The Guardian · 9 May, 05:00
A survey in the UK found that millions of Britons are preparing for a potential major disruptive event by stockpiling cash, tinned goods, and other emergency supplies. Almost half of those surveyed have taken steps to prepare, including keeping a stash of cash at home and having battery-powered items. The UK government’s Prepare website outlines steps it says people should consider taking to prepare for emergencies, which include assembling a list of items at home that could include tinned food that does not need cooking, bottled water, a first aid kit, hand sanitiser, a battery-powered or wind-up torch and radio, a portable power bank for phone charging, and spare batteries.
A survey conducted by Link, the UK's ATM network, found that many Britons are taking steps to prepare for a potential major disruptive event, such as a power outage, IT failure, natural disaster, or cyber attack. The survey, which polled 2,137 people in March, found that 49% of respondents had battery-powered items at home, 47% had a supply of tinned goods, and 17% had a stash of cash at home. Additionally, 23% of those who had taken steps to prepare had done so recently, within the last three months.
Why it matters: This is significant because it suggests that many people in the UK are concerned about the potential for major disruptions to normal services and are taking steps to prepare. This could be due to a range of factors, including the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, extreme weather events, and warnings about the risk of cyber-attacks and power outages. The survey's findings highlight the growing importance of cash in people's resilience planning, according to Graham Mott, Link's director of strategy.
49% of respondents had battery-powered items at home, 47% had a supply of tinned goods, 17% had a stash of cash at home, 23% had taken steps to prepare recently, 27% had not done anything to prepare, 2,137 people polled in March
“With rising public concern about threats like power outages, cyber-attacks and disruption to card payments, more people are prepping by keeping some emergency cash at home,” - Graham Mott, Link's director of strategy
The Guardian · 9 May, 04:42
The MV Hondius cruise ship, which has been affected by a hantavirus outbreak, is set to arrive in Tenerife on Sunday. The evacuation of 149 passengers and crew members must be completed within 24 hours or face delays of days or weeks due to bad weather.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship, is scheduled to arrive in Tenerife on Sunday after sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde. The ship has been affected by a hantavirus outbreak, resulting in three deaths and several confirmed cases. The Spanish government and regional authorities are coordinating an 'unprecedented operation' to receive, assess, and repatriate the 149 passengers and crew members onboard. The ship will not dock at the port but will remain at anchor in the southeastern port of Granadilla.
Why it matters: The situation is significant due to the risk of hantavirus transmission and the complexity of the evacuation operation. The World Health Organization has stated that the public health threat is low, but the outbreak has prompted considerable unease in the Canary Islands. The authorities are working to minimize the risk of transmission and ensure the safe repatriation of passengers and crew members.
149 (number of passengers and crew members), 3 (number of deaths), 14 (number of Spanish nationals onboard), 24 (hours to complete evacuation), 12 (o'clock on Sunday morning, window of opportunity for evacuation), 30 (days of quarantine for two men in Singapore), 23 (countries involved in the international health alert)
This is an unprecedented operation in response to an international health alert involving 23 countries. We're coordinating this from Spain and the World Health Organization has entrusted Spain with this operation – which, as I've said, is unprecedented. We're going to do what we have to do, which is work and deliver the necessary health and logistical management. - Mónica García, Spanish Health Minister
The Guardian · 9 May, 05:00
The Doomsday Clock, a symbol of the threat of global catastrophe, has been set at 85 seconds to midnight, indicating that humanity is closer to the brink of disaster than ever before. The clock is set annually by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group of leading scientists, academics, and diplomats.
The Doomsday Clock was established in 1947 by a group of Manhattan Project nuclear scientists to warn the public and politicians of the dangers of nuclear war. The clock is set annually by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group of leading scientists, academics, and diplomats, to reflect the level of threat to humanity. The clock has been moved several times over the years in response to events such as nuclear tests, conflicts, and changes in global politics. In January, the clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight, indicating that humanity is closer to the brink of disaster than ever before.
Why it matters: The Doomsday Clock is significant because it highlights the existential threats facing humanity, including nuclear war, climate change, and emerging technologies such as AI. The clock serves as a wake-up call to leaders and citizens to take action to prevent global catastrophe. The current setting of 85 seconds to midnight indicates that the threats to humanity are more pressing than ever, and that urgent action is needed to address them.
85 seconds: the current setting of the Doomsday Clock; 1947: the year the Doomsday Clock was established; 7 minutes: the initial setting of the clock in 1947; 17 minutes: the furthest the clock has been from midnight, set in 1991 at the end of the cold war; 1945: the year of the US bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
“What we have seen is a slow almost sleepwalk into increasing dangers over the last decade. And we see these problems growing. We see science advancing at a rate that defies our ability to understand it, much less control it,” - Alexandra Bell, CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Ars Technica · 8 May, 19:43
Google is updating its AI Overviews feature to include more links to external websites, adding sections for 'Further Exploration' and 'Expert Advice' to provide users with more information and sources.
Google is introducing changes to its AI Overviews feature, which has been criticized by websites for pushing them down the search results page. The updates include a new 'Further Exploration' section at the bottom of AI Overviews, which will provide a list of links to relevant articles and analysis. Additionally, AI Overviews may include an 'Expert Advice' section that offers snippets of content from around the web, including news, reviews, and discussions from public-facing forums and social media.
Why it matters: This update is significant because it addresses criticism from websites that have seen traffic drops due to AI Overviews pushing them down the search results page. By providing more links to external sources, Google is giving users more opportunities to explore topics in-depth and visit the websites that generated the content.
Ars Technica · 8 May, 20:42
A luxury cruise ship, MV Hondius, has experienced an outbreak of hantavirus, resulting in eight cases and three deaths. The ship is currently en route to the Canary Islands, where passengers and crew will disembark safely. , The ship is carrying 147 passengers and crew and had departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1.
An outbreak of hantavirus occurred on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which began its journey from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1. Eight cases have been reported, including three deaths. The ship is still carrying 147 passengers and crew, and those remaining on board have been asked to sequester themselves in their cabins. The ship is currently en route to the Canary Islands, where Spanish authorities have agreed to assist.
Why it matters: This outbreak is significant because it is an unprecedented event, and experts are working to create a novel procedure to allow the remaining passengers and crew to disembark safely. The incident has triggered concerns and anxiety, particularly in the post-pandemic era. Authorities are also tracking down and monitoring 30 former passengers who disembarked the ship onto the remote island of St. Helena.
8 cases, 3 deaths, 147 passengers and crew, 30 former passengers, 12 countries, 6 US citizens, April 1 (departure date), April 11 (first death), April 24 (disembarkation), May 6 (evening, ship's journey to Canary Islands began)
Ars Technica · 8 May, 23:13
Researchers have made a breakthrough in manufacturing qubits that can be moved around without losing quantum information, potentially enabling more flexible and scalable quantum computing. This development combines the benefits of electronic qubits with the flexibility of atomic or ionic qubits.
A new research paper has demonstrated the ability to move qubits hosted in quantum dots from one location to another without losing quantum information. Quantum dots are electronic devices that can be manufactured in bulk and host a qubit as a single electron's spin. This breakthrough could enable the creation of quantum computing systems with more flexible and scalable architectures.
Why it matters: This development is significant because it could allow for the creation of quantum computing systems that combine the benefits of electronic qubits (easier to manufacture) with the flexibility of atomic or ionic qubits (can be moved around). This could potentially enable more efficient error correction and scalability in quantum computing.
NPR News · 9 May, 04:37
ABC has accused the Trump administration of trying to chill its free speech, specifically in relation to the TV show 'The View' and equal time rules.
ABC has filed a complaint stating that the Trump administration is attempting to restrict its constitutionally protected free speech. The issue at hand is whether the TV show 'The View' is subject to equal time rules. The Trump administration's actions are allegedly aimed at intimidating ABC into not airing certain content.
Why it matters: This is significant because it raises concerns about freedom of speech and the potential for government overreach in regulating media content. The outcome could have implications for the ability of media outlets to express opinions and critique government policies without fear of reprisal.
NPR News · 9 May, 04:04
President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a 3-day ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners at his request.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a 3-day ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners. This agreement was reportedly made at the request of President Trump. The details of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange were not provided in the article.
Why it matters: This is significant because it represents a temporary de-escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been ongoing for several years. A ceasefire and prisoner exchange can help to reduce tensions and create an opportunity for further diplomatic efforts.
3-day (ceasefire duration)
NPR News · 8 May, 19:39
The US Defense Department has released files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), also known as UFOs, spanning several decades. The files include reports of mysterious objects and sightings from the Cold War era to recent times. , The released documents describe various UAP sightings, including reports of rotating saucers and metallic objects.
The US Defense Department has released files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), also known as UFOs. These files span several decades and include reports of mysterious objects and sightings. The documents describe various UAP sightings, including reports of rotating saucers from the Cold War era and recent sightings of metallic elliptical objects floating in mid-air. The files were released on Friday.
Why it matters: This release of UAP files is significant as it provides insight into the military's documentation and investigation of unidentified phenomena over the years. The release of these files may help to shed light on the nature of these sightings and potentially provide answers to long-standing questions. It also demonstrates the government's willingness to be transparent about their investigations into UAPs.