Author: dmitriy.vasyura@gmail.com

  • De Bruyne the only Premier League name on list of best assist providers in 2024

    De Bruyne the only Premier League name on list of best assist providers in 2024

    Real Madrid forwards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe celebrate

    There are some huge names on the periphery and Kevin de Bruyne’s lead as Europe’s premier assist provider in 2024 is starting to look a little shaky.

    De Bruyne is on course to reclaim the crown he won for Manchester City in 2022, which Joey Veerman stole for PSV in 2023.

    The criteria: All club assists in all competitions for teams in Europe’s top 10 leagues. The top scorers are here.

    10) Raphinha (Barcelona) – 14 assists
    Things have not been simple for the Brazil forward since he left the comfort of Leeds but the occasional Barcelona captain has risen to the role and has become one of the most creative players in Europe.

    9) Dusan Tadic (Fenerbahce) – 15 assists
    In his first season in Turkey, Tadic registered double figures for assists for the tenth different league campaign of his career. He is still flying at 35. No wonder Jurgen Klopp was “very angry” at not signing him all those years ago.

    8) Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting) – 15 assists
    The leading goalscorer of 2024
    is on for a remarkable double which would surely culminate in the big transfer his form has warranted for some time.

    7) Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) – 15 assists
    The Ballon d’Or favourite
    has wisely avoided knackering his knee in quite the same way as closest rival Rodri, giving him a couple of months to establish an unassailable lead in that particular. Assists in five consecutive La Liga games should do it, as should playing with Kylian Mbappe, Endrick and Jude Bellingham.

    6) Pedro Goncalves (Sporting) – 15 assists
    The natural successor to Bruno Fernandes always features prominently when assessing the chief continental chance creators. He might pick his next career move a bit more wisely. In the Portuguese league alone he has registered double figures for goals and assists in the past two seasons and is on course to complete that hat-trick with four and three respectively in 2024/25.

    5) Wendel (Zenit St Petersburg) – 15 assists
    They’re obviously built different in Russia, with Wendel laying on a couple of goals in each of Zenit’s first three league games, as well as their Super Cup final win over Krasnodar. Barcelona were linked in the summer but they probably had no money.

    4) Alex Baena (Villarreal) – 16 assists
    Few players have been quite as influential in Villarreal’s recent excellent run of form and academy product Baena has been good enough for La Liga’s surprise title challengers to crack into Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 squad.

    3) Alejandro Grimaldo (Leverkusen) – 17 assists
    One of the most important cogs in the Xabi Alonso machine, Grimaldo cost nothing in the summer of 2023 after his Benfica contract expired but he is worth an awful lot to the Bundesliga champions now. The left-back has embraced the Leverkusen heritage admirably, assisting stoppage-time goals against Augsburg, Leipzig, Qarabag and Patrik Schick’s late equaliser in the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart.

    2) Dries Mertens (Galatasaray) – 18 assists
    Having earned his Turkish Super Lig twilight years, Mertens is no doubt enjoying himself. Ten of those 18 assists were recorded across an eight-game period between early March and mid-May, helping propel Galatasaray to a remarkable title win. Many more have inspired a phenomenal unbeaten start to their defence.

    1) Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) – 18 assists
    There is the slight added benefit of playing behind a robot who has converted half of those assists – De Bruyne laid Haaland on four times in one FA Cup rout of Luton in February – but the Belgian has also set up Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol twice in 2024, as well as Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Oscar Bobb, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku just the once.

    And this is De Bruyne pretty much slowing down due to age, injury and being perennially internationally grumpy.

  • Meta suspended accounts that tracked celebrities ‘ private jets

    Meta suspended accounts that tracked celebrities ‘ private jets

    Meta suspended accounts that tracked celebrities ' private jets

    Meta blocked Instagram's Threads accounts that tracked the flights of Zuckerberg, Musk and other celebrities ' private jets. The company attributed this to a violation of its Privacy Policy and the risk of physical harm.

    S Threads ' Instagram accounts, which track the private jets of celebrities including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Kylie Jenner, were suspended on Monday. Meta told TechCrunch that Cheek accounts violated its privacy policy, citing the "risk of physical harm" in relation to these individuals, reports UNN.

    As it became known, most of these accounts belonged to a college student from Florida, Jack Sweeney.

    Links to Instagram/Threads accounts that track flights of former President Donald Trump, Florida governor Ron DeSantis and other celebrities on Monday night issued an error message: "the link you clicked on may be broken or the page may have been deleted.

    It is noted that Sweeney's account, which tracked Taylor Swift's plane, was disabled on Friday.

    Sweeney wrote from his personal account that" today is like December 15, 2022, " referring to the time when Elon Musk permanently deleted his @ElonJet account from Twitter.

    In May, US President Joe Biden signed a bill that allows private jet owners to anonymize their registration information. However, according to Sweeney, tracking high-ranking officials is still easy, including with the help of tips from other "flight tracking enthusiasts," writes TechCrunch.

    Meta bans RT and other Russian state media from its platformsSeptember 17 2024, 03:05 AM • 33340 views

  • “Georgian Dream leads in Georgian elections with over 50% of the vote

    “Georgian Dream leads in Georgian elections with over 50% of the vote

    “Georgian Dream leads in Georgian elections with over 50% of the vote

    According to the Georgian Central Election Commission, after counting 70.91% of the ballots, the ruling Georgian Dream party gains 52.99% of the vote. The Coalition for Change is in second place with 11.2%, and Unity is in third place with 9.83%.

    Previously, the ruling Georgian Dream party won the majority of votes in the elections in Georgia. This is reported by Echo of the Caucasus, UNN reports.

    Details

    According to CEC chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Georgian Dream party gains 52.99% of the vote after counting data from 2,206 polling stations, which corresponds to 70.91% of the total.

    The situation with other parties is as follows:

    "Coalition for Change – Gvaramia, Melia, Ghirchi, Droa" – 11.2%;

    Unity (National Movement, Agmashenebeli's Strategy, European Georgia) – 9.83%;

    "Strong Georgia (Lelo, For the People, Freedom Square, Citizens) – 9.02%;

    Gakharia – For Georgia – 8.22%;

    "Hirchi (Iago Hvichia) – 3.22%;

    "Alliance of Patriots / Alt-Info – 2.53%;

    The Labor Party – 0.75%.

    Parliamentary elections in Georgia: results of the first exit pollsOctober 26 2024, 04:32 PM • 10366 views

  • Forbes releases ranking of the world’s highest paid footballers

    Forbes releases ranking of the world’s highest paid footballers

    Forbes releases ranking of the world's highest paid footballers

    Forbes has published the top 10 football players with the highest salaries in the 2024/25 season. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way with an annual income of $285 million, followed by Messi and Neymar.

    Forbes has published the top 10 football players with the highest salaries in the 2024/25 season, UNN reports.

    Details

    It is noted that the ranking took into account not only the player's salary, but also various incomes, including income from non-football activities (advertising contracts or business income).

    Top 10 highest-paid football players in the world in the season-2024/25:

    1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nasr, striker – $285 million per year.

    2. Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, forward – 135 million.

    3 Neymar, Al-Hilal, forward – 110 million.

    4. 4. Karim Benzema, Al-Ittihad, forward – 104 million.

    5. Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid, forward – 90 million.

    6. 6. Erling Holland, Manchester City, forward – 60 million.

    7. Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid, forward – 55 million.

    8. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, forward – 53 million.

    9. Sadio Mane, Al-Nasr, striker – 52 million.

    10. Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, midfielder – 39 million.

    The grid, principle and date of the 2026 World Cup draw have been determinedOctober 17 2024, 10:22 AM • 10701 view

  • Top smartphone trends in 2025

    Top smartphone trends in 2025

    Top smartphone trends in 2025

    An expert predicts key trends in the smartphone industry for 2025. These include improved AI, enhanced security, multi-screen displays, eco-friendly manufacturing and new battery technologies.

    The introduction and empowerment of artificial intelligence will still drive the smart phone industry. But it's not just AI that will set the tone. On the main trends of 2025 in the field of smartphones in his author's column on Forbes told the world-famous futurologist, author of books on AI Bernard Marr, writes UNN.

    AI-based voice assistants

    Perhaps the most transformative application of AI in the smartphone ecosystem in 2025 will be the continued addition of LLM functionality (a type of artificial intelligence program that can recognize and generate text, among other tasks) to AI assistants. We've already seen this kind of thing with Apple adding Apple Intelligence to Siri and Google's Gemini merger with Android. This means that the conversational capabilities of our phones will become more natural and human-like.

    Apple unveils new iPad mini with support for Apple Intelligence and Pencil ProOctober 15 2024, 02:01 PM • 12177 views

    User experience based on artificial intelligence

    In addition to LLM-based voice features, AI should be expected to improve the user experience in more subtle ways, such as extending battery life, optimizing storage, and improving camera functionality. Devices are expected to become capable of anticipating user behavior and intuitively allocating resources in a more personalized way.

    Privacy and security

    As phones gain the ability to learn more about us through their scanners and sensors and become increasingly important in our lives, the importance of keeping them safe increases.

    Image

    This year, an innovation has already been presented when a phone is able to recognize a possible theft. The expert predicts further development of features that use encryption, biometrics and artificial intelligence on the device, designed to protect the valuable data they store.

    Not-so-smart phones

    As the subset of phone users suffering from “feature fatigue” grows, futurologist expect to see a further increase in interest in “dumb” phones. These minimalistic devices are designed to reduce the impact on users' lives of the many distractions of feature phones. Or simply to provide a secure device that, if lost or stolen, will make little difference to the owner's life.

    More affordable multi-screen displays

    Dual-screen displays have been around for some time, and this year saw the introduction of a three-screen model. This push to expand screen area without increasing device size shows that smartphone buyers have an appetite for devices with larger displays and innovative form factors, even though current models are expensive. This means we're likely to see cheaper models appear in the near future.

    After years of development, Amazon unveils its first color KindleOctober 17 2024, 07:09 AM • 12163 views

    Sustainability in smartphone manufacturing and design

    As consumer behavior is increasingly driven by environmental concerns, manufacturers are responding by adopting more sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of their products. Apple and Samsung have increased the percentage of recycled materials used in their devices, a trend that is likely to continue into 2025. Apple, in particular, has stated that it intends to reach 100% recycled cobalt use in its batteries in the near future.

    Image

    There is also a move towards greater use of modular parts such as batteries and screens that can be easily replaced to improve repairability and recyclability, extending product life.

    Better battery technology

    New developments in battery technology will continue to change the smartphone user experience throughout 2025. Major manufacturers are known to be working on developing solid state batteries that will significantly improve the life and charging speed of batteries used in devices. They are also less prone to overheating and could address safety concerns and reduce the incidence of battery failure. We can also expect ongoing incremental improvements such as improved wireless charging and artificial intelligence-based battery management.

    Advanced connectivity solutions

    While many parts of the world are still waiting to reap the benefits of deploying true 5G networks, other advanced networking solutions promise to revolutionize smartphone usage in the near future. One of the major innovations is the deployment of satellite networks – the most prominent of which is Starlink. This could lead to the expansion of mobile coverage to even the most remote regions of the planet, as well as providing resilience in the face of technological disruptions or natural disasters in areas with good connectivity at present.

    X changed its terms of service to let its AI train on everyone’s postsOctober 22 2024, 05:38 AM • 16209 views

  • Satellite made by Boeing just fell apart in space

    Satellite made by Boeing just fell apart in space

    Satellite made by Boeing just fell apart in space

    Intelsat has confirmed the total loss of its 33e satellite due to an “anomaly”. The US Space Force is tracking about 20 fragments, and ExoAnalytic Solutions reports 57 pieces of space debris.

    A Boeing-built communications satellite has collapsed in orbit. Intelsat said on Saturday that its 33e satellite stopped working due to an "anomaly," and on Monday confirmed its "complete loss," UNN reports citing The Verge.

    Details

    "We are coordinating with the satellite manufacturer, Boeing, and government agencies to analyze the data and observations," Intelsat said. The company has since set up a board to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cause of the anomaly.

    The satellite's destruction comes at a bad time for Boeing, after the company's troubled Starliner mission and fraud charges in connection with the 737 Max crash, the newspaper writes.

    The US Space Force also confirmed the incident.

    "The U.S. Space Force (S4S) has confirmed the destruction of Intelsat 33e (#41748, 2016-053B) in GEO on October 19, 2024 at approximately 04:30 UTC. Approximately 20 associated pieces are currently being tracked and analysis is ongoing. S4S has not identified any immediate threats and continues to conduct routine rendezvous assessments to ensure the safety and sustainability of the space sector," the statement said.

    It is reportedly unclear how many fragments in total, as satellite tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions reports tracking 57 pieces of debris.

    AddendumAddendum

    Intelsat 33e was launched in 2016 to provide connectivity across Europe, Asia and Africa. The satellite experienced engine problems shortly after launch, and it entered orbit later than expected. Another engine problem in 2017 reduced its expected 15-year lifespan by 3.5 years. Intelsat 29e, a satellite also manufactured by Boeing, was declared a "total loss" in 2019 after just three years in space.

  • Musk tested the first Starlink on a Qatar Airways plane

    Musk tested the first Starlink on a Qatar Airways plane

    Musk tested the first Starlink on a Qatar Airways plane

    Qatar Airways operated the first flight with free Starlink WiFi, reaching speeds of 215 Mbps. Musk took part in a video call with the CEO of Qatar Airways at an altitude of 38,000 feet, demonstrating the capabilities of the new system.

    On Tuesday, October 22, Qatar Airways made its first flight using SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Starlink. During the test flight, the billionaire made a video call with the CEO of Qatar, who was on board the plane. UNN reports this with reference to Business Insider.

    Details

    Qatar Airways has launched its first flight using Starlink Internet. Flight QR1, operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft, departed Doha for London Heathrow at around 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

    Business Insider went on board and found that the Internet download speeds reach 215 megabits per second, which is faster than many home Internet connections.

    Starlink WiFi is also free for passengers in all cabins, while the airline's regular WiFi costs $10 for the entire flight – at a speed of about 5 Mbps.

    Thanks to the higher speed, passengers can make video calls, watch streaming videos, and play online games. It is noted that for business travelers, Starlink will be a great helper, as regular WiFi on an airplane usually has low speed and connection problems.

    Qatar plans to introduce Starlink on 12 Boeing 777-300 aircraft by the end of 2024, and next year on all its 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft.

    During the previous test flight, Musk participated in a video call with Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Mir. From an altitude of 38,000 feet, Al-Mir showed Musk the cabin of the aircraft, as well as the view from the flight deck, while the SpaceX CEO was at home in the United States.

    Will allow flying up to 2 thousand kilometers: Russians installed Starlink terminal on Shahed-136September 25 2024, 04:31 PM • 25435 views

    "This is very cool. I'm right now at home on Starlink," Musk said during the conversation.

    Saad bin Ali al-Kharji, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Tourism, said that the connection on the plane is better than the Internet on the ground.

    "It's only going to get better," Musk replied. "We're constantly improving: we're launching new satellites and continuing to improve the software.

    "So over time, I think you'll see it getting better and better," he added.

    "By providing Starlink with reliable and uninterrupted internet on board, we are connecting people to what they love most, even at 35,000 feet, making every journey with us an unforgettable experience," Al Mir said in a press release.

    AddendumAddendum

    Qatar, recognized as the world's best airline by Skytrax, has become the second carrier after Hawaiian Airlines to launch Starlink. United Airlines and Air France are among the other airlines that have announced plans to install Starlink.

    Starlink satellite Internet is now available in ZimbabweSeptember 7 2024, 09:20 PM • 20631 view

  • Mass malicious mailings under the guise of integration with Amazon and Microsoft services have been detected in Ukraine: what is known

    Mass malicious mailings under the guise of integration with Amazon and Microsoft services have been detected in Ukraine: what is known

    Mass malicious mailings under the guise of integration with Amazon and Microsoft services have been detected in Ukraine: what is known

    CERT-UA has detected a massive malicious message campaign under the guise of integration with Amazon and Microsoft. The attacks targeted government agencies, businesses, and military formations and may have been prepared since August 2024.

    The Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA) has detected a massive distribution of malicious messages under the guise of integration with Amazon and Microsoft services and the implementation of zero-trust architecture. Government agencies, enterprises and military formations were targeted. UNN reports this with reference to the State Special Communications Service.

    Details

    According to the State Service of Special Communications, the emails contain attachments in the form of files with the ".rdp" extension, which, when launched, will allow hackers to access disks, audio devices and other resources on the local computer. They will also be able to run third-party programs/scripts on the victim's computer.

    It is likely that the cyberattacks have been prepared since at least August 2024 and are not limited to Ukraine

    – the State Special Communications Service added.

    Addendum

    If you suspect that you may have become a victim of an attack, contact CERT-UA:

    E-mail: [email protected],

    Tel. +38 (044) 281-88-25.

    Recall

    On October 16, it was reported that malware was being distributed via Telegram, allegedly from the technical support of the "Reserve+" application.

  • Oleksandr Ruvin: electronic register of weapons is a necessary step towards accelerating the identification of weapons in Russia

    Oleksandr Ruvin: electronic register of weapons is a necessary step towards accelerating the identification of weapons in Russia

    Oleksandr Ruvin: electronic register of weapons is a necessary step towards accelerating the identification of weapons in Russia

    The Director of KFI called for the creation of an electronic register of weapons components for the rapid identification of Russian weapons. This will speed up the exchange of information with partners and help in international litigation.

    To quickly identify the weapons used by Russia against Ukraine, it is important to create an electronic register of weapons components. This will speed up the exchange of information with partner countries. This was stated by the Director of Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise) during the first large-scale international scientific and practical conference dedicated to solving problematic issues in the field of forensic explosive examinations and identification of missile and artillery weapons, UNN reports.

    It is now important to quickly identify weapons components, as the data obtained can serve as an evidence base for international litigation. Today we are talking about topical issues of expert work that is already being actively carried out, and at the same time we are considering new important areas. We are currently considering the possibility of creating an electronic database of weapons components, which will greatly facilitate the work of experts and ensure prompt data exchange between countries

    – said Oleksandr Ruvin.

    In addition, he said, it is equally important for experts to use modern technologies, such as X-ray, 3D scanning and modeling, to identify complex explosive devices and projectiles in detail.

    In addition, one of the innovative proposals is the use of space photography to analyze the sites of use of missile and artillery weapons, which opens up new opportunities for conducting examinations in hard-to-reach combat zones

    – emphasized Oleksandr Ruvin.

    According to the Director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, cooperation between key expert organizations in Ukraine and international partners is crucial for improving the quality of research on Russian weapons used in Ukraine. After all, the information collected during the examinations is of critical importance not only for Ukraine, but also for the international community. The use of this data in court proceedings can help bring those responsible for Russian war crimes to justice and document violations of international law.

    It is worth noting that the conference was attended by about 100 leading experts from different countries, demonstrating the need for international cooperation in combating the challenges posed by Russia's armed aggression. Among the participants were leading foreign experts, representatives of security and defense agencies, law enforcement officers, and representatives of forensic institutions.

    Add

    The Russians are constantly trying to modify and modernize all types of missiles and drones they have, which are used for attacks on Ukraine. Earlier , UNN reported on the results of the latest research by experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of Russian weapons and the role of Western components in its changes.

  • New military bonds appeared in Diia – “Avdiivka” and “Debaltseve”

    New military bonds appeared in Diia – “Avdiivka” and “Debaltseve”

    New military bonds appeared in Diia - “Avdiivka” and “Debaltseve”

    Two new military bonds named after Avdiivka and Debaltseve have been added to the Diia app. The bonds have yields of 15.6% and 16.5%, respectively, with maturity dates in 2026 and 2027.

    New bonds named after the cities of Avdiivka and Debaltseve have appeared in the Diia app. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development – Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov in his Telegram, UNN reports.

    "Avdiyivka and Debaltseve – added 2 military bonds to Diya," wrote Fedorov.

    The bonds will have the following rates:

    – Debaltseve. The interest rate is 16.5% and the maturity date is 12.05.2027;

    – Avdiivka. The interest rate is 15.6% and the maturity date is 20.05.2026.

    You can buy bonds in the app without commissions and additional fees.

    Recall

    In early October, a military bond "Vovchansk" was added to the Action with a rate of 15% and a maturity date of 2025.