The Pentagon contract to deploy Elon Musk’s Starlink terminals in Ukraine will expire next month, Bloomberg has reported, citing an unnamed US official. The service plays a vital role in Washington's security assistance to Kiev, the report adds.
The source also revealed that the contract, which went into force in June of last year and lasts through May, is worth $23 million. The US Department of Defence has so far refused to officially disclose the size of the contract. The amount has been described by the publication as “miniscule” compared to the “hundreds of millions of dollars” Musk’s SpaceX received from the US for launching some of its national security satellites. Musk has repeatedly voiced unease about the use of Starlink in Ukraine. The satellite network has been providing communications to the country’s military and the government. ”Starlink needs to be a civilian network, not a participant to combat,” Musk said on X (formerly Twitter) in September, referring to the use of the satellites in Ukraine throughout the conflict with Russia. “This is the right order of things,” he added. Musk’s comment came shortly after the billionaire revealed that he had foiled a Ukrainian drone raid on Crimea by refusing to let Kiev forces use Starlink to guide naval drone strikes on Russian ships. Musk’s admission sparked outrage in Kiev, with Mikhail Podoliak, a top adviser to President Vladimir Zelensky, accusing him of “enabling evil.” Musk responded to the accusation by explaining that he had no obligation to fight for Ukraine, adding that he did not want Space X to be “explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation.” His remark echoed a previous statement made in the winter of 2023, where he admitted that although Starlink was “the communication backbone of Ukraine, especially at the front lines”, SpaceX “will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead to WW3.” Last year, SpaceX signed a contract with the US Defence Department to provide satellite services as part of the Pentagon’s new ‘Starshield’ program. CEO Elon Musk described the effort as a military alternative to the “civilian” Starlink. However the new Space Force contract will see Starshield’ rely on the existing constellation of Starlink satellites.
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The world could encounter major disasters before the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) weapons is regulated in a proper manner, according to Turing Award-winning scientist Geoffrey Hinton, seen as a pioneer of the technology.
The former Google engineer, who quit the company last year, compared the use of the technology for military purposes to chemical weapons deployment – warning that “very nasty things” will occur before the global community arrives at a comprehensive agreement comparable to the Geneva Conventions. “The threat I spoke out about is the existential threat,” Professor Hinton said on Tuesday in an interview with Irish broadcaster RTE News, emphasising that “these things will get much more intelligent than us and they will take over.” The computer scientist highlighted the impact of AI on disinformation and job displacement, and also on weapons of the future. “One of the threats is ‘battle robots’ which will make it much easier for rich countries to wage war on smaller, poorer countries and they are going to be very nasty and I think they are inevitably coming,” Hinton warned. He urged governments to put pressure on tech majors, especially in California, to conduct in-depth research on the safety of AI technology. “Rather than it being an afterthought, there should be government incentives to ensure companies put a lot of work into safety and some of that is happening now,” Hinton said. The scientist also highlighted huge benefits that AI can bring to humanity, particularly in healthcare, adding that he does not regret any of his contributions to the technology. Despite the mounting interest in AI, several high-profile figures in the tech industry have warned of the potential dangers posed by the unregulated adoption of the technology. Hinton, who quit Google last year, has waged a media campaign to warn of the risks. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Yoshua Bengio, who is considered an AI pioneer for his work on neural networks, were among the top industry figures to co-sign a letter last year calling for aggressive regulation of the AI sector.
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FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2024 - Top 10 Qualifying Results
FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2024 - Race Results
2024 Formula 1 World Championship Drivers' Standings
2024 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
2024 Formula 1 World Championship Drivers' Standings
FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2024 - Race Results
FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2024 - Top 10 Qualifying Results
Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Mie Prefecture in Japan, the Suzuka Circuit stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of Japanese innovation and Dutch engineering prowess.
While Suzuka is undeniably a symbol of motorsport excellence in Japan, its connection with the Netherlands adds a fascinating layer to its storied history. The genesis of Suzuka can be traced back to the visionary mind of Dutch architect John Hugenholtz. Drawing upon his expertise in circuit design, Hugenholtz was commissioned to create a world-class racing facility that would challenge drivers and captivate audiences. In 1962, his vision came to fruition with the unveiling of the Suzuka Circuit. At its core, Suzuka embodies Hugenholtz's innovative approach to circuit design. The track's figure-eight layout, a hallmark of his creativity, was a daring departure from traditional circuit configurations. By seamlessly intertwining sections of the track, Hugenholtz crafted a circuit that demanded unparalleled precision and skill from drivers, while simultaneously providing spectators with a dynamic and immersive viewing experience. While Hugenholtz's Dutch heritage laid the groundwork for Suzuka's design, it is the Japanese commitment to excellence that has elevated the circuit to its iconic status. Over the decades, Suzuka has undergone numerous renovations and improvements, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of motorsport technology and safety standards. From its challenging corners to its state-of-the-art facilities, every aspect of Suzuka reflects Japan's unwavering dedication to perfection. Despite the geographical distance between the Netherlands and Japan, the connection between the two nations extends beyond Suzuka's design. Dutch drivers and teams have left an indelible mark on the circuit's history, showcasing their talent and tenacity on its hallowed tarmac. Notable Dutch drivers, such as Jos Verstappen and Max Verstappen, have thrilled fans with their exploits at Suzuka, adding to the circuit's international appeal. Furthermore, the Suzuka Circuit serves as a platform for collaboration and exchange between Japan and the Netherlands. Through motorsport events, engineering partnerships, and cultural exchanges, Suzuka fosters a bond between the two nations, transcending borders and fostering mutual respect and admiration. Beyond the realm of motorsport, the connection between Suzuka and the Netherlands underscores the power of collaboration and cultural exchange in driving innovation and progress. By bringing together the best of Dutch design and Japanese craftsmanship, Suzuka serves as a beacon of international cooperation and excellence. In conclusion, the Suzuka Circuit represents more than just a venue for motorsport. It is a testament to the symbiotic relationship between Japan and the Netherlands, where innovation, passion, and collaboration converge on the world stage. As Suzuka continues to inspire generations of drivers and fans alike, its connection with the Netherlands serves as a reminder of the transformative power of unity and shared vision in the pursuit of greatness. AI fakery is quickly becoming one of the biggest problems confronting us online. Deceptive pictures, videos and audio are proliferating as a result of the rise and misuse of generative artificial intelligence tools.
With AI deepfakes cropping up almost every day, depicting everyone from Taylor Swift to Donald Trump, it's getting harder to tell what's real from what's not. Video and image generators like DALL-E, Midjourney and OpenAI’s Sora make it easy for people without any technical skills to create deepfakes -- just type a request and the system spits it out. These fake images might seem harmless. But they can be used to carry out scams and identity theft or propaganda and election manipulation. Here is how to avoid being duped by deepfakes: How to Spot Deepfake In the early days of deepfakes, the technology was far from perfect and often left telltale signs of manipulation. Fact-checkers have pointed out images with obvious errors, like hands with six fingers or eyeglasses that have differently shaped lenses. But as AI has improved, it has become a lot harder. Some widely shared advice -- such as looking for unnatural blinking patterns among people in deepfake videos -- no longer holds, said Henry Ajder, founder of consulting firm Latent Space Advisory and a leading expert in generative AI. Still, there are some things to look for, he said. A lot of AI deepfake photos, especially of people, have an electronic sheen to them, “an aesthetic sort of smoothing effect” that leaves skin “looking incredibly polished,” Ajder said. He warned, however, that creative prompting can sometimes eliminate this and many other signs of AI manipulation. Check the consistency of shadows and lighting. Often the subject is in clear focus and appears convincingly lifelike but elements in the backdrop might not be so realistic or polished. Look at the Faces Face-swapping is one of the most common deepfake methods. Experts advise looking closely at the edges of the face. Does the facial skin tone match the rest of the head or the body? Are the edges of the face sharp or blurry? If you suspect video of a person speaking has been doctored, look at their mouth. Do their lip movements match the audio perfectly? Ajder suggests looking at the teeth. Are they clear, or are they blurry and somehow not consistent with how they look in real life? Cybersecurity company Norton says algorithms might not be sophisticated enough yet to generate individual teeth, so a lack of outlines for individual teeth could be a clue. Think About the Bigger Picture Sometimes the context matters. Take a beat to consider whether what you're seeing is plausible. The Poynter journalism website advises that if you see a public figure doing something that seems “exaggerated, unrealistic or not in character,” it could be a deepfake. For example, would the pope really be wearing a luxury puffer jacket, as depicted by a notorious fake photo? If he did, wouldn't there be additional photos or videos published by legitimate sources? Using AI to Find the Fakes Another approach is to use AI to fight AI. Microsoft has developed an authenticator tool that can analyze photos or videos to give a confidence score on whether it's been manipulated. Chipmaker Intel's FakeCatcher uses algorithms to analyze an image's pixels to determine if it's real or fake. There are tools online that promise to sniff out fakes if you upload a file or paste a link to the suspicious material. But some, like Microsoft's authenticator, are only available to selected partners and not the public. That's because researchers don't want to tip off bad actors and give them a bigger edge in the deepfake arms race. Open access to detection tools could also give people the impression they are “godlike technologies that can outsource the critical thinking for us" when instead we need to be aware of their limitations, Ajder said. The Hurdles to Finding Fakes All this being said, artificial intelligence has been advancing with breakneck speed and AI models are being trained on internet data to produce increasingly higher-quality content with fewer flaws. That means there’s no guarantee this advice will still be valid even a year from now. Experts say it might even be dangerous to put the burden on ordinary people to become digital Sherlocks because it could give them a false sense of confidence as it becomes increasingly difficult, even for trained eyes, to spot deepfakes.
2024 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
2024 Formula 1 World Championship Drivers' Standings
FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 - Race Results
FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 - Top 10 Qualifying Results
US technology giant Apple is been sued by the US government for allegedly building an anti-competitive “moat” around its monopolistic iPhone ecosystem.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed its lawsuit on Thursday in New Jersey federal court, alleging that Apple had used “broad-based, exclusionary conduct” to make it harder for Americans to switch smartphones and for companies to provide applications, products and services to iPhone users. The federal government was joined by 16 state attorneys general in lodging the civil claim. “Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate the antitrust laws,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law. If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.” The iPhone monopoly has driven Apple’s “astronomical valuation” – the company’s market capitalization of over $2.6 trillion is second only to Microsoft’s $3.2 trillion – at the expense of consumers and other technology companies, the lawsuit argued. The stock dropped 4.1% after the DOJ lawsuit was announced, wiping out over $100 billion in market value. The case challenges Apple’s so-called “walled-garden” business model, which makes the company’s products largely inaccessible to competitors. It comes just weeks after the EU fined Apple €1.84 billion ($2 billion) for breaking the bloc’s competition laws. The company allegedly blocked providers of rival streaming services, such as Spotify, from informing iPhone users of cheaper music subscription alternatives. Apple monopolized the smartphone app market by blocking advances from competitors. “By stifling these technologies, and many others, Apple reinforces the moat around its smartphone monopoly not by making its products more attractive to users, but by discouraging innovation that threatens Apple’s smartphone monopoly,” the lawsuit said. he company denied the DOJ’s claims. The lawsuit could “hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple – where hardware, software and services intersect,” a company spokesperson told media outlets. “It would also set a dangerous precedent, empowering the government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology.” If successful, the lawsuit could force Apple to make changes to some of its most profitable products, including the iPhone and the Apple Watch. It could even lead to the company being forced to sell off some of its businesses to promote more competition. The iPhone had a 64% share of the US smartphone market in last year’s fourth quarter, far ahead of Samsung’s 18% share, according to Counterpoint Research. After turbulent weeks, Max Verstappen hoped for a quieter race weekend in Melbourne, but of course the media day was also about all the vicissitudes within Red Bull Racing. "It doesn't distract me, but it could be about that car of ours again."
Will he remain loyal to Red Bull Racing? Does he ever see himself racing for Mercedes? What he thought of Toto Wolff's statement, who said in Saudi Arabia that he would like to have him there. Does he still feel comfortable within Red Bull Racing? Max Verstappen was asked future-related questions again in the Albert Park paddock, where he appeared in front of a microphone for the first time in two weeks. He had hoped for a quieter weekend, he said. "It doesn't distract me at all, I can easily switch off when I leave the paddock. But if you ask me now: wouldn't you rather talk more about that good car? Yes of course." Verstappen, three-time world champion, knows how F1 works. So he tried to give a clear answer to all the precarious questions as best he could in the sun on the terrace of Red Bull Racing in Melbourne. But without fully detailing the internal power struggle going on within Red Bull Racing in the interview with the press, the gist of his story remained the same. He still sees a future for himself within the team, contrary to what the whole world now seems to believe, after weeks of speculation about a breakup. But what really counts is the composition of the important people around them. “The core must be preserved,” Verstappen said, without mentioning Dr. Helmut Marko's name even once. Everyone knows by now that his fate is more or less linked to that of the Austrian who has played an important role in Verstappen's life since he was a teenager. A British journalist decided to simply ask the Limburger point-blank whether he will serve out his contract, which runs until 2028. "That's why I signed that contract in the first place," Verstappen responded calmly, with a laugh. And then, seriously again: "As I said before, I am happy within this team. But it is absolutely very important that we keep the key people - there are many, I'm not going to name names - within the team for a longer period. Because they are responsible for performance. But it is certainly my intention to remain faithful to that deal, yes,” Verstappen concluded. “Would also be a nice story, for me personally. To be part of just one family, one team.” Operators have reported connectivity disruption across Africa after multiple subsea cables had been reported to be damaged off the coast in West Africa.
Subsea cables carry the bulk of connectivity traffic with a small part carried by satellites. Reports of internet connectivity being disrupted came in yesterday (March 14). Internet security company Cloudflare reported Liberia saw disruptions lasting more than 12 hours, while in Gambia and Guinea outages only lasted 30 minutes. In a statement to Developing Telecoms, Orange said the ACE, MainOne Sat 3, and WACS cables had been damaged along the West Coast of Africa. “Major impacts on international connectivity (voice and data) have been observed in several countries, particularly for Orange subsidiaries in the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Burkina Mali and Guinea,” said an Orange spokesperson. The operator said the cause of the outages is unknown at this time, and it is looking to reroute traffic and connect isolated countries through alternative routes. “Several terrestrial links have already been reinforced to improve the situation,” said Orange. Vodacom posted on X (formerly Twitter) that there had been “undersea cable failures between South Africa and Europe” which had affected South African MNOs”. The operator implemented alternative solutions and “normal service has been restored to customers”. Angola Cables detailed in a statement there had indeed been “cable breaks” off the coast of West Africa, specifically in the Ivory Coast. Traffic has been redirected to the SACS cable which connects Angola directly to Brazil, the US and Europe. “Angola Cables has network backup and restoration solutions available through cables that have not been affected by the faults off the Ivory Coast,” the cable company said. |
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