Monthly Archives: April 2024

Tales of Kenzera review: a compassionate Afro-futurist exploration of grief – Eurogamer.net

Posted: April 24, 2024 at 10:39 am

What Tales of Kenzera lacks in creative game design it makes up for in vital, passionate storytelling.

Of all the Metroidvania elements in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, my favourite are the trees. Simply enough, meditating inside a tree provides a health boost. It's here the camera pans out to reveal these great, almost magical, natural structures which provide safety, sanctuary and a moment of reflection. Protagonist Zau is a hot-headed and petulant young man desperate to revive his father, but sat quietly in the trunk of a tree, he's just a boy.

The trees are a key example of how Tales of Kenzera transposes the genre to its African setting, but also where its heart lies: with the relationship between a father and son. The game's creator, voice actor Abubakar Salim (best known for his portrayal of Bayek in Assassin's Creed: Origins), has been particularly open about the personal inspiration behind the game: his own experience of grief following the death of his father. There's even a moving short film released ahead of the game. Yet even without knowing this, Tales of Kenzera itself exudes passion and love.

It's a story-within-a-story set in the fictional Afro-futurist land of Kenzera, and it tells the tale of desperate shaman Zau who bargains with Kalunga, god of death, following the passing of his father. Zau must deliver three spirits to win back his father and, along the way of his adventure, he learns to cope with his feelings of grief. Kalunga becomes his father-figure guide who speaks in proverbs and commands Zau with stern yet comforting lessons; Zau in return listens, rebels, argues, and accepts.

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Back to the trees: it's here we learn more about Zau's relationship with his father. As he reminisces on past moments - the sort you misunderstand as a child but appreciate with the wisdom of adulthood - he recognises the value of these lessons. Zau must learn to let go, and it's by reflecting with Kalunga in these trees he appreciates the extent of his loss and finds hope for the future. Throughout the adventure, Zau wrestles with his feelings and learns to express his emotions as he tackles the issues each of the three spirits represents. Kalunga acts as pseudo-therapist: "I see before me a strong, brave and intelligent young man who chooses to champion hope over despair," he tells Zau at one point.

There's humour too that touches deeper still than sincerity. Kalunga tells Zau of past shamans whose abilities he gradually acquires in typical Metroidvania fashion, yet Zau often laughs in disbelief at the seeming silliness of these stories. These are the Bantu Tales, traditional folk tales from across Africa that Salim shared with his father and directly influence Tales of Kenzera. The narrative often plays on the antagonistic relationship between generations, but it's not hard to picture Salim himself having similar conversations with his own father. He's the voice of Zau and their words are one. Despite the sorrow of its themes, there's an honesty and warmth to the storytelling in Tales of Kenzera that heightens the accomplished, if sometimes rote, gameplay.

If there's one Metroidvania convention Tales of Kenzera gets absolutely right, it's the free flow of movement. Zau begins the game with basic abilities already learned, like a dash and double jump, indicating his base capabilities as a hero. The feel of the game is superb as he swiftly leaps, wall jumps and bounds through each beautiful, African-inspired environment, and later abilities, like a grappling hook and powerful smash, complement the skillset. Narratively these abilities are based on the Bantu Tales, informing both Zau and us of these fantastical, insightful fables - from wrestling with clouds to alleviate drought, to the sacrifice of an elder sister to protect her shaman brother. On a gameplay level, though, they often serve a singular purpose that doesn't creatively push the limits of their function. Take the first ability, for instance, which can freeze water: this allows Zau to run up rivers and wall jump against waterfalls, yet after that initial use the game doesn't build on this in a meaningful way, or combine it with later abilities for more intricate platform-puzzle solving.

Zau also begins the game with his primary combat abilities: two masks, pertaining to the sun and moon, that provide melee and ranged attacks respectively and are switched between at the press of a button. Animations also change depending on the mask worn, from the moon's spiralling gymnastics to the sun's elegant pirouettes. Zau's a capable fighter, then, with attacks building up spirit energy that's used to either heal or unleash powerful blasts of anime-style energy. These are later boosted by unlocks in a simple upgrade tree. Again, it all flows well and feels satisfying at first, but combat is ultimately let down by a lack of enemy types that leads to repeated visual design and strategy, with higher difficulty achieved by simply throwing in more enemies at once. Bosses, though, punctuate story and gameplay with welcome challenge and there are some thrilling chase and escape sequences.

If some of this feels familiar, there are multiple gameplay devices that reveal Salim's gaming influences, from the Gears of War-style reload to prevent spamming shots, to the Ori-esque parrying of projectiles. Another is the trinket system, similar to the badges in Hollow Knight, that provide useful boosts, but their impact is lessened by the need to switch at workbenches that are spread too thinly throughout the map. Tales of Kenzera leans into player expectations of what a Metroidvania should be, resulting in an enjoyable, if straightforward, 2D adventure experience.

Multiple difficulty options. Control tweaks like controller aiming sensitivity and toggle for hold inputs. Screen shake, camera sway and chromatic aberration can be disabled. Controller input remappaing. Swahili voice option.

Yet I'm not quite convinced it satisfies as a Metroidvania. When I think of the genre, I mostly think of getting lost in labyrinthine worlds and needing to think creatively about my abilities to proceed. This didn't happen to me in Tales of Kenzera, and that's for two reasons. Firstly, the map - itself a little difficult to read between negative space - reveals an area in full at its start, meaning you never get the sense of exploration and discovery as you proceed. Secondly, while the world branches in multiple directions, progression is linear. There are optional areas to delve into to find new trinkets, often with plentiful insta-death hazards (so, so many spikes), but for the most part the main path is clear beyond simple (and literal) keys and locks. Metroid fans expecting an interconnected world of backtracking and disorientation may be left wanting.

Still, while it's easy enough to pick out flaws, they're forgivable due to the game's primary focus on compassionate storytelling, told mostly through expressive artwork. Tales of Kenzera thrives on its authentic African setting and offers vital representation as a result. The care and attention to detail here is clearly apparent, from the integration of the aforementioned Bantu Tales, to the inclusion of a Swahili vocal dub. The game's presentation merges modernity and tradition in a unique global melting pot of ideas. There's Afro-futuristim and folklore in its expansive visual design and intricately detailed costumes and hairstyles, plus anime eccentricity in combat. And its incredible score combines Western orchestration, sci-fi synths and ethnic instruments. I've not played a game like Tales of Kenzera before because this type of setting isn't seen enough in gaming, whether due to under-representation in the industry or perceived lack of interest from players. But these stories deserve to be told and Salim deserves praise for creating a game with a world that feels so fresh and unique.

The games industry needs diverse stories, both to highlight difference and prove their universality. Tales of Kenzera excites with its authenticity, yet its true power lies in its emotive, earnest narrative that tells a father-son story of grief that relates to us all and our hope for the future. As Zau tells Kalunga: "one thing I know about the human spirit is that if there is a chance - even a shred of hope - of potentially making things better, we take it." So reach out and grab it.

A copy of Tales of Kenzera: Zau was provided for review by EA.

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Physicists Suggest Universe Is Full of Material Moving Faster Than Light – Futurism

Posted: at 10:39 am

It could be what makes up dark matter. Dark Secrets

New research suggests that the universe is filled with particles capable of traveling faster than light, LiveScience reports and that this scenario holds up as a potentially "viable alternative" to our current cosmological model.

The idea is a little far-fetched, sure, but it's worth hearing out. These hypothetical particles, known as tachyons, aren't likely to be real but they're not some hokey bit of sci-fi, either. The potential for their existence is something physicists have been giving serious thought for decades, raising fundamental questions about the nature of causality.

As detailed in a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study, the researchers posit that tachyons are what make up dark matter, an unobservable and despite being widely considered to exist by scientists, technically hypothetical substance that is thought to account for around 85 percent of all matter in the universe.

Because we can only see dark matter's substantial gravitational influence, we don't know what it actually is, leaving the door open to all kinds of possibilities that are worth considering.

As it turns out, a tachyon-filled cosmos does a good job of explaining the universe's ongoing expansion, according to the researchers.

In the standard cosmological model, the existence of so-called dark energy is used to explain the expansion of the universe. Also unobservable, dark energy is thought to dwarf even dark matter, accounting for up to 70 percent of the entire universe.

Without it, the sheer gravity of all the mass in the universe would eventually slow down its expansion. Instead, scientists have observed the rate of expansion is actually accelerating driven by, it's hypothesized, dark energy.

But if tachyons are real and pervade the universe as dark matter, they could also potentially explain this acceleration. The researchers found that, in such a scenario, tachyonic dark matter would initially decelerate the universe's expansion, before reversing and causing it to accelerate like we see now. They call this an "inflected" expansion.

So far, their evidence to support this comes from observations of Type Ia supernovae, a type of supernova in which a dying star collapses and explodes caused in certain types of binary star systems.

These distinct supernovae serve as standard candles, cosmic objects with a known luminosity that allow astronomers to use as a reference point to calculate distances in space. It was by using Type Ia supernovae as standard candles,in fact, that scientists first confirmed that the expansion of the universe was accelerating.

When the researchers compared their tachyonic model to sample data from the Type Ia supernovae, they found that the two are "comfortably consistent with one another."

Of course, this is a very limited application of the model. It raises intriguing possibilities for followup research, sure, but it's a far cry from proving that tachyons actually exist. Nonetheless, it illustrates just how much we have left to learn about the fundamental phenomena that govern the cosmos.

More on cosmology: New Paper Claims Dark Matter Doesn't Exist at All

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Head of NASA Says China Is Hiding Military Experiments in Space – Futurism

Posted: at 10:39 am

"We believe that a lot of their so-called civilian space program is a military program." Full Nelson

NASA's administrator is once again making outrageous claims about China's space capabilities and in the process, fueling the off-world rivalry between the two.

"We believe that a lot of [China's] so-called civilian space program is a military program," Administrator Bill Nelson said during remarks on Capitol Hill this week, per The Guardian. "And I think, in effect, we are in a race."

The comments, as the website notes, came during a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee which means that Nelson was making them while asking for money for NASA, which has requested a whopping $25.384 billion for its 2025 funding.

"China has made extraordinary strides, especially in the last 10 years," Nelson continued, "but they are very, very secretive."

It's unclear from the reporting about the administrator's comments what evidence his claims are riding on. This is not, as we mentioned, the first time Nelson has made such bold accusations about our sometimes-ally.

Sworn in in May 2021, Nelson has for much of his tenure warned that China could usurp America's space advantage at any moment and has used similarly bold claims to demonstrate that point.

Just a year into the job and during another House Appropriations Committee hearing the administrator straight-up accused China of stealing American spacecraft designs.

"Yeah, they're pretty good at stealing," Nelson told the subcommittee in May 2022, "and I think that's incumbent upon us to take cybersecurity very, very seriously."

Just a few months later, he claimed in an interview with a random German newspaper that China wants to "steal" the Moon as well, which prompted a response from the rival nation.

"The US side has constantly constructed a smear campaign against China's normal and reasonable outer space endeavors," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a press statement, "and China firmly opposes such irresponsible remarks."

While there certainly is no love lost between Nelson and his Chinese counterparts, the incendiary discourse between these space race rivals generally seems to originate on the American side.

Last fall, Nelson again claimed that China plans to hoard lunar resources for itself, which would go against the United Nations' binding space treaty of 1967 and in his more recent remarks, he reiterated those remarks while begging for more money.

"The latest date they've said they're going to land [on the Moon] is 2030, but that keeps moving up," Nelson told Congress, per transcription from Sky News. "It is incumbent on us to get there first and to utilize our research efforts for peaceful purposes."

At this point, the lengthy list of receipts of this sort of recurrent rhetoric coming from the top of NASA does make one wonder: is China on the offensive, or is America?

More on NASA: NASA Admits Space Station Junk Crashed Through Man's Roof

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Plastic Is Starting to Generate a Staggering Proportion of Earth’s Carbon Pollution – Futurism

Posted: at 10:39 am

"The consequences of this industrys unfettered carbon emissions will reach everyone on the planet." Trash Mountain

Our species' bottomless appetite for plastic isn't just a problem because of all the waste it generates. Its production is also spewing unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report released this week by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The work shows that our reliance on the ubiquitous material is undermining climate change mitigation efforts, not to mention adding endless plastic pollution to the environment and our bodies in the form of insidious and far reaching microplastics.

"Petrochemicals, the building block of plastic, are already poisoning communities that neighbor production facilities with cancer-causing pollution," Bloomberg Philanthropies Beyond Petrochemicals executive director and one of the report's sponsors Heather McTeer Toney toldThe Guardian. "The consequences of this industrys unfettered carbon emissions will reach everyone on the planet."

The scientists found that even a conservative scenario of the plastic sector growing at 2.5 percent per year would result in a future in which greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production could more than double by 2050 and make up 21 to 26 percent of the planetary carbon budget that keeps temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

A less conservative scenario in which the plastic sector grows by four percent per year would see greenhouse gas emissions increasing three fold by 2050, making up a staggering 25 to 31 percent of the planetary carbon budget to keep warming at 1.5 degree Celsius.

The team arrived at the findings by analyzing how plastic is produced, from the extraction of fossil fuels toproducing finished products.

The findings are grim, according to the scientists, and defy easy fixes much like the rest of the climate crisis, tragically.

More on plastic: Scientists Find Bottled Water Filled With Hundreds of Thousands of Microplastics

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Chinese Cities Are Sinking Into the Earth, Scientists Find – Futurism

Posted: at 10:39 am

This is bad. Sinking Feeling

A new study has discovered that a staggering number of Chinese cities are sinking into the Earth.

According to the study, which was conducted by a team of over 50 Chinese scientists using radar observations and published this week in the journal Science, almost half of China's 82 major cities are experiencing rapid subsidence.

Subsidence, or the scientific term for the Earth's surface effectively sinking in on itself, is a serious issue. Not only does it present obvious infrastructure and safety dangers, but as NPR notes, sinking land is also known to expedite the problem of already-rising coastlines. And by these researchers' estimates, the extreme sinking observed in China could mean that about a quarter of the nation's coastal regions are below sea level by the year 2120.

Combine the problem of sinking cities with China's massive population, and as the researchers point out in their study, you have a recipe for a human and infrastructural disaster.

"Even a small portion of subsiding land in China," the researchers write, "could therefore translate into a substantial threat to urban life."

Subsidence isn't just a problem in China. Countries worldwide are experiencing a concerning level of land sink, and in January, a satellite-based study revealed that US' major East Coast population centers are similarly caving into the Earth, as are gulf cities like New Orleans and Houston.

"This is a big problem," Robert Nicholls, a professor of climate adaptation at the University of East Anglia in England who wasn't involved with the study, told NPR. "The scale is large."

"Without doubt," he added, this new study "brings home that this is not a local problem. This is a national, or even international, problem."

But while land sinking is an international problem, cities in Asia might be uniquely at risk. As Nicholls reportedly told NPR, Asian cities are commonly constructed on river deltas, which are particularly susceptible to subsidence. The Indonesian capital city of Jakarta, for example, was built on a river delta and is sinking beneath sea level at a deeply alarming rate.

In short, subsidence is a growing threat. And while mitigating subsidence is a complicated fix, this latest study highlights just how important those mitigation efforts might just be for protecting land for future generations.

"Our results underscore the necessity of enhancing protective measures," the researchers write, "to mitigate potential damages from subsidence."

More on subsidence: Satellites Show the East Coast Is Sinking

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4240 book ban tries, not bad for media that futurists said would be dead by now – Manteca Bulletin

Posted: at 10:39 am

I do not consider myself a nerd.

But what you are about to read may make it hard to believe that statement.

My mom didnt splurge on luxuries.

She didnt own new furniture with the exception of a mahogany formal dining room set that was a wedding gift from my dad until she was in her late 50s.

But there were a few things that most wouldnt consider essential, that she made sure she bought regardless of the scrimping it took.

One of them was encyclopedias.

The value of books, especially encyclopedias, was instilled in my mom by her mother.

Edna Towles formal education ended in the eighth grade.

Grandmother taught in a one-room school house for two years in the wilderness that was the Smartville area in western Nevada County just after the dawn of the 20th century.

She became a cattle ranchers wife and then ended up as the rancher when my grandfather left her high and dry with seven kids to raise at the start of the Great Depression.

It clearly was a struggle. Despite that, she found a way for her kids to have a used encyclopedia set at home.

My mom started acquiring encyclopedias for her kids the way many households did in the 1950s and early 1960s.

It was one volume at a time through weekly grocery store promotions.

That is how our familys first encyclopedia set, The Golden Book Childrens Encyclopedia, was obtained.

It was also the way the second set, The Golden Book Encyclopedia for Home & High School, made its way into our household.

When my oldest brother was about to enter high school, mom decided she needed to get better encyclopedias.

The result were three sets she bought on the installment plan for what was then an ungodly sum of $200.

They were the Book of Knowledge, Grolier Encyclopedia, and The Book of Popular Science Encyclopedia.

She also, for a number of years, bought a hardback annual recap of world events the Book of Knowledge published each year.

When I was 7 years of age, there were five encyclopedia sets in our house.

My brothers used them to help with homework.

I went one step further.

I read them for pleasure. All of them.

I would entertain myself for hours doing just that.

If that doesnt strike you as a bit nerdish, it was just a precursor.

By the time I was in the eighth grade and earning money doing odd jobs, I was able to put aside money not needed for clothes to buy subscriptions to three magazines.

Boys Life? Sports Illustrated? Popular Mechanics?

Try Newsweek, Time, and US News & World Report.

Three weekly news magazines I couldnt wait to arrive in the mail.

I took it further.

My mom allowed me to tack the covers of Newsweek and Time US News & World Report was pretty boring to my bedroom wall.

Other preteens had posters of sports figures and such plastering their walls.

I had images of politicians and newsmakers.

Real photographs from Newsweek and artist renderings which was Times forte.

It goes without saying that I place a large degree of value in the printed word, literally and figuratively.

It doesnt take too much of a leap to figure out that I had a well-worn library card growing up.

That said, Im not a book collector, per se.

I do have some books that I keep and periodically reference and read again.

The biggest collection is centered around water and its politics.

Much of my reading today consists of PDFs produced by government agencies that are sometimes so laborious and lengthy, they take longer to download than the Titanic takes to upload.

Its been more than a few years since Ive made my way to the library to browse the shelves.

That, by the way, is the best way to find something of interest that youd never try on your own. More horizons and such get opened up that way.

Which is why I abhor algorithms think Netflix to recommend what you should explore. All it does is limit your world if you follow their led.

It is also why I take a dim view of those seeking to ban books that they dont agree with or feel threatened by.

There were 4,240 different book titles targeted for banning in 2023, according to the American Library Association.

Its the most titles ever since the association started tracking book ban efforts decades ago.

For a bit of comparison, the 2023 numbers for books targeted for banning in schools and public libraries was up 65 percent from the previous year.

Its roughly 15 times more than in 2015 when 275 titles were challenged including the Bible.

The two biggest states for attempts to ban books were Florida at 2,672 titles followed by Texas at 1,470.

James LeRue, Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom back in 2015, noted book bans reflect the fact cultures change over time, and the things we fear, or celebrate, change with them.

Going from 275 unique books being targeted for banning a decade ago to 4,270 today does indeed reflect there is a lot of fear today.

California, by the way, in September of last year thanks to legislative action, became one of two states to outlaw book bans in public schools.

Book bans speak volumes.

Especially today, 24 plus years beyond when some futurists in the 1980s predicted libraries would be obsolete and printed books superfluous.

This column is the opinion of editor, Dennis Wyatt, and does not necessarily represent the opinions of The Bulletin or 209 Multimedia. He can be reached at dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com

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MIPAD announces the Global Top 100 Futurists Edition on World Creativity and Innovation Day – Africa.com

Posted: at 10:39 am

NEW YORK, USA, 23 April, 2024,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) proudly announces thedistinguished honoreesof the Class of 2024 in theGlobal Top 100 Futurists Edition onWorld Creativity and Innovation Day.

Embracing the ethos of recognition and aligning with the 1st pillar of theInternational Decade for People of African Descent, MIPAD shines a spotlight onindividuals,organizations, andgovernmentswho have exemplified exceptional leadership in advancing people of African descent worldwide.

Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman of MIPAD, emphasized that these global lists signify the organizations ongoing commitment to showcasing the positive impact made by individuals of African descent across the globe. We are dedicated to amplifying the diverse narratives of the global Black community and illuminating the countless untold stories of our challenges and triumphs, spanning every corner of the world and reaching even the highest echelons of influence, he remarked.

MIPAD extends heartfelt congratulations to the exceptional individuals recognized in the Class of 2024. Their remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication serve as beacons of inspiration for humanity.

TheClass of 2024 Global Top 100 Futurists Editionencompasses three distinct categories:Afrofuturism & Creatives, Futurists, andInnovators & Changemakers.Recognizing individuals who have made remarkable contributions to shaping the future and pioneering innovative solutions within their respective fields.

Finalists are highlighted within three category:

AFROFUTURISM & CREATIVES:This category celebrates individuals who explore the intersection of African culture, science fiction, and art, shaping imaginative futures and pushing creative boundaries.

FUTURISTS:Recognizing those at the forefront of technological advancement, this category honors individuals who innovate in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and finance, shaping the future of technology and society.

INNOVATORS & CHANGEMAKERS:Highlighting individuals who drive change through groundbreaking sustainable practices, and transformative initiatives, this category acknowledges those who are shaping a better future for all.

Join us in celebrating the 2024 MIPAD Honorees for their transformative contributions to societies worldwide, their resilience, and their indomitable spirit in overcoming adversity. BRAVO!

Please visitwww.mipad.org/classof2024to see complete list.

We look forward to hosting all of our Honorees, past and present, in New York City for Most Influential 100Recognition Week 2024 (RW2024) September 20th 22ndfollowing the opening of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York City #UNGA

For congratulatory ads, sponsorship & speaking opportunities, please contactinfo@mipad.orgor call +1 917 541 8394or+1 917 256 9940(New York)

Distributed byAfrican Media Agency (AMA)on behalf of MIPAD.

About Most Influential People of African Descent(MIPAD)

The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), is a global civil society initiative in support of the International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly resolution 68/237, to be observed from 2015 to 2024. MIPAD identifies high achievers of African descent in public and private sectors from all around the world as a progressive network of relevant actors to join together in the spirit of recognition, justice and development.

MIPADs Global Most Influential 100 Publications2023|2022|2021|2020|2019|2018|2017

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How one ‘futurist’ is using tech to run the London marathon faster – City A.M.

Posted: at 10:39 am

Saturday 20 April 2024 8:00 am

Bill Quinn is a so-called futurist who is using technology to improve his performance in sporting events such as the London Marathon, which is this year sponsored by tech company Tata Consultancy Services.

First thing in the morning, most people reach for their phones. Not Bill Quinn though. Instead, he checks his rest and recovery data to gauge how well-rested he is from the previous days activities.

Quinn is a so-called futuristsomeone fascinated by exploring predictions about the future.

His particular focus is on the future of running. Having completed the New York marathon last year, hes now gearing up to join the 50,000 runners tackling the 26-mile course across London this weekend.

During these runs, Quinn, who considers himself an average runner, constantly monitors his progress using various devices. These include an Apple Watch on one wrist, a rest and recovery monitor on the other, and a glucose monitor measuring blood sugar levels on one arm.

I wanted to experiment with whether consumer-grade wearables could create a digital twin of myself, he explained.

Early on in his experiment, which has spanned a number of months, Quinn took the data from his devices and cobbled it all together in a spreadsheet. I could see what my average heart rate was when I was on this run, but then also what was my glucose level during that one, he said.

The point of stitching all this information together was to create a digital twin of himself. Using this modelling, Quinn could see exactly what he needed to do to enhance his athletic performance.

Its all about understanding whats going on in that environment, he explained, and then also being able to do scenario planning to plan and try out different scenarios to optimise for the future.

The 50-something-year-old estimated he spends around $1,000 per year on various health and fitness subscriptions.

It was really just kind of an experiment to understand whats available to the average person in terms of a digital twin, Quinn said.

By comparison, American tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson is spending millions a year improving his fitness levels in an attempt to reverse the ageing process.

Although Quinn currently uses technology mostly for sports, it has heightened his awareness of diet. But long-distance running events like the London Marathon are just one of the circumstances where the concept of digital twin technology can make a difference.

Quinn also envisions a future where data will play a significant role in healthcare.

For example, health metrics could be continuously monitored and automatically shared between patients and doctors, rather than relying on sporadic annual check-ups.

This data-driven approach can detect and address conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer early on, significantly reducing healthcare costs and enhancing overall wellness.

I think theres a huge opportunity in the medical field for this data to be leveraged, he said.

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‘I might as well stop and diversify into holiday lets’ new research reveals the reality of farming after Brexit – The Conversation

Posted: at 10:38 am

The UKs farming landscape has changed dramatically since Brexit. Agricultural policy has been adjusted, and EU subsidies, which funded UK farming for decades, are no more.

Before the split, those subsidies helped British farmers to the tune of nearly 3 billion a year, which for some, made up 90% of their annual income. That system is now being phased out, in a move which the UK government claims will be more environmentally sustainable.

Central to this new approach are environmental land management schemes, designed to encourage farmers to produce what are known as public goods things like soil health and wildlife habitats with financial payment levels dependent on which of these goods are attained. Defra aims for 70% farmer participation by 2028, with 11,000 farmers in England already enrolled.

But its appeal and practicality remain contentious. And the new way of doing things comes with profound implications for the farming community.

Money is tight, and the future is scarily uncertain.

Our work investigates the constraints and challenges facing farmers in the UK and abroad. Recently, we explored the constraints encountered by farmers since Brexit, specifically focusing on upland farms in England. We found that the focus on environmental sustainability, though commendable, overlooks critical economic and social dimensions.

The transition threatens to marginalise traditionally minded farmers, lose cultural heritage and weaken the rural communitys social fabric. And its a transition which doesnt just affect the farmers themselves. The farming and food industries are valued at over 120 billion to the British economy.

Speaking to upland farmers (who work in hilly and mountainous regions) across four English counties (Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Devon), we discovered that many are extremely concerned about the future of the farms they look after. Farms that for some, have been in their families for generations.

One 70-year-old farmer from Lancashire commented bluntly about the future of his 250-acre beef and sheep farm: Were not going to be viable.

He added: I might as well stop farming and diversify into holiday lets.

Another farmer, aged 50, who keeps Herdwick sheep in the Lake District, highlighted the critical role of EU subsidies, noting that their planned removal by 2027 would severely limit their farms finances and their ability to pursue environmental initiatives.

She said: With that basic payment taken out of the business, its really difficult. We can make about 10,000 profit, but our basic payment is more than that. So thats going to take us into a situation where were not making any money.

There were also concerns expressed about how difficult it is to understand the new farming policy in the UK. Four in ten UK farmers are aged over 65, and information laid out in the 150-page Sustainable Farming Incentive document can be overwhelming. Many traditional farmers do not use mobile phones, and are unfamiliar with the online world.

One farmer told us: In my porch Ive got like a thousand leaflets stacked up that [Defra] just sent me to take out to people because a lot of the farmers that Im working with are not online. They havent heard about a lot of this stuff.

She added: I went to a farm last week, which is only accessible with a 4x4. Nobodys been there to talk to them about schemes and stuff ever.

Another said farmer, aged 72, said: All the form filling is too damn difficult. I dont even bother with these newer schemes because I dont understand it.

And while new schemes may be complex, many of the farmers we spoke to were very clear about the risks to the future of British farming. Overall, they seemed worried that farms, skills and knowledge that have been passed down through generations would be lost during this transition to more sustainable farming.

One said: If farming isnt going to be supported in the way it has been in the past, were going to lose an awful lot of farmers who have been on farms [for generations]. Their skill set and instinct will be gone, and itll be enveloped by agribusiness. Thats perhaps what [the government] want.

Another explained: If we lose the older generation thats a massive loss.

"What used to happen with tenancies is people would work together, like me and my son. And then one would gradually step back and the other would gradually take over. Its a gradual process.

Overall, we found that for the more traditional farmers we spoke to, the future seemed pretty bleak. There was also a strong sense that while the farms they operated may not be hugely profitable, or provide the strongest environmental benefits, the work they do still had social and cultural value which risks being lost forever.

Read more: Why are farmers up in arms? The view from Wales

And as England navigates the complexities of post-Brexit agricultural policy, the balance between environmental goals and the preservation of traditional farming practices remains precarious. Many of the farmers we met felt that they were being pushed away from their traditional role as producers.

As one farmer put it: If youre taking productive land out of production for your tree planting or diversification of whatever kind, then wheres our food coming from?

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'I might as well stop and diversify into holiday lets' new research reveals the reality of farming after Brexit - The Conversation

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French bank to close dozens of Britons’ accounts citing Brexit – The Connexion

Posted: at 10:38 am

A leading French bank has sent letters to at least 60 British clients in the last few months announcing out of the blue that it is closing their accounts.

Brexit makes the rules complicated, it says.

The local Crdit Agricole accounts are those of UK residents with second homes in west France.

The letters, written in English, warn of closure with 60 days notice.

They demand that bank cards and cheque books are returned and warn that any overdrafts must be paid off by the closure deadline.

The bank says this concerns accounts that are rarely used but affected readers told us their accounts are in regular use, and necessary, to pay bills relating to their French properties.

In one case a wifes account is being closed while her husbands with a larger balance is not. Both are used for paying utilities, taxes, and expenses such as repairs and gardening.

The letters are mainly coming from the headquarters of the banks Nord Midi-Pyrnes caisse, which covers Lot, Tarn, Aveyron and Tarn-et-Garonne, although a similar letter was received last year in Pas-de-Calais.

In that case, the reader complained and was able to remain a client.

Crdit Agricole Nord Midi-Pyrnes told The Connexion the closures were partly due to complications linked to the UK leaving the EU, and also strict anti-money laundering rules which state that it must know each client, which is harder when they are abroad.

Read more: Can you open a bank account in France without a local address?

The letters formal tone added upset.

Retired headteacher Michel Taylor, 78, who has a home in Aveyron, said his wife, 83, was devastated to receive a letter of closure.

It was a very legalistic letter. The account has been solvent for 30 years, it is crazy.

Maybe there are some dodgy accounts but not those of ageing foreign couples like us paying our bills at the right time. We have made transfers to keep it topped up regularly.

An adviser at Britline, an online English-speaking service run by the Normandy caisse, told him his account may have been kept as its balance was higher than his wifes.

A spokesman for the Crdit Agricole group said there is no overall policy on UK residents.

Retired lawyer Jeremy Strachan, 79, who has been a Crdit Agricole client in the Lot for 25 years, said: I have been told informally by the person I dealt with at the bank that many people are in this position.

The original email, in English, gave notice of termination with no explanation and with threats that I must remove my money quickly. It was unpleasant.

In England, banks can only terminate an account without justification if they suspect it is involved in money laundering. For a major bank to behave this way is pretty poor.

They suggested I move to Britline. One arm [of Crdit Agricole] was implying I was a crook by terminating the account inexplicably, while another arm welcomed me.

The Connexion has seen two of the letters, which state: Due to the general conditions of our account agreement, we wish to end our business relationship with you.

Customers were asked to stop transactions on the account and told to send a copy of their passport and a request for the funds to be transferred to another bank account.

Any overdraft would also have to be repaid by the deadline, or legal action would ensue, the letters warned.

Read more: Seven ways to save on French bank charges

David Sword, 69, who has had a second home and bank account in Lot since 1994, said he was not given a specific reason despite inquiries.

However, he was sent a follow-up message saying the decision does not call into question the quality of our interactions (ie. it was not his fault).

Mr Sword, a retired local government worker, said the original letter was sent to his wife it is a joint account.

It seemed to imply it had been overdrawn. The wording was blunt and made us think we had done something to break the contract.

He added: My local branch has always been fabulous. Our contact says he has had a lot of Britons ringing him.

He said Britline appeared quite attractive as he did not need to be in France to open an account but its website said a deposit of 3,000 was required, which made him hesitant.

A spokesman for Crdit Nord Midi-Pyrnes said there had been about 60 closures.

They were linked to the complexities in dealing with UK-based clients post-Brexit, plus regulations imposed about information they must seek from clients to fight money laundering, he said.

This especially affects accounts that are dormant or infrequently used, he said, and where it is hard to stay in close contact with customers who are abroad.

We are obliged to run checks on how the account is running and when the client is abroad, it adds to the complications.

There is a permanent, ongoing reinforcement of the regulations. As fraudsters find new loopholes, new regulations come out.

The closure letters must respect a certain format, regardless of the reason for the closure, he said. The regional head office has now been phoning those concerned.

Normally, we would aim to warn the customer before the letter arrives.

While the recent decisions affect French accounts of UK residents with French second homes, French-resident Britons with UK accounts have also faced Brexit-related closures.

Barclays Bank, for example, announced last year it was closing all such accounts.

Read more: Ex-Barclays customer in France struggles to transfer funds

Britline said its service, with mostly British advisers, is used to dealing with regulations that affect Britons so it does not refuse clients linked to the complex rules.

It is part of Crdit Agricole Normandie, covering Manche, Calvados and Orne.

Its head Eric Morvan said they have taken on a limited number of people following account closures elsewhere.

Last year, UK-resident account holders in Normandy, other than French expatriates, were moved automatically to Britline, with several saying the decision came as a surprise. Britline said this was not Brexit-related.

Britline customers are satisfied with the quality of service, so we thought it was better to ask our teams to look after them, rather than having customers spread out across local branches.

He said there is no longer a systematic requirement for a set sum to open an account but requirements vary case by case.

While the service is online-only, customers can use day-to-day services such as cash machines at high street banks and everyone has a dedicated adviser.

In the coming weeks, they will offer webcam consultations, Mr Morvan said. If an issue is complex for example, relating to inheritance we can do three-way consultations with experts at our headquarters.

Several members of The Connexions subscribers Facebook group recently gave positive feedback on the service.

Read more: Telecom firms, utilities: which offer English language services in France?

French law allows banks to close accounts without giving a reason, with 60 days notice.

It requires them to check that movements of funds are not related to money laundering or terrorism.

Banks can ask the reasons for any transactions, as well as general questions about customers financial resources and wealth.

In the latter case, they should say why this is being asked. If clients refuse it can result in account closure.

Patrick Sourdin, general secretary of banking consumer body France Conso Banque, said: Banks dont communicate much on the subject of closures, or sometimes give false reasons.

It has been increasing since the 2015 terror attacks and even more since the war in Ukraine.

The banks dont say so clearly, but we think this is also to some extent a way for them to sift out customers that arent profitable enough.

He added: We advise opening an account with another bank as soon as possible, as account-closing banks rarely change their mind.

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French bank to close dozens of Britons' accounts citing Brexit - The Connexion

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