Former New York Mayor Michael Bloombergs philanthropy arm said on Thursday it will provide funding to help cover the U.S. contribution to the UN climate bodys budget, filling a gap left by President Donald Trump.The new Republican president announced after taking office on Monday that he would withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and end the countrys international climate funding. Trump had also withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris deal in his first 2017-2021 White House term.Bloomberg is a media billionaire who also serves as a UN special envoy on climate change.Bloomberg Philanthropies and other U.S. climate funders will ensure the United States meets its global climate obligations, the organization said in a statement, adding this included covering the amount the U.S. owes each year to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).Bloomberg Philanthropies did not give details of the amounts of funding or who the other climate funders are.The UNFCCC is the U.N.s leading climate body. It runs annual climate negotiations among nearly 200 countries and helps implement the agreements that are made in these talksthe biggest of which is the 2015 Paris Agreement.Michael Bloomberg also pledged to work with states, cities, and companies to ensure that the U.S. stayed on track with its global climate obligations.From 2017 to 2020, during a period of federal inaction, cities, states, businesses, and the public rose to the challenge to uphold our nations commitmentsand now, we are ready to do it again, he said in the statement.The U.S. is responsible for funding around 21% of the UNFCCCs core budget. Last year, it paid the UNFCCC a 7.2 million euro ($7.4 million) required contribution for 2024, and also paid off a 3.4 million euro arrears for missed contributions over 2010-2023.A Reuters analysis of UNFCCC documents last year found the U.N. body is experiencing a severe budget shortfall, which diplomats said had begun to disrupt parts of the worlds climate dialogue.We deeply appreciate the generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the leadership shown by Mike Bloomberg, U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell said in a statement.Linda Kalcher, executive director at think-tank Strategic Perspectives, said Bloombergs move demonstrated a willingnessalso shared by some U.S. statesto step up and try to fill the gap left by the U.S. withdrawal from international climate cooperation.This is where the other U.S. actors come in. I can foresee that a lot of interaction will happen again with the U.S. businesses and states that want to continue, said Kalcher, who is also a former climate adviser to the UN Secretary-General.While the UN climate bodys core budget is formed of contributions from governments, other parts of its budget can accept contributions from philanthropies and other organizations.Bloomberg Philanthropies already contributed $4.5 million to the UNFCCC last year, according to UN public documents reviewed by Reuters.The UNFCCCs main budget lines total 240 million euros for 2024-2025, with about half of that expected to be allocated for this year.Valerie Volcovici, Frances Kerry and Kate Abnett, Reuters

The year is 2025. The political landscape, unpredictable. Your identity is your most valuable asset, so in order to protect it, you decide to take the identity of someone else. Sounds like the perfect setup for a dystopian sci-fi movie, and for the Become Anyone 2.0 Mask a DIY project from Sean Hodgins.The mask, created more as a fun project than a vigilante face-guard, features nearly 3000 LEDs coming together to turn your entire face into a massive display of sorts. While LED face masks do exist, none are as advanced as the one Hodgins made. Although its fairly low-res and low-poly, youve essentially got an RGB display wrapped around your face, allowing you to play videos, display text, or even apply anyones face as a graphic, allowing you to become anyone. DOOM? Sure. Peter Griffin of Family Guy? Why not. Tommy Vercetti from GTA Vice City? Hell Yes!Designer: Sean HodginsThe mask is essentially an amalgamation of 16 LED matrix panels, precisely arranged to wrap around a face. The LED layout creates a seamless grid for displaying animations, expressions, or even video loops, driven by either a PixelBlaze or Raspberry Pi controller. The ambitious goal of using only circuit boards to construct the masks body ensures its both functional and visually strikinga wearable pixel art canvas. From DOOMs snarling faces to trippy animated patterns, this mask is as versatile as it is mesmerizing.The design process starts with a 3D-printed template to ensure a perfect facial fit. This is crucial because any misalignment could strain the fragile solder joints when mounted to a welding helmet-style head strap. Once the fit is locked in, the technical heavy lifting begins. Hodgins is laser-focused on precision, using a stencil to apply solder paste before manually placing thousands of SK6805-1515 LEDs onto the PCB panels. If youve ever soldered a single LED, imagine doing that nearly 3000 timesunless, of course, you have a pick-and-place machine handy. For those attempting this project manually, consider it a test of your soldering stamina.Once the LED placement is complete, the boards are reflowed using a toaster ovenproof that even the simplest tools can achieve incredible results in the hands of a skilled creator. The next challenge is cutting and preparing the panels, ensuring each one fits snugly into the larger mask assembly. Smoothing out the PCB edges with a belt grinder might sound aggressive, but its a surprisingly effective way to guarantee clean, flat joins.The most nerve-wracking stage comes with soldering the panels together to form the full-face grid. This process requires the steady patience of a neurosurgeon. Using the 3D template as a guide, Hodgins connects each panel at just the right angle, securing power, ground, and data connections with delicate wiring. The result is a solid matrix of LEDs thats ready for testing.Powering the mask is no small feat either. A hefty battery feeds power through 18-gauge wiring, ensuring the masks energy-hungry LEDs stay lit without frying the circuits. The final touch comes in programming the animations. If using a Raspberry Pi, additional logic level shifting is required to handle the 5V LED signals. Alternatively, PixelBlaze offers a plug-and-play solution, perfect for those prioritizing ease of use over custom video playback.For anyone daring enough to recreate this project, Hodgins provides open-source files for the PCB design and a detailed step-by-step guide on Instructables. Youll need access to some advanced tools like a reflow oven, soldering iron, and potentially a pick-and-place machine. Patience is your most essential tool, though, as this project is as intricate as it is rewarding. But for those who succeed, the payoff is immense: a cyberpunk accessory that would fit right into the worlds of Blade Runner or Cyberpunk 2077.So, whether youre a DOOM fan, an electronics enthusiast, or someone who just loves the idea of turning their face into a programmable LED screen, the Become Anyone 2.0 mask is the ultimate DIY project. And hey, if you manage to build one, you might just outshine every cosplayer at the next conventionliterally.The post Futuristic DIY LED Mask lets you turn into a DOOM Character or practically anyone you want first appeared on Yanko Design.

Designed by Rover Tiny Homes, the Cortes is a spacious and comfortable full-time residence with two downstairs bedrooms and a large living room. It measures around 38 feet in length and is equipped with three slide-out sections, which expand the already impressive floor space. The home is based on a triple-axle trailer, and weighs around 20,000 lb, making it quite a hefty tiny home. It will have to be delivered and isnt the best fit for regular towing. The tiny house is finished in hardwearing metal siding and is topped off with a metal roof.Designer: Rover Tiny HomesThe Cortes tiny home features three manually operated slide-out sections, also known as bump-outs, as mentioned before. To extend these sections, a hand crank is used to push them out. Since the house isnt supposed to be moved around a lot, this manual operation wont be much of an inconvenience.Once the sections have been expanded, the total floor space increases quite a bit from 304 square feet to 374 square feet. This expanded space benefits the living room and bedrooms. The living room is filled with natural light thanks to some generous glazing. It includes a comfortable sofa and additional seating, making it a welcoming area for relaxation or entertaining guests.The bedrooms are located on the ground floor, and they offer ample headroom, allowing residents to stand comfortably. The master bedroom features a double bed, while the second bedroom is equipped with a single bed, making it suitable for guests or children. Thr bedrooms are thoughtfully designed with built-in storage space, maximizing the functionality and organization within the limited area. These clever and nifty features make the tiny home a practical and comfortable residence, providing ample living space and storage.The kitchen is located next to the living room, and it is quite well-designed and stocked with an oven and stove, a fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, a dishwasher, and a breakfast bar for two. The space is also equipped with loads of cabinetry and storage space, making it a thoughtfully-designed and well-furnished room. The bathroom is also nearby, and it is furnished with a shower/bath, which isnt commonly seen in a tiny home. It also includes a flushing toilet and a vanity sink.Besides the main living areas and the two ground-floor bedrooms, the tiny house also includes a third, smaller bedroom, which offers additional flexibility in its use. This room is intended to be a typical loft space with a low ceiling, which creates a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The loft is accessible via a sturdy ladder located conveniently in the kitchen area, allowing for easy access without taking up much floor space. The Cortes is currently priced at around US$125,000.The post With Three Slide-Out Sections, The Living Space Of This Tiny Home Can Be Remarkably Expanded first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple has announced its new Advanced Commerce API, designed to provide app developers the ability to manage large catalogs of in-app purchases or subscriptions.Apple has introduced a new Advanced Commerce API for in-app purchases.The announcement was published on Apple's developer page, along with the eligibility requirements. The Advanced Commerce API aims to help app developers with exceptionally large content catalogs and creator experiences, as well as those who have subscriptions with optional add-ons within their apps.The iPhone maker's new API will enable a new way of managing in-app purchases, meaning that developers will no longer need to rely on App Store Connect. Developers will be able to use either, or both, to manage their in-app purchases, assuming they receive access to Apple's Advanced Commerce API. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

With developer Compulsion Games having taken the stage at the recent Developer_Direct to announce the release date for South of Midnight, the studio has also made the game available for digital pre-order.While players can pre-order the standard edition of the game and get access to it when it comes out on April 8, there is also a Premium Edition that comes with a host of goodies, as well as 5 days of early access to the game before its release date. Grabbing South of Midnights Premium Edition will allow players to start playing on April 3.Along with the game itself, the South of Midnight Premium Edition also comes with a digital art book, a digital comic book, a digital copy of the games original soundtrack, a music video, and a documentary about the title. The Premium Edition of South of Midnight is priced at $49.99, while the standard edition is priced at $39.99.The soundtrack of the game, composed by Olivier Deriviere, will include music by Southern artists. The music itself will range from soulful blues to honky-tonk music. The soundtrack has been composed to evoke the cultural history of the games primary setting.The comic book, titled The Boo-Hag, features writing and art by Rob Guillory. The full-colour comic will revolve around protagonist Hazels encounter with a mythical creature from the Deep South mythos.The documentary, titled Weaving Hazels Journey, Directors Cut, revolves around the development of the game. The documentary also goes into detail about how the games world was created, and the kinds of inspirations that the titles artists, designers and writers were able to draw from.Compulsion Games recently released a gameplay trailer for South of Midnight, which alongside letting us see Hazels combat and exploration capabilities, also gave us a look at some of the titles earlier story. The game will feature a host of different zones, each of which will be filled with unique enemies, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.The studio had revealed back in November that South of Midnight would be quite an adventure, and will take players anywhere between 20 and 25 hours to finish it. The studio hasnt revealed, however, if this playtime estimate is for players that would just be focusing on the story, or if it also includes side-quests and other content.South of Midnight was first unveiled back in June 2023. The game revolves around 19-year-old protagonist Hazel, who finds herself becoming chosen by the magical world around her to become a Weaver. The story will involve Hazel taking on different enemies, all based off of folklore and myths of the Deep South area where the game is set.For more details about South of Midnight, check out a trailer that was released back in June 2024 that gave us a solid look at the titles various combat and exploration mechanics, all of which will have Hazel use her Weaver abilities to the fullest.South of Midnight is coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S on April 8.

Ninja Gaiden 4 was perhaps the standout announcement from the Xbox Developer_Direct, and its out later this year with its teams currently in the polishing phase. While the gameplay fit the high-speed standard that defined the series, theres plenty of new features to look forward to.Along with sticking to the dark atmosphere that defined the series, Tokyo presents some stressfull scenarios. With the miasma rain causing significant destruction, you run into collapsing buildings while grinding on rails as newcomer Yakumo. Exploration yields hidden items, challenges, and more, so its worth going off the beaten path.Fiends and other enemies return alongside 1v1 battles with enemies that can block your attacks. Searching for the right moment to attack is important, but Yakumos skills truly shine when fighting crowds. While he has the Raven Style, the Bloodraven Form is perhaps the most intriguing element.Utilized to fight off multiple enemies, PlatinumGames director Yuji Nakao described it as a technique that manipulates the blood of oneself and enemies, transforming it into a massive weapon capable of slicing through multiple foes at once.Yakumo fights using Bloodraven Form, and when certain conditions are met, he can unleash a move called Bloodbath Kill, which instantly bisects enemies in one strike. These large-scale, high-damage attacks allow for turning the tide instantly against multiple enemies.Of course, classic moves like the Flying Swallow and Izuna Drop return, which both Yakumo and Ryu Hayabusa can utilize. However, there are also fresh moves appearing for the first time in the series. Fans can also expect new and returning characters.Ninja Gaiden 4 launches in Fall 2025 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. It will also be available for Game Pass.

January 24: Alasitas (La Paz, Bolivia); Day of the Unification of the Romanian Principalities (1859)Sutter's Mill1458 The Estates unanimously proclaimed 14-year-old Matthias Corvinus King of Hungary after being persuaded to do so by his uncle Michael Szilgyi.1848 James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill (reconstruction pictured) in Coloma, California, leading to the California gold rush.1968 Vietnam War: The 1st Australian Task Force launched Operation Coburg against the North Vietnamese army and the Viet Cong.1977 Spanish transition to democracy: Neo-fascists attacked an office in Madrid, killing five people and injuring four others.1987 About 20,000 protestors marched in a civil rights demonstration in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States.Signe Rink (b.1836)Maria Tallchief (b.1925)Madge Bellamy (d.1990)Helena Kmie (d.2017)More anniversaries: January 23January 24January 25ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout

Sakana found that self-adaptive models can modify their weights during inference to adjust behavior to new and unseen tasks.Read More

Netflix plans to offer couch co-op and party games that it will stream over the cloud to TVs, co-CEO Greg Peters said as part of the companys Q4 2024 earnings announcements this week. The company has offered cloud gaming as a beta to a subset of subscribers since 2023, so this news from Peters indicates that the company is going to continue to invest in it.Peters didnt say exactly when the co-op and party games might be available. But he did say that we think of this as a successor to family board game night or an evolution of what the game show on TV used to be.Netflix will also continue to focus on more narrative games based on Netflix IP Peters says those games are consistent fan favorites and weve got a lot in the library to work with there.RelatedThe companys gaming division has seen some major changes as of late: former executive Leanne Loombe announced she was moving to Annapurna Interactive, and last year, the group got a new boss after the old boss moved to a new role focused on generative AI in games. Netflix also announced that it would be removing nearly all of its interactive titles and that it would be closing its AAA studio before it ever released a game.

Google is bringing smart home controls in Gemini to everyone. The Google Home extension in the Gemini app is adding a few new features, in addition to letting you adjust your smart lighting, thermostat, speakers, and other compatible devices as long as theyre connected to your Google account.Google first previewed the extension last November. With it, you can use natural language to control your smart home when interacting with Gemini, such as saying The sun is too bright in the living room to close your smart blinds. But now, Gemini can also carry out multiple requests, like Turn the armchair light on too, but dim the kitchen lamp. Youll be able to use the Google Home extension to ask Gemini about the status of your devices too, such as whether youve left your porch light on.Additionally, Google will let you control non-sensitive smart home devices, like your lights, from your phones lock screen. Other updates include the ability to adjust the volume, pause, and resume media on smart speakers, displays, and TVs within the Gemini app, as well as an updated thermostat control design that matches the one inside Google Home. Gemini will also automatically open the Google Home app for security-related actions for cameras and locks (it previously only linked you).The launch of the Google Home extension follows a big update to Gemini, which lets it perform more complex tasks across multiple apps. You can try out the integration for yourself by signing into Gemini with the same account you use for Home and turning on the Google Home extension. It launches today but is rolling out over the coming weeks.