President Donald Trump's efforts to remake the US government continued today with the firing of the two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission. This agency has historically had five members: three from the same party as the president and two from the opposing party. The New York Times reported that the president terminated the roles for FTC Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya.Both Slaughter and Bedoya said today that firing them is illegal. Commissioners' terms can only be ended early for good cause, such as "inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office." Also, no more than three commissioners can come from the same political party, meaning the pair also cannot be replaced by additional Republicans. It seems likely that Trump will face a legal challenge over the attempt to eliminate these positions."The law protects the independence of the Commission because the law serves the American people, not corporate power," Slaughter said in a statement. "The reason that the FTC can be so effective for the American people is because of its independence and because its commissioners serve across political parties and ideologies. Removing opposition voices may not change what the Trump majority can do, but it does change whether they will have accountability when they do it."Bedoya also posted about the action on X, seconding Slaughter's statement that removing their posts is illegal. "Tomorrow I will testify before the Colorado Joint House and Senate Judiciary Committees, and will have more to say then," he wrote.Trump signed an executive order in February attempting to exert more control over several agencies that were formed to intentionally remain outside the White House's purview. The order targeted agencies such as the FTC, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The FTC recently deleted all the posts on its business blog from President Biden's administration, leaving a four-year gap with no published compliance advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/president-trump-has-fired-the-ftcs-two-democrat-commissioners-225952614.html?src=rss

The Federal Trade Commission has removed all posts from President Joe Biden's term in office from its business blog. This online publication has historically provided advice about how companies could best comply with consumer-protection regulations, covering topics such as artificial intelligence and how big tech companies have collected and used customer data. Currently, it has no content published between December 21, 2020 and March 7, 2025.Wired highlighted some of the notable content from the more than 300 blog posts that have been deleted. Several current and former FTC officials spoke to the publication about the change anonymously out of fear of retaliation.In terms of the message to industry on what our compliance expectations were, which is in some ways the most important part of enforcement action, they are trying to just erase those from history, one source said.The FTC is being led by President Donald Trump's nominee, Andrew Ferguson. At the time of his appointment, Ferguson said he would use the department to "end Big Tech's vendetta against competition and free speech." He and other Republicans have claimed that many platforms are censoring right-wing content, adding a heavy layer of irony to the FTC's latest actions."They are talking a big game on censorship," another source told Wired. "But at the end of the day, the thing that really hits these companies' bottom line is what data they can collect, how they can use that data, whether they can train their AI models on that data, and if this administration is planning to take the foot off the gas there while stepping up its work on censorship."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-ftc-has-removed-all-business-blog-posts-from-the-biden-administration-214734633.html?src=rss

Nvidia's digital twin of planet Earth is helping provide better weather forecasts.

Perplexity releases a Squid Game advertisement.

Think back to the shifting tech landscape of 2015. Uptown Funk was blaring on digital music outlets, Snapchat filters were laid over every selfie, and hoverboards were all the rage. At the same time, marketing teams were facing an uphill battle to prove ROI as new digital marketing opportunities, like the rise of video content marketing and the shift towards mobile, led to changing tactics, and budgets came under more scrutiny.Now, a decade later, human resources teams are facing similar circumstances. Just like marketing leaders had to establish their digital campaigns values, HR pros now need to demonstrate how their tech-forward people programs drive business results. The good news? Marketing teams have already nailed this shift and their journey can offer a blueprint for HR leaders facing the same pressures.The rise to powerGoing back to 2010, digital marketing was the latest innovation and became the fastest path to rapid growth for companies. Later, the advent of new marketing tactics and an increased focus on social channels thrust marketers into the spotlight in a way they hadnt been before. These new channels gave marketers new access to real-time data, requiring more resources to be successful and leading to increased scrutiny of how they were using those resources. And the results mattered more than ever.Along with the pressure, that limelight also brought opportunity. In 2009, when I worked at Gaps newly formed digital division, the finance team set benchmarks for success in e-commerce. There were a lot of conversations around the right metrics to track, which gave us a say in how to measure our results. This was crucial at the time. Asking marketing about metrics versus handing down an answer that didnt match expected outcomes meant we could better align our goals with actual business priorities. In recent years, HR has faced a similar opportunity.In 2020, when COVID hit, people became the scarcest resource for many companies, and HR became the most powerful function overnight. For the first time, HR had a real seat at the table. All of a sudden, employee safety, well-being, and retention at all costs were part of HRs already heavy workload.Now, in 2025, the impact of AIs rapid advancement and employee skills gaps due to demographic shifts have put HR leaders front and center once again to drive workforce transformation for their businesses. As with the rise of marketing a decade earlier, leaders should be asking how they can most effectively track success.The measurement reckoning2015 marked the year of ROI as a key determining factor of success for marketing leaders. This was when delivering on goals no longer felt like a nice to have, but a career make-or-break.Marketing overhauled how the organization viewed them. With increasing numbers of data and channels, there were limitless ways to target customers, and lots of wrong answers. The C-suite started expecting quantitative results from campaigns that they couldnt do before.Today, HR teams are taking on more: driving workforce transformation, keeping pace with AI, employee wellness, and a general imperative to do more with less. Similar to its marketing predecessor, HR now needs to report results tied to business objectives in concrete ways that were previously unquantifiable. Increased scrutiny over cost efficiency is putting HR pros under the microscope, and results are no longer only about a vibe check and building company culture.When HR leaders think about the outcomes theyre driving for the business, they should think of stakeholders as paying customers that matter to their organizations bottom line. Employees are as important as customers in this regard, and need the KPI treatment in todays era. In 2025, the employers who align their people investments with business objectives are the ones who will stay competitive and build future-proof talent pipelines needed to evolve and advance their organization.The rebalancingToday, successful marketing programs require a blend of coordinated strategies for maximum impact. Brand building efforts, technology solutionsincluding AIand targeted campaigns must work in tandem to influence growth. Tomorrow, HR leaders will need to employ a similar symphony of tools, measurements, and experiences to create the cocktail of appropriate conditions for their people to thrive and maximize their potential. Just as marketing evolved from simple advertising to a sophisticated, data-driven industry, HR is transforming from personnel management to truly owning its C-suite seat. The future demands an integrated approach where technology augments teams capabilities, where analytics inform but dont make decisions, and where employee experience is crafted with the same intention as customer experience.Luckily, smart business leaders now realize that it takes a mix of art and science to get it right. Striking the perfect balance will generate strong business results, and be the element that separates thriving companies from surviving companies.Throughout my career, Ive learned that growing a business isnt about one magic solutionits about mixing different marketing approaches that work together, a true portfolio approach. By learning from marketings journey and combining data-driven insights with human-centered approaches, HR leaders can build the foundation for organizations to thrive.The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.

In March, women are at the forefront of the cultural conversation. Recently, on March 8th, International Womens Day was recognizeda moment that originally sprung from a movement to fight against child labor and sweatshop working conditions. This years theme was accelerating action, and I feel fortunate in my role as chief philanthropy officer at UNICEF USA, that I can support girls around the worldour future leaders, scientists, engineers, mothers, entrepreneurs, and more.What are the barriers standing in their way? And how do we accelerate action?Right now, its estimated that we wont see full gender parity until 2158. I dont want to wait for my great-great-great grandchild to live in a world where girls have a fair shot at life. As a mother of three girls, this is also personal. We need the next generation of girls and women everywhere to be catalysts for lasting change.Female genital mutilation still occursLast month, I traveled to Senegal to see UNICEFs work firsthand. I visited a program that provides emergency assistance to young victims of violence and abuse, I met with a womens teachers network that champions education for girls, and I visited programs equipping girls and young women with skills in leadership, communication, and entrepreneurship.At an adolescent training center in Kolda, we met Khadidiatou D. Khadi, who performed a slam poem about female genital mutilation (FGM), a dangerous procedure she underwent as a child. Khadi uses what shes learned at the center to advocate with local leaders and parents to prevent other girls from experiencing the mental and physical suffering due to FGM.We also spoke with Sally S., who learned skills to support herself and her family. She makes and sells dyed cloth, sanitary napkins, and soap from local plants like moringa, lemon, and aloe vera.In addition to running her own small business, Sally pays it forward by training girls in Kolda who have disabilities like her. Sallys disability is the result of FGM, which over 2 million girls and women in Senegal have experienced. Before joining the adolescent center, Sally was hesitant to even leave her house because of the stigma of her disability, which she thought would prevent her from joining the center. When the head of the center asked her to join, she was surprised to be invitedmuch less encouragedto join.Address root causes of exclusionMy time in Senegal reminded me that championing gender equality requires us to address root causes of exclusion. Violence like Khadi and Sally enduredas well as child marriage, lack of menstrual hygiene, and teenage pregnancyare some of the barriers girls and women around the world face. Sobering data from other regions illustrate the prevalence of gender-based violence. For example, our new report shows that 221 rape cases in Sudan against children have been recorded since 2024 began. Total cases are likely higher, as survivors and their families often dont come forward due to challenges accessing services or out of fear of retribution.But there is hope. A recent report issued by UNICEF, Plan International, and UN Women indicates that FGM is declining. Nations like Burkina Faso and Liberia are cutting the share of girls subjected to the practice over the last 30 years by half. This progress is promising, but we need to go 27 times faster to entirely meet our 2030 target FGM eradication goal entirely.Education is vitalWe must protect girls. But protection is not enough. They need opportunities to learn and pursue their goals.An estimated 129 million girls are not in school, globally. In some cultures, families favor sons over daughters when investing in their childrens education. In Afghanistan, girls are barred from high school and college classrooms due to national restrictions. Around the world, girls aged 10-14 are twice as likely to spend excessive hours on household chores than boys of the same age; often fetching water from faraway sources because of poor water and sanitation systems. Unpaid work all too often falls to girls and women, pushing education farther out of their reach.Despite challenges, we are making progress in Senegal and all over the world. In Senegal, the government increased resourcing for FGM elimination in 2023 by 50%. Further, FGM in Senegal hit its lowest point in 2023. And progress is possible when it comes to education as welltoday, 50 million more girls are in school globally compared to a decade ago and completion rates have ticked up too.These encouraging results, and what I saw in Senegal, gave me not only hope but the energy to continue to advocate and steward support for programs that will truly change the lives of girls and young people who simply want a chance at living a life they dream about.Milestones like International Womens Day allow us to take a moment to stop and see how far weve come, and remind us how far we still have to go. Philanthropy exists to advance pathways to opportunity. Progress is possible; but a future of possibility for girls like Khadi and Sally exists only if we remain steadfast in doing our part to break down barriers and accelerate action.Michele Walsh is executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer of UNICEF USA.The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.

The EU country might have the 5th strongest passport in the world, but they also have the most gorgeous passport now, with this new design unveiled by Geneva-based studio RETINAA. Passports are usually bureaucratic necessitiesstamped, dog-eared, and mostly forgotten until the next border crossing. But leave it to the Swiss to turn theirs into a work of art. Designed by Geneva-based studio RETINAA, Switzerlands next-generation passport transforms a travel document into an intricate, almost poetic celebration of the countrys identity.Switzerland has long been a champion of meticulous craftsmanship, whether in watchmaking, graphic design, or infrastructure. The new passport is no exception. RETINAA has woven the nations landscapes into the fabric of the document itself, using 3D-modeled reliefs that chart an imaginary journey from the Alpine peaks down to the valleys. Think of it as a cartographic love letter to Switzerlandeach page unfolding like a travelogue through the countrys 26 cantons. And just when you think youve seen it all, ultraviolet light reveals hidden contour lines and architectural landmarks, turning the passport into a layered, interactive experience.Designer: RETINAAIts a design that feels distinctly Swiss in its restraint and precision. Unlike passports that lean on flamboyant holograms or overtly nationalistic motifs, this one takes a more refined approach. The inner cover features a hydrological map, an elegant nod to Switzerlands reputation as Europes water tower. With 1,500 lakes, countless rivers, and glaciers that supply six percent of Europes drinking water, Switzerlands geography isnt just picturesqueits essential. The passport embodies this reality, using water as a recurring theme to symbolize movement, connection, and continuity.Of course, design isnt just about aestheticsits also about function. A passport must be a fortress against counterfeiting, and RETINAA has seamlessly fused graphic art with security features that push the limits of modern printing technology. Intaglio printing, microtext, and UV-reactive inks are layered into the visuals, creating a document thats nearly impossible to replicate. The effect is both subtle and strikingan object that looks like it belongs in a design museum but functions as one of the worlds most secure travel documents.Even the color palette plays a role. The traditional Swiss red cover remains, but inside, the pages shift through a gradient inspired by the countrys diverse landscapes. From the icy blues of glacial waters to the earthy tones of rolling hills, each hue reinforces the feeling of traversing through Switzerland itself. Its a subtle yet powerful way of embedding national identity into something as utilitarian as a passport. I wont lie, it made me look up eligibility for Swiss citizenship just so I could possess the document.One of the most innovative security features is the way the illustrations themselves interact with light. Under standard conditions, the passport looks like an elegant travel document, but under ultraviolet light, hidden details emergetopographic layers, water currents, and architectural landmarks that subtly reinforce the themes of movement and identity. Its a perfect blend of form and function, where the very elements that make the passport beautiful also make it exceptionally difficult to counterfeit. Most passports and banknotes employ this technology, but none as elegantly and artistically as the Swiss passport.This attention to detail isnt surprising given Switzerlands legacy in graphic design. The country pioneered the International Typographic Stylealso known as Swiss Designdefined by its clean, grid-based compositions and functional approach to visual communication. That DNA is evident in this passport. Every element is intentional, from the typography to the placement of security features. Even the microtext, which might look like decorative detailing at first glance, serves both a security function and a storytelling purpose, incorporating references to Swiss history and geography.You have to give it to the Swiss for this surprising new achievement. Now, apart from the alps, chocolate, cheese, fondue, and impeccable watchmaking, theres one more thing that Switzerland is undeniably good at designing the most gorgeously secure travel documents humankind has ever seen!The post Switzerlands New Passport Is So Stunning, It Belongs in a Museum first appeared on Yanko Design.

A decade after revolutionizing the wearable technology landscape, Eric Migicovsky is challenging the status quo once again. The founder of the original Pebble smartwatch has announced Core Devices, a new venture bringing two timepieces to market that prioritizes what many modern smartwatches have abandoned: exceptional battery life, physical controls, and user-centric design.Designer: Eric MigicovskyThe announcement marks a significant moment for wearable technology enthusiasts who have watched the industry gravitate toward increasingly complex, power-hungry devices that require daily charging. Migicovskys new creationsthe Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2promise an extraordinary 30 days between charges while maintaining the minimalist approach that made Pebble a pioneer in the category.After Pebble shut down, I never found another smartwatch with the exact same suite of features I wanted, Migicovsky explained during the announcement. This personal frustration ultimately drove him to create devices that emphasize longevity and practicality over the feature float that characterizes many contemporary wearables.The more accessible Core 2 Duo will launch first, reaching customers in July with a $149 price tag. Its rectangular form houses a 1.26-inch black-and-white e-paper display that remains visible in even the brightest sunlight. The monochrome screen contributes significantly to the devices remarkable power efficiency, requiring energy only when the display changes.Migicovskys team achieved something truly unexpected during developmentthey located a supplier still possessing unused frames manufactured for the original Pebble 2. We were able to find a supplier that still had the frames for Pebble Time 2 and Pebble 2, Migicovsky revealed. They were never used. This discovery allowed Core Devices to incorporate authentic Pebble DNA into their new creation, creating a direct lineage to the beloved original.Navigation relies on four physical buttons positioned around the case edgesan intentional design choice that enables interaction without visual attention. Physical buttons let you control functions while running, swimming, or in meetings without looking at your screen, Migicovsky noted, highlighting a practical advantage often overlooked in the industrys rush toward touch-only interfaces.Despite its nostalgic exterior, the Core 2 Duo incorporates thoroughly modern internals. A new linear resonant actuator delivers notifications with more precision and less noise than previous vibration mechanisms. Environmental sensors include a barometer and compass, while IPX8 water resistance ensures swimming poses no threat. The device also introduces a speakera first for a Pebble-inspired designenabling voice interactions and audio feedback.For those seeking more premium materials and expanded capabilities, the Core Time 2, priced at $225, arrives in December. This upscale variant features an aluminum frame rather than polycarbonate, houses a larger 1.5-inch display, and introduces 64-color capability while maintaining the same impressive battery performance.The Core Time 2 introduces a hybrid interaction model that preserves the four-button navigation system while adding selective touchscreen functionality. This touchscreen implementation focuses specifically on allowing users to tap complications on the watch facesmall information widgets that can open into full applications. Migicovsky emphasizes this isnt about creating a phone on your wrist but rather enhancing specific interactions that benefit from direct touch.Heart rate monitoring rounds out the Core Time 2s feature set, providing health insights without compromising the devices month-long endurance between charges.Both timepieces benefit from Googles January decision to open-source PebbleOS, which it acquired through its purchase of Fitbit. This software foundation ensures immediate compatibility with the existing ecosystem of over 10,000 Pebble apps and watch faces developed during the platforms original run. Were not messing with a good thing, Migicovsky stated, emphasizing his commitment to preserving what worked while enhancing what needed improvement.The exceptional battery lifequadrupling the already impressive 7-day performance of the original Pebblesstems primarily from advancements in Bluetooth technology over the past decade. Modern chips operate with dramatically improved efficiency, maintaining connectivity while drawing significantly less power. The e-paper displays contribute further to this efficiency, requiring energy only during state changes rather than continuously, like OLED screens.The stress of remembering chargers is always a problem, Migicovsky explained. Now you can take the longest vacation you can imagine without bringing your charger. This fundamental shift in power management transforms how users relate to their devicesfrom demanding daily attention to becoming a reliable companion that rarely requires maintenance.Core Devices is intentionally limiting production to approximately 10,000 units of each model initially. This measured approach reflects Migicovskys commitment to sustainable growth rather than rapid expansion. Im intentionally trying to build something sustainable rather than a fast-growing do-or-die company, he explained, acknowledging lessons learned from Pebbles earlier trajectory.This limited availability means interested customers should act promptly. Pre-orders opened today exclusively through the Pebble store, with full refunds available for cancellations before shipping. The Core 2 Duo will reach customers in July, while the Core Time 2 will follow in December.Throughout the announcement, Migicovsky emphasized that these watches arent designed to compete directly with mainstream offerings from Apple or Garmin. This is designed for a very specific type of person whose needs arent met by the other guys, he acknowledged. Im not sitting here trying to sell millions of these.For the dedicated community that has kept their aging Pebble watches functioning through community-supported services, these new timepieces represent a long-awaited continuation of a beloved platform. For others dissatisfied with the constant maintenance relationship that characterizes most modern smartwatches, Core Devices offers a compelling alternativewearables that prioritize longevity, simplicity, and user control over increasingly complex features that often go unused.The goal is to make something I really want, Migicovsky concluded. That authentic motivationcreating devices that solve real problems rather than chasing market trendsmay ultimately prove to be Core Devices most significant advantage in an increasingly crowded wearable landscape.The post Pebbles Spiritual Successor Emerges: Month-Long Battery Life Redefines Smartwatch Expectations first appeared on Yanko Design.

Revenge of the Savage Planet lays on the satire.

Dont succumb to the chaos. Fire up Chromes bookmarks sidebar and bring some order to the noisy online world.