Jets running back Hall 'looks promising' to play vs. Jags, but cornerback Reed is doubtful
Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Data show the problem spiked during COVID-19 when children began spending more time online — but rates did not wane as police anticipated after lockdowns ended. In B.C., they soared, almost quadrupling from 2021 to 2023. Const. Solana Pare is now warning exploitation of children is likely here to stay, as a technological race between police and predators gains momentum. “Technology is becoming more and more available, and online platforms and social media sites are being used by children younger and younger, which provides an opportunity for predators to connect with them,” Pare said in an interview. Police say child exploitation cases in B.C. went from about 4,600 in 2021 to 9,600 in 2022 to 15,920 reports last year. The upwards trend is seen nationally, too. Statistics Canada says the rate of online child sexual exploitation reported to police rose by 58 per cent from 2019 to 2022, and police data show cases have continued to rise. The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre reported that from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, it received 118,162 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation offences — a 15 per cent increase compared with the previous year. Online child sexual exploitation, Pare explained, includes offences such as sextortion, child luring and the creation or distribution of sexually explicit images of a minor. “We don’t see these types of reports going away,” Pare said. “We only see them increasing because the use of electronic devices and social media, and kids being online earlier and earlier is becoming more common. There’s going to be more opportunity for predators to target children online.” Monique St. Germain, general counsel for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the most common type of child luring is communicating with a youth online in order get them to produce sexual abuse material. She said “the pandemic accelerated those types of cases, and it hasn’t slowed down.” “The tools (Canadian authorities) have to deal with this type of behaviour are inadequate for the scope and the scale of what’s going on,” she said. THE RISE OF ‘SEXTORTION’ Online exploitation gained international attention in 2015 in the case of Port Coquitlam, B.C., teenager, Amanda Todd, who died by suicide after being blackmailed and harassed online by a man for years, starting when she was 12. The month before the 15-year-old died, she uploaded a nine-minute video using a series of flash cards detailing the abuse she experienced by the stranger and how it had affected her life. It’s been viewed millions of times. Dutch national Aydin Coban was extradited to Canada for trial and, in October 2022, he was convicted of charges including the extortion and harassment of Todd. Since then, the term “sextortion” has made its way into the vernacular as more cases come to light. Among them was Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old Prince George, B.C., boy who died by suicide in October 2023 after falling victim to the crime. In New Brunswick that same month, 16-year-old William Doiron took his own life after falling victim to a global sextortion scheme. READ PREVIOUS: Put politics aside and act on online harms, mother of sextortion victim tells MPs Mounties across Canada have issued news releases warning of increased cases in their communities, noting that the consequences for the victims can include self-harm and suicide. St. Germain said technology, such as artificial intelligence, is also becoming more user-friendly. “The existence of that technology and its ease of use and ready accessibility is a problem, and it is going to be an increasingly large problem as we move forward,” she said. Pare said police are also adapting to technological advancements in order to keep up with the ever-changing online landscape. “Police are constantly obtaining training on digital technologies to increase our knowledge and understanding of all the intricacies involving their use and how to capture any digital evidence,” she said. Pare said the true rates of the crime are impossible to determine, but pointed to increased social awareness and legislation across North America around mandatory reporting of child abuse material from social media companies as a potential reason for the increase. It’s not going undetected any longer, she said. “Additionally, there’s been a lot of use in artificial intelligence to detect child exploitation materials within those platforms.” Pare said “it’s up to each individual platform” to ensure there is no child sexual abuse material on their sites or apps. “With mandatory reporting, it’s putting the onus back on the electronic service providers to ensure they have measures in place to prevent this from happening, and if it is happening that it is being reported,” she said. “That being said, there are times when things don’t get located.” That is why the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has been advocating for the adoption of the Online Harms Bill that the federal government introduced in February, St. Germain said. “It’s shocking that up until now, we’ve relied on companies to self regulate, meaning we’ve just relied on them to do the right thing,” she said. “What we are seeing in terms of the number of offences and in terms of all the harm that is happening in society as a result of online platforms is completely tied to the decision not to regulate. We need to have rules in any sector, and this sector is no different.” ‘CANADA IS REALLY BEHIND’ The Online Harms Bill covers seven types of harms, from non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child. Earlier this month, Justice Minister Arif Virani announced the Liberal government will split the bill into two parts: dealing with keeping children safe online, and combating predators and issues related to revenge pornography. “We are putting our emphasis and prioritization and our time and efforts on the first portion of the bill,” Virani told reporters on Dec. 5. Such measures would include a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada, which would compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would have the power to levy fines and evaluate companies’ digital safety plans. St. Germain said such a split “makes sense,” noting that most objections to the bill are related to changes to the Criminal Code and not measures around curbing harms to children. “There obviously are differences of opinion in terms of what is the best way forward, and what kind of regulatory approach makes sense, and who should the regulator be, but there does seem to be consensus on the idea that we need to do more in terms of protecting children online,” she said, adding that the organization is still in support of the second half of the bill. She said the United Kingdom previously passed its own Online Safety Act that will come into effect in 2025, which includes requiring social media firms to protect children from content such as self-harm material, pornography and violent content. Failure to do so will result in fines. “Canada is really behind,” she said. “The amount of information that has come out of the U.K., the amount of time and care and attention that their legislatures have paid to this issue is really quite remarkable, and we really hope that Canada steps up and does something for Canadian children soon.” In the absence of national legislation, province’s have filled the void. In January, B.C. enacted the Intimate Images Protection Act, providing a path for victims to have online photos, videos or deep fakes expeditiously removed. Individuals are fined up to $500 per day and websites up to $5,000 a day if they don’t comply with orders to stop distributing images that are posted without consent. B.C.’s Ministry of the Attorney General said that as of Dec. 11, the Civil Resolution Tribunal had received a total of 199 disputes under the Intimate Images Protection Act. It said the Intimate Images Protection Service had served more than 240 clients impacted by the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, adding that four awards of $5,000 each and one for $3,000 had been supplied as of mid-December. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan have also enacted legislation targeting unauthorized distribution of intimate images. St. Germain said the use of provincial powers is also necessary, but it’s not enough. “A piece of provincial legislation is going to be very difficult to be effective against multiple actors in multiple countries,” she said, noting that the online crime is borderless. “We need something bigger — more comprehensive. We need to use all tools in the tool box.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024.
COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- Dr. Johney Green Jr. has been named the next Laboratory Director at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). He currently serves as the Associate Laboratory Director for mechanical and thermal engineering sciences at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213541679/en/ Dr. Johney Green Jr. (Photo: Business Wire) SRNL, a multi-program national laboratory with an annual operating budget of about $400 million, is a leading research and development institution for the Offices of Environmental Management and Legacy Management at the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Weapons and Nonproliferation programs for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). “We are thrilled to have Johney become the new leader of SRNL,” said Juan Alvarez, Battelle’s Executive Vice President for National Laboratory Management and Operations and Chair of the Board of Directors at Battelle Savannah River Alliance , LLC (BSRA). “We are confident that he is the right person to lead this exceptional national asset with a legacy of delivering impactful solutions for environmental, energy, and security challenges.” At NREL Green currently oversees NREL's transportation, buildings, wind, water, geothermal, advanced manufacturing, concentrating solar power, and Arctic research programs, which encompass a portfolio of more than $300 million and a workforce of about 750. Directorate staff conduct research and development to enable technology innovations in the areas of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power. “I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to join the SRNL community and work alongside our dedicated staff and regional university partners” Green said. “Together, we will drive innovation, enhance the laboratory’s capabilities, and expand its contributions to national security, environmental sustainability, and energy resilience for the benefit of the nation.” Among his accomplishments at NREL, Green transformed the lab’s wind site into the Flatirons Campus and transitioned the campus from a single-program wind research site to a multiprogram research campus that is the foundational experimental platform for the DOE’s Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) initiative. Prior to his time at NREL, Green held several leadership roles at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he served as director of the Energy and Transportation Science Division and group leader for fuels, engines, and emissions research. Green managed a broad science and technology portfolio and user facilities that made significant science and engineering advances in building technologies; sustainable industrial and manufacturing processes; fuels, engines, emissions, and transportation analysis; and vehicle systems integration. During his tenure as a division director, ORNL developed the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) demonstration project, a model of innovative vehicle-to-grid integration technologies and next-generation manufacturing processes. Early in his career, Green conducted combustion research to stabilize gasoline engine operation under extreme conditions. In the course of that research, he joined a team working with Ford Motor Co., seeking ways to simultaneously extend exhaust gas recirculation limits in diesel engines and reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. He continued this collaboration as a visiting scientist at Ford's Scientific Research Laboratory, conducting modeling and experimental research for advanced diesel engines designed for light-duty vehicles. On assignment to the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office, Green also served as technical coordinator for the 21st Century Truck Partnership. He also contributed to a dozen of ORNL's 150-plus top scientific discoveries. Green is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and an SAE International fellow. He serves on the Defense Science Board and several advisory boards including those at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Memphis. Green is also the former chairman of the board for the National GEM Consortium and has been an invited participant in several National Academy of Engineering programs. Green has received several awards during his career and holds two U.S. patents in combustion science. Additionally, he has an h-index of 34 with more than 4,500 citations, is the lead or co-author of several technical publications, and has given many invited, keynote, and plenary presentations. Green holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Memphis and a master's and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. About Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC (BSRA), a not-for-profit limited liability company, manages and operates SRNL for the DOE. BSRA board leadership includes Battelle Memorial Institute, Clemson University, University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, University of Georgia, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Battelle Memorial Institute and the five universities are joined in partnership with preferred subcontractors TechSource and Longenecker & Associates with the singular purpose of maintaining SRNL as a best-in-class national laboratory. About Battelle Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213541679/en/ CONTACT: SRNL ContactChris O’Neil, APR, Director, Office of Communications Savannah River National Laboratory (803) 725-1004 (O) or (803) 679-7788 (M) or at chris.o'neil@srnl.doe.govBattelle ContactKaty Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or atdelaneyk@battelle.org or contact T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544 or atmasseytr@battelle.org KEYWORD: OHIO GEORGIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING DEFENSE ENVIRONMENT OTHER SCIENCE AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH OTHER DEFENSE OTHER POLICY ISSUES SCIENCE PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT OIL/GAS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY OTHER MANUFACTURING GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE NUCLEAR ENGINEERING SOURCE: Battelle Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 01:30 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 01:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213541679/enThrivent Financial for Lutherans lowered its position in Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF ( NYSEARCA:VOT – Free Report ) by 2.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,059 shares of the company’s stock after selling 520 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $5,371,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Planning Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Spectrum Wealth Counsel LLC purchased a new stake in Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the second quarter valued at $32,000. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Angeles Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 212.5% in the 3rd quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 225 shares of the company’s stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 153 shares during the period. Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Stock Up 1.3 % Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF stock opened at $268.67 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $249.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $237.54. The firm has a market cap of $15.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.99 and a beta of 1.15. Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $201.72 and a 52 week high of $269.07. Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded share class of Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund, which employs a passive management or indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Mid Cap Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a diversified index of growth stocks of medium-size United States companies. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF ( NYSEARCA:VOT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures
Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire , New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an electric bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.
Three takeaways from the Golden Knights’ dominant victory
PHILADELPHIA — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage sports logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages on Wednesday over products made and sold by Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc., two firms co-founded by former minor league baseball player Chad Hartvigson. Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories, while the defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with the university. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, including Purdue, Stanford and UCLA, Penn State said in its 2021 lawsuit. However, the Penn State case was the first to go to trial and seen by some as a test case in the sports merchandising industry. “It addresses an important issue with trademark law — whether or not the mark owner is able to prevent third parties from using its marks on T-shirts and paraphernalia without permission,” said Tiffany Gehrke, a trademark lawyer in Chicago who was not involved in the case. The verdict, she said, maintains the status quo, while a victory for Vintage Brand “could have shaken things up.” It followed a six-day trial in federal court in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, overseen by Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann. Defense lawyers declined to comment on the verdict and whether their clients planned to appeal. Penn State, in a statement, called its trademarks “critical” to the school’s brand, and said it was grateful for the verdict. “The university appreciates this result as it relates to the many hundreds of licensees with whom the university works and who go through the appropriate processes to use Penn State’s trademarks,” the statement said. Founded in 1855, Penn State adopted the Nittany Lion as its mascot in 1904 and has been using various images of the animal, along with the school’s seal and other logos, for decades, the lawsuit said. The school now has more than 100,000 students at 24 campuses.Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility
Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelationsFederal officials warned Tuesday that a massive Chinese hacking operation against American telecommunications companies hasn’t yet been fully expelled and that the best way to hide communications from Beijing’s spies is to use encryption. Encryption is a technology that scrambles a message and requires a “key” to be able to see or hear it. Different app makers and platforms have used the technology in various forms for more than a decade so governments and hackers that intercept them as they pass through telecommunications infrastructure will see only gibberish. While adopting the technology has historically prompted complaints from law enforcement agencies — including the FBI — it’s also a way people can communicate more privately. Telecommunications companies tend to temporarily store call and SMS records — which phone number called or texted which, and when — and they briefly store the contents of SMS texts. Audio, however, is generally not recorded. That means it’s easier for hackers like those in the Chinese campaign, which Microsoft has nicknamed Salt Typhoon, to get massive amounts of data on phone records and some stored text messages, but they have to be targeted in listening to specific phone calls as they happen. For everyday consumers, the simplest way to send encrypted messages or make encrypted calls is to use communications apps like Signal or WhatsApp that have implemented end-to-end encryption between other Signal and WhatsApp users. With end-to-end encryption, every user of an encrypted chat app holds the unique code to unscramble a message sent to that account. Importantly, the corporate owner and the operator of the app don’t have access to that key, so they won’t be able to unscramble an encrypted message even if a court demands it or it is hacked. Signal and WhatsApp automatically protect all their messages that way with Signal’s encryption, which cryptographers find among the best that are commercially available. Both apps also allow users to make encrypted phone calls with other users through the internet. But even without apps like Signal and WhatsApp, many Americans frequently text with end-to-end encryption turned on, even if they don’t know it. If iMessage users text other iMessage users or Google Messages users text other Google Messages users, those chats are automatically encrypted with the Signal protocol. But when Google and iMessage users text users who use different texting applications, such as when an iMessage user texts a Google Messages user, the messages are encrypted only with Rich Communications Services, which in the U.S. are all decrypted by Google. While that means they’re in theory hidden from telecommunications companies, they’re not encrypted end to end, and they can be seen under court orders to Google or by hackers who might break into companies. For phone calls, Google and Apple offer encryption if the calls are made through their internet-connected calling apps — Google Fi and FaceTime. While the controversial app Telegram does offer what it claims is an option to message users with end-to-end encryption, some leading cryptographers are wary of endorsing it, noting that some of its code isn’t open to the public to test and that it doesn’t encrypt conversations by default . The FBI began investigating Salt Typhoon in late spring or early summer. The U.S. believes Chinese intelligence hacked into AT&T, Verizon and Lumen Technologies and gained significant access, including records of phone calls and text messages for many people, particularly in the Washington, D.C., area. In some circumstances, affecting members of both the Trump and Harris campaigns, as well as the office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer D-N.Y., they were able to listen to phone calls. China denied the accusation, as it routinely does when a Western company or government accuses it of deploying its vast cyberespionage capabilities. A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington said in an emailed statement that “China firmly opposes the US’s smear attacks against China without any factual basis.”
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100
The iPhone SE and iPhone 14 series will no longer be available for purchase in Europe at the end of the year. In an effort to make technology more consumer-friendly, the European Union ruled that any mobile device sold must be able to charge through USB-C, according to iGeneration . While more modern entries in Apple’s lineup already meet those guidelines, the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 do not. These aren’t the newest additions to Apple’s lineup, but the iPhone SE and the iPhone 14 series are still sold in Europe. These will be pulled from shelves as the deadline approaches. Customers have plenty of options, but this decision will leave the European market without an iPhone SE option until the next model releases in 2025 . Apple’s standard practice would normally leave the iPhone 14 for sale until the iPhone 17 releases, at which point the iPhone 14 would no longer be sold. Apple is going to lose close to a year’s worth of sales on the lower-end iPhone, but given how many new features need a more powerful chip, it’s a safe bet that many customers have already upgraded. These two models will still be available for purchase in the rest of the world until the next entries in their respective lineups come out, but by the end of next year, charging via Lightning cable will officially be an outdated method. It’s a huge benefit for customers, as it makes it a lot easier to charge devices if everything uses the same type of cable. The EU also wants all laptops to use the same charging cables, but Apple has already made that transition ahead of the 2026 deadline. By using a universal standard like USB-C, the EU streamlines the user experience and eliminates hangups caused by proprietary charging technology. USB-C is also faster than Lightning, capable of carrying both data and power and can be plugged in from either end.