Tag Archives: experiences

Arctic Experiences Hottest Conditions in 125 Years Amid Record Low Sea Ice, According to NOAA Report

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The previous season marked the highest temperatures in the Arctic for the past 125 years. March, typically the month with the greatest sea ice extent, recorded the lowest levels in 47 years of satellite data. The North American tundra exhibited unprecedented greenness, showing more vegetation than ever before.

These findings, released on Tuesday in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual Arctic Report Card, illustrate the swift and dramatic changes taking place in the region as global temperatures rise.

“The Arctic is warming at a pace that exceeds the global average, with the last decade being some of the hottest on record,” stated Steve Sarr, NOAA’s acting principal scientist and associate administrator for ocean and atmospheric research.

Due to this warming, “over 200 watersheds in the Alaskan Arctic are turning orange as permafrost thaws, ecosystems evolve, and elements like iron are released into rivers,” Thursday indicated. The research highlighted increased acidity and higher levels of toxic metals in these discolored streams.

This is just one of many consequences of climate change affecting the region detailed in the report. This marks the 20th year that NOAA has published the Arctic report card, which originally surfaced during President Donald Trump’s second term.

The Trump administration has worked to diminish or eliminate other climate change reports, including the National Climate Assessment and the extensive climate disaster database. President Trump has labeled climate change a “swindler” and is actively trying to reduce the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Matthew Druckenmiller, a writer of the report and researcher at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, affirmed during a Tuesday press conference that the team faced “no political interference concerning our findings.”

Independent scientists consulted by NBC News remarked that the report conveys a similarly urgent tone and message as in previous years, with a few minor distinctions.

“Frankly, we haven’t observed a significant shift in tone compared to prior Arctic report cards, which is encouraging,” commented Tom Di Liberto, a climate scientist and media director at Climate Central. “The implications of their conclusions remain consistent with earlier Arctic report cards. The Arctic acts as a warning sign.”

Di Liberto, who previously worked in NOAA’s communications office before his position was cut in March as part of staff reductions, noted that the previous year’s report emphasized reducing fossil fuel production, whereas this year’s report does not mention fossil fuels at all. Otherwise, he identified no major differences.

NOAA unveiled a report at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting in New Orleans, highlighting how climate change is disrupting ecosystems and threatening livelihoods in the Arctic. This event is one of the largest scientific gatherings of the year, attracting thousands of scientists.

Mark Alessi, a climate scientist and fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists, remarked that the report card “effectively communicates the realities of what is occurring on the ground in the Arctic.”

“Anyone reading this will understand that we continue to raise the alarm,” he emphasized.

In strong language, the report’s authors point out that proposed budget cuts to scientific programs collecting data in the Arctic, including satellite programs monitoring sea ice, threaten to undermine the data collection essential for this report and related decision-making.

“Aging infrastructure, along with risks to funding and staffing, could further erode existing AONs.” [Arctic Observing Network] Gaps are forming that hinder long-term trend analysis and decision-making,” the report warned.

Specifically, the report highlights several satellites within the Defense Weather Satellite Program set to be decommissioned in 2026. The cessation of these satellites will restrict sea ice measurements. It also mentions that the tundra greenness dataset will remain unchanged due to NASA funding cuts, and other climate datasets may also be jeopardized by proposed federal budget cuts in fiscal year 2026.

The Arctic is warming two to four times quicker than the rest of the globe, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. This process alters ocean currents and the degree of sunlight absorbed by the Earth’s surface at the poles.

“This feedback loop leads to the loss of sea ice and land ice, increased absorption of sunlight, and consequently, more rapid warming,” explained Alessi.

Temperature records are categorized by the Arctic water year, with the latest data ranging from October 2024 to September 2025.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Paralyzed Man Experiences Sensations Through Others’ Touch

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Keith Thomas (right) was able to control other people’s hands.

Matthew Ribasi/Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

A paralyzed individual can now move and sense the hands of others as if they were his own due to an innovative ‘telepathic’ brain implant. “We’ve established a mind-body connection between two distinct individuals,” explains Chad Bouton from the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in New York.

Bouton theorizes this method could serve as a rehabilitation tool following spinal cord injuries, enabling paralyzed individuals to collaborate and potentially allowing shared experiences from a distance.

Bouton and his team collaborated with Keith Thomas, a man in his 40s who became paralyzed from the chest down after a diving accident in July 2020, losing all movement and sensation in his hands.

In a prior study in 2023, researchers inserted five sets of small electrodes into the part of Thomas’s brain responsible for movement and sensation in his right hand, enabling them to monitor his neural activity through a device affixed to his skull.

By processing these signals through a computer equipped with an artificial intelligence model, the researchers deciphered the neural activity and relayed signals wirelessly to electrodes on Thomas’ forearm, prompting muscle contractions and relaxations that allowed him to move his hand. Thomas also used force sensors on his hands, transmitting signals back to his brain implant, thereby creating a sense of touch. Consequently, he was able to use his mind to pick up and feel objects in his hands for the first time in years.

Now, the team has adapted a similar system that enables Thomas to control and sense through the hands of others. In one experiment, a non-disabled woman was fitted with forearm electrodes and numerous force sensors on her thumb and index finger. Although she did not attempt to move, Thomas was able to open and close her hand by merely imagining the action.

He could also perceive the sensation of her fingers gripping a baseball, a soft foam ball, and a firmer ball in his own hand, distinguishing between them based on their hardness while blindfolded. “It definitely feels strange,” Thomas remarked. “You’ll eventually get accustomed to it.”

Though Thomas could only identify the different balls with 64% accuracy, Bouton believes this figure could be enhanced by optimizing sensor locations and numbers on his hands. They also could not discern the shape of the balls, but Bouton is hopeful that additional brain electrodes and force sensors might enable them to recognize various objects.

In another similar trial, Thomas assisted a paralyzed woman named Kathy DeNapoli in picking up a can and drinking from it, a task she struggled to perform independently due to limited finger movement. “It was genuinely remarkable, how you can assist someone simply by thinking about it,” Thomas expressed.

Electrodes implanted in Keith Thomas’ brain are wired to a computer

Matthew Ribasi/Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

After several months of working with Thomas, DeNapoli’s grip strength nearly doubled, according to Bouton. DeNapoli’s paralysis isn’t so severe that receiving invasive surgery is morally questionable. While similar gains in grip strength can be achieved through conventional treatments like electrical muscle and spinal cord stimulation, Thomas and DeNapoli found collaborating far more appealing than rehabilitating alone, Bouton added.

“Just conversing about things like, ‘How’s your weekend going?’ can be beneficial. It enhances your self-esteem and theirs,” Thomas states. Bouton shared that the team intends to explore this approach with more individuals next year.

Rob Tyler, who has paralysis and is a lay member of the scientific committee of the spinal cord injury charity Inspire Foundation, perceives potential value in this method for specific paralyzed patients..

“I view this as a convenient option,” he states. “It’s enjoyable to collaborate with other patients who likely share similar experiences. It can greatly enhance someone’s quality of life.” He emphasized that finding the right combination of people with compatible outlooks and motivations will be critical.

Bouton admits numerous ethical concerns regarding who could benefit from this method must be addressed before it can receive broader medical approval, which he aims to achieve within the next decade.

Nonetheless, Bouton asserts that such technology may have applications beyond medical use, such as allowing non-disabled individuals to remotely control or experience sensations through others. “This could represent a new frontier for human connection,” he suggests.

However, it opens up a plethora of ethical dilemmas. “Is it beneficial or detrimental for society if people can control and feel through others?” questions Harris Akram from University College London Hospital. “I can envision using your body to harm another individual, or controlling someone to perpetrate a crime, and then claiming, ‘That wasn’t me.’

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Parents Can Receive Alerts If Their Child Experiences Acute Distress While Using ChatGPT | OpenAI

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When a teenager exhibits significant distress while interacting with ChatGPT, parents might receive a notification if their child displays signs of distress, particularly in light of child safety concerns, as more young individuals seek support and advice from AI chatbots.

This alert is part of new protective measures for children that OpenAI plans to roll out next month, following a lawsuit from a family whose son reportedly received “months of encouragement” from the chatbot.

Among the new safeguards is a feature that allows parents to link their accounts with their teenagers’, enabling them to manage how AI models respond to their children through “age-appropriate model behavior rules.” However, internet safety advocates argue that progress on these initiatives has been slow and assert that AI chatbots should not be released until they are deemed safe for young users.

Adam Lane, a 16-year-old from California, tragically took his life in April after discussing methods of suicide with ChatGPT, which allegedly offered to assist him in crafting a suicide note. OpenAI has acknowledged deficiencies in its system and admits that safety training for AI models has declined throughout extended conversations.

Raine’s family contends that the chatbot was “released to the market despite evident safety concerns.”

“Many young people are already interacting with AI,” OpenAI stated. The blog outlines their latest initiatives. “They are among the first ‘AI natives’ who have grown up with these tools embedded in their daily lives, similar to earlier generations with the internet and smartphones. This presents genuine opportunities for support, learning, and creativity; however, it also necessitates that families and teens receive guidance to establish healthy boundaries corresponding to the unique developmental stages of adolescence.”

A significant change will allow parents to disable AI memory and chat history, preventing past comments about personal struggles from resurfacing in ways that could exacerbate risk and negatively impact a child’s long-term profile and mental well-being.

In the UK, the Intelligence Committee has established a Code of Practice regarding the design of online services that are suitable for children, advising tech companies to “collect and retain only the minimum personal data necessary for providing services that children are actively and knowingly involved in.”

Around one-third of American teens utilize AI companions for social interactions and relationships, including role-playing, romance, and emotional support, according to a study. In the UK, 71% of vulnerable children engage with AI chatbots, with six in ten parents reporting their children believe these chatbots are real people, as highlighted in another study.

The Molly Rose Foundation, established by the father of Molly Russell, who took her life after succumbing to despair on social media, emphasized that “we shouldn’t introduce products to the market before confirming they are safe for young people; efforts to enhance safety should occur beforehand.”

Andy Burrows, the foundation’s CEO, stated, “We look forward to future developments.”

“OFCOM must be prepared to investigate violations committed by ChatGPT, prompting the company to adhere to online safety laws that must ensure user safety,” he continued.


Anthropic, the company behind the popular Claude chatbot, states that its platform is not intended for individuals under 18. In May, Google permitted children under 13 to access its app using the Gemini AI system. Google also advises parents to inform their children that Gemini is not human and cannot think or feel and warns that “your child may come across content you might prefer them to avoid.”

The NSPCC, a child protection charity, has welcomed OpenAI’s initiatives as “a positive step forward, but it’s insufficient.”

“Without robust age verification, they cannot ascertain who is using their platform,” stated senior policy officer Toni Brunton Douglas. “This leaves vulnerable children at risk. Technology companies should prioritize child safety rather than treating it as an afterthought. It’s time to establish protective defaults.”

Meta has implemented protection measures for teenagers in its AI offerings, stating that for sensitive topics like self-harm, suicide, and disability, it will “incorporate additional safeguards, training AI to redirect teens to expert resources instead.”

“These updates are in progress, and we will continue to adjust our approach to ensure teenagers have a secure and age-appropriate experience with AI,” a spokesperson mentioned.

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI Unleashes a New Breed of Cat Videos: Addictive, Intrusive, and Nauseating Soap Opera Experiences

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At the end of 2024, Billie Eilish took to the stage, seated herself, and began to play Miaou. Her fans erupted in harmony, attempting to overshadow their off-key presence. She knew, their dreams had materialized! Is this what Eilish’s Oscar-winning track was meant for? – “Lachrymose Barbie Cut Adulthood’s Ennui” has now become the quintessential soundtrack for an entirely new genre of cat video.

You may recognize it: these songs are often featured in AI-generated fantasies featuring human bodies with oddly detailed veins, reminiscent of cartoons, alongside hefty felines or equally muscular cats. Cats deceive their lovers, fall pregnant, and seek vengeance in bizarrely condensed melodramas. Much like traditional soap operas, these videos are incredibly addictive.

For example, this one. While diligently performing his tasks, Mr. Whiskers dons a red flannel shirt but accidentally ends up severing his legs while attempting to show off woodwork. He gets fired (evidently, the signs around the warehouse explicitly mention that all workers must “work with both hands”), his wife divorces him, and he struggles to piece together the fragments of his hard-knock life within 30 seconds. It all seems fine until his petite ex-wife plots to kill him, only to end up falling into a puddle and facing humiliation.

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In another video, a baby tumbles into shark-infested waters, and a buff cat (dressed in Capri pants) comes to the rescue, adopting the child and taking it back to a mansion in Beverly Hills. Each narrative is neatly packaged, kitschily over-the-top, and unnaturally swift, offering millions of viewpoints.

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The oversized felines in these video scenes suggest that Rev. Whisker and Mr. Whiskers aren’t just ordinary cats. They also embody certain human traits. Mogie, who sometimes resides in luxurious mansions, drives convertibles, and possesses a rugged, athletic physique, seems to be living the high life. Yet, many face regular struggles, illnesses, or dangers, despite their seemingly glamorous existences and comically pristine appearances, all set to eerie pop music underscoring their decline.

They find themselves tossed from ships, moaning amid house fires, dealing with substance issues, getting arrested, and being bullied. This prompts the question: Are these videos merely 30-second representations of warning signs? Are they about excess, betrayal, and redemption? Is Shakespeare somehow intertwined with Euripides? Are they modern-day parables?


Each video is marked by unfortunate domestic disasters: accidentally launching kittens into ceiling fans, or a cheating wife who neglects her husband’s pleas for attention. It’s an epic quest, entirely revolving around fur.

And it doesn’t take long for things to take a darker turn. In one unsettling video, Cat Rady finds himself submerged in Southern-Picked Cotton, just before being assaulted by a white cat clad in overalls. Each clip is disturbing, occasionally violent, and perpetually melodramatic, often garnished with bizarre AI-generated characters including erratic eagles and underwater sharks, all while the cats maintain a human-like physique and a bipedal swagger.

In another, “Luigi Meowgione” suffers as he watches his cat grandmother collapse in a grocery store. With her health insurance denied, he confronts the “Evil Corp Insurance” company, taking matters into his own hands and filling the building with Catnip gas. As a security guard falls victim to a grotesque case of Munch, Luigi Meowgione cleverly hacks the system, seemingly poised to confront the CEO… but we’re left hanging as part two hasn’t yet been revealed.

Ultimately, the Internet has always been enamored with felines possessing human characteristics. “Can I just have a cheeseburger?” This iconic phrase resonates because it encapsulates moments of feline discontent, showcasing the underlying personality. So, are these miaow-miaow videos the final evolution of anthropomorphized kittens? Or are they merely reproducing age-old motifs?

Source: www.theguardian.com

Advanced AI Experiences “Total Accuracy Breakdown” When Confronted with Complex Issues, Research Finds

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Researchers at Apple have identified “fundamental limitations” in state-of-the-art artificial intelligence models, prompting concerns about the competitive landscape in the tech industry for developing more robust systems.

In a study, Apple noted that the advanced AI model, known as the large-scale inference model (LRMS), experienced a “complete collapse in accuracy” when faced with complex challenges.

Standard AI models outperformed LRMS on tasks of lower complexity, yet both encountered “complete collapse” on highly complex tasks. LRMS attempts to handle intricate queries by creating detailed reasoning processes to break down issues into manageable steps.


The research, which evaluated the models’ puzzle-solving capabilities, revealed that LRMS began to “reduce inference efforts” as it neared performance breakdowns—something researchers labeled as “particularly concerning.”

Gary Marcus, a noted academic voice on AI capabilities, characterized the Apple paper as “quite devastating” and highlighted that these findings raise pivotal concerns regarding the race towards achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), which would enable systems to emulate human-level cognitive tasks.

Referencing large language models (LLMs), Marcus remarked: “[of] AGIs, who can fundamentally change society, are joking about themselves.”

Moreover, the paper indicated that early in the “thinking” process, the inference model often squandered computational resources seeking solutions for simpler problems. However, as complexity increased, the model initially considered incorrect answers before ultimately arriving at correct ones.

When confronted with complex issues, the model experienced “collapse” and failed to generate accurate solutions. In one instance, it could not succeed even with an algorithm provided to assist.

The findings illustrated that “as problem difficulty rises, models begin to intuitively diminish inference efforts as they approach critical thresholds that closely align with the accuracy collapse point.”

According to Apple experts, these findings highlight “fundamental scaling limitations” in the reasoning capabilities of current inference models.

The study involved LRMS-based assignments like the Tower of Hanoi and River Crossing puzzle. The researchers acknowledged that their focus on puzzles signifies a boundary to their work.

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The study concluded that current AI methodologies may have hit fundamental limitations. Models tested included OpenAI’s O3, Google’s Gemini Thinking, Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet-Thinking, and Deepseek-R1. Google and Deepseek will be approached for comments, while OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, opted not to provide a statement.

Discussing AI models’ capacity for “generalizable reasoning” or broader conclusions, the paper observes:

Andrew Rogoiski from the People-centered AI Institute at Surrey University remarked that Apple’s findings illustrate the industry remains grappling with AGI, suggesting that the current methods may have hit a “dead end.”

He added, “The revelation that the large model underperforms on complex tasks while faring well in simpler or medium-complexity contexts indicates we may be approaching a profound impasse.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

NASA astronauts share their experiences after nine months aboard the ISS

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Following an unexpected extended stay at the International Space Station lasting nine and a half months, NASA astronaut Suni Williams is back on Earth, enjoying herself once more.

“I actually went out and ran three miles yesterday,” Williams mentioned during a press conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. “So I’ll give myself a little pat on the back.”

Williams, along with her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, expressed their gratitude multiple times. Williams thanked the two astronauts who shared the Dragon Capsules of the SpaceX Crew, NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, and the medical team for helping them readjust to gravity.

These expressions of gratitude, much like many federal workers, were likely well received by individuals in the space agency who have faced uncertainty about their mission, direction, and ongoing employment since President Trump’s inauguration.

Williams and Wilmore embarked on a test flight of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft last June, initially planned as a brief visit to the International Space Station. However, due to issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system, NASA officials decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth, extending Williams and Wilmore’s stay until February.

Upon their return to Earth, they returned to a transitioning NASA, the trajectory of which remains uncertain.

Elon Musk and his government’s focus on efficiency aim to disrupt traditional bureaucratic structures. Meanwhile, SpaceX CEO Musk envisions sending settlers to Mars, sparking speculation about NASA’s current primary focus, the Artemis program, aimed at sending astronauts back to the moon.

In January, Williams and Wilmore found themselves caught in a political quarrel, as Trump and Musk insinuated they were left stranded in space to undermine favorable publicity for Musk, a Trump supporter during the presidential campaign, without providing any concrete details or evidence.

Both astronauts have publicly maintained that they were not abandoned in space for political reasons.

During a press conference at the Johnson Space Center, Williams, Wilmore, and Nick Haag, commanders of the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that brought them back home, steered clear of political controversy and emphasized the cooperation and shared purpose essential for their astronaut mission.

“When you link with a nation that stands by, cares about human spaceflight programs, and supports us and our endeavors,” Wilmore stated.

Haag noted that much of the turmoil on Earth remains distant:

“When we are working in space, politics fade away,” he remarked. “It’s solely focused on the mission.”

He highlighted Williams’ nearly six-month tenure as commander of the space station.

“The magic of human spaceflight lies in our ability to concentrate on positive elements that unite people together,” Haag concluded.

Wilmore, who led the Starliner Mission, refused to place blame solely on Boeing for the issues with the Starliner capsule that led to their prolonged stay. “I dislike that term,” he commented.

Wilmore stated that both Boeing and NASA share responsibility for the malfunctioning system.

“I won’t point fingers and place blame,” Wilmore mentioned. “I might have posed some questions, and the responses could have altered the outcome.”

NASA officials anticipate the next Starliner flight could take place later this year or the following year. When asked if they would be willing to embark on another such flight, both Williams and Wilmore quickly responded affirmatively.

“Because we will address all the challenges we encountered,” Wilmore affirmed. “We will resolve them. We will make it work. Boeing and NASA are fully committed to this endeavor.

“I concur,” added Williams. “Spacecraft are incredibly capable.”

The International Space Station’s operations are scheduled until 2030, at which point a specially designed SpaceX spacecraft will guide the station out of orbit into the Pacific Ocean. Recently, Musk has suggested that space stations should increase their utility and be discarded sooner, within a few years. However, the astronauts spoke enthusiastically about the research they conducted aboard.

Haag remarked on the significant advancements in complexity of experiments compared to his prior mission six years ago.

“It gives you the sense that we are currently in the golden age of space stations in terms of the return on investment,” Haag concluded.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Science is capable of understanding conscious experiences.

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Shutterstock/Jorm Sangsorn

If we could exchange bodies, we could see and feel the world just like everyone else. This idea was not only a favorite Hollywood plot, but was recalled by the 17th century philosopher and empiricist pioneer John Locke. He used it to explore one of the greatest philosophical challenges of the human condition. Are your subjective experiences the same as others?

For Locke, the appeal of the body exchange story is probably based on today’s endurable confidence. This means that it is impossible to objectively measure subjective experience. This yawning gap in science is a problem.

Let’s take a look at an example of pain that is notoriously difficult to measure objectively. Studies have shown that women have less pain relief than men, even with similar amounts of distress. Things are even worse for people in marginalized groups. Fortunately, Investigate now The neurologist methods can rewrite how we communicate the sensation of pain, and have a major impact on equalizing treatment. A new approach to answering the question of whether color perception is the same proves fruitful for everyone (see “Are we all considered the same color? We have an answer in the end”).

Trying to measure subjective energy levels can be called “woowoo.”

The perception of color is one thing, but what about more ambiguous concepts such as energy? When you try to measure someone’s subjective energy levels, you may feel it beyond the realm of research.

Still, as our cover story explains (see “New Understanding of Tiredness Uncovering How You Recover Your Energy”), looking fresh in mind-body connections, along with biological mechanisms for energy generation in our cells, reveals a new understanding of what may drive intangible sensations that appear to lack energy.

The coalescence of such science is worthy of a tentative celebration. At first, I work to work to understand what appears to be beyond objective measurements. It helps doctors to better understand and treat patients, and helps us all lead a better life. no Funny Friday– Style body swap is required.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Africa Experiences Record Highs of Internet Shutdowns as Access is “Weaponized”

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In 2024, Africa experienced a surge in digital blackouts, prompting many governments to disconnect millions of citizens from the internet over the past decade. A report by Internet Rights Group Access Now and #Keepiton revealed a record 21 internet shutdowns in 15 countries, surpassing previous years. Countries like Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritius, as well as repeat offenders like Burundi, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, and Kenya, were cited for these actions. Authorities in Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania were also implicated, along with non-state actors like militias. Telecommunications and internet service providers that comply with government shutdown orders are complicit in violating people’s rights, according to Felicia Anthonio, #Keepiton Campaign Manager at Access Now.

Most closures were linked to conflict, protests, and political instability, with restrictions often imposed during elections. The global trend of escalating internet shutdowns continued, with 296 closures in 54 countries in 2024 compared to 283 closures in 39 countries the previous year. Access to the internet has faced its worst challenges since 2016, reflecting a pattern of weaponization and restriction of internet access worldwide.

The impact of these closures on individuals and communities during times of turmoil and conflict was highlighted in the report. While some African countries had endured year-long internet restrictions by the end of 2024, others faced ongoing limitations like in Uganda and Equatorial Guinea. However, efforts to reverse this trend were seen in the passing of a landmark resolution by the African Human and People’s Rights Committee in March 2024.

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Despite efforts to address the issue, election-related internet shutdowns persisted in Africa and other regions in 2024, even after the adoption of the ACHPR resolution. Antonio emphasized the importance of civil society advocacy in holding governments accountable for these shutdowns. While progress may be slow, there have been instances where authorities reconsidered their shutdown orders, offering a glimmer of hope for a more open and connected future.

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK Three Network Experiences Massive Outage Impacting Thousands of Customers

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In the UK, thousands of people are currently experiencing issues making or receiving calls due to a network outage affecting Three.

Downdetector, a website that tracks outages, has received over 10,000 reports of problems across mobile networks on Thursday.

Customers of smaller mobile providers like Smarty and iD Mobile are also impacted as they rely on Three’s network.

While Three is working on resolving the issue, there is no specific timeline for a fix. iD Mobile has informed customers that engineers have identified and isolated the problem.

Three has approximately 10.5 million customers in the UK, with many expressing frustration on social media due to the disruption.

Some customers have reported missing important appointments or feeling stranded due to the inability to make calls.

It is uncertain if customers will receive compensation for the disruption, with Ofcom suggesting that refunds may be appropriate.

Following approval from the Competition and Markets Authority, Three’s merger with Vodafone has been finalized in a £16.5bn deal.

In a statement on X, Three acknowledged the issue with voice services and assured customers that data and emergency calls will not be affected.

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iD Mobile also confirmed the network-wide issue on X, with efforts underway to fix it promptly. Apologies were extended for the inconvenience caused.

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK experiences emergence of Glyphosate-resistant weeds for the first time

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Italian ryegrass is a common weed in agricultural crops.

John Cousins

Weeds resistant to the herbicide glyphosate have been discovered for the first time in the UK. The species in question is called Italian ryegrass and is very widespread in the UK, although chemical-free specimens have only been found on one farm in Kent.

Glyphosate says it's helping farmers adopt more environmentally friendly farming practices known as regenerative agriculture John Cousins a weed management expert at consulting firm ADAS. His team confirmed that the plants were resistant in greenhouse tests.

“It could impact the ability to transition agricultural systems,” Cousins ​​said. “Herbicide resistance to glyphosate is a real issue of great importance to farms.”

In the UK, farmers primarily use glyphosate to remove all vegetation in a field before planting. This helps avoid tillage, which compromises soil health, increases erosion and reduces carbon storage.

Minimizing soil disturbance is one of the key efforts of regenerative agriculture, along with crop rotation and ground cover maintenance.

“Glyphosate is relatively environmentally friendly compared to other pesticides,” he says. Helen Metcalf At Rothamsted Research Institute, Harpenden, UK. “It has very little bioaccumulation and low toxicity. It also supports regenerative practices such as minimal tillage, which is very good for soil health. There may be benefits.”

He says weeds are a big problem for farmers. paul nave at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. “We lose more crop yields to weeds than to pests and pathogens.”

Around the world, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) Glyphosate resistance is evolving and it is occurring independently in hundreds of different locations. Such weeds are a major problem for many farmers in the United States and Argentina, where crops developed to be immune to glyphosate have been grown on a large scale for years.

“But the fact is, this hasn't become a big problem, considering the first incident was 30 years ago,” Neve said.

Nave said resistant weeds are a big problem on individual farms, but they spread more slowly than insects that are resistant to pesticides, for example. Precautions such as cleaning farm equipment and removing seeds can slow the spread.

Farmers also need to employ a variety of weed control measures rather than relying solely on glyphosate, Metcalf says. “We found that if farmers focused on weed control and implemented all the alternatives to glyphosate, profits could start to recover after five to 10 years,” she says.

Cousins' team increased its surveillance in the UK in 2018, testing more than 300 samples of Italian ryegrass. He believes the resistant plants on the Kent farm were almost certainly evolved there, rather than being brought in from elsewhere.

He also said the fact that resistance appears to have taken longer to develop in the UK than in other countries means that British farmers have not genetically modified or conventionally bred crops to be resistant to glyphosate. They also think that this may be because they are not growing crops that are not cultivated. In such crops, glyphosate can be applied to control weeds before planting as well as during crop growth.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Bronze Age Briton Experiences Brutal Attack and Cannibalism

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New research has revealed that during the early Bronze Age in England, at least 37 people may have been “systematically dismembered” and eaten in the aftermath of “extremely violent” attacks.

The study, published in the journal ancient, revealed that more than 3,000 bones were excavated from a 50-foot hole at Charterhouse Warren in southwest England.

The bones, which were first discovered in the 1970s by cave explorers, showed an “abundance of cut marks,” prompting researchers to conduct further analysis.

Lead author Rick Schulting, a professor of scientific and prehistoric archeology at the University of Oxford, described the violence inflicted on the bodies as exceptional, with victims being killed with blows to the head, systematically dismembered, skinned, and crushed.

The study suggests that this extreme violence likely occurred in a single event between 2210 BC and 2010 BC, making it a unique example of violence in early Bronze Age Britain.

An example of cranial trauma in a Bronze Age skull recovered from Charterhouse Warren.
Antiquity Publications Ltd / Cambridge University Press

This act of violence was likely not isolated and may have sparked a cycle of revenge within and between communities in the Early Bronze Age, according to Mr. Schulting.

The motives behind such attacks are difficult to determine, but the study suggests that tensions may have escalated from accusations of theft and witchcraft, leading to an uncontrollable spiral of violence.

Victims may have been eaten to dehumanize and treat them like animals, involving a large number of aggressors based on the number of victims and the dismemberment process, the study noted.

The bones were found alongside animal fossils, indicating early evidence of slaughter, which the researchers believe was driven by hunger as the attackers had access to plenty of food.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Spectrum Review – Reliving the 1980s with Tactile Gaming Experiences

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TThe first time I played with a ZX Spectrum was at the Stockport branch of Debenhams. Back in 1983, it had a great home computer section, which quickly turned into a kind of free daycare center for bored 13-year-old boys. You can be there for hours typing rude Basic programs into the machine’s array while hasty staff members scramble around trying to stop it from running. However, some computers were running games for customers to try. There I encountered Manic Miner, a legendary platformer with bizarre flashing visuals and surreal enemies. The Speccy game looked completely unique thanks to the machine’s unusual way of limiting its 8×8 sprite map to two colors. This meant that objects moving on the screen were typically patchwork collections of colored pixels, creating an effect called attribute collision. Somehow it was ugly and beautiful – and it still is.

Unboxing Spectrum, Retro Games Ltd’s latest offering of modern vintage hardware, is a surprisingly nostalgic experience. It looks exactly like the original machine I remember. It’s a black board with rubber keys, each of which displays basic programming commands as well as numbers and letters. “Rem,” “Rand,” and “Gosub” are mystical words from the era of home programming. There’s a USB cable to connect (but you’ll need your own USB plug) and an HDMI lead, but no joystick. This machine is compatible with most USB gamepads. You just need to configure the button yourself. It’s a little time consuming, but worth it if you can’t stand using rubber buttons to control games.




Classic… Head Over Heels by Spectrum. Photo: Retro Games Ltd

Once you load it, you’ll be presented with a modern home screen displaying a carousel of built-in games. There are 48 to choose from, from classic titles like The Lords of Midnight, Head Over Heels, Manic Miner, and The Hobbit to the latest titles created by modern programmers in the Speccy fan scene. These are fascinating projects, including the top-down sci-fi blaster Alien Girl: Skirmish Edition and the tomb raiding romp Shovel Adventure. If you run out of internal power, you can also download Spectrum Game Roms from your PC to a USB stick, plug it in, and run it here. However, if you’re not a modern open source fan and are looking for a classic Speccy title – a game made with – then you’re in questionable legal territory.

As before, there are a number of screen settings so you can add CRT effects to give you a more authentic 1980s TV experience, but honestly, you can’t watch “Horace Goes Skiing” on a 55-inch LED display. There’s nothing to reduce the intense confusion when playing. What surprised me is that these games still have a lot of visual appeal. The students and teachers wandering the halls of School Days are full of personality, from a hulking bully to an aging history teacher. Sandy White’s Ant Attack maintains its rugged beauty, with geometric walls and giant, scurrying ants giving it an old-fashioned sense of alienation and fear. Ocean’s relatively sophisticated isometric adventures The Great Escape and Where Time Stood Still pack an incredible amount of detail into their largely black-and-white worlds. It’s nice to see them again.




The legendary… Spectrum Manic Minor. Photo: Retro Games Ltd

As with most other retro game consoles, modern game features like save points (which are a bit difficult to navigate but work) and the ability to rewind to the seconds before you got hit by a car in Trashman has been added. . But I also like the fact that every time I select a game, the original illustrated loading screen appears for a few seconds. These pictorial delights were an important part of the initial experience, as the tape would be watched for up to five minutes before it was finally loaded. What matters is whether they are preserved or not.

The original computing power of the ZX Spectrum is also retained. Selecting classic mode switches the console to the old boot screen and allows you to actually program. This is a feature that I fully utilize.




Classic Spectrum Basic program. Photo: Retro Games Ltd

Who is this for? Obviously the target audience is people like me who were there in the beginning and remember playing a lot of these games 40 years ago. Indeed, there are free Spectrum emulators available online if you know where to look. You don’t mind risking malware infection every time you search a ROM site. But part of the nostalgic gaming experience is sitting in front of the TV and watching recreations of machines you remember. And in “The Spectrum,” you also get the legendary rubber button, which presses under your finger when you hammer the leg sweep button in “The Way of the Exploding Fist.” I feel it.

Spectrum is available now for £89.99

Source: www.theguardian.com

Microsoft’s Cloud Business Experiences Double-Digit Growth as AI Innovation Propels Company Forward

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Microsoft reported better-than-expected profits on Wednesday, driven by growth in its Azure cloud business, as five of the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants reveal their quarterly results this week.

“AI-driven transformation is reshaping jobs, outputs, and workflows across all roles, functions, and business processes,” stated Satya Nadella, the company’s CEO, in a press release. Nadella mentioned on a earnings call that Microsoft’s AI business is set to surpass a $10 billion annual run rate next quarter, making it the fastest-growing business in company history to achieve this milestone.

Microsoft’s focus on artificial intelligence garnered attention, with significant investments in Azure, the company’s rapidly expanding division. According to a press release, the division’s revenue grew by 22%. A day earlier, Google’s parent company Alphabet reported a nearly 35% year-on-year growth in its cloud business, reaching $11.35 billion, surpassing analyst forecasts.

Nadella announced that Azure now boasts 39,000 customers, marking an 80% increase year over year. The company has established AI data centers in over 60 regions globally, and Azure-OpenAI usage has more than doubled in the last six months.

The stock prices surged in after-hours trading. Earnings per share were $3.30, exceeding the anticipated $3.10, with revenue standing at $65.59 billion compared to the expected $64.51 billion.

Microsoft’s financial outlay has risen significantly with its emphasis on AI. On Wednesday, the company’s data center finance leases surpassed $108 billion in pre-commencement lease payments.

With soaring investments, Microsoft’s power requirements have soared in recent years. As part of a project to power its extensive data center fleet, the company is revamping Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, known for a partial reactor meltdown in 1979. Microsoft has struck a deal to acquire all power generation capacity from the plant over the next two decades.

However, investors remain cautious about the significant AI bets made by tech giants and seek greater clarity on when these investments will yield returns. The “Magnificent Seven” companies – Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla – with a combined market capitalization of $12 trillion and representing one-fifth of the S&P 500 index, have underperformed the market over the past quarter, with a cumulative 3.5% decline since July.

In a note to investors, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives characterized this quarter as a pivotal test for Microsoft and Azure amid heightened competition in the AI ecosystem.

“Our assessments of Microsoft this quarter are positive as we believe Redmond is taking the lead and accelerating Azure cloud deals with robust momentum into 2025 and beyond,” Ives remarked, referencing Microsoft’s headquarters location in Washington state. “We maintain an ‘outperform’ rating.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hot Gulf of Mexico experiences unusually calm hurricane season

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summary

  • Despite warm ocean temperatures, hurricane season is on a lull.
  • This season is expected to be much more active than usual and is off to a record-breaking start.
  • Still, the unofficial peak of hurricane season is on September 10, so scientists wouldn’t be surprised if cyclonic activity picks up again soon.

The Gulf of Mexico is scorching hot, but hurricane season is on a lull (at least temporarily) — a surprise to researchers who say there’s a lot brewing in the Atlantic, but no storms are showing up on radar.

The National Hurricane Center said on Friday No tropical cyclone activity expected for at least a week.

“Nothing is happening, which is extremely quiet and odd given the warm temperatures in the Atlantic and the La Niña climate pattern,” said Philip Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University who specializes in seasonal hurricane forecasting in the Atlantic basin. “It’s a head-scratching situation right now.”

The La Niña weather phenomenon that scientists are predicting will develop this fall is closely linked to hurricanes, as is warming water in the Atlantic Ocean, with ocean heat content in the Gulf of Mexico at its highest since 2013, according to data from the University of Miami.

Sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic are trending about 1.8 degrees above normal. According to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalysis InstrumentThis trend is especially evident in the Gulf of Mexico.

Warmer oceans increase hurricane energy through heat, increasing the risk of storms intensifying rapidly.

“We have plenty of fuel. It’s not going to hinder our season,” Klotzbach said.

Hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. Hurricane scientists had predicted this year’s hurricane season would be record-breaking, but it got off to a record-breaking start in June with Hurricane Beryl being the first Category 4 storm to form in the Atlantic. Then, the slow-moving Hurricane Debbie dumped incredible rain on several southeastern states in early August. But since then, it’s been relatively quiet.

Steve Bowen, chief scientific officer at global reinsurance broker Gallagher Re, said weather trends off the coast of West Africa, including a strengthening monsoon, may have prevented tropical storms from developing in the Atlantic basin.

But that may not last long: The unofficial peak of hurricane season is September 10.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we get what’s called a backloading season with pretty good activity through September, October, and possibly November,” Bowen said.

Although things have calmed down recently, scientists believe this season has been quite active so far.

“We’ve already had two landfalls in the United States,” Bowen said. “Typically, the first major hurricane doesn’t form until August 31st. … Just looking at the statistics, we’re well ahead of normal.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Elon Musk’s SpaceX experiences technical difficulties at beginning of interview with Donald Trump

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Just as the much-anticipated conversation between Donald Trump and Elon Musk was set to begin, users of X (formerly Twitter) were met with a message stating, “This space is no longer available.”

X’s livestreaming audio feature, Spaces, was supposed to host the conversation, but technical difficulties prevented it from working. Clicking on a link to Trump’s inactive account, @RealDonaldTrump, caused the site to freeze and become unusable, leading to complaints from users about being unable to join and browsers crashing.

Musk, the owner of X, posted that it seemed the platform had been hit with a massive DDOS attack. However, the rest of X seemed to be functioning without issues.

The interview was scheduled for 8pm ET, but due to resolving technical problems, Musk announced a 30-minute delay. Eventually, users were able to join the broadcast by clicking a link.

When the hold music on X stopped at 8:30 p.m. ET, a rustling sound could be heard from Trump’s microphone, leading to 10 minutes of silence before the interview finally began. X showed a high listener count of over 1 million as the interview progressed.

Musk mentioned that the DDOS attack had been mostly overcome, stating, “There is strong opposition to listening to President Trump, as evidenced by this massive attack.”

Trump expressed satisfaction with the incident, calling it an honor alongside millions of others.

This mishap is particularly damaging for X’s image as a tech innovator and a reliable advertising platform. The company recently filed a lawsuit against major advertisers for monopolistic practices.

Despite some challenges, Musk continues to position X as a platform at the forefront of politics and free speech.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Despite price cuts, Tesla experiences second consecutive quarter of sales decline

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Despite price cuts and low-interest financing offers, Tesla’s global sales have declined for two consecutive quarters, indicating weakening demand for its products and electric vehicles in general.

The company, based in Austin, Texas, reported sales of 436,956 vehicles from April to June, a 4.8% decrease from the same period last year. While this beat analyst expectations of 436,000 units, the demand for electric vehicles is slowing globally, with Tesla facing more challenges due to its older model lineup and higher prices.

Despite the decline, Tesla remains the top-selling electric car maker in the world, selling over 910,000 cars in the first half of the year. The company also managed to sell more vehicles than it produced in the second quarter, leading to reduced inventory levels.

Tesla’s sales decline comes amidst increased competition from other automakers, both established and emerging, aiming to gain market share in the EV industry. The company is set to report second-quarter earnings on July 23.

While sales were primarily driven by the Model 3 and Model Y, the more expensive models like the X, S, and new Cybertruck saw limited sales. Price cuts introduced by Tesla in April did not prevent the sales decrease, with the company also reducing the price of its “full self-driving” system during the quarter.

Analysts attribute Tesla’s sales challenges to the saturation of early adopters owning EVs and skepticism among mainstream buyers about EV capabilities. The company’s minimal model lineup changes and price cuts leading to decreased used car prices have impacted its sales performance.

Analyst Dan Ives views the second-quarter sales as a positive turnaround for Tesla, suggesting that the company’s cost-cutting measures have improved its profitability. While Tesla expects slower revenue growth this year, the outlook for the company seems optimistic following the recent sales performance.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tesla experiences decrease in sales following a tumultuous week and global price reductions.

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Tesla has reduced prices on three of its five models in the U.S. and globally, including in China and Germany, due to declining sales, a Cybertruck recall, and increasing competition in the electric vehicle market. The price cuts have affected the Model Y, Model X, and Model S, while the Model 3 and Cybertruck prices remain unchanged.

The Model Y now starts at $42,990, the Model S at $72,990, and the Model X at $77,990 following the price reductions. Tesla also slashed the price of its “fully self-driving” software in the U.S. from $12,000 to $8,000.

In China, the starting price of the updated Model 3 was reduced by 14,000 yuan ($1,930) to 231,900 yuan ($32,000). Meanwhile, in Germany, the price of the rear-wheel-drive Model 3 dropped to 40,990 euros ($43,670.75) from 42,990 euros.

The price cuts extend to many other countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as Tesla tries to boost sales following a decline in global car deliveries in the first quarter of the year.

The series of price reductions come amidst challenges for the company, including a Cybertruck recall due to issues with the gas pedal. This incident has added to Elon Musk’s recent troubles, with Tesla stock dropping and criticism from investors mounting.

Analysts are awaiting the release of the Model 2, a smaller electric car expected to cost around $25,000. Reports of Musk canceling the project have created uncertainty, but he has denied these claims.

Tesla is set to announce its first quarter results soon, with expectations of a significant drop in sales compared to the previous year, marking the first decline in quarterly sales in about four years for the company.

Contributed by Kari Paul report

Source: www.theguardian.com

McDonald’s experiences technology issues in UK, Australia, Japan, and China

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Several countries, including the UK and Australia, are experiencing a “technical outage” at McDonald’s restaurants. The fast food chain denies any cybersecurity attack.

Affected services are reported in Australia, the UK, Japan, and China, with restaurants, drive-thrus, and online ordering experiencing issues. A global spokesperson for McDonald’s stated they are working to resolve the problem.

The spokesperson mentioned, “We understand that we experienced a technology outage that impacted our restaurant. The issue is currently being resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Notably, this issue is not related to any cybersecurity event.”

A spokesperson for McDonald’s UK confirmed that the power outage affecting restaurants in the UK and Ireland has been resolved. The Down Detector site in the UK reported over 600 app outages on Friday morning.

In Australia, a customer mentioned they were unable to make purchases at the drive-thru or online. McDonald’s Australia acknowledged that the issue is impacting their restaurants nationwide.


McDonald’s Japan also faced a “system failure” affecting its stores. An apology was issued on social media, stating service will be restored soon.


According to a spokesperson, many McDonald’s restaurants in Japan stopped accepting orders due to the system failure. McDonald’s in Japan operates around 3,000 stores.


In China, the hashtag “McDonald’s collapse” trended on social media. McDonald’s, with over 5,000 stores, faced challenges compared to their rival KFC with nearly double the number of outlets.

McDonald’s acknowledged and resolved the issues in various regions but encountered some customers opting for KFC instead. Other countries like Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden also reported problems.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia experiences its fifth major bleaching event in just eight years

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Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is experiencing significant heat-induced coral bleaching once again, as confirmed by the country’s government on Friday.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, responsible for conservation and protection efforts for the reef, stated that widespread bleaching is occurring due to increased heat stress over the summer.

Scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science reported that this is the fifth major bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef since 2016.

Coral bleaching poses a serious threat to coral reefs worldwide, triggered by abnormal conditions such as high or cold seawater temperatures and increased acidity. When corals expel photosynthetic algae, they turn white, making them more vulnerable to disease.

While corals can recover from bleaching events, frequent occurrences make it difficult for reefs to bounce back. Climate change is causing ocean temperatures to rise, leading to more frequent bleaching events globally.

The current mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef is consistent with reports of bleaching in coral reefs in the Northern Hemisphere, exacerbated by El Niño and climate change, according to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

On March 5, researchers observed large-scale coral bleaching at a site in the southern Great Barrier Reef.Renata Ferrari / Australian Institute of Marine Science

The agency, in collaboration with scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, conducted an aerial survey covering nearly two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to assess the severity of the bleaching event.

Further research and underwater assessments are necessary to gauge the impact of the ongoing bleaching event, with plans for additional aerial surveys in other reef areas.

While heat stress has not affected the entire reef, variations exist in the extent of bleaching among different areas, as highlighted by Neil Cantin, a senior research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Coral affected by coral bleaching (left), Arlington Reef, Central Barrier Reef, February 27.Grace Frank / Australian Institute of Marine Science

Since the first recorded bleaching event in 1998, with subsequent events in 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022, it is clear that coral bleaching incidents are becoming more frequent, posing a significant threat to the Great Barrier Reef.

Efforts are underway to understand the overall condition of the reef and implement effective restoration measures guided by aerial surveys and underwater observations.

David Wachenfeld, the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s research program director, emphasized the urgent need to address climate change to protect the Great Barrier Reef effectively.

“Protecting coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef from climate change requires global emissions reductions, best practices in local management, interventions to increase climate and reef resilience, and ongoing research and development,” Wachenfeld stated.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Meta platform experiences widespread outage on Facebook and Instagram

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Facebook and Instagram are currently experiencing significant issues as of Tuesday afternoon in the UK, with users unable to log in and feeds not updating. The problem was first noticed around 3:30pm GMT.

Interestingly, Google also faced login problems at the same time, indicating a potential common cause for the outage affecting these two major tech companies that manage their own infrastructure.

Meta’s status page highlighted various disruptions, including a major issue with groups’ admin center and Facebook Login, a service that enables users to sign in to third-party platforms using their Facebook credentials, causing outages on other websites.

By 4pm GMT, Meta updated its status page to show an “unknown” status for most services except the Messenger API for Instagram, while services like WhatsApp and Facebook Ads Transparency page were still operational. However, the meta status page itself stopped working at 4:15 p.m.

In a tweet, Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged the ongoing issues and stated that they were working to resolve them.

Google’s ad status page confirmed an outage in its Ad Manager at 3:30pm GMT and mentioned investigating other reported issues. However, Google’s consumer services like search and YouTube were largely unaffected, although login problems did impact some corporate clients, such as the Guardian newspaper.

Systemic internet issues appear to be the underlying cause, with users of various platforms like X and Microsoft’s Teams also facing sporadic difficulties.

This outage is the first major Facebook outage of 2021, attributed to a configuration error in the BGP protocol, which inadvertently removed its address from the internet communication system between servers. Despite a swift discovery, it took several hours to implement and rectify the fix, compounded by the lack of remote access for engineers to resolve the issue.

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Both Meta and Google have been approached for official comments regarding the ongoing disruptions.

Source: www.theguardian.com

ShareChat experiences significant decrease in valuation following new funding round

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ShareChat is in the final stages of discussions to secure about $50 million in new funding that would bring the startup’s valuation below $1.5 billion, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Existing backers including Temasek and Tencent are among the investors in advanced stages of talks to invest in the new round, the sources said, asking not to be identified as the matter is private. Stated. ShareChat has been in talks with several potential new investors this year, and one of the potential investors the startup has engaged says that ShareChat is expected to receive a high valuation compared to its current low revenue. Many investors are hesitant to take this opportunity because of the current situation.

The terms of the negotiations are still ongoing and could change slightly, according to people familiar with the matter, but ShareChat’s current valuation is less than $1.5 billion, which is the same as when ShareChat raised funding early last year. This is a significant drop from its valuation of $4.9 billion.

The round could be completed as early as the end of the year. ShareChat did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning. Temasek declined to comment, citing its own policies.

The loss-making Bengaluru-headquartered startup, which operates a social network and counts X, Snap and Tiger Global among its backers, has raised more than $1.4 billion so far, according to venture intelligence platform Tracxn.

Amid the TikTok ban, ShareChat’s failed bet in India’s short video space forced it to raise capital and prompted a price cut. (TechCrunch exclusively reported earlier that in late 2020 and early 2021, X considered acquiring ShareChat in a $2 billion deal.)

sharechat metric

Sensor Tower estimates daily active users of Google’s Android platform in India (shared with TC by industry executives). In an official statement, ShareChat claims to have over 300 million monthly active users.

ShareChat, which launched short video app Moj in mid-2020, doubled its position in the category by acquiring MXTakaTak, a video app in the Times Internet portfolio, for more than $600 million. But industry analysts say YouTube and Instagram have filled TikTok’s void as creators migrate to these much larger platforms.

Eight-year-old ShareChat is scrambling to find ways to grow revenue and cut expenses after its two co-founders left earlier this year to start a new startup. It has tried a series of initiatives, including a fantasy sports app and a live voice chat service. However, sales were still lower at the end of the fiscal year ending in March. $65 million. The company plans to cut another 15% to 20% of its workforce in the coming weeks, another person said.

Many investors around the world are devaluing their holdings in startups, as the prolonged economic slowdown has also reduced the valuations of nearly all publicly traded technology companies. Prosus recently lowered Byju’s valuation to less than $3 billion from $22 billion in early 2022. Byju’s has raised more than $5 billion through equity and debt.

Source: techcrunch.com