Fate of Two Killer Whales Uncertain as Marineland Antibes Closes

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2 days ago

January 5, 2025

RTX

The future of two killer whales at Marineland Antibes, located near Cannes on the French Riviera, remains unclear following the closure of the marine zoo on Sunday. Campaigners and the zoo’s management are in disagreement over the whales’ relocation, with the French government already blocking one proposed rehoming option.

Marineland, which houses Europe’s largest collection of marine animals, announced it would close permanently on January 5 due to new animal welfare laws. The legislation, passed in 2021, bans the use of dolphins and whales in marine zoo shows, and will come into effect next year. The zoo currently holds two killer whales: Wikie, a 23-year-old female, and her 11-year-old son, Keijo.

The zoo’s management argues that shows featuring these orcas are a major draw for visitors, accounting for 90% of the park’s attendance. Without such shows, they claim, the business would not be viable. However, efforts to find new homes for Wikie and Keijo have sparked debate.

Experts agree that releasing the whales into the wild would not be viable. Both orcas were born in captivity and lack the necessary survival skills to thrive in the ocean. Marine biologist Hanne Strager compares the scenario to “taking your dog out of the house and sending him into the woods to live freely as a wolf.” Strager, who authored The Killer Whale Journals, stresses the deep bonds these orcas have formed with their human caretakers over the years.

A controversial deal to send the orcas to a marine zoo in Japan was blocked by the French government last November. Authorities cited concerns over animal welfare standards in Japan and the potential stress caused by the 13,000 km (8,000-mile) journey.

Another option is Loro Parque in the Canary Islands, which adheres to European animal welfare standards. However, campaigners fear Wikie and Keijo would continue to be forced into performances. Loro Parque has faced scrutiny after several orca deaths in recent years, including the November death of 29-year-old Keto and three others between 2021 and 2022.

Katheryn Wise of World Animal Protection (WAP) expressed concern, stating, “It would be devastating for Wikie and Keijo to end up in another entertainment venue like Loro Parque – from one whale jail to another.” WAP advocates for the orcas’ relocation to a sanctuary, such as the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) in Nova Scotia, Canada. This sanctuary would offer the whales a large, enclosed bay to live out their lives in a more natural environment with human support.

While sanctuary proponents argue this could offer the orcas a better quality of life, Strager raises concerns about how they would adjust to such a drastic change. The proposed sanctuary, she notes, might feel as alien to them as the open ocean.

As Marineland closes its doors and the search for a new home for Wikie and Keijo continues, the debate over the ethics of keeping killer whales in captivity grows ever more pressing.

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Rescue Efforts Underway After Deadly Earthquake Hits Tibet

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4 hours ago

January 7, 2025

RTX

A powerful earthquake struck Tibet on Tuesday, killing at least 126 people and injuring 188 others, as rescue workers continue to search for survivors in the affected areas. The 7.1 magnitude quake, which hit the northern foothills of the Himalayas at around 09:00 local time, caused extensive damage, with more than 1,000 buildings reported as destroyed.

The earthquake, centered in Tingri county, near Mount Everest, was felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of India. Chinese state media reported that the earthquake’s impact was devastating, with significant destruction seen in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. Videos aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed collapsed buildings, rubble-filled streets, and rescue teams distributing blankets to those displaced by the tremors.

Temperatures in the region were already plummeting, with forecasts predicting lows of -16°C (3.2°F) overnight, adding to the challenges faced by both survivors and rescuers. “Here the houses are made from dirt, so when the earthquake came, many houses collapsed,” said Sangji Dangzhi, a local supermarket owner whose home was damaged. He described ambulances rushing the injured to nearby hospitals throughout the day.

As the search for survivors continues, authorities are contending with disrupted power and water supplies, and aftershocks continue to shake the region. More than 40 aftershocks were recorded in the first hours following the initial earthquake, adding to the instability. Though there is a risk of another quake, Chinese officials have stated that the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low.

The epicenter of the quake lies in Tingri county, a popular base for climbers preparing to ascend Mount Everest. Scheduled sightseeing tours were cancelled, and tourists were evacuated to safety as a precaution.

The quake’s impact has been felt beyond Tibet, with neighboring Nepal experiencing strong tremors, although no major casualties or damage were reported. In the aftermath, many residents in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, recalled the deadly 2015 earthquake, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives.

In Tibet, the Shigatse region, which is home to 800,000 people, has been the focal point of recovery efforts. The region is also the spiritual seat of the Panchen Lama, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most important figures. The exiled Dalai Lama offered his condolences, expressing his deep sorrow for the victims and wishing for the swift recovery of the injured.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out search and rescue operations, and the Chinese air force has deployed drones to assist in the relief efforts. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to work under extreme conditions, racing against the clock to locate survivors before the freezing temperatures set in.

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Nvidia CEO Unveils Next-Gen Gaming Chips and AI Innovations at CES 2025

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4 hours ago

January 7, 2025

RTX

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed the company’s next-generation gaming chips and introduced groundbreaking AI models during his keynote at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. His address captivated a packed arena and set the stage for significant advancements in gaming and robotics.

The new family of gaming chips, which incorporates Nvidia’s Blackwell artificial intelligence (AI) technology, promises to deliver movie-quality graphics at unprecedented speeds. Huang announced that the chips, which will be priced between $549 (£438) and $1,999, are twice as fast as their predecessors. This performance boost is expected to revolutionize the gaming experience, offering stunning visuals and lifelike details in real time.

A major highlight of Huang’s presentation was the unveiling of Cosmos, an AI model designed to generate video for training robots and self-driving cars. Unlike current methods, Cosmos can produce synthetic training data at a fraction of the cost, enabling machines to better understand and interact with the physical world.

Users will be able to input text descriptions into Cosmos, which will then generate video simulations that adhere to the laws of physics. Huang emphasized that this innovation is just the beginning, predicting that it will accelerate breakthroughs in general robotics. “The ChatGPT moment for general robotics is just around the corner,” he said, noting that while more data is needed, rapid advancements are on the horizon.

During the keynote, Huang also demonstrated the new gaming chips in action, showcasing highly detailed graphics featuring dynamic textures and movements. The real-time performance impressed attendees, including Gary Yang, a graduate student in robotics at the California Institute of Technology, who remarked, “Previously, we’d think of these graphics as pre-rendered.”

Nvidia’s latest gaming chips will be available to consumers starting in late January. The company’s innovations were met with excitement, with Scott Epstein from tech start-up Agenovate AI commenting, “They are continuing to innovate.”

Huang’s address came ahead of CES’s official opening, which is expected to draw over 150,000 attendees and more than 4,500 exhibitors. Nvidia’s shares reached a new record high ahead of the keynote, reflecting investor optimism.

Founded in 1993, Nvidia initially made its mark with graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming. Over the years, the company has become a leader in the AI chip market, with a market value exceeding $3 trillion. However, Nvidia faces increasing scrutiny from global regulators concerned about its growing dominance in the AI chip sector. The company revealed last year that it had been approached by antitrust watchdogs in the US, UK, EU, South Korea, and China.

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Biden Announces Offshore Drilling Ban Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

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1 day ago

January 6, 2025

RTX

US President Joe Biden has imposed a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along most of the nation’s coastline, in one of his administration’s final acts on climate policy before Donald Trump takes office. The ban applies to the entire Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast off California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as a section of the Bering Sea off Alaska.

This decision comes just weeks before Trump’s scheduled return to the White House, as part of a series of last-minute environmental actions by the Biden administration. Trump, who has long pledged to “unleash” domestic fossil fuel production to lower gas prices, has repeatedly criticized Biden’s climate policies, which he sees as detrimental to energy independence.

Announcing the ban, Biden stated, “My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs. It is not worth the risks.”

In response, Trump dismissed the ban as “ridiculous” during a radio interview, asserting that he could overturn the decision immediately upon taking office. “I’ll unban it immediately,” Trump declared. The incoming president has promised to reverse many of Biden’s conservation and climate change policies.

The new offshore drilling ban is enacted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, which allows the president to withdraw areas from mineral leasing and drilling. However, the law does not grant presidents the authority to revoke previous bans. A 2019 court ruling stipulates that a reversal would require an act of Congress, which is now controlled by Trump’s Republican party. Additionally, areas already leased for drilling are not subject to revocation under the law.

While Trump has been a staunch advocate for expanding oil and gas exploration, he used the same law in 2020 to protect waters off Florida’s coast—a move seen as politically motivated ahead of the election. Biden’s new ban will also protect that area, but with no expiration date.

The ban covers more than 625 million acres (253 million hectares) of water and is expected to face significant opposition from the oil and gas industry. Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute, called Biden’s decision “politically motivated” and urged Congress to reverse it.

Environmental groups, however, welcomed the move. Joseph Gordon of Oceana called it “an epic ocean victory,” praising the protection of coastal communities for future generations. Environmentalists and Democrats had advocated for the ban, citing concerns that new drilling would undermine efforts to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Biden’s decision is expected to spark legal challenges, with Trump likely to pursue avenues to overturn the ban. A final ruling could be made by the Supreme Court, which currently holds a conservative majority.

The decision reflects broader global concerns about the need to reduce fossil fuel consumption, with the International Energy Agency recommending a 5% annual reduction in oil and gas demand to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.