Author: Aurora Lane

Microsoft’s Xbox business has faced a difficult year marked by falling hardware sales, layoffs, studio closures, and rising prices. These challenges have fueled renewed debate about the future of Xbox as a traditional console platform. At the same time, Microsoft is signaling a strategic shift away from hardware centric competition toward a broader cloud based and cross platform gaming ecosystem. Declining Hardware Sales and Industry Slump Recent financial results highlight the pressure on Xbox. Microsoft reported a year over year decline in gaming revenue, driven largely by a sharp drop in Xbox hardware sales. Industry wide data show that the…

Temporary halt begins January 1 amid industry slowdown The maker of Jim Beam bourbon said it will pause production at its main distillery in Kentucky starting January 1, citing planned site improvements during the shutdown period. Jim Beam, owned by a U.S. subsidiary of Suntory Holdings, confirmed in an email to CBS News that operations at its Clermont, Kentucky distillery will be temporarily suspended while the company invests in facility enhancements. The James B. Beam campus will remain open to visitors during the pause. Other Kentucky distilleries to remain active Despite the production halt at its primary site, Jim Beam…

Second-stage engine issue halts seventh H3 mission Japan’s H3 rocket suffered a setback on Sunday after failing to place the Michibiki 5 navigation satellite into its intended orbit. The rocket lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center at 8:51 p.m. EST, but the mission ended unsuccessfully when the second-stage engine did not restart as planned. In a statement released early Monday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the engine’s second ignition shut down prematurely, preventing the satellite from reaching geosynchronous orbit. As a result, the launch was declared a failure. Setback for Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Michibiki 5, also known as…

Why muscle loss accelerates with age Muscle loss is one of the most common physical changes associated with aging. According to Domenic Angelino, CPT at the International Personal Trainer Academy, reduced activity levels, lack of resistance training, and insufficient nutrition all contribute to declining strength over time. “If you’re generally not very active and don’t lift weights regularly, you’ll naturally lose muscle mass and strength as you age, and the effects compound over the years,” Angelino explains. While weight machines can be effective, they are not always accessible or ideal. Free weight and bodyweight exercises often engage stabilizing muscles and…

Strong opening puts James Cameron back in blockbuster race “Avatar: Fire and Ash” debuted with an estimated $345 million in worldwide ticket sales, according to studio figures released Sunday. The third installment in the long running science fiction franchise delivered $88 million in North America and $257 million internationally, marking the second largest global opening of 2025. Only “Zootopia 2” has opened bigger this year. With the lucrative holiday moviegoing period still ahead, the latest trip to Pandora is expected to benefit from sustained attendance in the weeks to come. A softer start compared with earlier Avatar films The debut…

Coast Guard operation targets alleged sanctions evasion The United States Coast Guard is pursuing a tanker in international waters near Venezuela after an attempted interception, according to US officials. The operation reflects a tightening crackdown by the administration of President Donald Trump on Venezuela’s oil industry. The vessel, identified as Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to load crude oil. US authorities say the tanker is sanctioned for links to Iranian oil shipments and is part of a so called shadow fleet used to move oil from sanctioned countries. A judicial warrant had been issued for its seizure. Boarding attempt…

Green Bay adopts cautious approach The Green Bay Packers are taking a wait-and-see approach with several key players as they prepare for Saturday’s NFC North matchup against the Chicago Bears. While linebacker Micah Parsons was officially placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, the team remains hopeful that other contributors could return in some capacity. Wide receivers Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks, along with defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, returned to practice on a limited basis after being listed as non-participants during Tuesday’s walkthrough. Their availability remains uncertain but their return to the field offered encouragement for the coaching staff. Christian…

Alexa moves beyond Echo devices For more than a decade, Alexa has primarily lived inside Echo speakers and the Alexa mobile app, responding to voice commands to play music, set timers or control smart homes. As user expectations around artificial intelligence evolve, Amazon is now expanding Alexa’s role beyond voice-only interactions. Alexa+ launches in the browser Starting this week, Amazon is rolling out a web-based version of its next-generation assistant, Alexa+. Visiting Alexa.com may now open a chatbot-style interface that allows users to type questions, upload documents and interact with Alexa directly from a browser. This marks a strategic shift…

Trump administration doubles scope of restrictions The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is expanding U.S. travel restrictions to an additional 20 countries and to people traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. The move doubles the number of nations affected by sweeping limits first announced earlier this year and marks a significant escalation of U.S. immigration controls. New bans and partial restrictions Five additional countries have been added to the full travel ban list: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. Travel by individuals holding Palestinian Authority issued travel documents is also now fully restricted. An additional…

Multi-state settlement addresses vehicle security failures Hyundai and Kia will provide free anti-theft repairs to millions of vehicle owners under a nationwide settlement announced Tuesday by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The agreement follows an investigation led by 35 states that concluded certain models lacked proper anti-theft technology, leaving them highly vulnerable to theft. Repairs could exceed $500 million in cost Under the settlement, the automakers will offer free repairs to all eligible vehicles, a move Ellison said could cost more than $500 million. In addition, Hyundai and Kia must ensure that all future vehicles sold in the United States…