German mobile phone users to troubleshoot last coverage dead spots
DUSSELDORF: Mobile phone owners across Germany are urged in the coming days to support an initiative to locate and report the last dead spots in network reception.
Organised by the federal, state and local governments, the first nationwide mobile phone measurement week is to start on Monday and run until next Sunday.
Citizens should use the Federal Network Agency's free broadband measurement app to help close the last of the infamous gaps in coverage that have long frustrated callers and Internet users.
"Together we will create an up-to-date picture of network availability – and thus provide a database for better mobile coverage overall," said Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger.
Germany's mobile phone networks have improved significantly in recent years, but the last spots of poor coverage remain in both urban and rural areas.
Last year, a mobile phone measurement week of this kind was already organised in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. – dpa
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Growing plants in water: Which ones work best, how to care for them
You can grow many houseplants in water rather than soil. – Photo: Zacharie Scheurer/dpa Plants that grow in water don't require soil and alongside being attractive, they also improve the indoor climate. They live in glass containers of water, with the fluid providing additional moisture that is beneficial for humans, counteracting the dry air found in many heated homes. How to select the plant for you, plus tips on where to keep them and how best to care for them. Which plants can you grow in water? You don't need a special aquatic plant, you can grow many classic houseplants this way too, says Germany's agrarian industry association (IVA). The plants just need to be able to tolerate a lot of moisture and no tbe sensitive to waterlogging. You also need plants with a high root density for maximum nutrient absorption. The following are recommended as plants to grow in water : Monstera Schefflera Anthurium Ficus Benjamini Philodendron From house plant to aquatic plants or hydrophyte: A classic is the lucky bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana). You can find rootless specimens in specialist shops. However, you can also transform a houseplant with a root ball into an aquatic plant if you follow this step-by-step guide: Proper preparation: Do not water the plant for a few days before you repot it. Remove soil: Next, carefully take the plant out of its pot, thoroughly shake the soil off the roots, and rinse with lukewarm water. Choose a container: Place your plant in a clean glass container filled with water. Make sure its leaves do not dip into the water. A curved container is ideal. Semi-shaded location and minimal care Aquatic plants feel most comfortable in a semi-shaded location with indirect light. Too much sunlight harms their roots. To keep the plants algae-free, it is better to avoid direct light and heat. Aquatic plants grow very slowly and require little care. However, change the water every one to two weeks. It is best to use fresh tap water for this. If the tap water is too hard, mineral water is a good alternative. For optimal nutrient supply, the water should be enriched with just a few drops of a suitable liquid fertiliser, such as for green or houseplants, according to the association. Tip for longevity: The IVA recommends cultivating young cuttings or offshoots of houseplants in water. That allows the plants to develop roots in the water from the start which helps them adapt better to the conditions.
Daily Express
28-07-2025
- Daily Express
4,000-year-old handprint found on Egyptian clay model
Published on: Monday, July 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: The 4000-year-old handprint was discovered on an ancient Egyptian clay model during preparation for an exhibition. LONDON: A 4,000-year-old handprint on a clay model, which was meant to be placed in an Egyptian tomb, was discovered during preparations for a museum exhibition, reported PA Media/dpa. The "rare and exciting" complete handprint was likely left by the artisan who crafted the item, having touched it before the clay had dried, an Egyptologist at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum said. The imprint was left on the base of a "soul house" – a clay model in the shape of a building which would then be placed inside a burial. The model on which the handprint was discovered has been dated to around 2055–1650 BCE. It had an open front space where food items were laid out, in this example, loaves of bread, a lettuce and an ox's head. Soul houses may have acted as offering trays or provided a place for the soul of the deceased to live within the tomb. Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: "We've spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house." "This was left by the person who touched it before the clay dried." "I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before." The researcher, who is also curator of the museum's new Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, continued: "You can just imagine the person who made this, picking it up to move it out of the workshop to dry before firing." "Things like this take you directly to the moment when the object was made and to the person who made it, which is the focus of our exhibition." Analysis of the item suggests the potter who made it first created a framework of wooden sticks and then coated it with clay to make a building with two storeys supported by pillars. Staircases were formed by pinching the wet clay. During firing, the wooden framework burnt away, leaving empty spaces in its place. The handprint found underneath was probably made when someone, perhaps the potter, moved the house out of the workshop to dry before firing in a kiln, according to the researchers. Ceramics were widely used in ancient Egypt, mostly as functional objects but occasionally as decorative pieces. The soul house will be on display in the Fitzwilliam's Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, which opens to the public on October 3. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
28-07-2025
- The Star
Helping kids surf smart
The Internet can be an amazing place for children. It opens up new ways to learn, connect and express themselves. It helps them discover their interests, make friends and even have a say in the world. But alongside the possibilities, come real risks. For many parents, the breakneck pace of technology, on top of the expectations of modern parenting can feel overwhelming: New apps, new threats, new questions every other day. So how do we raise safe, resilient kids in a digital world we're still trying to understand? Here are some tips to guide and support children online. And if you ever feel stuck, try ParentText, Unicef's free parenting chatbot with bite-sized advice (in Bahasa Malaysia and English). 1. Sharenting is fun... until it's oversharing. As a parent or caregiver, you need to be the person to talk to your child in ways they can understand, so they can learn how to spot red flags and stay safe online. Photo: Freepik We get it. Your kid is adorable. But before you share that photo just for fun or entertainment, please think twice. That bath time photo or first day of school photo may be cute, but oversharing makes children vulnerable to exploitation. A screenshot, a download and your kid may be forever in a paedophile's database. Pro tip: Use privacy settings on your channels and devices, avoid location tags and save special moments for the family chat. 2. Be their person. They need you when things get tough. In Malaysia, one in 25 children has experienced some kind of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Yet, only every second child say they told someone about it. Kids need adults they can turn to for questions and when things feel wrong. If they don't get that support from you, they may turn elsewhere, including less safe corners of the Internet. That's where predators come in. They build trust through grooming, a dangerous manipulation that often works because it feels like friendship or love. As a parent or caregiver, you need to be the person to talk to your child in ways they can understand, so that they can learn how to spot red flags and stay safe online. 3. You won't beat the Internet, so don't even try. For many parents, the breakneck speed of technology, on top of the expectations of parenting, can feel overwhelming. Photo: Freepik Keeping up with every app, trend or the latest technology is impossible. Parental controls and safety tools help, but they're not foolproof. What you can do is raise a child who knows how to think critically, set boundaries and ask for help. Help them build digital habits that keep them safe online. If your child is old enough to go online, they are old enough to have a conversation about how to do it safely and responsibly. Technology can do many things, but it cannot replace your role. Protect your child's digital footprint like you would in real life. 4. Avoid doomscrolling – your brain (and theirs) need a break. These are distressing times, where conflicts and disasters are being livestreamed to our phones. Children see more than we think, and you may be feeling overwhelmed too. Here's what we can all do: let's model healthy habits like talking about difficult emotions together, looking for positive stories of hope and limiting our screen time. The most protective thing you can do is close the app and go for a walk. 5. Take care of yourself. Parenting is one of the most important and overlooked jobs. It is a job because it requires energy, skill and emotional labour every single day. And like any demanding role, you need rest and support to keep going. Remember the advice from flight safety briefings: put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. You can only care for others when you've cared for yourself. So take a pause, take a deep breath and treat yourself. You have come a long way despite the challenges. Sometimes it's okay to put yourself first. 6. It takes a (digital) village. Saw says protecting children online requires shared responsibility, stronger systems and support at every level. Photo: Unicef Malaysia Creating a safe online environment for children is a collective effort. While we can do our part, it's not all on you. Protecting children online requires shared responsibility, stronger systems and support at every level. That's why organisations like Unicef, alongside other stakeholders, continue to advocate for stronger protections, policies, and accountability from tech companies and regulators, while also supporting parents and caregivers on the ground. Being a parent in the digital age isn't easy. But with compassion, conversation, and small daily actions, it is possible. Not sure how to start those tough conversations? If the worst has happened – you are not alone. Support is out there for both you and your child. Reach out to professionals, counsellors, or these helplines: Talian Kasih: 15999, WCC Penang: 011-31084001 (SMS or WhatsApp), WAO: 018-9888058 (SMS or WhatsApp TINA), Buddybear: 1800-18-2327, Talian HEAL: 15555, Befrienders: 03-76272929 and Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA): 03-27806803/ 017-613 3039. Terry Saw is Unicef Malaysia's parenting lead and a father of two. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
