The Long View

A new explorer of the internet's origins is drawing millions of views, arguing that the underlying technology came close to being unbuildable. It recounts how researchers had to solve problems in packet switching, networking protocols and long-distance data transmission that many thought infeasible at the time, before the modern internet could emerge from early research networks.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will keenly hear views on long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax and securities transaction tax (STT) matters. Her comments come amid growing pressure from investors and market participants in India over taxation of capital gains, and the topic is drawing wide attention ahead of further fiscal policy discussions.

New imagery from NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, covering sols 5035 to 5041, has been published in high-resolution interactive formats. The images, credited to NASA, JPL-Caltech and French partners CNES, CNRS and IRAP, are available through GIGAmacro and Gigapan viewers, letting the public zoom in on details of the Martian surface. Space enthusiasts are sharing and examining the latest views from the long-running Curiosity rover.

Microdramas — the short, vertical, serialized shows built for phones — are being examined for a new viewing pattern: audiences may be watching them in long sessions, much like traditional television. Industry writers are asking whether the format, originally designed for quick, on-the-go consumption, is evolving into a mainstream TV-like habit, with implications for how the genre is produced, packaged and monetized.

Omega chief executive Raynald Aeschlimann has given an interview to Forbes covering the Swiss watchmaker's long association with James Bond, its global retail strategy, and his outlook for the brand's future. The conversation touches on how the luxury watch industry is adapting amid changing consumer habits and what lies ahead for one of the sector's best-known names.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino's pay has been made public, with reports putting his salary at 17.6 million Swiss francs. The figure, revealed by Svenska Dagbladet and widely picked up across sports media including Fotbollskanalen, is drawing attention because FIFA had long kept the organisation's leadership compensation out of public view, prompting debate over transparency in world football's governing body.

Ukraine targeted a Yandex data center, according to reports circulating widely online. The facility, belonging to Russia's largest tech company, is said to have been hit in a drone strike, though details on damage and casualties remain limited. Commentators are debating whether the site had military links, as Kyiv argues Russian digital infrastructure supports the war effort, while others view the strike as an escalation against civilian-adjacent targets.

An artist has completed a painting that took roughly a full month to finish, having started on 14 September. The delay was partly due to illness, they said. The work is part of an ongoing '100 memories' series, and the artist notes that the first piece in the series took only about an hour, expressing concern that painting times are growing far too long. Earlier stages of the piece can be viewed on their page.

JPMorganChase has published remarks on energy and climate leadership in a changing world, framing how the bank views the energy transition amid shifting geopolitical and market conditions. The piece positions climate and energy policy as central to long-term business and economic strategy. Specific commitments or new figures have not been reported, so the practical impact of the statement remains to be seen.

Vultures ('buitres') are a trending search term in Spain. Coverage such as National Geographic España's piece 'Los buitres que amamos' highlights the scavenger birds' ecological role and public affection for them, a notable shift for animals long viewed negatively. Specific news driving the spike is not detailed in available coverage.

Researchers have published a 30-year, national-scale analysis identifying recurrent and persistent landslides across the Himalaya using satellite imagery and deep learning. The study, appearing in a Nature journal, provides long-term records of how landslide hazards persist and shift in mountain landscapes, offering a new baseline for hazard assessment in the region.

A New York Times piece recalls that two decades ago, then-NBA commissioner David Stern told Steve Kerr there was no way the league would expand to Las Vegas. The anecdote has resurfaced as the NBA weighs expansion, with Las Vegas now widely viewed as a leading candidate for a new franchise, a reversal of the league's long-standing position on gambling-friendly markets.

Actor John Goodman has opened up about his long film career, revealing two movies he says he 'probably shouldn't have done.' The veteran star, known for roles in The Big Lebowski and the Rosanne/Conners universe, reflected candidly on projects he now views as missteps. Entertainment Weekly reported the comments, and fans have been weighing in with guesses about which films he meant.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area to answer five questions about the current state of the NBA and where the league is headed. The interview covers his views on the game today and the trends shaping its future, drawing on his long coaching experience.

A new national survey suggests the growing number of payment options, from credit cards to buy-now-pay-later services and digital wallets, may make it harder for middle-income families to track their overall finances. Researchers warn that fragmented spending across multiple methods could leave households without a clear view of their money, complicating budgeting and long-term financial planning.

Sustainable Views argues that companies must treat climate adaptation as a core business priority, not just a sustainability add-on. The piece frames preparing for physical climate risks as essential to protecting operations, supply chains and long-term value, rather than a cost. It reflects a growing push in corporate and financial circles to plan for climate impacts already under way, alongside efforts to cut emissions.

German-language fantasy writers are running a recurring community prompt series, PhantastikPrompts, and the latest question asks which cover illustrator they would most like to work with. One participant answered that the name does not matter as long as the result looks good, responding with a wink emoji. The exchange sits within the bookstodon and autorenleben circles, where authors regularly trade views on cover art and the visual side of publishing fantasy and dark fantasy literature.

New research reported by News-Medical suggests that differences in vocal tract anatomy may have influenced how languages evolved around the world, meaning the sounds of human speech are partly shaped by biology rather than culture alone. The finding challenges the long-held assumption that all human vocal tracts are effectively identical, and could reshape how linguists study language diversity globally.

Cristiano Ronaldo remains the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, and Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are increasingly viewed as the players capable of eventually breaking his record. Discussion centres on how far the two forwards are from Ronaldo's tally and whether their current pace in European competition can put the milestone within reach in the coming seasons.

A piece attributed to Rich Hickey, the software designer best known for creating the Clojure programming language, makes the argument that artificial intelligence should not be described as a tool. The essay is drawing attention among developers and technologists, who are debating whether that framing changes how AI systems should be built, evaluated and trusted. Hickey's views on software design have long carried weight in programming communities.

Amazon's Prime Video has added the revived Skins Game to a 15-hour block of live sports programming it will stream on Black Friday. The exhibition golf event, returning after a long hiatus, joins football and other live coverage as the streaming service builds a full day of holiday viewing and continues its push into live sports rights.

The bulk spirits sector is being reassessed as today's trading environment changes how drinks industry players view sourcing and supply. Global Drinks Intel's Category Intel analysis examines how shifting market conditions have upended long-held opinions on buying spirits in bulk rather than in bottle, with implications for producers, blenders and private-label suppliers worldwide.

Researchers analysing natural 15N15N isotope abundances report that nitrogen is leaving soils faster than previously believed, challenging the long-held view that soil nitrogen largely stays in place. The isotopic evidence points to losses that current estimates may have underestimated, with implications for fertiliser use, agriculture and the global nitrogen cycle.

Netflix has laid off around 6% of its workforce as the streaming company confronts slowing subscriber growth. The New York Times reported the cuts, which mark a significant retrenchment for a company long associated with rapid expansion. The move reflects broader pressure on streaming services as pandemic-era viewing gains fade and competition intensifies.