By Matt Novak Published April 18, 2025 | Comments (0) | US President Donald Trump during a meeting with Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, not pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, April 17, 2025. © Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images The White House has changed covid.gov into a website for promoting the so-called lab leak theory for the origins of covid-19. Donald Trump, who was president during the first year of the covid pandemic in 2020, has long sought to claim the virus originated from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, in an effort to suggest it was a weapon intentionally unleashed onto the world. But the best science we have at the moment still suggests covid had natural origins. The covid.gov website was previously a government-run destination to find information about covid-19 testing, vaccines, and treatment options. The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine has snapshots saved from what the site looked like as recently as April 10: Screenshot: Internet Archive / Wayback Machine But the Trump regime has turned what used to be a dry, informative, fact-based website into a hype page for Trump’s personal grievances against perceived political enemies. At some point in the past week, covid-19, started to redirect to the White House. And incredibly, it looks like this: Screenshot: White House The covid.gov URL redirects to the White House website and now features a list of “facts” that aren’t widely agreed upon by scientists who have studied the origins of covid-19. Trump’s allies have long claimed that covid-19 was designed in a lab and was either intentionally or accidentally leaked. The CIA even changed its assessment of covid’s origins shortly after he took power again, suddenly claiming it may have been from a lab leak, though admitting “low confidence” in that assessment. But the most recent studies on the topic, looking at genomic data, still suggest natural origins from an animal market in Wuhan, China. And a study earlier this year found that most virologists and other scientists with relevant expertise still don’t think the lab leak theory is the best explanation for how covid-19 came into the world. The new website presents highly contested claims as facts and prominently features several people like Anthony Fauci and Joe Biden, who were supposedly instrumental in covering up some big scandal. Disturbingly, the website also names several other people whom the White House suggests conspired to cover up the real origins of covid, including Dr. David Morens, a senior advisor to Fauci. It’s disturbing because President Trump has promised a campaign of retribution against his enemies and has already started to target individuals like cybersecurity expert Chris Krebs for telling the truth about the 2020 election. Trump has also targeted law firms that he’s extorting to get free services, and institutions like Harvard University to resegregate American life. But at least Trump’s new website looks dumb as shit. As one user on Bluesky pointed out, the graphic design of the site makes it look like Trump is the one who was doing the leaking. Another user compared the design to the Pixar lamp logo. [image or embed] — Jon Danziger (@danziger.bsky.social) April 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM The cartoonish nature of Trump’s redesign would be shocking in any other timeline, but we happen to be living in the timeline where Trump was elected to be president. Twice, in fact. And that means we wake up to new absurdities like this every day. The response to the covid-19 pandemic by the first Trump administration was arguably one of the worst among wealthy countries. The U.S. had 341 deaths per 100,000 residents, the second worst in the world after Peru, according to Johns Hopkins University data that runs through early 2023. So it makes sense that Trump, who rather famously will never admit when he’s done something wrong, would try to deflect blame. It wasn’t Trump’s bungled response to testing early in the pandemic that allowed the virus to spread like wildfire. It wasn’t Trump’s inability to provide health care workers with enough PPE. It wasn’t his bald-faced lies told directly to the American people as a way to calm the markets. It was some shadowy forces in China who were just trying to hurt Americans. The idea that covid-19 was designed in a lab is certainly something that could’ve happened. It’s just that there’s no strong evidence for that theory. And while there’s nothing wrong with exploring all possible reasons for something like a pandemic, people like Trump and his goons at the White House clearly have a motive for blaming anyone but themselves. This, after all, is a guy who suggested injecting bleach into the body to get rid of it. Trump needs there to be some other outside force that he can blame. Because compared to the rest of the world, Trump failed spectacularly to keep Americans safe. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Matt Novak Published April 18, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published April 17, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published April 17, 2025 By Matt Novak Published April 17, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published April 17, 2025 By Matt Novak Published April 17, 2025

Start your engines.Well folks, it looks like Nintendo is officially off the start line with its Mario Kart World marketing in Japan. The upcoming racer has just scored three new trailers, showcasing some of the new characters, courses and tricks you'll be able to see in action from 5th June.A lot of the footage might not seem all that new after yesterday's Direct, but there are a couple of fresh shots thrown into the 30-second ads for good measure. It all focuses on the standard racing (rather than Free Roam or Battle modes) and shows some of the series' familiar faces going head to head on the newly designed courses.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Bluesky may soon get a new blue checkmark verification system, according to changes to the app’s public GitHub repository spotted Friday by reverse engineer alice.mosphere.at. The blue checks may have a similar look to the system pioneered by Twitter, now X, but Bluesky’s version seems like it will work quite differently. Bluesky’s blue check system may rely on multiple organizations to distribute blue checks, according to the codebase changes. That suggests Bluesky will actively verify notable accounts, but also label certain organizations as “trusted verifiers,” and give them the authority to directly issue blue checks themselves. The changes to Bluesky’s verification system may be announced as soon as Monday, according to a blog post link found in Friday’s pull request titled “verification,” which is dated for April 21, 2025. While Bluesky already lets users verify themselves by tying their accounts to official websites, CEO Jay Graber has hinted the company would try other types of verification. Last year, Graber said Bluesky may experiment with a system where it’s not the only group that can verify users. The pull request also shows an icon, a blue circle containing a white checkmark, that will appear on verified users’ profiles. Meanwhile, trusted verifiers will have scalloped blue circles containing a white checkmark on their profiles. A blog spotted in Bluesky’s github repo posted by an occasional reverse engineer. (credit: alice.mosphere.at) An image spotted in Bluesky’s forthcoming announcement suggests The New York Times, and other trusted news publishers, may soon have the ability to verify users in the blue check system. By tapping on a user’s blue check, other users can see which organizations have granted verification, according to the changes. How the verification system will work (Credit: alice.mosphere.at) Bluesky’s approach to verification is a lot different from how X operates its verification services. While X used to distribute blue checks to popular, authentic accounts, Elon Musk decided to overhaul the system and only verifies users who pay a monthly subscription. Musk has since walked back that decision, giving blue checks to some influential users that don’t pay for it, while still allowing other people to pay for it. Some have argued that X has diluted the value of a blue check on its platform altogether, even allowing some bot accounts to be verified. Bluesky did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. Bluesky seems to be taking a decentralized approach to verification and by spreading out the decision-making power to several organizations. That could mean a lot of users on Bluesky are getting verified, but it remains to be seen how this approach will work in practice.

I love the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) for its basic features and fair price, and it's 32% off at several major retailers now.

McCormick's Old Bay seasoning The Washington Post via Getty Images McCormick & Company, a 135-year-old global leader in flavor, generates $6.7 billion in annual revenue and serves consumers and businesses in over 150 countries. Best known for brands like Frank’s RedHot, French’s, Cholula, Old Bay and Zatarain’s, McCormick offers essential flavor solutions across consumer and industrial markets. Guy Peri is McCormick’s Chief Information and Digital Officer. Though only seven months into his role, Peri is rapidly advancing a comprehensive transformation of the company’s digital capabilities. His career-long focus on data and analytics informs a strategy rooted in foundational data excellence, operational optimization and innovation powered by AI. Leading Digital with Purpose As CIDO, Peri oversees infrastructure, ERP, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, data systems and the entire scope of digital initiatives at McCormick. His mission is to ensure that digital transformation is anchored to McCormick’s business strategy. "My span of control and responsibilities are developing and leading the implementation of our enterprise digital transformation strategy," Peri explained. From demand creation to product innovation, retail execution and operational efficiency, he is spearheading initiatives that align technology with growth and performance. Deepening Consumer Connections McCormick’s digital strategy starts with understanding its consumers more deeply. "We are all at service to consumers and employees," said Peri. By leveraging social media, search data and first-party information, Peri’s team captures insights that guide targeted engagement and product development.McCormick & Co. Chief Information & Digital Officer Guy PeriMcCormick These insights fuel McCormick’s annual Flavor Forecast, a 25-year tradition that predicts future flavor trends. Recent hits include chipotle Korean barbecue and Swicy (sweet and spicy). This year’s bold prediction: Aji Amarillo, a tropical, fruity spice with heat. Turning Insights into Innovation The Flavor Forecast is a product of collaboration between marketing, R&D, chefs and data scientists. McCormick combines 40 years of sensory data with real-time digital signals to forecast emerging tastes. "We try our best to predict what's coming, bring those flavors into our products and serve consumers with those flavors," Peri noted. Insights are derived from social listening, search engine trends and qualitative research. This convergence of disciplines and data enables McCormick to stay ahead of evolving palates. A Data Strategy Rooted in Value At McCormick, he prioritizes value-driven use cases and operational integration. "There’s a lot of things we can do in digital, data and analytics,” Peri emphasized. “There's only a few things that are material.” His three-part framework emphasizes business value, data quality and transformation of work processes as mechanisms to help prioritize his team’s efforts. He underscores the importance of data hygiene, governance and reliability, recognizing that these foundations are essential before layering on advanced AI. Upskilling for the Digital Era Changing how people work is central to McCormick’s transformation. Peri is focused on elevating digital fluency across the organization by identifying and celebrating early adopters. "We’re trying to upskill individuals to be successful in that new world, and then catch them doing it right," said Peri. Teams that embrace analytics and digital tools are spotlighted in global town halls to inspire cultural change. Through this approach, McCormick is building new career paths and empowering employees to lead innovation from within. Harnessing AI to Predict and Optimize McCormick is actively deploying predictive analytics in procurement, forecasting and product development. With decades of historical procurement data and external market signals, Peri’s team can predict raw material pricing with impressive accuracy. AI models are also enhancing demand and financial forecasting, as well as enabling faster product formulation by suggesting ingredient substitutions. These applications optimize operations and accelerate innovation. "We're using AI to predict procurement pricing, forecast demand and improve product formulation," Peri shared. Envisioning the Agentic Future Looking ahead, Peri is excited about the rise of agentic systems; intelligent digital agents that collaborate with humans. He anticipates a shift where employees move from transactional tasks to exception management, working alongside algorithms to deliver results. "Agentic is going to be the next generation of automation in RPA," Peri predicted. Every role will require a base level of digital literacy and interaction with predictive tools, transforming traditional job functions into tech-enabled decision-making roles. Expanding Technology to the Whole Enterprise One of the most transformative aspects of McCormick’s strategy is the democratization of technology. Peri envisions a future where every employee, regardless of technical background, has the tools and understanding to use AI. This includes designing user-friendly tools and establishing baseline digital education, such as understanding machine learning models and how data feeds into them. "You no longer need a PhD in data science to work with AI models," Peri underscored. Building these capabilities will ensure widespread adoption and innovation. Drawing from Experience, Building Forward Peri credits his nearly three decades at P&G, including six years as the company’s first chief data and analytics officer, for preparing him to scale enterprise-wide capabilities. P&G’s focus on transforming how business is done, experimenting at scale and operationalizing innovation shaped his leadership philosophy. "We were always about being business leaders first," Peri said, reflecting on his time at P&G. He brings those lessons to McCormick, where his team is applying them to build sustainable, scalable digital transformation. What’s Next Peri sees a future where sensors, IoT and real-time data create personalized, connected flavor experiences. Agentic capabilities, new business models and intelligent products are on the horizon. "We're going to have smarter and smarter products that personalize experiences like never before," Peri concluded. Under Peri’s leadership, McCormick is not only embracing digital innovation. It is flavoring the future of food technology. Peter High is President of Metis Strategy, a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble. He also moderates the Technovation podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAHigh.

Weird OS: Microsoft regularly deprecates features in Windows, typically replacing them with improved alternatives or streamlining development. That's why its decision to drop a relatively new security feature – one it promoted less than a year ago – raises questions about how Windows is evolving and which users might be left behind. Microsoft has quietly added another entry to its ever-growing list of deprecated Windows features. The company is phasing out Virtualization-based Security (VBS) enclaves in Windows 11 23H2 and earlier, as well as Windows Server 2022 and earlier releases. However, support will continue in Windows Server 2025 and beyond. The Redmond tech giant introduced VBS enclaves in July 2024, touting them as a significant step forward for Windows security. The feature relies on Virtualization-Based Security (VBS), a core part of Windows 11 that runs the OS inside a secure virtual machine atop Microsoft's Hyper-V hypervisor. Thanks to VBS enclaves, developers can now create software-based trusted execution environments within host applications. In simpler terms, a VBS enclave is a secure memory space with higher privileges than the operating system, running in a virtual machine atop Hyper-V. Using Dynamic Link Library files, developers can protect specific parts of their applications, which any Windows program can load. Microsoft described VBS enclaves as a meaningful improvement in software security for virtualized Windows instances. Still, the company is removing the feature from Windows 11 23H2. Microsoft typically deprecates a feature once it stops developing it alongside the rest of the Windows code, though the feature usually continues to work until developers completely remove it. A possible explanation for Microsoft phasing out VBS enclaves is Windows 11's accelerated development cycle, which now delivers new major releases every year and frequent, often disruptive monthly updates. According to Microsoft's documentation, VBS enclaves and Intel Software Guard Extension APIs require Windows 11 Build 26100.2314 or newer. Microsoft may be deliberately excluding older builds to avoid compatibility and reliability issues. // Related Stories Microsoft ends support for Windows 11 23H2 this November, but most users will likely have upgraded to a newer release by then. If Microsoft removes VBS enclaves entirely from 23H2, enterprise customers still relying on the feature could face disruptions.

Earlier this month, reports of a Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood sequel at Netflix broke the internet. Luckily for cinephiles, the report was not an April Fool’s Day joke. The trades later confirmed that David Fincher will direct the OUATIH follow-up from a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, with Brad Pitt reprising his Oscar-winning role of Cliff Booth. With Cliff back, the next logical question revolves around Rick Dalton. Would Leonardo DiCaprio return? DiCaprio has been in talks with Netflix for a potential return, which would likely be more of a cameo than a significant role. Recommended Videos DiCaprio is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. The Oscar winner commands anywhere from $20 to $30 million per movie. DiCaprio was paid $20 million to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which hits theaters in September. For a cameo in the OUATIH follow-up, DiCaprio won’t be paid his normal fee. However, it’s not going to be for anything below seven digits. Related On a recent episode of The Hot Mic, The InSneider’s Jeff Sneider revealed that DiCaprio has been “dragging his feet” during these negotiations with Netflix. In other words, he wants more money, which has reportedly annoyed Netflix, Fincher, and Pitt. “I’m told that DiCaprio was offered $3 million dollars for one day of shooting,” Sneider said on the podcast. With filming rumored to begin by late summer, DiCaprio will have to make a decision soon before locking in his next project. Sony Pictures Per The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey, the OUATIH follow-up will be set in 1977 and should be thought of as The Further Adventures of Cliff Booth rather than a direct sequel. Written and directed by Tarantino, 2019’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood depicted the relationship between an aging Rick Dalton and his stuntman, Cliff Booth, as they struggle to adapt to the changing times. The movie also introduces Rick’s neighbor, Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), and the impact of the Manson family. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood grossed over $392 million worldwide and received 10 Oscar nominations, winning Best Supporting Actor (Pitt) and Best Production Design. Editors’ Recommendations

Have American elites—influential journalists, powerful policymakers and other cultural arbiters—learned the lessons of 2020-21? Do they want to?

Walking on Air Trump official to Katy Perry and Bezos’ fiancée: “You cannot identify as an astronaut” It turns out the FAA now takes no role in identifying who is an astronaut. Eric Berger – Apr 18, 2025 3:59 pm | 26 Yeah, Lauren Sánchez really is an astronaut. Credit: Blue Origin Yeah, Lauren Sánchez really is an astronaut. Credit: Blue Origin Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more This week's flight of the New Shepard spacecraft, NS-31, and its all-female crew has stirred up a mess of coverage, from tabloids to high-brow journalism outlets. And why not? Six women, led by superstar Katy Perry, were flying into space! By contrast, Ars Technica has been largely silent. Why? Because yet another suborbital flight on New Shepard matters little in the long arc of spaceflight history. Beyond that, I did not want to be too negative about someone else's happiness, especially since it was privately funded. Live and let live, and all of that. However, if I'm being frank, this flight and its breathless promotion made me uncomfortable. Let me explain. Perhaps the most important change in spaceflight over the last two decades has been the rise of commercial spaceflight, which is bringing down the cost of access to space and marks an essential step to humanity becoming a spacefaring species. This rising tide has been spurred in large part by billionaires, particularly Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and, to a lesser extent, Richard Branson. In the summer of 2021, Branson and Bezos took flights on their own rockets. This fueled the "boys and their toys" and "billionaire joyrides" public perception of commercial spaceflight. My issue with the NS-31 flight is that it perpetuates this perception. True, an all-women flight is definitely not boys and their toys. But consider what NS-31 really was. Bezos wanted to send his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, to space. And that's fine. One can imagine that she wanted some attention on her flight, so they invited Perry. And presto, a media sensation and lots of glam. But the resulting spectacle trivializes the important work of commercial space. Anyway, I decided that Ars Technica should sit this one out. If Bezos wanted to send his fiancée and some friends into space, that was his business. We had other things to cover. Secretary of Transportation weighs in That was pretty much how things stood until Thursday evening, when the Secretary of the US Department of Transportation, Sean Duffy, shared some thoughts on the social media site X. "The last FAA guidelines under the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program were clear: Crewmembers who travel into space must have 'demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety,'" Duffy wrote. "The crew who flew to space this week on an automated flight by Blue Origin were brave and glam, but you cannot identify as an astronaut. They do not meet the FAA astronaut criteria." So there it was: The leading US official on transportation declaring that Perry et. al. were not astronauts. This is a pretty striking statement. For starters the Federal Aviation Administration, an agency within the US Department of Transportation Duffy leads, has previously said it will take no part in determining whether people who fly on suborbital flights are astronauts. The agency makes this clear on its human spaceflight page, stating: "The FAA no longer designates anyone as an ‘astronaut.’ In addition, the FAA does not define where space begins." To step back just a little bit, the FAA created a commercial "Astronaut Wings" program back in 2004 to recognize the two pilots of SpaceShipOne, Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie, who flew the vehicle above 50 statute miles (80 km). After that time, the program recognized private citizens who flew on Virgin Galactic's Unity spacecraft, Blue Origin's New Shepard, and SpaceX's orbital Crew Dragon vehicle. You flew, and you got astronaut wings. Then, in December 2021, the agency stopped issuing wings. "With the advent of the commercial space tourism era, starting in 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration will now recognize individuals who reach space on its website instead of issuing Commercial Space Astronaut Wings," the agency said. "Any individual who is on an FAA-licensed or permitted launch and reaches 50 statute miles above the surface of the Earth will be listed on the site." Sanchez, Perry, and the others are recognized on this site today. Why, exactly, did he start this fight? There has been a long-running debate in the space community about whether suborbital space tourists are astronauts or astro-nots. Within this debate, Blue Origin has claimed superiority over Virgin Galactic because its vehicle goes above the Kármán line, 100 km, whereas its competitor reaches an altitude of 80 to 90 km. Ars dug pretty deeply into this issue in 2019, including speaking to several "real" astronauts from NASA. The general consensus was that, if you strap yourself to a rocket and fly above 80 km, then you're an astronaut whether you trained for a few hours, as Blue Origin's passengers do, or a few years like NASA's pros. Whereas one can differentiate between space tourists and professionals, they're all astronauts. The bottom line is that there is no relevant federal definition of an astronaut. Duffy's own agency certainly doesn't claim responsibility for making that designation. So why did Duffy weigh in? There are a couple of plausible explanations. The first is political. Perry performed at President Biden's inauguration and later campaigned alongside Kamala Harris. Therefore, this could simply be a Trump-appointed official taking a shot at a celebrity aligned with Democrats. It might also be an offshoot of the Elon Musk and Bezos rivalry. It is not too difficult to imagine the SpaceX people in Duffy's orbit pointing out the murky waters around the definition of an astronaut. Regardless, it's not really his call. You may not like Perry's music or her association with Dr. Luke. But if she wants to call herself an astronaut, there's no one who can tell her she's not. Personally, I'm happy to call her one, along with the many other amazing women who have only reached space in the last few years because of the suborbital space tourism vehicles developed by Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. The more the merrier. I find it much better to live in a world where space tourism is actually happening, rather than one in which it is not. Eric Berger Senior Space Editor Eric Berger Senior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 26 Comments

Real aliens may not be so obvious, if we ever find themNaeblys/Alamy If you’re the kind of person who keeps an eye on astronomical news – or glances at any news site – you may have seen a story about hints of a sign of alien life on an exoplanet called K2-18b. The claim is controversial, but much of the coverage was positive. The problem, I think, is Star Trek, or any other science fiction you might care to mention. Thanks to the budgets that govern television, we’re used to aliens being obvious; they’re usually about 6 feet…