NASA announced the astronauts chosen for the Artemis III mission, planned for 2027. The mission will send three American astronauts and one Italian astronaut on a complex trip around the moon using the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.
Key Facts
Artemis III is the next NASA mission following Artemis II’s successful lunar flyby.
The mission is set to launch in 2027.
The crew consists of Commander Randy Bresnik, pilot Luca Parmitano (an Italian astronaut from the European Space Agency), and mission specialists Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas.
Bob Hines has been named as a backup crew member and will train alongside the main astronauts.
The mission will use the Orion spacecraft launched by the Space Launch System rocket.
NASA describes the mission as "complex," indicating challenging tasks or operations.
Luca Parmitano represents the European Astronaut Corps, showing international cooperation in the mission.
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Meta said the spyware company NSO Group targeted WhatsApp users with harmful links, breaking a US court order that bans it from doing so. NSO built Pegasus spyware, which can steal data from phones, and it has been legally blocked from attacking WhatsApp after previous cases with Meta.
Key Facts
NSO Group used malicious links to try to target WhatsApp users in Jordan and Lebanon.
Meta caught and stopped these attacks and found NSO creating fake accounts on WhatsApp.
NSO developed Pegasus spyware, a tool that can secretly take users’ data from WhatsApp phones.
Meta won a court case against NSO, which resulted in a permanent ban on NSO targeting WhatsApp users.
NSO violated this court order by continuing attacks, according to Meta.
NSO is trying to enter the US market but is on a US blacklist due to national security concerns.
The company appointed David Friedman, former US ambassador to Israel, as a leader and hired lobbyists linked to President Trump.
Meta said recent lawsuits claiming it can read WhatsApp messages are false; WhatsApp uses encryption to protect user data.
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The European Union has ordered Meta to let rival companies’ AI chatbots access WhatsApp for Business for free while an investigation continues. This move aims to ensure fair competition and prevent Meta from blocking other AI providers on its messaging platform.
Key Facts
The EU told Meta to allow third-party AI chatbots to use WhatsApp for Business at no cost.
This order is temporary, lasting until the EU finishes its antitrust investigation.
The EU started investigating after Meta banned non-Meta AI assistants from WhatsApp for Business API in December 2025.
The EU says Meta has a dominant position in Europe and may be abusing it by blocking competitors.
Meta called the EU’s order regulatory overreach and said it will appeal.
If Meta ignores the order, it could face fines up to 10% of its total revenue.
The EU says the move protects consumer choice among AI assistants in Europe.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between European regulators and US tech companies like Meta.
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Facebook is sending a second round of payments from a $725 million settlement over claims that it shared users’ private data without permission. People who claimed and received the first payment will automatically get a smaller second payment in the coming weeks.
Key Facts
The settlement is worth $725 million and deals with Facebook sharing private data from 2007 to 2022.
Facebook’s parent company Meta denies any wrongdoing.
The second payment was approved by a court in May 2026 and averages $5 to $7.
The first payment averaged about $30 and was sent in fall 2025.
Users had to submit claims by August 25, 2023, to qualify for payments.
About 19 million people filed claims, out of roughly 250 million eligible users.
No new claims are accepted now; only people who got the first payment will receive this second one.
The settlement administrator warns about scams and says they will never ask for Social Security numbers or fees.
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NASA announced the four astronauts chosen for the next Artemis moon mission, Artemis III, which will launch next year to test space docking with new moon landers by SpaceX and Blue Origin. This mission is a key step before NASA plans to land astronauts on the moon again by 2028.
Key Facts
Artemis III astronauts were introduced at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The mission will launch on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket with an Orion capsule.
It will test docking procedures with moon landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Artemis III follows Artemis II, which orbited the moon successfully in April.
The goal is to prepare for a moon landing planned for 2028.
Blue Origin had a rocket explosion that damaged its launch pad and delayed its lunar lander schedule.
SpaceX is still working on its Super Heavy-Starship rocket and lunar lander.
NASA will proceed with Artemis III if at least one lander is ready or adjust the mission if needed.
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The article says the government needs to create rules focused on people, especially children, to control artificial intelligence (AI). It also says the Every Student Succeeds Act should be updated to consider changes in the economy caused by AI.
Key Facts
The government should establish human-centered regulations for AI.
These regulations are needed to protect children from risks related to AI.
The goal is to keep humans in control while AI advances.
The Every Student Succeeds Act is a law about education standards.
This law should be updated to reflect the impact of AI on the economy.
AI is changing how jobs and skills work in the economy.
Updating education laws will help prepare children for an AI-driven world.
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A serious security flaw was found in the Linux operating system caused by a single wrong character in its code. This flaw lets users without special rights gain full control over the system by exploiting a bug in a part of Linux that manages network rules called nf_tables.
Key Facts
The vulnerability is called CVE-2026-23111 and affects the nf_tables part of the Linux kernel.
nf_tables helps manage firewall rules and replaced older tools like iptables.
The bug was caused by an incorrect exclamation mark in the source code.
This created a "use-after-free" vulnerability, meaning memory was used after it was freed, potentially allowing attackers to run harmful code.
An attacker can use this flaw to gain root access, which means full control over the computer.
The problem was fixed in the Linux kernel in February 2026.
Security researchers have demonstrated how to exploit the flaw on Debian and Ubuntu Linux systems.
This is one of several recent serious privilege escalation bugs found in Linux.
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Meta Platforms is starting a program to train people for jobs in its data centers. The company will pay for a five-week course and promise a job to those who finish. The program will begin in four U.S. states and focus on skilled trade jobs like electricians and plumbers.
Key Facts
Meta is investing $115 million in the training program called "America's workforce academy."
The program is free and open to veterans, career changers, and others interested in skilled trades.
Training lasts five weeks and leads to an industry-recognized credential.
The first locations are Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas.
There is a shortage of workers like fiber technicians, welders, plumbers, and electricians for building data centers.
Data centers support AI development and technology infrastructure.
The U.S. has around 4,000 data centers and about 3,000 more are planned or being built.
Data centers could create 4.7 million temporary construction jobs and 700,000 permanent jobs.
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Alberta plans to become a top place in North America for large data centers that support artificial intelligence (AI). One big project called Wonder Valley faces criticism from local communities concerned about energy use, water demand, and land impact. The province hopes these AI data centers will bring jobs and investment.
Key Facts
Wonder Valley is a proposed AI data center in northern Alberta covering about 7,000 acres.
It would require very large amounts of electricity, called a multigigawatt energy footprint.
Alberta aims to be “the most attractive place” in North America for AI data centers.
The province has lots of natural gas to generate power for these energy-heavy facilities.
Alberta offers fast approval processes and support services to attract data center projects.
Some local communities worry about water use, land changes, and power reliability from big data centers.
In Rocky View County, local officials rejected a data center due to concerns about farmland and water issues.
About 75% of proposed data centers in Alberta are in areas already facing high water stress.
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Scientists have found that gold's resistance to chemical reactions is not because of its atoms but due to the way gold crystals form surfaces. While bulk gold does not easily react, tiny gold particles called nanoparticles can act as catalysts and speed up chemical reactions.
Key Facts
Gold normally does not oxidize or tarnish like silver or copper.
Traditional explanations say gold is inert because its outer electrons shield reactive inner electrons.
Gold nanoparticles can act as catalysts, unlike large gold surfaces.
Catalysts help start chemical reactions by lowering the energy needed.
Catalytic activity depends a lot on the surface area and structure of a material.
Gold atoms form crystals, and cutting gold crystals in different ways shows different surface patterns.
Nanoparticles have special surface sites that bulk gold lacks, allowing them to speed up reactions.
This discovery improves understanding of how gold can be both chemically inactive and active depending on its form.
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The White House and lawmakers are working together to create federal rules that would override some state AI laws. In return, the White House is offering policies to protect children and guard against deepfake technology.
Key Facts
The federal government wants to have top authority over certain state AI regulations.
Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee is leading talks with the White House.
The negotiations aim to finalize a bill about AI rules.
The deal includes policies focused on protecting children’s safety online.
It also includes measures to prevent harm created by deepfakes, which are fake videos or images created by AI.
The goal is to balance national AI standards with state concerns.
This negotiation reflects growing attention to AI regulation in the U.S.
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Audi has introduced updated versions of its Q7 and SQ7 SUVs for the US market, set to release for the 2027 model year. The new Q7 features a twin-turbo V6 engine, while the SQ7 uses a powerful V8 from the RS7 model, both equipped with advanced lighting and suspension technologies.
Key Facts
The new Q7 has a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine producing 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque.
The North America-only SQ7 comes with a 4.0-liter V8 engine making 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.
Both SUVs use an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The SQ7 features adaptive air suspension with an optional mode that lowers the vehicle by over an inch.
New digital matrix LED headlights with 25,600 pixels and OLED rear lights can display hazard signals, though some functions are limited on US models.
The vehicles offer safety features such as dynamic turn signals that project onto the ground at night to alert pedestrians and cyclists.
The Q7’s design is more upright with more curves and a taller D pillar compared to the previous model.
Inside, the SUVs include wireless charging, 100W USB-C ports, and support for Apple CarPlay, with options for more colorful interiors in the SQ7.
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OpenAI, the company behind the AI tool ChatGPT, has filed confidentially to become a publicly traded company through an initial public offering (IPO). The company valued itself at $852 billion in March but has not yet decided when it will start selling shares to the public.
Key Facts
OpenAI created the AI program ChatGPT.
The company has filed confidential paperwork to go public with an IPO.
An IPO means the company will sell shares to public investors.
OpenAI valued itself at $852 billion in a funding round in March.
The company has not chosen a date to begin selling shares.
Going public will require more financial disclosure and oversight.
OpenAI said it may stay private longer to handle some business matters more easily.
This move helps OpenAI raise money to compete with large tech companies in AI.
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President Donald Trump is supporting fast growth in artificial intelligence (AI) rather than strict safety rules. He signed orders to speed up AI use in the military and is considering the government buying shares in top AI companies. Meanwhile, AI company Anthropic has called for a pause in AI development over safety concerns.
Key Facts
President Trump issued executive orders to review AI models with less strict rules and to speed up AI use in the US military.
Trump postponed stricter AI review rules to avoid losing the US lead over China.
Trump is exploring the idea of the US government buying stocks in leading AI companies, possibly to benefit financially.
Trump favors growing AI technology quickly instead of limiting it for safety reasons.
Anthropic, an AI company, proposed a temporary pause on AI development to address potential risks.
Anthropic plans to go public on the US stock market soon.
Anthropic’s chatbot Claude is developing toward "recursive self-improvement," meaning it can improve itself over time.
The main balance on AI safety currently may come from companies like Anthropic rather than government regulation.
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Apple announced that its new Siri AI uses language models developed with Google and runs on Google’s Nvidia-powered servers. Despite using Google’s hardware, Apple says it keeps user data private by using advanced security measures similar to those on its own servers.
Key Facts
Apple’s Siri AI now uses Google’s Gemini language models and runs on Google servers with Nvidia hardware.
Previously, Apple ran AI models locally on devices or on its own servers to protect user privacy.
Apple's new AI system uses different models depending on device capability; more powerful devices get advanced AI features.
For simple tasks, models run locally on the user’s device, while complex queries go to cloud-based models.
Most cloud models run on Apple’s own servers, but the most advanced AI model runs on Google’s Nvidia hardware.
Apple introduced a new version of Private Cloud Compute to secure data even when running on third-party hardware.
Security features include Nvidia’s Confidential Computing, Intel’s Trust Domain Extensions, and Google’s Titan chip.
Apple aims to continue protecting user privacy despite using external servers for increased computing power.
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Apple is introducing new features to help parents manage their children's screen time and improve child safety on their devices. These updates include stronger parental controls that allow parents to better monitor and limit the time kids spend on screens.
Key Facts
Apple is releasing an update with new child safety tools.
The update focuses on better parental controls.
Parents can use these controls to manage screen time for children.
The goal is to help keep kids safer when using Apple devices.
The changes were explained by CBS News correspondent Jo Ling Kent.
The update will be available through Apple’s software system.
These tools aim to give parents more control over kids’ device usage.
The update is part of Apple's ongoing efforts to support families.
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Rivian is starting deliveries of its new R2 electric vehicle, a smaller and more affordable model designed for everyday use. The R2 offers features like long driving range, powerful motors, and off-road capabilities, while using simpler and lighter technology to reduce costs.
Key Facts
The Rivian R2 is a compact electric crossover with two rows of seats.
It is slightly longer than a Honda CRV but similar in size to a Toyota RAV4.
The R2 has high ground clearance comparable to a Jeep Wrangler.
It uses an 88 kWh battery and can travel up to 345 miles on a single charge (for the single-motor Long Range version).
The launch model has dual motors with 656 horsepower and 609 lb-ft of torque.
Rivian simplified the vehicle's wiring system, reducing the amount of copper wire by 2.3 miles and cutting 44 pounds of weight.
The R2 includes technology improvements to reduce cost and increase production efficiency.
Deliveries to customers began in 2024, with further versions expected by early 2027.
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NASA will announce the astronauts chosen for the Artemis III mission, which plans to launch in 2027. This mission aims to send humans back to the Moon.
Key Facts
NASA is selecting astronauts for the Artemis III mission.
The mission is expected to launch in 2027.
Artemis III will be part of NASA’s program to return humans to the Moon.
The announcement will be made on a Wednesday.
Artemis missions are designed to explore the Moon and prepare for future space travel.
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The UK regulator Ofcom has ordered social media companies like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok to set up emergency plans to stop illegal content from spreading quickly during crises. These plans include having a special way for police to contact platforms and acting fast when dangerous content increases.
Key Facts
Social media firms must create a "crisis protocol" to handle rapid rises in illegal content during serious events.
Platforms must keep a dedicated communication channel open for police contact in emergencies.
The rules come after rioting in Southampton and misinformation spreading post-2024 summer riots.
The UK Parliament must approve the new measures before they start.
Ofcom defines a crisis as a serious threat to public safety caused by a big increase in harmful online content.
Illegal content such as hate speech, threats, or incitement to violence may spread faster during crises.
Normal moderation methods may not be enough during such events, so extra steps are needed.
Experts recommend fast, coordinated efforts with police and community leaders to fight false information online.
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A $725 million class action settlement about Facebook users' privacy problems is sending out a second round of payments. Some people who missed the first payment might now get a chance to receive money from the settlement.
Key Facts
The settlement involves Facebook and concerns privacy issues affecting its users.
The total settlement amount is $725 million.
This is the start of a second round of payments to eligible users.
The payments go to people who were part of the settlement class.
Some users may get bonus payments if they qualify.
The second round aims to reach those who did not receive money the first time.
Users can check if they are eligible for the new payments.
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