![Internet down: Huge outage takes some major sites offline [Updated]](https://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/internet-down-1280x720.jpg)
It's not just you, it's Steam, PlayStation, Disney, GoDaddy, Amazon, UPS, LastPass, and a whole bunch of other websites that are out-of-commission right this minute. One part of the problem appears to be an issue with the content distribution network (CDN) Akamai. Tracking for the service suggests that they're experiencing an "emerging issue with the Edge DNS service."
During a recent brief interview, a reporter asked President Biden to give a message to social media platforms like Facebook. Biden had only a brief response given the moment during which the question was asked, but it cut right to the core of the pandemic and how it is playing out, with the President stating simply that they're "killing people."
US Customs and Border Patrol has announced the discovery of yet another huge batch of fake AirPods shipped to the US, the latest of many similar discoveries the agency has reported over the past several months. This latest discovery was made by the CBP in Cincinnati, Ohio, where officials seized five shipments containing more than 6,000 counterfeit 'AirPods' products.
Climate change concerns combined with the growing availability and affordability of green tech have driven many consumers to explore solar-powered home energy systems, including solar panels that can be installed on one's roof. The Department of Energy has announced a new fast-track tool that is designed to help get consumers automatic permits to install residential solar panels, making the entire process easier.
Amid growing ransomware attacks, New York City is the first major metro region in the US to launch a cyberdefense center, one that is, in this case, located in a Manhattan skyscraper. A mix of private and government entities are working together to help prevent similar future cyberattacks, including everything from Amazon to the NYPD.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has activated a powerful new system that'll enable it to track rocket launches in near-real-time, as well as spacecraft when they reenter Earth's airspace on their way to the ground. The new program is intended to increase the safety of the US's National Airspace System, according to the agency, joining the FAA's existing air traffic management efforts.
The COVID-19 vaccines have been widely available in the USA since late spring, but many people still haven't received the shot. The reasons range from apathy to conspiracy theories, yet the consequences are the same: those who are unvaccinated remain at risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and developing a severe case of COVID-19. The nation's most recent death rate statistics underscore this reality.
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported screening a huge number of people on Thursday, July 1, marking a milestone in the US's efforts to move past the pandemic. Though the pandemic is not over and likely won't be on a worldwide basis until next year, the US has broadly offered a COVID-19 vaccination program since early spring and has since loosened many of its pandemic-related restrictions.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported three cases of a severe and often fatal bacterial infection called melioidosis. The source of these infections is unknown at this time, with the CDC saying these cases are "unusual" because none of the three victims had traveled outside of the US before presenting symptoms.
Zippia, a career website, has a fun bit of research for the Independence Day holiday: which states spend the most money on fireworks, at least based on population and firework imports. The list is a bit surprising -- Texas, for example, doesn't make the Top Ten list despite its popular association with independence and firepower.
The ASUS Zenfone 8 works with a 120Hz display, all-Sony image processors for its multiple cameras, and a form that's simple and elegant. The first ASUS Zenfone 8 that'll appear on the market will be released in one color: Obsidian Black. It'll come with a 90.02% screen-to-body ratio, 20:9 aspect ratio, and a pane of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus up front.
Last week, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) released a nine-page preliminary unclassified report on unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP), the government's term for UFOs. This report wasn't as exciting as some had hoped, though it is the start of what may prove to be an interesting development over the coming months and years. One tidbit from the report hints at how the government plans to learn about UAPs: by using artificial intelligence.