Alex Karp grew up in Philadelphia.Karp has described his parents as hippies. Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images His parents were a pediatrician and an artist who Karp has described as hippies, saying they often took him to labor rights demonstrations and anti-Reagan protests when he was young. A 2018 Wall Street Journal profile called Karp a "self-described socialist."Karp got his bachelor's degree at Haverford College in Pennsylvania before attending law school at Stanford University.Karp met Peter Thiel, one of several people with whom he'd later co-found Palantir, at Stanford University, pictured here. Getty At Stanford, he was classmates with PayPal cofounder and venture capitalist Peter Thiel. After law school, Karp began working on a Ph.D. in philosophy at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, studying under famed philosopher Jurgen Habermas.Karp also pursued a Ph.D. in philosophy in Frankfurt, Germany, pictured here. Pigprox/Shutterstock Karp is fluent in German and speaks French as well.Around the same time, an inheritance from his grandfather sparked an interest in investing.Before heading up Palantir, he got into investing on behalf of wealthy clients. Stefani Reynolds for AFP via Getty Images According to Forbes, he quickly became successful at it and created a London-based firm called Caedmon Group, named after his middle name, investing on behalf of high-net-worth clients. By 2003, Thiel, Karp's law school classmate, had already founded and sold PayPal to eBay for $1.5 billion.Palantir was founded by several Stanford and PayPal alums. John Lamparski/Getty Images He decided to launch Palantir, along with Stanford computer science graduates Joe Lonsdale and Stephen Cohen, plus Nathan Gettings, a PayPal engineer. By 2004, Karp joined as CEO.Karp is known for being an eccentric leader.Karp is known for some eccentric behavior. Brendan McDermid/Reuters He often wears brightly colored athletic wear, keeps Tai Chi swords in his offices, and was known to practice martial arts on his Palantir cofounders in the office hallways. Karp is a fan of fitness and wellness who practices Qigong meditation and keeps vitamins and extra swim goggles stocked in his office.He's a fan of Qigong meditation. Yasuyoshi Chiba/Getty Images He told Forbes that the only time he isn't thinking about Palantir is "when I'm swimming, practicing Qigong or during sexual activity." Despite a net worth of around $7.1 billion by Forbes' estimates, Karp doesn't appear to spend lavishly.Palantir was previously based in Palo Alto, California, but since moved its headquarters to Denver. Palantir Karp has been known to sometimes work out of a barn in New Hampshire. He has never been married and told Forbes that the idea of starting a family gives him "hives."Palantir is also pretty secretive. Because of the company's contracts, many employees have government security clearances and receive five-figure bonuses for choosing to live close to the office, according to the Journal. Palantir has courted numerous controversies over the years.Palantir has drawn ire for licensing its tech to law enforcement. Drew Angerer/Getty Images The company has been criticized for licensing its technology to law enforcement, which has used it for practices like predictive policing and tracking cars' routes using just their license plates.Palantir has also come under fire for its contracts with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Palantir has also faced controversy for its ICE contracts. Reuters/Shannon Stapleton The company provides software that helps the agency gather, store, and search through data on undocumented immigrants. After employees pressed Karp on ending the company's contracts with ICE, he denied that its technology was being used to separate migrant families. Karp has responded boastfully to criticism of the company's contracts with the military.Karp has defended Palantir's use by military and intelligence agencies. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images "The death and pain that is brought to our enemies is mostly, not exclusively, brought by Palantir," he said at a talk in December 2024."You may not agree with that and, bless you, don't work here," Karp said in 2023 of tech workers who have qualms about the company's data mining.The company went public in 2020.Palantir began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2020. Noam Galai/Getty Images It went public via a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2020 at an estimated $20 billion valuation. Following Palantir's Q3 2024 earnings report, Karp boasted about the company's performance and defended himself from critics.Palantir's US revenue increased 44% year-over-year, it said in Q3 2024 earnings. Bertrand Guay/Getty Images "This is a US-driven AI revolution that has taken full hold," he said in an earnings release. "The world will be divided between AI haves and have-nots. At Palantir, we plan to power the winners."During the subsequent earnings call, he said, "Given how strong our results are, I almost feel like we should just go home."Responding to criticisms of his leadership, he said, "Instead of going into every meeting saying, 'Oh, yes, Palantir is great, but their fearless leader is batshit crazy, and he might go off to his commune in New Hampshire,' whatever thing we're saying, it's now like, yes, the products are best, and we have great products."Palantir's stock has since hit an all-time high in December. Now, Karp has a forthcoming book.Karp's book comes out in February. BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images Slated for release on February 18, 2025, his book "The Technological Republic" argues that Silicon Valley has become complacent and lost its ambition.He cowrote the book with Nicholas Zamiska, Palantir's head of corporate affairs and legal counsel to the office of the CEO.

2024-12-17T16:06:10Z Read in app Angle down iconAn icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Jaquel Spivey as Damian Hubbard, Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, and Auli'i Cravalho as Janis 'Imi'ike in "Mean Girls." Jojo Whilden/Paramount This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Remaking movies has been a popular strategy for Hollywood executives."Nosferatu" has received positive reviews ahead of its December 25 international release.But Rupert Sanders' "The Crow" didn't need a resurrection.Hollywood loves a reboot.In January, "Mean Girls" completed its 20-year journey from film to Broadway musical to musical movie; in May, Chris Pratt revived "Garfield"; and in December, Robert Eggers' "Nosferatu" will enter theaters again more than one hundred years after its silent film debut in 1922.It's clear the industry has no intention of retiring old IP and why should it?"Mean Girls" and "The Garfield Movie" grossed upward of $100 million and $200 million, respectively, according to Box Office Mojo, suggesting that audiences are willing to buy the nostalgia they're being sold, even if they're not asking for it.Before 2025 brings even more Disney live-action remakes this time in the form "Snow White" and "Lilo & Stitch" more "Jurassic World" action, and yet another "Superman," here's a look back at the best and worst movie remakes of the year, according to critics.Rotten Tomatoes and Box Office Mojo data were accurate as of December 16. WORST: 4. "Road House"Jake Gyllenhaal and Lukas Gage played Dalton and Billy in "Road House." Amazon Prime Video Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60%Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Elwood Dalton, a former UFC fighter who's been recruited to be bouncer at a bar in the Florida Keys, in this remake of Patrick Swayze's 1989 action adventure.Critics' reactions to the film were mixed. The Washington Post's Ann Hornaday wrote, "Remaking 'Road House' is a supremely dumb idea, so it's fitting that it has morphed into a self-consciously dumb movie," while Time Out's Phil de Semlyen gave the film a three out of five star rating, writing, "The combination of Gyllenhaal's easy charm, some Florida sunshine and at least one fight scene for the ages make this 'Road House' worth stopping by. Just try to grab a seat in a quiet corner." 3. "Lisa Frankenstein"Kathryn Newton played Lisa in "Lisa Frankenstein." Focus Features Rotten Tomatoes Score: 52%Written by Diablo Cody ("Jennifer's Body," "Juno," "Tully") and directed by Zelda Williams (daughter of the late Robin Williams), this new interpretation of "Frankenstein" brings audiences back to the 1980s as teenager Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) develops a relationship with a revived corpse (Cole Sprouse) and causes mayhem in her town."'Lisa Frankenstein' tries to thread a delicate needle, stitching together a mix of horror, comedy, romance, and teen angst, all while adopting a decidedly off-kilter tone," Brian Lowry wrote for CNN. "The result is an interesting misfire, yielding a few amusing moments while adding up to considerably less than the sum of its parts."Meanwhile, The Wrap's Lex Briscuso found that the genrebending film "makes for a ridiculously brilliant spin on a timeless story over 200 years old." 2. "The Garfield Movie"Chris Pratt voices Garfield in 2024's "The Garfield Movie." Sony Pictures Entertainment Rotten Tomatoes Score: 37%In the newest "Garfield" movie it's a reboot of the Garfield franchise, which began in 2004 with "Garfield: The Movie" the lovably lazy tabby cat (voiced by Chris Pratt) meets his long-lost father and goes on a high-stakes adventure to steal milk.Mark Kennedy wrote for the Associated Press that the film is "a curious new animated attempt to monetize the comic icon again by giving him an origin story and then asking him to do things a galaxy away from what he does in the funny pages. It's like if Snoopy ran an underground bare-knuckle fight club."Yet, it was a box-office success, grossing $234.5 million at the global box office. 1. "The Crow"Bill Skarsgrd played Eric Draven and The Crow in "The Crow." Lionsgate Rotten Tomatoes Score: 22%Critics' worst-rated remake of the year was Rupert Sanders' "The Crow," a remake of the 1994 film with the same title. Starring Bill Skarsgrd and FKA Twigs as murdered lovers Eric Draven and Shelly Webster, the film follows Draven's resurrection from the afterlife to avenge their deaths and save Webster."'The Crow' is not a waste of talent or resources; worse, it just hangs there on the screen, as undead as Eric himself," Ryan Lattanzio wrote for IndieWire. BEST: 4. "Mean Girls"Avantika Vandanapu as Karen Shetty, Rene Rapp as Regina George, Bebe Wood as Gretchen Wieners, and Angourie Rice as Cady Heron in "Mean Girls." Jojo Whilden/Paramount Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%Looks like Tina Fey is still trying to make fetch happen, and with some success, too. Rather than a direct remake of the 2004 classic, 2024's "Mean Girls" is actually a film version of the adapted Broadway musical, complete with songs like "Meet The Plastics," led by Rene Rapp as Regina George, and "Stupid With Love," led by Angourie Rice as Cady Heron."It turns out that 'Mean Girls: The Musical: The Movie' is pretty good, and likely to succeed at its primary purpose, which is to remind you that the original 'Mean Girls' is fun. The movie gets by via a relentlessly self-deprecating awareness of the absurdity of its own existence," Jackson McHenry wrote for Vulture.He added, "Mean girls are everywhere, even among the mathletes. And so long as they flourish, we'll keep returning to 'Mean Girls.'" 3. "The Fall Guy"Ryan Gosling played Colt Seavers in "The Fall Guy." Universal Pictures Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%Loosely based on the 1980s TV show "The Fall Guy," 2024's film stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt as stuntman Colt Seavers and director Jody Moreno. When the star of Moreno's directorial debut goes missing, it's up to Seavers her former flame to save the show.Maureen Lee Lenker wrote for Entertainment Weekly that the movie is "a joy-ride of a summer blockbuster that packs all the right punches from its action sequences to its chemistry-laden central romance to its meta love for the movies and the unsung heroes who make them feel real.""Every frame is a testament to [director David Leitch's] love for movies and a reminder of why we should love them (and the people who make them), too," she added. 2. "Speak No Evil"Aisling Franciosi and James McAvoy play Ciara and Paddy in "Speak No Evil." Universal Pictures Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%As a remake of the same-titled Danish film from 2022, director James Watkins follows an American family (Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, Alix West Lefler) traveling to the English countryside to stay with a family they met while on vacation in Italy (James McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi, Dan Hough). But their weekend getaway quickly turns into something far more sinister."Watkins has rewired the film's dynamics, switching our focus from the beset husband to Davis's uptight wife. He's made his remake more Hollywood, but, for my money, he's also made it more fun to talk about afterward and during arranging his plot beats to encourage the audience to howl advice at the screen," Amy Nicholson wrote for The Washington Post. 1. "Nosferatu"Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp played Thomas and Ellen Hutter in "Nosferatu." Focus Features Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%Director Robert Eggers' "Nosferatu" is the highest-rated remake of the year. Starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgrd, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, and more, this remake of 1922's iconic silent film, "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" and its 1979 and 1992 successors "Nosferatu the Vampyre" and "Bram Stoker's Dracula" follows Depp as Ellen Hutter, a young woman haunted by disturbing visions and the subject of a vampire's obsession. Though the film is set for international release on December 25, it's already garnered more than 90 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes."Exciting, repulsive, and beautiful in equal measure, this feels like something the writer-director has been working toward since his unsettling 2016 debut feature, 'The Witch,'" David Rooney wrote for The Hollywood Reporter."It's thrilling to experience a movie so assured in the way it builds and sustains fear, so hypnotically scary as it grabs you by the throat and never lets go," he added. Close iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. 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Victory cologne and perfume. Crypto President watches. Limited-edition American Eagle guitars. T-branded golf shoes and Fight Fight Fight high-top sneakers. These are just a sample of the many products licensed to bear President-elect Donald Trumps brand, including some that he has promoted on his social media site Truth Social just weeks before his inauguration. If he continues to hawk his merchandise after returning to the White House, that could raise ethical concerns. Consumer goods may be the least of Trumps issues, however. He has a number of business ventures including his social media platform, a nascent crypto firm, and the Trump Organizations partnerships in the Middle East that could present conflicts of interest, make the presidency vulnerable to foreign influence, and violate federal law. That includes the Constitutions foreign emoluments clause, which prevents the president from receiving gifts from foreign governments. Enforcement of the clause against a sitting president has been rare, in part because previous presidents upheld a norm of divesting from holdings that could present a conflict of interest while in office. Trump, however, broke with that tradition during his first term.While President Jimmy Carter famously put his peanut farm in a blind trust, Trump had his sons take over the Trump Organization when he became president in 2016. His global business empire reaped $2.4 billion in revenue, including from foreign governments, in the four years that followed. Government ethics organizations consequently sued him, claiming that he had violated the foreign emoluments clause, but the litigation was never resolved before he left office. Now, that litigation may be reprised, potentially providing harder limits on presidents ability to benefit financially from their time in office. A representative for the Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment.We saw rampant conflicts of interest, abuses of power, profiting from serving in government during his first administration, said Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause, a left-leaning watchdog group focused on ethics in government. This next administration, we expect to see more of the same, and unfortunately, it seems like a fairly complicit Congress.Trumps conflicts of interest in his first term, explainedAt the start of his first term, Trump suggested that he would take steps to separate himself from his properties. However, he never divested from his properties, remaining in close contact with his sons about Trump Organization dealings. As president, he made a total of at least 500 visits to his own hotel and golf properties, calling his Florida club Mar-a-Lago the Winter White House. This brought an influx of taxpayer money to those properties.It also sent a message that patronizing his properties might win lobbyists, foreign actors, and others influence in the Trump administration. For instance, diplomats from Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Georgia, and other countries either hosted events at Trump properties or stayed at Trump hotels, including his now-sold Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. Overall, the government oversight group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) estimated that Trump benefited from about $13.6 million in payments from foreign governments during his first term as a result.CREW has argued that Trumps actions were not just slimy but illegal. In a lawsuit filed shortly after his inauguration in 2017, the organization argued that he had violated the foreign emoluments clause. Attorneys general from Washington, DC, and Maryland made a similar argument in a separate case. Two appeals courts the Second Circuit and the Fourth Circuit allowed those cases to move forward over Trumps objections. The president appealed to the US Supreme Court just before the 2020 election. When he lost the election to Joe Biden, his lawyers argued that the justices should just wait to rule in the cases until after the inauguration, which would make them moot and allow them to be dismissed without creating a precedent. Thats exactly what the justices eventually did. As a result, any future litigation would essentially have to start from scratch in challenging any emoluments clause violations by Trump. Having never suffered adverse legal consequences for his conflicts of interest, Trump upended ethical expectations of the president, as well as those of officials around him, said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, a left-leaning consumer rights advocacy group. Former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, for instance, promoted products marketed by Trumps daughter, Ivanka Trump, potentially violating federal ethics rules preventing executive branch employees from boosting products on behalf of their friends or associates.The fish rots from the head, Gilbert said. Seeing that he was very limited in the constraints he placed on himself absolutely emboldened those around him.How Trump could profit off the presidency this time aroundTrump made an ethics pledge for a second term, but it doesnt make any commitments in terms of how he might resolve his persistent conflicts of interest stemming from his now even more sprawling businesses. This time, there are many more ways that he could use the presidency for his own personal gain and potentially be vulnerable to the influence of foreign actors. Hes essentially flouting ethics rules and conflicts of interest laws much more blatantly, much more obviously than last time, Scherb said. Hes not even trying to hide what hes doing at all this time.Chief among these conflicts of interest is his stake in the publicly traded parent company of Truth Social, the president-elects social media platform. Just after he won the election, that stake was worth $3.5 billion. The value of the companys stock has oscillated in the month since, but Trumps stake still makes up a large portion of his estimated $6.8 billion net worth. Never before has a president had such a significant stake in a publicly traded company, and for good reason: Foreign actors could easily and entirely legally buy up its stock, inflating its value and Trumps net worth. Not only that, they could also threaten to just dump all their shares at once, which would crater his net worth, giving them potentially a huge amount of leverage over the president, said Jordan Libowitz, a spokesperson for CREW.The Trump Organization has also recently struck a series of deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars to construct luxury hotels and properties in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as established a partnership with the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. That has drawn Trump into an even closer relationship with the Saudis, which dates back to 2017 when he made the country stop number one on his first overseas trip as president.Thats an easy way for the Saudis to pump money into the Trump org, Libowitz said. In September, Trump also launched a crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, alongside his sons and his new Middle East envoy, billionaire real estate tycoon Steve Witkoff.Libowitz raised concerns about a $30 million investment in the company from Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, who is currently fighting fraud charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trump and his family are expected to net roughly $20 million thanks to that deal, according to the BBC. Notably, Trump has recently nominated crypto advocate Paul Atkins to head the SEC.Scherb said he isnt expecting robust oversight of these conflicts of interest from the incoming Republican-controlled Congress. But if Trump again faces lawsuits challenging his conflicts of interest, he may employ a familiar legal strategy: delay, delay, delay. Thats what allowed him to run out the clock at the Supreme Court during the first round of emoluments cases. Team Trump is expert at delaying litigation, as has been shown through his criminal cases over the last four years, Gilbert said. That said, there are going to be a plethora of violations and ways for us to act, so I wouldnt assume they can avoid them all.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Multiple states on the East Coast and beyond have fielded reports of mysterious drone sightings in the last few weeks, spurring questions and conspiracy theories about what they are, their purpose, and who might be operating them. Details, so far, suggest many cases of misidentification and no signs of risk. In a statement Thursday responding to sightings in New Jersey, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized that theres no evidence the drones pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus, matching an earlier Pentagon statement. In a statement Monday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby reiterated the point, noting that the sightings included commercial drones, hobbyist vehicles, law enforcement drones, planes, helicopters, and stars mistaken for drones. As federal authorities previously stated, their investigations revealed that many sightings were actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully.Cases of mistaken identity have been widespread, particularly on social media. Following an investigation into drone sightings in his home state, New Jersey Sen.-elect Andy Kim concluded that many of the sightings he spotted were almost certainly planes. Its also unsurprising that more people are seeing drones, a Pentagon official noted Monday, citing the thousands of drones flown around the US on a daily basis.Related:State leaders and congressional lawmakers have nonetheless expressed concerns about the lack of available information about the drone sightings and requested that the federal government learn and share more. President-elect Donald Trump has chimed in as well, alleging that the federal government has more information it hasnt disclosed. These gaps in information are largely responsible for fueling the anxiety around the sightings: Although many have been found to be legitimate aircraft, the lack of clear explanation has left residents rattled. And while the federal government has tamped down worries that these aircraft are a security threat, officials also havent provided much explanation for whos responsible for them and what theyve been doing.Theres still information we dont know about the drone sightings and what exactly is behind them. Heres what we do know, however.Whats going on and where are the sightings?Reports of drone sightings first began in New Jersey in mid-November, and were initially concentrated in Morris County, in the northern part of the state. In recent weeks, theyve come from other New Jersey towns as well, including Bedminster, where Trump has a golf course, and Colts Neck, where the Naval Weapons Station Earle is located. Since then, there have been sightings reported in at least five other states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. On Friday night, drones were spotted near the New York Stewart International Airport in Hudson Valley, prompting state transportation authorities to shut its runways down for one hour. Drones were reportedly also seen flying over a home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Thursday night, in a cluster of 10 to 15 vehicles, and near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, on Friday, forcing the facility to close its airspace for four hours. Photos and videos of the sightings have shown a variety of different events, including multiple bright aircraft hovering over a neighborhood or a single aerial object traveling at night. Its not yet clear if these sightings are linked or if theyre all separate from one another.Are these actually drones?The sightings appear to feature a mix of different aircraft, according to federal authorities, including both drones and passenger planes. Many of the reports theyve evaluated have been manned aircraft operating as usual, officials say.DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas noted in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that a fraction of these sightings were drones, while the rest were likely planes or other aircraft that were misidentified. Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones, Mayorkas said. Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones. Pentagon Press Secretary Major Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday that the presence of drones including near military bases was also not uncommon as more of these aircraft now populate the skies. As a result, its not that unusual to see drones in the sky, nor is it an indication of malicious activity or any public safety threat, he told reporters.Of more than 5,000 tips theyve received about such aircrafts, officials have deemed around 100 worthy of follow-up investigation, federal authorities said in a press briefing on Saturday. Whos behind them?Theres no evidence these drones are from a foreign adversary or from the US military, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters in remarks last Wednesday. Singhs statement comes after some Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith, have suggested that the drones could have been sent by foreign governments such as China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.That wouldnt exactly be unprecedented though not a drone, a Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down in US airspace in 2023, sparking a brief diplomatic crisis. China described the balloon as mainly civilian in purpose, but its flight path took it over a number of sensitive sites, according to the Pentagon.Federal authorities have emphasized that the 2024 drone sightings arent a similar phenomenon, with Kirby noting they come from an array of commercial, law enforcement, and civilian sources. One explanation for some of the increased activity could be new regulations, announced in 2023, that allow drones to fly at night, Mayorkas also told ABC News. Have they caused any problems?Some drones, like those near the Stewart International Airport and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, have prompted officials to close down these facilities respective runways and airspace for a brief period. The FAA has also announced temporary flight restrictions over Trumps Bedminster golf course and the Picatinny Arsenal Military Base in Morris County, New Jersey, after drones were seen flying over both. Officials have emphasized, however, that there isnt any indication that these drones pose a danger to the public.Drone operations have also prompted a number of arrests. In Boston, two men were arrested on Saturday for operating a drone dangerously close to Logan International Airport. And in California, a Chinese citizen and legal US resident was arrested on December 10 for operating a drone and taking photos over Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County on November 30. Federal authorities have said they are closely monitoring the reports and sending specialized drone detection systems to New Jersey and New York to assist in state efforts. State leaders, however, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, had previously expressed frustration at the pace and opaqueness of the federal response. Murphy and Hochul have both pressed President Joe Biden, with the former emphasizing that residents deserve more concrete information beyond what federal authorities had provided. While I am sincerely grateful for your administrations leadership in addressing this concerning issue, it has become apparent that more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity, Murphy wrote. Trump has also accused the military and federal government of not want[ing] to comment, while alleging that they know more about whats happening than has been disclosed to date. How should people respond if theyre concerned? The FAA encourages people to contact local law enforcement if they believe a drone is flying unsafely or poses a threat. Law enforcement officials have discouraged drone-spotters from taking matters into their own hands, however, warning that shooting at drones, or what people believe to be drones, is both dangerous and illegal. A drone could, for example, create a safety hazard if it falls on people or property after being felled by gunfire, in addition to the danger of shooting at a misidentified manned aircraft.Those warnings come after Trump previously stated that the solution to these drone sightings was to shoot them down!!! if the government failed to provide more information about their purpose and origin.Whats next?The House Intelligence Committee is expected to receive a classified briefing about the issue on Tuesday, and members of Congress have called for the federal government to share as much information as it can with the public about these sightings. For now, however, theres little to do but wait and hope we learn more soon.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: Politics

It is perhaps poetic that throughout this year, the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation, developers have found such a rich vein of horror in early 3D visuals. Crow Country, Fear the Spotlight and now Mouthwashing all make terrifying use of low-poly characters, smeared textures and muted colour palettes to generate dread and abjection and in this sci-fi odyssey from Wrong Organ theyre also brilliantly utilised to symbolise complete psychological breakdown.The setup to Mouthwashing is simple and familiar: when a hulking spacecraft crashes in a remote part of the galaxy, the small crew slowly goes insane waiting for a rescue that is never going to come. Not helping matters is their cargo: millions of gallons of high-alcohol mouthwash which very quickly gets abused by the desperate and deeply flawed castaways.With the captain gravely injured, you play mostly as second in command Jimmy as he takes over the survival efforts. But you soon discover everyone has something to hide, from paranoid medic Anya to bullish mechanic Swansea. Everything on the ship is given a sinister edge from the disgusting food-processing equipment to the huge LED displays continually showing images of romantic sunsets and fluffy clouds.What sounds like a tense thriller, however, is in fact a surreal exploration of social and mental deterioration. Characters hallucinate wildly, the narrative chops from before the crash to after it, swapping between the two in a dizzying chronological dance; the ship itself seems to mutate in response to the paranoid delusions of its inhabitants; the weird vaporwave soundtrack hums and blasts in discordant rushes. There are elements of Event Horizon, Solaris and High Life in the interplay of human and technological breakdown; the way the ships U-boat-like corridors expand and contract like intestinal passageways; the way the crews psychoses are reflected back at them in smashed screens and ruined control panels. It is grim, fascinating stuff.There are puzzles to solve and items to collect and combine, but nothing works as it should and the game continually plays with and questions your assumptions. It may remind some players of the cult hit Clickolding in the way it asks questions about player culpability and complicity the things it wants you to do with the only weapons on board, the way it makes you hold the Captains mouth open to feed him painkillers as he moans and cries although the visuals are nostalgic, your connection with what is happening on that ship is very real and very alive. There are serious messages too about guilt, grief and alcoholism which may land heavily with people who have been affected by these things.Mouthwashing is a difficult but engrossing experience, a work of surreal horror invoking the cinema of David Lynch and Dario Argento, but also extremely functional as a game, or at least a study of what games are and what they want us to do. That titles like this are still being made and have global distribution is one of the few bright spots in a depressing year for the games business. Book yourself in for a flight as soon as possible, you will and wont regret it.

British star Idris Elba wants to be a part of a Cyberpunk 2077 live-action movie with Sonic 3 co-star Keanu Reeves, saying he wants to 'speak it into existence'

FromSoftware's new Elden Ring co-op RPG, Nightreign, has a surprising restriction on player count that may mean you need to find another friend to play withTech14:16, 17 Dec 2024Nightreign will seemingly feature more verticality(Image: FromSoftware Inc.)One of the best surprises at The Game Awards was the return of Elden Ring not that it ever really went away.After its 2022 release and the phenomenal expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree (which was itself up for Game of the Year at the show), Elden Ring fans are eating well.Still, Nightreign offers a different take on the experience, with a focus on co-op questing with friends and what appears to be faster combat. Still, one thing has us a tad worried.Borderlands 4 boss gives graphic response to Hawk Tuah feature questionGTA 6 Trailer 2 has already smashed surprising Rockstar Games recordPrepare to take on foes with friends(Image: FromSoftware Inc.)In an interview with IGN, Junya Ishizaki, game director on Elden Ring Nightreign, confirmed that the game can be played solo or as part of a trio but not in a duo.The game is designed to be played as a three-person team, but you can play it as a solo player, Ishizaki said, later clarifying "it's either one-player or three-player".That means if you were planning to team up with just one friend, you might want to consider playing solo, or recruiting someone else.So, why keep it to those player numbers?The reason that we went with a three-player focus was that we wanted to retain that sense of accomplishment you get from battling a boss together or from conquering a map together and that sense of enjoyment, but we wanted to recreate that in a fresh way" he explains.Article continues below"And we felt like focusing on a three-player co-op experience would provide a brand new sense of accomplishment with it.Games with three-player parties are nothing new, of course. Apex Legends, Destiny and more work that way, but they're also playable with fewer.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Far Cry 6 was three years ago, so were due for a sequel in the next year or two (Ubisoft)Assassins Creed may be Ubisofts priority at the moment but a new leak suggests theyre revaluating the Far Cry series, before the next game.2024 has not been kind to Ubisoft. The companys share prices has been dropping all year, Stars Wars Outlaws wasnt as big a hit as Ubisoft wanted, and its already decided to pull the plug on XDefiant just seven months after it came out.As such, there are serious discussions of selling the company to Tencent, while in the meantime Ubisoft seems to be putting all its eggs in the Assassins Creed basket. After a delay, Assassins Creed Shadows is out in February and its claimed Ubisoft intends to release 10 more Assassins Creed games in the next five years.While all thats going on, it sounds like Ubisoft is revaluating its next two Far Cry games, with a new report mentioning changes to the series formula and an internal delay.What are the next Far Cry games?As a reminder, Ubisoft is said to be working on two separate Far Cry projects. The first is a typical sequel, Far Cry 7 (or Blackbird as its codenamed), while the second is a multiplayer extraction shooter spin-off codenamed Maverick.According to Insider Gamings Tom Henderson, both games were aiming for a 2025 launch, but his latest report on the subject claims plans have changed and theyve been pushed back into 2026.From the sound of it, this is due to the complexities of both games development, with Henderson adding that Ubisoft is looking to break away from the Far Cry formula.This can be seen in both games premises. Maverick is set to be the Far Cry series first dedicated multiplayer game, with its gameplay loop incorporating survival elements as players battle not just each other but the wilderness and harsh weather.As for Far Cry 7, its plot apparently involves a 24 hour in-game time limit to save your kidnapped family, with the non-linear story changing depending on which family members you rescue. If accurate, this would be a radical departure from the likes of Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 6.Thats not all, though. Far Crys movement systems are also said to be seeing a major overhaul in both projects, with techniques like tactical sprinting, sliding, and vaulting being introduced. In addition, Far Cry 7 will make use of Mavericks inventory and looting systems due to both games originally being one singular project.After the release of Far Cry 6, Ubisoft claimed the series had its best year ever in a May 2022 fiscal report. Their actions since though have implied it was a financial disappointment, with so far no official confirmation that Far Cry 7 exists.Although Maverick hasnt been described as a live service game, Ubisofts continued interest in that space means it wouldnt be surprising if it was.More TrendingHendersons report, however, suggests theres dwindling faith in the project, especially in the wake of XDefiants shutdown and subsequent layoffs.XDefiant was clearly made to capitalise on the live service games trend and its easy to assume Maverick is the result of Ubisoft doing the same with the extraction shooter trend popularised by the likes of Escape From Tarkov.Ubisoft has tried this once already with 2022s Rainbow Six Extraction, which was a solid game but failed to find a consistent audience, as Ubisoft stopped supporting it less than a year after it came out.Its too early to tell how either Far Cry game will perform, but the last few years of gaming make it difficult to be optimistic about Mavericks chances if theres already a lack of faith in it internally. Far Cry 6 The next Far Cry will likely retain an open world setting, but how will that be impacted by its purported time limit? (Ubisoft)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Heres hoping Nintendo shows it on a two-sday (Nintendo/Metro)After its absence at The Game Awards 2024, the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumours claim its reveal could be mere weeks away.Rumours about Nintendos next console have been around since long before the company formally admitted it exists but after months and years of uncertainty an official reveal finally feels like its just around the corner.As well as a flurry of accessory leaks, many of which appear to give away the consoles appearance, one source has claimed to have already got their hands on the Switch 2 and is promising to share proof on Christmas Day.Here are the latest claims.When could the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal date be?With a proper reveal unlikely to happen before the end of the year, new rumours claim Nintendo will finally show the console off in early January.The first rumour comes from GamesIndustry.bizs Chris Dring, who suggests a Switch 2 reveal could take place as early as the start of the new year. Although he is keen to stress that thats not from a direct source.Its just chatter from other people they think, Im told, it may even be right when the new year starts, says Dring on the latest episode of The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast (you can hear his comments from the 12:30 mark).Drings not the only one though. Elsewhere, NintenTalk, a Twitch streamer specialising in Nintendo coverage, also believes a Switch 2 reveal is slated for January.He claims to have heard this from a contact of his at a major third party developer, who added, Get ready to play modern AAA offerings on your Nintendo system in 2025. The Switch 2 is expected to be significantly stronger than the original (X)Another Nintendo content creator, NintendoPrime, then chimed in to say hes heard the same thing, while Samus Hunter (the same person who leaked the Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition announcement) claims Nintendo may wind up pushing the Switch 2 reveal forward due to all the accessory leaks.Samus Hunter also theorises such a reveal could take place before the release of the Donkey Kong Country Returns remaster, which is slated for January 16.A Switch 2 reveal would certainly be an exciting way to kick off 2025 and it would make sense for Nintendo get ahead of the curve with official details, if these accessory leaks keep happening. This also lines up with a previous rumour from November, that also suggested a January reveal.More TrendingWhether it takes place in the first or second half of January, that month is a logical choice for the unveiling. After all, Nintendo has already said the Switch 2 will be shown by April 2025, meaning it only has a few months left to do so.Not to mention other sources have claimed the Switch 2 will launch in either March or April. If thats the case, Nintendo will want at least a couple of months to drum up excitement.This is Nintendo were talking about, though, and the company could very easily delay its plans should it feel like it. In fact, it reportedly delayed the Switch 2s release once already to ensure it would have a stronger line-up of launch games.Theres also uncertainty around threatened US tariffs for foreign-made goods, once Donald Trump begins his presidency. Thats something Nintendo will have no control over and could significantly impact their launch plans. Nintendo still has plans for the current Switch even after its successor arrives (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Adult life is hard work. Here we are, spending eight hours or more of the day at an office working our butts off. Add in two hours or more of time to commute to and from work. Then find time to make dinner and other meals, and for some of us even taking care of smaller humans who cant do anything on their own. No one would blame you for not getting around to vacuuming for a couple of weeks. But maybe you dont even need to. This robot vacuum will do at all that hard work for you so you can spend that time either relaxing or chasing down the infinite other chores you need taking care of. Amazon has the Roborock Q5 Max+ for 22% off, bringing the price down to just $280, so you can save both time and money.See at AmazonOptimally Clean Your HomeBusy schedules can get in the way of keeping your home clean. The Roborock Q5 Max+ vacuum allows for hands-free cleaning. This model comes with a dock which your robot will automatically empty itself into after each cleanup. Its two 2.5 L dust bags means it can store up to seven weeks of debris, severely limiting how often you need to intervene in its daily cleanup.The vacuum has a powerful suction of 5,500 Pa, easily lifting dirt, dust, and even pet hair from your floors. Its strong enough to pull out debris wedged deep within the cracks of hardwood and buried within thick carpet. The all-rubber brush is resistant to getting tangled up with hair so you pet messes is no match. The robot is smart enough to know what type of floor its covering at the moment and can shift suction levels on its own to accommodate.Using a precise navigation system, the robot vac can create accurate maps of your home and track its cleaning routes. It can even draw up 3D recreations of your furniture. This means it can efficiently circumnavigate your home without repeating areas, and you can check in on how optimally its performing. The vacuum works with Alexa so you can set it and forget it with routines, or ask it to step up and clean off its schedule without getting up from the couch.As we approach the holidays, you can grab the Roborock Q5 Max+ vacuum for $80 off (22% off) its base price, meaning it can be yours for just $280.See at Amazon