On Sunday, Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the Call of Duty video game series, died in a car crash in Los Angeles at the age of 55. Though best known for that series of blockbuster military shooters, Zampella touched a huge number of lives – not only the hundreds of people who worked at the game development studios he led under Activision and EA, but the millions of people who played the games that bore his imprint.

A lifelong gamer, Zampella had a Pong console as a child, then an Atari 2600 and a Commodore 64. He told IGN in 2016 that his favourite game from childhood was Donkey Kong: “I would spend hours at the arcade playing it.” Zampella’s first job in the industry was at GameTek in Miami, which specialised in video-game versions of popular US quizshows. He described his role on the small team as: “producer slash customer services slash tester – whatever needed to be done.”

It was at a developer called 2015, Inc in Tulsa that Zampella had his first smash hit as lead designer. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault was the third title in the acclaimed series of second world war shooters, which had been inspired by Saving Private Ryan and written in conjunction with Steven Spielberg. Zampella had envisioned a new type of shooter with an epic, cinematic sense of immersion. The game was a bestseller, acclaimed for its globetrotting narrative and taut, tense action – especially during its thrilling depiction of the Omaha beach landing.

He will be remembered as one of the most influential game designers of his era

When publisher Electronic Arts made the decision to take the development of Medal of Honour in-house, Zampella and his colleague Jason West left, together with Grant Collier, and set up Infinity Ward in Los Angeles. There they created Call of Duty, a second world war shooter designed to exceed Medal of Honor’s sense of epic drama – indeed, its original development title had been Medal of Honor Killer. Critically, the game featured a range of lead characters including US, British and Russian fighters rather than giving players control of a single “super soldier”. “It’s meant to show you that no one side won the war – it was an allied effort,” Zampella said at the time.

Once again, the emphasis was on dramatic set-piece battles on a vast scale, with the player surrounded by computer-controlled allies giving the impression of being a small part of a wider campaign. “We’re all about authenticity and intensity,” Zampella said. “We’ve strived to put as many guys on screen as possible. It’s about your squad, not you as a lone gunman.”

Cinematic intensity … Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009).

This emphasis on teamwork and cinematic intensity would become emblematic of Call of Duty. While two sequels remained in the theatre of the second world war, for the fourth title, released in 2007, Zampella and West decided to move into the modern era. The result, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, is one of the most important and influential first-person shooters ever made.

Its campaign features a group of special forces operatives, including newcomer John “Soap” MacTavish and grizzled SAS captain John Price, taking on Russian ultra-nationalists and a Middle Eastern warlord. It had imaginative and exciting missions, including All Ghillied Up, a sniper mission in the wake of the Chornobyl disaster, and the eerie Death From Above, in which players control the various weapons of a C-130 aircraft, taking out enemies on the ground who appear merely as dots on an infrared screen. Meanwhile, the game’s online multiplayer mode brought new innovations including kill-streaks, which allowed players on a winning run to call in special attacks such as airstrikes. Infinity Ward created the template for multiplayer shooters that is still used today. Call of Duty’s DNA is present in every modern hit of the genre.

I always felt he still had his greatest game ahead of him. It’s heartbreaking that we’ll never get to play it

In 2010, Zampella and West were fired from Infinity Ward by publisher Activision, and went on to form Respawn Entertainment, taking more than 30 Call of Duty staff with them. Under new publisher Electronic Arts, the company released Titanfall in 2014, a multiplayer-focused sci-fi shooter intended to innovate within the genre. The game emphasised the player’s freedom of movement, allowing for smooth, parkour-style navigation of obstacles and structures. Players were also able to call in and pilot giant, heavily armed mechs. As Zampella explained at the time: “It’s taking the old paradigm of these shooter games being very grounded and two-dimensional and now adding this verticality to it and making it something that’s a new experience; something that people haven’t seen before.”

‘It was an allied effort’ … Call of Duty: WWII (2017). Photograph: Rich Stanton/Call of Duty

After splitting with Activision, Zampella advised several other game creatives who found themselves at odds with their publishers and were considering striking out on their own. One of them was Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid and, at his own studio Kojima Productions, the Death Stranding series. “When I was preparing to go independent myself, and maybe because he felt we were in similar situations, he took the time to listen to me, offered advice, and supported me in many ways,” wrote a “heartbroken” Kojima on X after Zampella’s death. “He even showed me around the studio. Even after he moved to DICE, whenever I went to Los Angeles, we would have meals together and talk about our respective futures”

Titanfall’s sequel added an extraordinary single-player story to the original’s fluid online play – it is still one of the best shooter campaigns around. That series’ emphasis on smooth, seamless movement would also characterise Respawn’s entry into the battle royale genre: Apex Legends. Released with almost no pre-publicity in 2019, it would attract 10m players in its opening 72 hours and still maintains a place in the pantheon alongside Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone.

Respawn next made two excellent single-player Star Wars games, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor. Zampella’s peers have noted that working on the Star Wars franchise brought him and his colleagues at Respawn great joy.

In 2020, Electronic Arts put Zampella in charge of the Battlefield franchise, with a remit to recharge the series after the disappointing performance of Battlefield V and Battlefield 2042. Released in October, Battlefield 6 was widely praised as a return to form, especially the online multiplayer modes. It sold 7m copies in three days, the best ever opening for the series.

Working on the Star Wars games brought Zampella great joy … Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023). Photograph: Electronic Arts

Zampella will be remembered as one of the most influential game designers of his era and a ceaseless innovator in the first-person shooter genre – and with the Star Wars Jedi series, outside it. He was someone whom you always looked forward to encountering or interviewing at games industry events, an outspoken creative who cared deeply about video games and the player’s experience.

“Vince was an extraordinary person – a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognise talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something truly great,” wrote Geoff Keighley on X, who runs the Game Awards and, as a former games journalist, worked on a documentary about Titanfall with Zampella. “Even when it was difficult or uncomfortable, Vince never wavered in his commitment to honesty and transparency. He believed that the truth mattered, and he was willing to share it with the world. Vince cared deeply about doing the right thing. And even while working inside large organisations, he consistently pushed to put players first – to prioritise the experience, the craft and the people who played the games. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of work … I always felt he still had his greatest one ahead of him. It’s heartbreaking that we’ll never get to play it.”

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Staying in touch with loved ones this Christmas just got a little bit easier for thousands of people across the country.

Over 100 new mobile masts have been upgraded to bring 4G to Britain’s rural communities.

Of the 105 enhanced masts, 44 are located in Wales, 33 in Scotland, and 28 in England.

To see if your area will be getting a much-needed signal boost just in time for the holidays, you can use our interactive map below.  

According to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), these new mobile towers will provide 9,500 premises and 400 businesses with high-speed connections. 

Collectively, they will provide better signal to an area extending more than 1,550 square miles (4,000 square kilometres).

That is equivalent to a region two and a half times larger than Greater London. 

Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd says: ‘More of Britain’s rural communities are finally getting the connection they’ve been waiting for as we deck the hills with 4G coverage.’

These major upgrades will provide a 4G network for customers of all mobile network providers through the Shared Rural Network. 

This is a joint programme between the government and the mobile network operators EE, Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneThree to improve rural coverage across Britain.

In 2020, the network providers pledged £500 million to fill out so-called ‘partial not-spots’, where there is coverage from only one service provider.

This was backed by up to £500 million in funding from the Government, to bring mobile coverage up to 95 per cent by 2025.

Today, as the project’s deadline rapidly approaches, the Shared Rural Network has already surpassed its initial goals.

Currently, 96 per cent of the country is covered by 4G signal, up from 92 per cent in 2021.

Ms Lloyd adds: ‘These 100 upgraded masts mean businesses can ring up sales, families can video call their loved ones this Christmas without buffering mid-conversation.

‘Whether you’re in the Welsh valleys, the Scottish Highlands, or England’s national parks – rural communities are finally getting the connections they deserve.’

Over 100 new mobile masts have been completed to bring 4G to Britain’s rural communities in England, Wales, and Scotland 

What is the Shared Rural Network? 

In 2020, the UK Government signed an agreement called The Shared Rural Network (SRN) to improve rural mobile coverage by 2025.

Under the deal, mobile industry operators will invest around £500 million to fill ‘partial not-spots’. 

‘The Government will invest up to £500 million on new masts in “total not-spots” (areas with no coverage from any operator),’ the UK government explained.

‘This part of the SRN will also include masts built as part of the Home Office’s new Emergency Services Network, which is also forecast to improve rural mobile coverage.

‘Together these commitments are expected to bring 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK landmass by 2025.’ 

This programme has provided coverage for 280,000 homes and 9,900 miles (16,000 km) of roads, offering better connections for emergency services.

DSIT claims that these new connections will also be a boost for the tourism industry in rural areas, allowing visitors to stay connected while enjoying nature. 

New coverage is now available in 10 national parks across England, Scotland, and Wales – including Eryri National Park and the Lake District. 

However, there are still significant areas where 4G coverage is only offered by one or two providers.

Only 70 per cent of Scotland is forecast to have coverage from all four providers, with only 63 per cent of the Highlands and Islands region being fully covered. 

That is a significant improvement from only 26 per cent of the Highlands and Islands prior to the Shared Rural Network, but it still leaves many people without a stable connection.

Likewise, only 74 per cent of Mid and West Wales will have coverage from all four providers – up from 51 per cent prior to the Shared Rural Network. 

England, meanwhile, has significantly better coverage, with at least 83 per cent of all regions covered by all four providers. 

This expansion is provided by the Shared Rural Network (SRN), which has created cell towers which can be used by all major network providers. These maps show the regions covered by all four providers (blue), covered by at least one provider (yellow), and no providers at all (red) before and after the introduction of the SRN 

The SRN has dramatically improved connection in rural regions, but some areas, such as the Scottish Highlands and Islands, still have large areas of partial and total not spots (red and yellow)

For example, the area covered by at least one provider in North Wales has increased from just 63 per cent to 83 per cent in the last five years. 

Additionally, even the most remote regions have seen significant improvements in connectivity since the implementation of the plan. 

Ben Roome, CEO of Mova, the Shared Rural Network delivery partner, says: ‘Christmas is a time for connection and this year more rural communities than ever can share that spirit. 

‘With the 100th site activated, in Llanfair on the border between England and Wales, these publicly funded masts can connect families, friends and businesses across a cumulative area of over 4,000 square kilometres, irrespective of mobile provider.’

EXPLAINED: THE EVOLUTION OF MOBILE BROADBAND UP TO 5G

The evolution of the G system started in 1980 with the invention of the mobile phone which allowed for analogue data to be transmitted via phone calls.   

Digital came into play in 1991 with 2G and SMS and MMS capabilities were launched. 

Since then, the capabilities and carrying capacity for the mobile network has increased massively. 

More data can be transferred from one point to another via the mobile network quicker than ever.

5G is expected to be 100 times faster than the currently used 4G. 

Whilst the jump from 3G to 4G was most beneficial for mobile browsing and working, the step to 5G will be so fast they become almost real-time. 

That means mobile operations will be just as fast as office-based internet connections.

Potential uses for 5g include: 

• Simultaneous translation of several languages in a party conference call 
• Self-driving cars can stream movies, music and navigation information from the cloud
• A full length 8GB film can be downloaded in six seconds. 

5G is expected to be so quick and efficient it is possible it could start the end of wired connections.  

By the end of 2020, industry estimates claim 50 billion devices will be connected to 5G.

The evolution of from 1G to 5G. The predicted speed of 5G is more than 1Gbps – 1,000 times greater than the existing speed of 4G and could be implemented in laptops of the future 

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Photo by Ian Usher / Unsplash

The thermal and multispectral drones are standing to gain prominence in the device inspection industry, representing a considerable change in industrial inspections on energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure fields.

Such aerial systems enable organisations to collect accurate visual and sensor data without closing down business activities or putting the workers in unsafe conditions.

With growing demands on industries to advance safety, down-time reduction as well as cost control, sophisticated drone platforms are transforming the asset monitoring and maintenance process.

Technology Overview

The sensors on thermal drones identify the variations of heat on the surfaces and elements. Such an ability allows detecting overheating equipment, electrical issues, and insulation failures which cannot be seen by human vision. Measuring changes in temperature on-the-fly allows the inspectors to identify developing problems at an early stage and do repairs in order of importance before the failures get out of control.

Multispectral drones gather data in multiple bands of light in the light spectrum beyond visible. These sensors are typically employed to measure material conditions, corrosion, intrusion of moisture and degradation of the surface. In the case of the industrial inspections, the multispectral imagery will give more information on the structural health and environmental stress that determines long term performance of asset performance.

Inspection Accuracy

Accuracy in inspection has been enhanced by the accuracy that thermal and multispectral drones provide. Conventional visual scope inspections are usually based on subjective inspection and restricted access points. The data collected by drone based imaging is consistent and repeatable and that can be analyzed across time to enable the inspector to identify the changes and to verify the effectiveness of the maintenance work.

The information that is taken by such drones can be incorporated into asset management systems to be analysed in detail. The engineers will be able to compare the past and present images and determine the trends and anticipate future problems. This fact based strategy minimizes guesses and enables better decision making within inspection and maintenance personnel.

Safety Improvements

Enhanced safety of the workers is one of the most significant effects of advanced drones. Previously inspections would need the use of scaffolding, rope access, or entry into a tight area, this is now achievable remotely. This minimizes the risk of falls, high-temperature, and exposure to dangerous substances that lead to safer working conditions in industrial premises.

Remote inspections also reduce the interference to active operations. Refineries, power plants and manufacturing lines can remain operational during inspections, which occur overhead. Organizations safeguard staff as well as production processes by preventing an unnecessary shutdown along with manual access.

Cost Efficiency

Drones that are thermal and multispectral do reduce the cost of inspection by decreasing the number of labor hours and equipment needs. One drone flight will save days of hand inspection labor, reducing costs of lifts, scaffolding, and specialized access crews. In the long run, this savings can be high in large or widely spaced facilities.

The outsourcing of drone inspections by specialization is becoming a common practice in many firms. By outsourcing drone services, the company can have access to trained pilots, certified equipment, and advanced analytics without incurring the cost of maintaining an internal program. This ease enables the use of dronement based inspections to be available to any organizations regardless of their size.

Maintenance Planning

The fact that thermal and multispectral data give a detailed insight, helps in proactive maintenance strategies. Maintenance teams will be in a position to schedule the repair on an early warning sign due to drone inspection rather than responding to breakdowns. It is a predictive method that increases the life cycle of assets and minimizes unforeseen failures.

Organizations enhance reliability and continuity of operations by coordinating inspection information with the maintenance planning. Drones also allow transitioning to preventive and not reactive maintenance models and allocate resources in the areas with the highest demand. What is more central is that as these technologies further develop, their application in the industrial inspection and asset management will become the norm.

Updated

December 23, 2025

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Netflix has revealed that 33 million viewers worldwide tuned in to watch Anthony Joshua face Jake Paul in their highly anticipated boxing match, making it one of the most-watched live sporting events on the streaming platform to date. The fight ended with Joshua knocking out Paul in the sixth round.

The fight at the Kaseya Centre in Miami was Joshua’s first in over a year. Right from the start, his experience and power stood out, although the match moved at a slower pace than many fans had hoped.

Joshua ended the fight with a clear knockout, settling weeks of debate about whether the match should have taken place. Netflix later celebrated on social media, calling it “the knockout heard around the world.”

Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the 6th round

When boxing met the Netflix streaming scale

Beyond the knockout, the fight signalled something bigger for sports and the streaming industry. Netflix’s involvement significantly expanded the match’s audience, drawing in millions of casual viewers who might not typically watch the sport. For many, this was less about titles and rankings and more about spectacle.

Worldwide streaming services have greatly expanded boxing’s audience. Unlike expensive pay-per-view events, this fight was accessible to viewers globally, revolutionising how major boxing matches are watched.

The Joshua-Paul event was a huge financial success. Reports suggest that Joshua and Paul earned a combined total of approximately $184 million. This demonstrates the significant commercial interest in the fight and the increasing popularity of boxing events featuring celebrities.

The fight unfolded as expected. In the beginning, Paul had trouble keeping up, as he was ften falling more than holding on. Conversely, Joshua stayed calm, saving his energy and staying in control.

Read also: Anthony Joshua to fight YouTube star Jake Paul on December 19

Joshua’s dominance was clear by the fifth round. He knocked Paul down twice before winning in the sixth round with a powerful series of punches. The referee stopped the fight, as Paul was unable to continue. Joshua landed almost three times as many punches as Paul during the fight.

The result prompts speculation about prospects. Joshua’s victory maintains his activity and prominence amid discussions for major fights in 2026, potentially including a highly anticipated bout with Tyson Fury. Paul’s defeat stalls his progress and reignites questions regarding the boundaries of crossover boxing.

For Netflix, the takeaway is clear: live sports, particularly boxing’s blend with entertainment, can still captivate a massive global audience.

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Enterprise software company ServiceNow agreed to acquire nine-year-old cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75 billion in cash.

The deal is a massive valuation jump for the company. Just last month, Armis raised a $435 million pre-IPO funding round, which valued the company at $6.1 billion.

Armis co-founder and CEO Yevgeny Dibrov had told TechCrunch last month that the company aims to go public in late 2026 or 2027, adding that an IPO is his “personal dream.”

Given the unpredictability of IPO markets and how few cybersecurity companies actually go public, it is not a surprise that Armis ultimately chose an M&A exit.

According to ServiceNow, Armis has reached $340 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with year-over-year growth exceeding 50%.

Armis, which provides security software for critical infrastructure to Fortune 500 companies and governments, will help ServiceNow expand its cybersecurity offerings.

The deal caps off a busy acquisition year for ServiceNow, which scooped up Moveworks for $2.85 billion and agreed to acquire cybersecurity startup Veza for $1 billion.

According to PitchBook, Armis has raised a total of $1.45 billion in venture capital from investors, including Sequoia, CapitalG, and Insight Partners.

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Photo by Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash

In the case of B2B startups and smaller tech companies, the cost of creating a strong brand image may be difficult particularly when dealing with limited budgets. Good promotional materials that are cost effective give a chance to have increased visibility, build relationships with clients and give long term impressions without necessarily spending a lot of money. The choice of promotional materials will be able to enhance advertising campaigns without being costly.

Promotional materials are not merely a case of giveaway but they are promotional tools that help convey professionalism and brand identity. To startup companies that are focused on gaining a competitive edge in the environment of competitive technologies, it can be beneficial to pay careful attention to promotional items, as it will help to establish rapport with customers and partners and develop brand recognition in the long term.

Choosing Promotional Products Wisely

When choosing the promotional materials, it is important to ensure that they represent your target audience in order to be cost effective. Tech startups and companies with limited resources tend to have the least resources, and thus products that would be useful, memorable, and related provide the best value. Branded USB drives, notebooks, or technology accessories are among the products that B2B clients can use on their daily basis to stay reminded of the company.

The other factor is quality as opposed to quantity. Offering substandard products can save on initial expenses, but will give a bad impression of the brand. Promoting by buying reasonably priced products that reflect professionalism will mean that promotional products will be perceived as useful, which will strengthen trust in clients and prospects.

Leveraging Corporate Clothing

Corporate wear has two advantages to emerging tech companies. T-shirts, hoodies, and polo shirts are branded clothing that could provide the employees with a feeling of unity, as well as used as walking advertisements at the workplace. These products are usually highly appreciated and will give the brand a long lasting exposure.

Corporate clothing is a strategic tool that tech startups can employ during a trade show, conference, or a meeting with the client. High-quality clothing conveys a tone of contemporary and friendly language, promoting brand recognition and trust. The popularity and effectiveness of these materials can also be improved by selecting multi-purpose and comfortable materials.

Utilizing Corporate Gifts

Corporate gifts are significant to developing the relationship of B2B without putting strain on the budgets. Careful products like branded pens, planners, or mini tech devices may increase customer loyalty and show their value. The trick is to choose presents, which will match the tastes and the workplace of the person receiving the gift.

Startups and emerging technology companies can also look into gifts that have a practical use. Valuable products are likely to be held on and valued to the maximum exposure to the brand. Also, custom corporate gifts provide a feeling of connection, and it indicates that a company considers every client or partner as an individual.

Prioritizing Digital and Hybrid Options

Besides tangible products, digital or hybrid promotional materials should be considered a cost effective solution. Electronic gift cards, branded software solutions or downloadable materials offer value with little production and logistics required to ship. These options enable the tech firms to contact clients far away or widen campaigns without huge overheads.

Brand impact could also be improved by integrating digital solutions with conventional content. An example would be putting a QR code on a branded tech accessory or a notebook that will take customers to company material: this will be a tangible and digital touch point, making B2B customer experience more engaging.

Optimizing Bulk Purchasing and Supplier Partnerships

The promotion materials may be bought in bulk or good relations with the suppliers may be established to save the costs. Negotiation of volume discounts or negotiating package deals which contain several items at reduced prices are usually the advantage of startups. Premeditated campaigns enable the firms to optimise budgets as well as get quality products.

Flexibility and reliability may also be achieved through long term supplier partnerships. Development of relationships with reliable suppliers will guarantee uniform product quality and availability to replenish the warehouses with their products within short notice. This will minimise the chances of incurring excess expenditure on last minute orders but the image of the company remains professional.

Measuring Impact and Adjusting Strategy

The effectiveness of promotional materials needs to be assessed to ensure continuity in cost effectiveness. Startups need to observe the engagement, client feedback, and the ROI to identify the items that add the most value. Frequent analysis will enable companies to optimize the initiatives and invest in materials that can give quantifiable outcomes.

The promotion campaigns are adjusted to the performance insights to be sure that the resources are distributed properly. B2B startups and tech companies can ensure that their promotion materials are as effective as possible and their costs are managed through constant monitoring of results and thus provide the company with greater brand recognition in a competitive market.

Conclusion

Branding requires cost efficient promotional materials which are crucial in the B2B startups and developing technology companies. Considerable choice, tactical application of organization garments and company presents, and incorporation of electronic choices can enhance the promotion endeavors without violating constrained budgets.

Startups can attain sustainable client interaction and brand presence through focusing on quality, relevance, and measurability. Besides increasing visibility these materials reflect professionalism and care, their use is the basis of long-term competitive growth in B2B markets.

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For years, the unofficial motto of Ghana’s cryptocurrency market was “innovate until you get caught.” That era had just ended with the recent passing of the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill, 2025.

Speaking at the Bank of Ghana’s annual thanksgiving service during the weekend, the Governor, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, confirmed that the new legislation effectively ends years of regulatory ambiguity.

“This year also saw the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, a significant step in preparing the regulatory framework for digital asset activities. The Bill establishes the basis for licensing and supervising participants in this space, ensuring that emerging activity is brought within clear, accountable, and well-governed boundaries,” Governor Johnson said.

Building on his earlier promise at the IMF’s annual meetings in Washington sometime in October, where he announced that a draft bill is being advanced to parliament and that the country aims to have a legal and regulatory regime for crypto in place by December 2025, the governor effectively promised that the days of looking over one’s shoulder are over, stating flatly that “no one is going to be arrested for engaging in crypto.”

But as the initial euphoria settles in Accra this morning, a colder reality is dawning on the nation’s crypto and fintech founders: safety has a price tag. 

Governor Johnson Asiama of the Bank of Ghana

While the new law effectively ends the regulatory “Wild West,” it replaces the fear of police raids with the crushing weight of compliance costs, potentially handing the market keys to well-capitalised foreign giants while local startups struggle to foot the bill.

The passing of the bill is not just a legal milestone, but a market-clearing event. By classifying crypto exchanges and wallet providers as accountable institutions, Ghana has signalled that the free ride is over.

The reality for Ghanaian crypto is no longer about if you can operate, but how much it will cost you to do so.

Ghana’s VASP Bill: From illegal to unaffordable?

The most immediate impact of the VASP Bill will be a consolidation of the market. During the grey market era, barriers to entry were low; anyone with a Telegram group and a P2P connection could run a quasi-exchange.

The new bill changes the math entirely.

Under the new framework, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) must now obtain formal licenses from the Bank of Ghana. This sounds bureaucratic, but it is effectively a financial moat. The requirements, spanning rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) reporting, and capital solvency mandates, favour incumbents.

Global giants like Binance or Coinbase, which have entire departments dedicated to compliance, can absorb these costs as a line item.

For a lean Ghanaian startup facilitating $50,000 in monthly volume, however, the cost of hiring a compliance officer and paying licensing fees could be existential. 

We are likely to see a wave of acqui-hires, where smaller local players are bought out not for their technology, but for their user bases, as they fail to meet the new capital adequacy standards.

The irony of regulation is that while it legitimises the industry, it often kills the very grassroots innovation that built it.

The regional power play: Accra vs. Lagos

The geopolitical implications of this bill are perhaps more significant than the domestic ones. For the last decade, Nigeria has been the undisputed king of African crypto volume, driving billions in flows despite a hostile relationship with its own Central Bank (CBN).

But capital hates uncertainty, and Nigeria’s regulatory approach has been anything but stable, oscillating between banking bans and reluctant engagement.

Ghana has now leapfrogged its larger neighbour by offering something Nigeria hasn’t: legislative certainty. By passing a clear VASP Bill, Accra is positioning itself as the “Delaware of West Africa,” a safe harbour where Web3 companies can incorporate without fear of sudden policy U-turns.

This could trigger a capital flight of sorts. Venture Capitalists (VCs) looking to deploy funds in West Africa may now mandate that their portfolio companies domicile in Ghana, even if their primary customer base remains in Nigeria.

We have seen this hub-and-spoke model work in other regions (like Singapore vs. Southeast Asia), and Ghana is now arguably the most attractive regulatory sandbox in the ECOWAS region.

The surveillance trade-off: The taxman cometh for crypto ‘bros’

Finally, we must address the visibility aspect of the bill. Governor Asiama noted that the bill brings activity within “clear, accountable boundaries.” In plain English, this means the government can now see the money.

With $3 billion in crypto transactions recorded in Ghana over the 12 months leading to June 2024, the state is aware of the revenue potential. The VASP Bill effectively turns exchanges into deputies of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). While the bill itself focuses on licensing, it creates the data infrastructure for taxation.

Users who flocked to crypto to hedge against Cedi inflation or to move funds anonymously will face a rude awakening. 

The mandatory KYC requirements mean that every wallet address on a regulated exchange will be linked to a Ghana Card. The privacy premium of crypto is evaporating. The next major announcement from Accra will almost certainly not come from the Bank of Ghana, but from the tax authorities, armed with a new list of high-net-worth crypto holders provided by the very exchanges they just legalised.

Notwithstanding the possible tax obligations, the passing of the VASP Bill is undoubtedly a victory for legitimacy. It removes the risk of arbitrary arrest and integrates crypto into the formal financial system. But for the small traders and startups who built this $3 billion market in the shadows, the celebration should be cautious. 

The jungle is gone, the zoo now has fences, admission fees, and keepers watching every move. Ghana is open for crypto business, but only for those who can afford the fees.

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Worshippers of a church in Las Vegas, Nevada believe they witnessed a true miracle during a holiday mass.

Father Edmund Nnadozie was preaching at St Thomas More during the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe when the congregation erupted, claiming they saw a face appear in the wrinkles of fabric near the altar.

The cloth had been draped over a pedestal holding a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast is celebrated on December 12. 

Parishioners captured images showing the fabric later wrinkling into what they all believed was a shape resembling a human face.

Ben Yzaguirre, who attended that mass, photographed the phenomenon and told local Fox5 Vegas: ‘I believe it’s a miracle, a sign from heaven. It’s beautiful to see, and I’m glad I was able to be a part of that.’

Images of the face have flooded social media, where other worshippers who attended the mass echoed Yzaguirre’s statements.

‘I was there at this Mass. Miracles happen,’ one user shared on X.  While others were quick to dismiss it, saying the worshippers experienced pareidolia, the tendency to see faces in random patterns or groups of objects.

However, Nnadozie told the local news outlet that the timing of the image makes the incident difficult to dismiss as a coincidence. 

‘I looked at it, I’m like, ‘Oh, wait a minute,’ I looked at it again, and that was the face of, you know, it’s Our Lady,’ Nnadozie said, saying there were 800 people there and no one touched the fabric.

Father Edmund Nnadozie was preaching at St Thomas More during the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe when the congregation erupted, claiming they saw a face appear in the wrinkles of fabric near the altar

Pictured is the face appearing in the wrinkled cloth (without being darkened). Many people have said the worshippers experienced pareidolia, the tendency to see faces in random patterns or groups of objects

The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe begins in 1531 when the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, near modern-day Mexico City. She requested that a church be built on the site in her honor. 

To convince the skeptical bishop, Juan Diego gathered roses in his tilma, a simple cloak, despite it being winter when no flowers normally bloomed. 

When he opened the tilma before the bishop, the roses fell to the floor, and an image of the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared on the fabric.

The tilma, which is still preserved today in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, has long been venerated by millions of Catholics worldwide. 

Scientists and historians have marveled at the image, noting that the cloth has lasted nearly 500 years with no significant deterioration, and the exact method of its creation remains a mystery.

For worshippers in Las Vegas, the appearance of a face on a cloth during the holiday mass echoes this centuries-old miracle, inspiring devotion and sparking conversation about faith, wonder, and the enduring power of the Virgin’s image.

Nnadozie told Fox5 Vegas: ”I think maybe Our Lady was sending a message to us, ‘Hey, I’m still around, I know today is a celebration of my day, and I can still show myself.

‘God chooses when a miracle happens, and a miracle can happen in Las Vegas.’

Worshippers believe it was the face of Our Lady of Guadalupe (PICTURED)

The cloth had been draped over a pedestal holding a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast is celebrated on December 12. The ‘face’ was darkened in a local news segment 

Yzaguirre said the experience resonates even with those who were not present at the mass.

‘Sometimes the world or the community needs these things as well, and it’s not just for us to keep to ourselves,’ he said. 

In 2018, a church in Mexico claimed to have experienced a miracle when it found a ‘weeping’ Virgin Mary statue that was leaking olive oil.

A sample of fluid was taken from the statue, located at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hobbs, and sent for a chemical analysis.

‘And we determined it was olive oil, a scented olive oil,’ Bishop Oscar Cantú told the Las Cruces Sun News.

‘Some of the witnesses claimed it smelled of roses, so something similar to the oil I bless and consecrate each year that we use for baptism, for confirmations, and for ordination of the priests.’ 

Church leaders looked at the possibility that something from inside the statue was causing the leak.

‘We examined the interior of the hollow statue,’ Cantú added. ‘There’s nothing on the interior that’s not supposed to be there, except for cobwebs. So we took pictures; we examined it.’

Church officials looked to the Mexican manufacturers to see if there was any fluid that could have lingered from the building process. Wax was found to be used in the process, but it is ‘so hot that all of the wax melts away,’ Cantú asserted.

He said: ‘In that process, they assured us there would be no possibility of any moisture remaining in the bronze. So those are some of the facts that we have established.’ 

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Nigerian merchants can now accept Apple Pay payments through Nomba, as the fintech expands its payments stack to support Apple’s contactless payment service across in-store and online checkouts.

The integration allows merchants on Nomba’s platform to receive payments from Apple Pay users without requiring physical cards or initiating bank transfers to access instant payments from their global customers, including diaspora Nigerians.

“Payments globally are moving toward speed, security, and invisible checkout,” said Pelumi Aboluwarin, Nomba’s CTO. “Our responsibility is to ensure Nigerian merchants are not left behind, but are fully prepared for the future of payments.”

Nomba is the latest Nigerian fintech to support Apple Pay, following Stripe-owned Paystack’s integration in 2021 and a similar launch by cross-border payments fintech Platnova in July 2025. While Apple Pay is widely used in markets such as North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, its adoption in Nigeria has been limited by regulatory constraints and infrastructure challenges.

Unlike a full consumer rollout that would require Nigerian banks to issue Apple Pay-enabled cards, Nomba’s integration focuses on merchant acceptance. Customers globally can pay Nigerian businesses using Apple Pay on their iPhones, authenticated with Face ID linked to their stored card details.  For Nigerian merchants using Nomba, the feature works across physical point-of-sale (POS) terminals and online checkouts.

The integration was enabled through strategic global partnerships and regulatory alignment with licenced foreign entities already approved within Apple’s payments ecosystem. While Nomba did not disclose its partners, Aboluwarin said the company worked with them to “carry out the deep technical and operational work required to extend Apple Pay capabilities into Nigeria in a compliant and scalable way.”

Nomba said integrating Apple Pay in Nigeria required meeting some of the most stringent global security, compliance, and certification standards in payments. The company added that its Money Transmitter (MTL) and Money Services Business (MSB) licences in the United States enable it to partner with global payment processors operating under defined service-level agreements (SLAs).

For Nigerian businesses, accepting international payments often means delayed settlements, withheld funds, and unfavourable foreign exchange rates due to transactions being routed through upstream processors outside the country. Nomba believes its Apple Pay integration will reduce these frictions by allowing faster checkout and improving settlement reliability.

“Even when settlements from upstream processors are delayed, we ensure merchants are paid on time using our own funds,” the company said.

According to Aboluwarin, the addition of Apple Pay is expected to improve customer experience and merchant revenue, particularly for businesses that serve tourists and returning diaspora Nigerians. In 2024, Nigerians living abroad spent ₦60 billion during their December homecoming visits, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). 

Faster checkout, shorter queues, and fewer payment failures could make a meaningful difference for merchants during such high-traffic periods, Nomba added.

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A group of writers, including Theranos whistleblower and “Bad Blood” author John Carreyrou, is filing a lawsuit against Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Meta, xAI, and Perplexity, accusing the companies of training their models on pirated copies of their books.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because another set of authors already filed a class action suit against Anthropic for these same acts of copyright infringement. In that case, the judge ruled that it was legal for Anthropic and similar AI companies to train on pirated copies of books, but that it was not legal to pirate the books in the first place.

While eligible writers can receive about $3,000 from the $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement, some authors were dissatisfied with that resolution — it doesn’t hold AI companies accountable for the actual act of using stolen books to train their models, which generate billions of dollars of revenue.

According to the new lawsuit, the plaintiffs say that the proposed Anthropic settlement “seems to serve [the AI companies], not creators.”

“LLM companies should not be able to so easily extinguish thousands upon thousands of high-value claims at bargain-basement rates, eliding what should be the true cost of their massive willful infringement,” the lawsuit says.

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As a tech remote worker living in Lagos, you would think you have escaped the struggles of Monday morning traffic and the daily “no fuel, no light” routine until you encounter the real hustle of remote work itself. 

From battling unstable internet connections and power supply to juggling time zones with foreign teammates and trying to stay productive through generator noise, the life of a tech remote worker isn’t that easy.

A few weeks ago, I attended Jobberman’s Remote WorkFest 2025, a hybrid event for remote workers where industry experts shared what it really takes to thrive as a Nigerian remote worker.

This article was inspired by specific sessions led by Olamide Adeyeye, Jobberman Nigeria’s Country Head of Program and Dr Valerie Okorie, a medical doctor who represented AwaDoc.

To avoid missing out on better opportunities, here are ten practical ways to survive and stay relevant as a tech remote worker navigating Lagos life in 2026.

Live at Jobberman’s remote workfest

Read also: When design saves lives: How AwaDoc is using WhatsApp and AI to transform healthcare across Africa

1.  Be a great communicator

While everyone understands that, as a tech remote worker based in Lagos, it’s essential to ensure stable electricity and internet speed, we won’t start with that. The first and important step to take to ensure you’re a survivor of remote work in 2026 is to be a great communicator. 

“You could be the best coder in the room, but if you can’t communicate clearly through many means, you may become invisible,” Adeyeye said in his presentation.

In a traditional office, people can see your effort — your body language, your presence, your energy. But in remote work, your emails, Slack messages, reports, and updates are your voice. They are the only ways your team knows what you’re doing and how valuable you are.

That’s why he described communication as the most important skill employers look for. If an organisation from the U.S., Germany, or Austria wants to hire you, the first thing they are looking for is how and when you communicate. 

“Part of the red flags that employers pay attention to during the hiring process is a delay in communicating. Green flags are proactive communication, proof and not promises, infrastructure issues. So, part of what you’re checking is your internet speed, the processing capacity of your device, and all of that,” Adeyeye added.

2. Master self-management

Remote work is built on trust and discipline. Adeyeye explained that in global teams, most of the work happens asynchronously. This means people work in different time zones and at different hours.

When your manager in the U.S. is sleeping, can they trust that you’re doing your work in Lagos without supervision? That’s what self-management means.

It’s not just about doing tasks, it’s about being reliable, predictable, and accountable. You need to manage your time, deliver on deadlines, and stay productive despite distractions like power outages, noise, or Lagos chaos.

3. Build technical and digital competence 

While soft skills are critical, Adeyeye also pointed out that technical competence remains a non-negotiable foundation. Employers still want to know if you can actually do the work.

This doesn’t just mean coding or data science; it also includes your proficiency with digital tools such as project management systems, AI assistants, and collaboration software. You must be comfortable navigating technology, because it’s the backbone of remote collaboration.

To sustain remote work, keep learning and upgrading. Take online courses, join webinars, and practice with global tools. 

4. Become AI-fluent 

Adeyeye’s remarks on AI were both a warning and an opportunity. He noted that artificial intelligence is reshaping the global job market, projecting that by 2030, AI and machine learning will create approximately 170 million new jobs.

In other words, AI isn’t the enemy; it’s the tool. The professionals who survive and thrive will be those who learn to work alongside AI, not compete with it.

For Nigerian remote workers, this means learning to use AI-powered platforms for writing, research, analytics, customer service, or even task automation. AI fluency makes you faster, sharper, and more globally competitive.

5. Build cultural fluency and Emotional Intelligence 

Finally, Adeyeye urged young Africans to develop cultural awareness and adaptability, which are essential for anyone working with international teams.

He explained that thriving in remote work isn’t just about skills but connection. You need to understand different cultures, communication styles, humour, and expectations.

Cultural fluency means being globally aware, respectful, and flexible. It’s a soft skill that can open doors far beyond your technical ability.

Dr Valerie Okorie, a Nigerian medical doctor

The healthy side of surviving in Lagos as a tech remote worker 

According to Dr Valerie Okorie, surviving as a tech remote worker in Lagos is not just about earning in dollars or escaping traffic. It is about staying healthy while doing the work. In her words, “Your body is your engine. If you don’t take care of it, you will pay for it later.”

Here are five practical ways she believes remote workers in Lagos can stay healthy and sane.

6. Keep your body in motion

As a tech remote worker who has been avoiding Lagos traffic all morning, it’s important to ensure a constant body movement and flexibility with your muscles occasionally. 

“Remote work has quietly removed movement from our daily lives. When you remove the commute, you remove the movement. We are always sitting down, and this sitting disease can cause deep vein thrombosis.

Now, when you sit down for 12 hours, what will happen is that your blood will slowly flow to your legs and form clots, small clots. This goes and blocks a vessel up there. In your head, it causes a stroke. In your heart, it causes a heart attack,” she said.

A short walk, a light jog, or even regular stretching during the day can make a big difference.

7. Pay attention to how you sit and work

Many remote workers sit for up to 12 hours with poor posture. Backs are bent, necks are down, and laptops are pressed close. Over time, this causes chronic back and neck pain. 

Dr Valerie reminded remote workers to be conscious of posture. Sit upright, adjust your chair and table, and take short breaks. Your body is not designed to stay in one position all day, no matter how good the pay is.

8. Don’t guess your health, check it!

One of her biggest points was that looking healthy doesn’t always mean being healthy. “You might be slim, but your blood vessels might be full of fat,” she said. Long sitting hours, stress, coffee, and constant snacking can affect blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. 

In order to survive and stay strong as a tech remote worker, Dr Valerie encouraged remote workers to know their health conditions. Checking your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol helps you catch problems early, before they turn serious.

9. Protect your vision with the 20-20-20 rule

Remote tech work often involves jumping from a laptop screen to a phone screen, which causes digital eye strain and blurry vision. High pressure in the eyes can also lead to glaucoma, a condition that can permanently damage your eyesight. 

To prevent this, you should use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple habit acts as exercise for your eyes and helps reduce strain.

10. Don’t ignore your mental health

It is common for remote workers in Lagos to stay indoors for days, only leaving for church or errands. This leads to a Vitamin D deficiency, which can weaken your bones and worsen chronic back pain.

Lack of sunlight is also linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression. You should make it a point to go outside and feel the sun on your skin.

She also spoke about loneliness, a common struggle for remote workers. Call a friend, see people, and don’t replace real connections with endless scrolling; create a shutdown routine.

Read also: Tax: FG partners US, UK, Canada, others to track remote workers earning dollars

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Hello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m your host, Blake Montgomery, wishing you a happy and healthy end of the year. I myself have a cold.

Today, we are looking back at the biggest stories in tech of 2025 – Elon Musk’s political rise, burst, and fall; artificial intelligence’s subsumption of the global economy, all other technology, and even the Earth’s topography; Australia’s remarkable social media ban; the tech industry’s new Trumpian politics; and, as a treat, a glimpse of the apocalypse offered by one of Silicon Valley’s savviest and strangest billionaires.

Elon Musk, a one-man hurricane

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends a memorial service for slain far-right commentator Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona, on 21 September 2025. Photograph: Daniel Cole/Reuters

At the close of 2024, I wrote that Elon Musk’s support of Donald Trump had made him the world’s most powerful unelected man. In 2025, his reign turned out to be short-lived. He rose fast and haphazardly, like a whizzing firework, only to explode spectacularly in June when he claimed in a post on X that the president of the United States was named in the government’s files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Even in that short period of less than six months, Musk made a tremendous impact. He tore up wide swaths of the US government – tens of thousands of jobs, the security of extremely sensitive data, and entire agencies like USAID – that may never be stitched back together.

After Doge imploded, Musk promised to turn back to his business empire, which saw great success and great failures alike in 2025. His rocket company SpaceX saw continued growth and is poised to conduct an initial public offering next year, perhaps as the most valuable private company in the world. Electric carmaker Tesla, by contrast, faced violent backlash and major competition from its Chinese counterparts, which produced cheaper and more advanced vehicles while Tesla’s innovation and inventory stagnated. These headwinds caused a global sales slump for Musk’s carmaker.

Look back at our reporting on Doge, Tesla, SpaceX, Musk himself:

The “department of government efficiency”

Tesla faces backlash over Musk’s politics

Look ahead: SpaceX expands in preparation for 2026 IPO

Artificial intelligence blankets the world

A pipe lays along a fence line near construction at the Tahoe‑Reno Industrial Center in Storey county, Nevada, on 28 October 2025. Photograph: Bridget Bennett/The Guardian

Artificial intelligence has gone from a niche within tech to the industry’s most prominent focus. The Magnificent Seven – Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla – are investing hundreds of billions of dollars into new software that they hope will do the bulk of humanity’s work before too long. The investment is driving the bulk of the growth of the US’s economy, giving rise to fears of a financial bubble and its popping. The US and China are locked in a cold war-esque race against each other, with startups in each country vying for cutting-edge breakthroughs, as governments around the world are forced to decide how they will regulate a new technological force.

Before AI can arrive at that future, though, it needs brains a la the Tin Man of The Wizard of Oz. Those brains come in the form of data centers. These massive buildings, which house the millions and millions of semiconductor chips booming AI development, have cropped up around the world, met with enthusiasm from leaders eager for tax revenue and deep concern from environmental advocates and, increasingly, local community members. The investment in and construction of data centers wrought huge change in the physical landscape of the Earth in 2025 as tens of billions of dollars chased any available land, electricity, water and semiconductor chips.

More from our reporting in the last year:

Data centers

The future of AI

Multi-trillion-dollar valuations

But does it work?

Tech gets in bed with Trump 2.0

Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk attend the inauguration of Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the US Capitol on 20 January 2025 in Washington DC. Photograph: ABACA/REX/Shutterstock

Elon Musk made a full-throated and whole-hearted embrace of Donald Trump in 2024 and 2025. He was not alone. Many of his fellows in Silicon Valley did the same, sitting beside the Trump family at the president’s inauguration after donating millions to his inaugural committee. The tech giants continued their embrace of Trump and his policies by scuttling their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which they championed during Barack Obama’s presidency, and by cooperating with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Trump’s harsh immigration crackdown. What the industry gave, it reaped tenfold in deregulation, friends high up in Washington like JD Vance and David Sacks, and a Trump order for states not to regulate AI signed just weeks ago.

More from our reporting this year:

Donations and Trump’s inauguration

DEI scuttled

Immigrants surveilled

Australia cuts teens off

Millions of children and teens lost access to accounts after Australia’s social media ban took effect. Illustration: Eiko Ojala/The Guardian

This year saw Australia take the extraordinary measure of banning children under 16 from social media. The remarkable measure went into effect just weeks ago after a slew of legal challenges and protests from tech companies.

Read some of our comprehensive reporting on the ban:

Bonus: The Apostle Peter’s apocalyptic prayers

Peter Thiel gave a series of fevered, incoherent lectures about the antichrist and the coming of the end times. Illustration: Guardian Design/Images via Getty Images

In the weirdest news of 2025, billionaire venture capitalist and conservative svengali Peter Thiel gave a series of fevered, incoherent lectures about the antichrist and the coming of the end times. We obtained leaked audio of the talks. You can read for yourself the gibberish he uses to bend the ears of serious academics and San Francisco startup CEOs alike or, if you’d prefer not to give your attention directly to him, engage with a sharp critical interpretation by a professor hailing from the same university as Thiel’s mentor.

Our stories on the gospel according to Peter:

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More than 300 earthquakes have rattled the same region in California over the past month, sparking fears among locals that a big one could soon strike. 

San Ramon in the East Bay has been the epicenter of this seismic activity, which sits on top of the Calaveras Fault, an active branch of the San Andreas Fault system.

The Calaveras Fault is capable of producing a magnitude 6.7 earthquake, which would impact millions of people in the San Francisco Bay Area. The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates there is a 72 percent chance of this happening by 2043.

The earthquakes began on November 9 with a 3.8 magnitude, and the tremors have not stopped since. The latest, which hit today, measured a 2.7 magnitude.

Sarah Minson, a research geophysicist with the USGS’s Earthquake Science Center at California’s Moffett Field, told SFGATE: ‘This is a lot of shaking for the people in the San Ramon area to deal with.

‘It’s quite understandable that this can be incredibly scary and emotionally impactful, even if it’s not likely to be physically damaging.’

Minson noted that while the swarms seem relentless, they do not indicate a major event is imminent. 

‘Given the magnitude and locations of the earthquakes that have happened so far, there is no significant risk of something happening on one of the major faults,’ she explained. 

The earthquakes began on November 9 with a 3.8 magnitude, and the tremors have not stopped since. The latest, which hit today, measured a 2.7 magnitude

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake on the Calaveras Fault would be classified as a major seismic event capable of causing significant damage in densely populated East Bay communities.

By comparison, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a magnitude M6.9, widely labeled ‘the Big One’ at the time, caused widespread destruction, and the USGS uses the 6.7 threshold when discussing the long-term probability of a ‘Big One’ in the Bay Area.

USGS research geophysicist Annemarie Baltay said she is not unusually concerned that the recent earthquakes signal anything larger on the horizon for San Ramon.

‘These small events, as all small events are, are not indicative of an impending large earthquake,’ Baltay told Patch.

‘However, we live in earthquake country, so we should always be prepared for a large event,’ she said. 

Scientists say that when fluids like water or gas flow through small cracks in rock, they can weaken the surrounding rock, triggering clusters of minor earthquakes that occur in quick succession. 

‘It is also possible that these smaller earthquakes pop off as the result of fluid moving up through the earth’s crust, which is a normal process, but the many faults in the area may facilitate these micro-movements of fluid and smaller faults,’ Baltay told the Patch.

Records from the USGS highlighted similar swarms in 1970, 1976, 2002, 2003, 2015 and 2018.

San Ramon in the East Bay has been the epicenter of this seismic activity, which sits on top of the Calaveras Fault, an active branch of the San Andreas Fault system

‘This has happened many times before here in the past, and there were no big earthquakes that followed,’ Minson told SFGATE.

Scientists studying the 2015 San Ramon earthquake swarm found that the area contains several small, closely spaced faults rather than a single big one.

The quakes moved along these faults in a complex pattern, suggesting the faults interact with each other.

The study also found evidence that underground fluids may have helped trigger the tremors.

Researchers looked into other possible causes, like tidal forces, but found no clear connection.

Overall, the findings showed that the fault system under San Ramon is more complicated than previously thought, which could help explain why these earthquake swarms occur. 

Roland Burgmann, a UC Berkeley seismologist who worked on that study, told SFGATE that because the first quake in November was the strongest, he believes the entire series is more than just a swarm; it’s a tense aftershock sequence, each tremor echoing the power of the one that started it all.

Minson echoed the conclusion, saying the smaller earthquakes were likely aftershocks from the 3.8 magnitude earlier this month.

Clusters of earthquakes often appear in regions with volcanic or geothermal activity, but San Ramon does not fit that profile.

Scientists suggested the tremors could be driven by underground fluids forcing their way through the crust and triggering a series of small faults.

Minson noted that the area’s fault system is intricate, with the Calaveras Fault ending nearby and the movement potentially leaping to the Concord-Green Valley Fault to the east.

‘We think that what’s going on, which makes this like geothermal areas or like volcanic areas, is that there are a lot of fluids migrating through the rocks and opening up little cracks to make a bunch of little earthquakes,’ Minson told SFGATE.

Emily Brodsky, a seismologist at UC Santa Cruz, warned that the recent tremors in San Ramon are puzzling, making it hard for scientists to draw any firm conclusions about what’s really happening beneath the surface.

‘Although it’s the kind of thing you might expect to happen before a big earthquake, we can’t distinguish that from the many, many times that have happened without a big earthquake,’ she told SFGATE. ‘So what do you do with that?’ 

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Why do people keep getting hacked despite new security features? The answer is simple: human error. It’s rarely high-tech hacking; it’s usually a simple mistake. Here are the 11 most common ways users accidentally expose their accounts.

Password habits that make hacking too easy 

Poor password management remains the most common failure in digital security. Weak or compromised passwords provide the entry point for most automated attacks and other hacking-related breaches globally. Mistakes that can get your social media hacked in this category are: 

Mistake 1: Using weak and predictable passwords 

Most people choose passwords they can remember— a fact well known to hackers, therefore, they use programs that run through your publicly available personal details and easy sequences such as: 

• 12345 
• Your pet’s name 
• Your birthday or your partner’s birthday 
• Your favourite artist 
• Etc 

Hackers and cyber criminals prioritise these password options in brute-force and dictionary attacks. 

Fix: Use long random passwords, a password manager would handle remembering them for you, or make use of a passphrase. 

Mistake 2: Reusing the same password everywhere 

The average individual is burdened with remembering multiple passwords for Instagram, X, Facebook, Bumble, etc. This often leads to the dangerous coping mechanism of reusing the same password across multiple accounts.

This practice facilitates credential stuffing, an automated cybercrime technique in which attackers purchase extensive lists of stolen password/username combinations (often obtained from data breaches of small websites) on the dark web. They then use automated bot software to rapidly “stuff” these stolen pairs into login fields across other platforms. 

Fix: Use a single password for each account. 

Common password mistakes and corresponding security risks 

User mistakeUnderlying cause Security risk Consequence Utilising simple passwords Easy to remember, convenient Brute force, dictionary attacks Account compromise Reusing passwords Difficulty in remembering multiple passwords Credential stuffing Widespread account takeover across multiple platforms Storing passwords insecurely Discouraged by the complex procedure Physical or digital theft Compromise of all data 

MFA is designed as an essential second defence layer in case your password gets compromised. It’s a network of multiple verification methods, such as a password combined with a temporary code, a biometric scan, or an app notification, to confirm identity. Mistakes in this category include: 

Mistake 3: Not turning on two-factor authentication 

Two-factor authentication (2FA) significantly reduces the rate of successful account takeovers, providing protection even when a user’s password has been stolen. 

However, adoption remains inconsistent. Users often neglect 2FA due to perceived inconvenience, poor usability, and a general inclination to disregard security recommendations that complicate daily routines. 

Fix: Turn on 2FA everywhere you can and use an authenticator app, not just sms codes. 

Mistake 4: Falling for MFA fatigue (push bomb) 

Hackers have pivoted from attempting to crack the MFA to manipulating human users into bypassing it. To do this, they spam your phone with login approval notifications—the technique is psychological; the goal is to wear down the user’s patience and vigilance, leading them to authorise the login attempt in a moment of frustration or distraction. There are also advanced tricks like 

Ignore any phone calls or communications from any IT specialist asking you to click links, approve a push notification, or type/click a number shown on your screen.  Call the relevant customer support for clarity. Also, if you didn’t try to log in, don’t approve anything. 

Social media platforms are built on a strong foundation of trust between users, brands, and colleagues. Hackers leverage this foundation by crafting compelling, fabricated scenarios to exploit human vulnerabilities. 

Mistake 5: Believing phishing messages or fake alerts 

Phishing attacks on social media are often in the form of targeted impersonation. Hackers create fake accounts mimicking real people, executives, or established brands, often building trust by liking content or joining similar groups before sending a direct, malicious private message. 

• Spear phishing: Hackers use publicly available personal information to craft personalised messages. These messages are designed to promote immediate response. Examples of such messages include: 

1. “Your account will be disabled.” 
2. “We detected unusual activity”
3. “Click here to verify your account” 

Fix: Always verify a message through an official channel—not the link, the number in the message, or the account that sent the message. 

Mistake 6: Trusting fake support accounts on social media 

This is a specialised and growing threat called angler phishing. Hackers exploit customer service interactions on social media platforms such as X, Facebook, and Instagram to steal and gain access to users’ accounts. To do this, hackers monitor public timelines for users’ complaints or questions and rapidly deploy fake customer service accounts to reply. Here is how it works: 

• You post a complaint or ask for help 
• A fake “support” account jumps in 
• They send you a link or DM that looks official 
• You click… your account is gone. 

Users often miss critical red flags, such as a support account being recently created, the number of followers, or a website URL or username that looks suspicious. Also, an account with a blue check on X doesn’t guarantee authenticity; anyone can buy one. 

Fix: Never trust support accounts that message you first. Always contact companies through their actual website or social media accounts.

Many users click “allow” without checking the permissions they’re granting a third-party app or the security risk it poses. These are the ways that granting third-party apps can expose you to hacking: 

Mistake 7: Giving third-party apps too much access 

Some apps ask for far more access than they need. If those apps are ever hacked, hackers can use those permissions to post on your behalf and steal your information. Many third-party apps and games request broad access to a user’s social media data upon installation. 

It is a significant mistake to grant permissions that are not strictly essential for the app’s functionality— such as allowing a simple game to access location data, contact lists, or media. 

Fix: Only give apps the permissions they need. Review your connected apps regularly. 

Mistake 8: Forgetting to remove old app permissions (OAuth) 

The OAuth framework allows third-party services access via an authorisation token without requiring the user’s login credentials. Even if you stop using an app, its access stays active until you revoke it. Changing your passwords doesn’t revoke OAuth access; the tokens remain valid. 

Users mostly forget to perform proactive pruning; the routine review and removal of permissions granted to apps no longer in use. If an app developer abandons support for their application, it becomes outdated and vulnerable to security flaws. 

Fix: Revoke unused app permissions every few months. 

Even with good passwords, a few small habits can undo all your hard work. Mistakes in unsafe connections and device maintenance can create attack pathways that often bypass strong password defences. Case studies include: 

Mistake 9: Using public WiFi without protection 

Using a public WiFi network in unsupervised locations makes users vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, where a hacker intercepts communication between the device and the network. 

Alternatively, a specific risk arises from connecting to “rogue hotspots” or “evil twin” networks. These fake WiFi mimic legitimate names such as Airport WiFi or a hotel network to trick users into connecting. Connecting to an evil twin network allows the hacker to intercept data and steal authentication cookies or session IDs, leading to data theft. 

Fix: Never log in to sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi unless you use an excellent VPN. 

Mistake 10: Staying logged in on shared or public devices 

Leaving social media accounts logged in on shared or public devices, such as library computers, cybercafés, or shared household tablets, grants anyone with physical access immediate unauthorised access to private data and messages, and the ability to impersonate the user. 

Fix: Always log out of shared and public devices. 

Mistake 11: Ignoring software updates 

The single greatest failure in digital device security is repeated neglect or refusal to install timely security patches and software updates for operating systems, browsers, and applications. Hackers often exploit outdated software vulnerabilities that developers have already addressed. An unpatched system can be easily exploited to introduce various forms of malware, including keyloggers, spyware, or ransomware. The malware targets the theft of social media information, authentication tokens, or session data. 

Fix: Turn on automatic updates and forget about it. 

Table: Top 5 user mistakes and how to protect yourself against harm 

To make it easier to protect your Instagram, X, Facebook, and other social media accounts against a hack, read and implement the following: 

Common user mistakes Consequences How to minimise risk Password reuse Credential stuffing, automated ATOUse a password manager; use unique passwords for all accounts Ignoring and disabling MFAFailure leads to full compromise Enable MFA, don’t use push sms, use key-matching or hardware keys Falling for phishing Private data theft, malware injection  Verify sender, contact sender via known official channels only Excessive third-party permission Data leak, malware attack, account abuse Periodically review and revoke unused app permissions Neglecting software updates Known vulnerabilities exploitation Enable automatic updates for operating system, browser, and core applications 

In conclusion, social media account breaches are rarely caused by a single technical vulnerability; rather, they are a result of preventable user behaviours. Practices such as reusing weak or predictable passwords across multiple platforms significantly increase the risk of compromise. Effective protection, therefore, demands more than basic awareness— it requires a proactive and disciplined approach to account security. Users must remain vigilant, avoiding links from unknown sources and exercising caution even with messages from familiar contacts, as compromised accounts are often used to spread malicious content. By adopting consistent security habits, individuals can greatly reduce their exposure to online threats.

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Nick Donahue’s parents were in the business of building houses, which means he spent his childhood hearing about the U.S. construction industry. His dad built homes for major developers, and his mom sold to big-box builders across the East Coast.

Donahue was particularly interested in why designing a custom home cost a fortune and took forever, and why most people had to settle for whatever the developers were offering that year. So when he dropped out of NC State and moved to the Bay Area, he eventually did what you might expect a college drop-out to do in San Francisco: he started a company to fix it.

That effort, Atmos, went through Y Combinator, raised $20 million from investors like Khosla Ventures and Sam Altman, and tried to use tech to streamline the custom home design process. It had designers on staff who worked with clients while software handled the back-end. It grew to 40 people and $7 million in revenue, and they designed $200 million worth of houses, and built 50.

All that sounds great until you hear Donahue describe it. “It became this extremely operational business,” he told me on a Zoom call last week. “Kind of like a glamorized architecture firm.”

It never quite replaced the humans, in other words. Then the Federal Reserve started jacking up interest rates, and suddenly clients who’d spent months designing their dream homes couldn’t afford them anymore. Nine months ago, Donahue shut it down.

Here’s where most founders would take a break, maybe write a few LinkedIn posts about what they learned. Instead, Donahue regrouped and started another company.

Drafted is now nearly five months old, and it’s everything Atmos wasn’t. No designers on staff. No operational complexity. Just AI-driven software that generates residential floor plans and exterior designs in minutes. You tell it what you want – bedrooms, square footage, whatever – and it spits out five designs. Don’t like them? You can generate five more and keep going until something clicks.

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Right now, Drafted has six employees, four from Atmos, and it’s raised $1.65 million at a $35 million post-money valuation from Bill Clerico, Stripe’s Patrick Collison, Jack Altman, Josh Buckley, and Warriors player Moses Moody.

Clerico led the round because he’d also been an angel investor in Atmos, and had watched Donahue will houses into existence despite rising interest rates. When Donahue told him about the new company over coffee, Clerico didn’t need convincing. “Nick, please take our money,” he apparently said repeatedly over a two week period until Donahue agreed.

The pitch is straightforward. Right now, if you want a custom home, you’ve got two options: hire an architect (expensive, slow), or buy a template plan online (cheap, inflexible). Drafted sits in the middle, offering customization at template prices. A complete plan costs between $1,000 and $2,000. 

The economics work because Drafted built its own AI model, trained on real house plans from homes that were built and passed permitting. Practical constraints are considered, and Donahue says the specialized model costs almost nothing to run: two-tenths of a penny per floor plan, compared to 13 cents for general-purpose AI.

Drafted only does single-story homes right now, but multi-story and lot-specific features are coming. The bigger question is whether there’s actually a market for this.

The numbers aren’t huge. Of the million new homes built in America each year, only 300,000 are custom designed. Most people buy existing homes or pick from whatever tract homes the big builders are offering. 

Clerico’s argument is that this is a chicken-and-egg problem. Make custom design cheap and fast enough, and many more people will do it. Donahue compares it to Uber, which didn’t just replace taxis but made on-demand car service something that nearly everyone uses. “There’s really no reason in the future why everyone shouldn’t have a totally custom designed home,” Clerico says.

Or maybe most Americans will keep being price-conscious buyers who take what’s available. The housing market has a long track record of rebuffing disruption.

There’s also the “moat” question. Asked what’s to keep an LLM player or even another vertical player from buying similar data sets and creating the same product, Donahue talks about brand, pointing to his friend David Holz, who founded the video and image generating AI outfit, Midjourney. Despite the plethora of new image-generation models being launched, Midjourney’s usage barely moves, Holz has told Donahue; its customers keep coming back to make AI images.

Similarly, Donahue thinks if they move fast enough and please enough customers, Drafted can become the place for people to design houses.

Time will tell. Since opening to the public, the outfit has begun seeing about 1,000 daily users. Not huge numbers, but they show steady growth for such a young product.

In the meantime, Donahue has something pretty valuable that could give Drafted an edge: deep knowledge of a problem and the insights gleaned from taking a crack at it once already.

Pictured above, the Drafted crew, left to right: Martynas Pocius, Albert Chiu, Martina Cheru, Carson Poole, Stephen Chou, and Nick Donahue

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