World News Daily(2024-08-16) : Paetongtarn Shinawatra Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was elected Thailand's new prime minister on August 16, 2024. She secured 319 votes from the lower house, surpassing the required majority. 491 lawmakers participated, with 145 voting against and 27 abstaining. No opposition candidates were nominated.
Paetongtarn expressed gratitude to her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, who was removed by the Constitutional Court for appointing an ex-convict to his cabinet. She emphasized her readiness to work hard for the Thai people and mentioned a potential review of existing policies.
The new prime minister declined to discuss cabinet details or policies until receiving official royal endorsement. This is a standard procedure in Thailand, requiring parliamentary submission and royal approval before any official statements.
Paetongtarn's election marks a significant shift in Thailand's political landscape, with a focus on continuity and adaptability in governance.
ScoresPolitics
Taiwan's Audrey Tang Advocates 'Pre-bunking' to Combat Disinformation
Sydney — Audrey Tang, Taiwan's ex-Digital Minister, champions "pre-bunking" as a shield against fake news. Pre-bunking means alerting the public to impending disinformation attacks, allowing them to brace and respond proactively.
Tang emphasizes the need for swift action: debunking falsehoods within an hour of their emergence. This rapid response ensures truth reaches the masses before misinformation takes root.
Taiwan's approach includes the CoFact project, a collaborative platform akin to Wikipedia, where citizens contribute verified facts to combat lies.
Cybersecurity threats loom large, especially for nations like Tuvalu and Palau, which face increased pressure from China. Tang advocates for a united front, involving governments, civil societies, and private sectors, to bolster defenses against cyberattacks.
Her tenure's challenge? Distinguishing between foreign manipulation and domestic misinformation. Tang's travels to 20 countries highlight global interest in Taiwan's model of maintaining internet freedom without compromising free speech.
Taiwan stands out, blending high press freedom with effective disinformation defense. Tang's insights underscore the importance of collective vigilance and rapid, transparent responses in the digital age.
ScoresBiden Administration Cuts Medicare Drug Prices, Promises Billions in Savings
Biden's team has just reduced prices on 10 key drugs. Medicare now negotiates directly with drug manufacturers. This initiative, starting in 2026, aims to save $6 billion for Medicare and $1.5 billion for patients.
Here's the breakdown:
- Eliquis: $231 (previously $521)
- Jardiance: $197 (previously $573)
- Xarelto: $197 (previously $517)
- Januvia: $113 (previously $527)
- Farxiga: $178.50 (previously $556)
- Entresto: $295 (previously $628)
- Enbrel: $2,355 (previously $7,106)
- Imbruvica: $9,319 (previously $14,934)
- Stelara: $4,695 (previously $13,836)
- Fiasp and NovoLog: $119 (previously $495)
These price cuts are significant. They could lead to healthier, longer lives for many. The Inflation Reduction Act, which enabled these negotiations, marks a first in Medicare's history.
The actual impact? It's difficult to pinpoint exactly. Drug prices are often obscured by confidential rebates. However, these new rates establish a benchmark. More negotiations are forthcoming.
This move is not just about saving money. It's about ensuring access. It's about making sure older Americans can afford the medications they need.
ScoresRussian Oligarch's $93 Million Insider Trading Scandal
Vladislav Klyushin, a Russian oligarch, orchestrated a $93 million fraud through his company, M-13. The scheme involved hacking into American corporate earnings reports before they were made public. Klyushin and his team then traded stocks based on this insider information, reaping substantial profits.
M-13 targeted companies such as Tesla, Snapchat, and Roku. They stole Tesla's earnings report before its release, purchased stock, and profited when the stock price surged. The FBI eventually uncovered the operation and charged Klyushin and his associates with hacking and insider trading.
In 2023, Klyushin was sentenced to nine years in an American prison. He was released in 2024 as part of a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap, which also included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
CNBC's Eamon Javers investigated this case, revealing how Russian hackers targeted U.S. investors. His documentary, "Putin's Trader," and accompanying podcast, "The Crimes of Putin's Trader," highlight the ongoing threat to American capital markets.
This case underscores a broader conflict between Russia and the West, with financial markets serving as a battleground. The integrity of American capital markets is at stake.
ScoresSociety
AI Deepfake Scams Exploit Elon Musk Images, Bilking Millions
AI-generated Elon Musk images flood fake ads, bilking billions. Deepfake tech replicates voices, alters videos seamlessly. Pornographers, meme-makers, and scammers embrace this trend.
An 82-year-old, duped by a Musk-endorsed investment video, lost $690,000. Fraudsters tweaked a real interview, swapping Musk's voice with an AI clone. The altered video, costing mere dollars, spreads via social media ads.
Sensity, monitoring Deepfake videos, labels this the largest such scam. Fake Musk clips, mimicking his cadence and accent, dominate crypto ads. They often start with real footage, then sync lips and clone voices.
These ads, featuring news logos, deceive many. Musk tops Deepfake subjects, especially in crypto schemes. Victims invest small sums, then larger, as fake profits mount.
Musk, silent on this, remains a favorite for scammers. Authorities warn of rising AI cybercrimes. Criminals wield AI to enhance stealth and impact.
ScoresTyphoon Ampil Approaches Japan's Kanto Region
Typhoon Ampil, a fierce storm off Japan's Honshu coast, barrels towards Kanto and Tohoku. Expected to hit Kanto on Friday and Tohoku on Saturday, it includes Tokyo in its path.
Heavy rain clouds threaten Kanto, Izu Islands, and Yamanashi. Meteorologists predict Ampil moving north-northeast at 15 kph, winds capable of damaging homes.
Sustained winds could hit 144 kph on Izu Islands and off Kanto, with gusts up to 216 kph. Rainfall forecasts warn of potential disaster: 300 mm in Kanto, 200 mm in Tohoku, and 120 mm in Tokai.
Warnings include violent winds, mudslides, and flooding. Evacuation orders are in place, with level four alerts in Mobara City and level three in parts of Tokyo and surrounding prefectures.
Power outages affect over a thousand households in Kanto. Stay alert, check weather updates, and seek sturdy shelter.
ScoresEconomy
Revolut's $45 Billion Valuation After Secondary Market Sale
Revolut, a U.K.-based neobank, is now valued at $45 billion following a secondary market share sale. The company has secured banking licenses in the U.K. and Mexico. Revolut provides multi-currency accounts, crypto products, and more. It is aiming for a U.S. IPO, although the U.K. government favors a domestic listing.
Neobank: A digital-only bank without physical branches, offering traditional banking services through apps.
ScoresHealth Stocks Surge Amid Mpox Global Health Emergency
Health stocks surged as the World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency. Danish vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic saw its shares jump by as much as 17%. The company, with an approved mpox vaccine, could meet growing demand for shots.
U.S. pharmaceutical company Emergent Biosolutions also benefited, with its ACAM2000 vaccine recommended by the CDC. Medical tools supplier Precision System Science Co. soared 40% in Tokyo.
The WHO's declaration follows an mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, spreading to neighboring countries. Mpox, a zoonotic disease, spreads from animals to humans, causing flu-like symptoms and lesions. A new variant, clade Ib, appears more contagious.
Cases surged in 2022, prompting a WHO emergency declaration, later lifted in May 2023. The new outbreak is concerning, especially among children. Vaccine access remains a challenge. The WHO is working to increase access, releasing $1.45 million and expecting an initial $15 million requirement.
Bavarian Nordic CEO Paul Chaplin stated the company could ramp up vaccine supply to 2 million doses by year-end and 10 million by 2025 if orders are placed promptly.
ScoresTipRanks Acquired by Prytek for $200M, Enhancing AI Stock Analysis
TipRanks, an AI-powered stock tip evaluator, has been sold for $200 million to Prytek. The company sifts through financial discussions online, distinguishing valuable insights from background noise. It employs natural language processing and data science to scrutinize market data.
Currently, TipRanks caters to approximately 50 million monthly users, with some on free plans and others paying $30 or $50 monthly for enhanced data. Notable enterprise clients include Nasdaq, Robinhood, and Morgan Stanley.
Prytek, a significant investor since 2017, spearheaded a $77 million funding round in 2021. The acquisition was strategic, with the goal of expanding both individual and enterprise user bases.
Uri Gruenbaum, CEO of TipRanks, highlighted Prytek’s capacity to facilitate connections, particularly with major banks. The company’s growth mirrors broader trends in finance and technology, including the surge of social media and trading platforms like Robinhood and eToro.
Gruenbaum’s personal experience of losing $20,000 on a poor stock tip inspired the creation of TipRanks. The platform ranks analysts and influencers, striving for transparency in financial advice.
TipRanks intends to expand into additional markets and languages, focusing on tools for individual users. Prytek envisions potential in democratizing investment information, integrating TipRanks into its financial services division.
ScoresGoldman Sachs Embraces Bitcoin ETFs, Hedge Funds Bet Big on Crypto
Goldman Sachs ventured into cryptocurrency ETFs, purchasing $418 million worth of bitcoin funds. Morgan Stanley, having entered the market earlier, has since reduced its crypto investments. JP Morgan has maintained a cautious approach with limited exposure.
Hedge funds such as Millennium Management and Capula Investment Management have made significant investments. Millennium holds over $1.1 billion in various Bitcoin ETFs, while Capula has disclosed over $464 million in spot bitcoin ETFs.
Cryptocurrency ETFs have attracted $17.5 billion in net inflows since January, bringing the total to $53.5 billion. Ether ETFs currently hold over $7.6 billion. Despite market volatility, the acceptance of crypto as an asset class continues to strengthen.
D1 Capital, a hedge fund, has expanded into bitcoin mining, recognizing the potential in AI-driven power demands.
13F reports: SEC filings revealing institutional investment holdings and transactions. ETFs: Exchange-Traded Funds, securities tracking an index or a basket of assets, traded like stocks. Spot ETFs: ETFs directly holding the underlying asset, like bitcoin or ether, allowing direct investment.
ScoresTechnology
Linly-Dubbing: Open-Source AI for Multilingual Video Translation
Linly-Dubbing: An open-source tool for AI-driven dubbing and video translation. It translates videos into multiple languages and generates subtitles.
Open-source: Software available for free, with its code accessible to modify or distribute.
AI-driven: Uses artificial intelligence to perform tasks traditionally done by humans.
ScoresLinktree Acquires Social Media Scheduler Plann
Linktree, a link-in-bio platform, has acquired Plann, a social media scheduling tool. Plann, based in Sydney, will initially operate as usual. Linktree plans to integrate Plann's scheduling features into its own platform, aiming to simplify content distribution for its 50 million users.
Linktree's CEO, Alex Zaccaria, emphasized the desire to streamline content management for creators, allowing them more time for creation. This acquisition is Linktree's fourth, following previous purchases of link-in-bio competitors and a music link aggregation platform.
Linktree also introduced a beta social commerce feature this year, enabling creators to add storefronts to their bio pages and earn commissions on sales.
ScoresNIST Finalizes Post-Quantum Encryption Standards
NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has finalized three post-quantum encryption standards. These standards aim to safeguard data against future quantum computer attacks.
The standards include:
- ML-KEM for general encryption.
- ML-DSA and SLH-DSA for digital signatures.
A fourth algorithm, FN-DSA, is expected later this year. NIST is also evaluating additional backup algorithms, based on different mathematical principles.
Dustin Moody, a NIST mathematician, urges immediate adoption of the new standards. Full integration takes time, and preparation against potential attacks is crucial.
These standards are part of the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project, designed to ensure data security in an era of advanced computing threats.
ScoresVideo Game
"Black Myth: Wukong" RTX Technology Demonstration Released
NVIDIA released an RTX demo video for "Black Myth: Wukong." With full-scene ray tracing and NVIDIA DLSS 3 technology, on August 20th, players will experience stunning visuals, exploring the world of Journey to the West. NVIDIA has closely collaborated with the Game Science team, ensuring an exceptional gaming experience for GeForce RTX users.
ScoresGenshin Impact Version 5.0 Update: "The Path of Blossoms and Blazing Sun" - New Nation Natlan Debuts
New Version of "Genshin Impact" 5.0, Opening the Sixth Nation "Natat". A Land of War, Multiple Tribes, and Dragon Culture. Fourth Anniversary Celebration with Generous Benefits. Character Gacha Pools: First Half - Malanie, Kazuha, Kachina; Second Half - Jinniqi, Raiden Shogun. Legendary Missions, Ascension Materials. Game Optimization, Level Increase, Material Drop Increase. Regional Specialties Tracking, Artifact Customization. Battle Pass Missions, Weapon Duel Simplification. Golden Pot Load Increase, Artifact Decomposition Optimization. Anniversary Benefits: 1600 Primogems, Commemorative Items, Intertwined Fates. Choose Your Own 5-Star Character, Mingguang in Limited Pool. Logitech Collaboration, Natat Theme Song.
ScoresEntertainment
Paramount Global Announces Major Restructuring and Layoffs
Paramount Global plans to cut 15% of its U.S. staff, shut down Paramount Television Studios, and shift projects to CBS Studios. The move aims to slash $500 million in annual costs and prep for a merger with Skydance Media.
Layoffs will hit about 2,000 employees, mostly by September. Paramount's co-CEOs cite an "inflection point" necessitating change.
The studio closure reflects industry shifts and a push for efficiency. All Paramount TV projects will move to CBS Studios, with some CBS staff also departing.
ScoresBreaking's Olympic Debut: Expansion and Controversy
Breaking, born in the Bronx, made its Olympic debut in Paris. Phil (Wizard) Kim from Vancouver won gold, sparking global interest. Australian dancer Raygun faced ridicule online, but many see her inclusion as crucial for expanding the sport's reach.
Breaking isn't just about competition; it's about spreading the dance worldwide. Antonio Castillo, a breaker and founder of All 10 Breaking dance school, views the Olympic debut as historic. He emphasizes the dedication shown by competitors like Kim, who performed injured.
Geoff Reyes, president of Breaking Canada, believes the Olympics offer a broader audience but sees potential for breaking to develop its own professional leagues, akin to FIFA or the NBA.
Criticism of Raygun's performance highlights a misunderstanding of breaking's roots in Black and Latino communities. Cheryl Thompson, a researcher of Black performance art, argues that breaking was originally a community-building tool, not just a competitive sport.
The debate over breaking's Olympic inclusion reflects broader questions about the commercialization of hip-hop and the authenticity of its cultural expressions.
ScoresHealth
WHO Re-declares Mpox a Global Health Emergency Amid Surge in Africa
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a global health emergency for the second time. The virus, which causes painful lesions and can lead to severe illness or death, has surged again in Africa. This year, over 15,000 cases and nearly 500 deaths have been reported, marking a 160% increase from 2023.
Mpox spread rapidly worldwide in 2022, primarily through sexual networks and mainly affecting men who have sex with men. Vaccination efforts have reduced global case counts. However, a more transmissible form has emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), spreading to neighboring countries like Rwanda and Uganda.
The Africa CDC estimates that 10 million vaccine doses are needed, but only 200,000 have been procured. The WHO is pushing for emergency use listing to accelerate vaccine access in lower-income countries.
Canada and the U.S. have pledged vaccine donations, but access remains limited in many parts of Africa. Without a coordinated international response, the virus could spread beyond Africa, threatening global health.
A new strain, clade Ib, is causing more severe disease and could pose a broader risk if it spreads globally. Early research suggests it may transmit through close household contact, affecting vulnerable populations like infants and children.
ScoresSports
Gender Differences in Muscle Metabolism: Implications for Exercise and Nutrition
Females and males process sugar and fatty acids differently in their muscles, according to a study. This distinction affects how their bodies utilize energy during exercise.
Female muscles excel at burning fat, whereas male muscles are more efficient at consuming sugar. These disparities arise from differences in muscle fiber types and metabolic pathways.
Grasping these differences could aid in customizing exercise regimens and nutritional guidance for improved health results. For example, females may derive greater benefits from endurance training, while males might achieve more significant improvements from high-intensity exercises.
This research highlights the significance of accounting for gender in sports science and medical interventions. It serves as a reminder that strategies effective for one gender may not yield the same benefits for the other.
ScoresSouth Korean Military Soccer Team Eyes Top Spot in K League
Gimcheon Sangmu, a South Korean soccer team composed of military conscripts, is vying for the top spot in the K League. This marks a first for a military team in Asia’s oldest professional league.
Operated by the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, Sangmu’s players serve 18 months of mandatory military duty, then return to their original clubs. Their current success is attributed to younger, talented players eager to complete their service early and a new coach, Chung Jung-yong, known for his work with young athletes.
Sangmu’s rise is also due to the struggles of traditional powerhouse clubs, which rely heavily on corporate funding. Economic uncertainties have forced these clubs to cut spending, opening the door for less traditional contenders.
Despite challenges like low attendance and limited local support, Sangmu remains competitive. With 12 games left, capturing the domestic title is a real possibility. The team’s resilience and unity under Coach Chung make them a formidable opponent.
ScoresFood
Luckin Coffee's collaboration drink with "Black Myth: Wukong" is about to launch.
Luckin Coffee announces a collaboration with "Black Myth: Wukong," set to launch a co-branded beverage on August 19th. The tagline for the collaboration is: "Where, oh where, has the deer gone?" Previously rumored items such as the "Cloud Surfing Americano" will be available. Peripheral products include cup sleeves and tote bags.
Co-branding strategies are commonly used in brand partnerships to attract fans of both brands, aiming to boost sales and enhance brand influence. This collaboration merges coffee and gaming cultures, expected to appeal to young consumers.
Scores