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Guan Zhiou Appointed as Party Secretary of the Ministry of Natural ResourcesControversial MAFS 'villain' tipped to join I'm A Celebrity 2025: 'Infuriate people'

Middle East latest: Israel bombs new central areas of BeirutIn a stunning display of computational power, Google’s latest 105-qubit ‘Willow’ quantum chip has outpaced the world’s most sophisticated supercomputers. ‘Willow’ solved in minutes what would take the fastest supercomputers over a quadrillion lifetimes of the universe to figure out. Additionally, the advanced chip showcases an exceptional ability to manage quantum noise, significantly reducing error rates as the system expands. This vital development improves the fidelity of quantum calculations and makes it possible to tackle larger, more complex problems with unprecedented accuracy. Despite these achievements, experts note that Willow remains in the experimental phase, with the full spectrum of its capabilities yet to unfold in tackling real-world applications. Major breakthroughs with Willow Exponential reduction in error rates Willow, Google’s latest quantum chip , is a major leap in addressing one of the intrinsic challenges of quantum computing, the issue of error rates. As quantum systems scale, the number of qubits increases, typically heightening the probability of errors, which can disrupt the accuracy of computations. Quantum computers are inherently “noisy,” meaning that without advanced error-correction technologies, every one in 1,000 qubits, the fundamental building blocks of a quantum computer, fails. This noise significantly limits how long qubits can remain in a superposition state, which is crucial for parallel processing calculations. However, Willow has demonstrated an ability to exponentially reduce error rates by adding more qubits. This breakthrough has been achieved through advanced quantum error correction techniques, which allow the system to handle larger arrays of qubits from a 3×3 grid to a 5×5 and, finally, a 7×7 grid while continually halving the error rate with each increase in scale. By contrast, in conventional computing, every one in 1 billion billion bits fails. This achievement overcomes a barrier that has persisted since quantum error correction was conceptualized by Peter Shor in 1995 and makes quantum computers less error-prone as they scale up. Performance on RCS benchmark Willow’s efficacy is dramatically highlighted by its performance on the Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) benchmark, a pivotal test for quantum computing capabilities. This benchmark is one of the most challenging for quantum processors and serves as a litmus test to determine whether quantum systems can outperform classical computers on specific tasks. RCS measures if a quantum computer can solve infeasible problems for classical systems, setting a high bar for genuine quantum superiority. In a recent demonstration, Willow completed a computation in less than five minutes that, based on conservative estimates, would take one of today’s most advanced classical supercomputers, Frontier , about 10 septillion years to solve. To put this into perspective, that time—10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years—far exceeds the current estimated age of the universe, underscoring the profound speed at which quantum computing can operate. Hartmut Neven, Founder and Lead of Google Quantum AI reflected on this achievement, stating, “It lends credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in many parallel universes, in line with the idea that we live in a multiverse, a prediction first made by David Deutsch.” Moreover, Google’s use of RCS to track progress from one chip generation to the next, including previous assessments like the Sycamore results from 2019 and 2024, indicates a significant and accelerating departure from classical computing capabilities. The making of Willow Willow, Google’s advanced quantum chip, was crafted at a state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Santa Barbara, specifically designed for quantum technology. This facility is among a select few worldwide, purpose-built from the ground up to handle the unique challenges of quantum chip production. The engineering of Willow was a holistic endeavor involving the precise integration of various quantum components. Key elements such as single and two-qubit gates, qubit resets, and readouts were seamlessly combined to ensure optimal performance. These components’ success in harmony is crucial, while any lag or misalignment can significantly impact the overall system performance. In the quest for quantum superiority, Google has emphasized quality over quantity. Willow boasts 105 qubits, but the quality of each qubit sets it apart, evident in its performance across rigorous benchmarks like quantum error correction and random circuit sampling. These benchmarks are vital for assessing the chip’s overall performance and have demonstrated Willow’s top-tier capabilities. Notably, Willow has remarkably improved T1 times—measuring how long qubits retain excitation, a critical quantum computing resource. Achieving T1 times approaching 100 microseconds represents approximately a fivefold improvement over previous generations, underlining significant advancements in qubit stability and longevity. Future prospects and challenges Bridging theory and practical application Looking ahead, the challenge for Google and the quantum computing community is transitioning from demonstrating theoretical capabilities to performing computations with tangible real-world applications. Willow aims to achieve the first “useful, beyond-classical” computation that addresses practical problems. While RCS benchmarks and quantum system simulations have demonstrated the potential of quantum computing, they have yet to yield results that directly translate into commercial applications. Google’s goal is to merge these two strands, achieving scientifically significant simulations and developing algorithms that can solve commercially relevant, complex problems currently beyond the reach of classical computers. Invitation to collaborate Google invites researchers, engineers, and developers to join this pioneering journey. Google fosters a collaborative environment through initiatives like open-source software and educational courses on platforms like Coursera. These resources are designed to educate upcoming talents on quantum error correction and algorithm development, further pushing the boundaries of what quantum computing can achieve. As Google continues to refine Willow and develop future generations of quantum chips, the focus remains on overcoming the inherent challenges of quantum computing to unlock a wide range of applications across AI, medicine, and beyond. This journey represents a collaborative effort to transform theoretical quantum mechanics into technology that can revolutionize industries and change our understanding of computation and the universe itself.

In addition, the Education Bureau also highlighted the lack of proper educational materials and resources at the kindergarten. The absence of age-appropriate learning materials, toys, and tools impedes the children's ability to engage in meaningful and constructive activities, hindering their overall development and education.Dec 9 (Reuters) - MongoDB (MDB.O) , opens new tab on Monday raised its forecasts for annual revenue and profit for the second time this year as the software company expects strong growth in the usage of Atlas, its service that helps clients manage their databases on the cloud. Shares of the New York-based company were up 10.6% in extended trading following the results. The company charges for services based on how much they are used, unlike traditional subscription models that have relatively fixed prices. MongoDB and its peers that operate such pay-as-you-use models have seen an increase in the usage of their services, including for workloads that involve the deployment of artificial intelligence. Peer Snowflake also raised its full-year product revenue forecast last month on the back of strong consumption and bookings, while also announcing an AI partnership with Amazon-backed Anthropic. MongoDB raised its adjusted profit per share forecast to the range of $3.01 and $3.03 for the fiscal year ending on Jan. 31, compared with the previous forecast of $2.33 to $2.47. The company expects its fiscal revenue to be between $1.97 billion and $1.98 billion, up from the previous projection of $1.92 billion to $1.93 billion. The company's third-quarter revenue rose 22% to $529.4 million from a year ago, beating estimates of about $502 million, according to data compiled by LSEG. On an adjusted basis, it earned $1.16 per share in the third quarter, compared with estimates of 69 cents per share in profit. MongoDB also announced on Monday that Chief Financial Officer Michael Gordon will step down at the end of its fiscal year. The company's senior vice president of finance, Serge Tanjga, will serve as interim CFO starting Feb. 1 while the company searches for Gordon's successor. Sign up here. Reporting by Rishi Kant in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabDAMASCUS: Celebrations erupted around Syria and crowds ransacked President Bashar Al-Assad’s luxurious home on Sunday after Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus and declared he had fled the country, in a spectacular end to five decades of Baath party rule. Assad’s key backer Russia said he had resigned from the presidency and left Syria. ”Assad and members of his family have arrived in Moscow,” a Kremlin source told the TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies. “Russia granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds,” he added..” Rebel factions aired a statement on Syrian state television, urging fighters and citizens to safeguard the “property of the free Syrian state”. State TV broadcast a message proclaiming the “victory of the great Syrian revolution”. The Islamist leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani said there was no room for turning back. “The future is ours,” Jolani said in a statement read on state TV after his forces took over Damascus. Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed Al-Sharaa, later visited Damascus’s landmark Umayyad Mosque, as crowds greeted him with smiles and embraces. AFPTV footage showed a column of smoke rising from central Damascus, and AFP correspondents in the city saw dozens of men, women and children wandering through Assad’s home after it had been looted. The rooms of the residence had been left completely empty, save some furniture and a portrait of Assad discarded on the floor, while an entrance hall at the presidential palace not far away had been torched. “I can’t believe I’m living this moment,” tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha told AFP by phone. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this day,” he said, adding: “We are starting a new history for Syria.” Assad’s departure comes less than two weeks after HTS challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning offensive. “After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and displacement... we announce today the end of this dark period and the start of a new era for Syria,” the rebel factions said on Telegram. While there has been no communication from Assad or his entourage on his whereabouts, Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Jalali said he was ready to cooperate with “any leadership chosen by the Syrian people”. The head of war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP: “Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left” the facility. UN war crimes investigators on Sunday described Assad’s fall as a “historic new beginning” for Syrians, urging those taking charge to ensure the “atrocities” committed under his rule are not repeated. The rapid developments came just hours after HTS said it had captured the strategic city of Homs. Homs was the third major city seized by the rebels, who began their advance on Nov 27. US President Joe Biden was keeping a close eye on the “extraordinary events” unfolding in Syria, the White House said. US president-elect Donald Trump said that Assad had “fled his country” after losing Russia’s backing. Before Sunday’s announcements, residents had described to AFP a state of panic in Damascus, but morning saw chants and cheering, with celebratory gunfire and shouts of “Syria is ours and not the Assad family’s”. At the dawn call to prayer, some mosques broadcast religious chants usually reserved for festive occasions, while also urging residents to stay at home. On Sunday afternoon the rebels announced a curfew in the capital until 5:00 am (0200 GMT) Monday. The commander of Syria’s US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls much of northeast Syria, hailed as “historic” the fall of Assad’s “authoritarian regime”. The Observatory on Sunday said the Zionist entity struck Syrian army weapons depots Sunday on the outskirts of Damascus. Assad’s rule had for years been supported by Lebanese group Hezbollah, whose forces “vacated their positions around Damascus”, a source close to the group said Sunday. Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overthrow of Assad was a “historic day in the... Middle East” and the fall of a “central link in Iran’s axis of evil”. “This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, Assad’s main supporters,” he added. Netanyahu earlier said he had ordered the Zionist military to “seize” a demilitarized buffer zone on the border with Syria. He said a 50-year-old “disengagement agreement” between the two countries had collapsed and “Syrian forces have abandoned their positions”. The announcement, which Netanyahu made while visiting the Zionist-occupied Golan Heights which abut the buffer zone, came after the military said it had deployed forces to the area. The UN envoy for Syria said the country was at “a watershed moment”, while Turkey, which has historically backed the opposition, called for a “smooth transition”. Iran, a key backer of Assad throughout the civil war, said it expected “friendly” ties with Syria to continue, even as its embassy in Damascus was vandalized. An AFP photographer saw ransacked offices, with shattered glass on the floor and broken furniture in the building in Damascus’s upscale Mazzeh area, also home to other embassies and United Nations offices. People loaded looted items onto trucks outside, the photographer said. A senior United Arab Emirates official urged Syrians on Sunday to collaborate to avert chaos. “We hope that the Syrians will work together, that we don’t just see another episode of impending chaos,” presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. Following speculation about Assad’s whereabouts, Gargash refused to confirm or deny speculation he would take shelter in the UAE. “When people ask, ‘where is Bashar Al-Assad going to?’, this is really at the end of the day a footnote in history,” he told the forum. “I don’t think it’s important. As I said, ultimately this is a footnote really to bigger events,” the Emirati official added when pressed on the question by journalists. Gargash blamed Assad’s downfall on a failure of politics and said he had not used the “lifeline” offered to him by various Arab countries before, including the UAE. Since the start of the rebel offensive, at least 826 people, mostly combatants but also including 111 civilians, have been killed, the Observatory said. Syria’s war killed more than 500,000 people, and forced half of the population to flee their homes. “I can barely remember Syria,” said Reda Al-Khedr, who was only five years old when he and his mother escaped Syria’s Homs in 2014. “But now we’re going to go home to a liberated Syria,” he told AFP in Cairo. – Agencies

Rode just announced the latest iteration of its well-regarded Wireless GO microphone system. The third-gen kit brings plenty of new features to the table, especially when compared to 2021’s Wireless GO II . The microphone allows for 32-bit float on-board recording and audio can be captured directly to the receiver. The system allows up to 40 hours of footage, stored internally, and includes a new technology called GainAssist. This is a compression algorithm, of sorts, that will “dynamically balance audio levels on-the-fly.” Rode says the system eliminates “the wild fluctuations typically found in a raw recording.” The company even says that there should be little-to-no editing required in post when using this system. If the algorithm makes a mistake, the microphone includes a secondary storage channel that records a dry copy of the audio. Most users will use these microphones connected to a camera of some kind, so on-board storage won’t be needed. Rode says that the new Wireless GO system can operate up to 260 meters from the receiver, so long as it's in the line of sight. The company also says that it is compatible with all Rode Series IV devices, including the RodeCaster Pro II and Rodecaster Video . This is in addition to offering “universal compatibility with cameras, smartphones and computers.” There are locking lavalier connectors and an integrated LCD screen for keeping an eye on battery and audio signal levels. Finally, this system is available in a whole bunch of limited-edition colors, including red, orange, pink and purple, among others. The Wireless GO II was only available in black and white. This updated Wireless GO microphone kit comes with one receiver, two transceivers, a charging hub, a few windshields and plenty of cables. It's available for $300. There’s also a dedicated charging case, which is sold separately for $90.

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