Sen. Elizabeth Warren Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren slammed the Trump administration on Friday over a report that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will exclusively communicate through X, the social media platformed owned by DOGE head Elon Musk."Right, because Grandma is on X. This is corruption, plain and simple," said Warren. The report, published by Wired, details that the agency will stop communicating with the media and the public through press releases and "dear colleague" letters amid major staffing cuts.SSA regional commissioner Linda Kerr-Davis told managers earlier this week that, instead, "the agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public ... so this will become our communication mechanism."Trump officials rejected that the change will impact beneficiaries, with White House spokesperson Liz Huston saying the SSA is "actively communicating with beneficiaries and stakeholders.""There has not been a reduction in workforce. Rather, to improve the delivery of services, staff are being reassigned from regional offices to front-line help – allocating finite resources where they are most needed. President Trump will continue to always protect Social Security," she added.The outlet also detailed that the SSA's regional office workforce is set to be cut by almost 90% and that since February the agency has cut 7,000 jobs. The agency currently has 547 employees in almost a dozen regional offices, with the figure expected to drop to about 70 after the cuts.Kerr-Davis acknowledged to a SSA employee that the restructuring can limit SSA's ability to combat fraud. "Won't losing subject matter experts lead directly to fraud, waste, and abuse?" the staffer asked. "Yes, I mean, we do rely on [their] help ... Things are going to break, and they're going to break fast," she replied.© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.Tags: Social Security, Elon Musk

In Brief Posted: 12:38 PM PDT · April 12, 2025 Image Credits:Getty Images OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence reportedly valued at $32B Safe Superintelligence (SSI), the AI startup led by OpenAI’s co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has raised an additional $2 billion in funding at a $32 billion valuation, according to the Financial Times. The startup had already raised $1 billion, and there were reports that an additional $1 billion round was in the works. SSI did not comment on the new funding, which was reportedly led by Greenoaks. Sutskever left OpenAI in May 2024 after he appeared to play a role in an ultimately failed attempt to oust CEO Sam Altman. He founded SSI with Daniel Gross and Daniel Levy, and they said the company had “one goal and one product: a safe superintelligence.” That product is presumably still in the works, with SSI’s website little more than a placeholder with a mission statement. Topics

Animation Sequences and Animation Montages in Unreal is a real life saver for VFX Artists. It lets you sync VFX with animation easily without extra hooks and you can preview it before you even play the game. Unity in other hand has a tool called “Timelines” which is similar in way, but not quite the best solution for a game that needs a lot of character VFX synced. So i decided to make a similar system in Unity to help VFX Artists, Game Designers and Tech Artists to sync VFX with animation easily, without having to make complex setup and no code! You just chose what to spawn, when and how. Bake into a animation clip and the plugin takes care of the rest! (Thats not my VFX in the video BTW)

Looking for help with today's NYT Mini Crossword puzzle? Here are some hints and answers for the puzzle.

Table of Contents Table of Contents Why do I still rely on Chrome? Why Edge has earned a spot in my routine Why I’m sticking with both There are plenty of browsers to choose from these days. You can choose to use Vivaldi, Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and more. With so many options available, you may wonder what the difference is between all of them. There is always a feature one browser has that another doesn’t. In my experience, no single browser covers everything I need. Instead, I’ve found that using Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome gives me the best of both worlds. Each browser has unique features and strengths that fit different parts of my daily tech routine. Here’s why I’ve made room for two browsers on my computer, and why I don’t plan to change that anytime soon. Recommended Videos PixieMe / Shutterstock The browser I mainly use is Chrome. It’s my go-to browser because it’s reliable and has an extensive library of extensions that make my daily routine easier. Related The Google integration feels smoother and more connected when using my Google account for services like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, etc. Currently, using Chrome feels more automatic, which is fine by me. I don’t have to think much about where things are or how they work. Over time, Chrome has proven to be more than just familiar; it’s dependable. I’ve built a setup with all the proper folders, bookmarks, and add-ons, and honestly, I don’t want to start over somewhere else. Even though some browsers claim a “flawless” transfer process, I’d rather not risk losing anything or dealing with unexpected issues. No browser is perfect, including Chrome. It uses a lot of memory, especially when I have too many tabs and extensions running simultaneously. Watching everything slow down is frustrating, even with the simplest tasks. I have to turn to closing tabs, but when I think I don’t need them, I still end up having to look for them later. I like to have all my tabs open and ready, just in case I want to jump between them, but it’s not always possible. I just can’t shake off the “I’ll come back to it in a bit” to only forget it’s even there. Also, Chrome doesn’t have the built-in Workspaces feature you can find in Edge, which would make organizing projects easier. And don’t even get me started on how it can affect my laptop’s battery life. Even with those drawbacks, Chrome’s reliability, deep integration with my daily apps, and familiarity keep it one of the two browsers I rely on every day. Microsoft On the Edge side, a few features have earned it a permanent spot as one of my two favorite browsers. One feature I use all the time on Edge is Drop, which makes transferring text between my iPad and PC easy. I regularly need to send notes or links across those devices, and Drop has handled that almost effortlessly. Sure, sometimes the notification doesn’t show up right away, but it’s a minor issue since I know the text is there waiting for me. I also love the different workspaces, which help me stay organized by grouping tabs by project and giving me a work area I can color-code. Instead of having dozens of tabs open for various things, I can focus only on the task I’m working on without getting overwhelmed. I also like how the personalized widgets show me news of topics that interest me when I open Edge. It’s great since I can quickly glance at what’s going on and see if anything is worth reading before I dive into my work for the day. Another nice bonus is Edge’s vertical tabs. I like how they show you the full tab names, which is great when I visit sites with a similar icon. I also find it helpful that you can collapse the tabs even if you have only a few tabs open, something I can’t do on Chrome. One drawback I wish I could change is the Copilot button at the top right. I’d love the choice to swap it for another option, like the Drop icon, which I use more often. Right now, the only way to hide the sidebar is to leave the Copilot button locked in place, but I doubt Microsoft will change that any time soon. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends No browser is perfect, and that’s fine by me. Edge and Chrome have their quirks, but I can use and enjoy the features I want and need together. When I use Chrome, I get reliability and all the extensions that help me get through my daily tech routine. With Edge, I get modern tools like Drop, Wordspaces, and vertical tabs that help me organize everything and not feel lost and overwhelmed. Until a browser with the best of these two comes along, I’m going to continue using them. It’s not a perfect solution, but it works for now. Editors’ Recommendations

Whiplash After market tumult, Trump exempts smartphones from massive new tariffs Some consumer electronics are also exempted in a major boost to Big Tech. Aime Williams and Demetri Sevastopulo, and Ryan McMorrow, Financial Times – Apr 12, 2025 6:25 pm | 6 The iPhone 16. Credit: Apple The iPhone 16. Credit: Apple Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more The Trump administration has excluded smartphones and other consumer electronics from its steep “reciprocal” tariffs in a significant boost for Big Tech as the White House battles to calm global markets after launching a multifront trade war. According to a notice posted late on Friday night by Customs and Border Patrol, smartphones, along with routers, chipmaking equipment, wireless earphones and certain computers and laptops, would be exempt from reciprocal tariffs, which include the 125 percent levies Donald Trump has imposed on Chinese imports. The carve-out is a big win for companies such as Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft, and follows a week of intense turbulence in US markets after Trump unleashed a trade war on “liberation day” on April 2. The announcement rattled global investors and triggered a stock market rout. The exemption is the first sign of any softening of Trump’s tariffs against China, which he ratcheted up over the course of the past week even as he paused the steepest “reciprocal” tariffs. He retained tariffs of 10 percent on most trading partners. The Trump administration had already exempted several sectors from its reciprocal tariffs, including semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, but the president has signalled that he still plans to apply tariffs to those sectors. A White House official said on Saturday that the US would launch a separate probe that could lead to a tariff on chips “soon.” The dispensation for smartphones and computers will be especially welcomed by Apple as the bulk of its supply chain is centred on China. Analysts estimate about 80 percent of its iPhones are still made in the country even as the tech group worked to diversify production to India in recent years. The majority of iPhones are made in a big factory complex in Zhengzhou operated by Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn. Workers at the plant told the Financial Times this week that operations were normal but that they were worried about the impact of the trade war. Shares in the US tech giant were one of Wall Street’s biggest casualties in the days immediately after Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs. About $700 billion was wiped off Apple’s market value in the space of a few days. Earlier this week, Trump said he would consider excluding US companies from his tariffs, but added that such decisions would be made “instinctively.” Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the exemptions mirrored exceptions for smartphones and consumer electronics issued by Trump during his trade wars in 2018 and 2019. “We’ll have to wait and see if the exemptions this time around also stick, or if the president once again reverses course sometime in the not-too-distant future,” said Bown. US Customs and Border Protection referred inquiries about the order to the US International Trade Commission, which did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The White House confirmed that the new exemptions would not apply to the 20 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports applied by Trump to respond to China’s role in fentanyl manufacturing. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Saturday that companies including Apple, TSMC, and Nvidia were “hustling to onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible” at “the direction of the President.” “President Trump has made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops,” said Leavitt. Apple declined to comment. Economists have warned that the sweeping nature of Trump’s tariffs—which apply to a broad range of common US consumer goods—threaten to fuel US inflation and hit economic growth. New York Fed chief John Williams said US inflation could reach as high as 4 percent as a result of Trump’s tariffs. Additional reporting by Michael Acton in San Francisco © 2025 The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way. Aime Williams and Demetri Sevastopulo, and Ryan McMorrow, Financial Times Aime Williams and Demetri Sevastopulo, and Ryan McMorrow, Financial Times 6 Comments

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has been critical of the Trump administration's aggressive tactics for government reform. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images 2025-04-12T22:29:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Larry Summers said on the All-In Podcast that DOGE is wreaking havoc on US institutions. He pointed to the administration's targeting of the Internal Revenue System. The former treasury secretary said the outcome could put the US into further debt. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said DOGE will end in a "disastrous failure," possibly leading the US into a deeper deficit.Summers said on an episode of the All-In Podcast posted on Friday that he generally agrees that the US government could be more efficient."I think we need much more reform," he said, agreeing with New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, another guest on the show. "I think Democrats have allowed themselves excessively to become hostage to particular groups, particular traditional concerns, and have lost touch in important ways with the American mainstream."Summers said, however, that the current administration and DOGE are wreaking havoc on American institutions and surmised that they would fail to solve the problems they're trying to address, such as the national debt."My best judgment is that this project is going to end in disastrous failure despite having put its finger on some important concerns and issues," he said. "Of course, there should be much more aggressive reform of the government than there is. But that does not excuse or mean that it is likely to work out well for some of the mindless savagery that the DOGE is bring to traditional American institutions."He pointed to the White House's targeting of the Internal Revenue System. In February, the administration moved to slash the IRS's workforce and, more recently, gave employees deferred resignations and buyout offers.The economist said that attacking the tax collection agency could result in a revenue loss exceeding any savings that DOGE realized."We are firing, en masse, people whose job it is to audit people like you," Summers said to All-In Podcast host Chamath Palihapitiya, who pushed back on the economist's argument. "And the result of that is that we are losing revenue directly."Paliphaitiya responded that he gets automatically audited yearly and that the government owed him $1,000 in 2024. That suggests the venture capitalist is fairly careful with his tax returns, considering the multiple revenue streams he may have.Summers said he did not doubt Paliphaitiya's "personal integrity" but added that "less than a quarter of people with incomes over $10 million are audited."Summers has previously criticized the Trump administration's aggressive approach to economic reform. On X, he called President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs highly costly and "masochistic.""This is dangerous work with a sledgehammer on a pretty sensitive machine — which is the global economy — that's having really serious consequences," Summers said on the podcast.A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Recommended video

Yeeeeeeehaw! The Joestars are going western in the anime adaptation of the Steel Ball Run manga.

Fitzroy North House / buck&simpleSave this picture!© Marnie HawsonHouses•Melbourne, Australia Architects: buck&simple Area Area of this architecture project Area:  162 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2021 Photographs Photographs:Marnie Hawson Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  Astra Walker, Autodesk Revit, CDK stone, Caroma, Dulux, Fibonacci , Paul Agnew Designs, Phelan Interiors (Joiner), Skyrange, TOVO Lighting, Tongue n GrooveMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. Located on the traditional lands of the Kulin people, this Fitzroy North home is nestled within a typical inner-north suburban street. Thoughtfully integrated landscaping ensures privacy in the front yard while concealing an urban oasis at the rear. buck&simple's role in transforming this family residence was to reimagine its core living areas, fostering a seamless connection between the house and its lush backyard retreat.Save this picture!The original home bore the marks of time, with high ceilings and timber floors that creaked gently underfoot. However, a stark contrast existed between the airy, light-filled front rooms and the later, cluttered renovations at the rear. The redesign sought to bring a sense of calm, order, and spatial hierarchy back into the home, creating a clear delineation between functional spaces while supporting the dynamic lifestyle of its owners.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A key intervention was the re-establishment of the kitchen as the heart of the home. The existing layout hindered the homeowners' ability to cook and entertain simultaneously. By relocating the cooktop to the island, the new design fosters a social atmosphere, enabling interaction while preparing meals. The living spaces were also repositioned to embrace the natural outlook, strengthening the relationship between the interiors and the surrounding greenery.Save this picture!To further enhance comfort and energy efficiency, a combination of resilient, tactile materials was employed. A terrazzo tile floor grounds the home, offering excellent thermal properties and durability, while blonde herringbone timber flooring softens the atmosphere in quieter spaces like the bedrooms. Blackbutt veneer joinery was incorporated throughout, maintaining a consistent timber aesthetic and harmonizing with the owners' beloved bespoke master bed. Fixtures in brass and black finishes complement the detailing in the steel doors and lighting, ensuring a cohesive palette.Save this picture!The transformation of the rear living areas introduced a striking feature fireplace, black steel-framed doors that help retain warmth, and a circular skylight that invites natural light deep into the space. The back wall was replaced with expansive sliding glass doors, creating an uninterrupted flow between the indoors and the newly landscaped garden, designed in collaboration with Inge Jabara Landscapes.Save this picture!Save this picture!What made this project truly successful was the synergy between the architectural team and the client—a relationship built on trust and a shared commitment to design excellence. The result is a thoughtfully curated family home that balances function, warmth, and aesthetic consistency, delivering a refined yet inviting space tailored to its inhabitants' active lifestyle.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less About this officebuck&simpleOffice••• Published on April 12, 2025Cite: "Fitzroy North House / buck&simple" 12 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1029011/fitzroy-north-house-buck-and-simple&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00913-7Evidence reveals that people reached Malta 8,500 years ago. Hunter-gatherers made the long trip there 1,000 years before agricultural societies arrived.