March 31, 20254 min readBig Banks Quietly Prepare for Catastrophic WarmingMorgan Stanley, JPMorgan and an international banking group have quietly concluded that climate change will likely exceed the Paris Agreement's 2 degree goal and are examining how to maintain profitsBy Corbin Hiar & E&E News PM Images/Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | Top Wall Street institutions are preparing for a severe future of global warming that blows past the temperature limits agreed to by more than 190 nations a decade ago, industry documents show.The big banks' acknowledgment that the world is likely to fail at preventing warming of more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels is spelled out in obscure reports for clients, investors and trade association members. Most were published after the reelection of President Donald Trump, who is seeking to repeal federal policies that support clean energy while turbocharging the production of oil, gas and coal the main sources of global warming.The recent reports from Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase and the Institute of International Finance show that Wall Street has determined the temperature goal is effectively dead and describe how top financial institutions plan to continue operating profitably as temperatures and damages soar.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today."We now expect a 3C world," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote earlier this month, citing "recent setbacks to global decarbonization efforts."The stunning conclusion indicates that the bank believes the planet is hurtling toward a future in which severe droughts and harvest failures become widespread, sea-level rise is measured in feet rather than inches and tropical regions experience episodes of extreme heat and humidity for weeks at a time that would bring deadly risks to people who work outdoors.The global Paris Agreement, from which the U.S. is withdrawing under Trump, aims to limit average temperature increases to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Scientists have warned that permanently exceeding 1.5 degrees a threshold the world breached for the first time last year could lead to increasingly severe climate impacts, such as the demise of coral reef ecosystems that hundreds of millions of people rely on for food and storm surge protection.Morgan Stanleys climate forecast was tucked into a mundane research report on the future of air conditioning stocks, which it provided to clients on March 17. A 3 degree warming scenario, the analysts determined, could more than double the growth rate of the $235 billion cooling market every year, from 3 percent to 7 percent until 2030."The political environment has changed, so some of them are conforming to that," Gautam Jain, a former investment banker who is now a senior research scholar at Columbia University, said of Wall Street's increasingly dire climate projections. "But mostly it is a rational business decision."The new warming estimates come as heat-trapping gases continue to rise globally and as international commitments to limit the burning of oil, gas and coal that's responsible for the bulk of emissions have stalled. Meanwhile, megabanks like Wells Fargo are backsliding on their previous climate pledges and exiting from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a United Nations-backed group that encouraged members to slash their emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.Morgan Stanley, which in October watered down its climate-related lending targets, declined to comment.Betting on potentially catastrophic global warming is both an acknowledgment of the current emissions trajectory and a politically savvy move in the second Trump era, according to Jain."Nobody wants to be seen as going against" the administration's pro-fossil-fuel energy policy, he said. "These banks are businesses, so they have to look at the risk that they have in their portfolio and the opportunities that they see in the most likely environment."'Recalibrate targets'Morgan Stanley's frank assessment of the air conditioning market follows a trade association briefing in February in which industry officials argued that the financial sector needs a coordinated messaging campaign to regulators, investors and the public that the Paris targets are no longer within reach and banks should not be expected to pursue them."The world is not on track to limit temperature rise below 2C and limiting warming [to] 1.5C is almost certainly unachievable," the Institute of International Finance wrote in bolded text, citing analyses from the energy research firm the Rhodium Group and the Climate Action Tracker, an environmental collaborative."Financial institutions need to recalibrate targets to reflect that 1.5C are no longer suitable as strategic goals," the briefing said. "Reputational concerns may arise in the absence of an aligned view amongst stakeholders on how such processes should be handled, and what criteria may need to be applied."The banking industry can support the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy but capital will only move "at scale when the economics make sense," Mary Kate Binecki, a spokesperson for the Institute of International Finance, said in an email. The institute represents about 400 members from more than 60 countries, including JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley.JPMorgan, the world's most valuable bank, has been describing to investors how it evaluates climate risks in a detailed report published annually since 2022.* At that time and in subsequent reports, the bank said it vets investments using "baseline" scenarios that assume global warming of 2.7 degrees to more than 3 degrees by the end of this century.In JPMorgan's most recent report, released in late November, CEO Jamie Dimon outlined the bank's commitment to financing a global transition to cleaner energy. But he also hinted at the role Trump and other political leaders could play in slowing climate progress."Constructive government leadership and policy is also necessary, particularly on taxes, permitting, energy grids, infrastructure and technological innovation," Dimon said in a foreword to the report.A JPMorgan spokesperson emphasized that, while the bank stress tests its investments using a variety of potential climate scenarios, it remains committed to zeroing out its emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.Wall Street knows how to run the numbers, and right now the smart money expects warming to exceed 2 degrees, explained Jain, the former investment banker."These guys are not making assumptions out of the blue," he said. "They are following the science."Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.*Editors Note (3/31/25): Our partners at E&E News have edited this sentence after posting to correct the description of JPMorgans climate report.

March 31, 20256 min readIts Not in Your HeadWhy 50-Degree-F Days Feel Warmer in Spring Than in FallThere are real, physiological reasons why the same temperature feels different in April and OctoberBy Allison Parshall & Kelso Harper edited by Dean Visser Toshi Sasaki/Getty ImagesIn the first few weeks of spring, a 50-degree-Fahrenheit (10-degree-Celsius) day might call for a light jacket or no jacketor even short sleeves, depending on the person. But in the fall, the same weather might have you reaching for a parka.Its not just in your head. The relative warmth of spring is physiological as well as psychological; after a long, biting winter, your body has changed in ways that can make 50 degrees F seem downright balmy.I fully experience this on a regular basis with my work, says Cara Ocobock, an anthropologist at the University of Notre Dame, who studies how the human body adapts to cold. Her work often takes her to Finland, where she studies populations of reindeer herders who spend lots of time in extreme cold.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The human body is very good at acclimatizing to different environmental situations that are not permanentand the changes that your body experiences during this time also arent permanent, she says. Some of these changes involve a heat-generating organ that was only recently discovered in adults.Scientific American spoke with Ocobock to learn more about the changes our bodies undergo during winterincluding to that strange, newfound organand how these changes affect us when the winter chill finally gives way to the warmth of spring.Have you personally experienced this 50 degrees feels warm phenomenon?Yes, I have a story from my last trip to Finland. I was 300 kilometers [185 miles] north of the Arctic Circle during what should have been the coldest time of the year. There were maybe four or five days where it didnt get above 20 degrees Fahrenheit [29 degrees Celsius]. But then five days later, it was in the positive 40s Fahrenheit [or five to 10 degrees C], which should not exist that far north that time of year. After those days of extreme cold, I started sweating [when it went] above freezing. I wouldnt even wear a coat. My body just kind of reversed courselike, We need to cool you down; this is not what we have been used to.How quickly do these physiological changes happen when someone is exposed to more extreme temperatures?Theres always going to be individual and populational variation, but we see the changes start happening pretty quickly. It can start within 24 hours, but they dont fully set in for about seven to 10 days. You will maintain those changes until you go and switch environments again, and then youll lose your acclimatization. This can be to heat, cold, humidity, dryness or high altitude as well. For example, when I [returned to sea level from] field work in the Rocky Mountains, I was able to do two full lengths of an Olympic swimming pool without breathing. Within two weeks, that was gone.So how do our bodies change when we are exposed to cold weather?Theres a constant balancing of several different systems going on here. One of the quick changes is an increase in your resting metabolic ratethe baseline number of calories your body burns in order to survive. Your body is kind of increasing its own thermostat to produce more heat because you are losing more heat to the environment.We also see changes in the way your blood vessels [tighten or expand] to respond to the cold. In the cold, [vessels constrict to] reduce how much blood is flowing through and the heat that can potentially be lost to the environment. And when youre cold, blood will be shunted more to the deep blood vessels that are further away from the surface, whereas in a hot climate, the opposite happens.We also see and increase in brown adipose tissue activitythis is an active area of research. Brown fat, as we call it colloquially, is a type of fat that burns only to keep you warm during acute cold exposure. In adult humans, its located [just above your clavicles], as well as along your major deep blood vessels. This organ, and we do consider it kind of its own organ, uses energy to produce heatnot energy to [activate your muscles] to go run a mile or anything like that. We used to think that human adults never have brown fat. We knew that babies have it [for the first few months of life], but we thought that once they burned through it, that was it. But we are now seeing brown adipose tissue everywhere we look in adult human populations.How is brown fat different from regular fat?Brown adipose tissue is very, very rich in mitochondria. Instead of being the powerhouse of the cell, those mitochondria are the furnace. It basically short-circuits the typical process so that this tissue produces heat rather than energy.In adults, to date, we have seen brown fat in populations in Russia and Finlandcold climates, which makes sense. Weve seen it in Albany, N.Y.temperate climate but cold winters. And weve also seen it in Samoaa tropical island climate. So were beginning to think that brown adipose tissue might be a very deeply ancient tissue and that it could have been around in our evolutionary history for a very long time.How does brown fat activity change during cold seasons?One study on seasonal changes in brown adipose tissue [was] conducted by my former graduate student, Alexandra Niclou. She looked at seasonal variation in a brown adipose tissue among folks in Albany. She found that people were able to maintain higher body temperatures from brown fat in the winter but at a reduced caloric cost. And so it seemed the brown fat actually got more efficient the more it was being used to maintain body temperature in the winter. So there does seem to be a physiological difference in how brown fat is responding between the seasons. Im going back to Finland this spring [to measure this further] among reindeer herders and indoor workers.Given all of those factors, what do you think is happening to our bodies on that first warm spring day?In the winter, youre going to have an increase in resting metabolism. You might see an increase in your brown adipose tissue activity in order to keep you warm. Then all of a sudden its 50 degrees Fahrenheit outside, but your resting metabolic rate is still going to be higher, [and your brown fat might be more active], which means your body is producing more heat than it typically would have been. Thats probably why you feel like its way warmer out and start sweating. That acclimatization process is going to take a week or more to get you used to this new, warmer temperature setting.Theres also a developmental aspect of thiswhere you grew up likely has a massive, massive impact on how your body responds to different extremes and changes in seasonal temperatures. Im a college professor [in Indiana], and walking around campus this time of year, you can tell the kids from the East Coast and the Midwest versus those from the South and the West Coast [by who is wearing] short T-shirts and sandals when its, like, 50 degrees and [who is] still in puff jackets. It always cracks me up. And we might actually see happening with brown adipose tissue as wellthat the more you are exposed to cold during critical developmental periods as a child, the more active and responsive your brown adipose tissue may be as an adult.Do these seasonal changes still impact you if you spend most of the winter indoors?They are definitely still impacting you. It might not be as much, obviously, and this is part of what were doing with our work in Finland with reindeer herders, who spend more time outside in the extreme cold, and indoor office workers in the same region. But because you still go outside, you still experience acute cold, [even if its not] for hours and hours on end.Why is it important to understand how our bodies acclimatize to extreme temperatures?Understanding how bodies rapidly respond [to changes in temperature] is going to be even more important in the face of climate change, when we have highly and dramatically variable environments where you get ice storms in Texas, for example. [Helping people acclimatize via what we know about] biology, behavior and technology is going to be critical, I think, because no matter what, our bodies are going to be physiologically limited in coping with both extreme cold and extreme heat. Our bodies are not limitless, so we have [to adjust our] behavior and turn to technology to make up for what our bodies cant do.

Stardew Valley Baldur's Gate 3 mod praised by Larian boss has been yanked by Dungeons & Dragons lawyersGale warning.Image credit: Xun/Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on March 31, 2025 Just weeks after an "amazing" Baldur's Gate 3-themed Stardew Valley mod drew praise from Larian Studios co-founder Swen Vincke, it's been targeted by Dungeons & Dragons company Wizards of the Coast's lawyers and hit with a DMCA takedown.The Baldur's Village mod released earlier this month after more than a year in development, giving players the chance to explore a new village north of Stardew Valley's Pelican Town populated by some "rather unusual" residents. Its Baldur's Gate 3-inspired additions included a romanceable Astarion, alongside a new tavern, and more.At the time, its creator, Xun, said the release was just the start, with a storyline for Halsin also planned alongside more "world-building, background stories, and gameplay". But even this initial version was enough to catch Larian boss Swen Vincke's eye, and he shared its release on social media, writing, "So much love went into this - amazing work!"11 Baldur's Gate 3 tips for D&D beginners.Watch on YouTubeUnfortunately, it seems Dungeons & Dragons' license holder Wizards of the Coast was less impressed by the whole thing, and Baldur's Village has now vanished from modding website NexusMods after the company's laweyers hit it with a DMCA takedown over the weekend.In a statement provided to PC Gamer, Nexus Mods described Baldur's Village - which remains "under moderation review" on the site at the time of writing - as an "an incredibly creative cross-over to Stardew Valley that the community loves|. It optimistically added, "Hopefully, this is an oversight from WotC, who often use external agencies to hunt down violating content, and they will revert their decision. Fingers crossed for Baldur's Village."Wizards of the Coast and parent company Hasbro have, of course, expressed considerable interest in continuing the Baldur's Gate franchise following the mega-success of Baldur's Gate 3 - despite the fact Larian won't be attached after it instead opted to focus on its own IP.Earlier this month, Hasbro insisted there are plenty of other developers "very interested" in continuing the series. "We're kind of working out our plans for the future and what we're going to be doing with that," it added. "And actually, in pretty short order, we're going to have some stuff to talk about around that."

While Neil Druckmann has previously said Naughty Dog won't be known as The Last of Us studio forever, the team sure does seem to be making the most of the franchise by churning out different editions of both Part 1 and Part 2. Read more

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games herePalworld has been one of the biggest success stories since it came out at the beginning of 2024. It quickly became one of the most played games through Xbox Game Pass, it broke all sorts of player count records on Steam, and it has now joined PS5. Pocketpair has previously announced their intentions for spin-offs, and now they have just announced a Palworld dating sim where you can develop romantic relationships or eat your favorite pals.Pocketpair announces Palworld dating simOn X, Pocketpair has announced a Palworld dating sim. Its called Palworld More Than Just Pals, and the game page is on Steam right now with the game actually available to wishlist.Naturally, everyone believes the game is an April Fools joke, but, in response to this, the games official X page said, April joke? What?.Image credit: @Palworld_EN on XPer the Steam page, You, the protagonist, enrol as a transfer student in the prestigious Palagos Private Academy. You will meet unique friends (pals) and enjoy school life through friendship and romance. Its up to you whether you stay friends with the pals, develop romantic relationships with them, or even dismember and eat them.Pals and characters you will be able to romance include:KatressLovanderChilletZoeBlack MakateerChillet IgnisClumsy QuivernNurse SayaBubbly TarantrissYandere SplatterinaThere is no release date for the game, but it is said to be in-development. There is still a big possibility this is an elaborate April Fools joke, but, at the time of Pocketpairs announcement on X, it isnt April 1st, even in Japan. While a dating sim for Palworld is strange, there are games that have done dating sim spin-offs in the past, such as Hooked On You for Dead By Daylight.PalworldPlatform(s):PC, Xbox, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, Shooter5VideoGamerRelated TopicsPalworld Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Here at AD were something of office chair connoisseurs. Weve tested some of the best desk chairs on the market (and others not so great), meaning we know what to look for when it comes to seating that doesnt sacrifice points in the style department.Next up in the hot seat: Branchs Ergonomic Chair Pro, the brands most advanced ergonomic chair yet in a line of sleek, stylish options for the office. The chair is an improvement on Branchs original Ergonomic Chair and is designed to make your work day feel more comfortable with 14 (!) customizable features catered to every and anybody.Perhaps its biggest ace is its thick, cushy seat filled with high-density foam, which is more padded than its original Ergonomic Chair and most other office seating weve tried, period. Here, a handful of our editors spent a workday in the Ergo Chair Pro and are reporting back on exactly how cushy and customizable it is.Branch Ergonomic Chair ProDesignWhile you wont find too many chairs that offer the same designs in both leather and non-leather variations, the Ergo Chair Pro is a notable exception, with nine neutral colorways shared across three different finishesmesh, leather, and vegan leather. Its design is fairly understated and we appreciate that lighter color options, like the creamy shade Shore seen here, are available if your desk or office decor already leans towards a brighter color palette. For traditionalists, the black and dark grey colorways will lend your office a classic, more serious vibe.AdjustabilityPhoto: Audrey LeePoints of adjustability: height adjustable , adjustable armrests , adjustable headrest (sold separately), adjustable seat , adjustable tilt , adjustable lumbar support Set Up / First ImpressionsPhoto: Audrey LeePhoto: Audrey LeeCommerce editor Audrey Lee assembled the office chair, reporting that the whole process took around 30 minutes and was relatively headache-free. The process was fast, easy, and I was able to do it on my own, she says, though Branch does recommend teaming up with a buddy just in case.Branch provides a thorough instruction manual in the package (also available online), which guides you step by step in building the chair and carefully indicates which screws and tools are required for which part of the process. I consider myself pretty handy but not that strong, so if I can put this together by myself, its definitely a testament to how easy assembly is, Lee adds. The chair arrives flatpacked in a modestly-sized box (about 28 x 14 x 24), and since it can be fully disassembled, we think its also a great option should you ever need to move.Testing ThoughtsPhoto: Shannon MurrayPoor posture fears the Branch Ergo Pro. The chairs fully customizable support system makes it easy to spend long hours in a static position with all the adjustments you need to feel more comfortable throughout the work day. I was particularly fond of the arm rests that helped me achieve perfect elbow support (a very specific need since Ive recently enjoyed working with a laptop stand) and the adjustable tilt option gave me the freedom to stretch my back out whenever needed.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the Interior Department's federal payroll system which processes the salaries of 276,000 federal employees, the New York Times reports.DOGE members now have access to sensitive employee data such as salaries and Social Security numbers, according to the paper.The access was reportedly granted despite objections from senior IT members who warned it could expose sensitive government staffer information and make the system more vulnerable to cyberattacks.What to knowDOGE had reportedly been trying for weeks to gain access to the Federal Personnel and Payroll System, and the department has now placed two IT staff members who had attempted to block them, under investigation and on administrative leave.The cost-saving department has faced fierce pushback as it slowly gains access to highly sensitive systems across the government, including Medicare and Medicaid.Staffers also got access to the Treasury Department's payment system, but this was later restricted by a judge.Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates. 02:30 PM EDTNew Jersey mayor files complaint over new immigration detention centerThe mayor of Newark, in New Jersey, has filed a complaint in state court claiming that the Trump administration went ahead with the opening of a new 1,000-bed immigration detention center the proper permits.Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, said that the government and the private company GEO Group failed to get construction and other permits, in breach of both city and state law.ICE announced the opening of the Delaney Hall Facility in Newark in a statement last month."This detention center is the first to open under the new administration," said acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello. "The location near an international airport streamlines logistics, and helps facilitate the timely processing of individuals in our custody as we pursue President Trump's mandate to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens from our communities." 02:09 PM EDTDOGE ally put in charge of US Institute for Peace,An official allied with DOGE has been put in charge of the Institute for Peace which the Trump administration has targeted for cuts and eventual closure.The move follows the mass layoffs of nearly all of the institute's 300 staff members last week.After Trump took aim at the thinktank in an executive order last month, there was a standoff between staff and DOGE members, who eventually gained access with the help of armed police. The board members were then swiftly fired. 01:55 PM EDT'Case closed' on Signal chat, says White HouseWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the Trump administration considered the Signal group chat leak case closed.Leavitt insisted that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz still has the president's confidence despite accidentally adding a journalist to a group chat between national security team members discussing sensitive military plans before an airstrike."This case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned," Leavitt said.The press secretary said that steps have been made "to ensure that something like that can, obviously, not happen again," although she declined to stay what those steps were. 01:29 PM EDTOPINION: How Trump v. big law firms affects youPresident Donald Trump has never been shy about picking fights, but his latest battle, against Big Law, is one that is aimed at striking the very foundation of the American legal system.By issuing executive orders that target major law firms like Paul Weiss, Jenner & Block, Skadden Arps, and WilmerHale, Trump is doing more than just flexing his political musclehe's actively undermining the independence of the legal profession. It's one thing to criticize lawyers; it's another to use presidential power to punish them for doing their jobs.The crux of Trump's attack is his accusation that these firms are "weaponizing" the judicial system and pushing diversity initiatives he claims are discriminatory. It's a classic Trump move: take an issue that's been around for decadeswhether it's affirmative action, judicial activism, or corporate law firms siding with progressive causesand turn it into a political spectacle. But beneath the spectacle, there's a real and dangerous precedent being set. If a sitting or former president can successfully coerce law firms into submission by threatening financial ruin, what happens to the idea of legal independence?Read in full from legal analyst Aron Solomon on Newsweek. 12:13 PM EDTDonald Trump faces pivotal week: What to expectPresident Donald Trump stands for a prayer during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump stands for a prayer during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump faces a pivotal week as he plans to roll out his most significant round of tariffs, while elections in Wisconsin and Florida could serve as an indication of how voters feel about the opening months of his second term.Last week, Trump announced he was pulling New York Representative Elise Stefanik's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, saying it is "essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress."The withdrawal reflected concerns that the GOP's slim majority could be further eroded ahead of two special elections in Florida, which could derail efforts to enact Trump's agenda in the coming months.This week's elections come as Trump has promised that Wednesday will be "Liberation Day" as he plans to unveil tariffs that he says will free the United States from foreign goods. He is forging ahead even as his growing list of tariffs and their stop-start implementation has sparked stock market volatility and raised concerns about a looming recession.Read in full from Khaleda Rahman on Newsweek. 12:11 PM EDTMusk's DOGE gains access to payroll system for 276,000 federal employeesElon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the Interior Department's federal payroll system which processes the salaries of 276,000 federal employees, the New York Times reports.DOGE members now have access to sensitive employee data such as salaries and Social Security numbers, according to the paper.The access was reportedly granted despite objections from senior IT members who warned it could expose sensitive government staffer information and make the system more vulnerable to cyberattacks.DOGE had reportedly been trying for weeks to gain access to the Federal Personnel and Payroll System, and the department has now placed two IT staff members who had attempted to block them, under investigation and on administrative leave. 11:48 AM EDTMusk set to visit CIA at invitation of director Ratcliff: ReportElon Musk is expected to visit the CIA Monday at the invitation of Director John Ratcliffe, CNN reports.Musk's visit was reportedly announced by Ratcliffe at a CIA town hall where Ratcliffe said he wanted to discuss "advancing the mission" of the CIA with new tech.Musk was also recently at the Pentagon at the invitation of Secretary of Defense Pete HegsethThe New York Times reported that Musk would receive a "top secret" briefing on American tactics and planning for war with China, among other issues to be discussed.Musk has since threatened Pentagon staff who leaked what he called "false information" to the Times. 11:30 AM EDTTrump Tariffs pushing US Asia allies into China's orbit(From L) Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto, South Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk Geun and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pose for a photo ahead of their trilateral talks...(From L) Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto, South Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk Geun and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pose for a photo ahead of their trilateral talks in Seoul on March 30, 2025. Kyodo via AP ImagesAmerica's Asian allies are deepening economic ties with China as President Donald Trump's tariffs threaten to upend their trading relationships with the U.S.On Saturday, top trade officials from Japan, South Korea and China held their first trilateral economic dialogue in over five years, before stating their intention to enhance economic and trade cooperation with a view to signing a "free, fair, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial" free trade agreement in the near future.The agreement between three of Asia's largest economies comes as countries brace for the impact of Trump's tariffs, set to impact numerous sectors and nations across the continent and worldwide. The timing suggests that the president's overhaul of America's trading practices, while intended to rehome manufacturing in the U.S. and amend historic trade imbalances, could have the secondary effect of fostering closer cooperation between America's allies and those conventionally considered its economic rivals.China, Japan and South Korea are all among America's most significant trading partners, with total goods trade totaling an estimated $582 billion, $228 billion and $197 billion in 2024, respectively, according to U.S. government data. Japan and South Korea are also critical exporters of vehicles and car parts to the U.S., according to S&P Global, and among the top suppliers of steel to the U.S. All three countries have also historically run high trade surpluses with the U.S.Read in full from Hugh Cameron on Newsweek. 11:19 AM EDTElon Musk awards $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters after Supreme Court rejects challengeElon Musk has handed out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters, after Supreme Court rejects legal challenge to block him.Musk recently offered $100 to each Wisconsin registered voter signing his PAC's petition against "activist judges" and $1 million each to two voters among these.Two lower courts rejected a legal challenge by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that paying voters violates a state law. The Supreme Court ruling came within minutes of the rally on Sunday where Musk handed over the checks.Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, but the retirement of one of its judges this year could shake up the current balance at a crucial time for the state, which is expected to vote on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power, and voting rules this year.Trump and Musk are backing Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel in the race, while Democrats have thrown their support behind Dane County Judge Susan Crawford in the judicial race that has already reached record spending levels.Two political groups backed by Musk have already spent more than $20 million to support Schimel, while Democratic donors including George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have given millions to support Crawford's campaign. 11:09 AM EDTPam Bondi orders dismissal of Georgia election law challengeAttorney General Pam Bondi on Monday directed the Justice Department to drop a lawsuit challenging a major election reform law passed by Georgia's Republican lawmakers following President Donald Trump's 2020 loss in the state.The lawsuit, originally filed in June 2021 under former President Joe Biden, claimed the law was designed to suppress Black voter turnout. Bondi rejected the allegations, accusing the Biden administration of promoting "false claims of suppression.""Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us," she said.The legislation, known as SB 202, was one of several GOP-backed laws enacted after Trump's defeat. It imposed stricter voting rules, including a new voter ID requirement for mail-in ballots, a shorter window to request absentee ballots, and fewer ballot drop boxes in the densely populated Atlanta metro area. 11:04 AM EDTFrance reacts to Donald Trump's DEI ultimatumAurore Berge speaking in France. Aurore Berge speaking in France. Sipa via AP ImagesFrench minister has spoken out after Donald Trump's administration ordered some French companies with U.S. government contracts to comply with orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.French Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Berg indicated in an interview that companies will refuse to follow Trump's request.Since taking office again, Trump has been making major changes including an executive order to remove officials overseeing DEI initiatives. This includes international companies that work with and for America.Tensions are escalating between the U.S. and other countries thanks in part to rounds of tariffs that are expected to go into effect on April 2, aimed at countries that charge the United States import duties.Read in full from Kate Plummer on Newsweek. 10:56 AM EDTCongressman says Trump 'was never joking' abouts seeking third termRep. Dan Goldman has said that Donald Trump "was never joking" about seeking a third term, after the president refused to rule out running for a third term."As I said in November, Donald Trump was never joking about trying to serve an unconstitutional third term," he said in a post on X."This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy," Goldman added. "If congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution they will go on the record opposing Trump's ambitions for a third term."Trump was asked if planned to run for a third term in an interview with NBC News Sunday.He said that "a lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it's very early in the administration.""I'm not joking," he added. "But I'm not it is far too early to think about it." 10:44 AM EDTTrump considering a trip to Saudi ArabiaDonald Trump is considering making Saudi Arabia his first foreign trip, the White House told Axios."An opportunity for international travel for the president is something that is being looked at," a spokesperson told the outlet."We don't yet have a specific plan, and we will provide that information when it is official," they added.Axios reports that the trip is being considered for some time in mid May.Trump visited Saudi Arabia during his first term as part of a five-country tour that also included Israel, the Vatican, Brussels, and Sicily. 08:51 AM EDTHow have other countries reacted to Trump's tariffs?Word leaders have criticized Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs on "friends and foe" alike.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., saying Trump's plans had ended the close partnership between the United States and Canada.China has warned that there will be "no winners in trade wars or tariff wars," which would harm global trading yet would do nothing to help the U.S.French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those comments, warning the tariffs would cause inflation in the short term and destroy jobs. It's not good for the American economy, nor for the European, Canadian or Mexican economies," he said, adding the France was ready to defend itself with its own tariffs. 08:44 AM EDTDonald Trump third term would throw country 'into chaos'lawyerA lawyer has told Newsweek that Trump attempting to take a third term as president will throw the U.S. into a constitutional crisis.In a phone interview with NBC News on March 30, Trump said there were methods that would allow him to serve a third term and added that he was "not joking."Such a move could cause major instability in the U.S. as the 22nd amendment prohibits any president from serving more than two terms.During the NBC interview, Trump said of a potential third term: "A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know; it's very early in the administration."I'm focused on the current," he said.Read in full from Sean O'Driscoll on Newsweek.

Twisted FateRiot Games' new card game finally gets a proper reveal: Riftbound will be headed to English-speaking countries later this yearGoodbye white borders, hello original card art!Image credit: Riot Games News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on March 31, 2025 Riot Games has just ditched the in-development nickname it'd given its physical card game, and dropped some new info about it as we spiral towards its eventual release date. Riftbound will be launching this Summer in China, and later this year across various English-speaking territories.This update comes via a short video released by Riot Games on social media as well as the official Project K (now Riftbound) Discord server. In it, game director Dave Guskin and executive producer Chengran Chai spill the beans on what's been going on since early images of the cards were revealed in December last year. You can watch the reveal video below.Check out the Riftbound reveal video here.Watch on YouTubeNow, after some play tests and an overhaul of what the cards actually look like in the wake of some stern feedback from those early fans, we can now see what some cards from the game's first set look like. Titled Origins, we see original card art for Jinx, Viktor, and Lee Sin on display. In addition, the duo show off the full Yasuo card (which looks a lot better than the old card designs with those blank white borders), as well as some non-champion cards like Deadbloom Predator and Super Mega Death Rocket.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The pair also re-confirmed Riot Games' partnershiup with UVS, a TCG publishing and distribution company that will handle the worldwide rollout of Riftbound. UVS has previously worked on the Cowboy Beebop collectable card game, Yu Yu Hakisho card game, and the My Hero Academia card game. This was first revealed in February for those who were keeping close tabs on Project K and its ongoing development.So, we know that China is getting the game in a matter of months, but what about you reading this in English right now? Well, this is where the info gets a bit murky. The video explains that the game will start releasing in "english-speaking territories" later in 2025, pointing to an autumn/fall release window. Also, English-speaking territories could describe a fairly large number of countries, including the obvious contenders like the USA and the UK.So, we'll have to sit back and hunker down for more news as to when exactly we'll be able to play Riftbound ourselves. For now, let us know what you think about the new name and the new card aesthetic down below!

Scott Ross, legendary VFX executive and co-founder of Digital Domain, joins the podcast for an unfiltered conversation about the state of the film industry and the visual effects business. With decades of experience and a reputation for telling it like it is, Scott digs into the systemic challenges facing Hollywoodfrom broken economic models in studio filmmaking to the relentless pressure on VFX vendors. He reflects on his time building Digital Domain alongside James Cameron and shares insights from his new book, UPSTART: The Digital Film Revolution Managing the Unmanageable, which chronicles his journey through the chaos and creativity that have defined modern filmmaking.While Scott doesnt sugarcoat the industrys issues, he also sees glimmers of hope. He highlights the rise of global talent and a shift toward more authentic, filmmaker-driven storytelling. The conversation touches on the role of AI, the decline of theatrical experiences, and the urgent need for systemic changewhile still holding onto the belief that the future of cinema is worth fighting for. With honesty, insight, and passion, Scott offers a rare perspective from someone whos been at the center of the digital revolution and still has something to say.Links:UPSTART: The Digital Film Revolution Managing the Unmanageable >Scott Ross on IMDB >

Two days remain.We are rapidly approaching the big Switch 2 Direct on 2nd April, and Nintendo is ensuring the hype train is fully stocked and ready to leave the station as it has just shared a new image of the console via the Nintendo Today app.Now, the vast majority of us will likely see this image tomorrow when the regional clocks tick over to the 'One Day To Go' message that the app has been counting towards in recent days, but thanks to the magic of timezones, those in Japan have already caught a glimpse of the fresh snap.Read the full article on nintendolife.com