You're UIred"Put him in a room, let him cook" Civilization 7 developer Firaxis announces it's hired one of the series' top modders, with players hoping that's good UI news"Waaaaay back in high school, I started modding Civ 5, and honestly, that's what started me down this path of working in game dev."Image credit: Firaxis News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on March 5, 2025 Here's some important news for folks who've been waiting for Civilization 7 to get some key changes since it released to mixed reviews. Developer Firaxis has announced that it's brought one of the most high-profile Civ modders (at least in terms of the last couple of entries) on board in an official dev capacity.Why's that a big deal, aside from obviously being cool for the folks involved? Well, one of the things this particular modder's known for is UI tweaks, which has been one of Civ 7's biggest points of contention, and something Firaxis has been clear it wants to improve.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Regardless of the motivation, both the developer and modder Sukrit 'Act' Tan - aka Sukritact - have revealed that the former's now joined the studio. "We're happy to announce that Sukritact has officially joined Firaxis as our latest Tech Artist," Firaxis community manager Sarah Engel announced in a post on Civ 7's official Discord server fittingly entitled "Entering our Sukritact Age..."Meanwhile, over on Bluesky, Tan provided their own confirmation, writing "Finally, MY turn to do one of those fancy profile update videos! Waaaaay back in high school, I started modding Civ 5, and honestly, that's what started me down this path of working in game dev."Finally, MY turn to do one of those fancy profile update videos!Waaaaay back in high school, I started modding #Civ5, and honestly, that's what started me down this path of working in game dev. So today, I am beyond thrilled to be able to say that I've just joined Firaxis as a Technical Artist![image or embed] Sukrit "Act" Tan (@actsukrit.bsky.social) 4 March 2025 at 21:58To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Overall, as you'd hope, the Civ community on Reddit and Discord looks to be overwhelmingly happy for Tan, with a number viewing the move as a potential answer to their prayers in terms of tweaks they'd like to see made to the game, especially UI-wise. While it may not be that simple, you can understand the hype, given that plenty of Sukritact's works for Civ 6 were changes to aspects of that game's UI, such as their 'Simple UI Adjustments' and 'Global Relations Panel' mods, which have both been subscribed to over 650k times on Steam Workshop as of writing.As someone who's dipped their toe in Civ 6 modding, these and a bunch of Tan's other works that do stuff like adding new world wonders and revamping various aspects of the game's visuals and text to be extra historically accurate were among the first I grabbed, and became load order staples. The modder seemingly hasn't commented on whether their new gig will affect them continuing to make unofficial mods, so a few of the players reacting to the news have expressed a bit of concern about the possibility of Civ 7's modding scene potentially suffering as a result of this.We'll just have to see, but at the end of the day, none of us are entitled to getting game tweaks folks make on a volunteer basis.

Image: Hello GamesNo Man's Sky landed its 'Worlds Part II' update back in January, with the space adventure getting treated to new solar systems, biomes, terrains and a bunch more wonderful stuff. This week, in an attempt to iron out some of the creases, developer Hello Games has released a hotfix to get the latest update running in tip-top condition.As is usually the case with NMS hotfixes, many of the changes this time around have come from user-reported issues. It's a long list of bugs that Sean Murray and co. have removed from the procedurally-generated galaxy and while the patch isn't live on Switch just yet (it has already launched on Steam), the dev assures us that it "will be coming to other platforms as soon as possible" so keep watching the stars.The full patch notes were shared on the No Man's Sky website, and we have gathered them together for you to check out below.No Man's Sky Ver. 5.58 (Released 4th March 2025)Bug FixesFixed an issue that prevents completion of the Chronicle expedition milestones if the Rendezvous milestones autocomplete.Fixed an issue that could cause players not to know the Terrain Manipulator recipe in the Titan Expedition.Fixed an issue that caused misleading mission text when locating storm crystals for an expedition.Fixed a rare mission blocker in In Stellar Multitudes.Fixed a number of rare mission blockers that could cause players to have the wrong crafting recipes during In Stellar Multitudes.Fixed an issue that could cause a second mission marker to persist when not needed during In Stellar Multitudes.Fixed a rare blocker in In Stellar Multitiudes where Polo would offer the incorrect dialogue.Fixed an issue that could cause the Under a Rebel Star mission to get stuck after fleeing sentinels.Fixed a number of minor mission text issues that could occur when switching to a new settlement.Fixed a rare mission blocker that could prevent players from acquiring a replacement radiant brain from Tethys in A Trace of Metal.Fixed a rare mission blocker in They Who Returned.Fixed an issue that could cause Sentinel Walkers to fail to spawn.Fixed an issue that could cause the base building hologram to fail to collide correctly with the planet surface.Players can now archive their current starship or Multi-Tool, as long as it is not the only one left.Fixed a number of rare issues related to the Atlas Station.Fixed an issue that prevented players from recolouring Solar ships in the starship customiser.Fixed a number of issues that could occur after exchanging ships with an NPC.Fixed an issue that could cause players to pop to the surface while swimming on moons.If players die in midair while on a planet, their grave will now spawn on the planet's surface.Fixed a text issue with the S-Wing Megalith Engine ship part.Reloading a save made inside an Exocraft will no longer place you outside it.Fixed an issue that prevented the Quick Menu from being accessible in Exocraft when using the swap Quick/Build Menu option.Fixed an issue that prevented the full range of terrain manipulator modes being accessible in while in an Exocraft.Fixed an issue that prevented hotkeys that were set for the Minotaur AI from saving correctly.Fixed an issue that caused the Minotaur to sink into its geobay.Fixed an issue that caused the Nautilon to dive slightly when using the keyboard to navigate the Quick Menu.Made a number of improvements to buoyancy and control when piloting the Nautilon on the surface of the water.Made a significant number of improvements to the Nautilon's visual effects.Fixed an issue where an expedition reward Multi-Tool with a custom name would overwrite the primary Multi-Tool's name.Fixed an issue that caused some inventory sort hover tips to clip off the edge of the screen.Fixed an issue that caused expanded tech or cargo inventories not to reset properly when switching inventory pages.Fixed an issue that caused some backpacks to appear very small in the inventory.Localised weather anomalies are now tracked in the Analysis Visor.Crabs can now be adopted as player companions.Fixed an issue that could cause the "New Planet Discovered" UI to be squashed by the saving UI.Fixed a number of audio issues in the loading starfield.Fixed a minor animation glitch when using the Analysis Visor.Fixed a number of clipping issues when wearing a cape and another cloth item at the same time.Fixed a minor visual glitch with some specific barren trees.Fixed a minor visual glitch with some specific lush trees.Fixed a number of rare visual glitches with water rendering.Fixed an issue that caused some large planetary objects to vanish shortly after spawning.Fixed a number of visual issues with foam when in Photo Mode.Fixed a number of minor visual issues with planet atmosphere rendering.Fixed a number of minor visual issues with metal surface rendering.Fixed an issue that could cause water effects to appear above the surface.Fixed a visual glitch that could occur when loading into game on PC while alt-tabbed to a different window.Fixed an issue that could caused the loading starfield to appear jittery.Fixed an issue that could cause some starship trails to appear in front of the ship while moving at high speed.Fixed a number of minor visual glitches with the display of moons in the Discovery Page.Improved the quality of GTAO in PC VR.Fixed an issue that caused flickering when rendering water in VR.Fixed a number of ghosting issues on Xbox.Introduced a significant memory optimisation for PlayStation 4.Fixed an issue that prevent foliage being pushed properly by nearby objects on Mac.Fixed a number of visual issues on Mac.Fixed a specific performance issue on PlayStation 5.Fixed a crash that occurs when playing the PlayStation 4 version of NMS on PlayStation 5.Improved indexing in arrays of data, to help mod authors more easily merge in modded data. The index ID is also now clearly highlighted in the output of the SaveOutModdedMetadata option.Fixed a rare issue that could cause a crash followed by an infinite load after claiming abandoned ships on water worlds.Introduced a significant memory optimisation for all platforms.Fixed a rare issue that could cause a softlock when opening the galaxy map after landing on a derelict freighter.Fixed a number of rare crashes.For more information on the latest major update, 'Worlds Part II', you can find all of the biggest additions in our coverage below. The not-so-final frontierIs there anything you're particularly excited to see in this latest update? Let us know in the comments.[source nomanssky.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. 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In BriefPosted:12:59 AM PST March 5, 2025Image Credits:Stephen Lam (opens in a new window) / Getty ImagesApple is challenging U.K.s iCloud encryption backdoor orderApple is challenging a U.K. Government data access order in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), the Financial Times reports. The order targeted iCloud backups that are protected by end-to-end encryption.Last month, press leaks revealed the existence of the January order asking Apple to build a backdoor in iClouds encrypted backups. U.K. officials are exercising powers they hold via national security surveillance legislation to try to force the iPhone maker to provide data in the clear to law enforcement.Apple responded by announcing it would end U.K. users access to the strongly encrypted version of the iCloud storage feature. The challenge via the IPT was filed at the same time, per the FT, indicating that the company is going on the offensive to try to overturn the order against its Advanced Data Protection(ADP) feature, as well as pulling the security offering out of the U.K. market.A key element is that Apple is continuing to offer the strongly encrypted iCloud backups in other markets even though the order reportedly sought access to the data of users outside the U.K. market, too. The British Government believes Apple has therefore failed to comply despite shuttering the feature locally, according to the FT.It also reports that this could be the first time the U.K.s encryption breaking powers have been tested before the body that oversees the security services, although it suggests the hearing is likely to be held in secret.Apple declined to issue a new statement on the development, but a spokesperson pointed back to remarks it issued last month. At the time, the company said it was gravely disappointed that U.K. users would no longer have access to the security feature.Topics

Darwinbox, an Indian startup building a SaaS platform for hiring, onboarding and employee administration, has raised $140 million to take on the likes of Rippling and Deel as it seeks to expand internationally, especially in the U.S.The funding is being co-led by KKR and Partners Group, and is a mix of primary and secondary share sales, with several unnamed investors selling parts of their stakes. Darwinboxs investor list includes the likes of Microsoft, Salesforce, Sequoia, TCV, Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India) and Lightspeed.Darwinbox, which has now raised around $270 million in total, did not respond to questions on its valuation in this latest round, but co-founder Jayant Paleti confirmed to TechCrunch that it is an up-round.(When news leaked out last week in the local press, the companys price tag was pegged at $950 million.)In 2022, Darwinbox raised funding at a valuation of over $1 billion.For some context, two of the bigger startups in the HR-tech space Deel and Rippling are both valued around $12 billion to $13 billion. Darwinboxs other competitors include providers of point solutions as well as large, older incumbents like SAP, Oracle and Workday, among dozens of other companies.Darwinbox may be smaller than some of its rivals, but its a business worth watching for a few reasons.For starters, its one of the wave of home-grown enterprise startups that have emerged from India and Southeast Asia in the last several years as the regions technology ecosystem matures and expands beyond e-commerce.An investor once described the trend to us as the SaaS-ification of Asia. When you combine that with the enormous amounts of money flowing in the region, and its collective population, its clearly a region one should be looking to for the next big thing in tech.The second reason is that this is a notable example of a company from India that has managed to transcend its region and gain some traction in the coveted U.S. market.Darwinbox says it has more than 1,000 enterprise customers and provides tools to manage employee administration for more than 3 million people in total. It targets mid-market companies with 3,000 employees or more.About 60% of its revenue now comes from outside of India, the company said. Paleti, who founded the company with Rohit Chennamaneni and Chaitanya Peddi, told TechCrunch that the U.S. is the companys fastest-growing market. Paleti said hes relocated to the U.S., in Texas, to square up to the opportunity there.The third reason is that Darwinbox takes an all-in-one, ambitious approach to HR.As Paleti described it, HR is one of the oldest enterprise software categories. So while that means there is a lot of legacy junk with much room for improvement, it also means a lot of systems are deeply ingrained. Most of the startups sales work involves both persuading users that what they have is not good enough as well as convincing them that what Darwinbox has built is better.When we started in 2015, it almost felt overwhelming, he said. Here we were, a small band of three people in a corner of Asia, and we wanted to build this global company that will take on these legacy players.That said, heres one amusing measure of how Darwinbox has shaken up the playing field: When I recently Googled Darwinbox, the first result I got was the company name, but, in fact, the link pointed to one of its competitors, Sage. A couple of other competitors, including Oyster, were also clearly buying placements against searches for Darwinbox.While the wider enterprise IT industry has waxed and waned around whether point solutions or platforms are the best option for end users, the startups focus has so far remained pretty singular.It has aimed to build an end-to-end platform that can be used not just to source and manage recruiting, but also to later on onboard employees, manage their administration throughout their period of employment (expenses, vacation and time worked, payroll, etc.), and beyond.Paleti said the next stage of the product will likely involve significantly more AI, which he thinks the company is well-positioned to execute because of its platform approach: it can power services holistically.We are the system of record for HR, he said.Partners Group, one of the two lead investors in this round, is taking a $75 million stake in the company with this deal, Cyrus Driver, its MD for private equity, told TechCrunch.Driver said his firm has been wanting to invest for a couple of years, but only got the opportunity with this latest round.We see them as one of a handful of disruptors in the bigger space displacing global majors, he said, noting that the startups ability to localize its product as it has grown has also been a standout feature. We did a lot of due diligence, and they have a conviction on the right to win.Updated with more detail on the valuation to note its an upround.

GE Aerospace has received US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for its 3D printing-enabled Catalyst turboprop engine.The Ohio-based aerospace manufacturer previously announced that approximately 30% of the Catalysts parts are 3D printed. Notably, 855 conventionally manufactured components have been reduced to just 12 3D printed titanium parts.GEs modern centerline, clean-sheet turboprop also offers a 16:1 overall pressure ratio. This reportedly unlocks 18% superior fuel consumption and up to 10% higher cruise power than competing engines. Part of GE Aerospaces next-generation Engine suite, the Catalyst is being fabricated at the companys Avio Aero facilities in Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.According to GE Aerospace, the Catalyst is the first turboprop to be certified under the FAAs latest standards, which include over 20 new requirements. The FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) Part 33 certification saw 23 Catalyst engines undergo over 8,000 hours of operation, with more than 190 component tests.The certification of the Catalyst engine is a significant milestone for our company and a proud moment for all our team members who have dedicated their efforts to the design, development, and testing of this brand-new European turboprop engine, commented Riccardo Procacci, President and CEO of Propulsion and Additive Technologies at GE Aerospace. We are now fully committed to supporting the production ramp-up of the engine towards the entry into service in support of our customers.GE Aerospaces Catalyst Turboprop engine. Photo via GE Aerospace.Catalyst turboprop engine receives FAA CertificationGE Aerospace has called Catalyst the first, new centerline, clean-sheet advanced turboprop of the 21st century. Paul Corkery, Catalyst General Manager at Avio Aero, commented that the company is pleased with the performance of the engine throughout its ground and flight test campaigns.The propeller-based engine features two stages of variable stator vanes and cooled high-pressure turbine blades. Additive manufacturing has also helped reduce its weight by approximately 100 lb (45.4 kg) and simplified maintenance by decreasing the number of components.Catalyst also stands out thanks to its full authority digital engine control or FADEC technology. This allows pilots to fly with a single lever, instead of the three needed for most turboprop engines. In turn, the flying experience is simplified to feel more like that of a jet.Looking ahead, the fully certified Catalyst will power Wichita plane manufacturer Textron Aviations new Beechcraft Denali turboprop aircraft. Textron selected GE Aerospaces 3D printed propulsion system back in 2015 when it was known as the Advanced Turboprop (ATP) engine. Three years later, the turboprop completed a successful test fire at a GE Aviation test cell near Prague, Czech Republic.Catalyst will also be used on Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardos jointly developed Eurodrone unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft, Eurodrone has already attracted orders from NATOs France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The Airbus-led project selected Catalyst as their engine of choice in 2022. At the time Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Aircraft at Airbus, identified Catalyst as the best solution due to its superior performance, lower developmental risk, better in-service economics and growth potential.Beechcraft Denali airplane. Photo via GE Aerospace.3D printed aerospace enginesCatalyst is not the only 3D printed aerospace engine in the aviation market. Last year, GE Aerospace announced plans to scale the production of its 3D printed LEAP and GE9X engines. Through a $650 million investment into its global manufacturing plants and supply chain, the US aerospace firm hopes to grow its production capacity and meet demand from commercial and defense clients.Each LEAP engine includes 19 3D printed fuel nozzles that reportedly increase fuel efficiency by 15%, compared to CFM56 engines. GEs landmark 3D printed fuel nozzle tips are 25% lighter and five times more durable than their conventionally manufactured counterparts. They also feature a complex geometry that pre-mixes jet fuel before it is fed into the combustion chamber, further boosting engine efficiency. Additionally, the companys GE9X engines, designed for Boeing 777X jets, include over 300 3D printed parts.The role of 3D printing is also growing in the production of rocket engines. At Formnext 2024, metal 3D printer manufacturer Eplus3D unveiled what it called the worlds largest single-piece metal 3D printed rocket thruster. Developed with engineering services provider LEAP71, the rocket delivers 200 kN of thrust and stands over 1.3 meters tall.Elsewhere, German aerospace start-up POLARIS Spaceplanes completed successful flight tests of its 3D printed aerospike engine. Designed to power the companys MIRA II spaceplane demonstrator, the AS-1 linear engine completed a three-second burn, achieving 4 m/s acceleration and 900 newtons of thrust. This represented the first in-flight test of a linear aerospike, marking a notable milestone in the Bremen-based companys efforts to begin commercial spaceflight operations in 2028.Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows GE Aerospaces Catalyst Turboprop engine. Photo via GE Aerospace.

After the 60th launch of Electron rocket, Californian space launch company Rocket Lab has announced plans for Return On Investment, an ocean landing platform designed to recover its reusable Neutron rocket at sea.For this development, the company has acquired a 400 ft (122 m) modified barge, which will be converted into a floating landing zone capable of securing the booster after it returns from space.These modifications will include autonomous ground support systems to capture and secure the booster, blast shielding to protect onboard equipment, and station-keeping thrusters for precise positioning. Construction will take place throughout 2025, with the platform expected to be fully operational by 2026.In a statement, Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says, Were working hard to bring Neutron online with one of the fastest development schedules in history for a new rocket, because we know medium-lift launch opportunities are limited and space access is being stifled. Neutrons debut launch planned for later this year will help to ease that bottleneck, and our new landing platform will open space access even further by enabling even more mission opportunities that require maximum Neutron performance.The sea-based landing platform for Neutron rockets returning to Earth. Photo via Rocket Lab.Advancing reusability and manufacturing efficiencyNeutron, Rocket Labs medium-lift launch vehicle, is designed with reusability at its core. Built from carbon composite materials, it is being developed to support satellite constellation deployments, national security operations, and even missions beyond Earth orbit.With a payload capacity of up to 33,000 pounds (15,000 kg), Neutron is moving through development at a rapid pace, capitalizing on Rocket Labs experience as one of the industrys most active launch providers.To accelerate the development of this rocket, Rocket Lab is reportedly utilizing a 90-ton automated fiber placement (AFP) machine to produce carbon composite structures for Neutron. Manufactured by Electroimpact, the custom-built AFP system is one of the largest of its kind, capable of laying 328 feet (100 meters) of carbon fiber per minute.Located at Rocket Labs Space Structures Complex in Maryland, the machine automates the construction of major Neutron components, including its 91-foot interstage, 7-meter-diameter first stage, and second stage tanks. By reducing production times from weeks to hours, the system is expected to save over 150,000 hours in fabrication.Aiming for optimized performance and recovery, Neutron will follow one of two mission profiles. For certain flights, the first stage will return directly to Rocket Labs Launch Complex 3 in Virginia via a propulsive landing. In cases where extended range is needed, the booster will instead execute a Down Range Landing (DRL), touching down on Return On Investment at sea.Rocket Lab expects Neutrons maiden launch to take place in the second half of 2025.Rocket Labs 90-tonne automated fiber placement (AFP) machine. Photo via Rocket Lab.Rocket Labs space and aerospace effortsSince its launch, Rocket Lab has built a strong reputation for reliable commercial launches, successfully deploying over 100 satellites. This success is largely driven by its Electron and Neutron rockets, powered by its 3D printed Rutherford engine.One of Rocket Labs notable space projects came in 2022 when the Californian company launched NASAs CAPSTONE satellite toward lunar orbit using its Electron rocket, marking a major step in the Artemis program. Designed to test a unique Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO), CAPSTONE became the first spacecraft to follow the planned trajectory for NASAs Gateway lunar outpost.Built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, the microwave-sized CubeSat lifted off on June 28, beginning a months-long journey to the Moon. After a series of orbit-raising maneuvers, it accelerated to 24,500 mph, relying on solar gravity to extend its reach up to 963,000 miles from Earth. Following deep-space gravitational contours, CAPSTONE moved into position, setting the stage for future lunar exploration under Artemis.In a recent development, the space company has joined Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a $1.45 billion Pentagon-backed hypersonic missile testing program, one of the largest investments in U.S. hypersonic infrastructure. The five-year MACH-TB 2.0 initiative aims to accelerate the development of hypersonic technologies by increasing flight test capacity and reducing risks in transitioning new capabilities to operational use.As part of the project, Rocket Lab will provide its Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) launch vehicle, a modified version of the Electron rocket designed for hypersonic testing. Equipped with Rutherford engines and carbon composite structures, HASTE has already supported multiple test flights.What3D printing trendsshould you watch out for in 2025?How is thefuture of 3D printingshaping up?To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook.While youre here, why not subscribe to our Youtube channel? Featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts, and webinar replays.Featured image shows the sea-based landing platform for Neutron rockets returning to Earth. Photo via Rocket Lab.

A young designers contest is being held for a new pop-up 16,500 (CZK 500,000) installation at Pragues landmark Manifesto Market (Deadline: 4 April)The Young Designers Open Call (YDOC) competition invites students, graduates and emerging practitioners from across Europe to draw up innovative concepts to enhance the marketplace which was designed by Chybik+Kristof in the Andl area of the Czech capital four years ago.Organised by global architecture platform reSite, the open call aims to provide a springboard for emerging talent and demonstrate the potential for public space interventions to adopt circular design practices. The winning concept will be announced in early April and will be constructed in time for a public opening in late May.Manifesto Market by Chybik+KristofCredit:Image by Alexandra SiebenthalAccording to the brief, YDOC challenges the participants to design and present innovative projects that redefine the use of public space. The winner will create a temporary outdoor installation, active from May to September, that enhances Manifesto Markets functionality and visitor experience during the bustling summer months.The installation must provide shade, enable smooth circulation for potentially thousands of visitors each day (80,000 in a single month), and seamlessly integrate with the high-quality architectural concept of Chybik+Kristof and the vibrant atmosphere of the market while maintaining its regular operations.YDOC participants will be tasked with building on Chybik + Kristof design, creating a forward-thinking concept that pays homage to Manifestos roots while reimagining its future potential as a temporal art, architecture and/or design installation.Completed in 2021, Manifesto Market is a 2,600m leisure and retail intervention featuring cafes, bars and a small pool created by Chybik+Kristof on a disused gap site located next to a bus station in the Andl neighbourhood of Prague.The latest contest comes several months after international competitions were announced for the 244 million upgrade of flood defences in Olomouc and to transform the disused Hotel Stroja in nearby Perov.Bjarke Ingels Group won an international contest organised by the City of Prague for a major new 204 million (CZK 6.1 billion) waterfront concert hall close to the Vltavsk metro station in May 2022.Benthem Crouwel Architects won an open international competition to redevelop one side of Pragues iconic Victory Square in 2023.Manifesto Market by Chybik+KristofCredit:Image by Studio FlusserThe YDOC contest invites emerging architects, designers and scenographers to imagine a small-scale intervention which draws on sustainable and circular design principles and helps to redefine the markets common space.Proposals may include shading, seating, water, light and interactive experiences. Submissions must include a site plan, section, perspectives, an estimated budget and 200 words of written description in either English or Czech.Judges will include Jana Zielinski, director of Designblok; Ondej Chybk, co-founder, Chybik + Kritof; Anna Mareov, founder of Anna Mareov Designers; Jakub Cigler, founder of Jakub Cigler Architekti; and Martin Joseph Barry, founder and chief executive of Manifesto Market.The overall winner, due to be announced on 11 April, will receive an estimated 2,000 (60,000 CZK) prize while a second prize of around 500 (15,000 CZK) and third prize of 330 (10,000 CZK) will also be awarded.How to applyDeadline: 4 AprilCompetition funding source: Not suppliedProject funding source: Not suppliedOwner of site(s): Not suppliedContact details: info@resite.orgVisit the competition website for more information

An international student contest is being held for a series of three landmark new architectural installations at the Carrires du Boulonnais quarry in northern France (Deadline: 14 March)The PRIMA competition, organised by Paris-based Atelier 37.2 on behalf of French minerals company Groupe CB, invites individuals or pairs of students to propose a permanent micro-architectural work for the enormous industrial site located around 15km south of Calais.Now in its sixth edition, this years competition invites participants to explore ecological interaction and the potential of creating environments for both humans and non-human living organisms. Concepts may use stone, concrete and steel along with locally available natural elements such as soil, water, plants, seeds, fungi, or bacteria.2023 winner: Memento by Solena Citerne from Ecole de Cond NiceCredit:Image by Nicolas GuiraudThe call for proposals is free and open to all architecture schools in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Spain and the United Kingdom. Each school may submit a maximum of five paired student projects. A total of 15 concepts will be shortlisted and three overall winners will be constructed in 2025.According to the brief: This year's edition emphasises the interconnectedness of all living organisms and their environments, highlighting the intrinsic connection and dependence between humans and the broader community of life.Students are asked to design a space that invites and hosts diverse life forms, fostering opportunities for coexistence for human and non-human bodies. The proposed micro-architectures should aim to create the conditions to accommodate humans and non-human living organisms, allowing for proximity, intimacy, observation and potential interspecies exchanges.Projects may explore various levels of cohabitation, from simple coexistence, to symbiotic relationships, such as mutualism or commensalism, to more complex ecological interactions.On the fringes of Ferques, the 500-hectare Carrires du Boulonnais quarry was created in the late nineteenth century and is now the largest single open-pit quarry in the country producing around six million tonnes of limestone aggregates every year.The PRIMA project aims to forge new links between emerging design talents and the aggregates industry through an unprecedented art model built on the merging of clear artistic goals with an entrepreneurial strategy. It is organised by Atelier 37.2, an emerging Paris-based practice which has constructed a variety of unique architectural installations in culturally-significant landscapes across Europe and two pavilions on the PRIMA site.Participants must harness recycled or low-carbon materials in their proposal and consider how their structure can be occupied as a form of micro-architecture while also responding to important environmental issues raised by the anthropocene the present geological era in which human activity has fundamentally changed life on earth.2023 winner: Gravit by Margaux Croixmarie of ENSAP BordeauxThe first edition of the competition, launched in late 2019, received 114 entries from 202 students representing 41 schools of architecture and design from six countries France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.Winners of the 2024 call for concepts included Second Souffle by Emilie Marzougui from Ides HOUSE in Lausanne, Switzerland; and Fragment by Ho Chun Au-Jeung and Weathering Pavilion by Tim Formgren both from the AA School of Architecture in London.The competition is planned to be held every year for several years resulting in around 2025 permanent installations being created on the site. Winning students, to be announced in March or April, will receive technical assistance from Atelier 37.2 and be invited to attend a residency on site to deliver their schemes in September.How to applyDeadline: 14 MarchCompetition funding source: Not suppliedProject funding source: Not suppliedOwner of site(s): Not suppliedContact details: da@prima-cb.comVisit the competition website for more information2025-03-05Merlin Fulcher Share

Data and analytics leaders should take these nine trends into consideration in their strategies for the upcoming year.

An officer of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) takes ... [+] part in an operation against Amazon deforestation at an illegal mining camp, known as garimpo, at the Yanomami territory in Roraima State, Brazil, on February 24, 2023. - In early February Brazil deployed hundreds of police and soldiers to evict gold miners accused of causing a humanitarian crisis on the Yanomami Indigenous reservation, as thousands of the illegal miners fled. Justice Minister Flavio Dino said authorities estimate at least 15,000 people have illegally invaded the protected Amazon rainforest reservation, where Indigenous leaders accuse gold miners of raping and killing inhabitants, poisoning their water with mercury and triggering a food crisis by destroying the forest. (Photo by ALAN CHAVES / AFP) (Photo by ALAN CHAVES/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesThe World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched a new fund to improve the sustainability of leather supply chains and protect tropical forests.The Deforestation-Free Leather Fund will invest in projects to improve the traceability and resilience of leather supply chains.It will also enable companies to deliver their deforestation-free commitments, send strong market signals to cattle ranchers, beef producers, and leather producers, and contribute to more sustainable leather production.The projects will initially include operations in Brazil, with the possibility of expanding to other beef-producing countries in South America in the near future.The fund will also support farm-level investments to promote the supply of deforestation-and conversion-free leather and assist farmers and ranchers to formalize operations, rehabilitate degraded farmland, and establish pathways for continuous improvement.The WWF said the fund also aims to support the ear-tagging and individual traceability of 1 million head of cattle in the first three years of activity, promoting the recovery of 45,000 hectares (111,200 acres) of degraded land in the same period.The WWFs senior director for beef and leather supply chains, Fernando Bellese, said deforestation is still out there and still very relevant, during an online press conference.Bellese said tropical forests are an important carbon sink and help fight climate change, but there are still high deforestation rates in some parts of the world, including South America.He added cattle production is the top driver globally for deforestation and leather is a by-product of the beef and dairy industry.You cannot have leather without those sectors, and consumers are starting to ask companies to decouple their products from deforestation, said Bellese.It's about implementing monitoring systems that can help companies understand where their materials are coming from, and importantly that those materials are coming from farms who are working responsibly, and not connected to deforestation and conversion of ecosystems.Bellese said the WWF wants to invite businesses that are connected to leather to support the new fund and the move to more sustainable practices.We need to improve the practices that are being used by farmers, he added. We need to show that you can still be profitable while supporting more responsible, more sustainable practices and send a signal to upstream suppliers.We believe that the fund will help to promote a new or improved approach that will allow cattle raising to co-exist with protection of critical ecosystems."One of the first brands to make a financial commitment to the Deforestation-Free Leather Fund is the New-York based Tapestry Inc, which is the parent company of several leading accessories and lifestyle brands.The commitment is in addition to the Tapestry Foundations s $3 million philanthropic grant to WWF in 2022 to develop an innovative system to enhance traceability of the leather value chain in Brazil and convene the industry.Tapestrys vice president of ESG and sustainability, Logan Duran said it has been really focused on taking a long-term view on addressing the impacts of leather across the entirety of the value chain, during the online press conference.Duran added the company is also really committed to traceability, with a goal to achieve 95% traceability and mapping of its raw materials by 2025.Were really excited about the Deforestation Free leather Fund and the opportunity to bring in other partners to elevate and amplify the work WWF has been doing, he added.Its also an exciting opportunity for us to really amplify the commitment of the industry and scale the opportunities to drive change within this specific value chain."