Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal-winning architect Pete Bossley is one of the defining figures in Aotearoa New Zealands recent architectural history. Perhaps best known for theMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (designed whilehe was at Jasmax),Bossleys work also includes theSir Peter Blake extension to the National Maritime Museum in Auckland amongst other civic and museumprojects.Bossleys Sir Peter Blake extension to the National Maritime Museum in Auckland.Image: Simon DevittWhile producing some of this countrys most admired and adventurous houses, Bossley has also delivered apartment buildings, social housing projects and bridges. He has taught architectural design for more than two decades, serving as adjunct professor of Architecture at Unitec Architecture and Landscape School. He has also exhibited and lectured extensively on his work, both here andinternationally.In 2012, Bossley was recognised with the Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the highest individual award an architect can receive in NewZealand.In his lecture, Bossleywill explore the value of good ideas, through the production of architecture, sketching andpainting.Architecture/Sketching/Painting: The hunt for a good idea Pete Bossley, Bossley Architects (Auckland)Wednesday 12 March 2025, 6.30pmLecture Theatre 342, Conference Centre Building 423, University of AucklandRegisterhere for yourticket.Other speakers in the series areKAU and First Light Architects (Wednesday 19 March),PAC Studio (Wednesday 26 March),Isthmus (Wednesday 2 April) andParlour (Wednesday 9 April). For more information, and to register, click here.TheFast Forward lecture series is generously sponsored byGIBand supported byTe Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.10 NZRAB CPD points are available at each lecture. Attendance is free and all arewelcome.

Samsung has debuted its latest midrange phones, the $500 Galaxy A56, $400 A36 and $300 A26. All three devices have larger displays, more powerful processors and, inevitably, new AI features. I got a first look at the phones during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and my first impression is that they feel impressively more premium than their sticker price, thanks to their bright displays, glass backing and use of Samsung's latest One UI 7.Arriving on the heels of the $599iPhone 16E, Apple's idea of an affordable phone that'sfar from cheap, all three new Samsung Galaxy A phones seem to prove a phone-maker can still make a device that's truly affordable and flexes new features likeAndroid 15and Google's Circle to Search tool. All the phones are built to last you a while, with six years of OS and security updates, Samsung's Knox Vault for device security and privacy, and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.Here's everything to know about the Galaxy A36, A26 and A56.Read more: MWC 2025: All the Phones, Wearables, Robots and AI Live From BarcelonaSamsung Galaxy A36: $400 The Galaxy A36 5G costs $400. SamsungAt 8.2mm thick and 196 grams, the Galaxy A36 5G is thinner and lighter than last year's A35 5G, which was 7.4mm thick and weighed 209 grams. Like last year, the phone packs a 5,000 mAh battery, but now features 45-watt super fast charging, which Samsung says can charge the phone nearly 70% in 30 minutes. (CNET will test this once we get the devices in for review, so stay tuned.)Thinner bezels bump the display to 6.7 inches, compared to the A35's 6.6 inches. The A36 features a 120Hz refresh rate, and an increased peak brightness of 1,900 nits, ideally making it easier to see the screen even if you're in a brightly lit environment. Both the front and back feature Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, which Samsung says improves durability. The company says they're all "FHD+" resolution, which usually means 2,220x1,080 pixels.In person, the display looked nice and bright, and the bezels are still pretty noticeable, but not obtrusive. There's just enough heft to the phone to help it feel more premium than its price suggests, but it's still lightweight altogether.Cameras get an upgrade, too, with support for HDR video recording on the 50-megapixel main camera. Like last year's phone, the A36 also features an 8-megapixel ultrawide and 5-megapixel macro camera. The front camera goes from 13 to 12 megapixels, but supports 10-bit HDR video recording. It's worth noting that more megapixels doesn't automatically mean a better camera.HDR support can help images and videos have a wider dynamic range (the difference between the brightest parts of an image and the darkest parts) and look more detailed and colorful. For nighttime shots, Samsung says larger pixels serve up sharper, more vibrant images with minimal noise, even in extremely low light -- larger pixels can gather more light and have less image noise. Stay tuned to CNET's tests to see how the camera performs. The Galaxy A36 5G runs Android 15 and One UI 7. SamsungYou'll find AI features on the A36 like Google's Circle to Search, which can now also translate on-screen text and identify music. Samsung debuted these new capabilities on its flagship Galaxy S25 lineup in January. AI-powered photo editing tools include an enhanced Object Eraser that now lets you select multiple objects to be removed, and a Filter feature that lets you create a custom filter based on any photo. For example, if you have a shot of a sunset and you like the tone of the image, you can apply that filter to other photos, too. Edit Suggestion will use AI to analyze an image and serve up recommendations to improve it, like removing shadows or reflections.The A36 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, versus the Exynos 1380 featured on the Galaxy A35. It has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Samsung says there's also a larger cooling system to better dissipate heat and optimize for gameplay and streaming.The Galaxy A36 will be available on March 26 in black and lavender. An exclusive lime version is also available through Best Buy.Read more: Best Android Phone for 2025Samsung Galaxy A26: $300 The Galaxy A26 5H costs $300. SamsungThe (even cheaper) Galaxy A26 is also thinner than its predecessor, measuring at 7.7mm compared to the Galaxy A25's 8.3mm. It also gets a bigger FHD+ display, thanks to reduced bezels, matching the A36's 6.5 inches. It shares a 120Hz refresh rate.The bezels on the A36 are more obvious than on the A26 and A56, especially along the bottom of the phone and around the camera. The display is also a bit dimmer.While last year's A25 featured a glass front and plastic back, the A26 steps things up with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back, just like the A36. The frame remains plastic. Despite the upgrade to a glass backing, the A26 doesn't have the same premium, heftier feel in hand as the A36 and A56. But it has a smooth interface and is highly responsive, just like its A series sisters.Like last year's model, the A26 features a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera, 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and 2-megapixel macro camera, as well as a 13-megapixel selfie camera. The Galaxy A26 5G is the cheapest of the three new A series phones from Samsung. SamsungDespite the lower price, you'll still get AI features like Photo Edit Suggestion and Object Eraser, as well as Circle to Search. The A26 runs the Exynos 1380 chipset, and comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has expandable memory up to 2TB, and packs a 5,000 mAh battery.The A26 will become available March 28, and is only available in black.Read more:These Are the Best Camera Phones for 2025Samsung Galaxy A56: $500To complete the trio, the Galaxy A56 has a 6.7-inch display and a 5,000 mAh battery, which, like the A36, supports 45-watt charging. The A56 is powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset and also has a larger vapor chamber to help you play games and watch videos for longer.The A56 has a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The selfie camera has a 12-megapixel sensor compared to the Galaxy A55's 32-megapixel front-facing camera, which took either 12- or 8-megapixel images after pixel binning. The selfie camera also gets 10-bit HDR support, and a Low Noise Mode helps to take sharper low-light photos, Samsung says.A feature only available on the A56 is called Best Face, which can help you nail a group photo by choosing the best expressions on up to five people and then combining them into one image. This is similar -- in name and in execution -- to Google's Best Take feature on the Pixel series. The A56 also gets an enhanced Object Eraser and Filter capabilities.Samsung hasn't yet shared color options for the A56, but the version I got a quick look at was white. It feels similar to the A36 in terms of weight, thickness and feel, and the screen brightness is also comparable.The A56 will be available later this year.Samsung Galaxy A56, A36 and A26 specs Samsung Galaxy A56 5GSamsung Galaxy A36 5GSamsung Galaxy A26 5G Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate 6.7-inch AMOLED; FHD+; 120Hz refresh rate6.7-inch AMOLED; FHD+; 120Hz refresh rate6.7-inch AMOLED; FHD+; 120Hz refresh ratePixel density TBDTBDTBDDimensions (inches) 6.39 x 3.05 x 0.29 in6.41 x 3.08 x 0.29 in6.46 x 3.05 x 0.3o inDimensions (millimeters) 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm164 x 77.5 x 7.7 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 198g (6.94 oz.)195g (6.89 oz.)200g (7.05 oz.)Mobile software Android 15Android 15Android 15Camera 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 5-megapixel (macro)50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide), 5-megapixel (macro)50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide), 2-megapixel (macro)Front-facing camera 12-megapixel12-megapixel13-megapixelVideo capture TBDTBDTBDProcessor Exynos 1580Snapdragon 6 Gen 3Exynos 1380RAM + storage 8GB + 128GB6GB + 128GB6GB + 128GBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneBattery 5,000 mAh5,000 mAh5,000 mAhFingerprint sensor TBDTBDTBDConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneSpecial features Galaxy AI, OneUI 7, Circle To Search, Best Face, Object Eraser, 6 generations of Andoid OS, 6 years of software and security support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR recording, 1,200 nits peak brightnessGalaxy AI, OneUI 7, Circle To Search, Object Eraser, 6 generations of Andoid OS, 6 years of software and security support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR recording, 1,900 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus PlusGalaxy AI, OneUI 7, Circle To Search, Object Eraser, 6 generations of Android OS, 6 years of software and security support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR recording, Gorilla Glass Victus PlusUS price starts at $500 (128GB)$400 (128GB)$300 (128GB)UK price starts at Converts to 400Converts to 320Converts to 240Australia price starts at Converts to AU$805Converts to AU$645Converts to AU$485

Another day, another big solar installer faces bankruptcy. This time, the latest company to face the "solar coaster" is Sunnova Energy International, which is looking down the barrel at a cash flow that's insufficient to meet its obligations and fund operations."While total cash increased, unrestricted cash remained relatively flat, below our estimated $100 million increase," said John Berger, Sunnova's founder and CEO. "This miss was primarily due to lower tax equity contributions stemming from timing delays of ITC sales, fewer installed systems and funds received in December classified as restricted."Put more simply, while customer agreements and incentives revenue increased by $163.4 million (43%), solar energy system and product sales revenue declined by $44.1 million (13%). In its report, released March 3, the company says its cash flow is unable to meet its obligations and fund operations. Can solar panels save you money? Interested in understanding the impact solar can have on your home? Enter some basic information below, and well instantly provide a free estimate of your energy savings. "Our unrestricted cash, cash flows from operating activities, and availability and commitments under existing financing agreements are not sufficient to meet obligations and fund operations for a period of at least one year from the date we issue our consolidated financial statements without implementing additional measures to manage our working capital, secure additional tax equity investment commitments or waivers of conditions to access existing tax equity commitments, and refinance certain of our obligations."The report also suggests a number of steps the company may take to address the cash flow issue, including refinancing obligations, taking on additional debt financing, reducing expenditures, revising dealer payment terms and obtaining tax equity investment commitment sufficient to continue operating. However, the report also warns that it can "offer no assurances we will be able to successfully implement any of these plans or obtain financing at acceptable terms or at all."Warning signs may also have been present earlier, with the company losing Better Business Bureau accreditation and cutting more than 15% of its workforce (300 positions) in February 2025. Zooey Liao/CNETWhen CNET reviewed Sunnova, we praised it for its 25-year service guarantee, numerous financing options and customer-centered approach, awarding it a 6.5 rating. This wasn't enough to earn it a top spot on our list, but it earned a mention because of the loan guarantees it had gained from the Biden administration to help low- and moderate-income families adopt solar. Unfortunately, this program will likely come to an end both due to the new administration and the significant possibility that Sunnova may need to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Considering Solar Panels? Our email course will walk you through how to go solar By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.The ups and downs of solar installers aren't new to the industry. In 2024, ADT, Titan Solar, SunPower and Lumio all declared bankruptcy or went out of business, though subsequently, SunPower was acquired by Complete Solar in Chapter 11 proceedings.With new tariffs on solar manufacturers and many of the US' closest trading partners, solar installations are likely to become more expensive in 2025. Sunnova may be one of the first companies to face serious challenges to its business model this year, but it's not likely to be the last. Considering Solar Panels? Our email course will walk you through how to go solar By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

March 3, 20255 min readTrump Official Who Tried to Downplay Major Climate Report Now Will Oversee ItStuart Levenbach alarmed scientists years ago when he attempted to meddle with a congressionally mandated climate reportBy Scott Waldman & E&E News Steam and exhaust rise from a power plant. Stuart Levenbach said his new role at OMB would be to "ensure that agencies align with the President's priorities." Lukas Schulze/Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | A former Trump official who alarmed scientists years ago when he attempted to meddle with a congressionally mandated climate report has returned to the White House in a role that's expected to heavily influence the next version of the assessment.Stuart Levenbach was tapped last month by administration officials to serve as associate director for natural resources, energy, science, and water in the Office of Management and Budget.The previous time President Donald Trump was in the White House, Levenbach attempted to tone down the summary conclusions of the National Climate Assessment, a wide-ranging report that relies on the contributions of hundreds of researchers to assess how global warming is transforming the United States.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.Scientists say Levenbach tried to downplay climate risks in the fourth installment of the report, which comes out every four years or so. In that edition, Levenbach was concerned especially with the higher greenhouse gas emissions assumptions the report partially relied on and sought to soften the language of the report's summary, the scientists say.He was the one that tried to slow it down to the point of it not coming out, said Don Wuebbles, a climate scientist at the University of Illinois who has worked on all five previous National Climate Assessments.Levenbach's delay tactics were ultimately unsuccessful, and the fourth installment of the report was released in 2018 on the day after Thanksgiving.In response to questions from Politico's E&E News, a Trump administration official with the Office of Management and Budget described the scientists' concerns as fake news.Levenbach is joining OMB at a time when its director, Russ Vought, wants to suppress climate science throughout the federal government and increase Trump White House oversight over the next installment of the National Climate Assessment, which is due out in 2026 or 2027.Vought, an architect of the conservative policy playbook known as Project 2025, specifically targeted the National Climate Assessment in the chapter he wrote on expanding presidential power. Vought said the report must be controlled more closely by the White House in order to reduce its influence on litigation and also hamstring its ability to underpin federal regulations.Vought described the assessment as a threat to presidential power.The U.S. Global Change Research Program "produces strategic plans and research (for example, the National Climate Assessment) that reduce the scope of legally proper options in presidential decision-making and in agency rulemakings and adjudications," he wrote.During the first Trump administration, Levenbach served as chief of staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before being appointed as a senior adviser to the White House Council on Environmental Quality and then the National Economics Council. When he was at NOAA, the release of the National Climate Assessment caught the administration by surprise.Levenbach was one of several Trump administration officials who tried to force the scientists who worked on the report to weaken their findings, said Wuebbles of the University of Illinois.He said Levenbach questioned the reports scientific conclusions and then demanded to see research backing up the original findings, even though they were cited in the report. It appeared to be an intentional attempt to create a series of roadblocks designed to block the reports release, he said.The whole idea was lets slow this down so it never comes out, Wuebbles said.At the time, Levenbachs role at NOAA carried more weight than usual because the agency was operating without a permanent administrator, and did so for the entire first Trump presidency.Reached for comment, OMB spokeswoman Rachel Cauley did not deny that Levenbach tried to alter the report, but she criticized how it was put together.The assessment was riddled with the worst case scenario and the authors werent transparent about it, she said in a statement.Levenbach declined to comment.The National Climate Assessment is based on a range of emissions scenarios, including those that are not worst-case scenarios. The fourth version of the report concluded the country was not on track to cut carbon dioxide emissions at a pace to avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change.While mitigation and adaptation efforts have expanded substantially in the last four years, they do not yet approach the scale considered necessary to avoid substantial damages to the economy, environment, and human health over the coming decades, researchers concluded.During Trumps first term, White House officials discussed withholding the report. Someone suggested firing the scientists who worked on it, POLITICO'S E&E News previously has reported.Federal researchers who resisted the pressure of Trump officials to alter the reports findings were removed from their jobs and reassigned to lesser roles.That included Virginia Burkett, who was chair of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which produces the report. Burkett said she refused Levenbachs attempts to weaken the reports scientific conclusions, and she has claimed that because of that stance she was removed as chair of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and demoted.In July 2024, Burkett filed a whistleblower complaint with the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior. She noted that several retaliatory actions were taken against me for blocking the change to the National Climate Assessment.I led a successful interagency effort to prevent last minute alterations to the reports Summary Findings by political appointees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, she said in a statement. These proposed changes would have drastically misrepresented the work of more than 300 federal and academic scientists in a report that had been through extensive peer, public and National Academies review.That complaint is still open and under investigation, according to the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, which is working with Burkett.Craig McLean, who was a top scientist at NOAA under Trump, said Levenbach and other NOAA officials "held up" the National Climate Assessment, and that the report may never have been released without Burkett's advocacy.It was an impasse until Virginia stepped up, and then suddenly it was, yeah, OK, we're gonna have to let it go, McLean said. It was being held up. NOAA wouldnt approve it.In the end, the fourth National Climate Assessment was released, but the administration tried to bury it by putting it out on Black Friday. The plan backfired, however, and the report generated significant media coverage.Trump later said he did not believe the report.After Trumps loss in the 2020 election, Levenbach worked at Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, on the use of sustainable energy sources around the world. He holds a doctorate in marine ecology.Levenbachs appointment to a powerful White House role with oversight of the nations scientific endeavors comes at a time when the administration is preparing a possible challenge to the endangerment finding, a bedrock ruling which considers greenhouse gases a danger to public health and is a foundation of climate regulations.On his Linked-In profile, Levenbach noted that his new role at OMB would be to ensure that agencies align with the President's priorities.Trump and his team have said their priorities include restricting immigration, slashing the size of the federal government and bolstering the U.S. fossil fuel industry.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

PoliticsTrump announces Taiwanese chip giant's $100 billion investment in U.S.Accelerating semiconductor innovation with AI and data insights Washington President Trump announced Monday that a leading Taiwanese semiconductor chip company plans to invest $100 billion in new manufacturing plants in the U.S.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of semiconductor chips, and plans to make the major investment over the next several years. Mr. Trump made the announcement in the White House Roosevelt Room alongside the company's CEO, C.C. Wei."Today, Taiwan Semiconductor is announcing that they will be investing at least $100 billion in new capital in the United States over the next short period of time to build state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facilities," Mr. Trump said. "I think mostly it's going to be in Arizona which is what I understand, which is a great state. I like it because I won it."The president called TSMC the "most powerful company in the world," and said the economic development announcement is a "matter of economic security" and a "matter of national security for us."The Wall Street Journal was first to report the investment pledge. TSMC was promised $6.6 billion in funding under the Biden-era CHIPS and SCIENCE Act of 2022, and announced plans for its first U.S. plant in Arizona.The anticipated announcement comes amid Mr. Trump's threats to impose tariffs on semiconductor chip imports, which TSMC could avoid by manufacturing the chips in the U.S. The president has also floated expedited permits for companies that invest at least $1 billion in the U.S. Mr. Trump noted Monday that if Wei's company made the chips in Taiwan and exported them to the U.S., they'd face 25% tariffs.Speaking at the White House, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick credited the tariffs with the TSMC announcement."Under the Biden administration, TSMC received a $6 billion grant, and that encouraged them to build $65 billion. So America gave TSMC 10% of the money to build here. And now you're seeing the power of Donald Trump's presidency," Lutnick said. "TSMC, the greatest manufacturer of chips in the world, is coming to America with a hundred-billion-dollar investment, and of course that is backed by the fact that they can come here because they can avoid paying tariffs."Semiconductor chips are small but critical components for today's technology, with small pieces of silicone that contain electronic circuits. Semiconductor chips are found in everything from iPhones to cars, and demand has boomed in recent years thanks to the explosion in artificial intelligence, which requires an enormous amount of computing power."Semiconductors are the backbone of the 21st century economy," Mr. Trump said Monday. "And really, without the semiconductors, there is no economy, powering everything from AI to automobiles to advanced manufacturing."The vast majority of semiconductor chips are manufactured in Asian countries, with Taiwan at the top, and the Trump administration is hoping to draw more manufacturing to the U.S. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have viewed increasing U.S. chip manufacturing a matter of national security."We must be able to build the chips and semiconductors that we need right here in American factories with American skill and American labor," Mr. Trump said. "And that's exactly what we're doing. As you know, Taiwan pretty much has a monopoly on that market."More from CBS NewsJennifer JacobsJennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News.

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Meet AfroVFX, the organization bringing free 3D and VFX education to Africa and introducing the world to a continent of untapped talent.Founded by Ddy Bilamba and Eric M'Boua in 2022, AfroVFX aims to bridge the gap between Africa and the global CGI industry. With support from partners like Chaos, AfroVFX empowers and enables a new generation of African artists and animators. Read on to learn more about AfroVFX, its programs' impact, and how Chaos's sponsorship via the Vivid Voices community program is helping it grow.The Road to Founding AfroVFXGrowing up in the African diaspora, Ddy Bilamba and Eric M'Boua always wanted to find a way to use their Western industry knowledge to give back to the continent. Ddy, currently the Program Director at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, and Eric, who has extensive experience in radio and television and event production, were uniquely positioned to help make a difference.AfroVFXAfter being asked to speak at the Abidjan Film Summit four years ago, the pair realized there was a significant opportunity to grow VFX expertise in Africa, especially utilizing the network they had in Canada. "Eric and I said, this is exactly what we have to bring back to the continentthat VFX expertise, to make it belong, to make it go to the next level, and help creators share the most amazing African stories to the world."They knew they wouldn't be introducing the concept of visual effects and animation to Africa. ("No, no, they didn't wait for us," says Ddy. They crack any software they can get!" he laughs.) But what the pair would bring was connections to the international market, opportunities to meet mentors, travel, and learnand they would offer it all for free.So, in 2022, Eric and Ddy's vision became a reality with the launch of AfroVFX cohort #1 from its base in Cte d'Ivoire. They started with a cohort of 20 students, including eight women, whittled down from a pool of over 500 applications. Over a four-month intensive course the students were molded by world class online instructors who included Abdou Sako (Rebel Moon, Pacific Rim), Mlanie Pango (Pinocchio, Godzilla vs. Kong), and Stephane Jean-Mary (Jurassic World Dominion, The Mandalorian). These instructors trained the students in industry-standard tools like Maya, Houdini, Nuke, and Unreal Engine to create world-class talent ready to support local and international industries.Chaos Supporting New Talent and AfroVFXAs a supporter of initiatives to grow and diversify the industrys talent pool, Chaos is always looking for new ways to empower the community. After a chance meeting with Ddy and Eric, Chaos quickly partnered with AfroVFX through the Vivid Voices program. This initiative aims to uplift and support artists from underrepresented communities and help them transition from studies to work.AfroVFXThis partnership has enabled AfroVFX students to achieve success. Thanks to funding from Chaos and other supporters, AfroVFX provides students with free training, mentoring, licences, transportation, meals, and a stipend. This wraparound support means students can fully dedicate themselves to the program without financial barriers. While the course is taught via Zoom, AfroVFX also offers a dedicated training space at the Orange Digital Center (the company is another AfroVFX sponsor), ensuring students have reliable equipment and avoid issues like power or internet outages. Being together also allows students to form bonds and networks for their future work.The success of this approach is already evident. Student groups have completed ambitious projects, such as the pilot for the Djossi Heroes short film. This project, which combined live-action documentary with 2D and 3D animation, won the Sony Talent League competition after catching the eye of the judging panel, and led to AfroVFX students traveling to Spain and Japan.In addition, Chaos also provided 20 licenses for V-Ray for Maya, introducing a future cohort of students to a powerful rendering tool used by studios worldwide. This access allows students to further grow their technical skills and better prepare themselves for real-world projects.AfroVFX and Chaos Present: LISOLOOne of the most exciting things to come out of the partnership between AfroVFX and Chaos was LISOLO, AfroVFXs flagship event. LISOLO, which means story in the Lingala language, brought together young African artists, giving them a platform to showcase their work, network, and learn from studios, incubators, experts, and other industry professionals.AfroVFXThe event welcomed guests like Andrew Roberts, VFX supervisor at ILM; Hamid Ibrahim, CEO of Kugali Media; and Nosipho Maketo van de Braght, CEO of Chocolate Tribe. Attendees participated in workshops, listened to panels and presentations, shared their projects, and received actionable feedback.With Chaoss support, the inaugural LISOLO event was a resounding success. AfroVFX is now planning the second edition for 2025, which will include workshops and masterclasses with international guests, a pitch competition for 3D animated film projects, and the Mission to Morocco challenge, combining AI and human creativity and focusing on the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.AfroVFXs Vision for the FutureLISOLO isnt the only thing AfroVFX has planned for 2025. Applications are about to open for cohort #3, which will be open to participants across Africa. So far, the program has trained 48 students from Cte d'Ivoire, including 16 women thanks to its Animazones initiative. Expanding the program Africa-wide will help foster a sense of community and collaboration among African artists.AfroVFXThis new cohort will work on Akwabee, a three-minute short film mixing live-action and 3D animation. The goal of Akwabee is to teach artists to work in a production pipeline, using tools and methods at an international standard. The final product will debut at LISOLO 2025.Looking AheadAs AfroVFX prepares for its third cohort, the organizations journey is just beginning. With ambitious plans for expansion and continued support from partners like Chaos, AfroVFX is poised to make an even greater impact on the global CGI industry.To learn more about AfroVFXs mission, support their programs, or explore student work, visit their website and follow them on social media. And to discover more about Chaoss community initiatives, check out the Chaos Community Hub.Visit the Chaos community hubJoin us in our journey to make the world a more vibrant place through art and innovation.Learn more

For his YouTube video tutorials.Masahiro Sakurai, the legendary creator of Kirby and Super Smash Bros., has been recognised by the Japanese Government's Agency for Cultural Affairs.Sakurai revealed on social media platform X (spotted via VGC) has been listed as a recipient of the Cultural Affairs' annual Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists. But it's not for his video game development career; it's actually for his YouTube channel, Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Passes, a direct-to-fan monetization platform for creators backed by $40 million in Series A funding, has been sued for allegedly distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (also known as CSAM). While its guidelines do not allow for creators to post nude photos or videos, as opposed to competitors like OnlyFans, a creator has sued Passes, alleging that the company produced, possessed, and sold sexually explicit content featuring her when she was a minor.The lawsuit, filed by creator Alice Rosenblum, was first reported by The Information.In addition to the company itself, the lawsuit was brought against Alec Celestin and Lani Ginoza two individuals who are described in the lawsuit as agents for Passes as well as Passes founder and CEO Lucy Guo. Rosenblum claims that each defendant was aware both that she was a minor and that the company allegedly possessed sexually explicit content of her.Passes stated that Guo had no involvement and told TechCrunch that there is no record or recollection of Guo interacting with Rosenblum.Regardless of the lawsuits outcome, the case highlights questions about how fan platforms can be used to distribute illegal content. The lawsuits claim that Passes knowingly courted content creators for the purpose of posting inappropriate material is completely and utterly false, a Passes spokesperson, Alex Worsham, told TechCrunch in a statement. We cannot state this position more firmly. To the extent there was misconduct here, it lies with the plaintiffs talent manager, Alec Celestin.Celestin did not respond to TechCrunchs request for comment.Rosenblum alleges that Celestin formerly Director of Brand & Community at Fanfix, a similar creator platform groomed her and directed her to take explicit photos and videos of herself when she was seventeen. In the days leading up to her birthday this past September, Rosenblum claims that Celestin approached her with ideas for an 18th birthday marketing campaign to promote the explicit images she alleges she created as a minor.Rosenblum further alleges that Guo intervened to personally override safety measures within Passes that she claims would have flagged her content as CSAM (child sexual abuse material). A Passes spokesperson has denied this allegation.While Rosenblums lawsuit describes Celestin as an agent working with Passes, the company told TechCrunch that Celestin is a former social media contractor who has gone to great lengths to embellish his relationship with our company.Celestin appears alongside Instagram posts alongside Guo, including photos celebrating milestones in Passes development.Celestin has also been linked with Passes in a lawsuit from January 2024, in which Celestins former employer, Fanfix, accused him of sharing company secrets with Passes. At the time, Guo denied that claim.Passes is a no-nudity platform, the company told TechCrunch. The claim that Passes would knowingly assist in distributing sexually explicit images days before a creators 18thbirthday, no less is both defamatory and makes no sense.The company is not marketed as an OnlyFans rival, instead working with mainstream celebrities such as NBA legend Shaquille ONeil, NCAA gymnast Olivia Dunne, and record producer Kygo.In a blog post from December, Passes stated that it strictly prohibits explicit content and uses automated content moderation tools as a first defense to scan for violative posts. (AI is an area of expertise for Guo, who co-founded the unicorn Scale AI). According to Passes, it employs a trust and safety team to review flagged content and determine compliance with company guidelines.The plaintiff and her manager, Alec Celestin, ultimately moved to OnlyFans because [Rosenblums] content kept getting flagged on our platform, Passes told TechCrunch.Passes says it uses the industry-standard tool Microsoft PhotoDNA to automatically scan all images for CSAM, which would then be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), as is typical protocol for online platforms. In its December post, Passes stated that Microsoft PhotoDNA had not flagged any instances of CSAM on the platform.Ms. Rosenblum looks forward to obtaining justice for herself and other victims like her from all defendants, said Rodney Villazor, a lawyer representing Rosenblum. Each defendant will have to answer for his or her own actions in court, not on social media.TopicsSocial

On June 5, TechCrunch Sessions: AI will kick off and you can be part of the industry-changing conversations that will be taking place. We have an open invitation for members of the AI community to lead breakout sessions and discussions with over 1,200 startup founders, VC leaders, and AI aficionados attending our newest event, which will be held in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley. Theres just one catch: You have to apply by this Friday, March 7, 2025, before midnight to be considered as a speaker, so head right here to do so.As the AI field rapidly develops, we want to make sure that the innovators driving the discourse are able to take center stage, so at TC Sessions: AI, you can apply to lead a 50-minute session, complete with a presentation, panel discussion, audience Q&A, and up to four speakers included in a discussion of a topic that you think will send shock waves through the community.How to become a Sessions: AI speakerHeres how it works: You just have to hit the Apply to Speak button and submit your topic on the events page. Were open to a variety of topics, ranging from the startups within the space, the emerging AI tools changing the way we work and build, the infrastructure and teams it takes to support all of this innovation, and beyond. It could be your idea is something no ones ever even thought of before!Our TechCrunch audience will then vote on the submitted topics and choose the titular sessions that will fill the programming of our AI industry event.If your topic is chosen, you dont just get to lead a discussion and take home some bragging rights. Breakout session speakers get access to our exclusive main stage of AI event programming, additional breakout sessions, and the opportunity to join in on small-group or even one-on-one networking opportunities. Your next investor or hire could come from this very event!Other Sessions: AI speaker perksAs if getting a chance to drive a conversation amongst your peers wasnt enough, youll also get some additional perks: Speakers and their companies get prominently featured across all of our event listings and agendas, both on our site and app. TechCrunchs editorial team will be on the ground covering the event, and the breakout sessions, with associated social media promotion from TechCrunch in the lead-up to and after the event.Apply before the deadlineYouve made it this far, so whats the holdup? Get your brightest ideas together and make a pitch to help steer the future of AI conversations by applying to speak today.The clocks ticking with only four full days left to apply!