Tag Archives: france

Asteroid Explodes “Bomb-Like” Over France in Rare Event

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Asteroids Fragmenting in Unforeseen Ways

Wikimedia/CC-BY-SA-4.0

A rare asteroid explosion occurred in France two years ago, raising alarms regarding the planet’s defense against certain rocky bodies.

On February 13, 2023, a small asteroid named 2023 CX1 entered Earth’s atmosphere, creating a streak across the Normandy sky. This event marked one of the rare instances of meteors monitored before atmospheric entry, happening approximately 7 hours ago.

Bright fireballs resulted from the event, with multiple meteorites collected from the ground. Only two asteroids were monitored, and debris was recovered from their descent. The second one was located in Germany in 2024.

Analysis of footage capturing the asteroid’s descent by Aurian Egal from Western University of Ontario and her team revealed remarkable findings. While most asteroids disintegrate upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, the 2023 CX1 maintained its integrity almost entirely until it reached an altitude of 28 km, where it exploded with an energy equivalent to about 0.029 kilotons, resembling 29 tons of TNT.

“It resembled a bomb,” Egal noted, emphasizing that it was “a singular blast that generated a single spherical shockwave, rather than numerous explosions throughout its course.”

At just 72 centimeters, asteroid 2023 CX1 is roughly the size of a beach ball, which posed no significant threat to the ground. However, should a larger asteroid explode in a similar fashion, the potential for damage could be greater compared to one that disintegrates more gradually in the atmosphere.

In 2020, the Novomest Meteor in Slovenia lost around 80% of its mass due to a singular explosion.

This type of fragmentation poses an even greater threat,” Egal warned. “If a larger asteroid exhibits similar behavior, the consequences could be severe. Evacuations may be necessary for extensive areas surrounding the predicted impact site.”

Meteorite fragments of asteroid 2023 CX1 discovered in February 2023 near Dieppe, Normandy, northwest France

Lou Benoist/AFP via Getty Images

The exact reason for the asteroid’s survival at such lower altitudes in the atmosphere remains somewhat enigmatic but may pertain to its origin. 2023 CX1 belongs to the L-chondrite category, likely formed from a precursor body in the inner asteroid belt known as Massalia and contributing to approximately one-third of Earth’s rock samples.

“We observe multiple impact veins within the meteorite,” remarked the eyewitness, highlighting its significant collision history.

This implies that vigilance is imperative for monitoring similar L-chondrite asteroids, especially larger ones, according to Thomas Burbin from Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts. “Given that this type of meteorite is quite prevalent, it raises considerable concern,” he elaborated. “L-chondrites can inflict more damage than one might anticipate.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Lawmakers Call for Criminal Investigation of TikTok in France

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French legislators are urging state prosecutors to look into whether Tiktok is jeopardizing the safety of its younger users.

Socialist MP Arthur Delaporte leads a six-month investigation by the French Parliament into the psychological effects of Tiktok on minors, citing testimonies from families, social media leaders, and influencers.

He stated in an interview with French Fos: “The evidence is clear. Tiktok intentionally endangers the health and safety of its users, which is why we have brought this matter to the attention of Paris prosecutors.”

He added, “This may also represent perjury, especially when Tiktok executives claimed they were unaware of the situation.”

It will be up to the prosecutor to determine if an investigation should be initiated into the widely used short video platform.

The French Parliamentary Committee was created following the 2024 French lawsuit to assess Tiktok and its psychological effects.

The Final Report from the Parliamentary Committee, released on Thursday, described Tiktok as akin to “slow poison” for children. Laure Miller, a centrist MP co-leading the investigation, remarked that Tiktok is a “sea of harmful content” that algorithmically targets vulnerable children.

The report suggests that social media use should be entirely prohibited for those under 15 in France, and that a “digital curfew” should be imposed for users aged 15 to 18.

Additionally, it calls for a large public relations initiative aimed at “irresponsible parents” who fail to supervise their children’s social media activities, along with the creation of a new offense for “digital negligence.”

Delaporte emphasized that these recommendations aim to stimulate societal discussions. He stated, “The primary focus is on European regulations and how to compel platforms to modify their algorithms.”

A spokesperson for Tiktok responded, “We strongly refute the misleading claims from the platform committee that aims to blame us for broader industry challenges. Tiktok has over 70 features and settings tailored to support teenagers and their families.”

An executive from Tiktok, a subsidiary of the Chinese company Bytedance, informed the French parliamentary committee that the app employs AI-powered moderation, which last year successfully identified 98% of content violating its terms of service in France.

Emmanuel Macron’s administration has expressed interest in a ban on social media for children and young people, following Australia’s development of landmark legislation prohibiting access for individuals under 16.

Geraldine, whose 18-year-old daughter tragically took her own life, told Agence France-Presse that she discovered a self-harm video her daughter had posted on Tiktok after her passing.

“Tiktok didn’t cause our daughter’s death, but we hold Tiktok accountable for its inadequate online moderation, which plunged her deeper into her darker impulses.”

Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report

Source: www.theguardian.com

France implements ban on mobile phones in middle schools

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France has implemented stricter rules on the use of mobile phones in middle schools, with students aged 11 to 15 required to keep their devices in lockers or pouches during school hours and can only access them again at the end of the day.

The Education Minister informed the Senate that the goal was for children to be completely separated from their phones throughout the school day in all French middle schools starting in September.

Elisabeth Borne stated, “Given the widespread concerns about the negative impact of screen time, this measure is crucial for the well-being and academic success of children in school.”

In 2018, a ban was imposed on mobile phone use for children in all middle schools in France – Colege. Phones must remain switched off in school bags and cannot be used anywhere on school premises, including during breaks.

Schools have reported positive outcomes such as increased social interactions, more physical activity, decreased bullying, and improved focus. However, some students still find ways to access their phones, such as sneaking into the restroom or watching videos during breaks.

The government is now requiring children to be completely separated from their devices for the entire school day, enforcing a “digital suspension.” Pilot schemes at around 100 middle schools over the past six months have shown that children have been willing to surrender their phones upon arrival.

Mobile devices are prohibited at elementary schools as well.

Borne informed the Senate, “Feedback from the trials has been overwhelmingly positive, with strong support from parents and teachers for enhancing the school environment.”

In response to concerns about costs and logistics from some unions, Borne stated that principals can choose the format for implementing the ban, such as lockers or pouches.

Referring to a recent study by the National Council of France, Borne mentioned, “Currently, young people spend an average of five hours a day on screens but only three hours a week reading books.”

Last year, a scientific report commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron recommended that children should not use smartphones until age 13 and should not have access to social media platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, and Snapchat until age 18.

According to the report, children should not own phones before age 11 and should only have phones without internet access until age 13.

Macron expressed his support for measures to limit children’s screen time.

The largest education union in England called for a statutory ban on mobile phone use in schools, with a survey revealing that 99.8% of elementary schools and 90% of middle schools in Britain have implemented some form of ban.

Source: www.theguardian.com

France Claims US Refuses Entry to French Scientists Due to Disagreement Over Trump’s Policies

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According to the French government, the opinion he expressed about the Trump administration’s policies on academic research prevented French scientists from entering the United States this month.

French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philip Baptist explained that the move is worried.

“Freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedom are values ​​that we continue to proudly support,” Baptist said in a statement. “I defend the possibility that all French researchers can be faithful to them in compliance with the law, wherever they are in the world.”

Baptist did not identify the scientist whose backs were turned away, but said the academic works at the publicly funded National Science Research Center in France, where he was traveling to a conference near Houston when border officials stopped him.

US authorities refused to enter the scientist and later deported him as his phone included exchanging messages with colleagues and friends.

It was not immediately clear why border authorities forced the scientists to stop, why they looked up the contents of his phone, or why they found the conversation undesirable.

Customs officials are permitted to search for mobile phones, computers, cameras or other electronic devices from travelers across the border. According to US Customs and Border Protectionthough agents say such cases are rare. In 2024, less than 0.01% of international travelers who arrived searched for electronics, according to the agency.

Baptist’s office declined to provide further details regarding the incident. A spokesman for the US Embassy in Paris also declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the National Center for Science and Research said the scientists who were turned away did not want to talk to the media and declined to comment further.

Agence France-Presse News Agency Reported previously The scientist refused to enter the United States.

Minister Baptist has been particularly vocal over the past few weeks by denounceing the threat to academic freedom in the United States. There, the Trump administration’s funding cuts and layoffs target higher education, scientific research and the federal government’s own scientific workforce.

Baptist urges French universities and research institutions to welcome researchers looking to leave the United States.

“Europe must be there to protect research and welcome talent that can contribute to its success,” Baptist said. I wrote it on social media After meeting with his European counterparts in Warsaw on Wednesday, he dealt with the “threat to free research in the United States.”

Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the American advocacy group, the Union of Concern Scientists, said he was worried that incidents involving French scientists would have a calm effect on cross-border research cooperation.

“My fear is that these are more and more early cases,” Dr. Jones said. “I’ve heard from my network that people are very concerned about all sorts of international travel in either direction.”

“It should be worrying for all of us,” she added. When scientists restrict movement to conferences and other events designed to advance research, she said “it’s the masses that suffer.”

Segoren le stradic Reports of contributions.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Le journal français poursuit X pour avoir prétendument distribué du contenu gratuitement

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A number of prominent French newspapers have declared their intention to take legal action against social media platform X for freely distributing their content.

The collective lawsuit, spearheaded by Le Figaro, Les Echos, Le Parisien, Le Monde, Telerama, Courier International, Huffington Post, Malsherbes, and Nouvel Obs, accuses the platform, previously known as Twitter, of violating “neighboring rights” mandated under a European directive adopted into French law.

The newspapers and Agence France-Presse (AFP) had previously sought an emergency injunction against Company X due to a lack of negotiations.

The Paris Tribunal has granted media companies two months to provide commercial data to evaluate the revenue earned from their content by X.

In their statement, the newspapers criticized X for failing to comply with the court’s decision and showing a continued disregard for legal obligations.

France has been at the forefront of efforts to protect publishing rights and media revenues from tech giants that share and display news content without compensation.

To address this issue, the EU introduced neighboring rights to allow news media to claim compensation for the use of their content.

France’s implementation of the neighboring rights directive has made it a test case for EU regulations, with major tech companies like Google and Facebook eventually agreeing to pay French media outlets for displaying their articles in search results.

A lawyer for X argued that the social network, based on user-generated content rather than published content, is not subject to the Neighboring Rights Directive, unlike Google and Facebook.

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In a controversial post last year, X commented on the AFP incident, questioning the demand for payment from them for traffic redirected to their sites where they earn ad revenue.

Attempts to reach X for comment have been made.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Believes Arrests in France are ‘Misguided’

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Pavel Durov, founder of the messaging app Telegram, currently under investigation in France, criticized French authorities for not addressing their concerns with the company directly and described his arrest as “misguided.”

In his first comments since being detained last month, Durov refuted claims that the app was an “anarchist haven.”

The billionaire, originally from Russia, expressed surprise over the investigation as French authorities had access to a hotline he helped establish and could contact Telegram’s EU representative anytime.


“Countries typically address grievances with internet services by filing a lawsuit against the service directly,” he stated.

“Resorting to outdated laws to prosecute a CEO for actions carried out by third parties on a platform he oversees is an ineffective approach.”

While acknowledging that Telegram is not without flaws, Durov denied any misuse associated with the app.

“Claims that Telegram serves as an anarchist stronghold are baseless,” he noted. “We eliminate numerous harmful posts and channels on a daily basis.”

Durov, now a citizen of France, was detained in the country last month as part of an investigation into criminal charges related to child sexual abuse images, drug trafficking, and fraudulent activities associated with the app.

He was accused by French judicial authorities of facilitating criminal conduct through the messaging app but was released on a €5 million bail under the conditions of reporting to the police twice a week and remaining in France.

The allegations against Durov include collusion in disseminating inappropriate images of children and multiple other offenses on messaging platforms.

His sudden arrest has raised concerns about legal accountability for Telegram, a widely used app with approximately a billion users, and sparked discussions on freedom of speech and governmental restrictions.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: www.theguardian.com

France uncovers new species of abelisaurid dinosaur

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Paleontologists have added a new species to Europe's Cretaceous dinosaur fauna, discovered in Normandy, France.

Abelisaurid teeth are associated with the holotype specimen. Caletodraco CottardiImages/Photos Courtesy of Buffetaut others., doi: 10.3390/fossils2030009.

Caletodraco Cottardi It lived in what is now France during the Cenomanian period of the Early Cretaceous period, about 100 million years ago.

The ancient species Fuuriusauriais a derived subgroup of abelisaurid dinosaurs (medium-to-large bipedal predators that dominated the Late Cretaceous carnivore fauna of the ancient southern supercontinent Gondwana) previously known only from South America.

“My family Abelisauridae Built in 1985, the museum features Abelisaurus komafuensis“It was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived in the Campanian formation of Patagonia,” said Dr Eric Baffeteau from PSL Research University and his colleagues.

“It has since become clear that Abelisauridae actually constitute a major lineage of neoceratopsid theropods, and played an important role in the Cretaceous continental ecosystems of South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Madagascar.”

“The Abelisauridae are mainly distributed in Gondwana, but in 1988 abelisaurids were reported from the Late Cretaceous of southern France, and are now known from Cretaceous localities in several European countries, including France, Spain, Hungary and the Netherlands.”

Two blocks containing fossilized bones and teeth Caletodraco Cottardi The fossils were excavated by paleontologist Nicolas Cotard at the foot of the sea cliffs of Saint-Jouin-Bruneval, on the coast of the Caux department in the Seine-Maritime department in Normandy, northwest France.

“The glauconitic chalk layers of the Pays de Caux are marine deposits, as suggested in this case by the presence of a shark's tooth in the matrix close to one of the bones of the anterior block,” the paleontologists said.

“The nearest land mass where the dinosaur described below could have lived must have been the Armorica Massif, about 100 km to the southwest.”

“The dinosaur specimens must have somehow been transported to the ocean, possibly by a river, and then drifted quite a long distance before sinking to the ocean floor.”

“Dinosaur fossils are fairly common in marine deposits, but this appears to be the first record from the Late Cretaceous of the Pays de Caux. The only relatively common vertebrate fossils in the region are fish teeth.”

Presence of the furiosaur Abelisaurus Caletodraco Cottardi This dinosaur, discovered in the Cenomanian of Normandy, suggests that the history of abelisaurids in Europe may have been more complex than previously thought.

“discovery Caletodraco Cottardi “This study shows that dinosaur fossils, although extremely rare, are present in the chalk layers of the Anglo-Paris Basin and that a careful search for vertebrate fossils in these marine layers may yield surprising and important results,” the researchers said.

“This new species has led to a re-evaluation of the European abelisaurid fossil record and shows that, contrary to what was previously assumed, majungasaurus was not the only abelisaurid subspecies present in that geographic region. Caletodraco Cottardi It clearly belongs to the Furileusauridae, a highly derived clade of the Abelisauridae.”

“Caletodraco Cottardi It is one of the oldest known furyleusaurids and its discovery in Europe leads us to reconsider the biogeographic history of this theropod group, previously known from South America.”

a paper The findings were published in an online journal. Fossil Research.

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Eric Buffett others2024. Caletodraco Cottardi: A new abelisaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian Chalk of Normandy (northwestern France). Phos. Stud 2 (3): 177-195; doi: 10.3390/fossils2030009

Source: www.sci.news

France imposes a 250 million euro fine on Google for breaching intellectual property agreements

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French regulators have fined Google €250m (£213m) for breaching agreements with media companies regarding online content reproduction.

The competition watchdog in France announced the fine on Wednesday, citing violations related to intellectual property rules concerning news media publishers. Regulators also raised concerns about Google’s AI services.

According to authorities, Google’s AI-powered chatbot Bird (now called Gemini) trained on content from publishers and news agencies without their knowledge. This action led to the fine.

The watchdog stated that the fine was for failing to fulfill commitments made to Google in 2022, accusing Google of not negotiating in good faith with news publishers for compensation for using their content.

As part of the settlement process, Google has agreed not to dispute the facts and is proposing corrective measures to address the shortcomings highlighted by the authorities.

The EU created “neighboring rights” copyright to enable print media to claim compensation for their content usage. France has been at the forefront of this issue, enacting laws to protect publishing rights against tech giants that monetize news content without sharing revenue.

The recent fine is a result of a copyright dispute in France over online content, initiated by complaints from leading news organizations and the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) in 2019.

Google’s AI chatbot Bird was criticized for using content from media outlets without permission, impacting fair negotiations between publishers and Google.

Amid efforts to protect content scraping by AI services without consent, Google has faced fines for not adhering to commitments and fair negotiation practices with publishers.

Google responded by highlighting its agreements with over 280 French news publishers under the European Copyright Directive. The company stated its commitment to constructive cooperation with publishers to connect people with quality content sustainably.

The statement emphasized the need for collaborative efforts with publishers but also expressed challenges in navigating regulatory changes. Despite the fine, Google aims to move forward positively in the content ecosystem.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Newly Found Fossil Remains in France Offer Valuable Information on Ordovician Polar Ecosystems

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in new paper in diary natural ecology and evolution, paleontologists described the diversity of the Cabrières biota, a new Early Ordovician site in the Montagne Noire in southern France. During the Early Ordovician, this region was an open marine environment located in the southern hemisphere at high polar latitudes, on the margin of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Artistic reconstruction of Cabrière Biota: in the foreground, Unpix (trilobites) and various ostracods including brachiopods and cryoliths (bottom left corner). Behind the trilobites are lobopods, chelicerates, cnidarians (blue), sponges (green), thin branched algae (red and green), hemichordates (purple), and some soft bodies. There are animals. Bivalve arthropods live in the water column along with graptolites. Image credit: Christian McCall, Prehistorya Art.

“Early Paleozoic sites with preserved soft tissues provide a wealth of information about the evolution of past life and improve our understanding of earlier ecosystems, but they are unevenly distributed in time and space. ,” said paleontologist Farid Saleh of the University of Lausanne and his colleagues.

“About 100 soft-tissue preserved assemblages have been recorded from the Cambrian, while about 30 are known from the Ordovician, and only a few have been discovered in early Ordovician rocks. .”

“The distribution of early Paleozoic remains is also paleogeographically biased, as approximately 97% of the biota discovered represents tropical and temperate ecosystems within 65 degrees north and south of the paleoequator.”

“This pattern is especially true for the Ordovician, where very few sites are known to have polar environments.”

“Among the most famous Ordovician sites, Sumchere in South Africa, Big Hill in the United States, and Winneshiek exhibit tropical ecosystems.”

“Given the rarity of Ordovician sites and their lopsided paleogeographical distribution, discovering new biota with preserved soft tissues across the aforementioned paleogeographic zones and environments will deepen our understanding of this period and This is crucial for gaining better insight into the factors driving increases in animal diversity on Earth. ”

Biomineralized species of the Cabriere biota: (a) Trilobites of the genus Unpix(b) gastropods with tubular structures, probably conuraids Sphenothalas(c) biomineralized canine cnidarians; (d) Arthrobrachiopod attached to a spongiosa, probably of the leptomid family. (e) Assemblage formed by an articulated brachiopod (center), a flattened carapace of a probably bivalve arthropod (left and right of center), and the skull of a calimenin trilobite (left). (f) Possibly visceral cyst. Scale bars – (a) and (e) 4 mm, (b) and (d) 1 cm, (c) 5 mm, (f) 2 mm.Image credit: Saleh other., doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02331-w.

In a new paper, paleontologists describe a group of 470-million-year-old (early Ordovician) fossils, named Cabrière Biota, discovered in southern France's Montagne Noire.

The fossil site was discovered by two French amateurs, Eric Montseret and Sylvie Montseret Goujon.

Saleh and his co-authors examined about 400 extremely well-preserved soft tissue fossils taken from the site.

Fossils typically exhibit shades of brown, red, or orange and are embedded within a siliciclastic matrix of mudstone and siltstone, and their colors range from blue to green to yellow.

The Cabriere biota is characterized by a prevalence of sponges and branched algae, which constitute 26% of all identified fossils.

Also included are molluscs (14%), trilobites (12%), brachiopods (9%), cystoliths (7%), and cnidarians (6%).

An interesting feature of this biota is its rarity, with echinoderms being represented by only three specimens.

The Cabrières biota also exhibits the shells of various bivalve arthropods, which constitute 16% of the fossils identified.

Some wormlike organisms are also present in the biota (approximately 1% of identified fossils).

“The Cabrière biota was once located in close proximity to Antarctica and reveals the composition of the southernmost Ordovician ecosystem,” Dr Saleh said.

“The high biodiversity of this site suggests that the area served as a refuge for species fleeing the high temperatures that were prevalent further north at the time.”

“During this period of global warming, animals were certainly living in high-latitude refuges, escaping the extreme temperatures at the equator.”

Dr Jonathan Antcliffe, a paleontologist at the University of Lausanne, said: “The distant past gives us a glimpse of the near future that could happen to us.''

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F. Saleh other. Cabrières Biota (France) provides insight into Ordovician polar ecosystems. Nat Ecole Evol, published online on February 9, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02331-w

Source: www.sci.news

Spotify initiates ‘divestment’ in France in response to new music streaming tax

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Spotify is withdrawing support from two music festivals in protest of a controversial new tax on the French-operated music streaming platform, with further action expected in the coming months. is threatening.

Antoine MoninManaging Director of Spotify in France and Benelux, took me to X This week we will criticize new tax All music streaming services will be subject to a levy of 1.5% to 1.75%, the proceeds of which will be donated to the National Music Center (CNM). Founded in 2020 To support the French music sector.

All major music streaming platforms have joined together to oppose the new law, including Apple, Google’s YouTube, and local company Deezer, but Spotify has been the most vocal.Following last week’s announcement, Spotify the movement said said it was a “real blow to innovation” and was assessing its next move.

The company has now given a first look at what these moves will look like, with Monin saying it will withdraw its support: Francofolie de la Rochelle And that Printemps de Bourges We are supporting the festival starting in 2024 through financial and other on-site resources. “Other announcements will follow in 2024,” Monin added, but did not elaborate on what those measures would be.

Tete a Tetes

It’s worth noting that Spotify has recently gotten into trouble. Tete a tete Negotiations are underway with the Uruguayan government over a new law that promises “fair and equitable” remuneration for all artists involved in recordings. Spotify would have to pay rights holders twice for the same track under this law, Therefore, stop operating in that country. The company then made a 180-degree turn after receiving assurances from the government that music streaming platforms would not be expected to incur any additional costs resulting from the law.

France is different in that it is probably a much larger market for Spotify and an exit is not a viable course of action. And, as Monin hinted last week, that action plan is likely to focus on reallocating resources to other markets.

“Spotify will have the means to absorb this tax, but Spotify will stop investing in France and invest in other markets,” Monnin said. in an interview Last week on France Info. “France does not encourage innovation or investment.”

Source: techcrunch.com