How To Train Your Dragon, the cherished story from DreamWorks Animation, will debut in theaters on June 13 as a live-action film. This breathtaking reinvention, which was directed by the original trilogys director Dean DeBlois, brings Hiccup and Toothless to life like never before.Hiccup (Mason Thames) breaks with convention by befriending a Night Fury on the rocky island of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been at odds for many years. Just when a new ancient threat appears, he confronts the beliefs of his people with the help of Astrid (Nico Parker) and Gobber (Nick Frost).The film combines stunning visuals with an epic journey of bravery and camaraderie, and it features state-of-the-art visual effects from Framestore (VFX Supervisors: Franois Lambert, Andy Kind, and Glenn Melenhorst) and Production VFX Supervisor Christian Manz.The post How To Train Your Dragon Official Trailer appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former U.S. representative with little intelligence experience, was confirmed as the top U.S. spy on Wednesday, as Republicans lined up behind a nominee once seen as among President Donald Trumps most controversial picks.The Senate voted 52 to 48, mostly along party lines, to confirm Gabbard to the position overseeing the 18-agency intelligence community and acting as Trumps top adviser on intelligence issues.The only Republican to vote against Gabbard was Senator Mitch McConnell, the partys former leader in the chamber. No Democrats or independents voted in favor of the nominee.The vote was another victory for Trump as he pushes to secure quick Senate approval for all of his nominees for administration positions.The Senates Republican majority leader, John Thune, held a procedural vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who also faced fierce opposition to his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, immediately after the Gabbard confirmation vote.Gabbard, a 43-year-old former Democrat, had faced bipartisan questions about past statements seen as supporting U.S. adversaries, and lack of experience that would have prepared her to manage a $100 billion budget. Gabbard neither worked at a spy agency nor served on an intelligence committee during her four House of Representatives terms.She will now oversee an agency created by Congress in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the countrys sprawling intelligence apparatus, one of the most important national security positions in U.S. government.The selection of a DNI is a very big deal, said Emily Harding, director of the Intelligence, National Security and Technology Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noting the DNIs broad access to classified material and role as the presidents main intelligence adviser.Russia, Syria, SnowdenTrumps announcement of Gabbard in November sent shockwaves through the national security establishment, adding to concerns that intelligence-gathering would be politicized, and weakened, during a second Trump administration.Skeptics questioned Gabbards past statements seen as sympathetic toward Russias invasion of Ukraine and defense of the government of former Syria leader Bashar al-Assad, whom she visited in Syria in 2017 while he was under U.S. sanction.At her hearing, Gabbard faced particularly pointed questioning from senators from both parties about her past defense of former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked thousands of highly classified documents and then sought asylum in Russia.Some were noticeably frustrated at her refusal to call Snowden a traitor.Republicans who expressed concerns faced an intense political pressure campaign, from Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, who threatened to support primary opponents of any Republican who obstructed nominees.Senator Todd Young, an intelligence committee member who did not immediately back Gabbard, issued a statement supporting her before the panels party-line 9-8 vote to recommend the nominee to the full Senate.A former Marine Corps intelligence officer criticized by Musk before he endorsed Gabbard, Young said Gabbard had reassured him that she would support intelligence professionals and provide unbiased information.Gabbards supporters also praised her pledges to pare back the DNIs office, at a time when Trumps administration is slashing and even seeking to close government agencies.Past DNI nominees have been intelligence veterans confirmed with broad bipartisan support. Daniel Coats, a former ambassador and Republican senator who served on the intelligence committee, was confirmed by 85-12 in 2017, as Trump began his first term.The DNI under former President Joe Biden, Avril Haines, had held a series of major national security positions, including deputy director of the CIA. She was confirmed by 84-10.Harding said Gabbard will need to reassure allies that they can trust Washington as Trump pursues an aggressive foreign policy, and be cautious about making cuts amid myriad global challenges.The person that is going to be doing it needs to be someone that he (Trump) trusts and somebody that hell listen to, Harding said.Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent. She backed Trump and joined the Republican Party in 2024.Patricia Zengerle, Reuters

A new bill introduced in Congress last month aims to require proof of citizenship to register to votewhich could make an already-complicated registration process harder for millions of Americans.On January 3, Republican representative Chip Roy reintroduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to Congress to ensure that our elections and our sovereignty cannot be hijacked and influenced by foreign nationals who have no business voting in this country.The SAVE Act would require voters to present physical documentary proof of citizenship to register or reregister to vote. This means passports, birth certificates, or special drivers licenses that include proof of citizenshipeither REAL ID or an Enhanced Driver License that includes an American flag to show its holders citizenship.But by introducing additional barriers to vote, this legislation could incidentally disenfranchise millions of young voters, voters of color and married women, according to an analysis published by the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice.Why do people oppose the SAVE Act?After the 2016 election, President Trump stoked fears about noncitizen voting by falsely claiming that 3 million-to-5 million noncitizens voted in the election, but instances of this occurring are vanishingly rare, according to the Brennan Center. Noncitizen voting is already illegal in all 50 states.While the new requirements could ultimately bar noncitizen registrationwhich experts say only happens to an infinitesimal degreethey could also complicate or even block registration for millions of Americans who may not possess the required documents.Last year, the Brennan Center found that 21 million Americans dont have proof of citizenship readily available. The Enhanced Driver Licenseswhich show proof of citizenship on the cardare only available in five states. And almost half of Americans dont even own a passport.Younger voters and voters of color are less likely to have access to these required documents than others, according to the Brennan Centers analysis. The nonprofit also wrote that the SAVE Act would functionally eliminate mail-in voting registration because it requires voters to produce documentation in person to an election official.This bill may also disproportionately block married women from voting: As many as 69 million married women dont possess a birth certificate that matches their legal name, according to the Center for American Progress.The bill passed the House once in July, and with its reintroduction, it will likely see the floor again soon. But to be passed into law, the bill would need to overcome a potential Senate filibusterwhich would require unlikely support from seven Democrats.

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MacworldIf your keys seem to have a mind of their own, its time to outsmart them. This 2-pack of smart trackers for $34.99 (reg. $69) works with Apple Find My to help you locate your essentials in seconds whether theyre hiding in the couch cushions or left behind at the coffee shop.Unlike other trackers that require extra accessories, these come with key rings included. Clip them onto your keys, wallet, backpack, or even your pets collar, and youre good to go. The Bluetooth connection syncs effortlessly with your iPhone or iPad, while the Ethos companion app gives you step-by-step directions to track down whatevers gone missing.Worried about leaving things behind? The customizable alerts will nudge you if youre about to head out the door without your essentials. And with a long-lasting CR2032 battery, you wont be replacing it every other week. Theyre even splash-resistant with an IP23-waterproof rating, so a little rain wont slow them down.Stay organized, stress-free, and always one step ahead of your forgetful side and you wont have to buy separate key rings like you would with an AirTag.At $34.99 for two, this set of smart trackers offers an affordable alternative.Smart Tracker Includes Key Ring Works with Apple Find My App (2-Pack/Black) $34.99See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldHoping for the price of eggs and gas to come down? You may never see the day. So many factors mean our paychecks dont stretch as far as they used to, but if you want to start saving on essentials immediately, you should get a Sams Club membership.You may have thought about it before, but the usual $50 yearly fee mightve stopped you. Since we know people are trying to save as much money as possible this year, you can save 60% on your first year of Sams Club membership right here. The catch? This offer is only for new members or those with memberships that have been expired for more than six months.As a Sams Club member, you wont just save on eggs, but youll be able to stock your fridge and pantry with wholesale grocery prices. Members also love browsing home essentials, clothing, electronics, jewelry, appliances, seasonal finds, and so much more.You can also save on travel with Sams Club. Your membership unlocks discounts on hotel bookings, car rentals, live events, movies, and more. Honestly, good luck only being a member for a single year.Take advantage of this Sams Club membership deal: $20 for your first year (reg. $50).Sams Club 1-Year Membership with Auto-Renew! $20See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Omega Force have unveiled a new title in the long-running Warriors franchise. This time around, however, the title will feature a roguelite twist. Dubbed Warriors: Abyss, the game was announced with a trailer that you can check out below.Proudly proclaiming itself to be Warriors X Roguelite, the trailer for Warriors: Abyss shows off a new isometric take on the classic formula weve seen in titles like the Dynasty Warriors franchise. Alongside the hordes of enemies one would expect from a game with the word Warriors in the title, Warriors: Abyss will also feature epic boss fights.Since its a roguelite, dying isnt the end. Players will be able to get right back into the thick of battle and make use of various abilities channelled from various figures from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story to take on enemies. The trailer claims that, by making use of unique combinations of these characters, players will be able to make use of 16 billion different battle styles.Warriors: Abyss is available now on PS4 and PS5.

Developer Reikon Games took the spotlight during Sonys recent State of Play to unveil its new title: Metal Eden. The game will be a fast-paced sci-fi FPS, and will be coming to PS5 on May 6. Check out the trailer announcing the game.While the trailer itself gave us plenty to sink our teeth into with its fast-paced parkour-based movement and combat, as well as the alien environments it will have players take on enemies in, more details about the games world were revealed through a post on the PlayStation Blog.Metal Eden takes place in a far future, well after humanity has taken to the stars. Along the way, humanity created systems that would be capable of storing human data, dubbed Cores. These cores would help humanity rebuild as they got to their new destinations.The game takes place in one such destination, dubbed Moebius, which has become a city build by corporations with a single goal in mind: extract every possible mineral possible from the planet Vulcan.One of the big mechanics in Metal Eden is Core Ripping, which has been described as a way for protagonist Aska to rip Cores out of enemy bodies by making use of a Gravity Beam. These cores can also be weaponised; players can toss them into other enemies to make brutal explosions, for example.Aska can also hack drones, which in turn can provide Body Modules that can be used to upgrade Askas Core. The progression system is meant to offer players plenty of options when it comes to customising the game to their preferred style of play.