As officials are still trying to piece together what led to the deadly midair collision between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter in the nation's capital, president Donald Trump is already pointing the finger at his favorite punching bags, if not grasping at straws. And you guessed it: he's blaming woke.In a Thursday speech that was supposed to be addressing the tragedy the worst US air disaster in over 23 years Trump launched into a bizarre rant about why his administration wasn't to blame, taking potshots at everything "DEI" under the sun, including, for some reason, dwarfism.The way Trump sees it, it's the Federal Aviation Administration's DEI hiring policies, which he claims were instituted under former President Biden, that the public should be outraged at."The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems," Trump claimed, . "The FAA's website states they include hearing vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism."On Wednesday night, an American Eagle flight struck an Army Blackhawk helicopter in midair as the plane was coming in to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, killing all 67 people onboard both craft, officials said.It's the deadliest US air disaster since 265 people were killed when an American Airlines jet crashed shortly after taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in 2001.How such a collision could happen in one of the most tightly regulated patches of airspace in the world is unclear. But when asked if diversity hiring among aviation regulators was to blame, Trump refused to rule out the possibility, despite a complete lack of evidence. "It just could have been," Trump said, .Pressed on whether it was too early to link DEI practices with the disaster, Trump responded, per NBC: "I have common sense, OK?"Blaming minorities is a staple of Trump's playbook, so we won't belabor the point. What's really worth highlighting is how quickly aviation authorities descended into chaos immediately after Trump took office.On the day of his inauguration, FAA administrator Michael Whitaker stepped down after months of pressure from the president's "First Buddy" Elon Musk, with a replacement yet to be appointed.More directly, Trump passed an executive order freezing all new hires of already chronically understaffed air traffic controllers, fired the head of the Transportation Security Administration, and completely cleared out a key aviation safety group at the Department of Homeland Security.While you could debate how much of an impact Trump'schanges could've had after barely aweek in office, it's certainly more substantive to scrutinize his policies than baselessly blaming minorities.Share This Article

Jan 31, 2025Ravie LakshmananVulnerability / HealthcareThe U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued alerts about the presence of hidden functionality in Contec CMS8000 patient monitors and Epsimed MN-120 patient monitors.The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-0626, carries a CVSS v4 score of 7.7 on a scale of 10.0. The flaw, alongside two other issues, was reported to CISA by an anonymous external researcher."The affected product sends out remote access requests to a hard-coded IP address, bypassing existing device network settings to do so," CISA said in an advisory. "This could serve as a backdoor and lead to a malicious actor being able to upload and overwrite files on the device.""The reverse backdoor provides automated connectivity to a hard-coded IP address from the Contec CMS8000 devices, allowing the device to download and execute unverified remote files. Publicly available records show that the IP address is not associated with a medical device manufacturer or medical facility but a third-party university."Two other identified vulnerabilities in the devices are listed below -CVE-2024-12248 (CVSS v4 score: 9.3) - An out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could allow an attacker to send specially formatted UDP requests in order to write arbitrary data, resulting in remote code executionCVE-2025-0683 (CVSS v4 score: 8.2) - A privacy leakage vulnerability that causes plain-text patient data to be transmitted to a hard-coded public IP address when the patient is attached to the monitorSuccessful exploitation of CVE-2025-0683 could allow the device with that unspecified IP address to gain access to confidential patient information or open the door to an adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) scenario.The security holes affect the following products -CMS8000 Patient Monitor: Firmware version smart3250-2.6.27-wlan2.1.7.cramfsCMS8000 Patient Monitor: Firmware version CMS7.820.075.08/0.74(0.75)CMS8000 Patient Monitor: Firmware version CMS7.820.120.01/0.93(0.95)CMS8000 Patient Monitor: All versions (CVE-2025-0626 and CVE-2025-0683)"These cybersecurity vulnerabilities can allow unauthorized actors to bypass cybersecurity controls, gaining access to and potentially manipulating the device," the FDA said, adding it's "not aware of any cybersecurity incidents, injuries, or deaths related to these cybersecurity vulnerabilities at this time."Given that these vulnerabilities remain unpatched, CISA is recommending that organizations unplug and remove any Contec CMS8000 devices from their networks. It's worth noting that the devices are also re-labeled and sold under the name Epsimed MN-120.It's also advised to check the patient monitors for any signs of unusual functioning, such as "inconsistencies between the displayed patient vitals and the patient's actual physical state."CMS8000 Patient Monitor is manufactured by Contec Medical Systems, a developer of medical devices that are located in Qinhuangdao, China. On its website, the company claims its products are FDA-approved and distributed to over 130 countries and regions.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Matthew Lillard is returning to the Scream series.The 55-year-old actor portrayed Stu Macher in the first 1996 movie but despite one of the original Ghostface killers being killed off when Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) dropped a TV on his head, he's revealed he is returning for the upcoming Scream 7.Deadline confirmed the news after the actor shared a teaser on Instagram, in which his hand could be seen writing one of Stus famous quotes.All in capital letters, the writing stated: My mom and dad are gonna be soo mad at me!! (sic)The news comes shortly after it was revealed Scott Foley, who played Sidney's half-brother Roman Bridger, another presumed dead Ghostface, in Scream 3 will also be returning to the franchise in the upcoming film.No details of either actors return storylines have been revealed, including whether or not they will be reprising the same roles.READ MORE: EveryScream Movie, Ranked From Worst to BestLillardpreviously revealed there was a version of Scream 3 which would have revealed he had survived in the original film, but plans for him to return were changed at the last minute.He told Vulture in 2022: I was supposed do Scream 3. I got paid for 3. Not really well, but I ended up getting paid for something I didnt do because the idea was that Id be running high-school killers from jail.Look, its a horror movie! Crazy things happen all the time. Have you seen Friday the 13th? Jason comes back like Stu still could come back.Scream also featured Skeet Ulrich as another Ghostface, Billy Loomis, and that character returned as a vision in both Scream (5) and Scream VI.Joel McHale was recently announced to be starring in Scream 7 as Mark Evans, the husband of Sidney, while Isabel May will play their daughter.The Community actor will be joining Anna Camp, Celeste OConnor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace and Sam Rechner as a newcomer to the Scream franchise, while familiar faces like Neve and Courteney Cox, who plays Gale Weathers, will be returning for the horror film.While plot details about Scream 7 are unknown, it is likely the movie will pit Sidney Prescott against the dreaded Ghostface once again.The film - which is slated to hit cinemas in February 2026 - will not however include Scream VIs Jenna Ortega, who played Tara Carpenter, with a scheduling conflict with the Netflix show Wednesday preventing the actress from appearing in the slasher.Get our free mobile app10 Horror Movies So Extreme They Made People Physically SickDon't watch these movies if you have a weak stomach!Gallery Credit: Emma Stefansky

Theres an art to crafting the perfect movie title, and the best ones reveal just enough of a movies vibe without giving away anything that happens. Enough to intrigue, without spoiling. Its a fine needle to thread, but somehow most movies manage to do it, drawing us in with just a couple of words and convincing us to stay for two or more hours.But there are movies whose titles are a little confusing, or downright nonsensical. This can also work in a movies favor what better way to find out what a movies title means than by ... going to see it?? Tickets are bought, the movie profits, the audience finds out what it all means, and everyones happy. There are some titles, however, that are so weird you wouldnt even be able to fathom what theyre referring to until youre actually sitting down and watching the movie. These sometimes stick with us the longest.Today, were celebrating those movies whose titles give us absolutely nothing; phrases or even made-up words and names that might not even be revealed in the actual film, whose meaning you have to parse on your own. Some of these movies use the words in the movie, some of them dont, but, by the time youve watched them, you usually have a pretty good grasp on why their makers chose to call them that. Just dont ask us to explain what quantum of solace actually means.Movie Titles That Only Make Sense When You See the MovieThe only way to find out what these movies are about is to watch them.Gallery Credit: Emma StefanskyREAD MORE: The Best Movie Titles in HistoryGet our free mobile app12 Movie Performances So Bad They Became IconicThey might be bad, but they're also impossible to forget.Gallery Credit: Emma Stefansky

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8)Wed love to hear from you if youre enthusiastic and knowledgeable about spreadsheets, both Google Sheets and Excel, have a knack for solving riddles, love helping people, and have an interest in personal and small business finances.Tiller is a nimble, distributed company revolutionizing the way people handle their finances. We make it easy to track your spending and manage your money in a spreadsheet with daily bank feeds and helpful templates. Were passionate about empowering people with their financial data in a flexible, customizable format so they can take control of their future.As a Tiller Customer Support Representative youre on the frontlines interacting with our customers and helping them troubleshoot issues ranging from a bank data connection gone bad to an N/A error in cell B12 in the Foundation Template. Youll also be responsible for helping educate customers on the product, answering basic questions like how to sort a large data set in a spreadsheet or sharing ideas and content for how they can customize their spreadsheets to best meet their specific money management needs.For most customers, youll be one of the only people at Tiller they get to know. By joining the team, youll be instrumental in growing our strong reputation for a responsive and friendly customer experience that will ultimately empower customers to take charge of their finances and own their destiny.About You:You were born a problem solver and you love helping people.Youre available five days per week for a minimum of a 6 hour shift, including Saturday or Sunday.You have a working knowledge of Google Sheets & Microsoft Excel.Youre so passionate about diving into products that of course youll read every help center article (and youll probably have many suggested improvements to these articles).You have 1+ years of customer support experience or a background that makes you a perfect fit.Up-to-date LinkedIn profile.BONUS POINTS FORBackground in or passion for personal finances or small business finances.IN YOUR ROLE YOU WILL:Gain a deep understanding of the inner workings of Tiller and our product.Spend most hours of your workday in Intercom, our support messaging tool, or Discourse, our community forum, responding to customer and community inquiries.Assist in evolving the customer success program at Tiller.A FEW EMPLOYEE PERKS:Work from anywhere in the US.Awesome, supportive colleagues who know how to have a good laugh together.A Mac to help you do your best work.Tiller is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.POSITION DETAILS30-40 hours a week expectedHealth insurance and PTO benefits eligible after full time for 30 daysPay starting at $20 per hour.This is an hourly position with direct deposit paychecks twice per month. Related Jobs See more Customer Support jobs

We are currently hiring globally for this role, with the exception of the US. Want to join a team of A players in an exciting, high-growth, entrepreneurial environment?LeadSimple is a leading SaaS company dedicated to helping property managers streamline their communications, operations, and growth. Founded in 2013, LeadSimple offers a comprehensive CRM, operations and maintenance workflow automation, and centralized communication platform tailored specifically for the property management industry. Our mission is to tame small business chaos by providing intuitive, powerful tools that enable property managers to efficiently manage their properties, improve tenant satisfaction, and drive growth. With a focus on delivering full solutions through software, integrations, content, and partnerships, LeadSimple is committed to supporting property managers every step of the way.We are a boot-strapped startup with product-market fit, scaling revenue, and a large addressable market opportunity. Our team is composed of seasoned leaders from SaaS, property management, and real estate businesses with significant high-growth company experience.Joining LeadSimple means becoming part of a dynamic and innovative team that is dedicated to helping property managers succeed. Employees at LeadSimple benefit from a supportive and collaborative work environment, competitive salaries, and a range of perks and benefits. We foster a culture of transparency and open communication, ensuring that employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to the company's success. If youre driven by making a positive impact on peoples lives and want to support our mission, wed love to hear from you.Role SummaryThe mission of the Customer Support Rep II is to assist customers by providing advanced technical support on issues escalated by the Customer Support Rep I team. The focus is to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues to increase customers interaction with the product to improve full adoption.Expectations for your first 90 days:Confidence in handling customer issues independently by 90 days. The expectation is that 75% of tickets can be handled autonomously.CSR will respond to customer inquiries and own the outcome. No one will know everything, but the CSR needs to be able to handle the majority of customer issues autonomously.Equal contributor of workload responsibilities. Reps must handle an equal amount of work dispersed amongst the team. As an example, if we have 4 reps and a manager, you would be expected to work 25% of the ticket load for the week.We are a small team, and in order for our team to run efficiently everyone needs to pull their share of the workload. The expectation is that the CSR will handle an equal amount of work as the other CSR members, excluding managers. We expect each team member to update or write at least one help article per month.Customer Obsession - Maintain high CSAT Score of 96.0%Our core value of customer obsession is paramount at LeadSimple. We expect a CSAT score of 96%.A day in the life ofCustomer-Centric Approach: Cultivates strong and enduring relationships with clients across all levels through professional communication, fostering loyalty.Problem Resolution Proficiency: Demonstrates adeptness in addressing client inquiries and concerns with the utmost professionalism, respect, and courtesy.Consultative Expertise: Possesses a deep understanding of LeadSimple's capabilities, effectively communicating this to clients in an engaging manner for accurate internal handoffs.Coachability and Continuous Improvement: Open to feedback and guidance, actively seeking opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge for role advancement.Perks:8 Company Holidays + Week off at ChristmasUnlimited PTO1 Volunteer day with the organization of your choiceBirthday lunch on us Monthly Healthcare AllowanceMonthly WFH AllowanceYearly Vacation AllowanceFun and outcome driven work environment with a smart, hard working teamLocation independenceMission driven company and values-based culturePlease only apply if you:Are proficient in troubleshooting Tier 2 support issues and effectively communicating with technical teams.Embrace learning new technologyLearn fastCommunicate crisplyProactively seek solutionsOwn the outcomeEmbody emotional maturityBring an optimistic can do attitudeSupply your own internet and smartphone2-5 years of experienceHave B2B SaaS experience (preferred)We have an amazing team of A Players and were ready to add more! Selected candidates might have written assessments and multiple interviews with different people. Well do whatever it takes to get the right person in the right seat.If you think you would thrive in the above environment and make an impact for our customers, wed love to talk to you!**NOTE: We are only accepting applications outside of the US that can work in North America time zones.In summary...You can do it in an officeYou can do it from homeWe really dont careAs long as its known What matters is thisWhen the chips are downAnd your back is against the wallCan we count on you to make the right call?Judgment, intuition, or care by another nameWe call it Owning The Outcome - because it really is the whole gameHave the customers back, and they will treat you the sameIf you can do thatThen were birds of the same featherSo come join our team and well make music together.

Wallmakers Reveals Snake House That Forms A Whirlpool On A Steep Hillside In Indiahtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"This house, which wraps around two trees, creates a snake shape and offers a surprising visual experience. Situated in Shoolagiri village, India, the house, named Chuzhi House, was designed by Wallmakers at the request of a client who wanted to build in challenging terrain.The Chuzhi House is not located in a region known for stunning views or a landscape that many would find appealing for building. Instead, it is situated in an area that typically lacks interest for residential development.The house resembles a snake, and Wallmakers refers to the design concept as "camouflage" architecture.A project called Chuzhi seeks to define what can be constructed on unusual locations that are typically thought of as "unsuitable" for building.The owner of the plot in the gated community of Sanctity Fermein, located in the scenic area of Shoolagiri, faced challenges due to undesirable obscure plots at the edge of the community.These plots were identified by steep rocky terrain, large trees, and dense vegetation, which made people hesitant to build homes there because the buildable area appeared to be smaller.The studio stated that our idea of camouflage architecture, in which we want the buildings to remain hidden and blend in seamlessly with the existing topography, seems appropriate in these modern times when people are preoccupied with getting picturesque views from their homes and less concerned with how their homes wind up looking like unnatural eyesores in pristine, picturesque landscapes."Chuzhi as the meaning suggests in Malayalam, whirlpool are swirls of precast poured debris earth composite bottle beams, fashioned from 4000 discarded plastic bottles designed around the three large Tamarind trees on site," said Wallmakers."The idea was to make a subterranean home that would originate from the rock bed, forming multiple whirls around the tree and adjoining to create a secure private space below for the residents and aspace around the trees above that ensures that the thick vegetation and ecosystem continues to thrive undisturbed," the studio added.Chuzhi's swirls begin as walls and ascend in a spiral pattern to form the roof. The glass roof of the house, which is positioned between the three trees, gives you the impression that you are living beneath their canopy.The roof serves as a seating area around the tree, effectively separating the public and private areas despite the house's lack of elevation.Without compromising the comfort of the people inside, the plan was to preserve the surrounding area and the natural ecosystem of trees above the house.The open floor plan and simple interior design of Chuzhi, a two-bedroom home, use reclaimed wood floors that have been fixed together. The building's ability to blend in with the surroundings, like a snake curled up behind a rock on a hot day, is a startling truth.Image Fernando Alda CalvoImage Fernando Alda CalvoImage Fernando Alda CalvoImage Fernando Alda CalvoImage Fernando Alda CalvoImage Fernando Alda CalvoFloor planCross sectionLongitudinal sectionWallmakers, recently, converted an art hub's spacious roof into an open air amphitheatre in Ernakulum, Kerala, India. In addition, the firm designed The Ledge that overlooks Peeremedu, a hill station in the South of Kerala.Wallmakers was founded in 2007 by Vinu Daniel. The firm focuses on minimizing carbon footprint in buildings by working with natural materials, such as mud and waste originating in and imported to, India."We Must Give Back To The Site" Wallmakers Founder Vinu Daniel said in WAC's exclusive interview.Project factsProject name: Chuzhi HouseArchitects:WallmakersLocation:Shoolagiri, India.Completion Year:2022Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2):2122 ft2Lead Architects:Vinu Daniel, Neeraj S. Mural, Rajesh KhannaAll images Syam Sreesylam unless otherwise stated.All drawings Wallmakers.> via Wallmakers

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Zaha Hadid Architects has created material-rich showroom interiors for Marisfrolg Fashion Group in Shenzhen, China.Named Marisfrolg Showroom, the 2,900-square-metre showroom is located at the heart of Marisfrolg Fashion Groups Shenzhen campus.Image Zhu YumengThe group's nine distinct labels' exquisite tailoring, timeless style, and luxurious fabrics all inform the design.Since its founding in 1993, the Marisfrolg Fashion Group has expanded to more than 400 stores in 100 cities, working with creative designers from around the globe to create collections that highlight the group's unwavering dedication to the best possible craftsmanship and quality.Image Zhu YumengZHA's interiors, which include the main flagship store, a pop-up shop for temporary events and exhibitions, a homeware gallery for furniture and dcor, a caf, and an outdoor courtyard, all reflect the spirit of Marisfrolg's distinctive labels.ZHA's showroom design, which echoes the original "butterfly-wing" structure of the headquarters, exhibits a cohesive architectural language of dynamism. Each label's unique aspects create a different spatial experience that reflects their personality.Image Zhu YumengBuilt from recycled aggregates, the Marisfrolg Showroom serves as the group's material-rich gallery. While its partition walls are made of glass reinforced gypsum (GRG) and made from wax molds that can be recycled by simply melting and remilling the wax, its flooring are made of recycled crushed glass, quartz, sand, and stone.Image courtesy of MarisfrolgGlass, plastics, paper, textiles, wood, and ceramics are just a few of the recycled materials used to create the showroom's ZHA-designed furniture and displays, which are all intended to reflect and enhance Marisfrolg's brands and merchandise.Image courtesy of MarisfrolgImage courtesy of MarisfrolgImage courtesy of MarisfrolgImage Zhu YumengModel Photo by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsRecently, ZHA completed the restoration and renovation of the 16th century historic Roman Palazzo into Hotel Romeo Roma in Italy. Additionally, the firm revealed design for its first project in Malaysia, the plans are developed in collaboration with JLand Group Sdn Bhd (JLG). Moreover, the firm began construction on the lemiste Passenger Terminal in Tallinn, Estonia.Project factsProject name:Marisfrolg ShowroomArchitect:Zaha Hadid ArchitectsZHA Project Director (s):Satoshi Ohashi, Yang JingwenZHA Project Architect (s):Lida ZhangZHA Project Team:Seungho Yeo, Xuexin Duan, Sai Prateik Bhasgi, Xiangfan Chen, Du Huang, Junya Huang, Huiyuan Li, Henry Louth, Jiamin Lu, Lei Song, Xiujing Wang, Weimeng ZhangClient:Shenzhen Marisfrolg Fashion Co., Ltd.,ConsultantsLocal Architect:Shenzhen Donghai Construction Group Co., Ltd.Structural Engineers:Shenzhen Qiandian Architectural Structure Design Office Co., Ltd.General Contractor:Shenzhen Qianlan Construction & Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.Lighting Design:LIGHTDESIGN INC., Shenzhen DashengEnvironmental Art Co., LtdTop image courtesy of Marisfrolg.> via ZHA

City signs off plans for 54-storey office block set to be built by MultiplexHow the public realm at the base of the tower would look when builtRSHPs plans for a 54-storey tower at 99 Bishopsgate in the City of London have been given the green light.A recommendation from planning officers to approve the application was backed by councillors this morning, with 17 voting in favour, no votes against and two abstentions.CGI of RSHPs plans for the 99 Bishopsgate siteConstruction on the 100,000 sq m building could start as soon as next year, according to its developer Brookfield, which is lining up its subsidiary Multiplex as main contractor.Shravan Joshi, chair of the Citys planning and transportation committee, said: A much-needed office development has been approved in the City of London and it speaks to the confidence that global investors have in the local real estate market, as well as the UK economy, more widely.The 99 Bishopsgate scheme will also give the Square Mile one of the largest public realm upgrades from a single planning application, in recent history, increasing the walkability of the City, so that it becomes a safer and more pleasant place to travel through.The building will see the demolition to ground level of the sites existing 28-storey building, which is the current UK base of Multiplex.The replacement scheme will include a substantial new public realm area at ground level with a food and retail market, new pedestrian routes and a standalone six-storey cultural building.City planners said ahead of the committee meeting that the proposals exude architectural excellence and would provide an exceptional new addition to the edge of the Square Miles main tower cluster.But it had been criticised by Historic England and St Pauls Cathedral, which both lodged objections, after raising concerns about the schemes potential impact on protected views.The project team for 99 Bishopsgate includes T&T Alinea on costs, AKT II on structural engineering, Ramboll on MEP services, Atelier Ten on sustainability, Momentum on transport, GIA on sunlight and wind, Trium Environmental Consulting on environment and Andy Sturgeon as landscape architect.Planning consultant DP9, communications consultant Kanda Consulting and heritage and townscape consultant The Townscape Consultancy are also on the team.

US company had been expected to make final decision on 283ha project by the end of last yearUniversal Studios Florida is among the most visited theme parks in the worldThe US company behind plans to build Europes largest theme park on a 283ha site in Bedfordshire is having productive conversations with the UK government, it has said.Florida-based Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDE announced its plans for a Universal Studios theme park in the UK last year after buying the brownfield land and has been preparing a planning application.The firms parent company, multinational media giant Comcast, said in May that it hoped to make a final decision on the scheme by the end of 2024.The site in Bedfordshire where the park could be builtA report in Bloomberg earlier this month suggested chancellor Rachel Reeves could endorse the project in her speech on the economy this week, where she gave government backing to a number of large infrastructure schemes including a third runway at Heathrow Airport.Blake Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, where the park could be built, said in the House of Commons yesterday that people may have been surprised that Reeves did not mention the project and asked when talks would conclude.Chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones replied: I hope to come back shortly with updates, although he did not provide a date.A spokesperson for UDE said: We are having productive conversations with the UK government and will have more to share at the appropriate time.Both the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which is the sponsor for the project, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which is understood to be overseeing the planning process, have declined to comment.UDE has claimed the park, which is expected to have a construction value of several billion pounds, could provide 28,000 jobs and 14bn in tax revenue to government coffers in its first 20 years of operation.It is being envisaged as a direct competitor and would be larger than Disneyland Paris, which is currently the most visited tourist attraction in Europe.The firms 541-acre Universal Studios Florida is among the most visited theme parks in the world and was the first of a chain which now includes parks in Los Angeles, Japan, China and Singapore.Last July, leaders of six local authorities signed a letter urging Keir Starmer to green light the project, which Bedford borough mayor Tom Wootton said would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure transformational economic growth and development for the region.The venture might have been given a further boost in December following news that plans for a major rival, the 3.5bn London Resort which would have been built on the Thames Estuary, have been scrapped.The 465ha park, which had also been billed as Europes largest, was first proposed more than 14 years ago but the High Court hasordered the company behind the scheme to be wound up.Its planning application had been withdrawn in 2022 after Natural England raised concerns that its former industrial site on the Swanscombe Peninsula provided ideal conditions for a unique variety of wildlife, including one of the UKs rarest spiders.