In 2019, President Donald Trump appointed a lawyer named Mark Lee Greenblatt to root out fraud, abuse, and corruption in the Department of the Interior. Greenblatt quickly got to work, directing his 270 staff members to conduct audits, inspections, and investigations across the agency of 70,000 federal employees, which oversees 30% of the United Statess natural resources, 20% of its public lands, and its relationships with 573 Native American tribes and villages.He found that a gas marketing outfit conspired to defraud oil and gas companies on leased federal land, a Bureau of Land Management employee viewed pornography on a government computer, a tribal police officer stole $40,000 earmarked for a tribal youth diversion program, and three offshore oil rig workers and three companies acted negligently in a 2012 incident that resulted in a deadly explosion. And that was just in the span of two months in 2019.Until last week, Greenblatt was one of 73 inspectors general working within the United States governmentindependent watchdogs that keep tabs on federal agencies, which all in all collect more than $4 trillion in revenue every year and spend more than $6 trillion. On Friday night, he and 17 of his colleagues were summarily dismissed, in contravention of U.S. law. President Trump fired me last night, Greenblatt wrote in a post on LinkedIn over the weekend. Its all just so surreal.The firings leave the Department of Interior, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other departments that shape the countrys environmental and climate policy without independent oversight. This comes at a moment of extreme tumult and uncertainty as Trump attempts to transform the federal government in his image. In his first several days in office, the Trump administration instructed federal health agencies to temporarily stop communicating with the public and ordered a freeze on the disbursal of federal grants, though that order was later rescinded.All of this is so corrosive, said an EPA employee who asked Grist not to name them out of fear of retaliation. Trump is corrupting the health of every federal office with paranoia and distrust. How is anyone supposed to operate under such conditions?Legal experts and nonprofit groups suspect Trump will replace the fired inspectors general with devotees who will ignore malfeasance, corruption, and abusea shift that would put the countrys environmental policies and American public health at risk. Trumps effort to terminate the current roster of IGs and, if one allows oneself to speculate, install loyalists who will turn a blind eye to what is to come, is unprecedented and profoundly troubling, said Michael Burger, the executive director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University.Federal employees at regional offices and agency headquarters in Washington, D.C. fear their internal reports and complaints will be ignored or dismissed outright, putting Americans at risk. One important role of inspectors general is to offer federal employees protection if they experience reprisal at work after reporting corruption or impropriety. EPA scientists who raised alarms in 2019 and 2020 about the agency improperly downgrading the cancer risks of chemicals, for example, called their inspector general hotline to report that they were retaliated against by their own agency for blowing the whistle.Sean ODonnell, who Trump appointed as the EPAs inspector general in 2020, launched an investigation to determine whether there had been a violation of these employees rights under U.S. whistleblower protection law and found that three of the five scientists had had their requests for vacation time rejected, monetary awards withheld, and arbitrarily received poor performance reviews. The office of the inspector general recommended that the EPA administrator consider appropriate corrective action.ODonnell, who has been scrupulous about monitoring the disbursal of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act passed under former president Joe Biden was one of the 18 inspectors general fired by Trump last week.The Inflation Reduction Act, which authorized more than $300 billion in clean energy incentives and grants, allocates money to support independent oversight of this spending, including new funding for inspector general offices. The majority of the funding from that law has already been disbursed, and Trump has moved to freeze what remains as he attempts to restructure the government. Legal experts say that move is illegal and unconstitutional, but even if a judge lifts the freeze, the watchdogs tasked with scrutinizing these funds will no longer be at their posts.All of the checks and balances have been stripped, said Kyla Bennett, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic director for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a group that offers pro bono assistance to whistleblowers within federal agencies. Federal employees, she added, cant do the work that they need to do to protect the American people. And that is the point.The president downplayed the firings over the weekend. Its a very standard thing to do, he told reporters. But the only other president who fired more than a dozen inspectors general in one go was Ronald Reagan, and Congress has since imposed restrictions on abrupt changes to these positions. Burger explained that the dismissals are in violation of the law, which requires notice, and an explanation to Congress. The White House is supposed to give 30 days warning before removing an inspector general.The firings disturbed lawmakers on both sides of the aisle., I dont understand why one would fire individuals whose mission is to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, Republican Senator Susan Collins, from Maine, told Politico. Senator Elizabeth Warren, from Massachusetts, said in a post on X that Trump is paving the way for widespread corruption, and many other prominent Democrats voiced similar concerns.Many Republican members of Congress, however, were unruffled. Hes the boss, Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, told Politico. We need to clean house.This article originally appeared in Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for its newsletter here.

Todays fast-paced workplace requires us to change and adapt at increasing speeds, while managing complex interpersonal demands. Despite these challenges, we can utilize emotional intelligence to meet these continually increasing demands and excel in our new reality.The basis of emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our emotionsas well as know how they impact others. Beyond that, emotional intelligence gives us greater ability to understand the emotions of others, allowing for greater empathy. This in turn increases our ability to work effectively with others of different backgrounds and perspectives.Glenn Llopis, author of Make Reinvention Your Superpower, argues that a lack of emotional intelligence traps people in what he calls career quicksand. He explains that this occurs when individuals lose sight of their unique capabilities because they are rewarded for following the corporate playbook instead of their own. As a result, they are not encouraged to explore new ideas, having been trained to believe that success relies on executing old ones.How to encourage emotional intelligenceOrganizations are increasingly becoming aware that being successful today requires more collaboration, creativity, and adaptability. Research at Lawrence Technological University found that emotional intelligence improves ones ability to be socially effective, and can lead to improved collaborative outcomes.Successful organizations in todays climate will be comprised of emotionally intelligent people who can pivot quickly. The good news is that emotional intelligence is not some innate quality; its something you can build. Employees at all levels of the organization will need to boost their collaboration, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.One way to encourage these traits is for leaders to ask every employee to share examples of collaboration, good teamwork, and problem-solving during staff meetings. They can set up an easy-to-use process whereby staff can recognize each other when they demonstrate using emotional intelligence in their daily work. Having an emotional intelligence employee-of-the-month recognition program can also help keep the focus on continuous improvement. Finally, managers can also ensure that employees are aware that empathy and resilience are attributes that will make workers more likely to get a promotion.Building collaboration and conflict-resolution skillsOrganizations of the future will need to collaborate more both internally and externally.Having employees who are able to work with various people of different cultural backgrounds will increase team and organizational cohesiveness.Llopis emphasizes the importance of using emotional intelligence to approach workplace diversity with curiosity. This mindset helps uncover valuable insights and opportunities for growth. When we look around with intentionality and expect to discover something new, we open ourselves to seeing possibilities we might have overlooked, he says.Conflict and problems inevitably arise at work. But because organizations must move so quickly, teams must be able to solve these issues quickly and effectively. Unresolved frustrations, unexpected changes, anxiety, and disappointment in organizations can lead to a negative and toxic workplace quite quickly if workers dont have the tools they need. Emotional-intelligence training teaches people to work through these common workplace issues without losing track of what they are trying to accomplish. These workers are better able to navigate difficult conversations that lead to better acceptance and understanding with their peers and leaders.The ability to work through difficult interpersonal relationship challenges leads to increased optimism and stronger growth mindsets for those who go through them. Llopis says that self-trust is central to emotional intelligence and reinvention, enhancing ones ability to manage workplace conflict. By cultivating a deep understanding of oneself and confidence in ones abilities, self-assurance empowers employees to navigate their own challenges and support others, fostering deeper connections and adaptability in high-stress work environments, he says.The value of an emotionally intelligent cultureCompanies that invest in supporting emotional intelligence find that their culture shows improvement. The results of an environment of collaboration are greater freedom to be creative and experiment with new solutions and innovations. Open communication and dialogue become part of how everyone in the organization is expected to conduct themselves. This results in an atmosphere of psychological safety, which allows everyone the freedom to experiment, take some risks, and push their own boundaries so they can reach their full potential.Organizations that put a high emphasis on emotional intelligence in their recruitment, onboarding, and training process will find they are molding their organizations in a manner that allows all of their people to have more fulfilling careers. Nurturing empathy and resilience means everyone has a supportive environment where everyone can reinvent themselves while keeping the organization moving forward.

Chunky grain silos informed the shape of the enveloping alcoves at Simple Coffee, an all-stainless-steel Paris cafe designed by local studio Mur Mur Architects.Simple Coffee is a single-room cafe in the city's Montmartre district, featuring bespoke built-in seating around the interior's perimeter.Grain silos informed the shape of Simple Coffee's alcovesCrafted from bent sheets of stainless steel, the furniture is comprised of tall half-moon-shaped nooks positioned behind petite matching metal tables.Benot Huen and Lucie Rosenblatt of Mur Mur Architects took cues from silos tubular industrial structures that house bulk materials such as grain or coal.The furniture was crafted from stainless steelThese rounded elements were made with the same large machines that were originally built to produce grain silos, explained studio co-founder Huen."We chose this shape to create deep, intimate and comfortable alcoves in which one can curl up," he told Dezeen.Each alcove was topped with an operable discEach alcove was topped with a removable, satellite-dish-like steel disc, which can be angled to enhance the thin neon strip lighting suspended from the ceiling that was chosen as a nod to "old Parisian cafes"."Each visitor can direct the light and create their own atmosphere," said Huen.A spiral staircase connects the cafe to a downstairs kitchenFabricated for the project by Normandy-based Atelier Hphastos, the furniture is amplified by geometric pillars clad in floor-to-ceiling mirrors that reflect the metallic interior.A half-moon-shaped stainless-steel counter was placed close to the cafe's bay windows, echoing the rounded alcoves.Read: Steely mono-material metal furniture takes centre stage at Milan design week"The counter was intentionally backed up against the storefront so that the activity is visible from the street and the tables and chairs were positioned against the back walls for more privacy," said Huen.Mur Mur Architects left the unassuming white storefront deliberately untouched to blend with the cafe's Montmartre surroundings, making the interior all the more striking.The seating is amplified by mirrored pillarsA spiral staircase connects the main cafe to the basement kitchen.Simple Coffee follows a host of thoughtfully designed cafes that have recently opened across the French capital. Local studio Claves transformed Le Cornichon into a retro space informed by classic Parisian bistros, while Uchronia created Cafe Shin to pay tribute toSeoul's thrivingcoffeeculture.The photography is by Yvan Moreau.The post Mur Mur Architects fills Paris coffee shop with silo-style steel seating appeared first on Dezeen.

You might have noticed that most gear for outdoor use, such as backpacks and vests, have plenty of hooks, latches, and straps. These are designed to allow you to have a few critical objects outside and within reach at a moments notice. And what could be more critical these days than a power bank thats always ready to juice up your phone for outdoor emergencies or dramatic selfies?Not all power banks come with carrying straps, even the smaller ones. And even if you could hook them into some of these loops and eyes, that would mean theyd be dangling and swaying back and forth precariously. This simple design solves that problem by combining two designs in one, resulting in a multi-purpose accessory that could be of great use even if youre not the type to always go on outdoor adventures.Designer: NestoutIs it a carabiner with an attached power bank or a power bank with a built-in carabiner? Look at it from whichever angle you want, it will still be the same rugged accessory that clings to you in every trip and journey. Clip it anywhere you want, whether on a bag strap or on a jacket loop and youre ready to answer the call of adventure, confident that your phone wont die out on you until you get to your next pit stop.The 5,000mAh battery inside is probably enough to give most phones another life, or at least even half if youre using it while charging. Thanks to that small capacity, its also easy to charge so you dont have to waste daylight waiting for it to be ready for another trek. Its also IP44-rated, so theres at least some protection against light rain and dust. It makes no qualms about its rugged appearance since its designed to be used in equally rugged situations.That said, theres nothing preventing you from using this Carabiner Battery anywhere else, at least if you dont mind carrying around what definitely looks like an outdoor tool. It even has features youll probably want regardless of your location, like a built-in phone stand that can hold some phones upright, depending on their sizes.One thing that would have made this design even better is if it had a built-in USB-C cable. It does have a separate clip to act as a way to hold a short charging cable in place, but its still a separate thing you need to be careful not to lose along your way. Retractable cables seem to be a rising trend in chargers and power banks today, but even a simple, short strip could go a long way in making the Carabiner Battery a self-sufficient accessory designed for the great outdoors.The post Chunky carabiner is actually a petite power bank for your outdoor adventures first appeared on Yanko Design.

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MacworldIt seems obvious: when you open a file in an app through theFile > Openmenu item, you would like to have the same location chosen when you chooseFile > Savefor a new file orFile > Save As(Option key may be required) to save the document under a new name.Clicking the current folder name displays recent folders. The dropdown list shows the most recent locations youve used.The Open dialog (and Save As) dont retain the last place you opened or saved in macOS.FoundryIf you want to control the snapping back of Open/Save As dialogs, you need to install a third-party app, such asDefault Folder X($39.95).This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Ken.Ask Mac 911Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns:read our super FAQto see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours tomac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

MacworldApple released an update to iOS, so what should you expect? We take a look at whats in iOS 18.3, plus talk about the latest Apple news, in this episode of the Macworld Podcast!This is episode 919 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.Watch episode 919 on YouTubeListen to episode 919 on Apple PodcastsListen to episode 919 on SpotifyGet infoFor more information about the topics discussed on the show, click on the links below.5 small (but still kinda big) changes coming to your iPhone in iOS 18.3macOS 15 Sequoia superguide: macOS Sequoia 15.3 now availableThis MacBook Pro was too busted for even AppleCare+ to repairIts safe to wear Apple Watch bands, Apple assures in response to lawsuitOver a dozen ways Samsung ripped off Apple at the Galaxy S25 launchSubscribe to the Macworld PodcastYou can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review!right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworldTo find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone.Apple

Chinas Alibaba Group has launched an upgraded version of its Qwen 2.5 AI model, claiming it outperforms models from DeepSeek, OpenAI, and Meta, as competition in the AI market intensifies.Qwen 2.5-Max outperforms almost across the board GPT-4o, DeepSeek-V3 and Llama-3.1-405B, Alibabas cloud unit said on its WeChat account, according to Reuters.On its GitHub page, the company showed benchmarking results indicating that its instruct models designed for tasks like chat and coding mostly outperformed GPT-4o, DeepSeek-V3, and Llama-3.1-405B, while performing comparably to Claude 3.5-Sonnet.The launch follows DeepSeeks disruptive entry into the market, marked by the Jan 10 debut of its AI assistant powered by the DeepSeek-V3 model and the Jan 20 release of its open-source R1 model.The Chinese startups low-cost strategy has shaken Silicon Valley, sending tech stocks lower and prompting investors to question the sustainability of major US AI firms high-spending approach.Chinas AI race heats upAlibabas launch coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday, a time when much of China is on break, underscoring the growing competitive pressure from DeepSeek.DeepSeeks rapid ascent over the past three weeks has intensified rivalry not only with global players but also among Chinese tech firms.The AI model war is no longer just China versus the US competition within China is also intensifying as companies like DeepSeek, Alibaba, and others innovate and optimize their models to serve a high-scale domestic market, said Neil Shah, partner and co-founder at Counterpoint Research. Chinese companies are being pushed to innovate further due to resource constraints, including limited access to the most advanced semiconductors, global-scale data, tools, infrastructure, and audiences.The race for frugal AIThe race to develop high-performance, cost-efficient AI models is intensifying, challenging the business strategies and pricing structures of major US hyperscalers and AI firms as they seek to recover billions in investment.This gives enterprise buyers and decision-makers more leverage, increasing pricing pressure on AI applications built with more expensive underlying models, Shah said. Such breakthroughs will force enterprises to reconsider, or at least rethink, the economics of AI investments and their choice of models and vendors.DeepSeek is driving immediate pricing considerations in two key areas of AI raw token costs and model development expenses. These factors may force AI companies worldwide to consider optimizing their models to remain competitive.DeepSeeks success also highlights the power of open source, strengthening the argument that open-source AI could become a dominant market later, said Hyoun Park, CEO and chief analyst at Amalgam Insights. If that happens, companies with strong open-source business models for enterprises such as IBM Red Hat and Canonical could step in and rapidly scale AI-related managed services.The geopolitics advantageGeopolitics remains a wild card for Western AI firms, potentially tilting the market in their favor by restricting the adoption of Chinese models in certain regions.At the same time, China is likely to tighten controls on the use of Western AI models, mirroring restrictions seen with other tech applications.Enterprises will first assess whether these models comply with global privacy and regulatory standards before adopting them at scale, said Sharath Srinivasamurthy, associate vice president of Research at IDC.DeepSeeks advancements could lead to more accessible and affordable AI solutions, but they also require careful consideration of strategic, competitive, quality, and security factors, Srinivasamurthy said.However, Chinas substantial investment in AI research and development is only beginning to yield results, according to Srinivasamurthy. Other Chinese firms, like Alibaba, which have also been investing in AI in recent years, may soon start launching their own models.