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Discover Sunny Cafés in the City of Light: The App You Need in Paris

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In August, Paris typically quiets down as many residents scatter across the beaches and shores for their monthly vacation. Businesses close, and the city comes almost to a halt. Among those who stay are the eternal seekers of Paris: on a quest to find a sunlit terrace for their evening Aperitif.

Securing the ideal spot on the sidewalk outside a cafe can often depend on a timely walk or a quick message from friends. This summer, however, digital solutions gained traction with the quintessentially French take on the old Apple motto: “There’s an app for that.” Jveuxdusoleil is an app that tracks the sun’s movement through the city’s maze, pinpointing exactly where you can snag a sunny seat on your cafe terrace. This innovation arrives at a time of particular uncertainty in Paris.


Jean-Charles Levenne, who taught app development in 2020, created Jveuxdusoleil (“I Want Sun”) as a side project to address personal challenges.

Using a solar position algorithm alongside building height data from the open-source mapping platform OpenStreetMap, Levenne’s app highlights sunny terraces while dimming those in shadow. Users can update the app for new spots or corrections (e.g., trees casting unexpected shadows), thus turning it into a continually evolving and community-driven tool. While the technology is applicable in other cities, most of the app’s terraces are in Paris, which Levenne believes makes it particularly beneficial.

“The app functions globally, but initially focused on Paris due to its unique challenges compared to other French cities,” he remarked. “Finding a sunny spot can be tricky because of the narrow streets and towering buildings.”

The terrace acts as a vantage point to take in the essence of Paris. Chairs are typically arranged facing the street rather than each other, allowing patrons to observe the bustling world around them. The absence of a strong tipping culture in France reduces the urgency for quick table turnover, allowing customers to savor just a drink and linger for hours. For many Parisians, the terrace becomes a second living room.

Pierric Bourgot, a photographer and journalist with about 20 published books, has created a documentary on French bistro culture, emphasizing that the Paris terrace offers one of the city’s most authentic perspectives.

“The terrace embodies a specific concept of Art de Vivre (the Art of Living), as we say in France; it’s a space where diverse groups gather,” Bourgot explained. “You’re not enclosed; you’re somewhat in the street, one foot inside and one foot outside. You’re immersed in the city and the vibrancy of life.”

Searching for the sun after the darkest winter in decades

Jveuxdusoleil’s user base has consistently grown since its launch, now boasting over 1,300 active users weekly, and that number was mirrored during interviews with Levenne. Usage spikes in spring, as Parisians yearn for sunlight after enduring months of a dreary winter.

This year, Jveuxdusoleil experienced a surge, reaching nearly 20,000 visitors in a single week in early March, following a grim 2024 winter, which was noted as the darkest in three decades. Paris, in particular, struggled with multiple stretches of days without sunlight. Jveuxdusoleil remains a passion project for Levenne, who has not profited from it and says, “Actually, it costs money to maintain a server.”

The Parisian photographer I spoke with remarked that the intricate nature of Jveuxdusoleil is part of its charm—using the app to locate a sunny street for a photo while enjoying a drink with friends. Its functionality is streamlined, featuring a single slider to set the time and sunlight, positioning it as an accessible app for everyone.

Can an app revive the declining terrasse culture?

While the user base of Jveuxdusoleil isn’t universally widespread, many young French individuals I encountered on the terraces of Paris had not heard of the app. Yet its existence represents a digital embrace of French bistro culture at a pivotal moment.

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According to French Heritage Inventory documents filed in May 2024, the number of French bistros has decreased from 500,000 in 1900 to fewer than 40,000 today. The document notes that Paris has seen a drop from 5,000-6,000 bistros in the 1970s and 1980s to just over 1,000 currently. The Alliance of French Bistro Owners has successfully sought national recognition in September 2024, and has been campaigning since 2018 for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Bourgault attributes this “genocide” to the significant reduction in French bistro density over the past century, faced with relentless threats—exemplified by the shift from 100 bistros per 100,000 people to just 1 per 2,000. The proliferation of cars and highways has redirected traffic away from such venues nationwide, while television, smartphones, and digital communication have lessened the need for socializing on local terraces. Additionally, bistro owners cite globalization and changing consumer preferences as threats to bistro culture.


A law passed in 1941 prohibited the establishment of new cafes, allowing the acquisition of existing licenses only. This stagnation has rendered these establishments particularly vulnerable, especially in Paris, where property prices have surged. French commentators have long decried the “Americanization of Paris,” noting that traditional bistros are increasingly overshadowed by the rapid expansion of McDonald’s and other chain restaurants as habitual meeting spots for many young people.

Pierric noted that technological advances have also played a role in the decline of bistros. People now order deliveries via their phones and when they do venture out, they frequently stay glued to their devices instead of engaging with strangers at the comptoir. He pointed out that the app could actually revitalize Parisian bistro culture.

“Its geographical visualization grounds you in the real world, emphasizing that we are here on Earth,” he stated.

“When encountering friends at the bistro for drinks, we don’t meet in the ether. We gather in a cafe rich with personality, character, and decor. What’s more, we are aware that we are not just two AIs exchanging data protocols. We engage face to face, and it feels undeniably real.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Key Points from the Paris AI Summit: Global Inequalities, Energy Issues, and Elon Musk’s Influence on Artificial Intelligence

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    1. Aimerica First

    A speech by US vice president JD Vance represented a disruptive consensus on how to approach AI. He attended the summit alongside other global leaders including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen. I did.

    In his speech at Grand Palais, Vance revealed that the US cannot be hampered by an over-focus on global regulations and safety.

    “We need an international regulatory system that promotes the creation of AI technology rather than strangle it. In particular, our friends in Europe should look to this new frontier, optimistic rather than fear. ” he said.

    China was also challenged. Vance worked with the “authoritarian” regime in warning his peers before the country’s vice-president Zhang Guoqing with a clear reference to Beijing.

    “Some of us in this room learned from our experience partnering with them, and what we’ve learned from your information to the authoritarian masters who try to penetrate, dig into your information infrastructure and seize your information. It means taking the country with you,” he said.

    A few weeks after China’s Deepshek rattles US investors with a powerful new model, Vance’s speech revealed that America is determined to remain a global leader in AI .

    2. Go by yourself

    Naturally, in light of Vance’s exceptionalism, the US refused to sign the diplomatic declaration on “comprehensive and sustainable” AI, which was released at the end of the summit. However, the UK, a major player in AI development, also rejected it, saying the document is not progressing enough to address AI’s global governance and national security implications.

    Achieving meaningful global governance for AI gives us even more distant prospects, as we failed to achieve consensus over seemingly incontroversial documents. The first summit held in Bletchley Park in the UK in 2023, at least voluntarily reached an agreement between major countries and high-tech companies on AI testing.

    A year later, the gathering in Bletchley and Seoul had been carefully agreed, but it was already clear by opening night that this would not happen at the third gathering. In his welcoming speech, Macron threw the shade with a focus on Donald Trump’s fossil fuels, urging investors and tech companies to view France and Europe as AI hubs.

    Looking at the enormous energy consumption required by AI, Macron said France stands out because of its nuclear reliance.

    “I have a good friend on the other side of the ocean who says, ‘drills, babes, drills’. There is no need to drill here. Plugs, babysitting, plugs. Electricity is available,” he said. We have identified various national outlooks and competitive trends at the summit.

    Nevertheless, Henry de Zoete, former AI advisor to Rishi Sunak on Downing Street, said the UK “played the blind man.” “If I didn’t sign the statement, I’d brought about a significant will with Trump’s administrators at almost cost,” he wrote to X.

    3. Are you playing safely?

    Safety, the top of the UK Summit agenda, has not been at the forefront of Paris despite continued concerns.

    Yoshua Bengio, a world-renowned computer scientist and chairman of the major safety report released before the summit, told the Guardians of Paris that the world deals with the meaning of highly intelligent AI. He said that it wasn’t.

    “We have a mental block to the idea that there are machines that are smarter than us,” he said.

    Demis Hassabis ir, head of Google’s AI unit, called for Unity when dealing with AI after there was no agreement over the declaration.

    “It’s very important that the international community continues to come together and discuss the future of AI. We all need to be on the same page about the future we are trying to create.”

    Pointing to potentially worrying scenarios such as powerful AI systems behave at first glance, he added: They are global concerns that require intensive and international cooperation.

    Safety aside, some key topics were given prominent hearings at the summit. Macron’s AI envoy Anne Boubolot says that AI’s current environmental trajectory is “unsustainable” and Christy Hoffman, general secretary of the UNI Global Union, says that AI is productivity at the expense of workers. He said that promoting improvements could lead to an “engine of inequality.” ‘ Welfare.

    4. Progress is accelerating

    There were many mentions of the pace of change. Hassavis said in Paris that the theoretical term for AI systems that match or exceed human on any intellectual task is “probably five years or something apart.”

    Dario Amodei, CEO of US AI company Anthropic, said by 2026 or 2027, AI systems will be like a new country that will take part in the world. It resembles a “a whole new nation inhabited by highly intelligent people who appear on the global stage.”

    Encouraging governments to do more to measure the economic impact of AI, Amodei said advanced AI could represent “the greatest change to the global labor market in human history.” I’ve warned.

    Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGpt developer Openai, has flagged Deep Research, the startup’s latest release, released at the beginning of the month. This is an AI agent, a term for a system that allows users to perform tasks on their behalf, and features the latest, cutting-edge model O3 version of OpenAI.

    Speaking at the Fringe Event, he said the deep research was “a low percentage of all tasks in the world’s economy at the moment… this is a crazy statement.”

    5. China offers help

    Deepseek founder Liang Wenfeng had no shortage of discussion about the startup outcomes, but he did not attend the Paris Summit. Hassavis said Deepshek was “probably the best job I’ve come out of China.” However, he added, “There were no actual new scientific advances.”

    Guoqing said China is willing to work with other countries to protect security and share AI achievements and build a “community with a shared future for humanity.” Zhipu, a Chinese AI company in Paris, has predicted AI systems that will achieve “consciousness” by 2030, increasing the number of claims at the conference that large capacity AI is turning the corner.

    6. Musk’s shadow

    The world’s wealthiest person, despite not attending, was still able to influence events in Paris. The consortium led by Elon Musk has launched a bid of nearly $100 billion for the nonprofit that manages Openai, causing a flood of questions for Altman, seeking to convert the startup into a for-profit company.

    Altman told reporters “The company is not on sale,” and repeated his tongue counter offer, saying, “I’m happy to buy Twitter.”

    We were asked about the future of Openai’s nonprofit organizations. This is to be spun as part of the overhaul while retaining stocks in the profit-making unit. Things…and we’re completely focused on ensuring we save it.

    In an interview with Bloomberg, Altman said the mask bid was probably an attempt to “slow us down.” He added: “Perhaps his life is from a position of anxiety. I feel the man.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fear of AI’s global impact drives decisions at Paris Summit on Inequality

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The global summit in Paris, attended by political leaders, technical executives, and experts, opened with a focus on the impact of artificial intelligence on the environment and inequality.

Anne Bouverot, Emmanuel Macron’s AI envoy, addressed the environmental impact of AI at the two-day gathering at Grand Palais in Paris.

Bouverot emphasized the potential of AI to mitigate climate change but also highlighted the current unsustainable trajectory. Sustainable development of technology was a key agenda item.

Christy Hoffman from the UNI Global Union emphasized the importance of involving workers in AI technologies to prevent increased inequality. Without workers’ representation, AI could exacerbate existing inequalities and strain democracy further.

Safety concerns were raised at the conference, with attendees expressing worries about the rapid pace of AI development.

Max Tegmark, a scientist, warned that the development of powerful AI systems could lead to unintended consequences similar to the scenarios depicted in a climate crisis satire film. His concerns echoed those from a previous summit in the UK.

The Paris summit, co-chaired by Macron and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focused on AI action. However, safety discussions were prominent given the potential risks associated with the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Demis Hassabis, head of Google’s AI efforts, mentioned that achieving AGI is likely within the next five years and emphasized the need for society to prepare for its impact.

Hassabis expressed confidence in human ingenuity to address the risks associated with AGI, particularly in autonomous systems. He believed that with enough focus and attention, these concerns could be alleviated.

Source: www.theguardian.com

After US Withdraws from Paris Agreement, What Comes Next for Global Climate Action?

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Donald Trump holds executive order announcing the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

On January 20, a crowd at a stadium in Washington, D.C., erupted in cheers as U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order pulling the United States out of the Paris climate accord on stage. of order He said the move was to prioritize “America first.” But environmental groups condemned the decision, saying that withdrawing the world's second-largest greenhouse gas emitter from the agreement would simultaneously cede U.S. influence in international negotiations to rival clean energy giant China. , argued that it would make climate change even worse.

“This is an issue where the United States and the Trump administration are shooting themselves in the foot,” he says. David Waskow at the World Resources Institute, a global environmental nonprofit organization. “That would be ignoring the United States.”

This is the second time President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a landmark agreement reached in 2015 to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages. It took three years for the initial withdrawal in 2017 to be formalized under UN treaty provisions, and the US only left for a few months before former President Joe Biden rejoined the country in 2021.

The deal now requires a year for withdrawal to be formally recognized, at which point the U.S. will be the only major economy not part of the deal. Other countries that have not signed are Libya, Yemen and Iran.

“This is definitely not good news for international climate action,” he says. Li Shuo At the Asian Social Policy Institute in Washington, DC. Unlike the United States' first withdrawal, this second withdrawal came at a time when the country's ambitious emissions reduction ambitions were already facing geopolitical, social, and economic obstacles. he says. Last year saw record levels of global emissions, while average global temperatures rose above 1.5°C for the first time.

A U.S. withdrawal would leave the country with no leverage to drive further emissions cuts, potentially creating an excuse for countries around the world to scale back efforts to tackle climate change. “The momentum of climate change around the world was declining even before President Trump was elected,” Lee said.

But Waskow said the U.S. withdrawal does not mean “the bottom has dropped” in global climate action. Countries responsible for more than 90 percent of global emissions are still committed to the Paris Agreement. Wind and solar energy, electric vehicles, batteries and other clean technologies also play a much bigger role in the global economy now than they did when the U.S. first left, he said.

“The rest of the world is also transitioning to clean energy,” he says. Manish Bapna at the Natural Resources Defense Council, a U.S. environmental advocacy group. “This doesn't stop that transition, it slows it down.” But it raises questions about what role the U.S. will play in shaping that future, he says.

Looming is China, which controls many of the key clean energy industries, from solar panels to batteries, and is increasingly exporting its technology to the rest of the world. “The United States would not only be ceding influence over how those markets are formed, but also the duration of those markets,” Waskow said. “I don't think other countries think of the United States first when they think about who they should engage with.”

The global retreat from climate action also comes as the new Trump administration moved quickly to reverse, abandon, or block the policies of its predecessor in a flurry of executive orders issued on its first day in office. These include banning federal permits for wind energy and reversing policies introduced by Mr. Biden to promote electric vehicles. Other plans aim to expand fossil fuel development on federal lands, coastal waters and Alaska and increase natural gas exports to settle further orders. I declare It's a “national energy emergency.” “We train, baby, we train,” he said in his inaugural address.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

President Trump plans to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on climate change

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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate change agreement as one of his first acts in office.

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2016, requires participating countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions annually to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The United States, along with other countries, has also pledged billions of dollars to assist developing nations with climate adaptation and mitigation.

The White House stated, “In recent years, the United States has entered into international agreements that do not align with our values or economic and environmental goals. These agreements direct American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not need or deserve financial assistance, to the detriment of the American people.”

The executive order mandates U.S. Ambassador to the UN to provide written notification of withdrawal, with immediate effect.

The United States will join Libya, Yemen, and Iran as countries not part of the Paris Agreement, impacting global climate action efforts.

Climate change groups have strongly criticized the decision, calling it a setback to efforts to combat climate change and protect the environment.

The world continues to see unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide emissions, leading to rising global temperatures and more extreme weather events.

As the largest historical emitter, the United States has a significant role to play in leading global efforts to reduce emissions and combat climate change.

Despite the withdrawal, experts emphasize the importance of ongoing efforts to meet the goals set by the Paris Agreement and address the challenges posed by climate change.

President Trump’s administration has reversed several climate initiatives put in place by the previous administration, aiming to prioritize energy production and economic growth over environmental concerns.

President Trump has also declared a national energy emergency, urging federal agencies to roll back “harmful” climate policies that impact food and fuel costs.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Prepare for the Paris Paralympics with tales of genuine bravery | Podcast

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IIf there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m really into drugs. I read Empire of Pain by Patrick Raddon Keefe earlier this year, which has long been on my “to-read” pile, and found its story of the rise and growth of the Sackler drug dynasty to be truly horrifying (although isn’t artist turned oxycodone campaigner Nan Goldin a total hero?).

Naturally, I script This week, I’m writing about the new Atlantic miniseries, Brain Drugs and the Stories to Tell Them. It’s sensitively done, but all of this stuff is scary. The story of two brothers who are treated for the same heroin addiction but end up living very different lives will stay with me for a while. As with Dan Taberski’s recent series, Hystericalis about a group of girls who simultaneously develop a Tourette’s syndrome-like condition, but while it features real people battling an incredibly difficult illness, we’re also never far from bigger questions about how we think about mental health and the self.

Read on for this week’s picks, from con man dads to gritty Paralympic shows, plus five podcasts we recommend for fans of classic film, from old Hollywood hits to the history of Hammer horror.

Hannah J. Davis
Newsletter Deputy Editor

This week’s picks

Michael Jordan and Gary Binder. Photo: Public Relations

#1 Dad
Widely available, all episodes available now
Comedian Gary Vidor hasn’t spoken to his con man father in 24 years. As a child, his dad made him pose as a young journalist to sneak into Michael Jordan’s locker room (above) and help him photocopy dollar bills to earn money for his school lunches. In this wild journey, Gary tries to track down his dad, find out if he’s still the same fake accent, court-waging man he always was, and hope it doesn’t tear his family apart. Alexi Duggins

Fraud Clinic
Widely available, with weekly episodes
Nick Stapleton, presenter of BBC One’s Bafta award-winning show Scam Interceptors, tries his hand at helping members of the public in this investigative show. The opening double feature features a startling interview with the man alleged to be the mastermind behind a £100,000 theft, and he’s just so keen to have a fun conversation about podcasting equipment that it’s mind-blowing to listen to. advertisement

Head Number 7
Widely available, with weekly episodes
You’d think that if you were to donate your body for scientific research, Harvard Medical School would manage it. So when families found out that parts of their loved ones’ bodies had been sold and misplaced, it became a horrific scandal. Now, DNA expert Dr. Tuli King is asking where the bodies went, starting with the NYPD officer’s noticeably large head. Hannah Verdier

Don’t drink milk
Widely available, with weekly episodes
Sex, drugs and turf are promised in the second series of this series which explores the unexpected backstories of familiar things. Reality TV and the missionary position will make an appearance, but first Rachel Stewart heads to Scotland to put an entertaining spin on witch hunting and investigate the history of misogynistic medieval conspiracies. HV

Rising Phoenix: What does it take?
Widely available, with weekly episodes
It’s a cliché to say anything Paralympic-related is inspiring, but this podcast, full of courage and humour, is just that: armless archer Matt Stutzman and fellow medallist Michael Johnson interview athletes including Kadeena Cox, who talks about her determination to return to sport after suffering a stroke and being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 23. HV

There is a podcast

Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, explored in detail on the Unspooled podcast. Photo: United Artists/All Star

this week, Graham Virtue Pick the top 5 A podcast for classic film fansFrom highlights of the Hammer Horror catalogue to series re-evaluating films like Some Like It Hot.

Keep this in mind
Meticulously written and narrated by film historian Karina Longworth, recent seasons of this riveting show charted the rise and fall of the erotic thriller of the 1980s and 1990s. But YMRT became an early big hit with Longworth’s immersive dive into Hollywood’s Golden Age, unravelling rumors surrounding doomed starlets and spotlighting the sins of amoral moguls. To mark its 10th anniversary earlier this year, the “lost” first episode, long in limbo due to music licensing issues, was remastered and re-released. An insightful profile of Vertigo star Kim Novak will have you revisiting her lavish 200-plus-movie back catalogue.

Hammer House
Most profiles of the British film studio Hammer focus on its golden age of illuminating, badly received horror films from the mid-1950s through the 1970s. But the biweekly podcast The House of Hammer has been patiently working its way through the studio’s filmography chronologically since 1934, applying detailed context and affectionate irony to forgotten films like the nylon-smuggling crime drama River Patrol (1948). Between hosts Sev Moore, Ben Taylorson, Adam Roche, and a first-person voice, Smokey, the overall atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming. But things have certainly heated up over the past year, as the show has tackled such foundational Hammer texts as The Quatermass Experiment (1955), The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), and Christopher Lee’s immortal Dracula (1958).

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Rewound
Are there any so-called classic films that should be left out? When the slickly produced Unspooled first launched in 2018, film critic Amy Nicholson and actor/writer/comedian Paul Scheer aimed to take a fresh look at the prestigious Motion Picture Association of America’s 2007 Top 100 Movies list. Two years later, the affable but studious hosts have removed 60 titles from the original ranking and added new ones in an attempt to formulate a more representative selection of films (intended to be launched into space to educate and entertain passing aliens). But it’s worth scrolling through Unspooled’s extensive list of episodes, all the way back to the early days when the pair debated the value of hallowed titles like Ben-Hur, The African Queen, and Some Like It Hot.

movie theatre
Consciously or not, many podcasts about classic movies try to evoke the decadent cocktail-and-cigarette spirit of Old Hollywood, often using seductive sound mixes to help you forget the decades that have passed. The Movie Palace is more down to earth, but what it lacks in sonic flourishes it more than makes up for in thoughtful discussion. In each episode, Dr. Carl Sweeney invites a knowledgeable guest to discuss a notable film, from influential noir to fraught westerns. The result is a concise, accessible primer on classic cinema. Hitchcock appears repeatedly throughout the show’s 130-plus episodes, particularly in a comprehensive eight-part miniseries analyzing Psycho.

The conspiracy deepens
Not all film podcasts have a direct connection to Hollywood’s Golden Age, but US network Turner Classic Movies’ The Plot Six is ​​hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, the grandson of Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, the subject of David Fincher’s 2020 biopic Mank. Previous seasons of The Plot Six have delved into the careers of Peter Bogdanovich (a director obsessed with Hollywood’s past) and righteous blaxploitation powerhouse Pam Grier. But the current episode, Unlocking the Mystery of John Ford, seeks to assess the notoriously difficult but Oscar-winning king of 20th-century filmmaking, with the help of previously unreleased interviews with co-stars such as John Wayne, Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart.

Give it a try…

  • after schoolOur newsletter for the general public, Decoding Gen Z, “ ,” will be delivered in podcast form.

  • Frank Skinner and Faye Ripley star in Radio 4 workplace comedy Good People.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recreating the Best Moments from the Paris Olympics Through Retro Sports Video Games

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Over the past three weeks, the Paris Olympics have delivered some spectacular sporting moments, from incredible victories to heartbreaking defeats to Snoop Dogg standing there in an equestrian outfit. For most of us, that sporting glamour is out of reach — unless we have access to video games.

While there were no official tie-ins this year, a number of popular Olympic-inspired games have been released over the past 40 years. If you’ve got an old Commodore 64, PlayStation, Wii, or a suitable emulator on your PC, here’s how you can relive this summer’s unforgettable sporting memories from the safety of your own home.

Cool Sniper: Hyper Sports




Konami’s 1984 arcade hit… Hyper Sports, 1984. Photo: Konami

The stars of the shooting event were undoubtedly Kim Ye-ji of South Korea and Yusuf Dikeci of Turkey, who lit up the pistol event with their cool, calm demeanor, hands in their pockets like cartoon assassins. The closest thing to a video game equivalent is the classic skeet shooting event in Konami’s 1984 arcade hit Hyper Sports. Sure, you’re using a shotgun to aim at flying skeets rather than fixed targets, but at the end of the event a cool, baseball-capped sharpshooter winks at the camera.

Pole Vault Record: International Athletics

Armand “Mondo” Duplantis broke the pole vault world record with a leap of 6.25 meters. To experience it for yourself, head over to International Track & Field, the fantastic 1996 PlayStation sports simulation. Alternate between mashing the button to run around the track, pressing X to jump, then vaulting over the pole. It sounds easy, but it’s one of the hardest events in the game. However, if you qualify on your first jump, improve on your second, and the space shuttle will pass you on your third. Not even Duplantis could do that.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Triathletes preparing for Paris Olympics swim in Seine after last-minute safety tests

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After months of speculation about whether the water in the Seine was clean enough for Olympic athletes to compete in, authorities have determined after last-minute testing that the river’s water is safe for swimming.

After tests of the Seine’s water quality came back positive on Wednesday morning Paris time, the men and women will swim in back-to-back races as part of a triathlon, starting at 8 a.m. local time. The men’s race was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed after the Seine’s water failed tests.

“The latest water quality analysis results, received at 3:20 a.m., have been assessed by World Triathlon as meeting the standards and clearing the way for the triathlon to go ahead,” World Triathlon, the organisers and governing body of the Paris Games, said in a statement.

People cool off under a bridge over the Seine during the sweltering heat at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
Maya Hitidji/Getty Images

After the race, Team USA triathlete Taylor Spivey said he “swallowed a ton of water” during the triathlon swim in the Seine, a river that has historically been so polluted that swimming in it has been illegal for the past century.

Spivey, who finished 10th in the race, told NBC News that his biggest concern wasn’t the water quality, but the “exceptional” and “shocking” strength of the current, which he said was so strong that the race could have been canceled.

“The flow was incredible,” she said. “It felt like I was on a treadmill in one place.”

When asked about the quality of the water, she added, “I’ve been taking lots of probiotics for the past month. We’ll see how it goes.”

Cassandre Beaugrand of France won the gold medal ahead of Julie Delong of Switzerland, who took the silver medal, while Beth Potter of Great Britain took the bronze medal.

The Seine’s water quality has caused a bit of a stir in the run up to the events, as organizers rush to clean up the polluted waterway for prime-time attention. For months, France has been testing samples from the river for the presence of pathogens such as E. coli and enterococcus. High levels of E. coli put swimmers at risk of developing gastrointestinal illness.

The Seine has not passed these tests after wet weather, when storms can send runoff and sometimes sewage into the river.

Swimming in the Seine has been banned for more than a century because it was deemed too polluted, but the city of Paris led a $1.5 billion effort to clean up the river and strengthen waste-treatment systems ahead of the Olympics.

As the first event approached, organizers were hoping for sunny weather that would reduce overall pollution and allow ultraviolet light to inactivate some bacteria.

But the weather rarely cooperated.

last year, Test Event Triathlon rehearsals were canceled due to concerns about water quality after the rains.

The opening ceremony, which included a boat parade on the Seine, took place in pouring rain on Friday, which continued into Saturday.

Pollution from the rain forced organisers to cancel two days of swimming training on Sunday and Monday, then postpone the men’s triathlon originally scheduled for Tuesday morning.

There were no spectators at the swimming venue for the Olympic triathlon along the Seine river in Paris on Tuesday.
Thibaut Moritz/AFP – Getty Images

“I’m just trying to focus on what I can control,” U.S. triathlete Kirsten Kasper told NBC News on Tuesday. “We swim in a lot of cities and water quality is often an issue, but I just have to trust that the race organizers are doing the testing and doing what it takes to make sure we’re safe.”

Water experts said the difficulty of keeping the Seine clean enough could draw attention to a broader problem of environmental pollution shared around the world.

“In large cities, it’s very difficult to control the amount of human waste that you see,” said Katie Graham, an assistant professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Engineering. “The public assumes that a lot of these problems have been completely solved, but that’s by no means the case.”

NBC News is a unit of NBCUniversal, which owns U.S. media rights to the Olympics through 2032, including the 2024 Paris Games, which begin July 26.

Evan Bush reported from Seattle and Alexander Smith from Paris.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Paris heatwave raises concerns for Olympic hopefuls

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summary

  • A group of Olympic hopefuls has expressed concern about the heat during the games in Paris.
  • Olympic organizers say they are preparing for tough conditions, including scheduling events to avoid heat.
  • A study has found that Paris is one of the European capitals most vulnerable to heatstroke concerns.
  • Heatwaves could cause temperatures to rise by up to seven degrees Celsius since 2003 A study published in November.

Leading up to the Paris Olympics, athletes are raising concerns about the scorching summer temperatures and the impact of climate change on their competitiveness and safety in sports.

In a recent report by climate advocacy and sports organizations in the UK and US, 11 athletes have highlighted the environmental challenges at the upcoming Olympics and the long-term implications for sporting competitions in a warming world.

Report The average temperature in Paris during the Olympics is projected to be over 5.5 degrees higher than in 1924, the last time the city hosted the event.

Athlete Jamie Ferndale, a former GB Olympic rugby sevens team member, expressed concerns about the extreme heat in Paris potentially affecting athletes’ performance.

“When temperatures reach 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, it becomes quite dangerous,” Ferndale said. “With six games in three days, athletes don’t have enough time to cool off between matches.”

Olympic organizers are taking measures to combat the heat, scheduling events strategically to minimize exposure and implementing heat-response tools to ensure safety, according to an International Olympic Committee spokesperson.

Local organizers for Paris 2024 have stated that France’s meteorological service will be closely monitoring temperatures, and adjustments to competition dates can be made if needed. Free water will also be available to spectators to help combat the heat.

Paris, being one of the European capitals most vulnerable to heat waves, is focusing on reducing the carbon footprint of the Olympics. Geothermal cooling and natural ventilation will be used in the athletes’ village, which will serve as permanent housing post-Olympics.

Athlete Pragnya Mohan raised concerns about the lack of air conditioning potentially affecting athletes’ recovery rate. However, the Paris 2024 committee assured that temperatures in athlete accommodations would be significantly lower than outside, and portable cooling units would be available for rent.

Discus thrower Sam Mathis questioned the feasibility of hosting Summer Olympics during the hottest times of the year, considering the challenges posed by extreme heat. Research has shown that heat-related illnesses have affected athletes in past Olympics, prompting the need for climate-conscious measures.

Investments in sustainable practices, such as cleaning up the Seine, building bike lanes, and planting shade trees, demonstrate Paris’ commitment to reducing emissions and adapting to future climate challenges.

Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire stressed the urgency of making changes to protect people from the dangers of extreme heat in everyday life.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

TikTok hackers focusing on Paris Hilton, CNN, and other prominent users in cyber attacks | TikTok

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TikTok has taken action to address a cyberattack that targeted the accounts of various celebrities and brands, such as Paris Hilton and CNN.

The social video app has confirmed that CNN was one of the high-profile accounts affected after its security team discovered malicious actors targeting US news media.

A TikTok spokesperson stated, “We have collaborated with CNN to restore access to the account and have implemented stronger security measures to safeguard the account from future attacks.”

While Hilton was also targeted, TikTok clarified that her account remained uncompromised.

The platform disclosed that the attack exploited the app’s direct messaging feature but did not provide additional specifics. The company is currently investigating the incident and assisting affected account owners in regaining access.

Owned by ByteDance, a Chinese technology company, TikTok faces potential bans in the US due to national security concerns. President Joe Biden enacted a bill in April that will prohibit the app nationwide if ByteDance fails to sell it to non-Chinese entities by mid-January.

With approximately 170 million users in the US, TikTok previously announced its intention to legally challenge the ban, citing it as unconstitutional and a violation of freedom of speech.

Recent reports revealed that former President Donald Trump, who had previously banned TikTok over ties to Beijing in 2020, joined the platform. Trump has since reversed his stance, no longer supporting a ban on TikTok despite concerns about national security risks.

The cyberattack on TikTok is the latest in a string of hacking incidents targeting social media platforms. One of the most notable incidents occurred in July 2020 when Twitter accounts, including those of Biden, Obama, Musk, Gates, Bezos, and Apple, were compromised.

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The NHS confirmed on Tuesday that it fell victim to a cyberattack, declaring it a “major incident.”

Seven hospitals managed by two NHS trusts, including Guy’s, St Thomas’, and King’s College London, experienced significant disruptions in services due to a ransomware attack on a private company responsible for analyzing blood tests.

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI Used to Create Tom Cruise Deepfake Video Targeting Paris Olympics for Russia

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According to a new report from Microsoft, Russia is engaging in a disinformation campaign targeting the Paris Olympics. This includes the use of a deepfake video featuring Tom Cruise as the narrator of a critical documentary about the organization behind the games. You can read the full report on Microsoft’s website.

Microsoft revealed that a network of pro-Russian groups is conducting a “malign influence campaign” against France, President Emmanuel Macron, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the upcoming games in Paris. Despite Russia’s ban from the 2024 Olympics, a few Russian athletes may still participate as neutrals.

One of the tactics used by the disinformation campaign was a fake video of Tom Cruise on Telegram titled “Olympics Has Fallen.” The video, a parody of the movie “Olympus Has Fallen,” falsely claimed to be a Netflix production, featured a fake Cruise voice, and criticized the IOC. Microsoft deemed this video to be a more sophisticated creation compared to typical influence campaigns. You can access the full report released on Monday for more information.

The fake video was attributed to a Kremlin-linked group called Storm1679, known for its history of deceiving US actors. Storm1679 has been spreading fear through various videos about potential violence during the Olympics, alongside fake news broadcasts impersonating Euronews and France 24 to instill false narratives about the event.

Social media accounts associated with Storm 1679 have also posted images of graffiti in Paris threatening violence against Israelis attending the Olympics. Microsoft reported that these images were likely digitally generated rather than physically present.

Russia has a history of trying to disrupt Olympic events, with strategies dating back to the Soviet Union’s boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Another Russian group, Storm-1099 or “Doppelganger,” has launched a fake French news site spreading allegations of corruption at the IOC and potential violence in Paris.

Microsoft warned that Russia’s disinformation efforts might expand to other languages and involve the use of automated accounts and generative AI systems to create convincing fake content. This mirrors similar Chinese attempts to spread disinformation using AI-generated materials, as detailed in a previous report by Microsoft.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paris Olympics to showcase city’s shift towards reducing air pollution by limiting car usage.

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Paris, the host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The city has made efforts to become greener by reducing its reliance on cars, setting an example for cities around the world.

Under the leadership of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris has enacted several changes to promote sustainability. Over 100 roads have been closed to automobiles, parking fees have tripled, SUVs have been restricted, around 50,000 parking spaces have been removed, and over 1,300 kilometers of bike lanes have been built.

These efforts have resulted in a 40% reduction in air pollution, according to city officials. Hidalgo expressed that Paris would end its dependency on cars through disruptive changes.

Although European cities like Paris have been leading the way in reducing car use, similar reforms in the U.S. have been slow to materialize. The American infrastructure has historically been built around cars, making it challenging to transition to alternative modes of transportation.

The environmental reforms in Paris have garnered support from residents like Louise Kraustl, who believes that fewer cars and more walking and cycling make the city safer and less polluted. Inspired by the concept of the “15-minute city,” Paris aims to create pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhoods where daily necessities are within easy reach.

While some cities in the U.S. have made progress in promoting biking and public transport, car dependency remains prevalent. Despite the challenges, experts emphasize the importance of reducing transportation emissions to combat climate change and improve air quality.

Paris’ efforts to prioritize sustainable urban planning serve as a model for other cities to follow. As cities worldwide grapple with the effects of climate change, the need for transportation reform becomes increasingly urgent.

The upcoming elections in Paris will be crucial in determining the city’s continued commitment to reducing car use and combating climate change.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Paris is buzzing with excitement as a quirky camel parade sweeps through the city this weekend.

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Camels are not your typical finicky herd animals anymore. They are gaining popularity in the world of agriculture.

While the idea of incorporating camel milk into your diet may seem odd to some in Europe or the United States, it has been a dietary staple for many communities for years. Now, camel products are making their way to shelves worldwide.

Currently, it is the United Nations’ international year of the camel, celebrating camels, alpacas, and llamas. Events like the big camel parade in Paris aim to raise awareness about these animals.

Camels already contribute 8% of sub-Saharan Africa’s milk production and are expected to see a significant increase in global trade, reaching $13 billion by the end of the decade.

Experts like Dr. Ariel Ahern from the University of Oxford point out the rapid growth in camel farming, especially in regions like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. They predict that by 2050, camel products may become more common even in western countries like the UK.

Camels are gaining popularity due to their ability to thrive in harsh environments, making them a sustainable alternative in the face of climate change. Their high efficiency in converting food and water into meat and dairy products makes them a valuable resource in regions facing food and water scarcity.

With the potential environmental benefits of camel farming, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional livestock farming, the shift towards camels in agriculture seems promising.

Why are we seeing a shift towards camels?

The International Year of the Camel aims to raise awareness about the importance of camels in the future food chain. As climate change threatens traditional food sources, camels offer advantages in adapting to dry climates and maximizing resource efficiency.

A group of camels feeding in the desert, shot from directly above, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Image credit: Getty

Camels’ resilience to extreme conditions, lower resource requirements, and lower environmental impact make them a promising option for sustainable agriculture.

Is it time to add camel to your diet?

Camel products like milk and meat offer nutritional benefits and can be suitable alternatives for those with dietary restrictions. Camel milk, in particular, is rich in vitamin C and iron, making it a healthy option for many.

Studies show that camel milk can help lower blood sugar levels and boost immunity, while camel meat is leaner and higher in iron compared to traditional meats like beef or lamb.

Camel: Coming to a farm near you?

While camel farming is on the rise, experts caution against industrialized models and advocate for more sustainable practices. Free-range, nomadic farming models that allow camels to graze naturally may offer a greener alternative to traditional agriculture.

By utilizing the unique traits of camels, such as their ability to thrive in arid environments and their resource efficiency, we can create a more sustainable and resilient food system for the future.

About our experts

Ariel Ahearn is a lecturer at the University of Oxford, specializing in human geography and rural development. Dr. Ahearn has extensive experience working with nomadic communities in Mongolia and advocating for sustainable land use practices.

Ilse Köhler Rollefson is a German scientist known for her work with camel herders in India and her advocacy for pastoralism and sustainable farming. She is a co-founder of Camel Charisma, promoting eco-friendly camel products.

For more information on camel farming and its potential impact on agriculture, read on.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Olympic athletes may encounter tough competition in the form of scorching Paris temperatures

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Pierre Maslow, a statistician at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, stated that Paris is considered the highest risk city among all European capitals. Heat exposure concerns in 854 European cities.

The Olympic Village in Paris will feature a wildlife-friendly rooftop, environmentally-friendly building materials, and green spaces including a public park.

However, as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the event, no air conditioning will be installed in the players’ rooms. Instead, the complex will rely on natural airflow cooling and groundwater cooling systems. Organizers mentioned that even in the heat, nighttime temperatures do not exceed 79 degrees. Read more here.

A study in Nature Climate and Atmospheric Science suggests that heatwave temperatures are on the rise in comparison to 2003. Temperatures could now reach up to 7 degrees F higher than during the 2003 heatwave.

During the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo, extreme heat affected many athletes, leading to rescheduling of events. About 110 athletes suffered heatstroke during the Tokyo Games due to high temperatures. Endurance events were moved to Sapporo to deal with the heat.

The absence of spectators at the Tokyo Games helped reduce the burden on medical staff, according to Shota Tanaka, a part-time researcher at Kokushikan University. However, this is an issue that Paris must consider as the number of heatstroke cases is expected to be high.

Tanaka added, “Holding the Olympics in August is fundamentally a risky idea from a heatstroke perspective.” Athletes typically prepare for the heat several weeks before the games.

Source: www.nbcnews.com