REVISED ENTRIES 25.1 Special Objects Objects with special effects are special objects, and their effects are described on their card. Special Objects can be either light or heavy and have the following rules:  They are marked with a gear symbol .  They have a point value of 1 or more.  They are all Unique even though they don’t have a silver ring.  If they start the game on the map, they must be placed 5 or more squares away from any player’s starting area during game setup (see 25.2 Equipment for Special Objects that do not start the game on the map).  They may have the Indestructible keyphrase.

So I have quoted a part of the new rules changes above.
My question is, can you still place an equipment on the map and give a character POWER to equip it? Under 25.1 it says you can but under 25.2 (which is the main bit about Equipment) it appears you cannot.

Characters can still be given a POWER action to equip if an equipment ends up on the map somehow (usually via a character being unequipped), but you can't start equipment on the map. 25.1 actually does say this, note the bracketed text that says "see 25.2 Equipment for Special Objects that do not start the game on the map". The placement rules in 25.1 are for non-equipment special objects.

Thanks for clarifying