Technology News

DOGE keeps gaining access to sensitive data. Now, it can cut off billions to farmers

July 10, 2025

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to a crucial database that manages government payments and loans to U.S. farmers and ranchers. This access allows DOGE to view and alter sensitive personal and financial data. Concerns have been raised about privacy and data protection given the potential impacts on the agricultural sector.

Key Facts:

DOGE now has high-level access to a database controlling farmer payments and loans.
The access includes the ability to view and change personal and financial information.
The access goes against usual protocols at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This access could allow DOGE to cancel loans for farmers and ranchers.
There are ongoing legal challenges regarding DOGE's data access at other government agencies.
Farmers face financial struggles due to tariffs, rising costs, and climate issues.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA), which houses the payment system, supports farmers with aid programs.

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NPR Home

Hundreds are missing after Texas floods. Here's why it could take months to find them

July 10, 2025

After severe floods in Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, around 160 people are missing. Search efforts to find them, led by officials and volunteers, are proving difficult due to debris and challenging environmental conditions.

Key Facts:

Around 160 people are missing in Central Texas following floods during the Fourth of July weekend.
Gov. Greg Abbott promised that search efforts will continue until all missing people are found.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré explained that search efforts are slow because debris must be carefully removed piece by piece.
Rain that followed the initial floods made the search process harder.
Kerensville Police urged volunteers not to use heavy machinery, fearing it could harm potential victims trapped in debris.
Volunteers, along with about 2,000 state officials, are actively searching for the missing individuals.
Floodwaters can displace people far from their homes, sometimes by miles, complicating the search process.

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NPR Home

Royal Mail given go-ahead to scrap second-class post on Saturdays

July 10, 2025

Royal Mail is changing how it delivers second-class letters. It will no longer deliver them on Saturdays to help save money. Ofcom, the industry regulator, approved this change because fewer people are sending letters, which increases costs.

Key Facts:

Royal Mail will stop delivering second-class letters on Saturdays.
Ofcom is the industry regulator that approved this change.
Fewer letters are being sent, which causes delivery costs to rise.
The Universal Service Obligation (USO) requires Royal Mail to deliver letters six days a week.
First-class letters will still be delivered six days a week.
New delivery targets require 90% of first-class mail to be delivered next-day and 95% of second-class mail within three days.
A new target aims for 99% of all mail to be delivered no more than two days late.

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BBC Business

Lena Dunham isn't trying to reinvent the rom-com. That's why 'Too Much' works

July 10, 2025

"Too Much" is a new romantic comedy series on Netflix, created by Lena Dunham and Luis Felber, featuring Megan Stalter as Jessica, a woman navigating life after a breakup. The story unfolds in London, where Jessica meets Felix, a musician, and they both deal with personal challenges while forming a romantic relationship.

Key Facts:

"Too Much" is a romantic comedy series on Netflix.
Megan Stalter plays Jessica, who has broken up with her boyfriend.
Jessica goes to London for a job as a producer on a Christmas ad.
In London, Jessica meets a musician named Felix, played by Will Sharpe.
Jessica and Felix both have personal struggles and baggage from their pasts.
The story explores internal challenges and character development rather than external obstacles.
Lena Dunham co-created the series with Luis Felber and directed most episodes.

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NPR News

Why is India forcing 80 million people to justify their right to vote?

July 10, 2025

India’s Election Commission plans to recheck the voter documents of nearly 80 million people in Bihar, aiming to identify any foreign illegal immigrants. Critics worry this could lead to many people losing their voting rights and facing possible deportation. The opposition is protesting these actions, fearing they might be politically motivated.

Key Facts:

The Election Commission of India wants to reverify the voter records of about 80 million people in Bihar.
This process is partly to identify and remove illegal immigrants from the voter list.
People must re-register by July 26, or they risk losing their voting rights and being marked as possible foreign nationals.
Critics fear many will not be able to provide necessary documents in time, leading to potential disenfranchisement.
Bihar is an important political region in India, with upcoming elections in October or November.
The opposition, including the Indian National Congress, is protesting the move, arguing it targets poor communities.
The Supreme Court of India will soon hear petitions challenging this action.
The ruling party, BJP, supports the move, alleging a large influx of immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

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Al Jazeera

South Korea’s Yoon detained for a second time over martial law

July 10, 2025

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been arrested again and placed in a solitary jail cell. Yoon faces charges related to his attempt to impose martial law last December and may stay detained while prosecutors prepare to officially charge him.

Key Facts:

Yoon Suk-yeol, former President of South Korea, was arrested for the second time over martial law-related charges.
A court in Seoul ordered his arrest, fearing he might destroy evidence.
Yoon is accused of using soldiers to try to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his martial law declaration in December.
He is under investigation for insurrection and could be detained for up to 20 days while prosecutors prepare charges.
Yoon was first arrested in January but released in March on technical grounds.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court removed him from office in April, leading to a new election in June.
If convicted, Yoon could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
His legal team argues against the detention, claiming he no longer holds power and citing his poor health as a reason for missing court hearings.

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Al Jazeera

Could Meta do more to protect us from cyber scams?

July 10, 2025

A report discusses how small business owners, like a bar owner in New Orleans, often fall victim to online scams. It explores whether large tech companies like Meta (which owns Facebook) could do more to stop cyber criminals from targeting these businesses.

Key Facts:

Many small businesses operate online, which exposes them to cyber fraud.
The report focuses on a New Orleans bar owner who lost $10,000 due to a scam on Facebook.
The show questions if companies like Meta should better protect small business owners from online scams.
Cyber criminals target social media accounts to gain access to funds.
Fact-checking for the report was done by Sierra Juarez.
The discussion is part of a series that also looks into scam text messages.
The program "The Indicator from Planet Money" produced this report.

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NPR Business

'I can't drink the water' - life next to a US data centre

July 09, 2025

In Fayette County, Georgia, a woman named Beverly Morris says a nearby Meta data center has affected her well water supply. She reports issues like low water pressure and sediment buildup, but Meta denies any connection between the data center's operations and her water problems. The construction of data centers across the U.S., including in Georgia, has raised concerns about their environmental impact and water usage.

Key Facts:

Beverly Morris lives 400 yards from a Meta-owned data center in Fayette County, Georgia.
Morris reports low water pressure and sediment in her private well, affecting her home water use.
Meta conducted an independent study, which found no adverse effects on groundwater from the data center.
The increase in data centers is linked to a surge in online activities like artificial intelligence.
Data centers require large amounts of water to cool servers, potentially using millions of gallons daily.
Georgia is a growing market for data centers due to its humid climate, which helps in cooling.
Local activist groups in the U.S. challenge data center projects due to concerns over environmental impact.

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BBC World

Trump threatens Brazil with 50% tariff and demands Bolsonaro's trial end

July 09, 2025

Former US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil. He claims this action is in response to Brazil's treatment of US tech companies and former President Jair Bolsonaro's legal troubles. Trump has also sent similar letters to other countries outlining new tariffs expected to start on August 1.

Key Facts:

Trump plans to introduce a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods.
He accuses Brazil of unfair actions against US technology firms.
The tariff announcement is linked to the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil.
Brazilian President Lula stated that Brazil would not accept external interference.
Trump sent tariff letters to countries like Japan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.
Tariffs are set to begin on August 1, according to Trump's posts.
Previous plans for tariffs were paused due to financial market reactions.
The new tariff rate on Brazilian goods would be a significant increase from an earlier 10% rate.

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BBC World

‘Never touched a gun’: Colombia fighters step up child soldier recruitment

July 09, 2025

In eastern Colombia, armed rebel groups are taking children from families to become fighters. This is causing severe distress for parents, who are afraid to report the abductions due to threats from the rebels. The International Committee for the Red Cross warns that child recruitment in Colombia is rising sharply as peace efforts falter.

Key Facts:

Armed groups in Colombia are forcibly recruiting children as young as 13 to be soldiers.
Parents, like Marta and Gloria, are afraid to go to the police due to threats from these groups.
Reports show that child recruitments in conflict areas increased by 1,000% from 2021 to 2024.
The International Committee for the Red Cross says Colombia faces a worsening humanitarian situation.
Many families have been forced to flee their homes because of fighting between different armed groups.
The recruitment and use of child soldiers continue as peace negotiations with rebel groups have broken down this year.
In some cases, local communities and organizations have negotiated for the return of abducted children.

Source Information

Al Jazeera

Keep your shoes on: What to know about the TSA rule change at US airports

July 09, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security in the United States has removed the rule that required travelers to take off their shoes during airport security checks. This rule started in 2006 after an attempted attack involving explosives hidden in shoes. The change is meant to make airport security quicker and easier for passengers.

Key Facts:

The "shoes off" policy started in 2006 after a failed 2001 shoe-bomb attack by Richard Reid.
People had to take off their shoes at airport security to check for hidden explosives.
Travelers in the TSA PreCheck program, who passed a basic security check, did not have to remove their shoes.
The recent change allows all passengers to keep their shoes on during screenings.
The change aims to reduce wait times and ease the process at TSA checkpoints.
Secretary of DHS Kristi Noem announced the new policy, citing that new technology makes it safe.
Other security measures like removing belts, coats, and laptops at security checks will still be required.

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Al Jazeera

After devastating floods a Central Texas community comes together

July 09, 2025

A week after heavy flooding hit Kerr County in Texas, local residents are coming together to support each other. Community members and organizations like City West Church and Mercy Chefs are providing meals to those affected and to relief workers.

Key Facts:

Flooding in Kerr County, Texas, happened around July 4th, 2025.
The floods have caused the deaths of over a hundred people.
Local communities are working together to help those who are affected.
Coach Tate DeMasco is delivering meals and drinks to impacted neighborhoods and relief workers.
City West Church has turned into a temporary food distribution center.
Mercy Chefs, a relief organization, is providing hot meals and cold drinks.
NPR reporters visited the area to cover the community's response to the disaster.

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NPR Home

T-Mobile to end DEI programme as it seeks regulatory approval

July 09, 2025

T-Mobile announced that it is ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This change comes as T-Mobile seeks approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for two large business deals.

Key Facts:

T-Mobile is stopping its DEI programs and removing DEI content from its websites and employee training.
The company informed the FCC Chair Brendan Carr of these changes.
T-Mobile wants FCC approval to buy most of United States Cellular's wireless operations for $4.4 billion.
T-Mobile also plans a joint venture with KKR to buy Metronet, an internet service provider.
T-Mobile's stock fell by 1.3% after the announcement.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized T-Mobile's decision, while Brendan Carr supported it.
The decision is seen as a move to comply with pressures from the Trump administration.
Other companies are also making changes as they seek federal regulatory approvals.

Source Information

Al Jazeera

Heathrow to pipe 'sounds of an airport' around airport

July 09, 2025

Heathrow Airport is introducing a new soundtrack made from airport sounds to play throughout its terminals. The music aims to enhance the travel experience by reflecting excitement and anticipation for travelers starting their holidays.

Key Facts:

Heathrow Airport will play a soundtrack made from airport sounds in its terminals.
The music includes noises like baggage belts, boarding calls, and escalators.
Jordan Rakei, a Grammy-nominated producer, created the soundtrack.
The sounds also feature moments from famous movies like Bend It Like Beckham and Love Actually.
The idea is inspired by Brian Eno's 1979 "Music for Airports" album.
The soundtrack aims to evoke excitement and anticipation in travelers.

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BBC Business

Gaza family documents their desperate search for food in a barren landscape

July 09, 2025

A senior Israeli official expects a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas may occur within the next one or two weeks. Meanwhile, the conflict continues with ongoing airstrikes, and people in Gaza struggle to find food.

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An Israeli official predicts a ceasefire with Hamas in the next one or two weeks.
The conflict is still ongoing, with Israel continuing its airstrikes.
Gazans face daily challenges, especially in finding food.
Reports showcase what life in Gaza is like amidst the fighting.
Some people in Gaza still hold onto hope despite the situation.

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PBS NewsHour

Trump faces growing criticism from his base over Jeffrey Epstein files

July 09, 2025

The Justice Department published a report about Jeffrey Epstein's death in 2019, concluding he died by suicide in prison. The report found no proof that Epstein maintained a list to expose others involved in his crimes, causing some frustration among President Trump's allies as the administration moves on from the case.

Key Facts:

The Justice Department released a report about Jeffrey Epstein's death in 2019.
The report concluded that Epstein died by suicide in prison.
There was no evidence found that Epstein had a list to accuse others involved in his sex crimes.
Some of President Trump's allies are unhappy with the current administration's decision to move on from the case.
The news came following a discussion between John Yang and Glenn Thrush.

Source Information

PBS NewsHour

White House hosts West African leaders to discuss trade and development

July 09, 2025

President Donald Trump hosted leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House to discuss business opportunities amidst an ongoing trade war. The leaders talked about cooperation in areas like economy, security, and democracy, with Trump assuring them they likely won't face US tariffs. The meeting is part of US efforts to strengthen ties with Africa.

Key Facts:

President Trump met with leaders from five African nations: Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal.
The meeting's main focus was on business opportunities and cooperation in economic development, security, infrastructure, and democracy.
Trump assured the leaders that their countries are not likely to face US tariffs.
Discussions highlighted investment opportunities, including local resource processing and tourism.
The US International Development Finance Corporation will support a mining project in Gabon to reduce its import reliance.
The meeting is an attempt by the US to improve relations with African countries, where China's influence has been growing.
Senegal and Mauritania play important roles in migration and face challenges with drug trafficking.
Some African Union officials raised concerns about US tariff policies and visa restrictions.

Source Information

Al Jazeera

Greece suspends asylum applications for migrants from North Africa

July 09, 2025

Greece has stopped processing asylum applications from North African migrants for three months because of a big increase in arrivals. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that arrivals by boat will be arrested and detained as part of measures to handle the influx. Over 9,000 migrants have reached Crete this year, a significant rise from last year.

Key Facts:

Greece paused asylum applications from North African migrants for three months.
The decision was made due to a 350% rise in migrant arrivals to Crete.
Migrants arriving by boat will be arrested and detained, according to the Prime Minister.
The Greek government plans to introduce draft legislation in response.
Over 9,000 migrants have arrived on Crete since the start of the year.
Local infrastructure in Crete is struggling to accommodate the large number of arrivals.
Greek, Italian, and Maltese officials were stopped from entering Libya for discussions on migration.
There are ongoing criticisms of European deals with Libya regarding migrant control.

Source Information

BBC World

Carlo Ancelotti sentenced to prison in Spain over tax fraud

July 09, 2025

Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Brazil's national football team and former Real Madrid manager, received a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine for tax fraud in Spain. He was accused of hiding his earnings through shell companies but will not serve jail time because his sentence is less than two years.

Key Facts:

A Spanish court sentenced Carlo Ancelotti to a one-year suspended prison term for tax fraud.
Ancelotti was also fined 386,000 euros by the court.
He was accused of defrauding the Spanish state of 1 million euros in 2014 and 2015.
Ancelotti will not serve time in jail because his sentence is under two years, and he is a first-time offender.
Prosecutors claimed that Ancelotti used shell companies to hide his income.
Ancelotti previously managed Real Madrid and now coaches Brazil's national team.
Prominent football figures like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have faced similar tax issues in Spain.
Ancelotti won the Champions League five times and league titles in five different countries.

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Al Jazeera

What would happen if coral reefs disappeared?

July 09, 2025

Coral reefs are disappearing quickly, with more than 80% affected by major bleaching. This threatens global food chains, coastal protection, and economies.

Key Facts:

Coral reefs are dying faster than ever before.
More than 80% of coral reefs are suffering from mass bleaching.
Coral reefs provide food for millions of people.
They help protect coastlines from storms and erosion.
Reefs play a crucial role in local and global economies.
The world is facing challenges in protecting and saving the reefs.

Source Information

Al Jazeera

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