[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Fire Country Season 3 Episode 10 “The Leone Way.”]
Among the relationships that Bode (Max Thieriot) had to repair when Fire Country first premiered with him returning to Edgewater at Three Rock — besides with his parents Vince (Billy Burke) and Sharon (Diane Farr) — were the friends he’d left behind, Jake (Jordan Calloway) and Eve (Jules Latimer). The show has shined since Season 1 when it’s focused on that trio, and, to be honest, we haven’t gotten enough of the three of them together. The midseason premiere, however, was a great episode, with Bode and Jake stepping up to help Eve save her family’s ranch from an out-of-control fire.
Season 3 has already been a good one for Bode and Jake’s relationship, with the latter having to balance being the former’s friend and boss while he was training earlier, especially when it came at a time he was struggling with his late girlfriend’s daughter spending time with and ultimately moving in with her biological father. Then, something Fire Country wisely did is not have a hookup between Jake and Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) — both his and Bode’s ex — be about the restart of the love triangle. It happened once and neither is interested in getting back together, which is good because while it may seem like something’s poised to happen with Bode and Audrey (Leven Rambin), we all know he and Gabriela will eventually get back together. (Also: Gabriela helping Audrey as a firefighter and teaching her to swim? Love it.)
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Instead, as Episode 10 highlights, right now, it’s about how Bode will react to the news, and when better for Jake to break it to him than during the family camping trip — and yes, Jake is family, as pretty much every Leone has to remind him during this episode. (That trip also ends up leading to Vince’s father Walter, played by Jeff Fahey, accepting that he might have some sort of cognitive issues as he’s been having memory problems.)
Ahead of that trip, Gabriela doesn’t think they have to tell Bode, but points out that since Jake said he wants to own it, he should go ahead. Jake hesitates, since Bode’s talking to Audrey. He’s then about to tell him while they’re fishing, only for Walter to interrupt to get them to move to what he deems a better spot. Jake later tells Luke (Michael Trucco), who sympathizes; he fixed things with Sharon and Vince after his really bad decision to hit on her, however, by giving her a kidney. Jake wants his advice, but all Luke can offer is that he broke the bro code, so he has to own it. Whatever else is going on, he is still family, Luke emphasizes, and families forgive.
It’s not until they’re back at 42 that Jake tells Bode he and Gabriela slept together “consensually, drunkenly, regrettably.” Bode’s not sure how to react, but Jake reminds him of how he reacted when it was the other way around. Jake tells him they’re brothers, and what he and Gabriela did was a mistake and he just wants to own it. He backslid on Bode and his integrity. Bode assures him that when he told him he was part of the family during the trip, he meant it. What happened is hard to swallow, but they’re good, he says. With that, the two hug.
Something this episode highlights and not just in that last conversation and which we started to see a bit of at the end of the midseason premiere when Jake watched Sharon, Vince, and Bode together, is that Jake doesn’t seem like he thinks he’s part of the Leone family. Plus, Sharon had just asked Vince about what’s going on with him and Jake when they were interrupted by Walter showing up and thinking it was time for Bode’s graduation (which had already happened).
Jake tells Bode he’s surprised he was invited on the camping trip since it’s a family thing; Bode reminds him he’s family, and Jake says he’s not sure everyone (presumably Vince) would agree. Later, when Luke reveals he got a job out of the country (new Cal Fire program to train firefighters in Japan) and Vince argues with him about who will look after Walter, Jake tries to leave since it sounds like a family thing. Bode again reminds him he’s family, and Walter agrees. Then, upon hearing about Walter’s terminology for an improvised rescue (Swiss army job) and Luke calling it Leone lingo, Jake remarks that he’s still not fluent.
Thieriot told TV Insider around Episode 5 of Bode and Jake, “Over the course of the season, we get to—which I’ve been really looking forward to—really kind of explore their friendship more and more and more and get to see a lot of that, which I think is something the audience is going to love getting to experience. It’s always been sort of at a distance and now we get to see the two of them together a lot, which is fun.”
This feels like just the start of that, which is a good thing because anything that highlights their brotherhood and all its complications — like in this episode — makes for great TV. We’ve seen how well these two can work together, even when they’re at odds, and we’re just starting to see that when they’re not. It’s seeing them get past the rough patches, like this one now about Gabriela, that makes the moments they’re firmly on each other’s side all the more special. And given what “The Leone Way,” and the issues yet to be resolved between Jake and Vince, something tells us there’s much more coming.
The FTSE 100 leading index of shares shows no signs of slowing down after its blistering performance of 2024.
After hitting repeated record highs last year, the Footsie continues to break new ground at the start of 2025. In recent days it struck new all-time peaks around 8,767 points. It’s up 5.4% since New Year’s Day.
The FTSE 100’s gains are thanks to improved optimism over interest rate cuts, solid corporate earnings news, and fresh weakness in the UK pound. Lower sterling boosts overseas profits for the index’s multinational companies.
Yet some individual blue-chip stocks have performed even more strongly than the broader index. I’m confident some of them will continue outpacing the FTSE, too.
Legal & General (LSE:LGEN) is one such company I believe can keep climbing.
Buyback boost
Up 7.7% since 1 January, the share price has mainly been boosted by news of a major upcoming divestment.
It announced on Friday (7 February) the sale of its US protection business to Japan’s Meiji Yasuda for a total £1.8bn. In addition to this, Legal & General said it will cede a 20% stake in its pension risk transfer (PRT) business to the Japanese company.
As for the proceeds, £400m will be shuttled into the new PRT arrangement, while a further £1bn will be made available for share buybacks following completion.
As a result, the firm said it “now expects to return the equivalent of [roughly] 40% of its market cap to shareholders over 2025-2027 through a combination of dividends and buybacks.”
Room for growth?
Thanks to its exceptional cash generation, Legal & General is famed for its huge dividends and ambitious share repurchase plans. For 2025, analysts expect a 14th year of dividend growth out of the last 15, which in turn drives its yield to 8.8%. Friday’s buyback news puts another layer of icing on the cake.
Source: DividendMax
Legal & General’s share price has been under pressure over the past year. But boosted by lower interest rates and growing structural demand for financial planning services, I’m optimistic it may continue its recent rebound this year, providing a blend of healthy capital gains and dividend income.
The company’s cheap valuation certainly leaves plenty of scope for fresh gains, in my opinion.
For this year, it trades on an undemanding price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 10.3 times. What’s more, its price-to-earnings growth (PEG) for 2025 is a modest 0.3.
That’s some distance below the benchmark of 1 and below that indicates a share is undervalued.
Looking good
Being able to accurately predict near-term share price movements is exceptionally tough. This is no different with Legal & General, demand for whose shares could sink amid fresh signs of weak economic growth and sticky inflation that impacts revenues.
But on balance, I think things are looking pretty bright for the financial services giant. This view’s shared by City analysts, who expect sustained earnings growth of 33% and 10% in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
Regardless of its share price, outlook for this year, I think Legal & General shares are a top FTSE 100 share to consider. I own it in my own portfolio and plan to hold it for the long haul.
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The American people didn’t vote for Elon Musk to be given access to all of their personal data. Given how Trump stole classified documents that belonged to the American people when he left the White House for the first time, it is shocking that the thought didn’t enter the collective mind that Donald Trump should never be entrusted with anyone’s personal information.
Too many people were distracted by the media circuses of first drumming Joe Biden off the Democratic ticket and then complaints about Kamala Harris not doing enough interviews to ponder the consequences of a second Trump presidency.
Some Americans hoped that Donald Trump would lower prices and give them another stimulus check. Eggs are hitting a record-high price, and Trump has unleashed Elon Musk to find $4.2 trillion so that taxes can be cut for the rich.
Musk’s pursuit of money to put in his pocket inspired him to hack government agencies and steal the personal data of every American. Elon Musk has gone from department to department, downloading data and reportedly adding software.
All of Musk’s behavior is against the law.
Students are the latest group to push back against Musk’s hack.
Public Citizen alerted The Daily, “Representing the University of California Student Association, Student Defense and Public Citizen Litigation Group filed a lawsuit today against the Department of Education for sharing confidential student data with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).”
It is illegal for the Department of Education to share the data of students with Elon Musk.
The lawsuit alleges:
The Defendants have violated the Privacy Act, Internal Revenue Code, and Department regulations by allowing DOGE-affiliated individuals to access the Department’s data and the computer systems that house federal student financial aid information.
President Trump on Friday signed an Executive Order dismantling Joe Biden’s gun control actions.
“The Second Amendment is an indispensable safeguard of security and liberty. It has preserved the right of the American people to protect ourselves, our families, and our freedoms since the founding of our great Nation. Because it is foundational to maintaining all other rights held by Americans, the right to keep and bear arms must not be infringed,” President Trump’s Executive Order said.
Trump ordered US Attorney General Pam Bondi to review all of Joe Biden’s unconstitutional gun control Executive Orders to assess ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment.
“Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall examine all orders, regulations, guidance, plans, international agreements, and other actions of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to assess any ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens, and present a proposed plan of action to the President, through the Domestic Policy Advisor, to protect the Second Amendment rights of all Americans,” Trump’s EO said.
Pam Bondi will review “All Presidential and agencies’ actions from January 2021 through January 2025 that purport to promote safety but may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” the EO said.
Biden waged a war on the Second Amendment during his four years in office.
The Justice Department, within 30 days, will issue a proposed rule to help stop the proliferation of “ghost guns.”
The Justice Department, within 60 days, will issue a proposed rule to make clear when a device marketed as a stabilizing brace effectively turns a pistol into a short-barreled rifle subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act.
The Justice Department, within 60 days, will publish model “red flag” legislation for states: Red flag laws allow family members or law enforcement to petition for a court order temporarily barring people in crisis from accessing firearms if they present a danger to themselves or others.
The Administration is investing in evidence-based community violence interventions.
The Justice Department will issue an annual report on firearms trafficking.
The President will nominate David Chipman to serve as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
In one of his last gun control executive orders, Biden targeted private gun sellers.
“The executive order directs the attorney general to increase background checks by cracking down on gun sellers who don’t perform them when required, with the goal of “moving us as close as we can to universal background checks without new legislation,” as Mr. Biden put it. The order also directs federal agencies to improve public awareness and promote the use of “red-flag” laws, and instructs the attorney general to release more information about federally licensed firearms dealers who violate the law,” CBS News reported.
Shortly before leaving office, Joe Biden signed an executive order banning ghost guns.
Biden also targeted gun manufacturers and vowed to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
BIDEN: “I am determined, once again, to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines!” pic.twitter.com/KDmIhk7ZXQ
The brutal murder of Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei in September 2024 brought renewed global attention to a silent epidemic in Kenya: femicide and other forms of violence against women. With nearly 100 women murdered by men in just three months, 2024 was one of the deadliest years on record for Kenyan women. With mentalities slow to change and in the absence of a meaningful response from the government, some Kenyan women are taking matters into their own hands by enrolling in self-defence classes. And while William Ruto’s government unveiled a 42-member task force to address gender-based violence in January, feminist activists are already voicing concerns it will do little make a significant impact. Erin Ogunkeye spoke to feminist and security professor Awino Okech of SOAS University of London for more. She’s also the director of the Feminist Centre for Racial Justice.
For weeks now, most of the friends and families I know have had a cough of some kind. The pollution in the dry season in Thailand has long been a problem.
But recently, it’s reached dangerous and deeply worrying levels.
Bangkok was the fourth most polluted city in the world this month. Across 31 districts 352 schools were also closed because of pollution.
Image: People wearing face masks because of poor air pollution in the Thai capital. Pic: Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
For weeks, I’ve had to rush my children into school with masks on, as the cheery teachers apologetically declare: “Pollution day so straight into class please.”
I like to go running with my son before school. But these days we’ve had to check the air quality index before we venture out.
Unfortunately, there have been plenty of mornings when the red bar appears, the screen reads, “very unhealthy” and we have to stay in.
It’s not a ritual I ever imagined having to go through with my kids in an era when governments know full well the dangers of pollutants and have the technology and know-how to reduce it.
Image: A woman in Bangkok amid high levels of air pollution. Pic: Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under five daily in South East Asia and the Pacific, according to a report this week by UNICEF.
This when clean air should be a universal right.
I’ve started to really worry about what living in Bangkok and many other parts of Thailand is doing to little lungs long term.
You can feel the smog in the back of your throat and sometimes, you can see the haze. But other days it’s hidden – a silent killer.
Image: The ‘rainmaker’ plane dumping water over parts of polluted Thailand
‘Rainmaker’
The Thai government hopes a plane that’s become known as the “rainmaker” might help.
In Hua Hin, about a three hour drive south of Bangkok, we get on board for a flight back to the capital. Two big plastic containers are being filled with 1,000 litres of icy water through a pump.
Today they’re dropping it over 16km of land shrouded in pollution. They do it twice a day across the country.
Image: Sky News Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch on board the ‘rainmaker’
It’s an unconventional method and critics say so far unproven, but the hope is that it will cool down the warm air below and help disperse the trapped polluted particles cloaking the city.
The big worry right now is the PM 2.5 levels – cancer-causing particles that get into the lungs and bloodstream. Recently, they were eight times what the World Health Organization recommends.
Pollution ‘getting worse every year’
Pilot Aim Suracharttumrongrat tells me: “It’s a very huge scale problem. Our mission here is one of helping. But it’s not solving the problem.”
He gestures out the window to show how hard it is to see. “I’m very surprised,” he says of how bad the pollution currently is. “It’s higher every year.”
Image: Thick air pollution over parts of Thailand
A couple of hours drive away in Ratchaburi province, you can see a big part of the problem – burnt fields of rice, sugar cane and corn – the product of slash-and-burn farming.
It’s a cheap and efficient way for poor farmers to clear the land, and they’re encouraged by big businesses driving up demand.
International smog and toxic traffic
It’s not the only problem.
Toxic traffic is playing its part too. The government has been trying to counter that by offering free public transport.
Winds from China and India have also contributed to the recent haze – earlier and more intense than previous years.
The government has rules in place against burning crops. But punishments aren’t always enforced and if Thailand and other countries are serious about improving the situation, holding big agricultural companies to account will be key.
China and Singapore are two nations that have turned things around.
President Trump delivers remarks in the Oval Office on Friday. In a posting on his Truth Social site, Trump said he was revoking former President Joe Biden’s security clearances.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
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President Trump says he is “immediately revoking” former President Joe Biden’s security clearances — access that Biden stripped from Trump four years ago.
Former presidents are historically given intelligence briefings after leaving office. In 2021, Biden revoked Trump’s access just weeks after being sworn in, arguing Trump exhibited “erratic behavior.”
Now, Trump appears to be repeating the move.
In a post Friday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Biden “set this precedent” by taking away his clearances shortly after Trump left office.
Trump criticized the former president’s cognitive ability and referenced a report by special counsel Robert Hur that described Biden as having a “poor memory.” Biden was investigated by Hur for his alleged mishandling of classified materials after he left the vice presidency, but prosecutors ultimately determined that charges were not warranted.
“The Hur Report revealed that Biden suffers from ‘poor memory’ and, even in his ‘prime,’ could not be trusted with sensitive information,” Trump said on Truth Social. “I will always protect our National Security — JOE, YOU’RE FIRED.”
A spokesperson for the former president could not be immediately reached for comment.
“What value is giving him an intelligence briefing?” Biden said in an interview with CBS News four years ago. “What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?”
Trump’s decision to revoke Biden’s access follows similar moves taken by the administration against past critics of the president. Last week, the Pentagon revoked retired Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley’s security detail and suspended his clearance. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton have also had their security details removed by Trump.
State senators gathered in Pasadena on Friday afternoon to announce a slate of wildfire recovery bills, including proposals to protect renters, expand firefighter staffing and fund programs for displaced K-12 students and community colleges.
The lawmakers called the package of 13 bills an effort to “invest in a fire-safe” California.
“This is one of the toughest times that the city and county of L.A. have seen in almost a century,” Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) said outside of Pasadena First United Methodist Church. McGuire and legislative leaders promised to address those affected by the wildfires that burned through swaths of Los Angeles last month.
Though it’s typical for bills to go to the Assembly in June and land on the governor’s desk in September, McGuire said he hopes to “move some of these bills quickly through the Legislature and put it on the damn governor’s desk here in the next 60 days.”
Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), who represents Pacific Palisades and co-authored three bills in the package, said the legislation is about “doing all that we can to lower the chances of a disaster like this happening again and also giving them the relief that they so deeply deserve.”
One bill authored by Sens. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) will add civil penalties to protect those who are displaced from price-gouging on temporary housing, lodging or rentals. It would also authorize the state attorney general to issue warrants against violators.
Another proposal will require companies to provide temporary mortgage loan relief. If enacted, it would allow tenants to get back a portion of their already-paid rent if they had to move because of the wildfires. Mobile homes located “in areas subject to a state of emergency” would get temporary rent controls.
Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), who chairs the Senate Insurance Committee, and her colleagues introduced a plan to form a commission to centralize wildfire mitigation efforts and ensure homeowners and developers make buildings more fire-proof.
Another bill authored by Rubio and Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Burbank) proposes expanding the one-year non-renewal moratorium on insurance, which is currently for residential policies that are within the ZIP Codes of the wildfires, to also cover commercial policies. The authors argue this will protect small businesses and condominiums after wildfires.
McGuire introduced the first part of the sweeping package earlier this week. Called the Fight for Firefighters Act of 2025, it would make around 3,000 seasonal firefighters, who work nine months out of the year and are laid off for the winter months, into year-round employees.
“Let’s be blunt, wildfires do not take three months off,” McGuire said at a news conference.
The plan would also make the state’s vegetation management crews and Cal Fire engines operational all year. The proposal, his office said, could cost the state upward of $185 million a year and is a “desperately needed” staffing plan as the West continues to burn at historic rates.
Last month, Democratic members of the Assembly introduced bills focused on housing for displaced Angelenos.
This includes legislation that could make it easier for homeowners to get a coastal development permit for Accessory Dwelling Units. Other bills include one that will create a temporary eviction exemption to allow those displaced to remain in their temporary homes; another would allow anyone who lost their home to receive up to a year of mortgage deferral.
Republicans from across the aisle have also introduced bills, including an array that focus on stiffening criminal penalties to address recent cases of those suspected of looting and other criminal activity during the wildfires.
Two were introduced last month that would increase penalties for looting, making it a felony to commit a burglary during a large wildfire or other types of disaster. One bill from Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) would make it a felony to impersonate a police officer or a firefighter during a state of emergency.
Legislators also want to make it a felony to fly a drone over a scene of an emergency and toughen the sentence for aggravated arson if a wildfire destroys more than 500 acres. A man recently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in federal court in Los Angeles after his drone collided with a firefighting aircraft working on the Palisades fire.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE is set to bring about a multitude of visual and functional changes taken from earlier iPhone models. Here’s what to expect from Apple, as soon as next week.
For the past two iterations, Apple’s iPhone SE has maintained a dated look, with thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button that make it virtually indistinguishable from an iPhone 8. All of that is set to change quite soon, as the budget-friendly iPhone SE is going to receive its first major redesign in years.
Alongside its new design, the iPhone SE 4 will gain a variety of new hardware features, many of which are carry-overs from more recent iPhone models. With every iPhone release, however, it becomes difficult for the average person to know what to expect with the fourth-generation iPhone SE.
To remedy the situation and provide our readers with insights about the upcoming device, AppleInsider has spoken to people familiar with internal designs and pre-production prototypes of the iPhone SE 4. The individuals we spoke to have provided countless details about the iPhone 16 range ahead of launch.
Leaving no stone unturned, however, we have also decided to provide an outline of everything rumored for the fourth-generation iPhone SE, even though many of the claims made about the device outright contradict each other.
The rumor cycle of the iPhone SE 4 has been chaotic, more so than those of standard iPhone models. Initially, it was rumored to be a relatively straightforward update, derived largely from the design of the iPhone XR. Then it was suggested that Apple was testing its new in-house modem with the device, after which the project was supposedly canceled and subsequently brought back.
Here’s everything we know about the iPhone SE 4 so far, and how the different rumors stack up against each other.
The iPhone SE 4 will echo the standard iPhone 14
Apple’s next-generation budget-focused iPhone will receive a significant design refresh. Rather than resembling the massively outdated iPhone 8, the fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature a design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14.
The iPhone SE 4 will likely be based on the standard iPhone 14, with minor changes.
In practice, this means that the iPhone SE 4 will have the same overall dimensions as the iPhone 14, with an aluminum housing made of the same alloy. This information comes from people familiar with the matter, who have spoken to AppleInsider and accurately revealed details about prior Apple hardware releases.
For the fourth-generation iPhone SE, Apple plans to use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis, with minor changes such as room for the USB-C port, replacing the previously-used Lightning. USB-C has been the standard connector for iPhones since the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, so its inclusion in the iPhone SE 4 is an obvious choice, as it ensures compliance with EU regulations.
Given that the device is largely based on the existing, base model iPhone 14, the fourth-gen iPhone SE will gain an OLED panel and support for Face ID, both of which have never been available on the iPhone SE until now. Some pre-production prototypes also featured an Action button in place of the mute switch, though it is unclear if the final mass production units feature this change, as Apple tested multiple hardware configurations.
While all signs, including prototypes, point to the phone heavily resembling Apple’s base model iPhone 14, that hasn’t stopped unreliable leakers from claiming otherwise. Some have said the device will use a modified iPhone 16 chassis, and there’s even a bizarre claim of an alleged “iPhone 16E” marketing name, which would seemingly phase out the iPhone SE branding. An unlikely scenario in any case.
iFace ID coming via iPhone 14-style notch, Dynamic Island unlikely
With the introduction of a 6.1-inch OLED display, Apple will finally phase out Touch ID on the iPhone SE. As a replacement, the iPhone SE 4 will feature a more modern form of biometric identification, known as Face ID. This information comes from people familiar with Apple’s pre-production designs and prototypes.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to feature a notch rather than Dynamic Island.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will most likely feature a notch near the top of the display, where the TrueDepth Camera and associated Face ID sensors are located. This will give the device a look similar to the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 13, with a smaller notch compared to the iPhone 12.
Unlike the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, the new-and-improved iPhone SE is not getting Dynamic Island. Apple wants to make its low-end iPhone visually distinct from its flagship models, while also saving on further development costs by re-using iPhone 14 components and designs.
Though some have claimed the iPhone SE 4 will indeed ship with Dynamic Island, the overall consensus is that the device will feature a notch. The people we spoke to, along with reliable leakers, and multiple different dummy units all suggest that Apple’s budget-oriented phone will be equipped with a notch rather than Dynamic Island.
One rear camera, with an impressive 48 MP
Another notable difference compared to the iPhone 14 can be seen in the rear camera availability of the iPhone SE 4. The device will feature a single rear camera on the back rather than two.
Though the iPhone SE 4 is getting a new 48 MP camera, its position will be similar to the one on the iPhone SE 3.
This means that Apple has created a custom backplate for the fourth-generation iPhone SE. According to people familiar with the matter, the company experimented with at least five different designs for the backplate and rear camera bump. Even so, the device was always supposed to feature only one rear camera.
The flash module, meanwhile, will be on the right side. Leaked cases show a horizontal cutout for the camera, which may mean it won’t have a camera bump, but one lens jutting from the back. This is consistent with the designs Apple tested, AppleInsider was told.
The device is meant to include a 48 MP image sensor, developed under the codename Project Portland. Multiple different reports have indicated that the new-and-improved iPhone SE will feature a 48 MP rear camera, leaving little room for doubt.
Apple Intelligence, finally on the iPhone SE
With the fourth iteration of the iPhone SE, Apple will likely usher in support for its latest suite of generative AI tools. Known as Apple Intelligence, the software is currently available for devices with an A17 Pro or newer chip, or iPad and Mac products with an M1 or newer Apple Silicon system-on-chip.
Apple Intelligence will most likely be available on the iPhone SE 4 straight out of the box.
Apple Intelligence offers a variety of AI-powered utilities, which were made available via the iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 updates. With Apple Intelligence, it’s possible to edit text, remove objects from photos, summarize conversations, categorize emails, and generate imagery, all through AI.
Apple’s artificial intelligence features are available across the entire iPhone 16 range, from powerful iPhone 16 Pro featuring the A18 Pro to standard iPhone 16 with its A18 chip. The iPhone maker wants to ensure that Apple Intelligence is available across different product tiers rather than being exclusive to “Pro” models, as is evidenced by the iPad mini 7, which uses the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to use the same A18 chip found in the base model iPhone 16, which partially serves as a means of bringing Apple Intelligence to the entry-level iPhone. This would allow the phone to compete and better position itself against similarly priced Android phones that include Google Gemini or similar generative AI software for the end user.
The iPhone SE 4 will not get Visual Intelligence, as the device more than likely won’t feature the Camera Control button.
The popularity and overall prominence of artificial intelligence features has increased dramatically over the past few years. Naturally, consumers expect a new phone to offer generative AI features in some capacity. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook himself even said that Apple Intelligence influenced iPhone 16 sales, and that the device performed better in markets and regions where the company’s AI features were made available.
Apple’s iPhone SE 4 is expected to ship with iOS 18.3 pre-installed, so users will likely have access to Apple Intelligence features immediately after purchasing the device. This assumes, of course, that the device will be equipped with the A18 chip. It would be a logical choice for the iPhone SE, given that people will likely hold onto the device for years, all while expecting new software features.
New modem, older iPhone 14 battery
While not definitive, there is a strong possibility that the iPhone SE 4 might reuse the battery of the existing iPhone 14. This seems like an obvious upgrade, given that the device is heavily based on the standard iPhone 14, with only minor differences between the two.
The iPhone SE 4 could feature Apple’s “Sinope” project, an entirely new 5G modem.
Pre-production units of the iPhone SE 4 are known to have used the same A2863 battery found in the standard iPhone 14. The A2863 battery has a capacity of 3279 mAh, which is 1250 mAh more than the 2018 mAh battery of the third-generation iPhone SE.
This could lead to a significant increase in battery life compared to the previous iteration of the iPhone SE — another potential selling point for the device.
Nonetheless, it’s worth pointing out that the iPhone 14 battery was used on pre-production prototypes of the fourth-generation iPhone SE. Apple often tests multiple hardware configurations ahead of launch, so there are no guarantees that the final product will use the same battery.
There’s also talk of a new 5G modem, developed in-house by Apple under the project codename “Sinope” with the intent of replacing the existing Qualcomm modems found in current iPhone models. AppleInsider is familiar with the project, and there’s a good chance it will debut with the device, though benefits for the end user are unclear, if there even are any.
iPhone SE 4 release date, availability, and price
As for pricing, the current third-generation iPhone SE can be purchased brand new for $429. Multiple rumors suggest that Apple wants to maintain a price point below $500, which would ultimately make sense for a budget-friendly device like the iPhone SE.
AppleInsider was told that the device could be available in white and black color options, with the latter being internally referred to as “Midnight” in some instances. This information comes from people familiar with pre-production prototypes, however, and may not reflect the final units, though it does align with colors seen on dummy units.
Apple could announce the fourth-generation iPhone SE as soon as the week of February 14, 2025, while the first units are expected to reach customers later in the month. It’s possible that there will be no dedicated launch event for this device, and that it will make its debut via a simple press release instead. Previous rumors have all said that the device would be available in early 2025, so the timing makes sense in that regard.
UFC 312 is this weekend(Sat., Feb. 8, 2025) at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The pay-per-view (PPV) main event is Dricus du Plessis versus Sean Strickland (public enemy number one in Australia) for the UFC Middleweight title.
The remainder of the card is a mix of Antipodean faves, Contender Series products and Road to UFC winners.
The main card is rounded out by Justin Tafa vs. Talisson Teixeira, Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato and Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado (couldn’t they have gotten Carlos Prates into this slot?)
The “Prelims” include Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil, Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos and Kody Steele vs. Rongzhu.
I’ve been watching the lines (see them here) for all the fights on UFC 312 and tracking the changes to see which fighters the betting public are siding with. Below you’ll find all the line movement info since the odds were released (per Best Fight Odds).
UFC 312 PPV Main Card Line Movement Tracker
Dricus Du Plessis will hope to defend his title for a second time at UFC 312.Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Dricus du Plessis (-209 -19.9%) vs. Sean Strickland (+171 +22.5%)
Our UFC 312 main event has a very interesting betting line. As things stand Dricus du Plessis is a comfortable favorite over Sean Strickland and his favorite status is growing by the minute.
Du Plessis opened as a slight favorite at -130 odds but, as you can see, that has shrunk down to -209. Sean Strickland’s line has gone in the opposite direction, with him opening at +130.
In that first fight Strickland opened as a -163 favorite, but closed at -103.
The public were wrong on Strickland versus Adesanya, though. He opened at +300 and blew up to +540 before stunning Adesanya (and the vast majority of us onlookers) to win the UFC title.
Du Plessis has been often overlooked by Vegas, in both the examples above, and in his win over Robert Whittaker. However, lately the public have been pushing back on that, seizing on the long odds bookies are setting for StillKnocks.
Will the public be proved right again? Or will Vegas’ initial reaction to hedge against the champ be proved right?
Zhang Weili returns at UFC 312.Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Zhang Weili (-104 +26%) vs. Tatiana Suarez (-116 -46.7%)
Tatiana Suarez’s betting line has moved more than any other line I’ve seen since I started tracking these things almost a year ago. She opened at +172 and that has shrunk all the way to -116, putting her in a pick ‘em with the reigning UFC Strawweight champion Zhang Weili. To make this a pick ‘em Zhang’s line has also come in from her opening odds of -225.
If you got Suarez at plus money, lucky you! I think she’s the favorite in this match-up, regardless of her lack of activity.
Vegas seemed to be really skeptical of her title chances, though. Zhang’s opening line of -225 is shorter than what she opened as when she Carla Esparza (-150) and when she rematched Joanna Jedrzejczyk (-150). She would close as -385 in that Esparza fight.
I’m a little baffled in how Vegas could have favored Esparza in this match-up more than Suarez, unless the oddsmakers are really hesitant due to her injury history.
Suarez’s line is still climbing at this time of writing. So the public clearly doesn’t have those kinds of reservations. She might be a slight favorite in this match-up by closing time.
Justin Tafa is the highest placed Antipedian on the UFR 312 card.Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Justin Tafa (+127 +0.9%) vs. Talisson Teixeira (-154 +0.8%)
These lines are pretty close to where they started, but there was a blip of activity on February 4th. At that time Tafa’s odds shortened to +116. They stayed around there until starting to creep back up today.
Vegas got Tafa’s last fight right. The public did not. He opened as a +215 underdog against Karl Williams. But money on Tafa took that down to +175. Tafa would then get taken down and laid on for three rounds.
When Tafa’s line dropped, Teixeira’s odds peaked at -140. I wish I could have got those, I think the Brazilian (with a nine inch reach advantage) is going to stop Tafa on Saturday.
Jimmy Crute will get a lot of support at UFC 312.Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images
Jimmy Crute (+131 +5.6%) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (-159 -2.9%)
Not much change in this line, too. Jimmy Crute, who is in desperate need of a win, opened as the slight underdog and those odds have lengthened just a little. Rodolfo Bellato’s line has gone the other way.
I think this is a case of the public fading Crute. I doubt there are many out there who have circled Bellato’s name as someone special and someone who is always worth putting their money down on.
Crute is 0-3-1 in his last four, but I think calling him washed is a little overblown. Jamahal Hill beats most guys in this division and the first loss in that run was a leg injury created by Anthony Smith. Before that loss he finished Modestas Bukauskas and Michal Oleksiejczuk.
So if you’re buying Bellato because you think Crute is done, then buyer beware.
Jake Matthews looked good in his last fight.Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jake Matthews (-235 -1.3%) vs. Francisco Prado (+189 +5.9%)
There’s been very little movement on this line. The public seem very content with Jake Matthews as a moderate favorite on his home turf.
The public are perfect on Francisco Prado in his three fight UFC career to date. He went from +164 to +275 before losing to Daniel Zellhuber. He went from -150 to -110 before knocking out Ottman Azaitar. And he went from +210 to +250 before dropping a decision to Jamie Mullarkey in his promotional debut.
UFC 312 Late ‘Prelims’ Line Movement
Gabriel Santos is an underdog at UFC 312.Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jack Jenkins (+182 +11.3%) vs. Gabriel Santos (-225 -6.6%)
Jack Jenkins’ line has grown a little since he was announced as a slight underdog. He’s a fun fighter, with a heck of a calf kick. But I think he’s overmatched against Gabriel Santos here. Santos looked spectacular, in all facets of the game, in beating Yizha last time out.
Viacheslav Borshchev will hope for his second win in a row at UFC 312.Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Tom Nolan (+104 -6.9%) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (-126 +6.3%)
Not much movement on this fight either. This is one of the more sane betting lines Tom Nolan has seen in his UFC career. He closed as a -1115 favorite in his last fight, against Alex Reyes. Reyes then took Nolan to a decision. Before that Nolan was a -480 favorite against Victor Martinez. He was rocked early in that fight before roaring back for a TKO. And he was a -357 favorite against Nikolas Motta before that. He lost that fight via KO.
If Nolan struggles when he’s a massive favorite, how is he going to look as a slight dog?
Bruna Brasil looked muched improved against Molly McCann last time out.Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images
Wang Cong (-406 -2.6%) vs. Bruna Brasil (+310 +9.8%)
I don’t know if I’m crazy or if the world is crazy. I love Bruna Brasil in this fight. We just saw her take apart Molly McCann, who fights like Wang Cong. And we just saw Wang get stopped by Gabriella Fernandes, who fights like Bruna Brasil.
Brasil opened as a +175 underdog against McCann, at UFC London, and closed at +280.
She opened at +270 for this fight. The public seemingly think Wang is going to get her groove back in this fight and prove that her KO over Victoria Leonardo (who went 1-4 in UFC, all losses via TKO/KO) was no fluke.
UFC 312 Early‘Prelims’ Line Movement
Aleksandre Topuria makes his long awaited UFC debut at UFC 312.Photo by Guillermo Gutierrez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Aleksandre Topuria (-364 +4.1%) vs. Colby Thicknesse (+280 -5.3%)
I don’t know why Aleksandre Topuria deserves so much love from the oddsmakers, unless they think fighting skill is genetic. Topuria opened at -450 and the public have rebelled a little about that, bringing him down to -364. Short notice opponent Colby Thicknesse opened at +300 for his UFC debut.
Jonathan Micallef is another Contender Series grad on this card.Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Jonathan Micallef (+196 +17.9%) vs. Kevin Jousset (-243 -10.3%)
Jonathan Micallef’s line is one of the bigger movers on the card. He’s coming right off Contender Series and the public seem to think the more battle-tested Kevin Jousset will be too much for him. Micallef opened at +143 for this one, with Jousset at -180.
Kody Steele is yet another guy at UFC 312 coming striaght off Contender Series.Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Rongzhu (+202 +2.3%) vs. Kody Steele (-253 -2%)
These lines are virtually identical from when they started out. Kody Steele, a legit BJJ blackbelt with power in his hands, remains the decent sized favorite over Rongzhu.
Ditto.Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Quillan Salkilld (-659 -8%) vs. Anshul Jubli (+464 +25.5%)
Quillan Salkilld opened as one of the biggest favorites on the card. That’s not moved much. Anshul Jubli’s underdog line has grown from +320 to +464, though. That’s probably due to the public’s last memory of Jubli was being laid out by Mike Breeden (Jubli opened as a -400 favorite for that fight).
Tatiana Suarez’s line has moved by miles this past week.Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
UFC 312 Biggest Line Movements
TLDR: Here are the biggest line movements at UFC 312:
Tatiana Suarez: From +172 underdog to -116 pick ‘em (-46.7 percent) (B)
Zhang Weili: From -225 underdog to -104 pick ‘em (+26 percent) (F)
Anshul Jubli: From +320 underdog to +464 underdog (+25.5 percent) (A)
Sean Strickland: From +110 underdog to +171 underdog (+22.5 percent) (A)
Dricus du Plessis: From -130 favorite to -209 favorite (-19.9 percent) (E)
Jonathan Micallef: From +143 underdog to +196 underdog (+17.9 percent) (A)
Since I’ve been tracking line movements on UFC PPVs, a few early trends have started to develop.
A: Fighters who opened with plus odds and whose odds have then lengthened are 5-24.
B: Fighters who opened with plus odds and whose odds have then shortened, enough to give them minus odds, are 8-7.
C: Fighters who opened with plus odds and whose odds have then shortened, yet they remain at plus odds, are 1-4.
D: Fighters who opened with minus odds and whose odds have lengthened, enough to give them plus odds, are 3-4.
E: Fighters who opened with minus odds and whose odds have shortened are 2-1.
F: Fighters who opened with minus odds and whose odds have lengthened, though they remain at minus odds are 0-0.
Bruna Brasil had the perfect counter to Wang Cong’s antics.Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
UFC 312 Best Underdogs Bets
I really like Bruna Brasil on this card. Her improvements since joining the Fighting Nerds are very noticeable and she’s done a ton more in the Octagon than Wang Cong has to date. I also think Colby Thicknesse is worth a look. He’s local, natural at the weight class and he’s been active over the last two years. You can’t say any of that about Aleksandre Topuria.
Enough about me, though, which of these underdogs do you like the most?
MIDDLEWEIGHT REMATCH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., Feb. 8, with a rematch between 185-pound kingpin, Dricus du Plessis, running it back against the man he lifted the belt off little more than one year ago, Sean Strickland,in the five-round main event. In UFC 312’s championship co-headliner from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, women’s Strawweight roost-ruler, Zhang Weili, will defend her belt against undefeated (and oft-injured) 115-pound contender, Tatiana Suarez. UFC 312 will also feature a hard-hitting Heavyweight battle between Justin Tafa vs. Talisson Teixeira, alongside a Light Heavyweight showdown with Jimmy Crute facing Rodolfo Bellato,and so much more! UFC 312’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 312 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN2/Disney+/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 312: “du Plessis vs. Strickland 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
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