World News Daily(2024-07-13) : Germany to Phase Out Huawei and ZTE from 5G Networks
Germany to Phase Out Huawei and ZTE from 5G Networks
Germany plans to remove Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks within five years. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized protecting the economy and communications. Major telecoms like Deutsche Telekom agreed to phase out Chinese components by 2026 in core areas and by 2029 in other parts. This move follows similar bans in several European countries and the U.S. The decision, based on security assessments, aims to prevent sabotage and espionage.
ScoresPolitics
Trump Seeks to Overturn Conviction in Hush Money Case Following Supreme Court Ruling
Trump's team wants his New York conviction tossed. They cite a recent Supreme Court ruling on ex-presidential immunity. Judge Juan Merchan delayed sentencing to consider this.
Trump's lawyers argue that evidence from his presidency, such as communications with Hope Hicks and his pardon power, should not have been used. They claim these are "core" presidential duties, now protected by the Supreme Court.
The case revolves around hush money paid to Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump. He denies the affair and did not testify.
Trump's lawyers also claim the case is politically motivated, targeting District Attorney Alvin Bragg. They argue the prosecution rushed without considering the Supreme Court's guidance on immunity.
This legal battle could impact Trump's other case in Florida, where he is accused of mishandling classified documents. His team is using the same Supreme Court ruling to seek a stay in that case.
ScoresEU AI Act Officially Published, Setting New Standards for AI Regulation
The EU AI Act, a new law, comes into effect on August 1. It's significant for AI developers, but they have two years to comply. Certain provisions will take effect sooner, while others will follow later.
The law categorizes AI into three groups: low risk, high risk, and banned. Most AI falls under low risk. High-risk AI, such as biometrics and law enforcement, will face stringent regulations regarding data and bias. Banned AI includes unsettling practices like social credit scoring and widespread facial recognition.
There's a stipulation for extremely powerful AI, like GPT. They must demonstrate their processes and assess for risks. The EU aims to regulate AI without stifling innovation.
The EU's AI Office will establish codes of practice. The authorship of these codes remains somewhat unclear. The EU is seeking consultants, which has raised concerns among some. They worry the AI industry might craft its own regulations.
In essence, the EU's AI Act is a forced marriage. It's imminent, and all parties must prepare. The specifics are still being finalized, but the deadline approaches.
ScoresSociety
Sao Paulo Japan Festival Showcases Culture and Cuisine
Sao Paulo's Japan Festival opened Friday, featuring 300 stalls showcasing traditional Japanese culture and cuisine. Brazil hosts the largest Japanese diaspora outside Japan. The festival, one of the world's largest, includes local delicacies like seared bonito from Kochi and Miso-katsu from Aichi. This year, organizers introduced spaces for direct business interactions between Japanese vendors and Brazilian importers. The event runs through Sunday, expecting 190,000 visitors.
ScoresSkylos Ecology Trains Dogs to Detect Invasive Cordgrass
Raasay, a border collie, sniffs invasive cordgrass underwater. Skylos Ecology trains dogs like her to detect ecological threats. Their keen noses, thousands of times more sensitive than humans', make them ideal for this task.
Tracy Lyten, Skylos founder, selects dogs based on personality and focus. Raasay's patience and curiosity make her a top weed-finder. Cordgrass, hard to spot and quick to spread, colonizes wetlands, threatening biodiversity. It affects fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and shorebirds.
Skylos works with Australian agencies to map and remove cordgrass. When Raasay finds a patch, she alerts Lyten, who logs the GPS coordinates. The data helps target removal efforts. For Raasay, it's just another day ending with a bath.
ScoresCalifornia Faces Unprecedented Wildfire Crisis Amid Climate Change
California's wildfires are raging. Joe Tyler, Cal Fire director, reports over 3,500 fires have burned nearly 220,000 acres—five times the average for mid-July. Tyler warns, "We are not just in a fire season, we are in a fire year."
The state's governor, Gavin Newsom, acknowledges climate change's role. A wet winter followed by heat dried out grasses, fueling fires. Crews battle multiple blazes, including the 34,000-acre Lake fire near Los Angeles and the 11,000-acre Larch Creek fire in Oregon.
Heatwaves intensify the crisis. Las Vegas sets records with five consecutive days above 115F. Heat-related deaths are investigated across multiple states, including California and Oregon.
The situation demands caution. Climate change and extreme weather are pushing wildfire seasons beyond normal limits.
ScoresEconomy
Southwest Airlines Partners with Archer for Electric Air Taxi Network
Southwest Airlines has partnered with Archer Aviation to develop an electric air taxi network in California. The service will utilize Archer's Midnight aircraft, a four-passenger, battery-powered, tilt-rotor vehicle designed for vertical takeoff and landing. This partnership provides access to 14 airports operated by Southwest. Archer asserts that their air taxis can shorten 60-90 minute car journeys to just 10-20 minutes.
Archer, which came out of stealth mode in 2020, has encountered legal hurdles but has also secured a $1 billion order from United Airlines and a production agreement with Stellantis. They have recently obtained FAA certification for an on-demand air taxi service, with plans to launch in 2025. The collaboration includes involvement from Southwest's unions, such as the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association.
ScoresApple Opens iPhone Payment System to Rivals in Europe
Apple's iPhone payment system, once exclusive, now opens to rivals in Europe. The EU accepted this change to avoid a hefty fine. Apple's move allows third-party wallets access to NFC, a tech for contactless payments.
Margrethe Vestager, EU's competition chief, praised the shift, noting it benefits both competitors and customers. iPhone users can now choose their default wallet, and developers can use iPhone's Face ID for verification.
Apple Pay, once the sole NFC-based mobile wallet, faced antitrust charges for denying access to others. Analysts predict savings from bypassing Apple's fees—0.15% per credit card transaction—could benefit consumers through cashback or loyalty rewards.
Apple must implement these changes across the EU, plus Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, by July 25. The alterations will be monitored for a decade.
This move promises more choice and potential savings for consumers, while allowing banks and companies to build customer loyalty and offer personalized services directly.
ScoresTechnology
OmniNOCS: Advancing 3D Object Recognition with Unified Dataset and Model
OmniNOCS introduces a comprehensive dataset for 3D object recognition from 2D images, featuring 20 times more object categories and 200 times more instances than prior datasets. The NOCSformer model, leveraging transformers, predicts 3D shapes and positions from 2D detections, matching the performance of leading 3D detection models. Distinctively, NOCSformer also provides detailed object shapes and segmentations. A new benchmark for NOCS prediction is established, intended to steer future research. The dataset and code are accessible online.
ScoresChina Leads Global Railway Automation Standards
China leads the formulation of global railway autonomous driving ISO standards. At the ISO/TC269/SC3 meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, experts from 13 countries unanimously approved China's proposal. Led by the China Academy of Railway Sciences, a special working group was established to study the impact of autonomous driving on railway operations and propose operational guidelines. China holds a dominant position in global autonomous railway systems, contributing 68% of the total mileage and 97% of passenger mileage. Since 2016, China's railways have continuously made breakthroughs in autonomous driving technology, setting new benchmarks.
ScoresSony's Rise as a Gaming Giant: The Nintendo PlayStation Saga
In the late 1980s, Nintendo sought Sony's assistance to develop a CD-ROM add-on for their Super Nintendo console, aiming to expand game storage beyond cartridges. Sony agreed and planned two devices: the SNES-CD and a standalone PlayStation console that could use both Nintendo cartridges and Sony's CDs.
However, Nintendo abruptly ended the partnership, fearing Sony's CD technology would undermine their control over game distribution. This led to the cancellation of the SNES-CD project and Nintendo's pivot to Philips for similar technology.
Sony, initially thwarted, rebranded their console as the PlayStation and launched it in 1994. This move transformed Sony from a peripheral developer to a major player in the gaming industry, setting the stage for a decades-long rivalry with Nintendo.
The "Nintendo PlayStation," a relic of this aborted collaboration, recently resurfaced at auction, highlighting the pivotal moment that reshaped the gaming landscape. This historical divergence marked the beginning of Sony's dominance in the console market, contrasting Nintendo's continued reliance on cartridges.
The saga underscores the critical role of strategic decisions in the tech industry, where a single choice can alter the trajectory of entire markets.
ScoresVideo Game
"Terraria" has sold over 5.8 million copies.
"Terraria" has surpassed 58 million copies sold. Re-Logic confirms that the game's sales have exceeded those of the NES version of "Super Mario Bros." Sales in 2022 were 44 million, now increased to 58 million. The PC platform contributed 32 million sales. Re-Logic expresses gratitude for the fans' support. A special event may be held when sales reach 60 million.
ScoresEntertainment
Former The Voice of Holland Coach Sentenced for Rape
Dutch court jailed Ali B, a former The Voice of Holland coach, for two years for raping "Naomi" in 2018. He denies the charge and plans to appeal. Ali B faced multiple sexual misconduct allegations, marking a significant #MeToo movement in the Netherlands. The Voice of Holland, a popular talent show, faced scrutiny over its handling of these allegations, leading to its suspension in 2022.
ScoresUN Predicts Global Population to Peak in Mid-2080s
The UN predicts a global population peak at 10.3 billion by the mid-2080s, followed by a decline. The current population stands at 8.2 billion, with a forecast of 10.2 billion by 2100. Birthrates are dropping, and 63 regions, including Russia and China, have already reached their population peaks. India leads with a population of 1.45 billion, set to rise to 1.69 billion by 2054. China's population is expected to shrink to 1.2 billion by 2054, and then to 600 million by 2100.
ScoresHealth
Samsung unveils new smart wearable device, enhancing health and fitness features.
Samsung has unveiled three new smart wearables: Galaxy Ring, Watch7, and Watch Ultra. The Galaxy Ring focuses on sleep monitoring, the Watch7 offers health advice, and the Watch Ultra enhances sports features. All are equipped with advanced sensors and AI technology, running on Wear OS 5. Pre-orders start on July 10th, with a market launch on the 24th.
ScoresFrog Saunas Offer Hope in Battle Against Deadly Fungal Disease
Researchers in Australia constructed "frog saunas"—greenhouses made with painted masonry bricks—to aid green and golden bell frogs in combating a lethal fungal disease. These frogs, once prevalent in southeastern Australia, flourished under the warmer conditions, clearing infections and developing resistance.
The fungus, known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Bd, causes chytridiomycosis, which attacks amphibians' skin and results in heart attacks and death. Identified in 1998, it has led to the extinction of at least 90 species and threatens many more.
Dr. Anthony Waddle, who leads the study at Macquarie University, expressed optimism for the green and golden bell frogs, although he recognized the limitations of the technique. Previous attempts with other species have failed, indicating a possible species-specific response.
The "frog sauna" method provides a rare beacon of hope in the ongoing fight against this devastating disease.
ScoresNew Hormone CCN3 Could Revolutionize Bone Health Treatments
Researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Davis have identified a hormone, CCN3, that maintains bone strength during breastfeeding. This hormone has the potential to treat osteoporosis and aid in fracture healing.
Osteoporosis, which weakens bones and leads to frequent fractures, is prevalent among postmenopausal women due to low estrogen levels. However, breastfeeding women, who also have low estrogen, rarely experience osteoporosis. This discrepancy led to the discovery of CCN3.
In mice, CCN3 enhances bone density and strength. Without CCN3, breastfeeding mice experience bone mass loss, and their offspring lose weight. Now referred to as "Motherhood Brain Hormone" (MBH), CCN3 is effective in both sexes, sometimes doubling bone mass.
Tests revealed that bones treated with CCN3 were not only denser but also stronger. A CCN3 gel patch successfully healed fractures in older mice, a milestone not achieved by any other treatment.
The research team plans to investigate CCN3's mechanisms and its potential in treating various bone diseases. They hope it can benefit not only breastfeeding women but also breast cancer survivors, female athletes, and elderly men.
ScoresSports
35,000 England Fans Expected at Euro 2024 Final Despite Limited Allocation
35,000 England fans plan to storm Berlin’s Olympiastadion for the Euro 2024 final. Official allocation: 10,000. Tickets scarce, prices soar. Fans warned of black market risks. Olympiastadion, site of the 1936 Nazi Olympics, hosts clash with Spain.
Scores