Author: Emily Harper

Concerns Grow Over Tilly Norwood’s Creation The debate surrounding Tilly Norwood, the so-called AI “actress,” has intensified as the British actors’ union Equity joined SAG-AFTRA in denouncing the digital creation. The union said the character, designed by AI production studio Particle6, cannot be considered a performer and raised concerns about how the data used to build her was sourced. “Tilly is not an actress. She is an AI tool. Or it is an AI tool. That’s not a performer,” said Shannon Sailing, Equity’s audio and new media organizer, in an interview with BBC Radio. “What that tool is made up…

Australia is actively urging China to restore iron ore shipments, following what its government describes as an abrupt and powerful disruption to trade that has affected major mining firms. Deteriorating Trade Ties and Supply Disruption After years of increasing tension between the two nations, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly called on China to reverse what he terms “arbitrary” restrictions that have singled out Australian iron ore. The issue has rattled industry players and poses broader risks to bilateral economic relations. The disruption has already hampered production plans and created uncertainty for major exporters. BHP, one of Australia’s largest…

OpenAI has announced new collaborations with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in South Korea to support its ambitious chip development endeavor, known as Stargate. The move marks a significant expansion in OpenAI’s supply chain strategy by directly engaging major memory and semiconductor producers. Samsung and SK Hynix are set to supply next-generation memory and advanced chip components essential to the project. Partnership with Samsung and SK Hynix The Stargate initiative aims to bring in-house design of high-performance processors capable of powering large language models. OpenAI plans to integrate custom-designed chip architectures with advanced memory subsystems, a combination thought to improve…

Cassini’s Hidden Data Unlocks New Clues Nearly two decades after NASA’s Cassini spacecraft completed its mission, scientists continue to extract groundbreaking discoveries from its vast dataset. The latest revelation comes from Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus, where researchers have identified new complex organic molecules spewing from its subsurface ocean. The finding, published in Nature Astronomy, strengthens the case for a dedicated European Space Agency (ESA) mission to investigate the moon more closely. Enceladus has intrigued planetary scientists since 2005, when Cassini detected jets of water and ice grains erupting from cracks near its south pole. These plumes not only confirmed the…

With Congress failing to pass new appropriations by the October 1 deadline, U.S. federal regulators began implementing furloughs and halting nonessential work as the government entered a partial shutdown. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reducing more than 90 percent of its workforce, leaving roughly 393 staffers assigned to critical tasks such as emergency enforcement and market surveillance. Agencies Initiate Furloughs Amid Funding Lapse Concurrently, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) plans to operate with just 5.7% of its personnel (approximately 31 out of 543 employees) tasked with preserving oversight of derivatives markets and mitigating fraud risks. Daily functions…

Funding Put on Hold The Trump administration has halted nearly $18 billion in federal funding for two of New York City’s largest infrastructure projects, citing concerns over diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The freeze affects the Hudson River Tunnel Project and the Second Avenue Subway expansion, according to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. Vought announced the move on social media, stating that the pause was to ensure taxpayer money is not distributed based on what he called “unconstitutional DEI principles.” The administration did not specify what triggered the review. DOT Issues Interim Rule The Department of Transportation…

First Nationwide Cut Since 2021 Takeover Afghanistan was largely cut off from the internet on Monday after reports emerged of a Taliban-ordered nationwide fiber-optic shutdown. According to local media, the move follows a decree issued earlier this month by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who banned fiber-optic services as part of efforts to curb what he described as “immorality.” This marks the first blackout of its kind since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, signaling a dramatic escalation in the group’s control over information flows within the country. Connectivity Collapse Confirmed by Netblocks The internet advocacy group Netblocks reported…

Google’s YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to resolve a long-running lawsuit filed by Donald Trump, stemming from the suspension of his account after the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. The payout is structured such that $22 million will be contributed toward a Trust for the National Mall fund to assist in financing a White House State Ballroom tied to Trump’s proposals. The remaining $2.5 million will be distributed among other plaintiffs named in the suit, including Naomi Wolf and the American Conservative Union. Settlement Terms and Allocation Details The settlement agreement explicitly states that no admission of liability…

If Congress fails to approve federal funding by October 1, major U.S. airlines are warning of significant disruption to air travel. According to Airlines for America, which represents carriers including United, Delta, American, and Southwest, a shutdown would force air traffic controllers and TSA agents to continue working without pay, while nonessential aviation functions would be curtailed. Rampant Risk to Aviation Operations In such a scenario, delays are already anticipated. Airport security lines may lengthen as staffing becomes strained—and as seen in past shutdowns, an uptick in call-outs among essential workers could further slow processing. Some aviation groups also warn…

A Postseason Without a Clear Favorite The 2025 MLB postseason has arrived, and for the first time in years, no team enters as a dominant frontrunner. Unlike past seasons when the Los Angeles Dodgers or Houston Astros loomed large, this year’s best regular-season record belongs to the Milwaukee Brewers at just 97 wins — the lowest win total for the top seed since 2013 (excluding the pandemic-shortened season). With 12 teams in contention and a relatively balanced field, this October promises unpredictability. Fans can choose to back historic powerhouses, perennial underdogs, or teams with unique storylines that could define the…