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A 600-kilometer (373-mile) serpentine scar on the surface of Mars has been seen in new photos released by the European Space Agency with more detail than ever before. There are many blemishes and scars on the Red Planet, and Aganippe Fossa is one of them. It is a ditch-like groove with steep walls; in fact, Aganippe Fossa is a “graben.”

“We’re still unsure of how and when Aganippe Fossa came to be, but it seems likely that it was formed as magma rising underneath the colossal mass of the Tharsis volcanoes caused Mars’s crust to stretch and crack,” the European Space Agency said in a recent press statement.

Much as with other planetary names, “Aganippe Fossa” has its origins in Greek mythology. Aganippe was a Greek nymph connected to a spring at the foot of Mount Helicon. She was the daughter of the river Termessos. Aganippe Fossa is located at the foot of Arsia Mons, one of Mars’ biggest volcanoes, as a tribute to the source of its name. “Fossa” is a long, narrow depression on the surface of a planet or moon. It comes from the Latin word meaning ditch or trench.

Much as with other planetary names, “Aganippe Fossa” has its origins in Greek mythology. Aganippe was a Greek nymph connected to a spring at the foot of Mount Helicon. She was the daughter of the river Termessos. Aganippe Fossa is located at the foot of Arsia Mons, one of Mars’ biggest volcanoes, as a tribute to the source of its name. “Fossa” is a long, narrow depression on the surface of a planet or moon. It comes from the Latin word meaning ditch or trench.

ESA’s Mars Express, Europe’s first mission to the Red Planet, which has been orbiting the planet since 2003, is responsible for the just released photographs. Despite the loss of its lander, Beagle 2, the orbiter is still exploring Mars globally.

From space, a rainbow landscape appears like a swath divided in half by a serpentine, segmented canyon.

The Aganippe Fossa’s terrain

According to an ESA press release, these terrains are typical of the ring-shaped “aureole” of Arsia Mons, which is a 100,000 square kilometer (38,610 square mile) disk that surrounds the volcano’s base and may have been formed by ancient glaciers. “Intriguingly,” according to the release, “this aureole has only built up on the northwestern flank of the volcano, likely due to prevailing winds from the opposite direction controlling where ice settled over time.”

The scientists also describe the windblown dust and sand dynamics of this part of Mars, where darker material is deposited on lighter ground to produce “zebra-like” patterns on the surface. “The surface here also shows evidence of lava flows, dating from when the volcano was active,” the scientists wrote.

Among the many classical albedo characteristics on Mars is Aganippe Fossa, which is defined as the light and dark features visible from Earth even with a telescope. Astronomers now have unrivaled views of the planet’s surface and fascinating topography thanks to space-based orbiters.

“The mission has been immensely productive over its lifetime, creating a far fuller and more accurate understanding of our planetary neighbor than ever before,” scientists from the European Space Agency said.

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Technology

Apple has given the go-ahead for Fortnite developer Epic Games’ third-party app marketplace to open in the EU, following several denials. Epic Games said earlier this year that it intended to bring its main game, Fortnite, back to iOS in Europe, as permitted under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

But, Epic Games said on X (previously Twitter) on Friday that Apple had twice rejected their request because of worries that their Games Store bore too much resemblance to Apple’s App Store. After then, Epic declared it would refer the issue to European regulators for assessment.

Apple approved the third-party marketplace app later that day, provided that Epic Games released an update with the appropriate fixes.

Posts on X claim that Epic Games first claimed Apple had rejected their proposal due to specifics like where its “Install” button for games was placed, which Apple claimed was too similar to its own “Get” button. Additionally, it said that because of how similar their “in-app purchase” name was to Apple’s, it was rejected.

According to Epic, it is employing naming patterns that are common to well-known app shops on several platforms.

The company added that it has communicated its concerns to the European Commission and described the denial as “arbitrary, obstructive, and in violation of the DMA.”

On Friday afternoon, Apple announced that the Epic Sweden AB Marketplace app had been approved, but the developer would still need to make the necessary adjustments. According to Apple, Epic Games had committed to refraining from creating a confusing resemblance between its Games Store and the App Store, as per the terms of Section 2.3(G) of the developer agreement. Apple observed that, with the exception of the download button’s appearance and wording, Epic had largely adhered to this rule.

Apple added that the Fortnite app from Epic Games has already received approval.

Epic’s case serves as a prominent illustration of just how strict Apple will be regarding the new regulations, which for the first time allow third-party software shops on iOS. Rejections that are too frequent may also put off other developers who might be keen to try their own distribution routes.

Since Apple was designated a “gatekeeper” by EU law, the tech giant must now let third-party app shops on the iPhone in accordance with the DMA’s new regulations. Instead of paying Apple for the use of its technology, developers can choose to adopt a new set of DMA rules that will lower their commissions on in-app purchases made on the App Store. However, this procedure still requires costs under a convoluted new framework.

For years, Epic and Apple have been at odds about how to reach Apple’s iPhone users without having to pay commissions for in-app purchases. The corporation brought the matter to American courts, where it was eventually unable to establish Apple’s monopoly status and lost on most fronts.

However, in response to Epic’s persistent complaints, Apple temporarily canceled the game developer’s EU developer account until EU regulators intervened once more. Since then, Epic Games has promised to introduce its Games Store and release Fortnite on iOS and iPad in the European Union.

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Business

Forgetting to renew your motor insurance can be a stressful experience, but it’s a common oversight that can happen to anyone. Whether due to a busy schedule or simple forgetfulness, missing the renewal deadline for your car insurance doesn’t have to spell disaster. Here’s what you need to do to manage the situation effectively and ensure your vehicle is adequately protected moving forward.

Understanding the implications of missing car insurance renewal

Before diving into the steps to rectify the situation, it’s important to understand the implications of driving without valid motor car insurance:

  • Legal consequences: In most jurisdictions, driving without car insurance is illegal and can result in hefty fines, license suspension, or even vehicle impoundment.
  • Financial risk: Without insurance, you bear the full financial responsibility for any damage or injury caused in an accident. This can include repair costs, medical expenses, and legal fees.
  • Loss of No-Claim Bonus (NCB): Missing the renewal deadline can result in the loss of your accumulated No-Claim Bonus, which means higher premiums in the future.
  • A gap in coverage: Any incident occurring during the lapse period will not be covered by your insurer, leaving you vulnerable to significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Steps to take if you missed renewing your car insurance

1. Contact your insurer immediately

The first step is to contact your current insurer as soon as you realise your policy has lapsed. Explain the situation and inquire about the possibility of reinstating your policy.

2. Avoid driving until coverage is restored

It’s crucial to avoid driving your vehicle until your insurance is reinstated. Driving without insurance exposes you to legal and financial risks.

3. Review your current policy

Take this opportunity to review your current policy. Assess whether it still meets your needs or if adjustments are necessary.

4. Check for any penalties or fees

In some cases, renewing a lapsed policy may incur additional fees or penalties. Clarify these with your insurer to understand the total cost involved.

5. Understand the renewal process

Ensure you understand the steps involved and provide any required documents promptly. Some may allow online renewal, while others might require a visit to their office or a phone call.

Preventing future lapses in car insurance renewal

Once you’ve managed to renew your car insurance, take steps to ensure you don’t miss the renewal deadline in the future:

  • Set reminders: Use digital tools such as calendar apps, reminders or alarms to alert you well in advance of your policy’s expiry date.
  • Opt for automatic renewal: If possible opt for automatic renewal options. This can ensure continuous coverage without the need to remember renewal dates.
  • Regular policy review: Make it a habit to review your car insurance policy regularly.
  • Maintain a relationship with your insurer: Keeping in regular contact with your insurer can be beneficial.

Conclusion

Missing your car insurance renewal is an inconvenient but manageable issue. By acting swiftly and contacting your insurer, you can reinstate your coverage with minimal hassle. Remember to avoid driving without insurance to mitigate legal and financial risks. Going forward, take proactive measures such as setting reminders and opting for automatic renewals to prevent future lapses.

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Lifestyle

A recent study reveals that consuming seven important meals consistently can help lead to a 70s free of disease.

In comparison to those who didn’t, the individuals who followed these dietary components the closest starting in their forties were in excellent health.

Less than one in ten persons were able to remain free of sickness, maintain good physical and mental health, and have the capacity to think, learn, and remember properly until they were 70 years old or older, which highlights the significance of eating a balanced diet.

The researchers conclude that, in light of their findings, a long-term objective of dietary recommendations should be to promote general healthy aging.

The Components that Win

Higher consumption of unsaturated fats, wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy was linked to a higher chance of healthy aging, according to the study.

The impact was also significant: the study discovered that persons who adopted a healthy diet starting in their forties had a 43–84 percent higher chance of being physically and intellectually well-functioning at age 70 than those who did not.

Consuming higher amounts of trans fat, sodium, whole meats, red meat, and processed meats has been linked to a decreased risk of aging healthily.

The study’s focus on healthy aging, which the researchers describe as the capacity to live independently and experience a high quality of life as we age rather than just the absence of sickness, makes it distinctive, according to the researchers.

“Traditionally, research and derived dietary guidelines have focused on preventing chronic diseases like heart disease,” stated Anne-Julie Tessier, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the US.

“Our study provides evidence for dietary recommendations to consider not only disease prevention but also promoting overall healthy ageing as a long-term goal.”

How the Scientists Collected the Data for their Study

The conclusions are based on information gathered over a 30-year period from over 100,000 people.

Participants in the study gave information on their food through questionnaires every four years and were at least 39 years old and free of chronic disorders at enrollment.

About half of the study’s participants had passed away by the time 2016 rolled around, and 9.2 percent had lived to be 70 years of age or older without experiencing chronic illness and in good physical, mental, or cognitive health.

One particularly noteworthy discovery, according to Dr. Tessier, was the correlation between a healthy ageing risk of 68 percent and the planetary health diet.

 She clarified, “This diet is based on the EAT Lancet Commission’s report which emphasises fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, plant proteins and healthy fats from sustainable sources.

“The fact that it emerged as one of the leading dietary patterns associated with healthy ageing is particularly interesting because it supports that we can eat a diet that may benefit both our health and the planet.”

The results were presented at Nutrition 2024, the premier annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. They showed that, even after accounting for physical activity and other variables known to affect health, there were still significant relationships between diet and healthy aging.

A Well-Known Tale

The results are positive but not unexpected.

Numerous constituents are present in the Mediterranean diet, which has been repeatedly demonstrated to reduce the likelihood of chronic illnesses like heart disease and even prevent cognitive deterioration.

According to a recent study, cancer survivors who follow the popular diet plan may even have a lower chance of dying from their disease.

The findings indicate that individuals with any kind of tumor who adhered to the Mediterranean diet closely in the year before they were enrolled in the trial had a lower risk of cardiovascular death and a higher life expectancy than those who did not.

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Science

In order to reduce the quantity of debris from the spacecraft’s trunk portion that touches down, NASA and SpaceX are investigating ways to modify the Dragon spacecraft’s reentry procedure.

Debris from Dragon spacecraft trunk parts, which are removed from the capsule prior to the capsule performing a deorbit burn, has been discovered on land on multiple occasions. These consist of the Ax-3 Crew Dragon, which crashed in Saskatchewan in February; the Crew-7 trunk, pieces of which were discovered in North Carolina in May; and wreckage from the Crew-1 Crew Dragon trunk, which was discovered in Australia in 2022.

A SpaceX representative minimized the occurrence as a single incident in August 2022, not long after the Crew-1 wreckage was discovered in Australia. At a NASA briefing, SpaceX’s senior director of human spaceflight projects, Benji Reed, stated, “This was all within the expected analyzed space of what can happen.” “Nonetheless, just like we do for launches and any return, we look very closely at the data, we learn everything that we can and we always look for ways we can improve things.”

Now that more debris has been seen, NASA and SpaceX agree that changes are required. According to recent agency statements, preliminary studies predicted that the trunk would burn completely upon return. According to NASA, “NASA and SpaceX will continue exploring additional solutions as we learn from the discovered debris,”

Following a Starliner briefing prior to the mission’s flight on June 6, NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich stated in an interview, “We did analysis back before Demo-2 and clearly the models don’t deal with the trunk very well,” According to him, the trunk’s composite components are probably to blame. “It’s almost like a thermal protection system.”

As a solution, he said NASA and SpaceX are considering altering the deorbiting protocols. As of right now, the orbit burn of the capsule occurs before the trunk is released. Accordingly, the trunk may stay in orbit for several months before reentering the atmosphere without permission.

Rather than that, Stich stated that engineers are looking on releasing the trunk after the deorbit burn. This would allow for greater control over the trunk’s reentry point, guaranteeing that any debris that makes it through will land in an area free of people.

He stated, “We’re in the process of doing that work right now,” “I would love to have something in place next year if we can, but we’ve got to do all the right analysis. We’ve got make sure that it’s safe for the crew.”.

The difficulties with the alternate strategy are finding the optimum way to separate the trunk after the fire and using more propellant to complete the deorbit burn with the trunk still attached. According to Stich, engineers are considering a few strategies that would cause the trunk to detach from the capsule upon reentry, allowing any debris to fall into the ocean.

Not only have the Dragon trunks raised concerns about the possibility of falling debris, but a portion of the ISS battery rack made an uncontrolled reentry on March 8 has also raised concerns. A roughly three-quarters-kilogram chunk of that rack made it through reentry and struck a Naples, Florida, home. There were no injuries when the rubble crashed through the house’s roof.

The legal company Cranfill Sumner LLP declared on June 21st that it has submitted a claim to NASA for an approximate amount of $80,000 in damages resulting from the debris. The petition, which several media outlets mistakenly characterized as a lawsuit, is actually a claim made under the Federal Torts Claim Act, and NASA has six months to respond to the claim.

The family’s attorney, Mica Nguyen Worthy, filed the claim on their behalf. He pointed out that although the United States would have been “absolutely liable” for damages had the debris struck another nation, this liability does not apply in this case because the damage occurred within the country.

The statement read, “Here, the U.S. government, through NASA, has an opportunity to set the standard or ‘set a precedent’ as to what responsible, safe, and sustainable space operations ought to look like,” In her words, paying the claim “would send a strong signal to both other governments and private industries that such victims should be compensated regardless of fault.”

Some perceive a chance among the falling pieces. The Glamping Collective, an upscale camping destination, posted images of the wreckage of the Crew-7 trunk on their website. On its website, it said, “We invite you to come experience this yourself!” and mentioned that the wreckage will be visible at the beginning of a hiking trail.

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Science

China has successfully recovered over two kilograms of lunar material from the moon’s far side, preparing it for upcoming deep space missions.

On June 25, the Chang’e-6 reentry capsule made a successful return to Earth, capping out a 53-day mission. The anticipated recovery of the capsule took place in the plains of Inner Mongolia’s Siziwang Banner.

After being transported to Beijing, the capsule was opened on June 26 in order to extract the sample canister. On Friday, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) declared that 1,935.3 grams of material were included.

The mission’s goal was to gather up to two thousand grams. 1,731 grams were gathered by the Chang’e-5 near-side mission in 2020. Drilling problems that were encountered during that mission affected the quantity collected.

The sample container will then be opened by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ National Astronomical Observatories. After that, NAOC will pack and prepare the samples it has collected through drilling and surface retrieval for storage.

After six months, applications for samples are anticipated to be accepted from domestic scientific research institutions. Two years later, samples will be made available for use in other countries in accordance with CNSA guidelines for managing lunar samples.

Spokesman for the CNSA Ge Ping said that compared to earlier lunar samples, these ones are stickier and more compressed.

Mysteries of the South Pole-Aitken

The samples are expected to “address questions about the multiple lunar nearside–far side dichotomies and to provide new insights into both the early impact history of the Solar System and the geological evolution of the moon,” according to a 2023 paper on the potential landing spot.

Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission, stated at a press conference in Beijing on June 27 that “the samples collected from the South Pole-Aitken Basin may be very different from the samples collected from the front side, which is conducive to a more comprehensive understanding of the geological evolution history of the moon.”

It remains to be seen how revealing the samples will be. “There is no question that new insights into the nature of the moon’s evolution will be provided by the return of the far side samples. And the fact that they have just successfully touched down on Earth is a tremendous accomplishment for China,” University of Notre Dame professor and lunar scientist Clive Neal told.

Nonetheless, Neal points out that the landing spot is among the moon’s oldest terranes. Therefore, it is expected that later geologic processing may dilute, obfuscate, and disperse debris from the South Pole-Aitken basin impact—a large basin formed by a massive, ancient impact that is of significant scientific importance.

“Whether they will unequivocally demonstrate the age of the South Pole Aitken basin or define the first mantle sample returned from the moon remains to be seen, but these samples will reveal secrets in the coming decades, just as the Apollo samples have done.”

Upcoming Deep Space Missions

The second Tianwen mission, according to CNSA officials, is scheduled to launch in 2025. Tianwen-2 is a combined comet rendezvous and asteroid sample return mission. As of right now, May 2025, a Long March 3B rocket is supposed to launch it.

After launching, the mission will return to Earth around 2.5 years later with samples taken from the near-Earth asteroid 469219 KamoŻoalewa. After delivering samples, the spacecraft will target comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the main belt.

The fact that the third and fourth Tianwen missions will launch around 2030 was also reaffirmed. These are the Tianwen-4 Jupiter mission and the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return. Currently, the latter will consist of a smaller spacecraft that will fly by Uranus and a solar-powered Jupiter orbiter.

China will also carry out significant national scientific and technology initiatives and programs in the aerospace industry, according to Bian Zhigang, the deputy administrator of the CNSA. Heavy-lift launchers and reusable spacecraft are two examples of these. Furthermore, China wants to boost fundamental research, quicken the development of important core technologies, and encourage creative advancements in space science, space technology, and space applications.

Upcoming Lunar Missions, Collaboration

China is now gearing up for the Chang’e-7 lunar south pole mission, which is anticipated to focus on Shackleton crater. The Queqiao-2 relay satellite, which made the Chang’e-6 mission possible, will support it.

In late 2023, CNSA released a call for applications for the Chang’e-8 lunar south pole mission scheduled for 2028. The payload capacity for international collaboration is 200 kg. On Thursday, CNSA said that it had received over thirty letters of intent to work together on the mission.

When asked about collaboration with the US, Bian stated that the US should eliminate obstacles. In particular, he brought up the so-called Wolf Amendment.

“If the U.S. side sincerely hopes to carry out normal space exchanges with China, it must take practical measures to remove the obstacles. As for China’s future space plans, they will be carried out at China’s own pace for peaceful use. We’re always eager to develop equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in an open and inclusive attitude,”  Bian stated.

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Technology

The newest smart glasses from Solos have independent eyes. The first smart glasses with GPT-4o and generative artificial intelligence (AI) that can interpret visual input have been introduced by the business as AirGo Vision.

So why is ChatGPT necessary for glasses? Solos claims that the AirGo Vision will offer real-time information based on visual input, such as identifying people, things, or landmarks; providing walking instructions; determining the price of something; and more, in place of requiring users to use a service like Google Lens on their phones to search for anything.

Users can take pictures with their hands free to request information. Examples can be inquiring where to buy a certain item or looking up the next step in a recipe.

The glasses will respond to several inquiries simultaneously. In Solos’ press release, a sample search query is as follows: “What am I looking at, and how much does it cost? Is there another place where the pricing is lower?”

Because the AirGo Vision’s frames are interchangeable, you may choose whether you want smart glasses with or without a front-facing camera.

You will be alerted to an alert by a subtle flash from an integrated LED notification light. According to Solos, visual alerts could be helpful for users who could have hearing loss, in calm settings where someone has turned off notifications, and in busy environments where notifications could be overlooked.

There are more smart glasses made by Solos that use AI besides the AirGo Vision. At CES 2024, the business debuted the Solos AirGo3 smart glasses with ChatGPT. AirGo Vision glasses allow you to search for information using visual input, while the Solos AirGo3 uses voice to enable communication using ChatGPT.

The AirGo Vision will go on sale later this year. Three different kinds of LED-only frames with an MSRP of $249.99 each are scheduled for release in July.

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Technology

Google revealed on Wednesday that it is adding five new features to the Chrome browser for mobile devices, all of which are intended to improve the search experience. Google is seeing more competition from startups like Arc. These include trending search ideas, live sports cards for fans, updated address bars for simpler navigation, new shortcuts for local search results, and more customized search recommendations based on users’ browsing preferences. The features will be available soon for iOS and Android smartphones.

One of the new features is Chrome Actions, which makes it easier for users to complete various actions without having to navigate to the settings. Users will now be able to search for a local business and instantly access shortcut buttons like “Call,” “Directions,” and “Reviews” when the feature makes its way to local search results.

Google is planning to release an iOS version of this later this fall, but it is currently available in Chrome for Android smartphones.

Trending searches, which were formerly exclusive to Android smartphones, is another helpful tool. At last, Google is adding trending search recommendations to the iOS Chrome address bar, enabling users to view the most popular queries throughout Google Search.

In order to notify users when their preferred sports team is playing and to automatically update users with the most recent scores and highlights from previous games, Google also included live sports cards to Chrome’s Discover Feed on mobile devices. By choosing the three-dot menu in the Chrome mobile app, users can alter the feature.

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Business

Over 550,000 F-150 trucks are being recalled by Ford in the US due to a problem that might cause the transmission to abruptly and unexpectedly change into first gear at any speed.

The gearboxes on these vehicles have six speeds. First gear is normally only engaged at very low speeds, thus putting the truck in first gear abruptly when moving quickly could cause it to slow down quickly or perhaps lead the driver to lose control.

The trucks in question are 2014 model year older models. However, Ford became aware of the issue with these specific trucks in February of this year after receiving several reports of 2014 F-150s abruptly downshifting at the incorrect moment.

According to Ford spokeswoman Maria Buczkowski, a malfunction alert light in the truck’s gauge cluster may turn on before that. In certain instances, the issue could be resolved quickly and the truck would keep operating regularly. In other situations, the transmission could not function normally again until the truck is turned off and back on.

Ford recalled another 1.2 million F-150s from model years 2011 through 2013 in 2019 due to the same problem. A signal loss between a speed sensor and the control module that manages the automatic transmission is the cause of the issue.

Ford dealers will update the trucks’ control module software at no cost to the owner in order to resolve the issue. In a few days, Ford will begin sending letters to the owners of the implicated trucks.

Within the next three months, a new software update to address the 2014 vehicles will be available, according to Buczkowski.

Call Ford customer support at 866-436-7332 if you have any questions or concerns regarding recall number 24S37.

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Technology

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg stated that Apple was not aiming to integrate Meta’s AI models, despite the Wall Street Journal reporting days earlier that the two companies were in negotiations about doing so.

There were reportedly brief discussions between Apple and Meta back in March over the potential for a partnership. At this time, Apple was in discussions with several businesses to investigate the possibility of integrating their models with their products.

But due to privacy concerns, the business abandoned the plan to install Meta’s AI models on iPhones, according to the article. The source also pointed out that Apple’s reputation will not benefit much from a partnership with the social networking giant, because the Cupertino-based business has consistently chastised Meta’s privacy policies.

Apple unveiled its own AI feature set earlier this month under the Apple Intelligence moniker. Additionally, it disclosed a collaboration with OpenAI to enable iPhone users to utilize ChatGPT for specific inquiries.

Apple has stated that it is open to integrating various AI models with its devices, thus this agreement is not exclusive. The corporation announced at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) that it will collaborate with Google to roll out Gemini.

Even while Meta may not have the luxury of directly integrating with millions of devices, the business will rely on its own apps, which collectively have billions of users across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger. India is the company’s largest global market, and on Monday it made its Meta AI chatbot available to consumers there.

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