Amazon has unveiled Alexa+, an overhauled version of its virtual assistant with which it hopes users will share “just about anything”. Rapid recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have caused huge growth in software capable of natural-sounding conversations, with ChatGPT and DeepSeek among the most-downloaded apps worldwide. Amazon is attempting to tap into this, with Alexa+ telling a launch event in New York it wanted to be “your new best friend in the digital world”. It will be included for free in Prime subscriptions when it launches from March – but to non-members it will cost $19.99 (£16) per month,…
Author: Web Desk
The ideal stool is a “type 3” or “type 4” – cracked or smooth sausage – passed once a day. Bowel movement frequency varies, but once a day or less is now common. While one stool a day was traditionally considered a sign of good gut health, studies show a wider range is normal. Research, including the Bristol Stool Form Scale, helps diagnose digestive issues. A 2023 study found pooping seven times a week was most common, but frequency relates to mortality. Those with four soft stools a week were 1.78 times more likely to die within five years than…
A lifeline for Africa’s internet connectivity is a massive ship, the Léon Thévenin, staffed by over 50 experts. This vessel is crucial for maintaining the continent’s online access, especially after recent undersea cable damage caused widespread blackouts. Last year, internet outages disrupted millions from Lagos to Nairobi, crippling communication and financial transactions. The Léon Thévenin played a pivotal role in repairing these damaged cables, a task it has performed for 13 years. Shuru Arendse, a cable jointer, emphasizes the ship’s importance: “I keep countries connected. IT professionals have jobs because I maintain the main internet feed.” This sentiment is echoed…
Early iron came in two forms – meteoritic and smelted. Smelted iron, extracted from ore, marked the true beginning of iron technology with mass production. The earliest known iron artefacts – nine tubular beads – were made from meteoritic iron, which comes from fallen meteorites. Identifying iron-bearing rocks is the first challenge. Once located, these ores must be smelted in a furnace at extremely high temperatures to extract the metal. Without this process, raw iron remains locked within the rock. After extraction, skilled ironsmiths shape the metal into tools and implements, marking a crucial step in early ironworking. Most sites…
Amazon has become the third tech giant in as many months to announce a breakthrough in quantum computing – a technology that promises vast processing power but is beset by technical difficulties. The firm has unveiled Ocelot a prototype chip built on “cat qubit” technology – an approach that derives its name from the famous “Schrödinger’s cat” thought experiment. The chip seeks to address one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the development of quantum computers – making them error free. Amazon says, taken alongside other recent breakthroughs in the industry, its work means useful quantum computers are likely to…
Pakistan left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman has rebuffed “baseless reports” claiming the cricketer was planning to retire after he sustained an injury during the opening match of the Champions Trophy. Consequently, Fakhar, who made his long-awaited return to the national team in the recently-held home tri-nation ODI series was ruled out of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Fakhar sustained the injury while fielding during Pakistan’s match against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19 as he fell awkwardly in the opening over of the game and had to leave the field for medical evaluation. Although he made a brief return,…
England’s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, has said he will hold discussions with team management about his future after England’s elimination from the ICC Champions Trophy following a dramatic loss to Afghanistan. Wednesday’s defeat in Lahore marked England’s second consecutive loss in the tournament, sealing their group-stage exit. Afghanistan’s victory was their second upset against England, following their famous win in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Under Buttler’s leadership, England has now failed to progress beyond the group stage in two of the last three ICC tournaments. “I think the results are not where they need to be, and…
Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc Thursday said a sore ankle was the main issue that kept him out of the ongoing Champions Trophy, but “personal views” also factored into the decision. The 35-year-old was a surprise omission from a depleted Australian squad, also missing injured strike partners Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, for the 50-over tournament in Pakistan and UAE. Cricket Australia attributed Starc’s absence to unspecified “personal reasons”. Speaking for the first time since his withdrawal, Starc said his primary concern was fitness after experiencing ankle pain during Australia’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka this month. But he admitted…
Pakistan’s humiliating run and early elimination from the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 has not only invited widespread criticism from fans and the cricket fraternity but also raised eyebrows in Islamabad. “The prime minister will personally take notice and we will also ask him to raise these [cricket-related] issues in the cabinet as well as in parliament,” PM Shehbaz Sharif’s aide on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said while speaking on Geo News’ program “Geo Pakistan” on Thursday. The politician’s remarks come against the backdrop of the dismal performance showcased by the Mohammad Rizwan-led side — also the defending champions…
Pakistan ended their campaign in the home Champions Trophy without a win after rain washed out their dead rubber against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The Group A match between the two eliminated sides was of little consequence and steady drizzle poured cold water on defending champions Pakistan’s hopes of a consolation victory. Tuesday’s Group B fixture between Australia and South Africa at the same venue was also abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain. It has been a forgettable campaign for Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan in the first global tournament to be staged in the…
