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Recently a few hundred people gathered at a Damascus hotel to discuss how to jump-start Syria's tech industry. That sector was basically non-existent during Syria's long civil war. Our correspondent attended the conference and met a young man who fled Syria during the civil war and now is a graduate student at Stanford. His journey illustrates both the possibilities and challenges that lie ahead for Syria.

Judge James Boasberg had earlier asked the Trump administration to provide more details about weekend flights that deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador — despite his order to turn the planes around.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

• SanDisk Slim Dual Drive offers 2TB storage, dual USB ports, and fast performance
• Fast read and write speeds enable smooth file transfers and backups
• Universal compatibility makes this SSD a versatile storage solution

SanDisk, known for its high-speed storage and portable SSDs, is set to launch the new SanDisk Slim Dual Drive, offering up to 2TB of storage with a sleek, stick-like form factor that eliminates the need for cables.

Per PC Watch (originally in Japanese), this device features both USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports, making it a versatile option for easy file transfers between older and newer devices without requiring adapters or dongles.

As one of the smallest external SSDs for Mac users, it delivers read speeds of up to 1,000MB/s and write speeds of up to 900MB/s, ensuring smooth performance for large file transfers, video editing, and data backups despite its compact size.

High-speed dual-port connectivity

Measuring just 80 x 18.4 x 10.7mm and weighing only 23g, this device features supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 for fast and reliable data transfer.

Beyond performance, SanDisk has focused on durability and security by equipping the drive with a metal body for added protection and a premium feel, while dedicated encryption software ensures sensitive data remains secure.

Set to launch on the 28th, the SanDisk Slim Dual Drive 1TB model is priced at 18,480 yen (approximately $134) while the 2TB variant is at 38,000 yen (around $256).

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Why can't we remember when we were babies? Scientists who scanned infants' brains found that they do make memories. The findings suggest these memories may still exist, but are inaccessible to us.

(Image credit: 160/90)

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Murphy resigned from the Department of Justice, telling NPR, 'It just was not a Department of Justice that I any longer wanted to associate with.'"

(Image credit: Stefani Reynolds)

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 179, for March 21.

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• Bimawen B15.6 TV Pro integrates both smart TV mode and Google TV modes
• Works as both a monitor and media hub
• A budget-friendly monitor with a 60 Hz refresh rate and HDR

Several portable monitors from popular brands offer standard display features, but among the lesser-known options, the Bimawen B15.6 TV Pro integrates Google TV, a remote control, and an Android-based system.

Per Androidpc (originally in Spanish), it functions as a smart entertainment hub with built-in Chromecast, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and access to Google’s app store.

This business monitor includes 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of expandable storage, making it a capable media device for streaming and apps.

A little-known brand with a unique feature set

This device features a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, a 60 Hz refresh rate, a 178-degree viewing angle, and a 1000:1 contrast ratio.

While it may not be a high-end graphics solution, the inclusion of HDR400 support and an IPS panel could make it a budget-conscious monitor for digital design.

Designers and content creators can benefit from its accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles, though the 6-bit + FRC color depth is not ideal for professional-grade work. Connectivity options include a mini HDMI port, two USB Type-C connectors, and a 3.5 mm audio jack, ensuring compatibility with a range of devices. With VESA support, it can also be mounted for a desktop setup.

Users can switch between monitor mode and smart TV mode via a remote control, enabling direct access to Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services. Unlike a business tablet, it lacks a touchscreen and internal battery, reinforcing its role as a dedicated monitor.

The Bimawen B15.6 TV Pro is available on AliExpress for approximately 118 euros, with additional discounts using the promo code (ESAS20).

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The Ghibli-looking cozy game comes from the award-winning studio Spry Fox.

The University of Pennsylvania found itself at the center of the trans athlete debate when one of its trans students won a series of events during the 2022 swim season.

(Image credit: Alex Wong)

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The promotion is tied in to A Minecraft Movie, and begins April 1.

• Star Wars Andor creator Tony Gilroy has canceled plans to publish the scripts of the show
• The scripts from season one were set to release, but AI is the reason they're not being published
• It's part of a growing trend of the content that AI models are being trained on

AI companies will do anything to get their hands on material to train AI models - just look at what’s happening with music streaming services. It’s only a matter of time before these companies start targeting other areas in the entertainment industry, but the creator of one of the best Disney Plus shows is already taking a stance against the looming reign of AI.

Tony Gilroy, the creator of the Star Wars spin-off series Andor, has pulled the plug on his initial plans to publish the scripts from the show's first season out of fear that his work could be used as material for training AI models. In an interview with Collider, Gilroy shared, “I wanted to do it. We put it together. It's really cool. I've seen it, I loved it. AI is the reason we're not."

The decision to back out doesn’t come easy for Gilroy, who announced his plans to launch a website showcasing not only Andor’s written elements but also a selection of concept art back in 2023.

Still, despite this difficult decision ahead of the imminent release of Andor season two on April 22, it’s clear that Gilroy has grave concerns about the threat that AI has on creative individuals - and I’m glad to see that more artists are taking action to protest AI’s place in the entertainment industry.

(Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney) I’ll say it again, we’re witnessing a cultural genocide

For AI, ‘permission’ is a word that ceases to exist. Gilroy is just one of the many concerned figures who have actively expressed a need to protect their work in a culture where AI is infiltrating streaming services daily – mainly for user experience reasons. Still, films and TV shows themselves remain open targets for AI to steal for training purposes.

While notable figures such as Christopher Nolan have called for tighter restrictions on AI, this is the first time I’ve seen the threat of AI cause a screenwriter to take action like this since the SAG strikes. But AI has only scratched the surface with film and TV - you get things like this all the time with music.

The Make It Fair campaign has pressured the UK government to ensure that creative rights are protected amidst its threatening AI proposal. (Image credit: Future)

A prime example is the silent protest album, Is This What We Want?, which was released in light of a UK government proposal allowing AI companies to use copy-righted music to train models and algorithms.

Artists from Kate Bush to Annie Lennox banded together to compile a silent album of ambient tracks of empty creative spaces. Though this won’t actively get the government to change its mind on the proposal, it’s succeeding in showing what it could mean for the future of the music industry while using the streaming profits to raise money for music charities.

Screenwriters and musicians alike should be able to share and publish their work without fear of it being used to enhance AI models. Some of us actually like to read the scripts behind our favorite shows.

I have no doubt that AI developers will eventually get bored of taking existing scripts and music to enhance algorithms and will then find a way to infiltrate the creative process altogether.

Though plenty of AI music software can already whip up a quick beat (thanks, Suno), how long will it be before AI-generated music albums go mainstream or when feature AI-generated movies become a thing?

Disney+ and Hulu ad-supported bundle: was $10.99 per month now $2.99 at Hulu and Disney+

This bundle is normally $10.99 per month, so you're saving 72% with this great offer. It's for the ad-supported versions of both services, and it lasts for four months, after which the price goes up to $10.99 per month if you don't cancel. This offer runs until 31 March, 2025.View Deal

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A trim panel on the sharp-angled, futuristic trucks can detach while driving.

Ben & Jerry's alleges its parent company, Unilever, ousted its CEO in retaliation for social media posts supporting progressive causes. The last few years have been a rocky road for the companies.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)

• Kioxia launches 122.88TB SSD with PCIe Gen5 and dual-port support
• The LC9 Series NVMe SSD is designed for AI workloads and hyperscale storage
• The new drive comes in a compact 2.5-inch form factor

After nearly seven years at the top, Nimbus Data’s massive Exadrive 100TB 2.5-inch SSD has been dethroned by Kioxia, which has unveiled a new 122.88TB model that not only offers a higher storage capacity but also supports PCIe Gen5, a first for this category.

Several companies have previously announced 120TB-class SSDs, including Solidigm, but Kioxia's LC9 Series 122.88TB NVMe SSD stands out by pairing its ultra-high capacity with a compact 2.5-inch form factor and a next-gen interface with dual-port capability for fault tolerance or connectivity to multiple compute systems.

"AI workloads are stretching the capabilities of data storage, asking for larger capacities and swifter access to the extensive datasets found in today's data lakes, and Kioxia is ready to offer the necessary advanced technologies including 2 Tb QLC BiCS FLASH generation 8 of 3D flash memory, CBA and the complimenting AiSAQ," said Axel Störmann, VP & Chief Technology Officer for SSD and Embedded Memory products at Kioxia Europe GmbH.

Supporting AI system developers' needs

The 122.88TB SSD is aimed at hyperscale storage systems, AI workloads, and other data-intensive applications that rely on capacity and speed. There’s no word on availability or pricing yet, but the company does plan to showcase the new drive at "various upcoming conferences".

"This new LC9 Series NVMe SSD is an instrumental Kioxia product expansion that will support AI system developers' needs for high-capacity storage, high performance, and energy efficiency for applications such as AI model training, inference, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation on a vaster scale," Störmann said.

Reporting on the new SSD, ServeTheHome notes, “This is a hot segment of the market, and it is great to see Kioxia joining. As AI clusters get larger, the shared storage tier is usually measured in Exabytes. Teams have found that replacing hard drives with SSDs often reduces power, footprint, and TCO compared to running hybrid arrays. Moving from lower-capacity drives to the 122.88TB capacity in a 2.5-inch drive form factor really highlights the advantage of flash in these systems.”

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Canadian investigators released a preliminary report into last month's Delta Air Lines regional jet rollover landing crash in Toronto. The plane was descending too quickly before it hit the runway.

(Image credit: Katherine KY Cheng)

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is studying dark energy and the accelerated expansion of the universe.

(Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/A. Pagan (STScI)/R. Jansen (ASU))