On the internet

Chris McKeen/Stuff The Auckland segment of Southern Cross Cable's Next cable came ashore last year and is now live (video first published in July 2021). An internet cable that roughly doubles New Zealand’s internet connectivity to the rest of the world is now in service. The US$350 million ($570m) SX Next cable runs between Auckland, Sydney and Los Angeles and will also provide the first fibre-optic broadband connections to Tokelau and Kiribati. Spark spokesperson Sam Smith said the new cable, which it part owns through the Southern Cross Cable joint venture, would reduce the lag on internet traffic between Auckland and Los Angeles by about 5% thanks to its more direct route. “While it may not seem like much, it tends to be very important for users with time-sensitive requirements such as financial traders, and gamers,” she said. READ MORE: The cables that keep New Zealand connected to the world Telstra and Spark team up for $440m internet cable between NZ, … [Read more...] about Subsea cable doubles NZ’s internet capacity and offers reduced lag

When Corrine Rojas comes into work, Mars is waiting for her. She drives to the office, grabs a cup of coffee, and then pulls up the latest dispatches from Perseverance, a car-size NASA rover situated inside a crater in Mars’s northern hemisphere. Rojas, an operations engineer at Arizona State University, checks that the rover’s main cameras are working well, and that they took the shots scientists back home had asked for. Then, she basks in the wondrous sights of our celestial neighbor. “I am often the first person to lay eyes on photos from Mars taken by the rover,” Rojas told me. And Mars has been looking particularly good lately. That’s not to say that the planet has been working on its appearance; aside from the winds blowing around some dust, it has remained mostly unchanged for a few billion years . The difference is us, and particularly the Perseverance mission, which has captured some of the sharpest views of the Martian surface to date. The rover’s job is to search for … [Read more...] about We’ve Never Seen Mars Quite Like This

Speaking at a news conference Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia would have to carpet-bomb the Ukrainian capital and kill its residents to take the city. Meanwhile, the Russian troops are attempting to encircle Kyiv further, fighting against heavy resistance in the west and the north of the city. And after twelve days of siege, the strategic southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol is without water, gas, electricity or communications, and people were seen fighting for food in recent days. The situation is "almost desperate", warned Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The number of civilians killed during the siege of Mariupol reached 1,582, and some of the casualties had to be buried in mass graves. Local authorities fear that the actual number might be much higher. 03.12.2022 09:24 Saturday's main developments: The worst of the fighting overnight took place in Irpin, Mykolaiv and Sumy, according to the General Staff of the … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: Kyiv would only fall ‘if carpet bombed’ by Russia, Zelenskyy says

Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A national charity supporting children with disabilities says more than 90% of the families it helps are struggling to pay bills due to rising living costs. Half of carers looking after disabled youngsters have skipped meals in the past 12 months to cut back on spending, a survey by Family Fund suggests. A West Yorkshire family supported by the charity say they are "scared" they won't be able to afford winter heating. The government said it was helping families with disabled children. York-based Family Fund said many families with seriously ill or disabled children faced higher energy bills due to the need to power home medical equipment. Frequent GP or hospital appointments mean regular car journeys for many, including the family of 11-year-old Charlie, from Bingley in West Yorkshire. "We can't go on as … [Read more...] about Cost of living: Disability charity says carers are skipping meals

Published 25 July 2020 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A public consultation has closed on changes to Scotland's hate crime laws, which opponents say could have a damaging effect on free speech. Ministers argue the bill offers great protection for victims at a time when the number of cases is on the rise. Scottish Labour's James Kelly said he had 'serious reservations', especially over the offence of stirring up hatred. But Scotland's justice secretary said people's freedom of expression was not under attack. As you are reading this news story on the BBC news website I am going to hazard a guess that you probably believe that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. And that you think without the right to free speech many other freedoms may be threatened? You would probably also agree that it is wrong actively attempt to stir up hatred against … [Read more...] about Free speech row over new hate crime bill in Scotland

Published 1 hour ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A tiny primary school in the Yorkshire Dales which has only 11 pupils could close next year. Governors at Fountains Earth Church of England Primary School in Lofthouse, Nidderdale, said there was no sign of pupil numbers growing in future. They said they had "with a heavy heart" started the process of applying for a consultation for closure. Chair of governors Abi Broadley said: "Our decision has not been taken lightly." She added: "Despite the best efforts of our headteacher, staff and governors, we cannot overcome the challenges of having such low pupil numbers. "We feel that we have exhausted all options to us to provide the right educational, social and emotional provision." Public meeting School leaders said the wide age range in classes meant delivering a varied, thorough curriculum and the … [Read more...] about Yorkshire Dales school with 11 children could close

By Branwen Jeffreys Published 11 December 2015 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Ofsted is to set up a taskforce of inspectors to seek out unregistered schools that are operating outside the law in England. Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw says there is a serious and growing threat to the safety of children. Inspectors have found three unregistered schools operating in Birmingham in recent weeks. The government says it is taking robust steps against unregistered schools. Analysis : From BBC education editor Branwen Jeffreys Anywhere that offers more than 20 hours a week of teaching is legally obliged to be registered as a school. The three schools inspected by Ofsted had not met this requirement to register. It is likely the children being sent to some of the centres breaching that threshold are registered as home-educated. The … [Read more...] about Illegal unregistered schools face prosecution

By Hannah Richardson Published 21 November 2014 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Pupils at six small Muslim private schools in east London are at risk of extremist views and radicalisation, says Ofsted's chief inspector. Sir Michael Wilshaw said the pupils' "physical and educational welfare is at serious risk" following a series of emergency inspections. He said all the schools focused too heavily on Islamic teachings. One of the schools called Ofsted "unprofessional", while another said its findings did not reflect reality. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says the schools will be closed down if changes are not made quickly. "We asked Ofsted to carry out these independent school inspections and the findings are very concerning," she said. "While there is no suggestion of a co-ordinated plot, it is clear that these schools are failing children and this … [Read more...] about ‘Radicalisation risk’ at six Muslim private schools, says Ofsted

Published 21 June 2014 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Pope Francis has condemned the mafia's "adoration of evil" at a mass in Calabria, the southern Italian base of the 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate. The Pope said the gangsters were effectively "excommunicated" - or banished - in the eyes of the Church. Earlier, the Pope visited the jailed father of a three-year-old boy who had been killed in an apparent mob hit over an unpaid drug debt. The Pope has repeatedly spoken out against organised crime and corruption. His latest condemnation, delivered before a crowd of tens of thousands, described the 'Ndrangheta as the "adoration of evil and contempt of the common good". "Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not in communion with God," the Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. "They are excommunicated." Meeting with prisoners … [Read more...] about Pope Francis attacks ‘evil’ mafia in ‘Ndrangheta base

England vs Austria live stream - How to watch Euro 2022 online (Image: GETTY) This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sign up HERE for the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info England are facing off against Austria as Women's Euro 2022 begins in the UK. Kick-off for the opening game is 8pm tonight with BBC broadcasting every single game exclusively. You can tune in on BBC One or if you want to watch online you will be able to see all the action on iPlayer. Related articles England Women smash scoring record by beating Latvia 20-0 England's Steph Houghton urges next generation to 'express themselves' … [Read more...] about England vs Austria live stream: How to watch Women’s Euro 2022 online