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Monarch butterflies are well-known and beloved migratory pollinators in North America. NNehring via Getty ImagesFor generations, monarch butterflies have traveled thousands of miles across North America in remarkable, long-distance migrations. But like many other pollinators, human activity and climate change have cast a shadow over the future of these beloved insects.In response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is taking a step toward protecting monarchs: The agency proposed listing monarch butterflies as threatened under the Endangered Species Act on Tuesday, which would extend federal protection to the species. The proposal will be subject to a 90-day public comment period before potentially taking effect.The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating life cycle, Martha Williams, director of the USFWS, says in a statement. Working together, we can help make this extraordinary species a legacy for our children and generations to come.Listing of any creature as endangered under the Endangered Species Act prevents people, including farmers, from killing or transporting the species or making changes to the land in a way that harms it. Threatened species receive similar safeguards, but with exceptions. Specific to the butterflies, the proposal would designate 4,395 acres of land in coastal California as a protected habitat for monarch migration. People would still be allowed to transport groups of fewer than 250 monarchs and use them for education. A monarch butterfly alights on a flower outside the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Sarah A. Tietbohl / Smithsonian GardensScientists generally agree that the monarch population has undergone a steep decline in the last few decades. Estimates suggest that monarchs found west of the Rocky Mountains have dwindled by 95 percent in recent decades, and monarchs east of the Rockies90 percent of the U.S. monarch populationhave declined by 80 percent. The causes of this drop-off are numerous, including pesticides, logging, climate change and other human activities.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified monarch butterflies as endangered in 2022. Later, they were recategorized as vulnerable, a less pressing arrangement. But even then, some experts argued the species should receive an even milder designation of least concern.In the United States, the monarchs vulnerability depends on the region, Kristen Lundh, a biologist in the USFWS, tells the Associated Press. For instance, by 2080, western monarchs have a 99 percent chance of extinction, per the statement. For the monarchs east of the Rockies, that number is lower, falling between 56 and 74 percent. Officials stress the importance of public collaboration when it comes to protecting monarchs. GomezDavid via Getty ImagesAsCatrin Einhorn writes for the New York Times,a planet-wide extinction ofmonarchs is not believed to be a large threat. Rather, their migration patterns are more at risk, having been significantly disrupted by human activity.For now, monarchs are plentiful. This means that officials are walking a tightrope with the proposal, per theNew York Times. Although recent trends support the need for protections, the proposal would make monarchs the most commonly seen species to be listed as endangered, reports the publication.Endangered designation for a common species is jarring, Robert Robbins, a research entomologist and curator of Lepidoptera at the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History, says in a statement to Smithsonian magazine. As the late expert Lincoln Brower made clear, migration of the North American monarch is in danger from climate change and forest clearing in Mexico (where some monarchs overwinter), but the butterfly appears to be adapting and is common in the autumn in Eastern U.S. cities, suburbs and rural areas.Too much protection for the insect might invoke resentment from farmers or land developers. But too little would render the action essentially meaningless.Officials want to avoid either situation. If anything, one key aspect of the new proposal is getting landowners, farmers, conservationists and everyday citizens on board, Clay Bolt, the World Wildlife Funds manager of pollinator conservation, tells CNNs Rachel Ramirez. Stabilizing and reversing population trends requires an all-hands approach.There arent that many species where everyday people in their backyard can do something to help an endangered species, Jake Li, assistant director for ecological services at USFWS, says to the New York Times. Thats, to me, one thing that makes monarchs so different and why we want to put a heavier thumb on the scale of incentives for people to help us conserve the species.Despite (the monarchs) fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance, Williams, of the USFWS, tells CNN. Science shows that the monarch needs that chance, and this proposed listing invites and builds on unprecedented public participation in shaping monarch conservation efforts.Public comments on the proposal can be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from December 12 until March 12, 2025.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

The five womenMarie-Jose Loshi, Monique Bitu Bingi, Lea Tavares Mujinga, Simone Ngalula and Nolle Verbekentook legal action against the Belgian state for the suffering they endured as children. AP Photo / Francisco SecoWhen Congo was under Belgian colonial rule between 1908 and 1960, thousands of mixed-race children were abducted from their Black mothers and raised as orphans in Catholic institutions and homes. Five of these victimsa group of women now in their 70s and 80shave been fighting for Belgiums government to acknowledge the suffering they endured as young children.Last week, a Brussels appeals court ruled that the Belgian state had committed a crime against humanity. The state must now pay each woman 50,000 (about $52,000) for the moral damage resulting from the loss of their connection to their mother and the damage to their identity and their connection to their original environment, said the judges.At last, weve been heard, and the courts have ruled in our favor, plaintiff Lea Tavares Mujinga tells Agence France-Presse. Its a very large part of our lives that was taken away from us, that the Belgian state had broken. Well never be able to get it back. But at least its a gesture of some relief.For many decades, Belgium ruled what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. Interracial relations were condemned, and children of Black mothers and white fathers werent recognized by the governmentunless they were accepted by their white parent. Otherwise, many of these children, known asmtis, became wards of the state.Tavares Mujinga was 2 years old when Belgian authorities took her from her mother and brought her to a mission in Katende around 1946. The all-girls orphanage was run by nuns, who told their charges they were children of sin, per theGuardians Jennifer Rankin. The childrens parentage was selectively obfuscated.I grew up thinking my father was dead, Simone Ngalula, who was brought to Katende in 1952, toldSmithsonian magazines Jocelyn C. Zuckerman last year. They told us that our father was the state, Papa ltat. Simone Ngalula and Lea Tavares Mujinga in 2020 John Thys / AFP via Getty ImagesThe children of Katende were underfed and abused. As Tavares Mujinga told Smithsonian magazine, her legs are scarred from ulcers she developed at Katende due to malnutrition. On her forehead is a square-shaped indentation from a particularly forceful smack from a nun she received when she was 5.When Belgian Congo gained independence in 1960, the girls of Katende were abandoned, and during the ensuing unrest, many of them were sexually assaulted. Years later, four of the plaintiffs became Belgian citizens, and the fifth, Marie-Jos Loshi, became a citizen of France. In 2018, the five women gathered for a barbeque at Monique Bitu Bingis house, where they told their story to their children and decided to take legal action, reports theNew York Times Jenny Gross and Elian Peltier.In 2019, Belgiums governmentapologized for the countrys role in the Congo kidnappings, and Belgiums King Philippe affirmed his deepest regrets for these past wounds in Congo the following year.In 2021, the five women argued their case in a lower court and lost. They decided to appealand now, three years later, theyve won.This is a victory and a historic judgment, says Michle Hirsch, one of the womens lawyers, per the Guardian. It is the first time in Belgium and probably in Europe that a court has condemned the Belgian colonial state for crimes against humanity.Bitu Bingis daughter, Monique Fernandes, tells theAssociated Press Raf Casert that the verdict has given her mother a sense of closure.I feel so relieved, Bitu Bingi tells the Times. The Belgian government took my youth away, and it was something I had to fight for, to explain to the world what happened.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Africa, African History, children , Colonialism, Congo, Crime, European History, History, Law, Racism

Apple and OpenAI are partnering to bring ChatGPT to iPhone, transforming Siri, camera and productivity features in iOS 18.2.Read More

The news comes as other AI researchers and big tech companies seek to develop AI that can create 3D immersive, navigable worlds.Read More

Pokmon and Aardman partner up for "exciting" 2027 collaboration | News-in-briefAardman is bringing its "unique style of storytelling" to the Pokmon universeImage credit: Pokmon / Aardman News by GamesIndustry.biz Staff Contributor Published on Dec. 11, 2024 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Pokmon & Aardman partner up for "exciting" 2027 collaboration

Balatro and AFK Journey among 2024 App Store Award winners"The remarkable achievements of this year's winners demonstrate the incredible ingenuity that can be unlocked through apps" News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Dec. 11, 2024 AFK Journey, What If? An Immersive Story, Squad Busters, Thank Goodness You're Here!, and Balatro+ have all made it to Apple's 2024 app Store Award winner list."Honouring 17 apps and games that helped users ignite their creativity, achieve new milestones, and cherish everyday moments with family and friends," Apple said "this years winning developers have created apps and games that improved users' lives and impacted culture around the world."Balatro+ won Apple Arcade game of the year, whilst AFK Journey, Squad Busters, and Thank Goodness You're Here! took home the prize for iPhone game of the year, iPad game of the year, and Mac game of the year, respectively.Thrasher: Arcade Odyssey secured Apple Vision Pro game of the year, whilst Wordle's NYT Games and The Wreck each received recognition for their cultural impact "in users' lives and communities.""We are thrilled to honour this impressive group of developers who are harnessing the power of Apple devices and technology to deliver experiences that enrich the lives of users and have a profound impact on their communities," said Tim Cook, Apple CEO. "The remarkable achievements of this years winners demonstrate the incredible ingenuity that can be unlocked through apps."Last month, AFK Journey was also declared the best game of the year on Google Play by the store's editorial team.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorDecember 11, 20241 Min ReadImage via Glow Up Games.At a GlanceGlow Up is the latest studio to close its doors as industry layoffs and closures continue throughout 2024.Glow Up Games, the studio behind Insecure: The Come Up Game, is closing down.Co-founder Mitu Khandaker explained on LinkedIn the studio was "not able to continue weathering the challenges we fought so hard to overcome for all these years." It was founded in 2019, and the game based on the popular HBO show is its sole credit."Our mission was to build games & tech which centers and celebrates Black and brown joy, and we were proud of what we were able to achieve," she continued. A similar statement is published on Glow Up's website, which further noted "the impact we were able to have.""We celebrated so many firsts," Khandaker continued, "such as being the first all-woman of color founded studio in the mobile space to raise over $1 million in equity funding. [...] We're grateful for those who are continuing that important & necessary work."This marks the latest studio closure as 2024 winds down. Last week, Ubisoft shut down its San Francisco and Osaka-based studios ahead of xDefiant going offline in June 2025. Fellow indie developer Sweet Bandits of Deceive Inc. fame also closed its doors after its staff hit a "breaking point."Studios have also conducted several layoffs this week: People Can Fly, Deck Nine, and outlets like IGN and GamesIndustry have eliminated roles or spurred employees to take buyouts.Read more about:LayoffsAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

The end of the year means awards season, and Apple has revealed the winners for its 2024 App Store Awards. In its announcement, the tech company said the recipients "highlight the endless opportunities across the App Store and the Apple ecosystem."For its game categories, Farlight Games' AFK Journey won Best iPhone Game, and Supercell's Squad Busters for Best iPad Game. The former also won Game of the Year for Google Play's awards in November, and the latter for Best Multiplayer.Panic Inc's Thank Goodness You're Here! was deemed the year's best Mac game, and Thrasher: Arcade Odyssey was the inaugural winner for the Apple Vision Pro. Finally, LocalThunk's Balatro took the Best Apple Arcade award. The roguelike deckbuilder is nominated for several industry awards this year, including "Best Game Direction" and "Game of the Year" at tomorrow's Game Awards.Apple also recognized the New York Times' games division, Pixel Hunt's The Wreck, and Gamtrophy's Do You Really Want to Know 2 as part of its "Cultural Impact" winners. The category highlights games and apps that have made a "lasting impact" on players' lives and communities.Do You Really Want to Know 2, for example, is a text adventure game chosen for "exploring the nuances of living with HIV, offering users local resources and educational materials to navigate conversations with family and friends." NYT Games was selected for "connecting family and friends across generations with a variety of fun and simple daily games."The full list of App Store Award winners can be read here.

Valve is testing an option in the new Steam client beta that will force games by default to only download updates when you launch them.Currently, Steam by default decides what game updates to download based on a few different things. As explained by Valve:For games you recently played, Steam will download game updates shortly after they are released. For games that you havent played in a while, Steam might wait a few days to bundle multiple updates together or choose to download the update while you are asleep.This new default option to wait to download an update gives players more control; as Valve points out, it means that users can hold an updating a massive game until they actually want to play it, which could be a relief for people with bandwidth caps.Youll find the new option in the beta Steam client settings under the Downloads section. You can set the default to: let Steam decide when to update the game (based on factors like when you last played the game, bandwidth availability, etc.) or wait to update until the game is launched, Valve says.You can still set per-game download settings in a games Properties that override the global setting, but those options have cleaned up descriptions, according to Valve. And with the beta, you can also manage the per-game overrides in the overall Steam client Downloads settings.The Steam client Updates settings with cleaned up descriptions. Image: Valve