TheVital de Oliveirawas discovered by divers in 2011, but the ship's identity was not officially confirmed until now. Brazilian NavyOn July 19, 1944, a Nazi submarine torpedoed and sank the Vital de Oliveira, a Brazilian ship that transported troops duringWorld War II. Now, more than80 years later, the Brazilian Navy has confirmed the location of the ships final resting place.Using sonar imaging techniques, the Brazilian Navy has positively identified the remains of the Vital de Oliveira, which is resting on the bottom of the South Atlantic Ocean roughly 40 miles off the coast of Rio De Janeiro.The wreckage was first discovered in 2011, but the vessels identity was not officially confirmed until last month. On January 16, archaeologists sailing aboard a research vessel used multibeam and side-scan sonar to investigate the site, which allowed them to conclusively identify the wreck as the Vital de Oliveira.Coincidentally, the research vessel they were on is named Vital de Oliveira in honor of the shipwreck. Both vessels are named after Frigate Captain Manoel Antnio Vital de Oliveira, a soldier who was killed in combat in 1867 during the Paraguayan War.Shipwrecks and other submerged structures are material records of Brazils maritime history, says Caio Cezar Pereira Demilio, a captain-lieutenant with the Brazilian Navy, in a translatedstatement. These pieces of evidence allow us to understand commercial routes, naval strategies, technological advances and episodes like military clashes and maritime disasters. Archaeologists with the Brazilian Navy used sonar imaging technologies to confirm the identity of the Vital de Oliveira.Brazilian NavyBack in 2011, a fisherman off the coast of Brazil reported that his net was stuck on the seafloor. When a pair of diversbrothers Jos Luiz and Everaldo Pompermayer Merigueteshowed up to help the fisherman, they discovered the wreck. They called in a deep-sea diver named Domingos Afonso Jrio, who revealed that the net was stuck on a cannon. The group alerted the Brazilian Navy of their find.Built in 1910 as a civilian ship, the vessel was originally named the Itaba. After joining the Brazilian Navys fleet, the ship transported Allied troops and supplies up and down the Brazilian coast during World War II.Just before midnight on July 19, 1944, the German submarine U-861 fired a torpedo at the ship, per CNNs Max Saltman. The weapon hit the stern, causing the vessel to sink and killing around 100 of the 270 crew members onboard. TheVital de Oliveira transported Allied troops and supplies along the coast of Brazil during World War II. Brazilian NavyThe Vital de Oliveira was the only Brazilian Navy ship taken down by enemy forces during the war, reports theMaritime Executive. Two other Brazilian Navy ships also sank, but they were lost due to accidents: The Camaqu capsized during a 1944 storm, while the Bahia detonated its own depth charges during training in 1945.In addition, German submarines sank some 34 Brazilian merchant ships during the conflict, reportsDivernets Steve Weinman.Brazil and Mexico were the only Latin American countries that sent troops to fight in World War II, per theLibrary of Congress.Additionally, Brazil was the only Latin American nation that sent troops to Europe. More than 25,000 men made up theBrazilian Expeditionary Force, also known as the Smoking Snakes. The group played a key role in the Allied victory in theBattle of Monte Castello, which took place in Italys Apennines Mountains in 1944.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Archaeology, Atlantic Ocean, Brazil, History, New Research, Ships, Shipwrecks, Warfare, Water, Water Transportation, World War II

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Iron Galaxy lays off 66 to protect "long-term survival""This was a means of last resort for us"Image credit: Iron Galaxy News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 5, 2025 Iron Galaxy has laid off 66 developers.In a statement posted to LinkedIn, the studio said that although it had made "sacrifices to keep teams intact", it had "run out of room to manoeuvre amidst this slow recovery"."Today, Iron Galaxy is parting ways with some of our developers and support staff. In total, we have reduced our employee base by 66 people. This was a means of last resort for us," the statement said."Its a measure we do not take lightly to enable our long-term survival."The team said it was still committed to "serving our partners in the creation of games" and will "continue to explore new ways to support an industry we love and keep working towards its ongoing recovery"."At this moment, our focus is on our teammates who have begun a journey toward their next role. We thank them for working with us. Well be doing everything we can to support them in the search for the next phase of their careers. Keep an eye out for them if you need good people. We are sorry to see them go," the statement concluded.CEO Adam Boyes left Iron Galaxy in August after eight years with the developer.Boyes became CEO of the studio in June 2016 having previously held leadership roles at PlayStation, Capcom, Midway Games, and Electronic Arts.The swath of job cuts from last year continue in 2025. In January alone, over 700 developers have lost their jobs, with cuts and closures at Freejam, Splash Damage, Piranha Games, Jar of Sparks, as well as 185 jobs cut by Ubisoft.Earlier today, we reported that ProbablyMonsters had initiated another round of layoffs.

2K fires 31st Union president Michael Condrey2K insists it remains "committed" to the game and the studioImage credit: 2K / GamesIndustry News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 5, 2025 2K has reportedly fired 31st Union president, Michael Condrey.Kotaku reports that Condrey - who co-founded Sledgehammer Games and joined 2K in 2019 - was reportedly let go on February 3 following concerns its long-teased online multiplayer game Project Ethos did not stir enough interest.Despite this, 2K said it remained "very committed" to both Project Ethos and 31st Union, and thanked Condrey for his "dedication, passion, and work ethic".Condrey will "transition" his role to "focus on advising on the future of Project Ethos". It remains unclear who will replace Condrey at the top of the studio, either in a temporary or permanent capacity.We are grateful to Michael Condrey for the dedication, passion and work ethic it took to build an incredible team and shape the vision of 31st Union, a 2K spokesperson told Kotaku in an email."Michael will be transitioning his role in the short term to focus on advising on the future of Project Ethos. We remain very committed to the forward path for Project Ethos and the people and culture of the 31st Union studio."

TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Iron Galaxy lays off 66 developers in 'last resort' lifesaving effortIron Galaxy lays off 66 developers in 'last resort' lifesaving effortThe longtime support developer hoped to withstand this winter's wave of industry layoffs, but 'ran out of room' to survive.Justin Carter, Contributing EditorFebruary 5, 20251 Min ReadImage via Iron Galaxy.At a GlanceAfter a number of cost-cutting measures, Iron Galaxy is cutting staff to ensure its 'long-term survival.'Developer Iron Galaxy has eliminated 66 positions across its development and support teams.The studio, which created Rumbleverse and helped develop the recent Last of Us remasters, explained it's made "sacrifices" over the years to protect its teams from the layoff waves. But after this past winter, it's "run out of room" to weather the current industry tumult."This was a means of last resort for us," it wrote. "Its a measure we do not take lightly to enable our long-term survival."Iron Galaxy is the latest studio we've seen to cut staff, following reports of reductions at ProbablyMonsters earlier today. Both are the first to conduct layoffs in February; January ended with layoffs at BioWare, Bend Studio, and Phoenix Labs.In its statement, Iron Galaxy affirmed its commitment to working with its development partners, and hopes to continue "exploring new ways to support an industry we love and keep working towards its ongoing recovery.""We thank [our former teammates] for working with us," it concluded. "Well be doing everything we can to support them in the search for the next phase of their careers. [...] We are sorry to see them go."Read more about:LayoffsAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sells 1 million copies in just one dayKingdom Come: Deliverance II sells 1 million copies in just one dayWarhorse's historical-RPG is performing particularly well on Steam, and is already considered a 'triumph.'Justin Carter, Contributing EditorFebruary 5, 20251 Min ReadImage via Warhorse/Deep Silver.At a GlanceWarhorse Studios has sold over 1 million copies of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II in just one day.Warhorse's Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sold 1 million copies on launch day.For comparison, the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance reached that milestone two weeks after its release in 2018. In its first two days, that game sold 500,000 copies, and hit 2 million copies within its first year.Deliverance II is also outpacing its predecessor in player numbers: at time of writing, SteamDB shows the sequel opened to 166,046 concurrent players. The first game launched at 96,069 players."We're beyond grateful for your support," wrote Warhorse. "Thank you for making [our game] a triumph!"Who wants to sell 1 million copies?The sales jump between the two Kingdom Come games is a notable achievement, and continues the trend of Embracer's major sequels opening strong. In 2023, Dead Island 2 sold 1 million copies in its launch weekend, and Remnant II sold the same amount in a week.Its 2024 slate was not as strong, but that was partially owed to Deliverance II and other titles (namely, Hyper Light Breaker and Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core) being pushed into 2025.As of late 2024, the first Kingdom Come sold 8 million copies. Deliverance II currently holds the top spot on Steam's best-seller chart, which means it may reach or surpass the first game before 2025 is over.Read more about:Embracer GroupAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Google is joining Meta, Amazon, and other big tech companies in winding down its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.In a Wednesday memo to employees that I obtained (and you can read below), Googles head of HR, Fiona Cicconi, said there will no longer be DEI hiring targets due to the companys status as a federal contractor and recent court decisions and US Executive Orders on this topic. As The Wall Street Journal notes, Google also removed a line included in previous annual SEC reports saying that its committed to making diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do.Google spokesperson Chloe Cooper tells The Verge the company is committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities, and over the last year weve been reviewing our programs designed to help us get there.At the height of the Black Lives Matter movement back in 2020, Google publicly said it would aim to increase leadership representation of underrepresented groups by 30 percent a goal it achieved in 2022. Now that ending DEI programs across America has become a top priority of the Trump administration, Google says in the employee memo that its carefully evaluating other DEI initiatives across the company that raise risk or arent as impactful as wed hoped.Heres the full text of the memo, which is presented as a Q&A with Cicconi:With new U.S. Executive Orders, court decisions, and many companies making changes to their DEl programs in recent weeks, we sat down with Fiona Cicconi to learn how Google is thinking about this.Can you tell us how were thinking about this across the company?First, I want to be clear: weve always been committed to creating a workplace where we hire the best people wherever we operate, create an environment where everyone can thrive, and treat everyone fairly. Thats exactly what you can expect to see going forward. Our users come from all across the U.S. and around the world, and we serve them better when our employees do, too.Every year, we review the programs designed to help us get there and make changes. And because we are a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes to our programs required to comply with recent court decisions and U.S. Executive Orders on this topic. For example, in 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on growing our offices outside California and New York to improve representation. Well continue to invest in states across the U.S. and in many countries globally but in the future we will no longer have aspirational goals.You mentioned well evaluate our programs. Can you share more about that?Melonie Parker and her team will lead on closely and carefully evaluating programs, trainings, and initiatives, and will update them as needed including those that raise risk, or that arent as impactful as wed hoped. Shell work with senior leaders across the company.And is there anything else you want Googlers to know now?While there will be changes, our central Employee Resource Groups will remain, as will our work with colleges and universities, and our work to build products to help all our users and partners. That is all vital work for our business and our Googler community.Do you work at Google?Id love to chat. You can ping me securely on Signal via the user name @alexheath.96See More:

Fords electric vehicle and software business lost $5.1 billion in 2024, up from $4.7 billion lost in 2024. And the automaker doesnt anticipate any relief this year, when it predicts it will lose as much as $5.5 billion on its EV business. Ford reported its fourth quarter and full-year earnings on Wednesday, beating Wall Street expectations, according to CNBC. But the prediction of a tougher year ahead Ford calls it headwinds related to market factors underscores how far the company still needs to go before it can right-size its EV business. Ford also reported $1.4 billion in cost improvements from its Model e division.To be sure, Fords gas cars are still doing great, continuing to bring in enough revenue for the company to end the year in the black. The company reported a full-year net income of $5.9 billion and an adjusted earnings of $10.2 billion. Headwinds related to market factorsBut the company warned its earnings may drop $2 billion or more in 2025 thanks to costly new vehicle launches and falling car prices. The company has said it isnt factoring in cost increases associated with President Donald Trumps threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Nor is it taking into account the likely elimination of Biden-era EV incentives, like tax credits and manufacturing credits. Ford is struggling to keep up with its rivals in the EV market. While General Motors released several new models last year, including new Chevy and Cadillac vehicles, Ford only has three battery-electric vehicles for sale. GMs EV business is showing signs of profitability, while Fords continues to struggle. And Ford previously canceled plans to introduce an electric three-row SUV in the hopes that its Silicon Valley-based skunkworks team will enable it to roll out cheaper models in the near future.Developing

Author(s): Aleti Adarsh Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Lets be honest machine learning looks like magic at first glance. You feed a model some data, and suddenly, it starts making predictions as if it has a crystal ball. But heres the secret: its not magic, its math.I remember when I first dipped my toes into machine learning. I was eager, excited, and confident until I hit a wall. That wall had a name: mathematics. It felt like an elite club that I wasnt invited to. Linear algebra? Sounded intimidating. Calculus? Flashbacks to high school nightmares. Probability? Well, lets just say my understanding of probability was a coin toss at best.If that sounds familiar, dont worry I got you. In this article, well break down the essential math concepts behind machine learning in a way that actually makes sense. No scary equations (okay, maybe a few, but I promise theyll be friendly). Think of this as a crash course in understanding why machine learning works under the hood.By the end of this, youll walk away with a solid intuition of linear algebra, calculus, and probability, and you might even find yourself enjoying math (I know, crazy, Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AI