The team selected for the estimated 235,000 contract will design and deliver a new 1.25 million exhibition space for young people aged 4-7 years old and their adults focussing on creating positive links to the natural world.The project, planned to complete in 2027, will transform the existing Creepy Crawlies gallery located on the ground floor of the east wing of the museums landmark Alfred Waterhouse-designed complex.The regeneration is one of several upgrades coinciding with the opening of a new off-site storage facility in 2027 which is set to free-up space on the South Kensington site.AdvertisementAccording to the brief: This brand-new gallery will be a place where visitors delight in the dazzling variety of life on Earth, from the very small to the very tall, and discover that all life including us! shares the same needs. We all need to breathe, eat, move, communicate and grow to survive and often depend on each other to do this. Together, we are all part of this great, big, weird and wonderful natural world.It will deliver inspiring stories that celebrate diversity and welcome in the widest possible audience of children and their adults. It will combine our world-leading collections, with hands-on and multi-sensory interactives that evoke joy, empathy and care.This project supports our Strategy and Mission to 2031 and our vision of a future where both people and the planet thrive, with a mission to create advocates for the planet. By appealing to visitors sense of kindness, their curiosity, and their imagination, this gallery will lay the foundations of advocacy for nature at a young age, foster a lifelong appreciation of the natural world and build a positive connection to nature in early childhood.The Natural History Museum first opened in 1881, and was originally designed by civil engineer Francis Fowke whowon a contest for the building in 1864. The scheme was later revised by Alfred Waterhouse, who took over following Fowkes death. Today it contains around 27,000m2 of internal exhibition spaces and two-thirds of its 80-million-specimen collection.Inspired by Romanesque architecture, the buildings interior and exterior are clad in thousands of terracotta tiles illustrated with relief sculptures of flora and fauna. Avanti was chosen for a research project to define the repair and restoration of the Grade I-listed buildings faade in 2015.AdvertisementThe Palaeontology Wing, designed by architects from the Ministry of Public Building and Works, was constructed between 1970 and 1975 and hosts storage areas closed to the public. In 2009 CF Mller completed the museums 78 million Darwin Centre, which contains a 65m-long cocoon for exhibitions and specimen storage.In 2023, The Planning Lab was appointed to provide planning consultancy for a range of projects related to the museums 2031 masterplan which is intended to significantly overhaul the landmark Alfred Waterhouse-designed complex in time for its 150th anniversary of opening.The latest project comes less than a year after Feilden Fowles completed a 25 million upgrade of the grounds of the Natural History Museum, adding two new buildings. A larger earlier scheme by Nall McLaughlin Architects was approved in 2016, but later abandoned.The winning team will provide the services of architect and lead designer, building safety act principal designer, structural engineer, and sustainability consultant for the refurbishment of Gallery 33 within the museum.Round two bids will be evaluated 50 per cent on quality, 10 per cent on social value and 40 per cent on cost. Applicants must hold employers liability insurance of 10 million, public liability insurance of 10 million and professional indemnity insurance of 5 million.Competition detailsProject title Gallery 33 Refurbishment: Design and Consultancy ServicesClient Natural History MuseumContract value1.25 millionFirst round deadline 3 March 2025Restrictions TbcMore information https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002772-2025

Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates haveremained around a steep 7%for several weeks. While President Donald Trump has claimed he will bring mortgage rates down to 3% -- which would indicate asevere economic crisis-- the president doesn't set rates on home loans.Even the Federal Reserve, which sets a short-term benchmark interest rate for lenders, onlyindirectly impacts the mortgage market. The Fed is expected to hold interest rates steady at its first policy meeting of the year this week,Jan. 28-29.In the later months of 2024, the central bank cut interest rates three times, but mortgagerates didn't fall. That's because rates are primarily driven by movement in the bond market, specifically on the 10-year Treasury yield. Bond yields and interest rates rise or fall depending on hownew economic dataand policies shift market speculation and risk assessment.Right now,mortgage ratesare elevated due to a combination of factors: "strong" economic growth, the new Trump administration and the Fed's less aggressive rate-cutting path in 2025.Since starting his second term, Trump has been moving forward with some of his policies around immigration and trade, which many experts see as inflationary."Higher tariffs and restrictive immigration policies would increase costs for homebuyers at a time when affordability is near a four-decade low," said Matt Walsh, housing economist at Moody's Analytics.Mortgage rates will continue to fluctuate as investors speculate about the future. If inflation remains high or starts to rebound, mortgage rates will increase, regardless of the president's promise to lower borrowing costs."On mortgage rates, we're more data dependent than ever," said Greg Sher, managing director at NFM Lending.Will the Fed meeting change the outlook for mortgage rates?Given slow progress on inflation and concerns about it reheating, the Fed is expected to leave interest rates unchanged at its next few policy meetings."The earliest possible rate cut would be in March, and that assumes a compelling drop in [inflation] in the two reports between now and then," said Matt Graham of Mortgage News Daily. As of now, though, most investors are betting another rate reduction won't come until late spring or early summer.The Fed is likely to face pressure from the new president if additional cuts aren't made. During a virtual appearance at the Davos World Economic Forum on Thursday, Trump said he would demand interest rates to drop immediately."I think I know interest rates much better than they do, and I think I know it certainly much better than the one who's primarily in charge of making that decision," said Trump, likely referring to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. "If I disagree, I will let it be known."But there's only so much Trump can actually do with regard to the central bank. Aside from voicing his opinions, the president's most direct power over the central bank is through naming appointees to fill vacancies on the Board of Governors.Similar to stacking the Supreme Court, the president could appoint Fed board members whose views on monetary policy align with his own. However, the earliest Trump will be able to make any new appointments will be in early 2026. Will mortgage rates go down in time for spring homebuying season?Mortgage rates are always in flux, but homebuyers should expectmore turbulence than usualover the next few months. Earlier last year, many economists optimistically predicted that interest rates would dip below 6% in early 2025. However, since Trump's reelection and the Fed's declaration of less frequent policy easing in 2025, the forecast for mortgage rates has shifted upward.Fannie Mae now expects average 30-year fixed mortgage rates to hold above 6.5% until early 2025. Meanwhile, Moody's Walsh predicts mortgage rates to average just below 7% throughout the year.Next month's economic data could always change the equation. "If the economic data starts to weaken, we may have already seen the peak rates for the year," said Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst at HousingWire.In CNET's 2025 mortgage forecast, Mohtashami noted that rates in the low-6% range are still possible in 2025. But it will be difficult to achieve this, particularly in time for the spring homebuying season, if new economic policies recharge inflation or boost government debt deficits. A look at the 2025 housing marketToday's unaffordable housing market results from high mortgage rates, a long-standing housing shortage, expensive home prices and a loss of purchasing power due to inflation. Low housing inventory: A balanced housing market typically has five to six months of supply. Most markets today average around half that amount. According to Freddie Mac, we still have a shortage of around 3.7 million homes. Elevated mortgage rates:In early 2022, mortgage rates hit historic lows of around 3%. As inflation surged and the Fed hiked interest rates to tame it, mortgage rates more than doubled. In 2025, mortgage rates are still high, pricing millions of prospective buyers out of the housing market. Rate-lock effect:Since the majority of homeowners are locked into mortgage rates below 5%, they're reluctant to give up their low mortgage rates and have little incentive to list their homes for sale, leaving a dearth of resale inventory. High home prices:Although home buying demand has been limited in recent years, home prices remain high because of a lack of inventory. The median US home price was $427,179 in December, up 6.2% on an annual basis, according to Redfin. Steep inflation:Inflation means an increase in the cost of basic goods and services, reducing purchasing power. It also impacts mortgage rates: When inflation is high, lenders typically raise interest rates on consumer loans to ensure a profit. What homebuyers should know It's never a good idea to rush intobuying a homewithout knowing what you can afford, so establish a clear home-buying budget. Here's what experts recommend before purchasing a home: Build your credit score. Your credit score will help determine whether you qualify for a mortgage and at what interest rate. A credit score of 740 or higher will help you qualify for a lower rate. Save for a bigger down payment.A larger down payment allows you to take out a smaller mortgage and get a lower interest rate from your lender. If you can afford it, a down payment of at least 20% will also eliminate private mortgage insurance. Shop for mortgage lenders.Comparing loan offers from multiple mortgage lenders can help you negotiate a better rate. Experts recommend getting at least two to three loan estimates from different lenders. Consider renting.Choosing to rent or buy a home isn't just comparing monthly rent to a mortgage payment. Renting offers flexibility and lower upfront costs, but buying allows you to build wealth and have more control over your housing costs. Consider mortgage points.You can get a lower mortgage rate by buying mortgage points, with each point costing 1% of the total loan amount. One mortgage point equals a 0.25% decrease in your mortgage rate.More on today's housing market

Our Experts Written by Pamela Vachon Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.Table of Contents Our Picks Best overall travel mug Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug View details $22 at Amazon View details A close second for under $30 Miir Flip Traveler View details $28 at Amazon View details Best variety of sizes, colors and features Yeti Rambler View details $35 at Amazon View details Best budget travel mug Contigo West Loop View details $16 at Target View details Best travel mug for espresso drinks KeepCup View details $30 at Amazon View details Best travel mug with top handle Hydro Flask Flex Sip View details $27 at Amazon View details Best design S'well Tumbler View details $30 at Amazon View details Table of Contents What's the best travel mug?A good travel mug can make all the difference, offering spill-proof convenience and keeping your hot coffee or iced tea just right. CNET recommends Zojirushis $30 stainless steel travel mug as the top pick for keeping your beverages at the perfect temperature on the go. Often available for under $20, its a reliable choice for busy mornings or commutes. But your requirements may differ, and weve tested the best options to help you find the one that suits your needs. A travel mug can come in quite cheap, but you may have to spend a bit to get a good one. They can cost up to $45 (which makes it a great gift under $50). To help you navigate through the sea of travel coffee mugs on the market, we tested several of the best to see which ones keep drinks hot the longest, protect against leaks and feel nice to hold -- and look at. These are the seven best travel mugs of 2025, to keep your car's cup holder busy.Best travel coffee mugs Photo Gallery 1/1 $22 at Amazon $38 at Zojirushi Sizes 12, 16 ouncesColors 8Price $30 $22 at Amazon $38 at Zojirushi Admittedly, sometimes choosing the "best" model of a given product is a matter of extreme nuance, but in this case, it wasn't even close. Zojirushi's sleek travel mug was the top performer in every possible metric. After 5 hours, the liquid was still piping hot. The screw-on lid was infallible and yet easy to drink from, with a spring-loaded button that opens the lid, and a lock feature to prevent it from being jostled open when in the closed position. (Let it be a testament to my faith in these mechanisms that I put the Zojirushi full of coffee in an overnight bag along with my clothing for a train ride out of town.) Regardless of this additional measure of security, the slim design made it easy to operate one-handed while not risking control of the mug. For the aesthetically conscious, the Zojirushi stainless mug comes in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns.

January 28, 20253 min readTrump Administration Orders Sweeping Freeze of Federal AidThe Trump administration has ordered a halt to all federal financial assistance, covering areas from domestic infrastructure and energy projects to foreign aidIn a two-page memo, the Office of Management and Budget ordered all federal agencies to temporarily suspend payments. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | One week in, the Trump administration is broadening its assault on the functions of government and shifting control of the federal purse strings further away from members of Congress.President Donald Trumps budget office Monday ordered a total freeze on all federal financial assistance that could be targeted under his previous executive orders pausing funding for a wide range of priorities from domestic infrastructure and energy projects to diversity-related programs and foreign aid.In a two-page memo obtained by POLITICO, the Office of Management and Budget announced all federal agencies would be forced to suspend payments with the exception of Social Security and Medicare.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, according to the memo, which three people authenticated.The new order could affect billions of dollars in grants to state and local governments while causing disruptions to programs that benefit many households. There was also widespread confusion over how the memo would be implemented and whether it would face legal challenges.While the memo says the funding pause does not include assistance provided directly to individuals, for instance, it does not clarify whether that includes money sent first to states or organizations and then provided to households.The brief memo also does not detail all payments that will be halted. However, it broadly orders federal agencies to temporarily stop sending federal financial assistance that could be affected by Trumps executive actions.That includes the presidents orders to freeze all funding from the Democrats signature climate and spending law the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure package enacted in 2021. It also imposes a 90-day freeze on foreign aid.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a statement decried the announcement as an example of more lawlessness and chaos in America as Donald Trumps Administration blatantly disobeys the law by holding up virtually all vital funds that support programs in every community across the country.The New York Democrat urged the administration to lift the freeze.They say this is only temporary, but no one should believe that," he said. "Donald Trump must direct his Administration to reverse course immediately and the taxpayers money should be distributed to the people. Congress approved these investments and they are not optional; they are the law.Bobby Kogan, who worked at the White House budget office during the Biden administration, called the memo a big, broad, illegal order that violates impoundment law, which blocks presidents from unilaterally withholding money without the consent of Congress.This is as bad as we feared it would be, said Kogan, who also served as a Democratic aide to the Senate Budget Committee and is now a director at the left-leaning Center for American Progress.The president of the National Council of Nonprofits, Diane Yentel, said in a statement that the order could decimate thousands of organizations and leave neighbors without the services they need."The funding pause, first reported by journalist Marisa Kabas, is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, a day after the memo was sent to agencies.Carmen Paun and Adam Cancryn contributed to this report.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

Techland teases "multiple" unannounced Dying Light projects, including board games and a webcomicAs zombie series' marks 10th anniversary.Image credit: Techland/Eurogamer News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 28, 2025 Developer Techland has teased plans for "multiple unannounced projects" set in the Dying Light universe - including new video games, board games, and a webcomic as the zombie horror series celebrates its tenth birthday.Dying Light 1 released on 26th January, 2015 and proved to be a massive hit for Techland, selling over 20m copies as of 2022. A sequel followed in 2022, and an 18-hour standalone adventure, Dying Light: The Beast, is set to arrive this summer.And that's far from the end of Techland's Dying Light plans. The studio has now revealed it's planning "multiple unannounced projects" as it aims to position the series as the "ultimate zombie experience". According to the developer, these "go beyond video games", and will include the likes of board games, a webcomic series, merchandise, and "more".Dying Light: The Beast arrives this summer.Watch on YouTube"Our goal is to bring the world of Dying Light to even more people," Techland writes. "From the ongoing support of our currently released games to Dying Light: The Beast and beyond, there's never been a better time to be a Dying Light fan."In the more immediate term, Techland is releasing new updates for Dying Light 1 & 2 "very soon". The first game is poised to see the return of old events alongside new rewards, and will receive a range of "enhancements", including improved visual quality, a remastered soundtrack, and more. As for Dying Light 2: Stay Human, it's getting "further prologue changes", and its roguelite Tower Raid mode is set to become permanent.Additionally, for those that haven't yet dipped their toes into Techland's open-world zombie series, Dying Light 1 & 2 are both currently discounted on Xbox and PC.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereFollowing the release of the amazing Fallout: London, modder Zapshocks ambitious Fallout Nuevo Mexico project was met with a tonne of excitement by fans. A new game-sized mod, this time for New Vegas, the mod aimed to bring an entirely new experience to the aging RPG.Unfortunately, the highly anticipated mod has now been scrapped after thousands of hours of work by the mods developer. In a painful but necessary announcement, the mods leader revealed that the project will not be released.Fallout Nuevo Mexico scrappedIn an announcement on Discord, via The Gamer, Zapshock revealed that the team behind the project is disbanding and they will no longer be working on the game-sized mod. Despite massive support from the Fallout community, the four-person team has been stretched thin, and continued development wasnt sustainable.This project has been my passion, my obsession, and a huge part of my life for years, the mod leader explained. Ive poured thousands of hours into it, late nights, early mornings, and everything in between.As much as I love this project, I need to prioritise my mental health and face reality. The team is small (less than four), the workload enormous, and the costs ahead, both financial and personal, are too great. Continuing forward simply isnt sustainable for me and everyone involved, including voice actors.The developer explained that letting go of something youve poured your heart into is painful, but its necessary. With a small team and a massive scope to hit, the team couldnt keep up with the massive workload needed to bring the project to fruition.For similar articles, read about the ambitious Baldurs Gate 3 modders working on entire custom campaigns for Larians RPG or read about Elder Scrolls creator Ted Petersons thoughts on fan projects like Daggerfall Unity. Additionally, check out this Fallout New Vegas mod that adds ridable horses I just think its cool.Fallout: New VegasPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneGenre(s):Action, Adventure, RPG, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide The state of Warzone has been a hot topic of conversation among players dropping into Call of Dutys battle royale. While the implementation of Black Ops 6s omnimovement mechanics caused issues on release, Activisions swathe of CoD devs have made some huge movement changes to the popular battle royale title with Warzone Season 2.Season 2 promises to deliver a wealth of adjustments and changes to reverse the games fortunes. Following the arrival of Omnimovement, players can move in all kinds of directions. Now, the fluidity is better than ever thanks to a straightforward change that is guaranteed to add another way to outplay your opponents.Warzone Season 2 movement changes explainedDeep within the Season 2 patch notes for Warzone, Raven Software has confirmed increases in jumping speed and successive jumping height enabling players to utilise the bunny hop mechanic once again.Bunny hopping became the most effective method of dodging incoming gunfire thanks to the ability to disrupt aim assist. The Warzone developer says the increases in jump speed and jump height have returned to levels last seen in the Modern Warfare 3 cycle.Alongside adjustments to jumping, the Season 2 update has also increased the speed of parachute cutting when your feet hit the ground in addition to a smoother transition into a sprint so you can start looting and eliminating opponents as fast as possible.Will movement changes help Warzone?The addition of Omnimovement to Warzone has added even more crafty tactics players can use to gain the upper hand in the heat of battle. Despite this, the battle royale has struggled to achieve the success seen over the last 12 months.With the return of Verdansk imminent, fans are hoping Season 2 of Warzone brings about the heavily requested changes in time for the iconic battleground to take centre stage once again. The movement adjustment may only be small compared to some of the other changes arriving in the update, but any way to improve how you move is bound to be noticeable.For more Call of Duty intel, check out the best controller settings for maximum accuracy along with the best Jackal PDW loadout that continues to dominate.Call of Duty: WarzonePlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneGenre(s):ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You founded your firm in 1988. How has the industry changed?When I first started, we didnt have social media. You didnt have Pinterest; you didnt even have a computer. You had to train with somebody. Design is like an opera set: When the curtain lifts, [all the pieces] have to be there and be perfect, and thats a skill that you learn working for somebody else. You see the pitfalls, and you understand how to organize your business. So Im an advocate of that.What is the one piece of business advice you have for someone starting today?You need to understand how to run a business. Before you get that first client, consider: Do you really know how to organize the job? Do you know how to do estimates, how to price things? Whether you mentor with somebody or listen to courses, you need to have all of that in place.We often get questions from early-career designers in our business sessions asking how long it will take to get out of the red.Its challenging because youre managing deposits and timelines and paying your vendors. Even today, Im a salaried employee. I tell people all the time: The money in the bank of the company is not yours until the job is finished and all the bills are paid. If at the end of the year weve had a good year, we can pay ourselves a bonus.Williamss portfolio spans design aesthetics, while consistently being balanced, collected, and unfussy.Photo: Deborah Panes c/o Create AcademyYou have the Create Academy series, seven books, the home linewhats your next dream assignment for Bunny Williams Inc.?I always have so many things! I would love to see Bonny Williams Home develop into something that is bigger than it is now. I would love to see some retail stores, places where people can come in and get the feeling of design, not just a commercial brands point of view. Were working hard, in meetings now, about how we can have broader reach.This interview has been condensed and edited for brevity and clarity.APPLY NOWGrow your business with the AD PRO DirectoryArrow

Proton, the company behind the eponymous email provider Proton Mail, has won itself a loyal fanbase of dissidents, investigative journalists, and others skeptical of the prying eyes of government or Big Tech. Headquartered in Switzerland, the service describes itself as a neutral and safe haven for your personal data, committed to defending your freedom.So it came as a surprise last month when Proton CEO Andy Yen praised the Republican Party in a post on X, declaring that 10 years ago, Republicans were the party of big business and Dems stood for the little guys, but today the tables have completely turned. When the tweet went viral, Protons official Reddit account posted a now-deleted comment stating that Until corporate Dems are thrown out, the reality is that Republicans remain more likely to tackle Big Tech abuses. Most Read Within hours, Proton deleted its response acrosssocial media accounts, stating that the post which started with the words Here is our official response was in fact removed because it was not actually an official statement. The reply went on to say: Our policy is that official accounts cannot be used to express personal political opinions. If it happens by mistake, we correct it as soon as we notice it.A screenshot of Protons now-deleted official response to CEO Andy Yens post in support of the Republican Party.Screenshot: RedditYen further claimed that the post had been an internal miscommunication, later also writing that Proton is politically neutral.He followed it up with a longer statement explaining that while we may share facts and analysis, our policy going forward will be to share no opinions of a political nature. The line between facts, analysis, and opinions can be blurry at times, but we will seek to better clarify this over time through your feedback and input. Yen didnt specifically address whether the deleted post had constituted opinion or analysis.In response to a request for comment, Proton reiterated the claim that it is a politically neutral organization, then went on to state that regardless of ones views about the wider Republication platform, if you agree that action is needed on antitrust then the appointment of Gail Slater is a positive thing, referring to President Donald Trumps choice to head the Justice Departments antitrust division. Proton further stated that Big Tech CEOs are tripping over themselves to kiss the ring precisely because Trump represents an unprecedented challenge to their monopolistic dominance.When Governments Ask for DataYen has repeatedly described Proton as being a privacy-first company, and its homepage touts that With Proton, your data belongs to you, not tech companies, governments, or hackers. However, Proton has in the past revealed user information to authorities. For instance, Proton previously handed over an IP address at the request of French authorities made via Europol to Swiss police. Yen wrote a Twitter post at the time, stating, Proton must comply with Swiss law. As soon as a crime is committed, privacy protections can be suspended and were required by Swiss law to answer requests from Swiss authorities.Protons information for law enforcement page states that it requires a copy of a police report or court order, albeit either a foreign or domestic one. For its part, Proton told The Intercept that Proton does not comply with US subpoenas, it doesnt matter if its Biden or Trump in power.Andy Yen, co-founder of Proton Mail. Photo: Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty ImagesWhile Proton states that it cannot read any of your messages or hand them over to third parties, the same doesnt apply to email subjects; sender or recipient names and email addresses; the time a message was sent; or other information in the header section of email messages. Proton explicitly states that if served with a valid Swiss court order, we do have the ability to turn over the subjects of your messages.Under Trumps previous term, the Department of Justice sought to clandestinely obtain non-content communications records, including phone and email records, of reporters at a variety of news outlets such as CNN and the New York Times. While the subject of an email is considered content, non-content records include metadata such as the date and time a message was sent, as well as the sender and recipient of an email. Were independent of corporate interests and powered by members. Join us. Become a member Join Our Newsletter Thank You For Joining! Original reporting. Fearless journalism. Delivered to you. Will you take the next step to support our independent journalism by becoming a member of The Intercept? Become a member By signing up, I agree to receive emails from The Intercept and to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.The prior behavior of a Trump-led DOJ, coupled with the praise and efforts by tech CEOs to curry favor with the Trump camp, has raised the question of how amenable the industry will be to data requests from the incoming administration. Its a particularly important question for the types of users who have flocked to Proton the kind fearful of exposing sensitive sources or persecuted individuals to state surveillance. (The Intercept uses Proton Mail as its email provider.)Platforms inherently occupy a position of trust because we want them to have users backs when the government comes knocking for data, said Andrew Crocker, the Electronic Frontier Foundations surveillance litigation director, which has published an annual Who Has Your Back? reports, which analyzed companies acquiescence to government requests for user data.Its reasonable to worry that tech companies backbone for protecting users in this way might soften when they get too politically involved with any one administration, Crocker said.

An Alien Idea"That was a real hard-fought victory" - Steven Spielberg on what it took to prevent sci-fi classic E.T. getting a sequelDefinitely not a missed opportunity with this one.Image credit: Ambilin Entertainment/ Universal News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 28, 2025 There almost could have been an E.T. sequel, but luckily its director Steven Spielberg fought hard to make sure that didn't happen.I think we all know that it's pretty rare that sequels justify themselves. It happens on occasion, sure, on even rarer occasions they end up better than the first one! But, for the most part, it's better to just leave films at one and done to save us all the heartbreak. E.T. is one such film that I could never imagine getting a sequel, but as it turns out at one point in time the powers that be wanted one. "That was a real hard-fought victory because I didnt have any rights," Spielberg said in reference to preventing an E.T. sequel while speaking as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY event. (via The Hollywood Reporter).To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "Before E.T., I had some rights, but I didnt have a lot of rights. I kind of didnt have what we call the freeze, where you can stop the studio from making a sequel because you control the freeze on sequels, remakes and other ancillary uses of the IP. I didnt have that. I got it after E.T. because of its success. The director continued to explain that he "just did not want to make a sequel."I flirted with it for a little bit - just a little bit to see if I [could] think of a story - and the only thing I could think about was a book that was written by called The Green Planet, which was all going to take place at E.T.s home. We were all going to be able to go to E.T.s home and see how E.T. lived. But it was better as a novel than I think it would have been as a film.The world would probably be a desolate wasteland by now if we had gotten a sequel, so let's be thankful Spielberg won out on this particular point. Besides, I'm sure it earned more than enough money given that it was once the highest-grossing film of all time.