More than 90 million new vehicles are introduced to roads across the globe every year, leading to an annual 12% increase in traffic congestion according to NoTraffic, a member of the NVIDIA Inception program for cutting-edge startups and the NVIDIA Metropolis vision AI ecosystem.Still, 99% of the worlds traffic signals run on fixed timing plans, leading to unnecessary congestion and delays.To reduce such inefficiencies, mitigate car accidents and reduce carbon emissions from vehicles, NoTraffics AI Mobility platform predicts road scenarios, helps ensure continuous traffic flow, minimizes stops and optimizes safety at intersections across the U.S., Canada and elsewhere.The platform which enables road infrastructure management at both local-intersection and city-grid scale integrates NVIDIA-powered software and hardware at the edge, under a cloud-based operating system.Its built using the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform, NVIDIA accelerated computing and the NVIDIA Metropolis vision AI developer stack.With NVIDIA accelerated computing, we achieved a 3x speedup in AI training and doubled AI Mobilitys energy efficiency, said Uriel Katz, cofounder and chief technology officer of NoTraffic. These optimizations in time, money and energy efficiency are all bolstered by NVIDIA Jetson, which sped our image preprocessing tasks by 40x compared with a CPU-only workflow. Plus, GPU-accelerated NVIDIA CUDA libraries increased our model throughput by 30x.These libraries include the NVIDIA TensorRT ecosystem of application programming interfaces for high-performance deep learning inference and the NVIDIA cuDNN library of primitives for deep neural networks.Taming Traffic in Tuscon, Vancouver and BeyondIn Tuscon, Arizona, more than 80 intersections are tapping into the NoTraffic AI Mobility platform, which has enabled up to a 46% reduction in road delays during rush hours and a half-mile reduction in peak queue length.The work is an expansion of NoTraffics initial deployment on Tuscons West Ajo Way. That effort led to an average delay reduction of 23% for drivers.Since installation, NoTraffic technology has helped free Tucson drivers from over 1.25 million hours stuck in traffic, the company estimates, representing an economic benefit of over $24.3 million. The company has also tracked a nearly 80% reduction in red-light runners since its platform was deployed, helping improve safety at Tucson intersections.By reducing travel times, drivers have also saved over $1.6 million in gas, cutting emissions and improving air quality to make the equivalent impact of planting 650,000 trees.In Vancouver, Canada, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is using the NoTraffic platform and Rogers Communications 5G-connected, AI-enabled smart-traffic platform to reduce both pedestrian delays and greenhouse gas emissions.Rogers Communications 5G networks provide robust and stable connectivity to the sensors embedded on the traffic poles.This advanced network infrastructure enhances the NoTraffic platforms efficacy and scalability, as the improved speed and reduced latency of 5G networks means traffic data can be processed in real time. This is critical for predicting numerous potential traffic scenarios, adjusting signal timings and prioritizing road users accordingly.With AI Mobility deployed at seven intersections across the campus, the university experienced an up to 40% reduction in pedestrian delays and significant decreases in vehicle wait time.In addition, UBC reduces 74 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year thanks to the NoTraffic and Rogers solution, which is powered by NVIDIA edge AI and accelerated computing.The platform is also in action on the roads of Phoenix, Arizona; Baltimore, Maryland; and in 35 states through 200+ agencies across the U.S. and Canada.Honk If You Love Reducing Congestion, Carbon EmissionsThe NoTraffic AI Mobility platform offers local AI-based predictions that, based on sensor inputs at multiple intersections, analyze numerous traffic scenarios up to two minutes in advance.It can adapt to real-time changes in traffic patterns and volumes, send messages between intersections and run optimization algorithms that control traffic signals to improve overall transportation efficiency and safety through cloud connectivity.Speedups in the AI Mobility platform mean quicker optimizations of traffic signals and reduced congestion on the roads means reduced carbon emissions from vehicles.NoTraffic estimates that for every city optimized with this platform, eight hours of traffic time could be saved per driver. Plus, with over 300,000 signalized intersections in the U.S., the company says this could result in a total of $14 billion in economic savings per year.Learn more about the NVIDIA Metropolis platform and how its used in smart cities and spaces.

By TREVOR HOGGImages courtesy of Wt FX and Paramount Pictures.At first glance, having Robbie Williams depicted as a primate in Better Man comes across as a novelty rather than inspired creative choice, but there was a method behind the madness of Michael Gracey, who was previously responsible for The Greatest Showman. The visual effects artist turned filmmaker wanted to show the British popstar as he sees himself rather than his public persona. Wt FX was hired to produce a believable CG protagonist that causes the animal persona to quickly dissipate and allows audience members to get lost in his personal struggles with addiction, mental illness and fame.He had a scream. It was like, Lets really peel those lips back and get those canines out. The nose wrinkles. Lets make it feel primal. But it was never like a full departure. We never went quadrupedal or monkeyish behavior. It helps because you get swept up with the character and story. We dont want people to go, Im looking at a monkey. Dave Clayton, Animation Supervisor, Wt FXThe costumes and fur for Robbie Williams were treated as if they were characters in their own right.When people hear the premise, they get a picture in their head about what this movie is going to be, and then they see the film and the film never matches that picture, notes Luke Millar, VFX Supervisor at Wt FX. They think it will be comedic and caricatures, but there are a lot of components that layer in the character the cinematography, the gritty British backdrop and the fact that Robbie is the only digital thing for the majority of the movie. Better Man has a lot of heart and emotion; thats what sweeps you up. The ape metaphor falls away in the first few shots or scenes. It was a fine line to get the proper onscreen performance. There is an uncanny valley that we were careful not to fall into. Robbie Williams is represented as an ape in the film, but, essentially, he is human in the way he interacts, wears clothes and the style of his hair. Compared to the previous films that weve done, this is probably one of the biggest differences, Millar notes.Three different versions of Robbie Williams had to be produced. Hes a young lad, a teenager and a young man, remarks Dave Clayton, Animation Supervisor at Wt FX. Within there, we had a little bit of give to fill in the blanks. We previsualized a lot of this movie to help not only get into all of the details of how we were going to shoot it but also to help describe the entire arc of the movie and how this character was going to evolve. Its a long journey to get the most out of a character like this; hes had a complex life. Ape characteristics were generally avoided. Its not to say that we didnt have monkey mouth shapes or do a little bit more or less here and there to help things, Clayton states. He had a scream. It was like, Lets really peel those lips back and get those canines out. The nose wrinkles. Lets make it feel primal. But it was never like a full departure. We never went quadrupedal or monkeyish behavior. It helps because you get swept up with the character and story. We dont want people to go, Im looking at a monkey.A new technology was developed by Wt FX that enabled their VFX pipeline to receive data files from concert stage lightboards that allowed them to accurately recreate the lighting digitally.As we do a take, our on-set editor, Patrick Correll, would literally take that take and cut it into the timeline, switch out the previs, and then make sure that we got the camera timing, beats and action lined up. Then we went again. For each setup we would do 30 to 40 takes to try to get the perfect take. The nice thing about this was after shooting we already knew that the things were going to work. Luke Millar, VFX Supervisor, Wt FXAll of the musical numbers were previs. As we do a take, our on-set editor, Patrick Correll, would literally take that take and cut it into the timeline, switch out the previs, and then make sure that we got the camera timing, beats and action lined up, Millar explains. Then we went again. For each setup we would do 30 to 40 takes to try to get the perfect take. The nice thing about this was after shooting we already knew that the things were going to work. The Rock DJ scene was 5,334 frames long and featured five costume changes for Robbie and 500 dancers. Michael didnt want any obvious wipe points such as someone walking in front of the camera right in front of it, Millar remarks. We always tried to do it in a way that we could have some kind of continuity of movement going over the stitch like a digital bus would drive through. Everything was handheld with a little bit of crane work. No motion control work. One of the biggest challenges was getting that single cohesive camera, and it was further complicated by the fact that the two interiors were shot in Melbourne about a year before we shot on Regent Street. We always had to dovetail into those interiors and then back out onto the street again.The wide shots of Albert Hall were filmed with a real audience in London while the orchestra pit was filmed at Melbourne Dockland Studios with 200 extras. The footage from the two locations was combined to create an audience of 5,500.An internal battle literally and figuratively takes place. In Let Me Entertain You, Robbie is having an internal struggle where hes literally battling with himself, Clayton states. They were small versions of Robbie, but armies of them. Its using MASSIVE, but also our motion edit team to put together an army and some simulation tools for the tight-quarters characters getting jostled around by each other. Another fully CG scene occurs underwater for Come Undone. Robbie ends up in a surreal moment under the water, and there are these suicidal teen girls who are upset about him leaving [boyband] Take That. We did some motion capture of using a rope rig to get the performers suspended up in the air pretending to swim, Clayton remarks. We got some good movement there. Then we augmented that. We looked at some references of underwater sports like underwater hockey or rugby to see people struggling against each other.Everything was handheld with a little bit of crane work. No motion control work. One of the biggest challenges was getting that single cohesive camera, and it was further complicated by the fact that the two interiors were shot in Melbourne about a year before we shot on Regent Street. We always had to dovetail into those interiors and then back out onto the street again. Luke Millar, VFX Supervisor, Wt FXCentral to making the primate version of Robbie Williams a believable character was the motion capture performance of Jonno Davies.Atmospherics are in almost every scene. It makes things more complicated in terms of integrating Robbie because theres always these elements that are over the top of him, Millar observes. The dry ice was another level on top of that. The special effects team did a fantastic job of pumping tons of this stuff that they had, but it disappears so quickly. It was the same with the flame mortars in front of the stage. They set those up but we couldnt fire them all up because there was a crane that swept over the top of them. We were replacing half of them and patching in dry ice. However, when you have a real component onstage and were matching up to it, then youve got a great visual goal.In Let Me Entertain You, Robbie is having an internal struggle where hes literally battling with himself. They were small versions of Robbie, but armies of them. Its using MASSIVE, but also our motion edit team, to put together an army and some simulation tools for the tight-quarters characters getting jostled around by each other. Dave Clayton, Animation Supervisor, Wt FXVFX artist turned filmmaker Michael Gracey directs Raechelle Banno while shooting Better Man.At home, Robbie finds solace in his grandmother Bettys (Alison Steadman) support. Robbie Williams is represented as an ape in the film, but he is human in the way he interacts.The world-building offered something different compared to previous projects. Im proud of the scene when Robbie is on the billboard right at the start with his mate, Millar remarks. Normally, we have to build beautiful vistas and epic landscapes, and we ended up building a ring road like a dual carriageway with hideous sodium vapor lighting. Heaps of litter were digitally added. Not only litter but what would you find on the side of a motorway in the U.K. People would chuck some mattresses, shopping trolleys and beer bottles. Its that kind of rich patina of crap that is quintessentially British! That sort of world-building is an area that we never get to experience in the visual effects world. Its always creating these heightened realities, not a gritty down-to-earth reality.Raechelle Banno as Nicole Appleton and Jonno Davies as Robbie Williams performing Shes the One. Films like All That Jazz were an inspiration to director Michael Gracey because they didnt shy away from showing the darker moments and the truth that audiences respond to.At the Knebworth Festival in the U.K., a deteriorating Robbie Williams faces the nadir of his journey while performing Let Me Entertain You for 125,000 fans. The motion edit team put together an army of small Robbies and some simulation tools for the tight-quarters characters getting jostled around in the crowdWt FX was responsible for 1,968 VFX shots. The thing that I find with Better Man, now that weve finished it, is you can watch the whole movie and go, Of course, this was always going to work, Millar states. But I try to picture what was in my head right at the start of this whole process before we had done anything and you didnt know. I had complete faith and confidence in Michael Graceys vision in that we could realize it and make this world work. My first reaction when I heard of the film was, I dont get it, Clayton admits. But then I read the script and said, Yes. I would love to work on this because it sounds unique and different. I loved it. It has been such a special project to be a part of. Ive always thought this was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime, but maybe there are some filmmakers out there who want to innovate like this. I cant wait to see what everybody thinks of Better Man.Watch a behind-the-scenes VFX featurette with director Michael Gracey, Robbie Williams and Wt FX on how Better Man came to life. Click here. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDxOxGnPTvm/

Itll be available on Steam and Epic Games Store on ThursdayFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the beloved and acclaimed sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake is almost here on PC.Youll be able to meet up with Clouds companions, jam out to Bow Wow Wow, and continue your adventure as Cloud Strife on both Steam and Epic Games Store on Thursday, Jan. 23. Additionally, youll receive some rewards for those preordering the sequel prior to its release.Heres when Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will release on PC in your time zone, and the preorder rewards.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC release time in your time zoneFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth will release on Thursday, Jan. 23 at the same time around the world on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.Heres when Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PC will release in your time zone:6 a.m. PST for the West Coast of North America9 a.m. EST for the East Coast of North America2 p.m. GMT for the U.K.3 p.m. CET for Western Europe/Paris11 p.m. JST for Japan1 a.m. AEDT on Fri. Jan. 24, for the East Coast of AustraliaFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth preorder rewardsFor those looking to purchase Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth early, youll receive the following items for preordering on Steam and Epic:Moogle Trio Summoning MateriaArmor: Shinra Bangle Mk. IIArmor: Midgar Bangle Mk. IIAdditionally, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is currently 30% off on both Steam and Epic. According to the Square Enix, this discount is set to conclude on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The Epic Games store has the sale conclusion time as 1 p.m. EST on Feb. 5, but the Steam store has their sale conclusion time set for 9 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 23.Since the sale is said to end on Feb. 5 by Square Enix, there will most likely be another sale posted once the game has gone live on Steam. If youre looking to purchase the game at its discounted rate, it sounds like you will still have some time!Finally, whether youre pre-ordering or not, there doesnt appear to be a preload option for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth at the time of writing so expect to start downloading at the aforementioned release times.

In the fall of 2024, Wizards of the Coast made the controversial announcement that it would change its annual mix of new releases for Magic: The Gathering. Going forward it plans to bring an equal number of Universes Beyond sets and traditional Magic story-based sets to market. But if fans were worried that the change would slow down the creative juggernaut, or hobble its ability to create new and exciting worlds of its own, a new set called Aetherdrift is here to ease your mind. The set, which releases widely on Feb. 14, takes the games lore in multiple different directions.According to a presentation by worldbuliding lead Miquel Lopez, shared with the press last week, Aetherdrift tells the story of a multi-day, multi-planar combat stage race known as the Ghirapur Grand Prix. Invented on the plane of Avishkar (previously known as Kaladesh), its a way for its leadership to extend influence and power throughout the multiple worlds suddenly linked by the Omenpaths, planar gateways that played a key role in the war against the Phyrexians. But the participating racing teams have plans and distinct personalities all of their own.The Guidelight Voyagers are a bit of an accidental participant in this race. Theyll rely heavily on artifact creatures to reach the finish line first.The Speed Demons live up to their name. Led by a character named Winter, first introduced in Duskmourne: House of Horror, the whole lot are in service to that planes big bad, the moth demon Valgavoth. Expect a solid, 1980s-inspired band of leather-clad misfits.Not to be out-hardcored, the Endriders hail from an apocalyptic plane rife with Mad Max-style speedfreaks hellbent on bringing water back to their parched home plane.Goblin Rocketeers are, for all intents and purposes, the smartest idiots in the room. The equivalent of goblin test pilots, they worship something called BOOSTGOD to help them go fast.The Alacrian Quickbeasts, on the other hand, look to be more at home in an unaired episode of Power Rangers. Each of the planes many districts is home to an exotic creature that, when bound to its rider, becomes a formidable racing foe. Expect these cards to make use of the saddle mechanic, returning for the first time since its introduction in Outlaws of Thunder Junction.Meanwhile, the Champions of Amonkhet are a group of charioteers from the storied plane, which is now trying to rebuild after the war that left in place a fragile peace between the living and the undead.The insectile Speedbrood is the most devout of the bunch. The clutch of humanoid insects arent here to make friends. Instead, theyve metamorphosized their best and brightest into living vehicles who desire nothing more than to assume the final form of speed itself.The hometown favorite are the Aether Rangers, whose high-octane hovercraft are nimble little glass cannons.A favorite of the Magic art team, meanwhile, arethe aptly named Chordatan Keelhaulers, a rough and tumble crew of interplaner shark persons, pirates and their hangers on, fish folk, and other benthic creatures according to Lopez. But will there be merfolk? Holding out hope for a friend.Finally, coming in last in the presentation but perhaps first in your own at-home races, is the Cloudspire Racing Team. By far the most professional of the bunch, theyre also last years returning champions and claim the iconic planeswalker Chandra among as their co-captain.You can find a gallery of all the cards shared by Wizards of the Coast today in the gallery below.

Located within a suburb of Mumbai, India, the Vaulted Monochrome Haus, designed by DIG Architects, merges a monochromatic color palette with minimalist aesthetics and cozy elegance. The 4,300-square-foot residence is designed for a family of four comprising a finance entrepreneur, a Ph.D. scholar, and their two adult children pursuing studies abroad masterfully balancing social functionality with personal comfort.Having collaborated with the clients on previous projects, DIG Architects entered the design process with an established rapport and mutual understanding. This trust empowered the architects to push creative boundaries, drawing inspiration from structural forms. The vaulted ceiling became the projects defining feature, harmonizing architectural intent with aesthetic purity. Complementing this central theme, materials such as gabion walls, frosted glass bricks, and Ceppo De Gre stone were integrated to evoke a cohesive yet strikingly unique environment.The apartments layout, while largely retaining its original structure, underwent strategic adjustments to enhance spatial efficiency. A guest bedroom was repurposed into a study, allowing for an expanded primary suite with a spacious walk-in closet. The living area, envisioned as a central social hub, connects to auxiliary spaces like a custom-designed bar and an open kitchen, emphasizing inclusivity and interaction.From the entrance, visitors are greeted by an interplay of light and texture. A frosted glass brick partition, which diffuses light into soft, ambient glows, separates the entrance from the bar. The living room, a voluminous rectangular space, features a subdivided vaulted ceiling that adds depth and character. This area serves as the heart of the home, accommodating relaxed gatherings, dining, and even film screenings with ease.Adjacent to the living space, the dining area is intentionally designed to foster social connections, with sightlines encouraging interaction. Overhead, the Moon lighting pendant by Davide Groppi becomes a centerpiece, adding an ethereal quality to the room.True to its name, the Vaulted Monochrome Haus employs a grayscale palette, accented by Ceppo De Gre marble a rugged stone rarely used in Indian interiors. This monochromatic scheme is brought to life with strategic pops of greenery, which introduce vitality and warmth into the space. Every detail, from the sandwiched metal mesh in the cabinetry to the oak veneer in the study, reflects an intentional minimalism that prioritizes functionality without compromising elegance.The private quarters carry forward the overarching theme while embracing individual identities. The primary bedroom exudes sophistication with its four-poster bed framed by a backlit installation of frosted glass bricks. Sliding partitions offer versatile configurations, blending functionality with design ingenuity. Meanwhile, the daughters room, a departure from the gray-dominated aesthetic, features a predominantly white palette, embodying brightness and softness.Transforming conceptual elements like vaults into tangible forms posed significant challenges. The ceilings required bespoke templates for precision, while integrated lighting demanded innovative solutions to maintain the purity of design. Similarly, creating sliding wall systems to address spatial conflicts in the primary bedroom showcased the architects problem-solving prowess.For more on DIG Architects, visit digarch.net.Photography by Ishita Sitwala.

Roast chicken is an everyday pleasurea good fit for both special occasions and midnight snacks. While you might be familiar with the classic roasting style, with trussed legs and tucked wings, this method can lead to overcooked breasts and soggy thighstwo phrases I want nowhere near my chicken. Theres a better way to roast your chicken for more even cooking: spatchcocking. It's not overly difficult, and it's absolutely worth the extra effort involved.Why you should spatchcock your roast chickenYou can spatchcock any bird. You might also hear it called butterflying, but the method is the same. (Not to be confused with butterflying chicken breast.) Essentially, the goal of this method is to lay the chicken out flat so all its muscular parts are on the same level. Imagine the paper core of a roll of toilet paper. If you make one cut down the length of it, you can unfurl it to turn it into a flat piece of paper. Spatchcocking is like that, but the steps involved are a bit more macabre.Traditional roasting puts the driest cut of meat (the breast of the chicken) at the top, often closest to the heating elementbefore you've even turned up the heat, its a recipe for overcooking. The parts that are juiciest (i.e. the thighs) are lower, if not completely under the rest of the body, and shielded from direct heat. This means by the time the thighs reach 165F (the goal temperature for cooked poultry) the breast will have long surpassed that.Spatchcocked chicken is my favorite way to roast because all that uneven cooking is taken out of the equation. The chickens spine is removed during preparation, allowing the carcass to be flattened. This means the thighs, legs, and breasts are arranged evenly so they can all cook at the same time. Additionally, the increased surface area means the heat can access more of the chicken at once, cooking it faster. But the most important reason spatchcocking is my favorite roasting method is the crispy skin. I dislike the soggy skin that results from the thighs cooking while tucked under the body. The skin on a spatchcocked chicken is crispy throughout, and that's reason enough for me.How to spatchcock a chicken1. Prepare the chickenPlace the chicken on a large cutting board or sheet tray, breast-side facing down. The wee little tail flap should be closest to you. Place a wire rack over a baking sheet and set nearby. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 2. Cut out the spineSharp poultry shears are the absolute best thing for this job, though Ive removed a few spines with regular kitchen shears; they just require a bit more force. Using the shears, cut along one side of the spine, from the tail end to the neck end. Repeat on the other side of the backbone until it has been completely freed from the body of the bird. You can discard it or, better yet, freeze it to use in stock later. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann You can also use a sharp knife to remove a spine; just insert the tip of the knife on one side of the spine (to secure it) and press downward. Youll be able to feel the blade go through the bones. Stop the pressure before cutting through to the breast. Repeat on the other side of the backbone.3. Flatten the birdFlip the chicken over so the opening is facing down and the breasts are facing up. Press down firmly on the breastplate. (Youll likely hear it crack.) Next, flatten out the breast, wings, thighs, and legs so theyre all facing upwardthe chicken's legs will point inward like it's doing a pee-pee dance. The bird should stay flat when you release it, so if it rounds up again, you need to press harder. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 4. Season and roastRub oil or softened butter all over the chicken, tuck herbs under the skin if you wish, and season your all over with salt. I like to tuck some lemon slices and rosemary under the chicken too, but you can put other hearty veggies or aromatics under the wire rack. Place the chicken on the wire rack over the baking sheet. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Roast your chicken at 425F for 35 to 45 minutes, depending on its size. If you aren't sure if it has cooked through, check the temperature; you want the breast to reach 160F, and the thighs should measure around 165F at the same time. The carry-over temperature will continue cooking the meat for the next few minutes even out of the oven.After letting your chicken rest for about 15 minutes, you can carve it into sections. I think youll find that its even easier than usual: When a roast chicken has been spatchcocked, the joints are already free, and carving something flat is way more stable than doing so with a rounded object. Now, go enjoy your perfectly roasted chicken, and tell all your friends about the joys of spatchcocking.

There are a handful of ways to obtain dual citizenship in countries around the world, which allows you to carry two separate passports and enjoy the benefits of being a national of two different countries. One option is to spend a lot of money on a "golden passport," but another is to find out where your ancestors are from and if you qualify for citizenship by descent. There are many countries around the world that use the principle of jus sanguinis, or "right of blood," to grant citizenship, most often based on the nationality of one or both parents (and sometimes with additional residency requirements). However, there are a handful that consider connections further back in your family line to qualify. If you have grandparents or other ancestors from the following countries, you may be eligible for citizenship too. CroatiaCroatia offers citizenship by ancestry to descendants of anyone born in the territory now defined as the Republic of Croatia and who emigrated from the area before October 8, 1991. You can claim this based on your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or further back. You don't need to speak the language, live in the country for any period of time, or have the same last name as your ancestors to qualifyhowever, the process can take several years.Croatia is one of many countries for which citizenship has been impacted (and complicated) by shifting borders, historical conflicts, and other impacts of globalization and politics. There are a handful of other nations that similarly grant citizenship by ancestry to those with ethnic tiessuch as foreigners of Armenian, Lithuanian, or Bulgarian descent in their respective nations and ethnic Finns from the former Soviet Unionor whose ancestors were displaced from their homes (like those from Spain, which is covered below). HungaryIf your parents or grandparents held Hungarian citizenship, you can apply for citizenship by descent (with a few specific exceptions). You don't need to speak Hungarian to be eligible. If your grandparents came from what is now Hungary but lost their citizenship due to treaties signed after WWI or WWII, you can apply for simplified naturalization. For the latter process, you do need to have "sufficient" proficiency in Hungarian. IrelandIreland grants citizenship to anyone whose grandparents were born on the island of Ireland. You have to register with the Foreign Births Register, after which you can apply for an Irish passport. There is a list of required documents and a fee of 278 euro for applicants over age 18. According to the Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs, processing takes approximately nine months. ItalyIndividuals with Italian ancestors are eligible for Italian citizenship, even if that ancestor was multiple generations back. The qualifying ancestor has to have been born in the territory after the Kingdom of Italy was formed in 1861 and cannot have held any additional citizenship. An Italian citizenship application costs $643.70 as of Jan. 1, 2025. PortugalIf your grandparents were born in Portugal and have or had Portuguese citizenship, you can apply for naturalization through ancestry. You must have proof of proficiency in Portuguese and provide documents like your parents' and grandparents' birth certificates. The application fee is 175 euro. SpainSpanish citizenship is granted to descendants of some people of Spanish origin under the relatively recent Grandchildren's Law. If your grandparent (or parent) was exiled, renounced, or lost their Spanish nationality or could not become a citizen, you may be eligible for a Spanish passport. However, you must renounce your original citizenship unless you are from certain Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, or are a Sephardic Jew of Spanish origin.United KingdomThe UK Ancestry visa doesn't grant full citizenship up front, but it does allow you to live, work, and/or study in the UK for up to five years (and to bring your partner and/or minor child with you). After this, you may be able to extend your stay for five more years or apply for "indefinite leave to remain," which can lead to citizenship eligibility after 12 months. To qualify, you have to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or Zimbabwe or be a British overseas citizen or national. You also have to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. An ancestry visa costs 637 and requires an application with extensive documentation.

The UK will release a digital drivers license later this year, along with a digital wallet issued by the government. This will allow folks to easily prove their age when buying age restricted items online and in person. Obviously, it will also prove a persons right to drive.This will be one of the first digital documents available via the GOV.UK digital wallet, which is also launching later this year. The wallet will also be home to documents like Veterans Cards, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and every other credential issued by the government. However, many of these digital versions wont be available until the end of 2027.The technology harnesses the security features of modern smartphones, for enhanced privacy. The documents wont open without a facial recognition check. The government says this will make digital documents more secure, even if a device is lost. Well have to see how that plays out.There will also be a way for users to hide certain info when displaying the digital license. Top Gear has reported that, for instance, the tech will allow folks to hide home addresses when paying for stuff.The best part? This is an opt-in technology. Traditional physical documents will still be available, just in case it skeeves you out to have official IDs hanging out on your phone. UK citizens can already apply for a license online using a stored digital photo and pay road fees.Its quick and easy to set up your Driver and vehicles account!Simply add your vehicles and youll have access to all your details at your fingertips Start here https://t.co/DXTn3olbi0 #DVLADigital pic.twitter.com/xcG0vapJF8 DVLA (@DVLAgovuk) January 17, 2025 Digital drivers licenses are nothing new. Many countries use them already, including Australia, Denmark, Iceland and Norway. Even some US states, like Ohio and New Mexico, have made use of the tech.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-uks-digital-drivers-licence-is-coming-later-this-year-165008815.html?src=rss

Its January and for many of us in the northern hemisphere, that means staying inside to escape the cold. To help you while away the hours, Xbox is adding another dozen-plus titles to Game Pass over the next couple of weeks.Lets jam through them in chronological order of introduction to the service, starting with Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S via Game Pass Ultimate and PC). This multiplayer skiing game is a day one addition to Game Pass.A whole heap of games are coming to the service on Wednesday. Flock (console via Game Pass Standard) is another multiplayer game but this ones a co-op adventure that sees you collecting adorable critters with your buds. Gigantic: Rampage Edition(cloud, console and PC via Game Pass Ultimate PC and Standard) is a MOBA that I enjoyed my time with. Its a revival of a game that was previously shut down but this time there are no microtransactions.One of last years more intriguing games, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, also joins the Game Pass Standard lineup on console on Wednesday, along with pixel art platformer Magical Delicacy. In addition, Game Pass Standard members will be able to check out the absolutely wonderful open-world adventure Tchia on Xbox Series X/S. That was my second-favorite game of 2023.Eagle-eyed detectives out there may enjoy the acclaimed The Case of the Golden Idol, which will be on Game Pass Standard on console as of January 22. It wasnt for me, but it might be for you! Tomorrows final Game Pass addition is for the Ultimate and Standard tiers. The intergalactic sandbox Starboundwill be available on cloud and console (it was already on PC Game Pass).January 28 sees the introduction of another couple of day one games. Theres been some buzz about action RPG Eternal Strands and you can find out what thats all about on cloud, console and PC via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap will debut on the same variants of Game Pass, but not Xbox One, just Series X/S.On January 29, puzzle platformer Shady Part Of Me will hit cloud, PC and console across all three Game Pass variants. The following day, Sniper Elite: Resistance will join the Ultimate and PC flavors of Game Pass as a day one newcomer.Theres yet another day one introduction to Game Pass this month in the form of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S on Ultimate and PC Game Pass). This is a highly anticipated follow-up to a well-reviewed RPG from 2022. If you havent played the original yet and youre a multi-platform gamer, good news! Citizen Sleeper hits the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium subscribers today.Moving into February, Xbox has announced another Game Pass addition for that month. February 4 brings Far Cry New Dawn to cloud, console and PC by way of all three Game Pass offerings.Last but not least, Xbox has revealed which titles are leaving Game Pass on January 31 across cloud, console and PC. They are Anuchard, Broforce Forever, Darkest Dungeon, Deaths Door, Maquette and Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem.On top of all of that, Xbox is hosting a Developer Direct showcase this Thursday with fresh looks at Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and a mystery game. You never know, perhaps one of those will suddenly hit Game Pass as a surprise day one release this week too.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/januarys-xbox-game-pass-additions-include-sniper-elite-resistance-and-tchia-160856192.html?src=rss