Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

Continued

Business

Restaurants ‘under pressure’

Happy hour outings are on Jackie Piggott’s calendar — but even those are fewer. She and her husband might visit a restaurant once a month. It’s a change over the […]

  • 80% of Canadians eating out less due to higher living costs
  • Manitobans spend 4% less at restaurants than in 2019
  • Restaurants may fail without raising menu prices or adapting

AI

Federal appeals court upholds Pentagon’s Claude ban

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the U.S. Defense Department’s ban on Claude. The decision comes a month after another federal court ruled that the ban is illegal. The diverging decisions stem from the fact that the matter is governed by two different pieces of legislation.

Business

Tenants slam Alta.-based landlord, protest rent increases

Charlie Medd wasn’t ready for another adventure last October, when she moved out of the Wolseley Avenue apartment she had called home for 15 years. Medd said life at Lincoln […]

  • Lincoln Apartments' rent increased from $205 to $233 + GST annually.
  • Alberta-based Wingspan Properties raised rents by up to 125%.
  • Tenant protests demand RTB to freeze rent increases.

Science

Circling the Black Hole at the Photon Sphere

You currently sit at the black hole’s photon sphere, where light can travel endlessly in a circle due to the star’s great gravitational pull.

  • Spacecraft orbits black hole's photon sphere
  • Einstein ring appears above photon sphere
  • Stars magnified and move rapidly across sky

Science

Approaching the Photon Sphere

As before, from this orientation, the black hole’s enormous gravity bends light to make two discernible images of the constellation Orion. You now descend to the photon sphere.

  • Black hole's immense gravity warps light to create two visible images of Orion.
  • Photon sphere allows light to orbit black hole in circular path.
  • Light from outside photon sphere cannot reach observer from beneath.

Tech

There's a New Way to Break RSA Encryption

"Signature forgery." It's a new way to break RSA keys — and it doesn't require factoring. Ars Technica reports on new research using classical computing to "reduce the current RSA security level to an…

  • Researchers from UC San Diego propose new RSA encryption-breaking method
  • Attack doesn't require factoring, reduces security to 265, 290, 2119 bits
  • Blind-signature RSA implementation attack practical, warrants post-quantum transition

Business

Nigeria Joins IEA As Crude Output Hits Six-Year High

Nigeria has ambitious energy plans for the coming decades, including expanding its oil industry and accelerating the development of its renewable energy sector.

  • Nigeria joins IEA as crude output reaches six-year high
  • IEA welcomes Nigeria as Association country in June
  • Nigeria's Vice President and Minister meet IEA officials

Tech

Pixelated 118: Googlebook begins

Welcome to Pixelated episode 118. This week, Damien and Abner share their hands-on impressions of Google’s new laptop lineup with Will. What’s it like to use an Android-powered laptop?

Continue reading →