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Man who videotaped himself BASE jumping in Yosemite arrested, federal officials say. He says it was AI

Los Angeles Times

Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Man who videotaped himself BASE jumping in Yosemite arrested, federal officials say. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . A California man faces a federal charge for allegedly BASE jumping off Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park during last year's government shutdown.



Nvidia earnings: Wall Street sighs with relief after AI wave doesn't crash

The Guardian

Amid a blackout of data due to the government shutdown, the $5tn chipmaker's report took on wider significance Markets expectations around Wednesday's quarterly earnings report by the most valuable publicly traded company in the world had risen to a fever pitch. Anxiety over billions in investment in artificial intelligence pervaded, in part because the US has been starved of reliable economic data by the recent government shutdown. Investors hoped that both questions would be in part answered by Nvidia's earnings and by a jobs report due on Thursday morning. "This is a'So goes Nvidia, so goes the market' kind of report," Scott Martin, chief investment officer at Kingsview Wealth Management, told Bloomberg in a concise summary of market sentiment. The prospect of a market mood swing had built in advance of the earnings call, with options markets anticipating Nvidia's shares could move 6%, or $280bn in value, up or down.


3I/Atlas isn't deep space aliens and didn't 'change color'

Popular Science

Don't believe the comet conspiracy theories. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. It's only the third known object to visit our solar system from deep space, and at around 130,000 mph, it's also the fastest comet ever clocked. Early examinations noted the comet's gas coma-the cloud of sublimated debris formed as it passes near a star-experienced a " rapid brightening " compared to previously observed comets at similar distances from the sun. While earlier observations indicated 3I/ATLAS appeared red in color, additional analysis has led astronomers to note in a preprint study it's actually "distinctly bluer than the sun."


The EPA Is in Chaos

WIRED

"We learn who is furloughed when we send an email to someone and get the out-of-office message," one employee tells WIRED. Workers at the Environmental Protection Agency tell WIRED that they have faced increasing chaos over the past five weeks. In recent weeks, varied phases of furloughs have forced staff to go home in seemingly random waves. Some employees remaining at the agency are working on policies friendly to fossil fuel and industrial interests that are a priority of the administration, even as the rest of the government shuts down. Others have had to sit on their hands, as the shutdown takes out colleagues with no notice--and remaining employees have little to no information as to what is coming next.


Stock markets surge after US lawmakers move to end government shutdown

Al Jazeera

Stocks from the United States to Japan have risen sharply amid hopes that an end to the longest US government shutdown in history is imminent. US lawmakers on Sunday moved to end a five-week impasse over government funding, a boost for investors unnerved by signs of growing weakness in the US economy and the sky-high evaluations of firms involved in artificial intelligence. The funding package still needs to win final approval in the Senate and then pass the US House of Representatives, after which it would go to US President Donald Trump for his signature - a process expected to take days. Stock markets in the Asia Pacific made large gains on Monday, while futures in the US also rose in advance of stock exchanges reopening. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI led the gains, rising about 3 percent as of 4pm local time (07:00 GMT).


Federal Workers Are Barely Making It Through the Government Shutdown

WIRED

The US government shut down 30 days ago. WIRED spoke with more than a dozen federal workers who have struggled to pay bills, worked side gigs, and relied on free food programs to get by. In late September, a federal worker based abroad learned that her husband, who is also a federal worker and a military veteran, had "high risk, very aggressive cancer." Doctors told the couple that the cancer needed to be removed immediately or it would no longer be treatable. Her husband is covered by TRICARE, the health care program offered to members of the military and veterans.


The Shutdown Is Pushing Air Safety Workers to the Limit

WIRED

Federal employees say that flying is still safe despite the strain on air traffic controllers. But expect even more airport delays ahead. It hasn't been a good year for federal aviation safety workers. January saw the worst US commercial airline disaster in decades, quickly followed by sudden layoffs, staffing shortfalls, major technology glitches at one of the nation's busiest airports, and short timelines to rebuild the systems that govern national airspace. It somehow got worse this month, when a stalemate between congressional Republicans and Democrats led to a government shutdown.


Lack of data on government shutdown blurs US economy insights

Al Jazeera

The government has shut down - what's next? Will a government shutdown hurt the economy? From Wall Street trading floors to the United States Federal Reserve to economists sipping coffee in their home offices, the first Friday morning of the month typically brings a quiet hush around 8:30am Eastern time in the US [12:30 GMT] as everyone awaits the Labor Department's crucial monthly jobs report. But with the government shut down, no information was released on Friday about hiring in September. Hiring has ground nearly to a halt, threatening to drag down the broader economy. Yet at the same time, consumers -- particularly higher-income earners -- are still spending, and some businesses are ramping up investments in data centres developing artificial intelligence models.


Thousands of Americans can't get new jobs as government shutdown directly hits citizens

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Overall, federal records revealed that over 2.7 million background checks are conducted every month for various reasons, including job applications. This also means air travel will likely suffer this month because the FAA Pilot Record Database is delayed and new pilots cannot start flights. FBI criminal checks, as well as civil court record searches, are needed for nurses, aides, and therapists, to slow hospital onboarding. 'Shutdowns cause delays in court record updates and verification gaps, slowing credentialing and risking non-compliance with HIPAA or state mandates,' the cyber expert explained. Trucking and shipping companies will also feel the impact of the shutdown because commercial drivers must undergo mandated checks by the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP), which depend on federal IT updates and audits.