World News Daily(2024-07-11) : Nato Pledges Support for Ukraine's Membership
Nato Pledges Support for Ukraine's Membership
NATO leaders pledged an "irreversible path" to Ukraine's membership. No timeline has been set, but support remains firm. A €40 billion aid package was promised, including F-16 jets.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary-General, emphasized that supporting Ukraine is in NATO's security interest. The summit in Washington DC focused on Ukraine's defense against Russia.
Ukraine has made progress on reforms. Formal NATO membership awaits the fulfillment of certain conditions. Volodymyr Zelensky met with leaders, including the UK's Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden.
The summit marked NATO's 75th anniversary. Amid US political turbulence, Biden reaffirmed support and called for increased defense spending among NATO members.
ScoresPolitics
FTC Sues Major PBMs Over Alleged Medication Price Inflation
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plans to sue three major U.S. health companies—UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx, CVS Health's Caremark, and Cigna's Express Scripts—for inflating medication prices, including insulin. These companies, known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), negotiate drug prices on behalf of insurers and employers. The FTC alleges that PBMs manipulate rebates from drug manufacturers to boost their profits, driving up costs for patients.
PBMs argue that drug manufacturers set high prices, while manufacturers blame PBMs' rebates and fees for forcing price hikes. The FTC's investigation, ongoing since 2022, targets these practices. The agency's recent report accuses the largest PBMs of exploiting the drug supply chain at the expense of smaller pharmacies and patients.
The Biden administration supports increased transparency in PBM operations, aiming to make prescription drugs more affordable. The Inflation Reduction Act caps insulin prices for Medicare beneficiaries at $35 per month, though this cap does not extend to those with private insurance.
ScoresSociety
Beijing Legally Supports Autonomous Vehicle Services in Public Transport
Beijing enacts legislation to support autonomous vehicle services. The new regulations cover testing, operations, and clearly define liability for accidents without drivers. Supported scenarios include public transportation and ride-hailing. Regular evaluations and public reports are conducted.
ScoresAdvancing Solutions to Homelessness: Insights from Sabrina Cohen-Hatton and Prince William
Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, once homeless, now advises Prince William on homelessness. She shared her journey from rough sleeping to a PhD and chief fire officer role. Prince William's Homewards project aims to end homelessness, challenging the notion that it's inevitable.
Homewards operates in six UK areas, focusing on prevention and support. Sabrina highlighted practical barriers like pet restrictions and confidence issues in accessing help. Prince William showed empathy, reflecting his own early life trauma.
The project collaborates with employers and Homebase for job support and furniture packs. Efforts include identifying at-risk youth and changing public attitudes. Finland's success in reducing homelessness is cited as inspiration.
Critics question a royal's role in addressing homelessness. Supporters, like George Anderson, see Prince William's high profile as beneficial. His mother, Princess Diana, also championed homelessness causes.
Homelessness remains a complex issue, but the project's approach offers hope and practical solutions.
ScoresEconomy
TSMC's June 2024 revenue hits a new high, with 3nm process advancing steadily.
TSMC, June revenue reached NT$207.869 billion, a year-on-year increase of 32.9%. The first half of the year saw cumulative revenue of NT$1.26615 trillion, up 28%. The 3nm process is advancing steadily, with the N3P node scheduled for mass production in the second half of 2024. This year, plans are in place to build seven new factories, quadrupling 3nm production capacity. Its market capitalization on the US stock market surpassed the trillion-dollar mark, ranking seventh.
Capacity utilization stands at 60%, with 6/7nm processes set to see a 10% price reduction next year. Capital expenditure for 2025 is estimated at between $32-36 billion. Market capitalization is nearing the trillion-dollar threshold, prompting Wall Street to raise its target price. May sales amounted to NT$229.62 billion. The company repurchased 3.25 million shares to offset equity dilution. Salaries were increased by 3-5%, with the first quarter net profit reaching NT$225.5 billion, a 9% increase.
TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry, focuses on chip manufacturing technologies such as the 3nm process, representing the most advanced chip production technology currently available.
ScoresApple's iPhone 16 Series Launch to Boost Key Suppliers
Apple's iPhone 16 series launch is expected to boost several supplier stocks, according to Bank of America. The bank anticipates a production run of 90-100 million units in the second half of this year, slightly higher than last year's 90 million. Key features rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro include a larger screen and a periscope camera.
BofA's top picks include:
- Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn): The largest contract electronics manufacturer. BofA raised its price target to 260 New Taiwan dollars, expecting a 15.3% upside.
- Foxconn Industrial Internet: A subsidiary focusing on iPhone cases. BofA lifted its earnings forecast for 2024-26, anticipating a 13.8% stock rise.
- Luxshare Precision: A Chinese electronics maker with significant exposure to various iPhone components. BofA increased its price target to 46 Chinese yuan, predicting an 11.1% upside.
- BYD Electronic: Expected to benefit from consolidating its iPhone casing business. BofA set a price target of 42 Hong Kong dollars, forecasting a 25.3% potential gain.
These companies are poised to capitalize on the iPhone's evolution, driven by design changes and AI functions.
ScoresTechnology
FoleyCrafter: Automated Audio Sync for Silent Videos
FoleyCrafter: an open-source tool that synchronizes realistic sounds to silent videos, automating the creation of high-quality audio. "Foley" pertains to sound effects added to film, and FoleyCrafter streamlines this process, making it automatic. It is ideal for filmmakers and content creators.
ScoresBM25S: Accelerating Lexical Search with Eager Sparse Scoring
BM25S is a new Python tool. It accelerates search by 500 times, outperforming popular Python and Java tools. It achieves this by storing search scores in a specialized matrix during setup. This method makes it exceptionally fast. It also adeptly handles various types of BM25 searches. The code is available online for anyone to use.
ScoresQuark Search Engine upgrades to version 7.0, introducing AI services.
Quark Search Engine has upgraded to version 7.0, introducing the "Super Search Box" with new features including AI writing and document summarization. During the college entrance examination season, its usage exceeded 100 million times. Quark's PC version has launched on Windows, integrating browsers, cloud storage, and more. Jiang Guanjun, the technical lead, stated that the hallucination rate of the Q&A content has been reduced to 5%.
Hallucination Rate: Refers to the proportion of incorrect or inaccurate information in AI-generated content. Quark has significantly reduced this rate through large-scale model optimization.
ScoresJames Webb Telescope Reveals Detailed Insights into Black Holes and Dark Matter
The James Webb Space Telescope's image of RX J1131-1231, a quasar 6 billion light-years away, offers profound insights into black holes and dark matter. Utilizing gravitational lensing, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein, the telescope magnifies and studies the quasar. This lensing effect creates a bright arc and multiple images of the distant quasar.
The quasar's X-ray emissions suggest a rapidly spinning black hole, likely a result of galaxy mergers. This rapid spin indicates that the black hole expanded through mergers rather than random accretion events. The image, captured by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), is part of an observational program designed to unravel the mysteries of dark matter, which makes up the majority of the universe's mass.
This research delivers unprecedented detail on the evolution of black holes and the nature of dark matter. It highlights the effectiveness of gravitational lensing as a natural telescope, allowing for the observation of cosmic phenomena that would otherwise be unattainable.
ScoresVideo Game
Nintendo's Cryptic 'Emio' Teaser Sparks Speculation
Nintendo released a cryptic teaser for a game named "Emio" on YouTube. The fifteen-second video shows a person wearing a trench coat and a disturbing paper bag on their head, suggesting a horror title for the Switch. The trailer's unsettling piano music and the character's missing finger deepen the intrigue.
The teaser was promoted on Twitter with "#WhoIsEmio?" and was age-restricted, which is uncommon for Nintendo. Fans are wondering if this indicates Nintendo's venture into first-party horror gaming. The trailer hints at a possible viral alternate reality game (ARG), a kind of interactive story spread across various media platforms.
Nintendo typically aims to "put smiles on faces," but "Emio" seems to turn this into something more ominous. The online response is varied, with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
ScoresNBA 2K25 Next-Gen Edition Confirmed for PC
2K announced today: "NBA 2K25" launches on PC as a next-gen version. This marks the first time the series offers PC players enhanced content and graphics, previously exclusive to newer consoles.
Features include:
- ProPLAY technology for realistic gameplay.
- Multiple modes: MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyLEAGUE, and WNBA MyCAREER.
- Customizable options and a new Basketball City.
Pre-order perks:
- 5000 in-game virtual currency.
- Additional rewards for early access.
Entertainment
Shrek 5: Original Cast Returns for 2026 Sequel
Shrek 5 confirmed. Myers, Murphy, Diaz back. DreamWorks announces July 2026 release. The franchise began in 2001, the first animated film to compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Shrek earned the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Sequels followed, including Shrek 2, the highest-grossing with nearly a billion globally. Puss in Boots spin-offs are also part of the series. Banderas’s involvement in Shrek 5 is unconfirmed. Murphy hinted at more Shrek films, including a Donkey spin-off. Universal has tasked Meledandri with revitalizing the franchise, aiming for innovation beyond mere sequels.
ScoresSpotify Evolves into a Social Network with Enhanced Podcast Features
Spotify is adding comments to podcasts, making it more like a social network. Users can now chat directly with podcasters. Spotify is also mimicking TikTok with a discovery feed and allowing artists to sell merchandise and tickets through their profiles.
Maya Prohovnik, Spotify's VP, hints at potentially expanding comments to artist pages, which could boost engagement due to the size and activity of music fans.
Apple attempted something similar with iTunes Ping in 2010, but it failed. Spotify is taking a more gradual approach, quietly integrating social features.
Daniel Ek, Spotify's CEO, acknowledges TikTok's influence and is learning from trends to enhance the user experience.
Artists can now post short videos, akin to Stories, providing fans with updates on new releases and events. Users can follow friends and collaborate on playlists.
Spotify aims to keep users engaged and sharing thoughts, much like traditional social networks. This shift could challenge larger social platforms for user time and ad revenue.
ScoresHealth
"Enhancing Accuracy in Biomedical Question-Answering with LLMs"
Large language models (LLMs) excel at answering questions but often falter in accuracy, especially in biomedicine. This paper presents a system that boosts reliability by integrating PubMed abstracts into LLM responses. Each answer cites its source, allowing verification. The system outperforms PubMed search by 23%. Fine-tuned models match GPT-4 Turbo's performance in referencing abstracts. Datasets and models are publicly available.
Explanation:
- LLMs: Advanced computer programs designed to understand and generate human-like text.
- PubMed: A database of medical research articles.
- Fine-tuned LLM: A language model adjusted for specific tasks, like medical question-answering.
Japan Introduces 'Most Severe' Heatstroke Category Amid Rising Deaths
Japan's heatstroke index adds "most severe" category. Medical experts aim to cut deaths. Heatwave hits hard, six dead in Tokyo. Temperatures soar to 40C. Heatstroke fatalities jumped from a few hundred to 1,500 in 2022.
New category for core temp 40C+, unable to communicate. Tokyo urges avoiding activity. "Danger" alerts issued. Cooling shelters set up. Scheme allows public building entry for cooling.
Heatstroke hospital visits quadrupled last week. Over 9,000 sought emergency care. Elderly, 64+, at high risk, made up 60% of visits. Tokyo fire department under pressure.
Heatstroke: condition from extreme body overheating. Symptoms range from dizziness to convulsions, unconsciousness.
Global heating, strong high-pressure system exacerbate Japan's heat. Public health strained, comparable to natural disaster. Stay hydrated, avoid sun, use shelters.
ScoresSports
England Advances to Euro 2024 Final with Dramatic Stoppage-Time Goal
England edged past the Netherlands in a tense Euro 2024 semi-final. Ollie Watkins' goal in stoppage time secured the victory. The match, held in Dortmund, propelled England to the final.
Highlights and reactions were widely shared. Kane commended the team's resilience. Southgate expressed satisfaction with the performance. Watkins, overjoyed, described his goal as the highlight of his career.
The win presents a historic opportunity for England. Fans and players eagerly await the final match. The nation's hopes now hinge on the team's ability to capitalize on this momentum.
ScoresMessi Plans to Continue Playing for Argentina Beyond Copa America Final
Messi, 37, plans to continue playing for Argentina. He scored his 109th international goal in the recent victory over Canada. Messi's focus is on the present, not the future.
Teammate Ángel Di María, 36, intends to retire after the upcoming Copa America final. Di María has scored 31 goals in 144 appearances for Argentina.
Messi praised Di María, noting his dedication and the fitting nature of his retirement in a final. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hopes Di María might reconsider.
South American World Cup qualifying resumes in September. The 2026 World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium. Scaloni remains open to Di María's continued involvement, whether on the field or as a supportive presence.
ScoresFood
China Investigates Food Safety Issue with Oil and Coal Transport
China investigates food safety issues following reports by Beijing News that tankers used for soybean oil and coal were not cleaned. Sinograin and China Energy Investment Corporation are involved. The State Council has formed an investigation group. Hydrocarbon products may cause poisoning. Sinograin is conducting an internal audit. National attention has been drawn, reminiscent of the 2008 melamine scandal.
Scores"Matsushige Yutaka Directs and Stars in 'The Lonely Gourmet' Movie Edition, Set to Release in 2025."
Tokyo Television celebrates its 60th anniversary with a special project for "The Solitary Gourmet." The series "Each Solitary Gourmet" premieres on October 4th, with the film version set to release on January 10, 2025. Yutaka Matsushige stars and makes his directorial debut, with Katsuhiro Taguchi contributing to the screenplay.
Yutaka Matsushige, an actor and emerging director, continues his role from the series while taking on the responsibilities of both screenwriting and directing. Katsuhiro Taguchi, the series' screenwriter, continues his creative involvement. This project combines the multifaceted talents of the actor with the deep engagement of the screenwriter, showcasing the comprehensive creative process of a film and television production.
ScoresSingapore Approves Insect Species for Food Diversification
Singapore has recently approved 16 insect species for human consumption, including crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, and honeybees. The Singapore Food Agency has authorized the import of these insects to enhance food security in the land-limited city-state.
These insects must be cultivated, not wild-caught, and must be free from manure or diseased materials. Additionally, they require a heat or bactericidal treatment to ensure their safety.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy to diversify food sources, particularly in light of global challenges such as geopolitical tensions and climate change. The aim is to meet 30% of the country's nutritional needs locally by 2030.
The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization supports this transition, emphasizing the nutritional value and sustainability of insects compared to traditional livestock. Insects are rich in protein, fiber, and micronutrients such as zinc, calcium, and iron.
This decision is not merely about survival; it represents a step towards innovation. Singapore has already attracted startups, such as a Japanese silkworm producer, in anticipation of the regulatory shift.
For Singapore, this marks a bold move into a future where food is not just sustenance but a frontier of sustainable innovation.
Scores