Tech

634
Reddit down: Site crashes across the UK and US as thousands of users report widespread disruption
The problems with Reddit began at around 5am, according to website disruption tracker Down Detector, and its website had shown a blank page with an error message
937
Nobel Prize 2024 winners in Economic Sciences announced
The winners of the Swedish Central Bank’s Alfred Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences have been announced.
693
Three-armed robot conductor makes its debut in Dresden
German city’s Sinfoniker says aim is not to replace humans but to play music human conductors would find impossible
872
SpaceX launches Starship rocket and captures booster with giant metal arms
Elon Musk’s huge rocket sets off on test flight before upper stage splashdown and explosion in Indian Ocean
824
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Japanese atomic bomb survivors’ group
Hidakanyo receives accolade for campaign to rid world of nuclear weapons by ‘describing the indescribable’
806
FBI’s token sting operation faces copyright controversy over misuse of MIT license
The US FBI was accused of copying software for secret crypto market trap.
798
Meta launches its AI chatbot in the UK on Facebook and Instagram
The assistant, which has sparked privacy concerns, can also be accessed on £299 Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses
651
Startup develops eco-friendly onion skin packaging to combat waste
An innovative business in Oban is creating sustainable packaging from onion skins, aiming to reduce waste and lower emissions
792
Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded to scientists for their research on microRNA
Prize given to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation
742
John McFall aims to become the first astronaut with a disability
European Space Agency testing Paralympian sprinter to see how conditions in space would affect his prosthesis
667
Chinese hackers have breached U.S. court wiretap systems, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal
Chinese hackers accessed the networks of U.S. broadband providers and obtained information from systems the federal government uses for court-authorized wiretapping, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
806
Chinese police crack over 3,500 cyberbullying cases in H1
China’s public security authorities cracked over 3,500 cyberbullying cases in the first half of 2024, said the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
860
OpenAI plans to shift away from its non-profit structure, allowing Sam Altman to gain equity in the company
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is working on a plan to restructure its core business into a for-profit benefit corporation that will no longer be controlled by its non-profit board, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, in a move that will make the company more attractive to investors.
590
AI has been trained to identify buildings and settlements in areas that are under-mapped
AI is being trained to spot buildings in low-resolution images to try to end inequality between the global North and South when it comes to mapping.
588
TikTok has banned Russian state media accounts for engaging in "covert influence operations" ahead of the U.S. election
The massively popular video app follows Meta’s recent move and pulls down accounts associated with the Russian state.
804
Microsoft has selected a notorious former nuclear site as the location to power its AI operations
America’s Three Mile Island energy plant, the site of the worst nuclear accident in US history, is preparing to reopen as Microsoft looks for ways to satisfy its growing energy needs.
786
Google wins legal battle to overturn substantial fine in EU digital advertising case
The European Union’s General Court said it was throwing out the 2019 penalty imposed by the European Commission.
773
Student dies from rare and incurable virus
A student has died of brain-swelling fever caused by a virus on the World Health Organization watchlist.
831
How the EU’s landmark tax ruling against Apple handed Ireland €13 billion it never wanted
After losing a court case, Ireland stands to gain a huge amount of money it fought not to gain and is unsure how to spend
799
Meta to proceed with plan to use UK Facebook and Instagram posts for AI training
Move to use shared posts follows information commissioner concerns and sets collision course with EU over privacy
875
Apple Intelligence: How Apple developed a new AI system that knows everything and nothing about its users
Apple wants to know as little as possible about its users, but its new AI tools require the iPhone to understand them deeply.
664
How did Jared Isaacman, the billionaire behind the first private spacewalk, build his wealth?
SpaceX is set to conduct the world’s first-ever privately-funded spacewalk today, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman.
880
Watch live as billionaire embarks on the first ever private spacewalk
The world’s first commercial spacewalk is officially underway, headed by billionaire Jared Isaacman.
898
Apple announces the iPhone 16 and unveils new ’Apple Intelligence’ AI features
Apple executives highlight a variety of new hardware, promising vibrant new color options and the ability to create custom emojis with the iPhone 16 and ’Apple Intelligence’ AI features.
658
Top EU court to rule on €13bn Apple case that may impact ‘sweetheart’ tax deals
Long-running legal battle began in 2016 after bloc’s competition chief said iPhone maker had benefited from unfair tax breaks in Ireland