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Debreczeni and O’Donnell to leave Brumbies after Lions clash

Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies fly half Jack Debreczeni and wing Ben O’Donnell will depart the club after next Wednesday’s game against the British & Irish Lions.

The pair are available for selection for the Lions and will receive a farewell in front of a packed house at GIO Stadium.

Head coach Stephen Larkham thanked the players for their efforts at the club during their stint in the nation’s capital.

“Everyone at the Brumbies wishes Ben and Jack the best for the future,” Larkham said.

“They’ve both made a massive contribution to the club on and off the field during their time here. I’m sure they’ll be looking forward to the chance of playing in front of our fans at GIO Stadium one last time next week, against a world-class team in the British & Irish Lions.”

Debreczeni and O’Donnell arrived at the club on the same day in 2023, from Canterbury Rugby Club and Connacht respectively.

Debreczeni, 32, joined the Brumbies after also having spells at Melbourne Rebels, Honda Heat and Hino Red Dolphins in Japan and the Chiefs.

He has gone on to receive 28 caps for the Brumbies, showcasing plenty of standout performances as a playmaker, including guiding us to a crucial 29-21 win against the Waratahs in torrential rain at Allianz Stadium in Sydney during Round 12 last year. The 32-year-old is currently considering whether he will continue his playing career.

O’Donnell, 29, also joined the club in 2023 after playing for Australia Sevens and Connacht, winning the prestigious Shawn Mackay award for Australia’s Sevens’ Player of the Year in 2018.

His time in Canberra has been impacted due to injury, playing nine times for the club in total, after being ruled out for this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a hamstring operation in February. O’Donnell is set to join French side Aurillac on a two-year deal.

If you would like to see Debreczeni and O’Donnell feature for the Brumbies for the final time next Wednesday against the British & Irish Lions at GIO Stadium, buy tickets here.

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July 3, 2025
Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

Neanderthals in central Germany 125,000 years ago employed an advanced method of food preparation, according to a recent study: systematically stripping fat from the bones of large animals using water and heat. The practice, uncovered at the Neumark-Nord 2 archaeological site, shows that Neanderthals had a much more advanced conception of nutrition, planning, and resource management than previously believed.

Artistic impression of activities at the “Fat Factory” site. Credit: Scherjon, LEIZA-Monrepos

The research, published in Science Advances, was conducted by international researchers from MONREPOS (Leibniz Centre for Archaeology), Leiden University in the Netherlands, and the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt. The study indicates that Neanderthals, in addition to smashing bones to access the marrow—a behavior shared by their earliest African ancestors—also crushed them into fragments and boiled them to obtain bone grease, a nutrient-rich resource.

“This was intensive, organized, and strategic,” said Dr. Lutz Kindler, the study’s lead author. “Neanderthals were clearly managing resources with caution—planning hunts, transporting carcasses, and rendering fat in a task-specific area. They understood both the nutritional value of fat and how to access it efficiently.”

Excavations at the Neumark-Nord 2 site. Credit: Wil Roebroeks, Leiden University

At least 172 large mammals, such as deer, horses, and aurochs, were butchered here. The production of bone grease, which required huge quantities of bone to be worthwhile, was previously considered to be something limited to Upper Paleolithic modern humans. This find pushes back the timeline by thousands of years and represents a fundamental shift in our knowledge of Neanderthal diet and adaptation.

From complete bones to tiny fragments. Credit: Kindler, LEIZA-Monrepos

The Neumark-Nord complex, discovered in the 1980s by archaeologist Dietrich Mania, is a full interglacial ecosystem. Excavations from 2004 to 2009 revealed several zones with various Neanderthal activities: deer hunting and light butchering in one, straight-tusked elephant processing in another, and fat removal in a third, specialized area. Remarkably, cut-marked remains of 76 rhinos and 40 elephants were also discovered at nearby sites like Taubach.

“What makes Neumark-Nord so exceptional is the preservation of an entire landscape, not just a single site,” said Leiden University’s Prof. Wil Roebroeks. “We are seeing a range of Neanderthal behaviors within the same landscape.”

Massive bone processing. At the Neumark-Nord 2 site, near the margin of a shallow pool, there is a dense concentration of bones from more than 170 larger mammals (highlighted in blue), mixed with flint artifacts (red) and hammer stones (red). Credit: Kindler, LEIZA-Monrepos

The activities of the Neanderthals at Neumark-Nord not only demonstrate high sophistication but were also likely to have long-term environmental impacts. Prof. Roebroeks warned that their mass hunting of slow-reproducing species undoubtedly left a significant impact on fauna in the region during the Last Interglacial period.

The finds depict the Neanderthals as more capable and more intelligent than the stereotype of the brutish caveman. The “fat factory” at Neumark-Nord reveals a species that could plan for the future, manage its environment, and maximize nutrition in resource-poor environments.

More information: LEIZA

Publication: Kindler, L., Gaudzinski-Windheuser, S., Scherjon, F., Garcia-Moreno, A., Smith, G. M., Pop, E., … Roebroeks, W. (2025). Large-scale processing of within-bone nutrients by Neanderthals, 125,000 years ago. Science Advances, 11(27). doi:10.1126/sciadv.adv1257

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July 3, 2025
Britain launches strategy to expand onshore wind, create jobs – Reuters
1. Britain launches strategy to expand onshore wind, create jobs Reuters
2. ‘Overturning the ban was just the start’: Government sets out 40-step plan to build out onshore wind edie.net
3. Miliband plots garden windfarm revolution The Telegraph
4. RenewableUK praises ambitious onshore roadmap reNews
5. Challenges remain ahead of UK onshore wind ‘renaissance’ current-news.co.uk
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July 3, 2025
On-Demand TACE Plus Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab Boosts PFS in Unresectable HCC

On-Demand TACE Plus Atezolizumab
and Bevacizumab in HCC | Image Credit:
© Sebastian Kaulitzki – stock.adobe.com

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) prolonged investigator-assessed TACE-progression-free survival (TACE-PFS) vs TACE alone, according to data from the phase 3 TALENTACE trial (NCT04712643) presented during the 2025 ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress.¹

The median investigator-assessed TACE-PFS with TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab (n = 171) was 11.30 months (95% CI, 7.52-15.01) vs 7.03 months (95% CI, 5.32-8.41) with TACE alone (n = 171), meeting the primary end point (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55-0.92; P = .009). In the TACE plus atezolizumab/bevacizumab arm, the 12- and 24-month TACE-PFS rates 48.46% and 37.98%, respectively; in the TACE-alone arm, these respective rates were 33.60% and 29.85%.

The median PFS by investigator assessment and RECIST 1.1 criteria with TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab was 10.32 months (95% CI, 8.51-11.93) vs 6.37 months (95% CI, 5.32-7.46) with TACE alone (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.82). The 12- and 18-month PFS rates in the TACE plus atezolizumab/bevacizumab arm were 41.96% and 31.66%, respectively; in the TACE-alone arm, these rates were 26.73% and 20.60%, respectively.

“TALENTACE is the first phase 3 study to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of on-demand TACE combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, suggesting a new and effective treatment option for patients with systemically untreated, intermediate-to-high tumor burden unresectable HCC,” Guohong Han, MD, of the Department of Gastroenterology, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, in Xi’an, China, said in late-breaking presentation.

Taking a Look at TALENTACE

The prospective, open-label, multicenter, phase 3 study enrolled patients with confirmed unresectable HCC who were candidates to receive TACE, including those with BCLC-A, BCLC-B, and BCLC-C for Vp1/2, and BCLC-C for an ECOG performance status of 1. Their sum of tumor maximum diameter plus tumor number needed to be at least 6, they needed to have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, and Child-Pugh A disease without extrahepatic spread. They could not have previously received systemic therapy or locoregional therapy to the target lesions.

Patients (n = 342) were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive on-demand TACE followed by 1200 mg of atezolizumab and 15 mg/kg of bevacizumab every 3 weeks or underwent observation in the control arm. Stratification factors included baseline alpha-fetoprotein (<400 ng/mL vs ≥400 ng/mL), prior locoregional therapy except curative resection and ablation (yes, TACE vs yes, other locoregional therapy vs no), baseline Vp1/2 (yes vs no), and geographic region (China vs Japan).

The primary end points of the trial were investigator-assessed TACE-PFS and overall survival (OS). Secondary end points were investigator-assessed PFS by RECIST v1.1 criteria, time to untreatable progression, time to progression, extrahepatic spread per Response Evaluation Criteria in Cancer of the Liver (RECICL), objective response rate (ORR), duration of response per RECICL and RECIST v1.1 criteria.

TACE-PFS was defined as the time from randomization to untreatable progression or TACE failure/refractoriness or death by any cause. For the statistical testing hierarchy, hypotheses will be formally tested on the primary end points of TACE-PFS and OS. Han clarified that TACE-PFS and OS will be tested sequentially, with the overall type I error controlled at a 2-sided significance level of 0.05.

Looking at the Analysis

A total of 342 patients were randomized; 171 were assigned to receive TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab and 171 were assigned to receive TACE alone. In the TACE/atezolizumab/bevacizumab arm, 166 patients received all three components, 4 received only TACE, and 1 did not receive any treatment; 73 patients discontinued the study. A total of 171 patients comprised the intention-to-treat (ITT) population and 166 comprised the safety set. In the TACE-alone arm, 169 received TACE alone and 2 did not receive any treatment; 81 discontinued the study. A total of 171 patients comprised the ITT population and 173 comprised the safety set.

The median time from randomization to the data cutoff for the first interim analysis was approximately 26 months, and the minimum follow-up was 18.4 months.

The median patient age was 62 years (range, 30-89) in the TACE/atezolizumab/bevacizumab arm vs 60.0 years (range, 21-90) in the TACE-alone arm. Most patients were male (TACE/atezolizumab/bevacizumab, 79.5%; TACE-alone, 81.9%), had an ECOG performance 0 (81.8%; 87.1%), were from China (91.2%; 88.9%), had BCLC-B disease (58.5%; 61.4%), and had Child-Pugh score of 5 (81.3%; 78.4%).

Additional Efficacy Data

OS data were immature at the time of the analysis, with only 38.6% of events reported. The median OS was 34.53 months (95% CI, 26.78-not evaluable [NE]) with TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab vs 35.38 months (95% CI, 29.50-NE) with TACE alone (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.68-1.34; 2-sided P = .793). The 12- and 18-month OS rates in the TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab arm were 87.95% and 78.13%, respectively; in the TACE-alone arm, these rates were 84.30% and 73.92%, respectively.

The ORR per RECICL with TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab was 81.3%, which comprised a complete response (CR) rate of 39.2% and a partial response (PR) rate of 42.1% with stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) rates of 11.7% and 3.5%, respectively; in the TACE arm, the ORR per RECICL was 66.7%, which comprised a CR rate of 28.1% and PR rate of 38.6%; SD and PD rates were 12.9% and 14.0%, respectively. ORR by RECIST v1.1 criteria with TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab was 49.1%, which included a CR rate of 3.5% and a PR rate of 45.6%; SD and PD rates were 35.1% and 11.7%, respectively. ORR by RECIST v1.1 criteria with TACE alone was 33.9%, which comprised a CR rate of 4.1% and a PR rate of 29.8%; the SD rate was 34.5% and a PD rate was 24.0%.

Safety Spotlight

“On-demand TACE combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab showed a safety profile consistent with the well-established profiles of the individual agents and the underlying disease,” Han said.

All patients in the TACE plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab arm (n = 166) experienced at least 1 AE vs 99.4% of those in the TACE-alone arm (n = 173), with 100% and 97.7% of AEs related to treatment. Treatment-related grade 3 or 4 AEs occurred in 60.8% of those in the TACE combination arm vs 40.5% of those in the TACE-alone arm; 41.6% vs 40.5% were related to TACE, 27.7% were related to atezolizumab, and 38.6% were related to bevacizumab. Grade 5 AEs occurred in 4.2% of those in the TACE combination arm vs 2.9% of those in the TACE-alone arm; 3.0% vs 1.7% were related to treatment. Serious AEs occurred in 40.4% and 23.7% of those in the TACE combination and alone arms, respectively; they were related to treatment for 25.9% and 13.9% of cases, respectively.

In the TACE combination arm, 21.1% experienced AEs that led to withdrawal from any study treatment and 58.4% experienced AEs leading to any interruption of study treatment or TACE delay; in the TACE-alone arm, these respective percentages were 2.3% and 2.3%.

The most common treatment-related AEs were proteinuria, post-embolization syndrome, increased aspartate aminotransferase, decreased platelet count, hypoalbuminemia, hypertension, increased alanine aminotransferase, abdominal pain, pyrexia, and increased blood bilirubin.

“No new safety signals were identified,” Han said. “The safety profile of on-demand TACE combined with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was generally manageable.”

Disclosures: Han disclosed receiving research grants from Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals, Co. Ltd; Bayer; Sirtex; Boston Scientific; and MSD. Lecture fees were received from Roche, Bayer, Gore, MSD, AstraZeneca, Sirtex, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boston Scientific, and Eisai. He does advisory consulting for Roche, Bayer, AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific, Gore, and MSD. The TALENTACE study is sponsored by Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Reference

Dong J, Han G, Ogasawara S, et al. TALENTACE: A phase III, open-label, randomized study of on-demand TACE combined with atezolizumab + bevacizumab (atezo+bev) or on-demand TACE alone in patients with systemically untreated intermediate-to-high tumor burden unresectable HCC. Presented at: 2025 ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress; July 2-5, 2025; Barcelona, Spain. Abstract LBA2.

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July 3, 2025
Viral band success spawns AI claims and hoaxes

A band called The Velvet Sundown has had its tracks played hundreds of thousands of times on Spotify since appearing several weeks ago – without anyone knowing for sure what it is.

The band has a verified page on the music streaming platform, with more than 850,000 monthly listeners.

However, none of the four named musicians in the band have given any interviews or appear to have individual social media accounts, and there are no records of any live performances.

It has prompted accusations that they and their music are artificial intelligence (AI) generated – something the band denies on social media.

It did not respond to the BBC’s request for an interview.

Further confusing the story, Rolling Stone US reported that the band’s spokesman had admitted The Velvet Sundown’s music had been generated using an AI tool called Suno – only for the magazine to report shortly afterwards that the spokesman was himself a hoax.

The man, who goes by the name of Andrew Frelon, said it was a deliberate plot to hoax the media.

A statement on the band’s Spotify page says that the group has “no affiliation with this individual, nor any evidence confirming their identity or existence.”

An account on X which claims to be the band’s official channel, is also fake, it added.

Professor Gina Neff, from the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at the University of Cambridge, says it points to a problem which affects much more than just one band.

“Whether this is an AI band may not seem important,” she told me.

“But increasingly, our collective grip on reality seems shaky. The Velvet Sundown story plays into the fears we have of losing control of AI and shows how important protecting online information is.”

The Velvet Sundown’s indie ballads, with guitar music and male vocals, is fairly easy, if bland, on the ear.

With lyrics such as “eyes like film in faded light, dreams walk barefoot into the night” and “ash and velvet, smoke and flame, calling out in freedom’s name”, it could all feasibly be either AI-generated or penned by humans.

Deezer, a rival music streaming platform, said that its AI detector tool had flagged the music as being “100% AI generated”.

Spotify did not respond to a request for comment.

CEO Daniel Ek has previously told the BBC that he did not intend to ban AI-generated music from the platform but added that he did not agree with using the tech to mimic real artists.

Many in the creative arts industry are deeply concerned about the impact of AI.

Hundreds of musicians have protested about the use of their content in the training of AI tools to create music.

Sir Elton John and Dua Lipa joined many members of the House of Lords in fighting for the UK government to include AI and copyright in a new set of laws regarding data use and access. Their campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.

The government says it is carrying out a separate consultation about AI and copyright.

Ed Newton Rex, founder of Fairly Trained, which campaigns for AI firms to respect creators’ rights, said the questions around the The Velvet Sundown bore out musicians’ concerns.

“This is exactly what artists have been worried about, it’s theft dressed up as competition,” he said.

“AI companies steal artists’ work to build their products, then flood the market with knock-offs, meaning less money goes to human musicians.”

Sophie Jones, chief strategy officer at BPI, said it illustrated the need for government action.

“This discussion reinforces many of the concerns raised by the music industry and artist community in recent months on the critical issues of AI and music rights.

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July 3, 2025
2032 Games locked in for Cairns
2025-26 Queensland Budget and revised Intergovernmental Agreement confirms 2032 Delivery Plan venues.

Cairns’ Barlow Park to benefit from major upgrades ahead of 2032.

2032 Delivery Plan sets the plan for a successful 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Australian and Queensland Governments have reached a new funding agreement that locks in critical and generational infrastructure for 2032 and beyond.

As part of that new agreement, upgrades to Barlow Park in Cairns are locked in, with locals and visitors set to benefit from generational infrastructure for decades to come.

The funding partnership, which was announced by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie at Queensland Media Club on Thursday, comes a week after the Crisafulli Government passed the landmark Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 which will also streamline the delivery of Games infrastructure.

It also follows the Crisafulli Government’s first budget which puts Queensland back on track to deliver a successful 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy following the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority’s (GIICA) 100-day review.

After 1,200 Days of Games chaos under the former Labor Government, the Crisafulli Government’s 2032 Delivery Plan is delivering for regional communities like Cairns and the Far North to host Games events, driving tourism opportunities and support community grassroots sport.

As part of the 2032 Delivery Plan, Cairns is in the box seat for:
Major upgrades to Barlow Park Stadium including a new grandstand with a permanent seating capacity of 5,000 to support Cairns attracting major event hosting opportunities like football.

The opportunity for the Cairns Convention Centre to host events.

The opportunity to host sports including football and cricket.

Major upgrades to the Cairns Arterial Road between Redlynch Connector Road and the Captain Cook Highway.

Bruce Highway upgrades as part of the joint $9 billion investment between Brisbane and Cairns.

Leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for initiatives like Wangetti Trail.

A share in the $250 million Games On! programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie on Thursday announced the agreement reached with the Australian Government on the IGA and the commencement of procurement on four venue projects.

“This landmark agreement is the beginning of a new partnership that will kick-start the delivery of world-class infrastructure in the 2032 Delivery Plan,” the Deputy Premier said.

“I thank the Australian Government and Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King for their commitment of $3.4 billion towards this legacy infrastructure as we continue to work together to deliver the best Olympic and Paralympic Games ever.

“I am also very pleased to announce that, building on what we have heard from industry, we are asking to hear from those keen to build these remarkable projects.

“In addition to the funding agreement and our new Games venue planning laws, we are kicking off Games venue procurement at Barlow Park in Cairns marking a major milestone for the project.”

Assistant Minister for Tourism, Early Learning, Creative Industries and Far North Queensland and Member for Barron River Bree James said the Crisafulli Government was delivering for the Cairns region.

“The 2032 Delivery Plan sent the Games to Far North Queensland, and with Barlow Park Stadium out for tender, we’re delivering the infrastructure to support it,” Ms James said.

Member for Mulgrave Terry James said the State Budget activated the Games investment.

“The upgrades to Barlow Park will leave a legacy across our region and address the growing demand for a major multi-sport facility,” Mr James said.

MEDIA CONTACT: Samantha Scott 0499 984 004
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July 3, 2025
Cramps, fatigue and hallucinations: paddling 200km in a Paleolithic canoe from Taiwan to Japan | Japan

Dr Yousuke Kaifu was working at an archaeological site on the Japanese islands of Okinawa when a question started to bubble in his mind. The pieces unearthed in the excavation, laid out before him, revealed evidence of humans living there 30,000 years ago, arriving from the north and the south. But how did they get there?

“There are stone tools and archaeological remains at the site but they don’t answer those questions,” Kaifu, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Tokyo, says.

In the Paleolithic era, or the old stone age, technology was rudimentary, he says. “I thought it was great they reached those islands with such simple technology. I wanted to experience it.”

Video loop

So Kaifu devised an adventurous plan that would see a team of researchers take to the sea in a 225km canoe trip from Taiwan to Japan’s Yonaguni island.

Yonaguni is the closest of the Ryukyu islands – a chain stretching south-west from Kyushu to Taiwan – but it lies across one of the world’s strongest currents. The voyage was reminiscent of the famed 1947 Kontiki crossing by Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl, which proved it was possible that peoples from South Americas paddled to Polynesia.

But first, Kaifu’s team needed a boat. Any vessel used by the original Paleolithic travellers had long since disintegrated. The team used traditional techniques to build rafts made of bamboo and reed, but ocean tests found they were too slow to battle the Kuroshio current, which was even stronger at the time of the Paleolithic crossing.

“Through those failed experiments we gradually learned the difficulty of the crossing, but at the same time we knew the Palaeolithic people were on the island. They had succeeded, so there must be a resolution which we just hadn’t found,” Kaifu says.

The canoe’s route by day (in red) and night (in blue). Composite: Google Earth / Yousuke Kaifu/The University of Tokyo

Eventually, the team built a heavy, unstable but workable dugout canoe out of Japanese cedar, and identified Wushibi bay on Taiwan’s east coast from which to launch the “Sugime”.

Crucially, Yonaguni is not visible from Taiwan’s shore but can be seen on a clear day from its mountains, near Taroko. The researchers believed it likely that the early migrants had seen it, and that they were well aware of the strength and behaviour of the Kuroshio current from fishing ventures.

The team of five included professional paddlers as well as the scientists, but no one who had made such a journey, let alone without modern navigation. The day they set out, the weather was not good, Kaifu recalls, with choppy seas and clouds obscuring the stars they needed to find their way. Instead, they had to rely on another ancient technique, monitoring the direction of the swell to keep their own direction stable. “Polynesian and Micronesian people did it, and we learned the technique,” says Kaifu, who travelled on the crew’s escort vessel, “the safe place”, he laughs.

Video loop

For 45 hours they paddled, suffering muscle aches, fatigue, cramps and even hallucinations. “Surrounded only by the sea, clouds, and sky, they were uncertain about their position,” the report’s journey log notes.

But their arrival on the second night was anti-climactically untraditional.

Still almost 40km away, “they found the island by the lighthouse, which was unfortunate”, Kaifu said.

“But the beautiful moment for me was the time of [the previous day’s] dawn, the sun was coming up and the sky became gradually light, and we saw the clouds on the horizon. But at one point on the horizon the clouds were different, so there must be something under the clouds. That was the moment we were sure the island was there. Just like the ancient people, the ancestors, it was good to capture the island from the natural signature.”

The team made the journey in 2019, with support from Japan’s National Museum of Science and Nature, Taiwan’s National Museum of Prehistory, and crowdfunding donors. Last week they published two papers and a 90-minute documentary on their findings, on the journey itself and on the ocean modelling of the route’s treacherous currents and unpredictable weather.

Paddlers sit in reed-bundle rafts. The team experimented with different materials before settling on Japanese cedar. Photograph: Danee Hazama/The University of Tokyo

“Paleolithic people are often regarded as ‘inferior’ among the general public, primarily due to their ‘primitive’ culture and technology,” the report said. “In sharp contrast, our experiment highlighted that they accomplished something extraordinary with the rudimentary technology available to them at the time.”

There is much unknown about the early migration of humans. Homo sapiens are believed to have spread across the world with large-scale maritime expansion occurring at least 50,000 years ago. A 2017 study in northern Australia found it could have been 15,000 to 30,000 years earlier than that.

The team’s report noted growing consensus in the scientific community that the maritime migrations were driven by intentional seafaring more than accidental drifting, but without really knowing much about how. Kaifu’s team found that while the journey from Taiwan to an unseen island was treacherous and required skill, strength and a lot of luck, it was possible.

Almost six years to the day since his team paddled away from Wushibi, Kaifu is excited recalling the details of their “imperfect” journey.

“We anthropologist and archeologists who have studied human migration in the past, we draw a line on a map,” Kaifu said. “But behind each of those lines there must be a great story. Crossing the ocean can’t be represented by a simple line. I wanted to know the real story behind those migrations.”

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July 3, 2025
‘I’m being paid to fix issues caused by AI’

Suzanne Bearne

Technology Reporter

Sarah Skidd

Sarah Skidd makes good money improving copy written by AI

AI is making me extra money, says Sarah Skidd, a product marketing manager who writes for tech and start-up companies.

In May Ms Skidd was approached by a content agency to urgently rework website copy that had been produced via generative AI for a hospitality client.

What was supposed to save money had, instead, caused a host of problems.

“It was the kind of copy that you typically see in AI copy – just very basic; it wasn’t interesting,” says Ms Skidd.

“It was supposed to sell and intrigue but instead it was very vanilla.”

Ms Skidd spent about 20 hours rewriting the copy, charging $100 (£74) an hour. Rather than making small changes, she “had to redo the whole thing”.

Ms Skidd, who lives in Arizona, is not worried that businesses are switching to AI, like ChatGPT, rather than using copywriters like herself.

“Maybe I’m being naive, but I think if you are very good, you won’t have trouble.”

For now, she’s hearing of writers whose main role now is to fix copy churned-out by AI.

“Someone connected with me and said that was 90% of their work right now. So, it’s not only me making money off such missteps, there’s other writers out there.”

Ms Skidd is certainly not anti-AI and believes it can be an excellent resource.

“My husband and son are dyslexic and writing for them is very difficult – anything to help somebody to write; it can be lifechanging.”

In the last few years, generative AI has taken off and businesses are turning to systems like ChatGPT developed by OpenAI, and Google Gemini to transform business practices, and cut time and money.

More than a third (35%) of small businesses plan to expand AI use within two years, rising to 60% among those aiming for rapid sales growth, according to research by the Federation of Small Businesses.

Sophie Warner

Sophie Warner is spending more time educating her clients about using AI

However, some businesses are rushing in, and as Ms Skidd shows, it can often create more work and costs than originally intended.

Certainly, that’s the experience of Sophie Warner, co-owner of Create Designs, a digital marketing agency in Hampshire in the UK.

In the last six to eight months, she seen a surge in requests for help from clients who have turned to AI for a quick fix, but have run into problems.

“Before clients would message us if they were having issues with their site or wanted to introduce new functionality,” says Ms Warner. “Now they are going to ChatGPT first.”

Ms Warner says this has led to clients adding code to their website that has been suggested by ChatGPT. This, she says, has resulted in websites crashing and clients becoming vulnerable to hackers.

She points to one client who, instead of manually updating their event page, which she says would have taken 15 minutes, instead turned to ChatGPT for easier instructions.

The error ultimately “cost them about £360 and their business was down for three days”.

Ms Warner says it also happens to larger clients too.

“We are spending more time educating clients on the consequences [of using AI].

“We often have to charge an investigation fee to find out what has gone wrong, as they don’t want to admit it, and the process of correcting these mistakes takes much longer than if professionals had been consulted from the beginning.”

Prof Feng Li, associate dean for research and innovation at Bayes Business School, says some businesses are too optimistic about what current AI tools can do.

He points out that AI is known to hallucinate – to generate content that is irrelevant, made-up, or inconsistent.

“Human oversight is essential,” he says.

“We’ve seen companies generate low-quality website content or implement faulty code that breaks critical systems.

“Poor implementation can lead to reputational damage and unexpected costs – and even significant liabilities, often requiring rework by professionals.”

Kashish Barot

Kashish Barot edits AI content to make it seem more human

In Gujarat in northwesten India, copywriter Kashish Barot says she has been editing content written by AI for US-based clients to make it appear more human and remove sentence patterns that make it sound like AI.

Despite the often-poor quality of the content, she says clients are becoming used to the speed of AI and that is creating unrealistic expectations.

“AI really makes everyone think it’s a few minutes work,” says Ms Barot, who says clients are using Open AI’s ChatGPT.

“However good copyediting, like writing, takes time because you need to think and not curate like AI, which also doesn’t understand nuance well because it’s curating the data.”

The hype around AI has prompted many companies to experiment without clear goals, adequate infrastructure, or a realistic understanding of what the technology can deliver, says Prof Li.

“For example, companies must assess whether they have the right data infrastructure, governance processes, and in-house capabilities to support AI use. Relying on off-the-shelf tools without understanding their limitations can lead to poor outcomes,” he says.

OpenAI says that ChatGPT can help with a wide range of tasks, “but results vary depending on the model used, the user’s experience working with AI, and how the prompt is written”.

It also points out that there are several versions of ChatGPT.

“Each of our models has different capabilities for completing different tasks.”

Is Warner worried about the impact of AI, if – as expected – it rapidly improves?

“Yes and no,” she says. “While it seems like a quick and inexpensive option, AI rarely takes into account unique brand identity, target demographics, or conversion-focused design. As a result, much of the output looks generic and can actually damage the brand’s reputation or effectiveness.”

She adds: “While AI can be a helpful tool, it simply cannot replace the value of human expertise and context in our industry.”

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July 3, 2025
Djokovic steps up bid for Wimbledon history, Sinner strolls into round three

Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while world number one Jannik Sinner cruised into round three on Thursday.

But there was heartbreak for home favourite Jack Draper as he crashed out to former finalist Marin Cilic.

Djokovic avoided becoming one of the host of big names eliminated in week one in south London as the Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court.

“It means I’ve been playing quite a long time!” Djokovic said when told he had just secured his 99th Wimbledon match victory.

“I still enjoy it. This court has given me so much. Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Any history made here is obviously extra special.”

Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history.

The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open.

Despite losing the last two Wimbledon finals to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the lawns of south-west London provide his best chance to win that elusive 25th major.

“I’m aware of the history on the line. I’m thinking about the big things I can do in this tournament,” he said.

Sinner is yet to reach a Wimbledon final, but the US and Australian Open champion has been ruthless in dropping just 12 games in his opening two matches.

The Italian thrashed Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to set up a third round clash against Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

“We saw there have been so many upsets this tournament so we try to stay focused and raise our level,” said Sinner.

Draper’s dream of following in the footsteps of Andy Murray as a British champion were dashed as 36-year-old Cilic rolled back the years.

The Croatian, who is making his first Wimbledon appearance for four years after major knee surgery, blasted 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory.

“The emotions I’m feeling are incredible,” said Cilic, who lost the final to Roger Federer at the All England Club in 2017.

“It’s been a long journey but I never lost any doubt. This was a huge challenge, to come back and play at this level against Jack, in front of this crowd.”

Krejcikova’s relief

Only one of the top five seeds in the women’s draw — world number one Aryna Sabalenka — is still standing.

But defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek avoided joining the big name casualties with hard-fought three-set wins.

Krejcikova has had a miserable time with injuries this year and arrived at Wimbledon with just six matches under her belt in 2025.

Despite not feeling 100 percent, she overcame American Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Emma Navarro.

“Definitely a huge relief,” said the Czech. “I wasn’t feeling that well but I was fighting for every ball. I’m really happy I won the third set.”

Swiatek has previously struggled on Wimbledon’s lush lawns despite being a former junior champion at the All England Club.

The former world number one dropped the first set to American Caty McNally before roaring back to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

“For sure second and third set I played how I wanted to play,” said Swiatek.

Elena Rybykina, Wimbledon winner in 2022, demolished Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1.

Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, aged 18, beat Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).

Published – July 04, 2025 04:32 am IST

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July 3, 2025
July Fourth, measles vaccines and healthy travel: The week in Well+Being – The Washington Post
1. July Fourth, measles vaccines and healthy travel: The week in Well+Being The Washington Post
2. More measles outbreaks put US total within single digits of modern-day record CIDRAP
3. Health Officials Recommend Taking Preventative Measures to Prevent Measles Coconino.az.gov
4. Dr. Birx to Newsmax: Unvaccinated Behind Spike in Measles Cases WJBC
5. Number of US measles cases on track to reach a record high Scripps News
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July 3, 2025