The newest member of the iPhone family is the iPhone 16e, a new model that packs many of the capabilities of the existing iPhone 16 models but at a lower price and with some feature compromises. The more budget-friendly iPhone 16e, though, actually has one big advantage over its more expensive sibling.Battery life on iPhone 16e is a big feature advantageApples iPhone 16 comes with a variety of advantages over the new 16e model, such as the Dynamic Island, Camera Control, MagSafe support, and more.However, theres one key spec where the iPhone 16e has an advantage.Battery life on the cheaper model is actually significantly better than the already strong iPhone 16s performance.Per Apples website, heres the expected battery life for each model:iPhone 16e: Up to 26 hours video playbackiPhone 16: Up to 22 hours video playbackVideo playback is one of Apples standard ways to measure battery life these days. It doesnt necessarily mean your device will run that long, since we all do a variety of different things on our iPhones that drain the battery to different degrees.However, this benchmark at least shows how the new iPhone 16e gets nearly 20% better battery performance than its more expensive counterpart.Apple attributes this gain to the iPhone 16es new C1 modem. This Apple-design 5G modem is the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone. Thus, Apple is able to get better battery life in its testing than the iPhone 16 gets, despite the two models having other comparable components.Battery life is one of the most important features on an iPhone, so its nice to see the more affordable iPhone 16e be so strong in this area.Are you surprised by the iPhone 16es battery life beating the iPhone 16? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

While the Presidents Day Apple deals have mostly come and gone now, there are still loads of fantastic price drops up for grabs in our curated deal hub. Apple just unleashed the new iPhone 16e and Spigens new case collection is now live from $16, but for now its on to the deals. M4 iPad Pro models are now up to $250 off in brand-new condition while select M2 iPad Air models have now hit new Amazon lows at up to $120 off. Apples AirPods 4 with ANC are now down at $148 shipped on Amazon alongside deals on Apple Pencil Pro, 24GB M4 Pro MacBook Pro configs at $249 off, and much more down below. more

Netflix has come under fire for using generative AI to reproduce the voice of Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old social media influencer who, according to the FBI, was murdered by her fianc Brian Laundrie in August 2021.In the opening credits of the company's true crime documentary, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," which premiered its first episode on Monday, a notice reveals that Petito's "journal entries and text messages are brought to life in this series in her own voice, using voice recreation technology."It's an eerie artistic choice, even for the fraught true crime genre, that had audiences startled, with one user calling it "deeply unsettling use of AI.""Watching the Gabby Petito doc, absolutely invested... until the part it started using AI to make HER read out her texts and journal entries," another user wrote. "That is absolutely NOT okay. Shes a murder victim. You are violating her again."Petito's parents appear to have been an integral part of Netflix's efforts to bring her voice back to life."We had so much material from her parents that we were able to get," filmmaker and producer Michael Gasparro told Us Weekly. "All of her journals since she was young and there was so much of her writing.""At the end of the day, we wanted to tell the story as much through Gabby as possible," he added. "Its her story."But to many, using AI to synthesize the voice of a deceased person particularly without consent was a step too far."I understand they had permission from the parents, but that doesnt make it feel any better," one X-formerly-Twitter user wrote. "This woman had her voice taken from her, so to recreate it with a poor substitute a monotone, lacking in emotion AI model is an insult to her. There is absolutely no need for it.""This world hates women so much," another user tweeted."It can't predict what her intonation would have been and it's just gross to use it imo... at the very least I hope they got consent from her family," one Redditor wrote. "I just don't like the precedent it sets for future documentaries either."It's not the first time we've come across the use of generative AI in a Netflix true crime documentary. Last year, Futurism discovered what strongly appeared to be AI-generated or -manipulated images in a documentary about a murder-for-hire plot involving a woman named Jennifer Pan, who's currently serving time in prison.Images used to describe her "very genuine" personality bore all the hallmarks of generative AI, like misaligned facial features and morphed fingers.Earlier this month, 404 Media also discovered an entire YouTube channel publishing a firehose of "true crime" AI slop that was entirely made up.Is Netflix's latest use of AI deeply distasteful and exploitative or an accurate rendition of the late influencer's voice?Given how commonplace the tech has become, it's unlikely the last time we'll see it being used in documentaries.The filmmakers behind "American Murder: Gabby Petito," for their part, don't think they've done her a disservice."In all of our docs, we try to go for the source and the people closest to either the victims who are not alive or the people themselves who have experienced this," producer Julia Willoughby Nason told Us Weekly. "Thats really where we start in terms of sifting through all the data and information that comes with these huge stories."More on true crime AI: "True Crime" YouTube Channel Busted as Pure, Made-Up AI SlopShare This Article

Cybertruck fan Jeremy Judkins, who has seemingly made owning the divisive vehicle his entire personality, madea "mocha frappuccino" while the car's "Full Self-Driving" driver assistance feature was steering it through the streets.The video shows Judkins giddy with excitement as he uses a red Vitamix blender to make the concoction. The Cybertruck's steering yoke can be seen completing turns on its own as he licks the blender's tamper."All you have to do is keep your eyes on the road," he wrote in the video's caption.If the video makes your blood boil, that's more or less the point. It's a dangerous stunt primarily designed to stir up reactions online. And given the latest developments in Washington, DC, there's a good chance he'll get away with it as well.At least, as Judkins himself is willing to admit, Tesla still maintains that the current "Supervised" version of FSD "requires a fully attentive driver."Nonetheless, we've already come across countless instances of Tesla owners falling for the EV maker's misleading marketing. Earlier this month, a Cybertruck owner warned others that his vehicle "made no attempt to slow down" before wrapping itself around a pole while on FSD. Last week, a video made the rounds on social media showing the feature veering a different Cybertruck owner straight into the path of a pickup driving toward him in the opposing lane, forcing him to intervene in the last second.Musk haspromised that a supposedly "unsupervised" version of the software is coming later this year. But whether he'll make good on his promise remains to be seen, especially given his abysmal track record of making similar claims.Apart from some seriously flawed driver assistance software, the Cybertruck has been turned into a lightning rod in today's political landscape. Tesla CEO Elon Musk's wrecking ball approach to the US government under Trump, in particular, has turned the pickup into a symbol of his most diehard fanboys, attracting plenty of vandalism and outright protests at Tesla dealerships across the country.The negative attention and association with Musk hasn't dissuaded Judkins far from it, in fact."Tesla haters are literally insane and most of them should probably be thrown in jail for the stuff they are saying lately," he wrote in a recent tweet, accusing those who sold their Teslas in light of Musk's appalling behavior of "virtue signaling."In short, Judkins is the poster child of a Musk fanboy, willing to make owning a Cybertruck and apologizing for the richest man in the world his primary goal in life.Judkins may think that pointlessly endangering other drivers on the road for internet cloud is funny. And in many ways, his efforts are paying off, given the tens of thousands of followers he's amassed on Musk's social media platform X-formerly-Twitter.Judkin's online presence also highlights that there's plenty to gain from all the hate directed at the brand right now."Being a Tesla owner brings the most drama and attention on social media," he wrote in a tweet. "I love it. Ive been more successful on social media than I could ever imagine."Whether Judkins will ever face any consequences for publishing proof of his distracted driving remains to be seen. Now that Musk has kicked off his vengeful plot to get back at the regulators who once investigated his companies, the rules surrounding what you're allowed and not allowed to do while driving a Tesla in public could soon change.Share This Article

Feb 19, 2025Ravie LakshmananMobile Security / Cyber Espionage Multiple Russia-aligned threat actors have been observed targeting individuals of interest via the privacy-focused messaging app Signal to gain unauthorized access to their accounts."The most novel and widely used technique underpinning Russian-aligned attempts to compromise Signal accounts is the abuse of the app's legitimate 'linked devices' feature that enables Signal to be used on multiple devices concurrently," the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) said in a report.In the attacks spotted by the tech giant's threat intelligence teams, the threat actors, including one it's tracking as UNC5792, have resorted to malicious QR codes that, when scanned, will link a victim's account to an actor-controlled Signal instance.As a result, future messages get delivered synchronously to both the victim and the threat actor in real-time, thereby granting threat actors a persistent way to eavesdrop on the victim's conversations. Google said UAC-0195 partially overlaps with a hacking group known as UAC-0195.These QR codes are known to masquerade as group invites, security alerts, or legitimate device pairing instructions from the Signal website. Alternatively, the malicious device-linking QR codes have been found to be embedded in phishing pages that purport to be specialized applications used by the Ukrainian military."UNC5792 has hosted modified Signal group invitations on actor-controlled infrastructure designed to appear identical to a legitimate Signal group invite," Google said.Another threat actor linked to the targeting of Signal is UNC4221 (aka UAC-0185), which has targeted Signal accounts used by Ukrainian military personnel by means of a custom phishing kit that's designed to mimic certain aspects of the Kropyva application used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine for artillery guidance.Also used is a lightweight JavaScript payload dubbed PINPOINT that can collect basic user information and geolocation data through phishing pages.Outside of UNC5792 and UNC4221, some of the other adversarial collectives that have trained their sights on Signal are Sandworm (aka APT44), which has utilized a Windows Batch script named WAVESIGN; Turla, which has operated a lightweight PowerShell script; and UNC1151, which has put to use the Robocopy utility to exfiltrate Signal messages from an infected desktop.The disclosure from Google comes a little over a month after the Microsoft Threat Intelligence team attributed the Russian threat actor known as Star Blizzard to a spear-phishing campaign that leverages a similar device-linking feature to hijack WhatsApp accounts.Last week, Microsoft and Volexity also revealed that multiple Russian threat actors are leveraging a technique called device code phishing to log into victims' accounts by targeting them via messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Microsoft Teams."The operational emphasis on Signal from multiple threat actors in recent months serves as an important warning for the growing threat to secure messaging applications that is certain to intensify in the near-term," Google said."As reflected in wide ranging efforts to compromise Signal accounts, this threat to secure messaging applications is not limited to remote cyber operations such as phishing and malware delivery, but also critically includes close-access operations where a threat actor can secure brief access to a target's unlocked device."The disclosure also follows the discovery of a new search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning campaign that uses fake download pages impersonating popular applications like Signal, LINE, Gmail, and Google Translate to deliver backdoored executables aimed at Chinese-speaking users."The executables delivered through fake download pages follow a consistent execution pattern involving temporary file extraction, process injection, security modifications, and network communications," Hunt.io said, adding the samples exhibit infostealer-like functionality associated with a malware strain referred to as MicroClip.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

We are looking for a Content Writer with experience in creating copy for premium lifestyle brands. This role is perfect for creative writers who are passionate about storytelling and content creation. As a contract writer, you will have the flexibility to work remotely while producing high-quality, compelling content across various formats. At least 4 articles per month will be required.Key ResponsibilitiesResearch, write, and edit original content including articles, blog posts, website copy, and marketing materials.Collaborate with the marketing team to develop content strategies that align with business goals and audience needs.Ensure all content is on-brand, adheres to style guidelines, and meets deadlines.Optimize content for SEO, utilizing keywords, meta descriptions, and image tags to enhance search visibility.Stay current with industry trends, topics, and best practices to create informative and relevant content.Review and revise content based on feedback from team members and stakeholders.RequirementsProven experience as a content writer or similar role, preferably in a contract or freelance capacity.Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills. You must have a keen eye for detail and the ability to create high-quality, long-form content for SaaS companiesEnglish as your first language and the ability to resonate with our ICP (premium lifestyle brands)Familiarity with SEO best practices and tools is a plus.Ability to work independentlyExcellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective collaboration.BenefitsFlexible, remote work environment.Join an inclusive, collaborative team and get the opportunity to be part of some of the best companies in the industry.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now

See at Sling TV Watch the Premier League on USA Network from $40 a month Sling TV See at Sling TV See more details See at ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming ExpressVPN See at ExpressVPN See more details See at TNT Sport Watch over 50 Premier League games live in the UK with TNT Sports TNT Sports See at TNT Sport See more details See at Fubo Watch the Premier League in Canada from CA$30 per month Fubo Canada See at Fubo See more details See at Optus Watch the Premier League in Australia from AU$7 a month Optus Sport See at Optus See more details Table of Contents English Premier League leaders Liverpool head to the Midlands on Wednesday to take on Aston Villa, knowing that a win would give them a massive 10-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal in the title race.Originally scheduled for next month, this fixture has been brought forward due to Liverpool's participation in the Carabao Cup final.The Reds come into this match off the back of an unconvincing win over Wolves, while ninth-placed Villa played out a disappointing 1-1 draw against 10-man Ipswich last time out in the EPL.Aston Villa take on Liverpool on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Villa Park in Birmingham, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. GMTlocal time. That makes it a 2:30 p.m. ET or 11:30 a.m. PTstart in the US and Canada, and an 6:30a.m. AEDTkickoff in Australia.Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world. Ollie Watkins scored his 11th goal of the Premier League season on Saturday against Ipswich. Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC/Getty ImagesHow to watch Aston Villa vs. Liverpool in the US without cableWednesday's Aston Villa vs. Liverpool game will be broadcast on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at theNBC Sports websitewith a valid login. It can also be streamed via Sling TV and other, more expensive streaming TV services. Sling TV/CNET Sling TV's Blue plan includes USA Network, making it a great option for fans wanting to watch Premier League action. It's $40 a month and features over 40 channels, including other sports channels like ESPN and FS1.Read our Sling TV review. See at Sling TV How to watch the Premier League 2024-25 season from anywhere with a VPNIf you find yourself unable to view EPL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. James Martin/CNET 2024 Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 35% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN isour current best VPN pickfor people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month.Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. See at ExpressVPN Livestream Aston Villa vs. Liverpool in the UKToday's match at Villa Park is exclusive to TNT Sports, and the game will be shown on its TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports 2 HD channels. TNT Sports TNT Sports is offering a sizable 52 matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports via Sky Q as a TV package, as well as the option of streaming online. It costs 31 either way and comes in a package that includes the Discovery Plus library of documentary content. See at TNT Sport Livestream Aston Villa vs. Liverpool in CanadaIf you want to stream this EPL game live in Canada, you'll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights to every Premier League fixture once again this season. Fubo Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the EPL this season, with exclusive streaming rights to every match. It costs CA$30 a month, though you can save some cash by paying quarterly or annually. See at Fubo Livestream Aston Villa vs. Liverpool in AustraliaFootball fans down under can watch EPL matches live on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every Premier League game of the 2024-25 season live in Australia. Optus With exclusive rights to stream all EPL matches live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.If you're already an Optus network customer, you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 a month. If you're not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25. See at Optus Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPNWith four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommendBrave.

Apple's iPhone 16E, the replacement for the 2020 iPhone SE, has seen the company finally kill off multiple things in one go. From the home button to the Lightning port, Apple's new cheapest phone comes with big changes, but it also signals the death of small phones in the tech giant's lineup. And I think that's a shame.At 4.7 inches, the 2020 iPhone SE was the only truly small phone worth buying. For years I've maintained a roundup of the best small phones to buy and it's increasingly hard to find phones that qualify. While Google's 5.8-inch Pixel 4A used to be on the list, subsequent Pixel phones have all gone beyond 6-inches in size while none of Samsung's recent Galaxy S-series launches could be considered small. The iPhone SE was the last option for those of us wanting a solid-performing phone that could easily slip into skinny jeans without creating an embarrassing bulge. With a 6.1-inch display, the new iPhone 16E is almost exactly the same size as the current base iPhone 16. But don't be too dismayed, small phone lovers, as that's not really the whole story.While the display itself may be much bigger in the new model, the physical dimensions of the phone are not that much bigger than the old iPhone SE. The reason is that the screen has been able to stretch right the way to the edges of the phone, eliminating the big expanses of wasted area seen above and below the display of the iPhone SE. So you get a much bigger screen, without a much bigger handset overall. But that space saving has also meant the final death of something else:The home button. Angela Lang/CNETThe home button appeared on the iPhone from its launch in 2007 until it was removed from major iPhone variants on the iPhone X in 2017. Subsequent iPhones instead relied on gestures for navigation, requiring you to swipe in from below or above to perform actions. Nearly all Android manufacturers followed this design and home buttons are nowhere to be seen on pretty much any phone launched since the beginning of 2018.But the 2020 iPhone SE kept its home button, despite the vast amount of space it took up on the front of the phone. For some, it was a useless addition, while for others it offered a familiar operation more akin to iPhones of old. Relying on buttons rather than gestures can also be much easier for people with impaired motor function to use their phone, although Apple does offer software-based assistive solutions here.With its full screen display, the new iPhone 16E signals the final death of the physical home button. But it also marks the death of one more thing:The Lightning port. James Martin/CNETApple's proprietary charging port came into life on the iPhone 5 in 2012, replacing the massive 32-pin charging connector seen on previous iPhones and iPods. Lightning was smaller, reversible and offered faster data transfer and it quickly became the default charging medium for Apple's iPhones, AirPods and most iPads.Apple actually replaced Lightning with USB-C first on the 2018 iPad Pro, but it wasn't until the iPhone 15 in 2023 that Apple got rid of Lightning from its iPhones, following pressure from the EU. The 2020 iPhone SE was one of the last models you could still buy new from the company that still used the old Lightning charging standard, but that too has gone the way of the dinosaur and the new iPhone 16E, like the others in the iPhone 16 range, uses USB-C. Watch this: iPhone SE 4 vs. iPhone 17 Air Rumors: Does Size Matter Over Cost? 06:50

February 19, 20254 min readFEMA Firings Hit Agency Already Suffering Staffing ShortagesAfter firing 200 first-year employees this weekend, FEMA was directed "to make a list" of anyone who worked on climate or equityBy Thomas Frank & E&E News Members of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force search a flood-damaged area with a search canine in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River on Oct. 4, 2024, in Asheville, North Carolina. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | The Trump administration has fired hundreds of Federal Emergency Management Agency employees and is now targeting staff involved with climate change, equity or diversity, according to interviews and emails obtained by POLITICOs E&E News.After firing probationary employees over Presidents Day weekend, FEMA is being directed to come up with employee reductions far beyond the probationary list, a top FEMA official wrote in an internal email sent recently to senior agency staff.Direction is to make a list of anyone who worked on or works on climate, environmental justice, equity, DEIA, the email reads, referring to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The email obtained by E&E News was cropped to not include the name of the sender.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 firings could impair an agency that has faced chronic staffing shortages amid intensifying disasters and heightened scrutiny. FEMA employees were so overwhelmed in October responding to severe hurricane damage in six states that the agency was forced to seek help from other federal agencies.The next time theres a major catastrophic event that requires extensive manpower, FEMAs going to be at a disadvantage, said Michael Coen, the agencys chief of staff in the Biden administration.FEMA confirmed to E&E News that it had fired more than 200 employees and that other agencies in the Department of Homeland Security had fired another 200.Under President Trumps leadership, we are making sweeping cuts and reform across the federal government to eliminate egregious waste and incompetence that has been happening for decades at the expense of the American taxpayer, a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. They said the firings will cut roughly $50 million in personnel costs.The department said it fired non-mission critical personnel in probationary status and is actively identifying other wasteful positions and offices that do not fulfill DHS mission.President Donald Trump has assailed FEMA since taking office, suggesting he might shut down the agency, targeting its response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and creating a review council led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.The upcoming firings could have a broad reach because under then-President Joe Biden, FEMA emphasized climate change and equity.This will impact the majority of our staff, the FEMA email says, noting that climate and equity were prioritized in the latest agency strategic plan, released in 2022 and recently removed from FEMAs website.FEMA leadership will "compile the names of ALL employees that worked on these topics," according to the email, written by a member of FEMA's senior executive service. The official wrote that the agency will make a distinction between employees with "significant involvement" in the targeted programs and those with "insignificant involvement.""I know this feels like a shock to many of you and is an exceedingly difficult task," the official wrote in the email.The firings put a lot of really important programs on life support, a former senior FEMA official said. If you care about government efficiency, you dont indiscriminately fire. You focus on honing your capabilities to be more efficient.The upcoming firings appear likely to target FEMAs resilience directorate, which includes the agencys grant programs and flood insurance program. FEMA has three other directorates including the Office of Response and Recovery, which deals with immediate disaster response.'Collateral damage'On Monday, FEMA sent emails with the subject line Termination Notice to more than 200 probationary employees in agency offices around the country.Your position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency will end on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, an email obtained by E&E News says.The email notes that after the Office of Personnel Management received a list on Jan. 24 of FEMA probationary employees, a decision was reached that it is not in the best interest of the government to retain you in your current role.Thank you for your contributions furthering the FEMA mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters, the email concludes.The fired employees worked full-time jobs in FEMA headquarters and its 10 regional offices. The FEMA employees who respond on the ground to disasters reservists who are called up as needed were not targeted.The targeting of probationary employees resulted in the dismissal of senior FEMA employees with significant roles.Christopher Page, who had worked at FEMA since 2011, mostly as a lawyer, was fired Monday because he had changed positions recently inside the agency and was on probationary status in his new job.Its weird to spend nearly 15 years dedicated to public service, a decade of which I spent working specifically in the flood insurance space, and then get terminated for being a new employee, Page wrote Monday on his LinkedIn page. Page led a team that worked to improve public access to FEMAs flood insurance program, which covers 4.7 million properties.David Maurstad, a FEMA veteran who ran the insurance program before retiring in July, called Pages firing a travesty.Chris was among the finest I worked with, Maurstad, a former Republican lieutenant governor of Nebraska, wrote on LinkedIn. I hope everyone truly understands what collateral damage looks like.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

More Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy crossover cards revealed, with classic artwork and a fresh card typeAnd a fishing minigame!Image credit: Wizards of the Coast News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Feb. 19, 2025 Wizards of the Coast has unveiled more of its Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover, including the cards set to shake up gameplay and the first ever summonable Saga Creatures.Yesterday, we reported on the four Commander decks based on Final Fantasies 6, 7, 10, and 14, with lead characters Terra, Cloud, Tidus, and Y'shtola headlining each deck.Now more cards have been revealed to show mechanics of the game and beautiful artwork.Final Fantasy | First Look Card Previews | Magic: The GatheringWatch on YouTubeFor instance, the Final Fantasy crossover includes double-faced cards to represent iconic characters, minigames, and story moments. That might reflect, for instance, the journey of Cecil in Final Fantasy 4 from Dark Knight to Paladin.That also includes Final Fantasy 15's fishing minigame - yes, you can now go fishing in Magic: The Gathering - which can be flipped to form a cooking campsite, used to add a food token to your deck. New double-faced cards | Image credit: Wizards of the CoastSummons will also be included, combining elements of a Saga and Creature card for the first time, and can be called upon to aid in battle for a few turns - as you'd expect. So far, only Shiva has been revealed.More new mechanics will be revealed in future. Summons are the first ever Saga Creature cards | Image credit: Wizards of the CoastOther revealed cards include boss monsters and cute creatures, like Jumbo Cactuar, Sin, Tonberry, and Moogle cards. Some cards will also be borderless to truly show off the artwork. Iconic Final Fantasy creatures will be included | Image credit: Wizards of the CoastThen there are the Final Fantasy Through The Ages cards, featuring classic artwork from across the series, including from legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano and character designer Tetsuya Nomura. As a whole, the crossover is the largest collection of Final Fantasy artwork ever in a single game. Legendary artists will be featured | Image credit: Wizards of the CoastThe crossover is set to launch on 13th June and is available to pre-order now. More information can be found on the Magic: The Gathering website.The Starter Kit is available for 15.99, with individual boosters priced at 5.99. The four Commander Decks (each including 100 cards) are available for 58.45 for the regular edition, and 124.99 for the collector's edition (with all cards having a special foil treatment). A Play Booster Box, containing 30 boosters, is 174.99. (Based on Amazon pricing)The Final Fantasy crossover is the latest in the Universes Beyond series, as Wizards of the Coast branches out to incorporate other popular franchises.What's more, Hasbro is working on a Magic: The Gathering film and TV series too.