Sound

French authorities investigate death of musician who performed at Paris Olympics, but say ‘no suspicious elements’ at playThe French electronic musician Kavinsky, known for the song Nightcall which achieved iconic status after its inclusion in the Ryan Gosling film Drive, has died aged 50.A police source speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro indicated that the suspected cause of death was a stroke. Kavinsky, real name Vincent Belorgey, had reportedly been complaining of headaches in recent days, and he was discovered at home after a concerned neighbour alerted emergency services. Continue reading...

National emergency test alert will be sent to all compatible mobile devices on 27 July, with domestic violence advocates advising how to turn off safe phonesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVirtually every phone in the country will blare an emergency siren at 2pm AEST on Monday 27 July as part of the first Australia-wide test of a new national warning system called AusAlert.Most phones, and some smartwatches and tablets, will receive a pop-up notification and an alert sound that cannot be silenced – even if your device is on “do not disturb” or silent mode. Continue reading...

Researchers listening off the Caribbean island of Dominica found variations in the mammals’ audible clicks when marine traffic was closeSperm whales produce a specific pattern of clicking noises when they hear the noise of boats, researchers have found. The pattern is so distinct that the scientists who identified it said they can now use it to predict when ships are nearby.Researchers from Project Ceti (the Cetacean Translation Initiative), a non-profit research organisation working to decode sperm whale communication, spent four years tuning in on the calls of 15 sperm whales off the coast of Dominica. Continue reading...

• Top American AI executives, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, are warning that open-source AI models pose significant security risks. • Amodei specifically highlighted the danger of advanced cybersecurity capabilities being freely downloadable, which could be exploited by malicious actors. • These concerns coincide with a divided White House as officials weigh potential crackdown measures in response to rapid AI advancements in China.

• American television coverage of the World Cup has been characterized by a prevalence of European accents among its broadcasters. • This approach mirrors international standards, such as the BBC's use of global figures like Olivier Giroud and Thomas Frank to provide diverse perspectives. • The strategy reflects the global nature of the tournament, ensuring that coverage remains inclusive of international viewpoints rather than strictly domestic.

• The Bank of England has issued a warning that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are increasing cyber risks and exposing critical vulnerabilities within the financial system. • The central bank emphasizes that AI tools are enabling more sophisticated attacks, making financial markets more susceptible to systemic disruptions. • This alert underscores the urgent need for financial firms to strengthen their operational resilience to counter evolving, AI-driven threats.

• Sudan is currently experiencing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, which some observers describe as the gravest of recent times. • The crisis is characterized by widespread mass starvation, with 825,000 children specifically facing severe acute starvation. • The situation is exacerbated by a lack of significant intervention from global governments, who have done little to alleviate the suffering.