An Xbox executive suggested using artificial intelligence (AI) to help laid-off workers manage their emotions and workload. This advice came after Microsoft announced it would cut up to 9,000 jobs, affecting several divisions, potentially including Xbox.
Key Facts
Xbox producer Matt Turnbull suggested using AI tools to help employees cope with job loss.
Microsoft plans to lay off up to 9,000 workers globally.
The layoffs might affect Microsoft's Xbox division, among others.
Microsoft is investing $80 billion in AI and building data centers for AI training.
Turnbull mentioned AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to assist with emotional and job-related stress.
He acknowledged AI could cause strong reactions but aimed to offer helpful advice.
Microsoft has about 228,000 employees worldwide, and the cuts are about 4% of its workforce.
Some video game projects in development may be impacted by these job cuts.
The Justice Department and FBI found no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein had a client list or blackmailed associates. Their investigation confirmed that Epstein died by suicide, which is supported by previous findings.
Key Facts
The Justice Department and FBI conducted an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's files.
They found no evidence of a client list or blackmailing by Epstein.
A memo explained that the investigation was thorough, examining both digital and physical records.
Epstein died in 2019 at a federal prison in New York City.
His death was investigated and confirmed as suicide by multiple authorities.
The investigation's findings align with earlier reports from other officials.
Public skepticism remains, especially concerning Epstein's ties to influential individuals.
Flash floods in Texas on July 4, 2025, were caused by sudden, heavy rain, with up to 12 inches falling quickly. Climate change is increasing the risk of such extreme rain events across the U.S. because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to more severe storms and flooding.
Key Facts
Flash floods in Texas were caused by up to 12 inches of rain in a short time.
The floods occurred in a region called Flash Flood Alley due to its terrain and frequent heavy rainfall.
Climate change is causing more extreme rainstorms across the U.S., increasing flood risk.
A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfalls than in the past.
The recent storm in Texas was influenced by leftover moisture from Tropical Storm Barry.
Warmer air and ocean temperatures lead to wetter tropical storms and hurricanes.
Over one third of inland flood damages from 1988 to 2021 are linked to human-caused climate change.
Despite growing risks, many U.S. communities aren't updating infrastructure to handle more intense rain events.
Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering three relatives by serving them a meal containing deadly mushrooms. She was also found guilty of attempting to murder a fourth person who survived. Evidence showed she lied about the source of the mushrooms and disposed of items to hide her actions.
Key Facts
Erin Patterson, from Victoria, Australia, was convicted of murder and attempted murder.
Three people, including her former in-laws, died after eating a beef Wellington meal with death cap mushrooms.
A fourth person, Ian Wilkinson, survived after hospital treatment.
Patterson claimed she bought the mushrooms from an Asian grocery but couldn't provide proof.
Investigators found evidence she had searched for death cap mushrooms online and visited areas where they were found.
Her phone data showed she bought a food dehydrator, which had traces of deadly mushrooms.
Patterson disposed of the dehydrator at a dump after the meal, contradicting her claims of never owning one.
Death cap mushrooms are very toxic, and their toxins cannot be removed by cooking or drying.
More than eight tonnes of leftover food from the British Grand Prix will be given out by the Towcester Community Larder to local people, preventing the food from being wasted. The event is open to everyone, with a focus on helping those in need, and uses food collected by volunteers from the Grand Prix caterers.
Key Facts
Over eight tonnes of leftover food from the British Grand Prix will be distributed by Towcester Community Larder.
The event will take place on Islington Road and starts at 18:00 BST.
This is the fifth year of the "food rescue" mission, and last year about 500 people benefited from it.
The event is free and designed to help people experiencing hardship, as well as supporting local schools, councils, and social housing.
The food, including items like fruit, vegetables, pastries, and cold meats, is collected and stored by trained volunteers.
The first rescue mission started with two cars; now it’s a much larger operation.
Queues are expected, with updates available on Towcester Community Larder's Facebook page.
Community larders work to reduce food waste by distributing unsold food to people for a small fee.
Apple is challenging a €500 million fine from the European Union, which claims Apple restricted app developers on its App Store. The fine is part of the EU's Digital Markets Act, targeting anti-competitive behavior in large tech companies.
Key Facts
The European Union fined Apple €500 million for allegedly limiting app developers in its App Store.
The European Commission says Apple broke laws by stopping developers from telling customers about other buying options.
Apple argues that the EU's decision is beyond what the law demands and creates complexity for users and developers.
Apple has appealed the fine to the EU's General Court, questioning the fairness of the imposed changes.
The fines are issued under the EU's Digital Markets Act, which targets large tech firms to encourage fair market practices.
The EU also fined Meta €200 million for similar reasons related to its "consent or pay" model.
The Digital Markets Act can impose fines up to 10% of a company's global annual earnings.
The EU's strict rules on big tech firms have led to criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who compared the fines to a form of taxation.
Thousands of people participated in the first bull run of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain. The event features runners moving alongside bulls through the city's streets, with many getting injured. The festival also involves cultural activities and bullfights.
Key Facts
The San Fermin festival takes place in Pamplona, Spain.
The event includes nine morning bull runs over several days.
Thousands of runners take part in each run, which covers 846 meters.
Participants usually wear white clothing with red sashes and neckerchiefs.
Many spectators watch the event from balconies or on live television.
Injuries are common, and medics are on hand to help those who get hurt.
At least 15 people have died in these runs over the last 100 years.
The festival includes not only bull runs but also cultural events and bullfights.
In southern Gaza, three-year-old Amr al-Hams is in a hospital with severe injuries from an air strike. His mother and other family members died in the attack, and Amr needs urgent medical care that is not available in Gaza.
Key Facts
Amr al-Hams is a three-year-old boy in a hospital in southern Gaza.
He has shrapnel in his brain from an Israeli air strike.
Amr lost his mother, his unborn sibling, two siblings, and his grandfather in the attack.
He is unable to walk or speak and has severe malnutrition due to a lack of proper food.
Doctors say that Amr needs immediate medical care outside Gaza for his brain injuries.
The hospital ran out of fortified milk because of a blockade, so his aunt feeds him mashed lentils.
Without specialized care, there is a high risk of permanent brain damage.
Amr's brain is still developing, and staying in Gaza could prevent his recovery.
Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering her relatives and attempting to murder another person by serving a dish containing deadly mushrooms. Key evidence, including CCTV footage and phone recordings, was presented in her trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria. She will be sentenced at a later date.
Key Facts
Erin Patterson was found guilty of murder and attempted murder.
She cooked and served beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms.
The incident happened in Leongatha, Victoria.
The Supreme Court of Victoria showed CCTV and phone recordings as evidence.
Kenya is observing the anniversary of its pro-democracy protests, known as "Saba Saba," amid heavy police presence in Nairobi. Authorities are preparing for possible unrest, as public discontent grows over issues like poor economic conditions and police actions. The government and protesters have differing views on the nature and impact of recent demonstrations.
Key Facts
Kenya celebrates "Saba Saba" on July 7 to remember the 1990 pro-democracy protests.
Police have blocked roads in Nairobi to prevent anticipated protests.
Recent protests have resulted in violence, with dozens of deaths and property damage.
Protesters claim authorities use vandals to make their movement look bad.
The government has compared the protests to an "attempted coup."
Kenya's Interior Minister emphasized the government's commitment to security during protests.
Social issues like police brutality and economic inequality drive public anger.
At least 80 people have died in protests since June 2024.
Kenyan security forces have closed major roads leading into central Nairobi due to planned protests. The protests, called Saba Saba, are organized for better governance and have caused the city center to mostly shut down, with a strong police presence.
Key Facts
Kenyan police have blocked roads into central Nairobi before planned protests.
The city center is mostly empty, with many businesses closed and heightened security.
Schools advised students to stay home due to the situation.
Commuters and travelers are stuck at checkpoints outside the city.
Roads to important government places like the president's house are blocked.
Protests are in response to calls for better governance and justice for police brutality.
There have been reports of violence and looting during previous protests.
The history of these protests ties back to the 1990s struggle for democracy in Kenya.
A Texas lawmaker, Representative Joaquin Castro, is calling for an investigation into the response to severe floods in Central Texas, where at least 90 people died over the July 4th weekend. The floods happened quickly, and questions are being raised about why residents along the Guadalupe River were not warned to evacuate sooner. The National Weather Service (NWS) staffing levels, after recent cuts and rehiring efforts, are also part of the discussion on improving emergency preparedness.
Key Facts
At least 90 people died in flash floods in Central Texas over the July 4th weekend, mostly in Kerr County.
Heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise over 26 feet in 45 minutes.
The National Weather Service warned of possible floods but didn’t issue a flash flood warning until after significant rain had already fallen.
Rep. Joaquin Castro is calling for an investigation into what went wrong with the warnings and evacuations.
The NWS faced staffing cuts earlier this year but has begun rehiring after public criticism.
The White House defended response efforts, with the Press Secretary dismissing criticisms related to federal funding cuts.
Kerr County is smaller and has fewer resources than larger areas like San Antonio, making recovery efforts more challenging.
The article discusses a listener poll that ranked favorite Pixar movies. Participants chose from Pixar's extensive list of films and voted for their top three movies. This resulted in a list of the top 10 Pixar films according to the listeners.
Key Facts
The poll asked Pop Culture Happy Hour listeners to vote for their favorite Pixar movie.
Participants could vote for up to three films each.
Over 2,500 votes were collected for the ranking.
The poll did not include Pixar's latest film "Elio" as it was conducted before its release.
"Lightyear," a 2022 film, was the only Pixar movie that received very few votes.
The top 10 list includes well-known movies like Toy Story 3 and Monsters, Inc.
The survey highlights the strong opinions people have about Pixar movies and their sequels.
Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering her former in-laws and attempting to kill another person by serving them toxic mushrooms at a lunch in Australia. The trial revealed that she had lied about having cancer and tried to hide her actions after the incident. One guest survived after serious illness, while three died soon after the meal.
Key Facts
The incident occurred at Erin Patterson's home on July 29, 2023.
Five people attended the lunch, but only one guest, Ian Wilkinson, survived after weeks in the hospital.
The deceased victims were Don Patterson, Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson.
Erin Patterson was found guilty of three murders and one attempted murder.
During the trial, evidence suggested Erin used death cap mushrooms, which are poisonous.
Erin had claimed the poisoning was an accident, but evidence showed otherwise.
Erin lied about having cancer to mislead her guests and attempted to destroy evidence.
The incident took place in Morwell, Australia, leading to significant media attention.
A charity in Surrey, called Christians Against Poverty (CAP), has helped people clear nearly £1 million in personal debt over the last decade. The demand for their services continues to grow, with many upcoming appointments already booked.
Key Facts
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a charity helping people with personal debt issues.
The CAP debt center in Epsom and Ewell has supported people in clearing £972,413 in debt over the past 10 years.
The debt center opened in July 2015 at St Barnabas Church in Epsom.
CAP offers services both at the church and by visiting people at home.
Demand for CAP’s services is high, and many appointments are already scheduled into the summer.
CAP collaborates with other organizations like Citizens Advice and StepChange to assist people in financial need.
A person helped by CAP described struggling with overwhelming debt, with all income going to pay off various creditors.
A new carbon capture project in the UK aims to create thousands of jobs by capturing and storing carbon emissions from cement and lime factories in the Peak District. This project involves building a pipeline to transport carbon dioxide to depleted gas fields under the Irish Sea, and it is supported by government and private funds.
Key Facts
The project aims to capture carbon emissions from cement and lime factories and store them underground.
It will involve building a pipeline to transport carbon dioxide from Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and the North West of England.
The stored carbon dioxide will go to depleted gas fields off the coast of Cumbria.
The project is expected to create around 300 permanent jobs and 1,200 temporary jobs during construction.
More than 2,000 jobs in cement and lime production will be supported by this initiative.
The goal is to prevent over three million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year.
The Peak Cluster project has received £28.6 million from the UK's National Wealth Fund and £31 million from private companies.
This effort is part of a broader plan to modernize industries and support the UK's transition to clean energy.
Maureen Futtner experienced a moment of kindness during a difficult time. While on a crowded subway after her sister's death, a woman named Simone shared her own story of loss, providing comfort and connection to Futtner.
Key Facts
Maureen Futtner's older sister died unexpectedly, leaving her family in shock.
A few days later, Futtner had to attend a work event in San Francisco.
On a crowded subway, Futtner offered her seat to a woman with a white cane.
The woman, named Simone, asked Futtner how her day was going.
Futtner shared her recent loss, and Simone empathized, mentioning her own experience with losing her wife.
Simone suggested that a bereavement group had helped her cope with her grief.
Futtner introduced herself to Simone before getting off the train, expressing her gratitude for the support.
Biosphere 2 is a large greenhouse-like structure in Arizona, built to study if humans could live in a controlled, self-sustaining environment. Originally, it housed people trying to live inside, but now it is used by the University of Arizona for scientific research on climate change and the effects of carbon dioxide on plants.
Key Facts
Biosphere 2 is located in Oracle, Arizona, near Tucson.
It was created in the late 1980s and early 1990s to test human survival in a controlled ecosystem.
Eight people lived inside the structure for two years from 1991, managing food production and experiments.
The project faced issues, including low oxygen levels and interpersonal conflicts.
Initially funded by Texas billionaire Ed Bass, it later shifted focus to research rather than human habitation.
Columbia University first managed it to study the effects of carbon dioxide on plants.
The University of Arizona currently owns and runs Biosphere 2.
The facility helps scientists research problems related to climate change on Earth, also known as Biosphere 1.
In the U.S., most items for sale can be insured, but trees are not typically insured like other crops. The article explores why this is the case and discusses the steps needed for trees to receive insurance, particularly as extreme weather becomes more common.
Key Facts
Trees in the U.S. are generally not insured, unlike most other crops.
The discussion includes why trees aren't insured.
The rise in extreme weather events is a factor in reconsidering insurance for trees.
Other episodes related to this topic are available on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The episode from "The Indicator from Planet Money" explores this issue in detail.
Fact-checking for the episode was done by Tyler Jones.
Nearly 80 people died in flash floods in central Texas, with rescue efforts still underway and the death toll expected to rise. There are questions about whether people were warned quickly enough, as the Guadalupe River rose rapidly, causing severe flooding. The Texas Division of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service issued warnings, but some areas lacked cell phone coverage for alerts.
Key Facts
Nearly 80 people died in flash floods in central Texas, primarily in Kerr County.
The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes, leading to the floods.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management activated emergency resources due to flood threats on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County on Thursday, ahead of the flooding.
Flash flood warnings were issued for Kerr County early Friday morning, with increasing urgency.
Some areas did not have cell phone coverage, limiting the reach of alerts.
Kerr County does not have its own warning system due to the high cost.
The National Weather Service and Texas officials discussed the challenges of alerting people in remote areas.
