Was he caught with his hands in the cookie jar?DOGE WhistleOne of Elon Musk's lackeys at his DOGE group, Marko Elez, unexpectedly resigned on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal revealed a litany of extremely racist social media posts he'd apparently made shortly before joining the team.The exact reason for his abrupt departure remains unclear. However, as Wired reports, White House officials seem to have provided incorrect information about Elez only being given "read-only" permissions to the US Treasury codebase, hinting at the possibility that he could have been in trouble for things other than the egregiously racist posts linked to his departure.According to Wired, Elez did in fact have write access, allowing him to push unvetted and untested changes straight to the Treasury's payments system a nightmare scenario that could introduce all sorts of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and leave doors open for adversary hacker groups.In other words, given Musk's well-established leniency and penchant for racist ideologies, there may be far more to the story than the WSJ's reporting lets on. Did Elez push code changes to a payments system responsible for a gargantuan $5.45 trillion in 2024?Put simply, it looks like Elon's DOGE boy was doing something naughty and regardless of whether he had "permission" from Musk, he may have ended up taking the fall for it.Cookie JarAdding to the ominous signs around Elez' activity and departure, the blog Talking Points Memo reported this week that Elez had made "extensive changes" to the system before his write access was revoked on February 5. In other words, it sounds a lot like White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was either intentionally or unintentionally obfuscating the truth by claiming that Elez only had "read" permissions.On the same day his code-writing privileges were rescinded, a federal judge ruled to temporarily restrict any DOGE staffers from making changes to the payment system in light of a lawsuit filed against DOGE, specifically singling out Elez and fellow DOGE employee Tom Krause.Lawmakers are now demanding answers following the allegedly unlawful infiltration of the US government's treasure chest."People will be held accountable for the crimes theyre committing in this coup attempt," senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), who has publicly demanded answers about DOGE's "illegal seizure of Americans' private data," told Wired. "Im not letting up on my investigation of what these Musk hatchet men are up to."Share This Article

Joao-Pierre S. Ruth, Senior EditorFebruary 7, 20257 Min ReadElon Musk, Krakow, Poland on January 22, 2024Michal Busko via Alamy Stock PhotoAs members of Congress, federal employees, and more than a dozen state attorneys general clash with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over the legality of their actions and claims of accessing sensitive data with murky oversight and security, what example does the controversy set for CIOs on transparency and accountability?Quarrels in the political arena include questions about information accessed by DOGE, an advisory organization created by executive order rather than an actual department with Cabinet-level authority approved by Congress. Musks team reportedly accessed data from the Treasury Department and other federal information systems, raising concerns that DOGE had the power to halt Social Security and Medicare payments.What oversight exists for Musk and DOGE remains unclear, just as it is unclear what security protocols were put in place to protect the accessed data.These actions could create a future quandary for US regulators who seek guardrails on data privacy. If DOGEs handling of sensitive data is permitted with uncertain oversight, why should CIOs and their organizations face scrutiny?The events that were witnessing in Washington right now are truly unprecedented, says Paul Barrett, deputy director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at New York Universitys Stern School of Business. Theres never been a systematic deployment of unconfirmed, not publicly identified, questionably qualified people throughout the federal bureaucracy, pushing aside legally protected, congressionally approved civil service workforces and delving into information systems and other aspects of the federal bureaucracy for purposes that are not being publicly disclosed or discussed, potentially violating an unfathomable number of laws, defying congressional intent in terms of interfering with programs that are established by statute -- and we have no idea where its all headed.Related:Barrett cites the traditional process of taking action on approved federal departments includes the drafting of bills that would work their way through Congress, with hearings and debate. Thats democracy, he says. Its a completely different process to have a raft of executive orders issued and then to have an unspecified kind of army of apparatchiks attached to an unconfirmed, unelected, Silicon Valley billionaire who, invoking these vague executive orders, sends his people in, who say We demand access to this computer system.Guardrails for Handling Sensitive DataRelated:For years now, data privacy policy gained momentum on the international stage with Europes GDPR enforced in 2018 and domestically, at least at the state level, with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in 2018 and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) in 2020, for example.Despite the activity in the US capital, it seems the private sector intends to maintain its own best practices in how sensitive data should be handled. I think transparency is the key, and CIOs need to be clean and be transparent on the level of data privacy that theyre offering to both internal customers and, in a company, Anand Kashyap, co-founder and CEO of data security provider Fortanix, says. CIOs and their companies should also remain transparent about their products ability to collect personal data, the privacy that can be provided, and how another party might get their hands on that data. Can the data be accessed by the government through a blind subpoena? If they can, then your company should be transparent about it.Kashyap says many companies tend to have transparency mechanisms in place to keep track of when the government asks for data in order to be clear about the level of privacy being offered. However, it might not be feasible to lock down privacy completely from government reach. If you want to provide more privacy, like the GDPR, there are procedural and legal ways to do that, but government is super powerful, so subverting government is simply not possible, he says, suggesting encryption as a means to protect data.Related:Leading by Their Own ExampleRegardless of how government or quasigovernment entities operate, companies must still see to the protection of the data they retain. Typically, there is a CIO which is responsible for procurement of all IT inside an organization, Kashyap says. CISOs set the security policies of how data should be classified inside an organization and then how data of various classifications should be protected through various means. CISOs typically have teams which are building security tools to actually provide the data security. Data might be handled by multiple teams inside an organization, he says, which can fall under the purview of data officers with discussions about which platforms, servers, and policies to follow.Scrutiny of how sensitive data gets handled and protected stems from very real concerns about the damage that might be done to all parties involved if it winds up in the wrong hands. Rajan Koo, CTO for insider risk management platform provider DTEX Systems, says massive data breaches, seen across many kinds of organizations, can echo long after the technical and even monetary issues are dealt with. What weve found is that the true cost of those data breaches is often the PR issues, the reputational damage that gets encountered, the loss of trust in their customer base for handling their data and handling their privacy, Koo says. So reputational damage is one of those really big knock-on effects from having a data breach or having information stolen.Data security is also important to safeguard intellectual property, especially for organizations working on AI or novel research in pharmaceuticals, where Koo says there can be a threat of foreign interference and espionage. Organizations have really woken up to the fact that this can really put them out of business maybe five or 10 years down the track, he says. The forward-looking CIOs and the CXOs of these organizations do see and understand that. Koo also says more mature organizations may have that in mind and tend to look beyond simply meeting regulations on data security. I think the less mature ones typically will do the minimum thats required to keep their business functioning and appease the regulators, he says.Maintaining Confidence in Data SecurityCompliance and security is a conversation we have with customers on a daily basis, says Bill Bruno, CEO of identity and data platform provider Celebrus. His company works with financial institutions, which historically face regulatory scrutiny, and with healthcare clients where HIPAA compliance comes into play. Precedents on data privacy set by European Union law also continue to proliferate around the world and guide how companies handle sensitive information.Every sort of place where weve deployed, theres something governing it, and usually, as has been the case for many years, its all started in Europe and it kind of spreads from there, Bruno says. Even for our clients in [the Asia-Pacific], or the clients in South America -- all of it is like an adaptation on GDPR at the end of the day.Though Europe led the way on such policy, Bruno says a 2017 US media transparency study, which he co-authored and was driven by the Association of National Advertisers, called out how data was being shared. It highlighted how data was being used, he says, how people, organizations, advertising ecosystems, etcetera were using consumer data in non-transparent ways -- in ways that maybe you didnt even realize as a consumer was happening.That led to advertisements that followed consumers around their digital spaces without them realizing how or why marketers targeted them in that way -- potentially through the use of data they collected. GDPR, when it was brought in, was really to create transparency and to stop the sharing and the pooling of consumer data without explicit permission, Bruno says.Potential Policy HypocrisyNationwide regulations on data privacy remain in debate, but NYUs Barrett says even if the United States already possessed its own version of GDPR or had ratified the Privacy Bill of Rights, it might not matter, given recent events. In this environment, Im not sure how relevant or pertinent those things would be, because we do have all kinds of laws that would appear to prohibit the activity that's going on at the behest of Elon Musk and those laws are not slowing him down in the least.What were seeing is the most dramatic illustration of how power in the 21st century is just as much a function of digital data as it is guns and ammunition, Barrett says. That you can change the world if you can control information, and you know thats hard to absorb because men in uniforms with guns are such a more familiar image when you talk about power.Read more about:RegulationAbout the AuthorJoao-Pierre S. RuthSenior EditorJoao-Pierre S. Ruth covers tech policy, including ethics, privacy, legislation, and risk; fintech; code strategy; and cloud & edge computing for InformationWeek. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years, reporting on business and technology first in New Jersey, then covering the New York tech startup community, and later as a freelancer for such outlets as TheStreet, Investopedia, and Street Fight.See more from Joao-Pierre S. RuthNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

We love watching drama shows because drama is exciting. Its fun to watch a bunch of characters navigate difficult and impossible situations. While comedies are the backbone of television, dramas dominate water cooler conversations, awards shows, and demand the most thoughtful engagement from their viewers, usually because the subjects they cover war, death, crime, family issues are pretty serious.Thats all well and good, but there are times when its worth it to let everyone, characters and viewers alike, take a bit of a breather and focus on something a little bit lighter. That often comes in the form of a bottle episode, a self-contained hour where nothing much happens that affects the plot, but character relationships are deepened through navigating odd circumstances. The other form these episodes tend to take is the funny one.Like a comedian cast in a dramatic role, its always fun to watch a great dramatic show explore what the show would be like if it were funnier. These episodes are unexpected, yet welcome, an opportunity for everyone to relax a little bit and goof off while the big arc of the season takes a backseat.Some of these episodes are complete standalones, focusing on one adventure with a few characters that doesnt have any plot ramifications down the line. Others follow the shows general formula, but take a more lighthearted approach to the material, inserting unexpected laughs and an overall nicer tone. Many of these episodes are counted among their shows best. Lets take a look at some of the funniest.The Funniest Episodes of Drama TV ShowsThese episodes inject some levity into the drama of our favorite shows.Gallery Credit: Emma StefanskyREAD MORE: Once-Beloved Fast Food Items That No Longer ExistGet our free mobile appThe 10 Worst TV Game Shows of All TimeFrom boring to overcomplicated to just plain offensive, we've plumbed the depths of the last few decades of reality game show television to bring you the worst of the worst.Gallery Credit: Emma Stefansky

Submitted by WA ContentsCIVILISTANBUL'25 will be held from 25 to 28 February 2025 in IstanbulTurkey Architecture News - Feb 07, 2025 - 16:18 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"CivilIstanbul started as "RIJIT" in 2012, and has been known as "Civil Istanbul Architecture and Engineering Conferences" since 2014. It is now the leading event within the construction industry for the YTU Society of Construction.Through a varety of interesting conferences, panel discussions, workshops and other engaging activites, our aim is to bring together leading companies and thought-provoking speakers from both national and international spheres to address current issues and explore future perspectves. Our goal is to reunite speakers with our participants ths year. By doing this, we make sure that CivilIstanbul remains an important gathering place for those passionate about the industry, providing them with information on the newest advancements and future trends.CivilIstanbul'25, which will be held in the last week of February, will last for four days and will include conferences, panels and Meet and Greet's on the first two days where we can spend time with the companies in our foyer area, which are the representatives of the sector, and a special disaster section on the second day where we can discuss all situations of disaster as well as conferences. On the third day, CIVILFEST, which will be held for the second time this year, and CIVILCASE, which will be held for the first time in the history of CivilIstanbul, will take place.On the last day of the event, technical visits will be organised to architectural offices, construction sites, etc. where new applications are realised, which will reinforce the knowledge gained during the conference and are in line with the topics of the event.OpenGala, which will take place the day before the start of the event, and traditional night, cultural tours and various social activites to be held during the event will provide an environment of fun and mingling with the participants.The themes of CivilIstanbul'25 are Human, Energy, Disaster, and Technology.Sessions are listed below:Neuro ArchitectureBio MimicryRegenerative DesignVibrant Spaces Living BuildingsSmart BuildingsRenewable EnergyWaste and Water RecyclingEnergy Efficiency in City InfrastructuresMapping of Transmission LinesAdaptive ReuseTelematics MontoringBuilding AutomationBIMMetaverseArtificial Intelligence in the Construction IndustryPrefabricated Modular SystemsDroughtWater Level RiseSoil ErosionEarthquake Climate CrisisBuilding Sector; Yesterday, Today, TomorrowVocational Education LeadershipHistory of ArchitectureCareer StepsAbout accomodationAccommodation for participants will be fully organised by our team to ensure a stress-free experence. All participant fees cover the accommodation.Our team will manage all arrangements, from selecting comfortable lodgings to ensuring a smooth stay. Participants can expect comfortable and enjoyable accommodation throughout the event, allowing them to concentrate on ther experience without having to worry about accommodation.For further details, visit the event's website, and download the the catalogue of the event: CIVILISTANBUL'25 INTRODUCTION CATALOGUE_.pdf.The top image courtesy of CivilIstanbul'25.> via CivilIstanbul'25architecture event

Ready to add a newMaxshow to your rotation?These days, it's Max -- not HBO Max -- that delivers HBO to the streaming masses. The service is home to popular shows like Succession, The White Lotus, Hacks and The Sex Lives of College Girls. There's no shortage of exceptional fare to explore.Max unites the HBO Max and Discovery Plus libraries. Here are the highly rated shows you shouldn't wait to watch, plus this month's new releases.Read more: Best Movies on Max What's new on Max in FebruaryNote:These descriptions are taken from press releases and lightly edited for style.Feb. 16The White Lotus, season 3 premiere (2021- ): Anthology. The social satire is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week. Feb. 16Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, season 12 premiere (2014- ):Talk show. It offers a satirical and meticulously researched look at current events in the US and around the globe.Feb. 25Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest, premiere (2025- ):Docuseries. It illuminates the bold stories of people and communities who continue to work for equity and racial justice in the years since the birth of the American civil rights movement. Best HBO and Max original TV seriesThis list focuses on shows that have premiered a new season since 2023 (or are currently renewed for more seasons) and have a score of at least 70 on Metacritic.Drama Warrick Page/Max The Pitt (2025- ) A lot can happen in one day on the job in a hospital's emergency department. This new, modern-day medical drama fills its 15-hour first season with what transpires during a single shift. Created by ER executive producer R. Scott Gemmill and starring ER's Noah Wyle as chief attendant Michael Rabinavitch, this compelling and realistic series is worth checking out. Liane Hentscher/HBO The Last of Us (2023- ) This TV adaptation of a popular video game follows hardened survivor Joel (The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal) and spunky teen Ellie (Game of Thrones' Bella Ramsey) as they face human and not-quite-human dangers in a postapocalyptic world. Warner Media House of the Dragon (2022- ) Creating a show as beloved as Game of Thrones is tough to pull off, but HBO spin-off House of the Dragon soars to impressive heights. Set hundreds of years before fantasy series GoT, the prequel depicts how infighting and tragedy consume House Targaryen. Multiple players clamor for power, including Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). Max The White Lotus (2021- ) What was initially a limited series was so good HBO renewed it for a second season. The satire about guests at a fancy resort gradually unveils the darker edges of its picture-perfect postcard. The White Lotus features an ensemble cast, including Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Steve Zahn, Molly Shannon and more hilarious people, who make this series soar. If that wasn't enough, a murder mystery with the big reveal waiting till the very end will keep you thoroughly entertained. Amanda Searle/HBO Industry (2020- ) If you're missing the competition and drama on display in Succession, you should pay attention to this HBO series. The first season follows young graduates, including Harper Stern (Myha'la from Netflix's Leave the World Behind), as they step foot into London's Pierpoint & Co. The early 20-somethings hope for permanent jobs at the leading international bank. Eddy Chen/HBO Euphoria (2019- ) Euphoria's second installment is on Max now. This visually stunning series has garnered its fair share of fans, and it's not hard to see why -- the absorbing performances, cinematography and exploration of mature topics make this show shine. If nothing else, stick around to see Dune star Zendaya, who plays teenager Rue. Seacia Pavao/Max Julia (2022-23) Following the life of television chef and cookbook writer Julia Child, this drama doles out a generous serving of humor and charm (and delicious-looking food, of course). Sarah Lancashire is endlessly watchable as the famed American cook, who paved the way for future cooking shows with her long-running series The French Chef. Two seasons are available on the streamer now. Animation Max Creature Commandos (2024- ) This engaging DC series from James Gunn examines the backstories of a ragtag team of monsters put together for dangerous missions. From Frankenstein's bride to a Nazi-targeting robot to a creature resembling both a human and a furry animal, the Creature Commandos are a motley crew worth spending violent, unhinged time with. The series is the first in Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe, and it's already renewed for season 2. Max Harley Quinn (2019- ) Harley Quinn is an adult-oriented animated series that centers on the baseball bat-wielding antihero. Kaley Cuoco voices the mayhem-prone Harley, who in the first episode breaks up with the Joker and tells him she's going to replace him as the top villain in Gotham. The hilarious, action-packed show also features characters like Poison Ivy, and four seasons are available to binge. It premiered on the DC Universe streaming service before moving to HBO Max. Max Scavengers Reign (2023) An unusual alien world and the humans stranded on it are the subject of this spectacular sci-fi series on Max. The story follows characters marooned on a peculiar planet that's home to fascinating creatures and landscapes. The world is beautiful but also poses dangers to the human guests, who seek out their ship and fellow crew members. An expansion of a 2016 animated short film, Scavengers Reign is a compelling, 12-episode saga you won't be able to quit watching. Comedy Atsushi Nishijima/HBO Fantasmas (2024- ) Viewers have former Saturday Night Live writer Julio Torres to thank for this quirky and captivating HBO comedy. In episode 1 of the surreal series, an Alf-like sitcom takes a turn for the awkward and the letter "Q" gets a life story. Torres, also known for the HBO show Los Espookys and A24 film Problemista, stars as a version of himself, and guest actors include Steve Buscemi, Julia Fox, Emma Stone, Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang. HBO The Rehearsal (2022- ) Nathan Fielder, best known for his Comedy Central show, Nathan For You (and cringe comedy), writes, directs and stars in this new HBO series. In the show, the comedian goes to extraordinary lengths to let people rehearse moments before they happen. In the first episode, Fielder helps a man prepare for a confession to a friend, and builds an exact replica of the bar they're planning to meet at (the attention to detail is incredible). After planning for any outlandish thing that might happen, we see how the real exchange between the two friends plays out. Bizarre and truly fascinating, The Rehearsal should get some time on your screen. Max Peacemaker (2022- ) Following the events of 2021's The Suicide Squad, this DC spinoff catches up with Peacemaker (John Cena), our towering, costume-clad protagonist who's just been released from the hospital. Peacemaker believes he's a superhero, but with his oft-repeated phrase about attaining "peace, no matter how many people I have to kill to get it," the title doesn't really suit him. The show establishes Peacemaker's next steps -- he isn't returning to prison, but instead taking part in a black ops mission that will (again) get his hands dirty. The show often lands its jokes, and you'll especially enjoy its entertaining supporting cast. Max The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021- ) Mindy Kaling co-created this dramedy about four 18-year-old girls who start their freshman year of college together in Vermont. With distinct personalities, the college newcomers navigate love and sex in their own ways. The show is funny, easily bingeable and bolstered by the chemistry between its female leads. A contemporary teen comedy showcasing messy experiences, relatable characters and raunchy jokes. Max Hacks (2021- ) The great Jean Smart rightfully takes the spotlight in this acclaimed comedy-drama series. Throwing iPads into swimming pools and delivering withering looks, Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedy diva who must face the prospect of appealing to a younger audience or disappearing into obscurity. She's partnered with Ava (Hannah Einbinder), a young and equally snarky comedy writer, to freshen up her material. Perfectly balancing its biting insight into how the comedy business treats women, with the warmth of an odd couple buddy comedy, Hacks is one of the best original series to come out of HBO Max. Ryan Green/HBO The Righteous Gemstones (2019- ) This outrageous series highlights a highly dysfunctional family of famous televangelists called the Gemstones. In the show's first season, a member of the family is blackmailed and ridiculous antics ensue. John Goodman stars as the family patriarch, Eli, and Danny McBride, Edi Patterson and Adam Devine also commit to the bit, pulling off an absurd and addictive black comedy. The third season of the show is out now, and HBO has renewed the series for a fourth. HBO Somebody Somewhere (2022-24) Like feel-good shows? Somebody Somewhere is a great option you may have skipped over. In the first episode, 40-something Sam, living in her Kansas hometown and dealing with a recent loss, strikes up a friendship with a co-worker. Authentic, funny, with glowing performances, the half-hour series is the perfect thing to wind down to. Max Rap Sh!t (2022-23) A half-hour comedy series from Issa Rae (the star and creator of HBO's acclaimed series Insecure), Rap Sh!t introduces two former friends from high school. Shawna is an aspiring, socially conscious rapper, and Mia is a make-up artist and single mother who works multiple jobs. By the end of the first episode, the young women (now in their 20s) have reconnected and filmed a mesmerizing rap video that takes off on the internet. The show's protagonists are phone-obsessed, constantly checking up on social media and recording videos, and it impacts the viewing experience in interesting ways. Jake Giles Netter/Max Our Flag Means Death (2022-23) In this comedy set on the high seas, Rhys Darby plays Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his cushy life and family to become the captain of a pirate ship. Spoiler: He hilariously bumbles through the gig. Game of Thrones fans may spot Hodor actor Kristian Nairn hanging out among the crew, and the series also stars Taika Waititi as Blackbeard. Max Starstruck (2021-23) Starstruck is a classic screwball comedy, starring the lovably goofy Rose Matafeo. She plays Jessie, a twentysomething Londoner who parties it up on New Year's Eve, then later discovers she had a one-night stand with Tom Kapoor, a celebrity played by Nikesh Patel. Follow Jessie as she juggles odd jobs, from cinema worker to nanny, and her blossoming relationship with a film star that involves no high jinks whatsoever. Watch out for scene-stealer Minnie Driver as Tom's agent in this witty, neatly crafted comedy package. Max The Other Two (2019-23) The sibling rivalry is strong and primed for hilarity in this comedy from a couple of Saturday Night Live writers. Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider tell the story of Cary (Drew Tarver) and Brooke (Helne Yorker), siblings in their late 20s who struggle with the sudden rise to internet fame of their 13-year-old Justin Bieber-channeling brother. Molly Shannon is a treat as their mother, Pat, ushering her children through open doors to success. Once you get over the gimmicky premise, The Other Two's pop culture satire and surprisingly heartfelt storylines are a winning combination. Schitt's Creek fans should give this a look. HBO Succession (2018-23) This satirical show follows the family controlling the world's biggest media and entertainment company, whose members become embroiled in a battle to take over as their father's health declines. John P. Johnson/HBO Barry (2018-23) In Barry's opening scene, SNL alum Bill Hader casually leaves a hotel room that contains a dead body. The actor plays hitman Barry Berkman, who isn't happy with life or his unconventional profession, but his path is altered when he travels to Los Angeles and gets roped into performing in an acting class. Barry features plenty of violence and a deeply troubled protagonist, leaning into the "dark" part of its dark comedy designation. But it's also really funny, and there are four seasons to binge. At the very least, you'll want to tune in for truly great scenes between Hader and his acting teacher, played by Henry Winkler. Crime Macall Polay/HBO The Penguin (2024- ) Set between Matt Reeves' 2022 film The Batman and the upcoming sequel The Batman Part II, The Penguin stars Colin Farrell as the underestimated and ambitious Gotham gangster (though you'll barely recognize the Oscar-nominated actor). The thrilling, eight-episode season chronicles Oz Cobb's rise and is enhanced by other complicated characters, such as Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone and Rhenzy Feliz's Victor Aguilar. Michele K. Short/HBO True Detective (2014-) True Detective may be best known for its first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, but the anthology series continues to release intriguing new stories. The latest, which premiered in 2024 after a five-year hiatus, follows Jodie Foster and Kali Reis' characters as they tackle a chilling mystery in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. It includes a new showrunner, Issa Lpez, who will helm an upcoming fifth edition.

The next MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) could be coming from MTG (Magic: The Gathering). Hasbro Entertainment, which owns the long-running Magic card game franchise, is partnering with Legendary Studios to create live-action movies and TV shows adapting its fantasy world.As reported by Deadline, plans are underway to develop a live-action movie and TV show based on Magic: The Gathering in addition to an animated series that's already in production with Netflix. The animated series was originally announced in 2019 and was stuck in development, but is now moving ahead with an unknown release target.Hasbro shared information about the projects with a podcast it sponsors, The Command Zone, in a YouTube video. In the video, podcast hosts Josh Lee Kwai and Jimmy Wong pointed out that, while a movie isn't going to arrive anytime soon, it's been a long time coming for the decades-old franchise. Then they called for casting suggestions.Legendary previously adapted franchises including Dune, Godzilla and Street Fighter. MTG has remained a popular card-trading game since it launched in 1993 and has spawned countless tournaments and events, as well as a secondary market of card sales.Zev Foreman, Hasbro's head of film, said in a statement, "This is an exciting and complementary partnership, uniting one of the world's most iconic brands with a powerful and proven steward."Magic: The Gathering is having a big month. On Valentine's Day, it will launch its latest card set,Aetherdrift. Last year, the company began revealing cards for a crossover partnership with Marvel, which over the last two decades has set the standard for cinematic universes.

February 7, 20253 min readTrump Halts Funding to Build More Electric Vehicle Chargers NationwideThe Trump administration has halted funding for a $5-billion program that Congress created to help states build out their electric vehicle charging networkBy Mike Lee & E&E News An electric vehicle at an Electrify America charging station in Atlanta, Ga. Megan Varner/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | The Trump administration has frozen funding for a $5 billion program to build a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations.The Federal Highway Administration sent a letter Thursday to state transportation departments, telling them "no new funding obligations may occur" under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program.The agency said it was suspending approved state implementation plans, which allow states to access NEVI funds automatically allocated through a congressionally created formula. FHA is also pausing approval of new plans; states submit plans annually, describing where and how they plan to build the chargers.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 move comes after two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to end its wide-ranging freeze on federal aid.The FHA letter said states would not be able to submit new plans and thus access the funds until the Department of Transportation updates the NEVI program guidance. DOT's leadership plans to bring NEVI into compliance with an order from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to prioritize funding for communities that have high birth and marriage rates and for those that enforce federal immigration law, according to the letter.The FHA letter specifies that while it is freezing new obligations, "reimbursement of existing obligations will be allowed in order to not disrupt current financial commitments."The move to freeze NEVI funds is likely to draw legal challenges from states that support the program.Im sure that states that have entered into contracts for a lot of construction work over the last several years will be seeking clarification over whats set out in the law and whats subject to the DOTs policy change, said Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association.NEVI was created by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, as part of a $7.5 billion effort to expand EV charging. The program is in its third year out of a five-year authorization, and a lot of the money has already been dispersed to the states, said Ryan Gallentine, managing director at Advanced Energy United, a trade group for EV-makers and charging companies.States are under no obligation to stop these projects based solely on this announcement. We call on state DOTs and program administrators to continue executing this program until new guidance is finalized, he said in a statement.NEVI was a high-profile part of the Biden administration's effort to promote electric vehicles, which also included billions of dollars in tax incentives for factories and battery plants and a $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases. Those carrots were paired with regulatory sticks: EPA wrote stringent emissions standards to push the car industry toward EVs, and DOT wrote fuel economy standards to make gas-powered cars more efficient.President Donald Trump has railed against the programs as an EV mandate and pledged to get rid of it.He signed an executive order unleashing American energy that specifically targeted NEVI funds and called on agencies to freeze funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and the infrastructure law. While two courts have ordered the administration to halt its funding freeze, the Trump administration has been slow to comply.NEVIs goal is to create a network of rapid charging stations every 50 miles on major highways, which would help alleviate the range anxiety that many EV supporters see as a barrier to their adoption. The office that oversees the funds, known as the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, was able to convince carmakers to adopt a single standard for charging software and the connectors that plug into cars.But the program was slow to roll out, with the process of writing rules and approving state plans dragging on so long that no chargers were built in the first two years.Some states, particularly rural states like Wyoming, also argued that the programs rules were too restrictive. They argued that the requirement to locate the first chargers close to interstate highways would require building them along nearly deserted areas far from the regions few towns.Alabama announced in January it wont build any chargers using NEVI funds.About 59 percent of the governments broader $7.5 billion charging funds have been fully obligated, and theres strong demand for the remaining $3.3 billion, Gabe Klein, the joint offices executive director, said in January.This story also appears in Energywire.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

There's a reason you can hear someone coughing on Civ 7's Age Transition screen"During an Age Transition, players might hear strange noises," 2K acknowledges.Image credit: 2K / Eurogamer News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Feb. 7, 2025 Civilization 7 players say they can hear coughing and grunting while browsing the game's Age Transition screen - and now publisher 2K has acknowledged the issue. A lengthy reddit thread discussing the problem includes examples of strange audio clips that players have recorded - and yes, you can clearly hear something going on in the background, behind the Age Transition menu's soaring orchestral music. "I thought maybe I'd left a stream on or was somehow in a Discord call," one player reported, "but I double-checked and no. You can really hear a person clearing their throat and coughing throughout the music. I'm not sure how this is even possible but it's kind of hilarious if you ask me."Other examples uploaded to YouTube include snippets of characters grunting, or the sounds of swordfighting.Watch on YouTubeBut rather than the game's actual music track being taped over by someone with a sore throat, 2K has said a more benign reason is likely to blame."During an Age Transition, players might hear strange noises," a 2K spokesperson confirmed, in a post on the official Civilization support site. "This is likely due to the audio from the Main Menu being played over Age Transition screens."This means you may hear short voice lines, shuffling around, and general idle noises while on the Age Transition menu."Other players report hearing audio from the leader they're playing as looping in the background, including mumbling and clothes rustling.Earlier today, Firaxis issued a blog post acknowledging Civilization 7's mixed response from players so far, and pledging a raft of updates designed to address key community-requested changes and features. These will include improvements to UI interactions and map readability, as well as adding Teams to multiplayer games and adding in hotseat multiplayer.Eurogamer's Civilization 7 review described it as "a competent entry with some poorly executed ideas and a striking lack of personality".

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 Everyone is desperate to know when GTA 6 will come out. Gamers want to know so they can book time off work to return to Vice City, meanwhile, other publishers want to know so they can give Grand Theft Auto a wide berth. The good news for fans is that the GTA 6 release date remains on track for 2025, but there is still the risk of a delay.GTA 6 still on course for 2025 release dateDuring Take-Twos Q3 2025 earnings call, Take-Two Interactive confirmed that the release date for GTA 6 is still planned as Fall 2025. This means the newest Grand Theft Auto starring criminal duo, Jason and Lucia, should come out sometime between September to December.In addition to the earnings call, Take-Two reaffirmed the 2025 release directly to outlets such as IGN. Speaking to IGN, Take-Two Interactive CEO, Strauss Zelnick, said that the publisher feel really good about GTA 6 coming out in fall 2025.However, while Take-Two believe the game will come out this year as planned, Zelnick warned theres always a risk of slippage. This means theres still the risk of a delay, which is evident by the fact theres still no concrete release date announced.In addition to discussing the games release, Zelnick reassured fans that Rockstar seeks perfection. The whole organization is super excited for when GTA 6 does come out, however, Take-Two are not claiming success before it occurs as Zelnick is fond of saying arrogance is the enemy of continued success.Unless something completely catastrophic occurs, Grand Theft Auto 6 will be a monumental success when it comes out. Its projected to make over $1 billion in pre-order sales alone, and thats including the fact it is only scheduled to launch in 2025 for PS5 and Xbox. Take-Two has -previously explained why GTA 6 is not launching day one on PC.Hopefully, we do get trailer 2 and the release date very soon. Its been over ten years since a new Grand Theft Auto installment came out, and were all desperate for it to release in Fall as planned.In other GTA 6 news, a former Rockstar animator has discussed whether there will be 60FPS at launch. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Grand Theft Auto 6Platform(s):PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Action AdventureRelated TopicsSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

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