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This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. What Africa needs to do to become a major AI player Africa is still early in the process of adopting AI technologies. But researchers say the continent is uniquely hospitable to it for several reasons, including a relatively young and increasingly well-educated population, a rapidly growing ecosystem of AI startups, and lots of potential consumers. However, ambitious efforts to develop AI tools that answer the needs of Africans face numerous hurdles. The biggest are inadequate funding and poor infrastructure. Limited internet access and a scarcity of domestic data centers also mean that developers might not be able to deploy cutting-edge AI capabilities. Complicating this further is a lack of overarching policies or strategies for harnessing AIs immense benefitsand regulating its downsides. Taken together, researchers worry, these issues will hold Africas AI sector back and hamper its efforts to pave its own pathway in the global AI race. Read the full story. Abdullahi Tsanni Science and technology stories in the age of Trump Mat Honan Ive spent most of this year being pretty convinced that Donald Trump would be the 47th president of the United States. Even so, like most people, I was completely surprised by the scope of his victory. This level of victory will certainly provide the political capital to usher in a broad sweep of policy changes. Some of these changes will be well outside our lane as a publication. But very many of President-elect Trumps stated policy goals will have direct impacts on science and technology. So I thought I would share some of my remarks from our edit meeting on Wednesday morning, when we woke up to find out that the world had indeed changed. Read the full story. This story is from The Debrief, the weekly newsletter from our editor in chief Mat Honan. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Friday. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Canada has recorded its first known bird flu case in a human Officials are investigating how the teenager was exposed to the virus. (NPR)+ Canada insists that the risk to the public remains low. (Reuters)+ Why virologists are getting increasingly nervous about bird flu. (MIT Technology Review)2 How MAGA became a rallying call for young men The Republicans online strategy tapped into the desires of disillusioned Gen Z men. (WP $)+ Elon Musk is assembling a list of favorable would-be Trump advisors. (FT $) 3 Trumps victory is a win for the US defense industry Palmer Luckeys Anduril is anticipating a lucrative next four years. (Insider $)+ Heres what Luckey has to say about the Pentagons future of mixed reality. (MIT Technology Review)+ Traditional weapons are being given AI upgrades. (Wired $)4 This year is highly likely to be the hottest on recordThis weeks Cop29 climate summit will thrash out future policies. (The Guardian) + A little-understood contributor to the weather? Microplastics. (Wired $)+ Trumps win is a tragic loss for climate progress. (MIT Technology Review)5 Ukraine is scrambling to repair its power stations Workers are dismantling plants to repair other stations hit by Russian attacks. (WSJ $)+ Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraines drone defense. (MIT Technology Review)6 We need better ways to evaluate LLMs Tech giants are coming up with better methods of measuring these systems. (FT $)+ The improvements in the tech behind ChatGPT appear to be slowing. (The Information $)+ AI hype is built on high test scores. Those tests are flawed. (MIT Technology Review)7 FTX is suing crypto exchange BinanceIt claims Sam Bankman-Fried fraudulently transferred close to $1.8 billion to Binance in 2021. (Bloomberg $) + Meanwhile, bitcoin is surging to new record heights. (Reuters)8 What we know about tech and lonelinessWhile theres little evidence tech directly makes us lonely, theres a strong correlation between the two. (NYT $) 9 Whats next for space policy in the US If one persons interested in the cosmos, its Elon Musk. (Ars Technica)10 Could you save the Earth from a killer asteroid? Its a game thats part strategy, part luck. (New Scientist $)+ Earth is probably safe from a killer asteroid for 1,000 years. (MIT Technology Review) Quote of the day Conflict of interest seems rather quaint. Gita Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School, tells the Guardian about Donald Trump and Elon Musks openly transactional relationship. The big story Quartz, cobalt, and the waste we leave behind May 2024 It is easy to convince ourselves that we now live in a dematerialized ethereal world, ruled by digital startups, artificial intelligence, and financial services. Yet there is little evidence that we have decoupled our economy from its churning hunger for resources. We are still reliant on the products of geological processes like coal and quartz, a mineral thats a rich source of the silicon used to build computer chips, to power our world. Three recent books aim to reconnect readers with the physical reality that underpins the global economy. Each one fills in dark secrets about the places, processes, and lived realities that make the economy tick, and reveals just how tragic a toll the materials we rely on take for humans and the environment. Read the full story. Matthew Ponsford We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet 'em at me.)+ Oscars buzz has already begun, and this years early contenders are an interesting bunch.+ This sweet art project shows how toys age with love + Who doesnt love pretzels? Heres how to make sure they end up with the perfect fluffy interior and a glossy, chewy crust.+ These images of plankton are really quite something.

With the increasing demand for sustainable and efficient solutions, more and more professionals are discovering the benefits of combining RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright and the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system to boost the performance of photovoltaic roofs What key benefits does RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright offer for your solar projects?Reduced temperature for better performance: RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright membrane helps to lower the temperature on the roof surface, thus promoting a cooler environment for the solar panels. This results in higher energy efficiency and a longer life for the modules.Increased light reflection towards the solar panels: thanks to its high reflectance, RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright allows the solar panels to capture more light from different angles, improving their overall performance and ensuring higher energy production.Create the perfect synergy for your solar projectBy combining RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright and the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system, you can create a comprehensive solution that optimises the photovoltaic performance of your project and ensures long-lasting and sustainable waterproofing.The RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system: lightness and reliability without perforationsIt is the modular and lightweight fastening that guarantees an installation without perforations and completely watertight, some of the benefits it offers are:Light load: less than 17kg/m2.Modular and adaptable to the integration of solar panels.Fast, simple and reliable installation.No ballastBe one of the professionals who already use our roofing solutions, contact us.2024-11-11AJ Contributorcomment and share

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Some of my fondest childhood memories are of times I went to the farmers' market with my family, when they let me bring home a bouquet of sunflowers. I've continued this tradition into adulthood by keeping fresh-cut flowers around my home -- sometimes sunflowers, but oftentimes whatever beautiful bundles the local farmers' market down the street happens to be selling.But even after years of buying flowers weekly, I still get sad when the petals start to wither and brown and drop. Whether you bought flowers for yourself at the local supermarket, or you received a special bouquet in honor of a celebration or milestone, you'll want to extend the life of those flowers for as long as possible. This story is part of Try This, CNET's collection of simple tips to improve your life, fast. I talked with two floral experts to round up tips for buying the freshest flowers and how to keep those blooms lasting longer. I'll also share common myths that horticulturists say don't work. (For more tips, here's the best location for your plants, and here's the best indoor plants for low light and clean air.) What to look for in cut flowers Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. You're in the store, ready to purchase flowers for yourself or a special someone, but which bouquet should you pick from the dozens on the stand? Believe it or not, this decision can impact the longevity of the flowers you buy.Joe Guggia, owner of JP Designs Floral based in Santa Maria, California, has worked for over 45 years in the floral industry. He told me many floral bunches are shipped from Ecuador or California, so it's important to closely examine each stem and leaf to make sure you're not buying flowers that are older or were damaged during shipping. @cnetdotcom Do these 3 things to make your #flowers last longer. #trythis #lifehack #motherday #flowertok #flowerhacks #tipsandtricks original sound - madonna Next, once you pull the bushel from the display, check to make sure the water is clean and the leaves aren't yellow, spotted or drooping. You'll also want to be sure the stems aren't slimy or broken. Lucy Bradley, a consumer and community horticulture professor at North Carolina State University, told me you need to check for fuzzy gray mold and drooping, damaged petals."Extend the vase life by selecting flowers that are just beginning to open," Bradley said. "For roses and other single flowers, select blooms that have only one petal unfurled. For gladiolus and other spike flowers, choose stems with only the first two or three flowers open. For daisy-type flowers, like sunflowers, select flowers with centers that are still greenish." Your in-store buying decisions can impact the longevity of your bouquet. Tom Werner/Getty ImagesCut-flower tips that will actually workWhile there's a slew of myths surrounding flower care, Guggia and Bradley broke down some tricks that are guaranteed to work.Change the water -- and do it oftenAdding fresh, lukewarm water to a clean vase is a sure-fire way of keeping flowers healthy longer."That's the key for people who get vase arrangements, is to replace the water as frequently as they can," Guggia said. "If they just hold the whole bunch out, pour the water out and put fresh water in, and put the arrangement back in that'll keep them days and days and days."Why? Bradley explained that simply dumping out water will get rid of any bacteria growing in the vase water, which may clog the flower stem, preventing water uptake.Trim the endsGuggia and Bradley both agreed that recutting the stems of the bunches as soon as you bring them home is key for longevity. But don't even think about reaching for those blunt kitchen scissors!Bradley said the best practice is to grab a sharp knife or shears for trimming flowers to prevent damaging the stem and reducing its ability to take up water. Wipe the tool off with alcohol first and then carefully make fresh cuts on all stems at a 45-degree angle at least half an inch from the end of the stem.Cutting at an angle results in most of the base of the stem being off the bottom of the vase. It removes clogged tissue that no longer transports water to the flower, Bradley said. Be sure to trim the ends of the stems before putting flowers into a vase. Photo and Co/Getty ImagesAdd pennies, but take note of its ageYou've probably heard of the penny method or maybe you've already tried tossing a penny into your vase with the water and flowers. But before you go digging around in the bottom of your purse or jean pocket, you need to know that only pennies minted before 1982 will work. Those are the ones with the natural antimicrobial properties, which come from the copper."Originally pennies contained copper, which is a fungicide that prevents disease," Bradley said. "However, pennies are now made of mostly zinc, so are no longer effective."Some cut-flower tips don't really workWhen it comes to flower care, there will also be debate over which methods do and don't work. Maybe you've tried some in the past -- no judgment here! That said, the experts I spoke with broke down some of the biggest myths when it comes to keeping cut flowers fresher longer.Add sugar to the flower vase?If you paid attention through a high school science class, then you may remember flowers benefit from the sugars produced through photosynthesis. But this mostly applies when the flower or leaves are still attached to the plant, so think twice before dumping an entire Sprite into your vase water. While sugar can work to extend the life of cut flowers, those little packets of floral preservatives work much better. BloomsyBoxBradley explained that sometimes adding a teaspoon and a half of sugar per quart of water or using half water and half carbonated lemon-lime drink in the vase water can act as plant food to extend the bloom, but none are as effective as a commercial floral preservative.Floral preservatives are those little packets that often come with your floral arrangement. They often contain sucrose and a biocide -- an antibacterial agent -- that gives the flower energy, helps the stems absorb more water and prevents bacteria from growing.Does bleach help flowers stay fresher?As the saying goes, a little goes a long way when it comes to bleach. Bradley explained that a few drops of bleach (1 teaspoon per gallon of water) can help kill bacteria and fungi, but adding too much -- which is all too easy -- will also serve to kill plant cells.Can vodka, vinegar or aspirin extend the life of your blooms?There are many, many tricks on the internet about how to keep cut flowers longer involving vinegar, aspirin, vodka -- you name it. And while these methods may work on a case-by-case basis, our experts don't recommend these tricks since they're based on anecdotal evidence rather than backed by science. Clean water is key to prolonging to life of your floral arrangement. David Watsky/CNET"Truthfully, I wouldn't do any of those things because in most cases the arrangement is going to be a mixture of types of flowers, which may be susceptible to not accepting whatever that item is that you're putting in the water," Guggia said. "Keeping the water clean is the best thing."More tips for you:FAQs Why shouldn't I put vodka, aspirin, vinegar or other substances in the mixture I give to my flowers? While vodka, aspirin and vinegar might help prevent certain flowers from wilting away, many bouquets are composed of several different types of flowers. What works to keep one type of flower alive could harm or kill other flowers, so you'll either need to research the mixture's effect on each flower or keep it out of the bouquet. Should I put sugar into the vase with my fresh-cut flowers? While adding some sugar to the water you use for your plants can help promote their health and keep them alive, it doesn't do much for plants cut from the stem. You could try adding sugar to supplement the other tips -- but don't expect it to do very much for the bouquet.

November 11, 20243 min readWorker Protections for Extreme Heat in Peril after Trumps ElectionA Biden administration proposal that would require employers toprovide cooling measures under extreme heat conditions may be scuttled by the incoming Trump administrationBy Ariel Wittenberg & E&E NewsA worker adjusts his helmet on a construction site in Los Angeles during a heatwave in July 2024. Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | The return of former President Donald Trump to the White House puts at risk new heat protections for workers that were proposed over the summer by the Biden administration, say workplace advocates.Trump on the campaign trail never directly addressed the proposal from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which would force employers to provide their workers with water and cool places to rest when temperatures are high.But many of Trumps Republican allies in Congress panned the idea when it was announced, including House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.). Westerman called it one of the most idiotic things theyve ever done and said the heat protection rules ignored the realities of outdoor work.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.During Trumps first term, OSHA stopped work on many health regulations, including one slated to be proposed in October 2017 that would have forced the healthcare industry to prepare for an airborne pandemic such as COVID-19.Outright killing the heat protection proposal, however, would be difficult for the incoming Trump administration because of the laws governing the way OSHA issues public health standards, said Jordan Barab, who was OSHAs deputy assistant secretary of Labor for occupational safety and health during the Obama administration.But Barab said theres nothing that requires the next administration to finalize the rule which could put peoples lives in danger.If the Trump administration does not move forward, people will die, Barab said. I dont think theres any doubt about that.Heat killed at least 815 workers between 1992 and 2017 and seriously injured some 70,000 more, according to federal data. And health advocates say the toll is likely to increase as temperatures rise with global warming.OSHA has been under pressure to protect workers from heat for decades, starting with a 1986 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending heat standards.More recently, congressional Democrats put pressure on the agency at the end of the Trump administration with a bill co-sponsored by now-Vice President Kamala Harris that would have required the agency to issue a rule.But it was only this past summer that OSHA finally proposed the regulation which, if finalized, could protect some 35 million workers from extreme heat.Groups representing some of those workers now fear it wont be enacted.President Trump would have to actively work to undo that progress intentionally putting workers including many who no doubt voted for him in harms way, said Antonio De Loera-Brust, a spokesperson for the United Farm Workers. Whether these workers are killed by extreme heat on the job should not be a partisan issue.In the absence of federal action, workers and their advocates would have to lobby the 29 states that enforce worker safety rules to enact their own heat protections, Barab said.He added that state action could create a situation similar to the history of the right to know rule, which requires employers to inform workers about the hazardous properties of the chemicals they work with. In 1981, the Reagan administration froze work on such regulations that began under President Jimmy Carter.After labor advocates successfully convinced some 15 states to adopt their own rules over two years, OSHA was forced to publish its own right to know rule to standardize requirements across jurisdictions in 1983.Six states currently have heat protections for workers, but others are resistant to the idea. Texas and Florida recently passed laws blocking municipalities from requiring water and rest breaks for workers.One state that has moved forward with greater protections is Maryland, which enacted its heat standards in September spurred in part by the heat stroke death of a Baltimore sanitation worker.If theres any silver lining, its that there is no doubt that climate change is a problem, and that it is likely to be a record hot spring and summer again. These rising temperatures are not easy to hide, nor are the inevitable workplace deaths, Barab said. So its possible there will be some pressure to do something at the state and federal level.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2024. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

Watch Miyamoto take a tour of Super Nintendo World's new Donkey Kong Country theme park expansionFinally opening in December.Image credit: Nintendo News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Nov. 11, 2024 After a six month delay, Universal Studios Japan's Donkey Kong Country themed Super Nintendo World expansion finally has an opening date. It'll be barrel-blasting open its doors from 11th December, and if you're curious to see what's in store, you can now watch Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto take a tour of the area, with a brief pause to bonk on some bongo drums.A Donkey Kong themed expansion to Universal's Super Nintendo World theme park area was officially announced in September 2021, just months after the opening of its main Mushroom Kingdom-themed area (although it had been spotted on mock-ups long before). At the time, Universal teased it would feature "interactive experiences and themed merchandise and food", alongside a new coaster - and we've now had our best look yet at the finished thing.Miyamoto toured the Donkey Kong Country expansion in special ten-minute-long Nintendo Direct, beginning by whisking players through the now unsealed warp pipe toward the rear of the Mushroom Kingdom. As park visitors navigate its length, its red brick walls transition to rocks before the pipe opens out into a jungle-themed expanse of swaying palms, faux wooden walkways, and even Donkey Kong's iconic treehouse. And looming over the whole area is its imposing centrepiece, the Golden Temple, housing a new coaster ride.Miyamoto takes of tour of Universal's new Donkey Kong Country land.Watch on YouTubeBefore getting to that, though, Miyamoto spent some time showing off the area's (admittedly not especially enthralling) other features, including the Jungle Beat Shakes shop where visitors can buy hotdogs and other assorted food; Funky's Flay 'n' Buy, where a range of Donkey Kong themed merchandise can be perused and purchased, plus Donkey Kong's Treehouse, where patrons can grab their Donkey Kong photos ops.Additionally, there's a three-player bongo-themed rhythm game where players must follow along to blinking lights in order to rouse Rambi the rhinoceros from his slumber inside a crate. "If there isn't a place to play bongo drums," Eurogamer's Tom Phillips wrote back in 2021, "I'll be disappointed." Tom's bongo-based dreams have finally come true.Elsewhere, Universal's Donkey Kong Country area utilises the same Power Band system seen in the Mushroom Kingdom part of the park, and band wearers can explore their surroundings in search of Donkey Kong's familiar orange letter blocks, collecting them all in the Universal app. All of which finally took Miyamoto to the sprawling Golden Temple, where - as detailed by a couple of Cranky Kong and Sqawks animatronics - visitors can ride its Mine Cart Madness coaster in a bid to help protect the Golden Banana from Tiki Kong.Unfortunately, today's Nintendo Direct didn't show much of the coaster at all, beyond brief peek at its barrel-themed lift hill, but we do know - thanks to various theme park fan sites over the years - it features a unique ride system designed to give riders the illusion their carts are leaping over sections of broken track, while the real track is concealed below.You can take a virtual tour of Universal Studios Japan's new Donkey Kong Country expansion in video above, and those able to attend in person can do so from 11th December this year. Alternatively, the area will be included as part of Universal's new Epic Universe theme park in Florida, which opens on 22nd May 2025.

Valve announces limited edition white Steam Deck OLEDBlanc cheque.Image credit: Valve News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Nov. 11, 2024 Valve has announced the Steam Deck OLED: White Edition.This new version of the handheld PC launches on 18th November, but if you want one, be warned: only a limited number will be available ("Once we're out, we're out," Valve says)."Last year, we released a smoky translucent limited edition Steam Deck OLED as an experiment to find out if there was interest in alternative colourways (there was!). This is our second experiment along those lines," Valve explained, sharing a look at the upcoming Steam Deck.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Nintendo has new hardware, but it's not Switch 2 - so what's the point of Alarmo?Watch on YouTube"The difference this time (aside from the colour!) is that we're able to ship the Limited Edition White to all regions where Steam Deck already ships," the company continued. "We're curious to see what the response is, and will use what we learn to inform future decisions about any potential new colour variants down the line."Valve said it has been "super happy with the reception of Steam Deck" since the team first launched the LCD version back in 2022. "We've always said our intent is to continually work on improving Steam Deck, and that's true from both a software perspective (continuing to ship improvements) and a hardware one (Steam Deck OLED, as well as ongoing work toward the future of Steam Deck and other hardware plans)." Image credit: ValveThe Steam Deck: White OLED features all the same specs as Valve's Steam Deck OLED 1TB model. Keeping with the white theme, it will arrive with a white carrying case and white microfiber cleaning cloth. It costs 599/$679, and those interested will be limited to one unit per account. "These accounts must have made a Steam purchase before November 2024 and be in good standing to be eligible," Valve said. Image credit: ValveElsewhere in the news, Valve recently added a game recording functionality to Steam, which also works on Steam Deck.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereDead By Daylight is set to receive one more licensed killer before the end of Year 9 and the switch to Year 10. According to the Year 9 roadmap, this rogue will be part of a paragraph meaning they will come on their own similar to Alan Wake and Tomb Raider. While nothing is confirmed and wont be for awhile, leaks suggest the DBD killer for March is from a Japanese IP, but is not Kayako from The Grudge. Before the next licensed rogue arrives, Dead By Daylight fans have a lot to enjoy during March. The release date and start time for 2v8 mode 2.0 is imminent, and BeHaviour has revealed the full November 2024 roadmap. In addition, the launch of Chapter 34 has been brought forward slightly from December, and the PTB has revealed perks for The Houndmaster as well as Taurie Cain. While there is a slew of content to appreciate this month, many DBD fans cannot help but speculate over the final Year 9 licensed killer set to arrive in March. So far the biggest belief has been Kayako from The Grudge, but now theres another contender from a Japanese IP. Dead By Daylight leak points to another Japanese killer for March Dead By Daylight is set to receive its final Year 9 licensed killer in March. This is according to the Year 9 roadmap which reveals it is also a paragraph as the killer wont be accompanied by a survivor or map. So far the majority of the community has believed the killer is Kayako from The Grudge. Kayako has never been explicitly stated by leakers, but the belief stemmed from RuthlessLeaks claiming the killer is more popular in the East and was part of a movie that came out after the year 2000. In addition, the Ju-On series is celebrating its 25th anniversary next year, so the possibility of Kayako seemed to lineup. Image credit: RuthlessLeaksImage credit: RuthlessLeaksHowever, rather than Kayako from The Grudge, it seems the licensed killer for March could be from the Japanese manga and anime, Tokyo Ghoul. Via the LeaksDBD subreddit, a message on the DBDLeaks Discord was posted before the channel was affected by hackers. The post on the DBDLeaks Discord said I want to let everyone know that I am not trolling when it comes to the March leak and that Chapter being Tokyo Ghoul. Image credit: DBDLeaks Discord via LeaksDBD subredditAs for what lends this leak some possible credibility, the message was posted before the reveal of Chapter 34, and it accurately revealed that The Chapter 34 killer is named The Houndmaster rather than The Hellion, as previously shared online. In addition to suggesting Tokyo Ghoul is the license for March, the message said The Grudge being March and Perfect Blue being the anime collab is fake. While a collaboration with Perfect Blue is seemingly not happening despite suggestions from Ruthless, the message said I do not know the anime collab so it appears one is still happening. This is all speculation rather than anything official so the killer could be from neither The Grudge or Tokyo Ghoul. However, if it is Tokyo Ghoul, it will be interesting to see who is selected as the rogue. Per comments on Reddit, the most likely candidate is Kaneki. BeHaviour has teased the next licensed killer is out of the box and a choice that will possibly be considered controversial amongst DBD players. In addition, while celebrating DBD Day, BeHaviour Interactive promised more Japanese IPs are coming to Dead By Daylight. For more Dead By Daylight content, check out ourranking of the top 10 DLC expansions to buyalong with a ranking of thebest killer perksandbest survivor perks.Dead by DaylightPlatform(s):Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Survival Horror7VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share