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Tag: Aug

  • Microsoft Sends 60 Day Warning To Windows 10 Users

    Microsoft Sends 60 Day Warning To Windows 10 Users

    Authored by Melanie Sun via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

    As Microsoft moves toward ending its support of Windows 10, PC users who haven’t yet upgraded to Windows 11 now have less than 60 days to take action to make sure their devices are receiving updates for cyber threats.

    Visitors try out Windows 10, the latest operating system from software giant Microsoft, during a launch event in Seoul on July 29, 2015. Jung Yeon-Je /AFP

    On Aug. 16, Windows 10 users may have noticed a message on their devices, warning that they have 60 days left to take action before security and feature updates and technical support for their PC ends on Oct. 14.

    Microsoft announced in 2023 that it was ending support for its Windows 10 platform as it rolled out Windows 11—calling it its “home for AI”and its “most secure version of Windows ever” due to “hardware-based” advanced security features.

    “Companies and organizations that operate Windows 10 may find it challenging to maintain regulatory compliance with unsupported software,” Microsoft said in a blog post in June.

    Not all PC users are able to or want to switch to a new operating system that offers new AI functionalities. Some older devices are not compatible with Windows 11, due to the system’s increased processing and hardware requirements. According to market share data, around 700 million PC users, or 43 percent, are still using Windows 10, which was launched in July 2015. Windows 11 holds about 53 percent of the market share.

    The company has faced legal action demanding that it extend free support for Windows 10 users until their market share drops below 10 percent, although it’s yet to be seen if the complaint will succeed in court. Windows 10 has been one of Microsoft’s most popular operating systems.

    Currently, Windows 10 users will have to take action before the Oct. 14 deadline to make sure their devices don’t fall off support after critical security updates end.

    “With Windows 10 support coming to an end in October, we’re here to provide information and resources to help you choose the path that works best for you—whether that’s exploring the next generation of Windows, staying on your current PC with the Extended Security Program (ESU) or moving to a cloud-based solution,” the company said on the transition.

    Although users’ Windows 10 devices will continue to function, “they will no longer receive regular security updates, making them more vulnerable to cyber threats, such as malware and viruses.”

    Microsoft is rolling out enrolment in its transition program, which allows those on the Windows 10 system to continue to receive security support until October 2026.

    “The Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is designed to keep your current Windows 10 PC protected after support ends—helping you stay secure during the transition,” the company said.

    The company has also said it plans to continue offering security updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus through October 2028. Microsoft 365 Apps will also continue to receive security updates until Oct. 10, 2028. However, feature updates for the apps will be discontinued from August next year. Technical support will also not be extended for Windows 10 users.

    “These updates are intended to help ease customers’ transition to Windows 11 and will be delivered through standard update channels. These updates do not include technical support,” Microsoft said.

    To continue receiving support from Microsoft, users have two options: enrol in the ESU program with an annual payment or link their devices to Microsoft’s cloud.

    The first option will cost individual users $30. The payment can be made using a Microsoft account, and will cover as many as 10 devices through to Oct. 13, 2026. Alternatively, accounts can use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points as payment.

    Users have also been offered a cloud-based solution. In this option, they can choose to sync their Windows 10 device to Microsoft’s cloud service, Windows 365, which will allow them to access Windows 11 Cloud PCs on Microsoft’s servers. Those with a lot of data can sign up for a Windows 365 cloud service plan.

    The link for ESU enrolment can be found on the company’s Windows Update page.

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  • Judge Orders Trump Admin To Release Billions In Frozen Foreign Aid Funding

    Judge Orders Trump Admin To Release Billions In Frozen Foreign Aid Funding

    Authored by Jackson Richman via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

    A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot withhold billions of dollars in foreign assistance approved by Congress, including aid that the White House recently said it would not spend.

    President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting with members of his administration in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 26, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    The Trump administration must release $11.5 billion in foreign aid that is set to expire at the end of the month, said U.S. District Judge Amir Ali in a Sept. 3 decision.

    “There is not a plausible interpretation of the statutes that would justify the billions of dollars they plan to withhold,” Ali wrote in his ruling.

    “To be clear, no one disputes that Defendants have significant discretion in how to spend the funds at issue, and the Court is not directing Defendants to make payments to any particular recipients. But Defendants do not have any discretion as to whether to spend the funds.”

    The Trump administration last week requested that Congress rescind $4.9 billion in foreign aid. The $11.5 billion figure includes the $4.9 billion.

    In accordance with the Impoundment Control Act, a rescission is when the White House requests Congress to reverse government funding that has been appropriated by Congress. Typically, it must be approved within 45 days of the request being sent to Congress, or else the money must be spent.

    Given that this request was made within 45 days of the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, the cancellation could take effect without Congress approving it. This maneuver is known as a pocket rescission.

    Ali wrote that the funding is to be spent since Congress appropriated it.

    “It is undisputed the relevant appropriations acts have been valid law from the time they were enacted to today. For almost all that period, Defendants did not even dispute that the laws were mandatory and required them to spend the funds,” he wrote. “The President never asked Congress to rescind the funds at issue even though he successfully sought rescission of analogous funds in May 2025.”

    The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal on Sept. 4.

    “President Trump has the executive authority to ensure that all foreign aid is accountable to taxpayers and aligns with the America First priorities people voted for,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.

    Republicans and Democrats have criticized the pocket rescission.

    “With the Trump Administration’s attempt of the so-called ’pocket rescission,’ it is clear that Republicans are prioritizing chaos over governing, partisanship over partnership, and their own power over the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a Sept. 2 letter.

    “Republicans should not accept Russ Vought’s brazen attempt to usurp their own power,” Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said in an Aug. 29 statement, referring to the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

    “No president has a line item veto—and certainly not a retroactive line item veto.”

    Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called the pocket rescission “unlawful.”

    “Congress alone bears the constitutional responsibility for funding our government, and any effort to claw back resources outside of the appropriations process undermines that responsibility,” she wrote on X.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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  • DC Attorney General Pursues Trump in Hostile Takeover Case

    DC Attorney General Pursues Trump in Hostile Takeover Case

    When the City Police Got a New Commander (and an AG Who Had Enough)

    Long story short—

    A fresh, surprising twist in Washington DC’s law‑and‑order saga: Attorney General Brian Schwalb (D) just filed a lawsuit against President Trump early Friday. Why? The administration decided to hand the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) head the reins of the city’s police force.

    What’s the deal?

    • The DEA, a federal agency that fights drug crime nationwide, found itself with a new—and unexpected—rank in DC’s local government.
    • Trump’s team appointed that DEA chief to command the city’s police, a move that blurred the lines between federal and city jurisdictions.
    • Schwalb, representing the city’s legal interests, saw this as an overreach and stepped in with legal action.

    Why it matters

    Normally, police departments are purely local matters. Mixing a federal agency’s leadership into that mix raises questions about accountability, scope of authority, and who’s pulling the strings. Schwalb’s lawsuit is a formal way of saying, “Hold up, that’s not how this works!”

    What happens next?

    We’re waiting to see the courts’ take on the case, but one thing’s clear: this lawsuit is the city’s official response to an unprecedented appointment that could reshape how law enforcement operates in the nation’s capital.

    Mental Health Needs in U.S. Nursing Homes: A Wry Take on a Serious Issue

    Picture this: your grandma’s chronic pain, lifelong care routine, and a planet of nurses who neither have the time nor training to address her psychological health. That’s the scene nursing homes in the U.S. are set against today.

    Why the Problem’s a Real Catch‑22

    • Hospitals do a great job treating problems that show up on the front lines. But the mental side of things is less obvious and makes for a slower, more arduous treatment journey.
    • In America today, most people get primary care in a safety net setting. In the nursing world, quality of care is often contingent upon the presence of a psychiatrist.
    • And the lack of reimbursement options for mental health care makes it difficult for hospitals and nursing homes to bridge the gap.

    But Here’s the Cheeky Truth

    Imagine you’re renting a house; you’ve got the keys, but your landlord (the system) refuses to pay for the plumbing that’s about to break. Mental health care is playing the role of the plumbing: you need it now, you can’t wait.

    What the Current Situation Offers… And Loses

    • The U.S. has policy initiatives, but no standard accommodation for nurse‑described mental health needs.
    • Reimbursement remains a lacking side of the umbrella. That means nursing homes often need to explore alternatives such as private counselling firms, community mental health networks or other outreach forms to help fill the service gap.

    Smiling Through the Onion Layers

    Because the “Admin wants the mental fix” is a real problem—treating mental health is like turning a lightbulb that went dark. Everyone has had such moments, especially in nursing homes where a constant herding of patients is a reality. A middle ground is needed to tackle the mental distress, without losing the physical side.

    Why the Works Continue

    In 2025, new policy strategies were introduced with the goal of providing mind‑support for nursing home residents as well as aim for better services for individuals with chronic medical conditions. The lack of regulation oversaw mental health support. Our focus is now on awareness — returning to the darker side, it erases the influence of less‐effective experiences.

    Wrap it up!

    • We’re going to ensure there is a community pipeline. This platform can help with better services using a direct drive for a unique approach and mental health care providers.
    • We’ll pick up > a consistent and better skillful approach to the problem. This’s the best approach to address the physical health woes that people are experiencing.
    • We’ll ask the “Sign out of the work failure, but it’s continuing.” The new policy supports the “modern” compliance of current political persuasion and is part of a bigger policy base. This is something. A more innovative approach to the “killing impact.”1 credit, 2 background – fallback for the future.