Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge Meta is reportedly planning to build a world-spanning fiber-optic subsea cable for its own exclusive use. According to TechCrunch, the $10 billion project will create a new 40,000+ kilometer (about 24,850 miles) cable network around the world that avoids “areas of geopolitical tension” where subsea cables have been sabotaged, such as the Red Sea, the South China Sea, Egypt, Marseilles, the Straits of Malacca, and Singapore. While Meta is already a part-owner of 16 existing networks, this new cable project would be entirely owned by the company — allowing it full control to prioritize traffic to its own products and services. That would bring Meta in line with Google’s efforts, which privately owns a handful of cable routes and has... Continue reading…

Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge 2024 is almost over, and it has been a year. The tech world has been shaken up a hundred times over, it seems: there was the splashy Vision Pro launch, Google being declared a monopoly, endless AI hype, a hugely consequential US election, the ongoing political ascendance of Elon Musk, and another generation of gadgets trying and failing to replace your smartphone. The industry looks different than it did in January; so does our relationship with technology. There’s still a month to go, and we’re not remotely ready to declare this year’s tech news dead and gone, but given that it’s a holiday weekend in the US we figured it might be time for a look back. (Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, by the way!) So on this episode of The Vergecast,... Continue reading…

Unlike many before it, Ray-Ban’s smart glasses are actually trendy and inconspicuous. | Photo by Amanda Lopez for The Verge If you’re in the market for a new pair of glasses (as I am), the Black Friday deals currently going on Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is tempting. You can get several colors and sizes of the Wayfarer frames starting at $239.20 (about $61 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target right now. If that all-time low price isn’t enough, you’ll even get a $90 digital gift card or credit when purchasing them from Amazon and Target. You can use it toward anything in their respective stores. If you need a prescription, note that you can only get lenses with a strength between -6 and +4. You can’t get prescription lenses with your frames at the above retailers, but you can get them when ordering through Ray-Ban, which is offering the same Black Friday... Continue reading…

Last fall I was in the thick of a home renovation project, doom scrolling thousands of light fixtures in search of clean, modern designs I didn’t hate. While I would normally consult my Verge colleagues for the best Black Friday TV and laptop deals, it did not initially occur to me to check for seasonal deals on the more contractor-oriented category of hardwired LED light fixtures. In fact, a lot of big lighting companies run meaningful Black Friday sales. Fortunately, I happened to finalize our lighting selections just before Black Friday 2023 – and then saved hundreds of dollars by ordering pretty much every pendant, flush mount, outdoor sconce, and track light we needed by the end of Cyber Monday. If you are embarking on a home... Continue reading…

A pair of scientists who study hominin fossils and human evolution in China and East Asia claim to have discovered a new human ancestor that appeared during the Late Quaternary or Middle Pleistocene era, about 300,000 years ago. They have named this species Homo juluensis, which is in reference to the unusually large size of this theoretical addition to the official hominin roster (ju lu means “huge head” in Chinese). This discovery did not emerge as a result of any amazing new fossil finds. In fact, the fossils that the scientists say prove the existence of the new species were recovered in the 1970s at the Xujiayao archaeological site in China, which sits on the border between the provinces of Hebei and Shanxi in the northern part of the country. It was a fresh re-examination of these fossils that led to the discovery of the new species, although more research will be needed to prove to everyone’s satisfaction that Homo juluensis really did exist. Last Hominin Standing: Extreme Adaptation of Late Pleistocene Humans First Ice Age May Have Led to Epic Hominin Migration 900,000 Years Ago Read moreSection: NewsEvolution & Human OriginsRead Later 

Sweden has formally asked China to cooperate in explaining the recent rupture of two data cables on the Baltic Sea bed in an area where a China-flagged vessel had been sighted, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Thursday.

Britain's parliament voted in favour of a new bill to legalise assisted dying on Friday, opening the way for months of further debate on an issue that has divided the country and raised questions about the standard of palliative care.After a passionate debate in the House...

Al Roker hosted the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade alongside TODAY’s Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie. The trio sat at a desk decorated with colorful plants and ornaments, but Al seemed to be in a smaller chair as the ladies sat higher. Fans called NBC producers out on social media for giving Al such a small seat that viewers could hardly see his chest area. Most found the incident funny, as the TODAY weatherman looked hilarious from behind the table. Al Roker sparks reactions at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade Al Roker with his Today co-hosts and ‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo/Instagram Al and his counterparts looked well-clad in their cozy jackets, with the 70-year-old in a brown one that matched his trousers and hat. Aside from sitting way lower than Hoda and Savannah, he gave fans more to talk about by dropping a spoiler of the newly released Wicked. He was discussing this with actress Idina Menzel, who played Elphaba in the first Broadway musical version of Wicked when he revealed that she made a cameo appearance in the movie. She immediately told him he was not meant to tell anyone, after which she accepted that the secret was out. Al Roker done ‘dirty’ with tiny chair next to Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb: Get him a ‘booster seat’ https://t.co/kLK2xgb44M pic.twitter.com/kTStSPiE2L — New York Post (@nypost) November 28, 2024   Fans react to Al Roker at Macy’s Thanksgiving parade Fans of Al Roker and those who viewed the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade took to social media about the tiny chair with humorous comments. “Why are they doing Al Roker dirty like this and making him look like he’s 3 feet tall?” someone asked. “Can someone tell me, was that Al Roker 2.0? He sounded and looked different plus he shrunk about a foot,” another noted. Al Roker/ImageCollect Al also got praise for his hosting, despite making a few mistakes and jumping the gun when announcing Idina’s cameo. “Good work Al Roker! You read better in 2024 than Barry Watson did in 1996,” a third person penned. She appeared in a scene at Emerald City alongside her former co-lead, Kristin Chenoweth. Next up: Michelle Pfeiffer’s Unconventional Christmas Tree Has Completely Broken The Rules The post Al Roker’s Appearance At Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Has Everyone Saying The Same Thing appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A

Robert Irwin has earned his own Madame Tussauds wax figure which was unveiled in Sydney, Australia on Thursday. The event was more special as his statue was placed next to that of his late father, Steve Irwin, who died from a stingray attack in 2006. Robert fought back tears on seeing the display and had to walk away briefly to get himself together. The 20-year-old said it was the first time in a long time his father is not just a picture. The recent art work shows the father and son in matching outfits, depicting their jobs as wildlife conservationists. Robert Irwin gets emotional about the wax figure of Steve Irwin Robert Irwin/YouTube video screenshot Robert spoke about the recent highlight on Australia’s Sunrise show, admitting that it was one of the most incredible moments of his life. He noted that he has yet to believe the honor, which came with an acknowledgment of his father’s wax statue that was unveiled in 2015. Robert’s figure could be seen with a smile on his face, holding a snake wrapped around a camera. Steve’s had a silver watch on and looked straight ahead with a cheerful expression. Their similar uniforms, with the only differing piece being their shoes, also showed their uncanny resemblance.             View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Robert Irwin (@robertirwinphotography)   Robert Irwin promises to keep Steve Irwin’s legacy alive Thanks to his dedication to continuing Steve’s legacy in wildlife conservation, Robert is the youngest Australian celebrity with a Madame Tussauds wax figure. This comes after his appointment as global ambassador for Prince William’s Earshot Prize, which is dedicated to solving environmental challenges. Steve Irwin/Instagram Robert was only 2 when Steve died, so his memory of the deceased icon has been mostly photos and videos. Steve was a doting father and often referred to Robert and his sister Bindi as his “little wildlife warriors.” He made sure to teach them the family business, which they continue to uphold. Next up: Al Roker’s Appearance At Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Has Everyone Saying The Same Thing The post Robert Irwin Holds Back Tears After Seeing Wax Figure Of Late Father Steve appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A

Reba McEntire shared a photo from her younger days ahead of Thanksgiving, featuring her and her mother Jacqueline McEntire. They could be seen cooking in the first slide, and the rest of the carousel showed Cowboy Chili and Salted Chocolate Chip Shortbread cookies. Reba directed fans to check the recipes for the dishes displayed in her Not That Fancy cookbook. “The holidays are just a little sweeter when you spend them in the kitchen with family!” the country star wrote, adding that her book is selling at 46% off. Fans react to the photo of young Reba McEntire             View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Reba (@reba)   Reba’s post received hundreds of comments gushing about her appearance back in the day, as she looked homely with most of her signature red hair in a scarf. “Reba, we love you so much! You are an angel lol, and you haven’t aged a BIT,” someone said, adding that they saw her do push-ups on The Voice. Another acknowledged Jacqueline for being the inspirational woman behind Reba’s music career. “Aww mama Jackie…she gave you a voice so you were able to give us one too,” they added. Many more wished the singer happy Thanksgiving and promised to take advantage of the discount on her cookbook. Reba McEntire/Instagram Reba McEntire issues strong warning to fans Reba’s nostalgic photo comes after a strong warning from earlier this month, where she urged her fans to look out for scammers and impersonators. Some fake users have been reaching out to unsuspecting people in her name, asking for money and gift cards in exchange for a chance to meet up. Reba McEntire/Instagram She emphasized that neither she nor her team would ever reach out to any fans through direct messaging or phone. “PLEASE PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE and do not give out any personal information, purchase gift cards, or send money electronically to someone you do not know,” she announced. Next up: Robert Irwin Holds Back Tears After Seeing Wax Figure Of Late Father Steve The post Reba Mcentire Shares Throwback Photo From Her Youth After Issuing Warning To Fans appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A