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Greenland bans foreign political donations as Trump seeks the island

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 02/05/2025 - 00:12

The bill is aimed at protecting "Greenland's political integrity" and will take effect immediately, according to a translation of a parliamentary document in Danish outlining the measure.

(Image credit: Mstyslav Chernov)

Categories: News

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims and a philanthropist, dies at 88

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 02/05/2025 - 00:01

Considered by followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was a student when his grandfather picked him to lead the Shia Ismaili Muslim diaspora.

(Image credit: Steven Senne)

Categories: News

Waffle House is passing along the sky high cost of eggs to diners

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 23:56

Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And there may be no relief in sight

(Image credit: Isabella Volmert)

Categories: News

If you loved Hacks, don't miss this sleeper-hit sitcom that's 97% positive on Rotten Tomatoes

TechRadar News - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 22:36

I have to admit I was a latecomer to Hacks, the multi-award-winning comedy-drama that stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder as a world-famous stand-up comedian and her assistant / aspiring comedy writer, respectively. Within the first few episodes, I could immediately tell why it had won so many awards: the writing is sharp, the delivery of jokes is even better, and there’s a healthy dose of character development that has you both rooting for (and against) the pair throughout.

Considering a lot of Hacks’' three-season (and almost fourth) success – including earning a spot on our list of the best Max shows – is down to the writing, I thought I’d check out some other shows from the team behind the camera while I eagerly await the new season.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to look too hard, as my partner already knew of The Other Two, which lists Paul W. Downs – one of the main writers and stars of Hacks – as a screenwriter. Paul is also heavily involved in another excellent sitcom Broad City, a sitcom I had previously heard of, and subsequently binged (which also deserves your attention).

I hadn’t come across The Other Two at all, but given Downs was a part of the team, I figured I a sleeper hit on my hands. And boy was I right.

A familiar story, ripe for satire

The Other Two is pure satire through and through. It follows the lives of aspiring gay actor Cary and his sister Brooke in the wake of their teenage brother Chase’s overnight rise to fame through social media. Chase’s meteoric rise to internet stardom is immediately a storyline many of us will understand. Every man and his dog now has a podcast, TikTok account or a jam-packed Instagram feed, with many hoping to achieve global notoriety (and freebies from companies and brands).

Due to the ubiquitous nature of social media and how quickly someone can become a viral influencer, it’s apparent that Cary and Brooke are, deep down, jealous of Chase’s overnight success. Despite working hard, they never seem to be able to catch their big break.

On the side, they have their loving and doting mother (played by Molly Shannon) who, at first, struggles to split her time between her adult children and making sure 13-year-old Chase is safe in ‘the industry’. That is, before she uses Chase’s fame to catapult herself to the title of the most famous woman in the world.

The whole story arc across the three seasons (10 episodes per season, all around 30 minutes each) is easy to follow. There’s no “wait, who’s that again?” going on here. This allows the jokes to take center stage, and man are there a ton of jokes in this show. Take a look at the trailer for the first season below.

Dumb can be clever

I love dumb humor, and it’s littered throughout The Other Two. So many of the jokes are akin to your typical dad joke, but they’re not just random words thrown together in the hope they’ll get a laugh (something I personally find industry heavyweight Will Ferrell guilty of). Instead, they’re far more intelligent and so cleverly written. Throughout the entire show I found myself saying to my partner, “I wonder how many rewrites that one joke had” because I could just tell that specific words or references were chosen for distinct reasons. The result is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen.

Pin-sharp comedic timing

Of course, good writing is only as good as the cast delivering the lines and I think the casting here is absolutely perfect. Heléne York and Drew Tarver, who play Brooke and Cary Dubek are totally believable as brother and sister, with an instantly likeable nature. Although, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say my partner and I did find ourselves struggling to side with Cary’s in the final season. He’s a narcissistic character, but the narcissism levels are dialled up to 11, which did become a little grating.

Molly Shannon is an excellent mom to her kids, taking on the role of ‘most famous woman in the world’ like a duck to water. Ken Marino, who has an endless list of TV and film acting credits, plays Chase’s manager and I can only liken him to a golden retriever. He has oodles of love to give, but can be so hilariously dim-witted that you're always excited to see him on-screen.

Wanda Sykes and Richard Kind also have recurring roles in the series and given their comedic backgrounds, you just know they’re going to deliver some knockout jokes. There's a whole host of guest stars throughout the show’s run, including “Marvel’s Simu Liu” (how he’s referred to in the show) as Molly Shannon’s boyfriend in season three.

A true weekend watch

To top it all off – and as I’ve already alluded to – it’s such an easy TV show to binge-watch, with three seasons comprising 10, roughly 30-minute episodes. That’s approximately 15 hours all up — meaning you could feasibly watch the entirety of it in one weekend. I did, and I have no doubt I’ll do it all again in the future.

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For more Max-based recommendations, read our guide on all of the new Max movies to arrive this month. Alternatively, see what the best Max movies are or get the lowdown on how much a Max subscription costs.

Categories: Technology

Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Feb. 5

CNET News - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 22:00
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 5.
Categories: Technology

USPS Halts All Packages From China, Sending the Ecommerce Industry Into Chaos

WIRED Top Stories - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 21:33
As part of new tariffs on Chinese imports, President Donald Trump eliminated an exemption for small packages, vastly increasing the amount of parcels US Customs and Border Protection needs to inspect.
Categories: Technology

State Department Puts ‘All Direct Hire’ USAID Personnel on Administrative Leave

WIRED Top Stories - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 20:36
The US government’s primary foreign aid agency has employees stationed all over the world, many of whom are now bracing to abruptly leave their posts.
Categories: Technology

Senate votes to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 19:41

Bondi was confirmed by a vote of 54 to 46, and will now take the reins at the Justice Department at a moment when it is facing questions about the risk of political influence at the department.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)

Categories: News

Trump administration prepares to withdraw USAID staff from overseas posts by weekend

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 18:53

"We are being tasked to assist the department in recalling USAID employees to the United States by Saturday," State Department official Seth Green wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday.

(Image credit: Mandel Ngan)

Categories: News

Trump's Tariffs Could Increase iPhone and Macbook Prices. But Experts Say Not to Panic Buy

CNET News - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 18:49
If it's not a necessity, it's best to wait to make the purchase.
Categories: Technology

ChatGPT on WhatsApp can now see, hear, and remember your conversations from elsewhere

TechRadar News - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 18:30

OpenAI is upgrading the ChatGPT phone number you can text with on WhatsApp to be a lot more like the mobile app and web portal. From now on, you won't need to type out everything you want to say to the AI chatbot. Now, you can send a photo or record a voice memo that ChatGPT will "see" or "hear" and respond via the usual text form.

You'll be able to do things like take a picture of a foreign-language sign and ask for a translation or send an audio clip of your toddler’s latest philosophical ramblings and ask for a text transcription. It’s not quite as capable as the more standard portal, but it's very close. The phone number 1-800-CHATGPT still works, too, but by its nature as a phone call, it already takes audio input but can't accept images.

You've been able to use ChatGPT on WhatsApp since it debuted in December, but some may have been annoyed at having to fumble with the keyboard. Being able to snap a picture or send a quick voice note to get ChatGPT's help will be a real boon for them. Accepting voice messages and photos within an app that many people regularly use during the day makes it much easier for more spontaneous interactions, the way you'd randomly send a photo of voice recording to a friend when you think to do so.

For instance, imagine you’re out for a run and suddenly remember an idea you don’t want to forget. Instead of stopping to type it out, you can send a voice message to ChatGPT, asking it to summarize your thoughts into a note for later. Or let’s say you’re trying to fix something at home, and instead of awkwardly explaining the problem, you snap a picture and ask ChatGPT if it can offer troubleshooting tips.

ChatGPT remembers you

The update also introduces account linking. That means the AI will remember you and your previous preferences and interactions if you have a ChatGPT account through the app or web portal, whether at the free tier or with a subscription to ChatGPT Plus or Pro. Previous limitations, such as the 15-minute-a-month cap on AI calls, are being loosened. This update could entice those who like the idea of ChatGPT but have been reluctant to download the app or go to the website.

WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms in the world, and adding more ChatGPT features there and removing the extra step of opening another app or switching contexts could be OpenAI's subtle pitch to WhatsApp users without ChatGPT accounts. Instead of needing to open ChatGPT separately, it’s now embedded in a place where they already spend time texting their family and friends. Why not an AI assistant, too?

OpenAI has mentioned that messages may be reviewed for safety purposes, so users should keep that in mind before sending anything too personal or sensitive. Still, for everyday tasks, creative brainstorming, and answering random questions on the fly, this update makes ChatGPT feel more integrated into everyday life than ever before.

Any upgrade that makes an AI chatbot feel like a natural, conversational tool within your favorite apps and less like a standalone tool with an app you only open when you need something specific is going to be of interest to OpenAI and its rivals.

Whether WhatsApp fans start reaching out to ChatGPT whenever a thought crosses their mind like “What’s for dinner?” or “Can you turn my 2 AM voice ramblings into something coherent?” remains to be seen.

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Categories: Technology

FBI gives Justice details on employees who worked Jan. 6 cases, FBI agents sue

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 17:55

The details on FBI employees comes in response to a Justice Department memo last week, asking for names of all current and former FBI personnel who worked on Jan. 6 cases or the prosecution of Hamas leaders.

(Image credit: Brent Stirton)

Categories: News

What is the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE?

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 17:47

President Trump said the entity would focus on cutting government waste and slashing federal regulations, and he put tech billionaire and adviser Elon Musk in charge.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)

Categories: News

A guide to what the U.S. Education Department does (and doesn't) do

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 17:45
more than 4,000 people and has an annual budget of $79 billion.'/>

The department tracks student achievement, manages college financial aid and sends K-12 schools money to support students with disabilities and lower-income communities, among other things.

(Image credit: LA Johnson)

Categories: News

You Can Now Watch Starz for Free With a YouTube TV Subscription

CNET News - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 17:31
Act fast, as this promotion is for a limited time.
Categories: Technology

Miami Beach is continuing to crack down on spring break partiers

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 17:04

It started last year, when the city launched an expensive ad campaign telling spring breakers that the party was over and announcing new curfews and fines, as well as heavier law enforcement.

(Image credit: Giorgio Viera)

Categories: News

The prospect of immigration agents entering schools is sending shockwaves among communities

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 16:58

President Trump got rid of a decades-old policy that prevented agents from arresting migrants without legal status in sensitive places, such as schools. Most districts are drawing a line in the sand.

(Image credit: Mustafa Hussain for NPR)

Categories: News

Winter storm to move across U.S. but the South will see record high temps

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 16:28

Parts of the South will see high temperatures while upper parts of the U.S. will see wintry weather.

(Image credit: NOAA)

Categories: News

Netanyahu meets Trump with 2nd phase of the ceasefire under negotiation

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 16:19

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the first world leader to visit President Trump at the White House since his inauguration.

(Image credit: Jim Watson)

Categories: News

Best Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitors for 2025

CNET News - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 16:01
Our CNET experts spent time testing heart rate monitors to find the best chest strap devices to give you accurate data.
Categories: Technology

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