By Vanessa Taylor Published May 14, 2025 | Comments (6) | Elon Musk wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses with Trump in the background © (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ahead of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the House and Senate established caucuses to ostensibly work with the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. But since its creation, DOGE has regularly shirked safeguards and oversight. Now, one House member says that the DOGE Caucus is dead. But even if that’s the case, DOGE itself sure as hell isn’t. In a recent interview with Politico, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), the House DOGE caucus’s first Democratic member, said, “The DOGE caucus is dead. It’s defunct. We haven’t met in months. We only had two total meetings in five months.” According to Moskowitz, the caucus’s three Republican chairs, Reps. Aaron Bean (Fla.), Pete Sessions (Texas), and Blake Moore (Utah) told lawmakers that they would have a hand in DOGE’s decisions. He told Politico, “They told us that they were going to work with us. They told us these things would come through Congress. None of it happened.” Instead, Moskowitz said that the caucus “[wasn’t] involved at all in anything [happening at DOGE]” and “Musk did it all on his own.” These statements come only months after Moskowitz similarly said in a CNN interview that “we were told this is where the discussion is going to happen…There’s been no discussion. Elon’s been doing it all himself.” Shortly before, Democratic Rep. Val Hoyle (Ore.) left the caucus over Musk’s tactics. Although Moskowitz added that “DOGE was a complete failure,” his sentiments aren’t shared by everyone. Per Politico, caucus co-chair Bean said that their work is “just getting started”. He added, “Congress can enact long-term change, and our 100 committed members and eight specialized working groups are working to codify critical reforms and preparing legislation that will unlock savings for the American people.” But to be so real, Moskowitz’s statements aren’t illuminating. It’s more like…Yeah. No shit? Misdirection aside, it still should’ve been clear that the caucus wasn’t going to have real power. It exists to be a yes man and enforce DOGE’s whims. Per its own description, the DOGE caucus “lead[s] government efficiency initiatives” in the House, and, on the same page, Bean’s introductory statement says “taking on Crazy Town will be no easy task – they will need partners.” In a short time span, DOGE has spread into federal agencies like the plague. Thus far, it has fired over 216,000 people, attempted to dismantle numerous agencies, amassed data from various agencies to build a master database to surveil immigrants, and more. But recently, DOGE has struggled to justify its existence. Musk’s original promise of cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget has steadily reduced to $150 billion. On its website, DOGE claims that it has saved $170 billion through workforce reductions, contract and grant cancellations, and more. However, NPR reported that doesn’t add up. Plus, the Partnership for Public Service’s analysis found that DOGE likely cost taxpayers $135 billion. Keep in mind this analysis doesn’t include the additional costs of DOGE’s lawsuits, like the dozens from former federal employees and multiple watchdog groups who sued over the agency’s lack of transparency. When it comes to verifiable claims for cuts, the DOGE trackers at Musk Watch have put the number at just $16 billion. Recently, DOGE has appeared to be losing steam after Musk announced his plans to step back. But Musk’s potential word games about his future level of involvement aside, DOGE has done plenty of damage in just months. Even if people will be hearing less from Musk himself, the agency isn’t being disbanded. DOGE’s largely under-qualified and unvetted teams will remain. And even if the agency magically disappeared tomorrow, it will take time to repair DOGE’s handiwork. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Matt Novak Published May 14, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 14, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published May 13, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published May 13, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 13, 2025 By Ed Cara Published May 13, 2025

It’s in stock now but for how long is impossible to say (Nintendo) Three separate retailers have Nintendo Switch 2 console pre-orders available today, including some new and very expensive game bundles. There have been no big announcements, from Nintendo or anyone else, but after Very had active Switch 2 pre-orders for most of this week other retailers seem to have got stock in too. The big news is that Nintendo themselves are now offering pre-orders for both the console on its own and the Mario Kart World bundle, so there’s obviously been a big delivery recently. There’s no guarantee how long they’ll last but then there’s been very little communication about stock at all during the pre-order process, with no forewarning from Nintendo or anyone else. But with the June 5 launch of the console rapidly approaching it’s a relief to see new stock is arriving all the time. The only official bundle for the Switch 2 is the one with Mario Kart World, which is priced at £429.99. The console alone costs £395.99. As you can see, some retailers have made up their own bundles, which raises the price even further, but at least some of these involve desirable extras, like the camera use for the GameChat feature that Nintendo is keen to promote. Although a lot of pre-orders have gone up this week, the other option is eBay – where scalpers have been posting pre-orders ever since the Switch 2 went on sale. That hasn’t gone down well with fans though, who have repeatedly tried to stop them. Cyberpunk 2077 is a Switch 2 launch title (CD Projekt) Switch 2 pre-orders at Nintendo: Nintendo Switch 2 console – £395.99 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World – £429.99 Switch 2 pre-orders at Very: Nintendo Switch 2 console – £395.99 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World – £429.99 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Samsung Micro SD Card – £479 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Switch 2 Camera – £479 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom – £494 Switch 2 pre-orders at The Game Collection: Nintendo Switch 2 + Split Fiction + Switch 2 Camera – £484.95 Nintendo Switch 2 + Hogwarts Legacy + Switch 2 Camera – £484.95 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Split Fiction + Switch 2 Camera – £519.95 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Hogwarts Legacy + Switch 2 Camera – £519.95 Nintendo Switch 2 + Cyberpunk 2077 + Micro SD Express Card + Switch 2 Camera – £559.95 More Trending Nintendo Switch 2 + Cyberpunk 2077 + Hitman + Micro SD Express Card + Switch 2 Camera – £609.95 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Cyberpunk 2077 + Hitman + Micro SD Express Card + Switch 2 Camera – £644.95 It’s very hard to predict how long any of this will last, particularly the ones on Nintendo’s websites, as while the Very pre-orders have been around all week there were also ones on John Lewis that lasted mere minutes. If you want to buy from Nintendo bear in mind that you need to have an action Nintendo Switch Online account or you won’t be able to pre-order. At a minimum that costs £6.99 for three months. Mario Kart World is in the official Nintendo bundle (Nintendo) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

AI evolution Google DeepMind creates super-advanced AI that can invent new algorithms AlphaEvolve has already made Google's data centers more efficient and improved Tensor chips. Ryan Whitwam – May 14, 2025 5:01 pm | 17 Credit: Google DeepMind Credit: Google DeepMind Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Google's DeepMind research division claims its newest AI agent marks a significant step toward using the technology to tackle big problems in math and science. The system, known as AlphaEvolve, is based on the company's Gemini large language models (LLMs), with the addition of an "evolutionary" approach that evaluates and improves algorithms across a range of use cases. AlphaEvolve is essentially an AI coding agent, but it goes deeper than a standard Gemini chatbot. When you talk to Gemini, there is always a risk of hallucination, where the AI makes up details due to the non-deterministic nature of the underlying technology. AlphaEvolve uses an interesting approach to increase its accuracy when handling complex algorithmic problems. According to DeepMind, this AI uses an automatic evaluation system. When a researcher interacts with AlphaEvolve, they input a problem along with possible solutions and avenues to explore. The model generates multiple possible solutions, using the efficient Gemini Flash and the more detail-oriented Gemini Pro, and then each solution is analyzed by the evaluator. An evolutionary framework allows AlphaEvolve to focus on the best solution and improve upon it. Many of the company's past AI systems, for example, the protein-folding AlphaFold, were trained extensively on a single domain of knowledge. AlphaEvolve, however, is more dynamic. DeepMind says AlphaEvolve is a general-purpose AI that can aid research in any programming or algorithmic problem. And Google has already started to deploy it across its sprawling business with positive results. The team turned AlphaEvolve loose on Google's Borg cluster management system for its data centers. The AI suggested a change to the scheduling heuristics, which has been implemented to save Google 0.7 percent on its computing resources globally. For a company the size of Google, that's a significant financial benefit. AlphaEvolve may also be able to make generative AI more efficient, which is necessary if anyone is ever going to make money on the technology. The internal workings of generative systems are based on matrix multiplication operations. The most efficient way to multiply 4×4 complex-valued matrices was devised by mathematician Volker Strassen in 1969, and that held for decades, but DeepMind says AlphaEvolve has discovered a new algorithm that's even more efficient. DeepMind has worked on this problem before with narrowly trained AI agents like AlphaTensor. Despite being a general AI, AlphaEvolve came up with a better solution than AlphaTensor. Google's next-generation Tensor processing hardware will also benefit from AlphaEvolve. DeepMind reports that the AI created a change to the chip's Verilog hardware description language that dropped unnecessary bits to increase efficiency. Google is still working to verify the change but expects this to be part of the upcoming processor. So far, only Google has been able to tinker with AlphaEvolve. While it uses fewer computing resources than AlphaTensor did, it's still too complex to provide publicly. That may change in the future, but the evaluation approach that makes it so capable could also be integrated with smaller AI tools for research. Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he's written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards. 17 Comments

Tech Jeff Bezos backs radical $20,000 small electric pickup truck Newly announced Slate Truck could revolutionize the EV industry by making it more affordable Published May 15, 2025 6:00am EDT close Jeff Bezos backs radical $20,000 small electric pickup truck The Slate Truck is priced at $20,000 after federal EV incentives. Jeff Bezos is backing a bold new venture that's positioning itself to disrupt the electric vehicle space: Slate Auto. It's a startup that has unveiled a simple, modular electric pickup truck called the Slate Truck. It's priced at $20,000 after federal EV incentives, a concept some would consider radical and even inconceivable.The Slate Truck's base model defies industry norms by stripping down to essentials, with no power windows, no touchscreen and a minimalist dashboard. However, at the same time, it offers a range of customization options, allowing buyers to transform it into a five-seat SUV. Image of the exterior of the Slate Truck. (Slate Auto)Slate Truck by the numbersThe Slate Truck is a compact electric pickup, measuring 174.6 inches in length, 70.6 inches wide excluding mirrors and 69.3 inches tall, making it more than 20 inches shorter than a Ford Maverick and reminiscent of classic pickups like the 1985 Toyota truck. It rides on a 108.9-inch wheelbase and features a five-foot bed that is slightly longer and wider than the Maverick's, offering 37 cubic feet of cargo space. The truck is powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, delivering rear-wheel drive only and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, with a top speed near 90 mph.AMERICA'S SMALLEST EV TRUCK PROTOTYPE HAS ARRIVEDBuyers can choose between a standard 52.7 kWh battery with an estimated 150-mile range or an optional 84.3 kWh pack for up to 240 miles of range. Charging is flexible, with an 11 kW onboard AC charger and DC fast charging up to 120 kW through a NACS connector, allowing a 20% to 80% charge in about half an hour. The Slate Truck has a maximum payload capacity of 1,433 pounds and can tow up to 1,000 pounds, making it practical for everyday hauling needs.Safety features include traction control, electronic stability control, automated emergency braking, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and up to eight airbags, with the company targeting a five-star NCAP safety rating. The curb weight is about 3,600 pounds. Specific details of the Slate Truck. (Slate Auto)Funding and missionSlate Auto, founded in 2022, secured $111 million in funding from Bezos and other investors, including Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The company aims to disrupt the EV market by making electric trucks accessible to budget-conscious consumers. This is a stark contrast to an industry dominated by high-priced models. The exterior of the Slate Truck. (Slate Auto)Slate Truck manufacturing strategySlate Auto's production is set to begin in Warsaw, Indiana, at a repurposed paper facility, an unconventional approach to manufacturing. The company is betting on affordability and modularity to carve out a niche in the EV market and is looking to challenge industry giants like Tesla and Ford. Maybe with Bezos' backing, Slate Auto can redefine what an affordable EV looks like. An illustration of the Slate Truck’s customization options. (Slate Auto)Customization optionsOne of Slate’s standout features is its extensive customization. Starting as a minimalist two-seater, the Slate Truck can be transformed into a five-seat SUV with an add-on kit that includes rear seats, a roll cage and airbags. Buyers can choose from over 100 accessories, including roof racks, cargo storage, all-terrain tires and lift kits. The vehicle’s exterior can be wrapped in different colors and designs instead of painted, allowing owners to easily change its look or even do it themselves with a DIY kit. This modular, build-it-your-way philosophy makes the Slate Truck feel like a rolling Lego set, appealing to both everyday drivers and enthusiasts who want a personalized EV experience.TESLA LAUNCHES LOW-PRICED MODEL Y MUSK CALLED UNACCEPTABLE AS FORD, VW ENTER SEGMENT The Slate Truck. (Slate Auto)When will the Slate Truck be available?Reservations for the Slate Truck are open for a refundable $50 deposit. Customers should expect deliveries to start in late 2026. You can go to the Slate Auto website to reserve yours by clicking on this link. The exterior of the Slate Truck. (Slate Auto)Kurt's key takeawaysSlate Auto’s approach to building a simple, modular electric pickup truck at an affordable price could shake up the EV market. Its focus on practicality and customization, backed by Jeff Bezos, offers a fresh alternative to pricey, tech-heavy trucks. With production starting in Indiana and deliveries expected in late 2026, the Slate Truck may well redefine what an affordable EV looks like.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWould you consider buying a Slate Truck, with its minimalist design and customizable features? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/NewsletterAsk Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.   Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

South Korea has once again postponed a decision on whether to approve Google’s request to transfer the high-precision map data it has on the country’s geography to its international servers. In February, Google had requested approval from the Korean National Geographic Information Institute to deploy a 1:5,000 scale map on its app in the country and also transfer that data to its servers abroad, a spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed to TechCrunch. The government was supposed to finalize its decision within 60 days, by mid-May, but the deadline has now been moved to August 11 as they are still in discussions, the spokesperson said. This is Google’s third request to South Korea on this topic, following previous requests in 2011 and 2016. The tech giant currently uses a 1:25,000 scale map in the country that includes points of interest and satellite images, according to media reports. A 1:5,000 scale high-precision map would offer a more detailed view that would include even the narrowest streets. When South Korean officials rejected Google’s request in 2016, they said an approval would only be granted if the U.S. tech firm sets up a data center in South Korea. The country also asked Google to blur sensitive locations, like national security facilities, on its maps for security purposes. Google has not yet said if it would set up a data center in South Korea. The company operates an array of data centers around the world, including in Asian countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. Data restrictions by the government have impacted the performance of Google Maps and Apple Maps in South Korea. Foreigners and tourists often struggle to navigate with Google Maps due to the limited information and languages supported, often resorting to using local apps that do not support many foreign languages. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW Local navigation apps such as Naver Maps, TMaps and Kakao Maps are most popular among local users. These apps offer map data at a scale of 1:5,000, and therefore, much more information and detail. Naver Maps, launched in 2002, has about 27 million monthly active users, while Kakao Maps and TMaps have around 11 million and 24 million MAUs, respectively. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812k If you were a fan of Hello Kitty Island Adventure and all its New Horizons-inspired cosiness when it arrived on Switch earlier this year, then boy, do we have a surprise for you. The life-sim's first major content update has sidestepped its planned release date and landed on the Nintendo hybrid a week early — what a treat. The 'Friends, Furniture, and Frozen Peaks' update arrived on Steam last month, with dev Sunblink adding a 22nd May release date for the Switch version. It seemed to be full steam ahead on the later launch until yesterday evening, when the studio appeared on Twitter to make the surprise announcement that the update is, in fact, available right now. What's more, it's free!Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812kWatch on YouTube The update crams in a lot of content, with a new area to explore, friend gifting, new quests and puzzles and (the biggest addition of them all) furniture stacking. The full list of everything included was shared on the Island Adventure Steam page, and we have gathered it all together for you to check out below. Hello Kitty Island Adventure - 'Friends, Furniture, and Frozen Peaks' Update (14th May 2025) More Fun with Friendship We improved gifting to make friendship even more fun! The more hearts a gift has, the more friendship you’ll get for gifting it! No more odd outlier gifts. Craft the best gifts to become friends faster!Furniture Stacking Next time you’re sprucing up a cabin, try placing an item on a table while in Edit Mode. No, seriously, this is our new favorite thing.Item Overflow Didn't make it to Friendship Island today? No worries! Items and pick-ups now accumulate over three days to better fit whatever playstyle you choose.New Area - Blizzard Peak & Snow Village A new story takes you and your friends back to Icy Peak, discovering a whole new side of the mountain along with a temperamental weather contraption.Chilly Chambers Slide your way to success in new, frosty puzzles around Icy Peak. You might have to get a bit pushy to claim the rewards inside.Sparkles Introducing Sparkles! These special Sparkles appear all around the Island at their own pace — collect and exchange them for game tickets, so you can play mini-games without waiting for reset.Flower Power Garden in the clouds with Roseanne for the fluffiest, puffiest flower yet. Explore extreme environments with Nina to grow flowers in the most challenging places on Friendship Island. These special flowers unlock unique effects to make your garden even more beautiful.Flowery Furnishings Play the Crane Game to collect the fabulous floral Merry Meadows furniture set–and bring the Merry Meadows to all of your cabins!Call Friend Phone a friend (to join you!) – your tablet now has a ‘Call Friend’ function that lets you connect and companion together with Hello Kitty and Friends from anywhere on the Island.New Visitors Retsuko's friends and co-workers are ready to visit Friendship Island for a well-deserved getaway! Pekkle and Keroppi have buddies and pals who will need cabins, too. And don't forget to set up cabins for Hello Kitty's Grandparents.New Quests Who will become the Island Champion? How will Retsuko balance work and her vacation? Can you soothe the storm on Icy Peak? Most important: is Pochacco's workout outfit cuter than Badtz-maru's superhero get-up? Find out the answer to these questions and more with dozens of new stories and quests! We had a great time with Hello Kitty Island Adventure when it arrived on Switch earlier this year, stating, "it brings a fresh experience that is likely to subvert the expectations of any Animal Crossing expats looking for their next cosy fix," in our review. We weren't alone in our admiration either. The game went on to shift an impressive half a million copies in its first 30 days. Never underestimate the power of Sanrio, eh? New Fur-izons The physical Switch version is out this month Will you be checking out this Hello Kitty Island Adventure update? Let us know in the comments. [source store.steampowered.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 1 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. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Switch 2 Games And original Switch, of course The First Review For Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Is In A fantasy score? SNK Announces ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 5 And Vol. 6 For Switch Update: Multi-language release confirmed

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here There’s a lot to look forward to in Helldivers 2. PlayStation has seemingly leaked the date of the next HD2 major update, and it’s right around the corner. The invasion of Super Earth has also been deemed inevitable by Arrowhead, and a leaker has shared gameplay of “Super Earth Mega Cities” under attack with “SEAF troops on the battlefield” and more. While the next big update seems to be arriving in less than a week, before then Arrowhead are aiming to fix the Helldivers 2 “stratagem spawning glitch” that is irking many players. Helldivers 2 dev confirms hotfix incoming for “stratagem spawning glitch” Since the release of Helldivers 2 update 01.003.000 on May 13th, there have been complaints about a “stratagem spawning glitch”. Fortunately, on Discord, Arrowhead community manager, Baskinator, has just confirmed the studio is aware of the glitch and that they are “preparing a hotfix tentatively scheduled for tomorrow”. Image credit: Helldivers Discord As of writing, this means the current intent from Arrowhead is to release the hotfix on May 16th. However, because it’s “tentatively scheduled for tomorrow,” there is the possibility it may not come out as planned. On Reddit, there have been complaints about the glitch since the release of update 01.003.000. Basically, the glitch is a duplication bug, and one Reddit post shows gameplay of someone calling in “100 380mm barrages,” resulting in just pure carnage. Aside from the duplication bug simply existing, the big problem is that it is causing the game to frequently crash for many players. According to one comment, “orbital gas strikes, any support items and any turrets seem fine and don’t cause crashes,” but “barrage, gatling, most eagles, and especially any vehicles,” have a “high chance of game crashing”. Another Reddit post begs people to please stop abusing the glitch because “every match someone is doing it and it constantly causes me to crash”. In this Reddit thread, one user bemoaned, “Just crashed at extraction on a tier 9 mission because one moron did this. The run was so fun otherwise, I can’t ever enjoy one thing man…”. Fortunately, for frustrated players, a hotfix is incoming and planned for May 16th. Hopefully it comes out as “tentatively scheduled” so Super Earth soldiers can go back to enjoying the game. For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to the best warbonds ranked, along with the best stratagems and best throwables. We have also a guide to the best weapons, and, if you’re coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch of tips and tricks to help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield. Helldivers 2 Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5 Genre(s): Action, Shooter, Third Person 8 VideoGamer Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

As part of proposals outlined by Keir Starmer on Monday (12 May), tougher entry requirements for students and workers would be introduced to reduce immigration. The immigration bill would raise entry requirements to degree level for workers entering the UK, introduce tougher English language requirements, and extend the period for claiming settled status from five to ten years. Universities will, meanwhile, have to score five percentage points more (rising from 90 to 95 per cent) on the Basic Compliance Assessment, which the home office uses to assess compliance with the immigration system. This could reduce the number of places on offer to overseas students.Advertisement Responding to the proposals, RIBA president Muyiwa Oki said immigration into the UK was crucial for filling the current skills gap in the housing sector given the government’s target to build 1.5 million homes in this parliament. He said: ‘The government’s decision to reduce the number of international workers and students comes at a time when they have ambitious plans to drive growth, including delivering 1.5 million new homes. ‘Architects are vital to achieving this, but the sector has a significant skills shortage. We need an immigration system that helps plug these gaps.’ The government’s reforms would abolish the immigration salary list, which put the minimum salary for a foreign worker visa at 80 per cent of the going rate for that profession. Architects were, controversially, among the sectors removed from the list designed to combat occupational shortages through worker visas. Until last year, the list had allowed firms to hire foreign workers in particular sectors on salaries 20 per cent less than the going rate. Oki added that, following the government’s drive to reduce immigration, more investment was needed in apprenticeships and non-traditional routes into the profession.Advertisement The RIBA has previously called on the government not to implement changes that could see practices pay more towards training Level 7 apprenticeships – the equivalent to a master’s degree. Oki commented: ‘We welcome the desire to nurture homegrown talent, and we continue to champion new and accessible routes into the profession, such as apprenticeships. But the potential of defunding Level 7 apprenticeships puts this at risk. We continue to work with the government to ensure a pipeline of talent in the architecture sector and drive growth across the country.’ The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) echoed the RIBA’s calls for investment in apprenticeships. CIAT president Eddie Weir said: ‘The UK’s built environment sector faces significant pressures at all levels. If we are to deliver the 1.5 million new homes that our communities need and ensure that our existing homes and buildings are healthy, sustainable and fit for the future, these pressures must be relieved.’ Weir warned the government not to limit skilled professionals where there are gaps in the market and added: ‘Government must also move ahead with reforming the apprenticeships system … At the same time, the industry still needs a steady supply of highly skilled professionals, particularly in building design and project management.’ Meanwhile, Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) chief economist David Crosthwaite compared the construction and health industries. He said both needed migrant workers when domestic supply fell short. ‘If the government is serious about delivering 1.5 million homes and boosting national infrastructure delivery, they must seek both short-term and long-term solutions,' he said. ‘In the meantime, it is critical that we can access migrant workers where there’s a clear economic need, or else risk stalling growth and delivery even further.’ The BCIS chief also called for a transitional arrangement before the introduction of the new immigration rules, and warned: ‘Tightening migration rules could increase costs, delay projects, and make it even harder to meet ambitious targets. Workforce decisions need to be grounded in long-term strategy, not short-term political pressure.’ Comment Paul Chappell, director, 9B Careers A government crackdown on immigration could seriously disrupt the architecture profession, affecting talent pipelines, creativity, and salary dynamics. The sector relies heavily on a diverse international workforce that brings essential skills in areas such as sustainable design, digital technologies and cultural placemaking. Tighter immigration controls risk shrinking the talent pool, making it harder for practices to fill key roles, and undermining the UK’s position as a global design hub, just as the industry appears to be recovering from a prolonged downturn. We've just experienced one of our busiest quarters in a decade, and many practices are urgently trying to recruit large teams without the time or capacity to sponsor visas. In this climate, reduced access to international talent is already driving up salaries, particularly for specialist and mid-level roles where skills shortages are acute. The days of receiving 500 applications for a single job are gone. Most of our time is now spent headhunting, which inevitably requires higher salary offers to entice candidates from secure positions. But this wage inflation is not sustainable, especially for smaller firms operating within tight fee constraints. Over time, we may see widening regional disparities, increased outsourcing and fewer opportunities for Part 1 graduates, who are already struggling to find meaningful year-out placements. Studios, sadly, often no longer have the time or money to support the next generation coming through. Restricting international students and early-career professionals also threatens the long-term health of the profession. Architecture thrives on openness, diversity, and the free exchange of ideas. Without that, we risk weakening both the profession and the quality of the built environment it shapes. Charlie Edmonds, Future Architects Front (FAF) Starmer's logic that we can replace international workers with greater investment in training for British nationals is, at best, naive and, at worst, intentionally furthering the managed decline of the social and physical infrastructure of the UK. The decision to massively restrict worker visas undermines Labour's promises to support the NHS and to bolter UK construction. Simultaneously, pay in these roles is notoriously low, public investment into these sectors is insufficient, and Labour seems to have to immediate intention of changing this. So the only result will be the increase of vacancies in vital sectors from care to construction. If Starmer was serious about the wellbeing of people living in the UK, regardless of nationality, the Labour party would be supporting dignified routes for immigration while simultaneously investing in UK skills and sectors — setting these outcomes in opposition to one another is not only a false dichotomy but lays the groundwork for continued destitution in the UK.

In comments to press this morning, President Donald Trump said he has an issue with Apple’s handling of the tariff policy in regard to iPhone production. Trump wants Apple to build iPhones domestically in the United States, but has clearly seen the recent news that Apple will source most of the iPhones sold in the US quarter from India, rather than China. “I don’t want you building in India”, he said … It has been reported that within the next couple of years Apple is trying to import all iPhones intended to be sold in the US, from India, rather than China, in a diversification of its production pipeline. Right now, that means avoiding the higher tariff rates imposed on Chinese exports. Indeed, on the latest company earnings call, Apple said most iPhones sold in the June quarter will have India as their country of origin. Naturally, the Trump administration see the tariff policy as a way to incentivize companies to manufacture more locally, and Apple has so far shown no signs of doing so. Cook has previously indicated it is simply unfeasible, due to the lack of U.S. manufacturing facilities and talent. Here’s what Trump said: “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.” “I said, Tim look, we treated you really good, we put up with all the plants that you build in China for years, now you got build us. We’re not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves, we want you to build here.” The $500 billion number refers to U.S investment Apple has pledged for the next four years, covering infrastructure projects like a new factory for Apple Intelligence servers, R&D, data centers, Apple TV+ productions, and more. It does not include any plans to manufacture Apple consumer devices domestically. For US sales, Apple’s public statements to investors indicate it will source most iPhones from India, and products like Mac, iPad and AirPods from Vietnam. iPhones produced in China will be sold locally and exported to other countries around the world that do not impose tariffs. Apple previously indicated that tariff policy would cost the company almost a billion dollars in the April – June quarter, however this was before the recent US-China trade deal amnesty. But with these interim deals set to expire in 90 days, the future impact on U.S. businesses remains very much uncertain. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel