Perhaps that’s why 43% of admins expect macOS device use to increase in the coming year, though 54% also anticipate increased use of Windows. The default rate — enterprises dropping support for either platform — is fairly equal, though Apple has the edge.
On-prem, off-prem, and multicloud
Admins are also frustrated at the complexity of managing cloud and multi-cloud setups. That’s turning into a big opportunity for managed service providers (MSPs) who increasingly offer to ease the pain of managing multi-cloud setups. MSPs aren’t just about cloud services management, of course. But it does appear to be their time to shine, with 93% of organizations already using or considering an MSP. Their role also seems to be changing, as they’re increasingly seen as trusted advisors.
Can AI supplement IT roles? Admins see the technology as both a risk and an opportunity. But organizations appear to be accelerating AI deployments, with 15% of admins warning the tech is being put in place too fast and 67% believing these deployments are outpacing organizational ability to protect against threats.
Jack Dorsey’s Block has created its own open-source AI agent. Called “,” the tool allows users to complete tasks using popular large language models.
“You can think of Goose as an assistant that is ready to take your instructions, and do the work for you,” Block explains in a . According to the company, the agent can autonomously complete engineering tasks like looking for bugs or making code changes.
Users can configure goose to run on their preferred LLM. Iit supports Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI and , though the company says it “works best” with Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI’s o1 model. It’s also compatible with extensions, which allows it to plug into popular developer tools, like GitHub and Google Drive,
Block is, of course, known for its financial apps, Square and Cash App, as well as the music streaming service Tidal, which it acquired in 2021. Those may not be industries you immediately associate with AI development, but Block founder Jack Dorsey is a longtime advocate for open-source software. The company also notes that goose could eventually extend to “non-engineering use cases” as well. Block engineer Brad Axen ZDNET that the company envisions more “creative’ uses for goose, like music generation.
After the White House announced a temporary freezing of federal funds and loans, Medicaid users suddenly couldn’t access their online portal on Tuesday, January 28. As part of Donald Trump‘s administration, the president intends to terminate or reevaluate some of the government’s finances. Last week, Trump, 78, issued an executive order to eventually terminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the government (known as DEI programs) while placing DEI employees on paid leave. Since there is a brief halt of certain federal grants, does this mean that Medicaid is frozen too?
Find out everything we know about what’s going on with Medicaid below.
What Is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state program to help low-income Americans see health insurance.
Is Medicaid Frozen?
The White House is aware of the Medicaid website portal outage.
We have confirmed no payments have been affected — they are still being processed and sent.
No, medicaid is not currently frozen, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The 27-year-oldtweeted, “The White House is aware of the Medicaid website portal outage. We have confirmed no payments have been affected — they are still being processed and sent. We expect the portal will be back online shortly.”
Nevertheless, countless reporters and social media users have complained online that the Medicaid portal was still down on January 28.
Why Were Federal Funds and Loans Used?
White House Office of Management and Budget acting director Matthew Vaeth wrote in a memo, which was obtained by CNN, that the “use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.”
Vaeth explained that this “temporary pause [of federal grants] will provide the administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the president’s priorities.”
The memorandum also pointed out that “each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the president’s executive orders.”
Did Trump Freeze Food Stamps?
At the time of publication, it’s unclear if food stamps, otherwise known as SNAP benefits, have been frozen. These benefits provide supplemental funds to help low-income families afford groceries.
Is FAFSA Paused?
It’s unclear if the FAFSA has been paused among the temporary halt of federal grants and loans. Financial aid is a form of federal assistance used by countless undergraduate students around the country who cannot afford tuition and other fees.
One breathtakingly beautiful Greek island still receives less than half the tourists of Santorini.
Kefalonia, the peaceful escape in the Ionian Sea, received 755,929 international visitors in 2024.
That is compared to a whopping 1,543,796 in Santorini, according to preliminary data by Fraport Greece, which manages 14 regional airports across the country.
Famous for its rugged landscapes and serene beaches, Kefalonia also recorded a lower growth rate than Santorini. It had a 1.3% increase in international arrivals since 2023, compared with 1.8% in the busier island.
Interestingly, Kefalonia is also about 10 times larger than Santorini, meaning that sparsely dotted tourists can enjoy its lush greenery, expansive beaches, and rugged mountains.
While Santorini is famed for its dramatic sunsets and vibrant nightlife, Kefalonia attracts visitors with its quiet charm, historical sites, and tranquil, uncrowded atmosphere.
Melissani Cave, an underground lake with piercing turquoise waters, is a must-see. Visitors can take a boat trip to take in the striking cavern.
For beach enthusiasts, Myrtos Beach is known for its white pebbles and crystal clear blue water, while Antisamos Beach, surrounded by hills, is a tranquil spot for relaxation.
Far from a one-trick-pony, the island has history and culture in spades, such as the Roman Villa of Skala, where well-preserved mosaics can be seen.
The Kefalonia Archaeological Museum, in Argostoli, also boasts a wealth of artefacts from the island’s past, showcasing its Greek and Roman influences.
British tourists make up the largest proportion of international visitors travelling to airports in Fraport’s network. A total of 7,225,860 Brits travelled to Greece in 2024.
Airports managed by Fraport include Corfu, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes and Skiathos.
Nosferatu is Robert Egger’s biggest hit to date, but the process he underwent to create this compelling new take on the horror classic is consistent with everything he’s done his entire career. The director explained his mantra to MovieWeb: “Every single thing is deeply researched and considered. You’re always working to be as historically accurate as possible.”
His MO has always been research, accuracy, and specificity in world building (which is one of the many reasons why what Eggers does next is of such great interest). He knew his Nosferatu and Count Orlok would be faithful to historical lore. “The vampires of early Balkan and Slavic folklore were walking putrid corpses, more visually similar to a cinematic zombie than a handsome, suave, pale Robert Pattinson,” said Eggers. Historically correct details win out over nearly everything in Nosferatu, even when Eggers knew some details might leave portions of the audience unhappy. He explained:
“The mustache was absolutely crucial. For people who aren’t into the mustache, because they were expecting something that looked more like the iconic Max Schrek look, I get it, but with my approach, based on history, there’s absolutely no f*cking way ever, in any possible situation, that this guy wouldn’t have a mustache. And that [also] goes down to, like, all the clothing that he’s wearing, his complicated shoes, his hat, it’s all based on research.”
David White discusses his makeup and prosthetics work on ‘Nosferatu,’ which just earned him an Oscar nomination, and the rest of his great career.
Given that vampires, well, don’t exist, it’s hard to be “historically” accurate. So what motivated the decision to give Orlok a flavor saver? Eggers explained:
The question that I immediately needed to ask, given who this vampire is, was: ‘Well, what would a dead Transylvanian nobleman actually look like?’ So that meant we based the facial features on certain things to make him scary and masculine and noble, but also on some portraits.
So come hell or high water, a mustache was… a must. Sometimes the details of Eggers’ different worlds conflict a tiny bit with cinematic needs, and how he navigates those decisions defines him as much as anything else in his work.
Cinema vs Research in the Work of Robert Eggers
As much as Robert Eggers is creating a ‘world,’ he’s also ultimately creating a movie to entertain, and there are demands there that sometimes have to be considered. “In Victorian mourning clothing of the period, there would be no shiny stuff on the clothing at all,” said Eggers as an example. “But because a lot of that clothing was going to be worn at night [in the film] we need to be able to see it, you know? So that was something that was changed, but it’s only very tiny little things like that.”
Eggers also shared an instance where he was tempted to go farther with something but had to consider the context of the rest of the film, and how an audience would take it:
“The costume designer wanted Orlok’s hat to be even larger than it was. You certainly see examples like that. I said, “If this was a story about Hungarian and Vallakian warlords, if every other character had a giant fur hat, we could go that big, but because this is the only one we’re going to see, aside from a more humble version in Transylvania, you need to dial it back. [Otherwise] it’s going to go too far.”
Interestingly, some performers run with Egger’s meticulous style, leaning into the specificity and making it work, like this anecdote about Aaron Taylor Johnson’s hair, “We were trying to go with historical hairstyles that were accurate but also flattering,” explained Eggers. “But Aaron Taylor Johnson went for kind of like a pretty out-there hairstyle, and we were concerned that it was going to be too much, but he had the personality and the physicality to pull it off. So we said, ‘Great!'”
Ultimately, Robert Eggers pushes back on the idea that he would be forced to change too much based on audience expectations. Rather, his instinct is to embrace the research and share what he discovers in the hopes that people will find it as interesting as he does. “The more that you can defy expectations in the right way, the more satisfying it can be. That’s one of the joys to me about doing all this research — finding things that are a little bit unexpected. Perhaps [like] the mustache.”
Nosferatu is available to rent or buy on digital platforms such as Google Play, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV. Nosferatu comes to 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on February 18. If you buy on Apple TV, you can access the extended cut and get a variety of special features.
Since Godzilla first graced the silver screen in 1954, he has made an impact on pop culture and continues to do so to this day. In 2023, the film Godzilla: Minus One took cinemas by storm, eventually winning the popular kaiju and his special effects team a historic Oscar. On top of that, Godzilla has also been killing it in the comics world, and the fan-favorite kaiju continues to make waves in 2025.
Primarily housed within IDW Publishing, Godzilla’s comics have also been published by other comic book companies, like Marvel. In 2024, Marvel published a line of Godzilla variant covers, along with the numerous IDW comics staring Godzilla and his fellow kaiju. 2025 is looking to be an even bigger year for Godzilla fans in terms of comics, with a number of new titles hitting the shelves from both IDW and Marvel.
IDW has a number of new Godzilla comics, unleashing a new universe in 2025. The first is Godzilla: Heist #1 by Ban Jansen and Kelsey Ramsey, which is set to release February 19th, 2025. This series should be the perfect comic for fans of the classic kaiju, as well as heist films like Ocean’s 11. Jai, a young thief, plans to use Godzilla’s attacks as his distraction for his upcoming scores.
IDW Continues to Be the Comic King of the Monsters with New Godzilla Books
Godzilla and Mothra Debuts New Series in 2025
Godzilla is not the only one getting a chance to shine in the spotlight, as Mothra gets her very first series with Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 by Sophie Campbell and Matt Frank. Not only is Mothra taking center stage in this comic, but she will also go up against a new kaiju, Antra. Set in a wasteland, all hope seems lost, but there is a chance that a young woman and her twin can save the world if they go back in time and bring back a new Mothra. This apocalyptic comic will hopefully be a great chance for Mothra to shine.
For another recent and critically-acclaimed Godzilla comic – also starring the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and, of course, Jay Gatsby – check out Godzilla’s Masterpiece Theatre by Tom Scioli, available now from IDW Publishing.
Free Comic Book Day – celebrated in 2025 on Saturday, May 3rd – will also treat Godzilla fans to a new comic, Godzilla: The New Heroes #1 by Tim Seeley, Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Chris Gooch, Pablo Tunica, Nikola Čižmešija, and Oliver Ono, teasing the new series set to release in July. The Free Comic Book Day issue will be a prelude to the new series, and it will also give fans a sneak peek into what else is in store for IDW’s Godzilla line at large. For anyone curious about this kaiju, this free comic will be an excellent starting place, and fans can check it out at participating comic shops on Free Comic Book Day.
Godzilla Plans to Help Los Angeles with a Fundraising Comic
Godzilla vs. America: Los Angeles #1 by Gabriel Hardman, J. Gonzo, Jordan Morris, Dave Baker, and Nicole Goux
On top of the aforementioned comics, there will also be another new series of one-shots, Godzilla vs. America, with the debut issue, Godzilla vs. America: Chicago #1 by Tim Seeley, Mike Costa, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Ryan Browne, and Caroline Cash, set to hit shelves on February 26th, 2025. The first issue is already exciting, as Godzilla’s first stop in America is the Windy City in stories by creators from or familiar with Chicago, but after that, Godzilla makes his way to California, and he’s looking to do more good than harm.
Every year, Marvel puts out incredible variant covers for its comics, and 2024 was no different. Here are the ten best variants of the year!
Godzilla vs. America: Los Angeles #1 will raise money as a California fires charity event, and it is set to be released April 30th, 2025. IDW announced that proceeds from this comic will be donated to help victims of the LA wildfires. These fires have a massive, tragic impact on Los Angeles County, and IDW recognizes this in a press release about Godzilla vs. America: Los Angeles #1:
“Godzilla,” as a series, has often served as a metaphor for the impact of unprecedented tragedies stemming from human actions or natural causes. It is not our intention to capitalize on these recent events but rather to continue to explore themes that resonate with and reflect the human condition. To support our community in this difficult time, we have decided to donate all proceeds from the sales of Godzilla vs. Los Angeles to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc). This contribution will directly aid bookstores and comic shops affected by the fires, helping them recover and rebuild.
Godzilla Finally Returns to Marvel Comics to Face Off Against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Godzilla vs. Marvel Will Be a Highlight of 2025
IDW is not the only publisher getting in on the Godzilla hype. After last year’s line of Godzilla variants, Godzilla vs. Marvel got the green light. The first issue of this crossover event is set to release March 19th, 2025, with Godzilla vs. Fantastic Four by Ryan North and John Romita Jr: one of six one-shots where the world of Marvel Comics takes on Godzilla and other kaiju from his franchise. Other upcoming titles will star Spider-Man, Hulk, the X-Men, and Thor, and each entry will stand on its own, so new readers can dive in whenever they please; although, the event as a whole is certainly something Godzilla fans won’t want to miss out on.
Godzilla comics from both IDW Publishing and Marvel Comics are available throughout 2025.
The Godzilla franchise, spanning over six decades, follows the adventures of the titular kaiju, a colossal, prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. Originating in Japan, Godzilla has evolved from a destructive force of nature to a protector of humanity, battling various other giant monsters, including iconic foes like King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla. The series explores themes of environmental destruction, nuclear anxiety, and human resilience. With numerous films, TV series, and an expanding universe, Godzilla remains a cultural icon, captivating audiences worldwide with its epic battles and compelling narratives.
Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell
Video Game(s)
Godzilla, Super Godzilla, Godzilla (1990), Godzilla: Unleashed, Godzilla: Monster War, Godzilla: Battle Legends, Godzilla: Save The Earth, Godzilla: Monster of Monsters!, Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee
Looking for low-cost FTSE 250 growth and income shares to buy? Residential landlord Grainger (LSE:GRI) might be just the ticket.
Here’s why I think it merits serious consideration today.
Strong conditions
A chronic property shortage has driven residential rents skywards in recent years. As Britain’s largest listed rental accommodation provider, Grainger has been a huge beneficiary of this upswing.
It’s rapidly grown its property portfolio to capitalise on this, and now has more than 11,000 homes on its books. That compares with around 5,600 homes five years ago.
The big question for investors today is whether this trend can continue. Falling demand more recently has caused some room for doubt: according to Rightmove, average advertised UK rents outside London dropped 0.2% in the last quarter of 2024.
With elevated rental costs squeezing the number of prospective tenants, advertised rents (excluding the capital) dropped for the first time since 2019.
This could be the beginning of a trend that threatens profits at Grainger and its peers. The government’s plans to build 1.5m new homes during the five years to 2029 might also dent profits growth.
But I’m not so sure. First and foremost, this is because Britain’s population is booming and tipped to continue doing so, driving demand for residential space significantly higher.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), for instance, predicts the UK population will grow by around 5m between 2022 and 2032, to 72.5m.
At the same time, the number of buy-to-let investors is falling due to rising costs and regulatory hoops. Estate agent Hamptons has predicted 113,630 new buy-to-let purchases across the UK in 2024, down a whopping 40% in less than a decade.
Growth to accelerate?
Grainger isn’t without risk, especially given the threat of interest rate pressures persisting that crimp asset values.
But on balance, I think the earnings picture here is largely very bright. This is backed up by current broker forecasts: City analysts think earnings will rise 2% during the financial year to September 2025 before growth accelerates to 10% in fiscal 2026.
Now, Grainger shares don’t look cheap based on these figures. For this financial year, they trade on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 22.1 times.
However, based on another popular value metric — the price-to-book (P/B) ratio — the FTSE 250 share actually looks exceptionally cheap.
With a reading below 1, at 0.8, the landlord trades at a discount to the value of its assets.
Source: TradingView
Rising dividends
Pleasingly for Grainger investors, the prospect of solid profits growth means City analysts expect dividends to continue rising sharply over the forecasted period.
For financial 2025 and 2026, total dividends are tipped to soar 12% and 9%, respectively. To put that in context, shareholder payouts across the broader stock market are expected to grow between 4% and 4.5%.
What’s more, these predictions push Grainger’s dividend yields to 4% for 2025 and 4.4% for 2026. Both figures comfortably beat the 3.3% average for FTSE 250 shares.
For investors seeking a blend of growth, income, and value, I think Grainger shares are worth a close look.
Billy Ray Cyrus called for the “start of healing for us all,” amid personal tensions that seemed to spill over on social media last week.
The 63-year-old “Achy Breaky Heart” musician on Sunday penned a message of gratitude for “the California Rain” soaking the fire-ravaged state and said he was “praying for the brokenhearted and their pain.” Also on Cyrus’ mind: his family.
“Praying for my family,” he captioned a YouTube snippet of his “Somebody Said a Prayer” music video. “For my children … sons and daughters … and their mother.”
Though Cyrus did not reveal what exactly prompted him to pray for his loved ones, it’s worth noting he released his video less than a week after 35-year-old son Trace Cyrus, whom he shares with ex-wife Tish Cyrus-Purcell, penned an emotional letter on Wednesday urging his father to get help. Trace Cyrus, whose siblings include pop singers Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus, addressed their father: “Me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but you’ve pushed all of us away.”
His letter added: “We are all hanging on to memories of the man we once knew & hoping for the day he returns. You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it.”
The younger Cyrus shared his letter after Billy Ray Cyrus delivered a shaky performance for President Trump’s Liberty Ball. The public plea quickly gained traction last week and on Thursday prompted Billy Ray Cyrus’ most recent ex-wife, Firerose, to speak on her own experiences.
She told Page Six that “it’s very sad to see those same struggles continue for him, but I’m glad the truth is coming to light.” Firerose and Cyrus ended their marriage in August 2024 after less than a year and after trading allegations of fraud and abuse.
Elsewhere on social media, Billy Ray Cyrus seemingly brushed off his son’s concerns, looking back at his Inauguration Day appearance and announcing new music. Most recently on Instagram, he shared a letter he received from Johnny Cash and promoted music from his former supergroup, Brother Clyde.
Trace Cyrus, on the other hand, doubled down on his efforts to reach his father.
On Saturday, he wrote another statement to Billy Ray Cyrus, noting he “could have been extremely honest about a lot more” but decided to spare followers the details. He also accused his father of threatening to take legal action over last week’s letter. “You should be ashamed of yourself,” Trace Cyrus said. “I will always love you but I no longer respect you as a man.”
He added: “Everyone close to you is terrified to tell you how they really feel. I’m not. Get help.”
A representative for Billy Ray Cyrus did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.
On Sunday, Cyrus concluded his YouTube caption: “‘The past does not equal the future.’ Amen.”
A Detroit rapper is suing Lyft for discrimination over allegations that one of the company’s drivers told her she was too large to fit inside his car.
In a lawsuit filed in Michigan court Monday (Jan. 27), Dank Demoss (Dajua Blanding) says the driver of a black Mercedes sedan told her during the Jan. 18 incident that she was “too big” for the backseat of his car and that “his tires were not capable of supporting plaintiff’s weight.”
“Defendant Lyft … unlawfully discriminated against plaintiff based on her weight,” Blanding’s attorneys write in the lawsuit, which was obtained by Billboard. Blanding, who has described herself as a “Big Beautiful Woman” on social media, says she was embarrassed, humiliated and suffered “mental anguish.”
The lawsuit comes after Blanding posted an alleged video of the incident to TikTok and other platforms, showing her arguing with the driver over his seeming refusal to take her.
In the video, she can be heard telling the driver, “I can fit in this car,” after which he quickly responds, “Believe me, you can’t.” After telling Blanding that he’s “been in this situation before,” the driver can be heard saying that she needs to order a pricier “Uber XL” to accommodate her size.
Blanding’s post on TikTok has been viewed more than 345,000 times; another clip on Instagram has been liked more than 7,000 times.
In her complaint filed Monday, Blanding says the driver’s refusal violates Michigan’s civil rights laws, which prohibit any discrimination for public accommodations based on a variety of factors, including a person’s weight.
“Plaintiff’s weight was at least one factor that made a difference in defendants’ treatment of plaintiff and subjected her to a hostile environment,” her lawyers write.
In a statement to Billboard, a Lyft spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of a pending legal action, but stressed that its driver regulations “explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination.”
“Lyft unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination — we believe in a community where everyone is treated with equal respect and mutual kindness,” the company said.
As the cast of Married to Medicine prepares for the Season 11 reunion, Lateasha Lunceford is still not sure if she wants to attend. In an exclusive conversation with Reality Tea, Sweet Tea revealed that she’s on still the fence about sitting down with her co-stars. According to her, she’s focusing on other things right now.
Why Sweet Tea feels unsure about Married to Medicine Season 11’s reunion
Photo Credit: Clifton Prescod/Bravo
Although Sweet Tea had a rocky introduction to the group last year, she has been finding her footing in Season 11. She joined forces with Phaedra Parks and Dr. Contessa Metcalfe to host a glamping trip. She even recruited a new friend into the circle! Regardless, Sweet Tea isn’t sold on the idea of coming together with the group for a reunion.
“I’ve debated on whether or not I was going to go,” Sweet Tea confessed.
“It’s just a lot,” she continued. “I’m focusing on my babymaking journey and all these things, and my marriage and all that. I’ve just been busy, but I’m coming around to the decision.”
So far, Season 11 of M2M has shown Sweet Tea clashing with Dr. Heavenly Kimes and trying to dance around the sticky situation of coexisting with Quad Webb. With that in mind, Sweet Tea predicted that there would be a lot to address when they reunite. We think she might luck out, and the ladies will end up spending the entire time harassing Phaedra about her Med Gala donations. You never know with this group.
Either way, Sweet Tea made it clear that she’s still weighing her decisions about what’s next. If she does decide to attend the reunion, she said she’s going to try to make the best out of it and have a good time, all while defending herself.
“I’m going to give you guys my authentic self — my real thoughts, and they’re not going to be rehearsed,” Lateasha teased. “Whatever you get out of my mouth is what you get.”
