World News Daily(2024-08-05) : Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Dismiss Election Subversion Case
Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Dismiss Election Subversion Case
Judge Tanya Chutkan denied Trump's attempt to dismiss his election subversion case. Trump's team alleged he was targeted for political reasons. Chutkan dismissed this claim, concentrating on his alleged false statements and obstruction.
The case, which had been on hold since December, gained new momentum following the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. The high court's 6-3 decision clarified that while presidents enjoy broad immunity, it is not absolute. Chutkan now must determine which charges are valid.
Trump faces four counts for attempting to overturn his 2020 loss. His lawyers contend he is immune as a former president. The case continues with a status conference scheduled for August 16.
ScoresPolitics
US and UK urgently call for citizens to evacuate Lebanon, dispatching warships to strengthen Middle East defense.
Tensions escalate in the Middle East as Israel launches air strikes in Lebanon, killing a senior commander of Hezbollah. The US and UK urge their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. Hezbollah fires rockets into Israel, most of which are intercepted with no casualties. The US Embassy urges citizens to use commercial flights to depart as soon as possible. The UK Foreign Office issues a similar call and dispatches military personnel to assist in evacuation.
A Hamas leader is assassinated in Iran, which vows retaliation. The US deploys an aircraft carrier and warships to the Middle East to bolster defenses. The UK also sends warships and helicopters on standby.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, could become the main force in retaliation. The conflict in the Middle East may escalate, with Lebanon and Israel potentially becoming the next battleground.
ScoresUS Advances Nuclear Modernization Amid Rising Tensions
The US is upgrading its nuclear arsenal. Vipin Narang, acting US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, cites Russia's nuclear stance as the reason. Jill Hruby, US Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, detailed the modernization plans at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) seeks a $25 billion budget for 2025. This includes:
- $21 billion for nuclear weapon stockpile maintenance.
- $2 billion for nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
- $2 billion for Navy nuclear propulsion systems.
The NNSA aims to replace all nuclear components and designs. Over 200 modernized weapons were delivered to the Department of Defense in 2023. The modernization spans the nuclear triad—land, air, and sea-based systems.
Key programs include:
- W88 Alteration 370 for Navy's Trident II D5 SLBM.
- B61-12 and B61-13 for newer aircraft compatibility.
- W80-4 for Air Force's Long Range Standoff Cruise Missile.
- W87-1 for land-based Minuteman III ICBM.
- W93 for ballistic missile submarines.
- Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N) for low-yield, non-ballistic capability.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, warns that US escalation could prompt Moscow to strengthen its nuclear deterrence. President Vladimir Putin considers adjusting Russia's nuclear doctrine due to the West's lowered nuclear use threshold. He denies Russia brandishes the "nuclear stick" and emphasizes the clear conditions for nuclear use in Russia's doctrine.
ScoresUkraine Receives F-16 Jets, Zelenskiy Announces
Ukrainian pilots now fly F-16s, announced Zelenskiy. These jets, long sought, arrived 29 months post-Russian invasion. At an undisclosed airbase, Zelenskiy addressed pilots, with two F-16s overhead.
"F-16s are in Ukraine. We did it. Proud of our guys mastering these jets," he said. The jets' impact on air defenses and the battlefield remains unclear. Russia targets potential F-16 bases, vowing to shoot them down.
Ukraine lacked enough trained pilots and jets. "Positive thing is we expect more F-16s... many guys training," Zelenskiy noted. Ukraine's Soviet-era planes were outmatched by Russia's advanced fleet.
Zelenskiy sees this as a new stage for Ukraine's air force. "We did a lot for Ukrainian forces to transition to western combat aviation," he said, highlighting relentless diplomacy.
The jets' missile range is unclear. Longer range could enhance battlefield impact. Zelenskiy hopes NATO countries might help intercept Russian missiles. "Another tool... I want to try it," he said, aiming to avoid excessive escalation fears.
ScoresSociety
One Piece Statues Boost Tourism in Kumamoto, Japan
Kumamoto, Japan, has turned to "One Piece" statues to draw tourists and aid recovery from 2016 earthquakes. The One Piece Kumamoto Revival Project, a partnership with manga creator Eiichiro Oda, features ten bronze statues across nine municipalities.
Statues of Straw Hat Pirates like Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp attract fans from Taiwan, the Philippines, and beyond. A Taiwanese couple and a Filipino duo visited, posing by Luffy's statue at the Kumamoto prefectural office.
The project, completed in 2022, includes a fictional narrative where the crew helps rebuild Kumamoto, known as "Hino Kuni." Social media buzz, especially from the official "One Piece" account, boosts visibility.
This initiative not only revitalizes tourism but also symbolizes community resilience and global fandom's support.
ScoresThe tropical glaciers of the Andes Mountains are rapidly retreating, the most severe in 11,700 years.
Tropical glaciers in the Andes Mountains have shrunk to their smallest area in 11,700 years. Bedrock samples show that these glaciers have retreated to an unprecedented extent. As sensitive indicators of climate change, tropical glaciers are experiencing the impacts of modern global warming. Rising temperatures at high altitudes may be the cause of this retreat. The Andes Mountains, a hotspot for tropical glaciers, are among the first to be affected.
Cosmogenic carbon-14 (14C) and beryllium-10 (10Be) in bedrock samples are used to estimate the timing of glacier retreat. The results indicate that most samples have only recently been exposed, indicating a significant reduction in glacier area.
These small, rapidly responding glaciers may be a harbinger of future shrinkage of global glaciers.
ScoresZheng Qinwen's Olympic victory leads to a surge in commercial value.
Zheng Qinwen, a 21-year-old girl from Hubei, has become the champion of the women's singles tennis event at the Paris Olympics. Her victory, which lasted 1 hour and 47 minutes, marks a new chapter in Chinese tennis history. Prior to this, no Chinese athlete had ever reached the final of the tennis singles event at the Olympics.
Zheng Qinwen's path to victory was fraught with challenges. She staged a comeback against American player Navarro in the round of 16, defeated former world number one Kerber in the quarterfinals, and beat the current world number one Swiatek in the semifinals. Her performance has earned her the title of "Queen of Comebacks."
Commercially, Zheng Qinwen has become a darling. In the Forbes 2023 list, she ranks 15th with an income of $7.2 million, including $5.5 million from endorsements. Her endorsement brands include Nike, Ant Group, and Yili.
Zheng Qinwen does not want to be merely seen as "the next Li Na." She has her own path, a more international perspective, and a more professional plan. Her future is filled with possibilities.
Sports agencies believe that Zheng Qinwen's commercial value is in the top tier, with endorsement fees exceeding tens of millions. Experts point out that the commercial value of tennis players mainly depends on their performance in professional tournaments, not Olympic results.
Zheng Qinwen's new endorsements include Lancôme and Tea King. Her Weibo followers have surged, and her influence continues to expand. Her success is not only a victory for sports but also a victory for business.
ScoresLos Angeles BIG:LEAP program significantly improves the quality of life for impoverished families.
The BIG:LEAP program implemented by the City of Los Angeles provides residents with $1000 in cash each month for a year. This program aims to provide basic income security, covering 3200 deeply impoverished households. Research shows significant improvements among participants in economic welfare, food security, and reduction of intimate partner violence.
A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Los Angeles, reports that the BIG:LEAP program has had positive impacts across multiple areas. Participants reported reduced intimate partner violence, alleviated food insecurity, and improved quality of life.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass supports expanding the program, believing that continued implementation of creative solutions is necessary. Michael D. Tubbs, founder of the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, emphasizes that guaranteed income provides families with flexibility and stability.
The study also found that despite the financial pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, guaranteed income programs effectively enhanced the safety and autonomy of beneficiaries, strengthened community awareness, improved financial conditions, reinforced food security, and provided more enriching activities for children.
The BIG:LEAP program is seen as a bold investment aimed at providing economic security and a fluid foundation for families with children. Participants must be at least 18 years old, with at least one dependent in the household or expecting a child, and affected economically or medically by COVID-19.
The findings suggest that social integration programs can be a significant method for supporting families and communities. The authors believe that guaranteed income is an effective strategy for promoting overall health and well-being.
ScoresEconomy
Top Analysts Recommend Stocks with Long-Term Potential
Earnings season is intensifying. Investors are advised to look beyond quarterly results. Leading Wall Street analysts favor stocks with long-term potential.
Alphabet (Google's parent company) leads the pack. Despite a slowdown in YouTube's ad revenue, BMO Capital's Brian Pitz views AI as a multi-year advantage. He increased estimates for the Cloud business, highlighting over 2 million developers utilizing Alphabet's AI solutions.
ServiceNow is next. Its cloud-based workflow automation has made a strong impression. Goldman Sachs' Kash Rangan raised the price target, attributing it to robust growth and AI contributions.
Travel + Leisure completes the trio. Tigress Financial's Ivan Feinseth maintains a bullish stance. He points to strong demand for vacation ownership and strategic partnerships as key growth drivers.
Analysts' selections often rely on thorough fundamental analysis. Investors should carefully consider these insights.
ScoresGlobal Stock Market Plunge Triggers Circuit Breakers
Global stock markets have experienced significant declines, with the Japanese stock market plummeting by 6%. Weak U.S. employment data, a surge in the yen, tensions in the Middle East, and damaged investor confidence have all contributed to the downturn. The Nikkei 225 index has fallen by over 12% in just three days, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange has triggered a circuit breaker, entering a technical bear market. Banking stocks led the decline, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group's share price dropping by 21%. South Korean and Australian stock markets also saw simultaneous declines.
- Technical bear market: A market that has fallen by 20% or more from its recent high.
- Circuit breaker mechanism: A temporary halt in trading when the market drops to a certain level to prevent panic selling.
Bronze Age Market Economies Discovered in Europe
Researchers from Germany and Italy discovered evidence of market economies in Bronze Age Europe, approximately 3500 years ago. They analyzed over 20,000 metal artifacts from 1000 tombs across Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and Germany. These items, dating from 2300 BC to 800 BC, exhibited patterns reminiscent of contemporary spending habits.
The team observed that metal pieces were frequently broken into weights of about 10 grams, indicating their use as currency. This practice began around 1500 BC. Through the examination of the weights and distribution of these metal pieces, the researchers determined that a market economy, governed by supply and demand, was operational.
This discovery challenges the notion that market economies only emerged with the advent of modern states and coinage. It instead implies that market systems have been integral to human behavior for a considerably longer period, similar to war and marriage.
The findings, published in Nature Human Behaviour, surprised the researchers. They propose that the distinctions between what are termed "primitive" and "modern" cultures may be less pronounced than previously believed.
ScoresTechnology
Neuralink Successfully Implants Second Brain-Machine Interface Chip in Human
Neuralink, under Musk's leadership, has implanted a second brain-machine interface chip in a human. This follows the first implant in January. The technology aims to assist paralyzed patients, enabling them to control devices through thought. Musk plans to expand this to over 1000 people by 2026.
ScoresAI-Driven Inverse Design Method for Metamaterials Achieves High Accuracy
The team from Huazhong University of Science and Technology has developed an AI-assisted inverse design method for metamaterials with an accuracy rate of 98.92%. This method, utilizing machine learning and finite element analysis, addresses complex issues in metamaterial design, such as parameter complexity and geometric deformation nonlinearity.
Metamaterials are materials with unique mechanical properties, widely used in seismic-resistant construction, aerospace, and biomedical fields. Traditional design methods require repeated trial and error, whereas inverse design optimizes the design process by starting from performance requirements, thereby shortening the development cycle.
The team leveraged AI technology to enhance design efficiency and precision through extensive data learning. By integrating inverse networks and forward networks, they achieved a direct mapping from performance to structure, quickly generating design solutions that meet specific performance requirements.
This research not only advances the field of metamaterial design but also provides new insights for mechanical intelligent systems. In the future, the team plans to explore more complex generative AI models to further enhance the richness and reliability of design solutions.
ScoresWorld's First 18650 Potassium-Ion Battery Unveiled
Group1 has unveiled the world's first 18650 potassium-ion battery. This new battery could replace lithium-ion batteries, offering better sustainability and cost efficiency. It uses potassium ions for charge transfer, similar in size to lithium-ion batteries, allowing easy integration into current devices.
Alexander Girau, Group1's CEO, highlights the battery's long cycle life and strong discharge capabilities, crucial for electric vehicles. Operating at 3.7V, it matches the energy density of lithium iron phosphate batteries, making it ideal for high-performance mobile applications.
The battery uses standard commercial components, reducing dependency on critical minerals like nickel, cobalt, copper, and lithium. This innovation promises a significant impact in energy storage.
ScoresNIST Launches Open-Source Platform for AI Safety Testing
NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has launched Dioptra, an open-source tool designed to test the resilience of machine learning models against various attacks. Dioptra features a web-based interface, user authentication, and comprehensive tracking of experiment elements to ensure reproducibility.
The tool is equipped to handle three types of attacks: evasion, poisoning, and oracle. Evasion attacks involve manipulating input data to deceive models. Poisoning attacks tamper with training data, thereby reducing model accuracy. Oracle attacks attempt to reverse-engineer models to gain insights into their datasets or parameters.
Dioptra's modular architecture supports a wide range of experiments, allowing for the combination of different models, datasets, attack methods, and defense strategies. It is accessible to a broad audience, including model developers, users, testers, auditors, and researchers. The platform also supports Python plugins for enhanced functionality and maintains detailed histories of experiments for traceable testing.
In addition, NIST has released three guidance documents. The first document addresses 12 risks associated with generative AI and provides over 200 recommended actions. The second document outlines secure software development practices for generative AI and dual-use foundation models. The third document proposes a plan for global cooperation in the development of AI standards.
ScoresVideo Game
LEGO releases a new "Minecraft" set, featuring 12 biomes
LEGO releases a new "Minecraft" set, priced at $90, containing 1195 pieces. The set covers 12 biomes and includes various in-game items. Merchandise related to video games is gaining increasing attention, and this set meets the expectations of "Minecraft" players.
ScoresTencent Launches "Virtual Loop": A V-Tuber Battle Idol Strategy and Training Game
Tencent has launched "Void Ring," a strategy-based cultivation game that combines V-circle streamers with combat idols. In the game, renowned streamers transform into combat idols, and players assemble a team to travel through time, challenging legendary idols from various eras. Visit the official website for more information.
V-circle: Virtual online streaming community, where streamers primarily appear as virtual avatars. PV: Promotional video.
ScoresEntertainment
Japanese Publisher Launches AI-Assisted Light Novel App for North American Market
Tokyo's Shogakukan is planning an app called Novelous for North American fans of light novels. Set to launch this year, it will utilize AI translation technology from Tokyo startup Mantra, with the goal of offering 400 titles within two years.
Light novels, which are popular in Japan, combine anime-style illustrations with adolescent or fantasy storylines. Shogakukan aims to attract a million users by 2028, targeting revenues in the billions of yen. The app will include features such as vertical scrolling text and speech bubbles for enhanced readability.
Currently, only about 10 titles are available in English due to the high costs of translation. The app intends to increase both digital and print sales, including works from other publishers.
Competitor Kadokawa is a leader in overseas expansion, having acquired U.S. licensor J-Novel Club in 2021. Their light novel sales in North America are about a fifth of their manga sales.
The popularity of anime is driving demand for light novels. "The Apothecary Diaries" became a bestseller at Kinokuniya's U.S. stores following its anime adaptation. Kinokuniya's vice president views light novels as the next major trend after manga and anime.
Japan aims to quadruple its content exports to 20 trillion yen by 2033.
ScoresHealth
New Dual-Action Antibiotic Combats Bacterial Resistance
New antibiotic, macrolones, strikes bacteria twice. It inhibits protein production and disrupts DNA, leaving bacteria unable to defend against both attacks simultaneously. This makes it more difficult for them to develop resistance. Macrolones are synthetic compounds that combine elements of erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. Erythromycin halts protein synthesis, while ciprofloxacin targets DNA gyrase, an enzyme crucial for bacterial function. Scientists suggest refining macrolones to enhance their effectiveness on both targets.
ScoresSubstandard and Fake Medicines Plague Africa
A fifth of medicines in Africa might be substandard or fake. This could be killing hundreds of thousands each year. Researchers checked 7,508 samples from 27 studies. 1,639 failed quality tests.
Substandard meds are authorized but low quality. Falsified meds are fake, pretending to be something else. Antibiotics and antimalarials are the most faked in Africa. This fuels antibiotic resistance.
Malawi has the most substandard and fake medicines. Complex, inefficient supply chains and multiple middlemen make it easy for fake meds to slip in.
One in 10 medical products in developing countries is substandard or fake. 42% of these cases are in Africa.
Action is needed. Strengthen supply chains. Improve surveillance. Pharma companies must report fakes. Public awareness is crucial.
ScoresNew Dose Compensation Mechanism Discovered in Platypus and Chicken Chromosomes
Researchers at the University of New South Wales studied platypus and chicken sex chromosomes, discovering fundamental differences in male and female biological processes. Their findings, published in PNAS, reveal a new dose compensation mechanism, distinct from humans.
In humans, females possess two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. To maintain balance, one X in females is silenced, preventing them from producing twice the X protein of males.
Platypuses feature a unique system: females with five Xs, males with a mix of five Xs and Ys. Chickens utilize a ZW system, where males have two Zs and females one Z and one W. These systems exhibit mRNA imbalance between sexes but achieve protein balance through a novel dose compensation process.
This discovery challenges the notion that dose compensation only occurs at the mRNA level. It underscores the complexity of gene regulation and opens new avenues in understanding gene expression and protein production across species.
Future research will delve into these mechanisms, aiming to deepen our understanding of gene regulation and potentially lead to new therapies for diseases associated with protein dysfunction.
ScoresFood
Saizeriya: A Japanese-Italian Fast Food Chain Experiencing Growth Against the Trend
In terms of operations, Saizeriya employs a central kitchen model, constructing its own farms and processing plants to control costs and quality from the source. It also effectively reduces labor costs through flexible employment and increased hourly productivity. This meticulous management allows Saizeriya to remain profitable even during economic downturns.
Saizeriya's success is not solely attributed to its low-price strategy but also to its rigorous control over costs and efficiency. In the context of escalating global economic uncertainty, Saizeriya's experience is worth emulating for other food and beverage enterprises.
Scores