By Vanessa Taylor Published May 20, 2025 | Comments (9) | © Photographer: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images Once a long-time critic of FBI surveillance, Patel is now singing a different tune. If there’s one thing the Federal Bureau of Investigation does well, it’s mass surveillance. Several years ago, then attorney general William Barr established an internal office to curb the FBI’s abuse of one controversial surveillance law. But recently, the FBI’s long-time hater (and, ironically, current director) Kash Patel shut down the watchdog group with no explanation. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that Patel suddenly closed the Office of Internal Auditing that Barr created in 2020. The office’s leader, Cindy Hall, abruptly retired. People familiar with the matter told the outlet that the closure of the aforementioned watchdog group alongside the Office of Integrity and Compliance are part of internal reorganization. Sources also reportedly said that Hall was trying to expand the office’s work, but her attempts to onboard new employees were stopped by the Trump administration’s hiring freezes. The Office of Internal Auditing was a response to controversy surrounding the FBI’s use of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The 2008 law primarily addresses surveillance of non-Americans abroad. However, Jeramie Scott, senior counselor at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told Gizmodo via email that the FBI “has repeatedly abused its ability to search Americans’ communications ‘incidentally’ collected under Section 702” to conduct warrantless spying. Patel has not released any official comment regarding his decision to close the office. But Elizabeth Goitein, senior director at the Brennan Center for Justice, told Gizmodo via email, “It is hard to square this move with Mr. Patel’s own stated concerns about the FBI’s use of Section 702.” Last year, Congress reauthorized Section 702 despite mounting concerns over its misuses. Although Congress introduced some reforms, the updated legislation actually expanded the government’s surveillance capabilities. At the time, Patel slammed the law’s passage, stating that former FBI director Christopher Wray, who Patel once tried to sue, “was caught last year illegally using 702 collection methods against Americans 274,000 times.” (Per the New York Times, Patel is likely referencing a declassified 2023 opinion by the FISA court that used the Office of Internal Auditing’s findings to determine the FBI made 278,000 bad queries over several years.) According to Goitein, the office has “played a key role in exposing FBI abuses of Section 702, including warrantless searches for the communication of members of Congress, judges, and protesters.” And ironically, Patel inadvertently drove its creation after attacking the FBI’s FISA applications to wiretap a former Trump campaign advisor in 2018 while investigating potential Russian election interference. Trump and his supporters used Patel’s attacks to push their own narrative dismissing any concerns. Last year, former representative Devin Nunes, who is now CEO of Truth Social, said Patel was “instrumental” to uncovering the “hoax and finding evidence of government malfeasance.” Although Patel mostly peddled conspiracies, the Justice Department conducted a probe into the FBI’s investigation that raised concerns over “basic and fundamental errors” it committed. In response, Barr created the Office of Internal Auditing, stating, “What happened to the Trump presidential campaign and his subsequent Administration after the President was duly elected by the American people must never happen again.” But since taking office, Patel has changed his tune about FISA. During his confirmation hearing, Patel referred to Section 702 as a “critical tool” and said, “I’m proud of the reforms that have been implemented and I’m proud to work with Congress moving forward to implement more.” However, reforms don’t mean much by themselves. As Goitein noted, “Without a separate office dedicated to surveillance compliance, [the FBI’s] abuses could go unreported and unchecked.” An annual transparency report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence shows that the FBI’s searches for Americans’ information has fallen. Last year, the FBI only used 5,518 query terms about Americans, compared to 57,094 in 2023 and 119,383 in 2022. While this looks like progress, it doesn’t mean that the Office of Internal Auditing’s work is done. “The FBI should maintain its audits,” Scott said, “and if they do, the FBI must make very clear who is responsible for continuing the internal audits and ensure the oversight gets done.” Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Lucas Ropek Published May 14, 2025 By Vanessa Taylor Published April 28, 2025 By Matt Novak Published April 25, 2025 By Vanessa Taylor Published April 24, 2025 By Vanessa Taylor Published April 22, 2025 By Vanessa Taylor Published April 21, 2025

Goa Institute of Management / Somaya SampatSave this picture!© Fabien Charuau, Noshir Gobai Architects: Somaya Sampat Area Area of this architecture project Area:  61851 ft² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:Fabien Charuau, Noshir GobaiMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! A campus that balances design, context, and community – Set within the foothills of the Western Ghats, the Goa Institute of Management campus was envisioned as a greenfield development that could reflect the ethos of the institution through its built environment. With no existing architectural context, the design drew inspiration from the dramatic topography, panoramic vistas, and natural biodiversity of the site.Save this picture!Save this picture!The architecture and landscape were imagined as interconnected systems—responsive to climate, terrain, and student life. The master plan is structured along two intersecting axes that organize the campus into four clusters: academic, administrative, residential, and recreational. The academic block, designed at the core of the site, acts as the heart of the campus, centered around a large plaza that welcomes visitors and students alike. This open-to-sky courtyard is framed by classrooms, breakout spaces, faculty offices, and the Director's wing, and functions as a key space for community events like graduation processions.Save this picture!Save this picture!One of the initial challenges was working with the rugged, arid land situated between two hills with limited groundwater availability. The response involved a sensitive grading strategy and the creation of a centralized rainwater harvesting system, supported by a network of recharge pits, swales, and an 800-cubic-metre capacity filtration plant. The lack of prior infrastructure also demanded thoughtful phasing of utilities and circulation across the hilly terrain. The buildings were designed to align with natural slopes, minimizing cut-and-fill operations while enabling visual and physical connectivity across levels.Save this picture!Save this picture!Construction techniques and material choices were deeply informed by the regional context. Locally sourced laterite stone, with its high thermal mass, was used extensively for walls, preserving embodied energy and reducing transportation emissions. Most buildings use cavity walls to enhance passive cooling, while north-light sloped roofs and deep overhangs manage heat and heavy rainfall. These roofs also provide the ideal orientation for GIM's large-scale solar photovoltaic system, which generates 745 kWp and makes the campus energy self-sufficient. Additionally, solar water heaters, LED lighting, occupancy sensors, and solar streetlights further reinforce energy efficiency. Double-height interiors, open staircases, and the use of native Indian stones for flooring contribute to the architecture's spatial richness and environmental responsiveness.Save this picture!The spatial layout is defined by fluid transitions between built form and landscape. The Library and Cafeteria crown the highest point on campus, framing westward views and creating a tranquil plaza between them. Student hostels are sited at the northern end, with tiered plazas and co-working lounges promoting collaboration and community. The design of open terraces, shaded walkways, and sunken seating areas encourages movement and informal gatherings, ensuring that the campus remains vibrant beyond classroom hours.Save this picture!Save this picture!Sustainability is integral to the campus experience, ranging from biogas plants for kitchen waste, vermicomposting, and four-bin segregation, to active biodiversity conservation led by GIM's Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Development. Over 130 bird species and 150 plant species have been documented on site. Ultimately, the campus stands as a thoughtful confluence of place, people, and pedagogy—designed to allow learning, nature, and life to thrive in balance.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Poriem, Sattari, Goa, IndiaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeSomaya SampatOffice••• Published on May 21, 2025Cite: "Goa Institute of Management / Somaya Sampat " 21 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030205/goa-institute-of-management-gim-somaya-sampat&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

Join me as I create a new level in Unreal Engine 5 and explore character animations for melee attacks without weapons. Watch the process of setting up a sequencer and dragging animations into place! Perfect for game developers looking to enhance their skills!#UnrealEngine #GameDevelopment #Animation #UE5 #CGHow

This has been a great spring season for testing portable power stations here in Upstate New York. The storms have been frequent, and many have caused power outages that last anywhere from a few hours up to most of a day. In fact, the power is out as I’m writing this. But my laptop, router, and various other home devices are drawing power from the Bluetti Apex 300, which starts at $900 when bundled with the B300K expansion battery (tax and shipping included) on Indiegogo right now. Bluetti built this rig as more than a box of batteries, with a number of clever features and a few industry firsts that make it stand out from an increasingly crowded field. I have spent the past few weeks testing it out during blackouts, campouts, and even a community event in the park, where it allowed a DJ to kick out jams for several hours without having to run a half-mile of extension cords. Bluetti Apex 300 Portable Power Station The built-in display keeps tabs on performance and remaining capacity. This was after several days of sporadic use. Stan Horaczek What is the Bluetti Apex 300? Bluetti built the Apex 300 as a modular system that’s expandable to fit a variety of needs. Out of the box, it works like a typical portable power station with a 2,764.8Wh of storage capacity and six AC outlets. But the system is scalable into a full-fledged power system for home backup or RV living/van-life. You can daisy chain together up to three units and a total of 18 B300K batteries for a total of 11,520W output and 58,000Wh capacity. That’s enough juice and oomph to power a typical house off the grid for an entire week. Bluetti Apex 300 key features Sturdy covers protect outlets when not in use. Stan Horaczek Expandable capacity up to 58,000Wh of capacity and 11,520W, enough to run a typical house for a week Dual 120/240 voltage for maximum versatility Works as an uninterruptible power supply with a 0ms turnover to keep crucial devices running during a blackout with the industry’s highest pass-through rate Offers a DIY solution for hooking up to your home’s main panel Companion app reacts to extreme weather alerts and changes charging patterns to ensure batteries are topped off in case of an outage Tightly integrates with installed solar panels to provide energy savings Industry first 4,000W PV voltage regulator allows for high-speed solar charging—charging takes just 1.9 hours at top speed Super versatile charging for RV life. Works with RV park chargers, EV chargers, alternators, and solar Battery life is good for roughly 6,000 charges before reaching 80 percent capacity—that’s 17 years of regular use Bluetti Apex 300 as a portable power station The sturdy handles make the Apex 300 easy to lug around. Stan Horaczek You don’t have to build an entire infrastructure around the Apex 300. On its own, it provides 2,764.8Wh of power storage, which is plenty for camping trips or as an emergency backup to keep essential devices up and running. The cells inside are second-generation LiFePO₄ cells. Bluetti suggests the cells will last for 6,000 charges while maintaining 80 percent of their original capacity. I obviously haven’t been able to test that, as it represents roughly 17 years of typical use. But these are the latest and greatest in the technology that has replaced typical lithium-ion batteries across this industry.The unit itself fits easily into a typical car trunk, including our very basic 2016 Honda Civic. Carrying it is a lot like carrying a stocked cooler around the house, job site, or camp. I brought this specific model to a neighborhood event in a local park. The DJ easily stashed it under his table and drew power for his setup and speakers for several hours. Every port has rugged rubber covers over it to prevent crud and moisture from getting in during transport. A pair of burly handles makes it relatively easy to lug around, though it isn’t light. If you plan to move it around frequently, Bluetti offers a dedicated cart designed to make it easy to lug. Built-in wireless connectivity allows a companion app to monitor and control the Apex 300’s status and performance. The app makes the synchronization process simple, and it took me less than 10 minutes from removing it from the box to having everything all set up. Bluetti Apex 300 as home backup The B300K expansion battery easily attaches to add power storage. It also provides a sturdy base for the Apex 300. Stan Horaczek An old school home backup generator sat waiting for the power to go off before kicking in and turning on. That meant losing power to crucial devices like computers and CPAP machines. When installed in the home, the Bluetti Apex 300 acts as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with a 0ms delay and 50A, 12,000W pass-through. That sounds complicated, but it essentially means that power runs through the Bluetti system before going into your home and, as a result, it can keep power flowing constantly, even if the grid goes down. There’s functionally no delay. While other systems operate as UPS devices, the 50-amp, 12,000-watt capacity really sets the Apex 300 apart. That’s enough juice for electric vehicle charging, something no other similar device can currently claim. It’s relatively simple to connect the Apex 300 via an inlet box or even a generator expansion port for people trying to have several layers of protection. It’s full power unlocks, however, when it’s integrated into a home solar setup. It charges super efficiently, thanks to a 500V/4,000W PV voltage regulator, which Bluetti claims can help pay for the entire Apex 300 system in as little as two years with the resulting energy savings.The short, robust connection makes for the most efficient possible energy transfer. Stan Horaczek In order to max out capacity, the Apex 300 requires daisy-chaining several Apex 300 main units and extra batteries together. When you’re using three Apex 300s in parallel, it offers 30,720W solar input, which makes it “the world’s largest solar-powered micro energy storage system” according to Bluetti. Bluetti Apex 300 for RVs and off-grid camps These are the high-powered AC outputs that make it uniquely useful for RV and off-grid users. Stan Horaczek While there are four typical AC outlets on the front of the Apex 300, there are also two more robust AC outlets (NEMA TT-30R and NEMA 14-50R output ports) on the side that allow for easy RV and off-grid integration. You won’t typically find these RV-centered ports together on a single battery backup system. Those connections allow for high-powered usage, which is crucial if you want to run high-draw appliances like washing machines, tools, or air conditioners. A simple switch on the front allows users to swap between 120V and 240V charging. Plus, it’s simple to build the Apex 300 and its expansion batteries directly into an RV for an integrated power solution. When it comes to charging the Apex 300 on the road, there are tons of options. It can charge via solar, RV park chargers, from the vehicle’s alternator when installed directly in the RV, and even from an EV charger on the road. For off-grid living, the 7,680W surge output rating is crucial for running high-draw devices like power tools, which can sometimes overload systems with less capacity. Bluetti Apex 300 availability A set of heat mats plugged into the main AC outlet is drawing more than 600 watts of power at once with no issue. Stan Horaczek The Apex 300 solar generator starts at $900 when bundled with the B300K expansion battery (tax and shipping included) on Indiegogo. It’s in-stock and ready to ship. Installment plans and additional early-bird perks are also available during limited-time offers until the campaign ends July 19. Because the system is modular, you can start with a base unit and then add B300K expansion batteries down the line as you need more capacity.

Nature, Published online: 20 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01586-yA new crop of artificial-intelligence models allows users to create, manipulate and learn about biology using ordinary language.

RT Xeo ¯³Illustrations by Japanese artist Katsuhiro Otomo for the anime titled "Akira"

The start of your endgame. The MAKR 75 Barebones DIY Keyboard Kit is here.⌨️ https://cor.sr/MAKR75

Photo Credit: Shift Up Stellar Blade launched exclusively on PS5 in April 2024 Highlights Stellar Blade on PC will feature 25 new costumes for Eve Shift Up said the game's sales had exceeded pre-launch expectations Stellar Blade has drawn attention over its provocative character design Advertisement Stellar Blade, the action game from Korean developer Shift Up, is getting a sequel. Days after announcing the PC version of the game, the studio quietly revealed its plans for the franchise at its latest quarterly earnings call. The Stellar Blade sequel will arrive before 2027, according to an investor presentation slide on Shift Up's first-quarter financial results. Stellar Blade launched last year as a Sony-published PS5 exclusive and is set to release on PC next month.Stellar Blade Sequel ConfirmedIn an investor presentation outlining the studio's financial performance in the first quarter of 2025, progress of its IPs, gaming industry trends and its future strategy, a chart confirmed plans for a Stellar Blade sequel.It shows plans for platform expansion for the game, which falls in line with the PC launch set for June, before mentioning the sequel. The Stellar Blade follow-up is planned for launch before 2027. The chart also mentions Project Witches, the codename of Shift Up's next AAA action-RPG currently in development.In its Q1 2025 earnings report, Shift Up said Project Witches was on track to launch in 2027.“The game is being developed with a launch target set for 2027, and the development progress is smooth. Starting in Q2 this year, we will gradually begin external communication regarding with the capital market and the users,” the company said.The studio has not shared details about the Stellar Blade sequel and there's no confirmation on an official title yet. The game may launch as a PS5 exclusive, as well.As per Shift Up, Stellar Blade has “continued to perform steadily in Q1 2025” and cumulative sales of the game have exceeded pre-launch expectations. The action title had sold over two million copies by February 2025.Stellar Blade is confirmed to launch on PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store) on June 11. The PC version of the game will come with new content, unlocked framerates and more platform-specific features. The game first launched on PS5 on April 26, 2024. REVIEWKEY SPECSNEWSGoodFun and flowing combat Slick visual presentation Excellent music Engaging boss fights Camps!BadWeak story and characters Overtly sexualised character design Lack of meaningful side content Repetitive encountersRead detailed Sony Stellar Blade reviewGenre Action-AdventurePlatform PlayStation 5 (PS5)Modes Single-playerPEGI Rating 12+More Sony Games For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: Stellar Blade, Stellar Blade 2, Shift Up, PS5, PC Manas Mitul In his time as a journalist, Manas Mitul has written on a wide spectrum of beats including politics, culture and sports. He enjoys reading, walking around in museums and rewatching films. Talk to Manas about football and tennis, but maybe don’t bring up his video game backlog. More Related Stories

Normally, when you buy a skin in Fortnite, you can simply equip it and immediately sport your new costume. The new Star Wars skin that Fortnite just released is different. For 1,500 V-Bucks — or about $13 — you get the privilege of grinding XP before you can don the latest Jar Jar Binks skin.The chaotic battle royale offers two versions of the ditzy Gungan; one is the canonic alien you see in the main Star Wars movies, while the other originates in a long-standing fan meme. Darth Jar Jar wears a menacing black and red attire emblematic of the dark side. To play up the joke, fans need to earn a whopping 1,280,000 XP before they can actually start terrorizing the island as dark Jar Jar.To put this into perspective: The basic battle pass this season goes up to level 70, which requires 5.6M XP. So unlocking Jar Jar is the equivalent of getting 17 consecutive battle pass levels. It’s not impossible by any means, merely time consuming. Unless, of course, you opt to play a user-generated level designed specifically to grant the user massive amounts of XP without doing much.Undoubtedly, at least some who buy this Jar Jar skin will have to resort to such methods. We’re nearing the end of the season and there isn’t a ton of time before the skin leaves the shop on June 6. Dedicated players have likely already amassed a high level through the easier challenges in the season, so any consequent XP will be tied to more complex or difficult goals. All of which is to say, anyone sporting Darth Jar Jar can be considered a veritable tryhard.On top of all of this, the $13 you spend only goes toward the basic Jar Jar skin. If you want the associated accessories like a back bling or weapon skin, you’ll have to shell out even more money. There is no bundle that grants you the set for a slightly lower price than purchasing each item individually.Fans are rightfully baffled, judging from reactions on places like Reddit. “Kind of insane tbh,” reads the top comment on a thread asking why Epic Games would do this.Japes aside, Darth Jar Jar is not the first of his kind. In the past, Epic has tied enormous XP requirements to purchasable skins, but those instances were more readily accepted by the community due to their rarity. “OG skins,” as they are known, are classic styles that were largely available near the start of Fortnite’s lifespan. To honor the faithful who got the skins before they were cool, Epic made sure that everyone else had to earn the right to wear the same skins.Darth Jar Jar, though? As Binks might say, how wude.See More: