense of dread or reluctance towards upcoming events, irritability, difficulty focusing, and a desire to withdraw from social activities,” notes Christine Schneider, clinical psychologist and mental wellbeing coach at Cambridge Therapy Centre. “Those experiencing social burnout may feel overwhelmed by even small interactions, the struggle to feel present, and may experience increased anxiety, especially when thinking about further social commitments.” Here are some ways to prevent social burnout in the run up to Christmas... Advertisement Understand what your own personal preferences are “Accept what you like and dislike, what makes you anxious or what makes you feel good and then act on this,” advises Jan P. de Jonge, psychologist at People Business Psychology. “There is no need to be a social butterfly, no obligation to enjoy that next Christmas work do or New Year’s Eve party. Even if others are, or seem excited about them. Just be you.” Be open about your feelings “Speak to bosses, colleagues and family about only being available to attend the engagements that you are expected at,” recommends de Jonge. “Be open and honest about how you are feeling, and explain that you have too many plans and are feeling drained.” Limit back-to-back events “If possible, avoid scheduling multiple social events in a single day or weekend,” advises Schneider. “Spread out engagements to give yourself time to decompress and process each experience, rather than rushing from one gathering to another.” Advertisement Try meditation If you are getting overwhelmed about your busy schedule, then try meditation to slow down. “Meditation can help you feel calm, relaxed, and discover clarity and peace,” says Nicci Roscoe, holistic health and wellbeing practitioner. “There are various techniques, such as focusing on your breath, listening to soothing music, or visualising serene scenes.” Set time limits “Change how and when you socialise by reducing the length and time of day that you meet,” suggests de Jonge. “Don’t feel pressured to stay for a night cap or dessert.” Plan downtime and stick to it Block out some time in your calendar specifically for relaxation, whether it’s a quiet evening at home or a day to yourself. Advertisement “These breaks can help recharge your energy between social events and keep you from feeling overwhelmed,” explains Ms Schneider. “Treat these as non-negotiable appointments with yourself.” Learn when to say no “Practice saying no to that next invitation if you feel you’re not up to it or just don’t feel like it,” recommends de Jonge. “Accept your own valid argument of needing some downtime.” Prioritise people who make you happy “Say goodbye to ‘energy drainers’, or those individuals who consistently make you feel stressed,” recommends Roscoe. “Energy drainers often project their own issues onto others, which can weigh you down. “Instead, surround yourself with individuals who radiate positive energy. These uplifting people will boost your mood and energy, providing a sense of calm when you need it most.”
The US saw a dramatic rise in homelessness at the start of 2024, counting 18% more unhoused people during its annual tally in January than the year before, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (Hud) reported on Friday. Cities reported counting a total of 771,480 unhoused people in January, a number that is larger than the population of Seattle. Representing 23 out of every 10,000 Americans, the number is the highest ever recorded during the tally. Still, experts consider the number an undercount, since it reflects one point in time and misses many people staying with friends or family. Hud found homelessness at record highs among nearly all demographic groups, but the largest increase was documented among families with children. Nearly 150,000 children were counted during the tally. Only one community saw a decrease in homelessness rates: veterans. Due to targeted and sustained funding efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, Hud reports, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness decreased about 8% from 2023 (the rate has decreased 55% since 2009). The report names several factors that probably contributed to 2024’s record rates of homelessness: a nationwide affordable housing crisis, rising inflation, stagnating wages, systemic racism, public health crises, natural disasters, immigration and an end to pandemic-era social supports like the expanded child tax credit. When the data was collected in January, more than 5,200 people were sleeping in disaster emergency shelters in Hawaii, following the fire in Maui. Other natural disasters, like Hurricanes Helene and Milton, saw families displaced later in the year. In January, cities were also working to shelter a rising number of asylum seekers – many of whom were families. Many cities have since closed their migrant shelter systems as rates of unauthorized border crossings fell this year. In a press release , Hud noted that cities such as Dallas and Los Angeles had implemented programs that have successfully reduced local homelessness levels, like Dallas’s Street to Home Initiative and Los Angeles’s investments in affordable housing. “No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris administration is committed to ensuring every family has access to the affordable, safe and quality housing they deserve,” said Adrianne Todman, head of Hud. “While this data is nearly a year old, and no longer reflects the situation we are seeing, it is critical that we focus on evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness.” Alongside data on childhood and veteran homelessness, the report offers other insights into the demographic breakdowns of communities experiencing homelessness. The report found that a growing number of older adults (those aged 55 and up) are unhoused, totalling one in every five people counted in the report. It also found that Black Americans are disproportionately unhoused: people who identify as Black make up 12% of the US population, but represent 32% of all people experiencing homelessness. The report also offered more insight into the shelter population. While about 72% of unhoused women and girls live in shelters, nearly 70% of men and boys (and more than 80% of those identifying as gender questioning) are unsheltered. Meanwhile, Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to be living in shelter systems (about 86% of those communities) while American Indians and Alaska Natives have the lowest sheltered rates at just under 50%. The report comes as cities across the US have stepped up anti-encampment policies, following a June supreme court ruling that allows local authorities to prohibit camping in public even if no shelter beds are available. Since then, more than 100 cities have banned encampments. “Increased homelessness is the tragic, yet predictable, consequence of underinvesting in the resources and protections that help people find and maintain safe, affordable housing,” Renee Willis, incoming interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said in a statement . “As advocates, researchers, and people with lived experience have warned, the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to increase as more people struggle to afford sky-high housing costs.”Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China's hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals." Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number" were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are "primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking. Eric Tucker, The Associated PressThe Nigerian All-Share Index (ASI) closed on December 27 in the red, retreating by 52.73 points to finish at 102,133.30, representing a modest decline of 0.05% from its Christmas Eve closing of 102,186.03. Despite this dip, market activity surged, with trading volume increasing by 11.62% to reach 443 million shares, up from 397 million. The market capitalization held tight to N61 trillion, closing at N61.9 trillion, supported by 12,551 transactions. Related Stories Market Wrap: Nigerian stock market ends in green as five ‘top gainers’ surge over 10% at once, AUSTINLAZ leads decliners Weekly Market Wrap: Nigerian stock market soars 1.76% as All-Share surpasses N61 trillion, MRS Oil and ETERNA PLC lead gains UPL distinguished itself as the leading gainer, achieving an increase of 10.00%. Following closely were WAPIC and UNIVINSURE, each also rising by 10.00%. In contrast, HONYFLOUR experienced the steepest decline, with a drop of 9.09%, while RTBRISCOE was not far behind, declining by 5.66%. Noteworthy in trading activity, UBA, and ACCESSCORP emerged as the most actively traded stocks, drawing significant investor interest and contributing substantially to the day’s turnover. Current ASI: 102,133.3 points Previous ASI: 102,186.03 points Day Change: -0.05% Year-to-Date Performance: +36.59% Volume Traded: 443 million shares Market Cap: N61.9 trillion UPL: up 10.00% to N3.85 WAPIC: up 10.00% to N1.87 UNIVINSURE: up 10.00% to N0.55 IKEJAHOTEL: up 9.95% to N12.15 MAYBAKER: up 9.94% to N9.40 HONYFLOUR: down 9.09% to N6.30 RTBRISCOE: down 5.66% to N2.50 NEIMETH: down 5.47% to N1.90 ETERNA: down 5.00% to N28.50 TANTALIZER: down 4.44% to N1.72 Despite an overall bearish market session, trading volume experienced an increase of 11.62%, with 443 million shares exchanged compared to the previous session. UBA took the lead, trading an impressive 41.7 million shares, while ACCESSCORP closely followed with 35.4 million shares. ZENITHBANK secured the third position with 32.2 million shares, and GTCO contributed 22.8 million shares to the day’s total. JAIZBANK completed the top five with 19.2 million shares traded. Heavyweight stocks dominated the trading landscape in terms of value, attracting significant institutional interest. SEPLAT led the charge with transactions valued at N3 billion, indicative of robust investor confidence. BUAFOODS followed closely with trades amounting to N2.4 billion. ZENITHBANK and UBA contributed N1.5 billion and N1.4 billion, respectively, while ARADEL rounded out the top five with N1.4 billion in transactions. Among SWOOT stocks, OANDO exhibited positive price movement, climbing by 2.36%. For the FUGAZ category (comprising FBNH, UBA, GTCO, ACCESSCORP, ZENITHBANK). Declines were noted with UBA, ACCESSCORP, GTCO, and ZENITHBANK experiencing decreases of 4.03%, 2.83%, 1.64%, and 0.11%, respectively. In contrast, FBNH managed to close in the green, gaining 0.72%. The Nigerian All-Share Index maintained its position above the N102,000 mark, even as market volume experienced a decline. Attention is now focused on the psychological threshold of 104,000, established in March. While the index may encounter some resistance due to reduced trading volumes during the festive season, the individual gains in large-cap stocks are anticipated to drive the index toward overcoming the significant barriers of 103,000 and 104,000.Backlash From Key Chinese industries as U.S. Expands Chip Export Restrictions
Check out more of the year's best tech in our PC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024 coverage. I've looked at a lot of new PC gaming tech this year. Looking at my Steam Replay listing, far more than I've consistently played new games, that's for sure. From the RTX 40-series refresh in January, to the first proper modular gaming laptop, weird handhelds, ace gaming CPUs, and funky laptops, I've dabbled in every facet of the industry. Which is why I'm still doing this twenty years after I took my first faltering steps as a PC technology journalist; there's always some new toy to play with. But when it actually came to sitting down and thinking about what's been my pick of all the gear I've had my hands on this year, what's been the thing that either surprised or pleased me the most, well, that's been tougher than I really expected. Somewhat strangely, what I've landed on is not the thing which I've scored the highest, and yet it's the thing I've had the most lingering affection for. The Asus TUF A14 continues my trend of getting all excited about wee 14-inch gaming laptops, but it also leans into my frugal nature, too, being part of the Taiwanese giant's more affordable brand. It's a 14-inch gaming laptop I was expecting to be fine but mostly unexciting. Sure, the AMD Strix Point spec is grand—the same as in our overall pick as the current best gaming laptop—but the TUF lappies have long been the frumpy cousins to the supermodel stylings of the ROG Zephyrus machines. We've been giddy over the gorgeous ROG Zephyrus G14 and Zephyrus G16 designs launched at CES way back at the start of this year, and I wasn't expecting to see the same design notes being present when I pulled the TUF A14 out of its unassuming box and protective sleeving. But it's a delightfully slim little laptop, and one that is far more restrained than I've ever seen from the traditionally very 'gamer' TUF range of laptops. That, admittedly, is still evident when you flip open the lid and are greeted by the angular Asus font on the keyboard. That's something I still find pretty damned ugly, but is really the only nod to that more aggressive styling we've become used to from standard Asus gear. Though that is obviously changing. This is very much a proper gaming laptop—it has a 100 W RTX 4060 inside that slimline chassis after all—but one that also isn't going to look out of place in a seminar, workshop, or team meeting. There is naught but a faded 'TUF' logo in one corner of the lid and that's it for outward adornments. The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. The super slim bezel of the 1600p screen makes the display a joy, too, and at 165 Hz it's plenty fast enough for any gaming enterprise. The RTX 4060 might be a tough match for that full resolution, however, but with the tight pixel pitch of a high-res 14-inch panel, knocking games back down to 1200p or flipping the upscaling switcheroo, you're not going to experience the slight blurring you can get on larger screens. For me, it's going to be a tough call on which laptop I take with me on my travels to CES in January, because the Ryzen AI HX 370 is a great, efficient chip in its own right—and capable of decent gaming performance away from the plug, which the RTX 4060 kinda isn't. But the other contender is the first Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite machine I've ever used in anger, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge. That's something else which has impressed me this year, especially having spent six months using it as my work lappy. I've not experienced any real compatibility issues and haven't modified what I do because it's not an x86 machine. It's coped with everything but a severely tab-heavy Chrome load, at which point it falls to its knees and cries 'uncle!' I've also loved the Ryzen 7 9800X3D , but really it's more iterative than innovative considering AMD's 3D V-cache passim, so I would struggle to give that my pick of the year. Especially as I would have given the CPU nod to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D on my last go around the fiery orb. But still, it's this lovely little slab of affordable, unassuming gaming tech that has my heart in 2024. I am, however, hoping that I get to give the 2025 edition of this award to one fantastic graphics card from the slew of new GPUs set to land in our desktops from Nvidia, Intel, and AMD throughout the new year. C'mon, graphics peops, wow me. I'm done with mostly iterative, just a bit better, just a bit more expensive graphics silicon. I want something really new and exciting. If you want to find out who won the PC Gamer Hardware Awards, we'll be publishing the winners on New Year's Day.
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