Latest news with #Wired
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Bono: U2 is a democracy
Bono has described U2 as a "democracy". The 65-year-old rocker has explained how the 'With or Without You' band - which is also comprised of The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. - all chip in with ideas for new music, although it usually the lead guitarist's suggestions that are given preference. Asked how U2 work after more than 40 years in the industry, Bono is quoted by the Daily Star on Sunday newspaper's Wired column as saying: "Bloody democracy. Thom Yorke from Radiohead says, 'A band is like the United Nations, except I'm America.' "But U2 is an actual democracy. We all listen to each other, and then do what Edge says." Bono takes centre stage in the new Apple TV+ documentary film 'Stories of Surrender' - which documents a one-man performance he gave in New York in 2023 - although he doubts that his U2 bandmates are that interested in the project. He said: "I think Larry only likes Westerns, Adam said he liked the moonwalk, so I think perhaps he was looking at a different film. "Edge is always there. He's so supportive, especially when he sees me be open or be vulnerable, which is our definition of art." The Irish musician describes the film as "very intimate" and revealed that he took inspiration from the late Beatles icon John Lennon for the project. Bono explained: "It was always, 'Break open the ribcage, show what's the heart, let it bleed.' "That was the John Lennon way. So it starts with heart surgery." Meanwhile, the singer recently teased that he wants U2 to make "the sound of the future" on their next album. The 'Beautiful Day' artist said on 'Jimmy Kimmel! Live': "We've been in the studio and you've sometimes got to deal with the past to get to the present, in order to make the sound of the future. That's what we want to do." Bono also insisted that U2 continue to be very ambitious despite their long and successful career in music. He said: "It's the sound of four men, who feel like their lives depend on it. I remind them, they do. Nobody needs a new U2 album unless it's an extraordinary one. I'm feeling very strong about it."
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
US immigration authorities collecting DNA information of children in criminal database
US immigration authorities are collecting and uploading the DNA information of migrants, including children, to a national criminal database, according to government documents released earlier this month. The database includes the DNA of people who were either arrested or convicted of a crime, which law enforcement uses when seeking a match for DNA collected at a crime scene. However, most of the people whose DNA has been collected by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the agency that published the documents, were not listed as having been accused of any felonies. Regardless, CBP is now creating a detailed DNA profile on migrants that will be permanently searchable by law enforcement, which amounts to a 'massive expansion of genetic surveillance', one expert said. The DNA information is stored in a database managed by the FBI called the Combined DNA Index System (Codis), which is used across the country by local, state and federal law enforcement to identify suspects of crimes using their DNA data. Related: Doge gained access to sensitive data of migrant children, including reports of abuse Wired first reported the practice and the existence of these documents, and estimates there are more than 133,000 migrant teens and children whose DNA has been collected and uploaded to Codis. One of them was just four years old. 'In order to secure our borders, CBP is devoting every resource available to identify who is entering our country. We are not letting human smugglers, child sex traffickers and other criminals enter American communities,' Hilton Beckham, the assistant commissioner of public affairs at CBP, told Wired in a statement. 'Toward this end, CBP collects DNA samples for submission to the FBI's Combined DNA Index System … from persons in CBP custody who are arrested on federal criminal charges, and from aliens detained under CBP's authority who are subject to fingerprinting and not otherwise exempt from the collection requirement.' Experts at Georgetown University and the Center on Privacy and Technology published a report last week that found that CBP was collecting the DNA of almost every migrant detained, regardless of how long they were detained. The agency has added more than 1.5m DNA profiles to Codis since 2020, a 5,000% increase in just three years, according to the report. It's a 'massive expansion of genetic surveillance and an unjustified invasion of privacy,' according to one of the authors of the report, Emerald Tse. 'The program reinforces harmful narratives about immigrants and intensifies existing policing practices that target immigrant communities and communities of color, making us all less safe,' Tse said in a statement. The documents CBP published, which detail each individual whose DNA was swabbed, their age and country of origin, where they were transferred to, and what they were charged with, date back to as early as 2020. The latest document published is from the first quarter of 2025. There are hundreds of thousands of entries of people whose DNA has been collected by CBP between 2020 and 2024. Of the more than 130,000 individuals who were children or teens, nearly 230 were children under the age of 13 and more than 30,000 were between 14 and 17 years old, according to Wired. CBP first launched a pilot program to begin collecting detainees' DNA data in 2020, in accordance with a Department of Justice rule that gave the agency three years to comply with a new requirement to collect genetic samples and upload it to Codis. At the time, CBP wrote that it was collecting DNA data from non-US citizens who had been detained between the ages of 14 and 79. The Department of Homeland Security and CBP policy generally states that children under 14 are not obliged to have their DNA information collected, though there is some discretion afforded to field officers. However, this pace of genetic data collection would not have been possible in a criminal legal context, according to the Center on Privacy and Technology and Georgetown report. 'Until 2020, almost all the DNA profiles in Codis's 'offender' database were added by state and local police and other criminal law enforcement agencies,' the report reads. 'In the criminal context, there are some limitations on when, how and from whom criminal law enforcement agencies can take DNA which make the process of amassing samples cumbersome and resource-intensive.' Related: Undocumented man accused of making threat to Trump's life may be victim of frame-up The expansion was possible partly because there are fewer limitations on DNA collection within the context of immigration. 'In the immigration context, the only limitation on DNA collection is that a person must be 'detained'. But the meaning of the term 'detained' in the immigration context is notoriously broad, vague and ever shifting,' the report reads. According to the CBP website, the agency sends the DNA data directly to the FBI and does not store or maintain the DNA data itself. That genetic information is stored by the FBI indefinitely, according to the Center on Privacy and Technology and Georgetown report. 'How would it change your behavior to know that the government had a drop of your blood – or saliva – containing your 'entire genetic code, which will be kept indefinitely in a government-controlled refrigerator in a warehouse in Northern Virginia'?' the report reads, quoting CBP's documents. 'Would you feel free to seek out the medical or reproductive care you needed? To attend protests and voice dissent? To gather together with the people of your choosing?'
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pop Icon Kesha Says 'The System Is Broken' As She Launches Smash, A Fiverr-Style Music App Backed To Lead A Creative Revolution
Pop artist Kesha is expanding her influence beyond music and into the tech sector with last week's announcement of her new startup, Smash, a platform aimed at empowering music creators through collaboration, transparency, and rights protection. The initiative marks the artist's formal entrance into the startup world. Kesha, who recently regained ownership of her music and voice following a high-profile legal battle with her former producer, is seeking to rewrite the rules of an industry she calls deeply flawed, according to Wired. Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — 'After what I've gone through and seeing the things that I've seen, seeing that the system is really broken. It's gatekeeping by people that can do what they want,' Kesha told Wired in an interview. According to Kesha, Smash is envisioned as a 'LinkedIn for music creators' with a 'Fiverr-style marketplace' where artists can offer services, hire one another, and collaborate without giving up rights to their intellectual property. She emphasized to Wired that the platform will eliminate gatekeeping, offering musicians a space to network without needing third-party intermediaries. 'I want a place where artists and music makers of any kind can have community, they can collaborate, they can hire each other and retain all the rights to everything they create,' Kesha said. 'There's no gatekeeping of contacts.' According to Wired, the platform is currently in its seed funding stage, with no official launch date set. Trending: According to TechCrunch, Kesha has brought in Alan Cannistraro as Smash's chief technology officer. Cannistraro is a seasoned software engineer who spent 12 years at Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), contributing to the development of early iOS apps. He later joined Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), where he created the popular Year-In-Review feature for Facebook. Cannistraro also previously founded the social video startup Rheo. His background in building user-centric software products positions Smash with a strong technical foundation, TechCrunch reports. The inspiration for Smash came to Kesha during what she described as a psychedelic experience that helped clarify her purpose. The app, she told Wired, is about 'building the next dimension' for creatives who are often underpaid, undervalued, or exploited by traditional music business structures. 'I want to make sure what happened to me never happens to anyone else again,' she arrives as the creator economy continues to grow. According to MIDiA Research, there were nearly 75.9 million music creators globally at the end of 2023, with that number expected to exceed 198.2 million by 2030. Along with Smash, Kesha is also preparing to release her sixth studio album, symbolically titled '.', under her own independent label, Kesha Records, on July 4. The timing coincides with her U.S. tour, which is her first as a fully independent artist, Wired reports. Backed by experienced engineering talent and informed by firsthand industry challenges, Smash may become a key player in reshaping how music creators connect, collaborate, and protect their rights. Read Next: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Pop Icon Kesha Says 'The System Is Broken' As She Launches Smash, A Fiverr-Style Music App Backed To Lead A Creative Revolution originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Youth activists defeat trade association in fight over home-building policy: 'An existential threat to our community'
A West Coast youth movement has effectively boosted electrification efforts for new construction projects in Ashland, Oregon, through advocacy. The effort impressively overcame opposition from trade groups and unions in the construction and gas industries, according to OregonLive (OL). The city council voted without dissent in February to charge new developers a "carbon pollution fee" if they install natural gas heaters and other appliances in new buildings. The goal is to expand cleaner electric use, the story said. The decision came after local youth held a campaign to lobby for support. "We recognized the climate crisis poses an existential threat to our community and to the globe and that we had a responsibility to do what we could in our community to tackle the causes of this crisis," Ashland Mayor Tonya Graham told OL. It's a regulatory trend stretching from coast to coast. Ashland's measure was modeled after one from Vermont. A version in Eugene, Oregon, was rescinded after an appeal challenging a Berkeley, California, rule of the same nature was successful, OL reported. But in March, Wired reported that a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by trade groups against a natural gas ban on new builds in New York City, a counter to the Berkeley ruling. The litigation tangle could determine crucial public health policy. Yale Climate Connections reported that gas stoves release dangerous benzene vapors into homes. It's a known carcinogen, according to the publication. The article cited a study that linked nearly 13% of childhood asthma cases to gas stoves. There are nearly 100 local governments around the country considering measures like Ashland's, with the goal of also reducing heat-trapping air pollution linked by NASA to greater risks for extreme weather, according to OL. Rulemaking in California is also targeting small gas engines, some prohibiting their sale and use. By going electric, residents can enjoy high-tech appliances and machines that can provide savings and even speedier cooking, as is the case with induction cooktops. It's an easy switch for renters and homeowners alike, avoiding dangerous gas vapors with an appliance that provides easier meal prep and cleanup with greater efficiency. It can be part of an overall shift to modernizing your home with energy-saving tech. You can save $840 off the cost of a full induction range thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. And small countertop versions can be bought for as low as $50. The IRA credits likely won't last forever, as President Donald Trump has said he intends to rescind the benefits. But repealing it requires an act of Congress. The Georgetown Environmental Law Review explained that cancellation may not be a rubber stamp, as many Republican states are benefiting from the measure. In Ashland, builders can avoid serious fines by going electric. Penalties range from less than $200 for a gas dryer install to more than $4,000 for a furnace, per OL. In the end, planet-friendly youth helped to push the regulation into action by helping to convince the city council that cutting air pollution is crucial to securing a healthy future. They garnered signatures, held rallies, and offered testimonies. "That is what motivated the City of Ashland to pass this ordinance," Graham said in the story. Do you think gas stoves should be banned nationwide? No way Let each state decide I'm not sure Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Here's the best advice for the Class of 2025 from 10 notable graduation speakers
High-profile writers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and actors are making their annual rounds through college commencement ceremonies. They're dispensing some of their best advice to new grads preparing to take on the challenges that lie ahead, talking about everything from taking chances, surrounding yourself with the right people, and understanding your place in an AI-enabled workplace. Here are some standout pieces of advice to the Class of 2025 from 10 commencement speakers. Tech journalist Steven Levy "You do have a great future ahead of you, no matter how smart and capable ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama get," author and tech journalist Steven Levy told graduates at the Temple University College of Liberal Arts on May 7. "And here is the reason: You have something that no computer can ever have. It's a superpower, and every one of you has it in abundance," he said, according to Wired. "The lords of AI are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to make their models think like accomplished humans. You have just spent four years at Temple University learning to think as accomplished humans. The difference is immeasurable," he said. Actor Jennifer Coolidge "When you find the thing that you want to do, I really want to highly recommend — just friggin' go for it," Jennifer Coolidge, the star of HBO's White Lotus, told graduates at Emerson College on May 12. "You really have to psych yourself up into bleeding absurd possibilities, and you have to believe that they are not absurd because there's nothing foolish or accidental about expecting things that are unattainable for yourself." Kermit the Frog Everyone's favorite Muppet shared "a little advice — if you're willing to listen to a frog" at the University of Maryland's commencement ceremony on May 22. "Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side. Because life is better when we leap together." Actor Elizabeth Banks "You're about to enter the incredibly competitive job market, so I can understand why you believe that life is a zero-sum game, that there's only so much opportunity to go around," actor Elizabeth Banks told graduates of the University of Pennsylvania on May 19. "And if one person takes a bigger slice, everyone else has to make a smaller slice, and the total size of the pie remains the same. And that is true with actual pie," she said. "But not with life, not with opportunity. So my advice to you is, as much as possible from here on out, take yourself out of that mindset." Physician and author Abraham Verghese Physician and author Abraham Verghese told Harvard graduates on May 29 to "make your decisions worthy of those who supported, nurtured, and sacrificed for you." "The decisions you will make in the future under pressure will say something about your character, while they also shape and transform you in unexpected ways," he said. Verghese also encouraged the Class of 2025 to read fiction. "To paraphrase Camus, fiction is the great lie that tells the truth about how the world lives," he said. "And if you don't read fiction, my considered medical opinion is that a part of your brain responsible for active imagination atrophies." Actor Henry Winkler Actor Henry Winkler spoke about the power of positive thinking in his May 17 address to graduates of the Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences. "A negative thought comes into your mind, you say out loud — you say out loud — 'I am sorry, I have no time for you now,'" he said. "Yes, people will look at you very strangely. But it doesn't matter. Because it becomes your habit." Instead, when faced with doubts and negative thoughts about your goals, "you move it out; you move a positive in," he said. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told graduates of Princeton University on May 25 that "the combination of luck, the courage to make mistakes, and a little initiative can lead to much success." "We risk failure, awkwardness, embarrassment, and rejection," he said. "But that's how we create the career opportunities, the great friendships, and the loves that make life worth living." He reminded graduates that "each of us is a work in progress" and "the possibilities for self-improvement are limitless." "The vast majority of what you need to know about work, about relationships, about yourself, about life, you have yet to learn," Powell said. "And that itself is a tremendous gift." Y Combinator cofounder Jessica Livingston Jessica Livingston, cofounder of startup accelerator Y Combinator, told Bucknell University graduates to "find the interesting people." "Talk to people. Get introduced to new people. Find the people that you think are interesting, and then ask what they're working on. And if you find yourself working at a place where you don't like the people, get out," she said in her May 18 speech. She also advised the Class of 2025 that "you can reinvent yourself" at any time. "If you want to, you can just decide to shift gears at this point, and no one's going to tell you you can't," she said. "You can just decide to be more curious, or more responsible, or more energetic, and no one's going to look up your college grades and say, 'Hey, wait a minute. This person's supposed to be a slacker!'" S&P Global CEO Martina L. Cheung "Don't collect promotions. Collect experiences," S&P Global President and CEO Martina L. Cheung told graduates of George Mason University. In her May 15 address, Cheung shared how lateral moves in her own career later prepared her for promotions. "Most people think of their careers as a ladder," she said. "They see the goal as climbing the ladder with promotions or leaving one job to take a bigger one elsewhere. The truth is, moving up is not the only direction. It's not even always the best direction. Sometimes it's the lateral move." YouTuber Hank Green Writer and science YouTuber Hank Green reminded MIT graduates in his May 29 speech to stay curious. "Your curiosity is not out of your control," he said. "You decide how you orient it, and that orientation is going to affect the entire rest of your life. It may be the single most important factor in your career." Green also emphasized the importance of taking chances on your ideas. "Ideas do not belong in your head," he said. "They can't help anyone in there. I sometimes see people become addicted to their good idea. They love it so much, they can't bring themselves to expose it to the imperfection of reality. Stop waiting. Get the ideas out. You may fail, but while you fail, you will build new tools." He closed his speech on this inspiring note: "Do not forget how special and bizarre it is to get to live a human life. It took 3 billion years for the Earth to go from single-celled life forms to you. That's more than a quarter of the life of the entire universe. Something very special and strange is happening on this planet and it is you."
