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Chaos ensued on German roads this week after Google Maps wrongly informed drivers that highways throughout the country were closed during a busy holiday. Many of the apparently closed roads were located near large German cities and metropolitan areas, including Berlin, Düsseldorf and Dortmund.

As reported by a locally based journalist for The Guardian, drivers opening Google’s navigation app would see a swarm of red dots used to indicate no-go areas, which resulted in people looking for alternative routes that caused traffic pile-ups nationwide. The Guardian also reported that police and local authorities were contacted by people confused (and presumably pretty annoyed) about the supposed standstill.

To compound the issue, the Google Maps error coincided with the beginning of Germany’s Ascension Day public holiday on May 29, which meant the roads were even busier than usual.

In ganz DeutschlandChaos bei Google Maps: Dienst zeigt unzählige falsche Sperrungenhttps://t.co/qEfIRrIHx3— Peter Berger (@leosgeminix) May 29, 2025

The problem reportedly only lasted for a few hours and by Thursday afternoon only genuine road closures were being displayed. It’s not clear whether Google Maps had just malfunctioned, or if something more nefarious was to blame. "The information in Google Maps comes from a variety of sources. Information such as locations, street names, boundaries, traffic data, and road networks comes from a combination of third-party providers, public sources, and user input," a spokesperson for Google told German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost, adding that it is internally reviewing the problem. "In general, these sources provide a strong foundation for comprehensive and up-to-date maps."

Technical issues with Google Maps are not uncommon. Back in March, users were reporting that their Timeline — which keeps track of all the places you’ve visited before for future reference — had been wiped, with Google later confirming that some people had indeed had their data deleted, and in some cases, would not be able to recover it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-maps-falsely-told-drivers-in-germany-that-roads-across-the-country-were-closed-134026943.html?src=rss

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, May 30 (game #1222).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1223) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1223) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.Quordle today (game #1223) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1223) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1223) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• C• E• D• QRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1223) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1223, are…CRUMBELFINDRIERQUITEToday’s Quordle was a dream ride for me after a series of traffic jams, with my first guesses being correct and all the letters turning green. On reflection, I wasn’t that much of a genius as I had four correct or incorrect letters for each word with my three starter words paying dividends.QUITE felt like a magic guess but the reality is there was no other option – even though I didn’t know it at the time. Hope it was a good one for you. Thanks Quordle gods.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1223) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1223, are…SNARESCOOPSHEIKFORCEQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDEQuordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGHQuordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURERQuordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADARQuordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOPQuordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEANQuordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLARQuordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPERQuordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCELQuordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUTQuordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURERQuordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVEQuordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNYQuordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESEQuordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAKQuordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKEQuordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKERQuordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARNQuordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READYQuordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUE

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, May 30 (game #453).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #454) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Next to the bobby pinsNYT Strands today (game #454) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.STEEL CRABSWEETCHAINCARERACESNYT Strands today (game #454) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 15 lettersNYT Strands today (game #454) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 4th columnLast side: bottom, 3rd columnRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #454) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #454, are…SCRUNCHIECLAWCLIPBARRETTEHEADBANDSPANGRAM: HAIR ACCESSORIESMy rating: EasyMy score: PerfectToday’s spangram was like an oversized SCRUNCHIE taking up a huge chunk of the puzzle.Unlike bobby pins, today’s words all describe hair ornaments. I struggled to see BARRETTE, as this is known as a hair slide in the UK, but the rest were easy to spot.As the father of two girls I am fully aware of the world of HAIR ACCESSORIES and have been a willing model/victim to my daughter’s experimentation. It's an activity, along with painting my nails, both of them found utterly hysterical.It's also the reason why I relate to Buzz Lightyear and the scene in the first Toy Story movie where he is stolen by Sid’s sister and becomes Mrs Nesbitt for the purposes of a doll's tea party – “One minute you’re saving the galaxy, and suddenly you find yourself supping down darjeeling with Marie Antoinette and her little sister”. That’s fatherhood.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, May 30, game #453)FORWARDDEFENDERGOALKEEPERSTRIKERMIDFIELDERSPANGRAM: SOCCERWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, May 30 (game #719).Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Connections today (game #720) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…RASPBERRYCAVITYPROOFFERMENTPLAQUEBUBBLECERTIFICATERESTRECESSKISSHOLLOWMEDALFUSERISETROPHYNOOKNYT Connections today (game #720) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: InletGREEN: HonorBLUE: Baking PURPLE: Think: Opposite of suckNeed more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…NYT Connections today (game #720) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: ALCOVEGREEN: WAYS TO RECOGNIZE ACHIEVEMENT BLUE: VERBS IN BREADMAKING PURPLE: THINGS YOU CAN BLOW Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #720) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #720, are…YELLOW: ALCOVE CAVITY, HOLLOW, NOOK, RECESSGREEN: WAYS TO RECOGNIZE ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE, MEDAL, PLAQUE, TROPHYBLUE: VERBS IN BREADMAKING FERMENT, PROOF, REST, RISEPURPLE: THINGS YOU CAN BLOW BUBBLE, FUSE, KISS, RASPBERRYMy rating: ModerateMy score: 2 mistakesI got the purple group today by thinking it was something to do with music legend Prince, rather than THINGS YOU CAN BLOW. I was so determined that I made two mistakes before I finally fluked together a correct group of four.Fortunately, by this point I’d already guessed the words that made up ALCOVE and WAYS TO RECOGNIZE ACHIEVEMENT, so the pool of words was limited. My thinking was that RASPBERRY (as in Raspberry Beret) and KISS were both Prince songs and, well he was so prolific he must have a song with BUBBLE in the title (he didn’t) or FUSE (he didn’t). All, quite a stretch, especially as the actual answer was much easier. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, May 30, game #719)YELLOW: RODS BAT, CLUB, STAFF, STICKGREEN: THEY'RE ON A ROLL! FOIL, RIBBON, TAPE, TOILET PAPERBLUE: COMMON SWAG ITEMS HAT, TEE, TOTE, WATER BOTTLEPURPLE: WORDS BEFORE "SHACK" CADDY, LOVE, RADIO, SHAKEWhat is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Who's ready to spend another weekend in front of the TV? If you answered "me!" to that question, you'll want to know what's worth watching on the world's best streaming services.There's a lot to look forward to as well. From the official streaming debut of 2025's first Marvel movie to the 2025 edition of Netflix's Tudum fan celebration, we've rounded up the best films and TV series to check out before Monday rolls around. Enjoy! – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporterCaptain America: Brave New World (Disney+)Over three months after it initially flew into theaters, the penultimate Marvel Phase 5 movie – Captain America: Brave New World – has landed on Disney+.Sam Wilson's first big-screen outing as Cap 2.0 sees the titular hero contend with plenty in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), too. Indeed, not only is he asked to reform the Avengers by army general-turned-US president Thaddeus Ross, but he also becomes embroiled in a diplomatic storm when a mysterious figure almost instigates World War III among the biggest nations on Earth.So, is Captain America 4 worth seeing and/or deserving of a place on our best Disney+ movies list? My Captain America: Brave New World review reveals all. If you end up streaming it, be sure to read my Captain America: Brave New World ending explained piece once you're done to see how it sets up future events in the MCU, too. – TPWatch Captain America: Brave New World on Disney+Netflix Tudum 2025 (Netflix)Now a yearly tradition, this year's edition of Netflix Tudum, an event that celebrates the best Netflix shows and reveals more details about a whole host of new Netflix movies, takes place this weekend. And, without spoiling much, it sounds like it'll be an absolute doozy.We'll be covering the event live, so check back in with us tomorrow (May 31) and follow along with our live blog to get the lowdown on the biggest announcements.You can stream the event in real time, too, via Netflix itself, or on the streaming titan's various social media platforms, to learn the latest about Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, Knives Out 3, and so many other exciting new films and shows that are coming in 2025. I, for one, cannot wait, so much so I've rounded up my biggest predictions for what'll be unveiled at Tudum 2025. – TPWatch Netflix Tudum 2025 on NetflixMountainhead (Max)Jesse Armstrong, the creator of huge HBO hit Succession, is back with his latest project. This time, he's satirizing big tech companies, the egotistical individuals who run them, and the influence they hold in today's climate, via a comedy-drama flick called Mountainhead.Starring the likes of Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, and Ramy Youssef, this Max Original Movie sees four 'tech bros' (read: billionaire playboys) reunite at a remote location amid a fictional international crisis.Little else has been revealed about the film's plot. But, if Succession taught us anything, Armstrong has a strong handle on showing wealthy people in all their messy glory. Here's hoping, then, that this is one we'll be adding to our best Max movies guide shortly. – TPWatch Mountainhead on MaxThe Better Sister (Prime Video)Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks lead the cast of this gripping new Prime Video series that follows two sisters as they reunite to try to untangle a complicated family history.As the Amazon TV Original's title suggests, these women have very different lives. Chloe has a picturesque life, while Nicky struggles to make ends meet. However, things take a dark turn when Chloe's husband is murdered and the two try to discover the truth about what happened.At the time of publication, it's got a healthy 82% Rotten Tomatoes critical score, so I'll definitely be catching this over the weekend. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writerWatch The Better Sister on Prime VideoAnd Just Like That... season 3 (Max)This Sex and the City sequel has critics split down the middle with it 55% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating and its audience score is even worse. A real shame then, that it's got no chance of being on our best Max shows round up.Having said that, it's certainly got a dedicated fanbase, which is why it's back for a third season. The producers have made some controversial decisions, especially when it came to killing off Mr. Big, but you have to admit And Just Like That... isn't short on drama.If you're among those dying to see Sarah Jessica Parker and the squad stepping into their stilettos once again, you're in luck. Season 3 has just made its debut on HBO and Max, and new episodes are due out every week for the foreseeable future. – LBWatch And Just Like That... season 3 on MaxBono: Stories of Surrender (Apple TV+)If you still haven't found what you're looking for (I'll see myself out...) when it comes to a good U2 documentary, Bono: Stories of Surrender, which is out now on Apple's streaming platform, might change that.This Apple TV+ documentary focuses on the U2 frontman as he pulls back the curtain on his life, thereby allowing you to follow his very personal journey which features his family, friends, and faith.There might not be much here for non-U2 fans, but it's an essential watch for those wanting a bit more Bono. The jury is out, though, on whether it'll make it onto our best Apple TV+ movies list. – LBWatch Bono: Stories of Surrender on Apple TV+Dept. Q (Netflix)This Netflix thriller series is a must-watch for those who need a delightfully dark detective drama in their life. It's also got a stellar cast, too, with Mark Bonnar and Kelly MacDonald among its ranks.Dept. Q has also got something of a bleak-sounding plot. Indeed, we follow a former top-rated detective who's wracked with guilt following an attack that left his partner paralysed and another policeman dead. As he returns to work, he takes on a cold case which starts to consume his life.Netflix has enjoyed some great success with similarly gripping espionage fare in recent years, such as Black Doves and The Night Agent. And, with The Queen's Gambit's creator behind the wheel of this genre vehicle, it could be a thrilling ride to immerse yourself in this weekend. – LBWatch Dept. Q on NetflixFor more top-tier streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Disney+ shows, best Paramount+ movies, and best Hulu shows.

The pace of digital innovation has never been faster, yet outdated ideas about AI persist across boardrooms. One area that suffers the most from this confusion is Agentic AI. Businesses stand on the brink of a transformative era, but many are still paralyzed by misconceptions.This gap between potential and perception leaves businesses lagging, even when the tools for transformation are within reach.Agentic AI is not just another chapter in the tech story. It represents a fundamental shift. Businesses that see it as merely another tool will miss the extraordinary opportunities it offers for real autonomy, innovation, and growth.In just one year, AI and machine learning has soared to new heights with the emergence of advanced large language models, and domain specific small language models that can be deployed both on the cloud and the edge.While this kind of intelligence is the new baseline for what we expect in our applications, the future of enterprise AI lies in complex, multi-agent workflows that combine powerful models, intelligent agents and human guided decision-making. This market is moving fast. According to recent Deloitte research, 50% of companies using generative AI will launch agentic AI pilots or proofs of concept by 2027.The AI landscape is in constant transformation, fueled by breakthroughs in AI agents, cutting-edge platforms like Azure AI Foundry, and NVIDIA’s robust infrastructure. As we journey through 2025, these innovations are reshaping technology and revolutionizing business operations and strategies.Here are five myths businesses still cling to about Agentic AI, and why believing them could cost you:Myth 1: believing Agentic AI is just another model to fine-tuneAgentic AI isn’t about fine-tuning responses or making marginal improvements. It’s about setting objectives, planning workflows, executing tasks, adapting independently, and continuously optimizing outcomes. Unlike traditional AI models that wait for prompts, agentic systems act with autonomy to achieve dynamic goals. Treating these systems like polished chatbots severely underestimates their strategic value.When implemented correctly, agentic systems can offer a step-change in how businesses manage complexity, decision-making, and scale. Many organizations are already acknowledging the potential and implementing the technology for maximum efficiency.Myth 2: thinking you can deploy Agentic AI without process redesignAgentic AI isn't just another tool you plug in and walk away from. It reshapes how work gets done. Businesses that don’t revisit how decisions are made, how teams collaborate, and how data flows will struggle to unlock any meaningful value.Successful agentic AI deployments begin with a fresh look at business workflows, not just system integrations. This technology doesn’t simply automate tasks. It redefines them, forcing leaders to rethink how work gets done.Myth 3: expecting Agentic AI to make your business 'fully hands-off'Agentic AI enhances autonomy but doesn’t eliminate the need for human oversight. Escalation points, governance checks, and decision reviews remain essential. Without smart orchestration and clear accountability, businesses risk decision bottlenecks or poorly aligned actions from their AI systems.It’s not about letting AI take the wheel. It’s about designing smarter systems where humans steer the mission and agents drive the momentum. Success will depend not on trusting AI blindly, but on orchestrating smart human-machine collaboration at every critical juncture.Myth 4: assuming Agentic AI is only for operational use casesMany businesses still box Agentic AI into the operations category, useful for support tickets, workflows, and back-office automation. That’s a mistake. Agentic AI is moving into sales, marketing, strategic planning, and product innovation. Its ability to plan, reason, and act independently is increasingly being used to augment revenue-generating and customer-facing roles.Leaders who confine it to "process improvement" risk overlooking its broader potential to drive competitive advantage, transform customer journeys, and unlock growth.Myth 5: believing Agentic AI delivers ROI overnightAgentic AI success is a marathon, not a sprint. While some tools offer quick wins, full-scale value takes time. Hidden costs related to integration, orchestration, retraining, and long-term optimization often catch businesses off guard, especially those chasing quick wins.Adoption is accelerating across industries, but true ROI depends on a thoughtful, staged rollout, not just enthusiasm. This means staged deployment, continuous learning, and long-term operational alignment. The payoff is significant, but not instant. Businesses that expect overnight gains without the legwork are setting themselves up to be disappointed.And finally: key characteristics and benefits of agentic AIAutonomy: Agentic AI systems can operate independently, making decisions and taking actions without constant human supervision.Adaptability: They can adjust their behavior and strategies in response to changing conditions and new information.Goal-driven behavior: They are designed to achieve specific objectives and can learn and improve their performance over time.Complex problem-solving: Agentic AI systems can tackle multi-step problems and situations that require reasoning and planning.Improved efficiency: By automating tasks and making decisions autonomously, agentic AI can streamline workflows and reduce human error.Scalability: Agentic AI systems can be deployed at scale to handle large volumes of data and complex processes.Collaboration with humans: While autonomous, agentic AI can also work collaboratively with humans, leveraging their expertise and knowledge.We've featured the best AI website builder.This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

A federal appeals court says President Trump's tariffs can stay in place for now. This came after the court of international trade ruled that they are likely illegal. The back-and-forth is happening as Elon Musk leaves his White House role. He told "CBS Sunday Morning" prior to the announcement of his departure that he has some "differences of opinion" with the Trump administration. Watch more of Pogue's interview with Musk this Sunday, only on "CBS Sunday Morning."