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Trump’s passport gender policy sparks fear for trans travelers
Mon, 10 Mar 2025 14:42:27 +0000
Match ID: 0 Score: 35.00 source: www.washingtonpost.com age: 0 days
qualifiers: 35.00 travel(|ing)
‘I contemplated the unthinkable’: Karla Sofía Gascón speaks out about ‘overwhelmingly painful’ Oscars season
Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:32:34 GMT
The Emilia Pérez actor, whose offensive resurfaced tweets sank the film’s hopes for awards glory, says public hatred left her ‘on the edge’
Karla Sofía Gascón, the first out trans actor to be nominated for an Oscar, whose hopes of winning were dashed after offensive social media posts were surfaced a month before the ceremony, has spoken out about the “unexpected, devastating storm” of awards season.
The Spanish actor says that the final stretch of the race, was the “most exposed” period of her life. She faced widespread criticism for her tweets, and despite repeated apologies, was cold-shouldered by the cast and crew of Emilia Pérez, while studio Netflix dropped her from campaigns and cut off funds allowing her to travel to ceremonies. A contract with her Spanish publisher was cancelled, and senior politicians in her home country spoke of their disappointment in her.
Continue reading...The Pentagon owns 145 golf courses. As Trump cuts key government services, we found it aims to spend on sand traps and clubhouses.
The post Pentagon Keeps Pouring Cash Into Golf Courses — Even As Trump Slashes Government Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Our writers make the most of warm weather, smaller crowds and off-peak prices to visit their favourite spots, from the Baltic to the Bosphorus
‘There’s a magic to sleeping surrounded by Alpine peaks, nestled up against the stars’
Continue reading...Using lessons learned defending abortion, some providers are digging in to serve their trans patients despite legal attacks.
The post How to Keep Providing Gender-Affirming Care Despite Anti-Trans Attacks appeared first on The Intercept.
The two women were said to have been stargazing with three male travellers when the incident took place
Two men have been arrested in India in connection with the alleged rape of an Israeli and a local woman.
The Israeli woman and her homestay operator were said to be stargazing with three male travellers in Koppal town in southern Karnataka state on Thursday night.
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A group of volunteers is spending two months lying in bed—with their feet up and one shoulder always touching the mattress—even while eating, showering, and using the toilet. But why? This extreme bedrest study is helping scientists understand how space travel affects the human body and how to keep astronauts healthy on long missions.
Microgravity causes muscle and bone loss, fluid shifts, and other physiological changes similar to those experienced by bedridden patients on Earth. By studying volunteers here on Earth, researchers can develop better countermeasures for astronauts and even improve treatments for medical conditions like osteoporosis.
In this study, participants are divided into three groups: one stays in bed with no exercise, another cycles in bed to mimic astronaut workouts, and a third cycles while being spun in a centrifuge to simulate artificial gravity. Scientists hope artificial gravity could become a key tool in protecting astronauts during deep-space missions.
From biking adventures to city breaks, get inspiration for your next break – whether in the UK or further afield – with twice-weekly emails from the Guardian’s travel editors. You’ll also receive handpicked offers from Guardian Holidays.
From biking adventures to city breaks, get inspiration for your next break – whether in the UK or further afield – with twice-weekly emails from the Guardian’s travel editors.
You’ll also receive handpicked offers from Guardian Holidays.
Continue reading...The Pentagon owns 145 golf courses. As Trump cuts key government services, we found it aims to spend on sand traps and clubhouses.
The post Pentagon Keeps Pouring Cash Into Golf Courses — Even As Trump Slashes Government Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Instead of outrage, the school’s interim president responded to the cuts by vowing to continue its misguided crackdown.
The post Columbia Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks — And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding appeared first on The Intercept.
The sentencing of Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez, co-leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, will do little to stem the flow of drugs.
The post “Narco Prince” Sentenced to Life as Trump Ramps Up U.S.–Mexico Drug War appeared first on The Intercept.
Former central banker will be only second prime minister in Canadian history without a seat in parliament
Mark Carney, the former central banker who oversaw the response to financial crises in North America and the UK, will become the next prime minister of Canada after winning the race to lead the country’s federal Liberal party.
Carney, 59, takes on the role as Canada is locked in a potentially catastrophic trade war with the US, long its closest ally and largest trading partner. Last week Donald Trump announced a 25% tax on all Canadian goods, with a carveout for the automotive and energy sectors. The tariffs have the power to push Canada’s fragile economy in a recession.
Continue reading...By sending weapons to Israel while halting arms sales to Ukraine, Trump backs nations that are “occupying a less powerful people.”
The post Support the Occupying Force: The Logic Behind Trump’s Foreign Policy appeared first on The Intercept.
Nate Vance reportedly spent three years trying to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and has been alarmed by his cousin’s remarks
After voluntarily fighting in Ukraine to defend it from Russia’s invasion, and as the White House halts Ukrainian military aid, JD Vance’s first cousin has called the vice-president and Donald Trump “useful idiots” to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Nate Vance’s comments to France’s Le Figaro newspaper came after he reportedly spent three years volunteering to try to help Ukraine repel Russian troops as part of the so-called Da Vinci Wolves battalion.
Continue reading...Cǎlin Georgescu to contest decision to bar him from election rerun in May after claims of Russian meddling
Romania’s pro-Russia far-right presidential contender Cǎlin Georgescu has said he will challenge a decision to bar him from taking part in an election rerun in May after claims of Russian meddling.
The dispute over Georgescu’s candidacy is firing up tensions at home and abroad. A small group of his supporters smashed pavements and set fire to rubbish bins in Bucharest on Sunday, while Elon Musk, a key adviser to the US president, Donald Trump, called the decision to bar Georgescu “crazy”.
Continue reading...Former prosecutors criticize Pam Bondi’s decision to halt enforcement of bribery laws as short-sighted and dangerous
A radical makeover at the US department of justice has seen key drives to fight corruption hamstrung in ways that could benefit US businesses operating abroad and foreign kleptocrats, including some Russian oligarchs.
The moves have sparked sharp criticism by former US prosecutors, transparency experts and top Democrats, who warn that the moves to cut back on anti-corruption efforts is a huge setback for American efforts to clean up global business practices and tackle the power of oligarchs and of authoritarian rulers.
Continue reading...By abandoning trans rights and praising Reagan, Democrats embrace a fangless politics with a track record of electoral failure.
The post Gavin Newsom’s Cynical Embrace of the Anti-Trans Agenda appeared first on The Intercept.
Secretary of state says on social media that 83% of the programs at USAid are being cancelled
Secretary of state Marco Rubio has announced that USAid will cancel the majority of its programs, while the rest will be folded into the state department.
Writing on X, Rubio said:
After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID.
The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.
Continue reading...Party’s MP, who is facing misconduct claims, says ‘you have to stand up to bullies’ after he questioned Farage
Around 80 Labour MPs could refuse to back government plans to cut billions from the welfare budget, Amy Gibbons and Tony Diver claim in a story for the Daily Telegraph. They report:
The Telegraph understands that around 80 Labour MPs – roughly a fifth of the parliamentary party – “won’t tolerate” billions of pounds of welfare cuts set to be announced by the Chancellor later this month.
The anger is said to have spread beyond the “usual suspects”, with MPs who would not typically criticise Sir Keir threatening to “give the government a slap” over the proposals.
Our Labour values are built on a simple but powerful idea: that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, should have the support they need to make the most of their lives. Everyone who is capable of working deserves the security, dignity and agency that employment offers. Of course, there are some people who are not able to work and they must be treated with compassion and respect. But for those that can, we must restore the pathways to opportunity which are currently so sparse for millions of people. It is exactly what a Labour government exists to do …
As MPs, we understand that delivering this new social contract requires hard choices to be made. We welcome the work that has begun to rebuild our welfare system, and we are fully supportive of it. We believe reforming our broken system is not only necessary, but also a truly progressive endeavour. And so we have established the Get Britain Working Group to make that argument, insistently.
The radical package of reforms will see:
-£5bn in savings by making it harder to qualify for Personal Independence Payments - a benefit not linked to work that is meant to help people with the additional costs of their disability
This government is determined that instead of facing a life on benefits … we stretch every sinew and pull every lever to ensure that we can get those people into work, because that is the best way for them to have a successful and happy life into the future.
So I think it’s quite right to look at a benefit system which is clearly broken.
Continue reading...Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as US markets slide after Beijing imposes tariffs on imports of agricultural goods from America
Analysts at investment bank Jefferies remain optimistic about the prospects for the US economy in the second half of 2025 – while also fearing that it may slow more than expected in the first half of the year.
In an updated US Economic Outlook, Jefferies tell clients:
Broadly, these changes are modest relative to what we were looking for at the beginning of the year. We started out 2025 expecting growth to slow in the first half due to exactly the sort of tensions and uncertainty about policy that we are currently seeing. It now appears that the slowdown will be a bit more pronounced than we expected, but we remain optimistic about the second half of the year and beyond.
We expect that the labor market will continue to cool gradually in the months ahead, with downside risks due to government spending uncertainty. We continue to expect that the Fed cut rates again in June, followed by 2 more 25 bp cuts, but we’re now expecting they will be back-to-back in July and September (rather than every-other-meeting).
‘’Unease about the effect of Trump’s tariffs hangs over financial markets at the start of the week. The prospect of a recession in the US is lurking, with consumer confidence falling, companies facing increasing trade complexity and investors turning more nervous. China’s deflation problem is also weighing on sentiment, and geopolitical concerns are staying in focus, with attacks on Ukraine intensifying.
The FTSE 100 is on the back foot in early trade, unable to shake off the nervousness surrounding the concerns about slowing global growth.
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With internal politics at their most unstable for years, the risk of escalation is rising
The letter the US president, Donald Trump, says he sent to Iran’s leadership offering to reopen talks on the country’s nuclear programme comes at a point when Iranian domestic politics is at its most unstable for years.
In the past month, the conservative-dominated parliament has asserted its power over the broadly reformist president elected last June by impeaching and sacking the experienced economy minister, Abdolnaser Hemmati, while Mohammad Javad Zarif, the vice-president and most prominent reformist, has also been forced out.
Continue reading...Wang Yi hits out at 20% levy on Chinese goods and warns ‘law of the jungle’ could emerge from Donald Trump’s policy
China’s foreign minister has accused the US of “two-faced” behaviour, condemning the imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods and warning against the “law of the jungle” that could emerge from Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
Speaking at the sidelines of China’s annual parliamentary gathering, Wang Yi said China would “firmly counter” US pressure. “No country should think that it can suppress China and maintain good relations,” he added.
Continue reading...The last right-wing American president before Trump galvanized a resurgent Latin American left. Where will the region go now?
The post Latin America’s New Right Ushers in Pan-American Trumpism appeared first on The Intercept.
Tiffany Flick claims agents from Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting unit assailed staff with questions about fraud
A former chief of staff at the US Social Security Administration (SSA) described how agents of the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) – Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting operation – were imposed on the agency, assailing senior staff with questions “based on the general myth of supposed widespread fraud” and acting with dangerous disregard for data confidentiality.
In a declaration filed with a lawsuit on Friday and referring to the Doge agents Mike Russo and Akash Bobba, Tiffany Flick said: “We proposed briefings to help Mr Russo and Mr Bobba understand the many measures the agency takes to help ensure the accuracy of benefit payments, including those measures that help ensure we are not paying benefits to deceased individuals.
Continue reading...It’s illegal to deport people for political speech, but that’s exactly what ICE is trying to do to this Palestinian Columbia student.
The post If Trump Can Deport Mahmoud Khalil, Freedom of Speech Is Dead appeared first on The Intercept.
Follow major developments of the second Trump administration’s first 100 days, brought up to date weekly
Donald Trump has completed an extraordinary return to power as the 47th president, vowing to impose his vision and re-altering the political and cultural landscape of the nation.
To keep up with the dizzying array of executive orders, directives, firings and policy changes, the Guardian will be tracking the major developments of the second Trump administration’s first 100 days, just like we did during the first 100 days of Trump’s first presidency in 2017.
Continue reading...The billionaire and now Trump adviser grew up amid the collapse of white rule, attending an all-white school and then a more liberal one
With an imposing double-winged redbrick main building, and school songs lifted directly from Harrow’s songbook, Pretoria boys high school is every inch the South African mirror of the English private schools it was founded in 1901 to imitate.
Elon Musk, who has rapidly become one of the most powerful people in US politics, spent his final school years in the 1980s as a day pupil on the lush, tree-filled campus in South Africa’s capital, close to his father’s large detached home in Waterkloof, a wealthy Pretoria suburb shaded by purple jacaranda blossoms in spring.
Continue reading...Mahmoud Khalil was detained by Ice and now being held in Louisiana despite having a green card
A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University’s protests against Israel over the war in Gaza is evidently being detained by US immigration authorities at a facility in Louisiana after his arrest, according to information from officials.
A spokesperson for the US’s homeland security department – as well as the country’s top diplomat – confirmed the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University until this past December who holds permanent US residency..
Continue reading...André Corrêa do Lago suggests US organisations can play a constructive role even if government limits participation
The US will be “central” to solving the climate crisis despite Donald Trump’s withdrawal of government support and cash, the president of the next UN climate summit has said.
André Corrêa do Lago, president-designate of the Cop30 summit for the host country, Brazil, hinted that businesses and other organisations in the US could play a constructive role without the White House.
Continue reading...Election of Trump and threats to democracy front of mind as activists remember peaceful marchers attacked by police
What would John Lewis do today?
On a Sunday morning 60 years ago, activists rewrote the story of the civil rights movement in their own blood on the streets of Selma, Alabama. State troopers turned their truncheons on a peaceful march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge at the behest of Alabama’s stridently and infamously racist governor George Wallace, protecting Alabama segregation and white supremacy.
Continue reading...MP’s wife and daughter describe Yvette Cooper’s decision as ‘insulting’ and ‘adding salt on to an open wound’
The family of murdered MP Sir David Amess have criticised an “insulting” rejection by the home secretary of their calls for a public inquiry into his death, accusing the government of “adding salt on an open wound”.
The home secretary said in a letter to Julia and Katie Amess that it was “hard to see how an inquiry would be able to go beyond” terrorist killer Ali Harbi Ali’s trial and the recently published Prevent learning review.
Continue reading...US president’s late-night social media post came after Turnbull criticised Trump’s leadership as ‘chaotic’
Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has said leaders should “not give in to bullies” after he was lashed by Donald Trump in a late-night social media post.
Taking to Truth Social platform just before midnight Sunday night in Washington DC, the US president said Turnbull led Australia from “behind” and did not understand China.
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Continue reading...The newly appointed Liberal leader is likely to call a federal election to bolster his mandate, but Canadians seem to see him as the best bet to counter US tariffs
When Mark Carney took the job as governor of the Bank of England in 2013, he negotiated a five-year term rather than the traditional eight-year tenure. The sense was that he was eager to get back to Canada to run for office in the next federal election. But that election came and went in 2019, and Carney instead extended his tenure at the Bank, ultimately leaving it in 2020. A year later, the Guardian asked him whether he’d be prime minister of Canada some day. Carney was deliberately coy. “Er, look at the time!” he laughed, with a raised eyebrow.
No need to be cute any more. On Sunday evening, Carney won the Liberal leadership race in a landslide, capturing 85.9% of the overall riding points on the first count. The party allocates 100 possible points to each constituency (or ridings, as they’re known), and those points are distributed based on the ratio won by each candidate in each riding (the ballots are ranked). Carney’s commanding win outdoes even that of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, who won the leadership in 2013 with a little over 80% of the points.
Colin Horgan is a Toronto-based writer and a former speechwriter for Justin Trudeau
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Campaigners say funding halt is a ‘staggering blow’ to vulnerable nations and to efforts to keep heating below 1.5C
Donald Trump’s withdrawal of US overseas aid will almost decimate global climate finance from the developed world, data shows, with potentially devastating impacts on vulnerable nations.
The US was responsible last year for about $8 in every $100 that flowed from the rich world to developing countries, to help them cut greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the impacts of extreme weather, according to data from the analyst organisation Carbon Brief.
Continue reading...From gen Z’s interest in ‘natural’ materials to the darker ‘boom boom’ aesthetic of the Trump era, the trend wheel has turned back to pelts
I’ll admit it, Carrie Bradshaw in aviators and a fur coat, smoking and drinking beer while watching baseball, spoke to me. It was season two of Sex and the City, 1999. She was bruised from a recently ended relationship but on the brink of dating “the new Yankee” and I was a teenager, probably home from playing racketball and on the brink of Quorn sausages for dinner.
While it wasn’t the whole equation, the fur coat was certainly part of it. The way she could shrink into it and appear nonchalantly, breezily beautiful despite unwashed hair and an aching heart. I’m not proud, but I was young, and this to me then looked like something I wanted a piece of.
Ellie Violet Bramley is the Guardian’s acting fashion and lifestyle editor
Continue reading...Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest comes as Trump vows to deport foreign students involved in protests against Israel’s war
A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University’s student encampment movement was arrested on Saturday night by federal immigration authorities who claimed they were acting on a state department order to revoke his green card, according to his attorney.
Mahmoud Khalil was at his university-owned apartment, blocks from the private Ivy League university’s main campus in New York when several Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents entered the building and took him into custody, his attorney, Amy Greer, told the Associated Press.
Continue reading...Using lessons learned defending abortion, some providers are digging in to serve their trans patients despite legal attacks.
The post How to Keep Providing Gender-Affirming Care Despite Anti-Trans Attacks appeared first on The Intercept.
The list of invitees at the White House crypto summit illustrates the tight link between Trump and new cohort of political donors.
The post Here’s How Much the Guests at Trump’s Crypto Summit Donated to His Inauguration appeared first on The Intercept.
Funerals in Kyiv, Trump’s address to Congress, Ramadan in Gaza and the Academy Awards: the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists
The multi-billion dollar deal was heralded as ensuring the security of the Indo-Pacific. But with America an increasingly unreliable ally, doubts are rising above the waves
Maybe Australia’s boats just never turn up.
To fanfare and flags, the Aukus deal was presented as a sure bet, papering over an uncertainty that such an ambitious deal could ever be delivered.
Continue reading...Talia Lavin, journalist and author of “Wild Faith,” on the right-wing Christian ideology and characters guiding Trump.
The post Trump’s Vision for America: I Am God appeared first on The Intercept.
Ukrainian president will be holding talks with Mohammed bin Salman
The UK rejected Russian allegations that two British diplomats were suspected of carrying out espionage activities (9:04) as “malicious and baseless,” saying it is not the first time Russia made similar accusations.
Visitors from around the world have been flocking to the Pompidou Centre in Paris this weekend, seizing the last opportunity to enjoy Europe’s largest temple of modern and contemporary art before it closes its doors for a five-year overhaul.
Continue reading...Ukrainian president to meet Mohammed bin Salman but will not be at Saudi-led talks with US officials later this week
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is flying to Saudi Arabia for high-stakes talks with the crown prince, at a time when Ukraine is being squeezed on and off the battlefield.
The Ukrainian president has gone to Riyadh for talks with Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has played a mediating role between Ukraine and Russia, before separate meetings in Saudi Arabia this week between Ukrainian and US officials.
Continue reading...Desire discrepancy is one of the most common reasons couples come to certified sex and relationship practitioner Georgia Grace. Solving the issue means challenging false assumptions
Human sexuality is often likened to a fingerprint: our desires, fantasies and physical responses are as unique as the ridges on our fingers. In session, when I share this analogy with couples, they are relieved to know it’s actually normal to be different from their partner.
While it’s true that no two people are the same, when it comes to “mismatched libido” a predictable scenario will usually play out. In my first session with a couple, they will sit on opposite sides of the couch and say they haven’t had sex in months, or years. They are lost and desperate. One of them will share that they feel unwanted, and the other will admit that they want to want it, they just don’t. Because of this, they feel broken. They both agree sex is important for their relationship, but now it has become a stressful, awkward topic where discussion almost certainly ends in conflict. Desire discrepancy, or as many call it a “mismatched sex drive”, is one of the most common reasons people come to see me. It’s also why I dedicated a whole chapter to navigating desire in my book The Modern Guide to Sex.
Continue reading...Investigative journalist called ‘modern-day Sherlock’ by Alexei Navalny on unsettling photos, reprisals and being exiled from Vienna
Christo Grozev was sitting in a New York cafe in February 2023, expecting to fly back to his home in Vienna that evening, when US law enforcement officials delivered some news that changed his life.
“I was told that it’s not a good idea for me to leave back to Austria, because there’s been some intelligence suggesting there’s a red team waiting for you,” said Grozev, a Bulgarian-born investigative journalist who has infuriated the Kremlin by exposing numerous Russian intelligence operatives in recent years.
Continue reading...Down with expensive trophies at art fairs: it’s time to reclaim a more radical vision of creativity
Some of us will go to an art gallery this weekend. Maybe it will help us reflect or inspire us. Isn’t that part of a life well lived? And if you don’t go to a gallery, maybe you’ll find yourself lingering on a picture at home, reading a novel, going to the theatre or listening to music. But what if you didn’t? What if there were no galleries, theatres, publishers or concert halls? What if we got rid of art?
The impulse seems philistine at best, authoritarian at worst, yet a remarkable number of modern artists were seduced by it. André Breton, the leader of the surrealists, repeatedly called for the end of literature. Theo van Doesburg, the founder of the De Stijl movement, proclaimed that “art has poisoned our life”, while his friend and compatriot, Piet Mondrian, believed that if we did abolish art, no one would miss it. In December 1914, as the first world war entered its first winter, the Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky declared that art was already dead. “It found itself in the backwater of life,” he wrote. “It was soft and could not defend itself.”
Continue reading...Exclusive: Barbara De Dozsa’s husband bought Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario in 1973 after it was stolen from a museum
A 16th-century Madonna and Child painting disappeared without a trace after it was stolen from a museum in northern Italy more than half a century ago.
Now, having surfaced in Britain, it is in the possession of a woman in Norfolk, who is refusing to return it – even though it is listed on police stolen art databases.
Continue reading...Polish prime minister tells ‘friends’ to cast aside arrogance after his foreign minister and Marco Rubio trade barbs online
Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, has called on “friends” to respect their allies and not be arrogant in a post on X that mentioned nobody by name but was published a day after an extraordinary social media spat between top officials in the US and Poland over Starlink satellites.
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, accused Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, of “making things up” and suggested on Sunday he was ungrateful, in a strong rebuke after Sikorski said Ukraine may need an alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service if it becomes unreliable.
Continue reading...Kremlin accuses individuals of ‘intelligence and subversive activities’ in what appears to be latest in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions
Two people connected to the British embassy in Moscow have been ordered to leave the country by the Russian authorities, which claimed they had been performing intelligence work.
The British government hit back by accusing Russia of making “malicious and baseless accusations”.
Continue reading...Russian embassy in Australia says western boots on the ground is ‘unacceptable’ and statement is not a threat but a ‘warning’
Russia has warned the Australian government that deploying troops to Ukraine as part of an international peace keeping operation would lead to “grave consequences”.
The Australian government is considering a proposal to send peacekeepers to the war-torn region as part of a “coalition of the willing” designed by European leaders. The troops would enforce any peace deal struck between the two nations.
Continue reading...Former Lenin Museum in Tampere, which opened in 1946 as a symbol of Finnish-Russian friendship, has rebranded amid Ukraine war
A Finnish museum dedicated to the Russian Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin has reopened under a new name and with new exhibits in response to rapidly changing relations between two neighbouring countries after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The former Lenin Museum in Tampere, which closed in November, reopened this month under a new name, Nootti, which refers to the Finnish word for a diplomatic note.
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Both supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol and those who backed his impeachment rallied in Seoul ahead of his release
South Korea’s impeached conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been released from prison, a day after a Seoul court cancelled his arrest to allow him to stand trial for insurrection without being detained.
After walking out of a detention centre near Seoul on Saturday, Yoon waved, clenched his fists and bowed deeply to his supporters who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and US flags. Yoon climbed into a black van headed to his presidential residence in the capital.
Continue reading...From Istanbul and Warsaw to New York and Los Angeles, activists demand equality and the end of gender-based violence
Women took to the streets of cities across Europe, Africa and elsewhere to mark International Women’s Day with demands for ending inequality and gender-based violence.
On the Asian side of Turkey’s biggest city, Istanbul, a rally in Kadiköy saw members of dozens of women’s groups listen to speeches, dance and sing in the spring sunshine. The colorful protest was overseen by a large police presence, including officers in riot gear and a water cannon truck.
Continue reading...The Intercept is publishing Elon Musk’s government email address to aid those seeking information on DOGE in the public interest.
The post We Found Elon Musk’s DOGE Email Address and We’re Fighting to Reveal His Messages appeared first on The Intercept.
Last year, the IRS Martinsburg site was “viewed as a high priority.” Now, under the Trump administration, it's “functionally obsolete.”
The post It’s Tax Season — The Perfect Time for Trump to Sell This “Critical” IRS Computing Center appeared first on The Intercept.
“He’s threatening an entire population with death — what else is that other than genocidal?” one expert told The Intercept.
The post Trump’s “Genocidal” Threat to Gaza: If Hamas Won’t Release Hostages, “You Are DEAD” appeared first on The Intercept.
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Europe’s human spaceflight ambitions are reaching new heights, and ESA’s Astronaut Reserve is a key part of this journey. Selected in 2022, these talented individuals are undergoing Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) to ensure they are ready for future missions.
Among these remarkable women from across Europe are Meganne Christian, a materials scientist from the UK, Anthea Comellini, an aerospace engineer from Italy, and Carmen Possnig, a medical doctor from Austria, who recently completed their first ART training block at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.
Their diverse scientific backgrounds reflect the wide-ranging expertise needed for human spaceflight, whether as part of ESA’s astronaut class, mission planners, or scientists shaping the future of space exploration. Beyond their work with ESA, they are also driving innovation, advancing research, and strengthening the broader space sector. Women play key roles across ESA and beyond, contributing as leaders and experts in these areas.
Meganne, Anthea and Carmen recently completed their first ART training block at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. In this image, they are pictured inside a mockup of the Columbus module, Europe’s permanent laboratory on the International Space Station.
The training covered key areas such as human behaviour and performance to develop teamwork and decision-making skills in high-pressure environments. They also received physical fitness training, scuba certification in ESA’s Neutral Buoyancy Facility, and media training to effectively communicate the importance of space exploration to the public.
In addition to technical and operational skills, they explored fundamental science, including biology experiments conducted on the International Space Station. Their training also includes insights into space policy, mission operations, and the latest advancements in space technology.
While members of the Astronaut Reserve are not yet assigned to specific missions, their training ensures that they are prepared for potential future opportunities through commercial spaceflight
The journey continues in the second half of 2025, when the members of ESA’s Astronaut Reserve will return to EAC for the next phase of ART, further building on the skills and knowledge they have gained.
ESA’s second group of Astronaut Reserve members has successfully completed the first block of their intensive Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) programme. Starting in January 2025, four members of the European Astronaut Reserve—Meganne Christian from the UK, Anthea Comellini from Italy, John McFall from the UK and Carmen Possnig from Austria— tarted their two months training programme at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, honing essential skills required for future space exploration and scientific research.
Police and supporters of impeached president gather at presidential residence in Seoul before his possible release
A South Korean court has cancelled President Yoon Suk Yeol’s detention warrant, paving the way for his potential release.
He has been held since mid-January on charges of leading an insurrection relating to his failed attempt in December to impose martial law.
Continue reading...Government hopes to avoid backlash against upgrade of infrastructure as it tries to grow UK economy
People living near power cables could receive £250 a year off their energy bills as the UK government hopes to speed up construction of infrastructure vital to the transition away from fossil fuels.
Households within half a kilometre of new or upgraded power infrastructure could receive up to £2,500 over 10 years under Labour government plans that aim to prevent a backlash against increased building of pylons and substations.
Continue reading...What’s the only horror story to have more instalments than A Nightmare on Elm Street? The ongoing saga of readers haunted by the utilities sector
Believe me, I would love to write a drama about something other than the energy bills of strangers, but try as I might to find new inspiration, nothing creates tension, plot twists and psychodrama like the utilities sector. So here we go again …
Continue reading...Britain aiming for medals from among their team of 10 athletes as first Winter Games for eight years opens in Turin
For the first time in eight years, the vibrant energy of the Special Olympics World Winter Games will ignite as athletes from more than 100 countries converge in Turin to compete in eight sports.
The Special Olympics is the largest sports organisation for individuals with intellectual disabilities, also known as learning disabilities, providing crucial training and competition opportunities at local, national and regional levels. The Winter Games officially began on Saturday night with the opening ceremony at the Inalpi Arena.
Continue reading...Monarch recalls ‘infectious energy’ of late reggae singer in Apple Music broadcast to celebrate Commonwealth Day
King Charles has paid tribute to the “marvellous, infectious energy” of the late reggae star Bob Marley, in a series of comments about his favourite music and musicians from around the Commonwealth.
In a broadcast released in a collaboration with Apple Music on Monday as part of Commonwealth Day celebrations, the king described meeting Marley and other music legends during his royal duties, as he shared his “personal playlist of hits that bring him joy”.
Continue reading...There is little middle ground in the battle over zonal pricing – and the energy secretary has only months to settle dispute
How would you prefer your electricity prices to be set – nationally or locally? There is little middle ground in the bitter lobbying battle over zonal pricing, the proposal that Great Britain’s electricity market should be split into regions with prices set by local supply and demand. The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, must decide in the next few months, in time for this summer’s auction for new wind and solar projects.
One camp – led by Greg Jackson, the politically plugged-in founder of Octopus Energy, the UK’s biggest retail energy supplier – argues that customers’ bills will “skyrocket” unless zonal pricing is adopted. It points to the wasted money spent paying windfarms to shut down when, for example, it is blowing a gale in Shetland and the local grid is overloaded with more power than can be transported south.
Continue reading...Air force apologises and wishes a swift recovery to the civilians injured after eight bombs ‘abnormally released’
South Korea’s air force has apologised after one of its fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in the wrong place during a training exercise on Thursday, injuring 15 civilians and damaging several buildings.
“Eight MK-82 general purpose bombs were abnormally released from an air force KF-16 aircraft, landing outside the designated firing range,” the air force said, adding that the bombs weighed about 225kg each.
Continue reading...A list of DOGE staffers reviewed by The Intercept shows Elon Musk’s quasi-agency has brought in at least four more attorneys.
The post Leaked List Shows DOGE Is Lawyering Up appeared first on The Intercept.
On the same day he floated cutting funding at schools hosting “illegal” protests, Trump took a free speech victory lap.
The post Trump Brags He “Brought Back Free Speech” Hours After Calling to Ban “Illegal” Protests appeared first on The Intercept.
The bloated Department of Defense spends more money than any other government agency. So where is Elon Musk and DOGE?
The post Hey Elon: We Found a Place to Cut More Than $2 Trillion in Wasteful Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
The shape of the Trump 2.0 White House has spurred serious concerns about public health and reproductive rights, and left military leaders 'stunned' and former intelligence experts 'appalled'. From a vaccine skeptic in charge of running the department of health, to a wrestling mogul in charge of the country's education, and even a ‘deep state conspiracy theorist’ becoming head of the FBI, the Guardian US live news editor Chris Michael takes us through the six most controversial members, and what their appointments could mean for the country
Continue reading...Stock markets tumbled on Monday as Donald Trump announced tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 1.8% and the S&P fell 2.1%
Continue reading...In a clash of self-described progressives, GOP donors are pouring money into the race to unseat Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.
The post Trump Donors Try to Buy Pittsburgh Mayor’s Race appeared first on The Intercept.
From claiming Ukraine was responsible for the war to incorrect numbers about aid received from the US and Europe, Donald Trump made a number of inaccurate statements while praising the progress made in US-Russia talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Guardian has had a look at his claims
Continue reading...Russia's foreign minister has dismissed the prospect of a place for Europe at talks between the US and Russia to end the fighting in Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference alongside his Serbian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov said: 'If they are going to weasel out some cunning ideas about freezing the conflict, while actually intending – as is their custom, nature and habit – to continue the war, then why should we invite them at all?'
European leaders have been unnerved by the willingness of Donald Trump, the US president, to engage the Kremlin directly over Ukraine and have been attempting to find a place for themselves in the talks
Continue reading...GOP lawmakers said that they couldn’t enforce bathroom bans with the civil rights protections on the books.
The post Iowa Becomes the First State to Repeal Civil Rights Protections for Trans People appeared first on The Intercept.
Joseph Czuba’s comments about Palestinians and Muslims took center stage at his trial for the murder of Wadee Alfayoumi.
The post Landlord Convicted in Hate Crime Stabbing of 6-Year-Old Palestinian American Boy appeared first on The Intercept.
The Bureau of Prisons rescinded rules shielding trans women from being searched by male guards, The Intercept has learned.
The post Trump Administration Abolishes Rules Protecting Trans Prisoners appeared first on The Intercept.
The US president, Donald Trump, denied calling the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a dictator, despite calling him one on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump was asked by a reporter if he still held that view in a press conference alongside the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and he replied: 'Did I say that? I can't believe I said that'
Continue reading...Last month, the UK government demanded that Apple weaken the security of iCloud for users worldwide. On Friday, Apple took steps to comply for users in the United Kingdom. But the British law is written in a way that requires Apple to give its government access to anyone, anywhere in the world. If the government demands Apple weaken its security worldwide, it would increase everyone’s cyber-risk in an already dangerous world.
If you’re an iCloud user, you have the option of turning on something called “advanced data protection,” or ADP. In that mode, a majority of your data is end-to-end encrypted. This means that no one, not even anyone at Apple, can read that data. It’s a restriction enforced by mathematics—cryptography—and not policy. Even if someone successfully hacks iCloud, they can’t read ADP-protected data...
Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government is working closely with the US to implement Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, which involves US ownership of the coastal strip, the removal of more than 2 million Palestinians and the redevelopment of the occupied territory as a resort. The Israeli prime minister was speaking after a meeting in Jerusalem with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who defended the Trump plan as bold and visionary
Continue reading...It looks like a very sophisticated attack against the Dubai-based exchange Bybit:
Bybit officials disclosed the theft of more than 400,000 ethereum and staked ethereum coins just hours after it occurred. The notification said the digital loot had been stored in a “Multisig Cold Wallet” when, somehow, it was transferred to one of the exchange’s hot wallets. From there, the cryptocurrency was transferred out of Bybit altogether and into wallets controlled by the unknown attackers.
[…]
…a subsequent investigation by Safe found no signs of unauthorized access to its infrastructure, no compromises of other Safe wallets, and no obvious vulnerabilities in the Safe codebase. As investigators continued to dig in, they finally settled on the true cause. Bybit ultimately said that the fraudulent transaction was “manipulated by a sophisticated attack that altered the smart contract logic and masked the signing interface, enabling the attacker to gain control of the ETH Cold Wallet.”...
The parents of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny joined hundreds of mourners at their son's grave on Sunday to mark the anniversary of his death. Navalny died aged 47 on 16 February last year while being held in a jail about 40 miles north of the Arctic Circle, where he had been sentenced to 19 years under a ‘special regime’
Continue reading...By abandoning trans rights and praising Reagan, Democrats embrace a fangless politics with a track record of electoral failure.
The post Gavin Newsom’s Cynical Embrace of the Anti-Trans Agenda appeared first on The Intercept.
It’s illegal to deport people for political speech, but that’s exactly what ICE is trying to do to this Palestinian Columbia student.
The post If Trump Can Deport Mahmoud Khalil, Freedom of Speech Is Dead appeared first on The Intercept.
The Pentagon owns 145 golf courses. As Trump cuts key government services, we found it aims to spend on sand traps and clubhouses.
The post Pentagon Keeps Pouring Cash Into Golf Courses — Even As Trump Slashes Government Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
The list of invitees at the White House crypto summit illustrates the tight link between Trump and new cohort of political donors.
The post Here’s How Much the Guests at Trump’s Crypto Summit Donated to His Inauguration appeared first on The Intercept.
Using lessons learned defending abortion, some providers are digging in to serve their trans patients despite legal attacks.
The post How to Keep Providing Gender-Affirming Care Despite Anti-Trans Attacks appeared first on The Intercept.
The Hindu nationalist prime minister’s push could shift power northward to his political advantage but risks escalating political tensions
When Narendra Modi’s alliance won a narrow majority in last year’s Indian election, it signalled his waning popularity after a decade in power. A victory in 2029 may seem unlikely. Yet his government’s push to redraw parliamentary constituencies using post-2026 census data could tilt the electoral field in his favour.
The process, known as delimitation, ensures each member of parliament represents an equal number of voters – a principle of democratic fairness. Since 1976, however, it has been frozen to avoid penalising Indian states that curbed population growth. If delimitation proceeds, Mr Modi’s populous northern strongholds will gain seats, weakening the political clout of India’s economically dynamic and culturally distinct southern cone. Its five states are governed by different parties but, critically, none belong to Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). Southern states have long accused Mr Modi’s government of bias in federal funding and project approvals. Last week’s gathering of the south’s political leadership in Delhi to protest against his move underscores the risk of backlash.
Continue reading...Conservatives benefit most from donations provided either before or after peers secured their seats
Peers who sat in the House of Lords during the last parliament have given a combined £109m in political donations, almost £50m of which was contributed before they secured their seats.
A group of 20 super-donors – all male – have given more than £1m each.
Nearly £48m came from donors before they joined the Lords, with 91% of that sum going to the Conservatives.
Donations after joining the Lords were split more evenly, with 42% given to the Conservatives, 33% to Labour and 25% to the Lib Dems.
The top three donors were David Sainsbury, with £25m to Labour and the Lib Dems, and the Conservative supporters Anthony Bamford with £10m and Michael Farmer with £9m.
Continue reading...Instead of outrage, the school’s interim president responded to the cuts by vowing to continue its misguided crackdown.
The post Columbia Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks — And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding appeared first on The Intercept.
Party’s MP, who is facing misconduct claims, says ‘you have to stand up to bullies’ after he questioned Farage
Around 80 Labour MPs could refuse to back government plans to cut billions from the welfare budget, Amy Gibbons and Tony Diver claim in a story for the Daily Telegraph. They report:
The Telegraph understands that around 80 Labour MPs – roughly a fifth of the parliamentary party – “won’t tolerate” billions of pounds of welfare cuts set to be announced by the Chancellor later this month.
The anger is said to have spread beyond the “usual suspects”, with MPs who would not typically criticise Sir Keir threatening to “give the government a slap” over the proposals.
Our Labour values are built on a simple but powerful idea: that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, should have the support they need to make the most of their lives. Everyone who is capable of working deserves the security, dignity and agency that employment offers. Of course, there are some people who are not able to work and they must be treated with compassion and respect. But for those that can, we must restore the pathways to opportunity which are currently so sparse for millions of people. It is exactly what a Labour government exists to do …
As MPs, we understand that delivering this new social contract requires hard choices to be made. We welcome the work that has begun to rebuild our welfare system, and we are fully supportive of it. We believe reforming our broken system is not only necessary, but also a truly progressive endeavour. And so we have established the Get Britain Working Group to make that argument, insistently.
The radical package of reforms will see:
-£5bn in savings by making it harder to qualify for Personal Independence Payments - a benefit not linked to work that is meant to help people with the additional costs of their disability
This government is determined that instead of facing a life on benefits … we stretch every sinew and pull every lever to ensure that we can get those people into work, because that is the best way for them to have a successful and happy life into the future.
So I think it’s quite right to look at a benefit system which is clearly broken.
Continue reading...Richard Tice tries to calm party row in Sunday media round after pair attack each other in newspaper articles
The fierce clash at the top of Reform UK has escalated as Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe launched fresh attacks against each other and the party denied its suspension of Lowe was politically motivated.
Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, was dispatched to the Sunday media studios to try to calm the row that has engulfed the party less than two months before a pivotal set of local elections.
Continue reading...By sending weapons to Israel while halting arms sales to Ukraine, Trump backs nations that are “occupying a less powerful people.”
The post Support the Occupying Force: The Logic Behind Trump’s Foreign Policy appeared first on The Intercept.
Secretary of state says on social media that 83% of the programs at USAid are being cancelled
Secretary of state Marco Rubio has announced that USAid will cancel the majority of its programs, while the rest will be folded into the state department.
Writing on X, Rubio said:
After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID.
The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.
Continue reading...Nate Vance reportedly spent three years trying to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and has been alarmed by his cousin’s remarks
After voluntarily fighting in Ukraine to defend it from Russia’s invasion, and as the White House halts Ukrainian military aid, JD Vance’s first cousin has called the vice-president and Donald Trump “useful idiots” to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Nate Vance’s comments to France’s Le Figaro newspaper came after he reportedly spent three years volunteering to try to help Ukraine repel Russian troops as part of the so-called Da Vinci Wolves battalion.
Continue reading...Mahmoud Khalil was detained by Ice and now being held in Louisiana despite having a green card
A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University’s protests against Israel over the war in Gaza is evidently being detained by US immigration authorities at a facility in Louisiana after his arrest, according to information from officials.
A spokesperson for the US’s homeland security department – as well as the country’s top diplomat – confirmed the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University until this past December who holds permanent US residency..
Continue reading...Former prosecutors criticize Pam Bondi’s decision to halt enforcement of bribery laws as short-sighted and dangerous
A radical makeover at the US department of justice has seen key drives to fight corruption hamstrung in ways that could benefit US businesses operating abroad and foreign kleptocrats, including some Russian oligarchs.
The moves have sparked sharp criticism by former US prosecutors, transparency experts and top Democrats, who warn that the moves to cut back on anti-corruption efforts is a huge setback for American efforts to clean up global business practices and tackle the power of oligarchs and of authoritarian rulers.
Continue reading...On the same day he floated cutting funding at schools hosting “illegal” protests, Trump took a free speech victory lap.
The post Trump Brags He “Brought Back Free Speech” Hours After Calling to Ban “Illegal” Protests appeared first on The Intercept.
The last right-wing American president before Trump galvanized a resurgent Latin American left. Where will the region go now?
The post Latin America’s New Right Ushers in Pan-American Trumpism appeared first on The Intercept.
The prime minister has more reason than most to be the boots on the ground after 63% of voters said he is not in tune with ordinary Australians
Anthony Albanese might have expected to have been on his campaign plane on Monday, flying between marginal seats on the first day of the election trail proper.
Instead he’s sloshing around in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred – the weather event that was meant to bear his name and blew his election announcement plan right off course.
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Continue reading...US president’s late-night social media post came after Turnbull criticised Trump’s leadership as ‘chaotic’
Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has said leaders should “not give in to bullies” after he was lashed by Donald Trump in a late-night social media post.
Taking to Truth Social platform just before midnight Sunday night in Washington DC, the US president said Turnbull led Australia from “behind” and did not understand China.
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Continue reading...The Intercept is publishing Elon Musk’s government email address to aid those seeking information on DOGE in the public interest.
The post We Found Elon Musk’s DOGE Email Address and We’re Fighting to Reveal His Messages appeared first on The Intercept.
In a clash of self-described progressives, GOP donors are pouring money into the race to unseat Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.
The post Trump Donors Try to Buy Pittsburgh Mayor’s Race appeared first on The Intercept.
Talia Lavin, journalist and author of “Wild Faith,” on the right-wing Christian ideology and characters guiding Trump.
The post Trump’s Vision for America: I Am God appeared first on The Intercept.
Follow major developments of the second Trump administration’s first 100 days, brought up to date weekly
Donald Trump has completed an extraordinary return to power as the 47th president, vowing to impose his vision and re-altering the political and cultural landscape of the nation.
To keep up with the dizzying array of executive orders, directives, firings and policy changes, the Guardian will be tracking the major developments of the second Trump administration’s first 100 days, just like we did during the first 100 days of Trump’s first presidency in 2017.
Continue reading...Former chancellor’s roles since becoming a peer in 2020 include working for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait
The former chancellor Philip Hammond has made millions from 30 directorships and consultancy jobs while being a member of the House of Lords.
He has worked for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, regimes widely criticised for their human rights records. He has also been hired by a string of diverse commercial enterprises such as investment companies, technology businesses and tax advisers.
Continue reading...MP’s wife and daughter describe Yvette Cooper’s decision as ‘insulting’ and ‘adding salt on to an open wound’
The family of murdered MP Sir David Amess have criticised an “insulting” rejection by the home secretary of their calls for a public inquiry into his death, accusing the government of “adding salt on an open wound”.
The home secretary said in a letter to Julia and Katie Amess that it was “hard to see how an inquiry would be able to go beyond” terrorist killer Ali Harbi Ali’s trial and the recently published Prevent learning review.
Continue reading...Rocio Concha says fraudsters find it far too easy to exploit weaknesses in consumer protections, and a reader who lost their home because of a scam blames government inaction
Your investigation (‘Deepfakes, cash and crypto: how call centre scammers duped 6,000 people’, 5 March) is an all too depressing reminder that the UK remains in the grip of a fraud epidemic. It is also an important warning: people don’t fall for scams because they’re careless, but because they’re targeted by ruthless criminals.
The reality is that fraudsters, often members of organised criminal networks, are finding it far too easy to exploit weaknesses in protections for consumers. Many banks and payment firms aren’t doing enough to prevent their customers from sending money to fraudsters, while tech giants remain sluggish when it comes to removing fraudulent material, like scam ads, that can ensnare so many users.
Continue reading...There are fears military will deploy further violence in run-up to any poll, which is unlikely to be viewed as credible
The Myanmar military’s promise to hold elections in December 2025 or January 2026 has been condemned as a “sham” that risks bringing even greater violence.
Myanmar’s military junta announced on Saturday, in comments reported in state media, that it would hold a long-promised election, specifying a timeframe for the first time since seizing power in a 2021 coup.
Continue reading...Former central banker will be only second prime minister in Canadian history without a seat in parliament
Mark Carney, the former central banker who oversaw the response to financial crises in North America and the UK, will become the next prime minister of Canada after winning the race to lead the country’s federal Liberal party.
Carney, 59, takes on the role as Canada is locked in a potentially catastrophic trade war with the US, long its closest ally and largest trading partner. Last week Donald Trump announced a 25% tax on all Canadian goods, with a carveout for the automotive and energy sectors. The tariffs have the power to push Canada’s fragile economy in a recession.
Continue reading...Last year, the IRS Martinsburg site was “viewed as a high priority.” Now, under the Trump administration, it's “functionally obsolete.”
The post It’s Tax Season — The Perfect Time for Trump to Sell This “Critical” IRS Computing Center appeared first on The Intercept.
A list of DOGE staffers reviewed by The Intercept shows Elon Musk’s quasi-agency has brought in at least four more attorneys.
The post Leaked List Shows DOGE Is Lawyering Up appeared first on The Intercept.
Tiffany Flick claims agents from Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting unit assailed staff with questions about fraud
A former chief of staff at the US Social Security Administration (SSA) described how agents of the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) – Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting operation – were imposed on the agency, assailing senior staff with questions “based on the general myth of supposed widespread fraud” and acting with dangerous disregard for data confidentiality.
In a declaration filed with a lawsuit on Friday and referring to the Doge agents Mike Russo and Akash Bobba, Tiffany Flick said: “We proposed briefings to help Mr Russo and Mr Bobba understand the many measures the agency takes to help ensure the accuracy of benefit payments, including those measures that help ensure we are not paying benefits to deceased individuals.
Continue reading...The MoD has been scandalously wasteful and opaque in its spending. It has to learn from its mistakes, and fast
Two days after he met the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at his Sandringham estate, King Charles was photographed on the bridge of HMS Prince of Wales. It was a clever move by the navy’s top brass to invite him. They know that the aircraft carrier, and her sister, HMS Queen Elizabeth, are being questioned as luxuries Britain can ill afford. They are completely unsuited to modern warfare. As if to acknowledge the point, while defence chiefs struggle to find weapons desperately needed by Ukraine, including basic ammunition, they are sending the Prince of Wales to “fly the flag” in south-east Asia.
The carriers, the largest warships built for the navy, cost more than £6bn, well above the original estimate of under £4bn. Maintaining and repairing the ships, hit by serious mechanical problems over their short lifespan, has already cost nearly £1bn.
Richard Norton-Taylor writes for the Guardian on defence and security and is a contributor to a forthcoming alternative defence review
Continue reading...The billionaire and now Trump adviser grew up amid the collapse of white rule, attending an all-white school and then a more liberal one
With an imposing double-winged redbrick main building, and school songs lifted directly from Harrow’s songbook, Pretoria boys high school is every inch the South African mirror of the English private schools it was founded in 1901 to imitate.
Elon Musk, who has rapidly become one of the most powerful people in US politics, spent his final school years in the 1980s as a day pupil on the lush, tree-filled campus in South Africa’s capital, close to his father’s large detached home in Waterkloof, a wealthy Pretoria suburb shaded by purple jacaranda blossoms in spring.
Continue reading...Middle East nations among those to have paid 27 members of Lords for work such as consultancy and legal advice
Members of the House of Lords have been paid more than £3m in the last two years by foreign governments including repressive Middle Eastern regimes.
Many of the states paying peers have human rights records that have been widely criticised, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Continue reading...We live in dark, depressing and – frankly – terrifying times. Will technology push us over the edge or help us exit our many crises?
Today we live in an era defined by crisis. Indeed, we are facing multiple overlapping threats at once: from accelerating climate breakdown to the rise of authoritarianism across the world, we are in a situation that the historian Adam Tooze calls “polycrisis”. It is no wonder that hope is scarce, pessimism is high and despair is pervasive. As one meme that captures the grim, morbid mood of our age reads: “My retirement plan is civilisational collapse.”
But not everyone shares this gloomy outlook. On the extreme other end of public sentiment sit Silicon Valley billionaires: they are some of the most optimistic people on earth. Of course, it’s easy to be optimistic when you are sitting on enough money to sway national politics. And yet, the source of their optimism isn’t simply money. It is also a deep-seated faith in unfettered technological advances.
Continue reading...Home affairs minister says opposition leader’s ‘recklessness has caught up with him’
Tony Burke has claimed the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, was “conned” by a Sydney caravan plot that police have declared fake and should “apologise” to the public.
The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the explosives-laden caravan found earlier this year in the outer Sydney suburb of Dural was a “fake terrorism plot”. The AFP deputy commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said investigators now believed the caravan incident was concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit.
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Continue reading...Most say they have seen no impact on applications for year 7 places, despite warnings from those against policy
Predictions that adding VAT to private school fees would set off a wave of parents moving children to the state sector have been proved wrong at their first key test, according to figures from councils in England.
While critics including the former chancellor Jeremy Hunt had predicted that up to 90,000 children could flood the state sector if VAT of 20% was charged, most councils say they have seen no impact from the policy in applications to start at state secondary schools later this year.
Continue reading...Watchdog warns that move, which also includes domestic abusers, must be closely watched to keep public safe
Domestic abusers and sex offenders in England and Wales will be rehabilitated by less-experienced staff with fewer qualifications from June, prompting warnings from a watchdog that the plans must be closely monitored to ensure public safety.
Proposals approved by ministers will roll out behaviour programmes for offenders to be delivered by “band 3” staff who are not fully qualified probation officers.
Continue reading...The actor grew up poor, got rich, then lost everything backing the 2019 Homeless World Cup. Now he’s giving away more of his money to help 900 total strangers. Doesn’t he think he’s done enough?
Michael Sheen walks into a post office in Port Talbot and asks to withdraw £100,000. “That would be nice,” says the young woman behind the till. Then it dawns on her that he’s not joking. “Can I do £100,000?” she asks her colleague. She cannot.
“I loved that so much. She was really funny,” says Sheen. Filmed for a new Channel 4 documentary, Michael Sheen’s Secret Million Pound Giveaway, this was part of the actor’s two-year project to use £100,000 of his own money to buy £1m worth of debt, owed by about 900 people in south Wales – and immediately cancel it.
Continue reading...Yolanda Díaz Pérez’s leftwing government has championed employment reform similar to Labour’s proposals – and she tells British business there is nothing to fear
Spain’s leftwing deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz Pérez, has a message for Labour politicians as the UK government’s employment rights bill takes its next step to becoming law this week: take heart from our success.
With business groups in the UK issuing dire warnings about the impact of the workers’ rights package, Díaz, the minister of labour and social economy, remembers her own government’s battle when it thrashed out radical labour laws that came into force in 2022. “We went through nine months of hell, literally. We had the press against it, academia, research centres – everybody was saying this was going to contribute to unemployment and not eradicate it,” she recalls.
Continue reading...People warn of growing lawlessness amid concerns that thousands of escaped convicts may try to exact revenge
Mass prison escapes during the chaos of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have captured two of its largest cities over the past two months, have caused panic among the public.
Jailbreaks involving thousands of people at four prisons in the region have accompanied the rapid advance that the militia started in January in its fighting against the Congolese army that also caused widespread chaos and confusion.
Continue reading...Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest comes as Trump vows to deport foreign students involved in protests against Israel’s war
A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University’s student encampment movement was arrested on Saturday night by federal immigration authorities who claimed they were acting on a state department order to revoke his green card, according to his attorney.
Mahmoud Khalil was at his university-owned apartment, blocks from the private Ivy League university’s main campus in New York when several Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents entered the building and took him into custody, his attorney, Amy Greer, told the Associated Press.
Continue reading...Ross McQueen says the Scottish painter democratised art and Neil Heydon-Dumbleton likes his work, but Tamar Payne says it is misogynistic
Eddy Frankel’s article on Jack Vettriano (‘His paintings are like a double cheeseburger in a greasy wrapper’, 3 March) is full of the sort of backhanded compliments, grudging recognition and snobbish disdain that followed the Scottish painter throughout his career. For many art critics, Vettriano committed the ultimate sin of being popular with the sort of people who don’t usually “get” art. Or, as Frankel puts it, the sort of people who enjoy the occasional McDonald’s cheeseburger.
I’ve always been wary of the notion that art is better if you have to perform mental acrobatics in order to “get” it. I have been shown “good” modern art many times, and have been told why it is good – but I would not necessarily want it hanging in my home.
Continue reading...Rupert Lowe row highlights split over direction of party, and threatens Farage’s ambition to be UK’s main rightwing force
On the face of it, the clash at the top of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is a battle of egos. When Rupert Lowe, the MP touted by Elon Musk as a potential Reform leader, had the temerity to criticise Farage in an interview, the party’s machinery quickly moved against him.
Lowe complained to the Daily Mail last week that Reform remained a “protest party led by the Messiah” and that it was “too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods” by winning power.
Continue reading...There is little middle ground in the battle over zonal pricing – and the energy secretary has only months to settle dispute
How would you prefer your electricity prices to be set – nationally or locally? There is little middle ground in the bitter lobbying battle over zonal pricing, the proposal that Great Britain’s electricity market should be split into regions with prices set by local supply and demand. The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, must decide in the next few months, in time for this summer’s auction for new wind and solar projects.
One camp – led by Greg Jackson, the politically plugged-in founder of Octopus Energy, the UK’s biggest retail energy supplier – argues that customers’ bills will “skyrocket” unless zonal pricing is adopted. It points to the wasted money spent paying windfarms to shut down when, for example, it is blowing a gale in Shetland and the local grid is overloaded with more power than can be transported south.
Continue reading...With internal politics at their most unstable for years, the risk of escalation is rising
The letter the US president, Donald Trump, says he sent to Iran’s leadership offering to reopen talks on the country’s nuclear programme comes at a point when Iranian domestic politics is at its most unstable for years.
In the past month, the conservative-dominated parliament has asserted its power over the broadly reformist president elected last June by impeaching and sacking the experienced economy minister, Abdolnaser Hemmati, while Mohammad Javad Zarif, the vice-president and most prominent reformist, has also been forced out.
Continue reading...The sentencing of Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez, co-leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, will do little to stem the flow of drugs.
The post “Narco Prince” Sentenced to Life as Trump Ramps Up U.S.–Mexico Drug War appeared first on The Intercept.
The shape of the Trump 2.0 White House has spurred serious concerns about public health and reproductive rights, and left military leaders 'stunned' and former intelligence experts 'appalled'. From a vaccine skeptic in charge of running the department of health, to a wrestling mogul in charge of the country's education, and even a ‘deep state conspiracy theorist’ becoming head of the FBI, the Guardian US live news editor Chris Michael takes us through the six most controversial members, and what their appointments could mean for the country
Continue reading...Election of Trump and threats to democracy front of mind as activists remember peaceful marchers attacked by police
What would John Lewis do today?
On a Sunday morning 60 years ago, activists rewrote the story of the civil rights movement in their own blood on the streets of Selma, Alabama. State troopers turned their truncheons on a peaceful march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge at the behest of Alabama’s stridently and infamously racist governor George Wallace, protecting Alabama segregation and white supremacy.
Continue reading...Cǎlin Georgescu to contest decision to bar him from election rerun in May after claims of Russian meddling
Romania’s pro-Russia far-right presidential contender Cǎlin Georgescu has said he will challenge a decision to bar him from taking part in an election rerun in May after claims of Russian meddling.
The dispute over Georgescu’s candidacy is firing up tensions at home and abroad. A small group of his supporters smashed pavements and set fire to rubbish bins in Bucharest on Sunday, while Elon Musk, a key adviser to the US president, Donald Trump, called the decision to bar Georgescu “crazy”.
Continue reading...The newly appointed Liberal leader is likely to call a federal election to bolster his mandate, but Canadians seem to see him as the best bet to counter US tariffs
When Mark Carney took the job as governor of the Bank of England in 2013, he negotiated a five-year term rather than the traditional eight-year tenure. The sense was that he was eager to get back to Canada to run for office in the next federal election. But that election came and went in 2019, and Carney instead extended his tenure at the Bank, ultimately leaving it in 2020. A year later, the Guardian asked him whether he’d be prime minister of Canada some day. Carney was deliberately coy. “Er, look at the time!” he laughed, with a raised eyebrow.
No need to be cute any more. On Sunday evening, Carney won the Liberal leadership race in a landslide, capturing 85.9% of the overall riding points on the first count. The party allocates 100 possible points to each constituency (or ridings, as they’re known), and those points are distributed based on the ratio won by each candidate in each riding (the ballots are ranked). Carney’s commanding win outdoes even that of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, who won the leadership in 2013 with a little over 80% of the points.
Colin Horgan is a Toronto-based writer and a former speechwriter for Justin Trudeau
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We’re curious to hear whether the ways in which people have experienced housing have affected or even changed their outlook and politics, and if so, how
As housing – the lack, cost, and quality thereof – continues to dominate political agendas globally, we’re keen to hear how the experience of housing may have affected people’s politics and general views.
Has your experience of housing been rather positive or negative? Has housing been a problem that has shaped other parts of your life, or have you experienced housing that has provided opportunities? Have you experienced housing only as a consumer, or also as a business? Have any of these or other experiences changed your political thinking or values, your habits or your outlook on the world? Tell us.
Continue reading...Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Liew and Nooruddean Choudry as Liverpool extend their lead at the top of the Premier League
Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email.
On the podcast today: Nottingham Forest record a huge win over Manchester City as their dream of Champions League football returning looks even closer to reality. Victories for Chelsea, Brighton and Aston Villa will also have left the champions concerned.
Continue reading...Chief executive of Reach says he is committed to print, and higher online income will keep business afloat
The boss of the publisher of the Mirror, Express, and Star newspapers has said that its print titles will become loss-making in six to eight years, but that its burgeoning digital strategy will save them from closure.
The chief executive of Reach, which owns more than 100 news brands including the Manchester Evening News, the Birmingham Mail and the Liverpool Echo, said he intended to remain committed to print even when the operations became a drag on the business.
Continue reading...We are far more likely to use our hands to type or swipe than pick up a pen. But in the process we are in danger of losing cognitive skills, sensory experience – and a connection to history
By Christine Rosen. Read by Laurel Lefkow
Continue reading...How a rogue letting agency destroyed homes and caused hundreds of pounds in damage. Sirin Kale reports
Hajaj Hajaj was 79 when he rented out his house in south London, so his daughter, Kinda Jackson, urged him to use a reputable lettings agent for peace of mind. He hired a company called Imperial after being impressed by the professionalism of the agent, Shan Miah.
But, Kinda tells Helen Pidd, her father became seriously ill with Covid and almost died, and when he came out of hospital it was to find his wife had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, meaning he suddenly needed to pay for her care. He then discovered that during this time the rent for his property had suddenly stopped.
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The UK’s world-class arts festivals are in crisis. They need proper support in order to survive and flourish
At a press conference for the Sarajevo film festival in the early 1990s, its founder, the Bosnian director Haris Pašović, was asked why he set up such a festival during the war. His reply, he told the Los Angeles Times, was: “Why the war during the film festival?” Sarajevo under siege is an extreme example, but the point is that arts festivals matter, especially during times of crisis.
Covid, austerity and sponsorship issues have left even the most successful festivals in the UK struggling. This week Shona McCarthy, the outgoing chief executive of the Edinburgh festival fringe, argued that the fringe should be given the same support as major sporting events like the Olympics. This follows warnings from Nicola Benedetti, a classical violinist and director of the fringe’s parent, the international festival, that its world-class status is threatened by funding cuts.
Continue reading...The Guardian’s Paul Lewis and Rob Evans on investigating one of England’s most covert police units and learning that they were using the identities of dead children. Frank Bennett reflects on the impact of discovering that a police spy had stolen his dead brother’s identity to infiltrate two leftwing organisations, and to deceive a woman into a sexual relationship
The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed is available now on ITVX
This episode first aired on 9 December 2020.
In 2018, Frank Bennett’s sister Honor received a hand-delivered letter from a public inquiry about their 18-year-old brother Michael Hartley, who had been reported missing at sea, believed dead, 50 years before. For a moment, they thought Michael had been found, but in fact, the letter revealed that their dead brother’s identity had been stolen by a police officer who had penetrated two leftwing organisations. Using this false identity, the police spy had deceived a woman into a sexual relationship and had been prosecuted during his deployment. Frank talks to Anushka Asthana about his childhood and the impact his brother’s death had on him and his family. Knowing that, years on, his brother’s name had been used by police has had a huge impact on his mental health, he says. Frank describes the police’s behaviour as “disgusting”.
Continue reading...Guardian investigative editor Paul Lewis and investigative reporter Rob Evans detail their decade-long investigation into undercover policing. At least 139 officers were given fake identities to monitor the inner workings of more than 1,000 political groups. Jessica, a former member of one of those groups, describes the impact of discovering that a man with whom she began a relationship in 1992 was actually an undercover cop
The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed is available on ITVX
This episode first aired on 8 December 2020.
In 2010, Mark Stone, an environmental activist, was on holiday with his girlfriend when she discovered a passport for a man called Mark Kennedy in the glove box of their van. The man she was in a relationship with was actually a police officer who for seven years had lived deep undercover at the heart of the environmental protest movement. When the story became public, senior officers tried to quell the outcry, insisting that Kennedy was merely a rogue officer. In fact, the opposite was true. Kennedy was just one of many footsoldiers who had been routinely infiltrating political groups, mostly on the left, since as far back as 1968.
Continue reading...Stock markets tumbled on Monday as Donald Trump announced tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 1.8% and the S&P fell 2.1%
Continue reading...GOP lawmakers said that they couldn’t enforce bathroom bans with the civil rights protections on the books.
The post Iowa Becomes the First State to Repeal Civil Rights Protections for Trans People appeared first on The Intercept.
Joseph Czuba’s comments about Palestinians and Muslims took center stage at his trial for the murder of Wadee Alfayoumi.
The post Landlord Convicted in Hate Crime Stabbing of 6-Year-Old Palestinian American Boy appeared first on The Intercept.
Funerals in Kyiv, Trump’s address to Congress, Ramadan in Gaza and the Academy Awards: the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists
The bloated Department of Defense spends more money than any other government agency. So where is Elon Musk and DOGE?
The post Hey Elon: We Found a Place to Cut More Than $2 Trillion in Wasteful Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Last month, the UK government demanded that Apple weaken the security of iCloud for users worldwide. On Friday, Apple took steps to comply for users in the United Kingdom. But the British law is written in a way that requires Apple to give its government access to anyone, anywhere in the world. If the government demands Apple weaken its security worldwide, it would increase everyone’s cyber-risk in an already dangerous world.
If you’re an iCloud user, you have the option of turning on something called “advanced data protection,” or ADP. In that mode, a majority of your data is end-to-end encrypted. This means that no one, not even anyone at Apple, can read that data. It’s a restriction enforced by mathematics—cryptography—and not policy. Even if someone successfully hacks iCloud, they can’t read ADP-protected data...
The Bureau of Prisons rescinded rules shielding trans women from being searched by male guards, The Intercept has learned.
The post Trump Administration Abolishes Rules Protecting Trans Prisoners appeared first on The Intercept.
The US president, Donald Trump, denied calling the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a dictator, despite calling him one on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump was asked by a reporter if he still held that view in a press conference alongside the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and he replied: 'Did I say that? I can't believe I said that'
Continue reading...A GP surgery in one of the most deprived areas in the north-east of England is struggling to provide care for its patients as the health system crumbles around them. In the depths of the winter flu season, the Guardian video producers Maeve Shearlaw and Adam Sich went to Bridges medical practice to shadow the lead GP, Paul Evans, as he worked all hours keep his surgery afloat. Juggling technical challenges, long waiting lists and the profound impact austerity has had on the health of the population, Evans says: 'We are seeing the system fail'
Continue reading...
In the rapidly advancing landscape of AI technology and innovation, LimeWire emerges as a unique platform in the realm of generative AI tools. This platform not only stands out from the multitude of existing AI tools but also brings a fresh approach to content generation. LimeWire not only empowers users to create AI content but also provides creators with creative ways to share and monetize their creations.
As we explore LimeWire, our aim is to uncover its features, benefits for creators, and the exciting possibilities it offers for AI content generation. This platform presents an opportunity for users to harness the power of AI in image creation, all while enjoying the advantages of a free and accessible service.
Let's unravel the distinctive features that set LimeWire apart in the dynamic landscape of AI-powered tools, understanding how creators can leverage its capabilities to craft unique and engaging AI-generated images.
This revamped LimeWire invites users to register and unleash their creativity by crafting original AI content, which can then be shared and showcased on the LimeWire Studio. Notably, even acclaimed artists and musicians, such as Deadmau5, Soulja Boy, and Sean Kingston, have embraced this platform to publish their content in the form of NFT music, videos, and images.
Beyond providing a space for content creation and sharing, LimeWire introduces monetization models to empower users to earn revenue from their creations. This includes avenues such as earning ad revenue and participating in the burgeoning market of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). As we delve further, we'll explore these monetization strategies in more detail to provide a comprehensive understanding of LimeWire's innovative approach to content creation and distribution.
LimeWire Studio welcomes content creators into its fold, providing a space to craft personalized AI-focused content for sharing with fans and followers. Within this creative hub, every piece of content generated becomes not just a creation but a unique asset—ownable and tradable. Fans have the opportunity to subscribe to creators' pages, immersing themselves in the creative journey and gaining ownership of digital collectibles that hold tradeable value within the LimeWire community. Notably, creators earn a 2.5% royalty each time their content is traded, adding a rewarding element to the creative process.
The platform's flexibility is evident in its content publication options. Creators can choose to share their work freely with the public or opt for a premium subscription model, granting exclusive access to specialized content for subscribers.
As of the present moment, LimeWire focuses on AI Image Generation, offering a spectrum of creative possibilities to its user base. The platform, however, has ambitious plans on the horizon, aiming to broaden its offerings by introducing AI music and video generation tools in the near future. This strategic expansion promises creators even more avenues for expression and engagement with their audience, positioning LimeWire Studio as a dynamic and evolving platform within the realm of AI-powered content creation.
The LimeWire AI image generation tool presents a versatile platform for both the creation and editing of images. Supporting advanced models such as Stable Diffusion 2.1, Stable Diffusion XL, and DALL-E 2, LimeWire offers a sophisticated toolkit for users to delve into the realm of generative AI art.
Much like other tools in the generative AI landscape, LimeWire provides a range of options catering to various levels of complexity in image creation. Users can initiate the creative process with prompts as simple as a few words or opt for more intricate instructions, tailoring the output to their artistic vision.
What sets LimeWire apart is its seamless integration of different AI models and design styles. Users have the flexibility to effortlessly switch between various AI models, exploring diverse design styles such as cinematic, digital art, pixel art, anime, analog film, and more. Each style imparts a distinctive visual identity to the generated AI art, enabling users to explore a broad spectrum of creative possibilities.
The platform also offers additional features, including samplers, allowing users to fine-tune the quality and detail levels of their creations. Customization options and prompt guidance further enhance the user experience, providing a user-friendly interface for both novice and experienced creators.
Excitingly, LimeWire is actively developing its proprietary AI model, signaling ongoing innovation and enhancements to its image generation capabilities. This upcoming addition holds the promise of further expanding the creative horizons for LimeWire users, making it an evolving and dynamic platform within the landscape of AI-driven art and image creation.
Sign Up Now To Get Free Credits
Upon completing your creative endeavor on LimeWire, the platform allows you the option to publish your content. An intriguing feature follows this step: LimeWire automates the process of minting your creation as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), utilizing either the Polygon or Algorand blockchain. This transformative step imbues your artwork with a unique digital signature, securing its authenticity and ownership in the decentralized realm.
Creators on LimeWire hold the power to decide the accessibility of their NFT creations. By opting for a public release, the content becomes discoverable by anyone, fostering a space for engagement and interaction. Furthermore, this choice opens the avenue for enthusiasts to trade the NFTs, adding a layer of community involvement to the artistic journey.
Alternatively, LimeWire acknowledges the importance of exclusivity. Creators can choose to share their posts exclusively with their premium subscribers. In doing so, the content remains a special offering solely for dedicated fans, creating an intimate and personalized experience within the LimeWire community. This flexibility in sharing options emphasizes LimeWire's commitment to empowering creators with choices in how they connect with their audience and distribute their digital creations.
After creating your content, you can choose to publish the content. It will automatically mint your creation as an NFT on the Polygon or Algorand blockchain. You can also choose whether to make it public or subscriber-only.
If you make it public, anyone can discover your content and even trade the NFTs. If you choose to share the post only with your premium subscribers, it will be exclusive only to your fans.
Additionally, you can earn ad revenue from your content creations as well.
When you publish content on LimeWire, you will receive 70% of all ad revenue from other users who view your images, music, and videos on the platform.
This revenue model will be much more beneficial to designers. You can experiment with the AI image and content generation tools and share your creations while earning a small income on the side.
The revenue you earn from your creations will come in the form of LMWR tokens, LimeWire’s own cryptocurrency.
Your earnings will be paid every month in LMWR, which you can then trade on many popular crypto exchange platforms like Kraken, ByBit, and UniSwap.
You can also use your LMWR tokens to pay for prompts when using LimeWire generative AI tools.
You can sign up to LimeWire to use its AI tools for free. You will receive 10 credits to use and generate up to 20 AI images per day. You will also receive 50% of the ad revenue share. However, you will get more benefits with premium plans.
For $9.99 per month, you will get 1,000 credits per month, up to 2 ,000 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 50% ad revenue share
For $29 per month, you will get 3750 credits per month, up to 7500 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 60% ad revenue share
For $49 per month, you will get 5,000 credits per month, up to 10,000 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 70% ad revenue share
For $99 per month, you will get 11,250 credits per month, up to 2 2,500 image generations, early access to new AI models, and 70% ad revenue share
With all premium plans, you will receive a Pro profile badge, full creation history, faster image generation, and no ads.
Sign Up Now To Get Free Credits
In conclusion, LimeWire emerges as a democratizing force in the creative landscape, providing an inclusive platform where anyone can unleash their artistic potential and effortlessly share their work. With the integration of AI, LimeWire eliminates traditional barriers, empowering designers, musicians, and artists to publish their creations and earn revenue with just a few clicks.
The ongoing commitment of LimeWire to innovation is evident in its plans to enhance generative AI tools with new features and models. The upcoming expansion to include music and video generation tools holds the promise of unlocking even more possibilities for creators. It sparks anticipation about the diverse and innovative ways in which artists will leverage these tools to produce and publish their own unique creations.
For those eager to explore, LimeWire's AI tools are readily accessible for free, providing an opportunity to experiment and delve into the world of generative art. As LimeWire continues to evolve, creators are encouraged to stay tuned for the launch of its forthcoming AI music and video generation tools, promising a future brimming with creative potential and endless artistic exploration
Are you looking for a new graphic design tool? Would you like to read a detailed review of Canva? As it's one of the tools I love using. I am also writing my first ebook using canva and publish it soon on my site you can download it is free. Let's start the review.
Canva has a web version and also a mobile app
Canva is a free graphic design web application that allows you to create invitations, business cards, flyers, lesson plans, banners, and more using professionally designed templates. You can upload your own photos from your computer or from Google Drive, and add them to Canva's templates using a simple drag-and-drop interface. It's like having a basic version of Photoshop that doesn't require Graphic designing knowledge to use. It’s best for nongraphic designers.
Canva is a great tool for small business owners, online entrepreneurs, and marketers who don’t have the time and want to edit quickly.
To create sophisticated graphics, a tool such as Photoshop can is ideal. To use it, you’ll need to learn its hundreds of features, get familiar with the software, and it’s best to have a good background in design, too.
Also running the latest version of Photoshop you need a high-end computer.
So here Canva takes place, with Canva you can do all that with drag-and-drop feature. It’s also easier to use and free. Also an even-more-affordable paid version is available for $12.95 per month.
The product is available in three plans: Free, Pro ($12.99/month per user or $119.99/year for up to 5 people), and Enterprise ($30 per user per month, minimum 25 people).
To get started on Canva, you will need to create an account by providing your email address, Google, Facebook or Apple credentials. You will then choose your account type between student, teacher, small business, large company, non-profit, or personal. Based on your choice of account type, templates will be recommended to you.
You can sign up for a free trial of Canva Pro, or you can start with the free version to get a sense of whether it’s the right graphic design tool for your needs.
When you sign up for an account, Canva will suggest different post types to choose from. Based on the type of account you set up you'll be able to see templates categorized by the following categories: social media posts, documents, presentations, marketing, events, ads, launch your business, build your online brand, etc.
Start by choosing a template for your post or searching for something more specific. Search by social network name to see a list of post types on each network.
Next, you can choose a template. Choose from hundreds of templates that are ready to go, with customizable photos, text, and other elements.
You can start your design by choosing from a variety of ready-made templates, searching for a template matching your needs, or working with a blank template.
Inside the Canva designer, the Elements tab gives you access to lines and shapes, graphics, photos, videos, audio, charts, photo frames, and photo grids.The search box on the Elements tab lets you search everything on Canva.
To begin with, Canva has a large library of elements to choose from. To find them, be specific in your search query. You may also want to search in the following tabs to see various elements separately:
The Photos tab lets you search for and choose from millions of professional stock photos for your templates.
You can replace the photos in our templates to create a new look. This can also make the template more suited to your industry.
You can find photos on other stock photography sites like pexel, pixabay and many more or simply upload your own photos.
When you choose an image, Canva’s photo editing features let you adjust the photo’s settings (brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.), crop, or animate it.
When you subscribe to Canva Pro, you get access to a number of premium features, including the Background Remover. This feature allows you to remove the background from any stock photo in library or any image you upload.
The Text tab lets you add headings, normal text, and graphical text to your design.
When you click on text, you'll see options to adjust the font, font size, color, format, spacing, and text effects (like shadows).
Canva Pro subscribers can choose from a large library of fonts on the Brand Kit or the Styles tab. Enterprise-level controls ensure that visual content remains on-brand, no matter how many people are working on it.
Create an animated image or video by adding audio to capture user’s attention in social news feeds.
If you want to use audio from another stock site or your own audio tracks, you can upload them in the Uploads tab or from the more option.
Want to create your own videos? Choose from thousands of stock video clips. You’ll find videos that range upto 2 minutes
You can upload your own videos as well as videos from other stock sites in the Uploads tab.
Once you have chosen a video, you can use the editing features in Canva to trim the video, flip it, and adjust its transparency.
On the Background tab, you’ll find free stock photos to serve as backgrounds on your designs. Change out the background on a template to give it a more personal touch.
The Styles tab lets you quickly change the look and feel of your template with just a click. And if you have a Canva Pro subscription, you can upload your brand’s custom colors and fonts to ensure designs stay on brand.
If you have a Canva Pro subscription, you’ll have a Logos tab. Here, you can upload variations of your brand logo to use throughout your designs.
With Canva, you can also create your own logos. Note that you cannot trademark a logo with stock content in it.
With Canva, free users can download and share designs to multiple platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Slack and Tumblr.
Canva Pro subscribers can create multiple post formats from one design. For example, you can start by designing an Instagram post, and Canva's Magic Resizer can resize it for other networks, Stories, Reels, and other formats.
Canva Pro subscribers can also use Canva’s Content Planner to post content on eight different accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Slack, and Tumblr.
Canva Pro allows you to work with your team on visual content. Designs can be created inside Canva, and then sent to your team members for approval. Everyone can make comments, edits, revisions, and keep track via the version history.
When it comes to printing your designs, Canva has you covered. With an extensive selection of printing options, they can turn your designs into anything from banners and wall art to mugs and t-shirts.
Canva Print is perfect for any business seeking to make a lasting impression. Create inspiring designs people will want to wear, keep, and share. Hand out custom business cards that leave a lasting impression on customers' minds.
The Canva app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The Canva app has earned a 4.9 out of five star rating from over 946.3K Apple users and a 4.5 out of five star rating from over 6,996,708 Google users.
In addition to mobile apps, you can use Canva’s integration with other Internet services to add images and text from sources like Google Maps, Emojis, photos from Google Drive and Dropbox, YouTube videos, Flickr photos, Bitmojis, and other popular visual content elements.
In general, Canva is an excellent tool for those who need simple images for projects. If you are a graphic designer with experience, you will find Canva’s platform lacking in customization and advanced features – particularly vectors. But if you have little design experience, you will find Canva easier to use than advanced graphic design tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for most projects. If you have any queries let me know in the comments section.
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Continue reading...The Pentagon owns 145 golf courses. As Trump cuts key government services, we found it aims to spend on sand traps and clubhouses.
The post Pentagon Keeps Pouring Cash Into Golf Courses — Even As Trump Slashes Government Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Secretary of state says on social media that 83% of the programs at USAid are being cancelled
Secretary of state Marco Rubio has announced that USAid will cancel the majority of its programs, while the rest will be folded into the state department.
Writing on X, Rubio said:
After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID.
The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.
Continue reading...Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as US markets slide after Beijing imposes tariffs on imports of agricultural goods from America
Analysts at investment bank Jefferies remain optimistic about the prospects for the US economy in the second half of 2025 – while also fearing that it may slow more than expected in the first half of the year.
In an updated US Economic Outlook, Jefferies tell clients:
Broadly, these changes are modest relative to what we were looking for at the beginning of the year. We started out 2025 expecting growth to slow in the first half due to exactly the sort of tensions and uncertainty about policy that we are currently seeing. It now appears that the slowdown will be a bit more pronounced than we expected, but we remain optimistic about the second half of the year and beyond.
We expect that the labor market will continue to cool gradually in the months ahead, with downside risks due to government spending uncertainty. We continue to expect that the Fed cut rates again in June, followed by 2 more 25 bp cuts, but we’re now expecting they will be back-to-back in July and September (rather than every-other-meeting).
‘’Unease about the effect of Trump’s tariffs hangs over financial markets at the start of the week. The prospect of a recession in the US is lurking, with consumer confidence falling, companies facing increasing trade complexity and investors turning more nervous. China’s deflation problem is also weighing on sentiment, and geopolitical concerns are staying in focus, with attacks on Ukraine intensifying.
The FTSE 100 is on the back foot in early trade, unable to shake off the nervousness surrounding the concerns about slowing global growth.
Continue reading...The South African writer, who has died aged 92, was grateful for his extraordinary life and wrote out of love rather than anger
I feel that Athol Fugard and his wife, Paula Fourie, changed my life in the autumn of 2022 when I visited South Africa to spend time with them and their daughter Halle. We were supposed to be working on a book together, and we did; but our time became so much more than that. There were lunches in the house or the restaurant round the corner; walks in the woods; a braai that went on past midnight.
Over coffee in the mornings I’d sit with Athol and we’d use an app on his phone to identify the calls of all the birds in the garden. Then he might tell me a story from his life – the awe he felt when he asked Yvonne Bryceland to smash a chair to bits during rehearsals for Antigone and she proceeded to do so for a full 30 minutes; the journey he made by sea at 18 from Cairo to Japan, when an illiterate Somalian sailor used to watch him every night as he wrote a novel by hand, sitting on a deck hatch; and the way that sailor never spoke to him again when he finished the novel, decided it was terrible, and threw it in the sea.
Barney Norris is a playwright and novelist
Continue reading...Nate Vance reportedly spent three years trying to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and has been alarmed by his cousin’s remarks
After voluntarily fighting in Ukraine to defend it from Russia’s invasion, and as the White House halts Ukrainian military aid, JD Vance’s first cousin has called the vice-president and Donald Trump “useful idiots” to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Nate Vance’s comments to France’s Le Figaro newspaper came after he reportedly spent three years volunteering to try to help Ukraine repel Russian troops as part of the so-called Da Vinci Wolves battalion.
Continue reading...Mahmoud Khalil was detained by Ice and now being held in Louisiana despite having a green card
A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University’s protests against Israel over the war in Gaza is evidently being detained by US immigration authorities at a facility in Louisiana after his arrest, according to information from officials.
A spokesperson for the US’s homeland security department – as well as the country’s top diplomat – confirmed the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University until this past December who holds permanent US residency..
Continue reading...Syria’s defence ministry spokesperson warns of further retribution against forces loyal to Assad. This live blog is closed
Syria’s defence ministry has announced it has completed military operations to fight remnants of former ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
China on Monday called for all warring parties in Syria to “immediately stop” violence. AFP reports foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “China follows closely the situation in Syria and is concerned about the large number of casualties caused by these armed clashes.”
Continue reading...There are fears military will deploy further violence in run-up to any poll, which is unlikely to be viewed as credible
The Myanmar military’s promise to hold elections in December 2025 or January 2026 has been condemned as a “sham” that risks bringing even greater violence.
Myanmar’s military junta announced on Saturday, in comments reported in state media, that it would hold a long-promised election, specifying a timeframe for the first time since seizing power in a 2021 coup.
Continue reading...US president’s late-night social media post came after Turnbull criticised Trump’s leadership as ‘chaotic’
Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has said leaders should “not give in to bullies” after he was lashed by Donald Trump in a late-night social media post.
Taking to Truth Social platform just before midnight Sunday night in Washington DC, the US president said Turnbull led Australia from “behind” and did not understand China.
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Continue reading...Government hopes to avoid backlash against upgrade of infrastructure as it tries to grow UK economy
People living near power cables could receive £250 a year off their energy bills as the UK government hopes to speed up construction of infrastructure vital to the transition away from fossil fuels.
Households within half a kilometre of new or upgraded power infrastructure could receive up to £2,500 over 10 years under Labour government plans that aim to prevent a backlash against increased building of pylons and substations.
Continue reading...More people were killed in the 1945 attack than the atomic bombing of Nagasaki a few months later, but there is no national memorial, accurate death toll or compensation for survivors
Not even the passage of eight decades has dimmed Shizuko Nishio’s memory of the night American bomber planes killed tens of thousands of people in the space of a few hours and turned her city to ash.
In the early hours of 10 March 1945, around 300 B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped 330,000 incendiary devices on Tokyo and killed an estimated 100,000 civilians, in an attack that cost more lives than the atomic bombing, months later, of Nagasaki.
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Worries mount for health of media mogul and pro-democracy activist, 77, as his trial nears end
The son of the jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has called for an urgent meeting with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, saying he was “desperate” as his father’s defence drew to a close in a high-profile trial.
Sebastien Lai said a fresh diplomatic push was now needed to free the 77-year-old pro-democracy activist, who holds British citizenship and has been kept behind bars in Hong Kong since December 2020.
Continue reading...The sentencing of Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez, co-leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, will do little to stem the flow of drugs.
The post “Narco Prince” Sentenced to Life as Trump Ramps Up U.S.–Mexico Drug War appeared first on The Intercept.
The Hindu nationalist prime minister’s push could shift power northward to his political advantage but risks escalating political tensions
When Narendra Modi’s alliance won a narrow majority in last year’s Indian election, it signalled his waning popularity after a decade in power. A victory in 2029 may seem unlikely. Yet his government’s push to redraw parliamentary constituencies using post-2026 census data could tilt the electoral field in his favour.
The process, known as delimitation, ensures each member of parliament represents an equal number of voters – a principle of democratic fairness. Since 1976, however, it has been frozen to avoid penalising Indian states that curbed population growth. If delimitation proceeds, Mr Modi’s populous northern strongholds will gain seats, weakening the political clout of India’s economically dynamic and culturally distinct southern cone. Its five states are governed by different parties but, critically, none belong to Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). Southern states have long accused Mr Modi’s government of bias in federal funding and project approvals. Last week’s gathering of the south’s political leadership in Delhi to protest against his move underscores the risk of backlash.
Continue reading...The two women were said to have been stargazing with three male travellers when the incident took place
Two men have been arrested in India in connection with the alleged rape of an Israeli and a local woman.
The Israeli woman and her homestay operator were said to be stargazing with three male travellers in Koppal town in southern Karnataka state on Thursday night.
Continue reading...Wang Yi hits out at 20% levy on Chinese goods and warns ‘law of the jungle’ could emerge from Donald Trump’s policy
China’s foreign minister has accused the US of “two-faced” behaviour, condemning the imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods and warning against the “law of the jungle” that could emerge from Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
Speaking at the sidelines of China’s annual parliamentary gathering, Wang Yi said China would “firmly counter” US pressure. “No country should think that it can suppress China and maintain good relations,” he added.
Continue reading...Both supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol and those who backed his impeachment rallied in Seoul ahead of his release
South Korea’s impeached conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been released from prison, a day after a Seoul court cancelled his arrest to allow him to stand trial for insurrection without being detained.
After walking out of a detention centre near Seoul on Saturday, Yoon waved, clenched his fists and bowed deeply to his supporters who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and US flags. Yoon climbed into a black van headed to his presidential residence in the capital.
Continue reading...Police and supporters of impeached president gather at presidential residence in Seoul before his possible release
A South Korean court has cancelled President Yoon Suk Yeol’s detention warrant, paving the way for his potential release.
He has been held since mid-January on charges of leading an insurrection relating to his failed attempt in December to impose martial law.
Continue reading...By sending weapons to Israel while halting arms sales to Ukraine, Trump backs nations that are “occupying a less powerful people.”
The post Support the Occupying Force: The Logic Behind Trump’s Foreign Policy appeared first on The Intercept.
Air force apologises and wishes a swift recovery to the civilians injured after eight bombs ‘abnormally released’
South Korea’s air force has apologised after one of its fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in the wrong place during a training exercise on Thursday, injuring 15 civilians and damaging several buildings.
“Eight MK-82 general purpose bombs were abnormally released from an air force KF-16 aircraft, landing outside the designated firing range,” the air force said, adding that the bombs weighed about 225kg each.
Continue reading...Stock markets tumbled on Monday as Donald Trump announced tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 1.8% and the S&P fell 2.1%
Continue reading...Human rights campaigner still faces threat of death penalty if found guilty of further charges
Jagtar Singh Johal, the British human rights activist accused of terrorism has been acquitted on all charges in a case in Punjab, after a court rejected the allegations against him made by Indian authorities.
Johal has been held in detention for seven years awaiting judgment, but must remain in prison since he is facing eight essentially duplicate cases brought by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) based on the same alleged confession.
Continue reading...The last right-wing American president before Trump galvanized a resurgent Latin American left. Where will the region go now?
The post Latin America’s New Right Ushers in Pan-American Trumpism appeared first on The Intercept.
Decision made after attempts to raise more funds had been unsuccessful, agency tells authorities
Food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have been slashed in half by the World Food Programme, days after refugees in Kenya protested against a reduction to their rations.
The WFP, which is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and provides assistance to more than 150 million people, said it did not have enough funds to continue to provide the full ration so would be reducing the food voucher to 726 Bangladeshi taka (£4.60) per person, from 1,515 taka.
Continue reading...China has dramatically increased military activities around Taiwan, with more than 3,000 incursions into Taiwan's airspace in 2024 alone. Amy Hawkins examines how Beijing is deploying 'salami-slicing' tactics, a strategy of gradual pressure that stays below the threshold of war while steadily wearing down Taiwan's defences. From daily air incursions to strategic military exercises, we explore the four phases of China's approach and what it means for Taiwan's future
Continue reading...The bloated Department of Defense spends more money than any other government agency. So where is Elon Musk and DOGE?
The post Hey Elon: We Found a Place to Cut More Than $2 Trillion in Wasteful Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Last month, the UK government demanded that Apple weaken the security of iCloud for users worldwide. On Friday, Apple took steps to comply for users in the United Kingdom. But the British law is written in a way that requires Apple to give its government access to anyone, anywhere in the world. If the government demands Apple weaken its security worldwide, it would increase everyone’s cyber-risk in an already dangerous world.
If you’re an iCloud user, you have the option of turning on something called “advanced data protection,” or ADP. In that mode, a majority of your data is end-to-end encrypted. This means that no one, not even anyone at Apple, can read that data. It’s a restriction enforced by mathematics—cryptography—and not policy. Even if someone successfully hacks iCloud, they can’t read ADP-protected data...
Court orders compensation to be paid to 30-year-old from Bangalore, saying ‘in the new era, time is considered as money, each one’s time is very precious’
For some, the adverts that precede the start of a film are the bane of a trip to the cinema; for others, they are a useful buffer as you stand in the popcorn queue.
But for one man in India, the lengthy marathon of cinema advertising was so infuriating that he took the matter to the courts – and won.
Continue reading...Using lessons learned defending abortion, some providers are digging in to serve their trans patients despite legal attacks.
The post How to Keep Providing Gender-Affirming Care Despite Anti-Trans Attacks appeared first on The Intercept.
The sentencing of Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez, co-leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, will do little to stem the flow of drugs.
The post “Narco Prince” Sentenced to Life as Trump Ramps Up U.S.–Mexico Drug War appeared first on The Intercept.
A list of DOGE staffers reviewed by The Intercept shows Elon Musk’s quasi-agency has brought in at least four more attorneys.
The post Leaked List Shows DOGE Is Lawyering Up appeared first on The Intercept.
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The last right-wing American president before Trump galvanized a resurgent Latin American left. Where will the region go now?
The post Latin America’s New Right Ushers in Pan-American Trumpism appeared first on The Intercept.
It’s illegal to deport people for political speech, but that’s exactly what ICE is trying to do to this Palestinian Columbia student.
The post If Trump Can Deport Mahmoud Khalil, Freedom of Speech Is Dead appeared first on The Intercept.
The Pentagon owns 145 golf courses. As Trump cuts key government services, we found it aims to spend on sand traps and clubhouses.
The post Pentagon Keeps Pouring Cash Into Golf Courses — Even As Trump Slashes Government Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Instead of outrage, the school’s interim president responded to the cuts by vowing to continue its misguided crackdown.
The post Columbia Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks — And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding appeared first on The Intercept.
The list of invitees at the White House crypto summit illustrates the tight link between Trump and new cohort of political donors.
The post Here’s How Much the Guests at Trump’s Crypto Summit Donated to His Inauguration appeared first on The Intercept.
Funerals in Kyiv, Trump’s address to Congress, Ramadan in Gaza and the Academy Awards: the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists
By abandoning trans rights and praising Reagan, Democrats embrace a fangless politics with a track record of electoral failure.
The post Gavin Newsom’s Cynical Embrace of the Anti-Trans Agenda appeared first on The Intercept.
Talia Lavin, journalist and author of “Wild Faith,” on the right-wing Christian ideology and characters guiding Trump.
The post Trump’s Vision for America: I Am God appeared first on The Intercept.
The Intercept is publishing Elon Musk’s government email address to aid those seeking information on DOGE in the public interest.
The post We Found Elon Musk’s DOGE Email Address and We’re Fighting to Reveal His Messages appeared first on The Intercept.
On the same day he floated cutting funding at schools hosting “illegal” protests, Trump took a free speech victory lap.
The post Trump Brags He “Brought Back Free Speech” Hours After Calling to Ban “Illegal” Protests appeared first on The Intercept.
By sending weapons to Israel while halting arms sales to Ukraine, Trump backs nations that are “occupying a less powerful people.”
The post Support the Occupying Force: The Logic Behind Trump’s Foreign Policy appeared first on The Intercept.
The Bureau of Prisons rescinded rules shielding trans women from being searched by male guards, The Intercept has learned.
The post Trump Administration Abolishes Rules Protecting Trans Prisoners appeared first on The Intercept.
In a clash of self-described progressives, GOP donors are pouring money into the race to unseat Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.
The post Trump Donors Try to Buy Pittsburgh Mayor’s Race appeared first on The Intercept.
Last month, the UK government demanded that Apple weaken the security of iCloud for users worldwide. On Friday, Apple took steps to comply for users in the United Kingdom. But the British law is written in a way that requires Apple to give its government access to anyone, anywhere in the world. If the government demands Apple weaken its security worldwide, it would increase everyone’s cyber-risk in an already dangerous world.
If you’re an iCloud user, you have the option of turning on something called “advanced data protection,” or ADP. In that mode, a majority of your data is end-to-end encrypted. This means that no one, not even anyone at Apple, can read that data. It’s a restriction enforced by mathematics—cryptography—and not policy. Even if someone successfully hacks iCloud, they can’t read ADP-protected data...
Joseph Czuba’s comments about Palestinians and Muslims took center stage at his trial for the murder of Wadee Alfayoumi.
The post Landlord Convicted in Hate Crime Stabbing of 6-Year-Old Palestinian American Boy appeared first on The Intercept.
The bloated Department of Defense spends more money than any other government agency. So where is Elon Musk and DOGE?
The post Hey Elon: We Found a Place to Cut More Than $2 Trillion in Wasteful Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Instead of outrage, the school’s interim president responded to the cuts by vowing to continue its misguided crackdown.
The post Columbia Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks — And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding appeared first on The Intercept.
It’s illegal to deport people for political speech, but that’s exactly what ICE is trying to do to this Palestinian Columbia student.
The post If Trump Can Deport Mahmoud Khalil, Freedom of Speech Is Dead appeared first on The Intercept.
Analysis of post-Covid performance overturns recent claims that boys are falling behind girls at school
Boys in England have opened a wide gap over girls in maths and science, based on analysis by researchers using an authoritative international assessment, overturning recent claims that boys are falling behind girls at school.
Researchers at University College London (UCL) found that boys in year 5 and year 9 at school in England “scored significantly higher than girls in maths and science” in recent international assessments, compared with those conducted before the Covid pandemic.
Continue reading...Whether you’re practising reformer in a studio or planking in a village hall, here’s the pilates gear that’s actually worth buying, chosen by the experts
• The best massage guns: tried and tested relief for sore, tired muscles
Joseph Pilates had a saying: “If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.” As someone who’d worked rehabilitating first world war soldiers, he knew his stuff. His eponymous exercise method is a global phenomenon. In 2024, it was the fitness subscription service ClassPass’s most booked exercise for a second consecutive year.
Classical pilates involves low-impact, controlled exercises that strengthen and balance the body, from the core outwards, and improve flexibility. It’s done on a mat – often with small props – or on apparatus that adds resistance.
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Europe’s human spaceflight ambitions are reaching new heights, and ESA’s Astronaut Reserve is a key part of this journey. Selected in 2022, these talented individuals are undergoing Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) to ensure they are ready for future missions.
Among these remarkable women from across Europe are Meganne Christian, a materials scientist from the UK, Anthea Comellini, an aerospace engineer from Italy, and Carmen Possnig, a medical doctor from Austria, who recently completed their first ART training block at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.
Their diverse scientific backgrounds reflect the wide-ranging expertise needed for human spaceflight, whether as part of ESA’s astronaut class, mission planners, or scientists shaping the future of space exploration. Beyond their work with ESA, they are also driving innovation, advancing research, and strengthening the broader space sector. Women play key roles across ESA and beyond, contributing as leaders and experts in these areas.
Meganne, Anthea and Carmen recently completed their first ART training block at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. In this image, they are pictured inside a mockup of the Columbus module, Europe’s permanent laboratory on the International Space Station.
The training covered key areas such as human behaviour and performance to develop teamwork and decision-making skills in high-pressure environments. They also received physical fitness training, scuba certification in ESA’s Neutral Buoyancy Facility, and media training to effectively communicate the importance of space exploration to the public.
In addition to technical and operational skills, they explored fundamental science, including biology experiments conducted on the International Space Station. Their training also includes insights into space policy, mission operations, and the latest advancements in space technology.
While members of the Astronaut Reserve are not yet assigned to specific missions, their training ensures that they are prepared for potential future opportunities through commercial spaceflight
The journey continues in the second half of 2025, when the members of ESA’s Astronaut Reserve will return to EAC for the next phase of ART, further building on the skills and knowledge they have gained.
Britain aiming for medals from among their team of 10 athletes as first Winter Games for eight years opens in Turin
For the first time in eight years, the vibrant energy of the Special Olympics World Winter Games will ignite as athletes from more than 100 countries converge in Turin to compete in eight sports.
The Special Olympics is the largest sports organisation for individuals with intellectual disabilities, also known as learning disabilities, providing crucial training and competition opportunities at local, national and regional levels. The Winter Games officially began on Saturday night with the opening ceremony at the Inalpi Arena.
Continue reading...By abandoning trans rights and praising Reagan, Democrats embrace a fangless politics with a track record of electoral failure.
The post Gavin Newsom’s Cynical Embrace of the Anti-Trans Agenda appeared first on The Intercept.
A speedy and spicy weeknight stir-fry that uses dried tagliatelle as an alternative to more traditional Chinese noodles
This dish is absolutely lovely with flat, knife-cut noodles, which you can buy from my favourite website, Sous Chef. However, for a 10-minute weeknight meal, where the sauce cooks in the time it takes to cook your carb, I suggest that you use tagliatelle instead. When cooked al dente, it has that chewy texture that works beautifully with the garlic, ginger and chilli-spiked miso sauce, and with the slight crunch of the pak choi. It’s a lovely spin on a quick stir-fry.
Continue reading...Theatre503, London
Playwright Ruth D’Silva explores cruelty and control but also kindness in a knotty drama focusing on a mother-daughter relationship
‘Don’t play with your food,” Bernadette tells her daughter, Agatha. Wash your face, she demands. Don’t swear, she says with a tut. When Agatha hurts herself, Bernadette applies the plaster.
It’s an innocuous scenario except Agatha – newly promoted at work, boyfriend in tow – is old enough to have her own children (she’s about to start trying) and has only returned home because her dad is in hospital. She falls back into familiar routines with her mum but from the start Ruth D’Silva’s play explores complicated acts of parental control as well as kindness, the tables frequently turning. Bernadette’s cruelty comes in flashes, her withering tone towards Agatha at odds with how she talks to her framed Jesus. After the interval, the daughter is warning her mother that she’ll be putting her down for a nap.
At Theatre503, London, until 15 March
Continue reading...On the downside, all my personal data is being harvested by faceless corporations. On the up, I’ve got a little parent in my pocket, anticipating my every need
I awoke recently to one of those galleries of photographic memories curated for me by my phone. This one featured my best friend, M: admiring a dosa, stroking her cat, holding a pair of Parisian melons and lying in my garden. It made me smile and when I told her, she said her phone had had the same idea. “It keeps trying to get me to put you as wallpaper,” she messaged, showing me its suggestions. Like pushy parents, it was as if our phones had got together and decided it was time we had a playdate. The worst of it is they are right: I really miss her.
It reminded me of all the other ways my phone parents me. When I get out of choir practice, it volunteers, unprompted, that it will take 12 minutes to get home by my usual route. It helpfully offers to count down a minute when I am at the gym and want to time my rests between weights sets. When I get into the car on Saturday afternoons, it always shows me the way to the supermarket. At bedtime, it offers a shortcut to TikTok because it knows watching cats confused by Ramadan and RuPaul explaining how to parallel park soothes me.
Continue reading...A winding down of operations in Gaza has allowed Israel to turn its attention to the West Bank, with devastating effects
It has been just over six weeks since a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza, and it’s clear that it would more accurately be called a “reduce” fire, rather than a cessation. Scores of people are still being killed; enough, in any other scenario, to be deemed both alarming and newsworthy. More than 100 people have died since 19 January, Gaza’s civil defence service spokesperson says. Those killings constitute, alongside other breaches, a grim record of hundreds of reported ceasefire violations by the Israeli government.
The latest among them is Israeli authorities’ decision to halt humanitarian aid into Gaza, in order to put pressure on Hamas to accept new ceasefire terms: mere hours after the first phase of the ceasefire expired, Israel cut off all supplies. In doing so, Israel is using food and civilian relief as a political tool to achieve its objectives, a move that the Qatari foreign ministry, the midwife of hostage releases and ceasefire agreements over the past few months, called “a clear violation” of the terms of the truce and of international humanitarian law.
Continue reading...There’s no shortage of non-dairy milks on the market, but which comes out on top for taste, texture and sustainability? Our expert reveals all
• The best coffee machines for your home: your morning brew made easy
Plant milk is everywhere. Once a niche alternative, it now lines supermarket shelves in endless varieties – oat, almond, soya, hazelnut, coconut, rice, pea – and is often the product of choice in coffee shops. Whether for ethical, environmental or dietary reasons, more and more people are ditching dairy. But not all plant milks are created equal. Some taste fantastic on their own but split in hot coffee or tea, some are ultra-processed, and others still have questionable sustainability credentials. Even so, according to the environmental charity Hubbub, oat, almond and soy milk generate at least 68% fewer planet-warming emissions than conventional dairy milk, require less land and fresh water, and have a lower impact on waterways through chemical run-off and eutrophication.
I tested 10 plant-based milks, judging them on taste, texture, ingredients, sustainability and how they perform in coffee, and I enlisted my local cafe, Oru, in south-east London, to help me assess them for taste, texture and stability once heat is applied. Here’s how they measure up.
Continue reading...Decision made after attempts to raise more funds had been unsuccessful, agency tells authorities
Food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have been slashed in half by the World Food Programme, days after refugees in Kenya protested against a reduction to their rations.
The WFP, which is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and provides assistance to more than 150 million people, said it did not have enough funds to continue to provide the full ration so would be reducing the food voucher to 726 Bangladeshi taka (£4.60) per person, from 1,515 taka.
Continue reading...We asked some of the UK’s finest cooks and restaurateurs about the tools that make all the difference, from tomato knives to stick blenders
• Want to avoid forever chemicals? Here are the best PFAS-free frying pans
We all have that gadget we reach for in the kitchen; the everyday item that changes the way we cook, making chopping, zesting citrus fruit, flipping fish and grinding spices that little bit easier (plus, saving fingertips). A kitchen gamechanger doesn’t have to be fancy, though – Feast’s Georgina Hayden finds a tomato knife picked up on holiday indispensable.
So which gadgets and tools will make your kitchen life complete (and perhaps more enjoyable)? We asked some of the UK’s top chefs about the things they couldn’t live without.
Continue reading...Plastics are everywhere, but their smallest fragments – nanoplastics – are making their way into the deepest parts of our bodies, including our brains and breast milk.
Scientists have now captured the first visual evidence of these particles inside human cells, raising urgent questions about their impact on our health. From the food we eat to the air we breathe, how are nanoplastics infiltrating our systems?
Neelam Tailor looks into the invisible invasion happening inside us all
Continue reading...By sending weapons to Israel while halting arms sales to Ukraine, Trump backs nations that are “occupying a less powerful people.”
The post Support the Occupying Force: The Logic Behind Trump’s Foreign Policy appeared first on The Intercept.
The last right-wing American president before Trump galvanized a resurgent Latin American left. Where will the region go now?
The post Latin America’s New Right Ushers in Pan-American Trumpism appeared first on The Intercept.
A weekly email from Yotam Ottolenghi, Meera Sodha, Felicity Cloake and Rachel Roddy, featuring the latest recipes and seasonal eating ideas
Each week we’ll send you an exclusive newsletter from our star food writers. We’ll also send you the latest recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi, Nigel Slater, Meera Sodha and all our star cooks, stand-out food features and seasonal eating inspiration, plus restaurant reviews from Grace Dent and Jay Rayner.
Sign up below to start receiving the best of our culinary journalism in one mouth-watering weekly email.
Continue reading...The bloated Department of Defense spends more money than any other government agency. So where is Elon Musk and DOGE?
The post Hey Elon: We Found a Place to Cut More Than $2 Trillion in Wasteful Spending appeared first on The Intercept.
Each spring since 2003, Jon Aars, senior scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute, and his team have conducted an annual polar bear monitoring program on Svalbard - collaring, capturing and taking samples from as many bears as they can across several weeks.
By studying polar bears they get a better understanding of what is happening in this part of the Arctic environment. The bears roam over large distances and, being apex predators, provide lots of information about what is happening lower in the food chain and across different Arctic species.
The Guardian accompanied Aars on an expedition to the southern end of Spitsbergen island, the largest in the Svalbard archipelago.
Style, with substance: what’s really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved, direct to your inbox every Thursday
Style, with substance: what’s really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved, delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday
Explore all our newsletters: whether you love film, football, fashion or food, we’ve got something for you
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Imagine a world in which you can do transactions and many other things without having to give your personal information. A world in which you don’t need to rely on banks or governments anymore. Sounds amazing, right? That’s exactly what blockchain technology allows us to do.
It’s like your computer’s hard drive. blockchain is a technology that lets you store data in digital blocks, which are connected together like links in a chain.
Blockchain technology was originally invented in 1991 by two mathematicians, Stuart Haber and W. Scot Stornetta. They first proposed the system to ensure that timestamps could not be tampered with.
A few years later, in 1998, software developer Nick Szabo proposed using a similar kind of technology to secure a digital payments system he called “Bit Gold.” However, this innovation was not adopted until Satoshi Nakamoto claimed to have invented the first Blockchain and Bitcoin.
A blockchain is a distributed database shared between the nodes of a computer network. It saves information in digital format. Many people first heard of blockchain technology when they started to look up information about bitcoin.
Blockchain is used in cryptocurrency systems to ensure secure, decentralized records of transactions.
Blockchain allowed people to guarantee the fidelity and security of a record of data without the need for a third party to ensure accuracy.
To understand how a blockchain works, Consider these basic steps:
Let’s get to know more about the blockchain.
Blockchain records digital information and distributes it across the network without changing it. The information is distributed among many users and stored in an immutable, permanent ledger that can't be changed or destroyed. That's why blockchain is also called "Distributed Ledger Technology" or DLT.
Here’s how it works:
And that’s the beauty of it! The process may seem complicated, but it’s done in minutes with modern technology. And because technology is advancing rapidly, I expect things to move even more quickly than ever.
Even though blockchain is integral to cryptocurrency, it has other applications. For example, blockchain can be used for storing reliable data about transactions. Many people confuse blockchain with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.
Blockchain already being adopted by some big-name companies, such as Walmart, AIG, Siemens, Pfizer, and Unilever. For example, IBM's Food Trust uses blockchain to track food's journey before reaching its final destination.
Although some of you may consider this practice excessive, food suppliers and manufacturers adhere to the policy of tracing their products because bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella have been found in packaged foods. In addition, there have been isolated cases where dangerous allergens such as peanuts have accidentally been introduced into certain products.
Tracing and identifying the sources of an outbreak is a challenging task that can take months or years. Thanks to the Blockchain, however, companies now know exactly where their food has been—so they can trace its location and prevent future outbreaks.
Blockchain technology allows systems to react much faster in the event of a hazard. It also has many other uses in the modern world.
Blockchain technology is safe, even if it’s public. People can access the technology using an internet connection.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had all your data stored at one place and that one secure place got compromised? Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to prevent your data from leaking out even when the security of your storage systems is compromised?
Blockchain technology provides a way of avoiding this situation by using multiple computers at different locations to store information about transactions. If one computer experiences problems with a transaction, it will not affect the other nodes.
Instead, other nodes will use the correct information to cross-reference your incorrect node. This is called “Decentralization,” meaning all the information is stored in multiple places.
Blockchain guarantees your data's authenticity—not just its accuracy, but also its irreversibility. It can also be used to store data that are difficult to register, like legal contracts, state identifications, or a company's product inventory.
Blockchain has many advantages and disadvantages.
I’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about blockchain in this section.
Blockchain is not a cryptocurrency but a technology that makes cryptocurrencies possible. It's a digital ledger that records every transaction seamlessly.
Yes, blockchain can be theoretically hacked, but it is a complicated task to be achieved. A network of users constantly reviews it, which makes hacking the blockchain difficult.
Coinbase Global is currently the biggest blockchain company in the world. The company runs a commendable infrastructure, services, and technology for the digital currency economy.
Blockchain is a decentralized technology. It’s a chain of distributed ledgers connected with nodes. Each node can be any electronic device. Thus, one owns blockhain.
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which is powered by Blockchain technology while Blockchain is a distributed ledger of cryptocurrency
Generally a database is a collection of data which can be stored and organized using a database management system. The people who have access to the database can view or edit the information stored there. The client-server network architecture is used to implement databases. whereas a blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, stored in a distributed system. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, timestamp and transaction information. Modification of data is not allowed due to the design of the blockchain. The technology allows decentralized control and eliminates risks of data modification by other parties.
Blockchain has a wide spectrum of applications and, over the next 5-10 years, we will likely see it being integrated into all sorts of industries. From finance to healthcare, blockchain could revolutionize the way we store and share data. Although there is some hesitation to adopt blockchain systems right now, that won't be the case in 2022-2023 (and even less so in 2026). Once people become more comfortable with the technology and understand how it can work for them, owners, CEOs and entrepreneurs alike will be quick to leverage blockchain technology for their own gain. Hope you like this article if you have any question let me know in the comments section
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