BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — A team of Chinese geologists has created a Mars soil simulant that almost replicates Utopia Planitia soil, a scientific breakthrough that could be crucial for future explorations of the planet, including China’s ambitious Mars sample-return mission.
The simulant, coded UPRS-1, comes very close to replicating the physical, chemical, spectral and mechanical properties of Martian soil based on in-situ data obtained by China’s Mars rover Zhurong of the Tianwen-1 Mission and NASA’s Viking-2 lander, both of which landed in the Utopia Planitia region.
Published in the planetary science journal Icarus, this breakthrough fills a gap in space exploration research by providing a soil simulant for Mars’ northern lowlands — an area previously overlooked in developing simulants, which focused on the southern highlands.
Utopia Planitia, a massive impact basin with a diameter of approximately 3,300 km, where China’s Zhurong rover touched down in 2021, is a geologically significant region on Mars that may hold evidence of the planet’s watery past.
An interdisciplinary research team from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including Li Shouding, Li Juan and Lin Honglei, analyzed data from Zhurong’s suite of instruments, which detected hydrated minerals like gypsum and clays, that are telltale signs of past liquid water activity and which make this region of Mars particularly valuable for study.
To recreate the unique soil composition in this region, the team employed an innovative approach — combining geological expertise with planetary science.
They started with crushed basalt from east China’s Shandong Province as the base material, and then precisely blended in a specific formula of minerals, according to the study.
After this step, the mixture underwent analysis and adjustments to replicate the spectral, physical, mechanical and chemical properties of soil found at Utopia Planitia on Mars. The simulant shows an overall similarity of 86.1 percent in numerous properties compared with the actual regolith at Utopia Planitia.
The team subjected UPRS-1 to precise testing to ensure its mechanical properties replicate the critical parameters of soil on Mars, which will help engineers design more robust landers and rovers for future missions.
UPRS-1 is designed to address a long-standing challenge in space exploration that came into focus following the soil-drilling difficulties encountered by NASA’s InSight mission in 2020.
The simulant opens new avenues for research into in-situ resource utilization, allowing scientists to develop and test technologies for extracting water from Martian soil — a capability necessary for sustaining future human outposts on Mars.
UPRS-1, notably, can offer a vital testing ground for mission components and sampling techniques as China prepares for its Tianwen-3 sample-return mission, set to launch around 2028, the paper’s first author Diao Yiming from the IGG, told Xinhua.
In terms of science, it can serve as material for use in Martian environment simulation experiments, with applications in astrobiology, such as investigating the effects of clay minerals and sulfates on microbial survival, the research team explained.
Also, the team proposed an evaluation procedure that could facilitate the design and creation of new high-similarity simulants applicable to other regions on Mars. ■
Aden, Yemen, July 10, 2025 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC), in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Aden, has launched a new strategy to boost childhood vaccination rates and rebuild trust in immunization across some of the most vulnerable communities in Yemen.
After more than a decade of conflict and crisis, vaccination coverage across the country has significantly declined. Leaving children dangerously exposed to deadly, yet preventable, diseases. Today, fewer than 4 in 10 children aged 12–23 months are fully immunized, and 17% have never received a single shot. This lack of protection has led to serious outbreaks, highlighting the urgent need for both expanded immunization and community engagement. Since 2021 237 polio cases have been recorded, and in 2023 alone Yemen recorded over 50,000 measles cases.
While most caregivers understand the benefits of vaccines and know they are available free of charge, many still hesitate to vaccinate their children. Mistrust in the health system, fear of side effects, and the spread of misinformation continue to drive low uptake. The IRC’s new Behavior Change Strategy addresses these barriers by focusing on rebuilding trust between families and healthcare providers.
This newly launched strategy focuses on several practical steps: enhancing the cleanliness, accessibility, and staffing of clinics, while supporting healthcare workers with training to strengthen communication and foster respectful, family-centered care; and working with trusted community voices–like religious leaders, teachers, and local leaders–to spread accurate information and real-life stories about vaccines. It also includes sending mobile vaccination teams to reach remote areas, helping families keep track of appointments, and running awareness campaigns through radio, posters, and other local materials.
This initiative is supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and reflects a growing commitment to contribute to strengthen Yemen’s public health system and protect the country’s next generation.
Caroline Sekyewa, the IRC’s Country Director in Yemen, says,
“The launch of this strategy comes at a critical moment. Mistrust and misinformation are costing lives. Communities are asking for safe, respectful, and accessible care. At the IRC, we are proud to support this effort alongside the Ministry of Health and local leaders. By working together with families, we can turn the tide against preventable disease outbreaks and give many children in Yemen a healthier future.”
Mesfin Teklu Tessema, Head of the IRC’s Health Unit, says,
“At the IRC, we are proud to partner with Gavi in advancing the fight against preventable diseases in Yemen and globally. To date, Gavi support has allowed the IRC and our local partners to deliver more than 14 million vaccine doses and reach over 1.4 million children living in conflict and crisis with their first ever vaccinations. Protecting and expanding gains in Yemen and other fragile and humanitarian settings must remain a priority as Gavi begins to implement its new global strategy with $9 billion in recent donor pledges.”
END
About the IRC in Yemen
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been working in Yemen since 2012 and rapidly scaled up its response in 2015 to address rising humanitarian needs caused by conflict, violence, food insecurity, and economic collapse. The IRC delivers emergency aid, critical healthcare and nutrition services, economic support, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming, and protection services, particularly for women and children.
As a frontline responder, the IRC continues to serve as a cornerstone of Yemen’s health and WASH systems, strengthening local capacity, delivering integrated services, and helping communities build long-term resilience against future health crises.
Between 2022 and 2024, the IRC reached over five million people across 11 crisis-affected governorates in Yemen, including 1.7 million people in 2024 alone, more than one million of whom were women. Our work aligns with the IRC’s vision to support people affected by conflict and crisis—especially women, girls, migrants, and marginalized groups—by providing life-saving services, meeting basic needs, and building resilience through integrated approaches.
Google has launched a suite of its AI-powered advertising tools in India, which debuted in the U.S. in May, as the repeal of the so-called “Google tax” has made the South Asian market more attractive to global tech firms selling online ads.
In March, the Indian government scrapped its 6% levy on digital advertisements, effective in April, as a move to address some of the trade concerns raised by the Trump administration.
The United States Trade Representative had criticized the levy by calling it “discriminatory and unreasonable,” as domestic companies were exempt. Its repeal would ease costs for tech giants, including Google, Meta, and Amazon.
On Thursday, Google hosted the local version of its Marketing Live event to debut its AI-powered tools for Indian marketers.
One of the tools is “Generated for You”, available within Product Studio, that identifies relevant content opportunities across shopping catalogs and pre-generates images and videos via AI that merchants can save or publish across Google platforms. Another tool is an opt-in feature called Smart Bidding Exploration in search campaigns, which is built on existing Smart Bidding and uses AI to find newer, qualified leads that merchants wouldn’t have captured or bid on typically.
Plus, Google introduced new agentic capabilities in Google Ads and Analytics.
Agentic capabilities in Google AnalyticsImage Credits:Google
“These agentic tools can learn from advertising inputs, including datasets, landing pages, assets, and real-time campaign performance, to take the guesswork out of achieving business goals,” Dan Taylor, Vice President for Global Ads at Google, said at a virtual media roundtable.
Google brought AI Max for Search Campaigns, which aims to enhance search ad campaign performance by identifying more relevant and high-performing search queries by learning from brands’ landing pages, their existing ads, and existing keyword lists.
Indian online marketplace for used electronics goods, Cashify, saw its conversions up by 15% and customer acquisition costs reduced by 12% after deploying AI Max during its early testing, Google said.
Google also announced that ads will start appearing on AI Overviews in India later this year.
Additionally, the company has introduced its shoppable connected TV ads on YouTube in India. YouTube’s masthead on mobile will now also start serving ads in the country.
YouTube Shoppable Masthead now in IndiaImage Credits:Google
YouTube on connected TVs has been the most-watched streaming service on television in India over the past year, said Roma Datta Chobey, managing director of Digital Native Industries at Google India.
Similarly, the country has been a significant market for YouTube Shorts, with short videos on the platform viewed trillions of times since launch. As many as 87% of Indian consumers watch YouTube or Shorts as part of their shopping journey, Chobey said.
India’s digital advertising presence is growing, as the world’s second-largest internet market continues to see more users come online. The country’s digital ad market is projected to grow over 20% year-over-year, reaching nearly $7 billion by the end of 2025, per a recent Dentsu Digital Advertising report.
“India is such a thriving digital ecosystem. We have the largest number of users who are actively trying and testing our products. So, that’s really the reason behind us getting these innovations to India faster,” Chobey said, in response to TechCrunch’s question about the timing of the new AI ad tools.
Google confirmed to TechCrunch that its newly launched features including AI Max for Search Campaigns, Smart Bidding Exploration, YouTube’s shoppable masthead and CTV, and Performance Max Retention-Only Mode support Hindi to improve local campaign compatibility. Additionally, the company introduced state-level urban and rural audience filters for Indian advertisers to enable more granular media planning, buying, and reporting.
India has long been a key market for Google, not just because it hosts the company’s largest user base but also due to consistent growth in ad revenues. In fiscal year 2024, Google’s gross ad revenue in India increased 11% year-over-year to ₹312.21 billion ($3.6 billion), while its net advertising revenue rose 18% to ₹27.43 billion ($320 million).
Onley, a calm and unflustered character when interviewed, and his team say they have not changed the goal for the race.
The main target is to win a stage, rather than go for a top-10 finish as an end in itself. Feet remain firmly on the ground, or rather the pedals.
Competing over three weeks in the biggest race of them all is a different beast from the one-week races in which Onley has shown he can compete at the top of the general classification.
Nevertheless, he has form in his legs and a fearlessness needed amidst the madness of the Tour.
The long-term goal is to be a serious contender to win the Grand Tours, whether in France, Italy or Spain.
“That’s the pinnacle, really,” Onley said. “It’s a plan we have as a team.
“Just now, it’s difficult to say how far I can take that, because I’ve never tried it before. That’s the goal, though.”
In the short term, Onley will aim to keep making a name for himself on the biggest stage in cycling.
This year’s Venice Architecture Biennale introduced a first: the Universe Pavilion, a space-themed exhibition exploring how we might live beyond Earth.
Designed by leading artists and thinkers from the German and Italian space sectors, the pavilion challenged traditional national showcases. It offered a timely reflection on a fast-growing idea: that space, like climate, transcends borders and that architecture might be one of our most potent tools in confronting both.
The Venice biennale is often considered the world’s most prestigious architecture exhibition. While not part of the official programme, the inclusion of the Universe Pavilion marked the first time space entered the architectural mainstream in such a high-profile setting – a signal that new frontiers are becoming future concerns.
Among those contributing to the broader momentum in space architecture were three architects whose careers collectively trace the evolution of European and transatlantic thinking in this still-nascent discipline: Dr Barbara Imhof, Michael Morris and Orla Punch.
Imhof and her firm presented Building With and Living Off Lunar Resources, a concept exploring how to construct habitats on the Moon using solar-sintered lunar dust.
Solar sintering uses concentrated sunlight to fuse lunar soil into solid building components, reducing the need to transport materials from Earth. “You transport machines, not materials,” Imhof explained. “You use what’s there.”
Space architecture demands a radical rethinking of how we build. It is not just about surviving in extreme environments; it is about recreating conditions for life where they naturally do not exist.
As Imhof noted, “Low Earth orbit, where the International Space Station sits, is orbiting 450 kilometres above us. The Moon is 1,000 times farther. It may seem easy to imagine travelling there because of the Apollo missions. But, honestly, we have to start from scratch.”
Imhof is one of Europe’s leading voices in space architecture. She co-founded Liquifer Systems Group in Vienna in 2004 and currently lectures at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. Her practice spans lunar design, analogue simulations and bio-integrated habitats. She has played a central role in the European Space Agency’s contribution to the Gateway, a new lunar outpost.
Gateway, led by Nasa in collaboration with ESA; the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, is planned to orbit the Moon as a staging point for lunar missions and deep space exploration.
ESA is contributing two key elements to the Gateway: the International Habitat (I-Hab), which will house up to four astronauts for missions lasting 30 days, and the Esprit module, which will offer refuelling capabilities and advanced telecommunications.
The I-Hab is scheduled to launch in 2028 as part of the Artemis programme, Nasa’s multinational initiative to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era.
“We’ve been working on I-Hab for five or six years,” Imhof explained. “It’s just three metres in diameter and six metres long. Every element of the design has been optimised for microgravity and safety.”
Yet the Artemis programme itself faces uncertainty. Changes in US political leadership could delay or alter its course. “No one knows what’s happening,” Imhof said. “If they cancel or delay Artemis elements, everything downstream is affected, including I-Hab.”
Even so, she believes Europe’s contributions – from communications systems to refuelling infrastructure – are essential and must be protected through long-term funding and policy commitments.
Much of the required technology is still under development. “We’re at technology readiness level five or six,” Imhof added. “This means that the project is still in its testing and laboratory phase. It takes years and considerable resources to reach TRL 9, which signifies that the system is fully tested and proven for flight operations. If politics keeps shifting, we won’t make it.”
The challenges are real. But the lessons drawn from designing for space have profound implications for Earth. “To build sustainably on Earth, we need to use local materials, reuse rubble and minimise transport emissions,” said Imhof. “That’s what space architecture teaches us because in space, we have no choice.”
This ethos also shaped the work of Michael Morris, an Irish-American architect who, with his wife Yoshiko Sato, co-founded the New York-based Morris Sato Studio.
Together, they launched SEArch+ (Space Exploration Architecture), a practice dedicated exclusively to off-world habitat design.
Morris, whose family hails from Mayo and Roscommon, has often spoke of pride in his Irish heritage, crediting it with shaping his outlook as an architect drawn to storytelling, endurance and imagination.
“Designing for space strips architecture back to a core question: how do we survive?” Morris said. “You can’t take anything for granted. That mindset is invaluable as we confront climate change and resource scarcity on Earth.”
Mars ice house: a habitat for four crew members, developed by highlighting 3D printing techniques and using material indigenous to Mars. Photograph: Michael Morris
Morris and Sato viewed space architecture not as a novelty but as a means to advance the discipline. Their work earned top honours in Nasa’s Centennial Challenge for a Mars habitat design in 2015.
A generation behind Morris and Imhof, Irish architect Orla Punch is an emerging talent in the field. In 2015, as a final-year architecture student at the University of Limerick, she designed a Martian habitat. She earned the department’s prestigious gold medal, awarded to the top student in the degree programme.
It was the first time a space-based project had earned such recognition in the school’s history, marking her as a breakout talent in the discipline. Punch then completed postgraduate training at the International Space University in Strasbourg before joining the ESA’s astronaut centre in Cologne, Germany.
There, she contributed to research under the mentorship of ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and scientist Dr Aidan Cowley as part of the Spaceship EAC project, exploring topics ranging from lunar energy systems to astronaut wellbeing and modular habitat designs.
“I was always interested in human space exploration,” Punch said. “Humans cannot survive beyond Earth without some version of a home. That idea fascinated me psychologically, materially, and environmentally.”
Today, she is an associate partner in San Francisco at Foster+Partners, a global architectural firm known for iconic buildings and pioneering space design including the Gherkin in London and Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The firm has collaborated with ESA on lunar habitat concepts and designed the Virgin Galactic terminal and hangar facility within Spaceport America in New Mexico.
In March, Foster+Partners showcased its off-world design work at the Earth to Space exhibition at Washington’s Kennedy Centre, featuring 3D-printed structures and models that link space research with sustainability on Earth.
While Punch’s work at Foster+Partners currently focuses on Earth-based dwellings, she continues to draw inspiration from space architecture. “Designing for space stretches my thinking,” she said. “And every project has the potential to change how we live, up there and down here.”
Together, these three architects offer a portrait of a discipline still in formation, one that is not yet codified or widely taught but growing in urgency and influence. In space, every drop of water counts, and so it should be on Earth. Techniques such as solar sintering, closed-loop life support systems and rubble reuse are already being integrated into sustainable building practices here at home.
At the Venice Biennale, the Universe Pavilion offered a timely reflection on this very idea. While not an official national pavilion, its inclusion signals a growing recognition that space, like climate, transcends borders.
Its creators hope that one day, the Biennale will formally include a Universe pavilion alongside national showcases. Because if space belongs to all of us, architecture may be the tool through which we shape that shared future.
And perhaps, just perhaps, these designs, once imagined for lunar soil and Martian dust, may teach us how to build better here on Earth, before it’s too late.
Severe rainstorms accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc across Punjab in the past 24 hours, claiming at least three lives and injuring 22 others in rain-related incidents.
The intense weather also exposed major flaws in urban infrastructure, particularly in Lahore, where heavy rainfall led to flooding, power outages, and public distress.
In Sheikhupura’s Mirza Virkan area, the collapse of a roof tragically killed two children — 2-year-old Arham and 5-year-old Haram — while two others were injured. In Vehari, roof collapses were reported in several localities including 23WB, Muslim Town Stop, 19WB, and 57WB, resulting in four injuries. One person was also hurt in Chak No. 59WB after solar panels fell during the storm.
Bhakkar’s Mankera area witnessed a wall collapse on Link Road near Hyderabad City, injuring one individual. In Dera Ghazi Khan’s PEG City, three people sustained injuries after a roof caved in.
In Attock, six family members were trapped inside their flooded home near Babu Chowk, Chungi No. 07. Rescue teams responded promptly, providing first aid and relocating the family to safety.
Lahore also saw a number of dangerous incidents. A child in the Kashmiri Gate area died from electrocution after touching an electric pole. In Harbanspura, a motorcyclist was injured due to a slippery road. Similar accidents occurred in Ali Raza Abad and Wahdat Colony, injuring two more individuals. Another person was hurt in a roof collapse on Aashiana Road, while a slip near New Ravi Bridge also left one injured.
Authorities have issued warnings advising residents to stay indoors during extreme weather and avoid flood-prone areas, as more rain and thunderstorms are forecast in the coming days.
According to WASA’s Monsoon Control Room, Lahore recorded an average rainfall of 58.8mm, with Nishtar Town receiving the highest at 84mm, followed by Lakshmi Chowk (78mm) and Paniwala Talab (74mm). The first spell of rain hit the city from 2:45am to 5:40am, followed by a heavier spell between 10:45am and 12:11pm.
The downpour crippled Lahore’s drainage system, leading to waterlogging in major areas including Jail Road (63mm), Qurtaba Chowk (68mm), and even the WASA Head Office in Gulberg (69mm). Overflowing sewage mixed with rainwater created serious public health concerns and disrupted movement across the city.
Despite claims from the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) that over 6,000 waste containers had been cleared, residents reported little to no improvement. “The main roads are still submerged, and no one from the administration is here to help,” said Asif Mahmood, a shopkeeper at Lakshmi Chowk.
Low-lying areas such as Farrukhabad (49mm) and Johar Town (39mm) also remained submerged, highlighting poor drainage infrastructure.
The effects of the monsoon extended beyond Lahore, with several districts across Punjab also receiving significant rainfall: Khanewal (51mm), Rawalpindi (42mm), Sahiwal (44mm), Murree (41mm), Okara (30mm), Mandi Bahauddin (27mm), Mangla (24mm), and Toba Tek Singh (13mm). Other rain-hit regions included Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Multan, and Jhang.
While the rains disrupted daily life and caused tragic accidents, they also brought a temporary drop in temperature. In Lahore, intermittent showers with lightning and strong winds provided a welcome relief from recent mugginess — though at a significant cost to public safety and urban resilience.
This five-star budget 4K projector is now even… budget-er
(Image credit: Future)
The world of affordable 4K projectors hasn’t really moved on much in recent years. Sure, we’re seeing more laser models appearing, but, honestly, the switch to laser often isn’t the upgrade you might think it is, with greater brightness and vibrancy coming at the expense of contrast and subtlety.
That’s why we still recommend the Epson EH-TW7000, which we first reviewed way back in 2020.
It’s a fairly compact projector that produces a crisp 4K picture through pixel-shifting technology. To some people, this isn’t ‘true’ 4K, but the results speak for themselves, and the TW7000 is a superb performer.
Why am I talking about this older Epson projector now? Because it’s dropped to just £850 at Amazon for Prime Day.
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus is back down to its lowest-ever price
(Image credit: Future)
Sennheiser’s soundbars get rather overlooked in a see of Sonos, Sony and Samsung models (what is it with ‘S’-named soundbar brands), but its Ambeo Soundbar Plus model is a real contender – and its reduced for Prime Day.
Now, personally speaking, I would still take the Sonos Arc Ultra over the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus, even though the Sonos is still full price (£999 at Amazon and everywhere else), but the Sennheiser is an undeniably classy device with impressively spacious sound despite it’s fairly compact dimensions.
There’s a big discount available on the Sony Bravia Theatre Quad – but you can save a further £500 if you buy a TV at the same time
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
The Sony Bravia Theatre Quad, which is a complete Dolby Atmos system in a box, has been discounted by a cool £500 for Prime Day.
But what’s even cooler than that is that you can combine it with other products to get additional deals, so the discounts snowball.
I personally feel that the Theatre Quad system is a little too bass-light on its own, and is much better when the SA-SW5 subwoofer is added.
Said sub is already down from £699 to £626 at Peter Tyson – but that price drops by a further £150 if you add it to your basket along with the Theatre Quad system.
But it gets even better than that.
The 65-inch version of the Award-winning Bravia 8 OLED TV is already down from £2999 to £1899 at several retailers, but Peter Tyson is offering an extra 10 per cent discount on that, taking the price down to £1709 at Peter Tyson.
But I’m still not done!
By adding the Bravia 8 to the basket, you’ll get an additional £500 off the Theatre Quad system.
So you’re looking at getting a complete home cinema system that includes an Award-winning OLED TV, a serious Dolby Atmos speaker system and a hefty subwoofer for £3684.
That’s a system that would have cost you £6197 when new, so by bundling deals, we’ve saved a huge £2513.
If you’re wondering if other retailers are doing the same deals, some are, but none to the degree that Peter Tyson is. The next closest is Richer Sounds, which is charging £3947 for the same package.
For more info on this, check out my dedicated story:
Meet the team!
While I (Tom Parsons) am manning this live blog right now, posts will be appearing from several members of the What Hi-Fi? team over the coming hours and days.
We’re all seasoned TV and home cinema reviewers (some of us are so seasoned that we’re pretty much dry-brined at this point), and we take value very seriously, which is why we’re also expert deal-hunters.
Read below to learn more about the people behind this blog.
Alastair Stevenson
Alastair is What Hi-Fi?’s editor in chief. He has well over a decade’s experience as a journalist working in both B2C and B2B press. During this time, he’s covered everything from the launch of the first Amazon Echo to government cybersecurity policy. Prior to joining What Hi-Fi?, he served as Trusted Reviews’ editor-in-chief. Alastair is in the process of turning his newly converted attic into a full-blown cinema room, so he walks the walk just as much as he talks the talk.
Tom Parsons
Tom Parsons has been writing about TV, AV and hi-fi products for over 18 years. He began his career as What Hi-Fi?’s Staff Writer and is now the TV and AV Editor. Tom is a huge fan of OLED TVs and Dolby Atmos speaker packages, but he also loves budget kit that punches above its price tag and appreciates lifestyle-friendly gear that allows more people to get a great home cinema experience at home.
Lewis Empson
Lewis Empson is a Senior Staff Writer on What Hi-Fi?. He was previously Gaming and Digital Editor for Cardiff University’s Quench Magazine. Lewis graduated in 2021 and worked on a selection of lifestyle magazines and regional newspapers before joining the What Hi-Fi? team. He is an avid gamer and movie-lover, and a champion of the 4K Blu-ray format.
Robyn Quick is a Staff Writer for What Hi Fi?. After graduating from Cardiff University with a postgraduate degree in magazine journalism, they have worked for a variety of film and culture publications. In their spare time, Robyn can be found playing board games too competitively, going on cinema trips and learning muay thai.
Day 3 of Prime Day is here!
There was a time when Amazon Prime Day was just one day. Back then, the name made sense.
It quickly grew to a two-day bonanza, but this Prime Day is the first one that’s going longer than that.
Not only are the deals still coming today, on day three – there will also be a day four.
Does that mean you should wait before pulling the trigger on that deal you’ve seen? In most cases, I would say “no”.
While a few extra discounts might come along, I feel like the best are already here.
What’s more, some of the best, most sought-after deals have already been snapped up, and the deals have gone.
The 65-inch LG C4 OLED TV is a great example – it was available for just £1099 at Amazon, but it’s now out of stock.
We will do our best to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the other great deals, though.
Speaking of which, the 55- and 77-inch versions of the LG C4 are still available with some amazing discounts.
I definitely recommend pouncing on one of these right now if you’re in the market for an amazing OLED TV at a bargain price.
Royal Mail can deliver second-class letters on every other weekday and not on Saturdays to help cut costs, the industry regulator has said.
Ofcom said a reform to the Universal Service Obligation (USO) was needed as people are sending fewer letters each year, so stamp prices keep rising as the cost of delivering letters goes up.
The current one-price-goes-anywhere USO means Royal Mail has to deliver post six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, and parcels on five from Monday to Friday.
Royal Mail welcomed the changes, saying it would support a “reliable, efficient and financially sustainable Universal Service”.
Ofcom said Royal Mail will have to continue to deliver first-class letters six days a week.
“These changes are in the best interests of consumers and businesses, as urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival,” said Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications.
However, just changing Royal Mail’s obligations will not improve the service, she said.
“The company now has to play its part and implement this effectively.”
The regulator is also making changes to Royal Mail’s delivery targets.
The company will have to deliver 90% of first-class mail next-day, down from the current target of 93%, while 95% of second-class mail must be delivered within three days, a cut from the current 98.5%.
However, there will be a new target of 99% of mail being delivered no more than two days late to incentivise Royal Mail to cut down on long delays.
Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS) welcomed the Ofcom announcement, saying it was “good news for customers across the UK”.
Martin Seidenberg, IDS chief executive, said the changes follow “extensive consultation with thousands of people and businesses” to reflect their needs and the “realities of how customers send and receive mail today”.
Last weekend, a woman was mauled by a lioness at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, and lost her arm. The zoo, which keeps nine lions, has been operating for 20 years and had never experienced an incident such as this.
The victim was a relative of the zoo owner, Steve Robinson, who told the media the lions were not aggressive and the lioness was thought to be “just playing”.
Although attacks like this are extremely rare, they are obviously of great concern. The incident should prompt a rethink of our approach to wild animals in captivity, and whether it’s morally acceptable – or safe – to keep them there at all.
Should animals be kept in captivity at all? Pictured: visitors flock to see a panda at a zoo. Matt Turner/AAP
Why do zoos exist?
Zoos, aquariums and other settings where wild animals are kept captive exist for two main reasons: human entertainment and profit-making.
Surveys show zoo visitors have a preference for large mammals such as elephants, primates and big cats.
Some animals are more tolerant of captivity conditions and exposure to humans than others. Fish, for example, seem to respond more neutrally to human presence than most other species.
But a recent study found captive animals generally demonstrate abnormal behaviour more often than non-captive ones.
For most wild animals, captivity deprives them of the ability to engage in natural behaviour, which harms their welfare. For example, free-living dolphins and whales have long-range migration patterns which require vast ocean spaces. They are also highly social and display complex communication behaviour.
Some countries have banned keeping dolphins and whales in captivity for entertainment because it causes the animals to suffer sensory deprivation and stress, among other harms.
Recognition is growing of the harms captivity can cause some animals. Pictured: dolphins perform during a show in the Philippines in 2006. BULLIT MARQUEZ/AAP
Captive dolphins were once common in aquariums and marine parks across Australia. But now only one facility, Sea World in Queensland, still breeds dolphins for entertainment.
And earlier this year, the last elephants at Perth Zoo were moved to a 12-hectare habitat in South Australia to improve their welfare.
Another important welfare question is whether the captive animal has “agency” – that is, whether it can make choices as it would in the wild.
Can it choose, for example, which other animals it has relationships with? Or whether it has privacy? Having control over such decisions enhances the quality of life for the captive animal.
It’s important to note that some zoos can deliver positive outcomes for animals. Many play an important conservation role, such as running captive breeding programs for endangered species.
An example is a long-running program across several Australian zoos and other organisations to recover populations of the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. The program has released more than 400 zoo-bred birds into the wild.
However, such conservation programs do not necessarily need to involve zoos to succeed.
Australian zoos and other organisations to recover populations of the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. Mark Baker/AAP
Weighing up the risks
No matter how domesticated they might seem, some wild animals in captivity will always pose a risk to humans. Their behaviour can be unpredictable and, as the recent Queensland example shows, even a “playing” lioness can cause enormous physical harm to people.
Wild animals are called wild for a reason. To be kept in captivity, most animals require training so they can be safely handled. The Darling Downs Zoo incident shows despite this precaution, things can still go wrong.
A woman was mauled by a lion at a Queensland zoo on the weekend. Pictured: paramedics preparing to airlift the woman to hospital after the attack. Lifeflight via AAP
But humans will, understandably, always be fascinated by other animals, and want to see them up close. So what are the alternatives to zoos?
Open range-zoos, such as the one to which the Perth elephants were moved, can offer a better option for some animals.
Another option is to recreate the zoo experience using technology. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality can be used to create images of animals that look and seem real.
In Australia, examples include Brisbane’s Hologram Zoo and a high-tech puppetry experience touring Australia which replicates a real shark dive.
Overseas, animatronic displays have been created to replace dolphin shows.
Questions about animals kept in captivity require us to consider how much risk to human safety we accept, and the extent to which we prioritise human amusement over animal welfare. In searching for answers, we can start by asking whether we need zoos at all.
