Cyclone Fytia struck Madagascar over the weekend, resulting in at least three deaths and affecting nearly 30,000 people, according to The Guardian. The storm, the first tropical storm of the season for the island nation, is expected to flood more than 40,000 homes in the coming days.
Tropical Cyclone Fytia formed to the northwest of Madagascar and brought with it the potential for 150mm of rain, The Guardian reported. The storm's impact adds to existing concerns, as eastern Europe is simultaneously experiencing freezing conditions with possible nighttime lows of -30C, according to The Guardian.
In other news, a limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt occurred, allowing a small number of sick and wounded Palestinians to cross into Egypt for medical treatment, The Guardian reported. The reopening, permitted by Israel, followed delays and fragile diplomatic efforts to stabilize the conflict. Reuters reported that Israel permitted 12 Palestinians to enter Egypt by nightfall, far fewer than the 150 people expected to leave the territory on Monday, according to Egyptian officials. Approximately 50 people were expected to enter Gaza. The border had been closed for more than 20 months by Israeli forces, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, in Australia, a 13-year-old boy, Austin Appelbee, described his "superhuman" swim to save his family after they were swept out to sea, according to BBC World. Appelbee swam for four hours to reach the shore and get help for his mother, Joanne, brother Beau, and sister Grace, who were clinging to two paddleboards miles out to sea. "I didn't think I was a hero - I just did what I did," Appelbee told the BBC. His mother, Joanne, feared he might not make it as the waves grew bigger and the light began to fade.
In China, new regulations banning hidden car door handles on electric vehicles (EVs) were announced, according to BBC Technology. China is the first country to stop the use of these designs, popularized by Tesla. The new rules, effective January 1, 2027, require cars to have a mechanical release both inside and outside the doors. The decision follows scrutiny of EV safety after deadly incidents, including two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs where power failures were suspected of preventing doors from being opened, according to BBC Technology.
Finally, AI-generated content, or "AI slop," is transforming social media and facing a growing backlash, according to BBC Technology. One example cited by the BBC was an image of two emaciated South Asian children with beards, one missing limbs, sitting in the rain with a birthday cake and a sign asking for likes. The image, filled with tell-tale signs of AI generation, went viral on Facebook with nearly one million likes and heart emojis. Théodore, speaking to the BBC, said the image "boggled my mind" due to its absurdity.
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