Air conditioning will contribute more to rising global energy demand than data centers through 2030, according to an International Energy Agency. While attention has focused on computing power consumption, the IEA projects data centers will account for less than 10% of increased energy demand by 2030, significantly less than space cooling requirements. Global cooling degree days, a measure of air conditioning need, were 6% higher in 2024 than 2023 and 20% above the long-term average for the first two decades of the century.
China, India and the United States saw particularly sharp increases. Air conditioning represented 7% of global electricity consumption in 2022, with some U.S. regions reporting that cooling can comprise over 70% of residential energy use during peak periods. The number of air conditioning units worldwide could nearly triple from fewer than 2 billion in 2016 to approximately 6 billion by 2050, creating a growing challenge for power grids.
U.S. stock markets suffered their worst day since the Covid pandemic after Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, triggering a global selloff and wiping out $470 billion in value from tech giants Apple and Nvidia. From a report: The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 6%, while the S&P 500 and the Dow dropped 4.8% and 3.9%, respectively. [...] Meanwhile, the US dollar hit a six-month low, going down at least 2.2% on Thursday morning compared with other major currencies and oil prices sank on fears of a global slowdown. Though the US stock market has been used to tumultuous mornings over the last few weeks, US stock futures -- an indication of the market's likely direction -- had plummeted after the announcement. Hours later, Japan's Nikkei index slumped to an eight-month low and was followed by falls in stock markets in London and across Europe.
Multiple major American business groups have spoken out against the tariffs, including the Business Roundtable, a consortium of leaders of major US companies including JP Morgan, Apple and IBM, which called on the White House to "swiftly reach agreements" and remove the tariffs. "Universal tariffs ranging from 10-50% run the risk of causing major harm to American manufacturers, workers, families and exporters," the Business Roundtable said in a statement. "Damage to the US economy will increase the longer the tariffs are in place and may be exacerbated by retaliatory measures."
Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. have reached a preliminary agreement to form a joint venture operating Intel's chipmaking facilities, with TSMC taking a 20% stake, The Information reports [non-paywalled source]. Intel and other U.S. semiconductor companies would hold the majority of shares in the proposed venture. Instead of capital investment, TSMC has discussed sharing chipmaking methods and training Intel personnel.
The talks face internal opposition from some Intel executives concerned about widespread layoffs and the abandonment of Intel's own technology, according to the report. The deal could help TSMC neutralize a struggling competitor while potentially giving Taiwan more leverage with the U.S. administration, which recently imposed tariffs on Taiwanese goods excluding chips.
An anonymous reader shares a report: Microsoft's business-oriented "Link" mini-desktop PC, which connects directly to the company's Windows 365 cloud service, is now available to buy for $349.99 in the US and in several other countries. Windows 365 Link, which was announced last November, is a device that is more easily manageable by IT departments than a typical computer while also reducing the needs of hands on support.
ProGrade Digital has announced three new products aimed at making storage extra portable. The company unveiled two highly compact SSDs that each promise fast speeds and excellent reliability, along with a memory card reader meant to work with the iPhone 16 line of phones to unlock 4K 120p recording.
ProGrade CFexpress Type A Mobile Reader
Image: ProGrade
Smartphone cameras are capable of impressive video quality, which is why many content creators rely exclusively on their phones to record video. But those files quickly eat up storage space. Plus, some formats are only unlocked with external recording, such as the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max 120 fps ProRes recording mode. The new PGM12 CFexpress Type A mobile card reader from ProGrade aims to make it easier for users to take full advantage of their phone's recording capabilities.
The PGM12 card reader is a single-slot CFexpress Type A reader that ProGrade says offers the same performance as its full-sized card readers despite its more compact size. That means promised transfer rates of up to 1.25GB/s. It features a patented magnetic base and metal mounting plates with a flexible cable, making it feasible to mount to your phone or rig in multiple ways. The card reader is small enough to be attached to the back of an iPhone while also using a MagSafe charger, ensuring you don't run out of storage or battery.
"Our customers can now record video onto low-power, CFexpress Type A memory cards, at the highest possible quality, and not have to worry about running out of storage space, that might be experienced with a fixed capacity storage device," says ProGrade.
The PGM12 reader is available for preorder now for $80 and will ship at the end of April.
The ProGrade PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD is a compact SSD that, like the above card reader, is equipped with ProGrade’s patented magnetic base. It also comes with an adhesive metal plate, so you could mount it to any work surface or to ProGrade PG20 Pro Hub.
It uses USB 4.0 technology, resulting in a promised maximum bus speed of up to 40Gbits/sec. ProGrade says it will offer read speeds of 4000MB/s, a write speed of up to 3500MB/s. It should also provide a sustained write speed of 1250MB/s, which is critical for high-resolution video workflows. It's compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.2 and 3.1 Type-C ports.
"The PG10.5’s small physical size and robust design also allow it to be easily removed from the workstation, studio environment, and easily used in more mobile, non-studio environments," said Wes Brewer, CEO and founder of ProGrade.
The PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD is now available for preorder. It comes in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities and is priced at $180, $300 and $550, respectively.
SSDs keep getting smaller, as is the case with the ProGrade PG30 Ultra-Portable SSD. This tiny device looks like a classic thumb drive but should offer better performance and reliability. After all, thumb drives aren't typically meant to be used as working drives, and they often don't last for extended periods, either.
The ProGrade PG30 Ultra-Portable SSD, though, is more up to the needs of creative professionals. It uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 technology, and ProGrade promises read and write speeds of up to 1000MB/s and a sustained write speed of 300MB/s.
The tiny SSD features tethered caps that protect the Type-A and Type-C ports, while the IP65 rating provides water and dust resistance. It's also X-ray and shock-proof and comes with a three-year warranty.
"The PG30’s relatively small die-cast aluminum body, dual USB Type A and C connectors, coupled with an impressive IP65 dust and water rating, make it an ideal choice for all imaging professionals seeking the compatibility and reliability that ProGrade is known for," said Josh Brewer, Product Manager of ProGrade.
The ProGrade PG30 Ultra-Portable SSD will be available for purchase at the end of April and comes in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Plus de 100 autres personnes ont été blessées par cette frappe israélienne, qui a touché une école abritant des personnes déplacées. L’armée israélienne avait auparavant annoncé avoir visé « un poste de commandement du Hamas » dans le secteur.
Des habitants et des secouristes palestiniens observent la fumée qui s’élève après qu’une frappe israélienne a touché une école dans le quartier de Tuffah, à Gaza, le 3 avril 2025.
Le jugement rendu dans l’affaire des assistants du FN au Parlement européen a été dénoncé par le parti d’extrême droite comme une atteinte à la démocratie, au motif qu’il priverait des électeurs de leur candidate. Dans une tribune au « Monde », le professeur de droit public Sébastien Touzé estime que cela trahit une conception du pouvoir récusant toute limite.
La population d’ours dans le massif, qui seraient au minimum 96, est en progression constante. Ce qui ne semble pas influer sur le nombre d’attaques subies par les troupeaux d’ovins et de bovins.
DÉCRYPTAGE - Face à la brutalité des 20 % de droits de douane imposés par Donald Trump à l’UE, les Européens étudient une réponse graduée, des représailles laissant la place à la négociation.
Invité jeudi de LCI, le président du RN a balayé tout risque de débordements en marge de la mobilisation organisée dimanche à Paris, après la condamnation de Marine Le Pen à une peine d’inéligibilité immédiate.
Si la «très grande majorité des magistrats en France» sont «neutres», le ministre de l’Intérieur s’est attaqué au Syndicat de la magistrature «qui s’est fait connaître avec le “Mur des cons”».
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