World News Daily(2024-07-26) : UAE Involvement in Sudan Civil War Revealed by Leaked Documents
UAE Involvement in Sudan Civil War Revealed by Leaked Documents
Leaked documents reveal UAE involvement in Sudan's civil war. Passports found on Sudanese battlefields link Emirati nationals to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group. The UAE denies these claims.
The documents, sent to the UN, include images of Emirati passports found in Omdurman, a city recently reclaimed by the Sudanese army. Analysts call this evidence a "smoking gun," challenging UAE denials and raising questions about Western knowledge of Gulf state involvement.
The UAE is also accused of supplying RSF with drones equipped to drop thermobaric bombs, more devastating than conventional explosives. These bombs were recovered from Sudan's state broadcast headquarters in Omdurman.
This evidence forces a reevaluation of the conflict. Without UAE involvement, some experts believe the crisis might have ended sooner. The discovery of passports and bombs complicates the geopolitical landscape, challenging denials and demanding action.
ScoresSociety
New Trends in the Overseas Dissemination of Chinese Internet Literature
Chinese online literature has rapidly risen globally, becoming a new avenue for cultural dissemination. Dramas like "Hua Qian Gu" and "Empresses in the Palace" have gained popularity in multiple countries, and works such as "Great Doctor Ling Ran" have been collected by the British Library. The online literature platform "Qidian International" boasts over 230 million users, with 620,000 original overseas works and 420,000 creators.
Chinese web literature is significantly popular overseas. In 2023, the overseas market revenue reached 4.35 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.06%. The total number of works is approximately 695,800, a growth of 29.02%. Southeast Asia has become the main destination, surpassing North America.
The content of web literature is rich, covering ancient styles, science fiction, suspense, and more,深受 foreign readers'喜爱. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and radio drama production have facilitated the spread of web literature. Short dramas have risen in popularity overseas, promoting the creation of short stories.
Despite challenges such as copyright protection, the momentum of Chinese web literature going global is strong, with a promising future ahead.
ScoresGenetically Modified Flies to Combat Waste and Reduce Methane Emissions
Australian scientists are modifying the genetics of black soldier flies to consume more waste. These flies already feed on organic refuse, converting it into products we use: lubricants, biofuels, and animal feed. The objective? To reduce methane emissions from landfills.
Dr. Kate Tepper and Dr. Maciej Maselko, from Sydney's Macquarie University, are leading the project. They view insects as the next major solution to our waste crisis, which is substantial—approximately a billion tons of food waste annually.
The flies are ubiquitous except in Antarctica. Their larvae consume voraciously—doubling their weight daily. They decompose waste more rapidly than microbes. The team's spin-off, EntoZyme, aims to commercialize this technology by the end of the year.
Plans for the future include developing flies capable of processing contaminated waste, leaving behind fertilizer. They could also produce enzymes for various applications and fatty compounds for biofuels and lubricants.
The research, published in Communications Biology, indicates that engineered flies could neutralize pollutants, making waste safer and more valuable.
ScoresEconomy
Lineage's Massive IPO Boosts Global Cold Storage Network
Lineage, a leader in temperature-controlled warehouses, has just listed on the Nasdaq. They raised $4.4 billion, marking the largest IPO since Arm's listing last year. Lineage's stock surged 5% on its debut.
Starting with a single warehouse, they have since completed 116 acquisitions, constructing a network of over 480 facilities worldwide. These locations aid in storing food, reducing waste, and minimizing environmental impact.
Food waste is a significant issue, costing $600 billion annually and accounting for 11% of global emissions. Lineage's strategy involves a global network of cold-storage units to maintain food freshness and decrease spoilage.
Major banks such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs supported the IPO. Lineage's co-founder, Adam Forste, discussed their journey on CNBC's "Squawk Box," emphasizing their goal to transform a lineage of family-owned warehouses into a global food infrastructure.
ScoresChinese State Firms to Invest $414bn in Equipment Upgrades
Chinese state firms plan to invest 3 trillion yuan ($413.8 billion) over five years to upgrade equipment, as announced by Liu Shaowei from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) at a press conference. The investment aims to modernize aging equipment with high-tech, efficient, and environmentally-friendly alternatives.
SASAC will support and guide these firms, focusing on technological and industrial advancements. Central enterprises, including China Railway Group and China Petrochemical, will lead this initiative. Investment in strategic emerging industries rose 16.9% in the first half of 2024, with R&D spending reaching 434 billion yuan.
The government also announced 300 billion yuan in subsidies for equipment upgrades and consumer goods replacements, including subsidies for new energy vehicles and household appliances. These funds are part of a 1 trillion yuan ultralong government bond issuance.
Shares of Chinese appliance makers surged following the announcement, providing a boost to the market.
ScoresRevolut Secures Long-Awaited UK Banking License
Revolut, a fintech company with 45 million users, has just secured a UK banking license, a pursuit that began in 2021. The significance of this achievement is underscored by the fact that Revolut has 9 million clients in the UK. They have been operating in the EU since 2018, thanks to a partnership with Lithuania.
Prior to obtaining the UK license, Revolut was unable to offer credit products such as loans or cards, and had a less robust control over its local operations. Nik Storonsky, co-founder and CEO, is enthusiastic about the development. "Revolut will become the bank of choice for UK customers," he declares.
The implementation of these changes will not be immediate. The banking license comes with conditions—a "mobilisation" phase is required. For up to a year, Revolut will be restricted from holding more than £50,000 in customer deposits. This phase was also experienced by Monzo and Starling.
Revolut Group Holdings Ltd's subsidiary has been approved, but UK customers will continue to operate under the Financial Conduct Authority's e-money regulations for the time being.
In 2023, Revolut reported $2.2 billion in revenue and $545 million in pre-tax profit. This marks the first time in three years that they met the annual report deadline. Increased transparency may have contributed to the favorable outcome with the Prudential Regulation Authority.
ScoresTechnology
Google Maps Enhances Navigation for Indian Roads
Google Maps is updating for India. New AI helps drivers avoid narrow roads and tricky flyovers. It uses satellite images and Street View to judge road width and obstacles.
For cars, bikes, and walkers, Maps now shows safer routes. It warns if a narrow road is unavoidable. This feature starts in eight cities on Android, then iOS.
Flyover instructions are clearer now. Instead of "take a ramp," Maps says "take a flyover." This helps in 40 cities for cars, bikes, Android, and Android Auto. Apple’s CarPlay gets it soon.
EV charging stations are listed too. Over 8,000 stations show plug types. This includes two-wheeler chargers, important in India.
Google Maps partners with Namma Yatri and ONDC for local transport bookings. Metro tickets in Kochi and Chennai are available via Maps. More cities and transport options are coming.
Google’s "Where is my train?" app tracks trains and has over 100 million users.
Community features help users find top spots and report road issues easily. Lists for best cafes and breakfast places are now in major Indian cities.
ScoresKimi Chat: Advanced AI for Professionals
Kimi Chat, launched by Moon's Dark Side in 2023, supports up to 200 million characters in context, far exceeding competitors like ChatGPT 4. It caters to various professionals: academics, programmers, content creators, and legal experts, aiding in research, coding, and content creation.
Key features include real-time internet search, efficient document reading, and professional file interpretation. Kimi can summarize lengthy texts, assist in programming across languages, and organize complex data.
Available as a web app, browser extension, mobile app, and WeChat mini-program, Kimi's usage is widespread, with over 20 million web visits in April 2024.
Pricing is token-based, with models varying by context length. Kimi+ offers specialized services in fields like medicine and law, enhancing precision and efficiency.
Users should note language limitations, content restrictions, and privacy concerns. Kimi excels in text-based assistance but isn't a substitute for expert advice in specialized fields.
ScoresEntertainment
"Inside Out 2" becomes the highest-grossing animated film in history.
"Inside Out 2" sets a new box office record, surpassing "Frozen 2" to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It has earned $14.62 billion globally, outpacing both "Mario" and "Frozen 2." In North America, it raked in $5.98 billion, and $8.49 billion internationally. Its opening weekend ranks fifth all-time, behind "Barbie." The data is sourced from Amazon's Box Office Mojo website.
ScoresLady Gaga and Céline Dion to Duet at Paris 2024 Olympics
Lady Gaga and Céline Dion are set to duet at the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony. They'll perform Édith Piaf’s ‘La Vie en Rose’.
Dion, diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2022, hasn't performed since 2020. This comeback marks a significant return. She's been relaxing in Paris, staying at the Royal Monceau.
Gaga, also in Paris, was seen at the Louvre and on the Seine. Both singers are fluent in French, making the performance fitting.
France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, hinted at the duet, keeping details secret. He praised Dion's potential presence at the ceremony.
Dion's last Olympic performance was in 1996 at Atlanta. She's been working hard to regain strength post-diagnosis. Her goal: to see the Eiffel Tower again.
This duet promises a blend of global superstardom and French heritage, a fitting tribute for the Olympic Games in Paris.
ScoresHealth
New Ultra-Rapid Test for Sepsis Shows Promise
New study shows faster test for sepsis. Ultra-rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing method demonstrated. Sepsis, a life-threatening condition, occurs when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing identifies which antibiotics can effectively treat a bacterial infection. This new method promises quicker results, potentially saving lives by enabling faster treatment decisions.
Insight: Speed in medical testing is crucial. Faster results mean quicker, more effective treatment. This innovation could significantly reduce sepsis mortality rates by providing doctors with critical information sooner. The simplicity and efficiency of this new testing method align with the need for direct, impactful solutions in healthcare.
ScoresSelf-Amplifying mRNA Vaccines Show Promise in Early Tests
Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines have cleared initial safety tests in labs and animals. These vaccines employ a modified form of messenger RNA that directs cells to generate a protein, stimulating an immune response. The "self-amplifying" feature implies that the mRNA duplicates itself, potentially enhancing the immune response while requiring less material.
The tests indicate these vaccines are safe, with no severe side effects noted. This technology could revolutionize vaccine efficacy, enabling more potent vaccines with reduced doses. It marks a promising advancement in vaccine development, particularly in addressing future pandemics.
Fundamentally, this novel vaccine type could offer strong protection with minimal resources. It presents a straightforward, effective solution to a complex issue, akin to a meticulously crafted sentence by Hemingway.
ScoresPromising Genetic Therapy for Parkinson's Disease
Antisense oligonucleotides, a type of genetic therapy, show promise in slowing the progression of Parkinson's disease. These molecules target specific sections of RNA, altering gene expression to reduce the production of harmful proteins linked to Parkinson's.
Initial trials are encouraging, suggesting that this treatment could revolutionize the management of this neurological disorder by directly addressing its root causes rather than merely managing symptoms.
This method is precise, targeting only the problematic genes and avoiding the broad side effects often seen with conventional treatments. The potential for personalized medicine is significant, allowing treatments to be tailored to individual genetic profiles.
The implications are vast. If this therapy proves effective and safe, it could set a new standard in treating neurodegenerative diseases, moving medicine towards more targeted and less invasive treatments.
Overall, the approach is promising, offering a clear, direct way to tackle a complex disease. The future looks brighter for those affected by Parkinson's.
ScoresSports
Shanghai will host the 48th WorldSkills Competition in 2026.
The WorldSkills Competition, held biennially, is hailed as the "Olympics of Skills." Shanghai will host the 48th edition in September 2026. China joined the organization in 2010 and has achieved remarkable results, earning 57 gold, 32 silver, 24 bronze, and 63 excellence awards. The competition aims to enhance the vocational skills of global youth and trainers, emphasizing the contribution of skills to economic and social development.
China will also participate in the 47th competition in Lyon, France, in 2024, covering 59 projects. In the special competition of 2022, China set a historical best record.
Additionally, the 2024 Li Chuang Competition (East China Region) has been launched, with the theme "Gathering Wisdom to Assist Innovation."
ScoresParis 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony to be Held on Seine River
The Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony will be held on the Seine River, marking the first time in history that it is hosted outside a stadium. The artistic director of the ceremony, Thomas Jolly, describes it as "absolute creation and adventure." Athletes will travel through the heart of Paris on nearly a hundred boats, passing iconic landmarks such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, before finally arriving at the Trocadéro Square.
The ceremony will include musical and dance performances, expected to attract 300,000 live spectators and over a billion viewers worldwide. Jolly emphasizes that it is a celebration of life and communal living. He has utilized the historical buildings along the Seine to minimize environmental changes and damage.
Security challenges and unpredictable weather conditions pose difficulties for an outdoor opening ceremony. Jolly's originally planned entirely free ceremony was adjusted due to safety concerns. Additionally, the ceremony will take place in natural light, utilizing the historical buildings along the Seine to minimize environmental changes and damage.
On the day of the ceremony, international stars such as Céline Dion will make appearances, performing classic songs. Jolly hopes that through the ceremony, the world will see France anew, a country that is constantly being constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed.
ScoresFood
AI Robotics in Food Processing: Efficiency and Precision
Chef Robotics, a startup in San Francisco, has developed an AI-powered robotic arm system that can be programmed with recipes to accurately measure ingredients and sauces. Following successful trials with brands like Amy's Kitchen, the company is expanding its deployment.
Previously, robots struggled with the variability in food processing, where human hands were more adaptable, especially in tasks like rice or cheese shredding. However, advancements in AI have enhanced robot capabilities, enabling them to distinguish between tasks such as scooping peas and cauliflower, thereby improving their accuracy over time.
Chef Robotics does not sell its robots outright; instead, they offer a service model where clients pay an annual fee for system maintenance and training. Amy's Kitchen utilizes eight systems, each equipped with dual arms, across two factories. These robots can replace two to four human workers, depending on the task, and also reduce waste by dispensing ingredients more precisely than humans.
The CEO of Chef Robotics, Rajat Bhageria, estimates the annual cost of a single-arm system at under $135,000. This investment is justified by the efficiency and cost savings in labor and materials.
Lerrel Pinto, from NYU's Robotics and AI lab, notes that more versatile robots are likely to be adopted across new industries, highlighting the shift towards more general-purpose robots driven by advancements in deep learning.
For Amy's Kitchen, the challenge now is to ensure that robot-packed foods maintain the aesthetic of hand-packed items. They are continuously training the robots to handle a wider variety of foods, aiming to increase their role in packaging frozen meals.
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